225 Husker students honored during Teacher Education Convocation

The 225 University of Nebraska–Lincoln undergraduate students who have officially been admitted to teacher education programs in the College of Education and Human Sciences during the 2024-25 academic year were recognized at the second annual Teacher Education Convocation April 4 at Carolyn Pope Edwards Hall.

Students were formally recognized during the ceremony and presented with a commemorative pin symbolizing that they are one step closer to entering the professional life of an educator. 

Kenneth and Annie Bird provided the keynote address for the event. Kenneth Bird is a former superintendent of Omaha’s Westside High School and former founder, president and chief executive officer of the nonprofit Avenue Scholars. Annie Bird is a former speech-language pathologist for the Nebraska Department of Education and former educator.

“You have chosen an amazing career path,” Annie Bird told the future teachers during the convocation. “I would guess that as you’ve chosen this profession, there was some teacher, some educator in your life, that really left an impression on you and led you to the direction of wanting to go this route. You’re going to be that person for someone else.”

Nick Pace, interim dean of the college, and Shirley Vargas, school transformation officer and office administrator for coordinated school and district support at the Nebraska Department of Education, also provided remarks during the ceremony.

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

Ansley:

• Lilly Jonas, sophomore, elementary education and early childhood education.

Ashland:

• Gracey Earnest, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).

Auburn:

• Leah Grant, junior, secondary education (business, marketing and information technology).

Aurora:

• Wyatt James, sophomore, secondary education (social science).

Bancroft:

• Payton Nolting, senior, elementary education and special education (K-6).

Bassett:

• Gracie Swanson, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).

Battle Creek:

• Breanna Borchers, junior, secondary education (English language arts).

Beatrice:

• Ashton Strubel, junior, elementary education.

Bellevue:

• Annabelle Bindel, senior, elementary education and early childhood education.
• Mia Geiger, junior, secondary education (English).
• Sydnee Wenninghoff, junior, secondary education (English language arts).

Bennington:

• Abby LaSure, junior, secondary education (English).
• Lauren Main, junior, special education (K-6).
• Brooklyn Sharp, sophomore, elementary education.

Brainard:

• Reid Glasshoff, junior, secondary education (business, marketing and information technology).

Carleton:

• Hannah Miller, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).

Central City:

• Drew Perdew, sophomore, secondary education (business, marketing and information technology).

Chester:

• Allison Richardson, junior, secondary education (science).

Columbus:

• Madison Fricke, junior, elementary education.
• Sierra Kravig, junior, secondary education (English language arts).

Crete:

• Anahi Tercero Tercero, senior, elementary education and early childhood education.

Dwight:

• Katie Haney, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).

Eagle:

• Olivia Panipinto, junior, secondary education (English language arts).

Elkhorn:

• Adam Beck, junior, secondary education (Japanese).
• Noah Boyd, sophomore, secondary education (social science).
• Grace Gaebel, sophomore, elementary education.
• Michelle Gilmond, junior, elementary education.
• Michaela Michalski, sophomore, special education (K-6).
• Maggie Reisbig, junior, elementary education.
• Paige Rutherford, sophomore, elementary education.
• Ella Schutte, sophomore, elementary education.

Elmwood:

• Katelyn Stewart, senior, elementary education and special education (K-6).

Fremont:

• Drucilla Eppenbaugh, junior, secondary education (English).
• Bella Keaton, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).

Friend:

• Cameryn Brandt, senior, family and consumer sciences, occupational (6-12).
• Shelby Lawver, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Kylie Weber, junior, elementary education and early childhood education.

Gering:

• Kaitlyn Peterson, junior, secondary education (English language arts).
• Sydnee Winkler, junior, inclusive early childhood education.

Gibbon:

• Kristen Holcomb, sophomore, elementary education.

Gothenburg:

• Addi Wyatt, junior, inclusive early childhood education.

Grand Island:

• Koby Bales, senior, family and consumer sciences, occupational (6-12).
• Hunter Jensen, sophomore, secondary education (social science).
• Erin Maruska, junior, elementary education.
• Amber Muhlbach, sophomore, elementary education.
• Gavin Steinfeldt, sophomore, elementary education.

Greenwood:

• Braxton Buck, junior, special education (7-12).

Gretna:

• Brynn Andrews, junior, elementary education.

Hastings:

• Evan Strom, junior, secondary education (social science).

Henderson:

• Kambel Newman, sophomore, elementary education.

La Vista:

• Lili Shepoka, junior, elementary education.

