Mission of the 116th Class
We, the Knights of the 116th Class of The Society of Innocents, will uphold and promote the values of superior academic achievement, unparalleled leadership, and selfless service.
To achieve these values, we will act with integrity, discrete confidence, and respect for traditions.
We understand that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, but by embracing our individuality, we enhance our capacity to lead and serve as a group.
We drive forward with an ambitious desire for humble service, founded on a recognition that the needs of our campus and community must be understood through empathy.
We walk with discrete confidence, aware of the tradition we have been entrusted to uphold. We recognize our position within the rich history of the Society, the University, and Nebraska as a whole. We strive to honor our past in order to actualize this mission into the future.
The Knights of the 116th Class recognize that our spirit is uniquely Nebraskan, and we will strive to uphold these values.
Jared Long, President
Beloit, KS
Jared Long, son of Ed and Lisa Long of Beloit, KS, is a political science and journalism double major with a history minor. He is also pursuing the Certificate for Civic Engagement. On campus, Jared has served as the Internal Vice President and Speaker of the Senate of ASUN Student Government, through which he has coordinated programs such as Converge Nebraska to promote civil discourse and The Bandana Project to promote mental health awareness. He is the president of Honors Peer Mentoring, a member of Honors Ambassadors, and an Honors Campus Host. Jared has served as a New Student Enrollment Orientation Leader, is a member of NSE Student Staff, and volunteers with Lincoln Literacy. He is on the dean’s list for both the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Journalism and Mass Communications. After graduation, Jared plans to attend law school.
Sheng-Jie Lim, Vice President
Omaha, NE
Sheng-Jie Lim, son of Ing-Wah Lim and Jung-Hui Lai of Omaha, is a computer science and economics major with minors in psychology, business, and mathematics. On campus, Sheng-Jie is a student of the Raikes School, an Honors Program Ambassador, and an undergraduate researcher. Additionally, Sheng-Jie is a member of the Bathtub Dogs, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s premiere all-male A Cappella group, as a tenor and the business manager. Currently, Sheng-Jie is the development manager of the Raikes School Design Studio team at Hudl. He has completed internships at Nelnet, Principal Financial Group, and Zillow. This summer, he will join Microsoft as a software engineering intern. Sheng-Jie is a Regents Scholar and on the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s List. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career in technology as a software engineer.
Adrian Pilkington, Secretary
Lincoln, NE
Adrian Pilkington, son of Doug and Jill Pilkington of Lincoln, is a software engineering major with minors in math, French, and business. Adrian is on the dean’s list and is a recipient of the Regents Scholarship. On campus, Adrian serves as a teaching assistant for various computer science classes and is dedicated to mentoring and teaching those younger than him. He is also involved on the organizing committee for CornHacks, a member of CSE Student Advisory Board, and the University Honors Program. Last summer, and this upcoming summer, he worked as an information technology intern at Vanguard. After college, Adrian hopes to combine his passion for technology and business.
Ahmed Ahmed, Treasurer
Lincoln, NE
Ahmed Ahmed, son of Mustafa Ahmed and Bakhita Hassan of Lincoln, is an accounting major with minors in law, and business. He is a current William H. Thompson and Nebraska Achievement Scholar. Ahmed has experience as an accounting intern for William H. Thompson and will intern for BKD accounting firm in Summer 2020. He also accepted an internship with one of the Big Four accounting firms, KPMG, for Spring 2021. He currently works at the Bureau of Sociological Research and is the treasurer of the African Student Association. In 2019, he helped form a new chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants and is serving as its secretary. Ahmed has years of experience volunteering for the People’s City Mission and the Center for People in Need. He is also running for student government as part of the Committee for Fee Allocation. Ahmed intends to attend graduate school to earn an MPA degree in accountancy and become a certified public accountant.
Madeline Reddel, Sergeant at Arms
Omaha, NE
Madeline Reddel, daughter of David and Julia Reddel of Omaha, is a junior music education major and history minor. She is an ASUN Senator for the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts and president of the Hixson-Lied Student Advisory Board. Madeline has been a member of multiple university ensembles such as Jazz Singers (DownBeat Jazz Award 2020), University Chorale, Steel Pan Ensemble, UNL Opera, and is currently the vice president of University Singers. Her past service activities include founding and organizing the Foundry Open Mic Night Series, volunteering as a vocal and band mentor for the educational program “Omaha Girls Rock,” a counselor for the Omaha Children’s Choir, a workshop clinician for BluesEd, as well as an education volunteer for Lincoln’s annual Jazz in June events. Madeline participates as a vocalist in local jazz and indie bands and was selected to represent the Blues Society of Omaha at the 2018 International Blues Challenge Showcase in Memphis, Tennessee. Following graduation, Madeline will use her degree to develop inclusive communities through the arts.
Haley DeWitt, Keeper of Traditions
Omaha, NE
Haley DeWitt, daughter of Christopher and Melisa DeWitt of Omaha, is studying biology with minors in Spanish, biochemistry, and humanities in medicine. On campus, Haley is vice president of Relay for Life, selections chair for Honors Ambassadors, a member of the Honors Program Student Advisory Board, and serves as a peer mentor for the OASIS program. Within the biology department, she is a genetics lab teaching assistant and conducts research investigating how environmental toxins can lead to neurodegenerative diseases. In the community, Haley volunteers as a Spanish interpreter at Clinic with a Heart and as a tutor preparing immigrants for the U.S. Citizenship exam at El Centro de las Americas. Additionally, she volunteers weekly as a cardiac rehabilitation consultant at CHI St. Elizabeth Hospital. Haley is a Nebraska Achievement Scholar and plans to attend medical school following graduation.
