Aspiring teachers encouraged to build sense of mission

Two-hundred-thirty-four University of Nebraska–Lincoln undergraduate students who have been officially admitted to teacher education programs during the 2023-24 academic year were recognized at the inaugural Teacher Education Convocation April 5 at Carolyn Pope Edwards Hall.

The event featured two ceremonies — one for students admitted last fall and the other for those admitted this spring.

“We’re seeking to elevate the stature of education and educators,” said Nick Pace, acting dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences. “Teachers really are the gateway to the kind of world we want to live in, and we want to honor that. No matter one’s position in life, everyone can point to a teacher who made a deep impact on their life.”

Craig Chandler | University Communication and Marketing

Students were formally recognized during the convocation ceremonies and presented with a commemorative pin symbolizing that they are one step closer to entering the professional life of an educator. Marilyn Moore, a lifelong educator who earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from CEHS, provided the keynote address for both ceremonies.

“Give attention to why it is that you’re doing this,” Moore said. “Build your own sense of mission. The business world now calls it ‘knowing your why.’ That mission is what sustains you as you do the work. On the really hard days, remembering your why is a really important thing to do because it’s what keeps you going. It’s what gets you up and in your classroom the next day after a hard day. I hope that you build that in a way that it energizes you, that it is a positive affirmation of your work.”

Following is a list of Husker students who were recognized during the convocation, listed alphabetically by hometown, with their year in school and program(s).

Nebraska

Alliance:

• Shelbee Burke, junior, family and consumer sciences, occupational (6-12).

Amherst:

• Riley Adelung, senior, secondary education: mathematics.
• Breanna Trampe, senior, family and consumer sciences, occupational (6-12).

Ashland:

• Claire Rohrs, sophomore, secondary education: social science.

Aurora:

• Lexie Wolinski, senior, elementary education.

Ayr:

• Elli Marker, junior, secondary education: science.

Beatrice:

• Makenna Hutt, senior, elementary education.
• Blake Trusty, senior, elementary education.

Bellevue:

• Roz Albert, junior, secondary education: social science.
• Makayla Crick, junior, secondary education: English.
• Jazmine Cunningham, junior, family and consumer sciences, occupational (6-12).
• Evelyn Leones, junior, secondary education: English.
• Audrey Phillips, junior, inclusive early childhood education.
• Owen Reimer, junior, secondary education: English.
• Bennington: Emma Boardman, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Broken Bow: Haley Wells, sophomore, elementary education.
• Cedar Rapids: Hope Schalk, junior, elementary education.
• Central City: Megan Blomstedt, junior, secondary education: English language arts.
• Tammy Poongkumarn, sophomore, elementary education and early childhood education.
• Columbus: Grace Baue, junior, elementary education.
• Haley Frezen, sophomore, special education (K-6).
• Emily Schaad, junior, elementary education.

Cortland:

• Larsen Jorgensen, junior, elementary education.

Cozad:

• Chesney Bartlett, junior, elementary education.

Creighton:

• Brody Eggers, junior, secondary education: social science.
• Grace Van Metre, junior, elementary education.

Crete:

• Martin Aleman, sophomore, special education (7-12).
• Brenda Ramirez Garcia, junior, elementary education.

Eagle:

• Addie Parde, senior, family and consumer sciences, occupational (6-12).

Elkhorn:

• Daisy Clover, sophomore, elementary education.
• Jon Drueke, junior, secondary education: social science.
• Haley Franco, sophomore, special education (7-12).
• Owen Lynch, sophomore, secondary education: social science.
• Lauren Strohman, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).

Eustis:

• Nate Hodge, junior, elementary education.

Ewing:

• Emily Nordby, junior, elementary education.

Falls City:

• Aiden Ebel, junior, secondary education: English language arts.

Fort Calhoun:

• Morgan Therkildsen, junior, elementary education.
• Fremont: Hollianne Jokumsen, junior, elementary education.
• Adisyn Mendlik, sophomore, elementary education.
• Sierra Schott, junior, elementary education.

