One of the largest graduating classes from the College of Business will cross the stage during commencement exercises at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln May 8-9.
The university honors business students earning graduate degrees at 3 p.m. Friday, May 8, and bachelor degrees at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 9. A record 3,800-plus degrees will be conferred at Pinnacle Bank Arena, 400 Pinnacle Arena Drive.
Among the students graduating Friday with a Master of Professional Accountancy degree is Ingrid Neuhaus of Omaha, Nebraska. While completing her bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting, she also completed internships in tax, audit and forensic accounting. She said those experiences helped her understand how accounting and finance affect all parts of a business. She credits faculty in the School of Accountancy for helping her find her path as she begins a forensic accounting career at Ankura consulting firm in Dallas.
"I appreciate the classes we have here at Nebraska and how professors tie our coursework to the real world. This knowledge better prepared me to think of the overall picture and not focus too much on the details. It reminds me to focus on the big goal and to move forward," Neuhaus said. "This school equipped me with so many skills and connections. I feel more confident going forward."
One of the undergraduates celebrating Saturday is Tenley Kozal, a management major from Waverly. During college, she served as a New Student Enrollment orientation leader and a student strengths coach in the Clifton Strengths Institute. She plans to remain in Lincoln to pursue a master's degree in business analytics and serve as a graduate assistant for the Nebraska Business Honors Academy while considering a career in higher education.
"Graduating from Nebraska means being part of something bigger than myself. It’s the people, the community, and the way everyone shows up for each other that has made this experience so meaningful," Kozal said.
Twelve business undergraduates earned a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA across all their collegiate courses as Chancellor's Scholars. Recognized at the ceremony, they include Kaylee Campbell, actuarial science, Tracy, Minnesota; Radhika Damle, actuarial science, Rochester, Minnesota; Tyson Dettmer, finance, Lincoln, Nebraska; Katelyn Duero, marketing, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin; Tea Hanke, accounting, Omaha; Gabe Hudak, accounting, Lincoln; Lena Lankas, business administration, Lincoln; JoJo Randby, management, Omaha; Nathan Ray, supply chain management, Elkhorn, Nebraska; Maxwell Sievenpiper, management, Yorktown, Virginia; Lauren Warfield, accounting, Lincoln; and Maddy Yantes, international business, Hutchinson, Kansas.
During Saturday's ceremony, DeMoine Adams, motivational speaker and former Husker football student-athlete, will deliver the keynote address, “The Power of People.” Adams is the founder and CEO of The Game Plan: Ready, Set Perform, a Lincoln-based leadership and motivational speaking business that aims to inspire people to lead with purpose and win in the game of life. He also served for five years as CEO of TeamMates Mentoring, co-founded by legendary Husker football coach Tom Osborne, and previously worked for the University of Nebraska Foundation on the College of Business development team. A first-generation college graduate, Adams holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science and Master of Arts in educational psychology from Nebraska.
A native of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Adams played football at Nebraska as Blackshirt defensive end and helped lead the Huskers to a Big 12 championship and a national championship Rose Bowl appearance. He also earned Academic All-American and All-Big 12 honors. He went on to play professionally in the National, Canadian and Arena football leagues.
To maintain a secure environment, the commencement venues enforce a clear-bag policy. Details are available at commencement.unl.edu. No tickets are required. All seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
For those who cannot attend, the commencement livestream can be accessed on the website.
Additional information is available on the website or by emailing commencement@unl.edu.
