Every year, the School of H&K asks students to nominate deserving part-time faculty for the Aja Kneip Pelster Part-Time Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award. A committee of full-time and part-time faculty reviews the nominations students submit and selects the winner.
The winner is recognized at the annual H&K Awards Banquet in the spring.
This award is named in honor of the late Dr. Aja Kneip Pelster, who served UNO and the School of Health and Kinesiology for over a decade in multiple roles, including graduate assistant, part-time faculty member, instructor, and assistant professor. Dr. Kneip Pelster is best remembered for her dedication to high-quality teaching and mentoring students. She was a previous recipient of this award.
Nominate a deserving part-time faculty member today by clicking here!
Faculty, staff, and students from the School of Health and Kinesiology would like to recognize part-time faculty for their contributions and to honor the Aja Kneip Pelster Part-Time Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award recipients.
Kate Kough
Kate earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2015. Kate also earned her Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2018
Kate has been with the School of Health & Kinesiology for six years, teaching human sexuality.
Marcus Santos
Marcus earned his Bachelor of Science in Strength and Conditioning from Valley City State University in 2023. Marcus also received his Master of Science in Health and Kinesiology-Exercise Science from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2025.
Marcus has been with the School of Health & Kinesiology for three years, teaching fitness for living lab, fundamentals of resistance training, theory and practice of resistance training, and weight training and body conditioning.
The following instructors are recognized for their years of teaching service:
Fifteen Years: Marcia Adler and Matt Dykstra
Twenty-Five Years: Rita Corell
Previous Winners
2025 - Kate Kough & Marcus Santos
2024 - Nadria Beale & Mark Frillman
2023 - Lauren Paulsen Smith & Mary Watson
2022 - Stacy Hartwig & Megan Mikolajczyk
2021 - Nicole Malene & Skyler Brooke
2020 - Whitney Vessar
2019 - Jen Pflug & Matt Dykstra
2018 - Brent Bloom & Mark Frillman
2017 - Mary Watson & Jon Day
2016 - Tracy Stratman, Kent Templien & Stacia Weaver
2015 - Rita Corell
2014 - Glen Wragge
2013 - Aja Kneip Pelster
2012 - Marcia Adler
2011-2012 - Jon Carey, Matt Dykstra & Chris Gadsden
2010-2011 - Jeff Kaipust & Chris Richardson
2009-2010 - Craig Johnson & Bob Herold
2008-2009 - Beth Gruber & Rose Shires
2007-2008 - Glen Wragge & Ted Anderson
2006-2007 - Mary Waugh-Taylor & Lisa Schniepp
2005-2006 - Caroline Olson & Chad Kinart
2004-2005 - Pat Behrns & Joe Kaminski
2003-2004 - Don Klosterman & Suk Ki Shin
2002-2003 - Michele Merrill & Mike Denney
2001-2002 - Rusty Mckune & Jason Paladino
2000-2001 - Karen Povondra & Mark Williams
1999-2000 - Marti Rosen Atherton
1998-1999 - Sue Selde & Tom Frette