MICHAEL T. ALBINO, 22,
son of Mary E. Vandenack and John P. Albino.
He is pursuing a philosophy degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His mother was an Aksarben countess. In another connection to Aksarben history, his grandfather Roger Vandenack owned and raced horses at the old Aksarben racetrack.
His mother, an attorney, is a managing partner at Houghton Vandenack Williams. She is a member of the American Heart Association Circle of Red group. She serves on the Hope Lodge Mission Advancement Council, the Nebraska Cancer Coalition board and the Law Practice Magazine senior editorial board. Her volunteer work has benefited the Armbrust YMCA and other causes.
ROBERT ANDREW ANDERSEN, 22,
son of Leslie and David Andersen.
He expects to obtain a degree in applied technology from the University of Central Oklahoma next spring. His sister Lindsey was a princess in 2011 and previously an Aksarben page; his sister Katherine was a page in 2008. The escort’s mother, the former Leslie Roe, is an Aksarben councillor and was a countess in 1982, the same year his father was an escort. His grandfather Harold W. Andersen was crowned Aksarben king in 1983. His grandmother Marilyn Hamer Roe was a princess in 1955, the same year his grandfather Jerry Roe was an escort.
The escort’s father is vice president of operations for ATS Secured and a principal of Scaled Growth Advisory. He serves on the board of the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum.
The escort’s mother is president and CEO of Bank of Bennington. She serves on the board of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, the State of Nebraska Economic Forecasting Board and the Community Bankers Council of the American Bankers Association. She has been president of the Nebraska Bankers Association.
The Andersens serve on the leadership committee of the Girls Scouts’ artVenture program.
JONATHAN IRVING BAKER, 23,
son of Amber and Thomas Baker.
He expects to graduate from Tulane University next spring with a history degree. He and his sister, Olivia, were Aksarben pages. His father has served on the Floor Committee. His aunt Betsy Baker has been chairman of the Aksarben Women’s Ball Committee. His grandfather Jack W. Baker was Aksarben king in 1996.
The escort’s father is insurance director at Woodhouse Family Insurance. He has served on the Westside Community Schools board and on the board of the school district’s foundation. He has served on the selection committee for the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame. He also has served on the boards of Boys & Girls Clubs of Omaha and of the College World Series.
The escort’s mother, the former Amber Elenga, works at Village Needleworks. She is on the CREW board of the Children’s Respite Care Center. Her volunteer work has benefited the Boys & Girls Clubs and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and she is a reading mentor in the Westside school district.
KYLE WILLIAM BRIGGS, 21,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey S. Briggs.
Midshipman 1st Class Briggs is to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy next spring with a degree in applied mathematics. He was a page in 2001. His brother, Ryan, was an escort in 2012. His sister, Madison, was a page in 2004.
The escort’s father is chief operating officer of Green Plains Inc. He has been active in fundraising for Creighton Prep and Catholic Charities; he also has served on the College World Series board.
The escort’s mother, the former Diane Elizabeth Haub, has been secretary of the Duchesne Academy athletic booster club and serves on a CHI Health charitable council. Her volunteer work has benefited Creighton Prep and the American Heart Association.
The Briggses were general chairmen of the 2014-15 Duchesne Academy parent drive.
ELIJAH WILLIAM BROWN, 21,
son of Maggie and David Brown.
He is pursuing a music degree at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. His father serves on the Aksarben Future Trust board.
David Brown is president of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. He serves on the Strategic Air Command Consultation Committee and is on the boards of the College World Series and Love’s Jazz & Arts Center. He is a member of the Omaha Business Ethics Alliance board of governors.
The escort’s father and mother, the former Maggie Brooks, serve on the United Way of the Midlands Campaign Cabinet and are co-chairmen of the Opera Omaha Council.
CAMERON JOEL DAVIS, 21,
son of Henry Davis and Mary Kay Young.
He expects to graduate from Johns Hopkins University next spring with a philosophy degree. Cameron was a page in 2001. His sister, Lauren, was a princess in 2012.
The escort’s father is president and CEO of Greater Omaha Packing Co. He serves on a number of community boards, including Avenue Scholars Foundation, Bellevue University, Partnership 4 Kids, NorthStar Foundation and Kaneko.
