Students, faculty and alumni were honored by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln at its annual Ivy Day ceremonies on April 7.
One CoJMC student, Cassidy Taladay, was inducted into Mortar Board. Cassidy is a senior advertising and public relations and communication studies double major.
The event, co-sponsored by Mortar Board and the Innocents Society, recognized outstanding contributions of students selected to serve in the two organizations, as well as the achievements of current members and notable underclassmen and seniors.
Ceremonies took place at the Nebraska Champions Club and concluded with the traditional planting of the ivy by the 2018-19 presidents of the societies, Chase Caverzagie of Papillion for Mortar Board and Skyler Dykes of Topeka, Kansas, for the Innocents Society.
Bob Kerrey, managing director at investment banking firm Allen and Company and former U.S. senator and Nebraska governor, delivered the keynote address. He is also the executive chairman of the Minerva Project, a for-profit educational organization that provides technology, infrastructure and support services for the Minerva Schools and Keck Graduate Institute. Before that, Kerrey was president of The New School, a small private university in New York City, for 10 years. He served three years as a Navy SEAL and is a Medal of Honor recipient. He earned his Bachelor of Science in pharmacy from the University of Nebraska in 1966.
Honorary memberships in the Innocents Society were presented to Dave Rimington, former interim athletic director for Nebraska and two-time first-team All-America lineman for the Huskers; and Regina Werum, professor of sociology at Nebraska.
Honorary Mortar Board memberships were presented to Mary Garbacz, coordinator of Strategic Discussions for Nebraska; Ronnie Green, chancellor at Nebraska; and J. Kalu Osiri, director of international business and associate professor of practice in management at Nebraska
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 25 new members were selected on the basis of outstanding scholarship, leadership and service to the university and community.