Skip to main content
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Search

Full Article

Visit Apply Give

Nearly 120 Virtual Graduates Return to Cross Stage at Commencement

MORE THAN 100 BUSINESS DEGREES CONFERRED IN AUGUST
Nearly 120 Virtual Graduates Return to Cross Stage at Commencement
More than 100 College of Business students receive their degrees at the August University of Nebraska–Lincoln commencement held Saturday. In addition, nearly 120 former graduates who earned their degrees virtually during COVID-19 return to Lincoln in person to officially cross the Pinnacle Bank Area stage.

Huskers who graduated virtually from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln during the COVID-19 pandemic were invited back to Lincoln this summer to cross the Pinnacle Bank Arena stage with August graduates. The in-person commencement events for business graduates include a doctoral and master’s ceremony held August 13 at 3 p.m. and an undergraduate ceremony on August 14 at 7:30 a.m.

“I am thrilled to not only hand out diplomas to our August 2021 graduates, but also congratulate our past graduates from May, August and December of 2020 and May 2021 who celebrated their graduation virtually due to the pandemic. At Nebraska, we want every graduate to have the opportunity to cross the stage and be recognized for their dedication and commitment while earning their degree,” said Dr. Kathy Farrell, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean of the College of Business.

Walter “Ted” Carter Jr., president of the University of Nebraska system, will deliver the undergraduate commencement address. Dr. Daniel Linzell, associate dean for graduate and international programs in the College of Engineering and Leslie D. Martin Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, will speak to the graduate and professional degree graduates.

The new and returning business graduates also kicked off graduation weekend with a special event called Desserts with the Dean on Friday, August 13 at Howard L. Hawks Hall. The event provides attendees with the chance to celebrate with their peers and Farrell while eating sweets on the Holthus Terrace at the College of Business.

“It’s a fun event where I get to meet our graduates' parents, siblings and friends. I also encourage them to stay involved with the college as our newest alumni,” said Farrell.

For virtual graduates like Rachel Olig, ‘20, returning to Lincoln to attend the undergraduate ceremony in person officially marks the final step of her journey at Nebraska. A marketing major from Omaha, Nebraska, Olig currently works at Wells Fargo as a fraud and claims operations specialist in Des Moines.

“I completed my degree during the pandemic and the past year has been amazing, but there was always something missing. I needed that final moment on campus when I get to cross the stage and receive my diploma. I am so glad that the class of 2020 has the opportunity to come back and complete this final step,” she said.

2021 AUGUST BUSINESS GRADUATES:

Doctor of Philosophy

Cameron J. Borgholthaus, Edwardsville, IL; Business—Dissertation: Three Essays on the Consequences of CEO Personality. Advised by Professor Jonathan O’Brien.

Haolin Fu, Anyang, China; Business—Dissertation: The Relationship Between Job Attitudes and Subjective Well-Being. Advised by Professor Janet Near.

Reha Karadag, Cracow, MA, Poland; Business—Dissertation: Strategic Resource Decay: The Overlooked Endogenous Threat. Advised by Professor Laura Poppo.

Master of Business Administration

Samuel Richard Arrigo, Palos Park, IL

Luke Christian Castner, Lincoln

John Decker, Oro Valley, AZ

Jennifer Ann Deitloff, Sergeant Bluff, IA

Nathaniel Arthur Erwin, Charlottesville, VA

Max Maxon Fleck, Colorado Springs, CO

Leela Krishna Golla, Lincoln

Brian Kearns, Derry, NH

Karissa Keck, Omaha

Alireza Khodaei, Lincoln

Kelly Dawn Lowrance, Kearney, MO

Zachary Charles Lund, Aurora, CO

Giovanni Andre Martinez, Chicago, IL

Erika Lynn McCubbin, Omaha

Juan Jose Miceli Garcia, Tapachula, Mexico

Kevin Pray, Omaha

Diego Armando Sanchez, Holloman Air Force Base, NM

Esakkiappan Senthivel, Fremont, CA

Lisa Christine Solis, Philadelphia, PA

Santhosh Sridhar, Seattle, WA

Gregory William Thomas, Taylor, MI

Melissa Welch-Lazoritz, Omaha

Master of Professional Accountancy

Yigit Erdem Akalin, Naponee

Gavin Michael Brown, Martell

Hannah Sierra McKinney, Beatrice

Emily Ann Olsen, Omaha

Master of Science in Business Analytics

Luke James Ausdemore, Persia, IA

Masen Eric Bachleda, Carpentersville, IL

Karmen Kay Browitt, Mc Cool Junction

Connor Alan Curry, Lincoln

Kent Johansen, Lexington, NC

Julie Deane Sierks, Lincoln

Michael Paten Sperry, Cave Springs, AR

William Riley Talbert, Huntsville, AL

Miranda Emily Workman, Lincoln

Master of Science in Finance

Brianna Bauwens, Lincoln

Nicholas Paul Halle, Tulsa, OK

Lucie Beth Johannes, Houston, TX

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Amy Solange Abadie, Lenexa, KS

