Provides for future initiatives and increased engagement opportunities that benefit Campus Rec programs, events, and facilities.
For many, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln feels like home.
But for one passionate individual, it represents not just an academic institution but also a personal journey that has come full circle.
Amy Lanham set foot on the UNL campus as a biology student in 1991, eager to explore the world of medicine.
To park her car conveniently on campus, she took a student job at the Campus Recreation Center. A job born out of practicality soon evolved into something greater.
"It was an on-campus job, and I loved it,” Lanham said. “I realized campus recreation could be a profession."
Fast forward to today. Lanham serves as director of Campus Recreation at UNL, overseeing a program that serves not just students but also an entire community. The Campus Recreation Center on City Campus is a 300,000-square-foot facility with Cook Pavilion at its heart, a space that has supported both athletics and recreation for decades.
Despite its grand scale, the center is not without its challenges.
“The design of the building, crafted in the early 1980s and 1990s, no longer meets the needs of today’s diverse and evolving student population,” Lanham said. “Any opportunity we have to address current student needs, we want to take advantage of it.”
A major renovation of the Campus Recreation Center was just the beginning of an ongoing effort to better serve students. But the work doesn’t stop at Campus Recreation’s City Campus location. The vision extends to East Campus, the Recreation and Wellness Center and the outdoor spaces across the campus.
These developments are made possible through gifts to the Campus Recreation Development Fund. Through this fund, supporters play a critical role in the innovation and growth of Campus Recreation at UNL.
“The [Campus Recreation] Development Fund is really about educating alumni and students who’ve worked with us on how their gifts can help us improve the places and spaces that are so vital for current students,” Lanham said.
For Lanham, every gift — large or small — holds significant meaning.
"Whether it's $5 or $5 million, it's about the positive interaction someone had with Campus Recreation that inspired them to give back," Lanham said. “That spirit of generosity not only helps enhance the physical spaces but also leaves a lasting impact on the individuals who pass through them.”
The sense of community found within UNL’s Campus Recreation program extends beyond just students. Faculty, staff and community members benefit from Campus Recreation, helping create a diverse and welcoming environment for everyone.
The impact is felt by people of all ages and backgrounds, and the department’s reach spans the entire university experience — from freshmen to alumni.
“My vision is to have Campus Recreation be a part of every Husker story,” Lanham said. “It may look different for everyone, but the goal is to help students thrive in every part of their life.”
This fund shall be used for the benefit and support of a partnership between the University of Nebraska and the villages in Madagascar through the Engineering Without Borders-USA University of Nebraska Student Chapter, College of Engineering.
Your education at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a time for firsts.
It’s where you find lifelong friends and discover your future. Sometimes, those discoveries happen in the classroom. At a university that is home to more than 20,000 students, however, it can be difficult to find your place.
That’s where recognized student organizations (RSOs) can make a life-changing difference. With nearly 500 active student-led organizations — ranging from groups that pursue hobbies, such as the UNL Aerospace Club, to exciting sports clubs like Pickleball Club UNL — there are countless opportunities to help students feel at home at UNL.
“RSOs make a big place like UNL a little smaller because you find something that allows you to engage and connect with the community,” said Veronica Riepe, director of the Student Leadership, Involvement, and Community Engagement office at UNL.
Riepe said RSOs offered on campus provide students with a multitude of options to pursue interests that are important to them. Engineering majors may find a home to pursue academic interests in an engineering RSO like the UNL chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB-NU). Other students may find their purpose by getting involved in organizations like Camp Kesem UNL or Students Together Against Cancer.
“When you’re in the classroom, you’re learning so much, and then you get the opportunity to come into an RSO and really apply what you’ve learned,” Riepe said. “It also allows you to experiment and find things that might be of interest to you that you might not have explored before.”
These organizations also provide students with the outlet to make a difference and learn how to become leaders within the UNL community and beyond.
For Thomas Haar, a junior chemical engineering student from Rapid City, South Dakota, getting involved in RSOs has energized his college experience.