The escort’s mother, the former Mary Kay Sternberg, is a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Ambassador Real Estate. She has been chairman of galas for Heartland Family Service and Child Saving Institute. She has served on the Nebraska Foster Care Review Board and has been president of Omaha Friends of Planned Parenthood.
CHRISTOPHER GIITTER, 22,
son of Dr. and Mrs. Michael Giitter.
He expects to graduate from Creighton University next spring with a degree in bioscience entrepreneurship. His brothers were pages, Jon in 2011 and Austin in 2003.
The escort’s father is a physician with Methodist Physicians Clinic. He is an adjunct assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and a course preceptor for UNMC medical students. He has been co-chairman of a benefit gala for the Poor Clare Sisters. He also has been secretary of the Nebraska chapter of the American College of Physicians.
The escort’s mother, the former Tamara Latimer, is president of the Durham Museum On Track Guild. She has served as secretary of the Methodist Hospital Volunteers in Partnership executive board and has served on the Creighton Prep BASH executive committee. Her volunteer work has benefited the Omaha Symphony, Omaha Community Playhouse and Heartland Family Service.
ANDREW JOHN HICKS, 20,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Kirk A. Hicks.
He expects to earn a degree in interior design from UNL next spring. His sister Kathryn was a princess in 2012. His mother, the former Jennifer Bridges, was a princess in 1983 and previously a page. His uncle Robert Bridges was a crown bearer in 1974. His great-great uncle Dr. W.O. Bridges was named Aksarben king in 1927. His great-grandmother Esther Smith Bridges was an Aksarben duchess in 1922. And his great-great-grandfather Arthur C. Smith was king in 1909.
The escort’s father is a certified public accountant at G. Randall Hansen. He has served on the board of Compassion in Action.
The escort’s mother has served on the board of managers of the Nebraska chapter of the National Society of Colonial Dames in America and is archives chairman for the group.
NATE HOFMANN, 21,
son of Ann and Scott Hofmann.
He is pursuing degrees in business administration and journalism at UNL. His siblings were pages — Caleb in 2005 and Claire in 2001. His mother, the former Ann Campbell, has served various roles on the Women’s Ball Committee, and his father has served on the Floor Committee.
The escort’s father is an anesthesiologist at UNMC and the VA Medical Center. He has been president of the local chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha and remains a member of the medical honor society. He has been on the board of the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum.
The escort’s mother has been active in the Lauritzen Gardens Antique & Garden Show and Westside Community Schools’ VI-VI Gala. She is co-chairman of a food pantry garden.
ZACHARY MATTHEW JETTER, 21,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Matthew K. Jetter.
He expects to obtain a finance degree from UNL next spring. He was a page in 2001, and his sister, Caroline, was a page in 2004. His father has served on the Floor Committee and was a page. His grandmother Virginia Turner Jetter was chairman of the Women’s Ball Committee.
The escort’s father is an independent insurance agent and president of Jetter & Associates. He serves on the Midlands Elder Care Network board, the North Omaha Community Care Council and the Human Service Advisory Council of the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce. He also is on the advisory committee for Hospice of Southwest Iowa.
The escort’s mother, the former Anne Rokusek, is director of merchant relations and channel marketing for GiftCertificates.com.
She was co-chairman of the Omaha Symphony Debutante Ball 50th Anniversary Celebration and has had many other roles with the ball. Her volunteer work has also benefited the American Heart Association, Heartland Family Service, Skutt High School, Fontenelle Nature Association and Opera Omaha.
J. BRENDAN KELLEY, 21,
son of Kerry and Craig Kelley.
He expects to earn a degree in microbiology from Colorado State University next spring. Brendan was a standard bearer at the 2010 Aksarben ball. His brother, Christopher, was an escort in 2012.
The escort’s father, an attorney, is a partner with Inserra & Kelley. He has served as president of the Northwest Missouri State University Foundation board and is president of Men for Duchesne Academy. He serves on the boards of the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame, the Nebraska Bicycling Alliance and Wear Yellow Nebraska. He is president and co-founder of the Dundee Chain Gang Cycling Club.
