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As a CARE Peer Educator, Hope doesn’t shy away from a tough conversation. In fact, facilitating SARV (Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence) Prevention workshops across campus has taught Hope that the only way to tackle difficult subjects is to face them head-on.

“I don't think people understand how lucky we are as a university to have a program like this,” Hope says of SARV, a workshop for first-year students to discuss issues around sexual assault, relationship violence and other forms of interpersonal violence.

“These are topics that are hard talk about, and some first-years might be coming with no idea about these issues or how to get the help they need. It's awesome to bridge that gap and make campus a better place.”

Hope’s journey with CARE began in her freshman year when she participated in a SARV workshop through her dorm.

“I thought it was just so cool that the University took time and put in a lot of effort to deliver that conversation to incoming freshmen,” she recalls. Hope later stepped in for a friend as her sorority’s CARE Chair.

"I realized I loved everything CARE stands for,” she says. “I just love how it's always just bringing a message of positivity, support and respect for you and for others.”

As a peer educator, Hope is committed to making SARV workshops engaging and informative, avoiding the pitfalls of feeling like a lecture.

“Everyone definitely has their own spin on the material, and every workshop I try to do the best I can to find different ways to engage people and make sure they’re really listening,” she explains.

This personalized approach allows peer educators to connect with students on a deeper level.

“We’re students too, not professors. We’re just there to have a conversation.”

Through her work, Hope is proud to see the impact these workshops have.

“I’ve had so many people come up to me and say, ‘I know about CARE because of you,’” Hope says. “I love the impact it has on people. It fills my bucket to know I’m helping make campus a safer place.”

From the moment she stepped onto campus, Marissa had always dreamed of studying abroad. Winning the 2024 Grimes Memorial Competition, a scholarship dedicated to helping Huskers study abroad, was a pivotal moment for her.

Now, after completing IANR's Namibia program (and with the help of Professor Larkin Powell), Marissa is remaining in Namibia for the summer to intern with the nature preserve Pro Namib and gain experience that blends her love for travel with her talent for storytelling.

“When I started preparing to study abroad, I asked Larkin if there was anyone he knew in Namibia that could use someone to take photos or make a video. He immediately reached out to all his connections and was able to set me up with Pro Namib,” Marissa recounted. “In a nutshell, this is my dream job: being able to travel and tell stories about the people that are making this world a better place.”

The initial Namibia program was a field class en lieu of traditional class time, with Marissa and her peers traveling across the country to visit nature reserves, national parks, NGOs and cultural sites.

“It was a holistic trip that offered a comprehensive look at the different cultures and major wildlife areas,” she explains.

Now at Pro Namib, Marissa’s work includes photographing staff members, creating promotional videos and capturing the wildlife and landscapes that the group helps protect. This experience, she says, has equipped her with a deeper understanding of the determination and self-sufficiency the field requires.

“Learning to navigate another country with camera equipment is no easy task; this has been the perfect opportunity for me to get the practical experience to make that career goal a reality.”

As she continues to work toward that future outcome, Marissa is also noticing the real-time personal growth she’s experiencing.

“It’s a real test of whether this is the work I'm equipped to do after I graduate,” she reflected. “I've learned a ton about who I am as a person and what I'm capable of.”

Learning a new skill can be scary, especially if you feel like you’re “late” to the game. For Linda, learning the ins and outs of video production felt like a natural extension of her passion for storytelling — one that’s evolved into a leadership role within the new Production House in the College of Journalism and Mass Communication's Experience Lab.

“Coming to the College of Journalism a little later in my college career, I really want to focus on my technical skills. I felt behind, even though I wasn’t really behind.”

Now a co-lead for the Production House, Linda quickly found her groove when she decided to take up videography and join the student-led agency. A willingness to learn and ask questions of her fellow Production House teammates helped her along her various learning curves.

“Even if I made a mistake, I had people that I could go to talk to about what’s going on, find a solution and keep moving,” says Linda, who says the Production House’s focus on the technical aspects of videography have helped supplement her CoJMC coursework. “Now, I have this huge passion for videography I didn’t even realize I had before.”

As co-lead, Linda is gaining valuable experience dealing with real-world clients one-on-one and guiding her team through various projects.

“It’s taught me a lot about the importance of organization. Working with clients has been a great experience, and seeing the students take initiative to get these projects done has been really impressive.”

Looking ahead to the fall, Linda is excited about the upcoming projects for the fall semester, including partnerships with campus organizations and new clients.

“We have a few clients already and some continuing from this semester. I’m just excited to see these relationships continue and see how we can continually improve on the work we do.”

As a leader, Linda wants to continue to offer a safe place for students of all experience levels.

“We just want students to learn in a place where they’re not going to be judged. You can just come and do you, and we’re here to support you."

When looking at the options of small businesses to work with for her Marketing 442 capstone, May graduate Grace was struck by the local children’s bookstore Elleinad Books and its owner Danielle’s community-minded approach to small business.

For Grace, using her and her classmates’ marketing expertise to provide data-driven insights into how UNL alum Danielle could market her local business seemed like the perfect culmination of her time at the College of Business

“I really resonated with Danielle’s idea of a children’s bookstore — she just seemed really cool and I could feel how her personality was injected into her business,” Grace says. “My team and I thought it seemed like a great endeavor for all of us.”

The class allows students to choose a local business that needs marketing assistance and help them develop a research-based marketing plan. Over the spring semester, Grace and her five group members developed a comprehensive marketing strategy for Danielle and Elleinad Books.

"We went to her bookstore in South Lincoln and visited with her, learned what she needed and talked about how best we could help her,” Grace says of their initial meeting. “Danielle had a goal to increase foot traffic, so a lot of our work was focused on that.”

To address this, Grace and her team brainstormed several promotional strategies.

"We came up with little mystery boxes for her to sell and to help bring people in, as well as promotional efforts like advertisement mockups she could use and put around town," Grace shares.

Throughout the semester, the group maintained close communication with Danielle, adjusting their strategies based on her feedback and the results of their research. The experience of working directly with a small business owner in her hometown was an invaluable (and meaningful) end to Grace’s time as a Husker.

"It was cool to see how we could apply what we’d been learning in class to actually help a real person and their small business," she says. "It was the first time I felt like I was using my degree to make a tangible difference."

Diagnosed with a chronic illness at the beginning of her junior year, graduation felt impossibly far away for Noor.

"Graduating felt like a dream I might never achieve," Noor shares. “I was very sick — I couldn't do anything. I was so close to dropping out of college and thought that maybe I’d never continue.”

Receiving her degree in Memorial Stadium last weekend, she says, was a triumph that could only have been made possible by the resources, professors and friends she found at Nebraska.

And, most importantly, a colossal amount of self-determination.

"The number one thing that helped me was staying happy and positive. You have to find the strength inside yourself,” Noor explains. “No one else can do it for you."

Noor first experienced symptoms, of all places, during a layover in the Chicago airport as she traveled home to visit her family in Oman. Rushed to the hospital, Noor remained in Chicago for months while finding treatment.

"My family couldn't be here after my surgery, but my friends in Lincoln were amazing,” Noor recalls. “They drove up and stayed with me in the hospital for months, never letting me feel alone. I'm so grateful for them."

As she sought treatment in Chicago and her worries about continuing school mounted, Noor found the wide-ranging resources UNL offers gave her the academic freedom and flexibility she needed to continue at her own pace.

"My professors were so helpful, and the Office of Students with Disabilities provided incredible support. They made sure I had everything I needed without having to explain my health situation to every professor."

In the wake of overcoming this life-changing obstacle, Noor is looking forward to the future with a new sense of self-belief.

"This experience let me know how strong I am. In the future, if I face challenges, I'll know I can do it because I’ve done this before,” she says. “This experience created a new me."

Noor's advice to others facing similar challenges?

"You don’t have to do it all by yourself. It’s not a weakness to ask for help."

As Mother's Day approaches, many of us are reflecting on the incredible bond we share with our mothers. For Thandie, a graduate student and mother herself, it’s a bond she was especially grateful for last year as she began the very same graduate educational administration program that her own mother was just finishing.

“For me, I loved it. I always had a mentor close (who was also my parent) to help when I felt like I was falling short,” Thandie says. “I knew I could always get the guidance and the resources to succeed.”

Inspired by her mother to help other student parents in need — and drawing from her own experiences as a single parent — Thandie works with UNL's Gender & Sexuality Center to help offer the support, guidance and comfort she felt from having her own mother nearby while balancing graduate school and parenting.

"Being a parent while also being a student is very demanding. It's consuming mentally, physically and financially,” she says. “There are limitations to the work you can do outside class, and I love helping other students who are in need.”

Through programs like "Holiday for Little Huskers," which provides gifts for student parents during the holiday season, and collaborations with the Children's Center to facilitate childcare options, UNL’s Gender and Sexuality Center ensures that student parents have access to vital resources both on and off-campus.

“As a mother, I need to know that if I need something— like someone trustworthy to watch my kid — those things are available. We’ve built a community of resources for both the parents and the kids.

Choosing Nebraska for graduate school in the first place was all about fostering a community for herself and her child.

"I love Lincoln because it's peaceful. It's quiet. My daughter was a major factor in my decision-making process," she explained.

And, as Mother's Day nears, Thandie reflects on the profound impact motherhood has had on her life and her mission at UNL.

"It has changed me for the better. I have grown as a person," she shared. "Mother's Day to me is just love, purpose, joy."

Creating a new syllabus wouldn’t typically be everyone’s idea of a perfect sendoff for your final semester in college.

For Katie and Sarah, creators of “The Final Syllabus” challenge, it's less about the final grades than it is about the memories made along the way.

“We both went into this semester thinking, ‘let’s work hard to make memories,’” says Sarah. “We don’t want to leave college wishing we’d done this or tried that.”

Dubbed "Final Syllabus,” what started as a casual conversation between the roommates turned into a semester-long odyssey (and friendly competition) to make the most out of their final semesters. The pair developed a point-based challenge system and an Instagram leaderboard with weekly updates on who’s in the lead.

The Final Syllabus quickly spun into a multi-participant game among their friends.

“We wanted to figure out a way to collect memories and capture them,” explains Katie. “Making a game out of it felt like a way to keep people engaged the entire semester.”

“They started out as solo challenges, but eventually we’ve made them more group-focused,” says Sarah. “Everyone seems to really enjoy the time that it’s creating for them to spend with each other.”

From trying exotic foods and buying coffee for a stranger to revisiting freshman dorms, each new challenge has brought laughs, experiences and insights that have brought participants closer to each other and their UNL community.

“For me, it’s all about getting yourself outside your comfort zone, which you don’t have to go far to do,” Katie says. “Throughout college, Nebraska has helped me push my boundaries and find community — this helps me continue that at the end of college.”

And, as the challenges have evolved, so has their appreciation for UNL.

“I came from Oregon not knowing anyone. Looking back over these four years, I’m just so confident in the decision I made,” Sarah says. “At the end of the day, what these challenges have shown me is how much of a home this university has become.”

As an MFA student in costume design, Hunter has created costumes for numerous productions across his academic career. None have included giants, witches, mermaids or werewolves — that is, until he learned of Nebraska Repertory’s upcoming production of Big Fish, beginning April 25.

“Logistically, this is probably the most challenging show I've ever worked on,” Hunter says. “The show jumps around between multiple time periods with numerous costume changes. It's a bit daunting because you have to keep a cohesive look to everything across the show — it’s a lot like a puzzle.”

The show, a fantastical musical that time-hops through imaginary worlds, includes a larger cast than Hunter had previously managed.

“You have to start with what the absolute needs are — things already in the script or what the director wants to see in the designs — and then work from there,” he explains. “If the script specifies a color, I can use that to help build a color palette for the character that runs across the show. Then you can work with that to build a larger idea.”

The magical aspects of the show allow Hunter’s imagination to run wild, especially when it comes to designing the creatures of Big Fish.

“A lot of designing the creatures comes down to working with our actors,” he says. “For things like werewolves, we’ll do things to make their faces seem pointier like a dog’s. For giants, we’ll use stripes to help elongate their form. I like to make it feel grounded in reality and not something cartoonish.”

Without disclosing too much about the show, Hunter teases that there are certain human-to-creature transformations directly on stage that he’s particularly proud of helping realize.

“I don’t want to give too much about the show away, but there’s a moment where a character dances across the stage and, in the process, transforms in a way that’s really exciting and unexpected,” he hints. “That’s been a fun challenge to figure out, and I hope that moment sticks with people as something they’ve never seen before.”

If you’re going to shave your head, you might as well do it for a good cause.

As Isabelle helps put the finishing touches on planning this year’s Shave for the Brave event to support childhood cancer, she reflects on the very real — and very personal — impacts that this fun, laughter-filled event can have on those whom it supports.

“When I was in high school, my little brother was diagnosed with brain cancer,” Isabelle explains. “Obviously, I became well aware of all the organizations that support childhood cancer treatment and research. My high school was about to have its annual Shave for the Brave event to support St. Baldrick’s Foundation for childhood cancer research, and I decided to shave my head.”

Happening on April 4 at 6pm in the Red Cloud room of the Willa Cather Dining Complex, Shave for the Brave is where you can donate money or shave your head to raise awareness for — and in solidarity with — children suffering from cancer.

Isabelle recalls having some very special support while shaving her head.

“My brother came and held my hand the entire time.”

Now at UNL and Vice President of Recruitment for the National Residence Hall Honorary — which hosts Shave for the Brave — Isabelle is excited to help encourage her fellow Huskers to get involved and support children and families in situations like her own.

And, no, you are not required to shave your head if you come to the event.

“Anyone can just come and be supportive,” Isabelle explains. “There will be music and snacks and people having a great time. Even if you just buy a $3 bingo card, that money is still going to cancer research.

For Isabelle, her work to hold this event on campus is a reminder of the bond she has with her brother.

“My brother and I are best friends — if I had to do anything for anyone in this world, it would be him,” she says. “Thankfully, he’s still here with us, but I know that’s not a lot of family’s outcomes. Continuing to spread awareness is really important to me.”

When asked about her small town upbringing, Nebraska Promise recipient Nonie doesn’t mince words.

“I’m about as Nebraska as it gets,” Nonie says. “I grew up between four cornfields and graduated from a school in the middle of a cornfield. I rode the bus an hour each way to get to that school — it almost felt like a different time period.”

A first-gen college student from a single-parent family, Nonie grew up in a household that prized reading and writing, giving Nonie an early love for English. The Nebraska Promise program, which covers tuition at NU for students from Nebraska families who make $65,000 or less, enabled Nonie to take that passion from her Oxford hometown to UNL.

“The Nebraska Promise was really a lifesaver for me,” Nonie explains. “I never thought that I would go to college. I wanted to go to, but my senior year of high school I thought I wasn't going to be able to afford it.”

High school was also where Nonie developed a life-changing relationship with her English teacher, who both inspired her to seriously pursue college and, eventually, become an English teacher herself.

“She always believed in me. It was never ‘If you go to college,’ it was always, ‘When you go to college,’ which was something that I really couldn't see for myself having no one in my family go to college.”

This same teacher identified in Nonie a talent for teaching. Now at UNL, Nonie is working toward a degree in English education in the mold of her high school English teacher that did so much for her.

“I think I'm biased because I'm an English major, but the English department on campus has the best staff ever. They all really care about you, want you to do well and know who you are. That's just not something I expected, especially at a Big Ten university.”

As for where she’ll end up teaching, there’s really only one answer for Nonie.

“I for sure would like to go back to a Title One school, being from a low-income background. Long term, I think I will stay in Nebraska. I can't imagine being anywhere other than here.”

Delano thinks a lot about clothes, from their ability to make us feel confident to how they can bring people together. As president of Dare to Wear, the only fashion RSO on campus, he invites Huskers from all majors, backgrounds and fashion senses to come together to think more about clothes, too.

“Even though we don’t always think about it, fashion impacts everyone,” says Delano. “Having all these people come together creates really interesting conversations — I feel like we can learn a lot from how we each think about fashion.”

Delano helped start the Dare to Wear RSO to raise awareness about the Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design (TMFD) program around campus and create opportunities for any student interested in fashion, regardless of their major, to learn more.

"We recently hosted an event where we learned eco-dyeing, which is a sustainable dyeing process,” says Delano. “A lot of people came together who didn’t really know each other before to try something new.”

Delano recently helped Dare to Wear bring in Lindsay Ducey, a TMFD alumni who’s worked for Aeropostale, Gap and other big names, to talk about her experiences as an industry professional.

“It was really inspiring for students to see that people from Nebraska can get big jobs like that.”

Another recent inspiration was participating in Project Funway, a runway show fundraiser that finds TMFD students partnering with Fresh Start Home to support women experiencing homelessness.

The event challenged Delano and other Husker designers to create something unique out of recycled denim.

“It’s really important to me that my designs make the wearer feel really confident, and this was a fun challenge in that sense.”

In thinking about the denim dress he made for the fundraiser, he applied many of the same ideas that he holds when thinking about fashion more broadly.

“I always just say to wear what makes you feel confident. It can be big and loud or very simple, and in either case the confidence you have will elevate your look no matter what.”

Before her first semester at UNL, Jade’s mom offered her a piece of advice that Jade took to heart.

“When coming to tour Nebraska and learning about all the study abroad programs, she told me, ‘If there’s one thing I want you to do in college, it’s to study abroad,’” recalls Jade. “She said, ‘I want you to experience what it’s like to live and study in a different country.’”

Following through on her mom’s advice, Jade took advantage of the College of Business' Study Abroad Australia program during the spring pre-session, embarking on a journey down under to learn about Asian–Pacific economies and their impact on the global market.

“It was so fascinating — we learned about how Australia’s economy works, what the different rules and regulations are and how it’s working to address environmental risks like climate change,” Jade says of the 2-week program in Sydney.

Throughout their daily lectures, Jade and her fellow Husker classmates would talk directly with leaders from local Australian businesses and global companies that helped draw connections to their classwork.

“For me personally, it was really cool having one of the global vice presidents of Salesforce to come talk to us in class because I'd already had experience with Salesforce through the business college’s Center for Sales Excellence,” says Jade. “It was amazing to talk with them about how they enforce the same ideas that I learned in Lincoln.”

And while Jade did broaden her professional horizons, the program’s Australian excursions provided plenty of ways for her to broaden her personal ones, too.

“There was a day where we took a boat out on the Great Barrier Reef and got to snorkel around the reef. I’ve just never experienced anything like it in my life — I was crying in my goggles.”

Just as her mom had hoped, the program left a huge impression.

“I really get what people mean when they say you have to experience another country firsthand. It was one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had.”

Coming into college, Saylor didn’t want to abandon her personal passions while chasing her professional goals. As a pre-optometry student majoring in English, she’s creating a balance that, she says, is helping her have a well-rounded college experience that keeps her motivated and engaged.

“Traditionally, pre-optometry students will major in biology. I decided to switch things up and honor my love for literature by majoring in English. To this day, it was the greatest gift I’ve given myself.”

After a formative experience shadowing an optometrist in high school, Saylor set her sights on becoming an optometrist herself. Admittedly not a math person, Saylor believes that buoying her science prerequisites with English courses has prevented her from experiencing burnout.

“Going into college, I saw myself getting burnt out by only taking science and math classes,” she says. “And while the science and math classes that I do have to take have only gotten harder, my English coursework never really feels like homework because it’s something I truly love to do.”

Letting herself stretch her strengths across multiple disciplines has also given Saylor a healthier perspective on the subjects that don’t come quite as naturally.

“I’ve had a lot of angst around math, but over time I’ve come to realize that I don’t have to love it to be able to do it well. The whole thing has been sort of an experimental process.”

Currently working in two different optometry clinics, Saylor is finding that her English major is preparing her for her future career in important ways.

“You need to have good social and communication skills when you’re a doctor, and I do feel like my English major has paid off a lot in working with patients and helping them communicate their symptoms.”

Saylor encourages other students who might feel boxed into one thing to explore ways they can broaden their academic horizons.

“I’ve always been a very black-and-white, all-or-nothing person, but the older I’ve gotten I’ve come to realize the importance of balance.”

When seeking ways to get involved and make an impact on the community, sometimes looking backward is the best way to move forward.

As an aspiring teacher, joining the staff at the Belmont Community Center (BCC) was a great way for Azcia to gain some practical experience working with kids while also reconnecting with an organization that made an impact on her past.

“I just feel like they welcomed me right in,” she says of her time at BCC. “My job was to engage with the kids and teach them morality, life skills and how to treat other people. With teaching you obviously have a curriculum, but there’s no real curriculum for teaching life — and that’s what I loved about it.”

As a fourth grader, Azcia picked up a few critical life skills of her own through the BCC.

Community leader Pete Ferguson helped get Azcia involved in the annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Rally, which was organized out of the BCC. Recognizing her talents for engaging others, Ferguson asked Azcia to serve as keynote speaker for the rally that year in the state capitol.

“I remember standing there as a fourth grader in front of like 500 people in the Warner Chamber of the capitol and really feeling that everyone was listening to me. Pete really gave me a platform to express myself and speak out for what I believe in.”

