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Archives for June 1, 2025

Entrepreneurship Ecosystem

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The University of Nebraska–Lincoln has one of the best entrepreneurship programs in the world. It was recently ranked No. 42 out of hundreds of schools in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Europe and No. 12 in the Midwest by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine.

A network of programs across the university, the entrepreneurship ecosystem has a tremendous economic impact. Over a 10-year period, graduates created more than 157 businesses, and at least $6.5 million in funding has been raised to support those businesses.

“We have an outstanding entrepreneurial ecosystem at Nebraska. Our ranking as No. 42 in the world reflects our commitment to fueling the entrepreneurial spirit across the university for all students in any major, so Nebraska graduates are prepared to create the future.”

Samuel Nelson, Ph.D. Bauermeister Family Presidential Chair in Entrepreneurship and director of the Center for Entrepreneurship
Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management

In 2008, a donation transformed what is now the Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management, naming it after the co-founder of the Raikes Foundation and former CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Raikes School builds future leaders in technology-driven industries through interdisciplinary education in computer science, business, entrepreneurship and innovation. With 155 current students representing 22 unique majors and 19 states, Raikes School students continue to drive innovative solutions that benefit the state of Nebraska and change the world.

Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship

Established more than 35 years ago, the Center for Entrepreneurship prepares students from across campus for entrepreneurial success. Faculty and staff serve as advisers, mentors and collaborators for thousands of students taking entrepreneurship classes and participating in workshops and competitions. They connect students with a local, national and global network from day one, whether they want to pursue their own ideas for a business, dream of owning a franchise or explore their career options. Various donors have contributed to programming and student support that allows for these impactful experiences.

Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program

The late cattleman and entrepreneur Paul Engler provided a $20 million gift to create the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program to cultivate future generations of entrepreneurs and problem-solvers with the goal of growing and sustaining rural communities. The program launched in 2012 to provide experiential, community-based learning to help students build their own enterprises from the ground up. Part of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Engler program helps students discover their entrepreneurial spark and build skills to succeed in the industry and offers events to gain hands-on experiences and make lasting connections.

Clifton Builders Program

The Clifton Builders Program started in 2015 as part of a $30 million gift from Gallup and the Clifton Foundation to establish the Clifton Strengths Institute. The Builders program identifies and develops entrepreneurially minded students from across campus who aspire to change the world by building new businesses, teams or communities. Graduates of the program are now leading startup organizations or attending graduate or law school to further their education. Many are involved in consulting, finance or other aspects of the startup ecosystem.

Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts

The Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts launched in 2015 with a $20 million gift from iconic talk show host Johnny Carson, who hailed from Nebraska. Opening its doors in 2019 as part of the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film in the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, the Carson Center includes the school’s film and new media curriculum. With close faculty mentoring, students gain a foundational knowledge of storytelling, visual expression, entrepreneurship and computational media.

A Passion for Pickleball

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UNL Entrepreneurship Program Fuels Husker Student’s Business Venture

By Sara Badura

Andreas Katsaounis of Omaha was inspired to start his own business as a senior in high school because of his passion for the sport of pickleball. Those entrepreneurial dreams have flourished at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln through a program in the Center for Entrepreneurship.

“Ever since I picked up a pickleball paddle, I fell in love with the sport,” said Katsaounis, a business administration major and the owner of Alpha Omega Pickleball, which sells pickleball paddles and other merchandise. “My passion for pickleball isn’t just about playing the game. It has inspired me to dream big and start my own business.”

In fall 2024, Katsaounis and seven other students were welcomed into the second cohort of the Entrepreneurship Catalysts, a selective scholarship program for first-year students of any major.

“All the professors through the Center for Entrepreneurship are very helpful,” Katsaounis said. “If I have any questions, I can go to them. They’ll help me out with it.”

The Catalysts program, which provides participants with a $1,000 scholarship, has received generous philanthropic support from Allen Dayton of Lincoln and Jolene and Kevin Vermeer of Ashland, Nebraska.

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Dayton, a University of Nebraska Foundation Trustee, provided the initial support to launch the program. “Entrepreneurship has played a significant role in my life, and I believe strongly in supporting and building up future entrepreneurs,” he said.

 “We are thrilled to support students in the College of Business as they grow and explore what it means to have an entrepreneurial mindset,” said the Vermeers, who are both College of Business graduates. “We are invested in these aspiring entrepreneurs because we’re invested in the future of Nebraska.”

Along with scholarships, the program offers a community of like-minded peers and access to exclusive events and resources as students explore their entrepreneurial potential.

Mallory Krenk, student engagement and recruitment coordinator at the Center for Entrepreneurship, said the center brings in business founders from all over the community, so students can learn from the entrepreneurs’ experiences and expand their networks.

“We explore entrepreneurial frameworks, and students work through a lot of activity-based projects versus a more traditional lecture format,” she said. Participants learn while doing and can ask questions of the successful entrepreneurs, Krenk said.

Access to those resources has allowed Katsaounis to fine-tune his entrepreneurship skills, a key part of his entrepreneurial journey.

