Alumni Association
Commencing smiles
More than 700 students were honored during UNO’s December commencement at Baxter Arena — and it seemed the alumni association welcomed nearly every one of them at its photo both preceding the ceremony.
Seniors and others had their photos taken with UNO’s mascot, with each other and with props as they waited for commencement to begin. Photos were posted on the association's social media pages and emailed to graduates.
Each graduate also received a parting gift as they exited the stage after receiving their diploma — a UNO Alumni pin. Graduates of the association’s Young Alumni Academy distributed the pins.
With the addition of this graduating class there now are nearly 110,000 living UNO alumni worldwide.
First Global Day of Service set for March 24
The UNO Alumni Association has partnered with UNO's Office of Civic & Social Responsibility to offer alumni the opportunity to join the first-ever Global Day of Service set for Saturday, March 24!
Alumni are invited to work alongside students and fellow alumni on service projects around Omaha focusing on economic sufficiency.
Alumni are encouraged to bring their families and to invite other alumni. Free breakfast and lunch are available to all volunteers.
For more information and to register, visit https://www.unomaha.edu/news/events/global-day-of-service.php
GO. GET INVOLVED. GIVE.
UNO and the alumni association strives to engage alumni on campus and off, and it offers numerous opportunities to do so. Following are opportunities for alumni to Go! Get Involved and Give! See more about these and other events and opportunities at unoalumni.org/engage
GO
When was the last time you visited campus? If it’s been awhile, you’ll be amazed at how UNO has grown. See it for yourself by scheduling a walking tour of campus with the Admissions office. Can’t make it in person? Experience UNO with a digital tour available through its new Campus Visit App available for free in the Apple or Google Play stores.
GET INVOLVED
UNO now offers graduates 65 and older its Senior Learning Passport Program, making available to them undergraduate courses numbered 1000-4999 on a space-available basis and with instructor permission (excludes online courses). Up to two classes per semester may be taken for a non-refundable $25 fee.
GIVE
The Maverick Food Pantry is dedicated to eliminating hunger in the UNO community and increasing awareness of food insecurity and nutrition. The pantry is always accepting donations of non-perishable food items and toiletries, which can be placed in donation bins throughout campus, including one at the Community Engagement Center.
Rock Your Career with ACDC and other helpful tools
UNO’s ACDC — the Academic and Career Development Center, offers career help to all alumni, including career coaching, interview practice, help with resumes, access to tools and more.
Also available to UNO alumni are these two online tools and platforms:
- Alumnifire — an independent and organic digital networking platform powered directly by alumni. It engages members to open doors and create opportunities for one another in the real world and on their own terms.
- Startup Tree — an alumni and entrepreneurial network that brings together collaborators, investors and mentors in Omaha’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Alumni also can join the UNO Alumni Association LinkedIn group featuring thousands of members. Fellow alumni often are receptive to helping fellow graduates find a job — if they know who they are. Those connections can be made on UNOAA’s LinkedIn page.
For access to these career tools, as well as tips and advice, visit unoalumni.org/careerservices.
Young Alumni Academy to hold capstone meeting April 12
The seventh class of the UNO Young Alumni Academy holds its final meeting April 12, culminating its eight sessions focused on leadership development, networking and professional growth for alumni 35 and younger.
Nearly 40 young alumni are part of the 2017-18 class and nearly 300 have competed the program since the academy was founded in 2010.
Members attend sessions at unique locations on and off campus, this year including a behind-the-scenes tour of Baxter Arena. UNO leaders also address members on topics such as athletics management, student focus and community service.
Carey Hamilton honored with alumni achievement award
The UNO Alumni Association bestowed its Citation for Alumni Achievement award upon UNO graduate Carey Hamilton during the university’s commencement ceremony Dec. 15 at Baxter Arena.
Inaugurated in 1949, the citation is the association’s highest and oldest honor. It encompasses career achievement, community service, involvement in business and professional associations, and fidelity to UNO. Hamilton is the 175th graduate to receive the award.
President of Beardmore Chevrolet (Bellevue, Nebraska), which she owns with her husband, Brian, Hamilton earned a BS in business from UNO in 1978. She also graduated from the Executive Management Program of Harvard Business School in 1998.
She has worked in the automobile dealers industry since 1982, when she and her husband opened a dealership in Grand Island. The couple are longtime supporters of the University of Nebraska system, including UNO and UNO Athletics. They provided the lead gift for what became the Hamilton Academic Excellence Room in Sapp Fieldhouse.
Hamilton serves several community organizations and has earned numerous honors in her career.
