The University of Nebraska–Lincoln honored Nebraska eighth-graders for their academic excellence, leadership and perseverance May 15 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 Office of Admissions. Highlights of the event included individual recognition and awards, and remarks from Karen Bell-Dancy, executive director of the YWCA of Lincoln.
Following is a list of students honored as 2019 Big Red Stars, by hometown:
- Adams: Summer Buss
- Albion: Kevin Haase, Klayton Kleffne
- Alexandria: Anissa Gonzale
- Alma: Lili Brown
- Ansley: Ty Greenland
- Arapahoe: Dylan Bahe, Emerson Swanson
- Arcadia: Chase Lewandowski
- Auburn: Alex Greiner
- Battle Creek: Will Hamer, Brodey Nelson
- Bayard: Kammie Harimon, Cambree Schmaltz
- Beatrice: Jackson McNiff, Kourtney Stege
- Bennet: Saryah Freeman, Drew Moyer
- Bladen: Josi Sharp
- Bloomfield: Ian Kuchar, Kaydenn Raygoza
- Blue Springs: Alaina Klover
- Bradshaw: Zachariah Quiring
- Brainard: Sara Stanek
- Burchard: Gavin McHenry
- Burwell: Jaci Larsen, Sofia Vargas
- Byron: Kaden Lanham
- Callaway: Grant Hrupek
- Clarkson: Ashly Guillen, Landen Hake
- Cody: Dylan Naslund
- Columbus: Ted Fehringer, Sarah Lasso, Brooke Lehr, Elijah Peters
- Cozad: Caleb Walters
- Creston: Sydney Reeves
- Crete: Autumn Wissenburg
- David City: Barrett Andel
- Daykin: Kailyn Paul
- Deshler: Carly Zucker
- Diller: Karli Heidemann
- Dixon: Joe Grone
- Dorchester: Jayana Duchek, Jacob Cerny
- Emerson: Getsemani Ferrusca
- Ericson: Brady Renner
- Eustis: Broden Dean
- Exeter: Jozie Kanode, Jasmine Turrubiates
- Fairbury: Alexander Lutz, Cora Tatro
- Fairmont: Garrett Hansen
- Falls City: Macy Keller, Grace Malcolm
- Filley: Megan Nelson
- Fremont: Drucilla Eppenbaugh, Emery McIntosh
- Friend: Jack Baptista, Braden Benjamin
- Fullerton: Kristine Chmiel
- Gibbon: Chelsea Cuellar, Skyler Summers
- Greeley: Joseph Bykerk
- Hartington: Sarah Karnes, Grace Reifenrath, Sophie Reifenrath
- Hazard: Faith Reihbein
- Hebron: Ashlyn Cooper, Avery Drohman
- Henderson: Anastasia Vasquez
- Hooper: Eva Beckman, Kaylee Hilbers
- Howells: Aandy Dominguez, Blair Fiala
- Hubbard: Brianna Bousquet, Madison Dorcey
- Johnson: Natalie Clark
- Kenesaw: Jaydn Jackman, Amanda Johns
- Laurel: Samantha Pehrson
- Lawrence: Emily Troudt
- Leigh: Jessica Hoffman
- Lincoln: Cindy Nhi Thuy Nguyen, Chandler Page, Andy Truong
- Litchfield: Landri Loos
- Madison: Anahi Fuentes, Petrona Juan-Lucas
- McCool Junction: John Harig
- Merriman: Byron Skinner
- Monroe: Caden Jenkinson
- Mullen: Isaac Welch
- Nelson: Eric Wheeland
- Newman Grove: Emmanuel Hernandez-Reyes
- Niobrara: Elizabeth Traversie
- Norfolk: Tresha Koch
- North Platte: Andrew Brosius, Esperanza Campos-Reyes
- Oakland: Joplin Tague
- Oconto: Karina Jennings
- Omaha: Sean Bidasee, Sebastian Cacioppo, Ava Coniglio, Radmila Dautova, Gabriella Freemont, Ethan Pleshek-Humpal, Madiha Qulagi, Jace Smith
- O’Neill: Dalton Alder, Emma Winkelbauer
- Ord: Alison Miller, Natalie Papiernik
- Osceola: Emma Jones
- Oxford: Keira Wasenius
- Palisade: Peyton Vrbas
- Palmer: Clara Kunze, Jonathon Ruvalcaba
- Pawnee City: Emily Lytle
- Plattsmouth: Kelley Maier, Catherine Ramirez
- Pleasant Dale: Orlando Rakow
- Pleasanton: Aspyn Wick, Blake Wilson
- Ponca: Brody Floyd
- Prague: Cadence Smaus
- Ravenna: McKenzie Greenland
- Rockville: Arianna Becker
- Roseland: Samantha Bonifas
- St. Edward: Julianna Maxfield
- Shelton: Alia Gomez, MaKenna Willis
- Silver Creek: Hannah Yrkoski
- South Sioux City: Bradie Johnson
- Spalding: Caidyn Carraher
- Stamford: Camden Wright
- Stanton: Regina Lierman
- Stromsburg: Jacelyn Rutherford
- Stuart: Anthony Heiser, Chiana Tubbs
- Tekamah: Sydney Guzinski
- Tryon: Clayton Moore
- Utica: Connor Clouse, Rachel Garcia
- Ulysses: Haley Klement
- Verdigre: Ava Chohon
- Wallace: Karlie Finley, Angelica Vazquez
- Wauneta: Chloe Stehno
- Weeping Water: Matthew Cover, Madison Good
- West Point: Michael Cohee, Jaylen Kile, Kolton Kralik, Katelyn Wermers
- Wilcox: Linden Biskup
- Winnebago: Avantika Arun Kumar, Amani Means-Ghostdog
- Winside: Jacob Bargstadt
- Wisner: Marshall McCarthy, Laura Ramirez-Torres
- Wolbach: Kalli Schumacher
- Wymore: Kale Maguire, Abby Vater
- Yutan: Laycee Josoff, Zoie Neilsen
