Students present at 2025 Academic and Research Symposium

Over 60 students presented at the 14th annual Academic and Research Symposium at Concordia Nebraska on April 28, 2025. The event, which takes place in the Dunklau Center for Math, Science and Business, includes both poster and oral presentations throughout the late afternoon and evening.  

Professor of Mathematics Dr. Brian Albright has been coordinating the event for the past four years. 

The symposium gives students the opportunity to present original research and significant projects they’ve worked on over the course of the semester in an interdisciplinary setting. This year, majors from history and psychology to biology and English and others were represented at the event. A total of 62 students gave 38 poster and 23 oral presentations on topics ranging from chiropractic care to football recruiting. 

This year, the event concluded with a keynote speech by speaker Lyman Stone, a senior fellow and director of the Pronatalism Initiative at the Institute for Family Studies. Stone’s presentation was entitled “What Tomorrow May Bring: Evidence from the Lutheran Religious Life Survey Revealing How the LCMS is Changing.”  

Student presenters included (listed alphabetically by last name): 

Brittney Aitken, senior, Lincoln, Neb. 

Naomi Archer, freshman, Colorado Springs, Colo. 

Connor Asche, senior, Geneva, Neb. 

Elena Batenhorst, senior, Columbus, Neb. 

Simon Blankenship, freshman, Wytheville, Va. 

Meredith Boster, junior, Fulshear, Texas 

Hanna Bowers, senior, Waddell, Ariz. 

David Claridge, sophomore, Leander, Texas 

Greta Corneliusen, senior, Colorado Springs, Colo. 

Aarin Dean, senior, Seward, Neb. 

Autumn Deterding, junior, Cambridge, Neb. 

Hannah Ethridge, junior, Fulda, Minn. 

Aaron Everett, senior, Milwaukee, Wis. 

Ryleigh Flesner, junior, Greeley, Colo. 

Rayshun Foreman, senior, Beaver Crossing, Neb. 

Tanner Frahm, sophomore, Plainview, Neb. 

Molly Frenzen, sophomore, Columbus, Neb. 

Hugo Fuentes, junior, Denia, Spain 

Edumar Garcia, senior, Rio Grande City, Texas 

Thomas Gorline, senior, St. Peters, Mo. 

Kate Griess, junior, Sutton, Neb. 

Bradley Hallock, sophomore, Ord, Neb. 

Elaina Hanson, sophomore, Valdez, Alaska 

Micah Henschen, senior, Bancroft, Neb. 

Martin Herrera, senior, Quito, Ecuador 

Molly Hjelm, sophomore, Glenwood, Minn. 

Riley Hoetfelker, senior, Hooper, Neb. 

Ellie Jander, senior, Bridgeton, Mo. 

Niah Kirchner, junior, Omaha, Neb.  

Nathan Kurth, junior, Stromsburg, Neb. 

Zoe Lavigne, junior, Anaheim, Calif. 

Noah Leeper, sophomore, Thornton, Colo. 

Slade Leicht, junior, Lucas, Texas 

Jackson Lindburg, sophomore, Stromsburg, Neb. 

Emily Loseke, junior, Leigh, Neb. 

Elizabeth Marsh, junior, York, Neb. 

Joseph McQueen, senior, Millsap, Texas 

Jenna Muntz, junior, Louisville, Neb. 

Hope Nelson, senior, Rochester, Minn. 

Katelyn Nix, senior, Fort Wayne, Ind. 

Brock Olson, junior, Omaha, Neb. 

Zachary Oxar, senior, North Miami, Fla. 

Joshua Palacios, senior, Katy, Texas 

Travis Parsons, senior, Round Rock, Texas 

Seanna Patterson, senior, Lincoln, Neb. 

Jason Payne, sophomore, Bettendorf, Iowa 

Adah Pflughoeft, junior, Lusk, Wyo. 

Anthony Polley, senior, Edmond, Okla. 

Lily Psencik, junior, Lincoln, Neb. 

Jaidan Quinn, senior, Bonner Springs, Kan. 

Molly Reece, junior, McCordsville, Ind. 

MaKenzi Ross, sophomore, Grand Island, Neb.  

Terrigen Sebek, sophomore, Hampton, Neb. 

Karson Sherman, junior, Glenvil, Neb. 

Tristan Smith, senior, Elizabeth, Colo. 

Colby Sugden, junior, Adams, Neb. 

Bethany Thomas, senior, Libby, Mont. 

Mason Ward, junior, Twin Falls, Idaho 

Ransom Watts, sophomore, Colorado Springs, Colo. 

Matthew Weismann, senior, Gibbon, Neb. 

Emma Womboldt-Siemek, junior, Gothenburg, Neb. 

Tytus Woodburn, senior, York, Neb.  

The annual Academic & Research Symposium at Concordia University, Nebraska provides students with a place to present original research and projects in a professional setting. Learn more about the symposium here.