Recognized Student Organizations make lifelong impact for students at UNMC

By Noah Johnson

Life moves fast for students at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Days are filled with classwork, lectures and hands-on learning. With such a heavy workload, you might think there would be no time for students to find avenues to connect with their peers and explore their passions.

Through the continued growth of the university’s recognized student organizations (RSOs) on campus, there are more opportunities than ever for students to explore their interests and connect with the UNMC community.

Kiara Kocsis-Gregurich, the student organization activities coordinator within UNMC’s Student Life and Development Office, said the number of active RSOs has grown from around 80 active RSOs on UNMC’s Omaha campus in 2022 to nearly 120 in 2024.

These organizations range from student interest groups representing each of the colleges within UNMC to community impact RSOs like Fostering the Future, which works throughout the Omaha community to provide resources, education and leadership opportunities to at-risk youth.

The diverse array of RSOs offered at UNMC all have one thing in common: the critical role of donor support. Kocsis-Gregurich said student organizations have continued to benefit from the generosity from donors since the university’s first For the Greater Good giving day in 2023.

“We still have RSOs that are living off of the funds from that first year,” she said. “For the Greater Good provides a huge impact for these organizations.”

Through these gifts, students have been able to meet new people and pursue their passions outside of the classroom. Given the workload UNMC students carry, Kocsis-Gregurich said RSOs have become even more vital on campus.

Kocsis-Gregurich said gifts supporting RSOs at UNMC can have a lasting impact. Gifts go beyond simply helping to fund an event or weekly meeting.

“A student organization is going to be impacted, not just in that moment, but for years down the road,” she said. “We see student organizations that come up with an idea and it turns into a legacy event thanks to the funding they receive.”