From the Husker Locker Room to the Governor’s Stage: Lessons Nebraska’s Youth Won’t Forget

Over the past two days, I was blown away by how many young people from across the state I met.

It was one of those conferences that leaves you both humbled and inspired. I had the incredible honor of serving on the Leadership Team at the very first Nebraska Governor’s Youth Summit in Kearney, Neb., an opportunity I owe to the connections and generosity of others.

First, I want to pause and give a heartfelt thank you to Tony Aguilera of the Barrientos Scholarship Foundation. Tony has always been a champion of community, mentorship, and lifting others up. His introduction to Bo Jones and his Careerpathway.com team opened the door to have a peek at what the state is doing to invest in its young people.

A Call to Action and Inspiration

Walking into the Younes Conference Center North, the energy was electric. Hundreds of young people from across Nebraska gathered with big dreams and open minds, ready to see what was possible for their futures.

The inaugural Youth Summit facilitated one-on-one interactions between high school and college students and business, college, and military leaders. Throughout the day, employers and educators presented student attendees with internship, scholarship, and job offers in Nebraska.

Governor Jim Pillen reminded us of the bigger picture when he said:

“Remember, we need you here in Nebraska. This is the greatest place in the history of civilization to raise your families… everybody committed to matching up and engaging with kids today and making that happen is gigantic.”

That message set the tone for a day about not just possibilities, but purpose.

Husker Football Coach Matt Rhule carried that energy forward when he introduced four Husker players who took the stage to speak directly to the young people. He was then joined by current Cornhuskers—and Nebraska natives—Derek Branch (Lincoln), Heinrich Haarberg (Kearney), Carter Nelson (Ainsworth), and Luke Lindenmeyer (Papillion) for a special session of the Youth Summit.

Speaking to student attendees, the Husker players shared why they’ve chosen to spend their college careers in Nebraska. What made this moment so refreshing was that the players didn’t sugarcoat their experiences. They shared openly about the challenges they faced and the resilience it took to overcome them.

Quarterback Heinrich Haarberg spoke about daring to dream of the NFL and the ups and downs of his journey:

“I came into college at 17 years old… I’ve been booed, I’ve been cheered for. I’ve got death threats. But at the end of the day, just always continuing to keep fighting, no matter how hard you get knocked down, and chasing that dream of mine of playing in the NFL one day — that’s what’s given me the courage and the willpower to keep coming back.”

Another player reflected on how critical mentors were in his life, reminding students:

“Only takes one person to believe in you. Once I saw that someone believed in me, it boosted my confidence. Every day I wake up, I remember the people who poured into me and believed in me.”

Others spoke about family sacrifice, faith, and never limiting your dreams, powerful messages that resonated deeply with the young people in the room.

It was a heartfelt conversation from peers who weren’t much older than the students themselves. And it landed.

The rest of the day unfolded with “Career Connection Bubbles,” interactive spaces where students engaged directly with Nebraska’s thriving industries, from construction and healthcare to bioeconomy and workforce development. Each session they participated in was about igniting ambition and showing students the opportunities that already exist right here in our state.

That said, some attendees — myself included — were disappointed that the summit was scheduled on the first day of school for Omaha Public Schools and several other districts. It meant some students missed their first day back, and not many OPS students, in particular, weren’t able to attend at all. I also couldn’t help but notice the lack of diversity in the room. With roughly 300 students present, the representation of Nebraska’s diverse communities was minimal, and that absence was felt. Moving forward, it would be wise to consider both timing and inclusivity so the summit truly reflects the voices and experiences of all Nebraska youth.

As someone who has dedicated her career to teaching young people, storytelling, and amplifying community impact, I left Kearney nonetheless inspired by what happens when leaders, educators, and mentors unite around young people. These students deserve to see themselves reflected in every possibility Nebraska has to offer.

At the conclusion of the event, CareerPathway.com, primary sponsor of the Governor’s Youth Summit, reported metrics from the inaugural event. During Thursday, students made 918 connections with employers/educators and submitted more than 250 scholarship, internship, and job applications.