UNL's College of Journalism and Mass Communications celebrates the 63 students who graduated on Dec. 16, 2023, with a bachelor's degree in journalism, including Chancellor's Scholar Megan Buffington. Five master's degrees were also awarded at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Dec. 15, 2023.
CoJMC is the only undergraduate program accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications in Nebraska. The degree provides students with the technical skills, broad liberal arts education, and critical thinking skills necessary to excel in the ever-changing journalism and mass communications industries.
The college offers four academic majors for a bachelor's degree in journalism: advertising and public relations, broadcasting, journalism and sports media and communication. The program is committed to preparing graduates to meet the challenges of the rapidly evolving media landscape by offering a challenging and supportive academic environment.
"Our graduates have shown exceptional dedication to academic excellence and personal growth, and I am so proud of their achievements," Shari Veil, dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, said. "As they step into the next phase of their career journey, I am confident they will continue to create positive change and make us proud."
Six students graduated with distinction in recognition of outstanding academic excellence. Eligibility for distinction is based upon the cumulative grade point average of all credit hours taken at UNL prior to the beginning of the term in which the student receives their degree. A student can elevate their level of distinction by completing a thesis or creative project before graduation. To learn more about graduating with distinction, visit https://journalism.unl.edu/honors-thesiscreative-project-guidelines.
Buffington, a journalism major from Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, and one of six students who graduated with distinction was also named a Chancellor's Scholar. The Chancellor's Scholar Award is the highest academic award the University offers; all recipients maintained a 4.0 GPA in college classes at UNL and elsewhere.
The following is a list of Dec. 2023 bachelor of journalism graduates, listed alphabetically by last name with their major(s), hometown and distinction (if applicable):
| Name | Major | Hometown | Distinction |
| Lauren Anderson | Sports Media and Communication, Advertising and Public Relations | Elkhorn, NE | |
| Kelby Bachman | Sports Media and Communication, Broadcasting | Omaha, NE | |
| Alexandros Barbosa-Rewinkel | Sports Media and Communication, Broadcasting | Lincoln, NE | |
| Dylan Bayles | Sports Media and Communication | Omaha, NE | High Distinction |
| Sophia Berglund | Advertising and Public Relations | Bennington, NE | High Distinction |
| Kaylee Brodd | Journalism | Lincoln, NE | |
| Megan Buffington | Journalism | Pequot Lakes, MN | Highest Distinction |
| Olivia Carnevale | Sports Media and Communication | Pataskala, OH | High Distinction |
| Jaevyn Carson | Advertising and Public Relations | Raytown, MO | |
| Danielle Chaffin | Advertising and Public Relations | Maple Grove, MN | |
| Emily Diesing | Journalism | Omaha, NE | |
| Carson Dodd | Advertising and Public Relations | Kansas City, MO | |
| Averie Frye | Advertising and Public Relations | Lincoln, NE | |
| Jiayao Fu | Advertising and Public Relations | Huzhou, China | |
| Hallie Gutzwiller | Broadcasting | Elm Creek, NE | |
| Kaden Hager | Sports Media and Communication | Wallace, NE | |
| Madelyn Harris | Sports Media and Communication | Oak Grove, MO | |
| Nathan Hawkins | Sports Media and Communication, Broadcasting | Bellevue, NE | |
| Paul Heires | Sports Media and Communication, Broadcasting | Omaha, NE | |
| Cole Henning | Sports Media and Communication | Whitmore Lake, MI | |
| Rachel Holt | Journalism | Omaha, NE | |
| Brianna Hopping | Advertising and Public Relations | Fordyce, NE | High Distinction |
