Tom Heacock formally received the College of Business Young Alumni Award at the annual Partnership Summit Luncheon held October 6 at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The award recognizes individuals who are outstanding examples of successful business leaders, and provide inspiration and insight to the college’s students and members of the business community.
Heacock, who serves on the Dean’s Young Alumni Advisory Board, works as treasurer and corporate controller of The Buckle, Inc., a specialty retailer operating more than 460 stores in 44 states with its corporate headquarters in Kearney, Nebraska. His work experience also includes audit practice at Ernst & Young LLP in the firm’s Kansas City office.
Hailing from a long line of Huskers, including his grandfather who played football for Nebraska in the late 1930s, Heacock grew up in South Sioux City, Nebraska. His family connection to the Huskers gives him a sense of pride for the state and the university.
Heacock poses in the new Howard L. Hawks Hall grand
staircase.
“Going to school at the College of Business in Lincoln gave me all those great experiences by learning from other people, and it generated the feeling of being able to call this place home,” said Heacock. “Being on the Young Alumni Board is a breath of fresh air and we are in an exciting time not only being in the Big Ten Conference, but because of all the great programs we’ve developed like the Nebraska Business Honors Academy and building the new Howard Hawks Hall facility. It feels fun to be part of all this.”
He especially appreciated the Young Alumni Award recognition, because of the people involved in the selection process.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by top leaders in the business community here at the college. In turn, the college outreach and involvement with the Nebraska business community gets our students placed in good jobs after graduation. It also helps our state keep students here in Nebraska. I find it refreshing how the College of Business leadership doesn’t just do things because that’s how they’ve always been done. They engage with the advisory boards and try new things to challenge and rethink how we’re educating students in the modern business world,” he said.
Heacock earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Nebraska in 2000, as well as his master in professional accountancy in 2001. He serves on the board of directors for the United Way of the Kearney Area and the Kearney Soccer Club.
Published: October 10, 2017