Salim Saif Muslem Salim Al Hajri, Muscat, Oman

Muzna Shakeel Khalid Al Zadjali, Lincoln

Alexander Jacob Aldana, Lincoln

Alexander Joseph Anzalone, Omaha

Mason John Brandenburg, Columbus

Stephen Edwin Browne, Huntley, IL

Samuel Bliss Castner, Lincoln

Cuong Bao Chau, Lincoln

Qianhao Chen, Lincoln

Tate Steven Christie, Lincoln

Ethan Thomas Cox, Blair

Aishwarya Deshmukh, Hyderabad, India

Collin Doan, Lincoln

Alex Patrick Fanslau, Papillion

Jackson Lee Fortner, Omaha

Morgan Elizabeth Frauendorfer, Humphrey

William Kefauver Fritz, Calabasas, CA

Paige Nicole Grogan, Omaha

Derek Wayne Guyton, Jr., Bellevue

Blake Bradley Hamel, Papillion

Carson Lee Henry, Lincoln

Sarah Elizabeth Higgins, Elkhorn

Krystal Hoang, Lincoln

Austin Michael Hraban, Lincoln

Farukh Ishanov, Odintsovo, Russian Federation

Kyle Thomas Kasun, Papillion

Gregory Thomas Klein, Elm Creek

Kaden Keith Lathrop, Highlands Ranch, CO

Nhi Hang Uyen Le, Lincoln

Hosu Lee, Lincoln

Peng Liu, Beijing, China

Skylar DeJong Lowe, Omaha, with distinction

Ricky Carnell McCants, Jr., Omaha

Zachary Charles McClure, Papillion

Andres Giovanny Mensching, Lincoln

Jayden Quitney Miller, Brooten, MN

Luzelena Moreno, Lincoln

Caleb Thomas Newburn, Lincoln

Dat Tuan Nguyen, Lincoln

Johnkhiem Trong Nguyen, Lincoln

Adrianna Kimberly Parks, Omaha

Tanner David Peterson, Grafton

John Thanh Pham, Lincoln

Alta Mae Pryce, Lincoln

Brady Allen Radcliffe, Lincoln

Isaiah Owen Roby, Dixon, IL

Tyler Reed Rogert, Waterloo

Corbin Scott Ruth, Malcolm

Kelby James Schommer, Hartington

Jonathan James Scripnick, Milton, Canada

Donald Carroll Smalley, Aurora

Christopher Patrick Smith, North Platte

Garrett Mason Stice, Lincoln

Michael Allan Todd, Omaha

Kendrick Parker Umphreys, Council Bluffs, IA

Jacob Reefe Villalva, Omaha

Li Wang, Mian Yang, China

Qiao Wang, Zaozhuang, China, with distinction

Yifan Wang, Shanghai, China

Nathan Paul Wheeler, Firth

Katherine Marie Wiebelhaus, Lincoln, with high distinction

Zhihan Zhang, Zhengzhou, China


2020 Virtual Graduates Returning to Cross the Stage:

Doctor of Philosophy

Nam Hoang Le, Hanoi, Vietnam; Business—Dissertation: Essays in Corporate Finance. Advised by Professor Julian Atanassov.

Master of Business Administration

Brian Joseph Britton, Beaufort, SC

Emily Alison Edge Biersdorf, Los Angeles, CA

Zane Burton Gaudern, Fort Walton Beach, FL

Earl Thomas Hughes, Lincoln

Stephanie Lynn Jacobsen, McCool Junction

Vimal Mehta, Olathe, KS

Anne Elizabeth Rimmington, Omaha

Master of Professional Accountancy

Amanda Lee Farver, Ankeny, IA

Abby JoAnn Kile, Lawrence

Master of Science in Actuarial Science

Mary Opokua Ampaw-Asiedu, Kenner, LA

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Daniel John Albin, Lincoln

Sarah Elizabeth Alexander, Omaha

Abdulrahman Khalid Hilal Alqalhati, Lincoln

Violette Lauren Tamim Al-Timimi, Lincoln

Sarah Nicole Arthur, Chesapeake, VA

Amjad Khamis Muhanna Awlad Thani, Muscat, Oman, with distinction

Jennifer Ann Bogle, Austin, MN, with highest distinction & University Honors Program

Elizabeth Bayley Brake, Lincoln

Dominic Rohan Campbell, Omaha

Hunter James Chadd, Lincoln

Catherine Constance Chapman, Waukesha, WI

Oscar Chavez-Franco, La Vista

Max Monter Colligan, Lincoln

Brady Raymond Conant, Lincoln, University Honors Program & Nebraska Business Honors Academy

