Nebraska Business students look to the future after receiving their diplomas at graduation ceremonies this past weekend. More than 300 students earned degrees during both graduate and undergraduate commencements, Friday, December 14, and Saturday, December 15, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Students from the graduating class emphasized the need to challenge themselves during their time at the College of Business.
Phat Nguyen, a management major from Lincoln, Nebraska, underscored the college’s Start Something mantra by engaging in the Clifton Builders program, Army ROTC, Student Involvement, the Office of Academic Success and Intercultural Services (OASIS) and a variety of other initiatives, including revamping the Vietnamese Student Association and the Asian Student Union organizations. In his immediate future plans, Nguyen will be commissioning as a second lieutenant with the U.S. Army. He paid tribute to the late Mark Pogue, who did groundbreaking work directing student efforts at the Clifton Strengths Institute.
Alex Fernando created a unique path for himself by majoring in business administration and broadcasting.
“One of my transformational moments at Nebraska was when Mark Pogue asked me to apply to be a Clifton Builder,” said Nguyen. “He believed in me and my talents. No one had ever reached out to me the way he did. Because he believed in me, I applied and became a builder. It was the best decision I made, because I gained more confidence in re-establishing organizations here on campus and building a foundation to create a home away from home for other students at Nebraska.”
Alex Fernando of Jefferson, South Dakota, created a unique path for himself by majoring in business administration and broadcasting. As a leader in the Campus Hosts and New Student Enrollment programs, he helped acclimate visiting students to campus, and plans on using those skills to find a similar job helping recruit future Huskers.
“I never wanted to do anything else in my life other than be a Husker. It's been so rewarding sharing my story and recruiting future Huskers. It pushed me to be as successful as possible, so I could be an example for what these students could achieve. It's never enough to talk the talk, I wanted to walk the walk, and walking backwards on campus to show recruits what Nebraska is all about helped me become the man I am today.”
Marin Olson, a marketing major from Julesburg, Colorado, followed in the footsteps of previous family members on her way to Nebraska. She made connections in college by working for the Husker IMG Sports Network on football game days and plans on carrying the passion she uncovered into her future career.
Marin Olson made connections in college by working for the Husker IMG Sports Network on football game days.
“The atmosphere at Nebraska made me fall in love with sports and the university as a little girl. I was fortunate to serve on the IMG team for two years, which only solidified I wanted to pursue a career in sports. Over the summer I had the opportunity to move to Birmingham, Alabama, to intern for a sports and event marketing startup called Knight Eady. The connections and opportunities both these experiences provided set me up for seemingly endless opportunities, and I'm excited to see where they take me.”
About 1,600 students received degrees from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln during the weekend activities. Bob Kerrey, former U.S. senator and former Nebraska governor, spoke to students at the undergraduate commencement. Chancellor Ronnie Green presided over the ceremonies.
Students receiving degrees:
Doctor of Philosophy
Salfo Bikienga,
Lincoln; Economics—Dissertation:
Leadership and Economic Growth: A Text Analytics Approach. Advised by Professor Kent Eskridge and Professor Matthew Cushing.
