The awards will be presented during a banquet on Friday, Nov. 6.
The Wayne State Foundation is excited to announce the recipients of its third annual 10 Under 10 Alumni Awards, presented in conjunction with Wayne State College’s time-honored Outstanding Alumni Awards. The 10 Under 10 Alumni Awards will be presented on Friday, Nov. 6, in the Kanter Student Center’s Frey Conference Suite.
The awards honor alumni who are emerging leaders making significant contributions by living out their calling, engaging in their local or global community through professional and/or volunteer involvement, serving as outstanding young role models for current and future students and alumni, and graduating within the past 10 years.
The 2026 10 Under 10 Alumni Award recipients are:
- Alex (Filipowicz) Bottorff
- Ben Aschoff
- Caitlin (Fehringer) Simon
- Debbie Goettsch
- Jacob Zeiss
- Dr. Jaden (Moore) Hattery
- Jason J. Stech
- Matt Mullins
- Matt Henery
- Yaovi Kpoga
Alex (Filipowicz) Bottorff ’16, MSE '22
Alex (Filipowicz) Bottorff graduated from Wayne State College in 2016 with a degree in Elementary Education and an Early Childhood endorsement. Continuing her education at Wayne State, Alex earned a master's degree in School Administration in 2022.
Over the past decade, Bottorff has dedicated her career to education, teaching kindergarten, second grade, and third grade before transitioning into her current role as a Behavior Interventionist with Bennington Public Schools. For the past four years, she has served three buildings within the district, working as part of a team of three professionals responsible for developing and implementing district-wide behavior frameworks and systems.
In her role, Bottorff develops and oversees individualized student behavior plans, collaborates with school and district administrators, leads professional development, coaches teachers, responds to student behavior needs, collects and analyzes district behavior data, facilitates student small groups, and coordinates positive behavior and reward systems across the elementary buildings. Through this work, she supports both students and educators in creating positive, supportive, and successful learning environments.
Bottorff is deeply committed to the field of education and to making a meaningful difference in the lives of students, teachers, and school communities. She continues to serve in leadership and committee roles that promote student success and support educators in their work. Bottorff lives in the Omaha metropolitan area with her family, including her son.
Ben Aschoff ‘19
Ben Aschoff graduated from Wayne State College in 2019 with degrees in Construction Management and Drafting, Planning & Design, along with a minor in Music. During his time at Wayne State, he was selected as the student representative to speak at both the 2017 groundbreaking ceremony for the Center for Applied Technology and the facility’s 2019 grand opening ceremony.
Following graduation, Aschoff joined Timpte, Inc. in David City, Neb., where he has continued to build his career and currently serves as a Sourcing Engineer. In 2020, his team was nominated for the Tom Gamel Innovation Award for the launch of the company’s equipment trailer line. In 2024, while serving as a Product Engineer, his team received the NATDA Manufacturer Innovation Award for the 1026 EZ Load Equipment Trailer. In 2025, Aschoff was selected to represent Timpte as a member of the Wayne State College Technology & Applied Sciences (TASC) Advisory Board, providing him with a meaningful opportunity to give back to the program that helped shape his professional success.
While attending Wayne State College, Aschoff met his wife, Emerson (Andelt). The couple married in June 2021 and reside in Seward, Neb. They are active members of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, where they serve as religious mentors for the Class of 2029, meeting weekly with students throughout their high school years from freshman year through graduation. In May 2026, Ben and Emerson welcomed their first child, Ezra Valerian, into their family.
Reflecting on his college experience, Aschoff credits Wayne State College with providing many gifts throughout his life, the greatest of which is the family he has today.
Caitlin (Fehringer) Simon ’16, MSOM ‘19
After graduating from Central Community College (CCC) in 2014 with an Associate of Arts degree, Wayne native Caitlin (Fehringer) Simon continued her education at Wayne State College where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management in 2016 and a master’s degree in Organizational Management in 2019. During her collegiate career, Simon competed in softball and basketball at CCC before continuing her softball career at WSC from 2014 to 2016.
From May 2019 through May 2026, Simon served Central Community College as the head softball coach, an instructor, and the assistant athletic director. During her tenure, CCC experienced one of the most successful periods in program history, winning its first Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference (NCCAC) title and earning a program-record 31 wins in a single season. The Raiders also won three Region 9 championships during her seven seasons.
Simon is a three-time Region 9 Coach of the Year and was named the NCCAC Coach of the Year in 2023. She recruited and coached CCC’s first two-time National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-American, additionally had 20 All-Region 9 performers, and more than 50 student-athletes who earned NJCAA academic honors. Beyond success on the field, Simon built a strong culture centered on academic achievement and personal growth. In her final season, her team posted a 3.8 team GPA, reflecting the emphasis she placed on excellence both on and off the field.
In May 2026, after seven years in CCC Athletics, Simon transitioned into the role of associate dean of instruction for career and technical sciences (CTS), serving CTS programs on both the Columbus and Grand Island campuses.
She and her husband, Sam, reside in Columbus, Neb., and have three sons: Brooks, Baylor, and Bryson. Sam is a loan processor for Bank of the Valley in Columbus.
