The Vikings of Distinction annual event honors deserving Omaha North High alumni who are outstanding examples of excellence, both in their professions and communities. The Vikings of Distinction event was created in 1983 by faculty members Ellen and Carol Gast, to honor deserving Omaha North High alumni who are accomplished in their chosen careers and their communities. As the program is designed to inspire students, the Vikings of Distinction Committee also awards six $2,000 scholarships to graduating North High seniors.
Each year, the Vikings of Distinction honorees return to North High to participate in the school’s scholarship convocation and address the student body in an all-school assembly where they see videos of their accomplishments and their portraits unveiled. Serving as role models, they also meet in small informal group sessions with students to discuss and answer questions about their respective fields. During the evening, the honorees and their videos are again presented at the Vikings of Distinction banquet, attended by their families, friends, alumni, faculty and former honorees. Following the banquet, the honorees’ portraits are hung in a permanent place of honor at Omaha North High Magnet School.
For more information about the event including how to nominate a Viking of Distinction, please follow this link to the Omaha North High School Foundation's Vikings of Distinction page.
