Three individuals and one family will be honored Friday with their inductions to the Kearney High School Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame Ceremony will take place Friday night during halftime of the Kearney/North Platte football game. Kickoff is set for 7PM.
KGFW will broadcast the Kearney/North Platte game. Kickoff is set for 7PM, with Alex Hammeke and Ethan McCormick on the call.
KATIE HIGGINS
Between the years of 2009 and 2013, Katie Higgins Nealon established herself as one of the best KHS volleyball
players in school history, while also excelling in track and field. Her Bearcat athletic career began in 2009, when she
earned a varsity letter in volleyball, basketball, and track to become the first freshman to do so in school history. Katie
went on to be a 4-year letter winner in both volleyball and track. Her performance on the volleyball court garnered her
numerous awards including 2012 Kearney Hub Player of the Year, Omaha World Herald all-state second team and
honorable mentions, two-time Lincoln Journal Star second team and two-time all-conference team. Her performances also
broke four school records – total kills (1043), kills in a season (459), kills in a match (32) and kills per game (4.6) – records
that still stand today. Katie led the volleyball team to conference championships and district runner-up finishes in 2009,
2010 and 2011. Katie also represented KHS at the Nebraska Coaches Association all-star game in the summer of 2013.
In addition to volleyball success, Katie qualified for three state track and field meets, finishing fourth in Class A in
the high jump as a senior. Katie contributed to the track team’s success which included three conference championships
(2011, 2012, 2013) and two district championships (2010, 2011). She was also a part of the girls’ basketball team that won
conference and districts in 2010 to make the state tournament. Off the court, Katie was honored with the Wendy’s
Heisman and NSAA Believers and Achievers award in 2013.
Katie’s drive and high school success earned her a Division I volleyball scholarship at the University of Notre
Dame. While at Notre Dame, she earned four monogram letters, became team captain, and was named the team’s most
valuable player in 2016. Katie also led the team in blocks and hitting percentage her senior year while also earning a place
on the Atlantic Coast Conference academic honor roll. Katie graduated Notre Dame in 2017 with a degree in marketing
and now lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, Matt, and two daughters, Quinn and Caroline. She is an Assistant Vice
President of Brand Marketing at Nuveen Asset Management.
2011 Kearney Hub Volleyball Player of the Year
2012 Omaha World Herald Super State Second Team
2011 and 2012 Lincoln Journal Star All-State Second Team
2011 and 2012 GNAC All-Conference Team
2010 Omaha World Hearld All-State Honorable Mention
Broke 4 KHS Volleyball Records
2013 4 th Place Class A State High Jump
Four-Year Letterwinner Volleyball and Track and Field
One-Year Letter Winner Basketball
2013 Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star Volleyball Game
2013 NSAA Believers and Achiever Award
2013 Wendy’s Heisman School Winner
University of Notre Dame 2013-2017:
Scholarship Volleyball Athlete
Four-Time Monogram Winner: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
2016 Team MVP and Team Captain
Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Honor Roll
LUKE MCNITT
HIGH SCHOOL
2012 Senior Year
– 1st Team All-State Football
– Johnny Rodgers Over the Top Award (Western Nebraska Player of the Year)
– State Champion – Shot Put
– All-Class & State Champion – Discus
– 2011 & 2012 Track Team State Champions
– 2012 Hub Territory Male Athlete of the Year
COLLEGE
– Started as a walk-on in 2014 before earning a scholarship
– 2016 Husker Power Lifter of the Year
– 2017 Team Captain
– 2017 Cletus Fischer Native Son Award
NFL
– 2018: Signed with Atlanta Falcons & Minnesota Vikings
COACHING
– Spent the last four years at the University of Arizona, went 10-3 last year and
beat Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl
CURRENT
– Married in July to wife Abigail, living in Lincoln, working at Hudl and
starting own business
MIKE PECK
PERSONAL:
I grew up in Lexington, NE and graduated from Lexington High School. After high
school, I graduated from Kearney State College (now known as University of Nebraska –
Kearney) with a Business Administration/Marketing degree. I have been married to my
wife, Danette, for 34 years and we are empty nesters. Our oldest son, Danny, lives in
Lincoln, NE. Our youngest son, Matt, is married and has one daughter and lives in Omaha,
NE.
I have been involved with the KHS Bearcat Booster Club since January 2009. I have
served in many roles including President, Vice-President, and Executive Board. I am
currently the chair of the Membership Committee & assist in Program Ad Sales. I have
been fortunate to work with some great volunteers over the years and have always found
great support from Kearney Public Schools administration and especially KHS High School
principals and athletic staff. I have volunteered at multiple athletic events over the years
including the NSAA State track & Field Championships (10+ years) in the shot-put
arena and NSAA State Cross Country Championships (8 years) in Kearney, NE. I have also
assisted with Kearney High School track meets and cross country meets over the past 17
years. It has been a real joy to see many student/athletes perform and excel over the years
and getting to know many of them personally along with many coaches from around the
state.
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE:
I have been involved in lending/leasing for the past 35+ years (almost all ag related)
as my full- time job. I am currently employed at Heartland Bank as a Vice President/
Relationship Manager in the Grand Island branch. The bank has a wonderful culture and
promotes volunteering and community events for the bank staff which allows me to spend
time with supporting high school athletics and events.
LEWIS FAMILY
Bud and Darlene Lewis were long time supporters of Kearney High Athletics. They
could be found supporting their children and grandchildren at a variety of school
activities. Bud and Darlene valued the Kearney community, serving through their generous
donations, offering game security, or fitting athletes for their shoes. Their four children
graduated from Kearney High School. Debra and Darla helped to pave the way for girls’
athletics in the era of Title IV. Debra was on the drill team. Darla took part in volleyball,
track, and was the band majorette. Edward played football and basketball. Dennis excelled
in football, basketball, and track. He continued his career, playing baseball at Kearney State
College. Six Lewis grandchildren graduated from and continue to support KHS. Erica,
Leah, Kelli, Darbi, Abigail, and Rob, excelled on the soccer pitch, track and field events,
cross country, football and softball fields, basketball and volleyball courts, and in cheer,
dance, and color guard. Leah and Abigail continued their track and field careers at UNK.
Rob continued his football career with the UNO Mavericks and was inducted into the KHS
Hall of Fame in 2016. The third generation of Bearcats are now making their own marks on
Kearney Public Schools. It is an honor to wear the Blue and Gold, and to continue the
service started by Bud and Darlene, through coaching, volunteering, and fundraising.
Debra (Lewis) Happold- Class of 1969
Darla (Lewis) Stromberg- Class of 1971
Erica (Stromberg) Covey- Class of 1996
and Blake Covey- Class of 2003
Gavyn (Class of 2025) and Liliann Covey
Kelli (Stromberg) Rucker- Class of 1998
Ella (Class of 2024), Hadley, and Ayden Rucker
Edward Lewis- Class of 1974
Leah (Lewis) Stade- Class of 1998
Alexander (Class of 2027) and Henry Stade
Abigail (Lewis) Sterling- Class of 2002
Dennis Lewis- Class of 1976
Darbi (Lewis) Roeder- Class of 2000
and Brady Roeder- Class of 2009
Charley and Benni Roeder
Rob Lewis- Class of 2003
Hayleigh, Owen, and Adelyn Lewis
