The greatest needs of the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Gifts through the UNK Fund let you make a bigger difference on campus, your college and students.
UNK AA has been working since 1906 to promote communication and interaction among more than 40,000 alumni, students, faculty, administrators and friends of the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
The greatest needs of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Gifts through the N Fund let you make a bigger difference on campus, your college and students.
Husker athletic programs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are a source of pride for alumni and Nebraskans throughout the state and around the world.
NAA is a nonprofit organization that connects alumni with Dear Old Nebraska U, and with each other, for the betterment of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
University of Nebraska Medical Center
The greatest needs of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Gifts through the Innovation Funds let you make a bigger difference on campus, your college and students.
The mission of the UNMC Alumni Relations Office is to serve and engage with learners and graduates through effective communications, the formation of meaningful relationships, and opportunities to invest in the advancement of the university through gifts of time, talent, and treasure.
University of Nebraska at Omaha
The greatest needs of the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Gifts through the UNO Fund let you make a bigger difference on campus, your college and students.
Our athletes are competing at the Division I level in collegiate sports, not only enhance the visibility of UNO, but also to provide great benefits to all of Omaha.
Nebraska Medicine and its research and education partner, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, share the same mission: to lead the world in transforming lives to create a healthy future for all individuals and communities through premier educational programs, innovative research and extraordinary patient care.
The mission of the Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska is to transform the lives of young children by improving their learning and development.
Every day, nearly a billion people in the world do not have enough safe and nutritious food to lead healthy and active lives. Many of them also lack access to enough clean water to meet their needs. By 2050, our global food demand will double to meet the needs of nearly 10 billion people, making water and food security one of the most urgent global challenges of our time.
Your giving to this area enables the president’s office to quickly direct resources to various university projects and areas across the system as needs arise.
The greatest needs of the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Gifts through the UNK Fund let you make a bigger difference on campus, your college and students.
The greatest needs of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Gifts through the N Fund let you make a bigger difference on campus, your college and students.
The greatest needs of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Gifts through the Innovation Funds let you make a bigger difference on campus, your college and students.
The greatest needs of the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Gifts through the UNO Fund let you make a bigger difference on campus, your college and students.
The greatest needs of the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Gifts through the UNK Fund let you make a bigger difference on campus, your college and students.
UNK AA has been working since 1906 to promote communication and interaction among more than 40,000 alumni, students, faculty, administrators and friends of the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
The greatest needs of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Gifts through the N Fund let you make a bigger difference on campus, your college and students.
Husker athletic programs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are a source of pride for alumni and Nebraskans throughout the state and around the world.
NAA is a nonprofit organization that connects alumni with Dear Old Nebraska U, and with each other, for the betterment of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
University of Nebraska Medical Center
The greatest needs of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Gifts through the Innovation Funds let you make a bigger difference on campus, your college and students.
The mission of the UNMC Alumni Relations Office is to serve and engage with learners and graduates through effective communications, the formation of meaningful relationships, and opportunities to invest in the advancement of the university through gifts of time, talent, and treasure.
University of Nebraska at Omaha
The greatest needs of the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Gifts through the UNO Fund let you make a bigger difference on campus, your college and students.
Our athletes are competing at the Division I level in collegiate sports, not only enhance the visibility of UNO, but also to provide great benefits to all of Omaha.
Nebraska Medicine and its research and education partner, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, share the same mission: to lead the world in transforming lives to create a healthy future for all individuals and communities through premier educational programs, innovative research and extraordinary patient care.
The mission of the Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska is to transform the lives of young children by improving their learning and development.
Every day, nearly a billion people in the world do not have enough safe and nutritious food to lead healthy and active lives. Many of them also lack access to enough clean water to meet their needs. By 2050, our global food demand will double to meet the needs of nearly 10 billion people, making water and food security one of the most urgent global challenges of our time.
Your giving to this area enables the president’s office to quickly direct resources to various university projects and areas across the system as needs arise.
The greatest needs of the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Gifts through the UNK Fund let you make a bigger difference on campus, your college and students.
The greatest needs of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Gifts through the N Fund let you make a bigger difference on campus, your college and students.
The greatest needs of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Gifts through the Innovation Funds let you make a bigger difference on campus, your college and students.
The greatest needs of the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Gifts through the UNO Fund let you make a bigger difference on campus, your college and students.
A $508,000 gift will support retinitis pigmentosa research led by Iqbal Ahmad, Ph.D.
Jane E. Fischer took a personal interest in retinitis pigmentosa. She relayed that her mother suffered from the rare genetic eye disease and expressed a desire that a portion of her estate be dedicated to research leading to a better understanding of the disease.
So, after Jane died Oct. 21, 2022, at the age of 83, her estate attorney contacted Iqbal Ahmad, PhD, a professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
After visiting Dr. Ahmad’s lab and learning more about his research, the attorney arranged for a $508,000 gift in late 2023 from Fischer’s living trust to establish the Jane Fischer Regenerative Medicine Research Fund for Retinitis Pigmentosa.
“I’m honored to have played a role in facilitating this generous gift on behalf of Jane Fischer,” attorney Mary Vandenack said. “Retinitis pigmentosa research was of great personal importance to Jane, and I’m pleased her legacy will live on through the work of the UNMC research team.”
