legacy-post Archives - University of Nebraska Foundation

The Center for Advocacy, Response & Education (CARE) is a lifeline for University of Nebraska‒Lincoln students, faculty and staff who have experienced trauma. This year’s Give to Lincoln Day on Wednesday, May 24 provides an opportunity to support UNL CARE, which offers no-cost therapy to survivors of sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking or sexual harassment.

UNL CARE provides safe, confidential, survivor-centered support; UNL community members seeking assistance are paired with an advocate to help them navigate campus and community resources. Recently, UNL CARE expanded its services by providing a trauma-informed, graduate-level therapist. Utilizing evidence-based interventions such as cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure (PE), the therapist treats individuals experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other trauma-related symptoms.

There is currently a waiting list of people seeking zero-cost clinical services, and UNL CARE plans to add a second therapist this summer. Gifts to help expand the program may be made online anytime between now and May 24, here.

Give to Lincoln Day is coordinated by the Lincoln Community Foundation in partnership with local nonprofits, including the University of Nebraska Foundation. This annual giving opportunity encourages people to contribute to Lincoln and Lancaster County nonprofit organizations and helps local nonprofits tell their stories and educate the community about their positive impact.

Every contribution made during the event also increases UNL CARE’s opportunity to receive a portion of $500,000 in matching funds made available by the event’s sponsors and benefactors.

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, a record 60,571 donors gave $300.6 million to the foundation to aid UNK, UNO, UNL, UNMC and its clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine, and NCTA. 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.

The Holland Foundation has established a permanently endowed scholarship fund to forever provide financial assistance to students pursuing their education in the College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media (CFAM) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

The Richard Holland Endowed Scholarship Fund is the largest scholarship fund ever created to support students in the College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media. The Holland Foundation made a $250,000 gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation, which was matched by other funds to establish a $500,000 scholarship fund in memory of philanthropist Dick Holland.

“We are beyond grateful for this incredibly generous gift, which will positively impact our college and community for many years to come,” said Michael Hilt, Ph.D., dean of the College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media. “When given the opportunity, CFAM students do great things. In addition to achieving their academic goals, they develop creativity, ingenuity and communication skills that will enrich their lives and put them on the path to career success.”

Dick Holland was a longtime supporter of UNO. His contributions included a leadership gift to Baxter Arena, where the Holland Ice is named in his honor, and support for a supercomputer in the Holland Computing Center. He graduated from the University of Omaha (now UNO), where he majored in art and was a columnist for The Gateway student newspaper before launching a successful career in advertising in Omaha.

“Support for public education, at all levels, is at the heart of the Holland Foundation’s mission,” said Deb Love, president of the Holland Foundation. “The Richard Holland Endowed Scholarship Fund will continue Dick Holland’s legacy of giving back to his alma mater by supporting future generations of students who major in communications, media, art or music.”

Dick Holland died in 2016 at the age of 95; his wife, Mary, died in 2006 at the age of 82. Dick and Mary Holland’s legacy of philanthropic giving is being carried on by the foundation established in their name.

The Holland Foundation 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. More information is at OnlyinNebraska.org.

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, a record 60,571 donors gave $300.6 million to the foundation to aid UNK, UNO, UNL, UNMC and its clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine, and NCTA. The foundation raises more than $7 for every $1 it spends. 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.

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.

Plainview, Nebraska, native Bill Johnson has been selected as senior vice president of development at the University of Nebraska Foundation, where he will lead private fundraising efforts for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Johnson, who has an extensive background in higher education fundraising leadership, will work in partnership with the chancellor and other university leaders, Husker Athletics, the Nebraska Alumni Association and the foundation’s UNL development team to advance the fundraising goals of the state’s flagship university.

He is currently vice president of university advancement at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in education administration/athletic administration from UNL while playing basketball under Coach Danny Nee. He then worked as an assistant basketball coach and director of basketball operations for the Huskers for four years.

