Hastings College seniors Andrew Goodwin and Ellen Jorgenson were named winners of the 2009 Bronco Award at the annual Honors Convocation ceremony on Friday, May 8 at Hastings College. The Bronco Award, established in 1924 by the editors of the Bronco yearbook, is the highest, non-academic honor Hastings College bestows.

In addition to Goodwin and Jorgenson, 21 seniors received the Who’s Who Award. This award, instituted at Hastings College in 1940, is presented to no more than 10 percent of the senior class. Students were recommended by a vote of the student body. A committee of faculty and administrators and three members of the junior class made the final selection. Citizenship and contributions to the overall college program were considered.

The outstanding seniors are listed below with their hometowns.
 
2009 Bronco Award winners
Andrew Goodwin – Aurora, Colo.
Ellen Jorgenson – Shawnee, Kan.

2009 Who’s Who

Megan Arrington – Centennial, Colo.

Megan majored in Media Production at Hastings College. She was Student Association Senator and president of the Hastings College Society of Collegiate Journalists. She was editor in chief of the Collegian and elected the Alpha Chi Academic Honor Society Female Freshman of the Year. She participated in Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society, Public Relations Council and PHIVE-O (Peer HIV Education Organization).

Leo Boman – Edgar, Neb.

Leo majored in Biology at Hastings College. He was a Student Association Senator and member of the Pre-Vet Club, Multicultural Student Union, Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society and Teammates. He was on the football team and resident advisor and Hall Council officer for Bronc Hall.
 
Kay Broekemeier – Central City, Neb.

Kay majored in Psychology at Hastings College. She was captain of the women’s basketball and track teams. She was All Conference and All American, National Qualifier and on the National Championship team in 2006. She was also Hastings College Homecoming Queen.

Nicole Ciecior- Lincoln, Neb.

Nicole majored in Biology at Hastings College. She was president of Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society, Pre-Health Professions Club and Omicron Delta Kappa, and she was co-president of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students. She was National Fastpitch Coaches Association All American Scholar Athlete in 2006 and NAIA Scholar Athlete Softball in 2008. She has been the softball team captain and coach. She was a Wendell V. Showalter Biology Scholarship recipient.

Vincent DiPaolo – Aurora, Colo.

Vincent majored in Business Administration at Hastings College. He was Student Association Senator and vice president and officer of the year for Tau Beta Alpha fraternity. He was a member of Phi Beta Lambda, Ignite, Focus and resident advisor for Bronc Hall. He was on the baseball team, and he was named the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network Top Intern.

Starlight Fonseca – Hastings, Neb.

Starlight majored in Political Science at Hastings College. She was the founder and president of the Student Parent Association and founder and executive director of Dreams for Tomorrow. She was senator and member of the Executive Cabinet of the Student Association, president of Amnesty International and vice president of Child Defenders. She was a member of Alliance, Center for Servant Leadership, Public Relations Council, Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society, Alpha Chi Academic Honor Society and CASA. She received the Creigh Weyer Scholarship and Envision Grant, and she is an active volunteer in the Hastings community.

Andrew Goodwin – Aurora, Colo.
Andrew Goodwin majored in Business Administration at Hastings College. He has been president of the Tau Beta Alpha Fraternity, Multicultural Student Union and Lambda Pi Eta Communications Honor Society. He has been a member of the Student Association, Public Relations Council and the Inter Greek Council. He has participated in Team Against Bias and Academic Showcase, and he was a Rainbow Push Coalition Intern for Reverend Jessie Jackson. He is also an Americorps member, Inter-corps member and campus representative for the Hastings Literacy Program.

Amy Hartline – Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Amy majored in Psychology and Biopsychology at Hastings College. She was co-president of the Student Alumni Ambassadors, historian and secretary for Alpha Omega Sorority and secretary for Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society and Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society. She was a member of Child Defenders, Campus Crusade and Ignite. She was an academic scholarship recipient and Sunday School Teacher.

Rebecca Hartline – Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Rebecca majored in Teacher Education at Hastings College. She was co-president of the Student Alumni Ambassadors, pledge trainer and social chair for Alpha Omega Sorority and historian and secretary for the Student Education Association. She was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society, Alpha Chi Academic Honor Society, Ignite and Campus Crusade. She was a Louise Walter Merit Award and academic scholarship recipient and Sunday School Teacher.

Jeff Hartman – Columbus, Neb.

Jeff majored in Chemistry and Biology at Hastings College. He was senator and executive council member for the Student Association and vice president of Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society and Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society. He was a member of the American Chemical Society and the Public Relations Council. He was an Evans Storer Scholarship and BBB Foundation Research Scholarship recipient. He participated in Hastings College Track & Field and was a gymnastics teacher.

Matt Hildebrand – Gothenburg, Neb.

Matt majored in Teacher Education at Hastings College. He was team captain of the football team, Academic All American and Teammates mentor. He was a member of Alpha Chi Academic Honor Society and Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society. He received the Rev. Kyle Scholarship and was a volunteer basketball coach and member of the After School Tutoring Program.

Ellen Jorgenson – Shawnee, Kan.