Debbie Goettsch ’18, MBA ‘20
Debbie Goettsch has spent more than 11 years serving individuals and families throughout Northeast Nebraska through her work at Haven House in Wayne, Neb. She began as an advocate, later served as supervisor, and now leads the organization as executive director. Throughout each role, Goettsch has remained passionate about making sure survivors know they are not alone and have someone in their corner.
As executive director, Debbie has worked to strengthen and expand Haven House and the services available throughout the region. She has written grants totaling more than $10 million to help sustain and expand services across Northeast Nebraska.
Goettsch earned her Master of Business Administration from WSC in 2020. She was consistently recognized on the Dean’s List throughout her undergraduate and graduate studies. She was a member of Sigma Beta Delta and Alpha Sigma Lambda honor societies. Her experience in the field has also led to invitations to speak at conferences, community events, and other gatherings about domestic violence, sexual assault, nonprofit leadership, and the importance of supporting survivors. Goettsch was invited to Washington, DC, in 2025 to speak to elected officials on the importance of survivors in Northeast Nebraska.
Goettsch is active in her community, having completed Wayne Leadership in 2023 and Leadership Dakota County in 2024; she now serves on the Leadership Dakota County Board of Directors and is a member of Wayne Rotary. She also volunteers with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Cardinal Christmas Baskets, Ronald McDonald House, and other community organizations.
Outside of work and volunteering, Goettsch enjoys spending time with her husband, Loren, a 2014 WSC graduate, and their two children, Sophia, 5, and Holden, 1. For Goettsch, the greatest measure of success is knowing that her work helps people across Northeast Nebraska feel safe, supported, and able to build a life free from violence.
Jacob Zeiss ’16, MSE 21
Jacob Zeiss is in his 11th year in education. He earned his Bachelor's in Education in 2016 from Wayne State, a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Nebraska Omaha (2017–2018), and returned to Wayne State College for a Master's degree in K-8 Education Administration in 2021. In 2025, he added his 9-12 Administration certification, also from WSC.
Zeiss currently teaches 4th grade, drawing on a blended background in elementary and special education. He was named to the IXL Top 100 Elite Teachers list for 2024-2025 and was a nominee for Nebraska Teacher of the Year. In 2025, he was invited to speak at Administrator Days in Kearney, Neb., on standards-based grading. Beyond the classroom, he coaches both middle school and high school football.
Alongside his teaching career, Zeiss has served as a Non-Commissioned Officer in the Army National Guard for the last 15 years, with experience spanning convoy and logistics operations, NCO instruction, and leadership development. His work bridges two demanding professions: shaping young minds in the classroom and training soldiers in the field, a dual identity that has remained a consistent thread throughout his career. His continued professional development spans the general education setting, administrative leadership, and intervention-based techniques grounded in student data.
Zeiss and his wife, Elisa, also a WSC graduate, live in Central City, Neb., with their two children, Knox and Sutton.
Dr. Jaden (Moore) Hattery ‘19
Jaden (Moore) Hattery was born and raised in Norfolk, Neb., and graduated cum laude from Wayne State College in 2019 with a degree in Chemistry Health Sciences. She participated in the Rural Health Opportunities Program, granting her acceptance to the University of Nebraska Medical Center. During medical school, her late husband became ill with leukemia, and they moved together to Houston, Texas, for medical care. She took a short leave from medical school to function as a caregiver. During that time, she began pursuing a master's degree in public health with a concentration in healthcare administration.
Despite immense personal hardships, she matched into emergency medicine residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, Texas. She now works at Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center. This is one of the busiest level one trauma centers in the country, located in the largest medical center in the world. She also provides medical care at Lyndon B. Johnson, a county hospital. This facility is a safe haven for patients in poverty, often without medical insurance.
During residency, she functioned as vice chief of critical care, where she was a lecturer during educational conferences. She led clinical case review for departmental quality improvement. Hattery has been active in medical education by teaching ultrasound, airway, and intravenous access skill sessions. On shift, she provides guidance to medical students and junior residents. She is currently pursuing a certificate in physician education. Upon finishing residency, she will work as an attending academic and community emergency physician in Austin, Tex.
Outside of work, she stays active with group fitness, participates in book clubs, and loves cooking. On weekends, she and her fiancé can usually be found at the local dog park taking her dogs for a swim.
Jason J. Stech ’19, MSE ‘23
Jason J. Stech is the Band Director at Neligh-Oakdale Public Schools. Originally from Osmond, Neb., he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education (2019) and a Master of Science in Music Education (2023) from Wayne State College. Now in his eighth year of teaching, Stech’s bands and chamber ensembles have consistently earned Superior ratings at the District Music Contest. In 2023, he was honored with the Jack R. Snider Young Band Director Award from the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association (NSBA). He is an active member of NSBA, the National Association for Music Education, and the Nebraska Music Educators Association.
As a coordinator for the Nebraska Class D All-State Band, Stech helps organize an event that allows top-tier Class D instrumentalists to perform together under the direction of renowned clinicians. He is also proud to host the Nate Metschke Memorial Honor Band. Started by the late Nate Metschke as the Neligh-Oakdale 5th and 6th Grade Honor Band, this annual event gives 475-plus elementary band students experience performing in full ensembles led by accomplished directors.