“The University of Nebraska took a kid from the reservation in northeast Nebraska, welcomed him as a student athlete and eventually an employee early in my professional life,” said Johnson, a member of the Santee Sioux Tribe. “To have the opportunity to return home and assist the foundation in leading a successful, impactful campaign is a great honor to uplift a community and state that still mean the world to me.”

Last fall, the University of Nebraska Foundation launched a historic campaign to encourage at least 150,000 benefactors to give $3 billion to support all campuses of the University of Nebraska, which includes UNL, the University of Nebraska at Kearney, the University of Nebraska Medical Center and its clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine, the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis.

Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future has three priorities: to create additional scholarships and invest in programs and modern facilities that offer hands-on learning opportunities for students; to support the university’s faculty, clinical and academic programs; and to grow the University of Nebraska as a hub of research and innovation.

“I’ve known Bill for a number of years,” said Brian F. Hastings, president and CEO of the University of Nebraska Foundation. “He is a respected leader in our profession and has served in leadership roles at multiple universities, including his leadership of two university foundations. Bill’s fundraising experience, leadership and coaching experience, and great appreciation for the state of Nebraska will make a tremendous difference in furthering UNL’s success.”

An interview committee appointed by Chancellor Ronnie Green assisted with the search. Committee members were: Katherine Ankerson, executive vice chancellor; Michael Zeleny, vice chancellor for business and finance; Tiffany Heng-Moss, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources; Richard Moberly, dean of the College of Law; and Lance Pérez, dean of the College of Engineering.

“I am extremely pleased to welcome Bill Johnson back to his alma mater,” Green said. “As a former Husker athlete and a graduate of our university, Bill knows firsthand the profound impact that a University of Nebraska education can have on a student’s future. Bill’s deep love for Nebraska will make him an excellent partner as we work together to meet the needs of our students, our university and state.”

Johnson succeeds Joe Selig, who retired from the foundation last year after serving the University of Nebraska in various capacities for 46 years.

“We are excited for Bill, with his three decades of university leadership and fundraising experience, to take on this leadership role and be an extraordinary coach, mentor and partner, advancing our collective efforts on behalf of the University of Nebraska,” said Lori Byrne, executive vice president of advancement and campaign director at the University of Nebraska Foundation.

In his current role at the University of Nevada, Reno, Johnson oversees fundraising, alumni engagement, advancement services, donor relations and other functions. He also serves as executive director of the University of Nevada, Reno Foundation. Last year, Johnson served as interim athletic director while the university conducted a national search to fill the vacancy.

Previously, he served as vice president of university advancement at California State University, East Bay, and in other advancement roles at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, and the University of San Francisco, where he also was an assistant men’s basketball coach. Johnson was an administrative fellow in the Harvard University Native American Program. Earlier in his career, he raised athletic funds for Georgetown University; Columbia University, where he was an assistant men’s basketball coach; and Casper College in Casper, Wyoming, where he was also head men’s basketball coach.

Johnson’s first day at the foundation will be June 5.

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, a record 60,571 donors gave $300.6 million to the foundation to aid UNK, UNO, UNL, UNMC and its clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine, and NCTA. The foundation raises more than $7 for every $1 it spends. 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.

The University of Nebraska at Kearney and the University of Nebraska Foundation are launching the Lopers Going Toe-To-Toe crowdfunding campaign to support Loper students in crisis.

Running April 18-28, 2023, the giving effort encourages participants to make a gift to the UNK Student Scholarship Crisis Fund. Gifts of any amount can be made, with gifts of $30 or more qualifying for a complimentary pair of Loper socks. Gifts may be made online at fundraise.nufoundation.org/toetotoe.

For college students in crisis, emergency funds are a lifeline. The UNK Student Scholarship Crisis Fund provides emergency assistance to currently enrolled students facing extenuating circumstances that could jeopardize their education. Those circumstances could include the loss of a family member, loss of residence, serious personal illness, loss of income or another personal emergency.

