35 students selected for Clifton Builders program at Nebraska

Garrett Stolz | Business

Thirty-five students started this fall as Clifton Builders at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The program aims to help Nebraska, the nation and the world identify the next generation of high-achieving leaders, entrepreneurs and business developers to create economic growth and prosperity. This photo was taken prior to the current Lincoln-Lancaster County mask mandate.

Thirty-five students are starting their journey this fall as the latest cohort of Clifton Builders at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The program continues to grow in its sixth year as a part of the Clifton Strengths Institute, enabling its students to learn from, study alongside and network with fellow entrepreneurial-minded individuals.

Builders declare a Clifton Builders management major or minor, participate in activities in the College of Business, consult with local businesses and more.

Designed by Gallup Chairman and CEO Jim Clifton, the program aims to help Nebraska, the nation and the world identify the next generation of high-achieving leaders, entrepreneurs and business developers. Students are admitted to the program based on a combination of their Gallup Builder Profile 10 assessment results, application strength and interview performance.

“The program was created to find and develop entrepreneurs, startup types, rainmakers and extraordinarily talented salespeople and leaders — people who have a natural gift to create economic energy where none existed before,” Clifton said.

Tim Hodges, executive director of the Clifton Strengths Institute and assistant professor of practice in management, said the Clifton Builders management major and minor equip students with tools to build, lead and manage people. The program consists of three tracks: business builder, team builder and community builder. Experiential components of each track provide students with elite real-world experiences that will make them a disruptive force in industry.

“The students in our Clifton Builders Program have natural talents that help them create a positive impact in their communities, businesses and teams,” Hodges said. “They have been called ‘disruptive’ — a term not always seen as a positive. But we believe there is no changing the future without disrupting the present. Disruption is not a threat, it is an invitation to move on and to redefine normal, especially in trying times such as a pandemic. These students have what it takes to lead us to a better future.”

Students are typically selected in their first year and begin courses the next fall. First-year students of all majors who aspire to change the world by building businesses, teams or communities through leadership and involvement should apply. Applications for the fall 2022 cohort are due Oct. 16. Learn more.

The 2021 cohort of Clifton Builders are:

Nebraska

Arcadia: AJ Garrelts, sophomore, actuarial science
Bennington: Connor Utech, junior, accounting
Elkhorn: Ben Pick, sophomore, finance; Tyler Lampkin, junior, actuarial science
Friend: Kate Houlden, sophomore, accounting
Grand Island: Isaac Alberts, sophomore, finance
Hickman: Evan Melcher, junior, finance
La Vista: Ethen Lamp, sophomore, management; Jack Patzner, junior, finance
Lincoln: Nick Coffey, sophomore, finance
Omaha: Jayden Eakin, junior, accounting; Josh Ferdico, junior, management; Isha Kishore, sophomore, business administration; Lauren Lael Lewis, junior, marketing; Michelle Lucio-Hernandez, sophomore, international business; Aaryan Naik, junior, economics; Matthew Pleiss, sophomore, finance
Springfield: Elizabeth Iverson, junior, business administration
York: Bailey Robinson, junior, management

Elsewhere

Bartlett, Illinois: Haley Szymczak, junior, accounting
Downers Grove, Illinois: Benjamin Cash, sophomore, finance
New Baden, Illinois: Andrew Tasker, junior, finance and computer science
Overland Park, Kansas: James Eshleman, sophomore, business administration; Sam Murphy, sophomore, management
Ellicott City, Maryland: Rachel Van Osdel, sophomore, finance
Edina, Minnesota: Lucia Golfis, sophomore, business administration
Magnolia, Minnesota: Sara Knips, sophomore, management
Prior Lake, Minnesota: Nick Larson, sophomore, finance
Savage, Minnesota: Kelsie Caven, sophomore, management
Greenwood, Missouri: Sophie Brendel, junior, psychology and political science
Lee’s Summit, Missouri: Carmella Bailey, junior, advertising and public relations
Grand Forks, North Dakota: Taylor Durbin, sophomore, management and marketing
Sioux Falls, South Dakota: Brayton Heinz, sophomore, finance and management
North Richland Hills, Texas: Payson Loibl, sophomore, business administration
Cancún, Mexico: Eduardo Sicilia, sophomore, management