At two University of Nebraska–Lincoln Commencement ceremonies at Pinnacle Bank Arena this weekend, 240 business students receive their degrees and become the newest Husker alumni. Doctoral, juris doctor and master's degrees will be awarded at the Graduate Commencement at 3 p.m., Friday, Dec. 15 and bachelor's degrees will be conferred at 9 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 16. Chancellor Rodney D. Bennett will preside over both ceremonies.

“I am thrilled to congratulate each and every graduate and celebrate all the class of 2023 accomplished during their time with the College of Business. Our December graduates represent 25 states and four countries. As alumni, we know they will continue to drive discovery, create opportunity and lead the future of business wherever they go next — in Nebraska or around the world,” said Kathy Farrell, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean of the College of Business.

A first-generation college student, Marlenia Thornton is among the 38 professionals receiving their degrees from the highly-ranked, high-return-on-investment MBA@Nebraska program. She plans to apply her degree in her work as the communications coordinator for Lincoln Public Schools and to advance her work in communications and marketing as a storyteller.

"Graduating from Nebraska means opportunity and transformational growth. My first degree helped knock down several barriers as a first-gen student," she said. "I'm excited to see where my MBA takes me. Strengths-based leadership was a course that shaped me and my managerial philosophy. I strive to find ways to learn people's strengths, develop them and be intentional in finding ways they can shine with them.”

Samuel DeZube, a finance major from Stillwell, Kansas, joins the Omaha, Nebraska, tech startup called Workshop as a business operations analyst. His path took him from software engineering to finding his passion in finance and entrepreneurship. He credits his involvement in the college's Husker Venture Fund, which provides hands-on investment experience to students of any major while providing funding to early-stage startups in the state, as having the most impact on him.

“As a member of the founding cohort of the Husker Venture Fund in 2021, I learned so much through the experiences of investing in Nebraska startups and met so many incredible people. Last year, I served as one of three managing directors of the fund, had the chance to compete in the Global Venture Capital Investment Competition and placed third in the world for undergraduate universities. To help start something, see the hard work come to fruition and continuously watch it grow has been so rewarding," he said.

The focus on community at the College of Business struck Morgan Wallinger as the best part about being a Husker. The accounting and agribusiness major from Stuart, Nebraska, received business scholarships during her time at the university.

"Nebraska has provided me with the most incredible friends, mentors and opportunities. I worked alongside the most talented students and professors who pushed me to be a better student, leader, team member and friend. Nebraska opened the door to so many opportunities I never knew existed and gave me a space to grow and develop," she said.

Winning a national championship in audit innovation with a team of accounting majors, she will complete her Master of Professional Accountancy degree before starting full-time at Deloitte as a tax consultant.

Recent graduates can also take advantage of a program that aims to help remove possible financial barriers to those seeking to enhance their skills and employability.

"We recently launched the Nebraska Graduate Advantage Program (GAP) to save 15% in graduate tuition in our online Master of Science in Business Analytics and Supply Chain Management programs. The special savings are available to those who earned their bachelor's degree from UNK, UNO and UNL in the last five years with a GPA of 3.2 or higher," said Farrell. "This opportunity helps meet the workforce needs in Nebraska and nationwide for workers with these in-demand, relevant technical skills."

The ceremony will be available to watch online at the Commencement website. For more information about the event or to watch it live, visit: https://commencement.unl.edu.

