Columbus, NE – January 19, 2026 – Five distinguished individuals will be honored at the 2026 Discoverers of Distinction induction ceremony, recognizing their remarkable achievements across various fields. The event will take place on April 16th, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Columbus American Legion. Tickets for the banquet are available for purchase online at CPS Anchor Website.
The annual Discoverers of Distinction ceremony celebrates the extraordinary accomplishments of Columbus Public Schools alumni, as well as honorary individuals who have made lasting impacts on the community. This year's honorees include:
Legacy Inductees:
Jim and Connie Hellbusch (Classes of 1964 & 1966): In 1981, Jim became president of Duo Lift, guiding its growth from wagon lifts into a leading designer and manufacturer of agricultural trailers and fertilizer equipment serving customers across the nation. Jim has served as a board member and past president of the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association, the Nebraska Environment Trust Board and the Nebraska Department of Water and Environment Board. In 1981, Connie joined the company, bringing organizational leadership and a strong sense of customer service that helped sustain Duo Lift’s expansion in new product lines and markets. Beyond the business, Connie emerged as a civic leader, serving on the boards of the CCH Hospital Foundation, Columbus Library Foundation, United Way, Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce and earning recognition for her leadership and support of local enterprises. Together, they have been honored repeatedly for their contributions to agriculture, small business, and the Columbus community, including local, state, and national-level business awards and agribusiness recognition.
Robert Lohr, MD (Class of 1968): Dr. Lohr has held numerous leadership and faculty roles, including Division Director, Department Chair, and Chief of Medicine, in Minneapolis before joining Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. At Mayo, he served as a consultant in General Internal Medicine and Health Care Policy & Research, held academic appointments within the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, and now serves as Assistant Professor of Medicine emeritus. A nationally recognized physician leader, he has received multiple honors, including Laureate Awards from the American College of Physicians (ACP) a nd the Mayo Clinic, Mastership in the ACP, and recognition among the Top 20% of Mayo Clinic educators. He has contributed to medical education, quality improvement, research, and global health service volunteering locally and internationally, while mentoring future physicians and leaders.
Hon. Terry Michael (Class of 1976): Lawyer and federal judge who for over 28 years served as a jurist, mentor, professor, and scholar, presiding over tens of thousands of cases and authoring over two hundred published opinions. He was an adjunct professor of law at the University of Tulsa for over 20 years, a nationally recognized speaker on issues of bankruptcy law and ethics, and both served on or chaired numerous committees providing insight and advice on bankruptcy law and procedure.
- Christie Hasenkamp Frederick (Class of 2003): Christie has worked as a structural engineer with Larson Engineering and is currently a Senior Associate at DLR Group in Omaha, where she specializes in educational facilities across Nebraska and the Midwest. Her work includes numerous school projects throughout Nebraska and Iowa, including serving as the primary structural engineer of the current Columbus High School. She is a licensed Professional Engineer and an active member of the Structural Engineers Association of Nebraska.
Honorary Inductee:
- Ron Callan: A 40-year veteran teacher known as an exceptional leader and person of principle who exemplified courage and creativity in the classroom. Alumni and fellow staff members remember him as a teacher who set high standards for his students which earned him their respect, resulting in the best learning environment. Forming bonds with his students allowed him to better understand how they each learned and allowed for more critical thinking in the classroom. Preparing many of his students with the background to pursue careers as doctors and in other science related fields. In 1994, Callan was the recipient of the Christa McAuliffe Prize for Courage and Excellence in Education by the University of Nebraska -Lincoln’s College of Education and Human Sciences.
The Discoverers of Distinction induction ceremony offers the Columbus community a chance to celebrate the outstanding contributions of these exceptional individuals. Their achievements reflect the values of hard work, integrity, and service, qualities that are deeply embedded in the spirit of Columbus Public Schools.
Join us in honoring these distinguished individuals at the banquet, as we celebrate their extraordinary legacies. Tickets can be purchased now for $25 per person, or $350 for a sponsored reserved table of eight. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit CPS Anchor Event Calendar.
The Columbus Public Schools community looks forward to celebrating these remarkable individuals and the legacy they have built through their dedication and accomplishments.