Master of Business Administration
Corey Adams,
Overland Park, KS—Business
Travis Alsup,
Las Cruces, NM—Business
Ruben Beltran,
Boca Raton, FL—Business
Bikash Bhandari,
Pulchowk, Nepal—Business
Andrew John Borchman,
Costa Mesa, CA—Business
Benjamin Robert Bowman,
Saint Paul, MN—Business
Daniel Christensen,
Blair—Business
Paul Joseph DiMuzio,
Maple Glen, PA—Business
Westin Matthew Edrington,
Fishers, IN—Business
Yanjun Fan,
Kunshan, China—Business
Samuel James Fankhauser,
Pleasant Grove, UT—Business
Joshua Freeman,
Madison, WI—Business
Adam James Frerichs,
Virginia—Business
Sean Matthew Gillham,
Lincoln—Business
Igor Gorelov,
Vidnoe, Russian Federation—Business
Jason Kelly Gregory,
Omaha—Business
Ewon I. Gusanu,
Lincoln—Business
David Hard,
Rapid City, SD—Business
James M. Havlik,
St. Joseph, MI—Business
Justin Ray Hazelwood,
Roanoke, VA—Business
Alyssa Marie Heusinger,
Lincoln—Business
Bradley Joseph Hice,
Bismarck, ND—Business
Matthew Hunsaker,
Saratoga Springs, UT—Business
Jodi Lynn Isom,
Lincoln—Business
Yosif Jabir,
Downers Grove, IL—Business
Diem-Mai Lam,
Huntington Beach, CA—Business
Alexander I. Marash,
Portland, OR—Business
Megan Elizabeth Meekins,
Boston, MA—Business
Keith Nadaskay,
Wauchula, FL—Business
Thomas Gregory Egle Nicholson,
Arvada, CO—Business
Andrew Jay Overweg,
Whittier, CA—Business
Travis Reid Richie,
Arnold, MD—Business
Mitchell Tallman,
Rochester, MN—Business
Michael David Toleikis, Jr.,
Raleigh, NC—Business
Emily L. Wacker,
Omaha—Business
Xingyue Zhao,
Lincoln—Business
Marian Zvada,
Lincoln—Business
Master of Professional Accountancy
Rebecca Ann Adams,
Ogallala—Accountancy
Josh Alberts,
Bennington—Accountancy
Kathryn Lynn Berning,
Lincoln—Accountancy
Hannah Kate Carney,
Omaha—Accountancy
Yixin Chen,
Lincoln—Accountancy
Oana Felicia Costea,
Lincoln—Accountancy
Truc Thanh Duong,
Bien Hoa, Viet Nam—Accountancy
Zachary Thomas Holm,
Omaha—Accountancy
Rui Lu,
Lincoln—Accountancy
Dakota Neal Magrew,
Lincoln—Accountancy
Meghan Elizabeth Morris,
Bartlett, IL—Accountancy
Eric Alexander Oman,
Lincoln—Accountancy
Ella Laurene Prussa,
Lincoln—Accountancy
Bryce Edward Tarletsky,
Lincoln—Accountancy
Christopher James Yant,
Lincoln—Accountancy
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
McKenna Rae Ahlgren,
Maple Grove, MN
(University Honors Program)
Afifa Ahmady,
Lincoln
Hesham Osman Akif,
Lincoln
Qais Saleh Al Habsi,
Ruwi, Oman
Zahra Mohamed Saeed Aljeshi,
Lincoln
Patricia Jane Altenbach,
Lincoln
Mark David Anderson,
Bristow
Mitchell Reed Anderson,
Lincoln
Joseph Louis Arbona III,
Elkhorn
Alexis Rae Arens,
Hartington
Orhun Aygun,
Maiche, France
(With High Distinction)
Shane Michael Ball,
Omaha
Haley Lynn Ballentine,
Columbus
Daylon James Barnhill,
Lincoln
(With Highest Distinction)
Cheikh Barry,
Kampala, Uganda