2023 DECEMBER BUSINESS GRADUATES:

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Adam Robert Ali, Shenandoah, TX
Jessica Perera Ammons, Colleyville, TX
Candace Renee Bates, Sachse, TX
Brianna Bauwens, Lincoln
Timothy Ryan Bleekrode, Alpharetta, GA
Evan Buehler, Grand Prairie, TX
Sandeep Joseph Chennikara, Chicago, IL
Brian Church, Glendale, CA
Jorda Gerard Cire, Bellvue, CO
Jessica Rae DeVos, Omaha
Ryan Joseph Dillon, Saint Paul, MN
Kristen L. Dombrowski, Chicago, IL
Thomas J. Eschliman, Keller, TX
Bryan James Farnsworth, South Jordan, UT
Alex Joseph Fernando, Lincoln
Virginia Marie Franco, McAllen, TX
Chris Gabriel, Elkhorn
Isabel Martina Gilberti, Litchfield, NH
Joel John Gonsalves, Langley, Canada
Abram Stanley Harris, San Diego, CA
Morgan Hope Holen, Omaha
Harry Hughes, San Antonio, TX
Mark Hurtado, Winchester, CA
Nathaniel Peter Juraschek, Shawnee, KS
Matthew F. Kibbon, Akron, OH
Kali Anne Kinziger, Ripon, WI
Stephen Anthony Meidinger, Chesapeake, VA
Meagan Renee Peterson, Cedar Park, TX
Jonathan Andrew Petri, Bend, OR
Nicholas Scott Prusia, Lincoln
Elias David Ramirez, Cypress, TX
Kristina Ruhlman, Newport News, VA
Cameron Rule, Simsbury, CT
Ashish Soni, Burnaby, Canada
Matthew Vernon Thies, Fort Worth, TX
Marlenia Jewell Thornton, Lincoln
David Carl You, Elmhurst, IL
Jay Vijay Zarekar, Boston, MA

MASTER OF PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANCY
Thomas Mark Benes, Valparaiso
Payton Rose Hanson, West Fargo, ND
Camdyn Hehnke, Grand Island
Jacob A. Jesske, Lincoln
Dujin Lee, Bucheon, Republic of Korea
Hana Lee, Lincoln
Kennedy Ryan Luther, Omaha
Destini Faith Dezerai Morales, Lincoln
Rose Kathleen Pilakowski, Lawrence, KS
Alec James Sackschewsky, Seward
Easton Schulenberg, Lincoln
Kaden Joseph Strubel, Beatrice

MASTER OF SCIENCE
Todd Joseph Benenati, Chardon, OH—Business Analytics
Marvin Biagioni, Danbury, CT—Supply Chain Management
Bryce Adam Bradley, Denver, CO—Business Analytics
Robert Anthony Cortes, Panama City Beach, FL—Business Analytics
James Divinagracia, Lincoln, CA—Supply Chain Management
Yui Yan Iu, Lincoln—Finance
Megan Elizabeth Whittaker, Elkhorn—Business Analytics

