The Clifton Strengths Institute at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business selected 74 students to serve as student strengths coaches for the 2017-18 school year. The coaches will mentor more than 750 first-year business students in Professional Enhancement I Investing in Strengths (BSAD 111).
 
Required for all first-year business students, BSAD 111 aims to help students develop and apply strengths to achieve academic, personal and professional success using the CliftonStrengths Assessment. During the course, coaches lead team meetings of up to 10 students once a week and two 30-minute one-on-one strengths coaching sessions for each team member. They also help facilitate discussions during class.
 
“Starting their college career by identifying their natural talents and strengths prepares our students to be successful. The individualized coaching helps them apply their strengths toward their goals to help reach their potential,” said Mark Pogue, assistant professor of practice in management and executive director of the Clifton Strengths Institute.
 
Open to students from any college at Nebraska, prospective coaches complete an application and interview process. Once selected, they participate in a five-hour strengths coach training focused on learning the 34 themes of the CliftonStrengths assessment and coaching students to maximize potential using their top strengths.
 
“We select students who have the passion and energy to positively impact the lives of others and the innate talent to easily connect and communicate with people to help guide their development,” said Samantha Kennelly, Clifton Strengths Institute coordinator. “First-year students thrive when our coaches recognize their unique potential and guide them to succeed by leading with their strengths.”
 
This year’s group of coaches boasts high experience with 21 returning coaches, 11 seniors and three graduate students. Coaches stem from five different colleges at Nebraska, including 52 business students.
 
Student strengths coaches also gain professional development benefits throughout the process. During the eight-week course, they gain skills leading and managing teams, and expertise in student development and positive psychology. Applications for the 2018-19 school year will be available in August and are due by October 1.
 
To learn more about student strengths coaches and the Clifton Strengths Institute, visit: http://business.unl.edu/strengths.
 
The strengths coaches for the 2017-18 school year include:
 
NEBRASKA
 
ALLIANCE: Brianna Ridenour, senior management major
BELLEVUE: Beth Alexander, junior psychology and pre-medicine major; Brandon Smith, sophomore marketing major
BENNINGTON: Alessandra Lonie, sophomore management major
CREIGHTON: Brook Baller, sophomore psychology major
CRETE: Daisy Ortiz, sophomore psychology major
GERING: Jasie Beam, junior management major
GIBBON: Veronica Sanchez, sophomore business administration major
GRAND ISLAND: Angelica Carlini, senior marketing and management major; Erik Raber, senior economics and finance major
LINCOLN: Hesham Akif, junior marketing major; Vanja Bilinac, sophomore actuarial science major; Isabel Cheesman, junior psychology and pre-law major; Caitlin Drummy, graduate student educational administration, student affairs; Erica Eschliman, sophomore economics major; Margaret Gies, junior civil engineering major; Pranav Gupta, junior computer science major; Raghav Kidambi, junior management major; Nick Knopik, graduate student, ALEC – leadership studies; Kaytlin McCasey, junior management major; Minh Nguyen, sophomore finance major; Phat Nguyen, junior management major; Holly Pham, senior international business major; Paige Pogue, junior marketing major; Reilly Pogue, sophomore child, youth, and family studies major; Gabriela Rodriguez, sophomore business administration major; Taylor Rothgeb, sophomore English major; Xiao Yun Sim, junior music in vocal performance major; Desiree Sorensen, sophomore accounting major; Elizabeth Uebele, sophomore management major; Justin Wiley, junior marketing major
MURDOCK: Brandon Frates, sophomore accounting major
NORTH PLATTE: Madeline Bishop, senior marketing major; Nathan Fickenscher, junior management and marketing major  
OMAHA: Samantha Batchelder, sophomore psychology major; Emily Danigole, sophomore psychology major; Kelsey Folkers, sophomore accounting major; James Glover, senior economics major; Melanie Harvey, sophomore business administration major; Lauren Mangiameli, sophomore management major; Rachel Olig, sophomore business administration major; Caleb Salter, junior marketing major; Max Sealer, junior pre-secondary education social sciences major; Ethan Stuckwisch, junior marketing and management major; Jennifer Torres, junior management major
PAPILLION: Lauren Kelba, graduate student, educational administration - student affairs
SEWARD: Jared Hain, senior business administration major
SIDNEY: Cassy Ross, sophomore global studies major
 
ELSEWHERE
 
QUEEN CREEK, ARIZONA: Tyler Medina, sophomore marketing major
MISSION VIEJO, CALIFORNIA: Kristen Cecil, sophomore psychology major
VALENCIA, CALIFORNIA: Katherine Lemke, junior management major
BOULDER, COLORADO: Caela Freeburg, junior business administration major
CENTENNIAL, COLORADO: Brooke Morris, sophomore psychology major
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO: Stefanie Wood, sophomore management major
FORT COLLINS, COLORADO: Regan Burnham, junior business administration major
PARKER, COLORADO: Morgan Buehler, sophomore business administration major
SIOUX CITY, IOWA: Sydney McManamy, sophomore management major
URBANDALE. IOWA: Taylor Gehring, senior accounting major
ELMHURST, ILLINOIS: Caroline Alfini, junior marketing major
GURNEE, ILLINOIS: Tyler Puccio, sophomore management major; Brooke Sowa, junior actuarial science major
OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS: Alexa Dolesh, sophomore nutrition science major
FARMINGTON, MINNESOTA: Said-Nuriddin Makhmudzoda, junior marketing major
HUGO, MINNESOTA: Sydney Lacher, sophomore business administration major
PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA: Eleanore Anderson, junior human development and family science major
PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA: Rachel Kleist, sophomore actuarial science major
WOODBURY, MINNESOTA: Sydney Lenarz, sophomore finance major
INDIA: Shivang Vaidya, junior finance and economics major
GROTON, SOUTH DAKOTA: Allison Weber, sophomore management major
SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA: Claire Berman, graduate student, educational administration – student affairs; Cal Cross, sophomore music education major
DALLAS, TEXAS: Maddie Gaber, junior management major
RICHLAND, WASHINGTON: Sophie Podhaisky, senior marketing a management major
STOUGHTON, WISCONSIN: Kristen Nett, sophomore management major Published: June 12, 2017