UNL recognizes Big Red Stars of 2014

Lincoln, Neb., May 16th, 2014 —

            The University of Nebraska-Lincoln honored Nebraska eighth graders for their academic excellence, leadership and perseverance April 24 at the Lied Center for Performing Arts.

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

            The ceremony was sponsored by UNL and EducationQuest. Highlights of the event included individual recognition and awards and special remarks from Gov. Dave Heineman.

            Following is a list by hometown of students honored as 2014 Big Red Stars

            Allen: Jacob Williams, Levi Woodward.

            Alma: Emma Smolik.

            Arapahoe: Morgan Deisley.

            Arlington: Sam Anzalone.

            Ashland: Dylan Goodrich, Katelyn Hammond, Katrina Hansen.

            Ayr: Emma Allen.

            Battle Creek: Blake Heller.

            Bayard: Megan Baker, Samantha Trevino.

            Beatrice: Dillon Buss, Whitley Kleveland.

            Beaver City: Alexis Crawford.

            Bellevue: Cally Rogers.

            Bellwood: Caleb Brezina.

            Bennet: Cassandra Smith, Wesley Steward.

            Bloomfield: Reece McFarland, Hannah Schmeckpeper-Pena.

            Boys Town: Maria Forbes, Peter Stahlnecker.

            Broken Bow: Kevin Linn, Gracie Williams.

            Burwell: Lily Gideon, David Owen.

            Cairo: Rees Lyon.

            Callaway Samantha Stowell.

            Campbell: Mark Thurston.

            Carleton: Tanner Broers.

            Cedar Rapids: Riley Swerczek, Macy Zentner.

            Center: Tommy Vokner.

            Central City: Shelby Bamesberger, Alecia Beal-Moreno, Jessica Hilderbrand.

            Chappell: Pierce Leef.

            Clarkson: Breanna Ashton, Allison Zollars.

            Coleridge: Agnes Kurtzhals, Michael Kurtzhals.

            Columbus: Lucia Franco, Tabitha Henke, Joe Massman, Kendra Wiese, Brooklyn Wilke.

            Cook: Charla Eggleston.

            Creighton: Brady Brockhaus.

            Crete: Camry Moore, Andres Ruiz.

            Curtis: Mari Farr, Nathan Nicklas, Paul White.

            Dakota City: Khenadi Smith.

            David City: Jacob Kadlec.

            Denton: Elijah Lynch.

            Deweese: Morgan Menke.

            DeWitt: Logunn Baker.

            Dickens: River Hudson.

            Diller: Hayley Denner, Spencer Schmidt.

            Dodge: Dax Van Lengen.

            Douglas: Sheanna Stolz.

            Edgar: Kaylee Yost-Marcotte.

            Elgin: Logan Henn.

            Elkhorn: Brooke Carlson, Gabino Vasquez.

            Elmwood: Quintin Romero.

            Ericson: Neligh Gehl.

            Eustis: Leigh-Anne Lehmann, Hannah Walker.

            Fairbury: Emily Ford, Jacob Johnson.

            Fairfield: Coree Lipovsky.

            Falls City: Nathaniel Finck, Madison Huppert.

            Filley: Holden Christen.

            Firth: Jessica Osterhaus.

            Franklin: Lilia Aberle, Jordan Wilbur.

            Friend: Claire Kubicek, Jared Lawver.

            Fullerton: Riggs Patton, Kenna Swertzic.

            Garland: Dace Klimm.

            Geneva: Shalin Bhakta, Bailee Steinle.

            Gibbon: Collin Dorszynski, Lesley Ledezma.

            Grand Island: Benjamin Griess.

            Hardy: Nicki Kirchhoff.

            Hartington: Jason Becker, Mallorie Steffen.

            Harvard: Ray Nierman.

            Hebron: JadeLyn Jarchow.

            Henderson: Sadie Carr, Kristan Perez.

            Hershey: Baylee Brownawell.

