Sharon Hambek, a longtime Seward tourism volunteer, was honored with a surprise award May 5.
She was presented one of the Nebraska Tourism Frontline Employee/Volunteer Awards by the State of Nebraska Division of Tourism. The surprise presentation was done by Lilly Uhlmann, Industry Relations and Education Coordinator for the State Tourism office in Lincoln. Hambek was nominated for the award by Gerald Meyer, historian of the Nebraska National Guard Museum, who received the award in 2023.
Along with the certificate, Hambek was awarded as free registration at the next Tourism Conference, which will be held in Lincoln, where she will be a guest of the State Tourism Division.
The purpose of the award is to celebrate and thank the people who make visitors feel welcome and enhance Nebraska’s tourism industry. The selection is completed by the State Tourism office through the call for nominations by community members, local tourism leaders and tourism partners.
“Sharon is the complete package when it comes to being a volunteer for tourism,” Meyer said. “While she is great with guests at the front welcome counter at the Nebraska National Guard Museum, she is also ready to volunteer for a host of ‘behind the scenes’ activities as well.”
At the museum, Hambek helps manage the gift shop, is one of lead NNGM docents, is on the Board of the Nebraska National Guard Historical Society and one of the key museum coordinators for their July 4 activities.
“She is a very responsible volunteer and we can always count on her to represent the museum in a professional manner. She’s the ‘best’ and makes volunteering look easy,” Meyer said.
Clark Kolterman, chair of the Seward County Visitor’s Bureau, listed additional areas Hambek volunteers in.
She is a longtime co-chair of the Seward Fourth of July Celebration Information Booth and the craft show co-chair with her husband Steve for decades.
“She’s always willing to help host one of our Seward County Visitor’s Booths at various activities, such as the County Fair or Health Fair, and yet she and Steve still have time to lead the local Food Net weekly program for the local United Methodist Church,” Kolterman said. “She most certainly deserves this and award. It is great to see the State Tourism recognize and thank her for her volunteer efforts to promote tourism in Nebraska.
Sharon and her husband Steve moved to Seward about 25 years ago from Lincoln, where she worked with the Secretary of State as the office Special Events Coordinator. Prior to that, she was the executive director for North Platte’s NEBRASKAland Days for almost a decade.
She has been a longtime and loyal member of the Seward County Visitor’s Bureau and has represented the SCVB at numerous meetings and many, many State Travel Conferences over the years.
Sharon and Steve have four children, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
The Front Line Award was presented before a large group of guests representing the Nebraska National Guard Museum Docents, the Nebraska National Guard Historical Society, the Seward County Chamber and Development Partnership, the Seward Fourth of July Celebration Committee, the Blue River Historical District, the Seward Country Visitor’s Bureau Board, the Seward United Methodist Food Net Committee and a host of friends.
The award was held in conjunction with the National and Nebraska State Tourism Week and presented to several other area leaders as well. These awards recognize employees nominated by industry partners for going above and beyond in promoting Nebraska communities.
Sue Imig, a longtime leader and volunteer at the Seward County Historical Society Museum in Goehner, received the State Tourism’s Front-Line Employee/Volunteer Award a year ago.
