The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Teacher Scholars Academy is celebrating 21 students graduating this spring with a special reception on May 7 at Carolyn Pope Edwards Hall.
The Teacher Scholars Academy was established in Fall 2019 to prepare teachers who will continue to grow and develop beyond their degree. Students in the academy are engaged in a supportive, cohort-based learning community throughout their teacher-education program.
This graduating class brings the total Teacher Scholars Academy graduates to 133. Of the previous 112 graduates, 92 are currently teaching or pursuing graduate school, and 71 are teaching in schools across Nebraska.
The May 2026 graduates of the Teacher Scholars Academy are listed below by hometown along with their academic major.
Nebraska
Bellevue:
- Evelyn Leones, secondary education: English
Callaway:
- Isabelle Stallbaumer, secondary education: social studies
Cozad:
- Isela Tercero-Horwart, agricultural education
Elkhorn:
- Olivia Saitta, inclusive early childhood education
Firth:
- Madalyn Stolcpart, elementary education
Gering:
- Jaden Shirley, secondary education: social studies
Grand Island:
- Michelle Garcia-Barillas, secondary education: social studies
- Kenzie Zapata, elementary education
Lincoln:
- Marisol Barron Perez, secondary education: mathematics
- Jadyn Maddox, secondary education: Spanish
- Lilian Nguyen, secondary education: English
- Maliah Patterson, family and consumer sciences occupational
- Jada Rohlmeier, human development and family science
North Bend:
- Aleya Bourek, human development and family science
Omaha:
- Hope Belcastro, secondary education: English
- Esther Blazauskas, elementary and special education (K-6)
- Brenda Perez Lopez, inclusive early childhood education
Tecumseh:
- Jenny Castor Cruz, elementary and special education (K-6)
Elsewhere
Fallbrook, California:
- Carla Cardenas, elementary education
Overland Park, Kansas:
- Cheyenne Fantroy, elementary and special education (K-6)
Virden, Illinois:
- Brenna Bruley, elementary education
College of Education and Human Sciences
Child, Youth and Family Studies
Special Education and Communication Disorders
Teaching, Learning & Teacher Education
