The first time Jackson Harvey visited the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, it felt like home. After creating that same sense of belonging for numerous future Huskers during their campus visits, he graduates Dec. 20 ready to start his career as an accountant and internal auditor at Kiewit.
“As soon as I stepped on campus as a high school junior, I instantly felt like I was at home and part of the family,” said Harvey, who is from Underwood, Iowa. “My student tour guide shared the right things I needed to know and gave me a sense of what life would be like on campus and how I could succeed.”
Encouraged by his high school mentor and math teacher, Greg Bachman, Harvey entered the College of Business as an actuarial science student but later found accounting was a better fit. He also recognized that personal growth would require pushing himself beyond his comfort zone.
“I loved being able to solve problems using numbers, but I also knew I was shy and fit the stereotype of accountants who sit in a cubicle all day. I wanted to break out of that mold and separate myself from the pack.”
Harvey made it a priority to connect with professors during class and office hours and utilized campus resources such as the Teaching and Learning Center in the College of Business.
“I had no clue what to do for that first exam, but I knew I couldn’t just walk in and breeze through it,” he said. “I reached out to a tutor in the Teaching and Learning Center and found out that as a student, you always have people who want to help you succeed.”
He joined Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity and served as treasurer, gaining hands-on accounting experience by managing budgets and improving financial processes. He also got involved with Beta Alpha Psi, the professional accounting organization and networked with employers to learn more about their companies and available internships.
“The biggest thing I told myself was to keep my mind open to everything, because you never know how much of an impact trying something new may have on your life,” Harvey said.
Selected as a freshman for the Integrity in Business Leadership Program, he gained early exposure to ethical decision-making and responsible leadership. Through the program, a mentor told him about an internship in the college’s enrollment management office that required leading tours, speaking to groups and connecting with prospective students and their families.
“I jumped at that opportunity, even though it sounded intimidating,” Harvey said. “It continued to push me into new experiences, and it was also gratifying when students I gave tours to chose Nebraska and later shared how it was one of the best decisions they made.”
The internship reunited him with Kendra Ritchie, director of recruitment for the College of Business, whom Harvey first met during his initial campus visit as a high school junior.
“Jackson has the unique capability of making everybody feel valued and included, and ensures every visitor is welcomed,” Ritchie said. “People are often shocked to learn he is a student and not professional staff, and I don’t know many 21-year-olds who have developed such strong social intelligence.”
Harvey also gained industry experience through three accounting internships at Baxter Auto Group, Lutz and RSM. Each of them helped him clarify his career goals.
“At Baxter, they gave me every single task they had, and it helped me hone my problem-solving skills in the workplace,” Harvey said. “I worked a busy season with Lutz and got good experience with public accounting, and completed an audit internship with RSM. I learned that private accounting was the right fit for me.”
His full-time position at Kiewit came after a recruiter reached out to him via LinkedIn. The initial conversation led to interviews and the final job offer.
“Graduating from Nebraska means everything to not only me but my family too. All the hard work and time sacrificed were worth every second,” Harvey said.
As he prepares to cross the stage at Commencement, he noted how impactful it is to hear from students.
"It's heartwarming when a student shares that I helped make their decision easier," Harvey said. "Nebraska is a great place with amazing faculty and staff who made a huge impact on me and I'm grateful for my time here."
