Meet Senior Teya Badger

Seward, NE (09/18/2026) — Senior Teya Badger of Brandon, South Dakota, is majoring in physics and chemistry and minoring in mathematics at Concordia University, Nebraska. She is also on the powerlifting team, the tennis team and serves as a physics lab assistant and biochemistry lab assistant.

"I chose to study at Concordia because I saw it as a place where I could have and pursue multiple interests and opportunities and wouldn't be stuck following one distinct path. Concordia allowed and encouraged me both to double major and to do two sports - tennis and powerlifting - when I came here," she said. "I think something that makes Concordia a beautiful place to attend over some other schools is that it blends a small school with big opportunities. Though Seward is smaller than my hometown, which is saying something given that I'm from lil' old South Dakota, my time here has taken me to Atlanta, Oklahoma City and New Orleans to name a few places and has helped me meet people from all over the country and the world. Several of my friends have taken school trips to D.C., Costa Rica, New Zealand and so many more locations, as well. It is unique for students to have so many grand adventures coming from a place that is so small and home-like. I think it is beautiful that Concordia grows us in our education, abilities and faith and then makes sure students get out in the world to use those things."

She said Concordia's small size means there is ample opportunity to get to know professors and classmates really well.

"If you are willing to lean into it, this can allow students to develop close and trusting relationships with classmates and professors that can be really beneficial in setting up a successful learning environment where classes build on top of each other and you learn to understand strengths and weaknesses and communicate and work through them instead of glossing over them and moving on," she said. "My favorite thing hands down is the people here at Concordia; the individuals that I have met during the last three years have become such an integral part of my life. It's scary that I'm a senior this year and must find a new path to walk next year, but what comforts me is that I will still be able to keep connections with many of the important people to me at Concordia. I can't take the school with me, but I can take so much with me from the relationships that I have made during my time here."

Badger first learned about Concordia Nebraska when she was recruited by the tennis coach. At the time, she wasn't sure where she wanted to go to college or what she wanted to study. She said she prayed a lot and cried a little over making a decision about where to attend college. After much consideration, she said her second tour of Concordia sealed the deal. She said Concordia "felt real" and seemed like a place she could learn and grow while letting her silly personality shine.

And today she knows that her choice was a good one. She's developed strong friendships and experienced mentorship and guidance from the university's professors and coaches.

"I have never felt with any of my professors here at Concordia that I was just a number in their class, but I know that they have cared for me as a student, as an athlete and as a person. They help me celebrate my successes and encourage me to pursue my dreams. My favorite thing about the professors here as a whole is that they are all incredibly down to Earth and are willing to share stories and experiences with you when you ask them questions," she said. "Concordia teaches me to embrace challenges and to let them excite me, not scare me."

Badger loves powerlifting as much as she loves chemistry and physics. She has six national medals, two national titles, all-American claims and 19 current state and regional records and is a ProCard holder.

"I have lifted for almost four years now. I have played tennis since I was a kid though, starting out at age five, I'm just not as good at that. I really enjoy sports in general," she said. "I also do media for USA Powerlifting, having commentated the national championship livestreams for the past two years."

She also works for Central Crop Consulting, driving around the countryside to do field scouting and soil sampling.

"It isn't always the most fun thing to do, but it is rewarding because you get to do a lot of hard work that has a defined purpose which is something that I can definitely get behind!" she said.

Badger is close to her family. She has two older siblings who she looks up to. Her brother studies math and data science, and her sister has degrees in math, music education and coaching.

"Academically I am the runt of the family but that's okay because I can out bench-press them all!" she laughed.

She fondly recounts her experiences in Dr. John Jurchen's chemistry classes, where she said he often states "the best way to learn is to truly commit to an answer and be wrong." Badger admitted to being wrong quite often in his classes but said she's learning how to embrace each error as a learning experience.

"I can embrace it and learn and remember my failures to build upon my future," she said. "I think that since I want to work in the research field and do experimental work in physics I am going to need to have the ability to try and fail or guess and be wrong and not get hung up by it but simply fix the mistake and move on and that is for sure something I have been prepared to do in my time here."

Badger said her time at the university has strengthened and extended the reach of her faith into areas of her life where she hadn't considered it before.

"I have done sports and been in school for my whole life, but coming from a public school before Concordia, I had never before prayed with my team prior to practice or a game or prayed with my classmates and instructor at the beginning of a class period," she said. "I think my faith life extends across all portions of who I am now instead of being separated from certain portions of my day-to-day life like it had been prior."

Following graduation, Badger dreams of working in some sort of physics-based research. That path will probably include graduate school. She's keeping an open mind and exploring the many opportunities available.

"I might go build a rocket, or I may work to advance nuclear power plants out of their old era technology, I might be a professional filter paper folder," she said. "I do have a ProCard for powerlifting, as well, so I would like to keep working to maintain that also. I know wherever I end up and whatever I may end up doing I will take a lot of Concordia with me, and I hope to leave pieces of myself behind here to help build up the next group of Concordia students as well."

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