Our stories

Researchers put heads together for brain trauma study at UNL

Soldiers are protected from many conventional weapons of war, but the helmet they wear isn’t designed to protect them from the blast waves created by improvised explosive devices, known as IEDs. Soldiers caught in the path of an explosion could suffer a traumatic brain injury, even if they walk away without visible injury. At a one-of-a-kind research facility at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, engineers recreate and precisely measure shock waves created by an IED on the battlefield. This research will help understand what happens to the human body during these explosions and how to protect our service members and innocent civilians.

Johnny Carson’s Lasting Legacy

Entertainment icon and University of Nebraska alumnus Johnny Carson maintained a strong relationship with his home state and alma mater. Today, the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film proudly recognizes his legacy and belief in what education can accomplish.

Watch the video of Carson receiving the Kennedy Center Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993. The University of Nebraska publicly said thanks to Carson through the Cornhusker Marching Band’s performance of “There is No Place Like Nebraska” and “The Tonight Show Theme” with Doc Severinsen during Carson’s nationally televised tribute.

A special place for people with special needs

The state of Nebraska was eager to host the 2010 Special Olympics USA National Games on July 18 - 23, and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln served as home base for the participating athletes and provided venues for several events.

Sorensen scholarship gives students opportunity to study in Scandinavian countries

Holdrege native Marjorie Mattson Sorensen wants to help students have a better understanding of different cultures and has established the Robert C. Sorensen and Marjorie Mattson Sorensen Scandinavian Scholarship for students at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

The $300,000 gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation creates a permanently endowed fund that will provide up to three scholarship awards a year to cover half the costs for students to study abroad for a semester in a Scandinavian country, including Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway or Sweden.

Open for business…students

When University of Nebraska at Omaha students of the College of Business Administration return to campus in a few weeks, they’ll open the doors to one of the nation’s newest and most advanced academic facilities for business education.

Like nothing ever seen in our state

Successful aging is about living where you want to live, doing what you want to do and enjoying a full life. It’s about preventing future illness and improving quality of life with small changes that bring big rewards.

Grant is music to UNK’s ears

Did you know the University of Nebraska at Kearney offers one of the best music education programs around? Well, thanks to a recent challenge grant—and the ongoing success in reaching its $150,000 goal—the university soon hopes to share the music program’s reputation with many more future students while letting them know an excellent, cost-effective education is available right here.

Scholars checking out Ashfall fossils now have place to check in

Despite the dreams they may have of the wild and exotic animals that once roamed the area, the scholars who come for the opportunity to dig up fossils at Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park near Royal, Neb., will now stay safe and dry at night.

Dr. John Langan, UNO College of Education Dean, Dies at 68

John Langan, former dean of the UNO College of Education, died today, July 27, Dr. Langan, 68, had been diagnosed with cancer a few months after his retirement from UNO at the end of 2008. 

UNMC opens new center to help seniors age successfully

Successful aging is about living where you want to live, doing what you want to do and enjoying a full life. It’s about preventing future illness and improving quality of life with small changes that bring big rewards. The Home Instead Center for Successful Aging at the University of Nebraska Medical Center offers this and more.

Nurses aid

More than 1,000 qualified nursing school applicants have unfortunately been turned away by the University of Nebraska College of Nursing in the last five years.

Who will care for you?

Scholarships are the top priority of the Campaign for Nebraska

Without her scholarship, Amanda Gates might have struggled to stay in school and on the national championship Husker volleyball squad. Watch this video to see how much the scholarship meant to her.

Lives changed by a summer spent in Peru

In six weeks Michaela Brown’s life was changed by the summer she spent in Peru. The study-abroad experience last year made a profound mark on the life and perspective of the recent University of Nebraska–Lincoln graduate.

National Semiconductor honors UNL alumnus with named fellowship fund

National Semiconductor Corp. has honored University of Nebraska–Lincoln alumnus Brian L. Halla with a named student fellowship fund for the College of Engineering. Halla serves as executive chairman of the Santa Clara, Calif.-based company and was chief executive officer for 14 years before retiring from that position in 2009.

$1 Million Gift Has Supported Relevant Issues Facing the Omaha Community

A $1 million donation by Minneapolis resident and Omaha native John Morgan to the University of Nebraska Foundation has funded a new re-entry initiative at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) to address community needs, including inmates in the Nebraska prison system.

Music program at UNK receives $2 million in private gifts

The University of Nebraska at Kearney Department of Music and Performing Arts has received private gifts totaling $2 million from an anonymous donor, including $500,000 to permanently endow a chair in the music department.

Robert B. Daugherty Foundation’s $50 million commitment will fund global Water for Food Institute at NU

The University of Nebraska Foundation has received a $50 million gift commitment from the Robert B. Daugherty Charitable Foundation to support a global Water for Food Institute at the University of Nebraska. Water for food is one of the top priorities of the Campaign for Nebraska, a $1.2 billion fundraising campaign publicly announced in October 2009. The Daugherty gift will create a center for research, education and policy analysis related to use of water for agriculture.

The Gaughan Multicultural Center in photos

See some amazing photos of the dedication of the new Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center from this last weekend.

Suh's latest feat one of amazing generosity

Former Nebraska football player and college of engineering alumnus Ndamukong Suh has pledged a $2.6 million gift to his alma mater, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The gift, announced at the Huskers annual spring football game Saturday afternoon, will benefit the Husker athletic strength and conditioning program and create scholarships for students.

