After attending the conference last year, Bultman and several of her classmates decided to enter works in the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) 2026 Juried Student Exhibition, held March 25-28 in Detroit.

The exhibition was highly competitive, with nearly 800 entries. Bultman’s ceramic vessel was one of just 44 pieces selected for the show.

“The conference provides an opportunity to develop professional contacts and improve practices in the ceramic arts,” said �㽶��Ƶ ceramics instructor Jerome Dubas ’83, adding that the undergraduate juried student exhibition is at the core of what makes NCECA so special.

Bultman, who lives in Hastings, created the piece as one of eight pieces designed for her senior capstone.

“‘Jadis’ is the name of the White Witch from The Chronicles of Narnia,” Bultman said, as she found herself examining intersections between her Dutch heritage and her interest in children’s literature.

The piece is created in the style of Dutch Delftware, as a tribute to Bultman’s grandmother and their family, who originated from Holland.

“I’ve always been attracted to the blue and white glazing style and thought that might be something interesting for me to explore,” she said. “My grandma is one of the strongest women I know and I wanted to explore Girl Power, femininity and gender studies.”

Majoring in both studio art with an emphasis in ceramics and English with an emphasis in writing, Bultman searched for a way to tie both of her capstones together.

In studying children’s literature and looking at different themes and structures, Bultman noticed that lots of female characters are cast as villainous or as evil, which she found to be an interesting power dynamic.

“Jadis is cast as the villain, and I think it’s because people are scared of women in power,” she said.

The design on the vase contains several hidden gems, including references to Jadis turning people and animals into stone as she invokes fear in her subjects to maintain her authority.

Bultman designed eight vessels, featuring eight women from different stories and folklore.

“Besides displaying technical skill, Anna‘s work shows the influence of a liberal arts education,” Dubas said. “The surface design of her work reflects her cultural heritage, as well as her studies in the literary arts.”

Dubas will accompany 13 students to Detroit this year, where the show’s jury includes both ceramic artist Eva Kwong and Gary Garrido Schneider, who is the executive director of Grounds for Sculpture.

More than 5,000 students, artists and lovers of ceramics are expected to attend the conference and exhibition, which will feature artworks from undergraduate, post-baccalaureate and graduate students in Mexico, Canada and the United States.

The student exhibition will run concurrently with “Volumes,” the 60th annual conference of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts.

Being accepted into NCECA’s Juried Student Exhibition is a major accomplishment, Dubas said.

“Anna having a piece in the show is a tribute to her, the ceramics program at �㽶��Ƶ, the �㽶��Ƶ Art Department and �㽶��Ƶ at large,” he said.

By Laurie Cicotello ‘94/MAT ’01

The study, titled “Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Parkinson’s Disease Patients,” investigates how the global pandemic affected the quality of life and functional abilities of individuals living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in the rural Midwest.

The research team was led by first author Maria Andrea Garcia Elizondo ’25 and included fellow graduate Jermaine Francis Jr. ’25, alongside faculty advisor Dr. Juliana de Almeida Cardoso, associate professor of psychology, and Dr. Lorraine Edwards, M.D., a neurologist with Central Nebraska Neurology.

“Leading this mixed-methods study allowed us to explore the complex intersection of neurodegenerative disorders and the psychosocial disruptions caused by a global health crisis,” said Garcia Elizondo. “It was a rewarding challenge to see the project through from the initial data collection to a peer-reviewed publication. I am incredibly proud that our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the unique challenges faced by the Parkinson’s community in the rural Midwest, and I’m thankful for the mentorship that made this possible.”

The research project was made possible through the �㽶��Ƶ Excelsior Scholars Program, which provides research grants to students. Garcia Elizondo received the grant in 2022 to complete the research while she and Francis Jr. were students. Garcia Elizondo majored in biochemistry, while Francis Jr. majored in health technology.

Using a mixed-methods approach, the team surveyed 31 participants and conducted 22 in-depth interviews. While the quantitative data showed no significant difference in daily functioning between those who had contracted COVID-19 and those who hadn’t, the qualitative interviews revealed a complex picture of the pandemic’s toll.

The researchers identified five key themes:

• Symptom overlap between COVID-19 and Parkinson’s.
• Health literacy challenges.
• The profound impact of social isolation.
• Varied reactions to the pandemic.
• Diverse perceptions of physical and emotional well-being.

The inclusion of Edwards provided a vital bridge between academic inquiry and clinical reality. Her expertise as a neurologist was instrumental in advising the students and framing the study’s impact on the local Parkinson’s community.

“This project highlights the multifaceted nature of quality of life for those with Parkinson’s,” Cardoso said. “The findings emphasize a critical need for interdisciplinary approaches, peer support and community-based programs. Seeing our students lead a project of this caliber that addresses such complex, real-world needs is a testament to the power of undergraduate research at �㽶��Ƶ.”

The published study is now available through the Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human Sciences via New Prairie Press at .

Uhrmacher found a home at �㽶��Ƶ, somewhere where the professors recognized him just by his laugh. “It felt nice being known that well by professors and staff,” he said. “It was very important for me to feel that sense of community and connection.”