“It could be a connection to someone, a business owner,” Katsaounis said. “It’s really good for networking or help if you want to start a business. They’re definitely there to help you.”

Similar to tennis but played on a smaller court with paddles, pickleball is a social sport that has surged in popularity. Katsaounis named his business in honor of his father’s Greek heritage and his Christian beliefs. He continues to expand Alpha Omega Pickleball and now offers three pickleball paddles, a training paddle and clothing.

Katsaounis said he’s learned a lot about running businesses through the Entrepreneurship Catalysts. “I’ve made some really good upperclassmen friends who own businesses,” he said, “and they teach me different things.”

His business evolves as he learns more from his time at UNL and his involvement in the Catalysts program. Last November, Katsaounis was among the winners of the 3-2-1 Quick Pitch Competition hosted by the Center for Entrepreneurship.

Because of programs like the Entrepreneurship Catalysts, UNL ranks No. 42 in the world for undergraduate entrepreneurship, according to The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine.

“The Entrepreneurship Catalysts program is a great way to help students realize that Nebraska is a great place to start and grow a business,” Krenk said.

Investing in Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs

With philanthropic support, the Entrepreneurship Catalysts program aims to expand to a cohort size of 40 students, provide larger scholarships and endow the program in perpetuity. Gifts may be made through the University of Nebraska Foundation to the College of Business Catalyst Program Fund.

Sara Badura is a UNL student with a double major in journalism and advertising/public relations. She was previously a University of Nebraska Foundation intern.

100 years of Actuarial Science

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UNL Graduates Support Nebraska’s Third-Largest Industry

By Susan Houston Klaus

University of Nebraska student Otto Gross wanted to be an actuary. But in 1924, the university didn’t have an actuarial science program. So, he and some friends convinced their math professor, Floyd S. Harper, to teach them the equivalent of today’s Theory of Interest and Life Contingencies course. Their nudging gave actuarial science a jump start, not only in Nebraska but across the country. Fast forward 100 years and Gross’ name lives on in the Otto Gross Fund.

The fund, started by Gross’ son, Gary, who also became an actuary, includes a $100,000 matching gift for the Actuarial Science Program at Nebraska — $50,000 for the Otto Gross Fund for scholarships and $50,000 for the World Class Actuarial Science Fund for student and faculty support.

A century after Otto Gross and his friends convinced Harper to share his knowledge, UNL has become a valuable partner in providing actuarial science graduates to insurance companies in Nebraska. Insurance is the third-largest industry in Nebraska, with 14,000 professionals working in the home offices of the state’s insurers, according to the Nebraska Department of Insurance. Many insurance companies are domiciled in Nebraska, including local names like Assurity, Ameritas and Mutual of Omaha as well as companies like Pacific Life and Aflac.

“Our program was originally designed just to provide actuaries to feed the local companies, but then as we’ve grown, we’ve really built a strong reputation,” said Sue Vagts, director of the Actuarial Science Program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. “Now our students graduate and go all over the United States and, really, all over the world.”

UNL actuarial science grads lead Nebraska insurance companies, including as CEOs of Mutual of Omaha, Assurity and Ameritas. Vagts said local companies may have 50 or more UNL actuarial science alumni working for them.

UNL’s program holds an esteemed honor. It’s one of 15 in the United States with the Center of Actuarial Excellence/University Earned Credit (CAE/UEC) designation — the highest level of recognition given by the Society of Actuaries.

Otto Gross’ story is a great example of the initiative the program’s students have, Vagts said.

“That’s kind of how actuarial science students are. They’re super bright, they’re energetic, they’re engaged, and they really are the kind of students that go out and change the world.”

“That’s kind of how actuarial science students are. They’re super bright, they’re energetic, they’re engaged, and they really are the kind of students that go out and change the world.”

Sue Vagts

What is Actuarial Science?

Actuarial science uses analytical skills and knowledge in economics, finance, mathematics and statistics to manage risk and its financial consequences. As “architects of financial security,” actuaries are key players in companies that deal with risk, including insurance companies.

“Actuaries work with designing, pricing and making sure insurance companies are adequately funded to support people when bad things happen,” said Vagts. “They’ve made sure that the insurance company has set aside enough money to pay the future claims that come, so that when you have that accident, you can file your claim, be reimbursed quickly and get back on with your life as quickly as possible.”

Rural Nebraska, Meet Your Future Physicians

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UNK and UNMC Will Bring Advanced Medical Education to Kearney

By Maddie Pospisil

Together, the University of Nebraska at Kearney and the University of Nebraska Medical Center are building a strong rural health care workforce to support a healthy population and a healthy economy.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Health Science Education Center I, which expanded nursing education and brought many of UNMC’s allied health professions programs to UNK. The goal was to create a pipeline of skilled health care workers to serve rural Nebraska. Incredible strides have been made toward this goal: Approximately 85% of students who graduate from programs supported in the center go on to practice in rural Nebraska.

Building on this success, the Health Science Education Center II — the result of a public-private partnership and currently under construction — will allow UNMC to launch new programs to train physicians, pharmacists and public health professionals in Kearney.

