Honors Convocation May 8, 2014
Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award
Honors Convocation May 8, 2014
Michael C. Florance Hometown: Papillion, NE Future Plans: Law school at UNL UNK Honors Program Strengths of UNK: small classes; professors who know me as a person, not just a student
Michael J. Dentlinger Hometown: Omaha, NE Future Plans: Lots of options maybe MBA? student athlete Strengths of UNK: supportive community; top quality faculty
Chaney Lynn Black Hometown: Spencer, NE Future Plans: First travel then start career as Federal Tax Associate for KPMG in Omaha leadership opportunities Strengths of UNK: combination of big-school opportunities and friendly, small-school setting
Stephanie L. Smyth Hometown: Gibbon, NE Future Plans: Service Writer for LandMark Water in Grand Island; wedding in September identifying agri-business as my future & gaining independence Strengths of UNK: great community; supportive faculty
Sara E. Wilson Hometown: Grant, NE Future Plans: July wedding then Middle School Computer Teacher at Shelby-Rising City Public Schools much more than just Sara the basketball player Strengths of UNK: studentcentered; diversity; school pride
Aaron M. Gorecki Hometown: North Loup, NE Future Plans: Exploring opportunities in central Nebraska and beyond diversity opened my eyes Strengths of UNK: genuine care shown by faculty
Crystal Lynn Shortall Hometown: Bayard, NE Future Plans: Studio B Design in Kearney being pushed to work harder and achieve my best Strengths of UNK: faculty who are current in the industry and encourage excellence
Brittanee Butterfield Hometown: North Platte, NE Future Plans: Girls & Boys Club in Washington state living in such a diverse community provides so many opportunities to grow Strengths of UNK: Residence Life, great teachers
Ashley D. Pick Hometown: McCook, NE Future Plans: Crossroads Rescue Mission in Kearney internship at Crossroads where I found my heart Strengths of UNK: faculty who lead by example and experience
Thomas E. Wenzke Birthplace: Sylvania, OH (but now calls Kearney home) Future Plans: Network & Systems Specialist, ESU 10 in Kearney working with great INT faculty Strengths of UNK: Dr. Obermier, Dr. Tuttle, Dr. Hollman
Christina Heidi Ritz Hometown: Arcadia, NE Future Plans: Dispatcher school goal of education is to search for truth Strengths of UNK: real-world brought into classroom; welcoming and caring professors
Dustin W. DeKay Hometown: Ogallala, NE Future Plans: Project Engineer for Brinkmann Constructors in Denver Strengths of UNK: so easy to work with faculty they want you to succeed
Anton E. Jelinek Hometown: David City, NE Future Plans: Assistant Director of Utilities for City of Kearney; grad school at University of Minnesota time management; exposure to younger generation s mind-set Strengths of UNK: close-knit community; individualized attention
Brock Drudik Hometown: Hastings, NE Currently: Quotations Engineer, GE Commercial Leadership Program internships with Eaton & GE Strengths of UNK: real world brought into the classroom
Jared Maslowski Hometown: Kennard, NE Currently: Training to be Industrial Control Specialist with CED in Omaha from carefree teen to responsible adult Strengths of UNK: small classes, interaction with industry
Aliese L. Hoffman Hometown: Red Cloud, NE Future Plans: Hampton Inn; build career in management discovering my fit with business Strengths of UNK: strong bonds that help students find their path to success
Andrew S. Broadfoot Hometown: McCook, NE Future Plans: Grad school (MBA or law school) leaps & bounds modeled after positive examples Strengths of UNK: big enough to have excellent professors & opportunities but small enough for personalized attention
Jordan Bloesser Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO Future Plans: Pikes Peak Marathon, Inc. in Manitou Springs, CO UNK Cross-Country Team it s more in the striving than in the arriving Strengths of UNK: abundant opportunities to get involved; genuine coaches and faculty
Luke Gustav Conrad Hometown: Valley, NE Future Plans: First travel, then work leadership within fraternity; UNK Study Abroad; discovering passion for management Strengths of UNK: commitment to excellence; diverse community
Brenda D. Scripter Hometown: Holdrege, NE Future Plans: Washburn University dual grad program (MBA plus Juris Doctorate) so many opportunities to become better speaker, writer, thinker Strengths of UNK: helpful faculty who really know their students; lots of elective options
Shad Robert Bride Hometown: St. Johns, AZ Future Plans: Soak up some Arizona sunshine from a college freshman who thought he knew everything Strengths of UNK: small classes, diverse student population
Jackie Anne Ziemke Hometown: Waco, NE Future Plans: Account Coordinator with SCORR Marketing in Kearney student athlete & team captain Strengths of UNK: students, faculty & staff create a positive environment that fosters success
Jacobi Lauren Goodell Hometown: Kearney, NE Future Plans: Career in Event Planning big city lights? confidence gained through leadership of sorority Strengths of UNK: sense of community; perfect size; never lost in the crowd
Abby M. Rosenbaum Hometown: Sidney, NE Future Plans: Realtor with Home Real Estate of Kearney confidence gained through leadership of LPAC Strengths of UNK: great community within another great community
Yeswanth Nadella Hometown: Andra Pradesh, India Future Plans: Career in Management Information Systems team Captain UNK Tennis Strengths of UNK: diverse campus, very helpful professors
Megan K. Thies Hometown: Petersburg, NE Currently: Human Resource Generalist for Royal Engineered Composites in Minden broader, deeper way of thinking Strengths of UNK: top quality faculty with real-world experience
Honors Convocation May 8, 2014