JoAnna has been named a USA Today Woman of the Year. The award is meant to recognize women who have made an impact in their community as well as nationally. As executive director of the Malcom X Memorial Foundation, JoAnna is tasked with carrying forward the missions of two Black leaders; the foundation’s namesake, civil rights leader Malcom X, and the nonprofit’s founder, Rowena Moore. Under her tenure, the foundation’s longtime goal of getting Malcom X inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame was realized.  

Kenny was recognized by Congressman Don Bacon this Black History Month as a dedicated community servant. A proud North Omaha Native, McMorris has been serving the Omaha community throughout his life. As the CEO of Charles Drew Health, Inc. for over 15 years, he has continuously worked to advance health care equity in disenfranchised communities. Is unwavering commitment to public service continues to make a lasting impact. McMorris was honored by Bacon at a reception at the Revive Center in Omaha. Bacon called McMorris a visionary leader and steadfast advocate for health equity.  

“Some love stories take time to unfold, and ours is one of them. Jaron Collins and I first met as teenagers at Omaha Northwest High School, but life took us on separate journeys before bringing us back together years later. Now, we are thrilled to share that we are getting married this August! Our love for each other is deeply rooted in community, family, and a shared commitment to giving back. As a proud graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, I know firsthand how education can change lives—and I wouldn’t have made it through undergrad without the unwavering support of my grandparents, Lee A. Cheatham and Ethel Louise Cheatham. When life got tough, they took me in, made sure I had everything I needed, and reminded me that if they had it, I did too. Their generosity and belief in education shaped my future, and now, Jaron and I are honored to pay it forward. To continue the legacy of our grandparents, we established two scholarships at UNO, the Lee and Louise Promise Scholarship and the Raymond and Helen Collins Hope Scholarship. These scholarships are designed for students majoring in social work and Black studies who have taken at least one course through the Urban League of Nebraska under the North Omaha Initiative. By supporting first-generation and low-income students, our goal is to help others overcome barriers, just as our grandparents helped us. But we’re not stopping there. We are actively fundraising to make these scholarships full-ride and renewable, ensuring long-term support for students who need it most. Our hope is to create lasting opportunities for future Mavericks while continuing the legacy of love, generosity, and education that was instilled in us. UNO played a vital role in my journey, and I am grateful to celebrate this new chapter of life—both in love and giving back to the next generation of Mavericks!”

Rockymore’s short film, “Fresh Cut!” won the Audience Award at the Golden Gate International Film Festival and has been nominated for other film awards. 

Stephanie launched the first-of-its-kind certification program for mental health in the construction industry through her organization, The Wounded Workforce. Building Resilience-Construction Mental Health Certification is the first-ever holistic mental health certification designed and built specifically for the construction industry. Released in November 2024, this transformative program is now empowering construction professionals to address mental health, suicide prevention, substance abuse and proactive mental health care on the job and beyond. “Construction faces some of the highest rates of mental health challenges of any industry- including instances of suicide and substance abuse. Yet, until now, there hasn’t been a comprehensive mental health program tailored specifically to the industry’s unique needs,” said Stephanie Lemek, Founder and CEO. “Building Resilience is more than a certification—it’s a movement toward creating safer, more supportive workplaces in construction.”