A natural speaker, this pivotal experience helped Azcia find her path as a future teacher.

Arriving at UNL to study secondary education, Azcia knew the relationships that she held onto at the BCC would be a great place to start looking for job experience. Building and maintaining relationships, she’s found, is also key to being a successful teacher.

“People say it again and again, but the connections you have with students will help foster the kind of classroom community you have,” she explains. “Working at the BCC has really helped me learn how to connect with students and show up for them every day. I’ve had people in my life who’ve done that for me and now I want to continue carrying that torch for others.”

Taking advice he received as a high school student, December grad Samuel arrived at UNL seeking passions he could one day build his life around. Staying open to new experiences helped him find (and combine) his passions along his Husker journey, all leading to landing a job at the Omaha software startup Workshop.

“Being involved on campus has been the most enriching part of my college experience and allowed me to expand my horizons past anything I could have imagined when first coming to Nebraska,” says Samuel. “I’ve learned and experienced so much and have met so many incredible people I otherwise would have never known.”

A student in Raikes School, Samuel started college thinking he would become a software engineer. After two major changes, he credits Dr. Geoffrey Friesen’s investment class with helping him find his future in finance. Samuel then joined the founding cohort of the Husker Venture Fund (HVF), a unique experience that offers hands-on investment experience to students.

“The fact that we are entirely student-led makes us unique. Everything from screening companies and completing due diligence to voting on investments is done entirely by students,” he explains. “It's an experience that’s as close to real-world venture investing as possible.”

Building connections within Nebraska’s entrepreneurial community led to a summer internship with JPMorgan Chase, while attending an entrepreneurship event connected him to his future employer.

“I attended an event where Derek Homann spoke about starting Workshop. They were in the early stages, but I knew they were building something special,” he says, having kept an eye on the company. “Now I’m ecstatic to join them in January as a business operations analyst.”

Alongside Raikes and the HVF, Samuel was involved in Greek life and the lead singer in an indie rock band — varied passions that helped him stay balanced and open to new things.

“What inspires me are the people who are unapologetically unique. They pave their own path, make mistakes and continue to learn and grow.”

As a student photographer for Huskers, Dillon feels like he’s living out a photographer’s dream. Across all sports, Dillon is putting in the hours to capture the perfect moment to share with the rest of Husker nation.

“With my job in Husker Athletics, I can really get creative,” says Dillon. “I can get these shots that no one else can get — I can move around, go up into the rafters and just be very hands-on. I don’t think I’d be able to get that type of access anywhere else.”

As part of his sports media and communication program in the College of Journalism & Mass Communications, Dillon began working for Husker Athletics during his second year at Nebraska. He immediately hit the ground running, which he says helped hone his craft.

“I’ve certainly had a lot of hiccups,” he admits. “But getting that experience, being on your feet and ready no matter what happens has really helped me progress as a photographer.”

Part of that progression has been learning about all the different sports he covers, making sure that he’s in the right place at the right time.

“I grew up around sports, but I don’t think I’ve ever known more than I do now,” he says. “Now I can tell exactly where I’ll need be in order to get the game-winning play or capture a celebration.”

Chasing that perfect shot isn’t just a matter of catching a great play — Dillon looks for the feeling that tells the story of the athlete in front of his lens.

“I always ask myself, ‘What are the moments that evoke the most emotion in this sport?’ Whether it’s a high five or an athlete taking a moment to themselves, finding these moments is sometimes the biggest, most rewarding challenge.”

Of course, it’s impossible for him to pick a favorite photo, but he remembers vividly the first time he felt like he nailed it.

“It was a Husker baseball game, and I got a photo of a runner diving for home base,” he recalls. “The catcher is just about to catch the ball, but you can tell the runner is going to make it. I felt like I'd been waiting to take that photo my entire life.”

Jenny is all about finding your support system. As an aspiring special education teacher who’s found her own support system through the Teacher Scholars Academy, Jenny was immediately drawn to the mission of the Best Buddies RSO as a way of helping others find theirs.

“Best Buddies is a friendship and leadership movement where students work alongside people with intellectual and developmental disabilities [IDDs] to hold fun social events on campus,” Jenny explains. “It’s really all about just hanging out and building relationships.”

From scavenger hunts to gingerbread house contests, Best Buddies’ social gatherings can be anything. The main thing, Jenny says, is bringing people together to make lasting connections.

“One of my favorite parts of Best Buddies is running into people on campus who’ve attended events,” she says. “Even if we don’t remember each other's names, we’ll be like ‘Hey, I remember you from Best Buddies!’”

Jenny was first introduced to UNL’s Best Buddies group through a friend. Since then, she’s served as the social media chair and, more recently, treasurer, but mostly appreciates the group events and getting to hang out with all the buddies and new members.

"We make buddy matches and pair UNL students with folks with IDDs,” Jenny says. “We will help organize fun one-on-one things to do, like go get ice cream and other things."

Jenny makes time for Best Buddies between her other involvements, namely being part of the Teacher Scholars Academy and working at Hartley Elementary — all of which are helping her gain valuable experience as a future teacher.

“I love it so much — I don’t even see it as a job,” she says of her work at Hartley.

And although Best Buddies shares some connections to Jenny’s major, she stresses that anyone can (and should) get involved.

“Anyone, any major and any year in school can be in Best Buddies,” Jenny emphasizes. “It’s such a fun place to come where you can be your own person, laugh and just be happy.”

Most of us think of homecoming as a single, fun-filled week in October. For Chrissy and the other students and staff on the homecoming committee, it's a year-round project.

“Planning for next homecoming starts pretty much right after homecoming week ends,” explains Chrissy, who serves as the Homecoming Events Coordinator for ASUN and is wrapping up her second straight year on the homecoming committee.

Chrissy’s role is to serve on two separate homecoming committees — the faculty and staff-led homecoming committee and the student-led steering committee — as the mouthpiece for students, making sure their ideas and concerns are heard as well as questions answered.

“Homecoming can be really, really confusing,” admits Chrissy, “so I love being able to answer students’ questions, help them figure out how to get involved and make the process less intimidating.”

Aside from answering questions (“There are no dumb questions,” she promises), Chrissy works to make sure that all Husker students across campus feel included in homecoming, bringing feedback to faculty and staff committees while also educating students on ways they can participate in homecoming festivities.

“Homecoming has a reputation that only Greek life gets involved,” she says. “There are tons of ways for people to participate, from participating in the cornhole competition and Showtime to getting involved through your residence hall or RSO. We really just want to reach all students and let them know that homecoming is for you and the entire university.”

Bringing as many students as possible into the fold of homecoming is what brought Chrissy back for a second year on the planning committee. She sees homecoming week as an opportunity for all of us to step back and appreciate everything our university has to offer.

“For me, homecoming is all about celebrating what makes Nebraska special,” she states. “UNL has done so much for me and for people across our state. And, obviously, I love going to school here or else I wouldn’t be doing all this.”

While brainstorming ideas for an original beef product for the “culinary challenge” in UNL Animal Sciences' Nebraska Youth Beef Leadership Symposium, a high school-aged Alexa found herself explaining to a teammate from Kentucky the ins and outs of two Nebraska favorites: Runzas, and the chili and cinnamon roll combo.

“Suddenly I thought, ’Wait, why don’t we combine the two?’”

Thus, Alexa’s “chili roll” was born.

This unique twist on two Nebraska favorites went on to win the competition, grabbing the attention of panel judge Dean Tiffany Heng-Moss and earning Alexa both an Engler scholarship and College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Change Maker scholarship.

“It was a mind-blowing moment,” she says of being approached by Dean Heng-Moss, a fan of her product. “I reached out to her after the symposium, and that’s how I got connected with the Engler Program.”

The Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program, one of several entrepreneurial-focused programs at UNL, has helped Alexa fine-tune her pitch (and recipe) for the chili roll. Engler classes have helped Alexa set goals for the chili roll’s future and also make connections that have helped improve the product.

“I’ve met with Wahadi Allen [executive chef for Dining Services] to get the final concept down and talk about production. Now, I really want to slow it down and hopefully take it to tailgates next fall.”

Like any good entrepreneur, Alexa already knows your biggest question about her product.

“People always ask me, ‘How is it not soggy?’ And that’s where the science part of it comes in. I say it’s more like the ‘concept’ of chili — we had to experiment with removing the liquids and try all sorts of spices and ingredients to get it right.”

And while Alexa continues to incubate the idea and eye next fall for a larger rollout, she’s also looking forward to pursuing new, non-chili roll ideas through Engler.

“I definitely want to focus on this idea now since it’s gotten me so far, but I have other ideas I want to explore and develop, too.”

"The second win felt different than the first,” says Zach, part of the back-to-back national championship-winning debate team with UNL Speech & Debate — and the first national championship debate team in UNL’s history.

“The first time was the first-ever championship UNL had won, so we were really the underdogs with something to prove. The second year, we came back with a chip on our shoulder — we wanted to prove that last year wasn’t a fluke.”

Though debate is an individual competition, tournaments count the total scores of each school to determine the winning teams. Preparing as a team, explains Zach, is the most essential part of the Husker debaters’ success.

“All of the preparation that our team does together is probably 90% of the work,” he says. “We receive the debate topics months in advance, and from there we have to be prepared to debate in affirmation or negation of the debate topic.”

Topics are usually timely (nuclear arms control being this year’s topic) and give the debate team plenty of real-world knowledge to absorb, analyze and consider when building arguments for competition.

Unsurprisingly, it’s a lot of work.

“It takes a lot of time to research and identify evidence that defends the point of view we’re promoting,” Zach says. “Being a university team, we still have to think about all the traveling and keeping up with our grades — stuff you don’t see when you look at results.”

A student in the Raikes School, Zach credits Raikes faculty, debate associate director Justin Kirk and his teammates for helping make the balance work.

“It’s demanding, but I have such a good network of friends and teachers that I can rely on — we have a really good atmosphere that prioritizes what we need.”

As for the impacts of being back-to-back champions, Zach says he’s proud to help UNL’s debate reputation grow and attract new in-state talent.

“Historically, people learning debate in Nebraska high schools have tried to go elsewhere. Now, we have more first years than we’ve ever had. It’s exciting to watch this program grow.”

As a counselor-in-residence in Eastside Suites, Payton’s goal is to help Huskers feel like they have someone nearby to turn to when they need to talk. She's one of three trained mental health professionals stationed in residence halls around campus who are available to meet with students close to their campus homes.

“Students can meet with us for individual therapy sessions, couple sessions, with roommates, friends, parents — whatever they need, they can meet with us for free,” explains Payton. “Being a young adult and starting a new phase of life, having someone to talk to is really important.”

A UNL graduate and former Husker track athlete, Payton remembers clearly the overwhelming wave of information, emotions and questions that come with arriving on campus.

“When you get to college, you’re coming from a time when things were so much more structured — you can sometimes feel like you’re on your own,” she says. “I’m here to be a bridge for students and let them know they’re not alone in this process.”

Students can schedule sessions by contacting couplefamilyclinic@unl.edu to talk through a range of topics, from homesickness, school stress and mental health to coping skills, developing healthy habits, family struggles, relationships and so much more.

Payton wants students to know that counselors are there to facilitate these hard conversations, especially when it comes to navigating issues that involve others.

“This just gives you another person to be on your side and help you in this process of having conversations that you've been wanting to have.”

Like all counselors-in-residence, Payton is a graduate student in the College of Education and Human Sciences. She’s also outdoorsy, goofy and loves to rollerblade — all things she wants you to know about her before scheduling a session with her. Being yourself, she says, makes it easier.

“I want students to be able to connect with those parts of me because we’re all just a little bit goofy,” says Payton. “I truly think that therapy only works when we’re allowed to be our authentic selves.”

A Nebraska Law student, Steffany is one of two twirlers for the Cornhusker Marching Band, a six-time gold medalist in baton twirling at the world championships and last year’s Miss Nebraska (which she did while pulling double-duty twirling with the Cornhusker Marching Band).

Is it a lot? Yes. Worth it? Totally.

“I grew up coming to the stadium as a kid and watching Husker games — it’s literally been a lifelong dream of mine to twirl on the field someday,” says Steffany. “I would’ve never imagined it would actually lead me to Memorial Stadium to perform in front of our amazing fans.”

Memorial Stadium is only the latest stop in the long path of Steffany’s twirling career.

She began twirling at age four, and by age ten was competing in the world championships in Belgium. She’s since twirled in world championships in Switzerland, Italy and Norway, and under a full scholarship for Louisville in undergrad.

Despite all her success, Steffany always felt her Nebraska dreams calling her back.

“Nebraska will always be home to me, and it’s where I want to live long-term,” she says. “It was good to venture out and try new things because now I know this is where I want to be. I couldn’t be happier to be back.”

After returning home and completing her first year in Nebraska Law, Steffany took a year off to embark on yet another journey: serving as Miss Nebraska.

“It was an incredible opportunity to travel around the state, participate in fundraisers and work on service projects,” she says of her Miss Nebraska duties, which she was able to do in tandem with twirling for the marching band. “It was a very busy year.”

Now back in school and gearing up for the first home football game, Steffany is ready to get back on the field and inspire the next generation of Huskers in the crowd.

“Any time I encounter a little girl who tells me that she wants to do what I’m doing someday, it’s really exciting. I remember being that girl looking out at the twirlers, and to be in that role now means so much to me.”

Huskers believe in the power of every person, combining our varied strengths, experiences and backgrounds to accomplish big things. That involves a lot of talking, and Sukaina is here for it. So is Husker Dialogues.

“Husker Dialogues serves as an opportunity for every student of every major to share their experiences and hear from others,” said Sukaina. “Just sitting down and listening to someone else’s viewpoint introduces everyone to new ideas, fosters understanding and spreads awareness.”

Husker Dialogues is an event where first-year students build confidence and community through conversation. Growing up in an Iraqi immigrant household, Sukaina — one of this year’s speakers at Husker Dialogues — is excited to talk with her Husker peers about issues affecting her community.

“One of the main things I talk about is the fact that the federal government doesn’t legally recognize Middle Eastern and North African people as their own population,” she explained. “We’re considered white, and there’s no option for us to be recognized as our own racial group. That makes us ineligible for many minority-serving programs that are federally funded.”

Sukaina’s speech draws from personal experience, detailing how, despite being part of an underrepresented group, she’s been denied scholarships and other opportunities due to this issue.

“It’s this weird situation — I’ve been rejected for scholarships because I’ve been told ‘Well, you have all the merit, except you’re white.’ And I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’” she said with a laugh. “So, I want to use Husker Dialogues to discuss subjects like this that might be swept under the rug.”

Husker Dialogues gives Sukaina and her fellow Huskers platforms to spread awareness about issues that matter to them and to do the thing she knows works best for inciting change: talking.

"My whole thing with Husker Dialogues is just telling my story. As a freshman, I wouldn’t have seen myself doing that to such a wide audience. So that's really exciting! A little nerve-wracking, but very exciting.”

Devan’s knack for making connections made him a natural fit for the College of Business. A Gilman Scholar, Peer Career Coach and Student Strengths Coach, the August grad has done a lot during his time at UNL to build lasting networks and broaden his perspective.

A first-year study abroad trip to China through the College of Business — made possible by a Gilman Scholarship — helped Devan realize just how far his talent for connection could take him.

“I had little to no experience with Chinese culture, and it really intrigued me,” he said. “I got to meet Gallup employees in Beijing through the business college, learn about the Chinese language, Chinese businesses and culture — it opened my eyes to all sorts of opportunities and really shaped my college experience.”

Devan’s since been back to China four times, staying with friends he made from his study abroad and stayed in touch with.

He even started taking Mandarin classes outside his major.

“All this was rooted in the connections and friends I made in that first study abroad experience. Those relationships allowed me to go back to learn more and have new experiences.”

These early formative experiences inspired Devan to show others the value of stretching their strengths. In the wake of the pandemic, Devan saw an opportunity to help other students get reconnected on campus by serving as a Peer Career Coach and Student Strengths Coach.

“Coming back from the pandemic, so many students had never been on campus before — they hadn’t had the chance to do the simple things like attend a career fair, club fair and other things. I wanted to help be part of their transition back and share these resources that I was able to use.”

After graduating on Saturday, Devan hopes to foster a career that can combine his passion for international business with his love for his home state.

“Being from Lincoln, I’d like to stay local, but I’m hoping to find opportunities to increase Nebraska’s international profile. I want to use my local connections and roots to further those goals.”

As president of UNL Esports, UNL’s competitive video game RSO, Z is leading the team through a time of rapid expansion. With over 50 members, 10 new scholarships to offer, competitions with teams from other Big Ten schools and approval to construct an esports arena in the Nebraska Union, UNL Esports and Z have a busy year ahead.

Coming to UNL, Z was just worried about fitting in.

“When I came to college, I kept asking myself how I was going to make friends. I went to Big Red Welcome, saw a booth for esports and was like ‘Oh, cool — I’ll go talk to these guys. Since then, I’ve found a ton of friends.”

Z dove into esports during high school, finding a passion (and major talent) that quickly helped her find community at Nebraska. She soon became Outreach Officer for UNL Esports, expanding the group’s presence in the community.

“I really wanted it to improve and grow because I knew it had so much potential,” says Z, citing the explosion of esports’ popularity in the culture. “All we needed was that little push.”

On Z’s end, her “little push” came in the form of marketing and awareness efforts that led to a spike in esports enthusiasm from new and incoming Huskers.

“At last year’s Big Red Welcome we got over three pages of student emails, which is so exciting because we’ve never had interest like that.”

The other “little push” came from talks with the College of Journalism & Mass Communications to create more structural support for UNL Esports, culminating with the approval to construct the new esports arena in the Union and bringing on former Husker football player (and avid gamer) Ahman Green as the full-time coach.

Z hopes these steps further develop the Husker esports community that has so positively shaped her experience at UNL.

“Our biggest goal right now is just letting people know who we are and to make everything we do more accessible,” Z says. “Being part of the esports club has totally changed the trajectory of my life, brought me some of the closest friends I’ve ever had and given me a chance to become a leader.”

Halfway through his summer-long internship with Garmin, Tate has felt well-prepared by his Nebraska Engineering coursework to hit the ground running at the GPS tech company. By the same token, he’s learned more from working alongside professional computer engineers at Garmin than he can put into words.

Basically, he’s getting everything he’d hoped for from his internship.

“I’m definitely learning a lot, which is the number one thing you could ask from an internship,” says Tate. “I’m still using a lot of the skills that I’ve previously learned from classes, but I’m looking forward to using the knowledge I’m getting here when I come back to school.”

Tate is part of the aviation team at Garmin this summer, using the integrated software skills he acquired from a class he just finished in the spring semester to work on audio panels for integrated GPS systems in helicopters.

Working at their Olathe, Kansas headquarters for the summer, Tate’s living with fellow Garmin interns and enjoying the collaboration and mentorship he’s been able to generate across the aviation team.

“There’s no pressure and it’s a very welcoming environment, which is great because I feel I can always ask questions. The code I’m working on will actually be used in their systems, so what I’m working on is real. They’re definitely giving me a fun challenge.”

Working on integrated software for helicopters isn’t the first challenge the company posed to Tate. A competitive interview process, Tate went through two verbal interviews and a technical, skill-based interview to land the internship.

He credits the College of Engineering's career coach and the broader professional development resources around UNL’s campus as being instrumental in prepping him for this intensive process.

“I feel like UNL has everything there to prepare people and more people should be using these resources. You can schedule appointments for resume checks, have practice interviews — it’s all there,” he says.

“Apparently, if you use them, it seems to work out pretty well.”

Returning from Husker Life Skills’ NoFilter service trip to Panama, Lindsey sees the world a bit differently than she did before. Which, she says, is the whole point.

“The theme of the trip is open your mind, change your view, leave your mark — I think that perfectly describes it.”

The NoFilter trip brings a group of 20 Husker athletes to live and work with an indigenous community on the island of Bastimentos off the coast of Panama, helping the community with a rotating set of projects. This year, Huskers spent a week repairing and repainting the library, helping preschool students with their English, repairing the preschool and constructing a playground.

“To be fully immersed in the local culture was just incredible. They were so generous towards us and were so grateful that we were there.”

And while working with the local children, restoring community resources and exploring the beautiful Panamanian archipelago were among the many highlights for Lindsey, the chance to try something new — and a little scary — proved very rewarding.

“Putting myself in this new experience with people I don’t know was a big step, so I’m really proud of myself.”

A student-athlete on the Husker golf team, the trip allowed Lindsey to build powerful, lasting relationships with Husker athletes across all sports that she previously only knew in passing.

“We talked so much about how we can go so many years of seeing each other at the training table every day but not know anyone’s name. Now, it feels like we’re family. Our labels of different sports dissolved so quickly because we realized we’re just all the same.”

Dissolving labels and breaking barriers also extended toward the relationships Lindsey and her fellow athletes built with people in the community, especially among the young kids they worked with.

“Even with a language barrier, it was incredible how well we were able to interact and communicate just through pure human connection. The bonds that we were able to build over the week were amazing.”

