Seeing your classmates and friends have their lives planned out …
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Seeing your classmates and friends have their lives planned out while you are still trying to figure out yours can be frustrating. That’s a feeling University of Nebraska at Kearney student Isabel Zaruba was all too familiar with.
“By November of my senior year, everyone knew what career path they wanted to take,” Zaruba said. “I didn’t even know what state I wanted to be in, let alone what school I wanted to attend.”
Even though Zaruba was highly involved in high school, she had no idea what her future held.
“I was captain of the cheer squad, president of the student council, president of HOSA, a member of NHS and played sports,” Zaruba said. “I enjoyed being involved, but I did not know what I wanted to do with my life.”
I enjoyed being involved, but I did not know what I wanted to do with my life
It wasn’t until Zaruba volunteered at her local hospital that something clicked. She connected with many people in the physical therapy clinic, who encouraged her to explore the medical field. “The medical field has always been in the back of my mind,” Zaruba said. “Volunteering showed me how health care is a welcoming community, and I began to see myself working in it.”
She applied to UNK because it’s the school her family attended. “When I started receiving scholarships, I was getting really excited about Kearney,” Zaruba said. “I decided to visit campus and realized I loved the people, the faculty and the community.”
Zaruba has no specific major outlined but is on the pre-med track. Without scholarships, Zaruba wouldn’t be able to take advantage of the many programs offered at the College of Arts and Sciences. “Thanks to my scholarships and donors, it was amazing knowing I would not have to pay a dime,” Zaruba said.
Zaruba plans on attending the University of Nebraska Medical Center to eventually become a doctor. “Without donor support, I would not be at UNK studying what I truly want to do,” Zaruba said.
During this process, Zaruba learned to be patient because it is okay not to have your whole life planned out. People’s plans change every day, every hour and every minute.
To see more students like Isabel Zaruba succeed, consider making a gift of any amount to the UNK Fund – Student Scholarships.
Without donor support, I would not be at UNK studying what I truly want to do
A gift to this fund bolsters the general student scholarship aid available to students within any UNK college.
“When we move into careers in the real world, the networking and connections we’ve made are really going to take us to the next level.”
A sense of community on college campuses fosters belonging, support and personal growth. It provides a network of peers, faculty and resources, which can enhance academic success, mental well-being and social connections.
For University of Nebraska at Kearney senior, Marissa Kuehn, the Advertising and Public Relations Club has provided her with the sense of community she’s been longing for during her college years. Holding the position as president of the ADPR Club, Kuehn finds a passion for giving her peers the same sense of community that she feels within the club as well as the chance to network with those who have pursued a career in the advertising and public relations field.
“When we move into careers in the real world, the networking and connections we’ve made are really going to take us to the next level,” said Kuehn.
Kuehn currently works for the Women’s Buying Team at Buckle. Although her work for Buckle doesn’t directly involve advertising and public relations, Kuehn can apply the things she’s learned throughout ADPR Club to help her succeed in her role as a member of the Women’s Buying Team. “If it weren’t for the club and the connections I’ve made, I wouldn’t be able to confidentially say I’m going to stay here in Kearney and apply my knowledge to my current job,” said Kuehn. “Being able to apply the things I’ve learned throughout ADPR Club to my current job is a pretty unique experience.”
One of Kuehn’s favorite events that the ADPR Club puts together is the Meet the Pros event. This is a great opportunity for students to meet with professionals in advertising and public relations, and get feedback on ways they can stand out in the industry and how to improve their portfolios. Kuehn and her peers had the opportunity to hear from professionals that work for big advertising agencies in Lincoln, Kansas City and, even, New York.
“It’s really cool to hear from someone who is living the type of life you see in movies,” said Kuehn, referring to a guest speaker who works for an ad agency in New York. “Knowing that those people started at the same place we did shows us the potential of where we could end up.”
Not only has the ADPR Club provided students with networking opportunities and knowledge they can apply to future careers, but it’s also a comforting place for students to come and build relationships with one another. The ADPR Club has, “provided me with a safe place where I can let go of some of my anxieties,” said Kuehn. “It’s a place where I feel uplifted and encouraged.”
