10.2.3 University of Nebraska at Omaha
The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is the state’s premier metropolitan
university. With over 15,000 students enrolled in over 200 programs of study it is
recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, friendliness to
the military and engagement with the community. Founded in 1908, it has served
learners of all backgrounds for more than a century and is dedicated to continuing
excellence in the classroom and in the community.
UNO’s Empowering undergraduates via Mentorships, Professional development, Leadership, and Opportunities for Youth Engagement (EMPLOYEE) program is funded by Scholarships in STEM (S-STEM) from the NSF. The goal is to
raise completion rates among low-income, high-achieving undergraduate students
in STEM topics and ultimately meet workforce development needs in Omaha and
surrounding areas. It is believed the scholarships and opportunities made possible
by this grant could be the difference between a student continuing their pursuit of
a STEM degree or stopping short. Funds are distributed to more than 20 students
selected by an application process that is based on financial need. Students in the
EMPLOYEE program will also benefit from pairing course-based undergraduate
research experiences and will provide opportunities for mentorship, professional
development and service. For example, one service program empowers students to
develop leadership and mentoring skills by engaging elementary and middle
school students in STEM concepts.
Additional scholarship funds are available for STEM students via other means,
such as the Nebraska MATH Omaha Noyce Partnership or Nebraska SCIENCE
Omaha Noyce Partnership, both of which were made feasible by $2.8 million in
separate NSF Noyce Teacher Scholarship grants.
An example of a STEM activity related to ballooning is High Altitude Learning
Over Nebraska (HALON), which is made possible using contributions from the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Peter Kiewit
Institute in Omaha and a NASA Nebraska Space Grant and Near Space Science.
More than two weeks of STEM programming preceded the launch. Kids learned
about what would happen to the balloon, then developed scientific questions like
“Will this candy bar taste different if it’s launched into near space?” or “Will this
grasshopper survive the trip?” Students help to design, build, and fly a science
experiment to be lifted into the stratosphere on a balloon. The team will launch,
track and recover student-built experiments from different schools in their area.
The experiments will ascend to 30 km (100,000 ft) on a weather balloon. When
the balloon bursts, the payload will descend by parachute. A “chase team” will
recover the experiment from the landing site. “Mission Control Omaha” will be
located inside the Peter Kiewit Institute and will provide real-time social media
updates and monitoring of the balloon and experiments.
240 Educating the Next Generation
The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is the state’s premier metropolitan
university. With over 15,000 students enrolled in over 200 programs of study it is
recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, friendliness to
the military and engagement with the community. Founded in 1908, it has served
learners of all backgrounds for more than a century and is dedicated to continuing
excellence in the classroom and in the community.
UNO’s Empowering undergraduates via Mentorships, Professional development, Leadership, and Opportunities for Youth Engagement (EMPLOYEE) program is funded by Scholarships in STEM (S-STEM) from the NSF. The goal is to
raise completion rates among low-income, high-achieving undergraduate students
in STEM topics and ultimately meet workforce development needs in Omaha and
surrounding areas. It is believed the scholarships and opportunities made possible
by this grant could be the difference between a student continuing their pursuit of
a STEM degree or stopping short. Funds are distributed to more than 20 students
selected by an application process that is based on financial need. Students in the
EMPLOYEE program will also benefit from pairing course-based undergraduate
research experiences and will provide opportunities for mentorship, professional
development and service. For example, one service program empowers students to
develop leadership and mentoring skills by engaging elementary and middle
school students in STEM concepts.
Additional scholarship funds are available for STEM students via other means,
such as the Nebraska MATH Omaha Noyce Partnership or Nebraska SCIENCE
Omaha Noyce Partnership, both of which were made feasible by $2.8 million in
separate NSF Noyce Teacher Scholarship grants.
An example of a STEM activity related to ballooning is High Altitude Learning
Over Nebraska (HALON), which is made possible using contributions from the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Peter Kiewit
Institute in Omaha and a NASA Nebraska Space Grant and Near Space Science.
More than two weeks of STEM programming preceded the launch. Kids learned
about what would happen to the balloon, then developed scientific questions like
“Will this candy bar taste different if it’s launched into near space?” or “Will this
grasshopper survive the trip?” Students help to design, build, and fly a science
experiment to be lifted into the stratosphere on a balloon. The team will launch,
track and recover student-built experiments from different schools in their area.
The experiments will ascend to 30 km (100,000 ft) on a weather balloon. When
the balloon bursts, the payload will descend by parachute. A “chase team” will
recover the experiment from the landing site. “Mission Control Omaha” will be
located inside the Peter Kiewit Institute and will provide real-time social media
updates and monitoring of the balloon and experiments.
240 Educating the Next Generation