Raikes School welcomes record cohort of 60 students

A record 60 students have been selected to join the latest cohort of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management, marking a milestone in the school’s growth and commitment to developing future leaders in technology.

The 2026 cohort includes 40 students from Nebraska and 20 students from Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Texas.

“For 27 years, the Raikes School has prepared students to lead at the intersection of technology and business,” said Adam Britten, the school’s director of recruitment and student success. “Welcoming our first cohort of 60 students marks the beginning of a new era — one defined by innovators and entrepreneurs who will strengthen Nebraska’s technology talent pipeline and make an impact far beyond our state. We are thrilled to welcome these exceptional students to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and help them become the leaders and changemakers who will shape a brighter future for Nebraska and beyond.”

The Raikes School provides an interdisciplinary education in computing, business and innovation for high-achieving students. Through a combination of honors coursework, hands-on experiences and opportunities to work with industry partners, the school prepares students to lead in technology-driven industries.

The 2026 cohort also reflects the Raikes School’s continued commitment to building a diverse community of leaders in Nebraska and beyond. For eight consecutive years, female-identifying students have made up more than 40% of Raikes School cohorts.

The Raikes School welcomed its first students in 1999 and has grown into a nationally recognized interdisciplinary honors program at Nebraska. Applications for the 2027 cohort are currently open and are due by Nov. 15. Learn more.

The following students are part of the Raikes School’s 2026 cohort. They are listed alphabetically by hometown, with their high school in parentheses when it differs from the hometown or a city has multiple high schools.

Nebraska

Auburn:

• Jack Hayes, Grace Zhang

Aurora:

• Tainee Merrihew

Bassett:

• Carter Buell (Rock County)

Columbus:

• Caleb Kitt (Columbus)

Elkhorn:

• Zayan Ahmed (Elkhorn), Mason Mercer (Elkhorn North)

Gothenburg:

• Logan Feather

Ithaca:

• Madeline Spreeman (Bishop Neumann Catholic)

Kearney:

• Ammi Meyer (Kearney)

La Vista:

• Ava Brown (Papillion-La Vista)

Lewellen:

• Daniel Beauchamp (Garden County)

Lincoln:

• Arnav Agarwal (Lincoln East)
• Faisal Alsayid (Lincoln North Star)
• Sabina Ayella (Lincoln Southwest)
• Ann Chong (Lincoln North Star)
• Ezra Erickson (Lincoln Southwest)
• Everett Green (Lincoln High)
• Nitya Haridas (Lincoln East)
• Rikhil Jasti (Lincoln East)
• Lauren Rallis (Lincoln East)
• Noah Robb (Lincoln East)
• Xavier Sorto (Lincoln Southwest)
• Caleb Waite (Lincoln East)

Omaha:

• Graydon Cory (Millard West)
• Jacob Feuerbach (Creighton Prep)
• Ella Fowler (Elkhorn South)
• Adelan Gholami (Central)
• Shree Gullapalli (Millard North)
• Jinyee Huang (Elkhorn South)
• Isaiah Jacobson (Millard North)
• Gopika Kalisetti (Millard North)
• Riley Mead (Creighton Prep)
• Ian Moravek (Millard North)
• Rachel Ralston (Millard South)
• Teja Sridher (Millard North)
• Elise Valentic (Millard North)
• Anagha Vemmelesseril (Millard North)

Scottsbluff:

• Landen Heine

Weeping Water:

• Jacob Cover

Elsewhere in the U.S. 

Phoenix, Arizona:

• Bryan Barnwell (Brophy College Prep)

Frederick, Colorado:

• Jameson Franks (Mead)

Arlington Heights, Illinois:

• Jillian Wandler (John Hersey)

Naperville, Illinois:

• Luke Donovan (Benet Academy)

Orland Park, Illinois:

• Veronika Gecevis (Victor J. Andrew)

Council Bluffs, Iowa:

• Drew Meyers (Treynor Community)

Treynor, Iowa:

• Brooklyn Casey (Treynor Community)

Olathe, Kansas:

• Collin Arthur (Olathe Northwest)

Overland Park, Kansas:

• Owen Clymer (Blue Valley West)
• Casey Friend (Shawnee Mission South)
• Ariel Keshet (Blue Valley Northwest)
• Isaac LaVergne (Shawnee Mission South)
• Bennett Lembke (Rockhurst)

Cheverly, Maryland:

• Jase DeBose (International School Manila)

Lee’s Summit, Missouri:

• Kellan Nash (Lee’s Summit West)
• Lauren Sinks (Lee’s Summit West)

Auburn, Pennsylvania:

• Megan Bassininsky (Blue Mountain)

Brandon, South Dakota:

• Morgan Dathe (Brandon Valley)

Brookings, South Dakota:

• Joseph Michna (Brookings)

Houston, Texas:

• Cici Bergin (St. Thomas Episcopal)