Now, the biology grad is about to graduate medical school and start her residency.

As a corporate analyst in Fiserv’s Global Analyst Program, Tyrell, a 2022 graduate, is immersed in a fast-paced environment where he’s tasked with developing innovative solutions, providing strategic advice and supporting critical business operations. His diverse skill set, honed through his international relations major and Spanish minor, equips him to excel in this multifaceted role.

“Every day brings new challenges and opportunities,” Tyrell said. “From collaborating with cross-functional teams to analyzing complex data, I’m constantly learning and growing.”

A key aspect of Tyrell’s role involves bridging the gap between finance and sales. He works closely with various departments, including finance, sales, billing, product management, legal and leadership, to optimize pricing strategies and drive revenue growth.

Beyond his core responsibilities, Tyrell said he actively seeks out opportunities to improve operational efficiency and streamline processes. His fresh perspective and analytical skills have proven invaluable in identifying areas for improvement.

Tyrell credits his success at Fiserv to the strong foundation he built at �㽶��Ƶ. “The diverse curriculum, supportive faculty and engaging extracurricular activities prepared me well for the challenges of the professional world,” he said. “The analytical and research skills I developed in my coursework are directly applicable to my daily work.”

The connections he forged during his time at Hastings have also played a significant role in his career trajectory. A referral from a fellow HC graduate opened doors to opportunities at Fiserv, and the strong network he cultivated continues to support his professional growth.

As Tyrell continues to advance his career at Fiserv, he’s excited about the opportunities to learn, grow and contribute to the company’s success. He said he’s also eager to explore the vibrant Omaha community with his fiancée.

By Carissa Barwick, communications specialist

In what could be described as an athletic trainer’s dream job, exercise science graduate Julyah Wilson ’22 interned this past summer with the New England Patriots, the NFL team that dazzled fans during the Brady-Belichick era, won a record six Super Bowl titles and continues to sell out every home game.

Wilson, a former Bronco track athlete, earned her master’s degree in May 2024 from the University of Nebraska Omaha, which holds two places each year in the graduate athletic training program for �㽶��Ƶ students who meet admissions criteria.

The two-year program focuses on training techniques, orthopedic assessment and therapeutic interventions.

For one of her required clinical rotations, Wilson interned with the University of Alabama football team, an experience that planted the seeds for the Patriots’ offer.

“I did well at Alabama and built a great connection,” Wilson said. “One of the athletic trainers I worked with is now with the Patriots. He reached out to me and asked if I was interested in a paid summer internship. Of course, I said yes.”

Before heading east, Wilson passed her board of certification exam to become a certified athletic trainer.

This story originally appeared in the 2024 HC Today.

A summer at Gillette Stadium

The Patriots put Wilson up in an extended-stay hotel in Wrentham, about 10 minutes from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. Arriving at the stadium’s athletic training room at 6 a.m. each day, she treated rookie and veteran players for ankle injuries, quad strains, sore backs and other ailments and helped with stretching and hip mobility exercises.

After treatments, the players practiced on two different fields in the hot summer sun. Wilson and her colleagues swarmed like bees during breaks in the play to hand out water and Gatorade. After team meetings, she headed back to the athletic training room to treat more players.

The NFL experience didn’t intimidate Wilson, who also completed practicums with Bellevue West and Papillion LaVista High Schools in Nebraska, Iowa Western Community College and Creighton University’s women’s basketball team in Omaha. Working for the pros did require greater awareness and focus.

“NFL teams are way more fast paced. You have to keep your head more on a swivel than you would for a college or high school team. And there’s definitely more hands on deck, people on the staff. Earlier days, longer hours and different kinds of treatment strategies,” she said.

While interacting with players in the athletic training room, Wilson found them cordial and friendly. Her contacts included veteran players like safety Jabrill Peppers and defensive end Deatrich Wise and rookies like Marcellas Dial, a recruit from the University of South Carolina.

Wilson remained with the team until the “cut down date” in late August when NFL teams trim their preseason teams from 90 to 53.

Learning the fundamentals at HC

A number of factors contributed to Wilson’s decisions to major in exercise science and become an athletic trainer. As a high school athlete in Aurora, Colorado, she was injured and had shoulder surgery, an experience that piqued her interest in therapy and recovery. She was intrigued by an anatomy class her senior year.

“Those things just played together to make me want to be an athletic trainer,” she said.

Recruited as a sprinter on �㽶��Ƶ’s track team, she qualified for nationals four consecutive years, was named All Conference and All American, and was GPAC champion in the 200m, 100m and 60m dashes. A dean’s list student, she was named to Who’s Who in 2022 in recognition of her contributions to the campus community.

Wilson counts among her inspirations �㽶��Ƶ faculty Casey Molifua and Dr. Matthew Beeler from the Department of Physical Education and Human Performance, which offers the popular exercise science major. This academic year, exercise science is one of the largest majors on campus among returning, full-time undergraduates, second only to business administration.

“Beeler introduced me to the UNO Athletic Training Program. Casey was aware of what I wanted to do and helped me find the path to take. They both guided me on what to do next and were very helpful,” she said.

