During Hastings College’s day-long Celebration of Excellence April 24, Anthony Cloyd and Brian Whetstone, both of Omaha, Nebraska, were named 2018 Bronco Award recipients at Honors Convocation.
For photos from Honors Convocation, click here.
For a video, click here.
Established in 1924, the Bronco Award is the College’s highest non-academic award granted to students. Recipients of the Bronco Award and the accompanying Who’s Who list are determined through a vote of their peers and a student-faculty committee.
Who’s Who honorees are recognized for having made outstanding campus contributions during their college careers. Up to 10 percent of the graduating seniors may be named to the Who’s Who list.
Bios for Cloyd and Whetstone and other Who’s Who honorees are below:
Emma Atuire of Denver, Colorado, is a theatre arts and sociology double major. She’s a member of the Alpha Chi national academic honorary, Alpha Psi Omega theatre honorary, Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honorary and Radical Notion. The Dean’s List student is also active in the college’s theatre department, appearing in and managing multiple productions over her time at Hastings College. She is the daughter of Martin “Awon” Atuire and Vicky Putsche.
Alexandria Belitz of Fullerton, Nebraska, is majoring in English. The Dean’s List student is a member of HC Singers, the Hastings College Choir and Kappa Rho Upsilon, as well as the Alpha Chi national academic honorary and Sigma Tau Delta national English honorary. She’s co-director of a peer mentoring program, spent a month in Ireland for the Irish Fellows program in 2015 and was the Dr. Art and Eunice Langvardt English Scholarship Presenter. She is the daughter of Lynn and Tracy Belitz.
Andrew Boge of Johnston, Iowa, is a communications studies major. Boge is a member of the communication honorary Lambda Pi Eta, the Phi Kappa Delta educators organization and the national academic honorary Alpha Chi. He was a national finalist and All American for the Forensics team, founder and director of the Crimson Cupboard Food Assistance Program, a Dean’s List student and contributor to student media and the Collegian. He served on the Artist Lecture Series Student Committee, received a top paper award from the National Communication Association and is a National Endowment for the Humanities Scholar. He is the son of Ken and Elizabeth Nead.
Allison Braun of Henderson, Nebraska, is majoring in business administration. She has participated in the Artist Lecture Series Student Symposium Committee, Active Minds, Student Association, Professional Business Leaders, College Republicans, AGvocates, New Student Days Committee and the Political Science Club. The Dean’s List student is a member of the Alpha Chi national academic honorary, the economics honor society Omicron Delta Epsilon and the Society for Collegiate Journalists. She has volunteered at the Y as a youth volleyball coach, and participated in the college’s Model Global Summit: United States Ambassador and Model Public Policy Round Table. She is the daughter of Gary and Lavonne Braun.
Joe Brown of Omaha, Nebraska, is a web communication design major. The Dean’s List student is on the cheerleading team and a member of the Society for Collegiate Journalists and the communication honorary Lambda Pi Eta. He and has served on the Student Judiciary Committee and Student Senate, and participated in student media. He is the son of Bill and Marcia Brown.
Karli Cabrera of Pawnee City, Nebraska, is a vocal performance major and has participated in the Hastings College band, bell choir, Hastings College Choir, HC Singers and the Jazz Ensemble. The Dean’s List student is a member of Alpha Omega, Campus Crusade, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Alumni Ambassadors, the music sorority Sigma Alpha Iota and Millennial Vibe a capella group. Cabrera has also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics and the Children’s Museum instrument drive. She was named Outstanding Performer for the Music Department in 2017 and winner of the Young Artists Competition for the Hastings Symphony Orchestra in 2018. She is the daughter of Kristi Robison.
Levi Cermak of Hastings, Nebraska, is a business administration and marketing double major. The Dean’s List student is a member of the Order of Omega, the Hastings College Choir, 1-2-5 men’s a capella ensemble, Fan Federation and Kappa Alpha Order. He has served as the student representative for the faculty senate and curriculum committee, a volunteer at Crossroads and as the glass studio work study. He interned at Northwestern Mutual Financial Services in 2015 and Centennial Plastics from 2016 to 2018, and received the runner up prize at the Big Idea Hastings business pitch competition. He is the son of Steven and Kara Cermak.