The road to graduation is long, and one that appeared to close for Ra’Daniel when he was placed on academic dismissal after his freshman year.

Rather than quit, Ra’Daniel persevered.

He appealed the dismissal, continued his education and, on Saturday, will receive his bachelor’s degree from @nebraskabiz at the 2023 commencement ceremony.

“When I got the email that I got let back in, I cried,” he recalls. “I honestly didn’t think they would let me back in.”

Ra’Daniel came to college thinking he knew exactly what he wanted to study — architecture, in his case — but quickly began to feel that his interests were beginning to change.

"I’m the type of person that needs stability. My freshman year, I never had a week that felt stable. It was something different every day,” he explains.

This disorientation quickly led to a decline in his grades and, eventually, academic dismissal.

“I decided to appeal because I knew it wasn’t that I couldn’t do the work — I just didn’t do it. I wanted a second chance to do it right.” says Ra’Daniel. “I knew that without a degree, it’s hard to be successful.”

Returning to UNL, Ra’Daniel hit the reset button.

He joined organizations that combined his skillsets with his passions, finding community, structure and support through the Gaughan Multicultural Center, OASIS, the Afrikan People’s Union, Husker Dialogues, the Chancellor’s Commission on the Status of People of Color, Jacht and more.

“I knew that being involved would help me find stability,” he says. “It forced me to be intentional about how I scheduled my time. I created stability for myself so I could succeed.”

Ra’Daniel also found a way to pass along the wisdom he’s garnered on his journey to graduation with younger Huskers by becoming a peer mentor with OASIS. The path to success, he says, looks different for everyone.

“One thing I never heard coming into college was, ‘Find out what works for you.’ I tell younger students this all the time.” offers Ra’Daniel.

“It all starts with self-reflection.”

Typically, working on assignments on a Saturday isn’t everyone’s vision of an ideal weekend.

For Meg, who was photographing the Husker football spring game last weekend for her sports media and communication major at the College of Journalism & Mass Communications, there’s no better way to spend a Saturday.

“From the second I came here, this is exactly the sort of work I’ve wanted to be doing. Getting to take pictures on this scale for something that so many people are watching and attending is really cool.”

Meg grew up an avid sports fan, a passion that in high school blossomed into a habit of bringing her camera to every conceivable sporting event and covering them for social media.

“Any bit of free time I had, I was usually at a game or in the gym taking pictures for any of our teams.”

Realizing that sports media was her calling, College of Journalism & Mass Communications’s unique program seemed like a natural fit. And, as she wraps up her first year, Meg is feeling more confident than ever in her choice.

“The J-school does a really good job at getting students experience first thing when they come to college. I’ve gotten tons of experience this year alone taking pictures at games, writing stories, interviewing coaches and players — if I could encapsulate this first year in one word, it would be experience.”

And while her classes for her sports media major offer a variety of creative avenues — from producing podcasts to traditional broadcasting opportunities — Meg is also stretching her strengths with her internship in the Creative Media Department with Husker Athletics.

There, Meg assists with photography, content creation and social media management for a host of teams, from live-tweeting gymnastics meets to photographing the softball team.

“I love getting to be hands-on down on the field or the mat and working with athletes,” she says. “It’s been super welcoming — you come in as a freshman a little nervous to be around all the different athletes, but everyone just wants you to grow and learn, and I really love that.”

For Greg, being an effective leader is all about making connections.

As a William H. Thompson (WHT) Scholars mentor and professional staff member, staff assistant for the campus rec, intramural ref and — recently — as a legal translator for an Omaha law firm, Greg stretches his strengths by making connections across different organizations.

“I try and lead by bringing all my positions together. I think a big part of leadership is just about making connections. I get a great feeling from seeing our WHT Scholars around campus and going, ’Hey, there’s Greg!’”

A first-gen student, Greg came to UNL as a Susan T. Buffett Scholar who, when they arrival at UNL, become part of the WHT Learning Community that supports and connects these scholars from diverse backgrounds.

Greg began helping new scholars acclimate to UNL as a mentor his junior year.

“Mentors help you get adjusted to your first year, making sure they’re always a phone call or text away to answer questions. Also, the amazing professional support staff at WHT keep you on track with grades, host monthly meetings and organize social events.”

Now a senior, Greg has graduated to support staff at WHT, mentoring the mentors on how to facilitate and build outstanding scholars.

“We like to be engaged and hold scholars to a high standard — we want our scholars to have a sense of pride and feel like they have a whole team behind them.”

WHT’s team mentality recently led Greg to an exceptional professional opportunity working as a legal translator at an Omaha law firm. In this role, Greg had responsibilities far beyond the purview of a traditional internship.

“I was sharing my interest in law with one of our pro staff, and she connected me with a firm in Omaha looking for a temporary translator,” tells Greg.

Knowing his strengths as a communicator, this staff member vouched for Greg’s skillset and helped land him the job.

“It wasn’t something you’d find on LinkedIn or anything, it was just the personal connections and communication that got me there.”

Like a lot of international students, Jermaine Yin Mun didn’t have the luxury of a campus tour before deciding to come to UNL. She relied on websites, social media and testimonials from other Malaysian students to make her choice.

Now, as a social media intern with the College of Business, Jermaine Yin Mun is using personal experience and an eye for marketing to promote UNL to fellow Malaysian students and other international communities.

“I use a lot of my connections with minority students to feature them for admissions content on social media so we can spread that awareness and share stories that might be overlooked,” she explains.

Her time at UNL has been marked by involvements in several Asian-interest groups, like Nebraska University Malaysian Student Association and Delta Phi Lambda sorority. For each, she’s taken on social media management and communication roles that have honed her skillset and allowed her to broadcast UNL’s international student experience.

“I’ve gotten a lot of opportunities to make videos targeted toward international students so they can really experience what it’s like to be in Nebraska and have that perspective,” Jermaine Yin Mun says. “I really want to encourage people to get out of their comfort zones.”

For Jermaine Yin Mun, getting out of her comfort zone has meant being intentional about networking with fellow students and integrating into the broader UNL community.

“I’d say I was a very different person before coming here: I was really shy and wouldn’t talk to anybody,” she admits. “But once I got here, I was in survival mode. I forced myself to raise my hand in class and even compliment someone, which took a lot of practice.”

Jermaine Yin Mun says it’s important for UNL students be aware of the wide range of international student experiences.

“I don’t really have an accent, so people tend to think that I’m from here and think the same way as them,” she says. “So it’s important for people to recognize different perceptions and perspectives that international students can have.”

Fighting stigmas around Deaf identities keeps Renca pretty busy.

The PhD candidate, classroom instructor, influencer and high school cheer coach channels the pride she feels in her identity as a Deaf woman into all facets of her life, especially in her research in UNL's Communication and Identity Lab.

“Communication is the number one thing we need in our life — we communicate for information, to express our thoughts and feelings, and to learn about other people. Communication allows us to feel connected to our identity.”

Renca’s work looks at how communication shapes our experiences, particularly those in the Deaf community.

“One of my projects is looking at the need for Deaf identities and cultures to be recognized and valued,” says Renca of her project “Deaf or Death: The Story of Robin,” inspired by the story of a Deaf woman who was denied access to a sign language interpreter when hospitalized.

“We need the same things as anyone else, but my specific communication needs and resources are different than what you might need — often people don’t recognize that.”

Engaging with local Deaf Clubs is another important aspect of Renca’s work and advocacy.

“Deaf Clubs are a hotspot where Deaf people get together to exchange information. We host events, birthday parties, and all kinds of things. With any marginalized community, you can’t sleep on what’s happening — Deaf Clubs give us spaces to meet, share stories, and discuss disability rights.”

Renca is also passionate about working with Deaf youths, recently co-coaching the Iowa School for the Deaf’s cheerleading squad to win the Great Plains School for the Deaf cheer championship.

“Because Deaf people are so stigmatized, many Deaf children grow up feeling isolated – like they wish they weren’t Deaf,” says Renca, stressing the importance of sign language access.

“When Deaf kids go to these schools, they feel at home and meet Deaf adult role models that help them build confidence in their identities so they can go out and be proud of who they are.”

Brandon admits that he has a bit of a “takeover spirit,” naturally adept at taking the lead in any situation. This easy leadership has come in handy as president of UNL’s a cappella group Bathtub Dogs, which he’s shepherded out of challenging times and back onto the stage.

“Coming out of the pandemic, I knew it was going to be a long process getting back into the community and performing, and I wanted to be the conductor of that train,” he says.

Chances are you’ve probably seen the Bathtub Dogs performing somewhere, giving a lively a cappella rework of a classical tune or modern-day hit. For Brandon, his first encounter with the Bathtub Dogs was when they performed at a competition hosted by his high school in Omaha.

“They could sing their faces off and just seemed like stars. I was like, ‘I want to audition for that.‘”

Even still, Brandon found himself a bit skeptical about joining an all-men’s group, worried about fitting in and being accepted. Pretty quickly, though, those worries began to dissipate as Brandon felt an overwhelming sense of comfort and camaraderie.

“There are lots of things we do in rehearsal to make it a safe and open space. Sometimes I honestly love rehearsing more than performing because it’s such a fun shared experience.”

Rehearsing is something that they’re doing a lot of right now as the dogs gear up for regional and national competitions. These shows involve choreographed dancing on top of singing, which Brandon says requires the collaborative talents of all 17 members.

“There are so many different and important roles, and mine is often just stepping back to make sure things are running smoothy.”

Despite the high stakes of competition, Brandon still cherishes performing for local communities and young people above all.

“Getting in front of young people and being in high schools in front of show choir kids is doing the same thing that inspired me to get involved,” Brandon shares. “It’s so fun seeing the light in kids’ eyes when you’re up there performing. It feels full circle for me.”

TW // Suicide, Depression

Although today is Random Acts of Kindness Day, any day is a good one to do something nice for your fellow Huskers. Eric, president of UNL’s Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) group, says doing something nice for someone else benefits you, too.

“Small acts of kindness affect everyone involved — both sides become happier because of the chemicals released when you do something kind for someone else,” explains Eric. “It’s a win-win.”

Eric knows this not because of the research he does in the chemistry department, but because of a psychology professor he recently invited to speak to the RAK group.

Regular guest speakers are among the many — and varied — benefits of joining the group, one that Eric started this academic year to help support the mental health of Huskers around campus.

“40% of college students report having felt too depressed to function and 60% have experienced overwhelming anxiety,” says Eric. “This organization is hopefully a way to reduce those numbers on our campus and be a relief to people who need it.”

Eric knows that these aren’t just numbers. The loss of a friend to suicide in high school — and the formation of a local RAK group afterward — inspired Eric to bring RAK to UNL in hopes of creating an outlet for students to decompress, talk about mental health and spread some kindness.

“Any given month we have about three events. We try to have one study hours where people can just come get to know each other and bring some food, another meeting with a guest speaker, and a third that’s either volunteering or some random act of kindness,” Eric says.

Recent acts of kindness carried out by the group include handing out cookies on campus, stream cleanups and volunteering with local nonprofits. Eric plans to host a rock painting party, stress awareness seminars with dogs for petting, and more this spring semester.

It’s low commitment, Eric stresses, just like small acts of kindness.

“There’s a potential for little things to have a ripple effect that can lead to a much greater impact.”

College is much more than your major, says Dalilah.

“People always hear ‘College is going to be the best time of your life!’ And although people’s passions might ignite in the classroom, I don’t think that’s always because of what happens in class.”

While there are lots of great reasons for getting involved on campus, Dalilah views her involvement in RSOs as a way to build a network that supports her and makes her feel part of a community — and she invites others to do the same.

“When I first came to UNL, I felt a little isolated not hearing anyone besides my roommate speak Spanish,” Dalilah says. “Being a part of RSOs on campus — especially those that are culturally based — has given me a space and community to use my voice around and be passionate about inclusivity.”

It was an encouraging friend that first got Dalilah to the student union her freshman year to check out a MASA (Mexican American Student Association) booth.

It didn’t take long, however, for Dalilah to realize this was where she belonged.

“In my first meeting I was like, ‘Before I graduate, I’m going to be president. This is just so cool.’”

Dalilah did, in fact, become president of MASA. She has also been heavily involved in the Delta Xi Nu Multicultural Sorority, which, once again, took a friend to coax her into trying out.

“I had a friend — again — who was like, ‘Just come check it out with me,’” Dalilah recalls. “The people in Delta Xi Nu described their mission at the university to me and how they wanted to make changes around inclusivity on campus. I really admired that.”

Like all RSOs, Dalilah’s involvements in MASA and Delta Xi Nu have spanned everything from social gatherings with tons of food to philanthropies and volunteer work.

Mainly, though, Dalilah urges her fellow Huskers to get involved for the friends and memories they'll make.

“A lot of our memories don’t come from the classroom: they come from the people we meet and the experiences and memories we’ll have.”

"To be honest, I never really thought I was going to study abroad,” says Gabi.

The junior from Lincoln had reservations about leaving campus and her friends for a whole semester—which makes her recent journey through New Zealand with the College of Education and Human Sciences all the more exciting and unlikely for Gabi.

As part of a two-week study abroad program through CEHS, Gabi and her cohort have been learning about New Zealand’s unique approach to early childhood education while getting to explore the beautiful country.

“It’s been fascinating because New Zealand has an early childhood curriculum for the entire country,” explains Gabi. “The early childhood centers here are very nature-based, more similar to Montessori schools in the US.”

During the 3 credit-hour program, Gabi and her classmates have been studying the social and emotional development of children below the age of 5, focusing on how kids can learn to handle their emotions and develop relationships.

“We got to tour something called a ‘dopamine forest’ in Wellington, which is basically like an adult playground,” Gabi explains. “The undergraduates and the Ruth Staples faculty with us on the trip were able to hear lectures and learn from the creators of the forest about risky play for children and how to let them explore their emotions in these settings. Then, we got to do it as adults.”

“Dopamine Forest” aside, Gabi and her cohort have had plenty of time to take in and explore the breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand.

“We visited a place called Waimangu Volcanic Valley, which has the youngest active volcano in New Zealand,” Gabi says. “It was stunning—we went on a long hike with lakes and pockets of water everywhere. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

The group also did a service-learning project while touring the valley, pulling weeds to maintain the environment.

“Since we came in to explore this natural environment, it was nice to be able to give back.”

Dorian, VP of UNL Engineering Ambassadors, has a wild idea: if you make science fun to learn and give more people the chance to learn it, more students will pursue it later in life.

And that’s a good thing.

“A lot of times, science and math are so scary—we give kids a really cool and creative opportunity to try things hands-on,” says Dorian of UNL Engineering Ambassadors. “Our goal is to change the conversation and help kids see engineering all around them.”

A student organization in the College of Engineering, ambassadors visit K-12 schools across Nebraska to teach interactive activities designed to get students of all backgrounds excited about STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Husker students develop activities directly for these classes, catering them to the ages of the students and needs of teachers.

The activities stretch far beyond what K-12 students would typically encounter, including a favorite of Dorian’s where students design prosthetics for teddy bears.

"Not only do they get that hands-on activity, but we also get to have some real conversations about the importance of designing prosthetics for friends, family and people that they know—it helps connect that engineering is for everybody!”

Dorian began teaching her freshman year, developing and leading an afterschool STEM program at Belmont Elementary. She soon learned about the ambassadors, cementing her passion for teaching. She's now eyeing a PhD in hopes of becoming a university professor.

"Enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion in STEM is really close to my heart; I’m a Pell-eligible, first-gen student from a single-parent household, so engineering wasn’t something that was presented as a path for me growing up,” Dorian recalls, noting that she’s grateful she found chemistry in high school.

“There are so many students out there that could do wonderful things when given the opportunity. I want to bring more students that represent greater backgrounds into the field because that will be better for everybody.”

Huskers Japhet, Benoit (Ben) and Esther are accustomed to making their band Live Lyve adaptable. The trio from Kigali, Rwanda formed Live Lyve in early 2020, leveraging the success of their first show at UNL’s Rwandan Night before pivoting to sharing music remotely.

The three friends and bandmates now have to be flexible for different reasons: balancing the band’s rising success with school.

“It’s been a critical time not only for our music careers, but also for our degrees,” says Esther.

This balancing act was especially tricky this past summer as the three held internships while playing Live Lyve gigs around the country. The trio performed in AZ, CO, SD, and WA over summer, requiring a lot of travel amidst their different positions.

Esther spent the summer in Seattle interning for Boeing, Japhet interned with the UNL Rural Fellows Program, and Ben worked for the City of Chadron through the Rural Prosperity Nebraska Program.

And while their musical influences span the globe, Japhet says playing for Rwandan audiences has led to tons of new gigs around the country.

“We wanted to get plugged into communities of the Rwandan diaspora. The most prominent events are weddings, which are huge audiences — 200 people or above. We would play at one wedding, and there we’d meet another client who wanted us to perform in a different state.”

Getting connected in Rwandan communities has also helped the band meet collaborators.

“That’s how we meet new clients, but that’s also how we meet producers and people who want to work on other projects,” explains Ben.

After such a busy summer, the band is focusing on playing local events, making new music, and finishing their degrees. But the band isn’t going anywhere, promises Ben, even as college comes to an end.

“We’re getting ready for the next step, the next transition.”

“Music will always be a part of me,” says Esther, “no matter what life throws at me. But, we want to make the most out of this time with each other.”

TW // Sexual Assault

Em Paquette knows a thing or two about resilience. A women’s and gender studies major, Em is turning her story and experiences as a sexual assault survivor in high school into advocacy for bystander intervention programs in schools.

“It consumed my entire high school experience — I didn’t know if I was going to be able to continue at that school,” says Em. “Instead, I chose to push back as hard as I could by creating this intervention program.”

Em saw a gap in awareness among her peers as an opportunity to educate and prevent sexual violence among teenagers. She developed a Bystander Intervention Program (“BIE, as in ‘bye!’” Em says with a smile) for an activism-focused class at her school and lobbied her administrators to implement the program.

“When I told people in high school what happened to me, they were like, ‘How did we not realize that was happening? What were the warning signs?’ I didn’t even know the warning signs myself.”

Now, Em is reviving her program through a UNL Business Communication course where students are tasked with creating a topical campaign. Em hopes to eventually present her program to high schools around Lincoln, where she’s confident that educating younger teens will lead to better outcomes.

"You’re taught intervention strategies at orientation when you come to big universities like UNL, but I think if you’re teaching freshmen in their first week of college it’s already too late.”

She credits her time volunteering in the UNL Women’s Center and presenting at their Gender Equity Conference her freshman year for helping her come into her own as an advocate, a confidence she hopes to pass along to high schoolers through her program.

“A lot of high school students right now want to talk about things that are important to them. By the time students come to college they might encounter a situation that’s unsafe, and hopefully that’s where the education they would receive from this program would become important.”

Browsing Handshake for involvement opportunities has really paid dividends for Emma.

“I wanted to start building my resume to apply to grad school, and I saw an opening at the Autism Center of Nebraska,” recalls Emma, an aspiring speech-language pathologist since high school. “I’d never worked with kids with special needs before, so I was a little nervous starting out.”

Emma's decision to try something new paid off: not only has she gotten hands-on experience in work related to speech-language pathology, but her time at the Autism Center has also connected her with more learning opportunities. Emma began working with the Autism Family Network and Down Syndrome Association for Families, local nonprofits that offer resources and social opportunities to individuals and families with intellectual disabilities.

“They told me, ‘You’re great with this population, so we want to get you working with more people.’ It all just happened one after the other.”

Emma supports and plans social events for both organizations, bringing her closer to her professional goals while making an impact on the communities she serves. She’s now furthering that impact by participating in research at the UNL Learning Lab in the Barkley Speech, Language & Hearing Center.

“Even though it was challenging at first, I realized that I’m capable of working with these kids. I’m really invested in helping these populations, which is what got me into research at the UNL Learning Lab.”

The Learning Lab’s research works with children involved with the Down Syndrome Association for Families, which means that Emma is conducting research alongside many of the same kids she’s built relationships with through her nonprofit work. The research looks at literacy and reading in children with Down Syndrome and studies ways to improve their outcomes.

“It’s so great because you get to interact with the kids and make it fun for them! The kids get so excited when we tell them, ‘We’re doing all this for you!’. It’s been so rewarding.”

TW // addiction

Although Grace’s battle with addiction gave way to some hard times her freshman year, she wants you to know that her recovery journey is not a sad story. Quite the opposite, actually.

“My professors told me to go to Big Red Resilience and Collegiate Recovery Community (CRC), and that’s what really changed the game for me,” says Grace. “I’m over 7 months sober now and am really passionate about helping others stay sober, too.”

Grace is now working with Big Red Resilience and CRC to champion recovery and destigmatize addiction for students across UNL. Grace especially wants to normalize the idea of getting sober in college. “I had never heard of younger people doing it—I’d always just thought ‘Oh, I’ll get sober later.’ You can get sober at any age!”

