Ananya Amarnath is ending her undergraduate career at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln on a high note.

She will be among the thousands of Huskers participating in commencement on May 18 and receive a degree in music education from the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts. This crescendo has been building as Amarnath’s path to a degree came with numerous academic challenges — which she overcame by remembering that she had the opportunity to pursue two of her passions.

“Everybody has an origin story, why you love music, why you love teaching,” she said. “Taking a second to reconnect with that and not lose that idea is really important.”

Amarnath’s introduction to music education was at age 5 when she started learning Indian classical music. As a small child, she also took lessons in Indian classical dance. Her younger sister also participated in the lessons, and Amarnath realized then that she loved helping her sister learn.

“This is something that has always been present in my life, so why don’t I just combine the two things I love doing and keep rolling with that,” she said.

She started in group singing lessons, but in middle school, Amarnath started playing the flute, which continued through her years at Elkhorn South High School. Watching her own teachers helped inspire Amarnath to pursue this career.

“I was seeing these great music educators around me, really leaning into my love for music and seeing that there’s more to it than just singing in a choir,” she said.

Amarnath just completed her student teaching at Papillion La Vista South High School, where she had the opportunity to learn from two instructors. She said they have a wealth of experience so she was grateful for the opportunity to pick both of their brains and grow from observing them, as well as apply lessons from them and her classes to real instruction.

“The two of them have two very different approaches to teaching, so I’ve been trying to figure out, seeing both, what I want my approach to be,” Amarnath said. “I just love watching them teach and they have such good relationships with their students.”

Outside the classroom, her music education major required Amarnath to learn the basics of playing several instruments, and her favorite additions were the saxophone and the oboe. She also participated in multiple university choirs, including University Chorale, University Singers, Chamber Singers and i2 Choir.

“I really appreciate having those as a requirement, to take a break from the coursework aspect and just make music,” she said.

Although she enjoyed those opportunities, Amarnath has also had to push through failing and retaking classes, blocking off enough time to practice and other typical challenges students face. Leaning on peers and upperclassmen for advice and support was vital to making it through her time at Nebraska U, she said, as was reminding herself of her goals and reasons for continuing to work toward her degree.

“I think a lot of people get lost,” Amarnath said. “They think, ‘There’s a lot of coursework, this isn’t making sense, I’m not succeeding,’ because they’re not seeing their progress and they’re not thinking about the ‘why.’”

Now that she’s fought through the challenges and is preparing to receive her diploma, Amarnath wants students to remember they will face adversity, but it doesn’t mean they won’t succeed in the future. If she could speak to her past self as she was entering college, Amarnath would tell herself it’s OK to struggle.

“You are going to fall on your face, because everyone does,” Amarnath said. “At this point I’m more sure of who I am and I don’t think that would have happened if I had not done all the things I have done at UNL.”

Pitt needed help on the defensive line, and that’s what the Panthers are getting with the arrival of Chief Borders.

Borders — a 6-foot-4, 245-pound rising redshirt junior linebacker from Nebraska — committed to Pitt Sunday afternoon, adding much-needed depth (and potential production) at the end of the defensive line.

He was listed as a linebacker in the Cornhuskers’ defensive system, but he’s going to be an end in Pittsburgh — which is perhaps more suited for his skillset.

“Let’s get to work,” Borders wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Let’s Get To Work #H2P 🟡🔵 pic.twitter.com/QG4uGAKx9U

— C H I E F💯💪🏾 (@ChiefBorders) May 12, 2024

Borders was initially a four-star linebacker out of Heard County in Carrolton, Ga. in the class of 2021, picking the Gators over offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Colorado, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State, Oregon, Pitt, South Carolina, Stanford, Syracuse, Tennessee and Virginia Tech.

He spent two seasons at Florida, recording just 19 defensive snaps during his time as a Gator, but he was more productive last season at Nebraska. And as reported by Michael Bruntz of Huskers247, Borders was the most improved player on the ‘Huskers defense this spring.

