Omaha - The University of Nebraska Foundation and the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Alumni Association will host a gala celebration in recognition of UNO's 100th Anniversary on Feb. 21. Proceeds from this fundraising event - through Centennial sponsorships, table and individual ticket sales - will establish two community fellowships at UNO.

Roland Fryer - Photo courtesy of Fran Collin Photo

Nothing quite like this has ever been established before at one of the university's campuses, said UNO Chancellor John Christensen. The Centennial Community Fellowships will further strengthen UNO's engagement with the community. It works hand in hand with our Centennial theme of the university being central to our city.

The gala starts at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 21 at the Qwest Center in downtown Omaha and features noted Harvard economist Roland Fryer. Union Pacific is the Centennial title sponsor. Other area companies, organizations and individuals also have made significant contributions to support this event and the Centennial Community Fellowship.

The Centennial Community Fellowships will help the university enhance its internship program, practica and service-learning offerings in and around the city. Plans call for the fellowships to be awarded to UNO's top graduate students who will be dedicated to significant initiatives that will reinforce community engagement, economic development and civic engagement activities.

The connections and reconnections that UNO has made during the past few months of the Centennial celebration have been a real joy, Christensen said. The gala not only becomes an event for the business and donor community to celebrate the university, but also helps set the stage for an even larger community role for the university to play going forward.

Fryer's presentation will also reflect the importance of urban institutions to their communities.

Fryer, only 31, received tenure at Harvard University earlier this year. He also maintains offices at the National Bureau of Economic Research and W.E.B DuBois Institute. He was named a rising star by Fortune magazine and was featured in Esquire's Genius Issue. He has become a nationally known advocate for educational equality and often speaks to the importance of overcoming social and environmental factors in the pursuit of educational excellence.

Individual ticket prices for this fundraising event are $300 per person with tables of up to 10 available. Tickets will be available for purchase beginning in January. More information is available at www.unomaha.edu/100. A link to registration is also available at the site.