UNL recognizes 8th-graders as Big Red Stars

Lincoln, Neb., May 11th, 2012 —

         The University of Nebraska-Lincoln recognized Nebraska eighth graders for their academic excellence, leadership and perseverance May 10 at the 2012 Big Red Stars Recognition Ceremony.

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

            The award ceremony was sponsored by UNL and EducationQuest at the Lied Center for Performing Arts. Highlights of the event included individual recognition and awards for the 2012 Big Red Stars Nominees and special remarks from First Lady of Nebraska Sally Ganem.

            Following is a list by hometown of students honored as 2012 Big Red Stars:

            Adams: Destiny Buss, Rachel Page.

            Ainsworth: Hayes Chohon, Seth Taylor.

            Albion: Keaton Henry, Andrew Mousel.

            Alda: Ribelino Rodriguez.

            Allen: Mariah Keiser, Alexis Oswald.

            Alma: Haley Hays, Peyton Millard.

            Arapahoe: Clare Anderson.

            Arlington: Devon Gottsch.

            Arnold: Morgan Eggleston, Tristan Johnson.

            Ashland: Shaina Lusienski, Alexandra Voichoskie.

            Ashton: Hannah Jakubowski.

            Atkinson: Kyle Linders.

            Axtell: Colby Becker, Sam Mellema.

            Ayr: Lucas Goldenstein, Paige Shestak.

            Bartlett: Autum Reineke.

            Battle Creek: Godelyn Anghay, Lauren Praeuner.

            Bayard: Jessi Smith, Miah Vera.

            Beatrice: Cassandra Josselyn.

            Beaver Crossing: Adrian Turrubiates.

            Belgrade: Angelique Kampmann.

            Bellevue: Samantha Melnick, Colin Nelsen.

            Bennington: Maribeth Hall, Brendon Pribyl.

            Big Springs: Tyrell Kaufman, Alexis Wolford.

            Blair: Timothy Washington.

            Bloomfield: Kristen Thompson.

            Blue Hill: Jayden Hamel, Sydnie Lowery.

            Boys Town: Roman Perales, Mikahla Russell.

            Bradshaw: Bailey Monnier.

            Brady: Stephanee Black, Nathaniel Sitorius.

            Brewster: Alan Rooney.

            Bridgeport: Jayden DeCora, AdreAnna Ernest.

            Brock: Sierra Thomas.

            Broken Bow: Austin Hackel, KyAnna Linder.

            Burwell: Breanna Dawe, Eli Sears.

            Cairo: Travis Holcomb, Amanda Jensen, Makenna Loy.

            Campbell: Sydney Skupa.

            Cedar Bluffs: Alyssa Strong, Maverick Sukstorf, Riley Tenopir.

            Cedar Rapids: Jacob Kennedy.

            Central City: Katie Cumpston.

            Chadron: Kevin Catches, Shoilee Rahman.

            Chapman: Derrick Hudnall, Mark Zepeda.

            Chappell: Katie Burch, Keith Everitt.

            Clarkson: Taylor Stanley.

            Clearwater: Antonio Soto.

            Cody: Grace Ford.

            Coleridge: Billy Barelman, Cody Swanson.

            Columbus: Evelyn Birkel, Lucas Briggs, Justin Brockhaus, Isela Gutierrez, Karla Olivas, Samuel Thompson.

            Cook: Eddie Li, Grant Moles.

            Council Bluffs, Iowa: Josh Bartz.

            Creighton: Brook Baller, Austin Diedrichsen.

            Crete: Wendi Haufle.

            Culbertson: Grant Wilkinson.

            David City: Melvyn Carreto, Jenna Eller, Colin Hain.

            Deshler: Christian Leichty, Katie Roth.

            Dixon: Dustin Showen.

            Dodge: Leonel Avilez, Tanner Ortmeier, Katie Svehla.

            Doniphan: Jacob Ediger, Maria Terrazas.

            Dunning: Keesha Albrecht.

            Edgar: Carli Shuck, Garrett Uecker.

            Elkhorn: Maggie Howard.

            Elm Creek: Jackson Allen.

            Elmwood: Jennifer Clymer.

