By contributing to the University of Nebraska, you become part of a vibrant community dedicated to making a lasting impact. Your generosity fuels academic excellence, groundbreaking research and community engagement, all of which shape the future of Nebraska and beyond. Every donation, no matter the size, helps create opportunities for students, supports innovative programs and enhances the university’s ability to address the challenges of tomorrow. Together, we can continue to inspire, educate and lead. Your support is not just a gift—it’s an investment in the future. Let’s make a difference, one story at a time.
Lou Anne Rinn is not simply giving back to students at her alma mater. She is reaching them in the most effective ways, considering obstacles and how she can help students get around them.
Artist Valery Wachter has established a planned gift supporting studio arts majors in the College of Fine and Performing Arts at UNL.
Dana Falter and his brothers are honoring their hometown of Creighton, Nebraska, with a scholarship fund for business and technology students who attend UNK.
Ron Braun, M.D., is a 1965 graduate of the College of Medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He and his wife of 64 years, Pat, have been loyal supporters of UNMC and the College of Medicine for more than 55 years. In addition, they have included the University of Nebraska Foundation in their estate plans to keep UNMC at the cutting edge of medical technology. Burnett Letter interviewed Dr. Braun in August 2023.
Randy Essex, former executive editor of the Omaha World-Herald and a graduate of UNL, believes setting up a scholarship for students who struggle to pay for school is the best money he’s ever spent.
Bob and Barbara Blair have continued their commitment to giving back by establishing a scholarship in the name of their son, who had special needs and passed away in 2009.
Architecture grad Richard Griffin was inspired by his mother’s resolve as she raised her three children alone. In gratitude, he established a scholarship at his alma mater in her honor.
Leland Essary is proud of the accomplishments of his mother, Theta Cole Bullington, a respected leader in public health nursing. In tribute, Leland established a scholarship in her name.
Janet Wendland, a Burnett Society member, established a planned gift to provide study abroad opportunities for UNK students. Read on for a Q&A about Janet’s global education that inspired her to give.
Giving back is just part of the equation for Burnett Society member Warren Luckner. He sums up the philosophy simply: “Pay it forward. Our lives have been enriched. We can help enrich the lives of others, now and after we are gone.”
