By Lily Dohmen ’27
For Gabbi Eisenbarth, earning a graduate degree at the University of Nebraska at Kearney is about more than advancing her education. It is about preparing to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
As a student in UNK’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, Eisenbarth is developing the skills and confidence she will need to serve individuals and families across Nebraska. Thanks to scholarship support through the UNK Fund, she has been able to focus on that goal with fewer financial barriers.
After completing her bachelor’s degree, Eisenbarth was drawn to UNK because of its respected Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and the flexibility it offered. Living and working in Lincoln while pursuing a graduate degree allowed her to continue building her future without relocating.
“I wanted a program that would truly prepare me to become an effective mental health counselor in Nebraska while also allowing me to build meaningful relationships with my professors and classmates,” Eisenbarth said.
The scholarship has allowed Eisenbarth to devote more time and energy to her coursework, clinical instruction and professional development instead of financial concerns.
Throughout the program, Eisenbarth says she has experienced significant personal and professional growth. Through coursework and self-reflection, she has gained a deeper understanding of herself, strengthened her counseling skills and become more confident in her ability to support future clients.
“The program has challenged me to engage in a lot of self-reflection,” she said. “That self-reflection has helped me become more self-aware and has prepared me to be a more compassionate and effective counselor.”
As she prepares for a career in mental health counseling, Eisenbarth says scholarship support has given her the opportunity to fully invest in her education and clinical experiences, helping her build the knowledge and confidence needed to become an effective clinician.
“Their generosity makes a lasting difference,” Eisenbarth said. “Because of your support, I will be able to give back by helping individuals and families in the future.”
“Receiving this scholarship has been a great blessing. It has helped ease some of the financial burden of graduate school and traveling to Kearney each week, allowing me to focus more on my classes and clinical training.”
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“[This scholarship] helped me focus more on learning, growing and making the most of my time at UNK without being as worried about the overall cost,” Kaden Gilbert, a 2026 University of Nebraska at Kearney graduate, said.