Tim Davis
UNK KearneyBound! coordinator, 308.865.1593
Forty-nine ninth grade students from Kearney, Lexington and North Platte have been selected to participate in the KearneyBound! program at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Tim Davis, UNK KearneyBound! coordinator, announced today.
“These students from our four partner high schools all show great academic potential and promise,” Davis said. “We have a very talented group of students who will use this opportunity to make a significant difference in their lives and the lives of their families. We look forward to working with these students as they progress through high school and become strong students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.”
UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen said, “KearneyBound! is a key initiative in our efforts to increase the overall college going rate in Nebraska.”
This is the first group of high school students from Kearney to be selected to participate. Kearney Catholic High School and Kearney High School signed partnership agreements with UNK in January. Partnerships were signed earlier with the high schools in Lexington and North Platte.
The KearneyBound! program that makes it possible for the students to attend UNK with full support for their tuition, books, fees, and room and board. To be selected, students must show academic promise, demonstrate motivation to participate and meet the federal government’s criteria for participation in TRIO programs.
In addition, the students must be Nebraska residents, have a social security number and be a first-generation college prospect, i.e., neither parent has a bachelor’s degree. There is also an expectation that students will have parental support to be in the program and the potential to be Pell Grant eligible. To maintain their membership in the KearneyBound! program, students must complete the core courses necessary for admission to UNK, as well as maintain at least a 2.85 grade point average, overall, and a minimum 2.5 in the core courses.
KearneyBound! students will receive directed advising, tutoring, mentoring and help with preparation for the ACT exam. Also, the students will come to the UNK campus for motivational experiences and exposure to educational opportunities. Each high school provides a staff member to direct the school’s involvement and serve as a liaison with Davis. The staff members at each of the partner schools include: Barb Casper, Kearney Catholic High School; Chris Mrozcek, Kearney High School; Alecia Boyd, Lexington High School; and Jolene Pettera, North Platte High School.
The newly selected students are listed below by school:
Kearney Catholic High School – Amber Banning, Shaylee Moes, Hunter Smith and Alexis Wilson.
Kearney High School – Kassi Anderson, Garrett Arnold, Alex Barto, Miriah Brandt, Jordan Corder, William Crosier, Jordan Gowen, Arceli Hernandez, Allysa Kulhanek, McKenzie Loeffelholz, Shai Matson, Logan Muhlbach, Breann White, Cassie Wroblewski and Jessica Zentz.
Lexington High School – Keyli Aldana, Sergio Ceja, Kelsey Dangler, Chris Estrada, Irma Lopez, Teresita Mendez, Jessica Metzger, Daniel Penaflor, Estefania Perez, Jenny Ramos, Ariana Rivas, Aryan Sharif, Rosie Terrazas, Hugo Tobias and Jimmy Torres-Moreno.
North Platte High School – Nellie Ambrose, Jenna Campbell, McKenna Eshleman, Kennady Fisher, Alex Hinrichsen, Jalen Irish, Derra Lusk, Michaela McConnell, Wendy McDermott, Alexis Mercado, Karla Romero, Rachel Southard, Chase Weiss, Dillon Wordekemper and Logan Yager.