Big Red Resilience features addiction-specific (like CRC), well-being and mental health resources for students. Through her work Grace is striving to get those who are struggling with their mental health, addiction and substance use the comprehensive resources they need.

“It’s really cool to watch it come full circle—I’ve been helping amazing young people get sober, but at the same time I’m still working on myself and doing my program, too. You just have to trust the process.”

UNL Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) have also played a big role in Grace’s recovery. But Grace says that everyone, not just those struggling, should take advantage of this resource to check in with their mental health.

“CAPS was really critical in my recovery, but mental health is just really important in general—you’re not going to do yourself a disservice by going to seek extra help.”

All of these resources, Grace says, improve—and often save—lives. And while she’s proud of how far she’s come in her own journey, she’s equally as hopeful that her journey will inspire others.

“Hopefully, me getting sober can help other people realize, ‘Oh, well if she can do it, I can do it too.’”

Shortly after meeting in the College of Business, Zach and Rob’s entrepreneurial spirits brought them together—both in friendship and business. It didn’t take long before a casual phone call turned into an exciting new venture: launching Big Red Fan Club.

Zach and Rob met when they were selected for the Clifton Builders Program, which supports students who aspire to change the world by building new businesses and communities through their leadership. With a curriculum that emphasizes hands-on, real-world projects with local businesses, the program has offered Zach and Rob some of their most valuable business experiences.

“The first project we did was a start-up competition for who could generate the most revenue selling to the community. There aren’t many opportunities like that and that’s why the Clifton Builders Program is second to none,” said Zach.

Through Clifton Builders and campus RSOs like Husker Venture Club and Big Red Investment Club, Zach and Rob built the network and skills to launch Big Red Fan Club in the new era of NIL endorsements. The company connects Husker fans with student-athletes through exclusive experiences, player generated content and behind-the-scenes action while giving athletes the opportunity to build their brand and earn money off the field.

Zach and Rob’s experience building their start-up hasn’t been without hard work, challenges and sacrifices—but they’re proud of the early success they’ve experienced. And they encourage students to take advantage of university resources and to take chances on themselves and their aspirations in and out of the classroom.

“Now is the time to take action. You can read books about entrepreneurship but will never become one until you try something,” said Rob. “You’ve got to go for it and not be afraid of failing, because that’s where you learn all your lessons. No one has created something successfully without hiccups.”

When ASUN president Jake Drake came to UNL as a first-year student, he made it a goal not to get involved. A self-proclaimed “over-involved” high schooler, Jake thought steering clear of clubs and organizations would help keep his collegiate experience simple. “I thought, ‘I’ll just focus on my studies and have a bunch of fun with buddies. I don’t need things to be overcomplicated again.’”

A chance meeting with a former ASUN member changed all that, convincing Jake to apply for the Freshman Campus Leadership Association in ASUN.

A first-generation college student from the 400-person town of Murray, Nebraska, Jake is now president of ASUN, the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska. As he returns to campus for his senior year, Jake wants to convince students — especially freshmen – to get involved and make their voices heard on campus.

And that, he says, can look a lot of different ways.

“Joining a student organization is one of the most impactful ways for you to show what you value,” says Jake. “And it doesn’t necessarily have to be an organization that has a big role in advocacy for any particular issue...just by being a part of those groups, you have a better platform for understanding issues that impact you personally and the people you’re around.”

As ASUN President, hearing from students on issues they care about is exactly what he signed up for – and hopes to see more of. ASUN advocates for students on a variety of issues, from supporting diversity and inclusion measures and climate initiatives on campus, to allocating resources toward programming. Their advocacy affects students across campus in ways big and small, and Jake wants your input.

“It’s as easy as sending an email or text message” to reach ASUN to and offer your input, says Jake. “Even if you’re not a ‘member’ of the organization, you have a role within ASUN because, technically, all 25,000 students are members of the association.”

To be the first in her family to graduate is an accomplishment that Aracely holds close to her heart.

Aracely joined the university as an introverted music education major with a love for playing the saxophone. Though she faced adversity as a first-gen student, she never strayed from her goal of expanding her music skills or from her passion for playing in the Cornhusker Marching Band, which took her to different states, taught her discipline through everyday rehearsals and connected her to some of her closest friends.

“My favorite memories from college are playing with my best friends at Memorial Stadium. I’d only been to one game before joining and being on the field is shocking. Even though there are 300 of us, it feels like everyone is looking at you. It’s very cool to see.”

Outside of playing in the "Pride of All Nebraska," Aracely grew her passion for music education in the classroom and neared her high school dream of teaching. After graduating this weekend, she's looking forward to showing the next generation the power of music.

“It’s proven that we do better academically when we are involved in music and music programs. It’s also stimulating to be a part of something like music where everyone can be a part of a team and perform live.”

And she hopes to use her experiences as a first-gen graduate from an immigrant family to inspire her students that regardless of where they may start, they too can attend college and accomplish things that seem unattainable.

"I'm working at a Title I school and diversity is high, and I love that because I’m a person of color and I hope to impact young kids of color. I want them to know that they can be whatever they want to be, whether that’s a music teacher or anything else.”

Since preschool, Sydney has loved science and animals. She started helping at a pet clinic in her hometown as young as eighth grade and has been working toward fulfilling her dream of helping animals ever since.

Thanks to years of hard work, Sydney has a leg up in achieving her dreams. She was recently admitted to vet school one year early, a feat possible through the 3+2 Program offered at Nebraska which gives Huskers the opportunity to apply to vet school as juniors and upon completion, receive both their bachelor's degree and a professional degree in veterinary medicine.

“A lot of people don’t even know about the program—I didn’t know about it until NSE. I loved being able to cut a year from my schooling but also loved that if I didn’t get in, I still had a backup option to finish my fourth year at Nebraska.”

After learning about the 3+2 Program, Sydney knew she would need a strong application supplemented with leadership and hands-on experience working with animals. She started by cold emailing the Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center, which was so impressed by Sydney’s resume that she was brought onto the team. The two years of working at the center changed her life, providing a wealth of hands-on opportunities and exposing her to her new dream job: being a veterinary pathologist.

Sydney also sought out other involvements on campus, from becoming treasurer of the Veterinary Pathology Club to serving as a Nebraska Honors peer mentor. And outside the school year, she was sure to continue expanding her skills through other jobs including one of her favorites—mammal and bird rehabilitation at a wildlife sanctuary in North Carolina.

“I knew I was at a disadvantage because I had to get more experience in less time. I made sure I was getting good grades and doing everything I could during my three years. And I advise students to do the same—reach out to others and try doing anything you’re interested in.”

Whether teaching English in her hometown of Kigali, Rwanda or working as a Rural Fellow in Nebraska, Clare has always put her heart into serving the community around her.

Before coming to Nebraska, Clare spent her free time volunteering to teach underprivileged children and stay-at-home mothers in Rwanda how to read and write. She loved what she was doing for the community but had no idea she could make a career of it until joining the Rural Prosperity Fellowship Program through the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

For the last two years, Clare has participated in Rural Prosperity Nebraska— a fellowship program that places students in rural communities to work on projects that support local businesses and help local leaders accomplish goals. In her first year, Clare lived in Ord, Nebraska, where she collaborated with locals to highlight members of the community and further develop the downtown area.

“I found it to be the perfect fellowship for me to grow as a professional in the area of community development. I was very grateful that I was offered the opportunity to do it for a second year.”

Now Clare is using the knowledge she gained for this summer’s program: a statewide project researching the impact of leadership on community development. She hopes her work starts a conversation on inclusive leadership and highlights ways the state can improve.

Clare looks forward to finding new ways to continue her passion. After graduating, she plans to attend graduate school and eventually take the lessons she has learned home to Rwanda, where she hopes to start an organization that provides mentorship and career development resources to youth who are passionate about community development.

“Being in Rural Prosperity Nebraska helped me understand my purpose as a person. Knowing that I’m being intentional and that what I’m working on is impacting communities and people has been the most fulfilling thing!"

Moving to the other side of the planet is no easy feat. And though his new life has come with challenges, Sanket has learned to counter them with his passion for spreading positivity on the Nebraska campus.

When Sanket made the 8,000-mile journey to Nebraska, he was filled with the excitement of fulfilling his lifelong dream of coming to the US. While he was accustomed to living away from home after attending boarding school his whole life, moving to the states was an adjustment greater than what he could prepare for. The first few months proved to be both amazing and challenging for Sanket.

“The system is completely different here and there’s a constant pressure on international students to be the best and work hard. I was just getting familiar with how exams even happen!”

As Sanket began to settle in, he found a new way to battle homesickness and stress: sharing messages of positivity on social media. He found that not only could he look to others for support on social media, but he could also help support those going through similar struggles and make friends while doing it.

"I used to follow other people and look for their messages and I thought, ‘Why not do it for myself?’ Generally, a lot of people feel the same thing but don't express it.”

Sanket found that as he began spreading positivity on campus, more people were reaching out to him to share how his messages impacted their lives. He started meeting new friends through his posts, whether it was through RSOs asking him to teach Bollywood dance lessons to students or invitations to academic events with other graduate students. Slowly but surely, sharing positive messages with others was also helping Sanket improve his own mental health.

“I believe in mental health and prioritizing it. Initially, it was hard and it started to affect me, but then I started using these messages to take care of myself. Now I want to share with others and make sure they are the happiest versions of themselves.”

Having parents who work in higher education showed Ananth how students are positively impacted by campus involvement. So, while succeeding in coursework, he also sought out numerous spots to apply his skills outside of class and quickly found himself passionate about finance and diversity on campus.

Through his leadership and involvement in Big Red Investment Club and Husker Venture Fund, Ananth had the opportunity to use his finance education in real-world transactions. He managed a real investment portfolio, invested in early-stage Nebraska startups and built relationships that pushed him to be involved in other areas.

“BRIC has been a big part of my life. I have made a lot of friends through it, and it’s also influenced my career as well,” he said.

Ananth also used his passion for helping others by tutoring at the Teaching and Learning Center at the College of Business. His experience inspired him to advocate for students studying business by piloting Inclusive Business Leaders—and with Ananth’s help, the college was able to launch the scholarship program for first-year, underrepresented students. He also served on the college’s Inclusive Excellence Advisory Board, which establishes and tracks its diversity, equity and inclusion goals.

“I wanted to see how we can help our first-generation college students and students of color navigate the business workplace because it is not an easy environment to go through,” he said, “I wanted to bring my perspective as a finance person and as a person of color and see how I could make an impact in this area,”

Following his parents’ examples and getting involved on campus turned out to be one of the the best decisions Ananth made at Nebraska. With the support of the university throughout his journey, he is ready now, more than ever, to head into the next chapter of his life.

“All of these clubs and experiences have shaped my life and inspired me. I’m really excited to be working with clients and applying the knowledge I’ve learned into the work that we’ll be doing.”

For as long as he can remember, Matt has been watching the Masters Tournament with his father and has been fascinated by the prestige of this event. Now, he has had the opportunity to work two consecutive years in Augusta, a highlight of his experience at UNL.

Through the Hospitality, Restaurant & Tourism Management Program at the UNL College of Education & Human Sciences, Huskers can apply to work at the Masters, where they have the unique opportunity to get hands-on experience serving patrons of the coveted tournament.

"It’s awesome that we as UNL hospitality students get the opportunity to be part of one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world," said Matt.

During his time at the Masters, Matt learned lessons he’ll carry in his daily life and into his career in hospitality. Not only was he impressed by the organization’s commitment to maintaining the highest standard in patron experience, but also by their dedication to continue seeking out aspects of the experience that can be improved each year.

“The first tournament was in the 1930s and while it’s evolved and changed, they’ve always been on the forefront of providing amazing service for any patrons who attend.”

Matt encourages any hospitality student to apply for this opportunity, “No matter if you watch golf, no matter what you think you want to do, being able to be a part of the Masters history, work, and learn from everyone there is an opportunity not a lot of people get.”

After spending two years at the Masters, Matt applies a similar standard of excellence to his work in hospitality. After graduating in May, he plans to enter tourism management with a goal of helping cities attract new visitors, businesses, and residents.

“Augusta showed me that if you have a high standard and you are constantly putting the experience of the patrons first, people will come back again and again.”

In 2013, Rosemary came to the United States as a green card immigrant from Kenya. Though her experience moving to the US is important to who she is, she is passionate about showing that she's not defined by her past situations—and about helping fellow Huskers realize this too.

“The idea of refugees has been distorted so much that when we think of refugees, we think of people who are helpless. That’s not the truth. In those refugees, we have artists, doctors, teachers, etc.”

Coming to Nebraska was a challenging adjustment for Rosemary. She often found herself one of the only Black students in the room, but quickly found a community. She now serves as the President of the African Students Association and as an OASIS Peer Mentor, where she dedicates her time to having conversations with mentees about their mental health and plans for the future.

Rosemary says these conversations around mental health aren’t always taking place in BIPOC communities, but she is working to change that by having open discussions about her experiences witnessing hardship.

“Just having those discussions helps us understand how we as a generation are changing a lot of stigmas on mental health and having hard conversations.”

Rosemary hopes that her time as a peer mentor inspires others to be confident in asking for and accepting help, applying for jobs they think they could be rejected from, or even changing their outlook on receiving a bad grade.

“You still see the ‘I can do anything.’ spark in first-year students. It’s my job to make sure my mentees don’t lose that spark. We’re so scared of failing that we don’t even try.”

Rosemary’s goal is to join law school, where she will study human rights law and eventually revisit Kenya to follow her passion of helping others. She is proof that it doesn't matter what you go through, you can redefine any outcome in life.

“I’m not awesome or anything. I just did the best with what I had.”

Will Sleddens believes in the power of second chances. One month after receiving a full-ride to start as a computer science student, he would lose his scholarship; two years later he would be dismissed from the university. Fast forward: Will has returned to school and is completing his final year as a Husker. He is a straight "A" senior with a Nebraska Promise scholarship and is studying journalism before heading to law school.

"I always knew I would come back to the university. I spent time bartending and serving and realized what I liked to do is talk to people and communicate with them. Going to law school would be an extra step to help the community."

Time away to realize his passion marked a new era for Will. After years of struggles, he finally found a happy spot in academics and considers himself a changed student. He keeps a strict routine but also isn’t too hard on himself.

"I think of school as a full-time job, but I also have a full-time job. I've made my school hours 9-5 regardless of classes. And I do deviate from that sometimes, but it helps me make sure I have set hours for school."

Will hopes his story will encourage others to find their place in society by truly assessing their passions, even if it takes longer than expected. Students who are unsure of a career path or their passions may go through similar experiences of stress with academic probation, losing scholarships, and skipping classes. He wants anyone who is struggling to know that it's acceptable to take time and re-evaluate before returning to school—and to not be afraid to reach out for help.

The greatest piece of advice Will shares is to lean on the UNL community. Upon his return to campus, Will overcame the anxiety he used to have with reaching out to professors and his scholarship office. He has now created a network of mentors who are helping him reach his goal of getting to law school.

"Like Elle Woods had a really good support system, I do too! It took a community effort to get me where I am."

Nayla’s education is a major milestone — but not just for her. As the oldest in her family, she has little sisters who look up to her, and as a first-generation American and first-generation college student, she knows that her experiences can inspire others who come from similar backgrounds.

After moving to the U.S. from Cuba at age 10, Nayla quickly adapted to her new life in Grand Island and eventually became a part of the Nebraska College Preparatory Academy (NCPA). There, she was able to form a community of fellow future Huskers who would support her as she worked her way toward college. As a first-year student she still leans on her NCPA family and considers the program's office a second home on campus.

NCPA connected Nayla to college, and now she’s using her education to help others. This fall, Nayla voiced Spanish translations of campus news for radio broadcast spots during Husker football games. While she doesn’t see herself stepping behind the microphone and becoming a full-time broadcaster one day, she was excited to have the opportunity to create accessible content for Spanish-speaking people across Nebraska.

“I am thankful that they did that, because it shows that they are interested in others and trying to include everybody,” Nayla said.

Nayla is also using her experience as a Husker to show other Latina women that college is something they can do. When she’s in her residence hall or in classrooms on campus, she often looks around and doesn’t see many people who look like her — but that doesn’t stop Nayla. She hopes that one day her much younger sisters will be able to look to her as an example and know that if she can thrive in higher education then they can, too.

“I am pretty proud of who I am and who I will become, but it's also like, I don't need to try to conform to other people. I just need to teach them how to treat me just like I let them teach me how to treat them,” Nayla said. “If everybody was the same, the world will be really boring, and there would be no transaction of knowledge.”

Nebraska Law students are bringing their legal education to local classrooms. Through the Community Legal Education Project (CLEP), Huskers teach the basics of the U.S. legal system to Lincoln-area middle and elementary school students.

Third year law student Joe Quinn has been part of the CLEP since fall 2021. He says the project is driven by the belief that law should not be left to lawyers alone.

“In order for the law to work, it has to be all of us,” Joe said. “It can't just be lawyers and judges — there really needs to be everyone in the community having a basic understanding of how some of these key principles work.”

This fall, CLEP hosted Constitution Day-themed workshops across Lincoln classrooms. Nebraska Law students taught on the process of adding amendments to the Constitution, discussed amendments that didn’t pass, and had discussions with their participants on their thoughts on the matter.

“I think that they probably had heard about some of this stuff but didn't really understand, and kind of how it worked in the background. A lot of the volunteers that we had said that their students were really interested, really engaged and asked a lot of really good questions,” Joe said.

The program is currently planning for their spring project, which will take volunteers to local classrooms for a multi-week program with fifth-grade students. After partaking in CLEP for more than a semester, Joe can already see the impact it’s making on the Lincoln community.

“I think that just helps build those ties. I think that's really, really important for every lawyer — no matter where you're practicing or what area the lawyer is practicing. Being involved with your community is something that all of us need to do and want to do.”

Members of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Alpha Xi Delta (AXiD) sorority are helping kids in the Lincoln community. Through the organization Food Fort, these Huskers spend hours each week serving food and providing homework help to children in under-resourced neighborhoods.

After their national organization gave each sorority chapter the opportunity to work with local organizations focusing on food insecurity and community outreach, UNL’s AXiD chapter discovered Food Fort.

Food Fort is a school bus that has been renovated into a mobile community. Each week, the bus stops in three Lincoln neighborhoods to provide meals, homework help and friendly companionship with volunteers.

“We just really liked how this small organization does so much for the community,” said Emily, AXiD’s philanthropy vice president.

Starting in fall 2021, AXiD began sending three volunteers to each of Food Fort’s three neighborhood locations. They’ve also held fundraisers on campus and organized a Trunk-or-Treat Halloween party for the kids.

Emily loves seeing how much her sorority sisters love Food Fort. Some members go back week after week, just because of how much they enjoy it.

“It's been cool seeing the girls come back with their just faces lit up from working with the kids,” Emily said.

Emily knows that she and her sorority sisters are making an impact. And best of all — they’re making an impact on the fellow members of their community.

“It's been amazing, being able to work more hands-on...we can actually go and volunteer and work with kids and work with organizations in our own community,” Emily said.

Keith is where he is today because of an after-school club. As a middle school student, his curious mind was entranced by the LEGO robotics club started by one of his teachers. Now, as a senior computer science student, he’s helping build the next generation of computer science students by forming his own STEM after-school clubs.

“It was cool to have something there that gave an opportunity like a cool after-school club,” Keith said. “And honestly, it shaped a lot of what I was interested in now because of what I did in middle school.”

Keith started his first club through @unlhonors, and then teamed up with Initialize UNL. Initialize is a registered student organization (RSO) focused on engaging the Lincoln community with computer science learning opportunities. Initialize connected Keith to resources, including computers, robots and a network of University of Nebraska–Lincoln student mentors.

After carefully going over the curriculum and updating it to the latest computer science language, Keith was ready to train his mentors. Luckily, they were all fellow computer science students and able to quickly grasp the learning concepts and directions.

During fall 2021, Keith and his team of mentors were able to put their passion to work through leading after-school clubs at three Lincoln elementary schools. Soon, they’ll start their second semester of teaching the 10-week clubs.

For Keith, leading after-school clubs has been life-changing. The opportunity has inspired him to pursue a Ph.D. in computer science education, where he’ll research systemic issues in the computer science industry and uncover new ways to make the concept accessible to students.

“I don't think computer science is diverse enough,” Keith said. "We need to get kids interested early on, make it a viable path... that's one of my motivations.”

Angela’s daughter Lily knows Richards Hall as well as her own child care center. After all, she’s been going there since she was a newborn.

Angela started her degree program in art at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln while she was pregnant with Lily. After giving birth, she would occasionally return to campus with her small daughter on her hip or carried alongside her in a car seat. Now, three-year-old Lily knows the familiar hallways like the back of her hand.

Angela and Lily are just one of the many parent-child pairs on UNL’s campus. It’s estimated that around 400 student parents are on campus, from undergraduates to PhD candidates. For these students, the pressures of parenthood and academia interact daily. Coming home from classes signals the end of one job and the beginning of another, and child care center pickups, dinner, bath time and bedtime stories replace the time that many other students would spend studying or taking a break from tests and presentations.