Retinitis pigmentosa is a disease that affects the retina and causes its cells, particularly the light-sensitive photoreceptors, to slowly break down over time. The most common early symptom is a loss of night vision, usually starting in childhood. Most people eventually lose most of their sight. The fund will support stem cell research in regenerative medicine overseen and conducted by Dr. Ahmad to further the understanding and treatment of the disease.
“This is really timely funding that comes to the lab, and we are extremely grateful for this,” Dr. Ahmad said. “This is an intractable disease. There is no cure. We’re still in the infancy of understanding this disease comprehensively. Our stem cell-based approach will shed light on the photoreceptor degeneration and possible therapeutic interventions.”
He said Fischer’s gift will provide funding for a postdoctoral researcher. Data collected from the team’s research will be published as part of an effort to secure additional funding through the National Eye Institute.
“The UNMC Department of Ophthalmology is privileged to establish the Jane Fischer Regenerative Medicine Research Fund for Retinitis Pigmentosa in honor of Jane Fischer,” said Ronald R. Krueger, MD, MSE, McGaw Memorial Professor, chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and director of the Stanley M. Truhlsen Eye Institute. “Her kind support will allow Dr. Ahmad to pursue investigation using stem cell-based techniques to specifically address the possible causes and potential solutions to this diverse and blinding form of inherited retinal disease.”
Fischer, who grew up as an only child in Valley, Nebraska, graduated from Valley High School in 1957. According to her attorney, she worked in banking for most of her career. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Orpha Fischer of Elkhorn.
Fischer’s gift was made through the University of Nebraska Foundation and supports Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future. The campaign is a historic effort to encourage at least 150,000 benefactors to give $3 billion to support University of Nebraska students, faculty, academic and clinical programs and research to address the needs of the state. The campaign seeks funds to support research and innovation that bring solutions and discoveries to the state and improve outcomes for Nebraskans.
About the University of Nebraska Medical Center
As Nebraska’s only public academic health science center, the University of Nebraska Medical Center enrolls more than 4,500 students across six colleges, two institutes and a graduate studies program. Its mission is to create a healthier future for Nebraskans through premier education, research and clinical care, but its impact – rooted in a culture of collaboration, big ideas and public-private partnerships – goes far beyond, in areas that include infectious diseases, rural health, cancer research and treatments, global health security, and simulation and experiential learning technologies.
About the University of Nebraska Foundation
The University of Nebraska Foundation grows relationships and resources that enable the University of Nebraska to change lives and save lives. During the most recent fiscal year, 58,072 donors supported the University of Nebraska, and a record $354.5 million in new funds was committed to aid UNK, UNL, UNO, NCTA and UNMC and its clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine. The foundation raises more than $7 for every $1 spent. Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future is its current campaign with a goal to raise $3 billion from 150,000 unique benefactors to support the University of Nebraska. More information is at OnlyinNebraska.org.
University of Nebraska–Lincoln alumni Tom and Candy Henning have pledged a gift through the University of Nebraska Foundation to acquire more unlimited licenses for the University Libraries, to expand an initiative to provide free course materials to students.
Not having access to course materials correlates with lower performance and college completion rates, which are key metrics for student success. However, many students cannot afford course materials.
To address the challenge, the University Libraries launched a program two years ago, the Libraries Course Materials program, to expand UNL students’ free access to course materials and books, thus reducing students’ financial burden.
“One way the Libraries keeps costs down for students and ensures that they have access to quality learning materials is purchasing e-books with unlimited user licenses,” said Liz Lorang, dean of University Libraries. “These licenses mean that all students in a course — and all users of the UNL community, in fact — can use the book simultaneously.”
More than 6,000 items have been provided by the Libraries to more than 23,000 students enrolled in the 600-plus classes using Libraries Course Materials lists. From spring semester 2022 through January 2024, the Libraries Course Materials program provided an estimated savings of $1.7 million to students.
While students save significant amounts of money, new expenses shift to University Libraries because an unlimited license e-book is more expensive than a traditional e-book.
Toward that end, the Libraries made affordable course materials a priority as part of Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future, a historic effort to engage at least 150,000 benefactors to give $3 billion to support University of Nebraska students, faculty, academic and clinical programs and research to address the needs of the state. Student access and success is the top campaign priority.
The Hennings (both UNL, ‘75) are trustees of the University of Nebraska Foundation and active volunteers in the university’s campaign as the co-chairs of the Libraries Campaign Committee. The Lincoln couple learned about the high cost of course materials for students, including how less affluent students sometimes have to choose between buying groceries and buying books or other resources for their classes.
Tom Henning said an investment in the University Libraries resonated with the couple because of how it could positively impact students.
“Whether you came from an affluent background or not, you wouldn’t be disadvantaged relative to having the textbooks you need access to in order to do your studies,” Tom Henning said.
The Hennings’ undisclosed gift commitment will have a multiplier effect as the University Libraries retains the title in perpetuity for use in future courses, so the savings will not just benefit current students, but future students as well.
The Hennings have a long history of supporting the university since their first gift to the University Libraries in 1977, kicking off four decades of support.
“The Hennings have been great friends and supporters of the Libraries for decades, and we are grateful for their support of this program and hope it will inspire others,” Lorang said. “Data show that their investment in Libraries Course Materials is yielding a great financial and educational return, and Nebraska students are benefiting from the Libraries’ purchase of materials with unlimited licenses.”
