Lincoln, Neb. —Scott Kurz, physiology lab manager for the animal science department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has received a Kudos Award from the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. Kurz was recognized during the June 25 Board of Regents meeting.
Kurz joined the department in 2012, and quickly earned a reputation as a meticulous and knowledgeable hard worker who cares about his job and colleagues. In addition to running a laboratory that serves many groups within the animal science department, he also maintains equipment, cares for animals, and manages and mentors many of the undergraduate and graduate students who work in the lab.
When most UNL employees began working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kurz, an essential worker, continued to come to campus daily. He put in long days maintaining the lab, and he stayed in close contact with the faculty and students who use it to ensure that important research remained on track. In the months following the pandemic, Kurz worked hard to ensure research faculty and staff had necessary supplies – at times a difficult task amid pandemic-related supply chain disruptions. He also often came in early or stayed late to assist with research trials and other tasks that needed to be taken care of.
“For Scott Kurz, his job is not just a job. He believes that what he does in our lab and the department is acting as a facilitator to ensure that our research in the department runs smoothly, which in turn is helping Nebraska make a lasting impact in the field of animal science,” said Andrea Cupp, Irvin T. and Wanda R. Omtvedt Professor of Animal Science, who nominated Kurz for the Kudos Award. “Scott is very proud of the fact that he is a product of our department and UNL. He makes sure that every student he interacts with understands how special it is to be at UNL.”
Scott Kurz, and his wife, Pam, live in Elkhorn. They have two sons in college – one at UNL and the other at the University of Nebraska Omaha.