This year, the college recognized alumni Jim Linderholm and Bruce Rippeteau with the college's first Distinguished Alumni awards at the Celebration of Excellence event on May 6.
Linderholm earned his B.S. from the university in 1961, studying geology and working with the US Geological Survey.
After being commissioned as First Lieutenant with the US Air Force, he worked at Strategic Air Command in Omaha, then joined HWS Consulting Group in 1965, eventually becoming president and chief executive officer. During his career, Linderholm assisted with the airport, the Haymarket Arena, the Beltway, and university campus in Lincoln as well as communities across Nebraska. He has also served on community boards and advised Lincoln mayors and Nebraska governors. He received the Governor's Distinguished Service Award for Workforce Development in Nebraska in 2004.
Linderholm has led and currently serves on the Dean's Advisory Council. He has also been a member of the department's Alumni Advisory Board (AAB) for over 50 years where he helped establish a mentoring program for alumni and students, several endowed funds, and a specialized computer lab. Linderholm has also established private funds to support the college and department.
Rippeteau graduated from Nebraska in 1968 with a B.A., majoring in anthropology and paleontology (English and military science minors). Elsewhere, he earned an M.A. in 1971 and a PhD in 1973.
He was selected to be the first-ever State Archaeologist of Colorado, a vice president of Powers Elevation, director of the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, and president of the Rotary Club of Columbia. After retiring, Rippeteau co-founded and served as co-president of Celebrate Freedom Foundation. He also served on the Association of US Army's Ft Jackson Chapter Advisory Board and as president of the Piedmont Chapter of the Explorers Club. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard's Auxiliary, the Ninth District's Eastern Region, receiving their Commander's Award.
Back at Nebraska as an adjunct full professor since 2014, he co-founded the Anthropology Friends Advisory Board and helped establish an Excellence Fund through the NU Foundation to benefit the department.
