For the students at Yutan High School, the final year wasn’t just about senior pranks and prom—it was about the future. Of 29 seniors, 17 have chosen four-year colleges and picked their majors. Among them, several seniors have chosen their colleges from the University of Nebraska system, with Lincoln, Kearney and Omaha campuses, and are ready to pursue their field of study.
Senior Tyler Witt, who will be attending UNO, has decided to pursue a field in building design.
“I decided to major in architecture engineering because I love math, and I enjoy seeing my ideas come to life,” Witt said.
Senior Jason Neukirch will be studying mechanical engineering, driven by his enthusiasm for making things.
“The reason I’m majoring in mechanical engineering is because I enjoy the process of creating,” Neukirch said.
Senior Amelia Dieckman was drawn to education and health care because of her drive to help others.
“I’ve always loved working with kids and making a difference in people’s lives. Education at UNK seemed like the perfect way to pursue that passion and create a good impact,” Dieckman said.
After selecting their majors, these students faced the next big challenge: choosing the college that was the best fit for them. Senior Libby Winn, who is attending UNO and majoring in advertising and public relations because of her love of writing, found herself comfortable at this campus.
“I was drawn to the UNO facilities, especially the art and science building, which was the original campus before it expanded,” Winn said. “The campus itself was beautiful and really made me feel at home.”
A common theme among these seniors’ college decisions was the importance of the campus experience, as they all sought an environment where they could feel comfortable, supported and engaged.
“UNK stood out to me because of the KHOP (Kearney Health Opportunities Program), and they have these learning communities that make it feel like a close-knit environment in the school,” Dieckman said. “Plus, UNK is also in a nice-sized town, which made it feel like a great choice.”
For Neukirch, Lincoln was the best option because of the engineering and athletic programs.
“I chose Lincoln because I knew I could get an engineering degree at Lincoln and also have an interest in their track program,” Neukirch said.
Students are also excited to participate in activities hosted on their future campuses. “I am very excited about a program at UNO called Destressfest, where we relax the week before finals and have almost no work until finals,” Winn said.
College isn’t only about the buildings and activities, however, but also the people residing within it.
“I have already met other people in the engineering community, and I know I’d love to learn with them,” Witt said.
For younger students still trying to make their college decisions, Winn stresses the importance of exploring your options.
“Definitely do your research. Originally, I only knew about Lincoln, so I was planning to go there. Then, after touring Omaha, I realized I liked that college more; the vibes were better,” Winn said.
Witt encourages students to focus on what they need from a school.
“It doesn’t matter if the school is big or small as long as it has what you are looking for, the right programs, the right people and the right fit for you,” Witt said.
Dieckman agrees with Witt and advises future students to choose a college that fits their personality and goals.
“Evaluate your options based on your personality, and choose whatever fits you best. I chose UNK because it was the best fit for me, but you should choose what’s best for your future,” Dieckman said.
