Tim Davis
UNK KearneyBound! coordinator, 308.865.1593
UNK– Nearly 50 high school students from Kearney, Lexington and North Platte have been selected for inclusion in the University of Nebraska at Kearney “Kearney Bound!” program.
Kearney Bound! provides first-generation high school students full support for their tuition, books, fees, and room and board while attending UNK.
“We started the program, because there are a number of very talented and deserving students who face the same big hurdle—they can’t afford to attend college,” said UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen. “If we had the resources to do so, we would include a lot of other schools in the program. We are very committed to first generation students.”
The program was first established in 2006 with Lexington and North Platte high schools. To be considered, the students must show academic promise, demonstrate motivation to participate and meet the federal government’s criteria for participation in TRIO programs. Further, 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.
“It’s a wonderful program,” said Tim Davis, UNK Kearney Bound! coordinator. “This program gives students an opportunity to go to school when, otherwise, they may not have been able to without some very significant help.”
As high school students, Kearney Bound! participants will receive directed advising, tutoring, mentoring and a fee waiver for the first ACT exam at their high school. They will come to the campus for motivational experiences and educational opportunities, including UNK courses offered at a reduced tuition rate during their senior year. While attending UNK, students will receive tutoring, mentoring, and directed academic and career advising.
“This is not a giveaway,” Chancellor Kristensen said. “It is something that they will have to earn. We are not waiving any admission standards or requirements.”
While in high school, Kearney Bound! students must complete the core courses identified by UNK for admission to the university: three years of mathematics, including two years of algebra and geometry; four years of college-prep English; three years of science; three years of social studies; two years of the same foreign language; and one year of an academic core elective.
The students must also complete the PLAN (pre-ACT) in their sophomore year, maintain a minimum overall GPA of a 2.85 on a 4.0 scale and a minimum 2.5 in the core courses, and enroll in an ACT prep course before their senior year. While attending UNK, the students must earn at least a 2.0 GPA each academic year and take a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester.
High school students selected for Kearney Bound! are listed below, alphabetically by high school:
Kearney High School- Natasha Angulo, Spencer Bacon, Bailey Binkey, Soren Brunken, Shannon Buck, Ryan Cervantes, Victoria Crow, Alyssa Hatcher, Joshua Jacobsen, Akaela Lieth, Ashley Miller, Cynthia Noyes, Ema Sanchez, Shane Swanson and Kelsey Wiemers.
Kearney Catholic High School- Brock Bartholomew, Ashley Kamler, Jaime McCann and Jolynn Williams.
Lexington High School- Humberto Flores, Adam Gallegos, Juan Garcia-Behaunek, Justen Gutierrez, Mallorie Hernandez, Lilia Jimenez, Stephanie Jimenez, Ana Lopez, Emily Miner, Tyler Parker, Yobana Ramirez, Brooke Schmidt, Tim Sikes, Elvia Tobias and Rosalva Virgilio-Juan.
North Platte High School- Tyler Arnold, Garret Ashburn, Tessa Burford, Brooke Butterfield, Alyssa Cole, Taylor Douglass, Adrian Haws, Louis Harper, Jessica Larson, Gabrielle Lehman, Molly Morrison, Carlos Romero, Kelsey Tockey, Lauren Wagner and Abigail White.
