Congratulations to the NebraskaLand University Class of 2025!

NebraskaLand Bank has awarded $10,750 in scholarships to 37 exceptional graduates of the NebraskaLand University Financial Literacy Scholarship Program. The awards ceremony held Thursday, April 24, 2025, celebrated the students’ achievements and commitment to financial literacy.

The graduates successfully completed a six-course curriculum designed to build essential money management skills. In addition, they participated in the NebraskaLand University Essay Contest. During the ceremony, Kelly Lammers, Director of the Nebraska Department of Banking, presented commemorative coins to the top three essay winners. These coins symbolize the students’ hard work, determination, and commitment to mastering financial literacy—a core value championed by NebraskaLand Bank.

Essay Contest Winners:

• 1st Place: Natalia Wiezorek, $1,000

• 2nd Place: Reese Erbert, $750

• 3rd Place: Max Berntson, $500

Each of the remaining 34 graduates received a $250 scholarship for their participation and successful completion of the program, further demonstrating NebraskaLand Bank’s commitment to investing in the future of these young individuals.

Additional scholarship recipients:

Addison Uehling

Anna Burklund

Baylee Halouska

Blakeley Staroska

Caden Joneson

Cara Roberg

Cole Huffman

Elizabeth Nielsen

Ellie Hanna

Emma Elliott

Ethan Elliott

Gabriella Esther Caudillo

Gabriella Swift

Isaac Irish

Jaxon Knisley

Jaxton Robinson

Jayden Wallace

Karissa Czarnick

Katie Abbott

Kiley Palu

Kinsey Kimberling

Leyton Connell

Logan Dodson

Logan Fletcher

Makenna Still

Rebekah Daily

Reese Fleck

Saije Phelps

Sawyer Magnuson

Shelby Smyth

Sienna Mitchell

Sophia Baca

Stephanie Budke

Zoe Schmitt

Senator Mike Jacobson, President and CEO of NebraskaLand Bank, congratulated the students on their determination, saying, “We commend each student who has put forth great effort to include this program in their already busy schedules. We are especially proud of the students at NebraskaLand University for their dedication to enhancing their financial skills. We can confidently say they’ve acquired valuable skills and established a solid foundation to become astute financial leaders in both their personal and professional lives. We look forward to watching them develop, grow, and lead. Congratulations, NLU Class of 2025!”

NebraskaLand University is an in-depth program covering vital financial topics, including budgeting, savings, credit, loans, wealth building, and identity theft protection. Senior and Executive Officers from NebraskaLand Bank lead the courses, blending traditional financial knowledge with practical, real-world applications to prepare students for future success.

Since its inception during the 2014-15 school year, NebraskaLand University has awarded $109,750 in scholarships, reflecting its enduring commitment to empowering young learners. This initiative continues to make a meaningful impact by equipping students with the financial tools they need to thrive and by fostering a culture of lifelong learning within the community.