KEARNEY – Abby (Roland) Sekle has been selected as the 2024 Dr. Donald E. Fox Distinguished Chemistry Alumna.
She will be honored at the 44th annual Distinguished Alumni Awards luncheon, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Oct. 11 in the Gala Room at the Regional Engagement Center, 2204 University Drive. Tickets are $25 per person ($30 starting Sept. 30) and $15 for children ages 12 and younger. They can be purchased until Oct. 2 at unkalumni.org/homecoming or by calling the UNK Alumni Association at 308-698-5271.
Sekle will give her lecture at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 11 in Copeland Hall, Room 131. The lecture is free and open to the public.
“I am thrilled for Abby to be honored as this year’s Distinguished Chemistry Alumna,” said UNK chemistry professor Chris Exstrom. “She was an excellent student and worked very hard in and out of the classroom. She embraced both the chemistry and teaching professional aspects of her education with equal passion, and that is clearly reflected in her outstanding record as a high school teacher.”
An Omaha resident, Sekle has been a high school science teacher for 20 years, educating students in chemistry, physics and physical science. She is currently a science teacher at Elkhorn North High School and previously taught at Arlington High School and Benson High School.
Her hands-on and encouraging approach to learning earned her the University of Nebraska-Lincoln impactful teacher recognition and Benson High School Star Teacher of the Year award, both student-nominated recognitions. She is currently the co-coach of the Elkhorn North High School Academic Decathlon team.
The Kearney native and Kearney High School graduate received a Bachelor of Science in 7-12 chemistry and physical education in 2004 and Master of Science in science/math education in 2015, both from UNK.
