A weekend full of events in early May sent the newest graduates of University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business Administration out in style. Two Commencement ceremonies, the new CBA Senior Sendoff and the School of Accountancy’s Graduation Celebration provided families and friends, as well as faculty and staff, with many opportunities to celebrate the graduates.
Senior Sendoff in the Lincoln Railyard
“I’ve loved being part of the community on campus. CBA has supported me in every endeavor, and I look forward to the opportunities I have after graduation thanks to the connections I’ve made here,” said Kevin Thor. Thor is a Stanton, Nebraska, native who graduated with degrees in management and communication studies, and this spring earned a Fulbright award to teach English in Vietnam.
New to this year’s activities was the Senior Sendoff, which took place at The Railyard in Lincoln’s Haymarket District on May 6. A fun, casual celebration featuring videos of graduating CBA students on the Railyard’s big screen called “The Cube”, gifts for the graduates and heavy appetizers. They also received a card about how to stay connected with CBA via social media and where to update their information so they don’t lose touch with UNL.
CBA grad Poehling with her parents at Senior Sendoff
“I had a blast at the CBA Senior Sendoff. It was great spending time with everyone from CBA and introducing my parents to the people I’ve spent the last four years with at UNL,” said graduate Nicci Poehling, a marketing major from Overland Park, Kansas. “I loved having everyone I know in one place and getting one last opportunity to see everyone before we part ways.”
Also on May 6, the School of Accountancy recognized more than 90 graduates at its fifth graduation celebration. The event at the Wick Alumni Center allowed undergraduate students majoring in accounting, graduate students earning their master in professional accountancy (MPA) and doctoral candidates earning their Ph.D.to celebrate with their family, faculty and staff.
“As faculty, this is a special weekend,” said Dr. Aaron Crabtree, director of the school of accountancy, associate professor of accountancy and KPMG Fellow. “We create the courses for the students and we know what they have to go through to get a degree. They have our utmost respect.”
A native of Norfolk, Nebraska, Matt McNally earned one of the first master’s degrees in business with a specialization in intercollegiate athletics administration. The program, which started two years ago with his cohort, is a joint effort between CBA and Husker Athletics, which provides a year-long assistantship for the students. McNally said the weekend events play an important role for not only the students graduating, but the CBA Community as a whole.
“The best thing about being a Husker is the support from the entire community,” he said. “It goes from the top down. Everyone cares about people and truly wants to see their friends, coworkers and colleagues succeed.”
Published: June 7, 2016