Forty first-year students selected to 2024-25 PFKEA cohort

Forty first-year students in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Engineering have been chosen to the 2024-25 cohort of Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy. The new cohort includes students on the college’s campuses in Lincoln and Omaha and is the third group for the 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.

Students in the academy receive a full-tuition-and-fees scholarship for four years and may receive funding for a fifth year. The scholarship will also cover students' housing and meals for up to four years in a University Housing residence. Academy students will have a common living experience during their first two years in the program, enroll in cohort-specific freshman and sophomore seminars, and receive success coaching from dedicated program staff. Students also receive a $ 600 book stipend to the University bookstore and a laptop for their studies.

The work of the academy is grounded in the Complete Engineer® program, 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.

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 2024-25 cohort of Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy, with their hometowns and majors, and sorted by primary campus base, are:

City Campus (Lincoln)

• Caitlynn Abraham, Lincoln, Mechanical Engineering
• Remy Balderas Izaguirre, Lincoln, Civil Engineering
• Lauren Buban, Omaha, Civil Engineering
• Jack Carlson, Omaha, Mechanical Engineering
• Julia Clausen, Omaha, Computer Science
• Magaly Del Rello, Lincoln, Mechanical Engineering
• Cody Eldridge, Lexington, Chemical Engineering
• Chloe Fisicaro, Omaha, Software Engineering
• Savanna Flores, Lincoln, Civil Engineering
• Maddie George, Omaha, Civil Engineering
• Stella Hutzler, Lincoln, Mechanical Engineering
• Brianna Jurado Torres, Lincoln, Software Engineering
• Yared Kinde, Omaha, Computer Science
• Brody Krusemark, Emerson, Mechanical Engineering
• Morgan LeMunyan, Alliance, Mechanical Engineering
• Skyler Meinecke, Lincoln, Biological Systems Engineering
• Sophia Nolan, Omaha, Mechanial Engineering
• Emmanuel Ogunnaike, Omaha, Software Engineering
• Bethany Owens, O’Neill, Biological Systems Engineering
• Jason Pabian, Lincoln, Computer Science
• Chloe Preslar, Omaha, Environmental Engineering
• Emma Rhode, Omaha, Computer Science
• Samantha Rodriguez, Norfolk, Computer Science
• Ricardo Rosas, Schuyler, Biological Systems Engineering
• Katie Schmit, Pleasant Dale, Mechanical Engineering
• Caroline Slama, Rising City, Biological Systems Engineering
• Lorelei Walters, Otoe, Biological Systems Engineering
• Ermias Wolde, Omaha, Computer Science

Scott Campus (Omaha)

• Alivia Aerni, Papillion, Architectural Engineering
• Ayomide Ajayi, Omaha, pre-Mechanical Engineering
• Chelsea Betancourt, Grand Island, Computer Engineering
• Owen Betts, La Vista, Civil Engineering
• Fatima Davila, Omaha, Environmental Engineering
• Lily Erb, Omaha, Construction Management
• Bekah Evans, Hastings, Architectural Engineering
• Brock Hoover, Papillion, Civil Engineering
• Mehgan Paulino-Alejandro, Omaha, Computer Engineering
• Cameron Sailors, Lincoln, Civil Engineering
• Brad Smoyer, Roca, Architectural Engineering
• Arianna Vasquez-Martinez, Omaha, Construction Management

The program is funded and developed in partnership with the foundation, a private independent philanthropic trust that has awarded more than $909.27 million in grants and scholarships since its founding in 1979.

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.