Saron Gebre
Hometown: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Year: Sophomore
Program of study: Computer science
Saron Gebre is passionate about learning and values her educational development. She believes WSC’s academic opportunities will enhance her academic development and prepare her for a successful career in the future. Her biggest aspiration in life is to be an influential person who makes a difference in the world by improving the well-being of people. She is majoring in computer science and plans to minor in biology. She then plans to further her education to earn a master’s degree in business administration. By doing so, she wants to be able to create her own software company that is dedicated to providing technological advancements to better healthcare provision in hospitals. She also plans to innovate and make new computerized products that can make a man’s life easy in other sectors, such as trade, industry, and agriculture.
Gebre developed a mobile application during her participation in the 2018 Technovation Ethiopia Competition where she and her team ranked fourth. At Wayne State College, she is working as a customer service representative at the college’s Network and Technology Service Center where she is helping the Wayne State College community with technological problems. She believes that opportunities like these have helped her gain more hands-on skills related to her major. Gebre is also the chairman of the ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) Club where she and other officers and members are creating fun, educational computing events and projects that students can participate in, regardless of major. She says that WSC has many clubs and organizations that help students gain experiences outside of class to acquire various life lessons and skills in leadership and service. She believes being a member of different clubs is also a good way to meet new friends and socialize.
"I take challenges as opportunities for growth," she says. "As an international student, choosing from thousands of universities abroad to pursue my higher education career was not easy, but I know I made the right decision in coming to Wayne State College. Faculty teach with passion and are very kind and supportive of each student. Students are also very friendly and the Wayne community, in general, is very kind and supportive too. Wayne State College has many opportunities for students that help them grow academically, professionally, and personally."
Kenadie Janulewicz
Hometown: Gretna, Neb.
Year: Junior
Program of study: Pre-pharmacy
Kenadie Janulewicz's decision to come to Wayne State was finalized when she was accepted into the Rural Health Opportunities Program. This is her final year at Wayne State, and she will attend graduate school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center for her doctorate of pharmacy. She says she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to study at Wayne State, even though it has been an adjustment coming from Gretna where she was close to Omaha's big-city amenities. She enjoys WSC's small campus and homey atmosphere.
"I have fallen in love with the WSC campus and town for all its quirks and perks," Janulewicz says. "I’m grateful to have been chosen to represent this campus that I now call home."
Justin Kenney
Hometown: Milford, Neb.
Year: Junior
Program of study: Business administration
Justin Kenney's decision to come to Wayne State College was a quick one as he was accepted into the Rural Law Opportunities Program (RLOP). After obtaining his undergraduate degree at Wayne State, he plans on going to UNL's College of Law. Once he learned of the benefits of the RLOP and opportunities for growth at Wayne State College, he knew this was the place to go. After earning his law degree, he plans to work in rural Nebraska and maybe one day take those small town values and consider working in corporate law.
"My freshman year, when everyone asked me why I chose Wayne, I always said the RLOP made the decision for me," Kenney says. "Now I see all the clubs, organizations, and jobs I am a part of and realize what I would have missed had I not chosen Wayne State College."
Sarah Smyth
Hometown: Pawnee City, Neb.
Year: Senior
Program of study: Pre-physician assistant (biology / health sciences major, public health minor)
Sarah Smyth chose Wayne State because of the small size of classes since she came from a small school. She says she learns best in a smaller setting. With the 20:1 student-faculty ratio, she is able to develop professional connections with professors. When she visited, she says, she noticed the campus's friendly environment. She enjoys how she can get from one side of campus to another in 5 minutes and always runs into people she knows. Smyth participates in campus clubs, which provide her with opportunities for volunteering and learning more about her major and future career.
"Wayne State College has provided me with challenges that have pushed me to become a more successful individual," says Smyth.
Audrey Worthing
Hometown: Ogallala, Neb.
Year: Sophomore
Programs of study: Communication Studies, Pre-Law, Political Science
After being accepted into Wayne State's RLOP (Rural Law Opportunities Program) program, Audrey Worthing decided to make Wayne her college of choice. She says that the small size of campus and the personal attention from faculty has made the transition to attending college a five-hour drive from home an easy one. This year Worthing is an R.A. in Berry Hall and has expressed surprise at how many out-of-state residents she has in her hall.
"It has been super fun to see lots of different personalities come together from across the country to also make Wayne their home away from home!" she says.
Worthing has worked with the unicameral in passing a bill designed to increase civics education in Nebraska's high schools. In addition, Worthing has served on both the Governor's Youth Advisory Council and Congressman Adrian Smith's Youth Council and looks forward to continuing her journey to law school through Wayne State's RLOP program. With opportunities to attend great schools inside and outside of Nebraska, Worthing says Wayne State made it an easy choice with its small class sizes and its small price tag.
"I love that no matter what is going on in the world, WSC has made it a priority to have classes meet in person and to give the full college experience to its students while also maintaining a safe and healthy environment," she says. "I haven't seen any other college do that better!"
