Maddie Washburn
Broadcasting and Sports Media & Communication · Ashland, Nebraska
Maddie's sports career started at hometown football games. Underneath the shining Friday night lights, she'd stand on the sidelines with her trusty camera. Little did she know that in just a few years she'd be photographing the Super Bowl.
After finding her passion for sports in high school, Maddie came to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln to major in broadcasting and sports media & communication. She began racking up photo experience with outlets like The Daily Nebraskan, the Omaha World-Herald and Husker Athletics.
In spring 2020, she landed her biggest opportunity yet: an internship with the NFL. Due to Covid-19, it was remote rather than in-person in Los Angeles, but Maddie made the most of the situation. She showed her passion and impressed her mentor, who asked if she'd help cover Kansas City Chiefs games in the fall.
As the Super Bowl approached, Maddie was given another amazing opportunity. She was invited to stay in Tampa and assist NFL photographers as they shot football's biggest event.
"When my boss kind of asked me, I was like, "Yeah, I'll come,' and I was very composed, but I know I called my family right after freaking out," Maddie said.
After spending most of the game assisting her assigned photographer, Maddie had her moment to shine during the post-game pandemonium. As confetti poured down and players celebrated, her photographer took a break. Maddie jumped into action and started snapping shots.
"That was cool to be able to kind of just take that moment in and then also be able to capture it."
With a new degree in hand and a resume full of experiences, Maddie is ready to enter the professional world as one of the industry’s next sports photographers.
“I'm excited for my future...also just really grateful for these last four years,” Maddie said. “And if it wasn't for the journalism college and so many people I've met, I wouldn't probably be in this experience that I’ve had.”
Martha
Professor of Agronomy and Horticulture · Ethiopia
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.
Read all faculty storiesHeather Mahowald
Recruiting officer and instructor for Air Force ROTC · East Grand Forks, Minnesota
Heather knew she wanted to serve her country from a young age. Growing up, she often listened to the stories her dad told her about life in the Army. In 2000, she joined the Air Force ROTC. Now, 18 years later, Heather is a cadre member at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Air Force ROTC program.
Heather completed her degree and then commissioned into the military as a force support officer. After eight years of active duty, Heather switched to the reserves and started her family. As her kids grew out of their toddler years, she decided it was time to return to active duty.
“I really missed leading, I really missed that ability to be a positive influence,” Heather said. “So when I saw the opportunity to teach ROTC and come back on active duty, I jumped at the chance to do it.”
Heather's job allows her to work directly with the Air Force’s future leaders, whether it’s through teaching classes or talking with them one-on-one about their future in the Air and Space Force.
“I also really have a strong desire to be a positive influence on the next generation...it energizes me to be a part of that mission,” Heather said.
But being a member of the military isn’t always easy.
“We have a lot of sacrifices that we have to make for our families because the mission comes first,” Heather said.
That means she can be away from her family for months for training or have to leave for work early and come home late. She misses time with her kids, but she knows it’s worth it.
“On Veteran’s Day my kids write stories to their favorite vet, and they will usually write a story about their mom,” Heather said. “Their little stories reflect on how I’ve had to be gone from home but also how proud they are of what their mom gets to do. When I get to see the stories they bring home, I know that they get it. They know that what mom is doing is important.”
Ethan
Business Management · Norfolk, Nebraska
Growing up, Ethan wanted to be a teacher, but when he first came to Nebraska, he enrolled as a management major and had his sights set on entering the business world. It was his involvement in student groups that changed his trajectory and helped him back to his true calling: teaching.
Ethan realized he could make a career in serving the youth after becoming involved with Dance Marathon and NHRI Leadership Mentoring—two experiences that helped him focus on his passion for uplifting and mentoring the state’s youth.
“In college, I became more focused on impacting youth. You can find a lot of purpose and service in every industry but the idea of working with the next generation and developing young minds is something I found a lot of passion and interest in.”
During winter break of his senior year, Ethan decided to follow his passion and use his business degree in a different way: investing in the next generation. Though he wasn’t graduating with a teaching degree, he began applying for positions and found the perfect match with Bay High, a program where he would be able to leverage his business degree as well as support young creatives who thrive in nontraditional learning environments.
“[At Bay High,] we want to rethink how education works and be there for the kids that other people don’t know how to help. Or help in the best way. Focusing on the youth is a very impactful way to set up the future.”
As Ethan prepares to start his first semester teaching at Bay High, he is excited to continue making an impact in the lives of Nebraska youth. He is grateful for the years of leadership and mentorship experiences through the university and looks forward to using his experience to help his students in education and life.
“I want my students to understand business but mostly, I want to help them develop as human beings, understand themselves and the world, and figure out their purpose and where they fit into the world.”