The University of Nebraska-Lincoln honored Nebraska eighth-graders for their academic excellence, leadership and perseverance May 10 at the Nebraska Union.
The Big Red Stars program is designed to recognize outstanding eighth-grade students in Nebraska. These talented young people were nominated by school principals and guidance counselors for showcasing strong leadership skills and academic promise.
The ceremony was sponsored by the university and EducationQuest. Highlights of the event included individual recognition and awards, and remarks from Nebraska women’s basketball coach Amy Williams.
The following is a list of students honored as 2017 Big Red Stars, by hometown:
Adams: Mikayla Lempka, Holden Ruse
Albion: Beau Hawn
Alexandria: Mackenzie Rau
Allen: Anthony Isom, Ashley Kraemer
Alma: Karri Christensen, Haylee Wing
Amherst: Kaci Pierce
Arapahoe: Reilley Einspahr, Derek Sander
Arcadia: Gavin Sell
Arlington: Lilly Stonehocker
Bartlett: Morgan Ramsey
Battle Creek: Payton Frederick, Jace Meinke
Bayard: Grace Burry, Lexis Coe
Beemer: Liliana Cordova
Belvidere: Siraya Wiedel
Bennington: Macy Byars, Katie Liske, Donea Thomas
Bloomfield: Jaiden Johnson, Rylie Quezada, Winona Ware
Blue Springs: Kaylee Klover
Bridgeport: Ellie Cline, Chance Cooper, Mileena Cruz, Ashley Martinez
Bruning: Dominic Quinones, Shakira Sunday
Burchard: Olivia Gottula, Reyana Tegtmeier
Burwell: Tell Jensen
Byron: Katelyn Poppe
Cairo: Sydney Perez
Callaway: Macy Rynearson
Clarks: Bayleigh Blackburn
Clarkson: Lane Kudera, Bailey Lemburg
Cody: Emmalea Olson
Coleridge: Kaylee Donner, Kobe Heitman
Columbus: Shelby Bridger, Rebecca Hazlett, Andrew Paez, Mariela Vazquez
Creighton: Braxton Brockhaus, Samantha Crockett
Crofton: Anastacia Suing
Curtis: Acelyn Klein
Davenport: KayLee Jo Dunlap
David City: Payton Andel, Clayton Harris
Diller: Addison Heidemann
Dorchester: Jacee Zoubek
Elyria: Brody Welniak
Emerson: Anthony Haberman, Zachary Shanks
Eustis: Karissa Hodge, Maggie Walker
Exeter: Jaiden Papik
Fairbury: Jadyn Rasmussen, Joshua Robertson
Falls City: Delbert Casteel, Dalton Fouraker
Genoa: Alexis Cherry
Gibbon: Alissa Bailey, Daniela Corona
Hartington: Gavin Potts, Connor Vlach, Carissa Wintz
Harvard: Ashley Nierman
Hayes Center: Julia Broker, Addison Broz
Hebron: Brennan Harms
Henderson: Madison Miller
Hershey: Brooke Bode
Holdrege: Chloe Amalang, Khaleb Pafford
Holstein: Shaylen Beaty
Homer: Kaleb Fredrickson
Hubbard: Brooklynn Schmidt
Humboldt: Tayana Rieger, Kyria Spruth-Janssen
Juniata: Hope Nienhueser
Kenesaw: Cassandra Ramsey
Kennard: Grace Arnold, Josh Miller
Lawrence: Jessica Himmelberg, Mckenzie Ostdiek
Leigh: Cassidy Hoffman, Emily Loseke
Lexington: Dalton Kunkee
Lincoln: Jesse Adame, Aaron Bui, Madilyn Fitzgerald, Karli Thomas
Loup City: Christina Bonczynski, Logan Gregory
Madison: Kolby Johnson, Mariano Perez
Meadow Grove: Ruth Vigil
Milford: Jasmyn Terrell
Morse Bluff: Jolie Stranik
Mullen: Ethan Corbin
Murray: Sydney Worthen
Nehawka: Joshua Linafelter
Nenzel: Elle Ravenscroft
Newman Grove: Paige Nelson
Nickerson: Roberto Valdivia
Niobrara: Emily Parks
North Bend: Bethany Wiebold
North Platte: Genna Blakely, Ashlyn Robinson, Anthony Shultz, Sam Wiezorek, Jaden Wolfe
Oakland: Ashten Rennerfeldt, Rheanna Paul, Valerie Uehling
Odell: Korey Theye
Ohiowa: Blake Meyer
Omaha: Alex Castillo, Alexis Downs, Ju Young Jung, Luke Lundquist, Jaden Rankin, Benjamin Schott, Cooper Simons, Noelle Singh, German Vasquez, Ben Walker, Abram Wulf
O’Neill: Agdaly Sanchez, Grant Winkelbauer
Orchard: Avery Cheatum
Ord: Jacob Brown, Abby Stethem, Seth Woodward
Orleans: Nevaeh Wellington
Osceola: Colvin Reed
Oxford: Makayla Schoen
Palisade: Peyton Yearous
Palmer: Reilly Donscheski, Kennedy Thompson
Papillion: Trevor Brandt
Pierce: Elizabeth Hammer, Tanner Kuper
Plainview: Riley Kaup, Josalyn Lawrence
Pleasant Dale: Isaac Voboril
Pleasanton: Tyce Westland
Polk: Tanner Wood
Potter: Mary Jane Kasten, Fedalina Schuessler
Primrose: Jacob Diessner
Ravenna: Adam Jensen, Chase Lockhorn
Rockville: Trent Rasmussen
Roseland: Derek Zubrod
St. Edward: Reagan Palmer
Scribner: Madison Brainard
Silver Creek: Corby Cannon, Maximilian Wattier
Spalding: Rachel Bauer
Stanton: Elizabeth Locke, Kalisha Simmons
Stromsburg: Justin Pruett, Madelyn Portwine
Stuart: Jett Kunz, Wade Paxton
Sumner: Ellie Guthard, Aaron Hernandez
Tecumseh: Miguel Orozco, Saylor Rother
Tilden: Adam Miller
Tobias: Kezia Connealy
Union: Trey Lamkins
Utica: Madison Avery
Wallace: Brianna Juarez
Wauneta: Haylee Sandman
Weeping Water: Addisyn Bickford
West Point: Stephanie Saldana, Brooklyn Weddle
Whitman: Brendon Walker
Wisner: Reagan Scholting
Wymore: Izak Spann
York: Ashton Benjamin, Wyatt Regier
