精东传媒 News / en Dr. Anne Curzan to present annual Holder Lecture /about-nwu/news-center/dr-anne-curzan-present-annual-holder-lecture <span>Dr. Anne Curzan to present annual Holder Lecture</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p><span>The 35th annual Dr. Kenneth R. Holder Memorial Lecture will be presented by Dr. Anne Curzan, the Geneva Smitherman Collegiate Professor of English, Linguistics, and Education at the University of Michigan.</span></p><p><span>Dr. Curzan鈥檚 most recent book is </span><em><span>Says Who? A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares about Words</span></em><span> (2024). The title of her talk is 鈥淏etween You and I: A Linguist鈥檚 Look at Language peeves.</span></p><p><span>Free and open to the public, the Holder Lecture is scheduled for 4 p.m. April 23, in 精东传媒鈥檚 Callen Conference Center in the lower level of Smith-Curtis Classroom/Administration building.</span></p><p><span>Dr. Curzan is an expert on English usage and the history of the English language, including changes in the language people see and hear all around them. She particularly enjoys sharing linguistic insights beyond the academic context, including on the weekly show 鈥淭hat's What They Say鈥 on her local NPR affiliate Michigan Public. Her TED talk 鈥淲hat makes a word 鈥榬eal鈥?鈥 has more than 2 million views on the national TED talk site.</span></p><p><span>The Holder Lecture honors the life and legacy of Dr. Kenneth R. Holder, who joined the 精东传媒 English faculty in 1972 and served as University Provost from&nbsp;1987 until his death 1991. His area of expertise and his passion as a teacher were in language theory and the teaching of English.</span></p><p><span>With support from the Holder family, the English Department established the Holder Lecture to bring to campus a scholar in linguistics, rhetoric, composition, or English pedagogy. This year鈥檚 lecture is also sponsored by the Wolf Fund for Diversity Education.</span></p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/chris-basnett">Chris Basnett</a></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-14T10:55:23-05:00" title="Tuesday, April 14, 2026 - 10:55am">Tue, 04/14/2026 - 10:55am</time> </span> Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:55:23 +0000 Chris Basnett 683330 at Tess McKinney to deliver Fetzer Lecture on immersive technology in healthcare education /about-nwu/news-center/tess-mckinney-deliver-fetzer-lecture-immersive-technology-healthcare <span>Tess McKinney to deliver Fetzer Lecture on immersive technology in healthcare education</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Healthcare education is evolving rapidly, as new technologies create opportunities to train students and professionals in safer, more interactive environments.</p><p>The 2026 Fetzer Lecture features Tess McKinney, CEO of Firework Media Studio, LLC, a Nebraska-based consulting studio specializing in immersive technologies including virtual reality, augmented reality, and extended reality.</p><p>McKinney will explore how these immersive technologies are transforming healthcare education and clinical education through her presentation, 鈥淚mmersive Technology in Healthcare Education: Transforming How We Train the Next Generation鈥 on April 14 from 7-8 p.m. in the Callen Conference Center.</p><p>In her work, McKinney has supported more than 100 institutions exploring and implementing immersive technology solutions, including the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Creighton University, and The Ohio State University. McKinney is also widely recognized for curating one of the largest publicly available lists of XR (extended reality) technologies used in healthcare and training.</p><p>In 2025, McKinney was named the Women in Tech Innovator of the Year and the Volunteer of the Year by the Aksarben Foundation, honoring her leadership in advancing immersive technology and her commitment to supporting education and communities across Nebraska.</p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/chris-basnett">Chris Basnett</a></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-02T15:37:26-05:00" title="Thursday, April 2, 2026 - 3:37pm">Thu, 04/02/2026 - 3:37pm</time> </span> Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:37:26 +0000 Chris Basnett 683307 at Ghaith Taha attacks 精东传媒 experience at full speed /about-nwu/news-center/ghaith-taha-attacks-nwu-experience-full-speed <span>Ghaith Taha attacks 精东传媒 experience at full speed</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Ghaith Taha鈥檚 life has been about the journeys.</p><p>The long one he took from his home country of Jordan to the United States when he was young, traveling with his triplet younger siblings and mother in search of a brighter future.&nbsp;</p><p>鈥淭he best decision we ever made,鈥 Taha said.</p><p>The one from Virginia to Lincoln to play sports and get an education at Nebraska Wesleyan, a place he didn鈥檛 know existed until he started excelling in track and football field as a teenager.</p><p>And the one he鈥檚 taken in his time at 精东传媒, culminating this spring in a data analytics degree.</p><p>鈥淲hen people ask 鈥榃hy here?鈥 I know why. It鈥檚 because there are great people here. It鈥檚 a great community. People care for you,鈥 Taha said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e not just a student-athlete or just an athlete. You鈥檙e a person here, and that鈥檚 something I really appreciate.鈥</p><p>To be certain, Taha is a standout athlete, in two sports. He鈥檚 excelled as a receiver and kick returner on 精东传媒鈥檚 football team and has hopes of playing at the Football Championship Subdivision level next season as a graduate transfer.</p><p>On the track he might be the fastest Prairie Wolf on campus, ranking second on 精东传媒鈥檚 all-time indoor charts in the 60 meters and earning all-region honors this spring.</p><p>But for Taha, who speaks Arabic and English fluently, a full college experience has always been the goal. And he鈥檚 made it a point to get invested in classes outside his major.</p><p>There have been sociology classes. Health classes. History of Art Museums. And last semester, perhaps the most impactful course: Give to Learn, in which Taha and his classmates researched and worked with local nonprofits before awarding a $10,000 grant to Lincoln鈥檚 Good Neighbor Community Center.</p><p>Taha served as the unofficial spokesperson for the class during the grant ceremony.</p><p>鈥淚鈥檝e just tried to get out of my shell. Put myself in a position where I鈥檝e got to learn, and I鈥檝e got to do more,鈥 Taha said. 鈥淢aybe I鈥檝e got to write 20-page papers. But the thing is, I鈥檓 going to find a way to get that done, and I鈥檓 going to find a way to do it well.鈥</p><p>The motivation to do as much as he can at 精东传媒 comes from his mother, who raised him and his siblings on her own in the Washington, D.C., area while adjusting to a new country and a new way of life, and attending her own college classes.</p><p>鈥淪he managed so much, and that means there鈥檚 no excuse for me not to learn more; because seeing her do it makes me want to keep going,鈥 Taha said. 鈥淪he was getting up in the morning, making sure all of us were ready for school, coming back, having a meal cooked at night. Just so much.</p><p>鈥淭hat means I can鈥檛 slack off one day. That鈥檚 just the respect I have for her, and the work ethic she instilled in me.鈥</p><p>The journey continues. Full speed ahead.</p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/chris-basnett">Chris Basnett</a></span> <span><time datetime="2026-03-18T11:54:44-05:00" title="Wednesday, March 18, 2026 - 11:54am">Wed, 03/18/2026 - 11:54am</time> </span> Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:54:44 +0000 Chris Basnett 683263 at 精东传媒 students get stark look at real-life issues with poverty simulation /about-nwu/news-center/nwu-students-get-stark-look-real-life-issues-poverty-simulation <span>精东传媒 students get stark look at real-life issues with poverty simulation</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Unless you鈥檝e lived in poverty, it鈥檚 nearly impossible to understand the day-to-day challenges that come with it.</p><p>And while a simulation inside 精东传媒鈥檚 Knight Fieldhouse can鈥檛 replicate what happens in real life, it still gives 精东传媒 students a stark look at the issues many families in poverty face every day.</p><p>Nebraska Wesleyan鈥檚 second poverty simulation, brought together students from multiple disciplines. The collaborative event between the nursing and health and human performance departments also included students in public health, social work, and in the Master鈥檚 in Athletic Training program. Senior-level nursing students were able to count the exercise toward their clinical hours.</p><p>And while there were moments of laughter and smiles sprinkled throughout the more than two-hour exercise, the scenarios students faced brought real frustrations as groups of students simulated a month living in poverty.</p><p>鈥淭he students typically find that it鈥檚 a very challenging and frustrating experience,鈥 said assistant professor of nursing Jennifer Eilts, one of the simulation鈥檚 organizers. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 generally come away with many positive takeaways, just because it鈥檚 very difficult for them to manage one month in poverty, and experience what it鈥檚 like to not have transportation to get anywhere, and be evicted from their homes, and experience some of those real scenarios.鈥</p><p>Participating students were divided into 鈥渇amilies鈥 seated in the middle of the exercise, with each group taking on different circumstances 鈥 newly unemployed, single-parent household, homeless, and other scenarios.</p><p>Tables around the perimeter represented community resources and services the families might rely on, including an employer, grocery store, utility company, pawn broker, and a bank, among others.&nbsp;</p><p>There was also a jail, which saw its share of occupants during the exercise, as some of the participants played the role of criminals who stole money and other valuables from families.</p><p>Those tables were staffed by community volunteers to add another level of realism. The 鈥渕onth鈥 consisted of four 15-minute 鈥渨eeks鈥 that required participants to go to work, get their kids to school or child care, and pay the mortgage and bills, while navigating unexpected obstacles.</p><p>鈥淥ur agencies are there to simulate real life, said Kristi McGuire, assistant professor of nursing and another one of the simulation鈥檚 organizers. 鈥淪o if they want to shut down at any moment, they shut down. If (the pawn shop) doesn鈥檛 want to give you what your things are worth, or if they want to short you money, it鈥檚 supposed to be frustrating. We want students to understand what happens in the system.</p><p>鈥淭he whole goal of this is to be able to say, 鈥業 know what resources we have here in Lincoln, this is what we need to do. This is what I can do to help you.鈥 But until you鈥檝e lived it, it鈥檚 hard to understand it on that level. So this is just a very small way for us to get them to understand that.鈥</p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/chris-basnett">Chris Basnett</a></span> <span><time datetime="2026-03-09T14:11:49-05:00" title="Monday, March 9, 2026 - 2:11pm">Mon, 03/09/2026 - 2:11pm</time> </span> Mon, 09 Mar 2026 19:11:49 +0000 Chris Basnett 683250 at Micah Drewes honored with CORE Award /about-nwu/news-center/micah-drewes-honored-core-award <span>Micah Drewes honored with CORE Award</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Micah Drewes, maintenance department supervisor, has been recognized with Nebraska <span>Wesleyan University鈥檚 CORE Award, which celebrates staff whose efforts and contributions significantly exceed expectations in demonstrating Nebraska Wesleyan鈥檚 core values.</span></p><p>Drewes was recognized for his work as a leader in the maintenance department:</p><ul type="disc"><li>Leading his team in getting the many classrooms ready for the day, and making sure the various setups are completed.<span>&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;</li><li>Relocating hundreds of pieces of furniture throughout campus, and giving advice and direction to faculty and staff who have furniture requests. He was also a key player in clearing out Olin Hall of Science.</li></ul><p>"Micah takes a personal interest in his work, from cleaning to setups to moving furniture, and even pest control," said his nominator, Jim Ruzicka. He takes the extra steps to make sure each task is completed, and he wants everyone to feel welcome and happy in our campus buildings."