There’s likely never been a stronger, more energetic advocate for the unique excellence of Central than Dr. Keith Bigsby. Not only did he serve as Central’s 18th principal, he’s continued to work tirelessly for the school as a board member for the CHS Foundation and CHS Alumni Association. As one nominator put it, Dr. Bigsby […]

A producer and actress, Kurtzuba has worked alongside some of entertainment’s biggest names, including Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro and Leonardo DiCaprio. She had her first local theater role at the age of 10, and was hooked. She co-captained the CHS Pom Squad and played the lead in the fall musical in her senior year. After […]

Gaylor spent a remarkable 51 years as a classroom educator in OPS, highlighted by 36 years teaching at Central and leading the school’s award-winning DECA program. Gaylor launched his teaching career at Tech High in 1969 before moving to Central in 1984 when Tech closed. He taught marketing, coordinated student internships and mentored Central’s DECA […]

Hadsell has combined a long tenure with Omaha’s telephone company with service to a wide range of community organizations. After graduating from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1970, Hadsell joined The NASA manager and engineer is helping pioneer new frontiers in space, taking a lead role in upcoming missions that for the first time in a […]

As a public health professional, Novotny helped sound the alarm on the dangers of smoking both here and globally. After graduating from UNMC in 1973, he served in the National Health Service Corps before joining the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an epidemiologist in the Office of Smoking and Health. There, he contributed […]

Few have been as devoted to Central as both a parent and an alumnus than Chris Pellman. As her own children went through Central, she served eight years as an officer in the school’s PEP organization, including two terms as president. She for years chaired PEP’s Holiday Tea event. She has likewise provided years of […]

Scott has dedicated her career in the performing arts to increasing opportunity and diversity, and now has a national stage to continue that work as the first director of equity, diversity and inclusion for Broadway in New York. A dancer in her youth, while at Central she won a talent competition that took her to […]

The award-winning astronomer pioneered the use of photoelectric photometry as a technique for measuring the size and distance of celestial objects. After receiving his doctorate from the University of California, he led the observatories at the University of Illinois and the University of Wisconsin. With a colleague, he pioneered photoelectric photometry, measuring light emitted by […]

Fellman left his mark in Omaha political circles as a candidate, office holder, and later an educator. At the University of Nebraska, he served as editor of The Daily Nebraskan and became a reporter for The Lincoln Star and Associated Press. After graduating from NU’s Law School, he practiced for 44 years. The Democrat entered politics in the early […]

Thompson broke new ground for people of color as a dentist and longtime officer in the U.S. Air Force. Thompson was a leader in Central ROTC programs before going on to graduate from Creighton University and its dental school. He became the first African-American to graduate at the top of a dental class there. He […]