NCCA Awards Presented to CCC Alumnus, Administrator and Instructor

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. – Central Community College alum Jon Abegglen, associate dean of career and technical sciences Alison Feeney and occupational therapy assistant instructor Libby Theoharis received awards at the Nebraska Community College Association (NCCA) annual conference awards ceremony on Nov. 2 in Lincoln.

Abegglen received the Distinguished Alumni Award for CCC, Feeney was presented with the Administrator or Staff Award and Theoharis received the Faculty Member Award. Additionally, long-time CCC Board of Governors member Tom Pirnie was recognized as a nominee for the NCCA Governor's Award.

Abegglen attended Platte College, which later became CCC-Columbus, from 1971 to 1973. He then earned a business degree from Kearney State College, now the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK). He has a powerful record of business involvement in Kearney as a commercial real estate developer and manager and former senior vice president of commercial and agribusiness banking at First National Bank. Abegglen joined the Central Community College Foundation Board in 2018 and assisted in the $20 million capital campaign, raising more than $11 million, for the construction of the CCC-Kearney building.

Abegglen has been involved in securing additional support for scholarships, programming and spaces to support CCC’s growing nursing program in Kearney along with an entrepreneurship and small business development center. He has strong connections with UNK, the Buffalo County Economic Development Council, the City of Kearney Redevelopment Authority, the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce, the Merryman Performing Arts Center, the Platte Institute and the University of Nebraska Foundation. Those connections have proved invaluable for CCC in building relationships and partnerships that provide impactful benefits and advocacy for students, employees and residents in CCC’s 25-county service area.

Abegglen addressed the gathering and said he was humbled to receive the award and that it means a lot to him. He then praised the NCCA for the work it does in filling a vital role in Nebraska and for its citizens.

“What you’re doing is tremendous, not only for the individuals, but for business and industry in the state of Nebraska,” said Abegglen. “The technical training you provide, the skilled labor, it’s wonderful and that’s what’s going to continue to help Nebraska succeed and move forward.”

Feeney joined CCC in 2021 as an associate dean for career and technical sciences (CTS). In this role, she supervises more than a dozen programs.

Feeney established one of the first Walter Scott Jr. Career Pathway Scholars programs in the country. She has also assisted the CCC Foundation capital and scholarship campaigns for advanced manufacturing, automotive and autobody, and spearheaded a unique manufacturing pathways partnership between the Hastings Area Manufacturing Association, Hastings Economic Development Corporation, area high schools and CCC.

In addition to a full workload of CTS programming, Feeney regularly assists in other campus and collegewide initiatives including the Verizon Innovation camp, Diesel Technology Days, Automotive Day, the annual CCC car show and SkillsUSA. She also organizes summer camps for the programs she works with, is a member of the Hastings Campus Welcome Committee and volunteers for countless tours and visits from prospective students, parents, employers and donors.

Originally from Chapman, Feeney earned her undergraduate degree from Midland University. She earned a master’s degree from Hastings College and two master's degrees in education administration from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

"I’m deeply honored to be recognized by the NCCA as Administrator of the Year at Central Community College,” Feeney said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact every day in my role as associate dean with the variety of programs I work with and the amazing staff and faculty I have."

Theoharis joined the CCC faculty in 2015 as an instructor in the occupational therapy assistant (OTA) program. She brought a wealth of real-world examples from her work at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Munroe-Meyer Institute in Omaha and GO Physical Therapy in Grand Island. Theoharis earned her occupational therapy degree from Creighton University and bachelor of arts degrees in psychology and biology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Driven by innovation, Theoharis developed a comprehensive, hands-on level I pediatric fieldwork program (Getting it Write) for occupational therapy assistant students with direct clinical experience in pediatric occupational therapy. The concepts are designed to enhance the students’ practical skills and confidence.

To support community needs, she partners with local organizations to help establish free pediatric occupational therapy clinics which offer more than six hours of services to the community and gives each OTA student over 40 hours of practical experience. 

Theoharis was involved in the successful OTA student ideation, $2.5 million fundraising and implementation of the state’s largest inclusive playground in Grand Island that was recognized as the 2023 National Park of the Year by Burke Playgrounds.

“I am deeply grateful and honored to accept the Faculty Member Award,” said Theoharis. “This recognition reflects not only my efforts in occupational therapy assisting, but the incredible students who inspire me each day and the dedicated staff who make our Central Community College community so special. I am truly grateful to the students and staff who have inspired, supported and challenged me along the way. This recognition belongs to all of us."

Pirnie earned a certificate in electronics technology from CCC-Hastings in 1974 and was elected to the CCC Board of Governors for the Grand Island district in 1994. He has served as board chairman four times, most recently in 2024, and was successfully re-elected for four more years. In 2025, he and his wife, Sue, received CCC honorary associate degrees. As a trucking executive of GI Express and GIX Logistics, Pirnie’s expertise helped CCC establish Nebraska’s only heavy equipment operator program and expand the truck driving and diesel technology programs. He actively supports entrepreneurship development and economic development initiatives statewide. In 2023, the Pirnies provided the lead gift for the Grand Island inclusive playground, the state’s largest, which originated from a CCC OTA program student project. They also pledged $1 million toward student housing on the Grand Island Campus, demonstrating their transformative commitment to CCC students and communities across central Nebraska.