</p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/chris-basnett">Chris Basnett</a></span> <span><time datetime="2026-03-05T14:58:42-06:00" title="Thursday, March 5, 2026 - 2:58pm">Thu, 03/05/2026 - 2:58pm</time> </span> Thu, 05 Mar 2026 20:58:42 +0000 Chris Basnett 683243 at Communication scholar has relationship advice for you and AI /about-nwu/news-center/communication-scholar-has-relationship-advice-you-and-ai <span>Communication scholar has relationship advice for you and AI</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Are you and ChatGPT still getting to know each other? Have you gotten involved at work with a coder named Claude? Or do you need Alexa to respect your personal space?&nbsp;</p><p>As artificial intelligence advances, so will our working relationships with it. And whether we love or hate these new tools, those relationships beg an array of ethical questions, said Autumn Edwards, director of the Communication and Social Robotics Lab at Western Michigan University.&nbsp;</p><p>Edwards visited 精东传媒 on February 27 to deliver 精东传媒鈥檚 2026 Communication in the Modern World Lecture, 鈥淭alking to Machines: Communication, Ethics, and the Structure of Human-AI Relations.鈥&nbsp;</p><p>Are we obligated to treat robots with kindness? Does it matter if we use our manners with AI? 鈥淲e don鈥檛 wonder whether we should be polite to a hammer,鈥 Edwards said. 鈥淪o why do we ask this about conversational systems or interactive machines?鈥&nbsp;</p><p>She showed 精东传媒 students a short video where engineers from Boston Dynamics demonstrated their robot鈥檚 skill in maneuvering in unpredictable environments. The robot walked on four legs as engineers attempted to knock it off course with sharp kicks.&nbsp;</p><p>Students gasped at those kicks 鈥 not because they were impressed by the engineering 鈥 but because they empathized for the dog-like machine being kicked. Their wince was a common reaction, Edwards said. In fact, YouTube鈥檚 algorithm blocked the video, unable to distinguish it from footage of actual animal cruelty.</p><p>Our natural empathy 鈥渓ays bare how relentlessly social we are,鈥 Edwards said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e fundamentally relational beings 鈥 creatures oriented toward encounter. Relation is our default mode. Anthropomorphism is a feature, not a bug, in who we are.鈥</p><p>Edwards pointed to different types of ethical standards that nudge us toward kindness with these systems.&nbsp;</p><p>Virtue ethics responds to kicking the robot or cursing the chatbot and says, 鈥淭hat behavior could cultivate cruelty in me. If I allow that in myself, what am I becoming?鈥 And relational ethics might lead us to ask, 鈥淲hat kind of world are we creating together if our behavior normalizes abuse?鈥</p><p>Being polite to machines appears harmless, Edwards said. And defaulting toward kindness in our interactions with AI seems safe on most levels. But this warmth, too, has potential pitfalls.&nbsp;</p><p>Kindness brings with it an openness to relationships. And those relationships in turn may involve a growing trust in artificial intelligence that can spill into intimacy. 鈥淎nd a lot of these companies that leverage AI are coming for our intimacies,鈥 Edwards said.&nbsp;</p><p>The age of AI is both promising and fraught. Edwards cautioned, 鈥淭he invention of the airplane was also the invention of the plane crash.鈥 And if we wish to avoid our own fiery collisions with AI, we must keep careful watch from our personal control towers.&nbsp;</p><p>鈥淚鈥檓 not sure if these technologies deserve our full moral consideration,鈥 Edwards said. 鈥淏ut they鈥檝e got to be at least a blip on our moral radar.鈥</p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/chris-basnett">Chris Basnett</a></span> <span><time datetime="2026-03-03T11:40:09-06:00" title="Tuesday, March 3, 2026 - 11:40am">Tue, 03/03/2026 - 11:40am</time> </span> Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:40:09 +0000 Chris Basnett 683240 at Advocate for Diversity awards recognize those uplifting others at 精东传媒 /about-nwu/news-center/advocate-diversity-awards-recognize-those-uplifting-others-nwu <span>Advocate for Diversity awards recognize those uplifting others at 精东传媒</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Four members of the Nebraska Wesleyan community received 精东传媒鈥檚 Advocate for Diversity award during the university鈥檚 annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration.</p><p>The university gives Advocate for Diversity awards to one faculty member, one staff member, and two students annually. The awards honor people who raise awareness about a need, problem, or opportunity regarding issues of diversity and inclusion on campus.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Student honoree: Murslen Mudhafar</strong></p><p>Mudhafar founded 精东传媒鈥檚 Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Student Association last year and is a co-founder of 精东传媒鈥檚 Asian Student Union as well as an active member of 精东传媒鈥檚 International Relations Organization. With MENA in particular, Mudhafar created an organization dedicated to uplifting underrepresented voices and creating intentional spaces for cultural expression, dialogue, and belonging.</p><p>鈥淲hat made this award especially meaningful to me was knowing that I was nominated by students and faculty I have worked closely with, particularly students who were able to access new opportunities, resources, or leadership roles through my advocacy and support,鈥 Mudhafar said. 鈥淏eing recognized by those individuals affirmed that the work I do has had a real and lasting impact.鈥</p><p><strong>Student honoree: Ayanna Robinson</strong></p><p>Robinson is the founding president of 精东传媒鈥檚 Black Student Union and serves as an international student mentor in 精东传媒鈥檚 I-Pal program, which pairs international students with an 鈥淚nternational Pal鈥 on campus to help them transition to their new home at 精东传媒.</p><p>鈥淭hrough these various roles she鈥檚 made a significant impact on our campus as well as among the underrepresented student population,鈥 wrote Robinson鈥檚 nominator. 鈥淗er 精东传媒 experiences have moved her to partner with faculty, staff, and students to educate others, as well as seek and create solutions to issues that matter most to our diverse population.鈥</p><p><strong>Faculty honoree: Heba Khalil</strong></p><p>Khalil, an assistant professor of sociology and criminology, played a leading role in last semester鈥檚 World Spring Festival, which brought together students from diverse backgrounds to celebrate culture and community. She helped organize the re-entry simulation event that helped the 精东传媒 community understand barriers people face after incarceration. An advisor for the Middle East North African student organization, Khalil is preparing for a summer 2026 study abroad trip to Egypt.</p><p>鈥淩eceiving this award at such a critical moment in U.S. and global history means more to me than I can express,鈥 Khalil said. 鈥淚t affirms that our community recognizes the strength we draw from our diversity, and the belief that we thrive when everyone belongs.鈥</p><p><strong>Staff honoree: Laurelei Spilinek</strong></p><p>精东传媒 recognized Spilinek for her work with 精东传媒鈥檚 Transgender+ Inclusivity Committee, including organizing events to raise awareness of LBGTQIA+ efforts, giving insights to 精东传媒鈥檚 Career Closet to provide gender-affirming clothing and practices for students, helping create 精东传媒鈥檚 All Are Welcome lunches to build connections across campus. Spilinek also spoke at the Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil.</p><p>鈥淚've had the esteemed pleasure of working with many parents of transgender kids, as well as directly with transgender students/young adults inside and out of Nebraska Wesleyan,鈥 Spilinek said. 鈥淎nd to see them feel accepted and validated is one of the most rewarding experiences I could ever ask for. This award is just a benchmark for our committee, and I look forward to seeing what we can do together.鈥</p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/chris-basnett">Chris Basnett</a></span> <span><time datetime="2026-02-11T14:35:34-06:00" title="Wednesday, February 11, 2026 - 2:35pm">Wed, 02/11/2026 - 2:35pm</time> </span> Wed, 11 Feb 2026 20:35:34 +0000 Chris Basnett 683188 at 精东传媒 students experience the realities of reentry during RISE simulation /about-nwu/news-center/nwu-students-experience-realities-reentry-during-rise-simulation <span>精东传媒 students experience the realities of reentry during RISE simulation</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Fifty 精东传媒 students and nearly 20 professors participated in a RISE Reentry Simulation, an interactive, empathy-building workshop that compresses the first month of life after incarceration into a single hour. Participants navigated challenges such as securing employment and housing and complying with parole requirements, revealing the systemic barriers faced by individuals returning to their communities.</p><p>The event, held in November 2025, was organized by the 精东传媒 Sociology and Criminology Department and facilitated by RISE, the largest nonprofit organization in Nebraska dedicated exclusively to reentry support.</p><p>Throughout the simulation, participants encountered repeated roadblocks as they attempted to rebuild their lives, often lacking the money, transportation or services needed to move forward. While they leaned on one another for support, Nebraska parole rules frequently prohibit individuals with felony convictions from associating with each other.</p><p>After facing these challenges, participants took one of three paths: some continued on as best they could, some disengaged, and others sought help, mirroring what often happens in real life.</p><p>As the pressure of the simulation mounted, desperation set in, and some participants turned back to crime. That turning point created an opportunity to discuss why it happened and what it reveals about the real-world pressures faced by people navigating reentry.</p><p>Reflecting on the experience, Heba Khalil, PhD, assistant professor and department chair, shared:</p><p>鈥淓ven a month after the reentry simulation, students continue to return to conversations about the challenges of reentry and the ways the experience reshaped their understanding,鈥 Khalil said. 鈥淥ne of my sociology students asked whether it could become an annual event, reflecting that even an hour of experiencing the discomfort of reentry was enough to fundamentally shift how they think about individuals returning to society after incarceration."</p><p>鈥淢oments like this capture exactly what I hoped the simulation would accomplish: creating space for students, faculty and staff to learn through discomfort by intentionally stepping into the lived realities of those with far less privilege.鈥</p><p>In addition to RISE staff, 17 juniors and seniors in the SOC 3920 <em>Social Theory</em> class helped run the simulation, supporting transportation access, social service navigation, and other day-to-day reentry touchpoints.</p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/erin-wirth">Erin Wirth</a></span> <span><time datetime="2026-02-02T14:10:27-06:00" title="Monday, February 2, 2026 - 2:10pm">Mon, 02/02/2026 - 2:10pm</time> </span> Mon, 02 Feb 2026 20:10:27 +0000 Erin Wirth 683178 at 精东传媒 students named to fall semester academic honors list /about-nwu/news-center/nwu-students-named-fall-semester-academic-honors-list <span>精东传媒 students named to fall semester academic honors list</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>精东传媒 has announced its 2025 fall semester academic honors list recognizing undergraduate students with superior academic performance.</p><p>Students earning at least a 3.75 semester grade point average while completing a full-time course load of as least 12 credit hours of graded work are eligible for consideration.