After more than 70 years of waiting, Helen Lannin (Henkens) received her degree from Midland University.

[Helen Lannin receives her honorary degree from Jamie Simpson, Chief Academic Officer, and Aly Williams, Midland University President.]

Lannin was presented with an honorary bachelor’s degree during a ceremony in Lincoln, Nebraska, on September 2. Midland University President Dr. Aly Williams presented Lannin with the degree, along with Dr. Jamie Simpson (Chief Academic Officer) and Laura Jensen (Vice President for Institutional Advancement). 

Lannin was surrounded by her family (which included her two sons, her daughter-in-law, three grandchildren, and her niece and her husband) and friends for the event.

“When Laura called me to tell me the news, I told her at the time I was glad I was sitting down because it came as a complete shock to me,” Lannin said. “It was a big, wonderful surprise.”

Now 93, Lannin attended Midland in the early 1950s, but finished a few credits short of graduating. She would embark on a long and successful career in the accounting world, including a 30-plus-year stint as Chief Financial Officer of Schweser’s Department Store in Fremont. She was the consummate professional and innovative as well, learning about computers as they were introduced into the workforce.

All this while raising two sons as a single mother.

“I learned a lot on the job,” Lannin said. “I also appreciate my parents who were able to help me raise my boys while I was working.”

Her connections to Midland and the Fremont community are strong. Her brother, Ken Henkens, served on the Midland University Board of Directors for eight years, including a three-year stint as board chairperson. Ken (who attended Midland for one year) received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws from Midland University in May 2007.

Ken and Helen would eventually start the George W. Henkens Scholarship at Midland, in honor of their father. The scholarship is awarded to a business student each year.

After graduating from Fremont High School in 1950, Lannin originally came to Midland to study music, but joked that she soon found out that wasn’t her calling. After switching to become an education major, she eventually found her calling in accounting.

The honorary degree has already found a home in Helen’s room and on her wall.

“It’s in a beautiful frame, and one of the workers where I live came by and hung it on the wall for me,” she said.