Megan Lynn Copsey, Gering, with highest distinction, University Honors Program & Nebraska Business Honors Academy

Jeffrey Charles Crate, Omaha

Dalia Cruz, Villa Park, IL

Erin Elizabeth Cummings, Medford, MA

Connor Alan Curry, Lincoln

Olivia Mae Danner, Berlin, Germany, with high distinction

Brady James Dickson, Lincoln

Mayte Briggite Dingman, Greenwood

Anh H. Do, Omaha

Dominic Thanh Duong, Lincoln

Joshua Mark Dycus, Hastings

Emma Susan Eastman, Mound, MN

Daniel Alan Engmark, Bolingbrook, IL

Ethan David Foxall, Papillion

Rowan Marie Franks, Omaha

Chenfeng Gao, Lincoln

Julian Alejandro Garcia, Lincoln

Abigail Johannah Greeneway, Appleton, WI

John Bruce Guiton II, Woodbury, MN

Leigh Elizabeth Hanson, Omaha, with distinction, University Honors Program & Nebraska Business Honors Academy

Anthony Michael Hare, Alliance, University Honors Program & Nebraska Business Honors Academy

Brooke Elizabeth Harmon, Omaha

Jackson Edward Hartley, Lincoln

Zachary Helms, Omaha

Natasha Joy Hindia, Saint Paul, MN

Eric Alan Horn, Weeping Water

Alexis Camille Hruby, Lincoln, with highest distinction

Alyssa Michelle Joseph, Greeley, CO, with high distinction

Tori Ryba Kimminau, Lincoln

Olivia Noelle Klein, New Berlin, IL

Gunnar Patrick Kliver, Omaha

Diamond Koh, Lincoln

Race Parker Kohel, Lincoln

Emma Marianne Kolb, West Fargo, ND

Hannah Rose Krajicek, Papillion

Caleb Christian Krohn, Osmond, Chancellor’s Scholar, with highest distinction, University Honors Program & Nebraska Business Honors Academy

Sydney Faye Lacher, Hugo, MN

Kathryn Louise Lawton, Dixon, IL

Rebekah Marie Lee, Le Mars, IA

Gage Walker Lippold, Crete

Vincent John Malene, Omaha, with highest distinction, University Honors Program & Nebraska Business Honors Academy

Makinsey Taylor Manning, Lincoln

Madeline Louise McDougal, Omaha

Sydney Ann McManamy, Sioux City, IA

Nathan Wesley McNiel, Holdrege

Samantha Joy Miedl, Omaha

Brock Robert Milius, Plattsmouth

Jake Louis Modica, Naperville, IL

Yamilet Naomi Nevarez-Alarcon, Schuyler

Bao Duc Nguyen, Lincoln

Chi Linh Nguyen, Lincoln, with distinction

Tam T. Nguyen, Lincoln

Lindsey Kay Nissen, Lincoln

Rachel Lynn Novicki, Sheboygan, WI, with highest distinction

Rachel A. Olig, Omaha

Joseph Ryan Osbron, Valencia, CA

Hannah Ruth Pearson, Omaha

Brittney Anne Peden, Bloomington, IL, with high distinction & University Honors Program

Linh Thuy Phung, Lincoln, with distinction

Gregory Toby Piechalak, Omaha, with high distinction

Xueyao Qi, Shenyang, China, with highest distinction

Timothy Frank Rakestraw, Blair

Anja Miangola Diana Rakotoarimanana, Antananarivo, Madagascar

Jordan Nicole Rehagen, Olathe, KS

Gabriela Joanna Rodriguez, Lincoln

Rammuhamed Sabyrkulov, Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan

Daulten Kevin Sadd, Hastings, with high distinction

Jacob Matthew Sahulka, Weeping Water

Veronica Sanchez Gonzalez, Gibbon

Jared Christopher Sasse, Lincoln

Blake Hunter Schroeder, Columbus

Bailee Rae Smith, Salem, SD

Emma Kay Smith, Omaha, with distinction

Matthew David Snyder, Lincoln

Benjamin William Spargo, Columbia, IL, with high distinction

Yvonne Marie Stone, Lincoln

Erica Miwa Taddiken, Manhattan Beach, CA

Ermiyas Tekeste, Lincoln

Mai Thi Ngoc Tran, Lincoln

Cindy Paola Valladares, Lincoln

Benjamin Vanness, La Vista

Andretti Joseph White, Omaha

Spencer Hayes White, Chapel Hill, NC, with high distinction

Grace Katherine Whitmer, Lincoln

Justin Meinert Wissmann, Lincoln

Rongyuxian Wu, Lincoln

Fandi Xu, Omaha

Tessa Marie Masako Yonekura, Lincoln

Xueqing Zhao, Shenyang, Chn

Published: August 13, 2021