            Holdrege: Livier Fernandez, Anabelle Sanko.

            Hooper: Alex Hagerbaumer.

            Hoskins: Natalie Wright.

            Howells: Perla Delgado.

            Hubbard: Dalton Tremayne.

            Humboldt: Rebecca Watson.

            Humphrey: Ashton Dohmen.

            Inman: Ehric Strope.

            Juniata: Seth Ostrander.

            Kearney: Adam Green, Gabriel Hilliard, Vanessa Loya-Perez, Ashlynn Schmaderer.

            Kennard: Lauren Schwedhelm.

            Kimball: Leisha Casimiro, Justine Heeg.

            Laurel: Zachary Dietrich, Madsyn Holloway.

            LaVista: Ben Bies, Holly Carney.

            Lincoln: Shania Kond, Anthony Krick, Ryan Ostrand, Rebecca Ziems.

            Loup City: Josie Ference, Danneeka Lorimer.

            Madison: Ryan Haskell, Lizbeth Ortega.

            Mason City: Sarah Lewis.

            Meadow Grove: Hannah Ottis, Dalton Smutny

            Milford: Tyra Aschoff.

            Miller: Megan Day.

            Mitchell: Jori Peters.

            Monroe: Ryan Range.

            Morrill: Heaven Jones, Jacob Strecker.

            Mullen: Samuel Hilderhoff.

            Murdock: Michael Stackpole.

            Niobrara: Ricky Bickerstaff, Jeanene Henry.

            Norfolk: Haley Grudzinski.

            North Platte: Elizabeth Calhoun, Josie Davis, Jacob French, Gary III, Kaden Morrison, Amanda Smith, Greggory Stoner.

            Oakland: Elizabeth Moseman, Kendra Riedy.

            Ogallala: Callie Kriha.

            Omaha: Sarah Austin, Meghan Callahan, Elijah Goossen, Brenda Heracleo-Flores, Elisabeth Lacy, Denisse Navarro-Perez, RaJeanna Scurlock.

            O'Neill: Cecelia Leger, Tessa Rainforth, Paige Tomjack.

            Ord: Delani Fahey, Shelby Kittle.

            Orleans: Erica Barwick, Kade Bose.

            Oshkosh: Samantha Schmid.

            Palmer: Drake Kunze, Yazmin Ruvalcaba.

            Paxton: Taylor Mullen-Beck.

            Plainview: John Novicki, Jasmine Zuhlke.

            Pleasanton: Hunter Paitz, Kayla Unick.

            Plymouth: Kailey Weichel.

            Ravenna: Kade Lockhorn, Paxton Stubbs.

            Red Cloud: Keaton Burgess, Morgan Nibbe.

            Rockville: Heather Hewitt.

            Saint Edward: Halie Andreasen, Tanner Trube.

            Schuyler: Isaac Hernandez, Jennifer Lopez.

            Scottsbluff: Merrissa Espinoza, Nick Foote, Gabriella Moreno.

            Seward: Keaton Jensen.

            Silver Creek: Madelyn Rinkol.

            Spalding: Kaitlyn Dozler, Caitlin Langer, Paige Mortimer, Mariah Murphy.

            Spencer: Samantha Hipke, Andrew Park.

            Stanton: Alyna Padilla, Broderick Sieh.

            Sterling: Felisha Moore, Zachary Scamehorn.

            Stuart: Peyton Alder, Kennison Kunz.

            Sumner: Mekenzie Beattie.

            Superior: Loegun Covey, Hayden Epley.

            Tecumseh: Johan Arellano.

            Virginia: Miah Fulton.

            Wauneta: Wesley Wach.

            Weeping Water: Garrett Neumeister.

            West Point: Gavin Case, Ronny Petersen.

            Whitman: Brittney Emerson.

            Winside: Brandon Watters, Brandon Watters.

            Winslow: Kirklyn Hussey.

            Yutan: Shelby Fenner, Jaymie Schroeder.