The Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District Board of Directors selected Bryn Christensen of Seward and Preston Sjuts of Trumbull as the 2026 Burke Scholarship recipients. Reyce Krause of York was named as the alternate for the award.  Christensen (left) and Sjuts (right) were recognized at the Board of Directors meeting in July and received scholarship certificates presented by Board Chair John Miller (center).

BRYN CHRISTENSEN is a 2025 graduate of Seward High School. The daughter of Pete and Shawna Christensen, Bryn is currently attending the University of Nebraska Lincoln (UNL) where she is studying plant biology on the ecology and management track. In high school she graduated Summa Cum Laude, earned the State FFA Degree, and was a 3-time Academic All-State honoree in golf. She was also part of National Honor Society, Student Council, and Seward High Ambassadors. At UNL she is involved in the Plant Biology Club and the Newman Center. Bryn is passionate about pursuing a career in a conservation field where she can implement programs and practices focused on natural resource sustainability and agricultural productivity.

PRESTON SJUTS is a 2026 graduate of Doniphan-Trumbull High School. The son of Scott and Nikki Sjuts, Preston plans to attend UNL and major in agricultural engineering. In high school, he earned a multitude of awards and honors, including FFA Greenhand, Chapter, and State degrees, Academic All-State in speech and football, National Honor Society, and PSAT/NMSQT National Recognition. He held leadership roles in FFA, FBLA, and football, and also spent many hours volunteering in his community through Eagle Scouts and First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. After college, he plans to return to his community and apply his degree to help bridge the gap between agricultural production and natural resource concerns, especially in terms of groundwater use.

REYCE KRAUSE is a 2026 graduate of York High School, where she was a member of National Honor Society and was active in FFA, golf, band, and jazz band. Outside of school, she participated in 4-H, volunteered for community events, and had leadership and mentoring rolls with the First Lutheran Youth Group and Kirby’s School of Dance, respectively. The daughter of Matt and Tiffany Krause, Reyce plans to attend UNL to study agronomy. She aspires to be a leader in agricultural research focusing on creative solutions and sustainable farming techniques that improve food production while maintaining natural resources.

ABOUT THE RAYMOND A. BURKE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Burke Scholarships, in the amount of $2,000, are designated for district residents who are fulltime students pursuing or planning to pursue a two-year or four-year degree at a Nebraska college or university. Recipients must be enrolled or plan to enroll in a natural resources or agricultural program, or related field, and intend to enter the workforce upon graduation in a hands-on position such as a soil or water conservationist, land or natural resources manager, agronomist, or engineering technician.

The family of Raymond A. Burke established this scholarship in his memory for the benefit of young men and women interested in pursuing careers in natural resource related fields. Mr. Burke was a land improvement contractor and farmer with very strong interests in natural resource management, conservation, and educating young people. He served for 40 years on the elected boards of the Polk County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District. From time to time, donations memorializing other individuals have been added to the Raymond A. Burke Scholarship Fund.

Previous recipients of Burke Scholarships have attended technical schools, private colleges, and state universities across Nebraska. Many have gone on to have rewarding careers in natural resources, including conservation and research activities.