(KLZA)--The noteworthy achievements of four Peru State College alumni will be celebrated at the annual Thousand Oaks Alumni Excellence Award event, set for Tuesday, April 14.
The 2026 Thousand Oaks Award recipients include Joan Christen ‘96 of Tecumseh, Neb.; Barry Lockard ‘90 of Lincoln, Neb.; Heather Nelson, Masters ‘14, of Omaha; and Erin O’Grady Sayer ‘91 of rural Dunbar, Neb., according to Dr. Robert Mock, President of Peru State.
Peru State College president, Dr. Robert Mock, stated, “At Peru State College, we’re incredibly proud to see our graduates take what they’ve learned in our classrooms and make a real impact in the world. The achievements of this year’s Thousand Oaks honorees reflect not only their dedication and talent, but also the strength of a Peru education. Their success is a powerful reminder that what begins here reaches far beyond our campus.”
Nominations are submitted and compiled by the Peru State College Foundation. The recipients are approved by the college administration and ultimately by the College president.
The awardees will return to campus in April, where they’ll have an opportunity to address students and faculty in classes in their respective disciplines. Following a luncheon, they will receive the Thousand Oaks awards during a 2 p.m. ceremony in the College Theatre. The public is welcome to attend.
The 20026 honoree's include:
Erin O’Grady Sayer is the award recipient from Peru State School of Education. She is a Professor of Practice, Biochemistry Education and Student Success at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Early in her career she was on the Peru State College staff in a variety of capacities from 1991-2001.
The graduate studies recipient is Heather Nelson. She is an Instructor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha in the College of Business and founder and chief executive officer of Ideologix Insights, a data analytics lab powering PollTheVote.com. Founded in 2023, it is a platform designed to facilitate nonpartisan civic and community engagement.
Barry Lockard will receive the Thousand Oaks Award from the School of Professional Studies. A resident of Lincoln, Neb. originally from Stella, Neb., he is president and chief executive officer of Cornhusker Bank. Lockard serves as a member of the bank’s board of directors, and of its affiliated Cornhusker Growth Corp. and Lincoln First Realty.
The School of Arts and Sciences winner of the Thousand Oaks Award is Joan Christen. During an illustrious science teaching career, first at the former Southeast Nebraska Consolidated Schools in Stella, Neb., and in Beatrice from 2003 until her retirement in 2019, she won many awards and honors. Christen also served as a part-time (adjunct) faculty member for Peru State from 2008-19.
