UNL recognizes Big Red Stars of 2011

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln recognized Nebraska eighth-graders for their academic excellence, leadership and perseverance May 12 at the 2011 Big Red Stars Recognition Ceremony.

Big Red Stars is a special recognition program designed to recognize outstanding eighth-grade students in the state of Nebraska. These talented students were nominated by school principals as students who showcase strong leadership skills and academic promise.

The 2011 Big Red Stars nominees were recognized at an award ceremony sponsored by UNL and EducationQuest May 12 at the Lied Center for Performing Arts on the UNL campus.

Highlights of the event included individual recognition and awards for the 2011 Big Red Stars nominees and special remarks from Gov. Dave Heineman.

Following is a list by hometown of students honored as Big Red Stars:

Ainsworth: Ellie Carr, Jacob Wilkins.

Albion: Brianna Brugman.

Alda: Brian Garcia.

Alma: Monica Bell, Artyom Zhilin.

Ansley: Kendra Henry. Tessa Rudichar.

Arapahoe: Junior Hilker.

Arcadia: Wyatt Lane, Mackenzie Maschka.

Arlington: Trevor Koger, April Maske.

Ashland: Tami Hazen, Elizabeth Yunker.

Aurora: Matthew Swanson.

Ayr: Jay Kort.

Bartlett: Emalee Kasperbauer.

Battle Creek: Sean Vanderford.

Bayard: Henry Schmall.

Beatrice: Alexsiss Briggs, Chauncey Kleveland.

Bellevue: Amy Buckley, Katie Imig, Raven Jones, Gabrielle Jonsson, Mary LaPorte.

Bellwood: Anthony Meusch.

Bennington: Sara Hackett, Tyler Housh.

Bloomfield: Eric Abbenhaus, Trenton Guenther, Aaron Millikan.

Blue Hill: Keithen Drury.

Boys Town: Victor Almaraz, Chance Peters.

Bradshaw: Dacia Stuhr.

Brady: Josie Palmer.

Brainard: Moriah Barta.

Bridgeport: Trevor Benavides, Taylor Janicek.

Brule: Sky McQuay, Bethany Spencer.

Burwell: Rebekah Birch, Alissa Maxson, Clinton O'Neel.

Cairo: Kylie Bloomquist, Emily Weills.

Callaway: Kelsey Haidle, Rebecca Still.

Chappell: Jillian Behrends, Hannah Schievelbein.

Chester: Cassie Beeman.

Cody: Gillian Cheney, Hannah Jones.

Coleridge: Ellie Arduser, Katie Meier.

Columbus: Allison Anderson, Alexander Beiermann, Whitney Coop, Silvia Corona, Carly Cremers, Amber Mazankowski, Ashley Prososki, Juan Sosa.

Cozad: Jason Finnegan, Emmanuel Hermosillo, Jordan Lauby.

Crete: Yicel Beltran, Renae Sieck.

Davenport: Talmadge Krupicka.

David City: Trent Smith.

DeWitt: William Stokebrand.

Deshler: Lauren Schmidt, Abigail Schroeder.

Deweese: Kaylee Fike.

Diller: Calvin Hennerberg, Lance Lawton.

Dixon: Michaela Nitz.

Dodge: Taylor Faltin, Jonathan Laner.

Dubois: Carly Hunzeker.

Edgar: Kamron Ficken, Logan Searle.

Edison: Kaylea Watson.

Elgin: Kyle Heithoff.

Elkhorn: Riley Hunzeker, Brandi Mountain, Sammie Turco.

Elwood: Billie Smith, Caleb Wilson.

Erickson: Jayle Hinkle.

Fairbury: Nathan Klaumann, Brittany Ward.

Falls City: Kelsi Fouraker, Baylee Vrtiska.

Farnam: Pamela Felix.

Filley: Devin Dorn.

Firth: Jessica Larkins.

Fremont: Amy Ellis, Gavin Lehmann.

