March 10, 2026

68 students chosen as Nebraska Young Artist Award winners

Two hands wearing long white gloves pull back a theater curtain as a spotlight shines through.
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The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts has announced the winners of the 29th annual Nebraska Young Artist Awards.

The awards recognize 11th-grade students from Nebraska for their talents in visual art, dance, music, theatre, and film and emerging media arts. 

Sixty-eight students from more than 40 high schools across the state have been selected as award winners and will be invited to a day of activities on campus March 25.

“Our faculty always look forward to this event,” said Chris Watson, director of recruitment for the college and coordinator of the awards. “They love meeting enthusiastic young artists, working with them and celebrating their talent.”

Students applied for the recognition and submitted an example of their work. Applications were received from 92 students. Hixson-Lied College faculty chose the winners.

Award winners were also asked to nominate the teacher who provided them with the greatest amount of mentoring and support in the development of their special talents. 

Each student will receive a certificate and an original piece of artwork commissioned for the event and created by a School of Art, Art History and Design student.

Following is a list of award winners by hometown, with their high school and specialty area(s).

Aurora:

  • Calvin Miller, Aurora, music

Beaver City:

  • Johnathan Eakin, Southern Valley, visual arts

Bellevue:

  • Mami Lloyd, Bellevue West, music

Bennington:

  • Liliana Martic, Bennington, music

Eagle:

  • Jorie Goings, Waverly, dance

Firth:

  • Petra Van Cleave, home school, music

Fremont:

  • Xavier Herre, Bergan Catholic, theatre

Fullerton:

  • Lylla Sabata, Fullerton, music

Gretna:

  • Lillian Bock, Gretna, music

Harvard:

  • Allee Jarzynka, Harvard, music

Hendley:

  • Lily Jordan, Southern Valley, visual arts

Hooper:

  • Leo Arellano, Logan View, visual arts
  • Ellsie Meier, Logan View, visual arts

Kearney:

  • Kruz Flamig, Kearney, visual arts
  • Isaac Hooton, Kearney, visual arts
  • Mariah Kaslon, Kearney, visual arts
  • Landen Tilley, Kearney, visual arts

Lincoln:

  • Alissa Brenning, Norris, dance
  • Kali Brewer, Lincoln Southeast, visual arts
  • Ava Engel, Lincoln Northeast, dance
  • Emalie Fischer, Lincoln North Star, dance
  • Adelyn Haden, Lincoln Standing Bear, dance and music
  • Audrey Haugen, Lincoln Southwest, theatre
  • Andrea Hu, Lincoln East, music
  • Logan Lambrecht, Lincoln Southwest, music and theatre
  • Mckinzey Lile, Lincoln North Star, dance
  • Hayley Marshall, Lincoln Southwest, dance
  • Riley Minster, Lincoln East, music
  • Joslyn Morgan, Lincoln Southeast, music
  • Ariadne Ottoson, home school, music
  • Megan Plander, Lincoln Lutheran, theatre
  • Lauren Ramey, LPS Arts and Humanities Focus Program, visual arts
  • Blake Semrad, Lincoln Southwest, dance
  • Emma Shaeffer, Lincoln Southwest, dance
  • Taylor Sharpe, Lincoln Southwest, dance
  • Hugh Skretta, Lincoln High, music
  • Samuel Sulzle, Lincoln Northwest, music
  • Brooks Xia, Lincoln East, music

Martell:

  • Reese Thomas, home school, music

Norfolk:

  • Noah Asbury, Norfolk, music
  • Emily Henkel, Norfolk, music; Nathan Kaiser, Norfolk, music
  • North Platte: Brett Pfeifer, North Platte, theatre

Omaha:

  • Asher Abuhl, Trinity Classical Academy, music
  • Adam Campagna, Omaha South, film and emerging media arts
  • Liam Cowherd Richardson, Creighton Preparatory, music
  • Regina Ho, Millard South, film and emerging media arts
  • Connor Holmstedt, Fort Calhoun, music
  • Kara Leininger, Duchesne Academy, music
  • Jayden Li, Millard North, music; Violet Little, Omaha Central, dance
  • Mrethi Magesh, Millard North, dance
  • Venkatesan Marichamy, Millard North, dance
  • Moyra Matthews, Duchesne Academy, dance and music
  • Jackson Mu, Millard North, music
  • Gauri Nair, Millard North, dance
  • Angela Qi, Millard North, music
  • Jackson Ramsey, Gretna East, music
  • Tara Richardson, Creighton Prep, music
  • Vandana Santhanam, Marian, music
  • Caroline Soderlin, Millard North, music
  • Akshara Venkatesan, Millard North, dance
  • Caleigh Walkenhorst, Millard West, music

Osmond:

  • Donovan Heiman, Osmond, theatre

Papillion:

  • Emelia Weaver, Papillion-La Vista, music

Pierce:

  • Spencer Sindt, Pierce, music

Randolph:

  • Brecken Shearer, Randolph, visual arts

York:

  • Allison Holmes, York, visual arts