Geneva:

• Abby Nichols, junior, elementary education.

Genoa:

• Alexis Cherry, senior, family and consumer sciences, occupational (6-12).

Gering:

• Jackson Ostdiek, junior, elementary education.

Grand Island:

• Ella Beckstrom, sophomore, elementary education.
• Mya Eriksen, junior, elementary education.
• Michelle Garcia-Barillas, junior, secondary education: social science.
• Lesly Ixtabalan Dominguez, junior, elementary education.
• Claire Kelly, junior, elementary education.
• Craityn Mills, senior, elementary education.
• Sadie Pehrson, sophomore, secondary education: social science.
• Kenzie Zapata, junior, elementary education.

Greenwood:

• Abby Craven, senior, elementary education.
• Sarah Wallingford, junior, elementary education and early childhood education.
• Jasmyn White, junior, elementary education.

Gretna:

• Jordyn Kuzel, junior, elementary education.

Hastings:

• Jaziel Armendariz, sophomore, secondary education: Spanish.

Hebron:

• Brenna Dubbert, junior, elementary education and early childhood education.

Hershey:

• Kate Vaughn, junior, elementary education.

Holdrege:

• Kade Komenda, junior, secondary education: science.
• Olivia Poppert, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).

Juniata:

• Carley Norlen, junior, elementary education.

Kearney:

• Josie Denney, sophomore, elementary education.
• Katelynn Jochum, junior, elementary education.
• Maddie Krueger, senior, elementary education.

Kennard:

• Chase Andersen, junior, secondary education: social science.

Lincoln:

• Maryah Abdullah, sophomore, inclusive early childhood education.
• Rema Al Neamah, sophomore, inclusive early childhood education.
• Tori Archuleta, junior, inclusive early childhood education.
• Tyson Barnard, junior, secondary education: social science.
• Marisol Barron Perez, junior, secondary education: mathematics.
• Breanna Bender, senior, elementary education.
• Caile Birdwell, junior, secondary education: social science.
• Hser Blay, junior, inclusive early childhood education.
• Morgan Blayney, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Emily Boden, sophomore, elementary education.
• Kathryn Boilesen, junior, special education (7-12).
• Michaela Boyd, sophomore, elementary education.
• Jessica Brewer, sophomore, secondary education: French.
• Daniel Brinkman, junior, secondary education: social science.
• Tyson Campbell, sophomore, elementary education.
• Carla Cardenas, sophomore, elementary education.
• Annie Casady, sophomore, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Daisha Castillo, sophomore, elementary education.
• Jenny Castor, sophomore, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Giana Cidlik, sophomore, elementary education.
• Amiyah Crisler, junior, elementary education.
• Joshua Cutchins, junior, secondary education: English language arts.
• Makenna Dezort, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Calvin Finley, junior, secondary education: social science.
• Luke Folkers, senior, secondary education: English language arts.
• Kate Gansemer, sophomore, elementary education.
• Morgan Gatzemeyer, junior, elementary education.
• Alie Gertsch, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• America Gomez-Mariscal, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Clara Halsted, sophomore, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Rochelle Harding, sophomore, secondary education: English.
• Carsten Hayes, junior, secondary education: social science.
• Hannah Hurley, sophomore, secondary education: English.
• Shaima Kari, sophomore, secondary education: English.
• Riley Kinnan, sophomore, secondary education: biology.
• Caiden Kuta, junior, secondary education: social science.
• Olivia Ledin, sophomore, elementary education.
• Aether Leif, junior, secondary education: mathematics.
• Emma Lindsey, junior, inclusive early childhood education.
• Jadyn Maddox, senior, secondary education: Spanish.
• Brendan McGlothlin, sophomore, secondary education: social science.
• Isaiah Mettler, senior, secondary education: social science.
• Abby Meyer, junior, elementary education.
• Alexis Meyers, junior, elementary education.
• Anna Miller, sophomore, secondary education: mathematics.
• Maddie Miller, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Lu Min, senior, elementary education.
• Jed Morton, junior, secondary education: social science.
• Ellie Neilan, junior, elementary education.
• Lydia Newburn, sophomore, elementary education.
• Lilian Nguyen, junior, secondary education: English.
• Erik Nyquist, junior, secondary education: social science.
• Jack Obidowski, junior, secondary education: social science.
• Izzy Owens, sophomore, secondary education: social science.
• Qwee Paw, junior, elementary education.
• Jonathan Perez, sophomore, secondary education: mathematics.
• Ava Regnier, sophomore, secondary education: social science.
• Meredith Reiter, senior, secondary education: Spanish.
• Krystal Rivera, sophomore, elementary education.
• Rylee Robinson, junior, special education (7-12).
• Paige Sanchez, senior, elementary education and early childhood education.
• Abby Schessler, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Trey Schuster, sophomore, secondary education: social science.
• Makenna Sebek, junior, elementary education.
• Jaden Shirley, junior, secondary education: social science.
• Abby Shonka, sophomore, secondary education: social science.
• Joe Slattery, sophomore, secondary education: social science.
• Zoey Snofsky, junior, secondary education: social science.
• Emily Steen, junior, secondary education: social science.
• Katlynn Tomasek, junior, elementary education and early childhood education.
• Kelsey Wathen, junior, elementary education.
• Ryan Yakel, junior, secondary education: English language arts.
• Alexis Yaussi, junior, elementary education and early childhood education.

