Maddie Balfany knew she wanted to carry on her family’s tradition of attending the University of Nebraska­­–Lincoln since she was a little girl. The sophomore business administration major from Lincoln, Nebraska’s parents, grandparents and two older sisters attended UNL, so staying in Lincoln was an easy choice.

“I’ve grown up in Nebraska and have always been a huge Husker fan,” Balfany said. “I haven’t known anything other than Nebraska.”

When it came time to enroll, a tour of the College of Business Administration and a conversation with Mark Davis, academic advisor and director of recruitment, were the final pieces to the puzzle.

Balfany didn’t waste time getting involved on campus – becoming a member of the Husker Spirit Squad, Scarlets Dance Team, working in the CBA Office of Undergraduate Programs, joining the CBA Student Ambassador Program and serving as a New Student Enrollment (NSE) assistant for the college in the summer.

During NSE, she gave presentations about student life and answered questions from incoming freshmen business students.

“The most rewarding part was seeing how much I grew during my freshman year here. Now I can advise students on which classes to take and ease their fears about entering college,” she said.

But her experiences helping recruit and advise new students for CBA didn’t end in the summer. Through the CBA Student Ambassador Program, she gives tours and attends several Red Letter Days to answer questions for prospective students.

In her role in the CBA Office of Undergraduate Programs, she similarly assists future and current students.

“Working in the office has given me great insight into the inner-workings of CBA and all of the different departments. I’ve learned about all the different channels you have to use to complete a project,” she said. “It is a good way to get my career started, too. I’m learning communication skills and gaining experience by working on projects and meeting deadlines.”

In addition to class and work, Balfany is pursuing her passion of dance on the Scarlets Dance Team – fulfilling a dream she’s had since she was two years old.

“I was that little girl who looked up to them,” she said. “I decided to try out and it was the best feeling ever when I saw my name on that list. There’s just no place like Nebraska.”

Not only is being on the team a dream come true, but she gets to share the experience with her sister, McKenzie, who is a senior accounting major.

“That is the most special aspect of being on the dance team,” she said. “My other older sister Mikaela ’15 also danced and it is something we can all share.”

She said her favorite place to perform is, of course, Memorial Stadium, but she also values the community aspects involved with being on the team like Husker Heroes.

As for the future, Balfany is still exploring options with her major, but is confident she is on the right track so far.

“I think the professors here do a really great job making you think about practical applications. You understand key concepts early on and build a foundation that prepares you to do whatever you want in the future,” she said. “The business world is always changing and versatile, which makes it an exciting major. At the College of Business, I find something new every day as well. There are so many programs and activities to be involved in and so many opportunities for success with the support from professors, staff and students at CBA.” Published: January 24, 2017