</p><p>The following students were recognized with this honor for the fall semester:</p><p><span>Kaiden Aaronson - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Kenslee Aasen - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Matthew Abner - Fontana, CA</span></p><p><span>Lanae Aerts - David City, NE</span></p><p><span>Jian Aguilar - Canon City, CO</span></p><p><span>Sara Aguilar - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Alaa Al-Yasseri - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Zainab Al-Zuheri - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Chase Alberti - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Collin Allan - Grand Forks, ND</span></p><p><span>Jacklyn Alles - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>O'Brasia Amos - Johnson Lake, NE</span></p><p><span>Chancellor Amundson - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Addison Andersen - Plattsmouth, NE</span></p><p><span>Jadyn Andersen - Mullen, NE</span></p><p><span>Charlie Anderson - Papillion, NE</span></p><p><span>Hailey Anderson - Storm Lake, IA</span></p><p><span>Amelia Andrews - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Emanuel Appleget - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Isabella Arbie - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Sophia Armstrong - Grand Island, NE</span></p><p><span>Broklyn Auten - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Alexa Back - Aurora, CO</span></p><p><span>Blake Baker - Denton, NE</span></p><p><span>Brandon Baker - Gering, NE</span></p><p><span>Chloe Baker - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Xander Baker - Waverly, NE</span></p><p><span>Caden Bales - De Witt, NE</span></p><p><span>Anisten Barnett - Columbus, NE</span></p><p><span>Abigail Barr - Lamar, CO</span></p><p><span>Jackson Barron - Fort Collins, CO</span></p><p><span>Brooke Barth - Kearney, NE</span></p><p><span>Elizabeth Bartlett - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Zachary Bartsch - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Cole Baumgartner - Lawrence, KS</span></p><p><span>Vaughn Bausch - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Canaan Beason - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Jessica Behrends - Brandon, SD</span></p><p><span>Eleanor Beiser - Lavista, NE</span></p><p><span>Jack Bender - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Gabriel Benischek - Meridian, ID</span></p><p><span>Ethan Berrier - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Jax Biehl - Fairbury, NE</span></p><p><span>Carney Black - Tilden, NE</span></p><p><span>Lillian Blackmon - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Haley Blackstone - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Morgan Boesiger - Roca, NE</span></p><p><span>Vincent Bonacci - Fort Calhoun, NE</span></p><p><span>Julia Bondarchuk - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Ella Bonness</span></p><p><span>Ryleigh Borg - Spring Branch, TX</span></p><p><span>Brayden Bouwens - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Jack Branecki - Elkhorn, NE</span></p><p><span>Jayce Brautigam - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Lilly Brennan - Grand Island, NE</span></p><p><span>Avery Bridgford - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Zachary Briggs - Yankton, SD</span></p><p><span>Simone Britt - Brady, NE</span></p><p><span>Evan Brown - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Parker Brown - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Sydney Brown - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Naw Bue - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Addyson Buhman - Ralston, NE</span></p><p><span>Rowan Burkey - Denton, NE</span></p><p><span>Isabel Buss - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Faith Butler - Superior, NE</span></p><p><span>Karl Butler - Firth, NE</span></p><p><span>Brooklynn Butterfield - Atkinson, NE</span></p><p><span>Hayden Byarlay - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Avary Byers - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Jackson Byers - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Jakob Cadwallader - Rapid City, SD</span></p><p><span>Zachary Cantorna - Monument, CO</span></p><p><span>John Carey - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Emily Carlson - N Sioux City, SD</span></p><p><span>Makena Carlson - Bozeman, MT</span></p><p><span>Mallory Carroll - Olathe, KS</span></p><p><span>Keyara Caspar - Grand Island, NE</span></p><p><span>Sophie Casper - Pittsburg, KS</span></p><p><span>Hailey Caughron - Cedar Creek, NE</span></p><p><span>Bree Chambers - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Erin Chambers - Adams, NE</span></p><p><span>Ella Clark - De Witt, NE</span></p><p><span>Mary Clarkson - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Teagan Cleveland - Norfolk, NE</span></p><p><span>Andrew Clough - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Clara Coltrane - Emporia, KS</span></p><p><span>Alexander Combs - Roca, NE</span></p><p><span>Mira Comstock - Ashland, NE</span></p><p><span>Paige Comstock - Ashland, NE</span></p><p><span>Shayla Cordova - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Annie Corkle - Oneill, NE</span></p><p><span>Kaitlyn Cornett - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Jacob Cosimano - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Georgia Crandall - Overton, NE</span></p><p><span>Tate Crawford - Roca, NE</span></p><p><span>Caecilia Cronin - Carter Lake, IA</span></p><p><span>Rachel Cuciti - Walton, NE</span></p><p><span>Mackenzie Cuda - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Gabriel Culp - La Vista, NE</span></p><p><span>Benjamin Cumpston - Kearney, NE</span></p><p><span>Cammy Curtis - San Antonio, TX</span></p><p><span>Ava Cutinella - Bellevue, NE</span></p><p><span>Hannah D'Epagnier - Brighton, CO</span></p><p><span>Kaiden Dahmer - Grand Island, NE</span></p><p><span>Sophia Daigle - Colorado Springs, CO</span></p><p><span>Jake Danner - Sparks, NV</span></p><p><span>Alison Davis - Yuma, CO</span></p><p><span>Hunter Davis - Austin, TX</span></p><p><span>Kolbi Davis - Johnson, NE</span></p><p><span>Paden Dean - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Grace Dehmer - Norwalk, IA</span></p><p><span>Kailyn Deline - Colorado Spgs, CO</span></p><p><span>Madison Demke - Sioux City, IA</span></p><p><span>Audra Demory - Lavista, NE</span></p><p><span>Brooke Denton - Oakland, NE</span></p><p><span>Matthew Derry - Ashland, NE</span></p><p><span>Addison Dilley - Hallam, NE</span></p><p><span>Emma Dostal - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Jacquelyn Douglas - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Abbie Drewes - Plymouth, NE</span></p><p><span>Libby Driver - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Cole Duba - Chambers, NE</span></p><p><span>Addison Duensing - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Aubrey Duensing - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Dakota Durfee - Denver, CO</span></p><p><span>Abigail Dutton - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Elijah Dutton-Burtin - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Caroline Eastman - Columbia, MO</span></p><p><span>Jaida Eastman - Giltner, NE</span></p><p><span>Faith Eberhardt - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Ariel Edgington - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Evangeline Elia - Bellevue, NE</span></p><p><span>Kylie Engelsman - Arvada, CO</span></p><p><span>Grace Ensrud - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Alyshia Ernesti - Seward, NE</span></p><p><span>Dominic Espinoza - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Megan Essary - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Cohen Evans - Grand Island, NE</span></p><p><span>Samuel Evenson - North Las Vegas, NV</span></p><p><span>Eva Fahrnbruch - Aurora, NE</span></p><p><span>Taelynn Fangman - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Justin Fanton - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Peter Ferguson - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Yasmine Ferguson - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Brianna Fick - Kearney, NE</span></p><p><span>Kenna Fierstein-Montes - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Cooper Fink - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Logan Finley - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Kyle Finney - Mullen, NE</span></p><p><span>Willow Fischer - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Sophie Fitch - Doniphan, NE</span></p><p><span>Shamara Fondal - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Ella Foote - Scottsbluff, NE</span></p><p><span>Olivia Ford - Lindsborg, KS</span></p><p><span>Rebecca Ford - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Rhys Foster Figari - San Anselmo, CA</span></p><p><span>Samantha Fox - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Meeka Francis - Hastings, NE</span></p><p><span>Aubrey Franks - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Drew Fuller - Pella, IA</span></p><p><span>Ella Fundus - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Randi Furasek - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Alexandria Galavez - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Helen Galdamez Tobar - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Ainsley Galyen - Atkinson, NE</span></p><p><span>Luis Garcia - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Alaina Gardner - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Samson Gardner - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Willa Gardner - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Alahna Gares - Bellevue, NE</span></p><p><span>Kimberly Garman - Greeley, CO</span></p><p><span>Ella Gaskill - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Benjamin Geiger - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Katherine Gering - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Owen Glogowski - Gretna, NE</span></p><p><span>Leslie Gomez Arroyo - Parks, NE</span></p><p><span>Carmin Gonzalez - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Citlalli Gonzalez - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Natalie Goodman - Malvern, IA</span></p><p><span>Isaac Goosey - Tryon, NE</span></p><p><span>Samantha Grabowski - Blair, NE</span></p><p><span>Jeremy Grayson - Reno, NV</span></p><p><span>Reagan Greer - Grand Island, NE</span></p><p><span>Randy Guerra - Mead, CO</span></p><p><span>Pamela Gutierrez Valadez - Mccool Jct, NE</span></p><p><span>Brinley Hager - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Semhar Hailesellassie - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Jakos Haithcock - Plattsmouth, NE</span></p><p><span>Trevis Halsey - Tilden, NE</span></p><p><span>Brenna Hand - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Subeda Handbo - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Sydney Hanke - Waverly, NE</span></p><p><span>Evan Hansen - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Katelyn Hansen - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Stevie Kay Hansen - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Preston Harms - Waverly, NE</span></p><p><span>Delaini Harper - Holland, NE</span></p><p><span>Brianna Hartman - Waverly, NE</span></p><p><span>Ansley Harvey - Aurora, NE</span></p><p><span>Taylor Hasebroock - Oakdale, NE</span></p><p><span>Lucy Hayes - Auburn, NE</span></p><p><span>Lauren Hays - Burlington, CO</span></p><p><span>Taylor Hays - Basalt, CO</span></p><p><span>Amber Hazen - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Logan Hede - Brookdale, CA</span></p><p><span>Haden Helgoth - Clarks, NE</span></p><p><span>Leni Henderson - Wichita, KS</span></p><p><span>Keira Hennessey - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Ella Herzberg - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Johanna Hidalgo-Ramirez - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Nicola Highsmith - Centennial, CO</span></p><p><span>Elizabeth Hightower - Strasburg, CO</span></p><p><span>Averie Hike - Papillion, NE</span></p><p><span>Lexus Hill - Columbus, NE</span></p><p><span>Wesley Hill - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Shaylee Hobbs - Bellevue, NE</span></p><p><span>Brodie Hoesing - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Luke Hoff - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Hallie Hoins - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Raegan Holle - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Hannah Hollman - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Taylor Holter - Highlands Ranch, CO</span></p><p><span>Arabelle Horst - Gretna, NE</span></p><p><span>Braden Horst - Grand Island, NE</span></p><p><span>Kasten Horstman - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Rylee Hotopp - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Collin Howell - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Caitlin Hudson - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Quinlyn Hunt - Dallas, TX</span></p><p><span>Tessa Hurlburt - Gordon, NE</span></p><p><span>Breonna Hurry - Forest Lake, MN</span></p><p><span>Kennedy Hurt - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Rylee Iburg - Columbus, NE</span></p><p><span>Tanner In Den Bosch - Bennington, NE</span></p><p><span>Catherine Ingalls - Edmonds, WA</span></p><p><span>Piper Isham - Plattsmouth, NE</span></p><p><span>Paola Izaguirre - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Maddux Janecek - Gering, NE</span></p><p><span>Alexis Jantzen - Hickman, NE</span></p><p><span>Ava Jarrett - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Ansprasha Jayswal - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Barrett Jex - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Weston Jinks - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Quinlan Johnson - Fremont, NE</span></p><p><span>Braike Jones - Spring, TX</span></p><p><span>Tyler Kalinowski - Bellevue, NE</span></p><p><span>Ella Karrer - Topeka, KS</span></p><p><span>Caden Kaylor - Fort Worth, TX</span></p><p><span>Nevaeh Kee - Faulkton, SD</span></p><p><span>Gavin Kelch - Syracuse, NE</span></p><p><span>Ava Kempcke - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Izzabelle Kerr - Weeping Water, NE</span></p><p><span>Samar Khudidah - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Marissa Kibby - Fremont, NE</span></p><p><span>Jenna Kimberling - North Platte, NE</span></p><p><span>Maura Kimble - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Breeley King - Eagle, NE</span></p><p><span>Scarlett Kingery - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Brooke Kingston - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Mai Kinugawa - Kakogawa,&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>Aubrey Kipper - Blue Springs, MO</span></p><p><span>Ava Knievel - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Apryl Knisley - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Joshua Knispel - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Briaunna Knothe - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Bladen Kohl - Aurora, NE</span></p><p><span>Riley Kohles - Columbus, NE</span></p><p><span>Brody Koos - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Taylor Korecky - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Kiley Kotas - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Jersey Koza - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Reese Kozisek - Brainard, NE</span></p><p><span>Baylie Krueger - Swink, CO</span></p><p><span>Harley Kuenning - North Platte, NE</span></p><p><span>Daniel Kuncl - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Jenna Lake - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Maddox Lambert - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Grace Langdon - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Jackson Lapour - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Ava Larmon - Rising City, NE</span></p><p><span>Lily Larsen - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Isaac Larson - Sparta, WI</span></p><p><span>Tara Laudick - Gunnison, CO</span></p><p><span>Charles Lawrence - Springfield, NE</span></p><p><span>Linh Le - Ha Noi</span></p><p><span>Luan Le - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Phuong Minh Anh Le - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Gracia Lebesse - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Kate Leimbach - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Sydney Leslie - Portland, OR</span></p><p><span>Raegan Levi - Norwalk, IA</span></p><p><span>Olivia Leypoldt - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Jason Li - Waverly, NE</span></p><p><span>Luke Lindquist</span></p><p><span>Shoko Litulumar - Saipan, MP</span></p><p><span>Sadie Loehr - Ayr, NE</span></p><p><span>Isabella Longoria - Gering, NE</span></p><p><span>Kaylee Lovett - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Carter Lowe - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Emma Lowther - Seward, NE</span></p><p><span>Adam Lukert - Hebron, NE</span></p><p><span>Adrian Machado - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Rhyanne Mackling - Emerson, NE</span></p><p><span>Ja'dein Madison - Ankeny, IA</span></p><p><span>MacKaylee Madsen - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Claire Mahlum - Portland, OR</span></p><p><span>Donovan Mann - Berthoud, CO</span></p><p><span>Hailey Marolf - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Ally Marsh - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Eryn Marshall - Peyton, CO</span></p><p><span>Emma Martin - Sugar Land, TX</span></p><p><span>Beatrice Massa Micon</span></p><p><span>Kari Mathsen - Elkhorn, NE</span></p><p><span>Randon Matthews - Farmington, NM</span></p><p><span>Payton Mattox - Elkhorn, NE</span></p><p><span>Emily Maw - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Lauren Maw - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Addyson Maxell - Elkhorn, NE</span></p><p><span>Madelyn McBratney - Fremont, NE</span></p><p><span>Nolan McCormick - Bennington, NE</span></p><p><span>Christian McCullough - Howe, TX</span></p><p><span>Caden McCune - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Ezekiel McGuire - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Erin McLain - Peyton, CO</span></p><p><span>Joseph McLaughlin - Colorado Spgs, CO</span></p><p><span>Lauren Meduna - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Noah Meline - Fargo, ND</span></p><p><span>Elisibeth Meyer - Arlington, NE</span></p><p><span>Makenna Meyer - Fremont, NE</span></p><p><span>McClain Meyer - Roca, NE</span></p><p><span>Alison Miller - Ord, NE</span></p><p><span>Benjamin Miller - Sparks, NV</span></p><p><span>Landon Miller - Papillion, NE</span></p><p><span>Aung Thura Min - Unionville, IN</span></p><p><span>Haley Minner - Walton, NE</span></p><p><span>Madison Mlady - Ayr, NE</span></p><p><span>Emma Moran - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Ella Moravec - David City, NE</span></p><p><span>Kyle Moss - Council Blfs, IA</span></p><p><span>Marlee Moss - Firth, NE</span></p><p><span>Charlie Mosser - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Logan Mroczek - Parker, CO</span></p><p><span>Madison Mueller - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Elite Mukumba</span></p><p><span>Stella Mumgaard - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Mariah Muniz - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>John Munro - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Hajar Musawi - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Alaina Naranjo - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Haylee Nebola - Thornton, CO</span></p><p><span>Joshua Neely - Arvada, CO</span></p><p><span>MacKenzie Nelsen - Hickman, NE</span></p><p><span>Catherine Newsom - Littleton, CO</span></p><p><span>Valdia Ngoutou - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Gavin Nichols - Platte City, MO</span></p><p><span>MaKenzie Nollette - Juniata, NE</span></p><p><span>Adalynn O'Connor - La Vista, NE</span></p><p><span>Lydianna O'Neil - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Caleb Ohlrich - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>James Olds - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Amanda Olivas - Saint Peters, MO</span></p><p><span>Matthew Olson - Waverly, NE</span></p><p><span>Duncan Ortega - San Antonio, TX</span></p><p><span>William Ostrander - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Reanna Othling - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Lauren Ott - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Rilyn Otto - Adams, NE</span></p><p><span>Peyton Pack - Frederick, CO</span></p><p><span>Daniel Palmquist - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Alisha Parella - Brighton, CO</span></p><p><span>Brody Parks - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Zackary Parra - Seward, NE</span></p><p><span>Swara Patel - Clarinda, IA</span></p><p><span>Kensington Paugh - Littleton, CO</span></p><p><span>Marvin Pepper - Cleburne, TX</span></p><p><span>Cy Petersen - Syracuse, NE</span></p><p><span>Dalton Pfenning - Waverly, NE</span></p><p><span>Catthi Pham - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Joshua Phillips - Colorado Spgs, CO</span></p><p><span>Grayson Piening - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Gannon Pisapia - El Cajon, CA</span></p><p><span>Thomas Pisasale - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Connor Plahn - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Natalie Plautz - Malcolm, NE</span></p><p><span>Macy Plucker - Canton, SD</span></p><p><span>Carlos Porter - Dallas, TX</span></p><p><span>Winter Porto - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Jordan Prenosil - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Addison Priefert - Malcom, NE</span></p><p><span>Grace Pyle - Hay Springs, NE</span></p><p><span>Adam Qualset - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Samuel Rademacher - Kearney, NE</span></p><p><span>Yahmeleth Ramirez - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Claire Raszick - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Jaedyn Ratzlaff - Clarkson, NE</span></p><p><span>Rylee Rauner - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Pratima Rayamajhi - Chitwan</span></p><p><span>Natalie Reed - Blair, NE</span></p><p><span>Samantha Reed - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Garett Regier - York, NE</span></p><p><span>Matthew Reich - Modesto, CA</span></p><p><span>Natalie Reichert - Fort Calhoun, NE</span></p><p><span>Meagan Reimer - Meade, KS</span></p><p><span>Alena Reyes - Lansing, KS</span></p><p><span>Shelby Riedman</span></p><p><span>Claudia Riggert - Pierce, NE</span></p><p><span>Ayanna Robinson - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Teresa Rodriguez - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Caiden Rose - Waverly, NE</span></p><p><span>Annelise Ross - Beverly Hills, MI</span></p><p><span>Elizabeth Routh - Englewood, CO</span></p><p><span>Andrew Rowley - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Ryan Ruggiero - North Newton, KS</span></p><p><span>Michelle Ruiz-Garcia - Lexington, NE</span></p><p><span>Carter Ruse</span></p><p><span>Caitlyn Rush - Blair, NE</span></p><p><span>Jacey Ryan - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Elecea Saathoff - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Jake Sailer - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Cesar Salas - Houston, TX</span></p><p><span>Jaquelin Salazar - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Andres Salinas - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Macy Santoni - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Sam Schaefer - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Ian Scheele - Beatrice, NE</span></p><p><span>Sam Schernikau - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Emily Schmid - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Eden Schmit - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Madalyn Schoffstall - Colorado Spgs, CO</span></p><p><span>Brayden Schram - Hastings, NE</span></p><p><span>Ryleigh Schroeter - Blair, NE</span></p><p><span>Jera Schuerman - De Witt, NE</span></p><p><span>Kasey Schuster - Phillips, NE</span></p><p><span>Brinn Schwab - Aurora, CO</span></p><p><span>Mark Schwarting - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Hailey Schwebach - Arlington, TX</span></p><p><span>Mia Scott - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Brynn Sebek - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Ella Seitner - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Jackson Semrad - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Gannon Shafer - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Kaysha Shagavah - Potomac, MD</span></p><p><span>Katereina Shaw - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Mathew Siegel - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Mora Singsaas - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Tessa Skelton - Fort Calhoun, NE</span></p><p><span>Travis Skelton - Fort Calhoun, NE</span></p><p><span>Clare Skrdla - Walton, NE</span></p><p><span>Connor Smith - Macon, GA</span></p><p><span>Isaac Smith - Sioux Falls, SD</span></p><p><span>Jacen Smith - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Jordan Smith - Golden, CO</span></p><p><span>McKenna Smith - Ithaca, NE</span></p><p><span>Morgan Smith - Audubon, IA</span></p><p><span>Noah Smith - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Payten Smith - Manitou Spgs, CO</span></p><p><span>Rachel Smith - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Logan Sobota - Greenwood, NE</span></p><p><span>Kiana Sorenson - Pacific Grove, CA</span></p><p><span>Fairlight Sorilla - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Matthew Sorrell - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Quincy Soto - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Savannah Spahr - Milford, NE</span></p><p><span>Henry Spethman - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Emily Spiegel - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Lauryn Spiegel - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Preslie Spurling - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Hannah Stanley - Hickman, NE</span></p><p><span>Tiernan Stanton - Newcastle, WY</span></p><p><span>Faith Steffen - Fremont, NE</span></p><p><span>Anika Stephen - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Lucas Steuter - Walton, NE</span></p><p><span>Arebel Stock - Gering, NE</span></p><p><span>Morgan Stokebrand - De Witt, NE</span></p><p><span>Ryan Stortenbecker - Hastings, IA</span></p><p><span>Juliana Stuhr - Springfield, NE</span></p><p><span>Reid Styskal - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Aurora Sulzle - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Elena Swinehart - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Karli Symonsbergen - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>James Taras - Honolulu, HI</span></p><p><span>Kaylee Taylor - Fort Calhoun, NE</span></p><p><span>Gabriella Tederman - Yutan, NE</span></p><p><span>Anja Tejral - North Platte, NE</span></p><p><span>Addison Thomas, Waterloo, NE</span></p><p><span>Hayden Thomas - Neola, IA</span></p><p><span>Noah Thomas - Kennewick, WA</span></p><p><span>Logann Thompson - Burleson, TX</span></p><p><span>Sawyer Thompson - Elkhorn, NE</span></p><p><span>Jordan Tilford - Roca, NE</span></p><p><span>Travis Tilford - Roca, NE</span></p><p><span>Gabriella Timblin - Gering, NE</span></p><p><span>Brynn Tlamka - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Cole Toline - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Ava Tomlin - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Anecia Toussaint - Denver, CO</span></p><p><span>Cody Townsend - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Taylor Trauernicht - Wymore, NE</span></p><p><span>Peyton Tritz - Waverly, NE</span></p><p><span>Kai Trotman - Christ Church</span></p><p><span>Scotlyn Tufte - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Delaney Vacek - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Bodie Vancleave - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Caden Vancleave - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Drake Venema - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Maisy Viehl - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Aleah Vinkenberg - Aurora, NE</span></p><p><span>Graham Vinton - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Gavin Vlcan - Wilber, NE</span></p><p><span>Mia Vogel - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Brody Wadkins - Brighton, CO</span></p><p><span>Kevin Wagoner - Phillips, NE</span></p><p><span>Ryleigh Waldstein - Sioux Rapids, IA</span></p><p><span>Loghen Walk - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Alyssa Walker - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Taylor Walker - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Ryker Wall - Littleton, CO</span></p><p><span>Jaxson Waller - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Jonas Waller - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Natalia Wals de la Cueva - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Wyatt Walters - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Daisy Ward - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>McKenzie Warren - Tucson, AZ</span></p><p><span>Linnea Wasko - Holland, NE</span></p><p><span>Kar'tajaah Watson - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Eliza Way - Centennial, CO</span></p><p><span>Mary Webber - Kearney, NE</span></p><p><span>Harrison Weddell - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Brennen Weidner - Battle Creek, NE</span></p><p><span>Grace Wendel - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Mia Wendt - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Kenzie Wert - Hordville, NE</span></p><p><span>Jacob Wertz - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Cameron Wesche - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Kaitlyn Wessel - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Audrey West - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Alexis Whited - Lavista, NE</span></p><p><span>Ciara Whitley - Plattsmouth, NE</span></p><p><span>Hannah Whitson - Holbrook, NE</span></p><p><span>Sarah Wiese - O Neill, NE</span></p><p><span>Conor Willeke - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Cody Williams - Alamosa, CO</span></p><p><span>Jaden Williams - Columbus, NE</span></p><p><span>Noelle Williams - Gretna, NE</span></p><p><span>Wyatt Williams - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Tenley Williamson - York, NE</span></p><p><span>Ethan Willits - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Tavian Willsea - Aurora, CO</span></p><p><span>Marielle Wilson - Birch Run, MI</span></p><p><span>Riley Wilson - Murdock, NE</span></p><p><span>Jace Winkler - Littleton, CO</span></p><p><span>Brady Winterstein - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Regan Wiseman - Alvo, NE</span></p><p><span>Ella Wolff - Omaha, NE</span></p><p><span>Ciara Wookey</span></p><p><span>Zachary Woosley - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Isabel Wortman - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Rebecca Wotipka - Wahoo, NE</span></p><p><span>Brandon Wright - Auburn, NE</span></p><p><span>Marek Wycoff - North Platte, NE</span></p><p><span>Madelyn Yocum - Wymore, NE</span></p><p><span>Annabel Zaruba - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Michele Zephier - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Lily Ziebarth - La Vista, NE</span></p><p><span>Conor Zobel-Stevens - Columbus, NE</span></p><p><span>Brenden Zuerlein - Lincoln, NE</span></p><p><span>Alia Zuheri - Lincoln, NE</span></p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/erin-wirth">Erin Wirth</a></span> <span><time datetime="2026-01-23T11:13:54-06:00" title="Friday, January 23, 2026 - 11:13am">Fri, 01/23/2026 - 11:13am</time> </span> Fri, 23 Jan 2026 17:13:54 +0000 Erin Wirth 683173 at 精东传媒 Master of Athletic Training program partners with Doane University /about-nwu/news-center/nwu-master-athletic-training-program-partners-doane-university <span>精东传媒 Master of Athletic Training program partners with Doane University</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>精东传媒 has signed a memorandum of understanding with Doane University to offer two Doane students guaranteed admission to 精东传媒鈥檚 Master of Athletic Training (MAT) Program.</p><p>Under the agreement, 精东传媒 will reserve two seats annually in its MAT program for Doane students who meet specified criteria.</p><p>To qualify, students must hold a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Doane with at least a 3.0 GPA and have 50 documented hours of observation under a certified athletic trainer, among other requirements.</p><p>鈥淭his Memorandum of Understanding reflects Nebraska Wesleyan鈥檚 commitment to creating meaningful pathways into the athletic training profession,鈥 said Samantha Wilson, director of 精东传媒鈥檚 athletic training program. 鈥淒oane has demonstrated a strong history of growing and developing phenomenal pre鈥揳thletic training students within its exercise science pre鈥揳thletic training track, and we are eager to be part of the postgraduate journey for many students in the years to come.鈥</p><p>精东传媒 has been an accredited athletic training program since 2004, and continued as a master鈥檚 program in the summer of 2025. The Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) requires a Master of Athletic Training to be a certified athletic trainer.</p><p>精东传媒 previously has formed similar agreements with Nebraska institutions including York University, Concordia University, Central Community College, Southeast Community College, and Western Nebraska Community College to enhance athletic training education across the state.</p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/chris-basnett">Chris Basnett</a></span> <span><time datetime="2026-01-20T11:53:19-06:00" title="Tuesday, January 20, 2026 - 11:53am">Tue, 01/20/2026 - 11:53am</time> </span> Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:53:19 +0000 Chris Basnett 683167 at Prairie Wolf Pantry volunteers receive Golden Service Award /about-nwu/news-center/prairie-wolf-pantry-volunteers-receive-golden-service-award <span>Prairie Wolf Pantry volunteers receive Golden Service Award</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Nebraska Wesleyan employees who volunteer on the Prairie Wolf Pantry Board were awarded 精东传媒's Golden Service Award at the January 2026 staff meeting.</p><p>The group of Maddi Baugous, Adrian Gomez Ramos, Susy Miller, Jody Navratil, Rachel Pokora, and Lisa Borchardt work behind the scenes to provide food and supplies for students, staff, and faculty.</p><p>The Prairie Wolf Pantry's mission is <span>to contribute to the overall health and wellness of the campus community by providing free access to nutritious food options. From managing the pantry to solidifying a partnership with the Food Bank of Lincoln to help sustain the Prairie Wolf Pantry with dairy and other staple products to attendance at the Nebraska Campus Pantry Coalition meetings, members of this board have gone above and beyond in demonstrating their care for the campus community.</span></p><p><span>The Golden Service Award promotes Nebraska Wesleyan鈥檚 core values by recognizing and awarding staff and faculty working as a group and demonstrating cross-departmental collaborations, whose efforts and contributions as a group significantly exceed expectations in demonstrating or promoting one or more of these values: excellence, liberal arts, and personal attention to students, diversity, community, and stewardship.</span></p><p><span>Congratulations to these individuals and thank you for your service and dedication to our community.</span></p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/chris-basnett">Chris Basnett</a></span> <span><time datetime="2026-01-09T16:27:15-06:00" title="Friday, January 9, 2026 - 4:27pm">Fri, 01/09/2026 - 4:27pm</time> </span> Fri, 09 Jan 2026 22:27:15 +0000 Chris Basnett 683091 at Archway Seminars provide building blocks for successful 精东传媒 experience /about-nwu/news-center/archway-seminars-provide-building-blocks-successful-nwu-experience <span>Archway Seminars provide building blocks for successful 精东传媒 experience</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Sarah Kelen had a message for the students in her 鈥淪hakespeare and the Movies鈥 Archway Seminar at Nebraska Wesleyan.</p><p>The Professor of English at 精东传媒 had watched her class gather at the beginning of the fall semester, break into groups, and develop proposals for modern Shakespeare adaptations ranging from features, to films, to reality shows that they pitched to a panel of 鈥渋nvestors鈥 at semester's end.</p><p>鈥淵ou鈥檝e come a long way since those first meetings in my office,鈥 Kelen told her students.</p><p>While the first-year students still have a most of their Nebraska Wesleyan journey ahead of them, the base of knowledge they built in the Archway Seminars gives them the skills to start on the right foot.</p><p>The courses are designed to introduce first-year students to the skills they鈥檒l need to make the most of a Nebraska Wesleyan education 鈥 critical and analytical thinking, ability to conduct and present research on a given topic, and ability to collaborate in solving problems.</p><p>鈥淭he Archway Seminar is one of those entry points for the whole scope of learning that they鈥檙e going to be doing,鈥 said Patrick Hayden-Roy, professor of history at 精东传媒 and instructor of the 鈥淔rom Sunflowers to Prairie Wolves鈥 Archway Seminar that focused on the history of the theatre, physics, English, and psychology departments at 精东传媒.</p><p>鈥淲e talk about scaffolding the curriculum up, and these courses are that base within the scaffold that gets built.鈥</p><p>The courses cover nearly the entire educational gamut at 精东传媒, from sports to theater to music to history, and beyond.</p><p>In Eric Wyler鈥檚 鈥淧ulse and Performance: Music鈥檚 Role in Fitness and Wellbeing鈥 Archway Seminar, students presented projects on topics ranging from music therapy for youth with autism to using research-based strategies for creating the optimal workout playlist, to exploring the connection between music and the mental health of college students.</p><p>鈥淚 really had no clue what to expect, and at first I didn鈥檛 think I would really enjoy it,鈥 said Emma Kruse, who was part of the class. 鈥淏ut honestly, I really did. It was cool to make a project out of it. I鈥檝e always been interested in wellness, and I love music, and I never thought about tying the two together. But I really enjoyed it.鈥</p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/chris-basnett">Chris Basnett</a></span> <span><time datetime="2026-01-07T14:35:13-06:00" title="Wednesday, January 7, 2026 - 2:35pm">Wed, 01/07/2026 - 2:35pm</time> </span> Wed, 07 Jan 2026 20:35:13 +0000 Chris Basnett 683061 at McKenna Weber鈥檚 love for language leads to 精东传媒 study abroad experience /about-nwu/news-center/mckenna-webers-love-language-leads-nwu-study-abroad-experience <span>McKenna Weber鈥檚 love for language leads to 精东传媒 study abroad experience</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>There鈥檚 spreading your wings at college, and then there鈥檚 what McKenna Weber (鈥26) is doing at 精东传媒.</p><p>The senior modern language studies and political science double major from Lincoln returns home over winter break after studying abroad for a semester in Tunis, the capital city of the Northern African country of Tunisia.