UNK Alumni Association, 308.865.8474
The Gold Torch Society, a group of alumni women who mentor undergraduate women at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, meet recently on the campus.
Through The Gold Torch Society, the alumni lend their guidance, encouragement and career experience to UNK students, according to Michelle Widger, assistant director of alumni services. The meetings featured sessions covering topics including balancing career and family, leadership, financial planning, networking and taking the leap into the workforce after graduation. Alumni and students also spent time networking and establishing mentoring relationships.
Sponsored by the UNK Alumni Association, The Gold Torch Society provides alumni the opportunity to return to campus and share a weekend of activities and special events with a select group of UNK undergraduate women.
“The society’s alumni members are strong, successful women from a variety of backgrounds including education, politics, medicine, business and journalism,” said Jim Rundstrom, executive director of the UNK Alumni Association. “It is wonderful to see the relationships that have formed because of the Gold Torch Society.”
Alumni are nominated for a three-year membership in the society while student membership is for one year and is by application only.
Twenty-four UNK alumnae are participating this year. Listed alphabetically by community, along with the year they graduated from UNK, they include:
NEBRASKA:
Chapman – Maureen Nickels, 1974
Grand Island – Katie Shada Ramsey, 985
Kearney – Wendy Welsh Clark, 1990; Stacie Pearson, 1996; Jenn Riggs-Slack, 1995; Tammie Stump Blaha, 1984; Sandy Rosse, 1993; Catherine Luebbe Sanchez, 1999; Susan Brown Gierhan, 1989; Lisa Hibberd, 1993; Dee Dee Schutte Kitzelman, 1990; Marsha Rodehorst-Wilkerson, 1990; Renae Riddle Zimmer, 1991; Amy Kempf Graham, 1993; Tammy Adelson Hayden, 1990
Lincoln – Laure Smith, 1995
Minden – Franny Hauver Madsen, 1983
Omaha – Barbara Schroeder, 1974; Jeanette Keller Wojtalewicz, 1984
Papillion – Kendra Stahl Sibbernsen, 1989
Wayne – Kathy Mohlfeld, 1991
IOWA:
Bettendorf – Holly Nikels – 1993
OKLAHOMA:
Jenks – Lauren Sedlacek Petersen – 2002
TEXAS:
Dallas – Candy Fernau – 1996
There are 24 student members of the society. Listed alphabetically by hometown, they include:
NEBRASKA:
Butte – Megan Reiman
Curtis – Lisa Elson
Geneva – Brittany Reman
Giltner – Morgan Kellogg
Grand Island – Kailey Rock, Audrey Rowley
Hastings – Brittany Davidson
Indianola – Jaime Coolidge
Kearney – Dana Gillespie
Martell – Bridget Egger
McCook – Deonne Hinz
Morrill – Hope Marsh
North Platte – Ashley Amber Stillwell
Omaha – Ciara Benson, Laura Ceron, Kristin Nielson
Ogallala – Sara Chu Brady
Ralston – Natalie Peterson
Sidney – Amber Davis
Wood River – Jennifer Foster
York – Kylee Gardner
Valentine – Jami Hockenbary
COLORADO:
Aurora – Lindsay Tanis
FRANCE:
Cachan – Faouza Yasmin Abdallah
