Forty first-year students in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Engineering have been chosen to the 2025-26 cohort of the Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy.
The new cohort, the fourth in the program’s history, includes students on the college’s campuses in Lincoln and Omaha.
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 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 an $800 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 students in the 2025-26 cohort of the Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy, with their hometowns and majors, and sorted by primary campus base.
City Campus (Lincoln)
- Iyah Aguer, Papillion, Civil Engineering
- Adebayo Beyioku, Lincoln, Computer Engineering
- Mackenzie Bolton, Lincoln, Electrical Engineering
- Jaedyn Colman, Omaha, Computer Science
- Uyen Dinh, Omaha, Mechanical Engineering
- Noah Fischer, Grand Island, Mechanical Engineering
- Binodini Ganeshkumar, Omaha, Computer Science
- Emely Garcia, Fremont, Chemical Engineering
- Claire Gartner, Grand Island, Mechanical Engineering
- Jason Gaskin, Omaha, Mechanical Engineering
- Ember Hemmer, Plattsmouth, Environmental Engineering
- Olivia Madison, Grand Island, Environmental Engineering
- Lydia Montag, Beatrice, Biological Systems Engineering
- Tamilore Omomeji, Omaha, Biological Systems Engineering
- Paola Ortiz-Ibarra, Lexington, Mechanical Engineering
- Gabi Portales-Mendoza, Lincoln, Construction Engineering
- Marisa Powell, Omaha, Civil Engineering
- Maya Rodgers, Omaha, Biological Systems Engineering
- Jarron Santos, Alliance, Biological Systems Engineering
- Ryanne Schneider, Kearney, Software Engineering
- Moo Law La Soe, Omaha, Software Engineering
- Braxton Stuart, Lincoln, Electrical Engineering
- Jack Sweet-Bemer, Omaha, Construction Management
- Macy Sweet-Bemer, Omaha, Computer Science
- Esha Vadde, Elkhorn, Computer Science
- Soren Vesely, Lincoln, Mechanical Engineering
- Jadon Woznek, Norfolk, Mechanical Engineering
- Argos Zhang, Elkhorn, Computer Science
- Izzy Zoucha, Lincoln, Electrical Engineering
Scott Campus (Omaha)
- Addy Duering, Grand Island, Architectural Engineering
- Brady Goertzen, Aurora, Architectural Engineering
- Tatiana Guerrero-López, Lexington, Architectural Engineering
- Salsabiel Khair Allah, Omaha, Architectural Engineering
- Nura Maharjan, Omaha, Computer Engineering
- Nola Nelson, Louisville, Architectural Engineering
- Olivia Sulzle, Lincoln, Architectural Engineering
- Dominek Villalon, Lexington, Architectural Engineering
- Ashleigh Walls, Omaha, Architectural Engineering
- Tyler Witt, Omaha, Architectural Engineering
- Isabella Worner, Gretna, Architectural Engineering
The program is funded and developed in partnership with Peter Kiewit Foundation, a private independent philanthropic trust that has awarded more than $750 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.