UNMC Strategic Communications
David Crouse, PhD, professor emeritus, and his wife, Sara, have created an endowed fund through the University of Nebraska Foundation to benefit UNMC Graduate Studies.
“His decision, along with his wife, Sara, to provide this endowment and continued gifts is merely the latest testament to Dr. Crouse’s commitment to the program,” said Dele Davies, MD, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs and dean of graduate studies. “And this is a gift that will benefit generations of graduate students for years to come.”
It’s a program very dear to Dr. Crouse, who led UNMC Graduate Studies three separate times on an interim basis. Graduate studies are important but often overlooked or misunderstood, he said.
Many, sometimes including graduate students themselves, think of PhD students and graduates as being under the auspices of their mentors’ respective colleges, rather than the UNMC Office of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Education. While UNMC’s graduate community has many successful alums, people don’t necessarily think of it as a collective entity to give back to.
When he served in Dr. Davies’ role, “We just didn’t have the resources to do the things a dean would like to do,” Dr. Crouse said.
He and Dr. Davies are now longtime friends with a shared dream of continued success for UNMC Graduate Studies.
Dr. Davies said: “I benefitted immensely from his wisdom and counsel during my transition here to UNMC, when he preceded me as interim vice chancellor for academic affairs and interim dean of graduate studies. Even in retirement, David has continued to give back and always answers the call when needed.”
When he was in a position to do so, Dr. Crouse decided to create a permanent endowment that would provide support in perpetuity for UNMC Graduate Studies. He encourages other faculty, alumni and supporters to specifically support graduate studies as well.
He and Sara established the Derry-Crouse Fund for UNMC Graduate Studies (the Derry is for Sara’s family) with a gift two years ago and then made a subsequent gift in late 2023. The endowed fund is unrestricted, with annual distributions to be used at the dean’s discretion.
Dr. Crouse said he’s pleased to see graduate studies’ momentum in recent years under the leadership of Dr. Davies and others.
“It’s exploded,” Dr. Crouse said. “That’s thrilling to me — to see all these new graduate programs arise from a core of programs that were doing very well.”
UNMC’s enrollment grows every year. That is in large part due to graduate studies programs that continue to draw new students, he said.
“I’m going to love seeing what that (gift) can do,” he said.
Dr. Crouse, known as UNMC’s ultimate team player, continues to serve. He keeps office hours as one of two wellness advocates for UNMC Graduate Studies and postdoctoral students. Stop by and see him Mondays and Thursdays, 9 a.m.-noon, at the Graduate Student Wellness Hub, located on the ground floor of Durham Research Center I.
He hopes others are inspired to support graduate studies.
“I see it as a signal to other people to consider doing the same thing,” Dr. Crouse said. “I would love it if more faculty and students associated with the graduate studies programs looked to that graduate studies unit as a recipient.”
Dr. Davies said, “I join all our graduate students, faculty and staff in saying thank you to Dave and Sara for their generosity.”
Gifts to the Derry-Crouse Fund for Graduate Studies may be made online.
The couple’s gift was made as part of Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future. The campaign is a historic effort to encourage at least 150,000 benefactors to give $3 billion to support University of Nebraska students, faculty, academic and clinical programs and research to address the needs of the state.
About UNMC Graduate Studies
Graduate students are the backbone of UNMC’s research. UNMC Graduate Studies includes 10 doctoral degree programs, 12 master’s degree programs, 14 specializations in two interdisciplinary umbrella programs and four certificate programs. Graduate enrollment increased by 14% over the previous year in 2023, with 720 students from 46 countries, making it the third largest student body at UNMC. Almost half of U.S. students are from Nebraska. Graduate students published more than 400 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters or government reports over the last year and made more than 500 conference presentations. Seven national-honor fellowships were among 136 national, regional and local awards during 2023, a 33% increase over the previous year. UNMC graduate students have earned 86 national awards since 2013.
Longtime partner invests in College of Business faculty
FORVIS has forged a strong partnership with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business, with many Nebraska accounting graduates establishing careers with the firm. In recognition of that partnership, the FORVIS Chair of Accountancy was created to invest in the college’s faculty.
“FORVIS is proud to support the UNL School of Accountancy and its outstanding students,” said Tim Wilson, FORVIS’ managing partner for Nebraska. “We have a wonderful relationship with the university, having welcomed many graduates into our firm over the years. FORVIS prides itself on being a place where our people can build remarkable careers, and we’ve seen that bear out with Husker graduates time and again. We look forward to continuing our relationship for a long time to come.”
FORVIS, LLP was created by the merger of BKD, LLP and Dixon Hughes Goodman in 2022. After the merger, the firm took the name FORVIS. The firm has a long history of supporting the College of Business. Its Nebraska employees have served on the School of Accountancy Advisory Board and Junior School of Accountancy Advisory Board. In 1991, Baird, Kurtz & Dobson (BKD) established an accounting support fund through the University of Nebraska Foundation, which became a professorship in accounting. With a gift from the FORVIS Foundation, the fund has now been elevated to the FORVIS Chair of Accountancy. The amount of the gift was not disclosed at FORVIS’ request.
“We are grateful to FORVIS for their support, which helps us better compete with our Big Ten peers for the best and most innovative accounting faculty,” said Kathy Farrell, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean and professor of finance. “Our faculty inspire and prepare students to lead the future of business by understanding the language of business — accounting.”
