Mount Michael Benedictine School in Elkhorn, Nebraska is pleased to announce the five winners of the Benedictine Awards for volunteer elementary/junior high level coaches. The recipients will be honored at the Mount Michael Sports Night on Saturday, February 5, 2005. Popular ESPN analyst, Lee Corso, will be the featured speaker. The event is presented by the Mount Michael Alumni Association and the Mount Michael Booster Club.

     The winners were chosen from many nominated by the public across the region. Recipients must be volunteer coaches on the elementary or junior high level for five years or more, non-compensated for their coaching, exhibit a love of sports and of encouraging youth to make the most of his or her God-given talents. Their lives must reflect the values of St. Benedict – dedication to Christian ideals and commitment to community.

     The winners are: Bernard Lorkovic of Omaha, Dennis Mailliard of Omaha, Kevin Miller of Omaha, Dan Mueller of Fremont and Scott Stanard of Omaha.

     Bernard (Bernie) Lorkovic, a retired Omaha firefighter, coached girl’s softball and basketball teams for 21 years at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Omaha. He served as President of the Parish Athletic Club and founded and managed his own girl’s slow pitch softball league which eventually included most Catholic schools in Omaha. He stressed the importance of good sportsmanship, learning the sport and having fun.

     Dennis Mailliard is in his 32nd year of coaching junior high sports at St. Margaret Mary Catholic School. Prior to that, he coached flag football and basketball at St. Joan of Arc Catholic School. He expanded and coordinates the PAL football league and the PAL baseball league. He runs the St. Margaret Mary basketball tourney. Dave Dare, chairman of the parish athletic committee says, “It is unbelievable the role Dennis plays for these kids. They’re not only good athletes, but he molds them into good Christians, good scholars and fine ladies and gentlemen.”

    Kevin Miller has coached for over ten years. Four years of basketball coaching at St. Stephen the Martyr,
CYSL soccer for ten years, Kingswood baseball for seven years, Millard softball for 4 years and Millard
Stars soccer for 3 years.He emphasizes teamwork and believes in giving equal playing time to all players regardless of skill level. Stephen and Susan Venteicher say, “Kevin’s emphasis on sportsmanship and character on the court has carried over into everyday life. During our son’s eighth grade year one of the team members died suddenly. Kevin was there for the family and made himself available to every player and family in grieving over the loss of their friend and teammate.”

      Dan Mueller has coached numerous teams since 1967 including Fremont’s Archbishop Bergan Junior High football and basketball, Knights of Columbus baseball, Fremont Girls Softball Association, Fremont YMCA Boys and Girls Basketball, Fremont Jaycee Youth Football and Cedar Bluffs softball. He believes in teaching his players to pray for each other and to love their teammates for who they are. Several past players all mention the same phrase that Coach Mueller taught them, “If God is with me, who can be against me?”

     Scott Stanard has coached football for the past 15 years, originally with the Gladiators Youth Football Program and more recently with KWAA Youth Football as Head Pee Wee Coach for the Dolphins. One parent states, “He instills in these kids the importance of hard work, dedication, preparation, what it means to be a member of a team, but I think most importantly about competition. He teaches what it means to win and what it means to lose and how to handle both.”

     The event will be held at Mount Michael Benedictine School in the gymnasium with a social hour at 6 P.M. followed by the dinner and program at 7 P.M. Mount Michael is located two miles west of Elkhorn off Maple Street. Tickets to the event are $100. Seating is limited and early reservations are recommended. Call (402) 289-2541, ext. 1203 or ext. 1204.