As summer approaches, I want to take a moment to reflect on the many accomplishments of the Division of Student Life this year. It has been a year of significant progress, and we are equally excited for what lies ahead.
This year, we opened two new spaces in the Nebraska Union: a fully remodeled Husker Tech store and Herbie's Market, featuring Amazon Walk Out Technology. These spaces reflect our commitment to providing innovative, convenient services to our campus community. We also completed renovations in Campus Recreation, including a new POWER room, updated locker rooms, and improved access to the pool.
In addition to these projects, Student Life made considerable strides in sustainability. Through the ReusePass program in Dining, we eliminated more than 16,000 containers and 1,500 pounds of waste from landfills, reinforcing our commitment to a more sustainable campus.
Our students and Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs) continue to achieve remarkable things. Dance Marathon raised nearly $114,000 at this year's HuskerThon, a 27% increase over last year, with more than 100 additional students participating.
We also welcomed T.J. McDowell as our new Assistant Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students, a valuable addition to our leadership team.
Starting on April 29, Student Life will launch its inaugural Big Red Finale—an annual series of events designed to serve as both the bookend to and complement of the Big Red Welcome events held at the start of the academic year.
While these accomplishments barely scratch the surface of all we’ve accomplished, they are a testament to the collective effort and dedication of the Division of Student Life. As we move into summer, the work continues, and we remain committed to planning and preparing POWERful experiences for our students.
Here's to a successful summer, and to all the opportunities that await in the coming months.
Dee Dee Anderson
Vice Chancellor for Student Life
At A Glance: Student Life Student Workers
Did you know? The Division of Student Life employs 1,578 student workers who play a crucial role in our success. They bring energy, fresh perspectives, and valuable assistance in delivering the Husker Student POWER experience for their peers. Our student workers are the smiling faces you see when you enter our spaces, the ones handing you your meal at lunchtime, and the people helping you rent a bike for a ride to the East Campus Dairy Store. In addition to supporting our operations, these students gain valuable work experience and help offset the cost of their education. These opportunities allow them to live, learn, and work—all right here on campus.
Climbing To New Heights
Meet Reeed Cady, a Physics Education major at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln who recently won the Outdoor Adventure Center’s “Vertical Ascent” challenge. Over the span of seven days, Reeed climbed a total of 34,782 feet, securing 1st place and tripling the distance climbed by the 2nd place winner. For context, the climb up El Capitan, a world-famous rock-climbing ascent located in Yosemite National Park, is roughly 3,000 feet from base to summit along its tallest face. Also, those who summit Mount Everest in the Himalaya Mountain range ascend a total of 29,029 feet. His dedication and determination stood out not only in the final results but throughout the entire event.
What makes Reeed’s story even more remarkable is that before coming to UNL, he had no traditional climbing experience. It was during one of UNL’s introductory climbing courses that Reeed discovered his passion for the sport. From that point on, he fell in love with climbing culture. He began researching gear, planning trips, and spending countless hours on the walls at the Outdoor Adventure Center. His commitment and enthusiasm have made him a familiar face among staff and fellow climbers alike. Climbing quickly became more than just a hobby for Reeed; it became a way of life.
Through climbing, he’s learned valuable lessons about perseverance and problem-solving, which are skills that have translated directly into his academic journey in Physics Education. Whether it’s pushing past a tough problem set or figuring out the best route on a climb, Reeed applies the same mindset: assess the challenge, trust the process, and keep moving forward (or up). His journey is a testament to how passion and hard work can open new paths—both on the wall and in life.
I do believe that there is a correlation between the Outdoor Adventure Center and my improved academic performance. Climbing has taught me that failure has value. You can learn from it. That you just need to keep moving forward... or up.
– Reeed Cady, Sophomore, Physics Education
OASIS & CAST
Integrating the Nebraska Achievement Scholars (formerly in OASIS) with the Emerging Leaders under CAST resulted in better outcomes for students. The cohort average GPA increased from 2.89 to 3.4 and fall to spring retention increased from 91.8% to 99%. Great job CAST!
TRIO SSS
The average GPA for TRIO SSS students increased from 3.00 in Fall 2023 to 3.33 in Fall 2024, with the first-year cohort achieving a GPA of 3.51 in Fall 2024.
Fraternity & Sorority Life
Fraternity & Sorority Life chapter philanthropies have raised over $500,000 for non-profits in the past year and volunteered more than 26,000 hours, contributing an economic impact of over $350,000 through volunteer efforts.
What You Need To Know
Health, Well-being grants available through $1M 'We Give Blood' prize
As the recipient of the inaugural We Give Blood Drive competition sponsored by Abbott, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has outlined its plan to distribute the $1 million award. The funds will be directed toward a variety of grants and initiatives designed to advance the health and well-being of UNL students and the broader Nebraska community.
Two of the awards, the Healthy Nebraska Grants and the UNL Student Health & Well-being Grants, will be awarded by the Division of Student Life in collaboration with the Office of Research and Innovation. For those interested in learning more about these grants, a Zoom information session will be held on Thursday, May 8 from 1 – 2 p.m.
The remaining funds will support awards for Recognized Student Organizations (RSO) and the Well-being Collective, both initiatives led by the Division of Student Life.
2025 Student Luminary Awards. Most competitive pool in the history of the award.
The Luminary Awards on April 25th will feature the largest number of nominations and the most competitive pool in the history of the award. A big thank you to all the faculty and staff across campus who took the time to nominate students for this honor.
The annual awards are designed to shine a light on exceptional undergraduate and graduate students who make a difference through their leadership and extraordinary commitment to improving the campus or community while excelling in their academic pursuits.
Each student luminary recipient will receive a $1,000 monetary award.
Keep an eye out for an article in Nebraska Today following the event, where the recipients will be announced and celebrated.
Student Luminary Awards