Dirk E. Black, associate professor, currently holds the FORVIS Professorship of Accounting. Black worked as an audit associate for KPMG, LLP before moving to academia. He earned his Ph.D. in business administration with a specialization in accounting from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and his research interests include performance measurement and performance evaluation.
“The support from FORVIS allows the School of Accountancy to retain our excellent faculty, like Dirk, by supporting their research efforts and providing a mark of recognition to an individual’s scholarly achievements,” said Jimmy Downes, director of the School of Accountancy and associate professor. “It allows the faculty to shape the direction of their field and mentor students in a meaningful way.”
FORVIS Nebraska has offices in Lincoln and Omaha, with 71 of its approximately 120 full-time Nebraska employees earning degrees from the School of Accountancy. The firm specializes in assurance, tax and consulting services for the financial services, commercial products, nonprofit and higher education, construction and real-estate and private client industries throughout the region. The firm’s partners, retired partners and team members in Nebraska made contributions to the FORVIS Foundation to establish the chair.
The gift was made as part of Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future. The campaign is a historic effort to engage at least 150,000 benefactors to give $3 billion to support University of Nebraska students, faculty, academic and clinical programs and research to address the needs of the state. A key campaign priority is to establish endowed chairs and professorships to recruit and retain faculty who are a source of intellectual capital for Nebraska, as well as the inspiration and teachers of the next generation of students.
About FORVIS, LLP
FORVIS, LLP is an integrated professional services firm with a global reach and a passion to drive businesses forward. The firm’s 6,000 dedicated team members provide an Unmatched Client Experience® through the delivery of assurance, tax and consulting services for clients in all 50 states and internationally. Ranked among the largest public accounting firms in the United States, FORVIS upholds an unwavering purpose to help those we serve unlock their full potential — including our people, our clients and our communities. Visit forvis.com to learn more.
About the University of Nebraska Foundation
The University of Nebraska Foundation grows relationships and resources that enable the University of Nebraska to change lives and save lives. During the most recent fiscal year, 58,072 donors supported the University of Nebraska, and a record $354.5 million in new funds was committed to aid UNK, UNL, UNO, NCTA and UNMC and its clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine. The foundation raises more than $7 for every $1 spent. Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future is its current campaign with a goal to raise $3 billion from 150,000 unique benefactors to support the University of Nebraska. More information is at OnlyinNebraska.org.
Second annual giving day raises $767,919 to support UNMC and Nebraska Medicine
Donors from across the country came together for the 2024 For the Greater Good, making a record-setting 2,062 gifts to raise $767,919 to support the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine.
The giving day began at noon March 27 and concluded at noon March 28. Only in its second year, the 2024 event surpassed last year’s 1,542 gifts and this year’s increased target of 1,800 gifts.
Nebraska Medicine CEO James Linder, MD, and UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, thanked donors for their generosity.
“Transformation on the medical center campus is driven by philanthropy,” Dr. Linder said. “For the Greater Good is an opportunity for all UNMC and Nebraska Medicine supporters to give to campus causes that they support allowing us to grow our education, research and patient care missions.”
Dr. Gold said: “UNMC would like to thank the many donors who helped us make our second annual giving day so successful. We are humbled by the support shown to UNMC and its many colleges, divisions, institutes and programs. Again, the citizens of Nebraska have shown their commitment to philanthropy and to supporting the vital work of UNMC and Nebraska Medicine.”
More than 70 matches and challenge gifts totaling $571,000 were established as part of For the Greater Good to encourage alumni, friends and grateful patients to support their favorite college or area. Drs. Linder and Gold were among the generous donors to establish challenges, with Dr. Linder supporting the College of Nursing and Encompass Omaha, a hospital-based violence intervention program. Dr. Gold established a challenge gift for student scholarships in memory of Omaha philanthropist Bill Scott, a longtime University of Nebraska supporter who died Feb. 27.
College of Nursing Dean Lepaine Sharp-McHenry, DNP, RN, FACDONA, said to receive a nursing scholarship is “life changing for many of our students.”
“Their ability to enter into our nursing program is directly linked to their ability to pay,” she said. “As scholarship recipients, our students are able to shift their thinking from cost to critical thinking!”
She noted that the Nebraska Center for Nursing Excellence predicts a need for 5,436 new nurses by 2025.
“The need for nurses is not going away,” Sharp-McHenry said. “We are so appreciative for our donors who support the College of Nursing in educating the next generation of nurses. Your gift is making an impact not only on the lives of our students but on the future of healthcare delivery and access in Nebraska.”
For the Greater Good also provided fundraising opportunities for the 43 student organizations registered to participate. One of those groups is the Student Association for Rural Health, which seeks to empower students interested in practicing health care in a rural area. Kelsey Green, a fourth-year medical student from Neligh, Nebraska, said she appreciates the opportunity to travel to Nebraska communities to see rural health care in action.
“Personally, it has done a lot for me,” she said of the group. “I’ve learned a lot about rural health disparities that I wasn’t even aware of.”
Green said she has also been able to develop leadership skills as she prepares to become a general surgeon. “It feels good to be giving back,” she said, adding that she would like to practice medicine in a rural area, ideally in northeast Nebraska near her hometown, after she finishes her medical training.
Austin Fernau, first-year occupational therapy student at UNMC, said he hopes For the Greater Good can help expand the Student Occupational Therapy Association. Fernau, the student organization’s president, said the group is focused on connecting students and bringing more knowledge to the field of occupational therapy.