            Ericson: Shelby Castor.

            Eustis: Southern Timm.

            Exeter: Spencer Papik, Chrissy Starkey.

            Fairbury: Alec Cromer, LaNae Morales.

            Falls City: Elizabeth Bauman, Maggie Goltz, Lane Johansen, Carley Youde.

            Firth: Mia Torres.

            Fort Calhoun: Callie Alberico.

            Fremont: Daniel Becker, Katie Petersen.

            Friend: Bryce Eigsti, Sophie Niemeier.

            Fullerton: Tyson Hellbusch, Alyssa Meyer.

            Geneva: Nate Rasmussen.

            Gering: Jason Doll.

            Gibbon: Samantha Avina, Rachel Danielson.

            Gordon: Kaden Russell.

            Grand Island: Samuel Etudor, Sarah Koubek, Molly Magana, Alexis Socha.

            Grant: Hunter Coats, Amanda Reichert.

            Greeley: Cole Kleffner.

            Greenwood: Caci Sparks.

            Gretna: Sofia Hingorani, Matthew Osborn.

            Hartington: Jared Fuelberth, Philomena Lammers.

            Harvard: Anthony Cardona, Trevin Derr.

            Hastings: Lindsey Labrie, Flor Loya.

            Hebron: Kylea Hintz, Simon Wiedel.

            Henderson: Camryn Dick.

            Hershey: Katie Hoatson.

            Holdrege: Jacqueline Lara, Abbie Nelson.

            Hollbrook: Morgan Curran.

            Howells: Vanessa Hegemann.

            Humphrey: Baileigh Borer, Kayla Neeley, Reagan Wegener, Holden Wemhoff.

            Huntley: Joe Garza.

            Jansen: Josie Weise.

            Johnson: Jessica Bohling.

            Kearney: Matthew Carter, Angelica Pham.

            Kilgore: Tanner O'Neill.

            Kimball: Akash Chaudhari, Alisha Hunsaker.

            Laurel: Morgan Hansen.

            La Vista: Maddie Goltl, Michael Koenig, Jacqueline Sweet.

            Lawrence: Harlie Himmelberg, Rachel Kathman.

            Leigh: Kaitlyn Beecher, Keasha Geier.

            Lexington: Bricen Margritz.

            Lincoln: Lydia Adams, Jose Barrios, Nina Bui, Lillian Butler-Hale, Jordan Case, Alli Davis, Taytum Dickman, Jessica Gannon, Josh Gerdes, Charlotte Guyer, Katie Haeffner, Clara Higgins, Undra Jackson, Haley Kildare, Drew King, Claire Maguire, Caleb Martin, Andy Miesbach, Sydney Mlnarik, Giselle Padilla, Dayana Rendon, Brennan Roberson, Kristin Sanford, Creighton Schoening, Scotty Sullivan, Alexis Youngquist.

            Linwood: Dustin Papa.

            Louisville: Samantha Weideman.

            Loup City: Adam Wagner.

            Madison: Caleb Haskell, Ernesto Hernandez.

            Manley: Callie Zeorian.

            Mason City: Hannah Lewis.

            McCook: Eric Eiler, Taylor Lovci.

            McCool Junction: Corey Ballard-Fox.

            Milford: Kage Negron.

            Moorefield: John Klintworth.

            Mullen: Madisyn Sittler.

            Murdock: Daniel Stohlmann.

            Nebraska City: Jacob Balquier, Lyndzie Moyer.

            Newman Grove: Steven Arreguin, Celine Dunlap.

            Nickerson: Nicholas Taylor.

            Niobrara: Tanner Hrbek, Hannah Stark.

            Norfolk: Salvador Alvarez, Sarah Meyer, Megan Prochaska, Collin Riley.

            North Bend: Dylan Emanuel, Ashely Fischer.

            North Platte: Alexander Cahill, Matthew Ferguson, Kyra Frisbie, Marcus Miller, Olivia Nicholson, Jacqualine Peralta.

            Oakland: Olivia Bures, Carolyn Fraher, Alexandra Linder, Josh Mulder.