Loomis:

• Aidan Perry, sophomore, elementary education.

Louisville:

• Treyton Savage, junior, secondary education: mathematics.

McCook:

• Heather Bateman, sophomore, elementary education.
• Carley Peters, junior, elementary education.
• Kelcie Vette, junior, elementary education.

Milford:

• Madaux DeLong, junior, secondary education: mathematics.

Murdock:

• Rylan Meyer, sophomore, elementary education.

Nebraska City:

• Gabrielle Chance, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).

North Bend:

• Aleya Bourek, junior, elementary education.
• Sydney Emanuel, junior, elementary education.

Oakland:

• Kiley Arlt, junior, elementary education.

Oconto:

• Isabelle Stallbaumer, junior, secondary education: social science.

Ogallala:

• Remington Schimonitz, junior, secondary education: social science.
• Isaac Shen, junior, secondary education: social science.

Omaha:

• Emma Bailey, junior, elementary education.
• Hope Belcastro, junior, secondary education: English.
• Gianna Bianchette, sophomore, elementary education.
• Essi Blazauskas, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Kailyn Dunham, junior, secondary education: English.
• Ella Eckerman, sophomore, secondary education: English.
• Cassandra Failor, senior, elementary education.
• Addi Haas, junior, elementary education.
• Kailee Harbin, sophomore, elementary education.
• Kailyn Harp, sophomore, elementary education.
• Karla Hernandez Granillo, junior, special education (7-12).
• Nghi Ho, sophomore, elementary education.
• Eric Jacob, senior, secondary education: English language arts.
• Kendra Karnish, junior, elementary education.
• Taylor Kirlin, junior, elementary education.
• Abby Kohll, junior, elementary education.
• Ava Konwinski, sophomore, elementary education.
• Kathryn Krebbs, sophomore, secondary education: English language arts.
• Allison Kunz, junior, elementary education.
• Emma Lukowski, sophomore, elementary education.
• Sydney Metzler, junior, secondary education: English language arts.
• Jason Miller, junior, secondary education: German.
• Nevaeh Sanders, junior, inclusive early childhood education.
• Paige Vose, junior, secondary education: social science.
• Annie Wakefield, sophomore, elementary education.

O’Neill:

• Catilyn Reiser, senior, elementary education and special education (K-6).

Osmond:

• Lillie Gansebom, junior, elementary education.

