Student Stories

You Are Welcome To Succeed in Nebraska

Nebraska: A Home away from Home

international students at parade with flags

Our international students come from more than 130 countries around the world. Each one has a unique success story and a reason they say Nebraska is their home. Meet some of graduates below and hear their Husker journey.

2022 Featured International Huskers

On May 11, Global Affairs and the Nebraska Alumni Association celebrated the 2022 International Student Graduation Reception to higlight the accomplishments of all of our international graduates in the past year. Get to know this year's 8 featured graduates and check out their stories below.

ashley

Picture Perfect: Chong finds her passion at Nebraska

For Ashley Chong, a journalism major from Malaysia, it was the Husker spirit at a football game that confirmed her desire to become a photojournalist — a dream she's ready for thanks to her classes and involvement at Nebraska.

Meet Ashley

juan

Rodriguez finds direction through sport and support

Juan Sebastian Rodriguez came to Nebraska from Colombia with the goal of making the best of his college years. With support from friends and faculty, he found a way to combine his interests in business and sports to prepare for his career.

Meet Juan

sandhya

Karki finds belonging in global Nebraska community

As a first-generation international student from Nepal, Sandhya Karki came to Nebraska with a big dream. Now, she graduates having made her parents proud and seizing all of the opportunities at Nebraska to grow as a diverse leader.

Meet Sandhya

faisal

#HuskerHired: Campus job prepares Al Rumhi for future career

As an international student from Oman, finding a campus job wasn't top of mind for Faisal Al Rumhi. But after starting his first one last spring, he's gained confidence and honed his skills for his next career step after graduation.

Meet Faisal

aakriti

Twice as Nice: Two-time alumna Agrawal continues to give back to community

Growing up as a third culture kid between India and Singapore, Aakriti Agrawal adapts wherever she goes. But after spending the last decade here and two degrees from Nebraska, there's no doubt she's a true Husker.

Meet Aakriti

aline

Abayo sees graduation as opportunity to change the world

8,000 miles away, Aline Abayo knew coming to Nebraska was the right decision for her college career. Now, she graduates with a Carnegie fellowship to keep changing the world through agriculture.

Meet Aline

carolina

Nebraska experience prepares Frias for next adventure

When Carolina Frias Diaz stepped on campus four years ago from Colombia, she didn't know the adventures she'd encounter. Under the guiding principle of "Challenge Yourself" and Nebraska support, she graduates ready for the next adventure.

Meet Carolina

jun yi

Goh traces family footsteps, international student history at Nebraska U

Graduating from Nebraska is a family affair for Jun Yi Goh, with his mother and two uncles instilling in him a pride for Huskers since he grew up in Malaysia. As he prepares to return for his master's degree at Nebraska, Jun Yi is excited to continue that legacy.

Meet Jun Yi

shemsa

Iribagiza finds new passion, leaves impact as “Woman of Character”

Since she was young, Shemsa Ndahiro Iribagiza’s parents instilled that she is a strong woman. Now the Rwandan native is dreaming big, helping others find their voice and feel heard, and advocating for others.

Meet Shemsa

olivo headshot

Door to discovery: Olivo builds on childhood dream as agricultural engineer at Nebraska

For Agustín Olivo, becoming an agricultural engineer wasn’t just a childhood dream – it's the fuel behind his career that has led him from Argentina to Nebraska for his master’s degree and now to New York for his Ph.D. in animal science.

Meet Agustín

hegde

Nebraska empowers Hegde to accomplish goals, build community

From the community she found through getting involved and New Student Enrollment, Shridula Hegde has been an active Husker during her time at Nebraska. She graduates in May knowing she has accomplished her goals and is ready for the next step.

Meet Shridula

kang

Entire Nebraska community lifts Kang to next stage in life

Zifan “Stefan” Kang's favorite part about moving to Nebraska from his hometown in Xinjiang, China was the kindness and comfort he was welcomed with by all different kinds of people – a global community that has propelled to him his future career.

Meet Zifan

cardenas

Cárdenas danced into her own at Nebraska

Anamaría Guzmán Cárdenas has has always refused to box herself in, and her time at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln allowed her to open up new doors by exploring the intersection of science and dance as therapy.

Meet Anamaría

nabhan

Al Hajri moves beyond comfort zone to great success

When Nabhan Al Hajri thinks back to his first memories in Nebraska, he recalls how small his comfort zone was. After making new connections and thriving with the support of his architecture faculty, he’s eager to return to UNL for his master’s degree in the fall.

Meet Nabhan

choong

Husker experience helps Choong find herself

This May, Janica Choong will graduate with a major in advertising and public relations and a minor in English. She says her proudest achievement throughout her time at the university was actually becoming the person she is today.

Meet Janica

nguyen

Nguyen graduates with legacy of advancing allied community

Kennedy Nguyen arrived at Nebraska apprehensive about his next steps. After interning with We Are Nebraska and sharing his experience as a transgendered male, he graduates with confidence in his future and strong support from the allied community.

Meet Kennedy