Sixty-nine University of Nebraska–Lincoln students earned undergraduate certificates of sales excellence and were honored at a luncheon hosted by the Center for Sales Excellence on April 17. Students completed 15 credit hours of sales coursework that sharpened communication and relationship-building skills applicable to any career path.
Twelve of the Huskers chose to take an additional three credit hours to earn an advanced certificate in sales excellence.
“It is not an easy path, and these students should be proud of what they accomplished,” said Chad Mardesen, interim director of the Center for Sales Excellence and associate professor of practice in marketing. “Many of them competed in sales competitions at Nebraska and on the national stage, joined organizations like the Sales Club and took advantage of opportunities beyond the classroom. Now they can help show other students what is possible through the program.”
Open to all majors, the undergraduate certificate program draws students from across the university.
“We take great pride in the fact that the center works with students of any major at the university because we all sell something. Whether it's selling our skills to a future employer, selling in our jobs or simply selling our ideas to others, sales skills are valuable. These students have a competitive edge in the job market,” said Kathy Farrell, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean of the College of Business and professor of finance.
The center’s role-play rooms feature state-of-the-art technology that allows students to practice pitches and receive real-time feedback, helping them refine their communication and sales techniques. Students build confidence through role-playing and other hands-on experiences, including selling real products, sponsorships and experiences.
“Each of our classes gives students hands-on learning experiences that help them build confidence and prepare for what they'll do after graduation,” Mardesen said. “Students practice through role-plays, sales projects, competitions, networking and other real-world experiences. They also get access to the same sales technology and tools they will use in their careers."
"Companies recruit here because they know our students have the skills to succeed, and many of these students start in the program when they are sophomores, giving them time to fully engage in internships, competitions and networking,” he said.
This is the largest group of certificate earners in the program's history, including the largest number of students who pursued the advanced certificate. The advanced certificate includes a discussion-based class and a hands-on project selling corporate partnerships for the center.
Since its founding in 2013, the center has awarded nearly 500 certificates and 130 advanced certificates. It has been named a “Top University for Professional Sales Education” by the Sales Education Foundation each year since 2014.
“I also hope they stay connected with the relationships they built here with faculty, staff, employer partners and other students,” Mardesen said. “Those connections continue to make a difference long after graduation.”
Students who earned their undergraduate certificate of sales excellence are listed below by hometown, class standing based on credit hours earned and academic major(s). Those who earned an advanced sales certificate are noted in parentheses.
Nebraska
Ashland: Parker Poole, senior business administration major
Beatrice: Joshua Buhr, senior business administration major
Bellevue: Andrea Boslaugh, senior marketing major (advanced sales certificate)
Elkhorn: Abigail Beaton, senior marketing major; Maddie Epp, senior marketing major; Nolan Lane, senior management and marketing major; Gigi Salerno, senior advertising and public relations major
Fremont: Jordan Baumert, senior marketing major (advanced sales certificate)
Grand Island: Carson Wolfe, senior finance and marketing major
Gretna: Tyler Hill, senior finance major
Hastings: Charli Coil, junior management major
Holdrege: Matthew Janssen, senior business administration major
Kearney: Hudson Bertrand, junior marketing major
Lincoln: Joseph Cockerill, junior marketing major; Nicolas Deaver, senior finance major; Austin Herman, senior marketing major; Dylan Kluthe, senior supply chain management major; Charlie McCown, senior marketing major (advanced sales certificate); Henry Moberly, senior management major; Joseph Patera, senior accounting major; Kate Peterson, senior marketing major (advanced sales certificate); Conner Reinmiller, junior finance major; Joshua Richardson, junior marketing major (advanced sales certificate); Caleb Sajevic, senior management major; Luke Schlegelmilch, senior finance major; Joe Sutko, senior marketing major (advanced sales certificate); Joseph Zabawa, senior management major
Omaha: Ellie Anglim, senior business administration major (advanced sales certificate); Westby Dunn, senior advertising and public relations major; Bekki Franco, senior nutrition and health sciences major; Jacob Hove, junior marketing major; Andrew Jiron, senior business administration major; Aidan Kelch, junior marketing major; Cassy Limley, senior marketing major; Stella Minge, senior advertising and public relations major; Brandt Munson, senior management and marketing major (advanced sales certificate); Cohen Munson, senior finance major; Carson Protaskey, senior finance major; Sophia Rife, senior management and marketing major
Papillion: Ethan Schroeder, senior finance and management major
Pender: Trey Johnson, senior management and marketing major
Plattsmouth: Kylie Cooke, senior marketing major; Brody McClatchey, junior marketing major; Joe Vrtiska, junior marketing major
Valley: Cadence McCollister, senior advertising and public relations major
Wahoo: Karley Golladay, senior marketing major
Waterloo: Jonah Harrison, senior accounting and finance major
Elsewhere
Peoria, Arizona: Ella Bowman, senior marketing major
Colorado Springs, Colorado: Alanna Wilson, marketing major (advanced sales certificate)
Glenwood, Iowa: Kamryn Crouch, senior finance and marketing major
Arlington Heights, Illinois: Sean Safford, senior finance major
Aurora, Illinois: Matthew Crerand, junior accounting major
Bull Valley, Illinois: Joseph Weinberger, junior management major
Lake Villa, Illinois: Chase Bollinger, junior finance major
Lisle, Illinois: Kylie Russell, senior advertising and public relations and broadcasting major
Naperville, Illinois: Tyler Auer, senior accounting major
Roscoe, Illinois: Joe Idstein, senior management and marketing major (advanced sales certificate)
Wheaton, Illinois: Tom Dey, senior marketing major
Lawrence, Kansas: Reed Parker-Timms, senior marketing major
Olathe, Kansas: Hank Phillips, junior marketing major
Overland Park, Kansas: Meghan Fries, senior finance major (advanced sales certificate)
Chanhassen, Minnesota: Jack Gallagher, junior marketing major
Victoria, Minnesota: Emily Fornetti, junior management and marketing major
Waconia, Minnesota: Nora Bailey, senior international business and marketing major; Hailey Bigaouette, senior management and marketing major
Kansas City, Missouri: Raquel Skerston, senior international business and marketing major
Horace, Nevada: Kennedy Colter, junior marketing major (advanced sales certificate)
Dakota Dunes, South Dakota: Tyler Schutte, senior marketing major
Sioux Falls, South Dakota: Brooke Harvison, senior accounting and marketing major
