The UNO Alumni Association awards $2,500/year scholarships to graduating high school seniors who have demonstrated leadership and involvement during high school. In 2022, an additional scholarship was added in honor of Lee Denker, UNO Alumni Association Executive Director from 2006–2021. The scholarship may be renewed for up to four years total. To be considered, applicants must complete an online application and meet the following criteria:
• Graduating high school senior
• Minimum ACT composite score of 24
• Either rank in the top 25 percent of their class or have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
For application instructions, visit the UNO Financial Aid website.
Front row: Avery Salomon, Karma Roots; Back row: Joshua Dittmer, Cadence Dobberstein.
Joshua Dittmer, Lee Denker Scholarship
Joshua Dittmer’s passions span athletics, the arts and technology. Years of wrestling and football instilled discipline and teamwork, while nine years in orchestra nurtured his creativity and focus. His dedication to youth is reflected in his involvement with kids’ sports camps, youth wrestling tournaments, and his work as a lifeguard and swim instructor, where he mentored children and developed leadership skills. A lifelong fascination with technology led him to pursue a computer science degree at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, drawn by its welcoming campus, strong internship network and advanced information science and technology facilities. Shaped by diverse experiences and confident in his abilities, Dittmer is eager to engage with the campus community and contribute meaningfully to the field of technology.
Cadence Dobberstein
Cadence Dobberstein grew up in Gretna, Nebraska, where she discovered her passions for both academics and athletics. As a member of the women’s soccer team at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, she values teamwork and leadership — qualities she brings into every aspect of her life. With deep family ties to UNO — her mother, aunts and grandmother all studied there — Dobberstein sees the university as the ideal place to continue her journey. She plans to pursue a degree in biology with the goal of becoming a sonographer, combining her love of science with a desire to help others. Dobberstein looks forward to building lasting connections and continuing her family’s Maverick tradition while forging her own path.
Karma Roots
Karma Roots grew up in Omaha, Nebraska — a place that, to them, felt like anywhere else, just without the mountains and beaches. But looking back, the cherished memories of where their journey began, who they shared them with, and the early sparks of curiosity that led to their education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha make Omaha feel like the perfect home. Roots’ interest in electrical engineering began in elementary school, building robot kits with their dad, and deepened in high school while exploring electrical components inside machinery with their grandpa. They feel honored and excited to attend UNO, where they plan to expand on lifelong interests and goals in a place close to their heart.
Avery Salomon
Avery Salomon is a fifth-generation Nebraskan with a deep connection to her small-town roots. A graduate of Gothenburg High School, her strong sense of community and formative experiences in “the Burg” led her to the University of Nebraska at Omaha. While Omaha may be larger than her hometown of 3,500, UNO’s close-knit communities immediately felt like home. At UNO, Salomon aims to be a Maverick in her own right while honoring where she came from. Inspired by her parents — local health care workers and graduates of the RHOP program — she plans to pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Guided by her Catholic faith and a commitment to “service over self,” Salomon looks forward to becoming both a proud UNO alumna and an active member of the John Paul II Newman Center and the broader campus community.
2008: Brittani Avery, Whitney Nelson, Samuel Stark, Anna York
2009: Katie Gray, Rachel Hogan, Cheyenne Nelson, Brady Sillman
2010: Yasmine Farhat, Matthew Gardner, Stacia Gerbers, Sean Robinson
2011: Morgan Birkel, Jais Ford, Jena Gangwish, Taylor Smith
2012: Matthew Ehlinger, Adam Heier, Robia Qasimyar, Renae Seipel
2013: Emily Bradley, Luke Edwards, Justin Korth, Elizabeth Lyle
2014: Austin Brown, Rose Gemischen, Samantha Gochenour, Zachary Lucas
2015: Jennifer Briggs, Adrienne Cavill, Stephanie Freund, Breanna White
2016: Brenda Le Nguyen, Micah Klassen, Mitchael Sieh
2017: Colten Adams, Samantha Lierz, Alexis Simpson
2018: Emelyn C. Escalante, Marissa Schmidt, Julian Perez Ventura
2019: Madeline Boudreau, Michael Monico, Joslynn Shanahan
2020: Lashaia Bass, Calli Carlson, Alanna Hobbs
2021: Teja Farley, Abby Heimann, Hannah Serhan
2022: Jiya Chaudhari, Lilly Gierhan, Jozy Piper
2023: Rafael Azpeitia Jr., Madison Eisert, Margaret Wadginski
2024: Lauren Hills, Audry Srb, Macey Ver Hoef
2022: Vivian Kaldahl
2023: Braidy Parrill
2024: Maverick Piper