The North Platte Public Schools Foundation has announced its 2026 North Platte High School Distinguished Alumni, recognizing three graduates for their achievements and contributions to their communities.
Reverend Herbert W. Burch, a 1963 graduate, Bishop Craig W. Loya, a 1995 graduate, and Tad M. Haneborg, a 1998 graduate, will be honored during the foundation’s annual Evening of Excellence on July 24. The event will also recognize the district’s 2026 Educators of the Year and will feature a “Christmas in July” theme.
Tickets for the Evening of Excellence will go on sale April 30 through the foundation’s website.
Burch, who now resides in Belize, built a career rooted in service and faith. After graduating from North Platte High School, where he was involved in several student organizations, he attended the University of Nebraska and later served more than two decades in the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps. Following his military career, he entered ministry, serving as a missionary in Guatemala and Peru and as a senior pastor in California. He continues his work supporting mission groups and families in Belize.
Loya, now based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has dedicated his career to ministry and leadership within the Episcopal Church. A graduate of Hastings College, he later earned a Master of Divinity from Yale University. After being ordained in 2002, he began his ministry on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. In 2020, he was elected Bishop of the Diocese of Minnesota, where he continues to serve.
Haneborg, a North Platte resident, has focused his efforts on community involvement and youth athletics. A former North Platte High School athlete, he attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney and has since helped organize youth sports programs in basketball, volleyball and football for elementary students. He also leads the Midwest Destroyers Youth Wrestling Organization, which serves more than 100 athletes. In addition to his work with youth programs, Haneborg is involved in several local business ventures and is a member of the North Platte Area Chamber of Commerce.
Foundation officials say the Distinguished Alumni program highlights the accomplishments of North Platte graduates and serves as inspiration for current students.
The Evening of Excellence will celebrate both the alumni honorees and educators across the district for their contributions to education and the community.