Senior Ana Wombacher of Ankeny, Iowa, was inducted into the Black Masque Chapter of the Mortar Board during Ivy Day ceremonies on April 5 and awarded the 2025 Howard and Judy Vann Student Leadership Award by the Nebraska Alumni Association during the Medallion Dinner on April 11.
New members of Mortar Board are tapped into the Black Masque Chapter each spring by Mortar Boarders wearing black masks and robes. Wombacher was selected based on her dedication to scholarship, leadership and service.
The Howard and Judy Vann Student Leadership Award recognizes an undergraduate student leader who has shown exceptional leadership capabilities through energetic participation in student activities, commendable classroom performance and personal integrity.
Wombacher double majors in advertising and public relations and journalism and double minors in music and English. She's the Primary Programmer for the University Program Council, where she plays a vital role in selecting and executing events that enrich the student experience.
In her roles as Vice President of Chapter Advancement and Vice President of Professional Development in the Public Relations Student Society of America, she gained a passion for fostering professional growth and mentorship in the campus community.
Wombacher was nominated for the Howard and Judy Vann Student Leadership Award by Valerie Jones, College of Journalism and Mass Communications Fred A. & Gladys Seaton Professor, who got to know Wombacher well through her role as the faculty advisor for the Bateman Case Study PR Competition team.
"As the team's Visual Communications Manager, Ana has demonstrated exceptional organizational and creative skills, leading ideation sessions, designing campaign materials, and keeping teammates focused and having fun," Jones said.
Her work for Bateman led her to being hired as a Staff Photographer for New York-based Uptight Magazine. She also works as the shift lead at local record store First Day Vinyl, is a resolutions specialist intern for the University and hosts a radio show on 90.3 KRNU.
Wombacher has also interned with the Lincoln Calling Music Festival, producing hundreds of graphics and photos for musicians and has welcomed thousands of new Huskers as an Orientation Leader and Campus Host.
Jones is continually impressed by Wombacher's engagement on and off campus, but it's her integrity and positive spirit that set her apart.
"Her ability to engage and inspire others, whether in small groups or large audiences, speaks volumes about her leadership capabilities and genuine care for her peers," Jones said. "Ana is a student leader who not only rises to challenges but also uplifts those around her."
