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Nebraska Business Honors Academy Selects Class of 2025

40 High-Achieving Students Earn Their Place in Cohort-Based Program
Nebraska Business Honors Academy Selects Class of 2025
Forty first-year students join the Nebraska Business Honors Academy at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln this fall. The cohort will develop skills through an enhanced curriculum.

Forty incoming first-year students accepted invitations to join the Nebraska Business Honors Academy at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln this fall. This group will be the ninth cohort to join the Nebraska Business Honors Academy since its founding year in 2013.

“This new cohort exemplifies how Huskers create the future they want to see. They bring to Nebraska Business extensive experiences in leadership and academic achievements,” said Dr. Kathy Farrell, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean of the College of Business. “We are excited to welcome them to Nebraska and help prepare them to lead the future of business.”

The incoming cohort hails from nine states, including towns across Nebraska, and plans to study in eight academic majors within the College of Business. They will complete most of their core and foundation business curriculum together as a cohort using an action-based learning style focused on the development of critical thinking, technical and communication skills.

The new students will participate in leadership activities and compete in student competitions across the country to enhance their professional communication. Additionally, they partake in internships and study abroad experiences to learn valuable lessons and prepare them to make an impact in the business world after graduation. On-campus, academy students are involved in more than 150 student organizations and serve in a variety of prominent leadership roles. This summer, 40% of academy students are participating in paid internships in eight states. The academy has now graduated five cohorts and these alumni took their talents to careers and graduate schools spanning 24 states and four countries.

“We’re incredibly excited to welcome our ninth cohort to the academy. This group has overcome such a tumultuous end to their high school careers and brings such genuine excitement to the prospect of starting their time at Nebraska. They are bright, eager and community-focused individuals, and I have no doubt they will quickly find ways to positively impact the academy, the College of Business and the university as a whole,” said Erin Burnette, director of the academy. “Our team feels very honored to be able to have a front row seat as we help this cohort learn, grow and realize their potential as they progress through their college career.”

Applications for the 2022 cohort are accepted through November 15. To learn more about the academy, visit https://business.unl.edu/honorsacademy.

The following students will join the fall 2021 cohort of the Nebraska Business Honors Academy (the student’s high school is included in parentheses if it differs from the hometown):

NEBRASKA

Bassett: Jillian Buell, marketing (Rock County)

Beatrice: Avery Plessel, marketing

Bellevue: Baden Brumbaugh, economics (Bellevue West)

Bennington: Ethan Heinemann, accounting

Broken Bow: Cami Schweitzer, accounting

Crete: Tram Ngo, international business

Eustis: Karissa Hodge, marketing (Eustis-Farnam)

Kearney: Makenna Henning, business administration

Leigh: Cassidy Hoffman, accounting

Lincoln: Kaiden Bedient, finance (Pius X); Anna Coffey, finance (Pius X); Jenna Derowitsch, accounting (Lincoln Southwest); Andrew Foley, business administration (Pius X); Tyler Vander Woude, business administration (Lincoln Southeast); Jacob Whiston, business administration (Lincoln East); Grady Works, business administration (Lincoln Southwest)

Norfolk: Benjamin Spray, business administration

Omaha: Hannah Coldiron, business administration (Duchesne Academy); Grant Kingston, actuarial science (Elkhorn South); Jessica Li, international business (Millard North); Olivia Palmer, marketing (Millard South); Leo Ray, economics (Omaha Central); Meg Williams, business administration (Millard South)

Papillion: Cade Swanson, actuarial science (Papillion-La Vista South)

Raymond: Parker Barry, economics (Lincoln Southeast)

Rising City: Kira Pavlik, accounting (Shelby-Rising City)

ELSEWHERE

Temecula, California: Amber Hanson, business administration (Vista Murrieta)

Sioux Center, Iowa: Ellie Hurst, actuarial science

Glen Carbon, Illinois: Braden Starck, finance (Edwardsville); Jack Wise, international business (Edwardsville)

Lawrence, Kansas: Jonathan Patton, accounting (Lawrence Free State)

Leawood, Kansas: Ike McLey, finance (Shawnee Mission South)

Lenexa, Kansas: Megan Berg, actuarial science (Olathe Northwest)

Chesterfield, Michigan: Lucas Michalowicz, actuarial science (International Academy Macomb)

Lakeville, Minnesota: Sophie Thomas, marketing (Lakeville North)

Shakopee, Minnesota: Carly Gorter, business administration 

Woodbury, Minnesota: Daniel Koland, marketing (East Ridge)

Lees Summit, Missouri: Garrett Smith, marketing (Lees Summit West)

Brookfield, Wisconsin: Natalie Karrels, supply chain management (Brookfield East)

Sun Prairie, Wisconsin: John Trilling, business administration

Published: June 15, 2021