When fully operational in 2026, both centers will form the Douglas A. Kristensen Rural Health Education Complex and will have an annual estimated economic impact on the state of $34.5 million. The graduates who remain in Nebraska to practice will contribute an estimated $52.4 million annually.

The driving force behind these immense economic impacts are the hardworking, passionate students who are excited to care for their state’s rural communities.

Skyler Summers – Gibbon, Nebraska

Pre-medicine program | Rising junior psychobiology major with minors in health care management and nutrition

Skyler Summers wants to live a life filled by serving others. Summers grew up on a farm, has an uncle who is a family practitioner in rural Nebraska, and she participated in the UNK Health Science Explorers Academy in high school. These influences shaped her desire to become a physician for a rural hospital or clinic and build deep connections with her community.

Brodie Mitchell – Cambridge, Nebraska

Pre-medicine program | Rising junior health sciences major with a minor in biology

Brodie Mitchell has been surrounded by health care his whole life. He would visit his mother after school to watch her in action as a pharmacist, and he currently works as a medical scribe at Tri Valley Health System. Inspired by the providers serving his hometown, Mitchell has a dream of delivering babies in rural Nebraska. He says the reason there’s no place like Nebraska is because of its small, tight-knit, heartfelt communities.

Abhinav Srivastava – Hastings, Nebraska

Pre-medicine program | Rising sophomore biology major with a health science emphasis and a minor in health care management

Abhinav Srivastava has a goal of opening his own practice someday — and he wants to do so in rural Nebraska. He knows it can be taxing to travel while experiencing health problems, so he wants to help ensure people in rural areas can access care closer to home. Srivastava is exploring all possible paths for his future: visiting UNMC’s Omaha campus, shadowing different health care positions and making connections through UNK’s Hospital Partners Networking Event.

Makenna Redinger – Kearney, Nebraska

Pre-medicine program | ’25 graduate, biology major with a health science emphasis and a minor in chemistry

Makenna Redinger’s parents own a funeral home, and she grew up feeling inspired by the care and empathy they showed to grieving, vulnerable families. She wants the chance to show that same care and empathy to her future patients. Redinger is already engaging the next generation of aspiring rural health care professionals by returning to her high school as an ambassador of the Kearney Health Opportunities Program.

Bringing Cancer Care Home

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Advancing Cancer Care in Kearney

By Deborah Shanahan

Judging by the traffic at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center — Kearney, its impact already is being felt locally by the area’s patients and economy. Perhaps less well known is how the center promises a high level of expertise and innovation in cancer care for residents all over the state.

The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Nebraska and one of just 72 nationally. The Kearney site is the latest addition to Nebraska Medicine’s network of care centers and clinical trial sites, adding to the growing collaboration among researchers and clinical cancer specialists working to hasten breakthroughs.

“We have to spread across Nebraska to make sure every single Nebraskan is taken care of when they have cancer, and that’s what we plan to do,” said Joann Sweasy, Ph.D., director of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.

The location of the new facility near the center of the state is expected to erase hours of travel time for many patients. One woman who celebrated the Kearney facility’s opening in December described her experience of traveling three hours each way to and from Omaha for 35 straight days of treatment. She said she was excited for future patients to have care “in their backyard.”

It’s not just about convenience. “We know patients do better when they’re closer to home,” Sweasy said.

The Kearney facility spans more than 53,000 square feet and brings together services in medical oncology, radiation oncology, lab, pharmacy, infusion, genetic counseling and a healing garden. The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center — Kearney builds on two decades of practice at Heartland Hematology and Oncology, which partnered with Nebraska Medicine in 2021.

The doctors, faculty and staff are all under the umbrella of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, which has facilities in Omaha at the University of Nebraska Medical Center campus, at Village Pointe Health Center in Omaha, the Bellevue Medical Center and now Kearney.

NCI-designated cancer centers cast a net for treatments beyond the already approved standards of care, looking for cutting-edge treatments that could benefit patients more. One clinical trial, for example, is using a type of therapy that reduces the number of treatments for prostate cancer from 23 to five, cutting treatment time from 6.5 weeks to 3.5 weeks.

A goal in Nebraska, Sweasy said, is to hold trials that take aim at the most frequently diagnosed and deadly cancers in Nebraska. The current disease priorities for recruitment of physician scientists are brain, breast, lung, gastrointestinal and prostate.

Sweasy said the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center partners with local providers and smaller cancer centers to hold clinical trials and work together on what is needed in their areas of the state. She also wants to expand screening efforts around the state since some Nebraska cancer rates are higher than other states’ and earlier diagnoses are more treatable.

The overall job, she said, is to reduce the cancer burden on the state of Nebraska, and the Kearney, NCI-designated center is crucial to that goal. “Having one in a relatively rural area is pretty unique,” Sweasy said. “It makes a statement: The goal is to serve the entire state of Nebraska.”

For more information about supporting the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center — Kearney, visit nufoundation.org/fpbcckearney.

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