</p><p>Studying abroad is nothing out of the ordinary in the college experience. But Weber wanted more, taking on the challenge of studying abroad for three semesters in two countries. This December marked the end of her journey.&nbsp;</p><p>鈥淚鈥檝e had this plan since high school,鈥 Weber said. 鈥淚 love language learning. I鈥檝e been studying Spanish since I was pretty young, and French since I was in middle school, so I knew the value of study abroad.鈥</p><p>Weber鈥檚 mother, Catherine Nelson, is a professor of Spanish at 精东传媒, and a young McKenna often accompanied her on travels around the globe, frequently spending a month in Spain over the summer.</p><p>Weber鈥檚 affection for her modern language professors at 精东传媒 doesn鈥檛 stop with her mother.</p><p>鈥淚've had so many wonderful professors in that department, as well as in political science,鈥 Weber said. 鈥淚 think they all really understand the value of study abroad and encourage students to do that. My advisors have been really good about working with me on my schedule to make sure that I can make three semesters happen.鈥</p><p>During this semester, Weber completed a political science-focused internship with InnoPeace, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that focuses on civic engagement, human rights, and peace.</p><p>The Tunisia experience came after Weber spent the previous school year studying in Tarragona, Spain.</p><p>So committed was Weber about studying abroad for three semesters that she took college prep courses in high school, and once at 精东传媒, finished nearly all her undergraduate coursework in just two years. She will complete her senior projects and capstones in modern language studies and political science in the spring before graduating.</p><p>After that, Weber may well return to Europe. She applied for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship that, if she is selected, would send her back to Spain later in 2026.</p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/chris-basnett">Chris Basnett</a></span> <span><time datetime="2025-12-30T16:27:04-06:00" title="Tuesday, December 30, 2025 - 4:27pm">Tue, 12/30/2025 - 4:27pm</time> </span> Tue, 30 Dec 2025 22:27:04 +0000 Chris Basnett 683026 at Two majors, two sports: Tessa Hurlburt maximizes her 精东传媒 experience /about-nwu/news-center/two-majors-two-sports-tessa-hurlburt-maximizes-her-nwu-experience <span>Two majors, two sports: Tessa Hurlburt maximizes her 精东传媒 experience</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p><span>When English and gender studies major Tessa Hurlburt (鈥26) arrived at Nebraska Wesleyan in 2023, she believed success was about filling her resume. But she soon discovered she could accomplish something more by also focusing on 鈥渨hat fills my cup.鈥</span></p><p><span>Every decision Hurlburt has made at 精东传媒鈥攆rom the courses she鈥檚 taken to the clubs she鈥檚 joined鈥攈as been about balancing academic achievement and personal fulfillment. A packed schedule positioned her to graduate a year early this May with both a full resume and a full heart.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>She鈥檚 studied literature and criminology. She鈥檚 joined a bowling league and 精东传媒鈥檚 Knitting Club.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know how to knit. But it looked fun,鈥 Hurlburt said. 鈥淎nd you don鈥檛 meet amazing people watching TV alone in your room. So I made a deal with myself: I鈥檒l show up every single Wednesday. I鈥檒l meet people. And they鈥檒l teach me.鈥&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>She brought that same mentality to Assistant Professor of Sociology Heba Khalil鈥檚 鈥淲omen and Crime鈥 course her first semester. 鈥淎nd she quickly stood out,鈥 Khalil said. Her research on crime victims 鈥渆xemplified what we hope 精东传媒 students will do: use their education to uplift and work alongside affected communities.鈥</span></p><p><span>Another 精东传媒 course on journalism and free speech sparked a yearlong internship as a </span><em><span>Lincoln Journal Star</span></em><span> reporter. Even then, Hurlburt felt she had room to pour in a little more.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>鈥淚 left high school convinced I was done with sports,鈥 she said. 鈥淏ut I missed being on a team.鈥 So, she reached out to coaches and joined the golf and basketball teams her junior year.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>鈥淒o I get a lot of minutes?鈥 Hurlburt said. 鈥淣o. But I鈥檓 the hype girl. When the team needs that energy, I鈥檓 there. And I love it.鈥</span></p><p><span>Professor of English Sarah Kelen is Hurlburt鈥檚 advisor, and her fan. 鈥淚n three short years, Tessa has fit just about everything you can reasonably鈥攐r even unreasonably鈥攑ut inside a Nebraska Wesleyan experience,鈥 Kelen said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 fearless about trying new things.鈥&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>Next up: Hurlburt has applied for a Fulbright Scholarship to teach English in the Czech Republic. She鈥檚 also considering nonprofit work, graduate study or law school.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>鈥淲hatever it is,鈥 she said, 鈥渋t鈥檒l be something that fills my cup.鈥</span></p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/chris-basnett">Chris Basnett</a></span> <span><time datetime="2025-12-30T16:09:36-06:00" title="Tuesday, December 30, 2025 - 4:09pm">Tue, 12/30/2025 - 4:09pm</time> </span> Tue, 30 Dec 2025 22:09:36 +0000 Chris Basnett 683025 at 鈥淓lite鈥 Hudl internship is game changer for 精东传媒 senior /about-nwu/news-center/elite-hudl-internship-game-changer-nwu-senior <span>鈥淓lite鈥 Hudl internship is game changer for 精东传媒 senior</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>At 精东传媒, senior Ella Mahaffy found the opportunity to explore her wide-ranging interests, including philosophy, religion, communication and marketing. She also found an exciting internship opportunity right in 精东传媒鈥檚 backyard at Hudl, one of the world鈥檚 top sports technology companies.&nbsp;</p><p>Mahaffy is Hudl鈥檚 first intern to earn an 鈥渆lite marketing鈥 title, which gave her the flexibility to customize her internship experience.</p><p>鈥淭hat鈥檚 been really cool because I already have a foot in the door at the company,鈥 Mahaffy said, 鈥渁s well as this base of knowledge from Wesleyan that allows me to step in and thrive wherever I鈥檓 put.鈥</p><p>The end result, she said, has been an experience far beyond the stereotype of 鈥渁n intern getting coffee for their boss.鈥</p><p>Mahaffy has experienced 鈥渁 lot of the nitty-gritty鈥 of Hudl鈥檚 marketing efforts. She鈥檚 helped manage Hudl鈥檚 partnerships with sports organizations like the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA); worked on campaigns to publicize Hudl鈥檚 collaborations; coordinated communications with thousands of NCAA coaches and staff; and helped formulate ideas for product campaigns.</p><p>Mahaffy credited 精东传媒鈥檚 resources for putting her on the road to a successful college experience, even if she didn鈥檛 realize it when she first arrived.</p><p>鈥淐oming in as a freshman, I was homesick, I was alone, I really didn鈥檛 know my place at Wesleyan or the world,鈥 Mahaffy said. 鈥淎nd now as a senior I feel so incredibly established with all the resources that Wesleyan has given me.鈥</p><p>Those resources allowed Mahaffy to thrive away from home. She is an athlete 精东传媒鈥檚 tennis team, a campus ambassador welcoming visiting students, vice president of 精东传媒鈥檚 chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, an a FBLA member.</p><p>Mahaffy鈥檚 experiences at 精东传媒 and Hudl have the Colorado native rethinking her post-college plans.</p><p>鈥淚 originally thought I鈥檇 go home to Colorado right after college,鈥 Mahaffy said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檝e learned over the years that the people are amazing here, and if (a career at Hudl) is an opportunity I鈥檓 given, I would definitely be willing to stay for it.鈥</p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/chris-basnett">Chris Basnett</a></span> <span><time datetime="2025-12-17T15:27:46-06:00" title="Wednesday, December 17, 2025 - 3:27pm">Wed, 12/17/2025 - 3:27pm</time> </span> Wed, 17 Dec 2025 21:27:46 +0000 Chris Basnett 683002 at 精东传媒 students and faculty transform lives through prison outreach /about-nwu/news-center/nwu-students-and-faculty-transform-lives-through-prison-outreach <span>精东传媒 students and faculty transform lives through prison outreach</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p><strong>One Professor鈥檚 Idea Changes Hundreds of Lives</strong></p><p>Before he began teaching, James Perry, associate professor of professional studies, worked in prisoner rights in foreign countries, a passion that has shaped his work at 精东传媒.</p><p>In 2008, he took a group of 精东传媒 students on a field trip to the Nebraska State Penitentiary.</p><p>鈥淚 was listening to the questions students were asking and realized they had no familiarity with this whole world,鈥 Perry said. 鈥淎nd what better way to learn about the prison system than to volunteer inside it?鈥</p><p>Perry met with administrators and agreed to start a book club with 15 精东传媒 students and 15 individuals at the Lincoln Correctional Facility. Over the past 17 years, the initiative has expanded to include weekly classes focused on topics the incarcerated individuals want to learn about. 精东传媒 students co-teach the classes, facilitating discussions, preparing readings, and leading sessions.</p><p>鈥淭here is a lack of programming in the correctional system across the United States, including Nebraska,鈥 Perry said. 鈥淭hese individuals often have limited opportunities to fill their time. We want to help them develop the skills and confidence to successfully reintegrate into their communities.鈥</p><hr><p><strong>Helping Individuals Understand the Bigger Picture</strong></p><p>Recent classes have included <em>Sociology of the Family</em>, <em>Business Law</em>, and <em>Innovation and Leadership</em>. One class focused on the sociological imagination 鈥 the ability to connect personal experiences with larger public issues.</p><p>鈥淚n sociology, we explore how much agency a person has versus how much societal pressures shape their choices,鈥 said Heba Khalil, assistant professor of sociology and criminology, who helps teach the prison outreach classes. 鈥淯sing real examples, such as being born into limited circumstances, helps participants understand how decisions are influenced.鈥</p><p>鈥淲orking with these individuals has shown me how powerful this perspective can be,鈥 Khalil said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not about excusing poor choices 鈥 it鈥檚 about understanding them within societal constraints, which many of these individuals find empowering.鈥</p><p>In addition to weekly sessions, participants receive homework or discussion prompts 鈥 something new to think about, learn or read between classes.</p><hr><p><strong>A Powerful Experience for 精东传媒 Students</strong></p><p>The 精东传媒 students who co-teach the classes are typically sophomores and must complete an introduction to criminal justice course. Students from any major may enroll in the one-credit class, and many choose to participate multiple times during their time at 精东传媒.</p><p>鈥淲e鈥檝e had physics majors, French majors 鈥 students from all backgrounds 鈥 who say this is the most impactful class they鈥檝e taken,鈥 Perry said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e engaging with important ideas, whether it鈥檚 sociology or leadership. Both groups 鈥 the 精东传媒 students and their students 鈥 realize they can learn from each other, and that鈥檚 powerful.鈥</p><hr><p><strong>When the Walls Fade Away</strong></p><p>Ella Fundus, a senior social work student who has taught for two semesters at the Lancaster County Jail, said the experience taught her how misinformed the public鈥檚 perception of the incarcerated population can be.</p><p>鈥淭hese individuals are determined and motivated to turn their lives around. I鈥檝e never been in a classroom where every single person was so eager to learn,鈥 she said.</p><p>Perry noted that once class begins, the setting quickly fades into the background.</p><p>鈥淲ithin the first five minutes of class, the 精东传媒 students and their students are joking together and talking about their lives,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very rewarding to see those relationships grow.鈥</p><hr><p><strong>The Transformative Power of Prison Outreach</strong></p><p>Over 17 years, Perry and his 精东传媒 students have impacted countless lives.</p><p>鈥淚 ran into a former student at a convenience store years later,鈥 Perry said. 鈥淗e told me the experience transformed his life because he was able to have thoughtful conversations with 精东传媒 students and professors who took his ideas seriously. It helped build his confidence in his own potential.