Go Big Grad May 2026

From: San Manuel, AZ
Majors: International Business, Global Studies, Spanish

What does graduating from Nebraska mean to you? 
Thankful, blessed, ready for life.

Involvement
United Model Nations, Alpha Delta Pi, Engler

Plans after graduation
Continue working as Director of Grassroots Engagement at Nebraska Farm Bureau in Lincoln, NE.

"After graduation, I am most looking forward to ___."
Having money again.

Fellow graduates you are proud of
Most my friends graduated the last two years.

From: Springfield, NE
Majors: Political Science, Global Studies

What does graduating from Nebraska mean to you? 
Graduating from the University of Nebraska Lincoln means far more than just earning a degree. It means having spent the last four years in a community that helped me grow into the young professional I am today. It is a reflection of late nights, determination, and a plethora of peers and mentors who got me to this moment.

Transformational moment(s)
Going forward, I will be attending Yale Law school, and I can without a doubt tie this achievement to Professor Emira Ibrahimpaśić. Professor Ibrahimpaśić is the reason that I found not only academic direction, but also a sense of belonging and purpose at the university of Nebraska. Through my studies and research positions with Professor Ibrahimpaśić I have found my passion for the law and a legal career.

Involvement
ASUN (DEI Committee), School of Global Integrative Studies Student Organization, New Student Enrollment Leader, TRIO/Upward Bound Mentor, OASIS Member.

Plans after graduation
I will be attending Yale Law school in the fall of 2026 in New Haven, Connecticut.

"After graduation, I am most looking forward to ___."
Continuing my education and solidifying what my passions are in the legal field.

From: St. Louis, MO
Majors: Psychology

What does graduating from Nebraska mean to you? 
Graduating is bittersweet. I feel excited and well prepared for next phase of my life, but it's hard to believe it's already over.

Transformational moment(s)
One highlight of my time at Nebraska was winning the Research Slam, which gave me an opportunity to present my research in a creative way and discover that I could have a future in science communication.

Involvement
Nebraska Strong Families Lab, University of Nebraska Lincoln Children's Center.

Plans after graduation
I will be living at home in St. Louis county while I work on applications for PhD programs.

"After graduation, I am most looking forward to ___."
Continuing to explore research and science communication while furthering my education and academic career through higher education.

Thank you message
I owe my love of research and my decision to pursue higher education and a career in academia to my time working with my advisor Dr. Kuo in the Nebraska Strong Families Lab. She truly supported me in exercising the full extent of my creativity and ambition, resulting in a senior thesis I'm incredibly proud of, and hope to publish this summer.

From: Sterling, IL
Majors: Psychology, Film Studies

What does graduating from Nebraska mean to you? 
Graduating from Nebraska means closing the chapter on a period of personal growth and development that I am so thankful for.

Transformational moment(s)
I've had so many transformational moments during my time here at UNL. I founded a recognized student organization, Presentation Club, and was able to bring together a community of people who truly cared about and invested in each other's interests. I joined a lab with Dr. Jenna Finch that made me fall in love with research and pointed me towards a career in academia. I've completed a senior thesis with Dr. Rebecca Brock and have been so encouraged and enabled to learn a vast array of fundamental skills for my future career. I've also received so much support and personal development from the four Film Studies professors and their classes. Every experience here has shaped where I've wanted to go.

Involvement
Founder/president of Presentation Club for 3 years. Was in 3 labs: the Learning Development and Research Group, the Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience lab, and the Family Development Lab. Had two internships: one was working with the Nebraska Department of Education through The Foundry and the other was with the Office of Research and Innovation. I was in the Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experience program twice. I also completed 2 publishable papers during this time. I was also a presidential scholar and attended events for such. I was also in the UNL Honors program.

Plans after graduation
I plan to attend graduate school after a short break from classes. In the meantime, I'll be living in Lincoln, Nebraska.

"After graduation, I am most looking forward to ___."
I am most looking forward to taking a break and focusing on some personal projects.

Thank you message
I have so many people I could thank for my time, so many incredible mentors that I am writing notes for, but I would like to take this space to publicly acknowledge my amazing roommate: Mia Garcia-Amadour. I've lived with her for three full years now, and having her in my corner has made all the difference in the world. She has been so generous, thoughtful, encouraging, and supportive to me throughout my entire time here, and has truly made UNL feel like a home to me. I'd like to thank her and all of my other incredible roommates: Anna Gardner, Jentry Sheldon, Allyson Lanham, and Evelyn Leones, for being the reason I call UNL my home.

Fellow graduates you are proud of
I am extremely proud of Zainab Ridha, Hajer Al-Eid, and Bella Hardy.

