University News

Creighton Celebrates Commencement

More than 1,300 students received degrees during commencement ceremonies on May 10. The University also recognized the following individuals and organizations for their contributions to education, the community and the arts.

Alumni Achievement Citation
Creighton presented its highest alumni award, the Alumni Achievement Citation, to Karen Dolan Rauenhorst, BSN’75. Rauenhorst was recognized for her leadership in nursing, service to others and philanthropy.

In addition to her nursing degree from Creighton, Rauenhorst earned a master of public health degree from the University of Minnesota. She has provided 20 years of nursing care in several hospitals, and has served in leadership roles for professional nursing organizations, including the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses.

A past member of the Catholic Charities USA board of trustees and the Catholic Community Foundation, she currently serves on the College of St. Catherine board of trustees and Catholic Relief Services board of directors. Her work with Catholic Relief Services has widened her scope to international concerns. Her growing foundation work solidifies her leadership in philanthropy, as she serves as president of the Sieben Foundation, vice president of the Mark and Karen Rauenhorst Family Foundation and as a member of the board of directors of the Minnesota Council of Foundations.

Honorary Degree
An honorary degree was conferred on Kenneth Bird, Ed.D., superintendent of Omaha Westside School District.

Bird has served the students and families of the Westside School District for more than 30 years. He assumed the position of superintendent in 1992. Before that, he held a variety of positions with the school district. Under his leadership, Westside has become one of the state’s most technologically advanced districts. As Nebraska’s first school to introduce a 1 to 1 learning program in 2004, Westside charted new territory for other educators in the state and the country by providing laptop computers to each high school student. Colleagues attribute Westside’s strong academic reputation to Bird’s constant push for improvement.

Bird has received several awards, including the Nebraska Superintendent of the Year and the Nebraska Council of School Administrator’s Distinguished Service Award.

Presidential Medallions
Presidential Medallions were awarded to Opera Omaha and St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church.

For more than 50 years, Opera Omaha has provided operatic masterpieces to packed houses. The highly rated opera company has also focused on community outreach.

St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church is celebrating its centennial this year. The only Greek Orthodox Byzantine style church in the Omaha area, it is a visible reminder on the Omaha landscape of a place where fellowship and family thrive.