The Luminary Award was created with kiln formed glass. After drawing out the design and selecting glass colors, the glass was hand cut and pieced together in several layers and dammed and fired in the kiln. After firing, the piece was sandblasted and cold worked to recognize the award recipients.
The Lincoln Luminary Award is presented by the Mayor to one or two Lincoln residents recognized for their contributions to the community, folks who “who quietly do good work on a daily basis.“
The initial concept for the award had to be modified to meet time constraints. 
Glass glows red while hot in the kiln. 
Several layers of glass are dammed in the kiln so the award stays rectangular. 
After firing in the kiln and cold working the edges to make them straight, the award is masked off and sandblasted to put the award recipient’s name in relief
The award ceremony typically accompanies the Winter Lights festivities such as a tree lighting ceremony, a choir singing carols, cookies and hot chocolate, and sometimes Santa and Mrs. Claus drop in to visit.
“Winter Lights is an annual event to mark the change of seasons and to celebrate the people in our community who light up our lives and make our City a great place to live,” says former Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler in a news release on Nov 22, 2017.
City officials involved in the award selection process were hoping to echo the look of the Tower Square in downtown Lincoln, which was designed by internationally acclaimed, Omaha-based artist Jun Kaneko. The accent of the square is the glass tower, “Ascent”.
Past winners of the Luminary Award:
2016 Randy Hawthorne
2017 Dennis and Nancy Carlson
2018 Jim McKee and Linda Hillegass
Calyx Glass 