“It's two full-time jobs that I have right now,” Angela said.

Angela leans on her partner for support. Together, the two balance her school schedule alongside Lily’s needs. While it isn’t always easy caring for a toddler and also taking a full course load of classes, Angela knows it will all be worth it when she receives her degree in May 2022. She hopes by living as both a mother and a student, she can show the two life paths don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

“I don't want her to grow up and down the road be like, ‘Oh, I gave up school for you’ or something. Because for so long there's been the stigma, especially towards women, when you're a mother — that's your job. You know, you're not allowed to have any thoughts, ideas, needs or anything. So, this can help show her that yeah, I had you and I was still able to pursue my dream and work towards my degree and make things happen for myself,” Angela said. “I was still able to have my own identity."

As a first-generation student from an immigrant family, Bryan didn’t always see college as accessible. But thanks to the financial assistance of scholarships from the Nebraska College Preparatory Academy (NCPA) and the support of his loved ones, this weekend Bryan will accomplish his goal of graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Bryan first became a part of NCPA in middle school. He had seen his older brother succeed in college through NCPA and knew he wanted to follow in his footsteps. As he went through high school and prepared for college, the NCPA community was there for him every step of the way.

“I personally describe it as a second family,” Bryan said. “There are students from every grade level from grade nine all the way up to seniors in college.”

Bryan’s second family at NCPA showed him that it’s OK to ask for help. When he was struggling in classes or grappling with making big decisions, he always knew that he could find his answers somewhere in the university community. Whether it was through a study session at a resource center or a friendly face at NCPA, he was able to solve his problems by seeking help.

“If you seek out help, you will eventually find the help that you need,” Bryan said. “And that help is going to go a long way — whether you see that now or later.”

As he finishes up finals and gets ready for graduation, Bryan reflects on the gratitude that he has for the people who have helped him get to where he is. He’s especially proud to show off his accomplishment to two of the most important people in his life — his mom and dad.

“I think graduation is so important to me because my parents never had this opportunity,” Bryan said. “They weren't able to go past like eighth or ninth grade, and it wasn't like they had a choice. Even if they wanted to go to school, they had to stop going to school in order to work. And so being the second graduate in my family...I feel like because of them, they gave me the opportunity to do what I want to do and pursue my dreams.”

Gabin was a sophomore when he first came in contact with Connection Point, a church and outreach center near the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s East Campus. As a class assignment in ALEC 120: Interpersonal Communication, students were asked to complete 20 hours of community service, and Gabin chose to volunteer in Connection Point’s Open Shelf Pantry.

Long after his 20 hours were satisfied, Gabin kept volunteering.

“I felt like a part of the community, and so I continued,” Gabin said.

And while volunteering, he got an idea.

The Open Shelf Pantry, which offers food, household supplies and clothing to anyone in need, is an affiliate of the Lincoln Food Bank, so records must be kept on families served, and volunteers were using a note card and file system to keep track of these records by hand.

With the pantry serving about 120 families a month, Beth Graverholt, pastor of Connection Point, said the note card system was complex and time-consuming to check people in and complete reports.

Gabin had been teaching himself computer programming and web design and thought he might be able to help by building a website that would streamline the intake process for the pantry and run reports with the click of a button.

“What motivated me was that I want to use my computer science knowledge for community development,” Gabin said. “I ask myself, ‘How can I use this to help people or help my community?’ And, I have these skills, so how can I solve a real-life problem?”

After months of work on the program — and several pitfalls — Gabin was ready to show the website to Beth, who was impressed and excited to fold the new system into the pantry’s operation.

“It makes it a lot faster and easier to train new volunteers,” Beth said. “Having it digitized makes the process so much smoother for check-in, and Gabin worked with me to make the system work for us in terms of what we needed.”

“The solution he came up with is great. He saw the problem and fixed it because he wanted to help his community.”

In honor of National First-Generation Celebration Day on Nov. 8, we brought together two first-gen Huskers for a Q&A: junior Maddie Swanson and Chancellor Ronnie Green.

RG: So, Maddie, you're a first-generation college student. I am too. Congratulations on taking on that challenge and being successful here at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. You’re from Laurel, NE, and interested in being a veterinarian — how's that going?

MS: It’s going pretty good so far, I'm getting a lot of work experience in the field and that's very rewarding.

RG: As a first-gen student, what made you make the decision to pursue your university education?

MS: There's actually quite a few factors. One of them was my family. They've never limited me in what I want to do. They really pushed me to be the best I can be and reach all my goals. To be a veterinarian, I need a higher education, so they really pushed me to go to college. Another factor was myself. When I looked at my life, I didn't think I'd be happy not pursuing higher education furthering myself as a person. The younger people coming after me in my family look up to me and I want to be a role model for them.

RG: Have you been part of the First Husker program here at the university? What has that been like?

MS: They have been a saving grace for me. Coming from a small town and coming to a bigger city, it was kind of a culture shock. When I came to campus early, they indulged in all my questions. They helped me find my resources on campus. They helped me adjust. When I ran into problems, they were the first people I contacted, and they were there for me day or night. It was really a saving grace. I'm also a peer mentor for that program now, so I’m able to help the new first gen coming in.

RG: Well, I understand what that's like. Because I remember being a first-gen student. I remember all my friends seemed to know how all this worked, and I had to kind of figure it out. So, congratulations on your success.

When she’s not walking her pup Linus or leading new research at the Canine Cognition and Human Interaction Lab, London is training service and therapy dogs.

London has been training dogs since she was in undergrad. As a dog lover, she always knew she wanted to be around the four-legged friends — but when she started training them, she realized she had a knack for the task.

“I started getting really into it because it was basically a clear application of learning about the animal mind,” London said.

After moving to Lincoln to pursue her Ph.D. with the UNL Canine Cognition and Human Interaction Lab (CCHIL), she became involved with Uplifting Paws. Uplifting Paws, started by Liz Higley, rescues dogs from shelters and then provides them with round-the-clock training so they can become certified service animals.

Trained service and therapy animals can be expensive. For many people, the cost alone can keep them from implementing these useful animals into their lives.

“I saw that in the service/therapy dog world, there's a huge gap with mental health service dogs because they just don't make them, and they don't really place them... And some of the reasons are because it's hard to get money for them,” London said. “Often, people with mental health disparities find it harder to get jobs so they can't pay for the service dogs as well, and even subsidized, they're still upwards of $20,000 to $30,000.”

Uplifting Paws service animals cost half to even one-third of the cost of even the most subsidized service animals. Service dog training is not the easiest task, as it requires the animal to live with a volunteer trainer for years and undergo a variety of temperament tests — but for London, it’s worth it.

“[Liz] basically was just like, ‘We're gonna be doing good for a lot of people,’” London said. “And I'm a sucker for doing good.”

The Racial Justice Alliance tackles complicated concepts through conversation. Formed in late 2020, the registered student organization is devoted to understanding, recognizing and interrupting racism.

“Our major lane of activism is dialogue and conversations, so our major goal is to bring together a group of students who are committed to supporting one another, to help each other through difficult concepts, conversations,” said Megan, one of the group’s founders. “One of our major goals is learning how to talk through racism because it's so complex and contradictory — it's not the same in every case. There's no guidebook or rulebook that is going to be the same in every instance, so we talk from our own experiences, learn from each other's experiences and help each other find the words to have these conversations.”

“We do a lot of dialogue around identifying racism within ourselves and racist biases, and how we - even as people of color or not people of color - perpetuate racist ideologies, internalized racism and societal racism,” said Alexa, another founding member.

RJA takes in new members at the start of each semester. As a discussion-based organization, they rely on forming close relationships that allow members to be completely vulnerable about their feelings — which is why they keep a closed membership to only students that can commit to their monthly meetings. For students that are interested in RJA but might be unable to attend frequently, the group also provides connections to resources that may help.

“So many things are happening around the world that we need to really understand and try our best to help other fellow humans,” said Uma, a member of the group. “I’m really very fortunate to be in this group and very grateful to these two great women.”
…
(Pictured left to right) Megan Cardwell is a third-year communication studies PhD student from Syracuse, New York; Uma Ganesan is a third-year educational studies PhD student from Chennai, India; Alexa Yunes-Koch is a second-year educational studies PhD student from Mexico City, Mexico.

Muzna’s first day as a Husker wasn’t picture-perfect.

Everything about Lincoln was brand new to her — from the layout of campus to the cold winter temperatures at the start of each spring semester. As she made her way to her first class, everything seemed to go wrong.

She was running late and couldn’t find her friends in her residence hall. As she made her way to class, she got lost. And then, to make matters worse, Muzna slipped on a patch of ice and fell as she crossed the street.

Her bubbling frustrations reached a boiling point. After pulling herself back up, she got out her phone and called her parents to tell them that she wanted to go home.

But instead of giving up and getting on a plane home, Muzna stayed. And although it wasn’t always easy, she made Lincoln her new home.

“I didn't imagine that when I fell there once, I'm going to fail more than once — emotionally and physically — and I'm still standing up,” Muzna said.

Muzna started forming a community in Lincoln through the Omani Students Association and Toastmasters. The two groups connected her with new friends and allowed her confidence to flourish as she took on new leadership skills on campus.

And with her new confidence, she handled obstacles in a new way. When her lupus flared up and caused her to be in severe pain, she powered through with the help of her doctors to finish the semester. When she faced issues in classes, she relied on herself to find solutions. When she missed her family in Oman, she gave them a call rather than booking a plane ticket home and quitting her studies.

With her newfound grit, she achieved glory. On Saturday, August 14, Muzna’s family was able to watch as she graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in only two years.

“I'm just thankful for everyone here,” Muzna said. “My friends...the Omanis, my international friends, my American friends, my instructors, my advisors.”

Lauren is putting her spare snacks to good use.

As a student living on campus, Lauren purchased a meal plan with Dining Dollars. At the end of each week, she’d grab extra snacks using her leftover funds.

But after learning about a food program that provided grocery kits to Lincoln families, Lauren decided that her spare snacks could do some good in the community. Her dad, who works at the F Street Community Center in Near South Lincoln, told her about the program.

“They had a huge deficit of food,” Lauren said. “When we started, they really struggled to get enough donations.”

To help build up the center’s food pantry, Lauren decided to start donating food that she would purchase with her leftover Dining Dollars. She also bought plastic bins and placed them in her residence hall in case any of her friends and classmates wanted to do the same.

After leaving the bins out in her residence hall, her fellow Huskers began filling them with their own extra snacks and donations. Over the course of the year, Lauren estimates she took at least six large bins full of food to the community center.

“A lot of [students] — especially upperclassmen — were very vocal about encouraging people and reminding people, even people who weren't involved in the slightest,” Lauren said. “And I thought that was really cool that they really encouraged it.”

Lauren will place the bins out again during the fall 2021 semester. She hopes to take them to the community center once again, but if they fill their shelves then she plans to take them to the on-campus Husker Pantry.

“I really enjoyed doing it; it was especially nice working with my dad because my whole life, my dad has always just been someone who's really encouraged me to be very community-minded and he's always taught me that character and morality comes first,” Lauren said.

TW // eating disorders

By sharing her struggles on a statewide stage, Katie has found community and confidence. But it wasn’t always like this.

At only 16, Katie was scheduled to undergo weight loss surgery. She felt alone and unconfident, and wanted a change.

“Being treated different...and less than my whole life — I was sick and tired of it,” Katie said.

Before Katie could go under, her surgeon stopped the procedure because they didn’t feel comfortable performing it on someone so young. Katie felt shattered. With surgery no longer an option, she turned to using unhealthy weight control methods. She began to feel both physically and emotionally exhausted.

“I just remember one day walking to class, and just having to sit down because I had no energy and it was really scary,” Katie said. “I loved my life, I loved every other aspect of my life, and I knew that I wanted to...not risk my life for something that I finally started teaching myself was just so shallow.”

Though it was scary at first, Katie began to share her story at pageants. Her passion for body positivity and bringing attention to eating disorders became a part of her platform, and her message resonated with her audiences.

“I started speaking on it, and I kind of felt alone during that time. And the more I've spoken about it the more I've met people who have gone through the exact same thing,” Katie said.

Before she knew it, she was an advocate for dismantling modern-day beauty standards and a changemaker on the local level. At this year’s Miss Nebraska competition, Katie was the first-ever plus-sized contestant to place in the top five and to win an award in the preliminary round.

“All the little girls that came up to thank me afterwards like, ‘thank you for being here, thank you for competing...you were my favorite,’ — like that makes it all worth it.”

Thanks to Nebraska Engineering students, Olive the three-legged cat has a new paw-spective on life.

Abby and Harrison 3D printed Olive’s new leg as a part of their senior design capstone. Alongside their other group members — Jaden Schovanec, Rachael Stanek and Alexandra Jensen — the team designed a fully functional and affordable leg for their new furry friend.

The project was led by instructor Deepak Keshwani, with assistance from veterinary medicine professor Beth Galles. Galles found Olive in a shelter and initially volunteered to foster the feline until the capstone project was over. However, that plan didn’t quite turn out.

“She ended up being such a sweet cat and we were very lucky to work with her,” Abby said. “Dr. Galles’s family adopted her in the end because they loved having her in their home that much.”

After months of work, the group was finally able to present Olive with a prosthetic leg that had been printed right on campus at the Nebraska Innovation Studio. Since cats are creatures of habit, the team was initially uncertain if she would adapt to the prosthetic or not. To the team’s relief, Olive adjusted well to her brand-new leg.

“Animals are very real creatures of emotions, and they get used to living their way of life,” Abby said. “So, when you're testing the first time, if she even puts it on the floor once or twice that’s success.”

Olive got a new leg and a fur-ever home, and Abby and Harrison got the experience of 3D printing a prosthetic. Overall, everyone would say it was a pretty paw-sitive experience.

“By the time we get out to the end and it was relatively functional, I think we were all pretty impressed with ourselves and pleased.”

Wearing Nebraska’s scarlet and cream is a tradition in Tyler’s family.

Tyler is the fourth member of his family to be on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s track and field team. He follows in the footsteps of his parents, David and Amy, and sister, Shelby, as a Husker student-athlete.

Growing up in Lincoln, Tyler always looked up to his family members and the Husker athletes he watched at meets and on TV. When he first started track and field at the age of 8, he was excited — though knew he had big shoes to fill.

As the years went on, Tyler fell in love with track and field. He embraced the family tradition of competing in throwing events, all while making a name for himself across the state. In 2019 and 2020, he was even named the boys track and field Gatorade Player of the Year for Nebraska.

When it came time to think about where he'd compete in college, Tyler looked at schools from across the country. But after calls with coaches and thoughts about going out-of-state, he realized that nothing could compare to Nebraska.

“I feel like UNL really feels like home...growing up in Nebraska, the track team is like idols, in a sense,” Tyler said. “So, it's just always a dream.”

Tyler now gets the unique opportunity of calling his sister his teammate, and the two of them throw discus for the same team that brought their parents together years ago.

“It's obviously exciting having all of us come through here. It's a really great experience for me to come to the university. I know it really fits me nicely,” Tyler said. “And I know even without all of them coming here I probably still would have gone because I really feel like it feels like home.”

For most graduates, the months following graduation are filled with new possibilities. For Jacqueline, they were filled with doctor’s appointments and lingering questions due to an illness that left her bedridden for months.

But when Jacqueline looked for answers, she couldn't find any. She felt overlooked, misdiagnosed and frustrated.

Her frustration led her to a professor from her undergraduate college whose work is focused on health communications. After reconnecting, Jacqueline began working with the professor on a research project. Still sick, Jacqueline would do her work a few hours each day while bedridden in her parents’ home.

As the years went on, Jacqueline’s illness became more manageable. She decided to continue her path in research by attending the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for a master's degree in interpersonal health & family communications.

"I said, 'If I ever figure out what's going on, if I ever heal, if I ever am able to manage this and have the energy to do my own research,'" Jacqueline said, "I want to extend this into the realm of this experience right here."

While at Nebraska, Jacqueline finally received a diagnosis, giving her a new spark. She felt even more empowered to continue her studies.

Jacqueline's research tackled the helpful and harmful messages communicated to patients. She hopes the research will one day be made into a guide benefitting emerging adults with disruptive medical experiences.

While she intends to shift her studies for her PhD research, Jacqueline has learned much on her path so far.

"If you have someone in your life that's going through this...going through an invisible illness, and that can be a physical illness, it can be a mental illness. That can be anything," Jacqueline said. "Ask them what support looks like to them; believe them...Sometimes it's as simple as looking at this person and saying, 'This is hard and just know you're not alone.'"

John’s journey to graduation has been a roller coaster.

It started when he first arrived on campus as an out-of-state student. As he settled into life as a Husker, he began thinking about his passions and plans. He’d always loved anything that allowed him to be creative, but it also needed to be a bit of a challenge. After thinking it through, he realized that he wanted to produce theme park exhibits.

“You have to build something that works potentially 1,200 times an hour for 18 hours a day for 10 to 20 years,” John said. “Which as an engineer is a lot cooler of a challenge in my opinion.”

John knew that he could build an education at Nebraska that would match his dream job. But doing that meant he would need to take initiative. While at first he was hesitant to ask his professor about starting a theme park design club, he knew it was necessary to reach his goals. His professor saw the spark behind the idea and encouraged him to pursue it.

“It felt like I was taking the biggest risk of my life, hanging a single poster up saying, ‘Hey, do you like theme parks? Please email me.’” John said.

To John's surprise, within the first day he had 30 interested students email him. A few days later he held his first official meeting with 15 new members.

Since then, the Theme Park Design Group has built real-world exhibits for Lincoln learning spaces. They’ve partnered with the Lincoln Children’s Zoo to create enrichment toys for their giraffe exhibit, as well as the Lincoln Children’s Museum to build a superhero-themed pulley swing.

After four years of balancing school, work and the group, John's University of Nebraska–Lincoln roller coaster ride is coming to an end. And while many of his post-grad plans are still up in the air, he knows he’s ready for his next adventure.

For Carissa, making the personal choice to get vaccinated was about more than just the free Krispy Kreme donuts.

"When it came to my decision to get vaccinated myself, I really felt like it was not just a decision that was going to affect my health but also the health of my friends and family and the people around me — and also the health of my community overall," Carissa said. "I feel like I have some personal responsibility." 

The junior biochemistry student has already received her second shot, and after a two-week wait for the vaccine to become fully effective she will be able to safely gather with her vaccinated friends and family. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, her vaccination will also make it less likely for Carissa to get COVID-19, and if she does contract it she will not become seriously ill. 

The CDC has also declared it safe for fully vaccinated people to travel within the U.S. as long as they maintain proper COVID-19 precautions — meaning that Carissa will be able to travel home to Minnesota for the first time since winter break. As an out-of-state student, Carissa already faces homesickness each semester — and being unable to visit family members frequently due to the pandemic has made it even harder.

With more and more people receiving vaccinations, Carissa is hopeful for the future. She's already thinking of how different her senior year will feel with all her friends back in town, and is hoping that she'll be able to participate in Husker traditions with her family. 

"I have been doing everything I can, you know — following every guideline, getting myself vaccinated — because I know what it was like pre-pandemic going to school here and I loved it so much," Carissa said. "I want to end my time here like that."

Education means everything to Henry.

He was the first in his family to attend college, and soon he'll be the first to graduate with a master's degree. Education is important to Henry, because he knows from experience that it isn't always accessible.

He's the first person from his community in El Salvador to attend any higher education institution. His family comes from the mountain regions where schools were simply too far away to attend. They started working at a young age, and never even considered school to be a possibility.

That's why Henry takes so much pride in his academic pursuits. After earning his undergraduate degree in Honduras, he came to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln to pursue a master's degree in mechanized systems management. Henry splits his time now between the University of Nebraska–Lincoln campus and his research station in the Sandhills, where he is studying wastewater and irrigation technology.

Leaving home to pursue an education hasn't always been easy. He misses El Salvador and estimates that he's only spent a few weeks there since he left for college in 2014. Luckily, he's been able to build a second home in Nebraska with his community of classmates and coworkers. He especially felt the Husker hospitality when he first ventured out to the Sandhills.

"They were like, 'Okay, Henry. I know you're new here in the United States, so maybe we can go and visit some places,'" Henry said. "They were really, really supportive."

Henry is also now a leader to his family members back home. He's shown them that it's possible to pursue your academic dreams, and has even inspired his younger brother to attend college as well.

"It's like giving back — [my parents] have been making a lot of sacrifices since I was a child...so trying to be the best and everything is just a goal I have for my every day," Henry said. "And that's not only for me, but because I want the best for them."

Leigh wasn't expecting much when she filled out the online application to be on one of her favorite reality TV shows. She had always been passionate about gymnastics, fitness and obstacles courses — but never thought that she'd be picked to appear on American Ninja Warrior.

Then she got an email. Her application had been viewed, and the team wanted to connect her with a former contestant for a training opportunity. They didn't make any mention of her being picked for the show, only that they felt she would benefit from the training.

"But that gave me a glimmer of hope," Leigh said.