Friend: Samantha Due, Gavin Grimaldo, Dillan Jindra.

Fullerton: Jennifer Knopik, Seth Wetovick.

Geneva: Shelby Schelkopf.

Genoa: Jessica Swantek.

Gering: Justin Baird, Brandon Wallace, Julia Ybarra.

Gibbon: Laura Mozqueda.

Gordon: Benjamin Wegner.

Gothenburg: Autumn Hild.

Grand Island: Brady Brokaw, Megan Ellis, Emma Kosmicki, Irvin Ramirez-Benavides, James Swanson, Isaac Trejo.

Gresham: Steven Bader.

Gretna: Jacob Heath, Sara Rahmanzai.

Harrisburg: Rebecca Brenner, Michael McKown.

Hartington: Tristan Steffen, Paige Wuebben.

Hastings: Elizabeth Franssen, Mario Lopez, Zeny Nguyen, Kelsey Speake-Smith, Eddie Starr.

Hayes Center: Alex Lawson, Latigo Sherman.

Hazard: Nathan Larson.

Hebron: Rachel Heitmann.

Henderson: Kaeli Lundstrom, Colton Siebert.

Hershey: Joshua Margritz, McKenzie Mustion.

Hickman: Janelle Adams.

Hildreth: Ivan Damitog, Carina Fritz.

Howells: Morgan Baumert, Abigail Coday.

Humphrey: Anna Wegener, Mikayla Wemhoff.

Indianola: Austin Minard, Jane Reiners.

Johnson: Samantha Teten.

Julian: Yaid Jimenez.

Kearney: Collin Arredondo, Teri Buck, John Masker, Mason Rozean, Gareth Stroh.

Kimball: Jessica Hanks.

Laurel: Samantha Langschwager.

Lawrence: Alexius Hartman.

Leigh: Matthew McMullin, Isaiah Miller.

Lincoln: Esther Brown, Jordan Brozek, Raven Collier, Abraham Driewer, Francisco Garcia, Evelynn Hernandez Sanchez, Kelli Holloway, Chloe Kreikemeier, Jeyson Martinez, Atira Meyer, Michael Milana, Isaiah Nelsen, Mary Ostasuc, Lan Portnoy, Connor Raatz, Robin Rauner, Meagen Roth, Scott Schieuer, Nicklas Sotnikov, Zoe Streckfuss, Ally Thomsen, Kylie Tucker, Lauren White.

Lindsay: Cassidy Chohon.

Linwood: Kaylee Pierce.

Louisville: Ryan Cleary, Sam Rose.

Loup City: Jackie Rogers.

Madison: Travis Belina, Alexis Mercado, Carmen Paniagua.

Marquette: Emily Simmons.

Martell: Uta Larson.

Maxwell: Alyssa Vedder, Jacob Whisenhunt.

Meadow Grove: Christian Mucker, Krista Rystrom.

Milford: Jordan Redler.

Milligan: Amber Pribyl.

Minatare: Patricia Cinocco, Chanclor McAllister.

Mullen: Rebekah Daniels, Adam Starr.

Nebraska City: Garrett Valenta.

Neligh: Tera Henkenius.

Newman Grove: Parker Wallin.

Niobrara: Steven LaPointe.

Norfolk: Cheyenne Gibbons, Jaden Moore, Baylor Price, Tori Sweigard.

North Platte: Kolbey Fourtner, Alexander Guerra, Hannah Hays, Jordan Jackson, Jack Jones.

Ogallala: Maaika Mestl, Micah Most.

Ohiowa: Guadalupe Dimas.