“We really want to try to recruit more professionals of occupational therapy and help our students gauge what they want to do once they graduate,” he said.
About the University of Nebraska Foundation
The University of Nebraska Foundation grows relationships and resources that enable the University of Nebraska to change lives and save lives. During the most recent fiscal year, 58,072 donors supported the University of Nebraska, and a record $354.5 million in new funds was committed to aid UNK, UNL, UNO, NCTA and UNMC and its clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine. The foundation raises more than $7 for every $1 spent. Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future is its current campaign with a goal to raise $3 billion from 150,000 unique benefactors to support the University of Nebraska. More information is at OnlyinNebraska.org.
Donald E. and Viola C. Fox were long-time philanthropic supporters of the University of Nebraska at Kearney Department of Chemistry. What began with a $1,000 gift in 1979 has grown into a scholarship fund of more than $575,000 thanks to an estate gift from Viola after her death in September 2023 at the age of 105.
The Donald E. Fox Endowed Scholarship Fund was established to support students studying chemistry with the first scholarship given in 1981. The scholarship is awarded to a second-semester, first-year student majoring or minoring in chemistry with demonstrated academic achievement, need, integrity, character, dependability and motivation. With the new funds from Viola’s generous estate gift, the department hopes to award approximately 20 scholarships in the amount of $1,000 annually. Previously, a single scholarship was given each year.
“After Don’s passing, Vi continued to be a big part of the UNK family. We always enjoyed her visits to our office and at her home,” said Lucas Dart, vice president of alumni relations and UNK development at the University of Nebraska Foundation. “She lived simply and gave generously. We are both thrilled and honored that she chose to make a perpetual impact on future UNK students with this wonderful gift.”
Don Fox taught at Kearney State College/UNK for 38 years and was a prominent and influential figure in the department. He served as the department chair before being named dean of the College of Natural and Social Sciences. Fox was honored with the Distinguished Professorship in Chemistry in 1990. He died in 2003 at the age of 98.
“Dr. Fox’s dedication to the education of students and his development of a solid and vibrant chemistry department continues to live on through the current faculty,” said Annette C. Moser, Ph.D., chair of the UNK Department of Chemistry. “Don and Vi’s generous financial contributions not only support the scholarship fund, but also an endowed chair and the annual Donald E. Fox Distinguished Chemistry Alumnus/Alumna Lectureship and Banquet.”
Julie Shaffer, Ph.D., UNK interim senior vice chancellor of academic affairs, said Don and Vi’s contributions elevated chemistry research and the opportunities available to UNK chemistry students.
“The Foxes’ generosity has been wonderful for the field of chemistry, industry and teaching,” Shaffer said. “It’s been wonderful for students who, through alumni guest lecturers, have been exposed to a diversity of careers they may not have even known about, like industrial chemistry. It’s opened new career options for our chemistry students.”
Shaffer also noted the great student experiences provided through the Donald E. Fox Endowed Chair held by Allen Thomas, Ph.D., a National Institutes of Health-supported researcher at UNK. An undergraduate student assisted in writing Thomas’ most recent successful grant application.
A student who benefitted from her contact with professionals in the field is Fox Scholarship recipient, Ruth Harding, a 2006 UNK chemistry graduate who now works as operations manager in the Global Security Directorate at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Harding returned as a guest lecturer for the Don Fox Lecture Series in 2023, where she was honored with the Distinguished Chemistry Alumna Award.
“Contact with real-world professionals and exposure to different career paths were invaluable during my time at UNK,” Harding said. “Seeing academic concepts translated into how I could make a difference was very motivational and inspiring. The lectures encouraged me to look beyond the next exam or lab report to having a career like one of the lecturers.”
Viola Fox’s estate gift supports Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future. The campaign strives to raise $3 billion from 150,000 unique benefactors to support the University of Nebraska. UNK’s goals are to raise $70 million from 12,000 donors. Scholarships are a top priority of the campaign. More information is at OnlyinNebraska.org.
Second annual UNMC/Nebraska Medicine giving day will be March 27-28
Art is everywhere at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine, from the stunning Chihuly Sanctuary in the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, to musical performances in the lobby, to artwork on display across campus.
“Being surrounded by art, whether that’s physical art or therapeutic programming, certainly creates a healing environment,” said Amy Jenson, executive director of the Healing Arts Program. “It lowers people’s stress levels. We know that it promotes a sense of calmness.”
The Healing Arts Program is one of many areas donors can support during For the Greater Good, March 27-28, 2024. UNMC’s and Nebraska Medicine’s 24-hour online giving event supports the future of healthcare in Nebraska. The event will begin at noon March 27 and conclude at noon March 28. Gifts may be made online at greatergoodgivingday.org.
At a campus event in March, UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming campaign.
“The University of Nebraska Medical Center is a transformative force throughout the state,” Dr. Gold said. “For the Greater Good offers opportunities to support a variety of UNMC initiatives that positively impact the people of Nebraska and beyond.”
For the giving day, donors have established 69 challenges, totaling more than $571,000, to encourage alumni, friends and grateful patients to support their favorite college or area during For the Greater Good. The matches and challenges will be unlocked if certain giving goals are achieved. One of those is a $12,700 challenge grant from the Healing Arts Advisory Committee to support the program’s mission of providing hope to patients and their families and wellness for staff.