Stech enjoys helping students develop musical skills and a lifelong appreciation for music. Outside the classroom, he enjoys traveling, woodworking, and spending time with his family – his wife, Taylor; their son, Marshall; and their rabbit, Lup. They reside on a small acreage outside of Clearwater, Neb.
Matt Mullins ‘18
A proud 2018 alum of Wayne State College, Mullins double majored in applied mathematics, with a concentration in computer science, and speech communication with an emphasis in organizational leadership and public relations and minored in international studies. Mullins then obtained a master's degree in communication studies from Kent State University before attending law school at Case Western Reserve University.
While at Wayne State, Mullins served two years as Student Senate President, represented students on the Nebraska State College System Board of Trustees, and was a member of countless student organizations including the Philomatheans, Phi Kappa Phi, Lambda Pi Eta, Kappa Mu Epsilon. In addition to his on-campus involvement, Mullins worked as a kitchen supervisor at Godfather’s Pizza. These experiences helped shape a career grounded in leadership and public service.
Today, Mullins is a public finance attorney with Bricker Graydon Wyatt, LLP in Cleveland, Ohio. He works with communities, developers, employers, property owners, and local governments to advance projects that drive investment, create jobs, and strengthen neighborhoods. His work includes major initiatives such as the redevelopment of Cleveland’s downtown lakefront and the construction of a new domed stadium for the Cleveland Browns.
Beyond his legal practice, Mullins is deeply committed to public service. He provides extensive pro bono legal assistance to underserved populations in his community and volunteers in Cleveland high schools, where he mentors students, teaches constitutional rights, and promotes civic engagement. He is the Chair of the Young Lawyers Section of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, one of the largest metropolitan bar associations in the county, a Director of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Chair-Elect of the Northeast Ohio Association of Financial Professionals, and a volunteer with the Salvation Army.
Matt Henery ‘16
Matt Henery graduated from Wayne State College in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management, Marketing, and International Business. He currently serves as Supervisor of Customer Care Services at Omaha Public Power District (OPPD), where he leads customer care operations, employee development initiatives, and continuous improvement efforts. Prior to joining OPPD, Henery spent seven years with Werner Enterprises, advancing through a variety of leadership roles in operations, human resources, talent acquisition, and customer service.
Throughout his career, Henery has earned several professional distinctions, including being named runner-up for OPPD’s Young Professional of the Year, graduating from OPPD’s Future Industry Leaders Leadership Program, receiving Werner Enterprises’ 18 Wheels of Success Award, and earning a nomination for Werner’s STAR Award.
Dedicated to serving his community, Henery is actively involved in several volunteer and leadership roles. He serves as a TeamMates mentor, Habitat for Humanity volunteer, EAP Energy Assistance Program volunteer, and youth T-ball coach. He is also a board member of Growing Sprouts LLC and co-founder and co-owner of Little Lights, a nonprofit organization that supports children in hospitals, foster care, homeless shelters, and other families in need.
Henery and his wife, Kayla, have been married for eight years and reside in Springfield, Neb., with their three children: Addilynn (6), Ashten (4), and Andi (1). Passionate about leadership, mentorship, and service, Henery is committed to making a meaningful impact both professionally and within his community.
Yaovi Kpoga ‘19
Yaovi Kpoga is a developer, entrepreneur, and product builder whose career has spanned software engineering, product management, financial technology, and blockchain. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Wayne State College in 2019 and currently serves as a Developer Relations Engineer at Phantom, where he works closely with developers building the crypto ecosystem.
Before joining Phantom, Kpoga held product roles at PNC Bank and BlockSpan and previously worked as a software developer. His entrepreneurial journey led him to co-found Roadies Labs, a Pittsburgh-based technology startup focused on making art investing more accessible. Roadies participated in the AlphaLab accelerator and received backing from Innovation Works.
While building in Pittsburgh, Pa., Kpoga became involved in the city's technology and startup community. He was invited to speak at the inaugural Web3Pgh meetup and participated in an Innovation Works Café IW panel, sharing his experiences building products and navigating entrepreneurship.
Kpoga continues to build independently, including Birthday Hunter, a platform helping people discover birthday rewards, savings, and experiences. Having experienced the challenges of building companies firsthand, he has also begun investing in small businesses and supporting other entrepreneurs as they develop and grow their ideas.
Outside of technology and entrepreneurship, Kpoga is a proud father. He remains passionate about building useful products, supporting founders and developers, and finding ways to use his experience to create opportunities for others.
About the Awards Banquet
The public can join Wayne State College in celebrating the achievements and contributions of this year’s award recipients at the Alumni Awards Banquet on Friday, Nov. 6. The cost is $40 for adults and $12 for children. The event will begin with a social at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the awards program.
The Alumni Awards Banquet recognizes outstanding alumni and supporters whose accomplishments, leadership, and service reflect the values and mission of Wayne State College. Family, friends, alumni, and community members are encouraged to attend and help honor this year’s recipients.
Make reservations for the 2026 Alumni Awards Banquet