Southern Nebraska Register
The Diocesan Education Office announced the Diocesan Education Award winners for 2025.
In 2022, the Diocese of Lincoln began a tradition of honoring outstanding educators in Catholic schools. The awards are presented annually at the Bishop’s Saints & Scholars Dinner, held in the fall. This year, the dinner will be held Sunday, Oct. 12, in Lincoln.
All school personnel, including priests and religious, of Diocese of Lincoln schools are eligible to receive the awards each year. Nominations were sought from parents, teachers, administrators, and students. A small committee of clergy, religious, and lay professionals selected the winners from the nominations.
The awards and winners for 2025 are:
St. Thomas Aquinas Award
(Administrator of the Year) – Ashley Rockey, St. Michael School, Lincoln.
The letter nominating Rockey called her “a true example of servant leadership in Catholic education.”
“Her dedication to forming young disciples is at the heart of everything she does,” it read. “Ashley’s role as principal extends far beyond administration—she is a shepherd, guiding students, teachers, and families at all times,” it said.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award
(Elementary Educator of the Year) – Rachel Wisnieski, Aquinas Elementary, David City.
Her nomination read, in part: “Rachel is a treasured part of our school community. She is an extraordinary educator who is fully dedicated to helping her students grow in their faith, academics, and social skills. She goes above and beyond for the Aquinas community and has volunteered to lead a variety of activities.”
St. John Cantius Award
(Secondary Educator of the Year) – Kris Lien, Lourdes Central Catholic, Nebraska City.
The nomination for Lien called him “a fantastic science teacher, a family man, and is a great role model for our students.” The letter shared that staff members discussing Saint Joseph said Lien is the person they know most like the saint.
St. Catherine of Alexandria Award
(Educator Serving Students with Special Needs or in Underserved Communities) – Anena Rolofson, Villa Marie, Waverly.
Rolofson was nominated for “always fighting for making sure our students get all that they deserve,” such as advocating and partnering with Pius X High School to get students to Pius daily for specials classes, and taking time out of her teaching day to do speech therapies with the students.
St. John Bosco Award
(Support Staff Member of the Year) – Danielle Wagoner, Hastings Catholic Schools.
Her nomination read, in part, that Wagoner “has a great mind for getting the mission of the school out to our parents, community, alumni, and donors. She provides great input to the administration for marketing ideas and actively keeps up with new ideas of reaching others and telling our school story. Everything she does for Hastings Catholic Schools is mission minded and focused on reaching others to be a part of that Gospel mission we have been given.”
Father Mark Cyza, of the Diocesan Education Office, said each of this year’s recipients “exemplifies the spirit of service, faith, and excellence that defines our Catholic schools.”
