By Noah Johnson
College life can feel like a world away from home for first-year students and their families.
That feeling is only magnified the farther away campus is from home.
That’s where a new initiative from the Nebraska Alumni Association comes into play. Now in its second year, NAA’s Big Red Bound program aims to connect incoming Huskers with the university before they take their first step on campus as students.
The program partners with local NAA chapters across the country to host send-off parties for incoming students and their families. Each event offers the opportunity to meet other incoming students, speak with admissions staff and learn more about life on campus.
Grace Puccio, associate director of alumni and student engagement at NAA, said the program ensures incoming students and families across the country are being welcomed into the UNL community with open arms.
Over the summer, the Big Red Bound program hosted seven send-off parties in chapters across the country, including events in Chicago, Denver and Southern California. The events brought together over 250 incoming Huskers, family members and Nebraska alumni.
“It’s really just a great chance for these incoming students and families to meet and mingle with each other,” Puccio said. “It’s been a great way to ease some of the questions and concerns that students and parents might have.”
The Big Red Bound program also awarded 10 scholarships to incoming students during send-off parties throughout the summer. Puccio said the scholarships, made possible through donor support to the N Fund – Nebraska Alumni Association, provide additional support to out-of-state students.
As Big Red Bound continues to expand, Puccio said donor support has played a critical role in providing support to NAA chapters across the country. That support allows events like this to continue welcoming future Huskers with open arms.
“Their support is going to something that is going to help a future Husker, and I think that is truly remarkable,” Puccio said. “I truly can’t thank our donors enough for continuing to support our students and the university.”
You can support programs like Big Red Bound by making a gift to the N Fund – Nebraska Alumni Association today.
N Fund - Nebraska Alumni Association
Your gift to this fund will support the NAA’s areas of greatest need and advance its mission to promote the achievements and the aspirations of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln by engaging Husker students, alumni and friends.
“These scholarships help lighten the financial burden of attending school at UNL."
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