CINCF Student Art Exhibition features work by 22 Concordia Nebraska art students

Twenty-two Concordia University, Nebraska art students had artwork on display at the 2026 CINCF Student Art Exhibition during the month of April. The exhibition was held in Hillmer Art Gallery, located on the campus of the College of Saint Mary in Omaha, Nebraska. The goal of the exhibition is to showcase student artwork from across the state.  

“I think this is a wonderful opportunity for Concordia students because it allows them to see their art in a gallery setting other than at the Marxhausen Gallery of Art,” said Professor of Art James Bockelman. “The CINCF show also allows the students to see the type of artwork being produced at other colleges within the state. Ultimately, through this comparison, it may also reveal where their own individual work can develop and mature.” 

The CINCF (Council of Independent Nebraska Colleges Foundation) Student Art Exhibition is a juried exhibition featuring work from 13 private colleges and universities affiliated with CINCF from across Nebraska. It showcases a range of media, including painting, drawing, photography, sculpture and more. The exhibition has been running for seven years.  

“I think this is a wonderful opportunity for Concordia students because it allows them to see their art in a gallery setting other than at the Marxhausen Gallery of Art. The CINCF show also allows the students to see the type of artwork being produced at other colleges within the state. Ultimately, through this comparison, it may also reveal where their own individual work can develop and mature.”

CINCF’s 13 member schools include Bellevue University, Bryan College of Health Sciences, Clarkson College, College of Saint Mary, Concordia University, Creighton University, Doane University, Hastings College, Midland University, Nebraska Methodist College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Union College and York University.   

The art faculty at Concordia determined which students and works should be entered. They chose works in a variety of media, including plaster sculpture, ceramics, metal sculpture, water-based media, oil painting, prints and graphic design.  

At the Awards Presentation on Thursday, April 16, three Concordia students were given awards for the category of Two-Dimensional Media. Hannah Schaefer of Albany, Oregon, won third, Jozlin Schmidt of Bentonville, Arkansas, won second, and Sophia Orr of Las Vegas, Nevada, won first. Lillian Dose of Hampton, Nebraska, earned an honorable mention in the same category.  

Schmidt said, “I am honored that I had the opportunity to share my work with a broader audience and am very happy with the feedback I received! Thank you to everyone who visited the Hilmer gallery to see our work and to the people who made it happen!” 

Students who had work displayed in the exhibition include: 

 Allie Vieselmeyer, Ruskin, Nebraska 

Bailey Boschert, Lees Summit, Missouri 

Rebecca Hoffman, Lincoln, Nebraska 

Hannah Schaefer, Albany, Oregon 

Ava Bartels, Lincoln, Nebraska 

Lily Beck, Richland, Nebraska 

Keegan Beisel, Seward, Nebraska 

Ella Brandt, Knob Noster, Missouri 

Kennedee Caneles, Venus, Texas 

Lillian Dose, Hampton, Nebraska 

Aspen Hansen, Wahoo, Nebraska 

Isaac Herrington, Omaha, Nebraska 

Allan Huskins III, York, Nebraska 

Ki’Arra Johnson, Lincoln, Nebraska 

Micah Knerl, Tekamah, Nebraska 

Sophia Orr, Las Vegas, Nevada 

Delayna Rife, Foley, Minnesota 

Jozlin Schmidt, Bentonville, Arkansas 

Savannah Shelburne, Omaha, Nebraska 

Sophie Swanson, Dannebrog, Nebraska 

Claire VanTol, Unionville, Michigan 

Katie Wilson, Cozad, Nebraska 

Concordia University, Nebraska’s Department of Art is a community of visual artists and designers committed to an innovative program, a rigorous work ethic and an attitude of artistic integrity. Together they form the premier Christian visual arts learning community in the Midwest.