The polka dot socks, designed in UNK blue and gold with the Loper mascot, were created exclusively for this event.

“Some students are faced with emergencies that disrupt their education. Having funds available quickly to pay a utility or medical bill or a car repair can mean the difference for that student between dropping out or completing their education,” said Kelly Bartling, vice chancellor for enrollment management and marketing. “UNK is working hard to keep tuition affordable, and to provide food and educational materials free to students in need, but there are many times through the academic year that students need some help paying their bills because of unplanned expenses. Your generosity to this fund can be life changing.”

Participants can give and follow the event’s progress at the Lopers Going Toe-To-Toe website between April 18-28. The campaign goal is to raise $15,000. Donor gifts will allow UNK to help more students in need continue on their path to graduation.

Thirty-one hours. 1,542 donations, all for the greater good.

The first-ever UNMC Giving Day was a tremendous success, far surpassing its goal of 1,000 gifts.

The event raised $278,229 to support the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s colleges, student organizations and clinical partners and institutions, including Nebraska Medicine.

UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, and Nebraska Medicine CEO James Linder, MD, expressed gratitude to the alumni, friends and grateful patients who supported the campaign.

“At UNMC and Nebraska Medicine, we are grateful for the response to the inaugural Giving Day. As UNMC continues in its mission to transform lives, we are humbled by the generosity and trust our stakeholders have shown us,” Dr. Gold said. “These generous investments will provide support for UNMC students, educators and initiatives as we strive together to create a healthier future for the people of Nebraska and beyond. Thank you all.”

To honor UNMC’s founding in 1869, the giving day lasted for 1,869 minutes (about 31 hours) with gifts made online on the giving day website. Donations came in from 45 states.

Of the total raised, $66,286 was donated to support Nebraska Medicine.

“The generosity of Nebraska Medicine and UNMC supporters in Omaha and around the world is one of our greatest assets,” Dr. Linder said. “The money raised during this inaugural Giving Day will support emergency needs for our patients and families, it will provide growth and educational opportunities for our nurses and other colleagues, and it will ensure financial help is available for the next generation of health care workers. We thank everyone who made a donation.”

UNMC Giving Day — For the Greater Good featured more than 70 worthy causes, with one of those organized by Jack Henry of Omaha in honor of his mother, Linda Henry of Logan, Iowa, who was treated for pancreas cancer at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.

The Deconstruct Cancer Challenge, established with matching funds from Jack Henry and the owners of the company he works for, Johnson Deconstruct, supports the Pancreatic Cancer Center of Excellence at UNMC and Nebraska Medicine. The center seeks to transform the early detection, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of pancreas cancer, considered to be one of the world’s most lethal cancers.

“I feel so lucky having this state-of-the-art medical facility right next door,” Jack Henry said. “It’s such a noble effort, and it’s right here in Nebraska.”

Linda Henry, 72, of Logan, Iowa, said she’s proud of her son for organizing the fundraising effort and is grateful for the care she’s received. “It has meant the world to me. I’ve got a lot to live for.”

She recalls learning she had pancreas cancer in an emergency room in June 2021. “I thought there was no hope for anything. I didn’t think anyone got over pancreas cancer.”

Linda Henry said her pancreas cancer was detected in its early stages, and after six months of chemotherapy and Whipple surgery to remove part of her pancreas, she’s looking to the future with optimism. She treasures time with her three children and five grandchildren and has a message for other patients with pancreas cancer.

“There is hope.”

Kyle P. Meyer, PhD, dean of the College of Allied Health Professions, called the first UNMC Giving Day a huge success.

“Our mission is to transform lives and communities for a healthier future. We are overwhelmed by the sheer number of alumni and friends who have chosen to partner with us in this mission,” he said. “Their gifts will provide scholarships and other opportunities for students and continue to advance our outstanding programs and faculty.”

