UNO Magazine Spring 2021

SPRING 2021

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TODAY IS THE DAY TO STOP SAYING “SOMEDAY.” Felicia Webb, Graduate Gerontology, BMS Social Gerontology, MA University of Nebraska at Omaha My today started when I realized dreams don’t have a time limit. At 48 years old, I decided to go back to school. As soon as I reached out to the University of Nebraska at Omaha they grabbed my hand. The professors were all willing to help. Before, I thought my education was something I couldn’t attain. I was busy trying to make a living; I wasn’t smart enough. But one day I felt smart enough to try and never looked back. With my online program I felt like I was in classroom with other classmates, but from within the four walls of my home. I did my schoolwork everywhere: airports, traveling, at home.

Wherever I was, I was walking into a classroom and never felt alone. The impact of the people I’ve never met face to face is just as strong as if I’d stood there and shook their hands.

150+ online programs. online.nebraska.edu

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IN EVERY ISSUE

4 Chancellor 6 Alumni Association 10

18 32

Philanthropy Matters

20 Athletics 54

Class Notes

FEATURES

14 Scenes 24 Keepin’ On

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30

Events

38 Successes

48

42 Updates 46

Alumni Album

48 Archives

52 VOL. 12, NO. 1 1,000 WORDS A picture says it all, right? Almost.

We still needed 1,000 words for this issue. Count away if you don’t believe us (but not the ads!).

CREDITS ABOUT UNO MAGAZINE SUBMIT RECORD CHANGE

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In the Ark

SPRING 2021

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CHANCELLOR

Message from Chancellor Jeffrey Gold, who leaves his UNO post June 30.

PRESIDENTS & CHANCELLORS

DANIEL JENKINS 1909-26

W. GILBERT JAMES 1926-27

KARL WETTSTONE 1927-28

ERNEST EMERY 1928-30

WILLIAM SEALOCK 1931-35

ROWLAND HAYNES 1935-48

MILO BAIL 1948-65

LELAND TRAYWICK 1965-67

KIRK NAYLOR 1967-71

JOHN BLACKWELL 1971-72

RON ROSKENS 1972-77

DEL WEBER 1977-97

NANCY BELCK 1997-2006

JOHN CHRISTENSEN 2006-2017

JEFFREY GOLD 2017-2021

Jenkins

Roskens, Bail, Weber, Naylor

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Weber, Christensen, Gold

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ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

First in the Family

2020 Alumni Citation recipient Tom Hagel

HIRING PART-TIME TEACHER ASSISTANTS

For more information call the UNO Child Care Center at 402.554.3398

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Virtual Mavs on the Move

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ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

�op o� your r�sum� with a high quality professional certificate program!

Virtual Commencement

STRATEGIC SALES MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE • Five half-day sessions • Next program begins April 9 • In-person at UNOCollege of Business Administration or via Zoom • Fee: $1,495

miniMBA CERTIFICATE

Get the UNO App

• • • •

Five full-day sessions Next program begins April 1 Virtual via Zoom Fee: $2,495

For information on certificate programs and custom leadership or business programs, visit

cba.unomaha.edu/execed

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Lee Denker departs

SHOW THE O

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PHILANTHROPY MATTERS

PHILANTHROPY MATTERS

Philanthropy supports UNO’s DHS Center of Excellence for Terrorism Prevention & Counterterrorism Research, led by Gina Ligon.

Al and Beverly Thomsen honor UNO’s past

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PHILANTHROPY MATTERS

Gifts from Mammel Foundation, Rod Rhoden, Union Pacific Foundation expand CBA’s home.

1,390 gifts

1,050 donors

$193,873 raised

The Webster legacy lives.

Will yours?

For 100 years, the Webster family has helped Omaha and its business community. Their positive influence on the city’s students has lasted nearly as long. In 1923, John R. Webster started a fund to help then-University of Omaha students pay for their education. The name of the school has changed, but the impact of his generosity has not. Students at the University of Nebraska at Omaha are benefitting from his fund nearly a century later.

You have the same opportunity to make the same kind of impact. To find out how, visit us online at NUFoundation.org/giftplanning or call a gift planning officer at the University of Nebraska Foundation at 800-432-3216.

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SCENES

SCENES

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SCENES

GLACIER CREEK BARN

SCENES

MBSC BAXTER CHAPEL

NATIVE GARDEN

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SCENES

SCENES

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ATHLETICS

VICTORIES

Pittsburgh Penguin Jake Guentzel scores on proposal to fellow grad Natalie Johnson.

Baseball Coach Evan Porter welcomes son.

John Rosso lifts Stanley Cup with NHL Champ Tampa Bay.

ATHLETICS

FIELDS OF DREAMS

UNO opens baseball/softball complex.

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HOCKEY

ATHLETICS

MEN’S BASKETBALL

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Baxter Arena hosts all NCHC teams in 40-game season-opening pod.

Mavs battle Top 10 Creighton, Kansas.

IN MEMORIAM UNO loses all-time greats Jimmy Jones (center, front), Joe Arenas.