Gaughan Multicultural Center dedication, grand opening today

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln celebrates the dedication and grand opening today of the new Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center during an event at 5 p.m. that is open to the public.

The ceremony outside the new center, 1505 S St., on UNL’s City Campus features performances by university students, including the Taiko Japanese Drummers, the Dancers of the Global Friends of Japan and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s stroll dance troupe.

Former chancellor Clifford Hardin honored with memorial fund

Clifford M. Hardin, former chancellor and “founder of the modern University of Nebraska” is honored with a memorial fund, paying tribute to his long life and achievements.

Weeklong dedication events highlight new Gaughan Multicultural Center

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will celebrate diversity, students and family April 12-16 at a week of dedication events surrounding the new Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center.

Small start leads to big UNL gift

With the shake of a hand, Paul Engler’s father nurtured an entrepreneurial spirit in his son, helping to launch a career that made Paul a world-renowned cattle feeder. Hear how the Stuart, Neb., native bought 100 head of cattle at age 12 without a penny to his name.

Longtime faculty member Jud Gurney passes away

World-renowned chest radiologist Jud Gurney passed away March 18 after a short battle with cancer. The longtime faculty member in the Department of Radiology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center was revered by colleagues and students as a dedicated radiologist and passionate educator.

Student support instrumental in turning dreams into reality

When asked to rank the importance of student support on a scale of one to ten, Koua Moua, a student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, replied without hesitation, “ten.”

Support for students through private donations to scholarship funds is instrumental in changing many students’ dreams of attending college into reality - and Moua is one of those students.

Faculty support is critical to attracting the highest quality educators

It has been said that in order to attract the best, you have to be the best. For the University of Nebraska, this means having the highest quality educators - and to have the highest quality educators means there must be faculty support.

University of Nebraska at Omaha psychology professor Joseph Brown, who holds an endowed position, knows the importance of faculty support. Brown says that donors’ support of UNO’s faculty helps make the university “remarkable” and helps produce outstanding teachers and researchers, which ultimately benefits students.

Scholarship to encourage future educators

Blanche Berns often spoke to her children about the importance of an education. The lessons struck a chord, because her son Henry D. Berns and his wife Marilyn recently established a scholarship in Blanche’s memory to help future teachers attend the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Blanche taught at rural country schools in Webster County, Neb., after graduating from what was then Kearney State Teacher’s College. After seven years, she stopped teaching when she married Henry P. F. Berns. They were rural farmers in Webster County where they raised five children, but she never stopped taking an interest in education.

Updated: Alumnus gives $20 million to support agriculture at UNL

University of Nebraska alumnus and cattleman Paul F. Engler of Amarillo, Texas, announced today a $20 million gift to support programs in agribusiness at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

“I think about myself and my age, and I still have fire in my belly,” Engler said. “We need to identify these boys and girls who have that fire in the belly when they are young and then when they come to the university, expose them to a curriculum that teaches risk—how to evaluate it and how to manage it—because if you do not take risk as an entrepreneur, you are not going to make it.”

What the Campaign for Nebraska means to UNO

Campaign for Nebraska seeks to raise $1.2 billion by the end of 2014. This funding would enable the university to meet high-priority opportunities and needs at UNO and the University’s other three campuses.

The Foundation has raised more than $667 million toward its goal — the most ambitious in the organization’s 73-year history — since fundraising for the campaign began in 2005.

The campaign’s top priority is to provide students across the state affordable access to the university through scholarships and financial aid provided by private support. At UNO, for example, more than 75 percent of the campus’ 15,300 students currently apply for financial assistance.

Coming Home

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts and School of Music, together with the University of Nebraska Foundation, celebrated the life and legacy of Professor Emeritus Earl “Pete” Jenkins as part of the University Singers concert on Oct. 15 in Kimball Recital Hall. Jenkins died Aug. 3, 2009.

Midwest hospitality kept National Hispanic Scholar right here at home

As a National Hispanic Scholar in high school, Richard Cantril had his choice of a number of colleges. After visiting Nebraska and many others, the senior business major from Scottsbluff chose the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

UNK scholarship makes tough choice easier

Nate Summerfield had a tough decision to make after his father died just before Nate was to enroll in college. In this video clip he talks about the weight of his decision.

Loper roams far from home with Peace Corps job in Tanzania

In May Kristi Scott joined the ranks of graduates of the University of Nebraska at Kearney. In June she joined the ranks of the Peace Corps and headed to Tanzania. She credits the scholarship support received from University of Nebraska at Kearney donors with allowing her to accept the toughest job she’ll ever love.

UNO students sees social work as a way of returning the favor

A first generation student and Iraqi war veteran, Nickeya Chaney is a UNO senior majoring in social work. When she returned from Iraq a social worker had a profound affect on her life. And she wants to return the favor for others.

Small town girl plans to become small town doctor

“With family medicine you get to know the whole family. I enjoy seeing the patients and developing a relationship with them…Learning all aspects of their health as compared to just seeing them one time for one problem.” Without a scholarship Natalie would have to rely more on her parents than she would like. If she had been offered scholarships elsewhere and none at UNMC, Natalie would still be at Nebraska due to its emphasis on primary care and rural medicine.

2009—An Up Year For Giving In A Down Economy

The generosity of those who understand the importance of a strong state university system was evident again this year, as the foundation ended its fiscal year on June 30, 2009, with more than $128 million raised on behalf of the University of Nebraska. Despite a global recession, donors made it the second best year in the foundation’s 73-year history.