Forty first-year students named to Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy cohort

Forty first-year students in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Engineering – including 11 who will be based on Scott Campus in Omaha – have been chosen to the 2023-24 cohort of the Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy.

The academy seeks to recruit and retain students committed to supporting and advancing women in engineering in the state of Nebraska and to providing students who have financial need with the resources and support to pursue careers in engineering, computing and construction.

More than 100 applications for this cohort, the second for the academy program.

Students in the academy will receive a full-tuition-and-fees scholarship for four years and may receive funding for a fifth year, on a case-by-case basis. The scholarship will also cover the students' housing and meals for up to four years in a University Housing residence on campus. Academy students will have a common living experience during their first two years in the program, will enroll in cohort-specific freshman and sophomore seminars, and will receive success coaching from dedicated program staff. Students also receive a $500 book stipend to the University bookstore, and a laptop for their studies.

The work of the academy is grounded in The Complete Engineer®, a College of Engineering initiative designed to ensure students participate in experiential learning in tandem with the technical expertise provided by a Big Ten degree. Through a cohort-based program of 40 scholars each year, these students will be empowered to make a positive impact in their field through exclusive seminar courses, dedicated success coaching, and support of staff and faculty.

Beyond developing students individually, the academy will foster an environment in the engineering community at large to increase gender diversity in the workforce and a sense of belonging for women in engineering, computing and construction.

The students in the 2023-24 cohort of the Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy, with their hometowns and majors, and sorted by primary campus base:

Lincoln (City and East Campus)

Dahlia Acolatse, Omaha, computer science

Zehra Almaleki, Lincoln, computer science

Evin Anderson, Dakota City, mechanical engineering

Zachary Corey, Omaha, civil engineering

Elizabeth Evans, Omaha, environmental engineering

Krishnaraj Ganesan, Sidney, software engineering

Sonny Gonzalez, Alliance, software engineering

Layla Hernandez, Norfolk, civil engineering

Samantha Hintz, Omaha, software engineering

Kareem Hudson, Omaha, mechanical engineering

Samantha Johnston, Columbus, electrical engineering

Trent Kisker, Trenton, mechanical engineering

Jameson Krab, Ogallala, chemical engineering

Joshua Martinez, Lincoln, computer science

Jonathan Massey, Bennington, mechanical engineering

Alieka Matzner, Grand Island, mechanical engineering

Emma McManus, Bellevue, biological systems engineering

Lila Mock, Omaha, civil engineering

Tyra Onyango, Omaha, software engineering

Kathleen Peklo, Omaha, software engineering

Alexander Rice, Springfield, chemical engineering

Caitey Ruzicka, Orchard, civil engineering

Shreenaya Sanjeevi, Omaha, mechanical engineering

Heather Smith, Fremont, chemical engineering

McKenzie Thayer, Fremont, computer engineering

Hannah Tlamka, Lincoln, chemical engineering

Anna Woodshank, Lincoln, mechanical engineering

Elianah Wunderlich, Seward, mechanical engineering

Sergio Zavala, Lincoln, electrical engineering

Omaha (Scott Campus)

Keirsten Colton, Imperial, architectural engineering

Seth Dobrusky, Lincoln, computer engineering

Lauryn Hodges, Papillion, architectural engineering

Corbin Hough, Ralston, civil engineering

Madeline Oetting, Gretna, environmental engineering

Wendy Pacheco-Menjivar, Omaha, undecided

Shaw Reh, Omaha, civil engineering

Grant Ryan, Wahoo, architectural engineering

Kashau Scott, Omaha, mechanical engineering

Claudia Vasquez, Grand Island, construction management

Kaitlyn Vuong, La Vista, architectural engineering

The program is funded and developed in partnership with the Peter Kiewit Foundation, a private independent philanthropic trust that has awarded more than $750 million in grants and scholarships since its founding in 1979.

The Peter Kiewit Foundation was established by Peter Kiewit, a generous philanthropist and community leader who believed that Omaha was the best place to live in the United States. He attributed his success to the hardworking people of Nebraska and was determined to return his wealth and good fortune to its communities. After thoughtful planning throughout his lifetime, the bulk of his personal estate was set aside upon his death to create a foundation to support charitable and public purpose projects in Nebraska and other limited geographic areas. The foundation is a private independent philanthropic trust that is not legally or administratively affiliated with the operating companies that also bear Peter Kiewit's name.