The escort’s mother, the former Kerry Ford, is chief information officer and director of command, control, computers and communications of the U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base. She is the U.S. representative on the International Satellite Communications Steering Committee and the U.S. Air Force lead on the Communications and Information Career Broadening Program. She is a circle member and past circle chair of the St. Margaret Mary Women’s Guild.
The Kelleys are co-chairmen of the 2016 Duchesne Academy Conge.
T.J. KOTOUC, 21,
son of Wende and John Kotouc.
He is pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering at Baylor University. His sister, Camille, was a page in 2011. His grandfather Otto Kotouc Jr. was the Aksarben representative in Richardson County for more than 30 years.
The escort’s father is executive chairman of American National Bank. He is on the Bellevue University board and has been board chairman. He is the founder of Leadership for Life and remains on the group’s board. He also serves on the boards of Brownell-Talbot School, Nebraska Methodist Foundation, American Friends of the Czech Republic and Tentmakers Youth Ministry.
The escort’s mother is on the boards of American National Bank and Christ Community Church. She serves on the executive committees of the boards of Creighton Prep High School and the Omaha Conservatory of Music. She has been on the boards of West Hills Church and College of St. Mary.
JONATHAN CHARLES LIAKOS, 21,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles John Liakos.
He is pursuing a degree in secondary special education at Drake University. His sister Hannah is a page this year, and his sisters Jenna and Victoria also were pages. The escort’s mother, the former Julie Damico, was a countess in 1990 and serves on the Aksarben Friends board; his aunts Anne and Catherine Damico were also countesses. His father was an escort chairman and has served on the Floor Committee. His uncle Andrew Liakos was an escort as well.
His father is president of Midwest Technology Solutions Inc. He was a longtime Eagle Scout coordinator for the Boy Scouts of America Mid-America Council and a longtime youth sports coach.
The escort’s mother serves on the Omaha Symphony Debutante Ball Committee, the Fontenelle Forest board and the Joslyn Art Museum Association board. She also is active in the Omaha Community Playhouse’s Act II guild.
The Liakoses’ volunteer work has benefited Westside Community Schools, including the high school’s vocal music program.
CHARLES FULLER LANDEN, 21,
son of Mr. and Mrs. James Edward Landen Sr.
Charlie and his cousin Louis Landen are this year’s Omaha escort chairmen. Charlie expects to graduate from Southern Methodist University next spring with a finance degree. His brothers, James Jr. and Wilson, and his father all were pages and escorts; Wilson was escort chairman in 2011. His mother, the former Diane Nolan, has served on the Women’s Ball Committee. His cousin Katie Landen was queen in 2011, and his aunt Shirley (Landen) Heurter was queen in 1977. His grandmother Mary Landen was inducted into the Aksarben Court of Honor in 1996. And his great-grandfather, the late Clarence Louis Landen, was king in 1953.
The escort’s father is chairman and CEO of Security National Bank. He serves on the advisory board of the Omaha Salvation Army and has been board chairman; he also has been on the national Salvation Army board. He serves on the boards of Clarkson Regional Health Service, the Chamber of Commerce and Nature Conservancy.
The escort’s mother is president of Vantage Communications. She is on the boards of the Joslyn Art Museum, Project Harmony and the Westside Community Schools Foundation. She has been chairman of the board of United Way of the Midlands and the Heartland chapter of the American Red Cross. She has served on the national Girls Inc. board and has been president of the Omaha board.
CLARENCE LOUIS LANDEN IV, 21,
son of Mr. and Mrs. C.L. Landen III.
Louis and his cousin Charlie Landen are this year’s Omaha escort chairmen. Louis is pursuing a civil engineering degree at St. Louis University. In his family are two Aksarben queens and one king: his sister Katie was crowned in 2011, his aunt Shirley (Landen) Huerter in 1977 and his late great-grandfather Clarence Louis Landen in 1953. The escort himself was a page and trainbearer to the Aksarben king in 2001. His other sister, Kelly, was a page and trainbearer to the queen in 2003. His mother is an Aksarben Stock Show & Rodeo committee member. His father is an Aksarben governor and was an escort. And his grandmother Mary Landen was named to the Court of Honor in 1996.
The escort’s father is president of Security National Bank. He is chairman of medical staff and audit committees of the Nebraska Methodist Hospital Foundation board. He serves on the boards of the Westside Schools Foundation and the Boys Scouts’ Mid-America Council. He has been president of the Methodist College of Nursing board.