Another beneficiary was the Nebraska Medicine Patient and Family Experience Fund, which provides direct support to patients whose needs exceed their available resources. Last fiscal year, 2,220 meals were provided to families and caretakers, and 2,570 nights of lodging were covered by donors.

“Since before the pandemic, we have found that patients and families often encounter challenges making ends meet,” said Rachele Sledge, social work department manager at Nebraska Medicine. “Then you add in a sudden or even chronic medical issue that brings them to us, and they … are having to decide between eating and paying utilities or affording gas to get to medical appointments.”

UNMC student Natalia Santos is pursuing her doctorate in health promotion in the College of Public Health. For her research on rural food access in minority communities, Santos uses geospatial analysis and interviews with Latinos living in rural Nebraska communities to gain a better understanding of barriers to obtaining healthy food, including family income, cost and the availability of healthy food in local grocery stores.

She views her research as central to UNMC’s mission to serve Nebraska and says philanthropic support is critical.

“At UNMC, we are really focused on rural health,” Santos said. “Investing in scholarships, faculty development and research makes the university more successful.”

The giving day donations also count toward Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future. Announced last fall, the campaign has a goal to raise $3 billion from 150,000 unique benefactors to support the University of Nebraska. More information is at OnlyinNebraska.org.

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, a record 60,571 donors gave $300.6 million to the foundation to aid UNK, UNO, UNL, UNMC and its clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine, and NCTA. The foundation raises more than $7 for every $1 it spends. Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future is its current campaign.

Contact: Connie White, University of Nebraska Foundation, connie.white@nufoundation.org.

A new flight simulator housed within the Aviation Institute at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) will provide students with critical experience in preparation for careers flying the Boeing 737 – one of the most widely used passenger aircraft.

The new Boeing 737 Flight Training Device from Flightdeck Solutions (FDS) offers tactile training with a full replica cockpit built to scale. A 200-degree curved screen wraps around the nose of the simulated aircraft providing pilots with an immersive, seamless first-person view as they simulate flights to and from real-world airports, including Omaha’s Eppley Airfield. It features high level Sim-Avionics Flight Management System software that fully simulates the operations and measurements of the aircraft on its journey.

Using a simulator with actual aircraft yokes, buttons, switches, gauges, and other instruments allows students to develop a physical, spatial connection to the environment they will be working in – something that can’t be replicated in a simulator with such instruments and devices depicted on a screen. Students can also gather behind the simulator and observe as their colleagues take their turn in the cockpit.

Scott Vlasek, director of UNO’s Aviation Institute, said the simulator provides students with hands-on training for an aircraft many of them will be flying shortly after graduating from UNO. It also provides opportunities for instructors to challenge them with different situations they may encounter in their careers.

“Simulators put our students into scenario-based training. We can insert failures and rapid weather changes that will force them to use their training and critical thinking skills,” Vlasek said. “The instructor can stop a simulation, at any point, to discuss what went wrong and provide opportunities to work through difficult situations. They are tremendous tools that help deal with potential real-world situations.”

By training on the aircraft commonly used by top commercial airliners, students are better prepared to enter airline-specific training programs. UNO’s Aviation Institute is one of the only institutions in the nation to partner with both Southwest Airlines through its Destination 225° program as well as the United Airlines Aviate program—both of which provide UNO students with direct career paths to the flight deck for major airlines.

The Ethel S. Abbott Charitable Foundation made a gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation to purchase the Boeing 737 jet simulator for the UNO Aviation Institute. The Ethel S. Abbott Charitable Foundation was established in 1972 by its founder, Ethel S. Abbott, who passed away in 1992. Ethel was an aviation pioneer who with her first husband, Raymond H. Page, operated the Lincoln Aircraft Company in Lincoln, Nebraska. The couple trained student pilots, and together they taught Charles Lindbergh to fly. On file at the Nebraska Historical Society is a telegram sent to her by Lindbergh when he landed in Paris in 1927 after his transatlantic flight.

