Ak-Sar-Ben Coronation & Scholarship Ball Honors Landen Family with 115th Queen Honor continued from page 5
THE LANDEN FAMILY was honored for their civic leadership and community service as Mary Catherine Landen was crowned the 115th Queen of Ak-Sar-Ben. On October 22, 2011 during the annual Ak-Sar-Ben Coronation and Scholarship Ball honoring more than 200 Nebraska and western Iowa families, over 2,000 attendees witnessed the crowning and formal introduction of the 115th Court of Quivira. The new Queen attends St. Thomas University in St. Paul, Minnesota where she is studying Business Finance with a concentration in Family Business and Economics. She is planning to apply to the University of St. Thomas School of Law. On campus, Katie is a member of Gamma Sigma Sigma Service Sorority and she gives her time and talent to Operation Glass Slipper, M&M Foundation, Salvation Army, Open Door Mission, Methodist Hospital, American Red Cross and Camp Hot Shots. A Fourth Generation Nebraskan, Katie is a graduate of Marian High School. She was a member of the high school golf team, soccer team, dance team, cross country team, track team, bowling club, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Katie loves to run and to date has completed 4 marathons, hoping someday to compete in an Iron Man. Miss Landen comes from a family with very strong commitment to civic causes. Her Great Grandfather C.L. Landen, was founder of National Finance Company and Central National Insurance Company in the early 1920’s. He was involved with the Salvation Army, B’nai B’rith, Children’s Memorial Hospital, Creighton University, Eppley Foundation, the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, United Way and the World War II Memorial Park. Mr. Landen was the 54th King of Ak-Sar-Ben. Crowned in 1953.
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Katie’s grandfather, C.L. Landen Jr. is the Chairman of Security National Bank of Omaha. A second generation Nebraskan he has championed the Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands, the Boy Scouts, Children’s Hospital, Creche, Immanuel Hospital, Saint Andrews Church, the Salvation Army, and the YMCA. C.L Landen Jr. was an Ak-Sar-Ben Escort and member of the Floor Committee. Katie’s grandmother Mary Landen, also born and raised in Omaha, has been a tireless volunteer for organizations like Children’s Hospital, Clarkson College, Girl’s Inc., Joslyn Art Museum, Meyer Rehabilitation Institute and the Omaha Community Playhouse. She is a former member of the Ak-Sar-Ben Women’s Ball Committee and inducted as a member of the Ak-Sar-Ben Court of Honor in 1996. With strong ties to Ak-Sar-Ben and countless family members participating in everything from the Rodeo, River City Round-up, and the AkSar-Ben Coronation and Scholarship Ball itself, this is the second Queen to come from the Landen family. Shirley Landen Huerter, Katie’s aunt, was Queen in 1970 and there have been princesses, escorts, pages and floor committee members, throughout the generations. The Queen’s father C.L. Landen III is a current Governor of the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben. He is a former Councillor and Chairman of River City Roundup. C.L. Landen III is a graduate of Westside High School and Denver University. He is currently a Senior Executive Vice President at Security National Bank. C.L. began his banking career in Denver and upon moving back to Omaha he went to work for the “family business”. He currently serves as the Security National Bank Holding Company President, the Landen Foundation President, and he is on the bank’s Board of Directors. Civically, C.L. serves on the following boards, the Nebraska Methodist Hospital, Methodist College of Nursing, Boy Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands, Fontenelle Forest, and the Nebraska Humanities Council. The Queen’s mother Patty DiBaise Landen is a graduate of UNO and owns a small custom screen print, embroidery and promotional products company. She is also a veteran volunteer. She has given her time to the Clarkson Service League, the Omaha Symphony Guild, YWCA, College of St. Mary, CSI, JDRF and countless other organizations. The oldest of three, Katie has a younger brother Louis, who attends Creighton Prep and a sister Kelly who attends Marian High School. Katie’s fondest memories of Ak-Sar-Ben are as a page. She hopes to use her year as Queen to teach the value in volunteering and understanding of one’s community. She would like to build a program that will enhance and raise awareness of the work of Ak-Sar-Ben and its importance in our community. Since the 1950’s, Ak-Sar-Ben has awarded more than 7million dollars in scholarships. Since its inception it has given over 58 million dollars to the Heartland community. The Ak-Sar-Ben Coronation and Scholarship Ball has a mission of promoting, recognizing, and celebrating volunteerism, philanthropy and community pride. Over $3 million in scholarship funding has been raised from Coronation and Scholarship Ball proceeds.
ak-sar-Ben coronation Ball • 2011