Peggy Irene Bartman,
Papillion
Caitlin Ann Bartz,
Grand Island
Hannah Christine Beck,
Grant
(With Distinction)
Hannah Jiaoping Berry,
West Lafayette, IN
(With High Distinction)
Emily Michelle Boerkircher,
Aurora
Corinne Lora Bolte,
York
Danielle Breen,
Lincoln
(Chancellor's Scholar)
(With Highest Distinction)
Madeline Mae Voss Brown,
Fremont
James Alfred Brune,
Fremont
Melina Brielle Buechler,
Omaha
Michael John Buell,
Bellevue
Emily Burton,
Lincoln
Chao Cai,
Lincoln
Adam Christopher Carpenter,
West Des Moines, IA
Joshua Nile Case,
Lincoln
(With High Distinction)
Ge Chai,
Kunming, China
(With Distinction)
Joshua Choon Sun Chan,
Selangor, Malaysia
Na Chen,
Omaha
Sibiao Chen,
Shenzhen, China
Mun Chun Cheong,
Ipoh, Malaysia
(Chancellor's Scholar)
(With Highest Distinction)
Shien Hui Chin,
Shah Alam, Malaysia
Alexander Peter Christensen,
Colona, IL
Chloe Chuan,
Sandakan, Malaysia
Gunnar Johnson Conway,
Jackson, WY
Luke Daniel Conway,
Rosemount, MN
Clayton Cope,
Lincoln
Meredith Ann Corder,
Centennial, CO
Jill Marie Cornelius,
Grand Island
Jacob Ryan Crawford,
Hickman
Jessica Lynne Curtis,
Lincoln
John William Dannenbring,
Lincoln
(With Distinction)
Alexander Paul Darrington,
Brandon, SD
Crystal Renee de Passille Chabot,
Lincoln
Christian Michael Demand,
Lake St. Louis, MO
Nadia Valeriyevna Demyanovskiy,
Lincoln
Carter Scott Deras,
Omaha
Jordan Collin Deseck,
Lincoln
Blake Allen Dethlefs,
Omaha
Logan Myles Dickey,
Grand Island
Lynn Man Diep,
Lincoln
Joshua Michael Dilley,
Lincoln
Chee Chun Ding,
Sitiawan, Malaysia
Grant T Dittman,
Lincoln
Hao Dong,
Lincoln
Katie Jo Doyle,
Beatrice
Aaron Michael Dredge,
Lincoln
Steven Anthony Drozd,
Duncan
Ashley Marie Earnest,
Lincoln
Nathan Paul Ebner,
Columbus
Ian Daniel Ekdahl,
Omaha
Jesse Alan Eucker,
Madison
Tanner Evertson,
Cozad
Andrea Leigh Exstrom,
Holdrege
(With Highest Distinction)
Alex Joseph Fernando,
Jefferson, SD
Naim Aidi Firdaos,
Subang Jaya, Malaysia
Karli Maurice Flanders,
North Platte
(With Distinction)
Thaddeus B. Fonck,
Lincoln
Caela Marie Freeburg,
Erie, CO
Claire Marie Frevert,
Omaha
(With High Distinction)
Pengyu Fu,
Lincoln
Chun Kee Goh,
Bukit Mertajam, Malaysia
Nolan Patrick Graham,
Lincoln
Elysse Whitney Gratopp,
St. Paul
Nathan Alexandre Gray,
Battle Creek
Owen Jon Grayson,
Arden Hills, MN
Tatyana Anatoliyevna Gulchuk,
Lincoln
Leah Marie Haiden,
Lincoln
Kolt Stephen Hale,
Inola, OK
Adam Frederick Hanson,
Omaha
Sydnee Lyn Harchelroad,
Wauneta
Erin Jo Hathhorn,
Omaha
Garrett Mark Helling,
Hickman
Samantha Lynn Heng,
Nebraska City
(With Highest Distinction)
Anna Christine Heusinger,
Lincoln
Logan Charles Hill,
Hotchkiss, CO
Yi Hong,
Tiantai Taizhou, China
Byron Thomas Hood,
Lincoln
Benjamin Ray Hostetler,
Kimball
Khu Htoo,
Lincoln
Jiayao Huang,
Lincoln
Weston Huerstel,
Huntington Beach, CA
