The Department of Agronomy and Horticulture honored 61 May graduates at a graduation reception May 8 in the Goodding Learning Center in Plant Sciences Hall. The event included food and refreshments, followed by the introduction of each graduate and time for family and friends to celebrate and take photos. Graduates also received a gift from their adviser in recognition of their achievement.
Clara Freese, Remi Christensen and Cole Vredeveld were recognized as a Chancellor’s Scholars. Chancellor’s Scholars are students who have maintained 4.0 grade-point averages on all collegiate work at Nebraska and elsewhere.
Bryson Rader was presented with the 2026 Martin Massengale Outstanding Senior award. The award honors Massengale, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Chancellor from 1981–1991, president emeritus of the University of Nebraska, founding director of the Center for Grassland Studies and Foundation Distinguished Professor.
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln conferred a record 3,885 degrees during commencement exercises May 8-9.
The 3,762 graduates — also a record — are from 61 countries; 46 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico; and 230-plus Nebraska communities.
Pinnacle Bank Arena hosted a ceremony for students earning graduate and professional degrees May 8 and two ceremonies for those earning bachelor’s degrees May 9. A College of Law ceremony took place May 9 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
Interim Chancellor Katherine S. Ankerson presided over the ceremonies. The morning undergraduate ceremony featured graduates in the Colleges of Business, Education and Human Sciences, Fine and Performing Arts, Journalism and Mass Communication, and Public Affairs and Community Service. The afternoon undergraduate ceremony featured graduates in the Colleges of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Architecture, Arts and Sciences, and Engineering.
DeMoine Adams, motivational speaker and former Husker football student-athlete, delivered the keynote address, “The Power of People,” during the morning undergraduate ceremony.
See the department congratulatory video. The following students from the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture and a grassland systems major received degrees.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AGRONOMY
Laura Elizabeth Albro, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy with high distinction.
Dustin Wade Andreasen, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy.
Tyler James Babica, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy.
Jacob Thomas Cleveringa, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy.
Nolan Matthew Eikerman, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy with distinction.
Justin Joseph Filipi, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy with highest distinction.
Ellie Frances Greisen, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy.
Blake Joseph Hansen, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics with high distinction, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy with high distinction.
Avery Nicole Kraus, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy.
Carsen Douglas Nagel, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy.
Derek Lee Pirak, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics with high distinction, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy with high distinction.
Kadin James Pojar, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy.
Brittany Marie Preister, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy.
Bryson Ray Rader, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy with high distinction.
Caleb Ries, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy; College of Education and Human Sciences, Bachelor of Science in Education and Human Sciences.
Beau Thomas Ruskamp, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy.
Dallan Joseph Thompson, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy.
Owen Craig Woodward, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agronomy.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PLANT BIOLOGY
Remi Marie Christensen, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant Biology with high distinction.
Grace S. Cruise, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant Biology.
Toby Giesbrecht, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant Biology.
Anna Elisabeth Newcome, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with highest distinction, Bachelor of Science in Plant Biology with highest distinction.
Carson Jacob Ott, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant Biology.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PLANT AND LANDSCAPE SYSTEMS
Nate Agosta, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant and Landscape Systems.
Gage Michael Campbell, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant and Landscape Systems.
Riley Dinslage, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant and Landscape Systems.
Mary Magdalene Ehrhorn, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant and Landscape Systems.
Garrett Michael Elting, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant and Landscape Systems, Bachelor of Science in Regional and Community Forestry.
Samuel Ryan Himmelberg, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant and Landscape Systems with high distinction.
Henry Michael Johnson, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant and Landscape Systems.
Zachary Alan Johnson, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant and Landscape Systems.
Claire Elizabeth Kiolbasa, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with high distinction, Bachelor of Science in Plant and Landscape Systems with high distinction.
Jaden Robert Krenzer, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant and Landscape Systems.
Sara Ellen May, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant and Landscape Systems.
Jameson Emery Mohr, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant and Landscape Systems.
Alex Thomas Painter, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant and Landscape Systems.
Easton William Petsche, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant and Landscape Systems.
Lilly Bree Rabinowitz, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant and Landscape Systems.
Thomas J. Thalman, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant and Landscape Systems.
Alex Sterling Uram, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant and Landscape Systems.
Carson Vachal, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant and Landscape Systems.
Eli Andrew Vondra, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant and Landscape Systems with distinction.
Cole Alan Vredeveld, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant and Landscape Systems with high distinction.
Calvin Michael Webster, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant and Landscape Systems.
Kaleb Michael Wragge, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Plant and Landscape Systems.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN GRASSLAND SYSTEMS
Clara Jean Freese, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife with high distinction, Bachelor of Science in Grassland Systems with high distinction.
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AGRONOMY AND HORTICULTURE
Hannah Kathleen Allen, Graduate Studies, Master of Science.
Sofiya Arora, Graduate Studies, Master of Science.
Keith Byerly, Graduate Studies, Master of Science.
Ethan William Davidson, Graduate Studies, Master of Science.
Janet Lynne Falk, Graduate Studies, Master of Science.
Alliance Igiraneza, Graduate Studies, Master of Science.
Dalton Johnson, Graduate Studies, Master of Science.
Jeremiah A. Lazo, Graduate Studies, Master of Science.
Jonathan Tyler Price, Graduate Studies, Master of Science.
Bibash Rokaya, Graduate Studies, Master of Science.
Garrett Snodgrass, Graduate Studies, Master of Science.
DOCTORAL DEGREE IN AGRONOMY AND HORTICULTURE
Arthur Martins Almeida Bernardeli, Graduate Studies, Doctor of Philosophy.
Britt Elizabeth Fossum, Graduate Studies, Doctor of Philosophy.
Luka Milosevic, Graduate Studies, Doctor of Philosophy.
Jonathan Niyorukundo, Graduate Studies, Doctor of Philosophy.
Nebraska Today and the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture contributed to this report.
