Clifton Strengths Institute at Nebraska selects 38 new coaches

The new strengths coaches in the Clifton Strengths Institute sit on a staircase outside Howard L. Hawks Hall.

Garrett Stolz | Business

The Clifton Strengths Institute at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln recently welcomed 38 new student strengths coaches. The coaches serve as mentors to new College of Business students in Professional Enhancement I: Investing in Strengths.

The Clifton Strengths Institute at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has selected 38 undergraduate students to serve as new strengths coaches for the 2023-24 academic year. The students will join returning coaches to mentor about 1,000 new students enrolled in the College of Business’ Professional Enhancement I: Investing in Strengths (BSAD 111).

The required course for all first-year business students empowers them to excel using their natural strengths, learned from taking the CliftonStrengths assessment. Strengths coaches help new students develop as they learn to leverage their top strengths.

“A student’s college experience can be the most transformative years of their life,” said Alyson Lenz, assistant director of the strengths program. “In crucial times of life transitions and self-discovery, students in the College of Business can identify their natural talents and dive into the qualities that make them unique. Focusing on their strengths, along with their student strengths coach’s guidance and support, sets students up to be successful and more confident throughout their college careers.”

The program requires all new coaches to enroll in Strengths Coaching, Theory and Practice (MNGT 451) this spring, where they learn about strengths-based development and techniques to maximize individuals’ potential. These skills are used to make positive impacts within the college and community, and in their professional careers.

“Our student strengths coaches truly care about the development and well-being of the students they coach,” Lenz said. “They have a passion and energy for investing in others, building trusting relationships, helping students be at their best and leaving a lasting impact beyond the eight weeks of the class.”

The new strengths coaches represent 14 majors across campus, including eight in the College of Business.

Hannah-Kate Kinney, a junior advertising and public relations major from Omaha, plans to use her experiences on campus for the betterment of her peers at Nebraska.

“Nebraska has afforded me so many opportunities for which I am eternally grateful,” she said. “I hope that I can inspire students to take advantage of all the university has to offer. I want to light a fire within my students that they can do absolutely anything to which they put their minds. If I can be the first spark that lights their journey onto future leadership positions, I know I will have done my job effectively.”

To learn more about strengths coaches and the Clifton Strengths Institute, click here.

The new strengths coaches for the 2023-24 school year, with their year in school in the spring 2023 semester and academic major(s), are:

Nebraska

Bellevue: Delaney Huck, freshman, business and law
Bennington: McKenzie Sharp, sophomore, marketing
Central City: Jade Erickson, sophomore, Clifton Builders management
Firth: Hannah Hurt, sophomore, management
Fremont: Elise Estudillo, freshman, accounting
Grand Island: Hannah Fjeldheim, sophomore, business administration, and advertising and public relations
Hastings: Mari Conant, freshman, marketing
Kearney: Ashton Huls, freshman, nutrition and health sciences, pre-dentistry
Lincoln: Myah Anderson, sophomore, special education (7-12); Kaiden Bedient, sophomore, finance; Eva Gronewold, freshman, marketing and management; Nathan Makinson, freshman, economics; Alasia Wynne, freshman, accounting
Nelson: Alexa Cox, sophomore, marketing
Oakland: Ellen Magnusson, freshman, business administration
Omaha: Carter Bautch, junior, advertising and public relations; Jacob Faapito, freshman, psychology; Margaret Kee, freshman, economics; Hannah-Kate Kinney, junior, advertising and public relations, broadcasting and journalism; John Kinney, junior, business and law; Ava Rosenfels, freshman, business administration; Jordan Tipton, freshman, business administration; Mandy Tran, sophomore, business administration; Dywan Williams, sophomore, accounting
Steinauer: Ellie Schaardt, freshman, business administration
Valley: Audrey Frohloff, freshman, business administration
Waverly: Tenley Kozal, freshman, management