By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – There was a time when Katie Lytle could barely speak in front of a class, let alone an arena packed with people.
The Omaha native and Elkhorn South graduate was shy and reserved when she arrived at the University of Nebraska at Kearney as a freshman. She was also determined to change that.
“If I was going to enjoy my time here, I knew I had to break myself out of that box,” she said. “That’s why I came to UNK. I wanted to be part of a smaller campus where I could take advantage of all the opportunities and become a better version of myself.”
Mission accomplished.
Lytle graduates summa cum laude on Friday with a bachelor’s degree in 7-12 chemistry education and she’ll deliver the senior class reflections during the spring commencement ceremony at the Health and Sports Center on campus.
No longer a nervous newcomer, she’s excited for the opportunity to represent the Class of 2025 and share her story with a few thousand friends, family members and Loper supporters in attendance.
“I feel like this is a true culmination of all the things that can happen to you at UNK,” she said. “The person who will be up there giving that speech is completely different from the person who I was when I first came to college – in all the best ways. I feel like I’ve been able to grow into a person who I didn’t even know existed, and it truly is because of this campus and because of the investment that all of my professors and all of my peers made in me.
“Even though I’m the one who is speaking, that growth is true for so many other people who will receive their diplomas that day.”
LASTING IMPACT
Although she was raised nearly 200 miles away, Lytle refers to Kearney and UNK as her home.
She grew up here, too, gaining lifelong friendships, valuable leadership skills and irreplaceable knowledge while positively impacting everyone around her.
UNK junior Travi Tighe calls her a go-getter, someone who gives 100% in every aspect of life and never backs down from a challenge.
“Katie has shown me what real friendship and leadership look like,” said Tighe, vice president of membership recruitment for the Alpha Phi sorority. “As a friend, she’s been a constant source of support, always there with a listening ear or a word of encouragement when I needed it most. She’s helped me gain confidence and step into new opportunities with a sense of courage I didn’t know I had. I wouldn’t be who I am today without her influence.”
Lytle served as a role model and advocate within the Fraternity and Sorority Life community. She was director of event management, vice president and president of the Alpha Phi chapter and executive vice president of the Panhellenic Council.
Always “leading with heart,” she played a key role in recruitment efforts and strengthened collaboration across chapters.
“Katie can connect with everyone she meets,” Tighe said. “She’s approachable and kind, and she makes people feel seen and valued. She has a way of inspiring people just by being herself.”
Her influence reached every corner of campus.
Lytle also served as a Chancellor’s Ambassadors coordinator, New Student Enrollment leader and Chemistry Club vice president, and she was part of the UNK Honors Program and multiple honor societies.
She conducted undergraduate research with chemistry professor Allen Thomas, who describes her as talented, intelligent and highly motivated – a “true joy” to work with.
“She was one of the quickest learners of any research student I’ve ever had,” Thomas noted.
A recipient of the UNK Alumni Association’s Outstanding Senior Award, Lytle shared her knowledge with fellow Lopers as a chemistry tutor and chemistry lab teaching assistant.
Thomas believes she’ll be an “award-winning teacher.”
“I have no doubt that she will invest herself in helping her students be the best version of themselves,” he said. “She will maintain high expectations but also show compassion for students who don’t get it on the first go-around.”
NEXT CHAPTER
Lytle wants to be the same kind of educator she had at UNK – caring, supportive and understanding.
“I have loved all of my professors,” she said. “Even though chemistry is not always easy, I knew I could go to them for assistance or advice. That’s something very unique to UNK. The professors here actually care about you as an individual and they take the time to get to know you. You’re not just a number or another name on a piece of paper. They really know you.”
Under the guidance of “rock star” science teacher Eric Mandernach, Lytle completed her student teaching this semester at Kearney High School. That experience solidified her decision to enter this profession.
“Being around all of my students made my whole world light up,” she said. “They made my days go by so quickly. I feel 100% prepared to take over a classroom, and it’s all because of my experiences here.”
Lytle plans to begin her teaching career in Nebraska. But first, she’ll spend a year working as an educational leadership consultant for Alpha Phi International. That position allows her to travel to colleges and universities across the country, providing support and guidance for even more students.
“I’m really excited to take that next step, but it will be bittersweet leaving UNK because these past four years have been the best four years of my life,” Lytle said. “When you find a place that makes your heart happy, it truly does feel like home. And this is a home that I will be very, very sad to leave.”
