KEARNEY – The University of Nebraska at Kearney Alumni Association has selected five Outstanding Senior Award recipients for 2025.
The honor recognizes seniors for excellence in scholarship and leadership, as well as involvement and dedication to UNK and the Kearney community. Students were selected by a panel of UNK alumni.
“Each of these students has made tremendous contributions to the university,” said Tricia Danburg, director of alumni engagement. “They are not only outstanding seniors, but also outstanding individuals.”
Kelsey Cordes of Waverly graduates in May with a degree in exercise science and a minor in nutrition. She will attend the University of Nebraska Medical Center this fall to pursue a degree in medical nutrition.
Cordes was a member of the Loper softball team, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Greeks Advocating for Healthy Lifestyles, Circle K, Undergraduate Research Fellows and Phi Eta Sigma and Mortar Board honor societies. She served as a coordinator for Chancellor’s Ambassadors and as director of health and wellness and a committee chair for the Alpha Phi sorority.
She’s also a nutrition tech at Kearney Regional Medical Center.
Katie Lytle of Omaha graduates in May with a degree in chemistry education grades 7-12. She will be an educational leadership consultant for Alpha Phi International.
Lytle was involved in the UNK Honors Program, Chemistry Club, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society, National Panhellenic Council and Order of Omega, Mortar Board and Phi Eta Sigma honor societies. She served as a New Student Enrollment leader, chemistry lab teaching assistant, undergraduate researcher, chemistry tutor and coordinator for Chancellor’s Ambassadors. She also held several leadership positions for the Alpha Phi sorority, including chapter president.
Bethany Rother of Weskan, Kansas, graduates in May with degrees in studio art and theater, with an emphasis in acting and directing. She also earned her pilot licenses while attending UNK and will pursue a career in aviation and flight instruction.
Rother was active in theater productions, Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, Women in Aviation, 99’s Aviation Club, Alpha Eta Rho-Kappa Nu aviation fraternity, Honors Student Advisory Board and the Phi Eta Sigma and Alpha Psi Omega honor societies. She served as a campus tour guide and homecoming co-chair for Loper Programming and Activities Council.
Rother currently works as a pilot for Trego Dugan Aviation.
Delaney Tracy of Gibbon graduates in May with a degree in history and a minor in accounting. She will pursue a master’s degree in history at UNK and work as a graduate assistant.
Tracy was involved in undergraduate research and the Phi Eta Sigma honor society, and she served as president of the Phi Alpha Theta history honor society. A recipient of the 2024 Wagner Family Writing Award, she’s worked for the UNK Chancellor’s Office and Trails and Rails Museum in Kearney and completed an internship with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
She also volunteers as a Find a Grave photographer.
Jon Willis of Omaha graduates in May with a degree in sports communication and a minor in journalism. He will continue working on-air at KRVN in the news and sports departments.
Willis served as sports director for the campus radio station, KLPR 91.1 FM, and sports editor for The Antelope student newspaper. He earned multiple honors, including the 2024 Intercollegiate Broadcasting System award for best sports update, 2023 Intercollegiate Broadcasting System award for best station or event promotion, 2022 Nebraska Broadcasters Association award for best live sports event and numerous Golden Leaf awards. He was also a 2024 International Student Broadcasting Championship finalist for play-by-play.
In addition to working at KRVN, Willis has been a play-by-play broadcaster for the North Platte Plainsmen and Duluth Huskies.