鈥</p><p>Perry credits correctional staff as essential partners in the program鈥檚 success.</p><p>鈥淥ne staff member suggested we teach theater,鈥 he said. 鈥淪he wrote a one-page proposal outlining what a theater production could look like, and we鈥檙e working hard to make that happen this spring.鈥</p><hr><p><strong>Preparing 精东传媒 Students for Purpose-Driven Careers</strong></p><p>The program also exposes 精东传媒 students to careers in criminal justice, while encouraging empathy and compassion toward people within the system.</p><p>Maria Ghanim, a senior pre-law student, shared that everything she's learned will strengthen her future legal career.</p><p>鈥淲hat I鈥檝e enjoyed most is seeing our students connect personal experiences to the social norms we鈥檝e studied. We don鈥檛 judge 鈥 we listen, laugh, and even cry. There is no greater force than education and empathy," she said.</p><hr><p><strong>Building a Special Community</strong></p><p>For Perry, the emotional impact remains profound.</p><p>鈥淭hey鈥檙e amazed that Wesleyan students keep coming back,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hey say, 鈥楾hose are our Wesleyan students.鈥 They look forward to every visit.鈥</p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/erin-wirth">Erin Wirth</a></span> <span><time datetime="2025-12-16T14:01:34-06:00" title="Tuesday, December 16, 2025 - 2:01pm">Tue, 12/16/2025 - 2:01pm</time> </span> Tue, 16 Dec 2025 20:01:34 +0000 Erin Wirth 682999 at 精东传媒 sociology honor society receives grant to support reentry program /about-nwu/news-center/nwu-sociology-honor-society-receives-grant-support-reentry-program <span>精东传媒 sociology honor society receives grant to support reentry program</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>精东传媒鈥檚 chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD), the international sociology honor society, received the Social Justice Award, a grant supporting meaningful social justice initiatives.</p><p>The grant will fund a reentry skills course for incarcerated individuals at the Lancaster County Jail, offered through 精东传媒鈥檚 Department of Sociology and Criminology Prison Outreach Course (CRIM 3400). Susan Wortmann, professor of sociology and AKD chapter president, and Heba Khalil, assistant professor of sociology and criminology, will lead the course in Spring 2026.</p><p>The course was designed using feedback from incarcerated participants, who highlighted a need for job skills to secure employment upon release. In addition to the course, the chapter will host a workshop with community organizations, college partners and advocacy groups to strengthen reentry support for Nebraskans across the state.</p><p>鈥溇解檚 AKD chapter joins an impressive list of past award winners who have launched creative social justice initiatives engaging students and communities,鈥 Wortmann said.</p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/erin-wirth">Erin Wirth</a></span> <span><time datetime="2025-12-15T13:59:49-06:00" title="Monday, December 15, 2025 - 1:59pm">Mon, 12/15/2025 - 1:59pm</time> </span> Mon, 15 Dec 2025 19:59:49 +0000 Erin Wirth 682993 at 精东传媒鈥檚 first Give to Learn class culminates with emotional grant ceremony /about-nwu/news-center/nwus-first-give-learn-class-culminates-emotional-grant-ceremony <span>精东传媒鈥檚 first Give to Learn class culminates with emotional grant ceremony</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>The culmination of Nebraska Wesleyan鈥檚 first Give To Learn class resulted in tears.</p><p>The happy kind.</p><p>The class presented a $10,000 grant to Lincoln鈥檚 Good Neighbor Community Center on December 11.</p><p>鈥淚 grew up here in Lincoln, and it's just so rewarding to know that I and everybody else in the class was able to help the community,鈥 senior Ollie Maryott said. 鈥淎nd the fact that we actually got to go visit the Good Neighbor Community Center and volunteer with them, and see the good work that they do firsthand, and we know that the money is going to a good place 鈥 that's a very rewarding feeling that I've never gotten to really experience before.鈥</p><p>The Give To Learn course, taught by retired president and CEO of Community Health Endowment of Lincoln Lori Seibel, aimed to give students a greater understanding of their local community and its healthcare needs.</p><p>Students practiced hands-on volunteer service and fieldwork with eight community organizations: Good Neighbor Community Center, BraveBe Child Advocacy Center, Asian Community and Cultural Center, Mentoring Plus, Malone Center Athletics, Community Learning Center, Family Service Lincoln, and Northeast Family Center.</p><p>The class then reflected on their experiences while working through the process of choosing which nonprofit would receive the grant.</p><p>The first-of-its-kind class at 精东传媒 used a grant from the Duncan Aviation Family Trust. Seibel facilitated the grant thanks to her relationship with Connie Duncan, a 1987 精东传媒 graduate who serves as vice president of the trust.</p><p>鈥淎s they got going, they did what I did. You get to know the people that need you. And it's all about your heart,鈥 Duncan said. 鈥淵ou start falling in love with these agencies and the people they work with, and you want to do more. That's what they did.鈥</p><p>The class also received a promise from Duncan during the ceremony.</p><p>鈥淎s long as you have the class,鈥 Duncan said, 鈥渨e will find the funds for it.鈥</p><p>The class considered splitting the grant into two $5,000 awards. But because one of its core values is 鈥渋mpact鈥, the class kept the grant in one piece.</p><p>鈥淚t was a wonderful experience working with the students here,鈥 said Tom Randa, executive director of the Good Neighbor Community Center. 鈥淚t was just an opportunity to make an impact with what we are doing at the center.鈥</p><p>The class designated most of the grant to support the center鈥檚 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) hope project, which provides support to refugees and immigrants from the Middle East and North Africa, and a new clothing program for local children.</p><p>The class named clothing program 鈥淎li鈥檚 Closet鈥, in memory of Ali Al-Baaj, who drowned in HolmesLake in 2024. He was the son of Zainab Al-Baaj, who directs the center鈥檚 MENA initiatives.</p><p>鈥淲e鈥檙e just a bunch of students trying to present an award,鈥 senior Ghaith Taha told the crowd gathered for the event. 鈥淏ut I think we鈥檙e doing a pretty good job.鈥</p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/chris-basnett">Chris Basnett</a></span> <span><time datetime="2025-12-15T11:31:18-06:00" title="Monday, December 15, 2025 - 11:31am">Mon, 12/15/2025 - 11:31am</time> </span> Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:31:18 +0000 Chris Basnett 682994 at Golden Service Award recognizes employees who stepped up to help Residential Education /about-nwu/news-center/golden-service-award-recognizes-employees-who-stepped-help-residential <span>Golden Service Award recognizes employees who stepped up to help Residential Education</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Several Nebraska Wesleyan employees were awarded 精东传媒鈥檚 Golden Service Award at the December 2025 staff meeting.</p><p>The group came together in November to assist Residential Education and Student Life in providing students with personal attention while supporting their health, safety, and success.</p><p>The group was led by Kara Brant, director of residential education, and Maddi Galusha, assistant director of residential education, who took on extra responsibilities and leadership during a period of transition for the Residential Education Office (REC).</p><p>In addition, staff members inside and outside of student life stepped up to ensure REC on-call procedures were maintained. That group included Workstation Support Associate Christian Sunderland, Assistant Director of Student Engagement Alex Munson, Project Director for the Gender-Based Violence Team Jen Dyson, and Assistant Vice President of Human Resources Maria Harder.</p><p>With Brant and Galusha developing training materials for the group, Sunderland, Munson, Dyson, and Harder offered to move into campus housing to serve in the on-call rotation and ensure there were no gaps in on-call and emergency response coverage on the 精东传媒 campus.</p><p>These individuals received training, provided leadership for 精东传媒鈥檚 Peer Assistant staff, and responded to urgent concerns in 精东传媒鈥檚 residence halls over the past month.</p><p>Members of the group were also able to make more personal connections with 精东传媒 students. For example, while staying at Pioneer Hall, Dyson was able to bring members of her family on campus to play ping pong and pool, eat dinner, and meet new residents.</p><p>The Golden Service Award promotes Nebraska Wesleyan鈥檚 core values by recognizing and awarding staff and faculty working as a group and demonstrating cross-departmental collaborations, whose efforts and contributions as a group significantly exceed expectations in demonstrating or promoting one or more of these values: excellence, liberal arts, and personal attention to students, diversity, community, and stewardship.</p><p>Congratulations to these individuals and thank you for your service and dedication to our community.</p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/chris-basnett">Chris Basnett</a></span> <span><time datetime="2025-12-09T11:03:26-06:00" title="Tuesday, December 9, 2025 - 11:03am">Tue, 12/09/2025 - 11:03am</time> </span> Tue, 09 Dec 2025 17:03:26 +0000 Chris Basnett 682979 at 精东传媒 tradition returns with Psychology Department's Xtreme Rat Challenge /about-nwu/news-center/nwu-tradition-returns-psychology-departments-xtreme-rat-challenge <span>精东传媒 tradition returns with Psychology Department's Xtreme Rat Challenge</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>One of 精东传媒鈥檚 most unique traditions recently made its return to Acklie Hall of Science.</p><p>After a three-year pause, the Xtreme Rat Challenge was back, with 23 students and their rat partners taking part in the 48th version of the event November 25 as part of 精东传媒鈥檚 鈥淏asic Learning Principles鈥 course.</p><p>鈥淚鈥檓 not a rat person, but you wouldn鈥檛 be able to tell. It鈥檚 been so fun,鈥 said senior psychology major Lina Le. 鈥淲hen we first started training obstacles, I remember I put (her rat) Ruthie on this stainless-steel table, and she just jumped off. And she鈥檚 running around the room and I鈥檓 trying to catch her.</p><p>鈥淏ut now if I were to put her on some of those apparatuses, she鈥檚 gunning right through it. It has been so fun to watch her grow and develop. It鈥檚 so awesome to see just how much work she鈥檚 putting in.鈥</p><p>The bond between Le and Ruthie was emblematic of the connections between all the students and their rat competitors.&nbsp;</p><p>The Xtreme Rat Challenge is the final demonstration project for students in the class. Students receive their rats about three weeks into the fall semester, then spend the rest of the semester applying research-supported reinforcement techniques to teach their rats a wide range of behaviors.</p><p>Rats learned to compete in rope climb, wall climb, tight rope, lever press, long jump, hurdles, and warrior dash, an obstacle course combining the tight rope and climbing disciplines, in addition to a slide.</p><p>Dozens of interested spectators watched the live competition on Acklie鈥檚 second floor.</p><p>鈥淯ltimately once you reach that learning curve and when you are habituated with your rat, things really start picking up,鈥 Le said. 鈥淎nd it was just amazing to watch her learn and retain information. Just as I was learning and retaining information, she was doing the same thing. And it was really cool to see how these basic learning principles are applied.</p><p>鈥淪he has really just been a bright spot in my semester, coming in and training her every day.鈥</p><p>Started in 1974 by former 精东传媒 psychology professor Marty Klein, the Xtreme Rat Challenge was known as the Rat Olympics until 2003, when the U.S. Olympic Committee issued a cease and desist order over use of the word 鈥淥lympics.鈥 精东传媒 responded with a national naming contest that resulted in the new name: Xtreme Rat Challenge.</p><p>Professor Emerita of Psychology Marilyn Petro organized the event for several years before her retirement in 2023. After a two-year hiatus, Assistant Professor of Psychology Gregory DeGirolamo brought the tradition back.</p><p>鈥淚t鈥檚 been really exciting to see the students train the rats, interact with the rats, and to see all the students鈥 fears and nervousness kind of melt away,鈥 DeGirolamo said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also been nice watching this come together. The students have been working really hard, and I鈥檝e been working really hard trying to help them. So, it鈥檚 a relief that everything is going off without a hitch.