Zainab has been one of the hardest workers I've ever known. She has put in the hours for her internship, classes, assignments, and friends while remaining true to herself in such an inspirational way. She's one of the most incredible friends anyone could ever hope to have. Hajer has been such a brilliant entrepreneur, balancing classes, a photography business, networking, professional development, and new business ventures every day. Despite her competitive environment she takes every opportunity to lift others up alongside her and is an absolute joy for anyone to have in their lives. Bella has balanced four jobs on top of her classes along with having an executive position in two student-run organizations. Despite her insane amount of hard work and effort, she has remained so incredibly thoughtful, joyful, and insightful for anyone who would be lucky enough to be her friend.

All three of these individuals are among the very best graduates that UNL could boast.

From: Glenwood Springs, CO
Majors: Political Science, Spanish

What does graduating from Nebraska mean to you? 
To me it means that I was able to provide the fruits of the sacrifices that my parents (Fernando Curiel Lomeli y Maria-Elena Sigala Castro) made to put me through university.

Transformational moment(s)
One of the most impacting moments from my time here at UNL is having met my best friends (Steph, Loredmi, Ashley, Estefany, and Britany) through the Mexican-American Student Association. Being involved in this association has helped me feel a little closer to home and helped me in staying connected to my roots, additionally, it has kept in constant involvement with my community here on campus.

Involvement
I've been involved in Mock Trial, Mexican-American Student Association (MASA), Random Acts of Kindness (RAK), and Model United Nations.

Plans after graduation
I will remain in Lincoln for a year, continuing to work at McHenry Haszard Law and continuing to run my restaurant, Crazy Fork, alongside my mother and uncle. For the following fall, I am hoping to begin my masters program in International Relations or Global Affairs in where I will be living with an relative in the Vatican City.

"After graduation, I am most looking forward to ___."
After graduation, I am most looking forward ro finally begin working in my dream career.

Thank you message
Thank you to Dr. Sergio Wals for seeing me and my potential.

Fellow graduates you are proud of
One of the people I am most proud of is my closest friend, Zanib Al-Razaq. The main reason is because this young woman is easily one of the most persistent people I have ever met, and has helped me throughout my college career at moments when I felt the most lost.

From: Omaha, NE
Majors: Political Science, Economics, and History

What does graduating from Nebraska mean to you? 
Being forever tied to my home state regardless of where I go.

Transformational moment(s)
Working with Dr. Jagodinsky and Dr. Thomas in the Digital Legal History Lab ignited my love for legal history.

Involvement
Association of Students of the University of Nebraska, Husker Vote Coalition, Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honors, Omicron Delta Epsilon Economics Honors, NFA Lincoln-Douglas Debate, University Conduct Board, University Honors Program, French Club

Plans after graduation
Working in Washington, DC as a paralegal for plaintiff-side impact litigation.

"After graduation, I am most looking forward to ___."
Finding ways to stay intellectually engaged outside of the classroom.

Fellow graduates you are proud of
Zein Saleh - I am incredibly proud of his superior intellect, strong sense of self, and ability to be an amazing friend.

Reem Ahmed - I am incredibly proud of her ability to form community and advocate for the causes others will not.

From: Grand Island, NE
Majors: Anthropology, History, Spanish

What does graduating from Nebraska mean to you? 
Graduating from Nebraska means, for me, giving my family the greatest gift possible. As an immigrant and the first in my family to obtain a college degree, I am paving the road for my siblings and cousins to follow. I am showing them that it is possible to make your dreams come true with enough determination and hard work.

Transformational moment(s)
I had many incredible experiences here at UNL. The most impactful, though, have been the connections I've made, which I will always carry with me. I have two faculty mentors who have become almost like family to me; they have been the people who have backed all of my ideas and helped me turn them into research projects that I am proud to have under my name. Perhaps the best thing to come from my college career, though, has been studying abroad in Uruguay. This helped me put many things into perspective. I am quite the perfectionist and tend to work myself ragged, but my time in Uruguay helped me slow down and reconsider my journey and my plans for the future. I learned to slow down in order to be able to finish the race. During my time there, I also made lifelong friends. Lastly, really driving home the fact that the connections I've made here are my most transformational moments, all the mentees I've had, whether they be high school or college students, have helped me discover my love for mentorship and my desire to become a professor who is not just an instructor, but a guide and a safe space for those around me.

Involvement
My list of involvements is long: Huskers CARE peer educator, UNL McNair scholars' program, NCPA/TFIOE, NCPA peer leader, NCPA peer mentor, Honors Intern Foundry Program (Humanities Nebraska Intern); Global Experiences, Montevideo, Uruguay; Honors Learning Assistant (UHON298H); More than Our Work Digital Humanities Project; FYRE (2021-22); UCARE (2024-25); Honors Program; Spanish translation for The Office of University Communication and Marketing; Cooper Conversation Panelist (Spring 2024); NCPA Summer Camp Counselor (Summers 2022, 2023, 2024 & 2025).