Haar is president of the UNL chapter of EWB-NU. The local chapter, which serves as a smaller chapter within Engineers Without Borders USA, is working to make a worldwide impact through two major projects: the Zambia Bridge Project and the Madagascar Solar Project.
The two projects aim to connect communities in Zambia via a pedestrian suspension bridge and install small solar power systems at schools in Madagascar to provide power for lights and computers, respectively.
Haar traveled to Madagascar following his freshman year to see the firsthand impact of his organization’s work. He said the trip showcased the importance of the work he was doing.
“It was really amazing because we had students, teachers and parents in the community coming up to us and telling us how thankful they are and how much they appreciate the work being done,” Haar said.
On campus, Haar said the RSO — made up of 30 to 40 students primarily from the College of Engineering — is always an exciting place to be. He added that each weekly meeting provides members with the opportunity to apply what they’re learning in the classroom to solve real-world problems.
“I think our members really enjoy doing something that they know will actually be implemented,” he said. “When I come to meetings, people are really interested in doing things like wiring diagrams or bridge calculations about stress because they know it will make a difference.”
For organizations like EWB-NU, generous gifts and support are critical to advancing its mission.
Haar said the organization’s major projects are projected to cost a combined $350,000 to complete. Through gifts from donors, EWB-NU can continue advancing these projects, covering the cost for materials and travel for its members and professional advisers.
“We do a lot of work during the school year, but ultimately the speed is also kind of affected by how fast we’re able to raise money to get these supplies to build a bridge and put in solar panel systems,” he said.
Haar added that these gifts have a tangible impact on communities thousands of miles away. They could help spark learning for students in Madagascar through a solar-powered classroom or ultimately connect communities to critical resources in Zambia through a pedestrian bridge.
“It has a human impact,” Haar said. “It’s really cool to see that there’s power within one individual to be able to increase the quality of life or the quality of a student’s education. You are ultimately making a change with your donation.”
Riepe said RSOs across UNL are making an impact in countless ways, all while providing its members with lifelong memories.
“Someone’s affiliation with their university isn’t always tied to their major,” she said. “Sometimes the best memories, if you look on your phone at pictures from college, aren’t coming from sitting in the classroom.”
By supporting these organizations, Riepe said donors can keep enabling students to keep doing great things.
“Every little bit helps, and the students, in my humble opinion, are great stewards of the dollars that are donated.”
Come together with Huskers around the world to raise money for critical causes during the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's seventh annual Glow Big Red. Click the link below to learn more about how to make your gift.
For many college students, choosing where to study can be overwhelming.
The choice could be clear, or it could come from a gut feeling. For Celia Owen, a senior marketing major at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, that moment happened during a family trip, leading her from Geneva, Illinois, to UNL’s vibrant campus.
"I had a feeling this was where I wanted to go," Owen said.
“I honestly didn’t expect much, but once I stepped onto the campus, I just felt it,” Owen said. “The community was amazing, the campus had a great vibe and it felt like a place I could see myself growing. I had a feeling this was where I wanted to go.”
Owen is now a proud Husker, enrolled in the College of Business and deeply involved in Alpha Kappa Psi (AKPsi). This professional fraternity, with roots in the College of Business, plays a pivotal role in shaping student careers and fostering community.
The fraternity’s work extends beyond professional growth, though. It also has a strong focus on brotherhood and social connection. AKPsi, with its diverse group of members — ranging from business majors to biology majors to journalism majors and beyond — creates a place where students from all disciplines can come together.
AKPsi at Nebraska has ambitious plans for the future, but they face challenges, primarily in terms of funding and chapter numbers.
“We’re aiming to increase our numbers,” Owen said. “It’s been tough, but we’re doing everything we can to build up the chapter. Every donation from Glow Big Red and every piece of support helps us move closer to that goal.”
“Our chapter is incredibly thankful for the generous support of Glow Big Red,” Owen said.
In previous years, donations from Glow Big Red have provided members with opportunities to attend the fraternity’s national convention, Elevate. This year, donations will be used for attending Elevate, funding recruitment and brotherhood events, buying study night supplies and funding the alumni banquet, Yellow Rose.
