Gateway

Issue date: 8/12/08 Section: News

Salley Ganem [Click to enlarge]

Editor's Note: Originally, an older version of this article was posted on The Gateway's Web site. This article was updated Tuesday evening.

She's a member of Read Aloud Nebraska, taking time out of her busy schedule to travel the state reading to school groups.

She's a member of the Social Sciences Advisory Board of Metro Community College.

She's a former president of Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Fremont Area United Way.

She's the wife of Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman, who she's been married to for 30 years.

And, in addition to everything else, she was voted UNO homecoming queen in 1970.

Thirty-eight years later, Nebraska First Lady Salley Ganem will add another accolade to her lifetime of achievement: a Citation for Alumni Achievement from the UNO Alumni Association.

Ganem, who graduated from UNO in 1971 with a bachelor's in elementary education and again in 1975 with a master's in education administration, has been a lifelong advocate of the university.

Lee Denker, president of the Alumni Association, said it is difficult to select the few alumni who receive this award from the thousands of candidates, but the First Lady's name had been on the short list for a while.

"She's a very visible figure in Nebraska, because of her position as first lady, but even before that, she really did exemplify public service in her role in education. She had a great experience here at UNO," Denker said. "She went on to be a wonderful educator and administrator, and a real community servant through all the activities she participated in Fremont and continues to do so as first lady on a statewide basis."

Ganem is the former principle of Howard Elementary School in Fremont, Neb., and remains an active member of the community's Low Income Ministry Board.

Before going to Fremont, Ganem graduated from Omaha South High School - in a democratic neighborhood, with democratic parents, although she found herself joining Young Republicans during her time at UNO.

She was also a member of many other organizations on campus: Greek Housing Association, League of Women Voters, International Student Organization, Kappa Delta Pi, Manpower for Urban Progress, Minority Cultures Committee, Student Education Association, Student Senate Projects Committee, UNO Achievement Awards Committee, Wayokia and Women's Recreation Association

Now, Ganem plans to continue her service to the campus this year as one of UNO's eight Centennial hosts, where she will help to bring the university's message to the community. She will join former chancellors Del Weber and Ronald Roskens, philanthropist Dick Holland, Union Pacific President and CEO Jim Young as well as Mayor Mike Fahey, among others.

Ganem will receive the Citation for Alumni Achievement on Friday at the commencement ceremony at the Omaha Civic Auditorium, 1804 Capitol Ave. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., with more than 520 students graduating from the university that afternoon.

"We're really thrilled that she accepted the award," Denker said. "We really think Sally is a great example of a public servant."

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