鈥</p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/chris-basnett">Chris Basnett</a></span> <span><time datetime="2025-12-05T10:19:34-06:00" title="Friday, December 5, 2025 - 10:19am">Fri, 12/05/2025 - 10:19am</time> </span> Fri, 05 Dec 2025 16:19:34 +0000 Chris Basnett 682972 at Student mentorship program "Wolf Tracks" wins pitch contest /about-nwu/news-center/student-mentorship-program-wolf-tracks-wins-pitch-contest <span>Student mentorship program "Wolf Tracks" wins pitch contest</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Each year, 精东传媒 students are challenged to pitch their ideas for how to make 精东传媒 stronger at the annual <span>Wayne &amp; Elizabeth Brugman Leadership Summit &amp; Pitch Contest</span>. This year, senior Mady Schoffstall and sophomore Bruce Archambault had the winning idea: Wolf Tracks, a mentorship initiative designed to strengthen and connect the 精东传媒 community by pairing seniors with first-year students.</p><p>鈥淭he purpose of Wolf Tracks is to support first-year students as they transition into college by giving them access to guidance and tips from senior students,鈥 Schoffstall said. 鈥淭he program also gives seniors a meaningful way to leave a positive impact on campus while building leadership skills they can take into the workforce.鈥</p><p>The idea for Wolf Tracks grew out of conversations between Schoffstall and Archambault. They compared their student experiences 鈥 one having recently navigated their first year and the other currently navigating senior year.</p><p>鈥淲e realized how much smoother our first-year transition could have been with a little guidance. Those conversations made it clear that 精东传媒 could benefit from a campus-wide program that intentionally connects seniors with first-year students, and that shared realization inspired Wolf Tracks,鈥 Archambault said.</p><p>The first Wolf Tracks experience launched this year. The program flowed through several intentional phases: Welcome and Orientation, Campus Exploration, Wellness and Success, and Legacy and Celebration.</p><p>鈥淭he goal of the first Wolf Tracks experience was to have participants feel welcomed, supported and connected. The experience wrapped up with a finale to celebrate the relationships formed, the growth that took place, and to show the seniors the meaningful impact they had on their first-year students,鈥 Schoffstall said.</p><p>Sharing Wolf Tracks at the <span>Wayne &amp; Elizabeth Brugman Leadership Summit &amp; Pitch Contest</span> with a broader audience was exciting and rewarding for Schoffstall and Archambault.</p><p>鈥淧resenting pushed us to grow our public-speaking skills, and winning was a valuable reminder that stepping out of our comfort zones can lead to incredible opportunities,鈥 Archambault said.</p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/erin-wirth">Erin Wirth</a></span> <span><time datetime="2025-12-04T13:12:14-06:00" title="Thursday, December 4, 2025 - 1:12pm">Thu, 12/04/2025 - 1:12pm</time> </span> Thu, 04 Dec 2025 19:12:14 +0000 Erin Wirth 682969 at Senior Tate Crawford combines humanities with science to plot a future path /about-nwu/news-center/senior-tate-crawford-combines-humanities-science-plot-future-path <span>Senior Tate Crawford combines humanities with science to plot a future path</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Tate Crawford could have chosen a more traditional route for his four years at 精东传媒. One major. One minor. Do the work and continue toward his goal of medical school.&nbsp;</p><p>But with the variety of humanities degrees available at Nebraska Wesleyan, why be traditional?</p><p>鈥淚t's been involved, it's been unique, it's been busy, but it has been very fulfilling 鈥 and I definitely want to emphasize the fulfilling,鈥 Crawford said of his time at 精东传媒. 鈥淚 will leave here in May and know that I did all that I could, I learned a lot, I鈥檓 more independent, and I know that I'm leaving a different person than when I came here.鈥</p><p>Crawford, a senior, is on track to graduate in May with a double major in biology and Spanish 鈥 two things that, at first glance, may not seem to have much to do with each other.</p><p>Crawford, though, realized early on how beneficial both majors could be in combination.</p><p>A Roca, Nebraska, native who attended nearby Norris High School, Crawford chose 精东传媒 because of its proximity to home and its reputation for preparing students well for the medical profession: 86% of 精东传媒 students who take the MCAT are admitted to medical school.</p><p>Add Crawford鈥檚 deep knowledge of the Spanish language 鈥 he took four years of Spanish in high school before he 鈥渇ell in love鈥 with the language while taking Spanish classes in Old Main with assistant professor of Spanish Jaime Cano 鈥 and he has a skillset that expands his reach, allowing him to work with a multitude of patients.</p><p>鈥淭he love for Spanish came with the fact that I was able to use it and apply it in my life, and I was able to see a difference,鈥 Crawford said. 鈥淎nd another piece of the language I like is, there鈥檚 not a stopping point, so I continue to learn forever. Through my journey (at Wesleyan) I was able to study abroad in Spain. It just kept growing and growing.鈥</p><p>Crawford has already used his Spanish knowledge as an assistant soccer coach at Norris High School, where he translated for a student-athlete, and in his work as an endoscopy technician at a Lincoln gastroenterology clinic, where he communicates with Spanish-speaking patients as part of his duties.</p><p>Crawford has stayed busy outside of the classroom too, as a member of Theta Chi, the 精东传媒 Pre-Health Club, Tri-Beta, Alpha Mu Gamma, Global Service Learning, and as vice president of the Order of Omega Greek Academic Honorary. Crawford also served as a Prairie Wolf Welcome leader and as a student instructor in the Archways Curriculum.&nbsp;</p><p>This summer, he plans to take the MCAT with hopes of getting into the University of Nebraska Medical Center.</p><p>The education he鈥檚 received at 精东传媒 has him well on his way.</p><p>鈥淭he things that I've been taught here, that I've learned throughout my time here, whether it's textbook or real-life application, I know I will be going out into the world a better person,鈥 Crawford said. 鈥淪omeone who's been fulfilled by their by their experiences through college, and I can go out and in the medical field, and I'll be better because of it.鈥</p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/chris-basnett">Chris Basnett</a></span> <span><time datetime="2025-12-03T15:19:42-06:00" title="Wednesday, December 3, 2025 - 3:19pm">Wed, 12/03/2025 - 3:19pm</time> </span> Wed, 03 Dec 2025 21:19:42 +0000 Chris Basnett 682966 at Students crack 鈥渕issing mascot鈥 case in hands-on crime investigation activity /about-nwu/news-center/students-crack-missing-mascot-case-hands-crime-investigation-activity <span>Students crack 鈥渕issing mascot鈥 case in hands-on crime investigation activity</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>First-year students in 精东传媒鈥檚 <em>True Crime Casebook: Secrets, Stories and Suspects</em> and <em>Let鈥檚 Crack Open a Cold Case</em> courses, part of the Archway Seminar, put their investigative skills to the test during a 鈥淢issing Mascot鈥 crime case designed by Matt Flores, assistant professor of education, and Amber Johnson, assistant professor of psychology.</p><p>Students worked in teams to interview faculty and staff members serving as suspects and to gather clues to determine what happened to the missing P-Wolf mascot.</p><p>鈥淲e designed the activity to make investigative thinking tangible and fun by giving students the chance to use their deductive reasoning skills in a real-world context. It also gave first-year students an opportunity to explore campus and meet faculty and staff members,鈥 Johnson said.</p><p>The crime case reinforced several of the courses鈥 learning goals.</p><p>鈥淎 main goal was for students to learn how to collaborate effectively with others while completing a task and building analytical thinking skills,鈥 Flores said.</p><p>The activity emphasized key methods of critical inquiry: how to frame questions, collect and interpret data, and draw well-supported conclusions.</p><p>鈥淥ne of the skills they took away was asking the right questions 鈥 for example, looking for motives, means and opportunities,鈥 Flores said.</p><p>Students said the activity was exciting and felt like solving a real case, and they enjoyed exploring campus along the way.</p><p>鈥淚 was surprised by how creative they were in forming theories and analyzing the suspects. The activity inspired a lot of collaboration and energy in our students. They even asked if they could spend more time investigating outside of class,鈥 Johnson said.</p><p>Flores said he was impressed by how well the students did in cracking the case.</p><p>鈥淭here were some clues they didn鈥檛 notice, but in the end they were still able to solve the case,鈥 he said.</p><p>Faculty and staff who participated appreciated how original the activity was, noting that it energized students and offered an effective, interactive way to apply their skills.</p><p>鈥淭he faculty and staff suspects were trying to solve the case before the students and figure out which one of them kidnapped the mascot,鈥 Flores said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/erin-wirth">Erin Wirth</a></span> <span><time datetime="2025-11-20T15:38:23-06:00" title="Thursday, November 20, 2025 - 3:38pm">Thu, 11/20/2025 - 3:38pm</time> </span> Thu, 20 Nov 2025 21:38:23 +0000 Erin Wirth 682945 at 精东传媒 nursing students mark milestone at White Coat Ceremony /about-nwu/news-center/nwu-nursing-students-mark-milestone-white-coat-ceremony <span>精东传媒 nursing students mark milestone at White Coat Ceremony</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>精东传媒 celebrated a key milestone for its nursing students on November 7 with its annual White Coat Ceremony, a tradition that marks their induction into the nursing field.</p><p>During the event, the 2025 student cohort received their white coats and affirmed their commitment to compassionate, ethical patient care.</p><p>Faculty speakers included Brittney Fritzinger, Erin Putney and Kristi McGuire, and student speakers were Taylor Holter and Eden Schmit.</p><p><strong>Congratulations to the following White Coat recipients:</strong></p><p>Kiara Burnell</p><p>Hannah Churchill</p><p>Abbie Drewes</p><p>Ariel Edgington</p><p>Samantha Escobar Barrera</p><p>Rylie Hale-Keller</p><p>Johanna Hidalgo-Ramirez</p><p>Reagan Kjeldgaard</p><p>Sarah Kolterman</p><p>Kiley Kotas</p><p>Jersey Koza</p><p>Olivia Lawrence</p><p>Nicole Loop</p><p>Rozalin Murad</p><p>Esther Muturi</p><p>Stephanie Mwai</p><p>Lauren Ott</p><p>Peyton Pack</p><p>Iris Pudasaini</p><p>Brynn Sebek</p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/erin-wirth">Erin Wirth</a></span> <span><time datetime="2025-11-20T11:25:06-06:00" title="Thursday, November 20, 2025 - 11:25am">Thu, 11/20/2025 - 11:25am</time> </span> Thu, 20 Nov 2025 17:25:06 +0000 Erin Wirth 682944 at Christmas with Wesleyan returns to usher in holiday season /about-nwu/news-center/christmas-wesleyan-returns-usher-holiday-season <span>Christmas with Wesleyan returns to usher in holiday season</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>精东传媒鈥檚 choral ensembles will present <em>Christmas with Wesleyan: The Weary World Rejoices</em> on Sunday, December 7, at 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church near the 精东传媒 campus.</p><p>The free performance features 精东传媒鈥檚 University Choir, Unity Choir, and Gold Standard Singers, joined by the Beatrice High School Choir.</p><p>The choirs will present compelling works by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Shawn Kirchner, Andr茅 Thomas, and Josef Rheinberger, in addition to music from South Africa, Norway, and Puerto Rico. The audience will be invited to sing along with beloved carols accompanied by orchestra and organ, including 鈥淎ngels We Have Heard on High,鈥 鈥淪ilent Night,鈥 鈥淛oy to the World,鈥 and 鈥淗ark! The Herald Angels Sing.鈥&nbsp;</p><p>鈥淚t's easy for our students to get lost in the busyness of their schedules and to be carried away with anxiety for all the deep challenges and stresses that seem to chase us in this world,鈥 said Tom Trenney, 精东传媒 director of choirs. 鈥淥ur hope is that the time we spend together experiencing Christmas with Wesleyan might remind both our singers and our audiences of what joy feels like.鈥</p><p>Freewill donations will support the Gathering Place, which provides free, hot meals seven days a week from 5 to 6 p.m. to anyone who needs a meal.</p></div> <span><a title="View user profile." href="/campus-directory/chris-basnett">Chris Basnett</a></span> <span><time datetime="2025-11-18T10:52:17-06:00" title="Tuesday, November 18, 2025 - 10:52am">Tue, 11/18/2025 - 10:52am</time> </span> Tue, 18 Nov 2025 16:52:17 +0000 Chris Basnett 682942 at