“Our mission is to perpetuate the charitable generosity that Ethel S. Abbott demonstrated through her 97 years of life,” said Dorothy Pflug, president of the Ethel S. Abbott Charitable Foundation. “Flight training technologies have evolved tremendously from the aircraft the Pages used to teach Charles Lindbergh to fly. We are pleased to support the next generation of aviators as they pursue their own dreams of flying.”

Three flight faculty, Skip Bailey, Eric Taylor, and Alison Adams will be trained on the flight operations of the Boeing 737 over the next few months. It will be integrated and ready for use in the fall 2023 curriculum. UNO’s Aviation Institute is now home to three flight simulators, with its existing Redbird MCX simulators being used to train students on flights in smaller aircraft.

The gift in support of the UNO Aviation Institute is part of Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future. Announced last fall, the campaign strives to raise $3 billion from 150,000 unique benefactors to support the University of Nebraska. More information is at OnlyinNebraska.org.

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 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, a record 60,571 donors gave $300.6 million to the foundation to aid UNK, UNO, UNL, UNMC and its clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine, and NCTA. The foundation raises more than $7 for every $1 it spends. Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future is its current campaign.

UNMC program serves Omaha women from underserved communities

Omaha, Nebraska — AstraZeneca has awarded the University of Nebraska Medical Center a $25,000 grant for a breast health navigator program to help Omaha women from medically underserved communities receive appropriate early detection and breast cancer treatment.

The grant to the Nebraska Breast Health Navigation Program (NBHNP) was made through the University of Nebraska Foundation.

NBHNP seeks to increase mammography screening rates among Black and Latina women in North and South Omaha and increase the proportion of Black and Latina patients who take part in clinical trials at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center at UNMC.

“This amazing and generous AstraZeneca grant will assist us with our breast cancer navigator program to decrease barriers of breast cancer care to minority and underserved patients in Omaha,” said Juan Santamaria, MD, program director. “The support of AstraZeneca is crucial to our endeavor to improve breast cancer health equity among minority women. This grant will impact cancer health in our minority population in a very positive way.”

NBHNP will train eight to 10 lay volunteers with personal or family experience with breast cancer. The navigators will act as guides for patients during screening and treatment visits, assist with appointment coordination, provide education about breast cancer treatments and offer emotional and family support. The navigators also will help identify barriers to screening including logistical, financial or insurance-related hurdles. Navigators serving Spanish-only speaking Latinas will be proficient in Spanish. Before becoming navigators, volunteers will complete a 12-week training course led by Dr. Santamaria and breast health specialists from UNMC.

Phyllis Mitchell-Butler is one of two recently hired navigator administrator coordinators at UNMC. She said volunteer training has begun, and navigators may begin to meet with patients in April.

“We are ecstatic about this AstraZeneca gift because it will give us more power to be in a position to help minority and underserved women with breast cancer barriers,” Mitchell-Butler said. “We have some very dedicated breast cancer survivors who are ready to get started.”

One of those survivors is Indira Engel. She was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in 2009, a few days after finding a painful lump in her breast. Engel and her husband took notes and recorded her doctor’s appointments but still felt in over their heads and filled with fear.

“We were blessed with an incredibly proactive group of neighbors and friends who helped us get through our new reality,” she said. “Through my journey, I met other women who were not as fortunate and didn’t have the support necessary to overcome obstacles for seeking treatment. Thus, when I came across the breast cancer navigator program, I realized this was a much-needed tool for underserved newly diagnosed patients, and I wanted to be part of it.”

NBHNP’s community partners include My Sister’s Keeper (a breast cancer support group for women of color in Nebraska). Other funding for the program was provided by UNMC, the John Wayne Cancer Foundation and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

The AstraZeneca grant is part of 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. More information is at OnlyinNebraska.org.

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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, a record 60,571 donors gave $300.6 million to the foundation to aid UNK, UNO, UNL, UNMC and its clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine, and NCTA. The foundation raises more than $7 for every $1 it spends. Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future is its current campaign.