| Bailey Horky | Advertising and Public Relations | Lincoln, NE | |
| Taylor Hoskinson | Advertising and Public Relations | Papillion, NE | |
| Alex Jarecke | Advertising and Public Relations | Stuart, NE | |
| Rahmir Johnson | Advertising and Public Relations | Lincoln, NE | |
| Nyajuma Koung | Advertising and Public Relations | Lincoln, NE | |
| Chae Won Lee | Advertising and Public Relations | Incheon, South Korea | |
| Yiwen Lu | Advertising and Public Relations | Shanghai, China | |
| Graycen Marquart | Advertising and Public Relations | Omaha, NE | |
| Emerson McClure | Journalism, Advertising and Public Relations | Lincoln, NE | Distinction |
| Grayson McGeath | Broadcasting | Aliquippa, PA | |
| Alyssa Micaletti | Advertising and Public Relations | Highland Village, TX | |
| Cayden Mitchell | Advertising and Public Relations | Lincoln, NE | |
| MaKale Murray | Advertising and Public Relations | Elkhorn, NE | |
| Carter Nab | Sports Media and Communication | Lincoln, NE | |
| Akeisha Nelson | Advertising and Public Relations | Omaha, NE | |
| Skylee Nelson | Advertising and Public Relations | Grand Island, NE | |
| Macy Neumeister | Journalism, Broadcasting | Nebraska City, NE | |
| Mallory Nider | Advertising and Public Relations | Pawnee City, NE | |
| Jace Noble | Advertising and Public Relations | Lincoln, NE | |
| Auni Ortega | Advertising and Public Relations | Grand Island, NE | |
| Porter Pearson | Sports Media and Communication | Lincoln, NE | |
| Dillon Pelster | Sports Media and Communication, Broadcasting | Omaha, NE | |
| Jackson Reddick | Sports Media and Communication, Broadcasting | Lincoln, NE | |
| Savannah Redl | Journalism, Broadcasting | Lincoln, NE | |
| Alyssa Rempe | Advertising and Public Relations, Broadcasting | Lincoln, NE | |
| Braden Robinson | Sports Media and Communication | Wood River, NE | |
| Jordan Saadeh | Sports Media and Communication, Advertising and Public Relations | Saint Paul, NE | |
| Chloe Schock | Advertising and Public Relations, Journalism | Falls City, NE | |
| Chloe Shane | Advertising and Public Relations | North Aurora, IL | |
| Miranda Shreves | Advertising and Public Relations | Johnson, NE | |
| Claryssa Sladek | Advertising and Public Relations | Colon, NE | |
| Emma Smith | Broadcasting | Lincoln, NE | |
| Sydney Speicher | Advertising and Public Relations | Elkhorn, NE | |
| Sarah Spencer | Advertising and Public Relations | Kearney, NE | |
| Kaitlyn Stranathan | Advertising and Public Relations | Lincoln, NE | |
| Alex Suhr | Advertising and Public Relations | Gretna, NE | |
| Halie Tenopir | Advertising and Public Relations | Papillion, NE | |
| Seonghyeon Um | Broadcasting | Seoul, South Korea | |
| Brandon Warnke | Sports Media and Communication | Lincoln, NE | |
| Max Wudel | Sports Media and Communication | Walton, NE | |
| Qian Zhao | Advertising and Public Relations | Washington, DC |
Additionally, the college awarded five master's degrees during the graduate commencement ceremony at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Dec. 15, 2023.
The CoJMC graduate programs offer a master's degree with specializations in integrated media and communications and professional journalism, as well as, a graduate certificate in public relations and social media.
The following is a list of CoJMC's December 2023 M.A. graduates, listed alphabetically by last name, with their degree, specialization and hometown:
| Name | Degree | Specialization | Hometown |
| Ashia Aubrey | Master of Arts | Integrated Marketing Communications | Omaha, NE |
| Craig Eiting | Master of Arts | Integrated Marketing Communications | Milford, NE |
| Cortney Marie Kirby | Master of Arts | Integrated Marketing Communications | Lincoln, NE |
| Cassandra Paige Miller | Master of Arts | Professional Journalism | Harrisburg, PA |
| Zionn Tamu Pearson | Master of Arts | Integrated Marketing Communications | Lincoln, NE |
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