Giving day donors who make gifts totaling $66 or more will receive a UNMC/Nebraska Medicine custom travel pouch. The goal of the 2024 For the Greater Good event is to receive 1,800 gifts of $5 or more to support UNMC students, scholarships, research and the people, programs and patients of Nebraska Medicine.
“Nebraska Medicine is committed to providing the highest level of care in the region,” Nebraska Medicine CEO James Linder, MD, said. “Together, we can provide educational opportunities for our nurses, address the emergency needs of our patients and families and invest in many other important priorities by supporting For the Greater Good.”
The UNMC and Nebraska Medicine community can help spread the word on social media using the hashtag #ForTheGreaterGood. Several important causes will benefit, including:
a variety of departmental funds within Nebraska Medicine, supporting fields such as nursing development, patient support and women and infant services;
more than 40 registered student organizations within UNMC, assisting in reducing operational costs and enhancing student experiences on campus; and
more than a dozen unique scholarship funds aimed at investing in the next generation of Nebraska’s health care professionals.
During the inaugural 2023 giving day, 1,542 gifts were made, raising $278,229 to support UNMC and Nebraska Medicine.
Several events are scheduled this week to celebrate For the Greater Good:
Wednesday, March 27, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Student gathering, Sorrell Center Alumni Commons
Treats and swag for faculty, staff, students and visitors, Nebraska Café
Thursday, March 28, 8:30-11a.m.
Faculty and staff, free coffee at the Chocolate Season coffee truck parked outside the Durham Research Center
About the University of Nebraska Foundation
The University of Nebraska Foundation grows relationships and resources that enable the University of Nebraska to change lives and save lives. During the most recent fiscal year, 58,072 donors supported the University of Nebraska, and a record $354.5 million in new funds was committed to aid UNK, UNL, UNO, NCTA and UNMC and its clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine. The foundation raises more than $7 for every $1 spent. Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future is its current campaign with a goal to raise $3 billion from 150,000 unique benefactors to support the University of Nebraska. More information is at OnlyinNebraska.org.
Walter Scott, Jr. believed the most important thing a society could do was to invest in the next generation. He also was deeply committed to his hometown of Omaha. To carry on his legacy, the Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation has committed more than $23 million to the Walter Scott, Jr. Scholarship Program (Scott Scholars).
The generous gift will sustain and grow the prestigious program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where it was first established by the late Omaha philanthropist in 1997. The gift also will support the expansion of the Scott Scholars Program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where an inaugural class of 12 Scott Scholars began their first year of medical school in the fall of 2023.
At UNO, a $20 million pledge will allow more students to enroll in the highly competitive Scott Scholars Program, expanding capacity from a total of 128 students to 168 students. A $3 million pledge will support the program’s expansion at UNMC.
“We are pleased to expand our investment in students through the Scott Scholars Program,” said Calvin Sisson, president and CEO of the Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation. “The enhanced program aligns perfectly with our mission to support Mr. Scott’s vision and interests by investing in education, developing leaders and advancing communities. Walter cared deeply about investing in Nebraska’s best and brightest students, not because they deserve it, but because they have the greatest potential to give back.”
The gifts from the Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation were made through the University of Nebraska Foundation as part of Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future. The campaign is a historic effort to engage at least 150,000 benefactors to give $3 billion to support University of Nebraska students, faculty, academic and clinical programs and research to address the needs of the state. Scholarships are a top priority of the campaign with a particular focus on critical areas of need including health care, engineering and information technology.
UNO, Scott Scholars
Walter Scott’s vision in establishing the Scott Scholars Program was to challenge high-achieving STEM students from Nebraska to develop their technical skills. Initially limited to engineering and information technology, the Scott Scholars Program was broadened in 2017 to include all the STEM disciplines and add a new focus on leadership development.
UNO Scott Scholars reside together in a living-learning community in the Scott Residence Hall and neighboring Scott Village.
Accepted students, who must be Nebraska residents and have a high school GPA of 3.5 or greater and an ACT score of 30 or greater, receive the Regents Scholarship through UNO to cover tuition. The Scott Scholars Program covers all other costs, including books, a laptop, room and board and funding for professional development opportunities.
The $20 million pledge from the Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation will support the Scott Scholars Program for the next five years, through the 2028-29 academic year. The gift also expands the program from a class size of 32 students to 42 students a year.
Since it began, an estimated 600 Scott Scholars have graduated, with more than 80% choosing to stay in Nebraska after graduation to pursue their careers. The average annual salary for 2023 graduating Scott Scholars was $78,000.
Harnoor Dhaliwal, Ph.D., associate executive director of the Scott Scholars Program, said the connections students build in the community are key to retaining them in Nebraska after graduation. Scholars not only participate in internships at local companies, professional development conferences and research opportunities; they also partner with local organizations to solve technical problems.
Selected students can choose from among numerous STEM-based academic programs, including engineering, computer science, IT innovation, math and economics, as well as multiple pre-health degrees. Half the students in the most recent class expressed an interest in health sciences, which was an impetus for the expansion of the Scott Scholars Program to UNMC.
UNMC College of Medicine, Scott Scholars
The Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation established the Scott Scholars Program in the UNMC College of Medicine to prepare high-achieving students to serve as health care professionals. The program is designed to leverage students’ growing health sciences expertise to solve health-related challenges in the community and in clinical settings, as well as in critically important life sciences research.
