45 high-achieving students selected to CBA's Honors Academy

Forty-five incoming first-year students have been selected for the College of Business Administration's Honors Academy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln this fall. The group will be the third to join the academy since its founding in 2013. 

"The Honors Academy has contributed to our growing national stature because of the quality students currently enrolled and the number of outstanding applicants we are attracting nationwide," said Donde Plowman, Dean of the College of Business Administration. "To be selected as a member of the third cohort is a testament to their scholastic achievement, exceptional leadership and communication skills, and their desire to become leaders in the business world."

The group hails from six states and will include eight majors within CBA. They will complete most of their foundation and core business courses together as a cohort using an action-based learning style focused on the development of critical thinking, technical and communication skills. 

The new students will participate in leadership activities and student competitions. They also will receive internships and study abroad experiences to prepare them to make an impact in the business world after graduation. This summer, 20 current academy students are studying abroad in nine countries and 40 percent of academy students are participating in paid internships around the country. 

"We're all very excited to welcome the fall 2015 cohort to the academy," said Erin Burnette, associate director of the academy. "They bring a diverse background of experiences and personal goals coupled with outstanding scholastic achievements that will immediately make an impact on the academy, CBA and the UNL campus as a whole."

The following students will join the fall 2015 cohort of the Honors Academy. The student's high school is included in parentheses if it differs from the hometown.

NEBRASKA:

Ashland: Jeb Vavak, business administration (Ashland-Greenwood).

Bellevue: Joey Jeanetta, business administration (Bellevue East).

Bennington: Michaela Mapes, finance (Westside).

Denton: Grace Kraus, international business (Crete).

Elkhorn: Caroline Musselman, marketing; Samantha Turco, finance (Skutt Catholic).

Elmwood: Brenna Backemeyer, management (Elmwood-Murdock).

Fremont: Brian Wilmes, business administration (Bergen Catholic).

Hartington: Anna Brodersen, international business (Cedar Catholic).

Henderson: Colton Siebert, business administration (Heartland Community).

Humphrey: Jacey Olmer, business administration (St. Francis).

Lincoln: Megan Blome, business administration (Lincoln East); Justin Coffey, business administration (Pius X); Anne Greff, economics (home school); Talia Halperin, international business (Lincoln East); Jack Rice, economics (Pius X); Matt Rohman, actuarial science (Norris); Grant Schirmer, actuarial science (Lincoln Southwest); Kylee Yakel, actuarial science (Lincoln Southeast).

Omaha: Michael Eesley, economics (Concordia), Claire Frevert, accounting (Elkhorn); Katie Gaul, business administration (Millard North); Jackson Grasz, business administration (Concordia); Tim Graves, economics (Westside); Sam Hansen, finance (Elkhorn South); Austin Hoffman, finance (Elkhorn South); Jake Johnson, marketing (Elkhorn South); Michael Kardell, actuarial science (Elkhorn South); Bryan Kirkebak, accounting (Millard West); Alex Nachreiner, finance (Elkhorn South); Melissa Newkirk, actuarial science (Burke); Jordan Newsom, business administration (Millard South); Sam Stevenson, business administration (Westside).

Sidney: Hayden Lienemann, accounting.

Stanton: Tommie Brechbill, economics.

Walton: Scott Schieuer, actuarial science (Pius X).

ELSEWHERE:

Broomfield, Colorado: Ben Pinkerman, business administration (Peak to Peak Charter).

Fort Collins, Colorado: Regan Burnham, business administration (Poudre).

Overland Park, Kansas: Brian Jacobson, management (Mother of Divine Grace).

Shawnee, Kansas: Callahan Eckardt, accounting (Mill Valley).

Topeka, Kansas: Luke Schnacker, finance (Washburn Rural).

Maple Grove, Minnesota: McKenna Ahlgren, actuarial science.

Prior Lake, Minnesota: Rachel Kleist, actuarial science.

Highland Village, Texas: Madison Gaber, international business (Edward S. Marcus).

Hartland, Wisconsin: Alyssa Nigh, actuarial science (Arrowhead).