One day as she waited in line at the Nebraska Union, she received a call from an unknown number. Thinking it was spam, she let it go to voicemail, only to find out afterwards that it was one of the American Ninja Warrior producers telling her she'd been chosen to compete on the show.

Leigh took a week off from classes to film her segment, and when she returned @unlhonors asked if she'd like to replicate her experience on the show for an after-school club.

Leigh agreed and set about creating an obstacle course club for Lincoln Public Schools elementary students. She spent her fall break sharing her passion for fitness by showing her students how to hop, skip and jump through new challenges.

"I think it was a really neat way to have kids have an opportunity to be more active in their clubs," Leigh said. "Being passionate about something is a great way to share it with someone else... just be open to sharing what your niche is. Everyone has their own — so take advantage of it."

Haley’s research takes her to some wild places.

Right now, that place is the Lincoln Children's Zoo. As a doctoral student in animal science, Haley is working with a team to produce a video tracking program that monitors behavioral changes in the zoo's cheetahs.

The program was originally created by University of Nebraska–Lincoln animal science researchers to track livestock animals. Using the system, Haley is able to track a variety of the cheetahs' habits — from how fast they're walking, to how much time they spend sleeping. This data is then imported into a spreadsheet for the zookeepers.

From there, the zookeepers are able to analyze the data and see if there are any noticeable changes in the behavior of the cheetahs. Behavioral changes can indicate problems the zookeeper might not be able to see — like injuries or sicknesses that the animals might be masking.

The inspiration to use the tracking system on zoo animals came after Haley spent two years working as a zookeeper. She knew she could find a solution that would help bridge the communication barriers between humans and cheetahs.

“I’m really excited, because I never thought I’d be able to take my own experiences or these limitations that I saw as a zookeeper and actually try to find a solution,” Haley said. “I knew when I was a senior in college that I wanted to do something with wildlife, and I stayed in Lincoln for that fact. I’m really glad I did, just because it’s taken me to more places than I expected."

Sydney always knew she wanted to impact the music industry. As she dreamed of the possibilities in her future, one thought kept sticking with her — what if she could create her own music festival?

The event would feature performances from up-and-coming artists, and would put them in front of an audience full of potential fans and industry leaders. She'd call it The Citrusfest — after her nickname, Citrus.

After Sydney came up with the idea, she went to her family for help. They were able to connect her with potential teammates for the project, and before long, the gears were in motion and Citrusfest planning was underway.

At times juggling classes and festival planning was stressful, but Sydney made it through with the help of @carsoncenterunl. Her classes in the college taught her about music entrepreneurship, and she was able to connect with director Megan Elliott to bounce around ideas and receive mentorship.

On Jan. 26, The Citrusfest went live. Viewers from across the world tuned in to see 12 new artists show their talents and receive feedback from some of the music industry's top producers and talent executives.

While creating the festival itself was a rewarding process for Sydney, the best part of it all was seeing how it could make an impact on the careers of emerging musicians.

"I just think that a lot of those artists deserve to get exposure and deserve to show their artistry."

Thanks to scholarships, Antonio will be able to take part in experiences that he once thought were out of reach.

Antonio recently received a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship through the U.S. Department of State as well as an Early Abroad Scholarship and an Emerging Leader Scholarship through the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. As a Gilman Scholar, Antonio will travel to Italy — once guidelines surrounding the virus permit it — and learn from experts there about the epidemiology of COVID-19.

The chance to learn about the virus from some of the minds that know it best is an amazing academic opportunity for a microbiology student like Antonio. He's excited about the program, but also patient in knowing that it might be a while before he's actually able to go to Italy and safely participate in his studies.

Without scholarships, Antonio wouldn't be able to participate in programs abroad. He's thankful he applied for the scholarships, and now he wants to share his story with other students who think that studying abroad is out of their reach. These opportunities didn't come easy to him — at times, he was working two jobs just to be able to cover bills, all while wanting to lead as an example first-gen student for his family and for other students like him.

"There is a lot of pressure to succeed in college, not just for yourself but for your family — doing something they didn't have the opportunity and resources to do."

Through perseverance, grit and seeking out scholarships, Antonio is now able to do the things he never thought he could do.

As a transfer student, coming to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln was a fresh start for Alec.

New majors, classes, professors, friends, and a new city to call home. Coming from a city of about 20,000 to UNL's downtown City Campus, he immediately felt a change.

Alec had typical transfer student worries over his course roster and how he'd find his own community, but they soon melted away.

He was able to transfer over his credits from his former school without any troubles, and found professors at @unlcojmc who welcomed him and made him feel comfortable in his new college. And when it came to friendships, as a @huskerfbnation player he quickly bonded with his teammates and found camaraderie on and off the field.

Campus involvements were key to helping Alec transition to life as a UNL student. Along with his involvement in athletics, he joined @jachtagency to further his skills as a broadcasting major. The group helped him connect with his fellow College of Journalism & Mass Communications classmates and allowed him to work on projects that gave back to the community.

For Alec, being a transfer student was all about adapting — to a new city, a new campus, and new community. But it wasn't as scary as it seemed it would be — everything fell into place when he made an effort to branch out.

"Get involved in something; put yourself out there; get out of your comfort zone a little bit," Alec said, "Because you're never going to grow just going to class and going back home... I feel like you've got to do something."

The spirit of giving is an all-year feeling for one Husker group.

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln's Medical Students United with Neighbors Across America (shortened as MUNA) has been gathering food donations for Lincoln refugees since summer 2020.

The registered student organization was founded by two UNL pre-med students — Kailynn and Makayla. The two had always been looking for ways to give back to the community, and even shared a Google Doc filled with all their ideas for changing the world.

As they were searching for volunteer opportunities last spring, they came across UNMC's MUNA chapter. They saw how the UNMC chapter was able to help others and knew they wanted to bring the program to Lincoln.

"We were just really inspired by the work that they were doing and how they were doing it in response to the COVID-19 pandemic," Makayla said.

So, Makayla and Kailynn got to work. They gathered the five members needed to form a RSO, set up interviews with local community centers, and started planning their first online fundraiser. After working throughout the summer on establishing the club, the group was able to organize their first food distribution for refugee families in the fall.

Since then, UNL MUNA has completed five distributions and fed over 100 families in the Lincoln area.

"It's taught me a lot about the different communities that I will be working with someday in the future...I really want to set pre-med students up with more cultural experiences," Kailynn said. "I come from a small town in Nebraska and didn't have the opportunity to get to know a lot of people of different cultures and ethnicities. MUNA sort of gives me the opportunity to just get to know these people but also give back to communities that I wouldn't normally interact with."

Samah has learned a lot about what makes a home. Because for her, home has changed a lot over the past few years. Originally Samah and her family lived in Iraq. But when things became unsafe, they left for Syria. Shortly after, they were granted refugee status in the US and made their way to Lincoln. Though she now calls Lincoln home, she often misses the comfort and security she found in her home in Iraq. As an avid artist, Samah turned to drawing to capture her emotions. Her mom told her that if she liked creating things on paper that she should consider architecture — where her creations could come alive and be built out in the world. Samah's mom was right. Her passion for creating things pushed her to complete her undergraduate degree in just three years, and she's now pursuing her master's in architecture at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Now Samah is able to create places and spaces on her computer that can become real buildings out in the world. For her, architecture isn't just about designing a visually appealing space. It's about creating a sense of home — and capturing that feeling of home that she left behind in Iraq. "I would like to create something that just makes people feel like they belong, you know, like that feeling of safety," Samah said. "It's not safety from like bombs and all that but you go home you're relaxed... it's like, relief."

Eric Morris likes to inspire and be inspired. One day, he hopes to become a renowned author, to see his novels or poetry books on shelves at Barnes & Noble or a local bookstore. "What do I hope to accomplish? I guess bringing something new into the world that wasn’t there before.” So while he works on his craft, he’s also helping others discover their own. Eric has seen the impact of a mentor firsthand. He’s had family, teachers and advisors he’s looked up to that have provided him guidance and helped him get from point A to point B. But the two mentors he had through Emerging Leaders—a program that supports recipients of the Nebraska Emerging Leaders Scholarship through continued success during their first year—were different. “They were immediately there for me and they were dedicated to guiding me through all of my first semester." After taking an interpersonal skills course and volunteering at the Lincoln Boys & Girls Club, he was even more determined to help other students through mentorship. Now, he’s coming up on his two years as a peer mentor through Emerging Leaders, helping other Huskers become comfortable and succeed through their first semester. Through the program, the mentors take on a class of students and actually teach curriculum that revolves around understanding yourself as the leader you want to become, navigating difficult conversations with others and reflecting on values and identities. Though he mainly teaches, Eric emphasizes the importance of connecting personally with his mentees, opening up to them and being a person they can rely on. "There’s definitely a lot more to us, whether we’re artists, or architects, or marine biologists, or nurses, or fashion designers, or a little bit of everything. I like to think that we’re more than just one of our goals and we’re more than just one of our interests."

Helping others has always been something Bianca is passionate about. In her small hometown, she volunteered at the public library where she prided herself in greeting the visitors and helping them find what they needed. Seeing people leave with a smile on her face drove her to pursue more opportunities to lend a hand. As a desk assistant at Harper, Schramm, Smith, and Village, Bianca works to provide students, parents and visitors a safe but exciting environment where they can excel at their studies and grow as people. She loves to meet different people and the challenge of the role, but helping people is what first drew her to the job. "I'm the first smiling face they see when they walk through the doors to their dorm rooms. Residents come to the desk for a variety of reasons ranging from cable issues to roommate disagreements. They trust me (and the desk staff) to help with whatever issue they may need fixing at that moment and it's such a good feeling to be able to solve that problem for them.” She’s also passionate about safety as it enables her to continue helping others. It’s something that’s been extremely important right now, and she’s sure to follow all guidelines both in her job—like wearing a mask and sanitizing surfaces—and with her friends as they find socially distant ways to connect. This combination of community and safety is something Bianca also hopes find in a post-grad career. She looks forward to becoming an occupational therapist and advocating for older adults. In this job, Bianca will help improve their quality of life, help them understand programs and services they can receive and combat any negative treatment or stereotypes of aging adults. Wherever she is—whether volunteering, working or just being in her community—Bianca will continue to live by one rule: “Everyone has a right to live and receive the care they need. No matter who you are or where you come from."

When Francisco first started at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, he was out of his comfort zone. As the first member of his family to attend college, everything about UNL felt like a new experience. But one day while walking across campus, he found a group doing advocacy work in front of Broyhill Fountain. Sigma Lambda Beta is a multicultural fraternity that is devoted to advocating for the Latino community and issues of social change. As a group they work together to create camaraderie on campus, help the Lincoln Hispanic community, and inspire younger generations to consider secondary education. Francisco felt drawn to join after learning about their mission, and he has been an active member ever since. With Hispanic Heritage Month ongoing now through October 15, Sigma Lambda Beta is currently focusing on creating special ways to commemorate the members of the Hispanic community who have come before them. The group is managing a social media campaign promoting influential Hispanic leaders in history, as well as producing a short video documentary. "The way we celebrate it is making sure that the contributions and the work that has been done isn't forgotten," Francisco said. Sigma Lambda Beta has given Francisco an opportunity to meet like-minded people on campus and connect with the Lincoln Hispanic community, but most importantly it has empowered him to find more ways to help others. "We have all similar backgrounds and similar mindsets on what we want to project on to our unique community, and so that's what's keeping me doing the work that I am doing."

Cameron never expected his senior year to look like this. He thought his final year would be filled with the quintessential moments of college and all the little details of a life lived pre-pandemic. Changes to his senior year like mask-wearing policies, some classes going online and canceled events were difficult to adjust to at first, but now he understands that they were initiated for the safety of everyone. And as an LNK is Greater Than ambassador, he is on a mission to be a role model on campus and encourage other students to adapt to this new normal. LNK is Greater Than is a campaign devoted to showing Lincolnites how they can curb the spread of COVID-19. Cameron applied to be an ambassador because the mission of the campaign aligned with his own personal convictions — he cares about the people around him, wants to have a safe school year, practices social distancing, wears a mask and washes his hands. Cameron and his fellow ambassadors can be found on campus or at local public events handing out prizes to people practicing proper social distancing and mask wearing. They're also active on social media and share information on how to still have fun and socialize while staying safe. "I wanted to show people that it's still possible to be safe and to follow guidelines and to put others safety and health as a priority," Cameron said. "But also it's still possible to get together through things like social distance picnics or even just wearing masks at the Haymarket Farmers Market. It's been a great way to see people gather and come together but also respect others and respect their safety."

On many people’s 18th birthday, they may have a nice breakfast, open presents and celebrate. The first thing Kelsey did was call the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. Growing up, her family was very involved in the community and instilled one particular message that has stuck with her: no matter what life gives you, give more back. A trip for ice cream in high school sparked her own interest in community involvement. After seeing a flyer on a bulletin board, her dad encouraged her to get involved as a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Although she was hesitant at first, she thought about her own family. “I knew that if my grandpa or my dad or mom needs to call 911, I’d want someone to respond for my family; so I do it for other people’s families." At 17, she wasn’t eligible to become a volunteer EMT. But she went through training and waited for her 18th birthday when she could officially take the tests necessary to become licensed. When she’s in her hometown, she carries a pager in case someone needs help. And two years later, she’s gotten use to the unexpected nature of the job. “The calls always seem to come at in at the worst time, like when your meal is hot and you’re sitting down. But that’s part of the job.” And she doesn’t mind because she’s able to help those who need it. Kelsey has been able to help people even when she hasn’t been called on, like when she was cheering on the sidelines of her high school football game and a player was injured, or when someone on campus became light-headed during an event. But her EMT training has also given her peace of mind at home. She says that living on a farm, so much can go wrong so quickly and being an EMT makes her and her family feel a little safer if something were to happen.

When Kami first signed up for a volunteer shift at the Malone Community Center, she thought she would just spend a few hours there while checking off requirements for a class assignment. Instead, she ended up finding a community that would change the rest of her college career. Kami went from being a volunteer for the Malone Center to becoming one of their youth specialists. Since 2016 she's spent most of her afternoons picking up students from school, providing them with after-school activities, homework help and snacks, and then driving them home around dinnertime. For Kami, finding the center felt serendipitous. As a child, youth and family studies major, it made perfect sense for her to be working with kids, and as a former Husker gymnast, she was excited to start the center's first gymnastics club and share her passion for the sport. Best of all, she could do it all while supporting one of Lincoln's only African American community centers. Kami recently moved home to California and completed her final shift at the Malone Center. While the center might be far away physically, it will always be something she keeps close to her in her heart. "It's just nice to be able to have a center like that for these families to come to and feel a sense of community that people are here for you, that they care for you, and that we can all stand together." Kami said.

Han, a May 2020 University of Nebraska–Lincoln graduate, had been preparing for the 4K for Cancer for months. 4K for Cancer is a program where volunteers run or bike across the United States to raise funds for the Ulman Foundation, which provides support services like scholarships and housing to young adults battling cancer. Han lost her grandmother to cancer as a child, and recently her mother was also diagnosed with the disease. Her personal connections to cancer made her especially motivated to partake in the event. But with coronavirus concerns in mind, her running plans took a new path. Originally she was going to run with her 4K for Cancer team from Baltimore to San Francisco, however, due to the effects of COVID-19 the cross-country trip was canceled. That won't stop Han — she's participating in the full 49-day run from home. She has her road ID, her safety devices and a daily schedule of miles to run to keep her on track, and each day she'll check in with her team via Zoom to dedicate their run to a cancer patient or survivor. All that's left to do is run. Though coronavirus might have stopped Han's cross-country trek, it hasn't stopped her mission to help those battling cancer. "I don’t think that anything can replace the real thing, but at the end of the day, cancer is larger than all of us individually, and there are brave warriors out there fighting this disease," Han said. "We continue to remind ourselves of our mission — that we run for them and for each other."

Emily Pillard has known how to sew since she was six years old. After finding her passion at a young age, she followed it all the way to college at UNL Fashion. In March 2020, Emily realized that her gift for sewing and design could be used to make face masks to keep people safe from COVID-19. With the help of her mother, sister and brother, Emily has now produced more than a thousand fabric masks and shipped them across the country. Emily did all of this while finishing her spring semester at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. In between adjusting to taking her classes remotely and preparing for finals, she still found the time to gather fabric and elastic and set up her production and shipment plan with her family. Emily and her mom and sister are tasked with using the sewing machines while her brother handles cutting out all the fabric. Once the fabric is cut to the pattern, each mask takes about five to eight minutes of sewing to be completed. Then they are either mailed off or offered for pickup locally. She charges her customers only for the cost of fabric, elastic and shipping. "I'm trying to just make them as cheap as possible because they're essential. And I'm just not trying to charge people a fortune in a pandemic," she said. When she first offered to make masks, Emily thought she would be able to help only a handful of people. But as needs have grown, she's received more and more messages asking for her help from people living in remote areas without access to masks. "So I'm just like, if I can't help them, who's going to help them? So I kind of have this feeling like I need to push myself, I need to do this," Emily said, "And so it's a lot of hard work. I don't eat or sleep that much, but I'm okay. My mom is taking care of me. And I'm just trying to do the best for the community which is crazy...it just feels crazy."

Like many Huskers, Emilia finished her spring semester hundreds of miles from campus. And though she may be physically far away, she still feels connected to her campus community. Checking in with coworkers at the communications department at Nebraska Business and taking classes through Zoom, sometimes things feel almost the same — just virtual. The Nebraska community has been a constant in her life, helping Emilia to adjust to all the changes around her. She's in South Carolina, living with her entire family for the first time in years, and many of the plans she had for this spring and summer don't look the same. One of those major plans that changed was the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament. With a goal to work in college athletics one day, Emilia volunteered at the event last year and was in Indianapolis again this year observing and learning from professionals in the field. Emilia was volunteering at the first game on March 12 when the call was made to cancel the rest of the tournament. She went straight to the airport to catch a flight back to Nebraska. While in the airport, she got the email saying that classes would be moved online. After weighing their options, Emilia and her family decided it would be best for her to join her family in South Carolina. "I knew it was a serious thing," Emilia said, "But I didn't really realize the magnitude of it all until I was there.” In addition to continuing her education through her remote classes and graduate assistantship, Emilia is also using this time to learn more about her career. As sports teams and athletics organizations adapt to life in this new normal, she's taking note of how they respond and lead. "I think we're in a very unique opportunity to be able to learn from what our peers are doing in the industry," Emilia said, "And kind of being able to see how people operate in situations that are completely unexpected and unprecedented."

Alyssa spent most of her senior year preparing for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's Out of the Darkness Walk, an annual event aimed at raising awareness for suicide prevention. But in a matter of days, her plans crumbled. As universities across the country closed and events large and small were canceled, she realized that the walk wouldn't be able to happen the way she thought it would. At first, she was gutted. "You put your blood and sweat and tears into this," Alyssa said, "And then suddenly it's like, 'Oh — can't do it.'" But the mission of the Out of the Darkness Walk inspired her to find a way to make it happen. As a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention, Alyssa knew how important it was to continue sharing the message of outreach, awareness, and prevention through the event. So, like most things now in a social distancing world, she decided to make it virtual. Attendees can now tune in to a virtual walk streamed on April 26 on the Out of the Darkness Walk's Facebook page. Though the day won't go exactly the way Alyssa originally had planned, it will still be an opportunity for people to listen to the walk's keynote speaker, raise funds, and virtually walk together to amplify awareness for the cause. By transitioning the walk online, Alyssa felt like she could still make an impact on a cause that has deeply affected her life. When she struggled with a personally dark time during her first few years at college, Alyssa relied on Out of the Darkness to provide her with a support system, a reason to get better, and a will to continue. Though her last event with them as a Nebraska student might not be what she expected, she's still grateful that it's happening in some capacity.

Huskers are taking the lyrics "we'll all stick together in all kinds of weather" to heart as our community adjusts to our new normal. One of those Huskers is Cassandra, a University of Nebraska–Lincoln Ph.D. student that has created a way for people in the community to get mental health support for their COVID-19-related anxiety and stress. Using her connections to mental health practitioners, Cassandra organized a group of more than 40 therapists to offer free mental health support for those that may be struggling. Cassandra understands that people are going through a lot right now. When people undergo change, especially sudden change, it's likely to leave them feeling overwhelmed. "Even the "adjusting" itself is stressful, because you had a routine of something and suddenly you don't." Cassandra said. As an advocate for mental health, she wanted to make sure that this service was accessible to all — that way whether they live in Nebraska or across the world they can still access a therapist through the virtual Telehealth services. She did this all while balancing her own stresses in life. As a TA she had to quickly adapt to putting her classes online, and as an international student she had to grapple with knowing that her family was thousands of miles away in an uncertain time. Though she had a lot of adjustments herself, she still took the time to find a way to help others. Cassandra is proof that we stick together — in all kinds of weather.