Lincoln:

• Baneen Al Azawy, junior, elementary education.
• Maryam Al Rubaye, junior, secondary education (social science).
• Asraa Al-Ghanemi, junior, elementary education.
• Athar Audeh, senior, secondary education (English).
• Maggie Bales, sophomore, secondary education (English language arts).
• Maddie Bengtson, junior, secondary education (social science).
• Hattie Bennett, junior, elementary education.
• Lillie Boever, junior, elementary education.
• Lucas Bohlen, senior, secondary education (biology).
• Zack Bursh, sophomore, secondary education (English language arts).
• Grace Clinkinbeard, junior, elementary education.
• Chloe Colgrove, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Rubie Demma, sophomore, elementary education.
• Lilly Done, junior, special education (7-12).
• McKenzi Eppenbach, sophomore, elementary education and early childhood education.
• Taylah Filipi, sophomore, secondary education (mathematics).
• Tai Frederick, junior, secondary education (social science).
• Sidney Gregory, junior, elementary education.
• Kinsli Gropp, junior, elementary education and early childhood education.
• Linsey Helms, senior, elementary education and early childhood education.
• Brad Hensley, senior, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Lilly Herbel, junior, secondary education (biology).
• Rachel Howard, senior, elementary education.
• Mana Jacobo, junior, secondary education (mathematics).
• AJ Jambor, junior, secondary education (social science).
• Lydia Jantz, junior, inclusive early childhood education.
• Arastania Jorgenson, senior, elementary education and early childhood education.
• Kyan Jurgens, sophomore, elementary education.
• Amelia Kehn, junior, secondary education (social science).
• Lars Kessler, junior, secondary education (mathematics).
• Nya Kraus, junior, elementary education.
• Will Kreikemeier, sophomore, secondary education (social science).
• Reidun Larsen, junior, elementary education and early childhood education.
• Grady Lohoefener, junior, secondary education (social science).
• Anna Mazour, junior, elementary education.
• Viridiana Mendez Vazquez, junior, elementary education.
• Peyton Miller, junior, secondary education (social science).
• Eh La Be Na, junior, elementary education.
• Katelyn Nelson, junior, elementary education.
• An Nguyen, sophomore, elementary education.
• Annie Niles, sophomore, inclusive early childhood education.
• Hanan Omar, junior, elementary education.
• Maliah Patterson, junior, family and consumer sciences, occupational (6-12).
• Allison Pierce, sophomore, elementary education.
• Kelsea Reichmuth, junior, elementary education.
• Jewel Reif, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Emma Riedmiller, junior, elementary education.
• Emma Roblyer, junior, elementary education.
• Jada Rohlmeier, junior, family and consumer sciences, occupational (6-12).
• Abby Rouch, junior, secondary education (social science).
• Marlana Saalfeld-Green, junior, secondary education (social science).
• Abby Shonka, junior, secondary education (social science).
• Aaliyah Solorio, junior, elementary education.
• Braelynn Stanczyk, sophomore, elementary education.
• Nate Straube, sophomore, elementary education.
• Rebekah Struwe, junior, elementary education.
• Abrianna Tessalee, junior, inclusive early childhood education.
• Ella Thomas, junior, elementary education.
• Malia Thoms, sophomore, elementary education.
• Oren Trainin, junior, secondary education (English language arts).
• Ryshelle Trejo, junior, secondary education (business, marketing and information technology).
• Aden Valley, junior, secondary education (social science).
• George Viehl, sophomore, secondary education (mathematics).
• Anna Walters, junior, elementary education.
• Joey Welty, senior, secondary education (English language arts).
• Noah Wittwer, junior, elementary education.
• Jacob Wolfe, junior, special education (7-12).

Madison:

• Angelica Zuniga-Mercado, junior, secondary education (social science).

Martell:

• Jessica Hinkley, senior, elementary education.

McCook:

• Lucas Gomez-Wilson, sophomore, secondary education (mathematics).
• Grace Wilhelmson, sophomore, elementary education.

Murdock:

• Lizzie Podrazo, junior, elementary education.

Nebraska City:

• Claire Boeche, sophomore, elementary education.
• Evelyn Madison, junior, secondary education (biology).

Norfolk:

• Sydney Easland, junior, secondary education (business, marketing and information technology).
• Emma Hansen, junior, elementary education.
• Mitchell Koozer, junior, secondary education (social science).
• Bella Matteo, junior, elementary education.
• Maisy Schlender, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Paige Thompson, junior, elementary education.

North Bend:

• Kaitlyn Emanuel, junior, elementary education.

North Platte:

• Elie Schmitt, junior, elementary education.

O'Neill:

• Brady Thompson, senior, elementary education.
• Kiersten Welke, junior, elementary education.
• Sydney Young, junior, elementary education.

Omaha:

• Will Baker, junior, secondary education (physics).
• Jaidyn Bogard, junior, elementary education.
• Avery Catron, senior, elementary education and early childhood education.
• Mikayla Cumerford, senior, special education (K-6).
• Sami Cunningham, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Caitlin Davis, sophomore, elementary education and early childhood education.
• Kaytlin Dill, junior, secondary education (social science).
• Sammy Gillotte, junior, elementary education.
• Daniela Gologan, sophomore, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Finley Gragert, sophomore, secondary education (mathematics).
• Carter Hunt, sophomore, secondary education (social science).
• Jack Jenkins, junior, secondary education (social science).
• Elaina Karre, sophomore, elementary education.
• Eric Kavan, sophomore, secondary education (social science).
• Alyssa Kramer, sophomore, elementary education.
• Davison Kreiling, sophomore, secondary education (business, marketing and information technology).
• Mackenzie Krenk, sophomore, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Vivian Landis, junior, secondary education (English).
• Izzy Martin, junior, elementary education.
• Ashtyn Meeske, junior, elementary education.
• Liv Menard, sophomore, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Lexi Nyffeler, sophomore, elementary education.
• Ava Powell, sophomore, elementary education.
• Ava Pugliese, junior, family and consumer sciences, occupational (6-12).
• Sydney Richt, sophomore, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Emily Schmer, junior, elementary education.
• Sofia Schommer, senior, elementary education.
• Grace Stevens, sophomore, elementary education.
• Allie Tabaka, sophomore, elementary education and early childhood education.
• Grace Vandercoy, sophomore, elementary education.
• Annie Vickery, sophomore, elementary education.
• Shyla Youngs, sophomore, elementary education.
• Jerry Zhu, junior, secondary education (Chinese).

Overton:

• Lexi Keim, sophomore, elementary education.

Palmyra:

• Hannah Thomson, junior, elementary education.

Papillion:

• Jude Glaser, junior, secondary education (social science).
• Bryn Hansen, junior, secondary education (English language arts).
• Reece Keenan, sophomore, elementary education.
• Taryn Lauver, junior, secondary education (science).
• Peyton Lemon, sophomore, elementary education.
• Amy Oltman, senior, elementary education.

Pender:

• Braxton Volk, junior, elementary education.

Pickrell:

• Ainsley Karlin, sophomore, secondary education (social science).

Plainview:

• Keanu Johnson, junior, elementary education.

Plattsmouth:

• Haylee Evers, sophomore, elementary education.
• Jason Goetz, junior, secondary education (social science).

Ralston:

• Eva Houston, sophomore, elementary education and special education (K-6).

Scottsbluff:

• Yesenia Torres, junior, elementary education.

Sidney:

• Sage Garber, sophomore, elementary education.

South Sioux City:

• Bradie Johnson, junior, secondary education (English language arts).

Springfield:

• Kayla Jeffrey, junior, secondary education (English language arts).

Syracuse:

• Shyanne Frederick, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).

Wahoo:

• Tianna Coffey, junior, elementary education.

Wallace:

• Kolton Hager, junior, secondary education (business, marketing and information technology).

Walton:

• Anna Vander Pol, sophomore, elementary education.

Waverly:

• Madelyn Stone, junior, secondary education (English).

Wilber:

• Alexa Orf, sophomore, elementary education.

Wisner:

• Bryant Peck, junior, secondary education (mathematics).

York:

• Tina Hallisey, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).

Yutan:

• Elli Brabec, sophomore, elementary education.

Elsewhere in the U.S.

Modesto, California:

• Delaney Orr, junior, elementary education.

Colorado Springs, Colorado:

• Caroline Belleque, junior, secondary education (mathematics).

Haxtun, Colorado:

• Anna Chaney, junior, elementary education.

Windsor, Colorado:

• Emma Stalder, junior, elementary education.

Arlington Heights, Illinois:

• Kiley Andre, sophomore, secondary education (English).

Deerfield, Illinois:

• Alexis Brown, sophomore, elementary education and special education (K-6).

Gilberts, Illinois:

• Lily Farnam, junior, elementary education.

Macon, Illinois:

• Rily Olinger, senior, elementary education.

Naperville, Illinois:

• Kailey Rex, sophomore, elementary education.

Plainfield, Illinois:

• Melanie White, sophomore, elementary education.

Sidney, Iowa:

• Grace Zach, junior, elementary education.

Sioux City, Iowa:

• Sidney Chamberlain, sophomore, elementary education.
• Karis Thomas, sophomore, elementary education.

Windsor Heights, Iowa:

• Chloe Burrows, senior, inclusive early childhood education.

Minneapolis, Kansas:

• Riley Elliott, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).

Olathe, Kansas:

• Annie Ravenscroft, junior, elementary education.
• Erin Smith, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).

Overbrook, Kansas:

• Giles Frederickson, junior, secondary education (English).

Overland Park, Kansas:

• Amanda Acheson, junior, secondary education (mathematics).
• Mia Bernabe, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).

Prior Lake, Minnesota:

• Madi Metcalfe, junior, elementary education.

Kansas City, Missouri:

• Julia Strauss, junior, secondary education (social science).

Knob Noster, Missouri:

• Gabriella Wilcox, junior, elementary education.

Nixa, Missouri:

• Abigail Conrad, sophomore, elementary education.

Winston, Missouri:

• Jillian Bonderer, sophomore, elementary education and early childhood education.

Big Stone City, South Dakota:

• Jacob Cloos, junior, elementary education.

Platte, South Dakota:

• Jamie Nelson, junior, elementary education and early childhood education.

Vermillion, South Dakota:

• Claire Doty, junior, elementary education.

Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin:

• Natalie Johnson, junior, elementary education and early childhood education.