Wilson recently landed a job as assistant athletic trainer for women’s soccer and softball and men’s wrestling at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln.

“I can relate to athletes since I also competed in sports and had injuries,” she said. “Athletic trainers are people athletes can talk to outside of their coaches and parents. We’re people they can trust. I find that very fulfilling. The athletic training room is a healing place, mentally and physically.”

By Judee Konen ‘85

This piece by Grace Sinsel and the first part of her Fulbright experience originally appeared in . You can read the announcement of her receiving he Fulbright here.

I graduated from �㽶��Ƶ in 2023 with a secondary education English language arts degree and an emphasis on English language learners. The skills that I learned from �㽶��Ƶ and my student teaching semester are aiding me as I teach abroad.

I am placed in a foreign language high school in the capital of Bulgaria. Throughout the week I see students from 9th-12th grade with varying levels of English proficiency. My classes focus on cultural exchange, and I talk about my experiences in the United States, and they share their own experiences from Bulgaria. We accomplish this through speaking and writing activities.

I am also a coach for the BEST speech team, which stands for Bulgarian English Speech and Debate Tournaments. My students will be giving speeches in English at different tournaments in Bulgaria throughout the year. I am excited to work with these students and watch them grow their speaking skills.

My students have also been a great help in telling me all the foods to try and the best places to visit in Bulgaria. One of their recommendations was to try the Banitsa, which has quickly become my favorite Bulgarian food. It is a traditional pastry dish with a variety of fillings, sometimes savory and sometimes sweet. I will be trying to master the recipe so I can make it when I get back to the United States!

They have also given me a list of places to visit in Sofia and other places in Bulgaria. Sofia has many museums, historical sites and hiking trails that I have explored. Recently, I visited Plovdiv, Bulgaria which is one of the oldest cities in Europe and has ancient Roman ruins throughout.

Since I have gotten to Bulgaria, it has been all about trying new things. I am taking a traditional folk dancing class which is also known in Bulgaria as horo. Every day, I try new foods, try my best to speak to people in Bulgarian and navigate the city. I have never lived in a large city before so learning how to use the transportation system took a while to get used to. As a native Nebraskan, I am used to driving my car to get where I need to go! All of these things have kept me on my toes, but they have given me a whole new perspective on Bulgaria’s culture and way of life.

Bulgaria is a wonderful place to explore with amazing people and a rich history. I am excited to continue to visit new places and work with my students. Thanks to �㽶��Ƶ my dreams of teaching abroad have become a reality.

By Grace Sinsel ‘23

Sinsel received a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award for an English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) to Bulgaria for the 2023-24 academic year. Sinsel is from York, Nebraska.

She said she chose �㽶��Ƶ because she really liked her first campus tour. “The second time I came back, Dr. (Darci) Karr from the Education Department remembered my name from the first time. That left a really big impression, that �㽶��Ƶ was going to care about me, know who I am and I was going to be able to build relationships with my professors and get to know a lot of people on campus,” she said.

Felton said her fondness for poetry began when she attended her first “Slam Camp” in 2015 where she met some of her few favorite contemporary poets: Sierra Demulder and Neil Hilborn.

During her time at �㽶��Ƶ, she also organized her first open mic night on campus and hosted a weekly poetry club during her first year.

At Hastings Public Library, she’s the librarian experience assistant and is responsible for managing adolescent summer reading programs, organizing books for displays, stocking the summer reading cart for kids and covering story time. Felton said she has plenty of recommendations to choose from if someone is ever in need of a new book genre or new to leisure reading.

Felton said she takes pride in helping kids in her programs find books they enjoy reading or helping them discover a new and unexpected genre.

“I love helping people because it makes me happy. So when kids come to the library, it’s my goal for them to walk out feeling satisfied and curious with the books they take home,” Felton said.

She also developed the theme for this summer’s community reading program: All Together Now.

“All Together Now focuses more on acts of kindness the kids can partake in their communities. All it takes is to be kind; whether it’s big or small, it’s the little things that make the most difference,” Felton said.

Her experiences with English classes on campus, specifically a Beowulf analysis class, inspired Felton to learn more about contemporary pieces and implement contemporary poetry in her programs.

“I am also forever grateful to Carissa Uhrmacher at Career Services for reaching out to me about the Hastings Public Library job. I had no clue about the position until Carissa sent the application to me. Who knows where I would be without that act of kindness,” Felton said.

Felton said she has big plans for the next year as she pushes for a reading and writing workshop and an official library poetry club. She continues to spread her passion for programs to the rest of the library community and urges community members beyond the library to get involved.

“I want students to be more curious. If you’re at �㽶��Ƶ and curious about a class, take that chance and try it out,” said Felton. “Never doubt or sell yourself short, you might surprise yourself.”

By Cecilia Velarde, a junior marketing and communication studies double major from Loveland, Colorado

“I think that you should pick Hastings if you know that you want to stick out. You don’t just want blend in and you want to be more than just a number to your professors,” said Watson, who is from Franklin, Tennessee.