North Platte, NE — April 15, 2025 — MENTOR Nebraska has announced Steven Heinzle as the recipient of the 2025 Mentor of the Year award, recognizing his remarkable 25-year commitment to youth mentorship in Nebraska.
Steve began his mentoring journey with Community Connections in North Platte after learning about the program during his time with the North Platte Jaycees. Since then, he has become a cornerstone of the mentoring community. Over the past two and a half decades, Steve has mentored nine youth through the program — with many of those matches lasting well beyond the one-year commitment typically required.
His mentees speak highly of the lasting impact Steve has had on their lives, sharing how his steady presence gave them someone to talk to when they needed it most. From meaningful conversations to fun outings and participation in mentoring program activities, Steve has offered his time, care, and unwavering consistency — a true mentor in every sense.
“Steve’s dedication is unmatched,” said Jayna Schaaf, Executive Director of Community Connections. “His 25 years of service show the power of showing up, again and again, for young people. He truly exemplifies what it means to be a Mentor of the Year.”
This is the second time a mentor from Community Connections has been selected for this prestigious statewide recognition of Mentor of the Year — the first being Jason Merz, honored for his exceptional mentoring work in 2022. The program was also recognized when Mentoring Coordinator Angela Hipp was named Mentoring Practitioner of the Year by MENTOR Nebraska. These honors reflect the deep commitment and high quality of mentorship fostered through Community Connections in North Platte — and Steve Heinzle’s story is a shining example of that legacy.
The 2025 Excellence in Mentoring Awards, hosted by MENTOR Nebraska, will be streamed live on Wednesday, April 23, from 12:30 to 1:00 PM. Tune in to celebrate Steve and other outstanding mentors across the state.
—
Watch live on MENTOR Nebraska’s social media pages: · Facebook: www.facebook.com/MENTORNebraska · LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/mentornebraska · YouTube: www.youtube.com/@mentornebraska/streams
Register to attend the virtual event: 2025 Excellence in Mentoring Awards by MENTOR Nebraska
—
