Students, faculty, the interim chancellor, a staff member, and a Husker fan turned cancer research advocate were honored by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln at its annual Ivy Day ceremonies April 11.
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 2026-27 presidents of the societies — Sophia Harding of Omaha for Mortar Board and Marlana Saalfeld of Lincoln for the Innocents Society.
Emily Schlichting Demres, associate partner at consulting firm McKinsey and Company and a former Innocents Society member, delivered the keynote address.
Honorary memberships in the Innocents Society were presented to Interim Chancellor Katherine S. Ankerson; Manda Williamson, professor of practice and associate chair in the Department of Psychology; and Erin Sayer, professor of practice in biochemistry.
Honorary Mortar Board memberships were presented to Jenni Brost, director of New Student Enrollment, and posthumously to Jack Hoffman, a pre-law student at the University of Nebraska at Kearney whose battles with brain cancer inspired his family to create the Team Jack Foundation.
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 2026 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
Battle Creek:
- Breanna Borchers, Innocents Society, secondary education (English language arts), Curtis and Jodi Borchers.
Bennet:
- Andrew Moyer, Innocents Society, biological sciences (pre-medicine), Joshua and Alison Moyer.
Elkhorn:
- Cassy Limley, Mortar Board, marketing, Steve and Janel Reeves.
Grand Island:
- Taylor Mazour, Mortar Board, accounting, Scott and Darbie Mazour.
Hastings:
- Jimmy Truong, Mortar Board, supply chain management, Mau Le and Hung Truong.
Hershey:
- Brandy Bode, Mortar Board, finance, Jason and Kelly Bode.
Kearney:
- Andy Nguyen, Mortar Board, biological sciences (pre-physician assistant), An and Mimi Nguyen.
Lincoln:
- Zainib Al-Jayashi, Mortar Board, psychology, Ahmed Al-Jayashi and Blanca Espinoza.
- Maathir Basi, Innocents Society, psychology, Hamid Shogar and Ekhlas Rahma.
- Tyler Castle, Mortar Board, economics and finance, Jason and Kathy Castle.
- Alex Halvorsen, Innocents Society, English and psychology, Jeff and Lisa Halvorsen.
- Shahd Khourshed, Mortar Board, software engineering (Raikes School), Maged Khoursid and Rasha Shewail.
- Megan McCormick, Mortar Board, finance, John and Lisa McCormick.
- Ella Medina, Mortar Board, communication sciences and disorders, Scott and Angela Medina.
- Jasmine Pham, Innocents Society, mathematics and data science, Brent Wolzen and Hong Pham.
- Maitreyi Purandare, Mortar Board, computer science (Raikes School), Rahul and Swapna Purandare.
- Marlana Saalfeld, Innocents Society, political science and secondary education, Stephanie Saalfeld.
- Tatum Terwilliger, Mortar Board, biological systems engineering (Raikes School), Ryan and Judy Terwilliger.
- Jacey Tran, Innocents Society, biological sciences (pre-medicine), John and Kathy Tran.
Omaha:
- Lance Buscher, Mortar Board, business administration (Raikes School), Shane and Kim Buscher.
- Charlie Cox, Mortar Board, finance and accounting, Joe and Elizabeth Cox.
- Sophia Harding, Mortar Board, computer science and graphic design, Matthew and Kari Harding.
- Jackson Ingvoldstad, Mortar Board, broadcasting, David Ingvoldstad and Ashley Walters.
- Jack Kohout, Mortar Board, sports media and communication, Joe and Victoria Kohout.
- Josh McWilliams, Mortar Board, microbiology, Chris McWilliams and Kristi Rohrig.
- Bethany Thimjon, Mortar Board, management (Raikes School), Todd and Jill Thimjon.
- Megan Wilkins, Innocents Society, environmental and sustainability studies, Paul and Christina Wilkins.
Scottsbluff:
- Havelah Hertzler, Mortar Board, biological sciences, Brad and Allison Hertzler.
Stapleton:
- Caleb Burnside, Mortar Board, agribusiness, Rich and Polly Burnside.
Elsewhere
Parker, Colorado:
- Sophia Shafer, Mortar Board, biochemistry, Steve and Lynn Shafer.
Algonquin, Illinois:
- Amanda Oliver, Innocents Society, biological sciences (pre-medicine), John and Brenda Oliver.
Rensselaer, Indiana:
- Adam Messman, Innocents Society, actuarial science (Raikes School), Jonathan and Gwen Messman.
Waverly, Iowa:
- Carson Reznicek, Mortar Board, data science (Raikes School), Dave and Karla Reznicek.
Belleville, Kansas:
- Ryan Beavers, Mortar Board, mechanical engineering, Nolan and Holly Beavers.
Pittsburg, Kansas:
- Ava Glover, Innocents Society, economics, Patrick and Melissa Glover.
Wamego, Kansas:
- Joseph Shea, Mortar Board, computer science and data science (Raikes School), Ryan and Sara Shea.
Kansas City, Missouri:
- Gracie Moran, Mortar Board, biochemistry, Brian and Hillary Moran.
Liberty, Missouri:
- Bailey O'Brien, Mortar Board, advertising and public relations, and sports media and communication, Jay and Lindsey O'Brien.
Stockton, Missouri:
- Miles Wirth, Mortar Board, finance and economics, Mike and Sarah Wirth.
McAllen, Texas:
- Katelyn Guzman, Innocents Society, child, youth and family studies (pre-law), Carolyn Guzman and Marcus Sharer.
Horizonte, Brazil:
- Lucas Coelho, Innocents Society, computer science, Renata and Estevao Coelho.
