UNO student-athlete scholarship honors the life of Shirley Coniglio

Shirley and Luke Coniglio

The family of the late Shirley A. Coniglio has established a $400,000 athletic endowed scholarship fund in her memory to forever provide financial assistance to student-athletes pursuing their education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Luke Coniglio of Omaha and his four children created the Shirley A. Seewald Coniglio Athletic Endowed Scholarship with a gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation in support of Omaha Athletics in April.

“We are very grateful for the incredible generosity of Luke Coniglio and his family by establishing the Shirley A. Seewald Coniglio Athletic Endowed Scholarship Fund,” said Adrian Dowell, Omaha vice chancellor ‒ director of athletics. “This gift will have a significant impact on Omaha Athletics well into the future by supporting our Maverick student-athletes while also honoring the legacy of Shirley Coniglio in perpetuity.”

Omaha Athletics will select recipients of the Shirley A. Seewald Coniglio Athletic Endowed Scholarship. Student-athletes studying any major who have demonstrated financial need and/or outstanding academic achievement will be eligible for scholarship awards that will be renewed annually until they graduate.

In a joint statement to the university, the Coniglio family said, “We are proud to establish the Shirley A. Seewald Coniglio Athletic Endowed Scholarship at the University of Nebraska at Omaha to honor Shirley’s legacy as a wife and mother. This is a lasting way to remember Shirley and to create sustainable support for Omaha Athletics. UNO has been an important part of our family for many years, and, as an urban-serving institution, it’s vital to the Omaha community and the region.”

Shirley Ann (Seewald) Coniglio was born in San Bernadino, California, in 1933. Although she and her family had limited resources, she was determined to go to college and attended College of Saint Mary in Omaha to be a certified medical technologist.

Shirley and Luke Coniglio met in 1953 and were married after he returned from serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. They are parents to four children, Cheryl (Coniglio) Petty, Chris Coniglio, Mark Coniglio and Mary Coniglio. Shirley passed away in 2020 at nearly 88 years old.

For more information on athletics scholarships and other ways to philanthropically support Maverick student-athletes, please contact Brock Wissmiller with Omaha Athletics at 402-502-4911.

Contact: Robb Crouch, senior director of public relations, 402-458-1142, robb.crouch@nufoundation.org

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