The escort’s mother, the former Patricia DiBaise, is founder and owner of Kaluke Sales and Custom Printing. She serves on the TeamMates board and is a TeamMates mentor. She is on the Nebraska Medicine Guild board and has been president of the College of St. Mary board.
PATRICK CORCORAN LANGDON, 21,
son of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Langdon.
He is pursuing a business degree at Landmark College in Vermont.
His brother T.J. and his late brother Mark were escorts; T.J. in 2009 and Mark in 2011. His brothers John and Joe were pages in 2003. The escort’s mother, the former Kathleen Corcoran, has served on the Women’s Ball Committee. His father was an escort in 1978-80 and served as escort chairman. And his cousin, now Ali Langdon Dobelman, was Aksarben queen in 2006.
The escort’s father is a cardiothoracic surgeon at Omaha Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. He is the Bergan Mercy Medical Center’s cardiovascular director and Methodist Hospital’s cardiothoracic surgery director. He has served on the Ronald McDonald House board.
The escort’s mother serves on the Gurney Lake “Clean and Sober Solutions” executive committee. She has served on the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s executive committee and has been co-chairman of fundraisers for the nonprofit. She has served on the Omaha Symphony Debutante Ball Committee and has led fundraisers for St. Augustine Indian Mission School and the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society.
CHRISTIAN MAPES, 21,
son of Carolina and Mike Mapes.
He expects to obtain an engineering degree from West Point next spring. His sister, Noelle, was a princess in 2013.
The escort’s father is president of the Alliance Group. He is mentor coordinator of the Sacred Heart Mentor Program and a member of the Immanuel Charitable Council. He has volunteered for the Boy Scouts’ Investment in Character Campaign and has served on the Archdiocese of Omaha Education Committee.
The escort’s mother, the former Carolina Ylo, is vice president of the Alliance Group. She is president of the Sacred Heart School Guild and is a Sacred Heart mentor. She serves on the Omaha Symphony Guild.
The Mapeses have been co-chairmen of the Creighton Prep BASH live auction and the Archbishop’s Dinner for Education.
PETER JAMES MULLEN, 22,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Sean T. Mullen.
He expects to obtain a degree in accounting from Creighton next spring. His brother Tyler was a page. His father was an escort in 1979, an escort chairman in 1980 and has served on the Floor Committee.
The escort’s father is a partner at Hancock & Dana, a CPA firm. He has been chairman of the Creighton Prep governing board and serves on the Catholic Charities Foundation board. He is a member of the United States Tax Court.
The escort’s mother, the former Katie Hogan, was a member of the Omaha Law League board for 20 years. She is active in the Creighton Prep BASH fundraiser and has been president of Christ Child Society.
The escort’s parents were co-chairmen of the Archbishop’s Dinner for Education in 2012 and serve on the Creighton University parents board.
CONNOR DEANE MUNRO, 21,
son of Shari and Kevin Munro.
He will graduate from UNL in December with a degree in business administration.
The escort’s father, a commercial banker, is managing director at BMO Harris Bank. He serves on the Chamber of Commerce board and the UNO Accounting Advisory Board. He has been chairman of the UNO Alumni Association.
The escort’s mother, the former Shari Miller, is a CPA at Frankel Zacharia. She is treasurer of the UNO Alumni Association board and secretary of the Nebraska Society of Certified Public Accountants board. She has served on the Skutt High School board.
The Munros have been co-chairmen of fundraisers for the American Heart Association. They also are trustees of the University of Nebraska Foundation.
JARED ROBERT PRITCHARD AND MATTHEW PATRICK PRITCHARD, 21,
sons of Mr. and Mrs. John Pritchard.
Jared (top left) and Matthew (bottom left) are pursuing journalism degrees at UNL. They were Aksarben pages in 2001.
The escorts’ father is a marketing account executive at Northern Natural Gas.
The escorts’ mother, the former Jenelle Bischof, is dean of students at Omaha Public Schools. She serves on the Heartland Family Service board. Her volunteer work has benefited Opera Omaha, the Omaha Zoological Society, the Rose Theater and the Munroe-Meyer Institute.
NICHOLAS SEAVER SELINE, 21,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Steven Seline.
