The University of Nebraska Foundation has announced plans for a comprehensive fundraising campaign to meet high-priority opportunities and needs for the university’s four campuses. More details, including the campaign goal and leadership, will be announced later this fall. Campaign priorities will include student scholarships, faculty recruitment and retention, research and academic program support.

Visitors to the Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park near Royal, Neb., can share the same joy and adventure as the paleontologists who discover fossils each day in the newly opened Hubbard Rhino Barn. The new building covers 17,500 square-feet—eight times larger than the one it replaces—and allows for the discovery and protection of many more fossils and enhances the experiences for visitors to the unique park.

The Minden Exchange Bank & Trust Co. has created two scholarship funds to help students attend the University of Nebraska. The first scholarship will be awarded in the 2009-2010 academic year to a Minden student attending any campus of the University of Nebraska system.

A lifelong resident of Gresham, Neb., has provided a $3.5 million gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation to create scholarships for students. As the sole beneficiary of Schmitt’s estate, the foundation received $2 million in September of 2008 and another $1.5 million by the end of the year.

The University of Nebraska Foundation’s board of directors awarded $1.14 million to the University of Nebraska through its annual grants program to support projects and programs on all four campuses for 2008-2009. Much of the annual grant resources are made available from unrestricted donations to the foundation. The chancellors submit proposals annually for the grant money, and the proposals are aligned with the university’s strategic framework, as outlined by NU President James B. Milliken.

Two $1,000 scholarships are helping two Fillmore County students attend the University of Nebraska this year. Richard and Louisa Manning of Geneva created the scholarships last year for graduates of Exeter/Milligan and Fillmore Central high schools to attend one of the University of Nebraska campuses. The scholarship, a minimum of $1,000 each academic year, is for students to pursue any major.

A groundbreaking event June 5, 2008, at Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park near Royal marked construction of a new 17,500 square-feet facility to allow the excavation and protection of many more fossils buried there. Plans for the project began in 2007 when the Theodore F. and Claire M. Hubbard Family Foundation of Omaha announced a $1.2 million gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation for construction of the facility to greatly expand the current Rhino Barn.

The family of Martha Jungck Hunzeker of Rushville has established an endowed memorial scholarship in her name with a gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation. The scholarship is available to graduates of a Sheridan County high school. Each year, a $500 scholarship will be awarded from the Martha Jungck Hunzeker Scholarship Fund to a graduate of Hay Springs High School or Gordon-Rushville High School.

The University of Nebraska Foundation’s board of directors has awarded grants of more than $1.1 million to the University of Nebraska to support projects and programs on all four campuses for 2007-2008. Much of the annual grant resources are made available from unrestricted donations to the foundation. The chancellors submit proposals annually for the grant money, and all proposals must be aligned with the university’s strategic framework, as outlined by NU President James B. Milliken.

The University of Nebraska Foundation is greatly saddened to learn of the death of Mr. Charles Durham. “Chuck Durham was a great visionary and close friend to the University of Nebraska. He is one of the university’s most generous benefactors and left an enduring legacy of giving that transformed the university. He is a pillar of philanthropy in this state," Terry Fairfield, chief executive officer of the University of Nebraska Foundation.