By Sara Hinds

The Academic Excellence Scholarship is one of the most prestigious scholarships Doane University awards. It recognizes the strong academic achievements during a student’s high school career and covers tuition in full at Doane.

This year, three high school seniors received the scholarship and will start at Doane in fall 2026. Congratulations to Laura Blake (Grand Island Central Catholic), Jaelyn Brown (Chadron High School) and Dagen Lee (Sidney High School)!

Laura Blake

Blake plans to major in biology with dreams of becoming a veterinarian and opening up her own practice back in Grand Island. While at Doane, she’ll participate in track and field, Hansen Leadership Program and Greek life. 

The energy to participate in anything and everything is a vibe she’s very much used to coming from Grand Island Central Catholic, where she was involved in student council, FBLA (future business leaders of America) and other leadership groups.

“I really liked that about the [Doane] campus, how [...] you talk to somebody and they're like, I'm in this, this, this, this, and I'm like, okay, that's exactly what I want to do,” Blake said.

Laura Blake holding a check for the Academic Excellence Scholarship
Laura Blake (second from right) with Doane Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing, John Frost; Doane Director of Student Recruitment, Amber Linnertz; and Doane Student Recruitment Specialist, Becky Omon

Jaelyn Brown

Jaelyn Brown had heard about the close community of Doane from her high school counselor. It just so happened that community was the defining factor in her college search.  

After building her community at Chadron High school through sports, speech, student council, theatre and National Honor Society, she can’t wait to build one at Doane. She’ll compete in track and field and finds student council and Greek life intriguing.

Brown will major in English with an emphasis in education and plans to teach high school English. 

“Education has always been my absolute passion,” Brown said. “I plan to stay in that for as long as I possibly can.”

Jaelyn Brown holding a check for her Academic Excellence Scholarship
Jaelyn Brown (middle) with Doane Director of Student Recruitment, Amber Linnertz, and Doane Senior Student Recruitment Specialist, Mandy Blackledge 

Dagen Lee

A family friend and a former teacher both played a role in Lee’s initial interest in Doane. But a trip to the campus solidified his decision.

“I really just loved the campus,” Lee said. “[I] thought that it was small enough that I didn't feel like I was just a number.”

While dabbling in a little bit of everything at Sidney High School, from cross country, speech, theatre, student council and National Honor Society, Lee plans to focus on music and academics at Doane. He officially made an audition-only choir and the Honors Program. Like his family friend, Lee will also major in K-12 vocal music. 

Dagen Lee with a check for the Academic Excellence Scholarship
Dagen Lee (middle) with Doane Director of Student Recruitment, Amber Linnertz, and Doane Senior Student Recruitment Specialist, Mandy Blackledge