Omaha: Gabe Alsager, Karissa Alsager, Bailey Anstey, Madeline Barla, TJ Barth, Cheryl Belemlilga, Kaitlin Bloemer, Brian Bosn, Elizabeth Bruckner, Andrew Burke-O'Kane, Jonah Burns, Sadie Castillo-Grant, Pedro Castro, Trisha Christensen, Skyler Davis, Nyawech Duop, Abril Garcia-Quirino, Henry Harrison, Andrew Heithoff, Lauryn Hilger, Jacob Kaczmarek, Logan Kalkowski, Catherine Khorram, Travis Kildow, Ashley Knight, Madison Kramer, Colin Krist, Zach Kula, Maegan Lampe, Andy Lee, Rachel Lee, Jodi Lepaopao, Jada Loro, Blythe Lust, Michaela Mapes, Brittany Margrave, Alex McHugh, Devashish Neupane, Connor O'Doherty, Natalie Oldenberg, Josiah Pesek, Maggie Pierson, Lauren Ramelb, Charlotte Reilly, Estefen Rice, Regan Sindelar, Kathryn Siwa, Sarah Smith, Peter Sobczyk, Madison Sutula, Nina Theiler, Luis Torres, Alair Vega, Mary Woodruff.

O'Neill: Natalie Brodersen, Amador Medina.

Orchard: Briana Stelling.

Ord: Molli Hagge.

Pacific Junction, Iowa: Sabrina Hernandez.

Papillion: Emily Almgren, Marissa Andersen, Jordan Kimball, Erica Thomas, Michael Undersander.

Paxton: Alec Fox, Carlos Zuniga.

Peru: Nathan Kirby.

Pierce: Caitlyn Skuodas.

Platte Center: Lukis Laudenklos.

Plattsmouth: Keely Algya, Jaime Pellan, Rebekah Warga.

Pleasanton: Brooke Darby.

Plymouth: Megann Freese.

Prague: Colin Wade.

Ralston: Atalia Kemp, Julie Nguyen.

Ravenna: Sapphire Shaw.

Raymond: Tessa Dunse.

Rising City: Theresa Potter.

Roca: Celia Osborn.

Rockville: Connor Dethlefs.

Rushville: John Tullis.

Saint Edward: Alex Cumming.

Salem: Sawyer Kean, Krystal Samqua.

Sargent: Kolby Grint, Brooklynne Southworth.

Schuyler: Connor Beebe, Gavin Nielson, Jacqueline Venzor.

Scotia: Asper Pokorny, Shantelle Roy.

Scribner: Ryan Schnoor.

Seward: Hailey Brown, Krisi Einspahr, Adam Holtorf, Katelyn Johnson.

Shelby: Rosa Roman, Danielle Schaf.

Silver Creek: Lexee Brandenburger, Trey Engel.

Snyder: Jesse Keltch.

South Sioux City: Corey Beekman, Ricky DeAnda.

Spalding: Emily Asche, Ashley Glesinger, Kayla Langer, Tyra Valasek.

Stanton: Justin Bowers, Rachel Brandl.

Stapleton: Brianna Boyer, Jacklyn Sonnenfeld.

Sterling: Nathan Thies.

Stuart: Brittany Hanzlik, Evan Laible, Trina Swanson.

Superior: Jaysa Hoins, Mason Lamb.

Swanton: Megan Homolka.

Table Rock: Hayden Meyer.

Talmage: Jacob Tanner.

Taylor: Jackie Lewis, Jesse Sandoz.

Tilden: Jacob Wiese.

Tobias: Brandon Jackson.

Ulysses: Annikka Klement.

Utica: Hunter Richters.

Valentine: LaRita Burnette, Jessica Reifers.

Wahoo: Alex Abbott, Michael Jha.

Wayne: Carly Thies.

Weeping Water: Mason Garner, Paige Weskamp.

Wellfleet: Anastasia Conklin.

West Point: Ty Haase, Bayleigh Hoffman, Karsten Schuetze.

Wilber: Lacey Homolka.

Winnebago: Cory Cleveland, Adavia Harlan.

Winside: Laura Greunke.

Wood River: Madeline Luehr.

Wymore: Rachael Cole, Jordan Harding.

York: Norma Chavez, Whitney Staehr, Olivia Stafursky.

Yutan: Naomi Bernal, Adam Perkins.

Writer: Amy Grantzinger