UNK program connects education and industry to grow state’s talent pipeline
KEARNEY – Long before she became dean of the University of Nebraska at Kearney College of Business and Technology, Brooke Envick kept hearing the same concern from employers across the state.
Companies couldn’t find enough workers.
The conversations came from banks, accounting firms, manufacturers and other industry partners looking for graduates to fill critical positions. It wasn’t a new problem, and it wasn’t isolated to one field. Across the college, employers were asking for more students than UNK could provide.
“Even when I was associate dean, I heard employers telling us, ‘You’re not graduating enough students. We want more,’” Envick said. “So I had this idea that maybe they could somehow help us recruit students here.”
That idea eventually became the Grow the Good Life Workforce and Economic Development Program, an initiative launched last year by the UNK College of Business and Technology to strengthen Nebraska’s workforce pipeline through partnerships with K-12 schools and businesses.
The program connects schools and employers with the college through career exploration activities, internships, classroom visits, mentorship opportunities and workforce development efforts designed to bring more students to UNK and keep them in Nebraska after graduation.
“This was really about creating a cohesive pipeline,” Envick said. “You’ve got K-12 schools upstream, we’re in the middle of the stream, and employers downstream.”
The initiative aligns with the mission of the College of Business and Technology (CBT), which emphasizes career-focused education and regional economic development. Envick noted that 12 of the college’s 15 undergraduate programs boast 100% job placement rates, and the overall figure is around 98%. Most of these students remain in Nebraska to start their careers.
“The overall goal is regional economic development,” Envick said. “The more students we can graduate who get jobs in our state, that’s going to grow these companies, grow the economy and strengthen our schools and towns.”
Creating Career Pathways
Under the Grow the Good Life model, businesses can engage with the college in a variety of ways, from attending recruiting events and networking opportunities to visiting classrooms and connecting with students through internships and mentorship experiences. The goal is to create earlier and more meaningful relationships between employers and students.
“We want students to know there are great opportunities available right here in Nebraska so they can start planning their future path earlier in their academic journey,” Envick said.
Businesses can also support the initiative through tiered sponsorships that help fund scholarships, student professional development opportunities, internships, updated classroom technology and other workforce preparation efforts.
Lutz, an Omaha-based business solutions firm offering accounting, consulting, talent, technology and financial services, started collaborating with UNK long before Grow the Good Life was announced.
“Our partnership with UNK is really important to us and plays a big role in helping us bring top talent to Lutz,” said Sydney Holzworth, human resources and recruiting manager. “Each year, we hire around 70 to 80 interns across our five internship programs, and UNK students make up a strong portion of that group. We also have quite a few UNK alumni at our firm today, which speaks to the long-term success of this partnership.”
UNK students consistently distinguish themselves during internships, according to Holzworth, allowing them to contribute meaningful work while gaining a clearer understanding of their career interests and professional goals.
“Beyond recruiting, we really value our relationship with UNK faculty,” she added. “Being able to attend career fairs, participate in mock interviews, review resumes and spend time in classrooms helps us stay connected with students and continue building our presence on campus.”
Curt Ott, vice president of commercial banking at Pinnacle Bank in Kearney, called the UNK collaboration a “natural fit.”
“We see the benefit of bringing real-world examples into the classroom and what it can do for preparing students for the future,” he said. “While this program allows us to have access to students prior to graduation, we also feel privileged to have the opportunity to assist with providing value-add to those business students who may pursue a path into the banking industry. UNK is essential in bringing along the future business leaders in the state of Nebraska, and we are proud to have a small role in that journey.”
Like Lutz, Pinnacle Bank provides internship opportunities for UNK students and employs a number of Loper graduates, including Ott.
“The impact of UNK is felt throughout our entire organization,” he said. “UNK is proudly represented within Pinnacle Bank’s workforce, with numerous alumni spread amongst our markets.”
Still, Ott describes workforce development as one of the most important challenges facing Nebraska industries today.
“With the tail end of the baby boomer generation phasing out of the workforce, it is imperative that we begin planning for that transition now,” he said. “As key employees begin looking at retirement, having young employees get the opportunity to train and learn from more seasoned personnel is extremely beneficial.”
He believes Grow the Good Life is an important step toward addressing that challenge.
“We have already been fortunate to place a number of UNK graduates into our management trainee program recently, and having the ability to work with students in the classroom will only assist matters,” Ott said. “The fit between a prospective employee and an organization must work from both sides, and this program also allows the students the chance to see what Pinnacle Bank represents. We feel fortunate to work with CBT on this program and are excited to see what the future holds.”
Expanding Opportunities for Students
More than a dozen K-12 schools across central Nebraska are already Grow the Good Life partners, and several more have expressed interest. The program, offered free of charge, includes assistance with career fairs, mock interviews, classroom presentations, career exploration activities and college and career readiness curriculum.
Mandy Sand, director of industry and student engagement in the CBT Career Center, emphasized that the program is about much more than student recruitment, a message that’s resonated with educators across the area.
“We didn’t want this to be a recruiting effort,” she said. “Yes, we hope these students come to UNK, but we’re honestly just there to help. A lot of high school teachers wear so many hats, so we want to assist in any way we can.”
Sand, who joined UNK last year after previously serving as director of talent and workforce engagement at Lexington Regional Health Center, works directly with K-12 schools while Senior Director Dustin Favinger focuses primarily on business partnerships.
“Dustin and I are both from small towns, so we just started talking about how our communities need these kids to stay here,” Sand said. “How can we further help educate kids about the jobs that are right here so they can go back to their hometowns or a similar small town and help those communities?”
By partnering with K-12 schools, she can show students the wide range of career opportunities available to them well before they reach college.
“The more that we can get into those classrooms earlier on and start educating kids on all the different careers in a bank or all the different things you can do with an accounting degree, the easier it will be for them to form those pathways and get started on the right foot right away,” she said.
The strategy appears to be working, with educators across central Nebraska already seeing benefits from the program.
“This partnership is incredibly valuable because it helps bridge the gap between high school and postsecondary opportunities,” said Lacey Schroeder, a business teacher and FBLA adviser at Amherst Public Schools. “It gives our students exposure to real-world career pathways and reinforces the importance of being career ready with the skills and knowledge they need for their future.”
Schroeder is excited to expand the collaboration by creating more hands-on opportunities for students, including campus visits, guest speakers and career-focused experiences.
“Our goal is to build a strong, lasting connection that supports student success beyond high school,” she said.
Jan Osborn, a business teacher and FBLA adviser at Sargent Public Schools, partnered with UNK during the district’s annual Career Exploration Day.
“Mandy went above and beyond by hosting a table for students to learn more about UNK, serving on our panel of professionals to share her personal experiences, highlighting how UNK prepares students for their futures and volunteering as a mock interviewer,” she said. “The information and insight she provided were truly invaluable for our students. While I can teach career preparation concepts in the classroom, hearing directly from an outside professional adds a level of authenticity and validation that makes a significant impact.”
As the program continues to evolve, Envick hopes Grow the Good Life can eventually extend statewide and potentially involve collaboration with other University of Nebraska campuses.
“I can’t think of anything else that fulfills our mission more than this does,” she said.