Nebraska Center for the Book Honors 2025 Award Recipients at Literary Festival

The Nebraska Center for the Book is proud to announce the recipients of its three distinguished literary honors: the Jane Pope Geske Award, the Mildred Bennett Award, and the President’s Award, at the 2025 Nebraska Celebration of Books Literary Festival, held Saturday, November 15th, at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln City Campus Union and Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center.

This year’s Jane Pope Geske Award will be presented to Delivering Infinite Bookshelves, a transformative literacy initiative that sends a book home with students each night to foster reading habits and support school and public library efforts. The program has demonstrated remarkable success in schools where students have historically struggled and has expanded its reach across Nebraska beyond Omaha. The award, supported by the Center for the Book, honors organizations making long-term contributions to literacy, reading, and writing in Nebraska.

This year’s Jane Pope Geske Award will be presented to Ashley Olson, Executive Director of the Willa Cather Foundation, for her outstanding contributions to Nebraska’s literary tradition. Olson’s leadership has elevated the Foundation’s national profile, including her role in placing Littleton Alston’s statue of Willa Cather in Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C. Her work has drawn acclaimed authors to Red Cloud, spearheaded successful capital campaigns, and expanded the Foundation’s digital reach - creating a lasting literary landmark that enriches both scholarship and community.

This year, the Nebraska Center for the Book honors Christine Walsh and Tessa Timperley with the President’s Award for their exceptional service to the Nebraska Center for the Book and Nebraska’s literary community.

Christine Walsh served multiple terms as president of the Nebraska Center for the Book, offering steady leadership and innovative direction, especially during the challenges of the pandemic. Her participation in the 2024 National Center for the Book strategic planning process ensured that Nebraska’s voice was heard at the national level. Her work reflects a deep commitment to collaboration, kindness, and literary excellence.

Tessa Timperley has provided the Nebraska Center for the Book invaluable behind-the-scenes support for years, enabling volunteers to carry out their work with efficiency and confidence. Her competence, humor, and collaborative spirit have made her an essential part of the Center’s success and a respected figure in Nebraska’s literary landscape.

The Celebration of Books will also feature readings by 2025 Nebraska Book Award winners, author panels, book vendors, and appearances by State Poets Jewel Rodgers and Matt Mason, along with Tosca Lee, author of the 2025 One Book One Nebraska selection. The 2026 One Book One Nebraska title will be revealed during the event.

For more information, visit bookfestival.nebraska.gov.

The Nebraska Center for the Book is housed at the Nebraska Library Commission and brings together the state’s readers, writers, booksellers, librarians, publishers, printers, educators, and scholars to build the community of the book, supporting programs to celebrate and stimulate public interest in books, reading, and the written word. The Nebraska Center for the Book is supported by the national Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and the Nebraska Library Commission.