Palmyra:

• MacKenna Eidson, junior, elementary education.

Papillion:

• Kaitlyn Bousquet, sophomore, elementary education.
• Hannah Reynolds, sophomore, secondary education: English language arts.

Pender:

• Claire Felber, junior, elementary education.

Ravenna:

• Rowan Havranek, junior, secondary education: English.
• Bailey Schirmer, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).

Raymond:

• Ally Keitges, sophomore, elementary education.

Roca:

• Gionna Weber, junior, elementary education.

Rosalie:

• Lauren Kramer, junior, elementary education and early childhood education.

Roseland:

• Amanda Ehrman, junior, elementary education.

Seward:

• Jenny Bowen, junior, secondary education: mathematics.
• Jakob Gray, junior, secondary education: social science.

Sprague:

• Allana Heath, sophomore, secondary education: mathematics.

Superior:

• Cailyn Barry, junior, elementary education.
• Emma Henderson, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).

Sutton:

• Ty Skalka, junior, secondary education: mathematics.

Syracuse:

• Emma Apel, sophomore, elementary education and early childhood education.

Wahoo:

• Brooklyn Marxsen, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).

Wausa:

• Jarrett Andersen, junior, secondary education: chemistry.

Waverly:

• Cameron Hyde, sophomore, secondary education: business, marketing and information technology.

York:

• Noah Jones, junior, secondary education: social science.

Elsewhere in the U.S.

CALIFORNIA:

Yorba Linda:

• Walt Arneal, sophomore, secondary education: social science.

CONNECTICUT:

Stafford Springs:

• Jillian Mangold, junior, secondary education: science.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA:

Washington:

• Felicia Bailey, junior, elementary education.

ILLINOIS:

Batavia:

• Carlin King, junior, secondary education: mathematics.

Girard:

• Brenna Bruley, sophomore, elementary education.

La Grange Highlands:

• Jacob Woolfington, sophomore, secondary education: social science.

Lake in the Hills:

• Zak Link, junior, secondary education: social science.

Marengo:

• Riley Pankow, sophomore, secondary education: business, marketing and information technology.

Naperville:

• Sydney Notestine, sophomore, elementary education.

Ottawa:

• Andrea Sanderson, junior, elementary education.

St. Charles:

• Ellie Walker, sophomore, elementary education.

Willowbrook:

• Kylie Marron, junior, elementary education.

Winfield:

• Daniel Smyth, junior, secondary education: mathematics.

INDIANA:

Carmel:

• Audrey Wirth, junior, inclusive early childhood education.

IOWA:

Harlan:

• Savannah Christensen, junior, secondary education: business, marketing and information technology.
• Vanessa Schechinger, junior, elementary education and early childhood education.

Mapleton:

• Paige Wooster, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).

KANSAS:

Kansas City:

• Meg Mahoney, junior, secondary education: social science.

Leawood:

• Allison Day, junior, secondary education: social science.

Olathe:

• Cheyenne Fantroy, sophomore, elementary education.

Seneca:

• Ellie Mady, junior, elementary education.

MINNESOTA:

New Richland:

• Ashton Johnson, junior, elementary education.

Rosemount:

• Abigail Duensing, junior, elementary education.

MISSOURI:

Webster Groves:

• Catherine Brown, junior, elementary education.

NORTH DAKOTA:

Fargo:

• Carson Dean, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).

SOUTH DAKOTA:

Custer:

• Kellyn Kortemeyer, sophomore, elementary education.

Elk Point:

• MacKenzie Stone, junior, elementary education.

Sioux Falls:

• Madison Devericks, junior, secondary education: social science.
• Brianna Porter-Schaaf, sophomore, elementary education.
• Reagan Reiter, junior, elementary education.
• Sydney White, junior, elementary education.

TEXAS:

Sheppard Air Force Base:

• Addison Olson, junior, elementary education.

VIRGINIA:

Keswick:

• Grace Flynn, sophomore, elementary education.