About UNMC

We are Nebraska Medicine and UNMC. Our mission is 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.

Contacts: John Keenan, UNMC Strategic Communications, 402-559-8329, john.keenan@unmc.edu

Connie White, University of Nebraska Foundation, 402-502-4922, 402-320-2340 connie.white@nufoundation.org

Ron Krutsinger’s life was defined by his passion for Nebraska’s cattle business. He embraced the freedom of wide-open spaces growing up on his family’s southwest Nebraska ranch and built a career in the industry by raising, buying and selling cattle.

So when Ron passed away in 2020, his wife, Carol Krutsinger of Norfolk, Nebraska, decided to honor his legacy by helping to ensure the future of Nebraska’s beef industry.

Carol made a $1 million gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation to benefit the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA). The gift to help develop the next generation of beef industry leaders was made possible by the sale in December of the couple’s 15,500-acre ranch in Dundy County in southwest Nebraska.

“Scholarships are critical for our students to be able to complete their education and prepare for the agricultural workforce,” said NCTA Dean Larry Gossen, Ph.D. “Without generous donors and sponsors like Carol Krutsinger, many of our students may not be able to attend college.”

Ron Krutsinger was born in Benkelman, Nebraska, Aug. 22, 1939, graduating from high school there and learning the strong work ethic of living and working on a family ranch. He moved to Norfolk in 1966 to work for Production Credit Association, an agriculture lender. He fed cattle on the side before purchasing and operating the Fore-Quarters Feedlot from 1972 until 2005.

Carol said her husband of 46 years loved his work with cattle and ranching. Carol, a retired kindergarten teacher in Norfolk, recalled how she met Ron at a party hosted at his home, having been invited by mutual friends. Ron was late arriving because he was out feeding cattle.

“He was a worker and always up for a challenge. I supported that because I knew he was happy,” she said. “He told me once that he would never retire.”

Ron’s longtime bookkeeper, Sheila Dreismeier, described him as someone who did business on a handshake.

“He was a gentle giant,” she said. “He was compassionate. He got along with everybody. All the cattlemen respected him and his opinion, and he guided a lot of young people.”

Ron died Nov. 15, 2020, at a Norfolk hospital after contracting COVID-19 during the first year of the pandemic.

Carol said that after the unexpected loss of her husband, she decided to sell the Krutsinger family ranch, which had grown from 160 acres to 15,500 acres through land purchases by Ron’s late father Bus, and later by Ron and his late brother, Garry.

Stretching nine miles from north to south, the family had spent many Thanksgiving holidays at the Dundy County ranch, and Ron enjoyed trout fishing and duck hunting there.

With no children, Carol knew the sprawling ranch was more than she could manage.

She devoted some of the proceeds from the sale to help agriculture students at UNL and NCTA. Ron attended Colorado State University for one year, then went back home to work on the family ranch. He always wished he had been able to get his degree, Carol said.

The Krutsinger Beef Industry Scholars Program is housed in UNL’s Department of Animal Science. The program develops students to be leaders of the beef industry through academic coursework, tours of Nebraska cattle operations and the opportunity to build relationships with ranchers, cattle feeders, processors and industry leaders.

“I cannot express enough gratitude for the gift that Carol Krutsinger has provided in support of our Nebraska Beef Industry Scholars Program,” said Thomas E. Burkey, Ph.D., interim head of the department. “Since 2006, this program has leveraged our strengths in beef systems education to provide students with unique opportunities to apply knowledge gained to address current and emerging issues in the beef industry. This generous gift will help us to solidify our commitment to providing opportunities to develop the next generation of beef industry leaders.”

Agriculture is the No. 1 industry in Nebraska, and cattle production represents the largest segment of the industry, according to the Nebraska Beef Council.

Husker senior Tyler Perrin is an animal science major and Beef Industry Scholar. Having grown up on his family’s farm near Ogallala, Nebraska, he said he wants to work in the beef industry after he graduates in May and eventually own a cow herd. He said his experiences in the program have given him a better understanding of the consumer impacts of cattle production and allowed him to meet people in Nebraska’s beef industry.

