Fourteen Matousek Scholars were selected to serve as student leads for the College of Journalism and Mass Communications Experience Lab for the fall 2025 semester.
Student leads attended a student leadership retreat on Friday, Aug. 22. Shari Veil, Jane T. Olson Endowed Dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, gave opening remarks; Lyn Wineman, KidGlov founder, president and chief strategist gave a “How to Lead” presentation and CoJMC Career Development Specialist Natalie Becerra shared ways students can develop their talents by using their unique CliftonStrengths®.
“The ultimate hope for this retreat is that the knowledge gained from the sessions empowers our students to lead in their future classes and programs,” Veil said.
The Experience Lab allows students to gain hands-on experience from their first day at Andersen Hall. Matousek Scholars coordinate day-to-day operations under faculty guidance.
Students work with faculty and professional mentors to build their academic skill sets while exploring their professional interests in one of the college’s media outlets: Buoy, Heartland Pulse, 90.3 KRNU, Nebraska News Service, Nebraska Nightly, Production House and Unlimited Sports.
Through these programs, students create content and manage projects for community organizations, news outlets and other media platforms.
Experience Lab co-directors are Associate Professor of Practice Jill Martin and Assistant Professor of Practice Kristian Anderson. Faculty liaisons are Kelley Peterson (Buoy), Randy Hawthorne and Elle Stecher (Heartland Pulse), Rick Alloway (90.3 KRNU), Jill Martin (Nebraska News Service), Ken Fisher (Nebraska Nightly), Kristian Anderson (Production House) and Jason Stamm and Erin Sorensen (Unlimited Sports).
The following is a list of student leads for fall 2025, listed alphabetically by Experience Lab program, with their major(s), year in school and hometown:
| Name | Program | Year | Major(s) | Hometown |
| Meleah Eickhoff | Buoy Content Studio | sophomore | advertising and public relations | Lincoln, Nebraska |
| Michelle Montenegro | Buoy Content Studio | junior | advertising and public relations | Omaha, Nebraska |
| Evie Sievert | Buoy Content Studio | junior | advertising and public relations | Lincoln, Nebraska |
| Caydence Corman | Heartland Pulse | sophomore | advertising and public relations | Phillipsburg, Kansas |
| Luke Courtney | Heartland Pulse | senior | advertising and public relations | Omaha, Nebraska |
| Dalton Dailey | KRNU | junior | broadcasting, advertising and public relations | Lincoln, Nebraska |
| Nicole Gibson | KRNU | junior | advertising and public relations | Dannebrog, Nebraska |
| Lily Dohmen | Nebraska News Service | junior | advertising and public relations | Columbus, Nebraska |
| Josie Golka | Nebraska News Service | senior | advertising and public relations | Omaha, Nebraska |
| Sophie Farrell | Nebraska Nightly | junior | broadcasting, journalism | Hopkins, Minnesota |
| Harmon Johnsen | Nebraska Nightly | junior | broadcasting, sports media and communication | Sutherland, Nebraska |
| Reilley Barish | Production House | junior | advertising and public relations, sports media and communication | Marion, Iowa |
| Keegan Smith | Production House | junior | sports media and communication, advertising and public relations | Junction City, Kansas |
| Ben Beecham | Unlimited Sports | junior | broadcasting, advertising and public relations, sports media and communication | Papillion, Nebraska |
| Noah Douglas | Unlimited Sports | senior | journalism, sports media and communication | Pewaukee, Wisconsin |
| Izzy Lewis | Unlimited Sports | sophomore | journalism, sports media and communication, advertising and public relations | Hickman, Nebraska |
