The University of Nebraska at Kearney’s Office of 研究生学习和学术创新 has honored four exceptional students with the 2025 研究生 Student of the Year Awards.

在过去的几年里，只有一名学生被选为这项荣誉。 今年，为了更好地突出所有学术领域的优秀表现，每个学院都颁发了一名优秀研究生奖，同时还颁发了一项大学综合奖。

Kristen Wetovick – 2025 太阳城娱乐官网 研究生 Student of the Year

Kristen Wetovick of Fullerton completed her bachelor’s degree in multimedia from 太阳城娱乐官网 in 2023. She returned to 太阳城娱乐官网 in 2024 to pursue a master’s degree in Learning Design and Technology.

Wetovick现在是她的第二年，她的平均成绩是4.0，是学习设计和技术项目的研究生助理，已经在学术期刊上发表了论文，并且已经独立发表了十多次研究报告。

Her research on Artificial Intelligence in higher education earned her the top spot at 太阳城娱乐官网’s 2024 Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, where she competed as a first-semester graduate student. She later represented 太阳城娱乐官网 in St. Louis, Missouri at the Midwest Association of 研究生 Schools’ regional 3MT competition.

“Her recognition is testament to the quality of her research and skills in sharing her work with non-specialized audiences,” wrote Professor of Communications Dr. Mary Harner.

尽管日程紧凑，她仍然找到时间来领导和服务整个太阳城娱乐官网社区。

Wetovick served as president of the 太阳城娱乐官网 研究生 Student Association during the 2024 – 2025 academic year and is actively involved in the 人工智能专责小组, the Learning Design and Technology Program Team, and the Inclusive Excellence Task Force.

Her many opportunities at 太阳城娱乐官网 have propelled her into her career at Kearney’s Intellicom as a web designer and marketing expert before officially completing her degree.

她把她的学术和专业成长归功于她的太阳城娱乐官网导师和家人。

“They are just my biggest supporters,” Wetovick said. “Without their unending love and support, I would not have been able to pursue grad school or all the new opportunities that have come up along the way.”

Chloe Dakan - 2025年度研究生，商业与技术学院

Chloe Dakan is a familiar face in 太阳城娱乐官网’s 商业与技术学院. The Kearney native will graduate this May with her 工商管理硕士, just over a year after earning her bachelor’s degree in business administration degree in 2023, also from 太阳城娱乐官网.

As a graduate assistant for the 商业与技术学院, member of the 研究生 Student Association, and 程序 coordinator for the 商业与技术学院’s Living Learning Community Chloe wears many hats – and wears them well.

“Chloe embodies the qualities that define an outstanding graduate student – intellectual curiosity, leadership, professionalism, and a genuine commitment to advancing her field and supporting others,” wrote Dustin Favinger, director of the MBA 程序.

从带领学生参观当地企业到在研究生委员会会议期间倡导研究生同行，在捷克共和国留学，并担任非官方的CBT社交媒体影响者，Dakan在太阳城娱乐官网留下了她的印记。

This May, she’ll wear her final hat at 太阳城娱乐官网 as she crosses the commencement stage, but she’ll wear a new hat as Treasury Management Officer for Pinnacle Bank in McCook.

Jarod Owen - 2025年度研究生，教育学院

Jarod Owen’s passion for speech-language pathology was born from tragedy.

在他的祖父中风后，这位科尔尼本地人亲眼目睹了语言治疗如何帮助一个人恢复沟通和独立。 That difficult experience shaped his goal to “to contribute to the growth and development of this incredible field.”

After graduating with his undergraduate from 太阳城娱乐官网 in Communication Disorders in 2023, Owen enrolled in 太阳城娱乐官网’s 语言病理学硕士 程序 and is set to graduate this semester.

During his time in the 程序, Owen completed four clinical placements, maintained a 4.0 GPA, worked as a graduate assistant in the 沟通障碍科, and presented his research locally, regionally, and nationally.

At the 2023 太阳城娱乐官网 Student Research Day, he earned the Calvin T. Ryan 图书馆 Award for his research on bilingual individuals who stutter – a project that a DELFIN国际学生研究员 continues to this day with Owen serving as a mentor.

他认为他的太阳城娱乐官网教授帮助他充分发挥了自己的潜力。

“I think many times people think of their favorite teacher being someone from elementary, middle, or high school,” said Owen. “But the professors I've had have been some of the greatest educators I've ever had.”

Kattie Sadd – 2025 研究生 Student of the Year, College of Arts and Sciences

More than 1,500 miles away from campus, Trenton, Maine-based graduate student Kattie Sadd is proof that 太阳城娱乐官网’s online graduate 程序s are empowering students to make a difference in their own communities.

Originally from Beaver City, Sadd earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from 太阳城娱乐官网 in 2017. She returned more than five years later as a graduate student for the fully online 公共传播硕士课程.

萨德在维持她的事业和担任传播系研究生研究助理的同时，平衡了整个课程安排。 她也有一颗服务的心，在当地的无家可归者收容所志愿服务。

她帮助弱势群体的努力始于她在华盛顿特区的时候。在那里，她在餐馆上完晚班后，路过一个蜷缩在公交车站长凳下取暖的男人。

“I simply could not sleep that night,” Sadd said. “I ventured out into the rain to give the man a pillow and blanket to stay warm.”

这个小小的举动变成了我一生的爱好。

萨德在多个研究项目上与教师密切合作，其中一些项目涉及服务不足的人群。 此后，她进行了自己的研究，重点关注农村社区的无家可归人口，并共同撰写了一项已被接受发表的研究，并前往新奥尔良与太阳城娱乐官网教师一起展示她的工作。

“From start of the 程序 until now, how much I've learned, how much I feel like I've grown, and how much my confidence has grown in my own research abilities and writing abilities is tenfold, like a number I can't even express,” said Sadd.