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