Anthony Cloyd of Omaha, Nebraska, is a biology major. Cloyd is a Dean’s List student, Creigh Weyer Scholar and a member of the Alpha Chi national academic honorary and the Tri-Beta national biology honorary. He is a member of the football team, served as a biology peer mentor and a member of student groups Love Your Melon and College Acquaintance Rape Educators. He is the son of James and Christi Cloyd.
Robert Fowlkes of Burbank, California, is a sociology major. Fowlkes played football and has volunteered with the team to support youth exercise and activity days on campus, campus and community clean-up events and more, and served on the Campus Climate Task Force.
Mallory Gruben of Eckley, Colorado, is a journalism major. She has participated in student media, including as editor-in-chief of the Collegian; Food 4 Thought; and Academic Showcase. The Dean’s List student spent a month in Ireland as an Irish Fellow in 2017 and is a member of the Alpha Chi national academic honorary, and received a national research presentation award at this year’s Alpha Chi national conference. Gruben also interned in the Office of Marketing and Communications on campus. She is the daughter of Ray and Shawn Gruben.
Alex Gentry of Walton, Nebraska, is a psychology major. The Dean’s List student has participated in student government, LocalGlobal, Mental Wellness Educators and the Inter-Greek Council, and served on committees for Student Life and as a bureau chief for the Collegian. He has participated in Big Brothers Big Sisters, served as a campus tour guide, assistant student director of TeleFund, and been a member of the Society for Collegiate Journalists, Artist Lecture Series Student Symposium Committee and Eta Phi Lambda. He is the son of David and Jani Gentry.
Holly Hild of Omaha, Nebraska, is a chemistry major. She played on the women’s basketball team and received NAIA’s Emil S. Liston Award, a national honor based on athletic and scholastic achievement. The Dean’s List student is a member of the Tri-Beta national biology honorary, Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honorary, the national academic honorary Alpha Chi and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She is the daughter of David and Jill Hild.
Roshawn Hollie of Bellevue, Nebraska, is a psychology and sociology double major. She has participated in Food 4 Thought, the Multicultural Student Union and the Sociology Club. The Dean’s List student played on the women’s basketball team and is a member of Psi Chi, the psychology honorary. She is the daughter of Don and Rolinda Hollie.
Caleb Holt of Omaha, Nebraska, is majoring in exercise science. He has served as a resident assistant, artist assistant and as a Student Alumni Ambassador. The Dean’s List student was also a member of the wrestling team and is a NSAA-certified wrestling official. He is the son of David and Lynne Holt.
Nathan Jensen of Hastings, Nebraska, is a music education and voice performance major. The Dean’s List student has participated in the Hastings College Choir, Hastings College Band, Bell Choir, Jazz Ensemble, Student Education Association, Student Senate, Millennial Vibe, 1-2-5 men’s a capella ensemble, HC Mariachi Band, the Brass Quintet and the Inter-Greek Council, and served as a resident assistant. He’s also a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity, Pi Rho Sigma leadership fraternity and Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honorary. He is the son of Byron and Deb Jensen.
Jordan Johnson of Fairbury, Nebraska, is majoring in music. The Dean’s List student was a member of the women’s basketball team and has served as a basketball volunteer at the Y and as part of a professional role model program. In 2017, she interned for Hear Nebraska in Grand Island. She is the daughter of Jeffrey and MaryAnn Johnson.
Kelly Kruse of Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a broadcasting major. She was an Irish Fellow in 2016, played on the women’s golf team. She also participated in Model U.N. and student media, including serving as producer of Bronco News Now. The Dean’s List student was the recipient of the Mabel Gray Newburn Communication Scholarship in 2017. She is the daughter of Wayne and Elizabeth Kruse.
Allison Matousek of Holdrege, Nebraska, is a recreation and sport management major. She played for the softball team and served as a resident assistant. She’s a member of Alpha Omega sorority and participated in the Student Association executive council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, HC Singers, Student Alumni Association, CRU Christian Ministry Group and Sunday Night Live. She is the daughter of Kent and Lisa Matousek.
Joseph Prickett of Hastings, Nebraska, is a history and sociology double major. He has participated in Bell Choir, the Hastings College Choir, Men’s Choir, Peer HIV Education, 1-2-5 men’s a capella ensemble, Student Alumni Association and theatre productions. The Dean’s List student is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity, Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honorary and Phi Alpha Theta national history honorary, and has served as library assistant and campus tour guide. He is the son of Dan and Lisa Prickett.