The relationships Kuehn has built with her peers and professors will stick with her throughout the rest of her life. These relationships play a vital role in shaping students’ experiences, fostering personal growth and preparing them for success beyond graduation. Being a part of the ADPR Club is a “very unique experience that I could rave about for a long time,” said Kuehn. “It’s truly awesome, and it’s what has brought me to this department and what continues to keep me here.”
Like many of the great student organizations on campus, ADPR Club requires funding to continue stimulating growth and providing resources for students. “Without funding, we wouldn’t be able to meet with people in our community and continue learning,” said Kuehn.
Your generosity makes a huge difference in many students’ lives and is something that will impact them now and throughout their future. Support students like Kuehn today and help improve their quality of life on campus, providing them with opportunities to discover a sense of community within UNK.
Your contribution will be utilized to help fund student leadership scholarships, student programming initiatives, leadership development programming for all student organizations, dynamic university speakers and all other student life initiatives at UNK.
“I want donors to know that their support is not just a financial contribution, but it’s an investment in the future of students like me…”
William Otte’s pursuit of a fulfilling academic journey was made possible through scholarships.
Growing up in the small town of O’Neill, Nebraska, Otte always knew that he wanted to pursue a higher education. Determined to make his dream a reality, he set out to secure funding for his college career. Otte recalls spending almost every Saturday during the winter of his senior year in high school at a coffee shop filling out scholarship applications.
“If I wanted to go to college, I was going to have to figure out a way to pay for it myself for the most part,” said Otte.
Otte received the Susan T. Buffett Scholarship and the Board Regents Scholarship, which combined to fund a large portion of his higher education. All that was left was to determine which University of Nebraska campus to attend for the next four years. The University of Nebraska at Kearney was the natural choice. His parents met at UNK, the campus was beautiful, and it provided a familiar small-town experience.
Beginning as a chemistry major and now a junior with a history education major and a minor in philosophy, Otte has leveraged his scholarships to explore diverse interests. He plans to continue this exploration in the future through traveling the world and pursuing his career.
Otte plans to become a history and philosophy teacher at a small-town Catholic school. He wants to bring classical liberal arts to smaller communities like his hometown.
“I know that some of the more urban, bigger cities have those (classes), but that’s not always an opportunity in the smaller areas,” Otte said.
Otte wants to teach high school students that there are virtues to strive for, beyond stories, in contemporary and classical literature. When students strive to align their actions with these virtues, he said, they can change their life in the process.
Without financial support, Otte believes his life would be vastly different today. He hopes donors recognize the positive impact scholarships have had on his, and other students’ lives.
“I want donors to know that their support is not just a financial contribution, but it’s an investment in the future of students like me, and the impact of that investment goes far beyond the classroom,” said Otte.
Donating to the University of Nebraska helps fund scholarships that provide freedom for students like Otte to explore their passions and interests. Please consider making a gift today to help us create more opportunities for UNK students.
A gift to this fund bolsters the general student scholarship aid available to students within any UNK college.
Grand Island, Nebraska, native Haley Wiemers embarked on her journey at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Her story not only revolves around her pursuit of dreams but also underscores the pivotal role of donor support in shaping her path to success.
Wiemers attended Grand Island Senior High School, where she discovered her entrepreneurial spirit and embarked on a business venture. She aspired to establish a coffee shop named “The Bean.” Recognizing the need for a robust educational foundation to expand on her entrepreneurial dream, Wiemers, influenced by her parents who are proud UNK alumni, identified the Kearney campus as the ideal place to both chase her dreams and receive a quality education.
Wiemers acknowledges that without donor support, her college journey would have been considerably more difficult. Financial constraints could have stifled her involvement in extracurricular activities, club memberships, and full engagement in her studies. Generous donors have made it possible for her to enjoy a full college experience.
For Wiemers, scholarships are more than financial assistance; they symbolize a trusting investment in her future. She had the privilege of meeting two donors who are dedicated supporters of her education and believe in her potential. Their involvement and encouragement have continually fortified her commitment to success.
Beyond her entrepreneurial ambitions, Wiemers aspires to make a profound impact on her community. “I’m very passionate about kids having an education, I never want financials to be a burden or to be an obstacle that stops them from doing things in their life,” stated Wiemers. Drawing from her high school experiences, where she actively engaged in philanthropy and youth leadership programs, she envisions creating a scholarship program through her coffee shop.
