College of Arts and Sciences
Abby Swoboda
Abigail (Abby) Swoboda (she/her) double majored in molecular and biomedical biology and English with a concentration in creative nonfiction, with minors in chemistry and medical humanities. Swoboda completed research that was endorsed by INBRE and Goldwater fellowships.
Swoboda was a course mentor, executive board officer for Women in STEM, and an Honors student ambassador. She is thankful for her support system which includes her family, research mentors, the Honors Program, and the Susan Buffett Foundation’s Thompson Learning Community. Swoboda plans to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. which will lead her to a career as a physician scientist.
College of Business Administration
Flopateer Habib
Flopateer (Filo) Habib will earn his degree in business administration with concentrations in legal studies, human resources, and management. He has held leadership roles in Delta Chi and Dance Marathon, is a member of the CBA Scholars Academy, and has completed two study abroad programs. At UNO, he conducted legal research on worker classification in the platform economy.
Habib has completed internships with Union Pacific, Fiserv, Capital One, and Walt Disney Corporate. He thanks his parents and brother for their continuous support. Upon graduation, he will work as an analyst for Capital One in Washington, D.C. before attending law school.
College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
Brooke Covington
Brooke Covington graduates this May with a Bachelor of Science in biomechanics. She served as the president of Maverick Productions, a Lead University Ambassador, and is a scoliosis mentor for the organization Scolios-us, where she helps kids with scoliosis across the country and shares her personal scoliosis journey.
She has completed 300+ shadowing hours in the field of prosthetics and orthotics at Limb Lab in Omaha and is a full-time student athlete on the UNO Women’s Tennis team. She plans to pursue a master’s in prosthetics and orthotics at UTSW Medical Center in Texas. She credits her success to her family, mentors, and the Biomechanics Department.
College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media
Sara Zaleski
Sara Zaleski (she/they) graduated in December 2023 with a degree in art history and minor in Black studies. During her time at UNO, Zaleski worked as the lead archivist in the UNO Art Gallery and assisted in curating the Print in Color exhibition at the Roberta & Bob Rodgers Gallery. This focus on sharing and celebrating the work of artists of color is integral to all her past and ongoing work.
Though she finished her degree online while living in Texas, she is returning to Omaha this spring to partake in the city’s growing art community as an artist, curator, and community engagement leader.
College of Information Science & Technology
Samir Hesham Ali
Samir (Sam) Hesham Ali (he/him) is studying bioinformatics and biomechanics, with minors in computer science and chemistry. His academic journey has been accompanied by an interest in community wellbeing.
He currently works as an education instructor for young boys at the NorthStar Foundation, allowing him to foster resilience, teamwork, and personal growth using adventure-based learning.
Ali’s commitment to community service extends to his aspiration of becoming a firefighter for the city of Omaha.
College of Public Affairs and Community Service
Korianne Moslander
KoriAnne Moslander will receive a bachelor’s degree in gerontology with a concentration in administration this May. She is a part of the Goodrich Scholarship Program and is an active gerontology ambassador. Following graduation, she will pursue a Ph.D. in gerontology at UNO.
Moslander credits her passion for advocating for aging adults to her great-grandparents who inspired and motivated her throughout her life. She greatly appreciates her supporting faculty members who have helped her achieve many things during her collegiate time.
College of Public Affairs and Community Service - Division of Continuing Studies
Badawiya Issifou-Samarou
Badawiya Issifou-Samarou will receive a Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies with a minor and certificate in gerontology. She credits her achievements to her family, friends, professors, and advisors. She is currently completing a practicum at UNMC’s Engage Wellness Medical Fitness Center as a wellness intern promoting healthy aging.
With a personal affinity and passion for public health, she is planning to pursue a graduate degree in public health with a focus on epidemiology and health promotion. She plans to work in the health care field and do research on preventive care that positively impacts people and their communities’ health.
UNL - College of Engineering
Katie Frey
Kaitlyn (Katie) Frey is studying architectural engineering with a specialization in mechanical systems. She served as the president of the Architectural Engineering Student Leadership and Advisory Committee where she championed initiatives related to outreach, recruitment, and retention. Through these initiatives, she discovered her passion for making the engineering community feel more inclusive and welcoming.
As a Scott Scholar, she volunteered for RISE, a local nonprofit whose mission is to end generational cycles of incarceration through entrepreneurial and interpersonal skills training. Following graduation, she will continue working as a mechanical engineering intern for HDR while pursuing her master’s of architectural engineering through the UNL College of Engineering.
