Class of 2018 NCTA Aggies

June 13, 2018

By NCTA News

Seventy degrees or 1-year certificates from the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture at Curtis were awarded in agriculture and veterinary technology for the NCTA Aggie Class of 2018.

Associate of applied science (AAS) or associate of science (AS) degrees were conferred in May to 68 students, and two certificates were presented in Agriculture Production Systems, said Ron Rosati, NCTA dean.

With a single ceremony at the campus each year, the May event included students who completed their academic courses and required internships by last December.

“We had an outstanding commencement and recognition for the Class of 2018 with the largest number of honor students (27), to date, for the May ceremony,” Rosati said.

 He was joined by University of Nebraska Vice President Mike Boehm in presenting diplomas at the indoor ceremony at the Curtis Memorial Community Center.

And, in another first for the Aggies, the class valedictorian and salutatorian were a pair of lifelong friends and classmates of the same, rural community high school.

Aggie valedictorian Nate Letcher received an AAS in agriculture production and agribusiness management as did his Hay Springs High School friend Riley Abbott who was salutatorian.

The 2016 HSHS graduates are returning to Sheridan County to operate diversified production agriculture enterprises.

“We are very proud of these young men for their leadership in Aggie organizations, the PTK honorary, the agribusiness skills team, and in serving as residence assistants for NCTA student housing,” said Jennifer McConville, NCTA associate dean.

“We will miss having Nate and Riley on campus and know they will be successful producers and community leaders for Nebraska agriculture,” McConville said.

Wheat grower and Nebraska state legislator Dan Hughes of Venango delivered the commencement address. He encouraged graduates to pursue relationships with mentors and continually interact with others in their chosen career.

“Another bit of advice I will share,” Hughes noted, “To be successful, you have to have the ability to recognize an opportunity and also be in a position to take advantage of that opportunity.”

University of Nebraska Regent Bob Phares of North Platte brought greetings from the Board of Regents and applauded graduates for their collegiate dedication and future contributions to Nebraska agriculture.

Class of 2018 graduates listed by division and town, include 27 honor students identified as:

***Summa Cum Laude 4.0 CGPA, ** Magna Cum Laude, 3.75-3.99 CGPA, or *Cum Laude, 3.5-3.74 CGPA include

Agribusiness Management Systems

Aurora - **Alyssa Novak

Bayard – Maggie Brunmeier (Dec. 2017)

Columbus – Braden Wilke

Hay Springs - **Riley Abbott, salutatorian, **Nate Letcher, valedictorian

Middleburg, Penn. (now Hay Springs) - **Erica Mowery

Agriculture Production Systems

Alliance – Brent Thomas

Aurora – Cole McDonald, ** Alyssa Novak, Jared Sullivan (Dec. 2017)

Bassett – Joseph Calvo, ***Jentrie Maurer

Brewster - **Alan Rooney

Columbus – Braden Wilke

Comstock – **William Kusant

Daykin – ***Tyler Heidemann,

Fairbury - **Trevin Likens

Grand Island – Nathan Montenez

Hay Springs - ** Riley Abbott, **Nate Letcher

Hazard – Mason Jager

Hampden, Maine - **Carly Wade

Hemingford - ** Lee Jespersen

Jewell, Kan. – Wyatt Duskie

Lewellen – Courtney Leach

Lisco – Cash Talamantez

Loomis – Allen Matejka

Long Pine - ***Katrina Clay

Middleburg, Penn. (now Hay Springs) **Erica Mowery

North Loup – Dalton Gydesen, **Katharine Schudel

North Platte - **Dalon Koubek, Devin Lunzman (Dec. 2017)

Ogallala – Cidney Foster, ***Jesse Orr

Ord – Sydney Boden

Sargent – Chandler Ritchie

Sterling – Max Melvin

Tekamah – Thomas Hennig

Thurston – **Karlee Johnson

Valentine – Daniel Cox (Dec. 2017)

Valley City, N.D. – **Austin Schaefer

Verdigre – Rachel Dather (Dec. 2017)

Wausa – Chantelle Schmit (Dec. 2017)

Wood River - **Kaitlyn Thesenvitz

 

Veterinary Technology Systems

Arnold – Brooke Blowers

Arthur - ***McKenzie Walker

Bassett - ***Bridget Jackson

Bertrand - Brianna Hinson, ***Payton Peterson

Cambridge – ***Kallie Hilker

Clifton, Kan. – Kaleigh Bloomfield

Elba – Torrie Wilkinson (Dec. 2017)

Gering - Kimberly Snelling

Grafton – Cori Knapp

Hastings – Carli Johnson

Grand Island – Courtney Lenners

Holton, Kan. – Rilee VanDonge

Lincoln – **Emily Bauer, Jessica Schumacher

Lyons – Julia Bray

Merriman - ***Eva Oliver

Omaha – Anne Ausdemore

Orleans – Brenden Bose, Laural Christensen

Raymond – Kaitlyn Chubbuck

St. Paul – Brittany Koperski

Valley – Courtney Allen

Wymore – Alexis Dorn

Agriculture Production Systems Certificate

McCook – Scott Fred Smith

Norfolk – Emily Finkhaus

 

Graduates receiving an associate degree completed a minimum of 74 credit hours of courses in two or more years at NCTA.  The APS certificate requires 20 hours.

Ten students are currently completing summer internships in veterinary technology or agriculture production. They are expected to graduate in August and their diplomas will be mailed when names are announced.

NCTA is the only two-year college within the University of Nebraska system. Degrees and certificates are offered in agribusiness management, animal and equine science, agricultural education, agronomy, agricultural equipment management, and veterinary technology. Program are outlined at http://ncta.unl.edu or 1-800-3CURTIS.

Download a PDF of this press release