Don
Actuarial Science · Rusinga, Kenya
As the University of Nebraska–Lincoln seniors wrap up their final tests, papers, and projects as Huskers, many are reflecting on what their time on campus has meant to them. Every senior became familiar with the campus in their own unique way. Some of them grew up visiting it for football games and attending field trips and festivals. Others saw it briefly during Red Letter Days and New Student Enrollment. And some experienced it for the first time when they landed here at the beginning of their international student experience. Don is one of those international students. He came to Lincoln from Rusinga, Kenya. While initially, he picked Nebraska for its actuarial science program, he found more than just a highly ranked course of study — he found a community. Don felt the friendliness of the UNL community before he even started his classes. As he prepared to pack up his life and move to Lincoln, he kept in close contact with a UNL Housing employee who helped him as he decided where to live on campus. "It doesn't matter what time I sent emails — she'd be there to respond," Don said, "And we built a friendship on that." Don's Husker community continued to grow when he got on campus. From NSE events connecting international and domestic students to desk jobs at residence halls and making new friends over meals at the dining centers, his time on campus allowed him to build a life-changing network of friends, professors and professionals. His philosophy is that every interaction he shares with someone else is worthwhile, whether it's a brief conversation in class or a long talk over a cup or two of coffee. Even though his time as a Husker student ends this week, Don hopes to stay close to campus after graduation so he can visit the friends he has made during his time at Nebraska. "Building a community was so easy and so much fun," Don said, "And I think that's the most valuable experience I've ever had in my life."
Read all student storiesAaron
Director of Cornhusker Speech & Debate · Lincoln, Nebraska
Since its inception 151 years ago as the Palladian Debate Society, the Cornhusker Speech & Debate team has grown into a nationally recognized program that regularly produces Big Ten and national champions.
Dr. Aaron Duncan is the director for Cornhusker Speech & Debate and has been with the team since 2005. When he first came to UNL, he was familiar with the group’s impressive history and their famous former teammates like speechwriter Ted Sorensen.
Aaron and his fellow coaches develop students from a variety of majors for speech and debate competitions. Students competing in speech perform prepared pieces ranging from persuasive and informative speeches to poetry performance. They may also compete in extemporaneous or impromptu speeches where they are given anywhere from two to 30 minutes to draft a speech based on a current event or quotation. Or, students may compete in the debate round, where they research a specific topic for the entire speech season and go head-to-head against other teams.
“We've debated agricultural policy alternative fuels, immigration policy, diplomacy with China,” Aaron said. “All sorts of different topics.”
This April, Aaron and the Cornhusker Speech & Debate team will host the best of the best speech and debate students from across the country at the annual National Speech Tournament. While the Huskers are excited to share their campus with their competitors, they also look forward to defending their status as one of the nation’s top teams. But while the awards and accolades are rewarding, Aaron loves speech and debate for more than just that.
“Teaching students that mindset of resiliency — to be process-focused, to do great research, to think critically and to strive for constant improvement, is really the outcome that we're seeking as an educational activity,” Aaron said. “And then most of all, we also just want it to be fun.”
Joe
Academic Success Coach · Manila, Philippines
When you sit down for a meeting with Joe, it’s likely you'll talk about food or comic books before you get to anything related to school. His office in the Center for Academic Success and Transition is covered with comic book posters and photos of Filipino cuisine – not to mention the buffet of Asian candies on his desk.
Joe uses his own culture and interests to connect with students and get them talking about themselves. It’s also, he says, to encourage them to value their own backgrounds.
"I use the posters of Filipino cuisine in my office to ask students, ‘What’s on your plate? What’s home-cooked food for you?’ It’s a way for me to engage students to feel welcomed and know that their background, community and memories of home are important.”
As an Academic Success Coach, Joe helps Huskers settle into life at UNL and talk through some of the challenges being a student brings about. He gives emphasis to students who, like himself, are first-generation and come from diverse backgrounds.
“First-generation students are trailblazers in their family and might not have the same support as others. As a coach, I’m here to help those first-year Huskers who maybe haven’t had a family member go to college. I show them what’s possible in our community and give them strategies and tools to be successful.”
Joe, who was born in the Philippines and raised in Southern California, stresses that being a Husker can look a lot of different ways.
“Being a Husker is more than wearing red; everyone brings in a rich background and culture and adds it to the experience,” he explains. “It’s not about trying to become like everyone else; it’s about what’s unique to you that you bring to UNL.”
Joe likes to use himself as an example to show everyone has a unique path – and that’s okay. He took a 15-year break from college before going back to earn his bachelor’s and master's degrees.
“When students say they’re afraid of failing, I always tell them to take it from me: the struggle isn’t the end. There’s always a way to make it through.”
Troy
Alumnus and Nursing Student · Gretna, Nebraska
Troy was surprised to learn that he’d volunteered with Husker Pantry for 5 semesters. The first-year nursing student has always just naturally gravitated toward serving others, dating all the way back to his Boy Scout days growing up.
“I was a Cub Scout when I was little and eventually got my Eagle Scout in high school, so service was always just on the forefront of everything I did when I was a kid.”
Troy came to UNL as an undergrad looking for service opportunities to supplement his interest in a career in healthcare. He eventually landed on pursuing a career in nursing, attracted to the idea of being the person who can work closely with patients to understand their specific needs and concerns.
“They say nurses are the patient’s advocate. So much of nursing is thinking about and talking to your patient and seeing what you can do to personally help them feel better and get back to their normal lives.”
This attention to everyone’s specific needs has made volunteering for the Husker Pantry a great fit for Troy, who says that it has broadened his understanding of different student experiences on campus.
“I’ve had a few different people tell me about their stories and why the pantry is a great resource for them,” he says. “A lot of the people who use the pantry also have dependents. it’s already hard being a student, but having dependents on top of that adds a whole other level.”
The Husker Pantry provides free food and personal items to UNL students, working to increase access to needed items and reduce stigmas around food insecurity. Troy and fellow pantry volunteers help to field incoming online orders, collecting and organizing items to get orders ready for student pickup.
Volunteering with the pantry is an easy way for students to give back on campus, says Troy.
“It can be as little as 2 hours a week, so it’s a great opportunity to get your foot in the door doing service on campus,” he explains. “I’ve been able to help all kinds of students just like myself who have a variety of different needs.”