ATHLETICS

MEN’S SWIMMING UNO adding men’s team.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Carrie Banks takes head coach reins.

VOLLEYBALL January start with hopes of April Summit championship.

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KEEPIN’ ON

KEEPIN’ O

THROUGH CO

ON

OVID

KEEPIN’ ON

TESTING

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KEEPIN’ ON

TEACHING

LEARNING

KEEPIN’ ON

SERVING

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THIS IS UNO

There’s no belltower, but this is UNO — the 525-acre Glacier Creek Preserve northwest of Omaha.

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EVENTS

MOVE-IN DAY

EVENTS

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Meals for quarantined students

Durango Days — distanced

Postelection student broadcast, UNO TV studio

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EVENTS

A “GREASY” AUGUST RETURN TO

NIGH

THE DR

EVENTS

SCHOOL WITH DRIVE-IN AT BAXTER

HT AT

RIVE-IN

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EVENTS

New city buses include campus stop.

AFROTC raises flag flown over U.S. Capitol; march during 24-hour POW/MIA vigil.

EVENTS

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NU Regent Jack Stark tours campus, rides Maverick shuttle.

Union Pacific employees discuss railroad real estate with students near Golden Spike Monument in Iowa.

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EVENTS

POW Wow Dancers, Elmwood Park

EVENTS

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Maverick Landing Mural

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SUCCESSES

GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

SUCCESSES

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Chuck Hagel forum has brought notable faces to UNO, including Joe Biden, John Kerrey.

Despite pandemic, UNO served its largest student body in nearly 30 years.

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SUCCESSES

MAVERICK IN THE MAKING SCHOLARSHIPS

CFAM musical “Songs For A New World” produced, streamed by students/faculty/staff.

SUCCESSES

Omaha Magical Society donates 1,000+ books to Criss Library.

Internationally celebrated Samuel Bak to provide 500+ pieces to establish UNO museum for study and discussion of human rights.

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UPDATES

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Statue of UNO founding President Daniel Jenkins erected.

Paul Davis’ Urban Health Opportunities Program looks to crack the mold from which most physicians emerge.

UPDATES

What once was the College of Education now is the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences.

ROSKENS

LEADERSHIP CHANGES New roles for, (from left) EMILY HASSENSTAB (interim director, International Programs); MICHELLE TRAWICK (dean, CBA); HESHAM ALI (IS&T dean, retiring); CECIL HICKS (associate VC of Diversity, Equity, Access and Inclusion); JANE MEZA (interim director, Office of Health Security)

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UPDATES

CRISS LIBRARY

CARES Act funds NBDC programs to help state businesses such as Russ Finch of Chadron’s Greenhouse in the Snow.

UPDATES

UNO stayed safely open in 2020 so students could open a book at the library or grab a bite to eat at the Maverick Den.

Union Pacific once put universitybranded placemats in its dining cars. Today, a new program helps its employees earn a degree.

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ALUMNI ALBUM

ALUMNI ROI

Betsy Thomas (’12) featured on “TODAY” for videos for students at Lincoln’s Kooser Elementary.

Rodrigo (’96) and Mary Lopez: United Way of the Midlands Citizens of the Year.

Caleb Ross, Sally Elatta, Waverle Monroe and other alumni show their return on investment from their UNO education.

Beth McGill Presser (’07) and family raise $57,000+ for Feeding America.

ALUMNI ALBUM

HANDS-ON COMMUNICATION UNO offers the only sign language interpreter program in Nebraska, a critical skill during COVID-19 updates from signers including grad Pamela Duncan.

Brent Hassenstab (’12), heart and vascular unit nurse at Nebraska Medicine, was among first to get covid vaccination.

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ARCHIVES

Class of 1923

Redick Hall — UNO’s first home

Milo Bail, far right, planning 1950s campus.

Chemistry Class 1939

ARCHIVES

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YWCA Reading Room 1928 OU Orchestra 1929

50th anniversary celebration

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ARCHIVES

Cheerleaders, 1967

“The Temporaries”

Homecoming, 1960s

Engineering cornerstone laid, 1959

President Rowland Haynes at ASH site, 1937

ARCHIVES

RFK visits, 1960

Student Center Pinball, 1970s

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Showing the O, 1960s

Registration, 1970s

1980s

First parking meter, 1955

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CLASS IN THE NOTES ARK

IN THE ARK

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54

CLASS NOTES

’70

Betty Rose Howell

’72

Pat Anderson

’73

William Steinkamp

’74

Mathia Sanders

’75

Ross Goode

’77

Beverly Jean Elgan

’80

Paul Yochum

’83

Paula Lukowski

’85

Kent Austin

’90

David Craft

’90

David Jahr

’96

Sharon Martin

’97

Chris Loofe

’98

Anthony Tracek-King

’01

Jennifer Lynn

’03

Jeff Miller

’08

Scott Herrig

’11

Matt and Megan Nelson

’11

Geno Rodregus Vaughn

’12

Colby Jensen

’14

Quinn Eaton

’16

Nick Beaulieu

’70

Brandon McDermott

’20

Bob Morris

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