Dr. Leah Christensen named Budig Outstanding MCC teacher

Dr. Leah Christensen receives the Gene Budig Award for outstanding McCook Community College faculty from Mid-Plains Community College President Ryan Purdy during MCC Commencement Friday.

 

McCook Community College awarded Dr. Leah Christensen with the 2026 Gene Budig Outstanding Faculty Award. The announcement came Friday during MCC’s Commencement ceremony at the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center.

Also at Friday’s Commencement, Community Hospital received the President’s Award for outstanding service to the college. Sophomore Jacelyn Jorgensen delivered the student commencement speech.

Dr. Christensen, a biology instructor in the Math & Sciences Division at MCC, was selected by the college’s Gene Budig Award selection committee and submitted to the Mid-Plains Community College Cabinet. Budig who was an MCC graduate, provides a $1,000 award each year to recognize and honor outstanding educators.

According to one of three nomination letters submitted on her behalf, “Dr. Christensen is a dedicated faculty member who works tirelessly to keep her course content up-to-date and who is committed to using all resources available to foster student learning and engagement.”

In addition to her work with students and staff, one co-worker cited her collaboration with colleagues and her dedication to both the college and the McCook community.

“Dr. Christensen is committed to stellar but accessible course content. Her use of open education resources (OER) material does not end with simply choosing a text. She puts the work in to tailor the content to her course and to the students she is teaching.”

She collaborates with staff to help provide textbooks on reserve for students who need quick access to them in adding supplemental course material to the collection. Faculty members are impressed with the commitment Dr. Christensen shows to rigorous course content while also meeting students where they are.

“She keeps her course content fresh by integrating technologies that aim to foster distance learning and student engagement,” said one nomination letter.

Her students have even mentioned what they learned from her in other courses, such as students working on health misinformation cite her nutrition course as inspiration for their project in an English class.

“Her efforts to keep current in her subject while staying committed to effective teaching practices are admirable,” said one colleague. “She collaborates with other faculty to ensure the technologies she adopts work at optimum levels, and she collaborates with students to ensure they are learning the material.”

Dr. Christiansen attends conferences to stay up-to-date in her field while also attending professional development programs, like the Faculty Leadership Development Program.

Her commitment to the college extends beyond the classroom. In her time as co-sponsor of Phi Theta Kappa she took the lead in organizing the PTK Induction Ceremony. She supports students at events by attending volleyball, basketball, softball and baseball games.

For several years, she has also supported her colleagues by being one of the faculty association negotiators.

“Her commitment to improving the lives of her students and her colleagues has not gone unnoticed. Not only does she work tirelessly for the college, but she’s also shown huge commitment to the McCook community,” said one nomination letter.

As co-owner of Lucy’s Bakery, she was part of an effort to help save a long-time McCook institution and many – including her colleagues – believe the success of the bakery in a few short months has made a difference in McCook.

Gene Budig Award Winners

2008 – Loretta Hauxwell

2009 – Sue Watts

2010 – (No winner)

2011 – Megan Friesen

2012 – Janet Stalder

2013 – Becky Meyers

2014 – Rob Bogardus

2015 – Jim Hall

2016 – Lorrie Mowry

2017 – Tyler Esch

2018 – Susi Curl

2019 – Clay Grizzle

2020 – Rick Johnson

2021 – Lisa Beans

2022 – Sheri Hink-Wagner

2023 – Renelle Mooney

2024 – Micah Marvin

2025 – Dr. Cassandra Pfeifer

2026 – Dr. Leah Christensen