Learn more about recent honors, appointments and publications at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business in this month's achievements column. The achievements of faculty, staff and students are grouped within the college’s three mission-focused goals of research + discovery, learning + transformation and connection + engagement.

Research + Discovery

• The university's Center for Transformative Teaching plans to offer the inaugural "Playposium on Using Gamification and Play in Higher Education" event. College of Business faculty leading sessions include: Jill Trucke, associate professor of practice in accountancy; and Jennifer Davidson, associate professor of practice in economics, Nebraska Council on Economic Education president and Nebraska Bankers Association Faculty Fellow. Read about the program.
• A tool that aims to combat dyslexia with AI-based tools was created by Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management students Bridget Peterkin, senior computer science and math major from Omaha, Nebraska; and Tristan Curd, computer science major from Omaha. Nick Lauver, senior actuarial science and finance major from Papillion, Nebraska, and a business development associate for Dyslexico, were featured in a Nebraska Examiner story about a lawmaker seeking funding for such tools to help students. Read the Nebraska Examiner story.

Learning + Transformation

• In their ranking of best online programs, the U.S. News & World Report ranked Nebraska's online master’s degrees in business analytics, finance and supply chain management No. 25. The online MBA program was ranked No. 29 overall, and No. 24 in best online MBA programs for veterans. More information about the rankings can be found here.
• The college is one of 28 institutions nationally to receive the 2024 Inspiring Programs in Business Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine and will be featured in their April 2024 issue. The award honors colleges that successfully assist students from underrepresented groups to enter the field of business.
• Forty University of Nebraska–Lincoln students were inducted into the Undergraduate Certificate of Sales Excellence Program in the College of Business. With the special professional selling credential from the Center for Sales Excellence, students hone the communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills employers seek and gain a competitive edge in the job market. Read the story.
• Three student entrepreneur teams from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln were awarded monetary prizes in the inaugural Nebraska Governor’s New Venture Competition in which eight of 11 finalists were UNL teams. First place winners were: Tan Phan, senior computer science and math major from Lincoln, and Samuel Ingledue, senior software engineering major from Gretna, Nebraska; for PrivyAI; second place: Brooke Bode, junior mechanical engineering major from Hershey, Nebraska, and Seth Daup, junior finance major from Gothenburg, Nebraska; for Cattle Kettle; and third place: Bridget Peterkin, senior computer science and math major from Omaha, Nebraska, and Tristan Curd, senior computer science major from Omaha; for Dyslexico. Read more about the competition.
• Two teams from Nebraska Business represented the university at the second annual Tenaska Business Challenge, competing against 14 other universities. The competitors included: Mariano Azurduy, finance and economics major from Santa Cruz, Bolivia; Elijah Beninato, accounting and finance major from San Antonio, Texas; Cole Berrett, finance major from Omaha, Nebraska; Nicholas Coffey, finance major from Lincoln, Nebraska; Sebastiano Di Ruocco, economics and finance major from Omaha; Nikolas Mancio, accounting and finance major from Porto Alegre, Brazil; Thiago Pereira, business administration major from Salvador Bahia, Brazil; and Bruno Salles, accounting and finance major from Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Connection + Engagement

• Stockton Graham, junior finance and economics major from Plattsmouth, Nebraska, and Rebecca Koppelman, senior economics and supply chain management major from Delaware, Ohio, recently won Students of the Month. The award from the Nebraska Business Student Advisory Board honors their engagement in the college's community.
• Gunnar Lombard, senior actuarial science major from Farmington Hills, Michigan, and Tanner Maas, sophomore actuarial science and finance major from Omaha, were named Nebraska Business Honors Academy "Blackshirts" by peers in their cohort for embodying the guiding principles of the College of Business: make it matter, challenge yourself, ask bold questions, be inclusive, and look to the future.
• Laura McLeod, assistant professor of practice in marketing, received the American Marketing Association Lincoln Chapter Golden Thumb Award thanks to her partnerships with local businesses and enriching the local marketing community.
• Lindsay Tillinghast, director of Lincoln Center for Economic Education, director of Nebraska Business at Standing Bear and lecturer of economics, spoke to the Lincoln Journal Star about what to expect from the new Nebraska Business at Standing Bear High School business focus program, a partnership with Lincoln Public Schools, in the next few years. Read the article.
• Tillinghast also recently spoke to Husker student-athletes about budgeting and responsible credit use as part of the Big Red Wealth Series. The seminar aims to educate the athletes on personal money management and responsible financial decision-making. Read more about the program.
• Three students helped organize the annual Husker Business Invitational for area high school students as part of the FBLA Collegiate chapter at Nebraska: Trinity Black, freshman communication studies major and business minor from Lincoln, Nebraska; Christian Newcomer, freshman marketing major and entrepreneurship minor from Walton, Nebraska; and Bailey Taylor, freshman marketing and management major from Fremont, Nebraska.
• Receiving Dean's Coins for going above and beyond on the launch of the new Future of Nebraska Scholarship program for Nebraska students were Dani Carter, assistant director of recruitment; Sheri Irwin-Gish, executive director of Communications, Marketing and External Relations; Rachel Larson, assistant dean of academic and career development; Jaylen Peters, administrative support associate of Business Advising and Student Engagement; Morgan Reinecke, MPA student from Elkhorn, Nebraska; Kendra Ritchie, director of recruitment; Kimberly Smith, associate director of Communications, Marketing and External Relations; and Quincy Young, associate director, Office of Admissions.
• Jina Morris, associate professor of practice in accountancy and Master of Professional Accountancy coordinator, was named College of Business Faculty of the Month for January by the student organization Delta Sigma Pi. The students who nominated her said she is an energetic professor who cares about her students, makes accounting interesting and helps students achieve their goals.
• College of Business faculty and staff members presented at the university's Women Lead biennial conference on March 1 at Nebraska Innovation campus. Session speakers included: Kaitlin Ferris, assistant director of the Clifton Builders Program; Elina Ibrayeva; Kadina Koonce, assistant director of career development and planning; and event co-organizer Sheri Irwin-Gish.

This column is a monthly feature of the College of Business. Faculty, staff and students can submit achievements to be considered for this column via the News Proposal Form at the bottom of https://business.unl.edu webpage. On the form, select Recognize Achievement and fill out the related questions.