Papillion-La Vista, Nebraska
Jeff Nienhueser graduated from Grand Island Northwest High School in 1979 and received his B.A. in education with endorsements in speech, theatre, and sociology from Kearney State College in Nebraska in 1984. He earned his M.S. in education from Peru State College in 2006.
Mr. Nienhueser began his teaching career in 1984 at McCook Junior High, and in 1986, he added the high school theatre and speech classes. In 1993, he became the director of theatre at Papillion-La Vista High School, where in 2003 he opened the Titan Theatre. He then formed the Papillion-La Vista Community Theatre with the help of several other community members. Now in its seventh year, the organization provides live theatre to the Papillion, La Vista, and Omaha areas. Mr. Nienhueser serves as artistic director and producer.
Mr. Nienhueser was inducted into the International Thespian Society in 1977 and Alpha Psi Omega in 1984. Additional honors and offices include Outstanding Young Man of America, Who’s Who in American Teachers, Nebraska Theatre Teacher of the Year, Nebraska Thespian Service Award, Nebraska state Thespian director, finalist for the Wilson National Mentor Award for Outstanding Theatre Educator, and Theatre Arts Guild of Omaha Educator of the Year. At the time of his Hall of Fame induction, he was in his thirtieth year of teaching. He met his wife Kaylene in 1977 during their high school production of Carousel. They have been married for twenty-nine years.
