KEARNEY – Trey Janicek of Bridgeport and Emma Thede of St. Paul are the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s Greek Man and Woman of the Year for 2020-21.
The UNK seniors were recognized Thursday during the annual Fraternity and Sorority Life awards banquet.
A member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, Janicek has held numerous leadership positions within his chapter and served as an executive member and delegate for the Interfraternity Council. He’s a member of the Order of Omega Greek honor society and a resident assistant in the Fraternity and Sorority Life community.
Janicek has also been involved with UNK Student Government, serving as vice president in 2020-21, the Mortar Board honor society and FIRST Leaders, a leadership-based student organization that focuses on service-learning activities both on and off campus. In the community, he’s volunteered with the Salvation Army, LiveLikeLou Foundation, The Arc of Buffalo County and other organizations.
Janicek’s nominator described him as “honest, loyal, kind and helpful,” saying he “always finds a way to make someone else’s day better.”
Thede, a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, has served as the chapter’s standards representative and Keeper of the Ritual, as well as vice president of administration and president of the Panhellenic Council. She’s been a Pi Chi, Loper Programming and Activities Council leader and campus tour guide, and she’s involved in the UNK Honors Program.
“I have learned more about myself and grown as a leader because of her,” Thede’s nominator stated. “She has made me a better person.”
Kelsey Hassenstab, assistant director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, said Thede’s influence extends far beyond her chapter.
“Emma pushes the entire FSL community to be the best they can be,” Hassenstab said. “The best part is, she does all of this with a big smile on her face and a calm, caring demeanor.”
Other awards presented Thursday include:
Living the Ritual Award – Brady Deprez, Delta Tau Delta
Outstanding Fraternity New Member – Keenan Torres, Sigma Phi Epsilon
Outstanding Sorority New Member – Kali Herbolsheimer, Alpha Omicron Pi
Fraternity Adviser of the Year – Abel Juan, Sigma Lambda Beta
Sorority Adviser of the Year – Chandra Diaz, Sigma Lambda Gamma
Academic Excellence Award – Alpha Omicron Pi
Outstanding Risk Management – Alpha Omicron Pi
Alumni Relations Award – Alpha Xi Delta
Outstanding Community Awareness – Lambda Theta Nu
Outstanding Faculty Relations – Sigma Phi Epsilon
Outstanding Recruitment and Retention – Phi Delta Theta
Outstanding Collaborative Program – Pi Kappa Alpha and UNK Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
Make-A-Wish Foundation fundraiser
Leadership and Campus Engagement Award – Alpha Phi
