The University of Nebraska–Lincoln honored 156 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.

Highlights of the event included individual recognition and awards, and remarks from Curtis Tomasevicz, professor of practice in biological systems engineering at Nebraska. He is also an Olympic gold medal-winning bobsledder and former Husker football player.

The following is a list of students honored as 2018 Big Red Stars, by hometown:

• Adams: Alex Podtburg, Nathan Hundley

• Albion: Makayla Matchett

• Alma: Abigail Fox, Grant McQuay

• Arapahoe: Tracy Roskop

• Arcadia: Jessi Heyen, Abby Hulinsky

• Atlanta: Daniel Hermanson

• Bartlett: Hailey Genereux, MaKenna Pelster

• Battle Creek: Kendra Golden, Joslyn Hrabanek

• Beatrice: Mackenzie Riesen

• Beaver Crossing: Camille Johnson

• Belvidere: Trenton Waldmeier

• Bennington: Madelyn Sortino

• Bladen: Katelyn Karr

• Bloomfield: Dalton Gieselman, Jayden Hochstein

• Blue Springs: Adrien Ficke

• Bridgeport: Brooklyn Bates, Ellie Cline

• Brock: Audrey Sandfort

• Burwell: Cash Gurney, Carter Mann

• Clarkson: Mitchel Beeson, Melissa Bunner

• Cody: Riley Jones

• Coleridge: Alexandria Lich

• Columbus: Gavin Brabec, Isaac Kibalya, Emiliano Rodriguez, Eugene Shaw

• Creighton: Olivia Dartman, Mallory Nielsen

• Crookston: Fayth From

• Curtis: Sophia Oladimeji, Kaylyn Roblee

• David City: Lanae Aerts, Neely Behrns, Nicholas Carlson

• Deweese: Jenna Heinz, Elsa Jorgensen

• Dwight: Joseph Urban

• Edison: Bryson Warner

• Elkhorn: Taylor Bunjer

• Emerson: Brock Mackling, Brynn Schock

• Eustis: Joszelyn Nichelson

• Exeter: Wesley Ronne

• Fairbury: Alex Buxton, Marlaney Deras

• Fairfield: Josh Shaw

• Falls City: Thomas Fields, Emma Frederick, Rachel Magdanz, Lindsey McNeely

• Genoa: Kadren Miller

• Greeley: Elaine Abrajan

• Hartington: Jordyn Steffen

• Hayes Center: Mauricio Diaz

• Hebron: Sydney Escritt

• Henderson: Karla Cool

• Henry: Jessica Wilkinson

• Holbrook: Leslie Hillman

• Hooper: Eli Pilmore

• Humphrey: Alex Schemek, Addison Schneider

• Johnson: Maggie Clark

• Kenesaw: James Kennedy, Dominga Sanchez

• Laurel: Cassandra Granquist

• Lincoln: Cobe Hansen, Donny Nguyen, Kiara Vodehnal

• Madison: Daniel Paniagua

• McCool Junction: Zarina Flaherty, Jake Hoarty

• Milford: Landon Lautzenhiser, Avery Saltzman

• Milligan: Braden Capek

• Morrill: Athenaa Becker

• Mullen: Brady Oltmenr, Taylor Svoboda

• Murray: John Welter

• Nehawka: Gabriel Turner-Hickey

• Nelson: Kylie Beard

• Newman Grove: Elyssa Cuevas, Isaac Potmesil

• Nickerson: Leah Keithley

• Norfolk: Tyler Lagunes

• North Platte: Hayley Miles, Iran Pacheco

• O’Neill: Andrew Koehlmoos, Tate Thompson

• Oakland: Dayton Carson, Ellen Magnusson

• Oconto: Sophia Doyle, Isabelle Stallbaumer

• Odell: Kimberly Spitsnogle

• Omaha: Kyle Capece, Collin Gates, Jose Goertz, Jack Musil, Emily Nagunst, Elijah Reid

• Ord: Nikie Nelson, Grady Sheets

• Osceola: Blaike Bryan, Kyle Hasenkamp

• Overton: Georgia Crandall

• Oxford: Elizabeth Meyers

• Palmyra: Kylee Kment, Serenity Wheeler

• Pierce: Samantha Fischer, Colton Fritz

• Plattsmouth: Lauren Wehrbein

• Pleasanton: Chase Pawloski, Payden Tracy

• Plymouth: Colton Jantzen

• Potter: Jadyn Juelfs, Ana Manning

• Primrose: Daniel Diessner

• Ralston: Ekbal Djbril, Brandon Monzon

• Ravenna: Hunter Douglas, Rowan Havranek, Jaylea Pope

• Roseland: Kiersten Kober

• St. Edward: Alyssa Reardon

• St. Helena: Elena Paltz

• Scotia: Carson Corman

• Scribner: Jillian Dames

• Shelton: Mackenzie Baker

• Silver Creek: Hannah Urban

• Spalding: Estefania Rivera-Martinez

• Stanton: Sylvia Cunningham

• Stuart: Tyson Stracke, Abigail Tubbs

• Tobias: Brynn Holtmeier

• Utica: Lance Habermas

• Wallace: Karlie Erickson, Ainsley Strawder

• Wauneta: Olivia Behrends, Alexa Sandman

• Weeping Water: Candace Porter

• West Point: Tamra Faubel, Mayam Medina

• Western: Brianna Stromer

• Winside: Tyler Carlson

• Wisner: Anthony Palmer, Cadyn Utrecht

• Wymore: Shelby March, Jentry Schell

• York: Alex Goertzen