July / Aug. / Sept. 2009 - Nebraska Public Power District

Students from St. Isidore’s
Elementary School National
Energy Education Development
(NEED) group placed first in
the nation as Junior School
of the Year at the 29th annual
NEED’s Youth Award for
energy achievement in
Keaton Swanson Washington D.C. Members
of the team included Justina
Wemhoff, daughter of the
late Engineering Technician
Kevin and Julie Wemhoff;
Keaton Swanson, son of
Economic Development Process
Coordinator Tami Swanson;
Erica Ernst, step‑daughter
of Building Maintenance
Technician Ted and Angie
Erica Ernst
Wemhoff; Adam Starzec son
of Controller & Financial Planning Manager Donna
and Land Management Appraiser Ron Starzec; and
Allison Beiermann, daughter of Energy Efficiency
Coordinator Kelly and Land Management Manager
Alan Beiermann.
Adam Starzec earned fifth
in the nation for his group
documentary, “A.J. Higgins:
Inventor, Patriot Hero,” at the
National History Day contest
at the University of Maryland.
The theme was “An Individual
in History: Legends and
Legacies.” Students qualify by
competing on local and state
levels before moving on to the Adam Starzec
national contest. Adam and his
team member received the U.S. Marine Corps Award
for which they were given gold medals and $500.
Also qualifying for the national
competition and receiving a
superior rating was Allison
Beiermann for her part in the
group performance, “Eunice
Kennedy Shriver, Taking the
Disabled from Despair to
Dignity.”
Allison Beiermann
ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2009 19
Parker Douglass, son of
Sr. Workforce Development
Specialist Jim and Rita
Douglass recently signed
with the New York Jets as
a kicker. He was previously
a kicker with the Cleveland
Browns. Parker is a Columbus
High School graduate and
a graduate of South Dakota
State University where he
set or tied 19 records. He
also played for the Sioux
Parker Douglass
Falls Storm of the Indoor
Football League. While at South Dakota State he
was a two‑time member of the ESPN The Magazine
Academic All‑District First Team and Division 1 All‑
American Second Team, along with numerous other
accomplishments and awards.
Miles Putnam,
11‑year‑old son of
Sr. Compensation
Specialist Chuck and
Gerri Putnam, was
recently recognized
by the United States
Chung Do Kwan Tae
Kwon Do Association
for earning his 1st
degree black belt in
Taekwondo.
Miles Putnam
Chadron / Darla Wait, Distribution Support Specialist /
dkwait@nppd.com
Haley Hanks
Haley Hanks, daughter of
Crawford Local Manager
Lynn and Terri Hanks,
was elected 7th grade class
president. Haley attends
Crawford Junior High
School.