Tate Christian Hundahl,
Tekamah
Riley David Hunter,
Hickman
Trevor Alan Jacobsen,
Lincoln
Jared Jamrog,
Elkhorn
Benjamin Taylor Johnston,
Lincoln
Erica S. Jones,
Wylie, TX
Audrey Taylor Judd,
Olathe, KS
Matthew Stuart Jung,
Arcadia, CA
Katherine Marie Kardell,
Omaha
Brittany Nicole Kelly,
Lincoln
(With Distinction)
Kimberly Joelle Kennel,
Lincoln
Cassandra Ann Kennick,
Papillion
Hyunwoo Kim,
Lincoln
Bryan Russel Kirkebak,
Omaha
(University Honors Program)
(Nebraska Business Honors Academy)
Michelle Ann Klein,
Stromsburg
Mason Michael Koch,
Lincoln
Amber Mae Kohmetscher,
Blue Hill
Dylan Koslaphirom,
Omaha
Michael Kracher,
Omaha
Abigail Laine Krage,
Pueblo, CO
Kristine Alison Krotter,
O’Neill
Malika Takhirovna Kudaybergenova,
Sherman Oaks, CA
Weiqi Lai,
Papillion
Ngoc Mimi Le,
Vung Tau, Viet Nam
Eric Eugene Lee, Jr.,
Lincoln
Han Ming Lee,
Subang Jaya, Malaysia
Bradley James Lenz,
Blair
Taron Quinn Lewis,
Cambridge
Yizhang Li,
Guangzhou, China
Zeren Li,
Lincoln
Jianlin Liu,
Shen Yang, China
Sophie Renae Lottman,
Lincoln
Chase Scott Love,
South Sioux City
Shumin Luo,
Lincoln
Yifang Luo,
Hangzhou, China
(With Distinction)
Yina Lyu,
Hangzhou, China
(With Distinction)
Cole Edward Mahon,
South Sioux City
Chandni Manoj,
Bukit Mertajam, Malaysia
(With High Distinction)
Brandon John Mauro,
Des Moines, IA
Diante TraVelle McBride,
Lincoln
Courtney Marie McCabe,
Woodbury, MN
Sasha Maria McCawley,
Lincoln
Jacob James McDonough,
Omaha
Katie Marie McGuire,
Lincoln
Conner Allen Mehl,
Lincoln
Ashley Ann Mejstrik,
Lincoln
Cody Racheal Meyer,
Avoca
Jose Enrique Miceli Garcia,
Tapachula, Mexico
Jacob Dalton Mickelson,
Apple Valley, MN
Stormy L. Middleton,
Beattie, KS
Tiffany Noel Miles,
Lincoln
Ian Daniel Miller,
Lincoln
Mohammad Aiman Mohd Asrafadden,
Seremba, Malaysia
Nurul Adila Shahira binti Mohd Towab,
Puchong, Malaysia
Kristen LeeAnn Mohr,
Butte
Ashley Rachelle Murray,
Lincoln
Alan R Neesen,
Omaha
Arione Celestine Stewart Nelson,
Omaha
Daniel Rollin Nelson,
Omaha
Van Allan Nelson,
Omaha
Joshua Gerard Neumayer,
Omaha
Jessica Nguyen,
Omaha
Phat Trong Nguyen,
Lincoln
Phillip Nguyen,
Lincoln
Evan Cleveland Nicholson,
Emerson
Nicholas Duffy O’Brien,
Omaha
Patrick Joseph O’Neill,
Omaha
Ryan Michael O’Neill,
Omaha
Allison J. Olmer,
Creston
(With High Distinction)
(University Honors Program)
(Nebraska Business Honors Academy)
Marin Elizabeth Olson,
Lincoln
(With Distinction)
Jia Ning Ooi,
Gelugor, Malaysia
(With High Distinction)
Keagan Alan Palmer,
Grand Island
(With Distinction)
Jacob Robert Parker,
Hastings
Austin James Pelichowski,
Lincoln
Zachary Eric Perelman,
San Diego, CA
Clayton Kevin Peterson,
Lincoln
Sara Ann Pleasant,
Omaha
Galina Martha Popov,
Lincoln
Avery Wallace Prai,
Lincoln
Jiayue Qiang,
Changsha, China
Kayla Eileen Rafferty,
Elgin, IL
