The Nebraska Well Drillers Association is the recipient the 2002 Don Nelson Festival Service Award. Recipients of the Nelson Award demonstrate long-term commitment to the Festival and a willingness to go "above and beyond the call of duty" in making the Foundation's annual Children's Groundwater Festival a special experience for everyone attending.

Don Nelson was the president of the Central Community College during the development and launch of the Children's Groundwater Festival in 1989. His spirit of generosity and cooperation are exemplified by the organizations receiving this award. Exemplifying this tradition of support and service, The Nebraska Well Driller's Association is an outstanding choice for the Nelson Award.

Every year since the festival's inception in 1989, association members have presented exhibition hall and classroom activities, such as "Well Done Wells," that help the almost 2,000 children attending the festival understand the importance of ground water and wells. In addition, the association created mascots "Wanda and Wally Water" and has sponsored a ground water art and coloring contest. Former association president Wayne Madsen has coordinated the festival's exhibit hall events every year since 1990.

This year, the foundation partnered with the driller's association to develop the "Groundwater Trading Cards" that debuted at the festival in Grand Island, Neb., on March 19 through a show stage game, "Wellspring of Knowledge." The cards also were distributed as part of many other festival activities.

The Groundwater Foundation says it is so appreciative of the association's support and looks forward to continuing to work "with the outstanding professionals of the Nebraska Well Drillers Association for many more years as partners in the protection of Nebraska's ground water resources."