OMAHA, Neb. – The Aksarben Foundation is proud to celebrate Ak-Sar-Ben: Looking Back & Leading Onward, which has received three honors in the 2026 Nebraska Book Awards for its design, cover and nonfiction history.
Written by Angie Hempel, edited by Kristine Gerber and designed by Jared Cloudt, the book received top honors for both Book Design and Cover Design, along with the Nonfiction History Honor Award. Published by The Durham Museum in 2025, the book was produced in partnership with the Aksarben Foundation and the museum’s On Track Guild.
Ak-Sar-Ben: Looking Back & Leading Onward tells the story of one of Nebraska’s most enduring institutions and the people, traditions and ideas that shaped its impact across the state.
Drawing extensively from The Durham Museum’s archives and historic images, the coffee-table book chronicles more than a century of Ak-Sar-Ben history through parades, pageantry, philanthropy and progress. Hundreds of rarely seen photographs and newly uncovered stories illustrate the organization’s lasting influence on Omaha and communities throughout Nebraska.
For generations, Aksarben has stood at the intersection of heritage and progress, bringing business and community leaders together to invest in Nebraska, celebrate its people and help build a stronger future. The recognition of Looking Back & Leading Onward reflects both the significance of that history and the importance of preserving it for future generations.
The Nebraska Book Awards, sponsored and facilitated by the Nebraska Center for the Book and Nebraska Library Commission, recognize books with a Nebraska connection. The 2026 award recipients will be honored during the Nebraska Celebration of Books on November 14 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Ak-Sar-Ben: Looking Back & Leading Onward is available at The Durham Museum’s Hitchcock Museum Shop and other local bookstores. Copies may also be ordered online for delivery at DurhamMuseum.org.
For more information about the book or to place an online order, visit DurhamMuseum.org/book-aksarben.
