Three high school seniors from Nebraska have achieved significant academic recognition by earning full-ride scholarships to the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) Honors Program. The university recently announced that Cal Seip from Grand Island, David Protzman from Norfolk, and Ethan Samuelson from Kearney will receive the prestigious Omaha World-Herald/Kearney Hub Scholars award, which represents the university’s leading academic accolade. This scholarship package covers tuition, fees, room, board, and books for up to four years, valued at more than $85,000.
Competitive Selection Process Highlights
The selection process for the scholarship is highly competitive. Applicants must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.85 and achieve a score of 32 or higher on the ACT. This year, a total of 153 students applied, with only 34 finalists invited to campus for interviews. “We are very excited to have Ethan, David, and Cal join the UNK Honors Program, along with the entire group of outstanding students who will start their studies here this fall,” said John Falconer, the interim director of the program.
The Honors Program at UNK provides students with individualized pathways that include research, creative activities, community service, and leadership opportunities.
Profiles of the Scholars
Cal Seip is currently a student at Nebraska Christian High School, where he serves as the president of the student council and the vice president of the National Honor Society. Demonstrating a commitment to academics and athletics, he has achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA while participating in football, wrestling, track, band, and choir. Seip plans to pursue a degree in pre-medicine, aspiring to become a surgeon.
David Protzman, a student at Norfolk Senior High School, has earned recognition as a three-time state medalist in athletics and a five-time Academic All-State honoree with a GPA of 4.1. His extracurricular activities include participation in choir, show choir, cross country, and track and field. Protzman intends to study history education while continuing his athletic career with the Loper track and cross country teams.
Ethan Samuelson attends Kearney Catholic High School, where he is the president of the Future Business Leaders of America chapter. He has qualified for state mock trial competitions twice and has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout his high school career. In addition to his academic pursuits, Samuelson works as a certified nursing assistant at a local nursing home and plans to study pre-medicine with a focus on pulmonology.
The Omaha World-Herald and Kearney Hub newspapers support the scholarship, which has been awarded for over four decades, recognizing outstanding academic achievement among Nebraska students.