Cole Shardelow, Philanthropy
Hastings, NE
Cole Shardelow, son of Scott and Diane Shardelow of Hastings, is a philosophy major with math, communication, and public policy and analysis minors. On campus, Cole is a service-learning coordinator at the Center for Civic Engagement, former teaching assistant for the Pepsi Service-Scholars, and former research assistant at the Legal Decision-Making Center. Cole is also a competitor on UNL’s speech and debate team in which he advocates social policies and has earned competitive awards at the national level. Outside of campus, Cole interns as a senior mediator at the Consumer Protection Division of the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office. He is an Eagle Scout, member of the UNL Honors Program, a Regents and Annis Sorensen Scholar, and is on the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s List. After graduation, Cole plans to attend law school to pursue public policy research.
Drew Harrahill, Initiation
Omaha, NE
Drew Harrahill, son of Bill and Tiffany Harrhill of Omaha, is a biochemistry major with minors in math, psychology, and chemistry. He is involved with ASUN Student Government, undergraduate research, and the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. Within ASUN, he currently serves as the Speaker of the Senate and previously acted as the Freshman Campus Leadership Associates co-director. As a scientist, he has worked in labs at UNL, University of Nebraska Medical Center, and University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus studying Alzheimer’s Disease, Fragile X Syndrome, and ALS. In Pi Kappa Alpha, Drew is the mental health chair and previously worked as the internal vice president and alumni relations chair. Upon graduation, Drew hopes to attend an M.D./Ph.D. dual degree program. He has interests in neuropharmacology and psychiatry and wants to pursue both degrees so the observations he sees in patients will drive the research questions that he asks.
Saisha Adhikari, Homecoming
Omaha, NE
Saisha Adhikari, daughter of Ramesh and Sasmita Adhikari of Omaha, is a biology and psychology double major on the public-health track with a minor in humanities in medicine. On campus, Saisha currently serves as the external vice president of ASUN Student Government, Child Maltreatment Research Lab Assistant, College of Arts and Sciences Recruitment Intern/Ambassador, University Health Center Advisory Board, and William H. Thompson Scholars Learning Community. Off campus, Saisha volunteers as a Refugee Health Promoter at Lincoln Lutheran Services and at an after-school program at Boys and Girls Club. Saisha has interned in Nepal at the Department of Neuroscience to study the disparities in global medicine. Upon graduation, she hopes to work at a public health organization, then pursue a masters degree in public health
Grace Oh, Homecoming
Lincoln,NE
Grace Oh, daughter of Byung-Taek Oh and Sina Kang of Lincoln, is a biochemistry major with three minors. On campus, Grace is a member of Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority, Inc., where she has been serving on the minor board, and the Asian Student Union, where she was the social recruitment chair. In the Lincoln community, Grace has been volunteering at Bright Lights Summer Camp as a teaching assistant and at CHI Health St. Elizabeth. She was the Registration Committee Lead in the 2019 Asian Student Leadership Conference. Grace has participated in the 2018 Summer Health Professions Education Program at UNMC and received funding from UCARE while she worked at NL3 Wang Lab. She is on the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s List and is a recipient of the Regents Scholarship. Following graduation, Grace plans to attend medical school
Aden Davis, Selections
Lincoln, NE
Aden Davis, son of Aaron and Brooke Davis of Lincoln, has majors in history, philosophy and classical studies in the College of Arts and Sciences where he is on the dean’s list. On campus, Aden is a mentor for NHRI, a member of ASUN’s Diversity and Inclusion committee, and president of UNICEF Campus Initiative. He has served as philanthropy chairman of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and was a member of FCLA as a freshman. Aden has participated in research on the Black Homesteader Project through the Center for Great Plains Studies and is currently researching Ancient Rome for his distinction thesis at UNL. In the summer of 2019, Aden worked as a human rights intern in Accra, Ghana, focusing on the issues of child labor and gender inequality. Following graduation, he plans on attending law school in order to pursue a career in international law.
Matthew Gromowsky, Selections
Omaha, NE
Matthew Gromowsky, son of Amy and Jeff Gromowsky of Omaha, is a chemistry and biochemistry major with a mathematics minor. Matthew is doing research in Dr. Steven Morin’s lab at UNL as well as Dr. Tony Hollingsworth’s lab at UNMC. He has been a general chemistry recitation teaching assistant since his sophomore year. He spends time volunteering at the Clinic With a Heart in Lincoln, the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Omaha, and has been a volunteer for the Rapid Autopsy of the Pancreas Program at UNMC. He is involved in multiple RSOs on campus, is a member of the College of Arts and Sciences Student Advisory Board, and is the head social chairman for the UNL Newman Center. He has served as the Intramural chairman and Vice President of Intellectual Development for his fraternity Phi Kappa Theta. Matthew plans to attend medical school following graduation.
Aiah Nour, Historian
Khartoum, Sudan
Aiah Nour, daughter of Siddig Nour and Samia Gamie of Khartoum Sudan, is a Biochemistry major with minors in Chemistry and Psychology. Aiah is currently the President of the African Student Association, Vice President of Outreach for the Black Student Union, and Chief of Staff for ASUN Student Government. She is active in the Minority Pre-Health Association and the Biochemistry club on campus. She is a McNair scholar, as well as a member of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and is in the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society
for transfer students. She is currently an undergraduate research assistant for Dr. Edward Harris’s lab and works with Stabilin receptors. Aiah completed the Summer Health Professions Education Program at the University of Nebraska-Medical Center, where she was elected the President of the 2019 cohort. She volunteers with the Islamic Foundation of Lincoln in teaching young kids Islam and the Quran. Aiah is currently an active Certified Nurse’s Assistant and Certified Medication Aide, working in long term care. Upon graduation, Aiah will attend medical school and hopes to pursue the M.D/PhD track.