Anna Printz of Lincoln, Nebraska, is majoring in marketing. The Dean’s List student has been a cheerleader, Meals on Wheels volunteer and Academic Showcase chair. Printz is also a member of Alpha Delta Alpha sorority, the national academic honorary Alpha Chi, national leadership honorary Omicron Delta Kappa, the marketing club and a captain for Love Your Melon. She is the daughter of Edward and Karen Printz.
Joe Quinn of Hastings, Nebraska, is a Spanish Education major. He’s a member of the communication honorary Eta Phi Lambda, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity, Order of Omega Greek honorary and the Hastings College Choir. The Dean’s List student has also served on the Student Artist Lecture Series committee and been active in the Student Senate. He is the son of Margaret “Maggie” Quinn.
Grace Rempp of Hastings, Nebraska, is a history and philosophy double major. The Dean’s List student is a member of Phi Alpha Theta, the history honorary, and has been active in campus theatre, appearing in and managing multiple productions over her time at Hastings College. She received the Philosophy Book Award in 2017 and has served as a library assistant. She is the daughter of Barry and Kass Rempp.
Katie Rice of Lincoln, Nebraska, is a secondary education major. The Dean’s List student was a member of the women’s soccer team, the Student Education Association, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Sigma Tau Delta, the English honorary. She is the daughter of Bill and Sarah Rice.
Kenzie Shofner of Maple Plain, Minnesota, is a communication studies major. The Dean’s List student is a member of the communication honorary Lambda Pi Eta, Phi Kappa Delta organization for educators and the national academic honorary Alpha Chi. She has served on the Collegian staff, Artist Lecture Series Student Symposium Committee, Student Judiciary Committee and board of the YWCA of Adams County. Shofner is a national semifinalist and All-American for the Forensics team. She is the daughter of Bradley and Barbara Shofner.
Bethany Simoens of Plattsmouth, Nebraska, is an economics and mathematics double major. The Dean’s List student is a member of Alpha Delta Alpha sorority and the national leadership honorary Omicron Delta Kappa, and has served on the Inter-Greek Council and Student Senate. She is the daughter of Joseph and MaryBeth Simoens.
Liz Tidwell of Littleton, Colorado, is majoring in biochemistry/molecular biology. The Dean’s List student is a member of Alpha Chi, the national academic honorary; Tri-Beta, the national biology honorary; Kappa Rho Upsilon; and Sigma Tau Delta, the national English honorary. She’s also participated in Campus Acquaintance Rape Educators (CARE) and Mental Wellness Educators. She is the daughter of Jack and Jennie Tidwell.
Peyton VanWinkle of Kearney, Nebraska, is a biochemistry/molecular biology major. VanWinkle is a Dean’s List student and member of Alpha Chi, the national academic honorary; Tri-Beta, the national biology honorary; the Inter-Greek Council and Kappa Rho Upsilon. She’s served as a resident assistant and been involved in Active Minds, BACCHUS, the Peer Umbrella Network and served as a Peer HIV Educator. She is the daughter of Darren and Paige VanWinkle.
Devon Wetteland of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, is a marketing and web communication design double major. She’s a member of the dance team, served as a resident assistant and been involved in student media, including Bronco News Now. The Dean’s List student is also a member of the Lambda Pi Eta, the communication honorary; and the national academic honorary Alpha Chi. She is the daughter of Philip and Julie Wetteland.
Brian Whetstone of Omaha, Nebraska, is majoring in history. The Dean’s List student and Creigh Weyer Scholar is a member of the national academic honorary Alpha Chi, national history honorary Phi Alpha Theta and the music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He has participated in the Bell Choir, Hastings Symphony Orchestra, Radical Notion and Student Senate. He also worked in the Hastings College Archives and interned for the Adams County Historical Society. Whetstone authored the Hastings College Historic District National Register of Historic Places nomination, which culminated with the National Park Service naming much of the College to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) through the creation of the Hastings College Historic District. He also founded of the Hastings Oral History Initiative (HOHI). He is the son of Jim and Leanne Whetstone.
Hastings College is a private, four-year institution located in Hastings, Nebraska, that focuses on student academic and extracurricular achievement. With more than 60 majors and 15 pre-professional programs, Hastings College has been named among “Great Schools, Great Prices” by U.S. News & World Report and a “Best in the Midwest” by The Princeton Review. For more, go to hastings.edu.
