37 Clifton Builders prepare to impact businesses, teams, communities

The Clifton Strengths Institute at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has selected 37 students for the ninth cohort of the Clifton Builders Program.

Housed in the College of Business, the program brings together students with high leadership and entrepreneurial potential and develops them to lead high-performance teams. 

“We use three words to describe the Clifton Builders: stretch, disrupt and transform,” said Tim Hodges, executive director of the Clifton Strengths Institute and assistant professor of practice in management. “We are intentional about helping students stretch and develop their unique strengths. Builders disrupt the status quo and work to make it better. They also transform their lives and the lives of those they lead and serve.”

The cohort-based program sets students up for success from day one, according to Kaitlin Ferris, the program’s assistant director, fostering a close-knit community that promotes partnerships, collaboration and networking opportunities. Students can declare either a Clifton Builders management major or minor and choose a track based on their interests in building businesses, teams or communities. They also work with a personal, Gallup-certified strengths coach to further develop into successful leaders.

“With a curriculum designed exclusively for our Clifton Builders, they gain the tools to develop as leaders and knowledge that will impact the growth and success of future organizations,” Ferris said.

The program is open to any student in their first two years at the university, with courses beginning the following fall. Every Clifton Builder enrolls in the course Building a Life for Impact, where they gain an advanced understanding of management and consulting for organizations to help improve business outcomes and employee engagement in the workplace. Another class offers hands-on experience in entrepreneurship.

“Builders gain insight into real-world marketing creativity, market analysis and an insider’s view of entrepreneurial creativity within their Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Organizations course taught by Dr. Samantha Fairclough,” Ferris said. “A program highlight for many students, this class enables students to showcase and sell products they designed at a Builder Marketplace, with all proceeds going to a nonprofit of their choosing.”

The 2024 cohort of Clifton Builders, listed alphabetically by hometown with their academic major(s), is:

Nebraska

Elkhorn:

• Aboud Abdalhamid, business administration
• Kyler Evans, finance

Falls City:

• Silas Amanullah, supply chain management

Fremont:

• Bailey Taylor, Clifton Builders management

Gretna:

• Tyler Hill, finance
• Liam Hodges, economics
• Noah Nordstrom, finance
• Danika Temoshek, Clifton Builders management

Hershey:

• Brandy Bode, finance

Hickman:

• Sebastian Pucher, finance

Lincoln:

• Amer Ali, business administration
• Johnny Liesveld, marketing
• Amani Mfinanga, finance
• Conner Miller, international business
• Taylor Streich, Clifton Builders management
• Logan Thurber, nutrition science
• Ryshelle Trejo, marketing

Oakland:

• Ellen Magnusson, Clifton Builders management
• Laughlin McNeill, business administration

Omaha:

• Connor Gharst, finance
• Jacob Hyder, Clifton Builders management
• Josh Rohrig, finance

Seward:

• Emilie Porter, business administration

Thurston:

• Alexis Bodlak, agricultural leadership, education and communication

Elsewhere

Santa Barbara, California:

• Leah Castillo, accounting

Erie, Colorado:

• Emily Frech, marketing

Fort Collins, Colorado:

• Maeve Maguire, Clifton Builders management

Highlands Ranch, Colorado:

• Ava Escobar, economics

Bull Valley, Illinois:

• Joseph Weinberger, Clifton Builders management

Chicago, Illinois:

• Benjamin Penner, finance

Lawrence, Kansas:

• Maddock Oberzan, finance

Overland Park, Kansas:

• John Jacobson, marketing
• Miles Wirth, business administration

Cottage Grove, Minnesota:

• Ella Krause, Clifton Builders management

Kansas City, Missouri:

• Mary Gerend, psychology

Nashotah, Wisconsin:

• Charlie Kubik, accounting

Seongnam, South Korea:

• Meilyn Jung, Clifton Builders management