By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – It’s a question nearly every high schooler faces.
What do you want to do with your life?
Jonathan Madison still remembers the first time he was asked. The topic came up during class, and he didn’t have a great response.
“I’m thinking to myself, ‘Well, shoot. I don’t know what I want to do,’” he recalled. “I just know I really like band. How could I do something with high school band for the rest of my life?”
That was his “aha” moment.
Madison had amazing music and band teachers at Lexington Public Schools. Why not follow in their footsteps?
Now he had a plan, but there was still one more important question to answer. How was he going to pay for college?
“Kearney Bound definitely helped with that,” Madison said. “I was able to graduate with only around $5,000 in student loans, which is phenomenal. I’m extremely blessed to have had that opportunity.”
EARLY SUPPORT
Launched in 2006, the Kearney Bound program makes higher education more accessible for first-generation students like Madison. He’s among the 250-plus participants who’ve earned degrees from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
“UNK has always been a champion for first-generation students. That’s something we value,” said Abel Virgilio, coordinator of the Kearney Bound program. “First-generation students embody resilience, determination and the courage to forge new paths for themselves and their families. We are deeply committed to providing the resources and support they need to thrive.”
Kearney Bound participants are selected as ninth graders based on their financial need, academic promise and commitment to higher education. Up to 12 students are selected annually from Lexington, North Platte and Kearney high schools, and up to five are chosen from Kearney Catholic.
The program combines federal, state, institutional and private funds to cover tuition and fees for all participants, plus room and board for qualifying students living on campus. Students receive academic support and guidance during high school, and they have the opportunity to visit the UNK campus for Kearney Bound events.
“Many of the students who are in the program don’t have that go-to person at home who can answer questions about topics like financial aid, scholarships, ACT prep and housing applications,” Virgilio said. “Through Kearney Bound, those are all things we cover during their high school years.”
“It’s really important to build those connections with students early on,” he added. “That way, once they arrive on campus, we’ve already developed that trust and they can feel comfortable coming to my office and asking even more questions.”
CAMPUS COMMUNITY
Kearney Bound participants continue to receive support and mentorship throughout their time at UNK.
As freshmen, they take the same Foundations for Learning class focused on academic and personal skill-building and the transition to college. There’s also a living-learning community that allows Kearney Bound Scholars to live on the same floor of a residence hall, making it easier to form study groups, create campus connections and develop friendships.
“Everyone has different stories and different backgrounds, but we’re all closely connected. That makes it really fun,” said Yanilet Montano, a UNK junior studying interior and product design.
Montano joined Kearney Bound as a freshman at Kearney High. Because she’s eligible for a federal Pell Grant, her financial assistance covers the full cost of tuition, fees and room and board. That’s a “big deal” for her family, which includes four younger siblings.
“I feel like I can be a role model for my younger siblings and my cousins,” she said. “Everyone in my family is proud of me for doing something that they never got to experience.”
As a peer mentor in the Kearney Bound program, Montano works one-on-one with first-year students, providing guidance, encouragement and support as they adjust to college life. She’s also an executive board member for the Kearney Bound Scholars student organization, which plans community service projects, professional development activities and fun social events for members.
Outside Kearney Bound, she’s part of the Lambda Theta Nu multicultural sorority and involved at the Catholic Newman Center. Program participants are encouraged to be active in other student organizations and activities on campus.
“We really want them to have the full UNK experience,” Virgilio said. “That involvement and sense of community is such an important part of our program. It fosters personal growth, builds lifelong connections and helps develop leadership skills that extend far beyond graduation.”
FAMILY CONNECTIONS
Originally from Lexington, Virgilio wasn’t part of the Kearney Bound program as a student. That’s something he regrets.
“Now I get to go to the high schools and tell students, ‘Don’t be that kid. Don’t be me. All it takes is you submitting an application,’” he said.
His older sister Rosalva participated in the program before graduating from UNK in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in social work, and his younger sister Elena is a current Kearney Bound Scholar studying criminal justice.
Montano also has a younger brother in the program – he’s a senior at Kearney High – and Madison was the second member of his family to earn a degree through Kearney Bound. His older brother Josiah received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in December 2018, three years before Madison graduated honorable mention with a degree in music education.
Madison is about to begin his fourth year of teaching K-12 vocal and instrumental music at Creek Valley Public Schools in Chappell.
“It’s a really rewarding career,” he said. “I don’t have any kids of my own, but it’s great watching the students grow up. Even if they’re not necessarily wanting to pursue a career in music as they get older, I get to be part of their development and maturation as people.”
And he gets to share an important piece of advice.
“As an educator, I want to inspire my students and encourage them to pursue some sort of further education, whether that’s college, trade school or certifications,” Madison said. “There’s always good things that come from gaining knowledge past high school. And anybody can do it.”
