Fifty high school juniors from across the area were honored during the 2025 Midland University Outstanding High School Leaders Ceremony & Luncheon, which took place on Friday, March 28th, at the Wikert Event Center on the Midland campus. Midland University and Pinnacle Bank sponsored the event.
Students were nominated and then applied to be considered for an award. A panel of leaders from Midland University, Pinnacle Bank, and the Fremont community reviewed applications and selected recipients based on involvement, leadership roles, and attributes. Midland is offering $5 million in scholarships, and each student accepted into and attending Midland will receive a scholarship worth more than $100,000 over four years.
Panel members were Amber Barton (Vice President, Pinnacle Bank), Nik Beninato (Realtor & Associate Broker, Don Peterson and Associates), Amanda Hutton (Personal Banker/Marketing, Pinnacle Bank), Scott Meister (Market President of Pinnacle Bank, Fremont), Jodi Nemec (Manager of Marketing & Development Pinnacle Bank), Emma Oborny (Business Development & Event Specialist, Midland University), Anna O’Reilly (Annual Giving Officer, Midland University), Grant Rye (Dual Enrollment Coordinator and Admissions Counselor, Midland University), Michaela Shepard (Director of Admissions, Midland University), Joey Spellerberg (Mayor of Fremont), and Brenda Wilberding (President/CEO Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce).
The following students were honored as Outstanding High School Leaders: Archbishop Bergan – Kassie Brabec. Arlington – Tate Johannes, Emerson Timm. Ashland-Greenwood – Megan Gerdes, Ellie Milburn, Landon Mohs, Jaxon Powell. Cedar Bluffs – Gracie Thomas. Douglas County West – Benji Oien, Jackson Schuiteman, Addison Strong, Trey Schieber, Emma Kincanon. Fort Calhoun – Jaxson Burns, Adam Elofson, Nathan Lukasiewicz. Fremont – Brenda Alonzo-Gutierrez, Jenna Ellsworth, Ava Newill, Kolby Coon, Claire Hughes, Luke Olson, Jordyn Vachal, Alejandro Villagomez, Madelyn Wagner. Guardian Angels Central Catholic – Rebecca Jansen, Abigail Toline, Peyton Hutchinson, Tessa Lund, Maverik Smith, Ava Cohee, Charlie Dinslage, Ava Knobbe, Joelle Peatrowsky, Julianne Ridder. Howells-Dodge – Annemarie Slaughter. North Bend – Braxton Chvatal, Emma Rangeloff, Reese Petersen. Oakland-Craig – Brooklyn Richards, Briar Ray, Madeline Pearson, Ashlynne Gramke, Sonya Guzinski, Carolyn Magnusson. Wahoo – Aubrey Fingerhut, Erin Golladay, Faith Davis, Gracie Petersen, Cody Hesser.