Wiemers’ journey, from a determined high school student with dreams to a college student with a vision of giving back, serves as a potent testament to the impact of donor support on students’ lives and their communities. As she continues to pursue her dreams at UNK, Haley stands ready to leave behind a legacy of success and generosity, embodying the spirit of transformation through education and philanthropy.
A gift to this fund bolsters the general student scholarship aid available to students within any UNK college.
For John Behrens and Alexis Bernthal, the Cyber Club at the University of Nebraska at Kearney is family.
Both Behrens and Bernthal are juniors studying computer science at UNK. Over the last year, Behrens said members of the club and UNK’s Department of Cyber Systems have worked tirelessly to grow the club. That work has paid off, with the club seemingly growing with each weekly meeting.
“A lot of us just want to have a community full of friends with similar interests,” Behrens, the club’s president, said. “I’m so proud of what we’ve worked on to build the club.”
Thanks to the generous gifts from donors during One Day for UNK, the Cyber Club is poised to grow even more. Funds raised this year will help fund Hackathons, weekly meetings and networking opportunities with employers.
“I feel like saying thank you to our donors is the most important thing,” Bernthal said. “I think this motivates more people to do good work and help each other in our community.”
As Behrens and Bernthal reflect on their time in the Cyber Club, they can’t help but think of the lifelong friendships they have created. It’s the kind of community they can call home.
“I’d say that most of my core friends are from the Cyber Club,” Behrens said. “It has been such a positive experience and I didn’t realize I would build the kind of relationships that I have through this club.”
Your support during One Day for UNK impacts the lives of students like Mackenzie. Thank you for making a gift to support UNK’s colleges, student organizations and making this year’s One Day for UNK a success!
Mackenzie Welsh didn’t have to go far to find her second home.
Welsh, a junior communication disorders major with a minor in women and gender studies, grew up in Papillion, NE. She knew she wanted a change of scenery as she pursued higher education, but also wanted to remain close to her family.
The University of Nebraska at Kearney quickly became Welsh’s top choice. The opportunity for an affordable education and proximity to home helped UNK stand out, but Welsh was sold on becoming a Loper after she visited campus for the first time.
“It just had a great hometown feel that I really appreciated when I first visited,” she said.
Once she arrived on campus, Welsh quickly found a family in the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. What started as an attempt to meet new people has now turned into a connection Welsh will carry for the rest of her life.
“It has probably been the best thing about my UNK experience by far,” she said. “I have met the most wonderful human beings. I love our community here and I would 100% say that it is one of the things that has kept me here at UNK.”
Greek life has also given Welsh the opportunity to become a leader on campus. She currently serves as president of the Panhellenic Council. Thanks to the gifts from donors during One Day for UNK, Welsh and the Panhellenic Council have opened the door for more women to experience Greek life by lowering recruitment costs.
She said One Day for UNK provides each chapter with a unique opportunity to come together for a single goal.
“It’s such a huge fundraiser that we can all collaborate on, which doesn’t usually happen,” she said. “I think that has just brought this sense of togetherness and I’m grateful for giving days like this because it’s just so helpful to all of our student organizations. I know that Greek life will benefit greatly from it.”
Your support during One Day for UNK impacts the lives of students like Mackenzie. Thank you for making a gift to support UNK’s colleges, student organizations and making this year’s One Day for UNK a success!
Kiphany Hof and the student health and counseling team at the University of Nebraska at Kearney have a singular goal — to help each student stay healthy in mind and body.
For the UNK counseling team, that means providing quality mental health to each student enrolled at UNK. Services range from offering support to students who are having a difficult time adjusting to college to assisting students with diagnosable mental health disorders.
“We really kind of specialize in what’s going on with students who are in college or this age group,” Hof, associate director of student health and counseling, said. “A lot of our work is done in and around anxiety and depression, academic distress, relationships and eating disorders. Those are some of the common things that we see.”
Hof said research has shown that this new generation of students — raised in a world where constant connection, social media and screen time have become the norm — are reporting the worst mental health symptoms seen in decades.
That, along with the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbated those issues and the need for mental health services. The pandemic forced universities to transition to online counseling and telehealth services, sometimes leading counseling resources for students to become even harder to obtain.
“There are a lot of universities that were not able to keep up with the demand for counseling services, so they went into a major waitlist,” Hof said.
