Three high school seniors from Nebraska have been awarded full-ride scholarships to the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s Honors Program. The university announced the recognition of Cal Seip from Grand Island, David Protzman from Norfolk, and Ethan Samuelson from Kearney as recipients of the prestigious Omaha World-Herald/Kearney Hub Scholars award. This scholarship, valued at over $85,000, covers tuition, fees, room, board, and books for up to four years.
The selection process for this scholarship is highly competitive. Applicants must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.85 and achieve a score of 32 or higher on the ACT. This year, the program received applications from 153 students, with 34 finalists invited to the campus for interviews. This marks the 42nd year of the scholarship’s existence.
“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, interim director of the program. The UNK Honors Program offers individualized pathways through research, creative activities, community service, and leadership opportunities.
Profiles of the Scholars
Cal Seip attends Nebraska Christian High School, where he is the student council president and vice president of the National Honor Society. He has participated in multiple sports including football, wrestling, and track, while achieving a perfect 4.0 GPA. Seip aspires to study pre-medicine with the goal of becoming a surgeon.
David Protzman is a senior at Norfolk Senior High School, where he has earned accolades as a three-time state medalist in athletics and a five-time Academic All-State honoree, boasting a GPA of 4.1. His extracurricular activities include choir and cross country, and he plans to pursue a degree in history education while competing on the Loper track and cross country teams.
Ethan Samuelson is from Kearney Catholic High School and serves as president of the school’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter. A two-time state mock trial qualifier, he has consistently achieved recognition on the 4.0 Honor Roll throughout his high school years. Samuelson also works as a certified nursing assistant at a local nursing home and intends to study pre-medicine with a focus on pulmonology.
The scholarship is sponsored by the UNK Honors Program and supported by the Omaha World-Herald and Kearney Hub newspapers, highlighting their commitment to fostering academic excellence in the region.