“Our chapter is incredibly thankful for the generous support of Glow Big Red,” Owen said. “Their contributions make a real difference in the lives of our members by helping us grow as leaders, professionals and individuals.”
Make a lasting impact on students involved in Greek life by making a gift to the UNL Fraternity and Sorority Education Fund today.
The fraternity and sorority community at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln represents 20% of the student body. Being involved in Greek life has many benefits, but like most things in life it also comes with a trade-off. Students must juggle participating in their Greek chapters, extracurriculars, their academic life and financial responsibilities.
Camryn Kelly, who serves as vice president of academic achievement for the Panhellenic Association Executive Council, has seen how students have been impacted when attempting to balance their lives in college.
“There’s a financial responsibility behind being a fraternity or sorority that adds an extra financial responsibility on top of tuition to a lot of members,” Kelly said.
For many students, juggling the cost of their chapter along with tuition costs can be stressful. Students are willing to make sacrifices to stay in their chapters because of the opportunities they are given through Greek life.
“Without their chapters, they wouldn't have access to leadership opportunities, philanthropic opportunities and all the networking it provides them,” Kelly said.
Liem Wills, a sophomore in Delta Gamma, is one student who has felt her life change dramatically since joining her chapter. Without this experience, she would not have had the college experience she had hoped for.
Through her involvement in the chapter, Wills has had the opportunity to take on leadership roles, which she deeply values. Above all, it has provided her with a platform that fosters her self-development.
“Through my chapter, I have had the opportunity to hold two positions: DG Dialogues and CARE chair,” Wills said. “Both roles involve addressing difficult topics and learning how to approach them thoughtfully … Delta Gamma does an exceptional job of finding roles that match each member’s strengths while offering both challenge and growth.”
Through the Fraternity and Sorority Education Fund, donors have helped alleviate the financial stress that may come with being a member of a chapter on campus. Every year, members are selected for academic scholarships and given that award at the Greek Gala.
In turn, students like Wills can be part of something they are proud of.
“I’ve realized that there’s nothing like being part of something bigger than yourself,” Wills said. “Each person works so hard to make our chapter stronger every week, and it’s something I am incredibly proud to be a part of.”
“There have been situations where students were going to have to drop out of their fraternity and sorority, and those scholarships have allowed them to stay in it,” Kelly said. “For some people, it’s the extra boost they need to stay in college.”
You can make a lasting impact on students at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln by donating to the Fraternity and Sorority Education Fund today.
A gift to this fund provides the museum with much-needed general support and is available immediately for the museum’s areas of greatest need.
History is part of the fabric of Lincoln, Nebraska.
Located on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s East Campus, the International Quilt Museum has become a worldwide hub celebrating the history and artistry of quilt making. IQM is home to the world’s largest collection of quilts, holding more than 10,000 quilts and other objects from over 65 different countries.
The collection, which includes objects from the 1600s through today’s contemporary quilt making, emphasizes a shared history of our world in a way that no other medium can, said Leslie Levy, Ardis and Robert James Executive Director of IQM.
“We are stewarding people’s lives, history, artistry and talent,” Levy said. “We oftentimes say that quilts are the textile pages of our shared history.”
Showcasing that shared history has been the mission for IQM since its establishment. IQM first opened its doors in 1997 as the International Quilt Study Center along with a collection of nearly 1,000 donated quilts from Nebraska natives Ardis and Robert James.
IQM has continued to expand and evolve since its establishment over two decades ago. With an extensive collection of antique and contemporary quilts, IQM curates a variety of rotating and traveling exhibitions to educate the museum’s diverse audience.
“We have six gallery spaces that we’re programming, and our exhibitions change every three to four months on a rotating basis. This encourages people to visit frequently because there is always something exciting to see,” Levy said.
That excitement begins with the museum’s curators, according to Levy.