While UNK’s counseling team never found themselves in that position, Hof said she knew this generation of students’ connection to social media meant many did their mental health research online.
“We’re seeing that some of the information students are getting about mental health from social media platforms is not exactly accurate,” she said. “We don’t necessarily want them always getting their information from TikTok, but we also know that’s the kind of place where students turn to for support.”
Hof found a solution to this problem through Togetherall — an online service that combines the community found in a social media platform with the mental health resources needed to reach a new generation of students.
The platform provides students with a community at their fingertips to connect at any time. Students can anonymously share posts, read blogs and even talk with licensed mental health professionals.
“It’s a nice way for students if the counseling center isn’t open when they’re struggling,” she said. “They can hop on Togetherall and get some support.”
Thanks to the gifts made to the UNK Student Health Fund during One Day For UNK, Hof and the UNK Counseling Center were able to implement Togetherall campuswide in 2022. That fall, 250 students enrolled in the service.
Of those students, nearly half said they were not currently seeing a professional mental health counselor. Nearly one-third of enrolled students had a 1:1 interaction with a Togetherall clinician. Those results show that this additional resource has been a critical tool for students.
Hof said the gifts provided from donors to help fund resources like this aren’t just beneficial to students. They’re lifesaving.
“Their donation is actually helping save students’ lives, because so many students are having significant thoughts of suicide and feeling alone,” she said. “It may be that, because of their donations, we could buy this service that is helping somebody not take their life in that moment. I honestly believe that’s true.”
You can support the UNK Student Health Fund and countless other programs and student organizations during One Day for UNK on Oct. 5-6. This 24-hour giving day provides anybody from longtime supporters to recent graduates with an opportunity to positively impact the University of Nebraska at Kearney and its students.
During One Day for UNK, you will have the chance to make an impactful gift that benefits a variety of different areas on campus, including the following:
Visit givingday.unk.edu today to make your gift and help us make this year’s One Day for UNK our biggest, most impactful year yet.
In a family of University of Nebraska–Lincoln alumni, Turner Plugge decided to keep his studies in his hometown of Kearney, Nebraska. The sophomore at the University of Nebraska at Kearney studies business administration with an emphasis in finance and hopes to become a financial adviser post-graduation.
A recipient of the College of Business and Technology Community Scholarship, Turner lived and studied with other members who received this award during their freshman year. Receiving this scholarship not only allowed Turner to immediately have a community of support during his first year away from home, but also allowed him to connect and grow with other like-minded students.
Scholarships like Turner’s are essential in helping students achieve their educational goals and giving them access to opportunities they might not otherwise have. They are a great resource for
students who have financial difficulties and assist in reducing the load of tuition expenses, allowing students to concentrate on their studies and personal development.
“Not worrying as much about money and really focusing on diving deep into what I’m studying has been very helpful,” explained Turner.
The scholarship also gave him access to a group of peers with comparable academic and professional interests. During his first year of college, Turner shared housing and educational opportunities with other scholarship recipients, building a community where he could work together, share ideas and gain knowledge from his peers.
“The Business and Technology Community Scholarship has really propelled me forward and allowed me to afford the classes that I really want to take,” explained Turner. “It’s been extremely helpful to me while giving me a track to do what I really want to do.”
Turner said the realization hit him on his senior scholarship night: “Everyone at first just sees money in their account, but in that moment, I realized that this support was changing my life.” Being able to focus on his classes and build a web of connections has allowed Turner to more vigorously pursue his aspirations of becoming a financial adviser.
Turner continued, “Without support from alumni and donors, a lot of kids like me wouldn’t make it to where they want to be.”
Providing support to the University of Nebraska and its students provides brighter opportunities for the UNK community and creates a web of generational trust between past and present Lopers. Please consider making a donation today to help us provide more opportunities like these to UNK students.
The Donald and Lorena Meier Foundation of Chicago is making a major gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation to create four endowed student scholarship funds and to expand and permanently endow 14 existing scholarship funds. The scholarships will benefit students across the University of Nebraska system who meet the criteria of each.
This article originally appeared on Nebraska Today.
To contribute to any of these Universities and specifically CoJMC at UNL, see the links below:
An additional gift of $755,000 from the Meier Foundation will support the construction of a new television studio and newsroom at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications. It replaces an existing studio and will include a newsroom, television control area and three separate news sets. It will incorporate cutting-edge technology that supports live broadcasts or one-person productions.