In the fall of 2023, an inaugural class of students enrolled in the Scott Scholars Program in the UNMC College of Medicine after the Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation made a pledge of more than $1.7 million to launch the pilot program. The foundation subsequently increased its commitment to more than $3 million, supporting a second 12-member cohort for the fall of 2024. Foundation leaders have expressed an interest in expanding the UNMC program to other health sciences academic colleges in the future.
UNMC provides in-state tuition, and the Scott Scholars Program covers room and board and a stipend to fund professional and research opportunities for four years for UNMC medical students. Scholars live together in a living-learning community within an apartment complex near the UNMC campus. Students participate in unique experiential learning opportunities at UNMC and across the nation.
The UNMC Scott Scholars Program is open to students from around the country. Three medical students currently in the UNMC inaugural class graduated from the UNO Scott Scholars Program. It’s also anticipated that students graduating with pre-health bachelor’s degrees from the four other Scott Scholars Programs across the country will become future UNMC Scott Scholars.
Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation
The Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation was founded in 1990 by Walter Scott, Jr. and his wife, Suzanne. The couple were passionate champions for numerous causes and projects that improved the quality of life in Walter’s birthplace of Omaha.
Walter, who died in 2021, was chair emeritus and former CEO of Peter Kiewit Sons’ Inc. and former chair of the board of Level 3 Communications Inc. Suzanne, who died in 2013, served as a director of the Omaha Zoological Society, Joslyn Art Museum and the Salvation Army, and she was a board chair for United Way of the Midlands.
What others are saying
“Walter Scott’s visionary generosity established the Scott Scholars Program, a gold standard in nurturing exceptional talents with intention and care. A dynamic community is propelling top achieving students toward shaping Nebraska’s future. Beyond academics, it fosters camaraderie, a sense of belonging and uncompromised service to the community. UNO extends heartfelt gratitude to the Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation, Calvin Sisson, Laura Miller and their team for their steadfast support and continued investment in the best and the brightest within our student body. — Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, chancellor, University of Nebraska at Omaha
“It has been an amazing opportunity to work directly with Mr. Scott and his colleagues to plan and now implement the UNMC health professions program for the Scott Scholars. The potential for this program is best exemplified by the success of the students who completed the undergraduate program and now are enrolled at UNMC. This program will continue to have a tremendous impact on the amazing careers of caring that future generations of leaders will pursue.” — Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., chancellor, University of Nebraska Medical Center
“This is an extraordinary investment in our young people. All of us at the University of Nebraska are grateful to the Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation for their continued generosity. This gift aligns perfectly with the University of Nebraska’s vision to compete for our best and brightest and give them every opportunity to chase their dreams right here in Nebraska. Students and our state will benefit for generations to come.” — Chris Kabourek, interim president, University of Nebraska
“This transformational investment will sustain and grow the Scott Scholars Program at UNO and expand this exceptional program to UNMC. The Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation’s generosity ensures the continuation of Suzanne and Walter’s vision of preparing high-achieving students to develop their skills and leadership potential to make a difference for Nebraska.” — Brian F. Hastings, president and CEO, University of Nebraska Foundation
“The gift that the Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation has given to the community is quite remarkable. This one-of-a-kind program focuses on developing the whole person. We simply haven’t found anything else like it.” — Wayne Watkins, executive director, Scott Scholars Program
About the University of Nebraska at Omaha
Located in one of America’s best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community.
About the University of Nebraska Medical Center
As Nebraska’s only public academic health science center, the University of Nebraska Medical Center enrolls more than 4,500 students across six colleges, two institutes and a graduate studies program. Its mission is to create a healthier future for Nebraskans through premier education, research and clinical care, but its impact — rooted in a culture of collaboration, big ideas and public-private partnerships — goes far beyond, in areas that include infectious diseases, rural health, cancer research and treatments, global health security, and simulation and experiential learning technologies.
About the University of Nebraska Foundation
The University of Nebraska Foundation grows relationships and resources that enable the University of Nebraska to change lives and save lives. During the most recent fiscal year, 58,072 donors supported the University of Nebraska, and a record $354.5 million in new funds was committed to aid UNK, UNL, UNO, NCTA and UNMC and its clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine. The foundation raises more than $7 for every $1 spent. Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future is its current campaign with a goal to raise $3 billion from 150,000 unique benefactors to support the University of Nebraska. More information is at OnlyinNebraska.org.
UNMC/Nebraska Medicine: For the Greater Good
The University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine invite their supporters to give back during For the Greater Good, March 27-28, 2024.
The second annual day of giving will unite alumni, students, faculty, staff, grateful patients and the community at large to support the future of health care in Nebraska.
The event will begin at noon on March 27 and conclude at noon on March 28. Gifts may be made online at greatergoodgivingday.org. Supporters who make gifts totaling $66 or more will receive a UNMC/Nebraska Medicine custom travel pouch.
The goal of the 2024 For the Greater Good is to receive 1,800 gifts of $5 or more to support UNMC students, scholarships, research and the people, programs and patients of Nebraska Medicine.
From Feb. 14-15, 2024, alumni, faculty, staff and the Husker community at large made 5,551 gifts to raise $823,041 to expand opportunities for UNL students. Both the number of gifts and the amount raised set new records for the giving day.
