New Innocents Society, Mortar Board members to be inducted at Ivy Day April 19

            Students, faculty and alumni will be honored by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln at its annual Ivy Day ceremonies on April 19.

            The event, co-sponsored by Mortar Board and the Innocents Society, recognizes the outstanding contribution of students selected to serve in the two organizations, as well as the achievements of current members and notable underclassmen and seniors.

            Ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. at the Nebraska Champions Club, 707 Stadium Drive, and conclude with the traditional planting of the ivy by the 2014-15 presidents of the societies, Andrew "AJ" Blazek for Mortar Board and Joe Farley for the Innocents Society. Both are from Omaha.

            Mary B. Marcy, president of Dominican University in San Rafael, Calif., will give the keynote address. A UNL graduate and a native of Sheridan County, Marcy is a former president of the Black Masque Chapter of Mortar Board.

            Honorary memberships in the Innocents Society will be presented to Donde Plowman, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean of the College of Business Administration; Susan Voss, student development and events director for the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources; and Andre Fortune, director of the Office of Academic Success and International Services, and the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center.

            Honorary Mortar Board memberships will be presented to Bill Avery, Nebraska state senator; Tim Clare, Lincoln attorney and University of Nebraska regent; and Scott Winter, assistant professor of news-editorial in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications.

            The Innocents Society inducts 13 new members each spring, with selection based on leadership, scholarship and service to the university and greater community. The Innocents Society was founded in 1903 to promote the spirit of the university and is the chancellor's senior honorary. It is not affiliated with any national organization.

            New members of Mortar Board are tapped into the Black Masque Chapter each spring by Mortar Boarders wearing black masks and robes. The 28 new members were selected on the basis of outstanding scholarship, leadership and service to the university and community.

            Following is a list by hometown of the 2014 inductees into the Innocents Society and the Black Masque chapter of Mortar Board. Information includes the student's academic major(s) and parent names.

NEBRASKA

            Auburn: Brooke Wissler, Innocents Society, nutrition science/pre-dentistry, daughter of Jerry and Jennifer Wissler.

            Cozad: Shauna Lindstedt, Mortar Board, psychology/pre-medicine, daughter of Ted and Deb Lindstedt.

            Elkhorn: Emily Davis, Mortar Board, biochemistry, daughter of Ted and Rosanne Davis.

            Exeter: Kelsey Moore, Mortar Board, human resource management, daughter of Brent and Lori Moore.

            Friend: Chelsea Kubicek, Mortar Board, speech-language pathology, daughter of Richard and Mary Kubicek.

            Grand Island: Jessica Meis, Innocents Society, hospitality, tourism and restaurant management, daughter of Clyde and Rosemary Meis.

            Holdrege: Brittney Moriarty, Innocents Society, political science and English, daughter of Kevin and Meshael Moriarty.

            Lincoln: Mikaela Balfany, Mortar Board, actuarial science, daughter of Bob and Becky Balfany; Joshua Burks, Mortar Board, nutrition science, son of Keith and Deb Burks; Dorothy Chen, Mortar Board, chemical engineering, daughter of Yonghong Zhang and Huaxian Chen; Renee Donner, Innocents Society, anthropology and pre-medicine, daughter of Mark and Cheryl Donner; Steve Dosskey, Innocents Society, computer science, son of Milda Vaitkus and Mike Dosskey; Shelby Kruse, Mortar Board, nutrition science/pre-optometry, daughter of John and Stephannie Kruse; Aaron Matzke, Mortar Board, biological systems engineering, son of John and Beth Matzke; Sandy Ngo, Mortar Board, psychology/pre-occupational therapy, daughter of Hien Ngo and Kim Lien Hoang; Elizabeth Ripa, Mortar Board, nursing, daughter of Daniel and Geralyn Ripa; Brian Vuu, Mortar Board, music education, son of Sheila Yates-Vuu and Thang Vuu.

            Loomis: Damon Steinbrink, Mortar Board, agricultural economics, son of Robert and Linda Steinbrink.

            Omaha: Andrew "AJ" Blazek, Mortar Board president, biochemistry and Spanish, son of Jean Hearn and Pete Blazek; Jessica Chekal, Mortar Board, biochemistry, daughter of John and Eileen Chekal; Joe Farley, Innocents Society president, mechanical engineering, son of James and Carla Farley; Christina Guthmann, Mortar Board, international business, daughter of John and Lanette Guthmann; Kevin Knudson, Mortar Board, political science, son of John and Karen Knudson; Melissa Laughlin, Mortar Board, animal science, daughter of Robert and Janet Laughlin; Jeffrey Story, Innocents Society, political science and English, son of Chuck and Kathy Story; James Yong, Mortar Board, biological systems engineering, son of Amos and Mabel Yong.

            Papillion: Drew Conley, Innocents Society, film and new media, son of Bill and Silvia Conley; Zach Foster, Innocents Society, chemical engineering, son of Steve and Trish Foster.

            Pickrell: Kayla Busboom, Mortar Board, hospitality, tourism and restaurant management, daughter of Michael and Doreen Busboom.

            Riverdale: Jacob Petr, Mortar Board, meteorology-climatology, son of Jeff and Diana Petr.

            Seward: Eric Heidemann, Innocents Society, pre-medicine and anthropology, son of Mark and Teresa Heidemann; Larissa Krenk, Innocents Society, biological sciences, daughter of Jeff and Pam Krenk.

            Wilcox: Olivia Adam, Innocents Society, dietetics, daughter of Mark and Grace Adam.

ELSEWHERE

            Charlotte, N.C.: Andrew "Drew" Barnhart, Mortar Board, history, son of Carrie and Steve Barnhart.

            Dakota Dunes, S.D.: Rachel Morford, Mortar Board, biological systems engineering, daughter of Scott and Lisa Morford.

            Howell, N.J.: Bryan Howard, Mortar Board, English, theatre arts and human behavior, son of Tom and Kathi Howard.

            La Grange, Ill.: Sophia Tatum, Mortar Board, broadcast news, journalism and political science, daughter of Susie and Mike Tatum.

            Lubbock, Texas: Sarah Jo Lambert, Innocents Society, advertising and public relations, English and Spanish, daughter of Dr. Matthew and Maureen Lambert.

            Sioux Falls, S.D.: Cassandra McKay, Mortar Board, mathematics and economics, daughter of Craig and Julie McKay.

            Sparta, Wis.: Jessica Wright, Mortar Board, psychology, daughter of Jack and Jacki Wright.

            Tuxedo Park, N.Y.: Brian Richard, Mortar Board, biochemistry, son of Jim and Lori Richard.

Writer: Tom Simons