“Chief Borders is probably the most improved player on our team through camp,” Rhule said after Nebraska’s first scrimmage. “I mean, Chief has (arrived at), ‘You know what? I can play.’ And he’s a problem out there.”

Borders recorded nine tackles (three solo), 0.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup in 147 defensive snaps last season, lining up on the defensive line on 115 of those snaps. According to PFF, he registered three pressures, three hurries and two run stops — not missing a tackle.

He will be a welcomed addition to the defensive line room this summer, a much-needed injection of experience and potential.

Nate Matlack wound up being a significant winter pickup. He’s a Day 1 starter with experience and potential. Seeing him put together the season many expected Dayon Hayes to have wouldn’t be surprising. There are a lot of questions outside of Matlack though.

Bam Brima is an experienced rotation player but isn’t a difference-maker. Sincere Edwards looks like a future star off the edge, but he hasn’t played a snap of college football yet. Jimmy Scott and David Ojiegbe are both firmly in the mix.

It’s just hard to bet solely on potential.

It isn’t easy to replace 90% of snaps from any unit. But at the same time, change was needed on the interior of the defensive line. The unit didn’t make splash plays and didn’t stop the run. It was missing twitch and quickness.

By all accounts, the new defensive tackles aren’t. Nahki Johnson and Sean FitzSimmons are leading the way, and Nick James, Isaiah Neal and Elliot Donald will rotate. Pitt likes to rotate on the interior, even if someone like Calijah Kancey is on the roster, and that isn’t going to change when there isn’t someone like him around. It’s about finding the right combination now.

Even young players like Francis Brewu and Jahsear Whittington could be in the mix entering the season, despite their newness.

National Police Week is May 12-18

Nebraska Backs the Blue! The Nebraska Crime Commission will share that message with law enforcement officers from across the entire country with a unique campaign set for National Police Week gatherings in Washington D.C.

“From the extraordinary public support of our police agencies across Nebraska to the generous recruiting incentives in place, we’re working to get the word out nationally that Nebraska is a great place to serve as a police officer,” said Bryan Tuma, Director of the Nebraska Crime Commission. “Police Week brings officers from across the nation to Washington D.C. so we’re going to showcase why current officers should consider continuing their career in Nebraska.”

The effort is not specific to any one Nebraska law enforcement agency but aims to spread the word that all Nebraska agencies have much to offer to potential candidates. Among the incentives available to Nebraska police officers are:

• 100% Tuition Waiver for sworn officers and their dependents. This waiver applies to any state university, college, of community college.
• Cash Incentives: New hires are eligible to receive up to a $7,500 bonus upon Nebraska
  certification. Nebraska also offers retention bonuses on the first, third, and fifth year of
  employment.

In addition to those benefits, Nebraskans offer unmatched support for law enforcement. In a time when many states have seen a decline in public support for police officers, Nebraska has remained committed to public safety by working to recruit new officers to serve in communities across the state.

“Those who choose to pursue a career in law enforcement are answering a call that comes from deep within,” said Governor Jim Pillen. “It is almost undeniable. They know they are meant to do something noble and important in public service. The opportunities to make a difference – in communities large and small – are everywhere here in Nebraska.”

During Police Week, the Nebraska Crime Commission will highlight Nebraska’s support to police officers with a moving digital billboard. The billboard will focus on the area around National Police Week Tent City, which is a festival and expo space hosting thousands of officers and their families.

“While respect for law enforcement has deteriorated in large urban centers, Nebraska has continued our tradition of supporting the men and women who wear the uniform and keep our communities safe each and every day,” said Rep. Mike Flood. “The Nebraska Crime Commission is doing great work so that Nebraska gets the message out to the entire country that we back the blue and want more peace officers here in the Good Life.”

Earlier this year, a loose coalition of law enforcement leaders and public officials launched “Nebraska Backs the Blue.” Click here to learn more.