The University of Nebraska community is mourning the passing of Bill Scott, who together with his wife Ruth was one of the most transformative donors in the university’s history. The Scott family confirmed Bill Scott’s death Tuesday at the age of 93.
Both natives of Ashland and University of Nebraska graduates, Ruth and Bill Scott have been deeply rooted and invested in the Omaha community and the State of Nebraska throughout their lives. With a focus on supporting education and children through their foundation, the Scotts have contributed greatly to the city’s and state’s progress, health and vitality in a quiet but exceptional way.
The Scotts’ generosity has benefited students, faculty and programs across all the University of Nebraska campuses. Just a few examples of their giving include the Ruth and Bill Scott Student Plaza at UNMC; the UNMC Student Life Center redevelopment and expansion; the Munroe-Meyer Institute; the College of Nursing facility in Lincoln; the Frederick F. Paustian Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center; the leadership gift for the Health Science Education Complex at UNK; the leadership gift for the Douglas A. Kristensen Rural Health Education Complex (or what Bill Scott has affectionately named “The Doug”); the Dreamers Pathway Scholarship and Project Achieve to support first-generation students, students with limited incomes and students with disabilities at UNO; the John and Jan Christensen Concert Hall in the redeveloped Strauss Performing Arts Center; the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center; the Biomechanics Research Facility and its expansion; Barbara Hibner Soccer Stadium in Lincoln; the Gnotobiotic Mouse Facility and Nebraska Food for Health Center at UNL; and the Cherish Nebraska exhibit space at Morrill Hall.
In 2009 they received the Board of Regents’ most prestigious honor, the Regents Medal, for their contributions.
Bill Scott, a 1953 graduate of the UNL College of Business, joined the Buffett Partnership in 1959 and Berkshire Hathaway in 1970, where he remained until the early 1990s. Ruth Scott, who earned her bachelor’s degree from UNL in education, became a teacher and went on to found the Omaha Bridge Studio.
Following are statements on Bill Scott’s passing from the senior leadership of the University of Nebraska.
University of Nebraska Interim President Chris Kabourek:
“I had the pleasure of meeting Bill Scott at a university event just last week. He and Ruth were as warm, funny, down-to-earth and generous as everyone had told me they would be. I’ll always remember Bill closing the event by pulling out his trumpet and playing ‘There is No Place Like Nebraska’ while the chancellors and I sang along.
“The Scotts are the true embodiment of great Nebraska philanthropy. While they never wanted attention or credit for any of it, it would be impossible to overstate the impact their generosity has had on the lives of students and Nebraskans. The University of Nebraska is a stronger, more accessible, more impactful institution for the leadership and vision of Ruth and Bill.
“We have lost a great Nebraskan, but Bill’s legacy will touch our university and state for many generations. All of us at the University of Nebraska thank Bill for his lifetime of service and extend our deepest sympathy to Ruth and the Scott family at this sad time.”
University of Nebraska Medical Center Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.:
“Bill Scott was a champion of the faculty, staff and students at UNMC. More so, he was a wonderful friend and simply a terrific human being. He and Ruth’s impact on the University of Nebraska Medical Center is incalculable. Our thoughts go out to Ruth and the rest of the Scott family. We should take comfort in knowing that Bill’s support of UNMC and Nebraska Medicine will have a lasting impact on the health and well-being not only of his fellow Nebraskans, but on others throughout the country and the world. His is a magnificent legacy.”
University of Nebraska at Kearney Chancellor Doug Kristensen:
“Bill Scott’s passing enables us to reflect on one of the great Nebraskans. Bill and his wife Ruth, from their first kiss at age 12 at the top of the Ferris wheel, have been a great team. A team that has significantly and generously benefited so many Nebraska communities. Quietly, they have impacted so many rural communities with their charitable giving. Most recently, the state’s most comprehensive rural health education initiative benefited from their lead donation. Bill was a friend to the University and the state. Personally, I found Bill to be a great role model in how to impact all Nebraskans for the common good with their resources. My sincere sympathy to Ruth and the Scott family. They are one of the great Nebraska families.”
University of Nebraska at Omaha Chancellor Joanne Li:
Bill and Ruth Scott’s contribution to the University of Nebraska including UNO is immense. Bill Scott and Ruth changed the trajectory of this urban university, especially in our world-renowned biomechanics department, and created a multigenerational impact among our communities by funding critical student support initiatives. Words don’t seem enough to describe how saddened we are to lose one of our most inspirational philanthropists but to quote Winston Churchill “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” This sums up Bill’s life and the profound effect he had on our entire community. Our hearts go out to Ruth and the Scott family.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Rodney Bennett:
“Bill Scott loved the state of Nebraska and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the University loved him right back. Along with his wife, Ruth, the Scotts have impacted generations of UNL students through their support of numerous projects and initiatives, including the Dinsdale Family Learning Commons, a transformational space on East Campus; the Nebraska Food for Health Center; and our beloved Nebraska State Museum – Morrill Hall. UNL shares in mourning Bill’s passing with all those who loved and cared for him.”
University of Nebraska Foundation President and CEO Brian Hastings:
“Bill Scott was truly one of a kind. He was a treasure to Nebraska and its University – a man who gave generously touching so many projects and programs at the University of Nebraska through his many thoughtful investments. He gave simply to help others and to make Nebraska a great place to live and raise a family, and he did it all without ever wanting to be in the spotlight. We are all better for having known Bill Scott. He will be deeply missed.”