“It’s very beneficial,” Perrin said. “I’ve made a lot of connections through the university, through classes and guest speakers. So later when you go into business with them, you know them and can relate to them on a personal level.”

Carol Krutsinger’s gift in support of agriculture students is part of Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future. Announced last fall, the campaign has a goal to raise $3 billion from 150,000 unique benefactors to support the University of Nebraska. The campaign’s biggest priority is students, with more than half the funds dedicated to ensuring a high-quality, affordable education for Nebraska students. More information is at OnlyinNebraska.org.

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, a record 60,571 donors gave $300.6 million to the foundation to aid UNK, UNO, UNL, UNMC and its clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine, and NCTA. The foundation raises more than $7 for every $1 it spends. Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future is its current campaign.

As a student in the Sign Language Interpreting program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Reagan Folda understands the importance of a clear and simple message. She wants UNO alumni to clearly understand this: Their gifts to the UNO Fund scholarship have changed her life.

“I am extremely grateful that I got this scholarship,” she said. “It brought me a lot of relief when I needed it during stressful times.”

Reagan is one of eight promising students who this fall was awarded a UNO Fund scholarship, receiving financial assistance thanks to the generosity of alumni and others who have contributed to the UNO Fund.

While UNO offers many scholarships, the UNO Fund for Student Scholarships is the only one that sees hundreds of alumni and supporters come together and make gifts — last year gifts ranged from $5 to $15,000 — to give directly back to students. Thanks to UNO Fund donors, UNO was able to offer Reagan a renewable scholarship to cover much of her tuition through her expected graduation in December 2024.

Reagan grew up in Schuyler, Nebraska, and after graduating from high school in 2019 she attended Central Community College as a student-athlete, playing soccer. However, after a year there, she felt drawn to a bigger city environment and started looking at transfer options. She transferred to Metropolitan Community College (MCC), where she majored in liberal arts.

While at MCC, Reagan took an ASL class and fell in love with the language. After a year at MCC, Reagan earned her associate degree. She then transferred to UNO to become a speech pathologist; however, she decided to change her major to become a sign language interpreter.

“I love learning about the Deaf community and American Sign Language,” Reagan said. “I think everyone should learn more about Deaf culture and ASL.”

Reagan has been impressed with the classes, people and campus at UNO, and she said she has found it a good fit for all the experiences she was hoping to receive from her college education.

“The campus is really nice,” Reagan said. “You feel very at home here, and the people are so awesome. I wanted a bigger city to live in, but it’s also just an hour from my hometown.”

Reagan also said she would enjoy working in the educational setting assisting children who are Deaf and hard of hearing. She hopes to pursue a career as an educational interpreter.

“I am considering getting my master’s in Deaf education,” Reagan added. “Right now, I am leaning toward becoming an educational interpreter, but there are many opportunities for me to think about.”

Reagan said she felt immediate relief this fall when she learned she would be receiving the UNO Fund scholarship.

“Transferring from Metro, it’s a price change, so I was nervous about that, but the scholarship really was a relief,” she said. “I was really grateful. I was nervous about taking out too much of a FAFSA loan, so I didn’t have to take out as much because I have the scholarship. And the scholarship is renewable, so that was really nice, too.”

In addition to taking classes at UNO, Reagan works as a nanny to help pay her living expenses and tuition. She said the UNO Fund scholarship has helped to ease some of those financial burdens. It also allowed her to find the right major without having to worry about adding additional semesters and incurring an even greater tuition bill.

“I get to focus more on my schoolwork,” she said. “I have a nanny job where I only work two days a week, which is nice. If I did not have this scholarship, I would probably have to find a second job, so it has been wonderful.”