(With Highest Distinction)
Kyle Werner Reardon,
Parkville, MO
Shauna Anne Reed,
Tokyo, Japan
Andrew Patrick Reeson,
Omaha
Lucas Reichart,
Lincoln
(With Distinction)
Bryan Kirk Reimers,
Lincoln
Jenna Ray Rempe,
Lincoln
(Chancellor's Scholar)
(With Highest Distinction)
Taylor Dean Richards,
Lincoln
Justin Phillip Rimpley,
North Platte
Brandon James Roarty,
Elkhorn
Andrew Nathan Rojas,
Lincoln
Spencer Nels Rosberg,
Wausa
Jerrica Layne Rosendahl,
Grand Forks, ND
Sharmaine Nadirah Roslan,
Subang Jaya, Malaysia
(With Distinction)
Mengqin Ruan,
Lincoln
Janelli Sanchez Vargas,
Lincoln
Parker Valentine Scheer,
Lincoln
Kelsey Jean Schoenleber,
Lincoln
Brock Ashton Scott,
McCook
Clara Susanna Shanno,
Lincoln
Nurshafiqa Hanis Binti Sharifudin,
Puchong, Malaysia
Taylor Christine Simones,
Lincoln
Karen Smallfoot,
Lincoln
Benjamin James Smith,
Lincoln
(With Highest Distinction)
Leanna L. Smith,
Plattsmouth
Madison Violet Smith,
Lincoln
Brooke Elizabeth Sowa,
Gurnee, IL
(With High Distinction)
Brett Thorn Stanley,
Sioux Falls, SD
Carlatta Sue Steffan,
Lincoln
Haley Amanda Steger,
Lincoln
Mitchell Edwin Steinhoff,
Crete
Alexandrea Kathleen Stock,
Omaha
Ian Michael Stratman,
Grand Island
Heath David Stromquist,
Oakland
Sophie Jean Sutter,
Midland, TX
Sydney Lea Suttles,
Overland Park, KS
Sean Patrick Swain,
Omaha
Hao Tan,
Beijing, China
Shong Yee Tan,
Segamat, Malaysia
Voon How Tan,
Lincoln
Hongling Tang,
Wuhan, China
Jordan Everett Taylor,
Lincoln
Austin James Tejral,
Dwight
Jia Jack Teo,
Johor Bahru, Malaysia
(With Highest Distinction)
Allison Elise Thompson,
San Jose, CA
Dominic Wei Yaw Ting,
Sitiawan, Malaysia
Luke Cameron Toillion,
Longmont, CO
(With Distinction)
Nicholous Shane Traxler,
Lincoln
Anh Trinh,
Lincoln
Jasmin Valdez,
Grand Island
Lane Kevin Vasa,
Keystone
(With Distinction)
Jaclyn Hope Venere,
Hartland, WI
Douglas Matthew Veys,
Omaha
Lucia B. Vicharra,
Lincoln
Riley Gene Vreeman,
Chanhassen, MN
Tianzuo Wang,
Encinitas, CA
Chase Jaymes Weidner,
Lincoln
Scott Michael Wenzl,
Lincoln
Chase Thomas Wietfeld,
North Bend
Justin Wiley,
Lincoln
Blake Douglas Williams,
Bellevue
Ryan Paul Williams,
Concord, CA
Bryce Wesley Wilson,
Lincoln
Lauren Renee Witte,
Sioux Falls, SD
(With Highest Distinction)
Austin John Woita,
Wahoo
Aaron Wong,
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Bradyn Scott Wood,
Lincoln
Timothy Wright, Jr.,
Dallas, TX
Deyang Wu,
Zhangzhou, China
Samuel Elliott Wurm,
Lincoln
Yusi Xie,
Ningbo, China
Wenhao Yan,
Lincoln
Yuxiao Yang,
Lincoln
(With Distinction)
Dedrick DeJuan Young II,
Peoria, AZ
Paulo Yu Xi Gao,
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Fang Yue,
Hangzhou, China
(Chancellor's Scholar)
(With Highest Distinction)
Li’ao Zhao,
Lincoln
Junchao Zhu,
Kunshan, China
(With Highest Distinction)
Published: December 17, 2018