Plans after graduation
After graduation, I will take a gap year, continuing to reside in Grand Island, NE. During that time, I will work on my graduate school applications for PhD. programs.

"After graduation, I am most looking forward to ___."
Resting a bit, and then, eventually, becoming a Dr.

Thank you message
I have many "thank you's" to give: thank you, NCPA, for being my family, my home outside of home, and making my dream possible; thank you, Dr. Bolen, for all your support and care, for being like a mother to me; thank you, Dr. Velazquez, for all the laughs and good times we had when we were supposed to be working!

From: Lincoln, NE
Majors: Political Science, Psychology

What does graduating from Nebraska mean to you? 
Becoming part of a network of Huskers whose impact extends well beyond campus.

Transformational moment(s)
One of the most formative parts of my time at Nebraska was getting involved in research early on in the political science and psychology departments, where I studied how people respond to diversity-related change and inequality, and how these processes shape social and political behavior, as well as identifying evidence-based approaches to promoting belonging and academic success in critical settings (e.g., higher education). My mentors trusted me to pursue these questions independently and encouraged me to apply for external fellowships, including the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, for which I’m especially grateful to Courtney Santos and the Office of Undergraduate Research & Fellowships for their guidance and support throughout the application process.

Involvement
The Innocents Society, UCARE Research Assistant in the Political Attitudes & Cognition Lab, Lab Instructor & TA, Department of Psychology, Undergraduate Psychology Committee, ASUN Student Government (Internal Vice President, Electoral Commission Director), Psi Chi, Pi Sigma Alpha, Phi Beta Kappa.

Plans after graduation
PhD in Social Psychology at Northwestern University (Evanston, IL)

"After graduation, I am most looking forward to ___."
Using research, teaching, and mentorship to study meaningful questions about societal inequality, political behavior, and intergroup relations.

Thank you message
Thank you to Drs. Manda Williamson, Ingrid Haas, and Pierce Ekstrom for their steadfast mentorship throughout my undergraduate career.

Fellow graduates you are proud of
The Innocents Society (Tanner Maas, Reem Ahmed, Aaron Morrissey, Jenna Wakefield, Jenny Castor, Mollie Petersen, Michelle Garcia-Barillas, Anna Newcome, Grace Timm, Marissa Mendez-Santiago, Angela Le, and Emma Lindsey) for their superior academic achievement, unparalleled leadership, and selfless service to the university and community.

Luke McDermott, Shaundra Wiederholt, Audrey Cherek, Laila Doyle, and Madie Beasley for their outstanding leadership to the institution, particularly through their work in ASUN student government.

From: Fremont, NE
Majors: Meteorology/Climatology, Mathematics

What does graduating from Nebraska mean to you?
Graduating from Nebraska represents more to me than earning my degree(s); it’s a reminder that I have the ability and determination to pursue what truly inspires me. My time here has shown me that passion, when paired with hard work, can lead to growth and accomplishment. Nebraska provided me with the knowledge, experiences, and confidence to evolve as an individual, both academically and personally. Through challenges, opportunities, and connections both inside and outside the classroom, I’ve developed a stronger sense of who I am and who I aspire to become.

Transformational moment(s)
A defining part of my journey at Nebraska was learning how to stay grounded and resilient when everything felt uncertain, specifically with the department cut. In those moments, I chose to lean into my community, showing up, getting involved, and supporting others even when it wasn’t easy for peers and professors. I discovered that resilience isn’t just personal strength; it’s something we build together. That experience transformed me into someone who not only persists through challenges, but contributes to the strength and connection of the community around me.

Involvement
American Meteorological Society, Alpha Omega Epsilon, Women's Rugby, Order of Omega.

Plans after graduation
Graduate School at the University of North Dakota (Grand Forks, ND).

"After graduation, I am most looking forward to ___."
Traveling

Thank you message
I would like to thank two professors who made an impact on my time at Nebraska: Dr. Adam Houston and Dr. Van Den Broeke. My final year was easily one of the most unexpected and challenging, and I’m especially grateful to Dr. Van Den Broeke for being such a steady source of guidance as I navigated my plans after graduation. Dr. Adam Houston continually challenged me to grow as both a student and a researcher, pushing me to think deeper and truly pursue the “why” behind every question.

I also want to thank an incredible group of undergraduates, alumni, and graduate students... Olivia H., Ashton P., Loui M., Derek D., Lizzie A., Xavier M., and Owen S. My experience at Nebraska would not have been the same without each of you. You made every class, every late night, and every moment in the lab more meaningful and memorable.

Fellow graduates you are proud of
I’m proud of the entire meteorology graduating class because the challenges we faced brought us closer together. Those late nights (staying up until 4 a.m. studying for dynamics) weren’t just about getting through difficult material, they were about showing up for each other and pushing forward as a team. We created an environment where no one had to struggle alone, and that sense of shared determination made even the toughest moments meaningful.