At the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, our students do big things — even during difficult times. Jacob is one of those students. When he heard about local restaurants having to shut down in the wake of COVID-19, he realized he had a way to help those businesses through their hardships. With his and his partner's app, Brim: Mobile Ordering, he's helping coffee shops and restaurants continue to reach customers through mobile orders. The concept for Brim took shape in October 2018, when Jacob connected with The Foundry coffee shop over their need for a mobile ordering solution. By August 2019 he had created a working product, which led him to bring on Luke to help with the business aspects of expanding the app out into the community. Soon, coffee shops from across Lincoln and Omaha could be found on Brim. As restaurants began to switch to take-out only dining options when COVID-19 recommendations were announced, Luke and Jacob decided it was time to jump in and help by offering the Brim mobile ordering service for free for new businesses for six months. The two don't see it as a business opportunity for themselves — they just want to help businesses that are struggling. In fact, any business that joins won't have any obligations to continue using the service after their six months are up. Luke said that even if they end up leaving the platform, the Brim team will still consider it a success. "Because that was, you know, six months where we're able to help them out through tough times." Luke said. A handful of businesses have already taken Jacob and Luke up on their offer and will be up on the app soon. "For us, if we're able to help a few shops stay open this time..." Jacob said, "That's a total win for us."

For some students, taking the leap and studying abroad in a new country can be scary. For Damien, it was a challenge accepted. From the moment he received his scholarship to study across the world at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln to when he applied to be a member of Freshman Campus Leaderships Associates (FCLA) to today, Damien has always felt propelled to try new things that pushed him past his comfort zone. "It's all about taking the first step," he said. Now that Damien has taken those first steps and adjusted to life as a Husker, he's looking to help other students. As a part of his FCLA duties, he's working on a project that would connect first-year students to valuable social and academic resources. From finding registered student organizations that suit their interests to seeing where they can get help with their classes, the goal is to make it easier for Huskers to acclimate to campus culture. If students are struggling to form friendships or find a community, Damien suggests that they open up to new opportunities and cultures. By experiencing new people and exploring new topics, they just might find the connections they seek. "Be courageous, adventurous — try new things," Damien said, "That, you know, the 'old you' couldn't try."

Jesse knew even before college that he wanted to go into a career focused on public service. Now, he's doing just that through The Nebraska Change Venture. "I think it's important because a lot of young people want to do well," Jesse said, "And the biggest gap is knowing how to do it." With The Nebraska Change Venture, Jesse and his fellow organization members create free presentations, workshops and online resources that help high school students determine their professional goals and ambitions. Through classes on how to write cover letters, and handouts on networking or online resume templates, they're giving students professional development opportunities and materials they might not have access to otherwise. Even though he's always felt comfortable in a professional atmosphere, Jesse understands how it can be difficult for other young people to find the confidence to put themselves out there when they're meeting with a potential employer or new networking connection. He believes that by teaching these skills at a peer-to-peer level, students will feel more comfortable learning and replicating them. "We think that it's really important that when we go and speak with students," Jesse said, "We are doing it from a perspective they can kind of understand." Since bringing The Nebraska Change Venture to Lincoln during his sophomore year, Jesse has gained valuable professional skills while sharing his knowledge and impacting students across the capital city community. Now that he's close to graduating, he is proud to be able to look back at all the lives that The Nebraska Change Venture has shaped so far, and all the future Huskers it will help as well.

Opera might seem like just music, lights and flashy costumes to some, but for Alie, it's much more than that. As someone who has been performing in operas since her early teens, she's learned a lot from the art form and thinks that others can too. It might feel intimidating at first to attend an opera, but in reality there's nothing to worry about. Though stereotypes might make out opera halls to be stuffy and unwelcoming to newcomers, Alie said it's actually quite the opposite. Dress codes are relaxed, there's often pre-show talks that go over the plot, and the lyrics (when performed in a language other than English) are translated and projected out for the audience. Alie believes that opera is so accessible that even children can understand it. During her summer working at Opera in the Ozarks, Alie performed in an opera that toured across northwest Arkansas for children of all ages. Not only did the job allow her to use her musical talents as a performer, but it also provided her a chance to show a new group the discipline, teamwork, kindness and preparation it takes to perform an opera. "The longer that opera has been a part of my life, the more I've come to realize how it can be a strong indicator of social responsibility," Alie said. While the work that goes on behind the scenes of an opera shows the importance of forming strong, trusting social relationships with others, what happens onstage is just as important. Themes of reconciliation, mercy and forgiveness are common in many operas, and Alie thinks they are vital to share with the opera audience as well as the world. "I think that those are stories that really need to be told," Alie said, "The world needs to hear that."

Saisha is driven to help others. As a biology and psychology major, Saisha hopes to pursue a master's in public health after graduation and one day work for a large public health institute where she will be able to affect even more lives. Her inspiration came from her time at a neuroscience internship in Nepal, where she was able to see the disparities in public health between the United States and other parts of the world firsthand. Back in Nebraska, Saisha continues to work towards her goals by being a public health resource to refugees that have recently been resettled in Omaha. She presents to these groups on the cultural health differences they might be experiencing upon their arrival to America and shares with them the proper protocol to follow to call 911 or understand if they need an ambulance. When she isn't volunteering, Saisha is often working in the Child Maltreatment Lab or planning and preparing initiatives for ASUN's Diversity and Inclusion committee. "Being a person of color and having that culture, I really want to embrace that here and then educate those around me.” As the co-chair for this committee, she and her fellow members are tasked with connecting the different cultural communities at the university. They work on projects that range from creating handbooks on American culture to educating their fellow students on non-gendered bathrooms across campus. "Making an impact is so huge."

As a student at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Jared is taking every opportunity he can to study the Korean language. Though it isn't an official program at UNL, he's been able to take courses on campus via the Big Ten Academic Alliance. Jared and his classmates study with a class from the University of Minnesota, video chatting in to each lecture. His passion for learning Korean translated into Jared being one of five Huskers to receive a Critical Language Scholarship from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. This June he will return to South Korea for his second summer in the country to partake in an intensive and immersive language program. As an honors student studying psychology, he's using his time in South Korea to do more than just perfect his command of the language. He plans on making connections with professors and other psychology professionals so he can conduct research on cross-cultural psychology between the United States and South Korea. Jared plans to start distributing surveys, gathering responses and completing his thesis research during fall 2019, and then he intends to apply for a Fulbright award. One day, he would like to get his doctoral degree in psychology and use his knowledge to work with children.

Coming to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln involved a lot of firsts and lasts for Ramin. He would be a first-generation student leaving to visit the United States for the first time. His single-entry visa meant it would be the last time he would see his family for five and a half years and the last time he would see his home country. Though the transition was a big one, Ramin remembers being excited for the new experience. He threw himself into his studies and became involved in the community. He frequented coffee shops, the Outdoor Adventure Center and biking trails. Ramin even became president of the Iranian Student Organization and a graduate ambassador for the College of Engineering. Most significantly, Ramin became a husband and stepfather. Despite being so busy, Ramin still wanted to do more. When he learned about an opportunity to teach middle school students about STEM through the Girls Inc. Eureka! program, he was quick to volunteer. He identified with the challenge many of the girls will face someday in college as first-generation students like him, and he wanted to serve as living proof that if they worked hard they could make their dreams come true, too. "There were so many odds against me, and I made it." Ramin said. Ramin also wanted the girls to know that engineering wasn’t just for boys. At the end of their class session on polymers and recycling, he took them on a tour of the College of Engineering so they could see where they could study engineering in just a few short years. He’s seen firsthand how education can change people, and he wants to continue to help others learn and grow.

For Will, the LGBTQA+ Resource Center is more than just an office in the Nebraska Union — it's a community. As a first-year student Will became involved with the resource center through their Peer Mentor Group, where students are paired up with an upperclassmen mentor in an effort to help new students become acclimated and active in the LGBTQA+ campus community. He gradually became more and more engaged in the center's events and activities. Now as a senior, he is the center's library and resource coordinator. In this role, he gives presentations, recommends LGBTQA+ friendly counselors and doctors, and oversees the 1,500 items in the center's library. Will is also the president and one of the founding members of TRANSform, a club focused on a new support system within the LGBTQA+ Resource Center. The group promotes advocacy and support for trans students and works together on everything from housing policies to inclusive swim nights for those that might feel uncomfortable at public pools. The resource center gave Will a community at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and now he's helping to expand it. "It's just nice to have people that are here to help you and support you," Will said.

As an orientation leader for New Student Enrollment, Jared spends his summer days serving other students and making them feel welcome to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He knows how hard it can be going to a new place. When he first came to the university as an out-of-state student, he didn't know anyone. But he quickly found his own community, and now he wants to encourage other students to do the same. By making connections in the Honors Program and the Association of Students at the University of Nebraska ASUN student government, Jared found people that pushed him to succeed. Now serving as internal vice president of ASUN, his goal is to make forming student organizations as simple as possible so others can get involved on campus. Nebraska's culture of involvement helped Jared find his home away from home, and he hopes it can help others too.

As a first-generation student growing up in Grand Island, Abel felt lost when it came to planning for college. Then he found the Nebraska College Preparatory Academy. Started in 2006, the program is designed to help first-generation and low-income students reach their academic goals and attend college. The program helped him get into the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and graduate in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in business. After working in Lincoln at a software company, he chose to return to the university as a recruiter in 2015. “The opportunity to be a recruiter and connect directly with students in Nebraska communities, especially those who are first-generation like I am, was too good to pass up,” Abel said. “I also really liked the idea of helping out kids in and around Grand Island." Abel recently became an assistant director within Nebraska's Office of Admissions, a role he said will allow him to interact directly with student populations in need of more assistance. With his experience as a first-generation student and his ability to speak Spanish, Abel is prepared to connect with students and families that are going through situations similar to those he faced before college. “We want every Nebraska student to know that this land-grant university is there for them and that earning a Big Ten degree is an obtainable goal for anyone — regardless of their situation."

Through Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experience (UCARE) at Nebraska, Whitney had the opportunity to get up close and personal with her research subject — bees. As an insect science major interested in pollen and conservation, Whitney was drawn to the UNL Bee Lab after reaching out to her advisor about potential UCARE projects. With her focus area decided, she began working under the guidance of Assistant Professor of Entomology Judy Wu-Smart. Whitney's project focused on examining how pesticide residues in the brood combs of bee larvae affect the behaviors of the insects after they emerge from their combs and become working adult bees. From summer 2018 through early fall semester, she spent a couple hours each day observing her bees and taking note of their behaviors. Each insect had a tag with a number and color, so she could even record individualized observations as they got older. Sometimes she would perform tests, like when she would use liquid nitrogen to freeze kill a specific area of the hive in order to mimic disease. She would watch the bees to see if they were able to sense if something was wrong with the area, and if the bees would remove the capped cell to stop the "disease" from spreading through the rest of the hive. For Whitney, her UCARE project was a great way to get research experience before grad school. It even gave her the opportunity to present her findings at the American Bee Research Conference in Arizona. No matter a student's post-graduation plans, Whitney would recommend engaging in undergraduate research. "Even if you're not planning on going to grad school or anything like that it's still a great experience.

Gauri likes to keep busy. When she isn't studying for her Raikes School classes, she can be found helping run a Girls Code Lincoln, leading Computing for All or checking off the latest book on her reading list. But she doesn't keep busy just for fun — she does it because she's trying to create a future where diversity and inclusion can flourish in the STEM field. Through Computing for All, Gauri and her fellow club members work to create activities for women in the computer science department, while also promoting accessibility in computing for people who may have never done it before. Gauri also makes an effort to make technology accessible to local girls through Girls Code Lincoln. Every Sunday she can be found helping lead the group on everything from basic coding concepts to skills like bravery and leadership. She said it's been one of her most rewarding experiences to teach them about coding through creativity, confidence and communication. So while things might get stressful at times, for Gauri it's all worth it. She has her community through the Raikes School and her extracurricular activities to lean on, and the knowledge that her efforts will help others to keep her moving forward. "I can deal with one stressful day if I know that like, this many students are gonna be impacted by it," Gauri said, "Or, I'm going to make someone's life better by it."

Patrick has been drawing since high school. Now, as a freshman at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, he's using his hobby to cultivate a new generation of agricultural professionals. Patrick recently wrote and illustrated a children's book called "Miss Farmer." The project helped him combine his passion for agriculture with his love for art, while creating something that could help future generations. He hopes that "Miss Farmer" will bring awareness about the lives of people working in agriculture to the growing number of people who have no direct connection to it. While it's easy to find books and games promoting technology and math, he said he sees a lack of stories about farming and raising animals. The book is 15 pages long. Each page took Patrick 1-3 days to illustrate. He presented it in a poster format at College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Community Night with Agriculture Leadership Shields, and he already has parents asking him when he'll publish his work. He hopes to one day have it printed and that it will inspire young readers to be interested in the agriculture industry.

For a handful of University of Nebraska–Lincoln students, spring break was filled with drywalling, painting and picking up the pieces left in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. A group of volunteers from UNL Lutheran Chapel made their way to Corpus Christi to take part in the relief efforts still needed after the Category 4 hurricane hit the coastal town in 2017. Spring break mission trips are common for the UNL Lutheran Chapel, and this year's service opportunity was led and planned by junior psychology student Kaitlin Buhler. While it wasn't Kaitlin's first mission trip, it was her first time using her spring break to give back. She said she sees the trip as a special chance to contribute to something bigger than herself. As a college student, she said she'd been given responsibility and independence when planning where the group would be volunteering. Kaitlin made contact with a Texas group and was able to find the communities that were most in need of assistance and the tools that her team could use to help them. While a lot of cleaning out has happened in Corpus Christi, Kaitlin said there's still work to be done to get people back into their homes. Kaitlin hopes that the group's efforts have helped some of the hurricane victims return to normalcy, and that having been helped to get back to their homes they will be able to help others in the future, too.

For the past six weeks, campus was home to 10 new students from Argentina. As part of the Friends of Fulbright program sponsored by the Fulbright Commission Argentina and the U.S. Embassy in Argentina, the cohort observed classes, strengthened their English skills and fully immersed themselves in American culture. From living in the residence halls to attending labs and lectures, the students lived their six weeks on campus as any other University of Nebraska–Lincoln student would. They explored local coffee shops, took part in classes in their majors, and even experienced fraternity and sorority life. Though at first unsure of how conversations would go with American students, the Argentine students found everyone was warm and welcoming. The students say that university life in the U.S. is much more community focused than in Argentina. They also said that being a part of the Friends of Fulbright program has allowed them to see a mix of culture and ideas, and make new friends from all over the world. They head back to Argentina on Saturday, and while their time in Nebraska might be over, they'll always have their memories (and new Husker apparel!) to remind them of their experience. ¡Buen viaje!

When Justice started college at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, there was one thing missing: hockey. She had played for years back at home in New Jersey and it didn't make any sense to her why a university as big as Nebraska wouldn't have its own active women's team. She found out that there used to be one, but it had dissolved after a few seasons. So, Justice decided to bring women's hockey back on campus. It wasn't easy. She tried to gather names of interested members during her freshman year but only came up with five. During her sophomore year, she started to put out the message again. This time, Justice had ten interested players and began to search for coaches. By the spring of 2017, the UNL Women's Hockey team was approved as an official sports club. They joined the American Collegiate Hockey Association and squared off against 17 other college teams during their first season. The team is open to all players that are ready to lace up their skates and go — even if they've never played before. For Justice, bringing women's hockey back on campus was about more than just getting back on the ice. She saw that there was a men's team and wanted women players to get the same chance to play. "Not having that same opportunity for women is kind of tough," Justice said.

When Sydnie was 16, her life was punctuated by rounds of chemotherapy and hospital room stays. With her energy zapped and her immune system weakened, seeing friends and socializing with other teenagers became a special occasion rather than a normal part of her day-to-day life. Then she learned about Dance Marathon. Dance Marathon raises money for Children's Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha and culminates every year in a 12-hour event where patients and their families are invited to come to Nebraska's campus and be celebrated. The event gave Sydnie the chance to take a break from her hospital room and spend the day with students close to her own age. After a full day of socializing in the family room and watching the dancers bust a move, Sydnie was able to see how many people cared about the hospital that had become her second home. Sydnie was a Miracle Child for Dance Marathon for two years. Now, having been out of chemotherapy since her freshman year, Sydnie dances for the kids. At Dance Marathon's HuskerThon 2019, she'll be dancing for the kids she met while she was at Children's Hospital and for all of those who are still there.

Though she isn't a parent herself, Lauren Gehrki puts her heart into helping Huskers with little ones. As the coordinator for Students with Children, she helps plan events and cultivate the community of student parents on campus. In December, Lauren organized the first Holidays for Little Huskers event. Students with children applied and listed their wants and needs, and faculty and RSOs "adopted" them to support their holiday wishes. From warm winter clothes to child-size sleds, a variety of gifts were shared with the seven sponsored families during their busy finals season. Lauren hopes to continue to raise awareness of the resources available to student parents. No matter their level of need, any Nebraska student parent is welcome at the Students with Children RSO and can participate in their events. The group meets every Monday and discusses programming, resources and advocacy opportunities for students with dependents. Lauren believes that someone shouldn't have to stop their education to pursue having a family, and she advocates for her classmates with children.

No matter where a student is from, Abbey believes they should feel welcomed and included. When she saw a group of Rwandan students sitting by themselves at a dining hall, Abbey said she felt compelled to do something. A simple "hi" was all it took. That exchange, Abbey said, was the start of a unique friendship. Abbey learned words in their language (like "amakaru" for "how are you?" and "ndagukunda" for "I love you"), taught them American lingo and made herself available to help them with whatever they needed. Abbey's genuine love and interest for the group of students earned her the nickname, "The Good Samaritan." As the friendship flourished, Abbey accepted invitations to events within Nebraska's Rwandan community; they attended church together, and they supported one another in life on and off campus. This semester, Abbey was honored by the group of students at a ball they hosted. The Rwandan students made a video thanking her for all she has done for them. Abbey said that night was one of her favorite memories at Nebraska. The Rwandan students, like Cesar Harry Cyuzuzo and Mark Iradukunda, have "adopted" her into their community and have become family to her. However, Abbey said forming the friendship didn't take much work, and is something she encourages other students to do. Putting yourself in the shoes of students who are far from home and doing something as small as saying "hi" can have a huge impact.

Originally from Saudi Arabia, Hadi moved to Nebraska in 2014 to enroll into Nebraska's engineering program. As a kid, he had a fascination with how cars and other objects worked and he'd often ask his mother how a simple, plastic gas pedal could make a whole car move. During his freshman year, Hadi said he found himself stuck in the same routine of going to class and going home. While he was learning a lot in his classes, he began to feel that he was simply going through the motions and not fully enjoying his college experience. One day, however, his friend pushed him to get involved and join an on-campus organization. This decision, he said, put some "flavor" back into his college experience. Since then, Hadi has served as a New Student Enrollment Leader and a member of the math club and the Nebraska Engineering student advisory board. Making connections with people within his program has led him to participate in some unique opportunities. Right now, Hadi is assisting in creating "hands" for a robot that could be used in hospitals. Though technical and often frustrating, the robot will be able to complete mundane tasks, like sanitizing surgical instruments. His choice to get involved has helped him grow and gain the confidence he needs to succeed beyond campus.

Katy is part of the 85 percent of college students who have faced feelings of depression and hopelessness. For Katy, these feelings that began the summer before her sophomore year of college worsened when the school year started. She wasn't going to class and was self-harming, skipping out on social events and not doing what, at one point, made her happy. However, on social media, she made it seem like she was a thriving college student because she didn't want her friends and family to think that she was struggling. A suicide attempt served as a wake-up call for her to get the help she needed. Katy reached out to CASNR Cares, a safe place where faculty and students can get the resources they need if they're in traumatic situations. They helped Katy get into a hospitalization program. During her one month stay in the hospital, she focused on her spiritual journey, mental health and rediscovering herself. Katy learned that it's important to make a conscious effort to act against your own brain: taking your medication, going to therapy and staying away from harmful triggers. To further help her journey, Katy put together a wellness toolbox. This "toolbox" holds items, activities, and people she can turn to when she needs them, including puzzles, her mom and her favorite music. Following through with your therapy plan, fighting against your urges and relying on a "toolbox" are all part of being a survivor and continuing to survive. By sharing her story, Katy hopes to alleviate the stigma surrounding depression and mental illness. Nebraska provides numerous resources to help students through and beyond their mental health journey.

What began as a high school senior project for Riana has since turned into an ongoing passion project. Whether it be an up-and-coming business owner or a passionate Nebraska student, Riana has the ability to form people's stories into art. Her interest in storytelling was shaped through her curiosity for history—reading the stories from people of the past sparked her desire to do her own storytelling. This passion has led her to create Kind Magazine, a literary magazine that highlights people all over Lincoln who have made a difference in the community and serves as a way for people to get to know others in the community. When Riana came to the university, she was unsure how she'd continue the magazine. But, the programs she's been involved in, including UNL Nova, the university's Asian-interest sorority group, as well as the people she's met here have given her the inspiration she needed. The wholesome and passionate people in Lincoln and throughout the university have given her a place to belong, inspiration to draw from and a thriving community she gets to be a part of. As Riana continues her chapter at Nebraska, she strives to make an impact by elevating the voices of those within the Lincoln community.

