Students, faculty and a former athletic staff member were honored by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln at its annual Ivy Day ceremonies April 5.
The event, co-sponsored by Mortar Board and the Innocents Society, recognized outstanding contributions of students selected to serve in the two senior honorary organizations, as well as the achievements of current members and notable underclassmen and seniors.
Ceremonies took place at the Carolyn Pope Edwards Hall Auditorium and concluded with the traditional planting of the ivy on the south side of Love Library by the 2025-26 presidents of the societies — Allan Muinov of Omaha for Mortar Board and Tanner Maas of Gretna for the Innocents Society.
Stacie Yost Higgins, founder of the nonprofit EDGE Nebraska City and a board leadership associate with the Nebraska Association of School Boards, delivered the keynote address.
Honorary memberships in the Innocents Society were presented to Yoanna Esquivel Greenwood, a lecturer in Spanish, and the late Greg Sharpe, senior announcer, host and producer with Nebraska Athletics.
Honorary Mortar Board memberships were presented to Mark C. Adams, assistant professor of instrumental music education, and Susan Sheridan, George Holmes University Professor of educational psychology and founding director of the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth Families and Schools.
The Innocents Society inducts 13 new members each spring, with selection based on leadership, academic achievement and service to the university and greater community. The Innocents Society was founded in 1903 to promote the spirit of the university and is the chancellor's senior honorary. It is uniquely Nebraskan.
New members of Mortar Board are tapped into the Black Masque Chapter each spring by Mortar Boarders wearing black masks and robes. The 25 new members were selected based on scholarship, leadership and service.
Following is a list by hometown of the 2025 inductees into the Innocents Society and the Black Masque chapter of Mortar Board. Information includes each student's academic major(s) and parent names.
Nebraska
Aurora:
- Ella Mitchell, Mortar Board, psychology, and women's and gender studies, Travis and Amy Mitchell.
Bellevue:
- Grace Schaefer, Mortar Board, supply chain management, Douglas and Tracy Schaefer.
Chappell:
- Grace Timm, Innocents Society, agribusiness, Ryan and Emily Timm.
Crete:
- Taylor Pierce, Mortar Board, biological sciences, Christy Pierce.
Elkhorn:
- Mollie Petersen, Innocents Society, mechanical engineering, Mathew and Laurinda Petersen.
Grand Island:
- Michelle Garcia-Barillas, Innocents Society, secondary education, Wilson Garcia Saquich.
- Mainor Ramirez Tercero, Mortar Board, nutrition and health sciences, Florinda Ramirez and Ellmar Tercero.
Gretna:
- Tanner Maas, Innocents Society, actuarial science and finance, Jeff and Angie Maas.
Kearney:
- Matthew Dahlke, Mortar Board, nutrition and health sciences, Todd and Teresa Dahlke.
Lincoln:
- Reem Ahmed, Innocents Society, psychology, and nutrition and health sciences, Ahmed Ataelgied and Hana Elamin.
- Clare Clark, Mortar Board, graphic design, Kevin and Laurie Clark.
- Angela Le, Innocents Society, software engineering, Buu and Thao Nguyen.
- Marissa Mendez-Santiago, Innocents Society, biochemistry (pre-medicine), Ignacio and Maria Mendez.
- Zein Saleh, Innocents Society, political science and psychology, Abla Hasan and Hassan Saleh.
- Madeline Splichal, Mortar Board, economics, Lance and Heather Splichal.
- Amir Tarkian, Mortar Board, computer science (Raikes School), Bagher and Katherine Tarkian.
- Minh Vu, Mortar Board, data science and business administration (Raikes School), Hai Vu and Dung Huynh.
- Jenna Wakefield, Innocents Society, biochemistry and mathematics (pre-medicine), Larry and Kari Wakefield.
Minden:
- Peyton Schoone, Mortar Board, political science (pre-law), Dave and Mikki Schoone.
Omaha:
- Owen Crone, Mortar Board, economics and finance, Michael and Kristin Crone.
- Landen Fogle, Mortar Board, computer science and finance (Raikes School), Ben and Liz Fogle.
- Ryan Heser, Mortar Board, biochemistry, Robert and Natalie Heser.
- Aaron Morrissey, Innocents Society, data science and economics (Raikes School), Ted and Lori Morrissey.
- Allan Muinov, Mortar Board, economics and data science (Raikes School), Timur and Lucy Muinov.
- Nathan Ray, Mortar Board, supply chain management, Jeffrey and Cynthia Ray.
Roca:
- Carson Brodersen, Mortar Board, civil engineering, Corey and Kim Brodersen.
Tecumseh:
- Jennifer Castor Cruz, Innocents Society, elementary education and special education (K-6), Erika Cruz and the late Arturo Castor.
Elsewhere in the U.S.
Parker, Colorado:
- Eric Jacob, Mortar Board, business and law, and economics, Jason and Erin Jacob.
Alton, Illinois:
- Isabelle Droste, Mortar Board, psychology and political science, Lucy Hendrix and Matthew Droste.
Ankeny, Iowa:
- Ana Wombacher, Mortar Board, advertising and public relations, and journalism, Adam Wombacher and Lourdes Piloni-Wombacher.
Fairway, Kansas:
- Sydney Beck, Mortar Board, marketing and Clifton Builders management, Mike and Shannon Beck.
Leawood, Kansas:
- Mia Siner, Mortar Board, computer science, finance and accounting (Raikes School), Kyle and Tiffany Siner.
Topeka, Kansas:
- Anna Newcome, Innocents Society, environmental science and plant biology, Scott and Patty Newcome.
St. Paul, Minnesota:
- Emma Lindsey, Innocents Society, child, youth and family studies, Christine Graves and Mark Lindsey.
Edmond, Oklahoma:
- Laila Doyle, Mortar Board, nutritional science and dietetics, Rod and Mia Doyle.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota:
- Gabrielle VanVeldhuizen, Mortar Board, chemical engineering (pre-medicine), Paul and Heidi VanVeldhuizen.
Racine, Wisconsin:
- Clara Bates, Mortar Board, animal science, Michael and Tressa Bates.
Casper, Wyoming:
- Drew Rasmussen, Mortar Board, nutrition and health sciences, Ted and Denise Rasmussen.