He expects to obtain a degree in economics from Texas Christian University next spring. His siblings were pages — Elizabeth in 2006, Thomas in 2004 and Casey in 2002.
The escort’s father is president of Walnut Private Equity Partners. He is immediate past chairman of the Chamber of Commerce board and past chairman of the Omaha Salvation Army advisory board. He is vice chairman of the Building Healthy Futures Foundation and a director of Kaneko and Southroads Technology Park.
The escort’s mother, the former Suzann Baggarly, is vice president of Walnut Radio. She is president of the Westside Community Schools Foundation and serves on the boards of Christ Child Society and the Munroe Meyer Institute. She also is a religious instructor at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church.
JOHN WALKER TINLEY, 21,
son of Dr. and Mrs. Todd Sekundiak and the late Chris Tinley.
He is pursuing a math degree at UNO. He was a page in 2002. His sisters were pages, Sasha Sekundiak in 2011 and Lauren Tinley in 2000. His mother, the former Lisa Walker, was a princess in 1985.
The escort’s mother is the owner of Max I. Walker Inc. She has served on the boards of the Omaha Suburban Rotary Club and Clarkson Service League. She is on the Omaha Fashion Institute Guild board and is the founder and chair of the Ultra Chic Prom Boutique.
The escort’s stepfather is an orthopedic surgeon for CHI Health and an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery at the Creighton University School of Medicine.
THOMAS JOHN VON RIESEN JR., 21,
son of Sandra and Thomas Von Riesen.
He is pursuing a degree in interior design at UNL. He was a page in 2001. His sister, Julia, was a princess in 2012. The escort’s mother, the former Sandra Bekins, was a princess in 1975. His father has served on the Floor Committee. His grandfather Frederick M. Bekins has been president of His Majesty’s Council. He also was an escort in 1946, the same year the 2015 escort’s grandmother Sally Bekins was a princess. His aunt Cindy Bekins Anderson was a princess, and his uncle John Bekins was an escort. And his great-aunt Marcia Bekins Shepard was crowned queen of Aksarben in 1951.
The escort’s father is principal of SilverStone Group. He is a director of the Association for Advanced Life Underwriters and has been national president of the group. He also has been chairman of the board of the Nebraska Society of CPAs and has served on the board of the society’s foundation. He serves on the executive committee of the Boy Scouts’ Mid-America Council.
The escort’s mother is president of the Fred & Sally Bekins Foundation. Her volunteer work has benefited Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, the Westside Alumni Association and Westside’s Oakdale Elementary. She serves on the boards of her PEO chapter and the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America.
REYN GORO WATANABE, 22,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon T. Watanabe.
He expects to graduate from St. Louis University next spring with a degree in business administration. Reyn’s siblings were all pages — Dori in 2010, Zane in 2006, Reece in 2004 and Cora in 2003. The escort’s mother, the former Joy Yoshimoto, has served on the Women’s Ball Committee, and his father has served on the Floor Committee.
The escort’s parents own Nobbies.
The escort’s father serves on the board of the Boy Scouts’ Mid-America Council, on the Bellevue University executive committee and on the Bellevue University Foundation board. He has served on the executive committee of the Chamber of Commerce.
The escort’s mother is co-chair of the 2015 Woman of the Year gala put on by the Arthritis Foundation of Nebraska. She is a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs’ family guild, the Children’s Respite Care Center advisory board and the Project Harmony Service League board. She has served on the Omaha Symphony Guild Debutante Ball Committee.
CHARLES WALLIN ZIEGENBEIN, 21,
son of John and Lyn Ziegenbein.
He expects to obtain an economics degree from Creighton next spring. Lyn Wallin Ziegenbein was a princess in 1974. The escort’s aunt Ann Wallin Harrington was a princess in 1971.
The escort’s father is an attorney with HDR. He is a Nebraska State Bar Association fellow and an active arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association. He has served on the Nebraska Council of Economic Education and was a longtime youth basketball coach.
The escort’s mother is executive director emeritus of the Peter Kiewit Foundation. She serves on the boards of the Omaha Sports Commission, Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney, Goodwill Industries of Omaha, Creighton Prep and College of St. Mary. She also has served on the executive committee of the U.S. Council on Foundations.