“We love our curators, and they love to research what is in our collection,” she said. “Our curators enjoy researching and pulling those themes and concepts together to help educate our visitors.”
Each year, IQM welcomes visitors from all 50 states, along with international visitors from over 40 countries. With such a robust audience, Levy said IQM is able to provide a deeper understanding about the cultural and historical impact of quilt making.
“Something we love to hear from our guests when walking through the museum is ‘You call that a quilt?’ The genre and world of quilting is much broader than the traditional connotation of the word ‘quilt’. Our curators strive to highlight new developments in contemporary quilt making as well as putting the historical and international anthology of quilts into context for our visitors,” Levy said.
These interactions and opportunities to showcase the significance of quilt making is a central mission of IQM. Levy said donor support has been critical for the museum as it continues to steward its growing collection of quilts and other historical objects for the next generation.
“Donor dollars fund us every single day,” Levy said. “When I’m visiting with donors, it sounds almost cliché, but their support keeps this museum running every single day.”
At the heart of that donor support is a shared passion and desire to showcase the past, present and future of quilt making found within IQM.
“They want to share the beauty of this museum and our collection with the world,” Levy said. “Our doors wouldn’t be open without the incredible generosity of our donors and supporters.”
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is a non-credit program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln that offers educational opportunities for adults 50 and older.
OLLI needs your support to advance the organization and successfully meet the growing demands today and tomorrow.
After people retire from their careers, approximately 50% of individuals over the age of 60 are at risk of social isolation and one-third will experience some degree of loneliness later in life, according to BMC Public Health. It is essential to discover a sense of purpose to maintain a fulfilling life.
Thankfully the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute provides a chance for individuals to do just that. OLLI is a non-credit program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln that offers educational opportunities for adults 50 and older.
“Shortly into my retirement, it seemed natural that joining OLLI would be enjoyable and help fulfill my passion for learning,” said Mary Casner. “I agree with two statements I found on the OLLI webpage: ‘Curiosity never retires’ and ‘OLLI is for the love of learning.’”
Bob Michl, Director of OLLI, encountered a similar challenge when he realized he hadn’t planned for life after retirement. Yet, as a former high school principal, he already had a deep passion for learning, which is why he knows, based upon firsthand experience, how beneficial this opportunity is to its members.
“The reality is that research says, if you're going to improve your quality or maintain the quality of life as a senior, you have to stay physically active, mentally active and socially active.”
“That’s why we think OLLI is such an important component in people’s lives because we can offer all of these types of things,” said Michl.
With the help of over 300 volunteers and nine curriculum teams, OLLI can provide a wide variety of experiences and curriculum for its members to learn in a personalized way.
“When each new course catalog is posted, my first thought is that I wish I could enroll in nearly all of the class offerings,” said Casner.
Not only does the program provide general educational classes, but it also allows members to be active, travel and socialize.
“We teach people how to kayak and paddleboard, rock climb and we go on hikes and all these different types of things, just really creating a more balanced approach,” said Michl.
With a community of over 1,600 members, the strong connections foster a supportive environment where individuals can find the connection and camaraderie they seek. This sense of community and shared curiosity is at the heart of what makes their experiences meaningful.
“Many members want to get together and just go out to eat and have lunch and socialize…we have a lot of people that show up on Zoom before class starts, or even in person before class starts, just to talk to other people,” Michl said.
“That's important for us, we do have that sense of belonging here.”
Thanks to donor support, OLLI can continue offering the valuable experience of learning to all of its members, no matter what circumstance they may be in. OLLI is funded through the OLLI Development Fund, which is used for scholarships, volunteer appreciation gifts and recruiting events.
“Our focus with using those funds is to provide scholarships for people who are low income or on a fixed income and may not otherwise get a chance to belong to the organization,” said Michl.
Through the development fund, OLLI has goals to expand the organization and ensure that it is not a secret to the Lincoln community.
“In order to serve everybody the way we want to serve them, every donation is greatly appreciated,” Michl said.
To support ongoing educational opportunities for members at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, please consider donating to the OLLI Development Fund today.