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Hailey Abler, Pierce
Moises Amador Acevedo-Rodriguez, Elkhorn
Zainab Mohamed Al Balushi, Lincoln
Edyn Rose Alstrom, Lincoln
Jacob Michael Andersen, Omaha
Alexis Gabrielle Anderson, Elkhorn
Sammie Jo Anderson, Lincoln
Margarette Ann Andrews, Great Falls, MT
Jeremy Au, Lincoln, with distinction
Kathleen Michelle Ayers, Overland Park, KS
Adam Michael Beer, Eden Prairie, MN, with highest distinction
John Paul Blackmon, North Platte
Margaret Anne Blazek, Papillion
Emily Schrupp Bonine, Eagan, MN
Olivia Marie Bonta, Lincoln, with high distinction
Justin Linn Book, Greenwood, with distinction
Benjamin Ralph Brandt, Glen Ellyn, IL, University Honors Program
Dawson Robert Bredvick, McCook
Griffin Allen Brow, Ripon, CA
Mya Abigail Bruno, Metamora, MI
Aidan Lawrence Buscher, Chesterfield, MO, with distinction
Amelia Cai, Lincoln
Miranda Rose Cairns, Keller, TX
Christopher David Carpenter, Hastings, with highest distinction
Corey Michael Carpenter, Lincoln
Kelsie Jean Caven, Savage, MN
Daniel Franjo Cerni, Lincoln
Jayden Ty Chatman Zambon, Lincoln
Hannah Raeann Chramosta, Lincoln, with high distinction
Baylee Erin Christoffersen, Sandia Park, NM, University Honors Program
Gavin Charles Cross, Omaha
Evan Michael Davis, Hastings
Luis Diego De La Torre, Lexington
Alec Reed Devall, Lincoln
Ryanna Marie DeVries, Ogallala, with highest distinction
Samuel James DeZube, Stilwell, KS, with highest distinction, University Honors Program, Jeffrey S. Raikes School
Cesaire Djingueinabaye, Lincoln
Zoey Mae Doan, Helotes, TX
Zijie Dong, Nanjing, China
Zachary Richard DuBois, Filley
Alexander John Dudash, Cranberry Township, PA, with highest distinction
Sarah Allison Eicher, Lincoln, with distinction
Emily Sue Faltys, Norfolk
Caden Taylor Fay, Doniphan
Travis James Feldhaus, Lincoln
Giancarlo Vincent Fletcher, Omaha
Julia Katherine-Ayala Flores, Kansas City, MO
Seth Raine Forsberg, Omaha
Daniel Robert Frank, Lincoln
Christian Johann Friesen, Lincoln, with distinction
Olivia Lynn Froelicher, Omaha
Baylee M. Gerber, Armour, SD
Erica Nichole Gesner, Allen, TX
Isaac Gifford, Lincoln
Gabriel Timothy Gilinsky, Omaha
Andrew Robert Gokie, Seward
Jackson Tanner Goodyear, Lincoln
Anibal Ariel Grajeda, Lincoln
Samuel John Gude, Lincoln, with distinction
Emmett Keith Gutz, Salisbury, MO
Noah Francis Hagge, Lincoln
Ryan Alexander Hakim, Olathe, KS, with high distinction, University Honors Program
Cameron Wayne Hall, Lincoln
Paul R Harlow III, Omaha
Montana Renae Harrington, Omaha
Winsome Harris, Santa Cruz, Jamaica
Nolan Michael Hartman, David City
Kathryn T. Hawk, Ewing
Jacob Stephen Heineman, Fremont
Justin William Hilton, Lincoln
Courtney Elizabeth Hochertz, Aurora
Matthew Jacob Hoffman, Fort Calhoun, with distinction
Braden Joseph Holmes, Pequot Lakes, MN
Derek Charles Holtorf, Seward, with distinction
Jennifer Marie Holtzen, Davenport, with high distinction
Kate Lin Marie Houlden, Friend
Kathleen Ryan Jennings, Erie, CO
Mason Dillon Christian Jensen, Plattsmouth
Morgan Grace Jirovsky, Omaha, with high distinction
Morgan Kelly Kern, Overland Park, KS, with distinction
Mary Grace Killgore, Omaha, with high distinction
Evan Trent King, Lincoln
Aiden R. Kitchen, Omaha, with high distinction
Theodore James Kittle, Ord
Caitlin Ann Klein, Norfolk
Langdon Chadd Kohn, North Platte, with highest distinction
