2021 KKD Winners

Martina Braunsroth has excelled throughout her high school career and looks forward to the challenges of the future. She plans to attend Concordia University in Seward where she will major in Music Education. Martina attends Bishop Neumann Catholic High School in Wahoo and participates in choir, show choir, marching band, concert band, drama, speech and the school musical production. She has volunteered with the Summer Reading Program at the Wahoo Library, the church choir and the Nebraska Czechs of Prague, serving as a Czech Princess from 2018-2019.

Connor Buschini plans to major in Business at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich., after graduation from Plainwell High School in Kalamazoo. In high school, Connor was involved in basketball, football, tennis, the National Honor Society and the Red Cross Club. He held team captain positions in football, basketball and tennis. He has also volunteered with the Red Cross, highway trash pick-up, and various church and sports outlets.

Corbin Fix will graduate from Norris High School in May and plans to major in Aviation at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Corbin’s high school activities include choir, show choir, musicals, and trap shooting. His volunteer activities have included a shoe drive, delivering care packages to a nursing home, serving food at the Cortland American Legion pancake feed and making/delivering blankets for the Child Advocacy Center.

Ryan Gouldin will begin his college career at Cloud Community College in Concordia, Kansas, where he hopes to play baseball and earn an associate’s in Business Management. Ryan then plans to transfer to a four-year college/university to earn his bachelor’s degree. While attending Norris High School, Ryan has been involved in baseball and Future Farmers of America. His volunteer activities have included working baseball camps, mowing for his church, and helping with Vacation Bible School.

Shelby Hein plans to attend Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb., next year where she will major in Elementary Education. While attending David City High School, Shelby was involved in volleyball, basketball, track and field, the dance team, student council, FFA and the National Honor Society. She has been involved in many volunteer activities for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, the Red Cross with activities like Box Out Hunger, Scare Away Hunger, hat/mitten drive, and Feed the Farmer.

Abby Houk plans to study Nutrition, Exercise, and Health Science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. During her time at Milford Jr/Sr High School, she was involved in many activities, including band, softball, basketball, track, school musical, Family Career and Community Leaders of America, and Close-Up. As a senior, she served as the Future Business Leaders of America Club Vice President and the Student Council Student Body President. Her varied community activities have included Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Sports Express Softball Maintenance Crew, Community/Business Partnership, among many others.

All Averey Kahler has ever wanted to be is an advocate for someone with a listening ear. Therefore, after graduating from Milford Jr/Sr High School this spring, she is pursuing a degree in Human Services at Southeast Community College in Lincoln, NE. Her high school activities centered around music and art. She participated in band, pep band, marching band, Art Club, and Art Class. She was awarded the Best In Show at the Nebraska State Art Contest in the category of self-portrait.

After graduating from Gull Lake High School, Cassidy Neff plans to attend Grand Valley State University to earn a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She will continue her education to receive her master’s with the ultimate goal to work in the field of Speech Pathology. In high school, she was named to the Academic Team All-State and Conference 1^st Team Player for basketball. She also played varsity soccer and participated in Distributive Education Clubs of America, National Honor Society, Portage Soccer Club, and Strictly Skill AAU Basketball. Her varied community activities have included attending or volunteering for various athletic camps and the Special Olympics.

During all four years at Lincoln High School, Bach Nguyen participated in the Honors/International Baccalaureate program. While in this program, he decided to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to pursue a degree in Pre-Health with the ultimate goal to become a physician. His high school activities included marching band, varsity wind ensemble, show choir band, and soccer, where he was named to the NSAA Academic All-State. He volunteered in the community as a tutor at the Lefler Honors Cadre and delivered food for the Asian Community Center.

After Elvin Nguyen graduates from Lincoln High School in May, he plans on attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for a Bachelor’s Degree in Software Engineering. At Lincoln High, Elvin was on the tennis team and received a varsity letter and Academic All-Conference award. He is also in the photography club, ping pong club, Key Club, Link Crew, and National Honor Society. He has volunteered for the Buddhist Youth Group, Upward Bound, and Adopt-A-Highway. Elvin has a growing passion to work with technology and software, and aims to secure an internship with a respected company as a software developer. His career goal is to create products that can positively affect lives, improve autonomous driving to reduce preventable car accidents, strengthen cyber security networks, and to improve voice assistants to make daily life easier.