Coming from a high school class of 18 to a college of over 25,000 may seem daunting, but Michael Broussard always dreamed of being a Husker. Watching football season after season as a kid, Michael has always known the University of Nebraska-Lincoln was the place where he belonged. He embraced the transition from a small town to a large school, getting involved from day one and fully immersing himself into what Nebraska has to offer. During his sophomore year, Michael got involved with an on-campus organization called Camp Kesem (@campkesem_unl), a nonprofit organization that supports children through and beyond their parent's cancer. His own experiences with cancer prompted him to get involved. When Michael's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer his freshman year of college, he saw how it affected his younger sisters. After her diagnosis, his sisters went to Camp Kesem and Michael became interested in how Camp Kesem made an impact in children's lives. Camp Kesem, he said, has allowed him to grow and help kids understand and cope with the uncertainties revolving around their parent's cancer. The organizations he's joined and the people he's met have made his time at Nebraska life-changing. When reflecting on his favorite student life memories, Michael can't just say one. Every football game, class and organization he's been apart has given him more reasons to love the university and continue to grow as a student.

Alex Crowley's first memory playing an instrument was in seventh grade band. As an aspiring music teacher, he now spends his days rehearsing, practicing his six instruments and participating in recitals. A fourth generation Husker, Alex said the University of Nebraska-Lincoln was always his dream school. Both of his parents were music majors and his mom even graduated from the same program in which Alex is currently studying. Alex was initially impressed by the opportunities provided by Glenn Korff School of Music (@unlsofmusic) but he has been most impacted by the connections he's made at Nebraska. Throughout his college career, he has gained confidence and strengthened his dedication for music and he is moved by how invested Nebraska faculty are in seeing students succeed. Alex's ever-growing passion has led him to be the trombone section leader for the Cornhusker Marching Band and play in both the wind ensemble and symphonic band. It's the people within these involvements and the evolving student life that have given him the college experience he has always envisioned for himself. The connections he has formed with his music professors, members of the marching band and other passionate students have positively impacted him physically and mentally. Alex hopes to provide a similar experience to his future students, helping them gain confidence, explore new interests and find something that makes them happy. Just like he's found at Nebraska.

As a second year graduate student in student affairs administration, Mac is often asked why he chose the path he did. Originally from Texas, Mac earned his bachelor's degree in education from Kansas State University. While there, he worked in the university's student affairs office. For hours, Mac worked with incoming freshmen to help them afford college. That was the moment he knew he wanted to pursue student affairs. When Mac came to Nebraska for graduate school, he joined the University Program Council as a graduate assistant and started the Intercultural Leadership Program for Oasis. He created the program to help students learn more about identity and intercultural development and gain more effective leadership skills. The 11 week program allows students to make connections with others across campus and helps them explore their leadership style and how it is impacted in different cultural settings. Working one-on-one with students and directly impacting their lives is what keeps Mac fulfilled. Once he graduates from his program in May 2019, he hopes to leave the university knowing he helped students make connections across cultures, solve problems and foster diversity and inclusion.

As a kid, Lindsey doodled beakers and lab coats on the back of her elementary school worksheets. Once she hit high school, she learned about the variety of science-based jobs, discovered chemical engineering and never looked back. Now, in her fourth year of chemical engineering, she's still just as enamored with science. After attending an engineering conference for LGBTQA+ students, Lindsey learned that other schools had Out in STEM groups, and she was determined to create a similar community at Nebraska. The Nebraska oSTEM group does many things, from ice cream socials to career prep to attending national conferences. Above all, Lindsey wants the group to empower its members professionally, academically and personally by cultivating environments and communities that nurture innovation, leadership and advocacy. The most fulfilling part of her experience was handing off her presidential position to a member who said the group made them feel like they had a community. When Lindsey looks to the future, she's not sure exactly where her career will take her, but she knows that she wants to leverage diversity in all encounters to solve problems and make the world a better place.

After graduating from Elkhorn High School, Hunter's initial plans were to go out of state for college. He didn't believe Nebraska had as many opportunities as some other elite colleges, but ultimately, he ended up staying for scholarships and to be near his family. Although he started college skeptical, after three years here, he's never been more happy to be wrong. He discovered that the special thing about Nebraska is its people, and he's always had a strong desire to lead and serve them. Now, as the new ASUN president, he's doing just that. Some of his team's top priorities are increasing transparency and student input with fee allocation, instituting and increasing awareness of the Green Fund, which is funded by students for students' sustainable project ideas, and expanding mental health resources through Counseling and Psychological Services. Overall, he hopes to shape a culture of dedication and passion for student government that will live on beyond his term.

In high school, Guadalupe wasn't sure if she'd go to college. She was especially unsure after suffering a traumatic brain injury close to graduation. Despite the odds being stacked against her, she secured a full-ride scholarship. Now, she's bringing her voice to a national stage through the University of Nebraska–Lincoln speech and debate team. Guadalupe intertwines Latino themes into her performances of poetry, oral interpretation, program, dramatic and duo. She loves the team's culture of growth and encouragement. The culture translates to success, especially after taking home a seventh consecutive Big Ten title in January. When she's not traveling for tournaments, Guadalupe is on the executive team for the Mexican American Student Association and a member of Emerald, a women's enrichment group. Ultimately, Guadalupe is grateful to have been able to make it to college as a first generation student and do what she loves, and she looks forward to her next few years.

Although he attended an Indiana high school without any art classes, Pha wasn't deterred from pursuing his passion. When it came time for college, he joined Nebraska's art program as a graphic design major. Over time, Pha realized that he'd rather create more self-expressive work, so he shifted his major to focus on painting. Many of his pieces are self portraits, an art form that urges him to be vulnerable. He knows that everyone has personal problems, but it's not always easy to open up, so he uses painting as a way to share emotions. In the last couple of years, Pha has stepped out of his comfort zone even more with photography, a medium that has pushed him to connect and collaborate with others. He's even become the photographer for a local boutique he admires. He owes part of his growth to the art professors that take a genuine interest in his improvement and encourage him to stay focused. To Pha, the program has felt more like a community than school.

After playing rugby for six years, Ryan has braved many opponents. When returning to Sacramento after his freshman year of college, though, he had no idea that an unexpected challenge would arise: leukemia. He was hospitalized for a month, and although it was tough, he had many friends come visit in support. After weeks of intense chemo treatments, Ryan can now proudly say he's been cancer-free for a year. In an odd way, he was thankful to be home, despite the illness. He was able to see a new stadium open, spend time with his family and help coach high school rugby with the coaches that shaped him. He even received a supportive phone call from Carlin Isles, a member of the United States rugby team who has been touted as the fastest player in the world. Getting back into the game hasn't been an easy battle, but when he's on the field, Ryan's focus cuts through the fatigue. After beating something so big, he feels like he can take on any challenge, and he doesn't lose hope when facing obstacles. As games start up again this spring, he wants students to know that anyone is welcome to check out joining the UNL rugby team.

Sustainability is something Eric has always been interested in, but after taking a geology course freshman year, his passion was ignited. Now an environmental economics major, he gets involved with anything and everything that impacts sustainability. He's been a part of Sustain UNL for several years, an environmental student organization that puts on popular events such as Earthstock and brings in community leaders to talk about environmental solutions. Off campus, Eric's currently working with Gene Hanlon, the recycling coordinator for Lincoln, to help educate residents about the cardboard landfill ban that will go into effect this April. Looking back, he realizes that his childhood shaped him into an environmentalist. Seeing his mother reuse food containers and getting clothes from his brother taught him that it's important to reuse and recycle. Eric doesn't believe sustainability is a partisan issue. We all share this earth, and we should use any resource as effectively as possible. Whether it's to cut down economic costs, preserve resources or help people, sustainability is important to everyone in some way. In fact, Nebraska recognizes this and gives students the opportunity to apply to the UNL Green Fund, a fund that helps students turn their green ideas into reality. Eric encourages students who want to make a change to get involved and seek out projects that spark a fire in them.

Lawrence Chatters doesn't have the phrase "slow down" in his vocabulary. He's currently working on his PhD after getting his masters degree in educational psychology, which some would consider a full-time job. But that's just the start for Lawrence. Throughout his years at Nebraska, he's worked at the Multicultural Center, the Women's Center and, currently, the athletic department as a diversity consultant. At the core of his job, he makes sure that student athletes from all walks of life are being seen as a whole person through inclusive programming and outreach. During his three years with the athletic department, he has helped establish the Nebraska Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Summit, a yearly event that brings together student athletes, staff, administrators and coaches to focus on inclusion, turn inward and better understand themselves to create better teams. Outside of his campus work, Lawrence started the Goldwin Foundation, which provides funding for national children's hospitals to purchase equipment outside of their budget and champion underfunded research. He's also an international DJ, owner of an energy drink company, a husband and a father. To Lawrence, all this work is connected because he's serving people, whether it's creating a special event through his music or sitting in on a board meeting at a hospital. He advises people to never underestimate their own potential. Giving yourself the opportunity to experience a multitude of things makes you a well-rounded, better person.

If there's one underlying theme in Vic's life, it's that he works relentlessly to help others. He's an English and History major, but his interests have led him into politics, too. He currently interns at Nebraska Appleseed, a nonprofit organization that fights for justice and opportunity for all Nebraskans. Specifically, Vic works in the child welfare branch, producing a podcast that focuses on the voices of LGBT youth in foster care and highlighting the discrimination they may face in the system. Over the summer, Vic also interned for senator Tammy Baldwin in Washington, D.C., through the Victory Institute, an organization that empowers young LGBT people to become elected officials. After college, Vic wants to be a social worker for a few years to know what it's like on the ground level. He doesn't feel like he's cut out to inform policy without experiencing it personally. With almost 30% of kids in foster care identifying as LGBT, he believes it's important to have people working with them that they can relate to and trust. Although some would call Vic an overachiever, he wants people to know that he has battled with mental health throughout college, and he's proud of that. He's thankful for the university having a great support system and professors who have worked with him, not against him, throughout his four years.

In 2006, Shadid's family came to Lincoln from Morelos, Mexico for her father to pursue a doctorate in genetics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. When it came time for her to think about college, she knew that Nebraska was exactly where she wanted to go. Influenced by her father's studies, she was naturally attracted to science, declaring biochemistry as her major. She is one of the few women and students of color in her classes, but she absolutely loves what she does. You can find her outside of class in the biological systems engineering department as an undergraduate researcher working with bio fuels. In the future, she plans to go into the research and development of cosmetic science. Although Shadid's life is packed with her research and studies, this doesn't stop her from pursuing other interests. She's currently a part of the Lambda Theta Nu multicultural sorority, the Cuddle Raptors frisbee team and, of course, the Cornhusker Marching Band as a rank leader in the piccolo section. The electric feeling of performing in front of 90,000+ people every game day is incomparable. As her last year in the band comes to an end, she's thankful to have played alongside such a dedicated, hardworking group.

Daffnie always doodled as a kid, but she never pursued art until college. Her minimal training didn't stop her from working hard to catch up with other students. Last fall, though, an unexpected hurdle appeared: she began losing feeling in both her legs. She now has pain throughout most of her body. During daily flair ups, her legs will start to tingle and eventually go numb. Sometimes it's manageable, but other times she's unable to leave the house. She's seen many doctors and neurologists, but they have yet to pinpoint the issue. Initially, Daffnie was very self-conscious when losing an ability that she's had for 20 years, but she's learning to embrace it. She uses her condition as an artistic influence. When she couldn't move at all, she created a painting series featuring things around her home, from a portrait of herself slumped over on the couch to a 6 foot by 6 foot painting of her ceiling fan. She had to lie down while creating the series, and her roommates helped turn the canvas when she finished painting different sections. Beyond personal work, Daffnie is the president of the UNL Art League, a group that explores galleries together, and an illustrator for the Daily Nebraskan.

Most students come to college after graduating high school and leaving their parent's house, but that's not the case for Lindsey. After having a kid and separating from her husband, she wanted to prove to herself and her daughter that it was possible to still get a degree. She quickly became involved on campus, especially with the Women's Center, and she's currently the student parent coordinator. There are particular struggles these nontraditional students face, such as class scheduling. It's very difficult to enroll in classes outside of 9 to 3 when there's a child to take care of before and after school. Lindsey has submitted a proposal to ASUN to make priority registration for student parents more accessible. In 2015, she founded the Student Parent Association as a space where parents can come together to support each other, create family-friendly programming and find campus resources. They've hosted a student parent welcome during Big Red Welcome week as a more relaxed and comfortable environment for students and their families to have fun. Lindsey wants other student parents to know that they're not alone, and if they'd like to get involved to email spa@unl.edu.

Alexis has always loved clothes, from creating miniature pieces for her Barbies to designing her own fashion line, LAME Eccentrics. You can see some of her latest work at lameeccentrics.com. She loves standing out and expressing herself through her appearance and art. She has a design studio in The Creative's Lounge, a new space downtown for local artists, and she has displayed her pieces at First Friday shows. She hopes to expand her shows to include live models and her creation process during the exhibit. After just turning 20, Alexis doesn't think she's too young to start a fashion collection. She believes that if you love something, start as early as possible and grow with your passion. If you know what you want to do, you should go for it. When she's not working on her art, she's taking Taekwando classes at the Rec or attending meetings for the Afrikan People's Union.

After visiting the Raikes School of Computer Science and Management, Jessee fell in love. After coming to NEBRASKA, he filled his time with any opportunity available. He claims his life is just like his dining hall habits: he puts a lot on his plate. He's a part of the aerospace club, a manager for the school's capstone design studio, works remotely for IBM, is working on an app and, surprisingly, is a part of the ballroom dancing club. Even more surprising is students from the Raikes School make up a large chunk of the members. He realized that he should fill his time with more than just work, so he turned to dancing after a couple friends encouraged him to join. He's a member of the competitive segment of the club, but there are casual classes on Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. in the Union's ballroom. He's glad he joined, and he encourages students to "take risks and explore new opportunities. Change happens outside of your comfort zone."

When Michael came to Lincoln for school, she did not expect it to be much different from her hometown, Des Moines, but she quickly grew to love the university, city, and particularly, the local art scene. As a sophomore, she discovered the Tugboat Art Gallery and dreamed of being a featured artist some day. A few years later, it became a reality. Although Michael has been a part of multiple shows, one of her favorites was "Chew on This," an interactive piece inspired by a cow tongue from an earlier project. She had a bizarrely personal moment when thinking about the cow's tongue, and it made her reflect on the responsibility and helplessness she feels about being environmentally conscious. Installation visitors were given instructions to chew on wheat grass while interacting with the tongue and discussing their thoughts and experience with the people around them.

Michael is thankful for Lincoln's welcoming art community and her opportunities to grow as an artist and learn even more off campus.

Michael Johnson is a senior majoring in ADPR and art from Des Moines, Iowa.

Alex is from South Dakota, but he’s been a Husker fan his whole life. His mother forced him to even consider other colleges, but he always knew exactly where he’d go. In fact, he loves NEBRASKA so much that he spends his time being as involved as humanly possible. He works with admissions, has been a campus host since freshman year, has been on the board of directors for the student alumni association for three years, is a part of the Iron N student group, was nominated for homecoming royalty and just wrapped up his role as a New Student Enrollment leader. It’s no surprise that his mantra is “stay away from your dorm room.” Alex also gives recruiting tours for football on game days, and one of his dreams is to coach Husker football. There’s no doubt that Alex is a lot like other students with his love for our school and sports, but he is unique in his extreme involvement and passion for people. He tries to average three to five new friends a week, and if you see him on campus, definitely say hello.

From the moment she stepped foot on campus, Emma was involved. Attending a Red Letter Day prior to her freshman year, she was encouraged to apply to be a CEHS ambassador. Though she was originally hesitant to attend the university, her experiences throughout her time here have reaffirmed Nebraska as her home. In Lincoln, Emma is heavily involved as a student researcher, beyond her organizational and community involvement and on-campus positions. She prides herself on her hard work ethic, and sees this determination present in many of her peers. She notes how many opportunities this university has available, and encourages students to take advantage of them all.

Coming to college as a first-generation student, Carina truly did not know what to expect. The success she has experienced on campus primarily came from her personal initiative, especially being willing to ask questions. In her high school, Carina was surrounded by people like her. The university, though, was the first time she realized how much of a minority she was. During her time on campus, she has found people that she relates to and has built meaningful friendships. She is fiercely passionate about all that she does. She connects with many other students based on their similar drive and motivation to accomplish goals. To the campus community, Carina encourages, “No matter what obstacles are in your way, know that with perseverance you can accomplish anything."

Hailing from a smaller town in Nebraska, Yajaira was overwhelmed when first stepping foot on campus. As she’s advanced in her college career, she began to create a family at the university, making this once seemingly huge campus not feel so large. Her time in Lincoln has taught her the importance of adaptability. From schedule changes to cultural shifts, she sees a need for everyone to develop this vital skill of flexibility. Yajaira has made it her mission to learn in hopes to help others. Though she’s pleased with the changes she’s seen on a university-wide scale since her freshman year, she believes action falls on all of us, not just administration and faculty, to make this campus more welcoming to all. Whether encouraging a high school student to pursue college or being more intentional in our inclusivity, we can all always get better.

Moving from Turkey to Nebraska with her family shortly before her freshman year of college, Ceren experienced a slightly different move than other international students. One of her favorite parts about Nebraska is being surrounded by nice people. The people she met after her move were open-minded and welcoming. This kindness is something Ceren also emulates to everyone she meets. Though she knew moving to a new country would present a lot of changes, she was surprised by how many friends she was able to make from all around the world. She knows her higher education experience in Turkey would be vastly different than her time at Nebraska, but she wouldn’t change it for the world.

For many, attending college can be a culture shock. Hailing from Nebraska, Jazmin did not assume she would have this same experience at a university in Lincoln. Jazmin’s high school was predominately comprised of minority students, much different than this university. The tradition and pride she holds for her Mexican heritage has allowed her to connect with many people, especially international students. What started as a Facebook search for students with an interest in soccer has bloomed into friendships with people from across the state, nation and world. Throughout her time at NEBRASKA, she has made a concerted effort to be a better listener in an attempt to learn from others. These listening skills especially aided her during her research abroad, studying hyenas in Botswana. “You can’t enter their country with your perspective,” she warns, encouraging peers to be more open-minded both domestically and internationally.

Coming to the university with a set life plan in mind, Steven was thrown for a loop when he decided to change majors during his junior year. After confiding in academic advisors and friends, he realized his goals had shifted. This sense of depth in conversations is something he’s tried to implement throughout his time at the university. He noticed that many people he encountered had a shield up when conversing with others, and stayed comfortable with surface-level conversations. Steven, though, has aimed to dive right in and show his true self to everyone he meets quickly in their relationship. From bridging gaps between international and domestic students to facilitating conversations at new student enrollment, he thrives on the connections he builds with others on campus. Steven recognizes that in order to engage in diversity, you have to reach out. If you only stick with your friend group in your comfort zone, you’ll likely miss out on incredible friendships and lessons. “So say ‘hi’ and start a conversation…you’ll be surprised how many doors it opens for you.”

With a smile from ear to ear and infectious enthusiasm, Nurik is one to leave an impression on everyone he meets. Coming to the university as an international student, he saw himself as self-sufficient and was always helping others. In college, however, the tables turned - requiring Nurik to be the one asking for assistance. Whether questioning his domestic-student roommates why a joke was funny or having another set of eyes read over his paper in the writing center, he is very appreciative of the academic and social support he’s received in Lincoln. Originally, Nurik sought comfort in students similar to him, like in the Russian Club on campus. Soon, though, he realized the importance of immersing himself in the diversity of campus to strengthen his understanding of himself and American culture. As for most every student, freshman year was full of lessons about independence and growing up. Through it all, Nurik faces adversity with a smile on his face. The kindness he prides himself on demonstrating is what he feels connects him most to other Huskers. For all faculty, staff and students at the university, Nurik offers one piece of advice - “Smile more.”

With a vast vocabulary and eloquent voice, Christian has always had a love for words. Whether competing as a member of the university speech and debate team or walking the halls of Andrews for his classes as an English major, he largely defines his time at the university through his academic experience. Christian loves his field of study, because, “Everyone takes an English class, so you meet people from all walks of life.” Getting to know new people through classes and his on-campus job at the University Bookstore, he prides himself as being a friendly face on campus. Though his positivity is evident through his smile and presence, college hasn’t always been pleasant for Christian. From being gay to struggles with body image and mental health, the once sturdy person Christian saw himself as came to a crumbling halt. By seeking support from friends, family and the counseling and psychological services office in the health center, he came to peace with himself and started on a new path. Changing his ways and adjusting to the level of freedom he has in college taught him the importance of not putting false expectations on himself or others. Christian is now confident in who he is and the role he plays at this university, because no matter where he and his fellow students end up in the world, they will always be Huskers.