I'm A Husker &

After graduating from Elkhorn High School, Hunter's initial plans were to go out of state for college. He didn't believe Nebraska had as many opportunities as some other elite colleges, but ultimately, he ended up staying for scholarships and to be near his family. Although he started college skeptical, after three years here, he's never been more happy to be wrong. He discovered that the special thing about Nebraska is its people, and he's always had a strong desire to lead and serve them. Now, as the new ASUN president, he's doing just that. Some of his team's top priorities are increasing transparency and student input with fee allocation, instituting and increasing awareness of the Green Fund, which is funded by students for students' sustainable project ideas, and expanding mental health resources through Counseling and Psychological Services. Overall, he hopes to shape a culture of dedication and passion for student government that will live on beyond his term.

In high school, Guadalupe wasn't sure if she'd go to college. She was especially unsure after suffering a traumatic brain injury close to graduation. Despite the odds being stacked against her, she secured a full-ride scholarship. Now, she's bringing her voice to a national stage through the University of Nebraska–Lincoln speech and debate team. Guadalupe intertwines Latino themes into her performances of poetry, oral interpretation, program, dramatic and duo. She loves the team's culture of growth and encouragement. The culture translates to success, especially after taking home a seventh consecutive Big Ten title in January. When she's not traveling for tournaments, Guadalupe is on the executive team for the Mexican American Student Association and a member of Emerald, a women's enrichment group. Ultimately, Guadalupe is grateful to have been able to make it to college as a first generation student and do what she loves, and she looks forward to her next few years.

Although he attended an Indiana high school without any art classes, Pha wasn't deterred from pursuing his passion. When it came time for college, he joined Nebraska's art program as a graphic design major. Over time, Pha realized that he'd rather create more self-expressive work, so he shifted his major to focus on painting. Many of his pieces are self portraits, an art form that urges him to be vulnerable. He knows that everyone has personal problems, but it's not always easy to open up, so he uses painting as a way to share emotions. In the last couple of years, Pha has stepped out of his comfort zone even more with photography, a medium that has pushed him to connect and collaborate with others. He's even become the photographer for a local boutique he admires. He owes part of his growth to the art professors that take a genuine interest in his improvement and encourage him to stay focused. To Pha, the program has felt more like a community than school.

Martha has a deep passion for soil, a resource that most of us take for granted. Her interest was shaped through growing up in Ethiopia where agriculture is the backbone of the country. As a young woman, she knew that if the opportunity arose, she would give back to agriculture in any way possible. After moving to the states as a teenager and gaining several degrees, she started working at Nebraska as a researcher and professor of soil science in 2000. She teaches an entry-level soil resources course and upper-level nutrient management course. Martha says she's "in the business of capacity building," showing students how important studying soil can be. She loves seeing the growth in students as they gain an appreciation and understanding of soil as a natural resource. A few years ago, she traveled to Ethiopia with an interdisciplinary group to collect information from food insecure regions, and the group received additional funding to involve undergraduate students for a study abroad program. Being able to see first-hand what these regions look like was a valuable learning tool for the students. Outside of the classroom, Martha researches how cattle grazing strategies influence soil and enjoys spending time with her three children.