Ellen Jorgenson majored in Teacher Education at Hastings College. She has been vice president of the Student Association and has participated in PHIVE-O (Peer HIV Education Organization), Hunger & Homeless Awareness Week, Recycling Club, Public Relations Council, Center for Servant Leadership, Multicultural Student Union, Hastings College Democrats, Common Grounds, Women’s Bible Study, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Ignite, The Zone and International Club. She is a History Honor Scholar, Clement Bridenhagen Memorial recipient and was a Homecoming finalist.

Tyler Keyser – Cambridge, Neb.

Tyler majored in Philosophy and Marketing at Hastings College. He was president and senator for the Student Association. He was co-chair of the Artist Lecture Series and New Student Days committees, vice president of Alpha Chi Academic Honor Society and co-president of Phi Beta Lambda. He was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society, Beta Chi fraternity, Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. He was co-captain of the Hastings College Track & Field Team and an NSAA Basketball Official.

Colt Kraus – Taylor, Neb.

Colt majored in English at Hastings College. He was president of Psi Theta Epsilon fraternity and the Inter-Greek Council and secretary for the Student Association and Public Relations Council. He was a community service representative for Phi Beta Lambda, team captain for the Diabetes Walk and volunteer for Crossroads and St. Joseph’s Gift and Thrift. He was a member of the Student Alumni Association, Inter-dorm Council, Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society and Habitat for Humanity. He was also Hastings College Homecoming Royalty.
 
Amy Kroll – Juniata, Neb.

Amy majored in Psychology at Hastings College. She was vice president and president of the Public Relations Council and vice president of Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society. She was a member of Alpha Chi Academic Honor Society, the Hastings College volleyball team and Teammates.

Chandra Ledall – Imperial, Neb.

Chandra majored in Advertising and Marketing at Hastings College. She was a member of the executive council for Phi Beta Lambda and Student Association. She was president and member at large for the Dorm Council, and she was a member of Alpha Omega sorority, Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society and the Uprising Bible Study Leadership Team.

Shelby Leyland – Imperial, Neb.

Shelby majored in Vocal Music (K-12) at Hastings College. She was music director, historian and alumna correspondent for Sigma Alpha Iota and co-president of the Student Environmental Action Coalition. She was a member of the basketball team, Women’s Choir, Bell Choir, Music Theatre, Spectrum, College Choir, Ignite, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Grace Methodist Bell Choir. She participated in the MENC College Recital, Academic Showcase and Food for Thought. She was a recipient of the Millard Cates Choral Award and was Hastings College Homecoming Princess.

Meggan Lloyd – Hastings, Neb.

Megan majored in Religion at Hastings College. She was a founding member of Student Outreach Advocacy Resources (SOAR) and student manager of the college’s coffee shop and Ten Thousand Villages. She was also the circulation manager and an opinion columnist for the Collegian newspaper. She was a member of Alpha Chi Academic Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society, Alpha Omega Sorority, Child Defenders, Inter Greek Council, Vocation & Values and Women’s Spirituality Group. She served on the Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week committee, Local Global committee and Women’s History Month committee. She was an Oxfam American 2007-08 CHANGE leader and Irish Fellows recipient.

Alia Mohsen – Hastings, Neb.

Alia majored in Psychology and Communications at Hastings College. She was president of Pi Kappa Delta Forensics Honor Society and Alman Hall and co-president of Alpha Delta Alpha sorority. She was the public relations representative and competition finalist for the Forensics team and named Alpha Chi Academic Honor Society Outstanding Sophomore. She was a member of the Student Association, Public Relations Council, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and participated in Theatre, Trick or Treat for NAP and the Aids Walk. 

Wendy Nicklin – Papillion, Neb.

Wendy majored in Teacher Education at Hastings College. She was editor in chief for the Bronco Yearbook, co-president of the Student Education Association, co-chair of New Student Days and historian for Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society, Alpha Omega sorority and the Society of Collegiate Journalists. She was a member of the Public Relations Council, Student Alumni Association, Taylor Hall Dorm Council, Pi Lambda Theta and Alpha Chi Academic Honor Society. She was a Homecoming Semifinalist, and she participated in Academic Showcase, Hastings Community “Kids Helping Kids” and was an English Language Learners tutor at Lincoln Elementary.
     
Joel Niemann – Lincoln, Neb.

Joel majored in Religion at Hastings College. He was a Student Association senator and president of Altman Hall. He was a member of Beta Chi fraternity and Presbyterian Campus Fellowship. He participated in the Artist Lecture Series, Men’s Choir, College Choir, Chapel Band and Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week. He was named the Alpha Chi Academic Honor Society Outstanding Sophomore, Birchler-Rininger Scholar and Homecoming Semifinalist.    

Sigrid Simpson – Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Sigrid majored in Economics and International Studies at Hastings College. She was president of Amnesty International, special events chair for Omicron Delta Epsilon Economics Honor Society and Cheerleading team captain. She was a recipient of the Holyoke-McKeag Scholarship, Foreign Languages Department Award and the TWC Internship at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C.
        
Renata Zigelstein – Caledonia, N.Y.

Renata majored in Biology and Psychology at Hastings College. She was a member of the executive council for Student Association and Student Alumni Association, Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society, Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society, Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society, Sigma Alpha Iota and BACCHUS. She was a recipient of the president’s scholarship and Evans-Storer Grant. She participated in the Band color guard, the Senior Biology Presentation and was a Wings Over the Platte tour guide.