            Omaha: Jade Adler, Kayla Allen, Connor Ballard, Blayne Banghart, Jack Braswell, Timothy Collins, Amy Conaway, Olivia DeGeorge, Adrian Dorantes-Monrreal, Dante Dovali, John Erikson, Kaitlyn Forsythe, Michael Galeski, Danielle Glinski, Jenna Greenhagen, Deja Gregory, Da'Vion Grigsby, Matthew Kempkes, Shekinah Kiagiri, Naomi Kirkvold, Julia Lagunas, Joe Manning, Isabella Martello, Emily Mayberger, Tate Moyer, Lindsay Muse, Vivian Parr, Eden Placzek, Laura Poeckes, Justin Prai, David Qualls, Maya Reed-Bouley, Kaitie Rief, Andrew Scheneman, Rachel Sedlacek, Jacob Synstad, Jowe Tombi, Josiah Ward, Garran Pauli.

            O'Neill: Jean Foran, Bailey Krieger.

            Orchard: Jacob Twibell.

            Ord: Robbie Peterson, Cede Svoboda.

            Oxford: Trak Lewis, Jacinda Vollmer.

            Palmer: Chase Samuelson, Riley Weller.

            Panama: Tristan Bentzinger.

            Papillion: Miranda Swift, Megan Williams.

            Pawnee City: Voy Pearson.

            Paxton: Brooke Beckius, Joel Schroeder.

            Pierce: Jaci Brahmer, Michael Hoctor.

            Pilger: Riley Ruskamp.

            Ralston: Elizabeth Brousek.

            Ravenna: Holly Dethlefs, Jared Muhlbach, Darrell Russell.

            Raymond: Edyn Ballard.

            Rogers: Kelly Cech.

            Roseland: Jordan Strong.

            Saint Edward: Emily Cumming, Jenna Oberhauser, Kassidy Roberts.

            Saint Libory: Maeda Findley.

            Saint Paul: Chrisian Ellsworth.

            Schuyler: Jessica Carrillo, Jake Kasik.

            Scotia: Michelle Bruha, Rusty Hermsmeyer.

            Scottsbluff: Matthew Holloway, Marquis Maley, Arnold Marquez.

            Scribner: Aleynah Hendrix.

            Seward: Michaela Brown, Alexandra George, Hunter Jensen, Jennifer Liska.

            Shelby: Josh Garcia, Agustin Ruvalcaba.

            Shelton: Elmer Montanez.

            Silver Creek: Benjamin Zwiener.

            South Sioux City: Valeria Salcido.

            Spalding: Daylinn Feik.

            Springfield: Ethen Steinhoff.

            Stanton: Camille Koehn.

            Stapleton: Natalie Jones, Taylor Morris.

            Sterling: Erika Goracke, Thomas Tucker.

            Stromsburg: Matthew Pekarek, Hannah Tweeten.

            Stuart: Ashley Kramer, Tate Schmaderer.

            Summerfield: Abby Mathewson.

            Superior: Riley Butler, Riley Ellwanger.

            Sutherland: Wendy DeCent.

            Table Rock: Bailey Kuhlmann, Austin Tackett.

            Uehling: Jocelyn Anderson.

            Unadilla: Kara Zimmerman.

            Utica: Jensen Anderson, Caleb Utter.

            Valentine: Taryn Adams, McKenzie Scripter.

            Valley: Jordyn Ritnour.

            Virginia: Dalton Anderson.

            Wahoo: Reuben Sanchez, Jacey Sutton.

            Waverly: Lana Wang.

            Wayne: Drew Davie, Jenessa Kardell.

            Weeping Water: Savannah Barrett.

            West Point: Brittney Utemark, Anna Vander Griend.

            Westerville: Courtney Bailey.

            Whitman: Emily Durfee.

            Wilber: Jorge Hernandez.

            Winnebago: Skylar Kennedy, Shaya Porter.

            Winside: Tyler Anson, Marquis Granville.

            Wisner: Bailey Batenhorst.

            Wood River: Nathan Bahe.

            Wymore: Rozlyn Cole, Tiffany Elliot.

            York: Nora Friberg, Allison Riley, Chris Vera.

Writer: Barbara Ball, Admissions