Lindsey Nguyen made the most of her high school years at Pius X by participating in the school’s cheer team, med club, and outdoors club, and she was inducted into the National Honors Society. She plans to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and major in Biology, and her ultimate dream is to become a Pediatric Dentist. As a child, her teeth made her insecure, and she wants other children to smile confidently and never have to experience feelings of anxiety over their teeth.

Lars Pedersen has kept himself busy while at Lincoln Southwest High School. He placed first at State for three events in the Science Olympiad and is Vice President for the National Honor Society. He also participates in the Debate team, Math Club, Quiz Bowl, Lincoln Youth Symphony, show band, marching band, school orchestra, and choir. He was awarded the Outstanding Instrumentalist twice in All-State Orchestra. Lars has volunteered for Scouts BSA, Lincoln Civic Orchestra, concessions at Husker sporting events, server at Matt Talbot, and was a percussionist at Pinewood Bowl. Lars plans on attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for a Physics degree. Physical Science has been his primary passion since high school, so he’s made it his goal to focus on physics in college to gain a better grasp on the subject and its many disciplines. He also plans on staying involved in music and the Lincoln Civic Orchestra.

Logan Petersen enjoys problem solving and working on motors, and has a love for animals and great respect for the law and keeping the community safe. This is why he plans on attending Southeast Community College in Milford, Nebraska, after he graduates from Malcom High School to become either a K-9 Police Officer or Automotive Mechanic. While at Malcom High School, Logan participated in Future Business Leaders of America, Skills USA, and participated on the football, basketball, and track teams. Logan is driven to complete his academic requirements and start his career by the time he is 19-years-old.

Lauren Prososki has kept busy while at Raymond Central High School. She is on the softball, basketball, and track & field teams. She also participated in One Act, speech, Future Business Leaders of America, National Honor Society, concert band, marching band, jazz band, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She has volunteered for Adopt-A-Highway, served meals at The Gathering Place, was a student leader for Vacation Bible School and has volunteered at the People’s City Mission. After graduation, Lauren plans on attending Southeast Community College in Milford, Nebraska, and pursuing a career in Non-Destructive Testing in the aviation industry.

Once Benjamin Ramsey graduates from Lincoln Southeast High School, he plans on attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to obtain a bachelor’s degree and to use his education to benefit others around him. While at Lincoln Southeast High School, Benjamin was on the marching band, concert band, pep band, and National Honor Society. He was an Honor Roll recipient for four years, and was awarded an Academic Letter and Academic Pin. He has spent extensive time volunteering for the Nebraska Human Resources Institute, Youth Group, People’s City Mission, Everett Elementary School, and Vacation Bible School. Being a member of the National Human Resources Institute has allowed him to continue to develop and further his leadership skills and also gain deeper insights into people and what leadership truly is. His work ethic, dedication, honesty, and integrity set him apart.

Maggie Jo Richter’s goal is to graduate from Elmwood-Murdock High School while maintaining her class rank and 4.0 GPA, and to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to pursue a possible degree in either Horticulture, Natural Sciences, Microbiology, or Botany. She wants to learn more about the natural world and help people throughout her career. While in high school, Maggie has been in the One-Act Theater Program where she was a Team Leader and won four Outstanding Actor’s Awards. She also participated in the UNL Math Day, Spanish club, science club, quiz bowl, science bowl, choir, and band. She has spent time volunteering at the Lofte Community Theater and picking up trash along the highway for Elmwood Christian Church.

After his May graduation from Lincoln East High School, Hudson Scherer plans to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for a Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition, Exercise, and Health Science, and he then hopes to attend the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha for his Doctorate in Physical Therapy. His high school career featured a stellar academic performance, including making the Honor Roll and getting inducted into the National Honors Society, volunteering at People’s City Mission and Matt Talbot Kitchen, and participating on both the tennis and baseball teams.

Vincent Vo has his sights set on a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. As an introvert, Vincent felt profoundly challenged when his family moved after his sophomore year, and he transferred from a class of 1,790, which afforded him some anonymity, to a school 100 miles away with a class size of 360. Vincent forced himself from his comfort zone and joined the band at the new school, and he even became Co-Captain of the school’s University Interscholastic League (UIL) Science Team. He’ll start college with credit from four AP classes.

After graduating from Seward High School, Jackson Kyle Warren plans to attend Doane University and major in Education, ultimately obtaining his Master’s Degree. Jackson participated in his school’s soccer, track, wrestling (Captain and letterman), and football (three-time letter winner) teams and volunteered at area youth football camps and youth wrestling tournaments. His career goals include teaching and coaching middle-school children and focusing on helping them have healthy bodies and minds.