For more information about Hamilton and other Citation recipients, visit http://unoalumni.org/citation-award
Thompson Center honored again in Best of Omaha vote
For a fourth consecutive year, the Thompson Center at UNO was voted one of the city’s Best Reception Venues in Omaha Magazine’s Best of Omaha 2018 contest.
The Thompson Center is Omaha’s premiere location for outdoor weddings and indoor receptions, offering a great midtown location, delicious fare by Catering Creations, extensive amenities, ample & free parking and all-inclusive pricing. Since the facility opened in 1980, more than 1,400 couples have celebrated their wedding at the Thompson Center.
The Thompson Center is open to the public.
Numerous Omaha companies, organizations and individuals have used it to host meetings, seminars, conferences, dinners, parties and other events. The versatile facility offers numerous room options, A/V capabilities, and free WiFi.
See more about the Thompson Center at thethompsoncenter.org
Annual Board Meeting set for May 22
The UNO Alumni Association Board of Directors will hold its annual meeting Tuesday, May 22, at 4:30 p.m. in the Thompson Alumni Center.
For more information contact Meri Kennedy (402) 504-3342 | mkennedy@unoalumni.org.
Partnerships
Insurance
Are you in need of home, life, auto, health or life insurance? The UNO Alumni Association offers graduates insurance for these and other needs at discounted rates thanks to the purchasing power of nearly 110,000 graduates. See all the coverage available at www.unoalumni.org/insurance.
Travel
The UNO Alumni Association is pleased to offer alumni discounted travel opportunities through a partnership with travel provider Go Next! Upcoming trips include Breathtaking Bordeaux July 16-24 and the Essence of Europe Sept. 23-Oct. 4. Both feature extra savings if booked by mid-March. See details on these trips and other cruises at http://unoalumni.org/travel.
To receive a brochure for any of our trips by mail, call the association toll-free at 800-432-3216.
10th class of UNO Alumni Scholars begin Maverick careers
The UNO Alumni Association welcomed its 10th class of UNO Alumni Scholars at the start of the fall semester. Three students received UNO Alumni Association Scholarships, awarded to graduating high school seniors who have demonstrated leadership and involvement during high school.
Recipients also must have a minimum ACT composite score of 24 and either rank in the top 25 percent of their class or have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. The $2,500 annual scholarships are renewable for up to four years.
The association now is supporting 12 UNO students with UNO Alumni Association Scholarships.
Pictured (from left) are 2017-18 UNO Alumni Association Scholarship recipients Alexis T. Simpson, Bellevue West High School, Bellevue, Nebraska; Colten Adams, Creighton Community Public Schools, Orchard, Nebraska; and Samantha Lierz, Skutt High School, Omaha
Bios of the three recipients and other UNO Alumni Scholars are available at http://unoalumni.org/alumnischolars
Show the O 93
Help UNO’s colors fly in every Nebraska county
Show the O has been to every continent and every state. Now, UNO grads are being asked to represent Nebraska’s 93 counties — from Adams to York — showing the spread of Maverick Nation throughout Nebraska.
UNO graduates anywhere can show off their Maverick pride by requesting a FREE O flag from the UNO Alumni Association. Participants take photos with the flag wherever they live or travel then upload them to Showtheo.com, which features an interactive world map displaying all the places the O has flown.
Request your flag today at http://showtheo.com
Graduates celebrated at UNO Alumni Night of Honor
The UNO Alumni Association on Oct. 19 hosted what has become one of the annual highlights of UNO Homecoming week — the fourth Alumni Night of Honor at the Thompson Alumni Center.
Sponsored by First Data Resources, Alumni Night of Honor celebrated achievements by members of the worldwide UNO alumni network, now numbering 107,000 living graduates. Among those honored:
•Young Alumni Achievement Award recipients Matthew J. Lee and Tara Stingley
•UNO Athletics Hall of Fame inductees Cody Garcia, Anja Puc and Tanis J. Hastmann Walch
•Outstanding Service Award recipients Emeritus Chancellor John and Jan Christensen and Sarah Waldman.
The night also included a 20th anniversary salute to the 1997-98 UNO hockey team, the first at UNO, and the unveiling of a portraiture of the Christensens by UNO alumnus Stephen Roberts.
For details on all award recipients, see unoalumni.org/nightofhonor
Upcoming Events
Saturday, March 24 — Alumni Day of Service
Be part of a rewarding day working on service projects alongside students and fellow alumni at service projects around Omaha.
Saturday, April 7 — UNO Dance Marathon
Student-run event raising money and awareness for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
Wednesday, April 11 — Marion Marsh Brown Writers Lecture Series
Featuring best-selling author Lee Child of the Jack Reacher franchise
Thursday, April 19 — Middle East Forum
Discussion and answers to questions about current events in the Middle East with a panel of UNO experts