In addition to expressing her gratitude, Reagan encouraged UNO alumni to consider giving back to this scholarship in an amount that makes sense to them. She said she knows firsthand that the gifts are being used to help students who want to make a positive impact in their communities.

“The people who have the UNO Fund scholarship, and anyone who graduates from UNO, they go out and do great things,” she said, “so I think it is a really good thing to donate to the UNO Fund scholarship. I know when I’m an alumnus, I’ll try to do it too for sure, because it helped me, and I want to give back, too.”

You can help bring more students like Reagan to UNO. The more people who give, the more scholarships we can award to students who need and deserve them. Make your gift of $25, $50,$100 or more to the UNO Fund today. https://unofund.org

As a full-time social worker, Matthew Beckmann works every day to assist those who most need support. In the course of working on behalf of these individuals, he also navigates a social safety-net system that is incredibly complex and has what he sees as significant flaws.

Matthew wants to change that and currently is taking the first steps to do so by pursuing his bachelor’s degree through the University of Nebraska at Omaha, with emphases in social work, business administration, and psychology.

“I feel like, as a social worker at this level, I can’t make changes.” he said, “So in a perfect world, I’ll keep on going through — I’m planning on getting my master’s degree — so hopefully I can actually make some of the changes I would like to see.”

Matthew’s ambitions are matched by his determination. Both he and his wife, a registered nurse, work full-time in North Platte, Nebraska. The couple have two sons, one 4 years old and one 5 months. To support his family as well as make a difference in his field, Matthew wanted to continue his education. But unfortunately, he found few options close to home that would let him pursue his chosen field.

Initially, Matthew looked at a nearby community college but found the experience discouraging. He decided to explore distance education options. After researching the offerings at most of the major universities in Nebraska, he decided to enroll in UNO’s online multidisciplinary studies program in the fall of 2021.

“I talked with the advisers at UNO quite a bit before I made my decision, and they definitely were amazing through the entire process and kind of told me what I could expect,” Matthew said. “Honestly, this last year and a half that I’ve completed the program with UNO, they’ve been there basically every step of the way. It has been great.”

Shortly after enrolling and starting classes at UNO, Matthew learned he would be one of the recipients of the UNO Fund scholarship, which provides financial assistance thanks to the generosity of alumni and others who donated to the UNO Fund.

While UNO has many scholarships, the UNO Fund for Student Scholarships are the only ones that see hundreds of alumni and supporters come together and make gifts — last year gifts ranged from $5 to $15,000 — to give directly back to students. Thanks to UNO Fund donors, UNO was able to offer Matthew a renewable scholarship to cover much of his tuition through his expected graduation in May 2023.

“When I received the message that I was going to get a scholarship, it definitely made my wife and me very happy,” Matthew said. “With two kids, we’re both working full-time jobs. But it’s definitely been difficult to work extra or really do anything extra because we’re so tight to the wall with our budgets right now. Getting the extra money just to be able to take a breath and actually pay off some different things because of the scholarship has definitely made a massive difference in our quality of life. I’m able to focus more on school because I’m not trying to work 40 hours a week plus more overtime so I can cover the different expenses.”

Matthew has been able to continue working and taking distance classes and is now on track to graduate with his bachelor’s degree from UNO. After that, he hopes to pursue his master’s degree in social work, which is also offered by UNO as an online program.

Matthew said the UNO Fund scholarship helped propel him toward the finish line, and he wished to express his gratitude to every donor to the fund, no matter the size of their gift.

“My wife and I are both so incredibly thankful for this opportunity,” Matthew said. “The donors that are contributing are providing an avenue for people that are not financially able to go through UNO, and I feel like the benefits that you provide are just so incredible. To be able to give that opportunity to prospective students is just an absolute gift. We couldn’t imagine trying to do it without the scholarship. We are so incredibly, incredibly grateful.”

You can help bring more students like Matthew to UNO. The more people who give, the more scholarships we can award to students who need and deserve them. Make your gift of $25, $50, $100, or more to the UNO Fund today. https://unofund.org

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