The University of Nebraska–Lincoln conferred a record 3,223 degrees during commencement exercises May 4 and 5 at Pinnacle Bank Arena and the Lied Center for Performing Arts. The graduates were from 60 countries, 45 states and the District of Columbia, and 250 Nebraska communities. Fifty-six graduates from the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture were invited to participate.
John W. Maag, professor of special education and communication disorders at Nebraska, spoke at the graduate and professional degrees ceremony May 4.
Oscar-winning filmmaker and Omaha native Alexander Payne delivered the undergraduate commencement address May 5 at Pinnacle Bank Arena and received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from the university.
Payne encouraged the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s graduates to take chances, question everything and be true to themselves.
“My story is unique to me, but what’s not unique to me is something that I’ve both observed in others and learned from my own experience, which is that most of the time nothing in life is quite as hard as people tell you it is. You just have to stick with it,” Payne said. “The world is both encouraging, and even a little disappointing, in how easily it clears a path for people who use their elbows," he said.
He reminded the graduates that young people have always spearheaded change and that this is their time.
“We Nebraskans come armed with tools for success, and other Nebraskans know it,” he said.
The College of Law conducted a separate commencement ceremony May 5 at the Lied Center. Nebraska Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Funke addressed the law graduates. Earl and Patricia Scudder, alumni and longtime supporters of the university, received the Builder Award during the ceremony.
The May graduating class earned 699 new graduate and professional degrees and 2,524 new baccalaureate degrees. The university has awarded 287,104 degrees since it was founded in 1869.
AGRONOMY AND HORTICULTURE MAY GRADUATES
Undergraduates
- Isaac Warren Betke, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy
- Bryant J Biskup, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy
- Nolan Rhett Breece, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy
- Cole Robert Condon, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy
- Heath Albert Fink, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy
- Ryan Mark Freudenburg, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy
- Jesse Gall, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy
- Joey Louis Geisler, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy
- Katie Elizabeth Harrell, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy
- Raihanah Hassim, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy
- Benjamin John Hintz, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy
- Scott Anthony Jarecki, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy
- Cody Winter Larson, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy
- Fangyi Li, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy
- Ty Ralph Mangers, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy
- Cassie Jo Mosel, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy
- Alexander Matthias Ott, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy
- Cory Jacob Roll, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy
- Erin Diane Scholting, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy
- Paige Nicole Wacker, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy
- Bryan Michael Wietjes, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy
- Yuhao Yan, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy
- Aliksander Martin York, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy
- Jacob Edward Arenz, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Horticulture
- Nathan Robert Duffy, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Horticulture
- Aaron Steven Robert Seyfert, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Horticulture
- Nicholas Bryce Volesky, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Horticulture
- Pierce Bryson Wright, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Horticulture
- Megan Jeanette Franklin, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant Biology
- Hamilton Lee Ladely Hasty, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant Biology
- Michael Blake Miller, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant Biology
- Jennifer Anne Myers, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant Biology
- Cecil Madison Renfro, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant Biology
- Cody Schneider, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant Biology
- Alex Louis Dredge, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Turfgrass and Landscape Management
- Kenton Bryan Fritson, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Turfgrass and Landscape Management
- Jacob Clarence Hartwig, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Turfgrass and Landscape Management
- Tyler Justin Hayes, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Turfgrass and Landscape Management
- Matthew David Hellbusch, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Turfgrass and Landscape Management
- Benjamin Wayne Roth, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Turfgrass and Landscape Management
- Qihao Sun, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Turfgrass and Landscape Management
Graduates
- Rufus John Akinrinlola, Graduate Studies, Master of Science, Specialization in Plant Pathology
- Joel Dewane Crowther, Graduate Studies, Master of Science
- Josiah David Dallmann, Graduate Studies, Master of Science, Specialization in Range and Forage Science
- Jason Allen Holman, Graduate Studies, Master of Science, Specialization in Crop Physiology and Production
- Koffi Badou Jeremie Kouame, Graduate Studies, Master of Science, Specialization in Weed Science
- Timothy Wayne Mundorf, Graduate Studies, Master of Science
- Michael Terry Sindelar, Graduate Studies, Master of Science, Specialization in Soil and Water Sciences
- Serkan Tokgoz, Graduate Studies, Master of Science, Specialization in Plant Pathology
- Angela M. Bastidas, Graduate Studies, Doctor of Philosophy, Specialization in Crop Physiology and Production
- Parminder Singh Chahal, Graduate Studies, Doctor of Philosophy, Specialization in Weed Science
- Juan Pablo Garcia, Graduate Studies, Doctor of Philosophy, Specialization in Soil and Water Sciences
- Jyothi Kumar, Graduate Studies, Doctor of Philosophy, Specialization in Crop Physiology and Production
- Benjamin Allen Loseke, Graduate Studies, Doctor of Philosophy
- Manbir Kaur Rakkar, Graduate Studies, Doctor of Philosophy, Specialization in Weed Science
- Lauren Segal, Graduate Studies, Doctor of Philosophy, Specialization in Plant Pathology
Graduate Certificates
- Kelly Wallace, Advanced Horticulture Certificate
- David Mack, Ornamentals, Landscape and Turf Certificate
Professional Certificate
- Alexandra Basford, Plant Breeding and Genetics Professional Certificate
More details at Nebraska Today.
Agronomy and Horticulture, Nebraska Today contributed to this report