The Clifton Strengths Institute at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business has selected 58 students to serve as new strengths coaches for the 2018-19 school year. The new coaches will join 22 returning coaches to mentor more than 750 first-year business students in Professional Enhancement I: Investing in Strengths.

Required for all first-year business students, the course aims to help students develop and apply their strengths to achieve individualized academic, personal and professional success using the CliftonStrengths Assessment. During the course, coaches lead team meetings of up to 10 students once a week and facilitate two one-on-one strengths coaching sessions for each team member to help them recognize and maximize their potential. They also help facilitate discussions during class.

“Starting their college career by identifying their natural talents and strengths prepares our students to be successful,” said Mark Pogue, executive director of the Clifton Strengths Institute and assistant professor of practice in management. “The individualized coaching helps them apply their strengths toward their goals to help reach their potential.”

Open to students from any college at Nebraska, prospective coaches complete an application and interview process. Once selected, they enroll in the Strengths Coaching, Theory and Practice Training Course, a three-credit-hour course focused on gaining functional knowledge in strengths-based development. The class helps coaches develop their unique talents to motivate and facilitate the growth and development of students they coach and lead.

“This new course allows strengths coaches to develop their talents and gain the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to be prepared when coaching their students in the fall to build lives of meaning, purpose and impact,” said Samantha Kennelly, Clifton Strengths Institute assistant director.

Coaches represent five colleges at Nebraska, including 49 business students.

“We select students who have the passion and energy to positively impact the lives of others and the innate talent to easily connect and communicate with people to help guide their development,” Kennelly said. “First-year students thrive when our coaches recognize their unique potential and guide them to succeed by leading with their strengths.”

Learn more about strengths coaches and the Clifton Strengths Institute.

The new strengths coaches for the 2018-19 school year, with their year in school in fall 2018 and academic major(s), are:

NEBRASKA:

• Bellevue: Noah Hoefer, sophomore, marketing

• Blair: Kylie Taylor, junior, business administration

• Cozad: Abbi Etherton, sophomore, marketing

• Elkhorn: Brandon Lwin, sophomore, business administration and fine and performing arts; Sarah Higgins, sophomore, business administration

• Fremont: Emma Karr, sophomore, business administration; Reese Mumford, sophomore, business administration

• Grand Island: Mitch Fisher, sophomore, marketing

• Gretna: Lauren Leapley, sophomore, accounting

• Hastings: Zach Glass, sophomore, business administration

• Hebron: Collin Fink, sophomore, marketing

• Lincoln: Jessi Atha, graduate student, educational administration specializing in student affairs; Alex Benson, sophomore, actuarial science; Brady Conant, junior, supply chain management; Julia DeLaRosa, graduate student educational administration specializing in student affairs; Jordan Heim, graduate student educational administration specializing in student affairs; Alexis Hruby, sophomore, business administration; Mary Claire Johnson, sophomore, psychology; Mikayla Mack, senior, supply chain management; Elise Matthes, sophomore, business administration; Macy Peregrine, sophomore, management; Natasha Pierce, junior, marketing; Christian Simmons, sophomore, finance; Pat Srisa-an, senior, economics; Atharva Tendle, junior, computer science and economics; Sam Wolff, junior, secondary education broad science; Keaton Fricker, sophomore, business administration and finance

• Omaha: Michael Beaulieu, sophomore, business administration; Jacob Carter, junior, actuarial science; Tyler Clark, sophomore, management; Claire Deetz, sophomore, business administration; Anna Dudziak, sophomore, business administration; Audrey Erker, sophomore, business administration; JoAnna Ferris, senior, marketing; Tanner Fridrich, sophomore, marketing; Jordan Gustafson, sophomore, psychology; Kelsey Rodis, senior, business administration; Carter Wilken, sophomore, business administration

• Papillion: Jake Litel-Smith, sophomore, actuarial science and finance

• Ponca: Alexis Anderson, sophomore, accounting

• Sidney: Samee Kaus, sophomore, management and marketing

• ** Valley:** Connor Castleman, sophomore, management

• Waverly: Christy Cooper, sophomore, agricultural education and agricultural leadership

ELSEWHERE:

• Centennial, Colorado: Trevor Maus, sophomore, business administration and finance

• Ames, Iowa: Ryan Blum, sophomore, supply chain management

• Council Bluffs, Iowa: Alyson Lenz, sophomore, marketing

• Davenport, Iowa: Ally Behrens, sophomore, business administration

• Sergeant Bluff, Iowa: Bre TenHulzen, sophomore, marketing, graphic design and Spanish

• Olathe, Kansas: Lauren Niesen, sophomore, actuarial science

• Overland Park, Kansas: Ally Kiehn, sophomore, business administration; Kenzie Mason, junior, marketing; James Morrill, sophomore, marketing; Alli Hunt, sophomore, international business

• South Hutchinson, Kansas: Jessica Fairbanks, sophomore, accounting and marketing

• Luverne, Minnesota: Ashton Krueger, sophomore, undeclared

• St. Paul, Minnesota: Charlie Kramer, sophomore, actuarial science

• Savage, Minnesota: Brendan Stahl, sophomore, business administration

• Rhinelander, Wisconsin: Gunnar Millot, sophomore, marketing