Madelyn Jane Kolar, Omaha
Mason Andrew Krause, Elkhorn
Brendan Chase Lahti, Danville, VA
Spencer David Lane, Creston, IA
Maggie Grace Lashley, North Platte, with distinction
Hassib Ullah Latifi, Omaha
Braden Elizabeth Liddick, Glenwood, IA, with distinction
Skylar Layne Lienemann, Martell
Aidan Christopher Linder, Omaha
Xinyu Liu, Papillion, with distinction
Aubrey Nicole Loewen, Overland Park, KS
Connor Matthew Loftus, Leawood, KS
Jenna Mae Long, Brandon, SD
Andrew Tipton Lunde, Omaha
Parker Durham Lundgren, Waterloo
Ricky John Ly, Lincoln
Jayda Julie Lyon, Colorado Springs, CO
Nicholas Albert Maxwell, Sioux Falls, SD
Ryan Joseph McCormick, Omaha
Kylie Isobel McDonald, Erie, CO, with distinction
Niamh Roisin McDonnell, Omaha
Alexander McGee, Lincoln
Jonathon Matthew McMahon, Omaha
Nolan Meisgeier, Omaha
Jesus Mejia-Melchor, Norfolk
Elijah Lester Merritt, Omaha
Emily Marie Miller, Lincoln
Grace Katherine Miller, Lincoln
Levi Leon Miller, Lincoln
William Blake Morales III, Dakota Dunes, SD
Morgan Lynn Mumford, Waterloo, with distinction
Andrew Jackson Muthersbaugh, Lincoln
Soichiro Nagao, Hiroshima, Japan
Luke Neemann, Lincoln
Mina Minh Nguyen, Lincoln, with high distinction
Samuel James Noel, Lincoln
Christian Parrish, Indianapolis, IN
Gabriela Joy Paskach, Delano, MN
Chase Dean Perchal, Waterloo
Brenden Jacob Peters, Lincoln
Robert Seville Peters, Omaha
Sarah Elizabeth Phares, North Platte
Dalin Robert Plog, Elkhorn
Aaron Mikell Joel Post, Lincoln
Rain Punsiri, Kansas City, MO
Graysen Lane Ragone, Bellevue
Lincoln Jade Rahn, Sioux City, IA, with distinction
Jayde Mari Reid, Jackson
Emily Richards, Papillion, with distinction
Alyssa Marie Richardson, Basehor, KS, with high distinction
Suellin Jeanne Richardson, Sioux Falls, SD
Amy Elisabeth Roach, La Vista, with high distinction
Tyler Lee Robertson, Lincoln
Anna Alexis Robinson, Lincoln, with distinction
Bailey M. Robinson, York, with distinction
David Rodriguez-Cuara, Lexington
Eli Rokke, Lincoln
Kendra Marie Rosberg, Norfolk
Meghan Eileen Ryan, Waukesha, WI
Taylor Sabatka, Wahoo
Michelle Saqui Cortes, Omaha
Michael Frank Schilken, Omaha, with distinction
Allison Margaret Schlautman, Omaha
Aja Jude Schon, Excelsior, MN
Makennah Madelyn-Soleil Scobee, Bennington
Aidan Kent Seaver, Union, IL
Barrett D. Sellon, Lincoln
Brooklyn Rose Shifflet, Scottsbluff
Matthew Douglas Smith, Lincoln
Molly Stewart, Prior Lake, MN
Jack Stogdill, Council Bluffs, IA
Kennedy Breck Stolz, Holdrege
Kayla Marie Sturges, Lincoln
Cassidy Rose Svec, Gretna
Jackson Edward Sweet, Omaha
Jailene Tavizon Alvidrez, Omaha
Joseph Allen Teten, Norfolk
Tyeisha Rose Thompson, Lincoln
Aaron Matthew Timm, Eden Prairie, MN
Jacob Allen Tobey, Lincoln
Emmanuel Torres, Lincoln
Justin Kyle Toth, Schaumburg, IL
Cole William Uhl, Omaha
Daniel Fuller Vierregger, Omaha
Claire Monroe Wackel, Lincoln, with high distinction
Morgan Nicole Wallinger, Stuart, with high distinction
ChenJie Wang, Huaihua, China
Mason Scott Warrelmann, Lincoln
Morgan Claire West, Lake City, MN
Olivia Margaret Whalen, Omaha
Noelle Christine Wieseler, Saint Helena
Danielle Jane Wilcox, Burnsville, MN, with highest distinction
Tyler Duane Wilwerding, Omaha
Levi Asa Woodward, Allen
Whitney Jo Wullenwaber, Bennington, with high distinction
Isaac Forrest Young, Merrill, WI, with highest distinction
Huaijin Zhang, Omaha