Bergman, Jacobsen Honored At State Capitol Ceremony

Northeast Community College students were honored during a special ceremony recently in the Nebraska State Capitol Rotunda in Lincoln. They joined other students from across the state during the 21st Annual Commissioner' s Recognition for Student Excellence in Career Education.

The ceremony, sponsored by the Nebraska Department of Education, recognized college and high school students for outstanding achievement in their respective national competitions last year. The students are members of Nebraska Career and Technical Student Organizations, including DECA, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), FFA, HOSA-Future Health Professionals, Educators Rising, Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) and SkillsUSA.

Northeast students who competed in the National Skills USA competition and PBL’s National Leadership Conference were recognized and received certificates during the ceremony.

Dr. Matthew L. Blomstedt, Nebraska commissioner of education, and Lieutenant Governor Mike Foley spoke at the event.

Northeast student Hunter Bergman, Neligh, who serves as state vice president of technology for PBL, gave a brief presentation on Nebraska PBL and introduced the PBL honorees.

For SkillsUSA, Northeast students Kaylee Dankert, Pierce, Luke Jacobsen, Neligh, Henry Hagge, Bloomfield, and Dustyn Stortzum, Silver Creek, were honored for taking first place in the collegiate Broadcast News Production category at the organization’s National Leadership and Skills Conference last year. It was the first gold medal earned by any Northeast students at the national SkillsUSA competition.

Jesse Wiseman, Homer, was honored for three second place finishes, including in the Networking Concepts and Cybersecurity categories at PBL’s National Leadership Conference as well as Internetworking – College/Technical Division at the SkillsUSA national competition.

Northeast students were also recognized for two bronze medals earned at the SkillsUSA competition. Calvin Craig, Norfolk, and Cody Greenwood, North Bend, secured a bronze in Robotics: Search and Rescue, while Gene Kumm, Osmond, received the medal for his work in Industrial Motor Control.