Paul Francis, a 22-year-old Spanish and International Business major at UNL, has traveled to many places in the world. He dreams of seeing every continent before he hits 25.

If he visits Antarctica in the next three years, he’ll meet his goal.

You might talk to him on the phone some evening, if you’re on our phonathon list. He’s one of our student callers – the students from all the University of Nebraska campuses who call you and ask you questions about your mailing address, if we have a correct e-mail address and if you would like to give a gift to support your college.

We thought it’d be fun to turn the tables and ask our own student callers some questions.

If you could only eat the same thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Chilaquiles, it’s a Mexican breakfast dish that consists of tortilla chips, salsa, eggs and meat. It’s delicious!

Would you rather go skydiving or bungee jumping?
I would go skydiving only because I have already tried bungee jumping.

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would they title it?
“Here and There: A Lifetime of Journeys.”

We’re starting a feature this month – “Who’s Calling You?” – about Paul and our other student callers. We think they’re pretty great.

We think you will, too.

Read more of our Q&A with Paul, and about one special phone conversation that led to a friendship.

What started as a dream of helping to feed the world is now one step closer to reality for University of Nebraska–Lincoln crop researcher Stephen Baenziger.A Purdue University trained scientist, he joined UNL 25 years ago. He and fellow researchers have helped increase Nebraska’s annual wheat yields and have helped wheat growers provide food for millions more people each year.

To further support the university’s crop science work, Baenziger made a major gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation for the Nebraska Small Grains Fund, a permanently endowed fund Baenziger helped create some years ago. By request, the gift amount is not disclosed.

The UNL Center for Digital Research in the Humanities announced nearly $430,000 has been given to date toward the challenge it accepted from the National Endowment for the Humanities to raise $1.5 million by 2015.

Earlier this year, the NEH announced it would provide UNL a five-year, $500,000 challenge grant if the university is able to secure $1.5 million in private support from alumni and friends.

Lincoln, Neb., July 5, 2011 — State Farm Insurance of Nebraska has given $20,000 for fellowship awards to Nebraska teachers seeking to improve their math and science teaching skills. The funding will enable 32 teachers to take graduate level courses tuition-free this summer at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Nebraska Math and Science Summer Institutes.

The summer institutes are part of UNL’s Center for Science, Mathematics and Computer Education and offers continuing education and professional development opportunities to Nebraska teachers. According to the university, the summer courses provide intellectually rich graduate coursework, intensive collaboration and the professional development teachers need to improve student learning and foster academic success.

State Farm established the fellowships through the University of Nebraska Foundation.

“Our company understands successful students are the result of an exceptional teacher,” Angelene Hennes, of State Farm, said. “Therefore, the first step to student success is to have an outstanding teacher who inspires students to learn. Being able to support 32 teachers who enrich students’ lives with greater understanding in math and science is a gift that benefits not only our company but all of the community.”

According to the university, if 200 teachers take courses this summer, more than 10,000 students in grades K-12 will benefit from their improved teaching skills during the next school year.

Learn more about State Farm’s gift to Nebraska.

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.