A 1941 Husker alumnus, the late Donald “Don” Meier used estate planning to direct assets from his charitable foundation to provide significant support for the University of Nebraska. During their lives, Meier and his late wife, Lorena, gave regularly to the university and established 14 student scholarship funds, the first one being created in 1999.
“The generous support from Donald and Lorena Meier — during their lives and through planned giving — will help make the university even more accessible and affordable for thousands of students,” Chancellor Ronnie Green said. “Support for a new, state-of-the-art TV studio and newsroom will also offer a truly professional experience for journalism students.
“The philanthropic mark made by Don and Lorena on our students and the entire University of Nebraska system will continue for generations.”
The Donald and Lorena Meier Foundation has committed to transfer assets to the University of Nebraska Foundation over the next several years to fulfill the Meiers’ wishes of helping young people achieve their educational goals.
“Don and Lorena Meier cared deeply about Don’s alma mater and assisting students in achieving their own career success and enjoyment,” said David Shoub, president of the Donald and Lorena Meier Foundation. “Over the next 25 years, the foundation plans to provide an estimated $10 million in support of student scholarships to fulfill the charitable wishes of Don and Lorena. We’re pleased to be carrying forth their aspirations in making a University of Nebraska education possible for more promising students for generations to come.”
Don and Lorena Meier had distinguished media careers that included the production of award-winning national network television shows, the most popular and long running being Mutual of Omaha’s “Wild Kingdom” and “Zoo Parade.”
“Wild Kingdom” was an Emmy-winning wildlife documentary program starring Marlin Perkins that aired from 1963 to 1971 on NBC, after which it entered syndication. Episodes of the program air on RFD-TV, with new and updated content across many of its digital properties.
Meier also produced “Zoo Parade,” a 1950s NBC program featuring animals from the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Prior to producing these programs, Meier served as an NBC producer for several local programs and events, including television broadcasts of Chicago Cubs and White Sox baseball games.
Don Meier’s interest in supporting student scholarships was influenced by his own experience at the University of Nebraska. During his lifetime, he considered different ways to support the university but was especially drawn to opportunities for scholarships or other projects that directly benefit students.
“I had no other dream than to go to the University of Nebraska,” he told the university in 2008 in announcing his plans for significant support of student scholarships.
Don Meier’s dream did not come easy. He worked off and on during college, sometimes taking up to a year off to work or to return home to Oshkosh, Nebraska, where he had a job as a high school librarian. He completed his college education in six years.
“I remember my own struggles to complete my college education,” he once said. “In those days, back in the 1930s, they didn’t have a lot of scholarships. I just remember how tough it was for me to make it. It became apparent to me as I pursued my own career that the main thing is not only the support, but it’s important to get kids into college, and I agree with my wife who says that all students should seek to expand their potential by seeking full development of their talent.”
Lorena Meier died June 22, 2018, at age 100, and Don Meier died July 13, 2019, at age 104.
The Donald and Lorena Meier Foundation has committed over several years to support new and existing scholarship funds that were established by Don and Lorena Meier. Students enrolled in the following colleges and areas of the University of Nebraska who meet certain scholarship criteria are eligible:
University of Nebraska–Lincoln:
University of Nebraska at Kearney:
Any University of Nebraska campus:
Story from the University of Nebraska at Kearney
A partnership between the University of Nebraska at Kearney and University of Nebraska Medical Center, the proposed Rural Health Education Building in Kearney will further address the need for more health care workers in the state’s rural areas.
The Rural Health Education Building would build upon an existing partnership between UNK and UNMC that’s shown great success. The two institutions opened a $19 million Health Science Education Complex on UNK’s west campus in 2015, and that facility quickly filled to capacity.
The new Rural Health Education Building would allow UNMC to expand its existing nursing programs and bring new options to the UNK campus, including occupational therapy, medical nutrition, genetic counseling and respiratory care – all high-need areas in rural Nebraska.
For the first time, the UNMC College of Medicine would educate physicians in rural Nebraska, and a Master of Health Administration would be added to complement UNK’s undergraduate program.
The Rural Health Education Building would also offer professional development, training and continuing education opportunities for existing health care workers and support research that improves the lives of Nebraskans.
© 2019 University of Nebraska Foundation
