First Governor’s Opportunity Award Recipients Selected in Nebraska State College System
LINCOLN – Katrina Kuhnel of Chadron, Jacob Buss of Tecumseh and Amanda Miller of Callaway are the first three recipients of the Nebraska State College System (NSCS) Governor’s Opportunity Award. The awards provide half the cost of tuition at Chadron, Peru and Wayne States Colleges and are renewable for four years.
Governor Heineman said, “The Governor’s Opportunity Award provides students who want to live, work and lead in Nebraska communities with the opportunity to continue their education at Chadron, Peru or Wayne State Colleges. I want to congratulate the first recipients of this new scholarship program, and I thank the Nebraska State College System for investing in our future leaders.”
Nebraska seniors applying for the Governor’s Opportunity Award scored between a 21 and 24 on the ACT or 1500 and 1650 on the SAT college entrance exams. They also wrote an essay about why they wanted to stay in Nebraska after graduating from college. A committee at each state college selected the scholarship recipients.
Katrina Kuhnel
Kuhnel will attend Chadron State College in the fall. She played in the pep band and competed in softball, basketball and one-act plays at Chadron Senior High School.
She has been an active member of her church’s youth group and coached a youth softball team. After 12 years in Girls Scouts, she earned the Gold Award, the highest honor given by the organization.
In her essay Kuhnel said, “Working with three other scouts over the space of five months, it took over 400 hours to replant C-hill, Chadron’s scenic backdrop, after it was devastated by a 2007 wildfire. One of my priorities in the planning of this project was purchasing all materials locally. Supporting a town’s economy is crucial to the survival of any community.”
She is the daughter of Lorin and Kristal Kuhnel.
Jacob Buss
Buss will attend Peru State College and plans to major in education. He would like to become a music instructor in a small community after graduation.
He received the American Cancer Society’s Youngest Active Committee Member Award for the State of Nebraska in 2008. He is also a member of the National Honor Society and has won numerous speech competitions while attending Johnson County High School in Tecumseh.
In Buss’ essay he said, “While there is much diversity in the geography and cultural make up of our great state, there are many things which are common from Peru to Chadron and Sydney to Wayne. They include the deeply embedded work ethic and strong values of our citizens that make this state the great place that is to live in. Nebraskans as a whole know how to dig deep to make things happen.”
He is the son of Paul and Judy Buss.
Amanda Miller
Miller will attend Wayne State College in the fall and plans to major in sociology. Her plans following graduation include attending law school.
She has served on various youth councils while attending Callaway Public Schools and is a volunteer for Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). Miller has served FCCLA as the National Vice President of Public Relations, Region E Vice President, State Vice President of Membership and Chapter President. She has also been named the FCCLA member of the Year.
In her essay, she said, “In looking at my role as a future community leader, I plan to become very involved in many of the organizations and activities that my community has to offer and to continue that involvement throughout my lifetime – be it attending a village board meeting or volunteering at a local care facility. I believe that as a citizen I should do whatever I can do to help everyone around me have the best Nebraska life possible.”
She is the daughter of Glen and Teri Miller.