Fifty University of Nebraska–Lincoln students were selected for the Undergraduate Certificate in Sales Excellence Program in the College of Business. With the credential offered by the Center for Sales Excellence, students sharpen communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills sought by employers.
The new cohort represents 11 majors and four colleges on campus. Open to all Nebraska undergraduates, the program’s application process includes submitting a resume and statement of interest and meeting a minimum GPA requirement. Once admitted, students begin courses taught by sales and marketing faculty in the College of Business the following semester.
“We’re excited to welcome these students into the program and know they are bound to do great things,” said Chad Mardesen, director of the Center for Sales Excellence and associate professor of practice in marketing. “Companies recruit here because they know our students have the skills to succeed.”
Students can begin the certificate earlier than ever by taking Sales Communication (MRKT 257) as early as their first semester. The course is part of the College of Business undergraduate core curriculum launched in fall 2025, allowing business students to take it earlier in their academic careers. Non-business majors can also take the course and pursue the certificate, giving students across the university more time to discover the program and participate.
“In years past, the program primarily enrolled juniors and seniors. Now, we have more first- and second-year students beginning the certificate, which means we could work with them for as many as four years,” Mardesen said. “That additional time can help students strengthen their sales skills, prepare for internships and take full advantage of competitions, networking and other experiences. It may also encourage more students to complete the Advanced Certificate in Sales Excellence, which requires just one additional three-credit-hour course.”
With students in both the previous and new undergraduate curricula participating, the program has grown to nearly 230 students, its highest enrollment to date.
Nearly all sales students secure full-time positions before graduation, with recent employers including Dell, Deloitte, Gallup, HubSpot, Mutual of Omaha, Oracle, Union Pacific and the Walt Disney Company. Corporate partners regularly engage with students through networking events, internships and hands-on learning experiences.
Founded in 2013, the Center for Sales Excellence has been named a top university program for professional sales education by the Sales Education Foundation every year since 2014.
Students pursuing the undergraduate certificate in sales excellence are listed below by hometown, with their class standing and academic major(s).
Nebraska
Bellevue:
- Nolan Fitzpatrick, sophomore, business administration
Bennington:
- Gloria Williams, freshman, marketing
Brainard:
- Kurtis Baer, freshman, business administration
Elkhorn:
- Hannah McWilliams, freshman, advertising and public relations
Gering:
- Amalie Gutierrez, freshman, marketing
Grand Island:
- Landon Conner, sophomore, finance
- Zachary Fausch, sophomore, business and law
- Krae Wardyn, freshman, marketing
Gretna:
- Kennedy Richardson, sophomore, marketing
Hickman:
- Kyra Hinrichs, freshman, accounting and finance
La Vista:
- Samuel Shepoka, sophomore, marketing
Lincoln:
- Brooke Beran, junior, advertising and public relations
- Keith Hallock, sophomore, marketing
- Lainey Johnson, freshman, marketing
- Caleb Krueger, junior, sports media and communication
- Gavin Postert, sophomore, marketing
- Benjamin Rorabaugh, sophomore, marketing
Milford:
- Dominick Roth, freshman, marketing
North Platte:
- Amelia Wenburg, sophomore, business administration
Omaha:
- Vanessa Bejar-Williams, sophomore, management
- Nathan Buroker, sophomore, marketing
- Keara Frampton, freshman, advertising and public relations
- Jordan Gassen, junior, marketing
- Lance Heller, sophomore, business and law
- Mariah Kelly, sophomore, marketing
- Dayvaney Lynch, sophomore, business administration
- Alex Runge, sophomore, business and law
- Megan Tyrcha, sophomore, business administration
O’Neill:
- Oliver Schluns, sophomore, management
Raymond:
- Jacob Schultz, junior, business administration
Seward:
- Hank Hughes, sophomore, management
Elsewhere
Orange, California:
- Tucker Fuchs, freshman, business administration
Parker, Colorado:
- Andrew Heisinger, sophomore, business administration
Indianapolis, Indiana:
- Ella Christensen, freshman, business and law
Plainfield, Illinois:
- Ella Zelenski, freshman, communication studies
Saint Charles, Illinois:
- Ava Poss, freshman, business administration and marketing
Spring Grove, Illinois:
- Mitchell Kelly, freshman, accounting
Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan:
- Margaret O’Brien, freshman, marketing
Cologne, Minnesota:
- Levi Mueller, sophomore, marketing
Lakeville, Minnesota:
- Addison Hedrick, freshman, supply chain management
Mantorville, Minnesota:
- Jacey Heidt, freshman, marketing
Minnetrista, Minnesota:
- Isaac Smith, freshman, marketing
Waconia, Minnesota:
- Adam Masog, sophomore, marketing
Woodbury, Minnesota:
- Caleb Lefebvre, freshman, finance
Dakota Dunes, South Dakota:
- Dylan Lukken, freshman, finance
Sioux Falls, South Dakota:
- Hayden Gorra, freshman, management
- Easton Miller, freshman, accounting
Yankton, South Dakota:
- Annie Baumann, sophomore, nutrition and health sciences
Hudson, Wisconsin:
- Kaitlyn Sanders, freshman, marketing
Marshfield, Wisconsin:
- Drew Lang, freshman, finance
