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Dear Alumni and Friends,
Greetings from campus! Summer has arrived, and while many of our students have headed home, Honors remains busy. In this issue, I’m excited to share updates about our upcoming 40th anniversary, along with stories highlighting innovative classes, and our first alumni spotlight.
As we prepare to celebrate 40 years of Honors, I invite you to share a favorite memory from your time in the program. An important part of planning for the future is honoring the people and experiences that shaped our past, and that includes you!
We are collecting stories and photos for a project documenting the first 40 years of Honors, which will be featured in anniversary events and communications throughout the year. Whether it was a memorable class, an inspiring professor, life in Honors housing, or friendships formed with fellow Honors students, we would love to hear your story.
Your experiences are an important part of the Honors story, and we would be honored to include them in our celebration. We hope to connect with you during this special anniversary year. Until then, stay cool!
Go Big Red!
Tyler R. White, PhD
Faculty Director, University Honors Program
Fortieth
Honors Prepares to Celebrate 40th Anniversary
The University Honors Program's first class entered in the fall of 1986, and we will be commemorating 40 years of Honors during the upcoming academic year! We are planning a range of activities and events for alumni, current students, faculty and staff, and all who wish to help celebrate! Please see our 40th Anniversary page for planned events -- and check back periodically. More events and details, including registration and RSVP options, will be added throughout the year!
We invite you to share your own memories as we look back on what makes Honors special, and we invite you to join us in planning for the next 40 years and beyond!
Honors Classes
Honors Classes in the News
Honors faculty have been busy transforming the student experience through unique course offerings this year, and their work has earned the attention of the campus community. Read how Dr. Donald Beahm brought the Vietnam war to life for today's students, how Dr. Tamy Burnett has partnered with a local nonprofit to bring literacy resources to Nebraskans, and how Prof. Elsbeth Magilton and Dr. Joann Ross changed the lives of their students through unique pedagogies.
Summer Abroad
Passports to Practice: Honors Pre-Professional Study Abroad Programs Expand Horizons
This summer Honors students gained unique insights into preprofessional pathways by studying abroad. Honors faculty partnered with Nebraska Law to offer a pre-law focused program in Czechia, and pre-health students explored healthcare through a global lens by visiting Costa Rica. Students in both programs took full advantage of opportunities to grow personally and professionally. Explore more here.
Alumni Spotlight
Alumni Spotlight: Hailey Olberding '25
Hailey Olberding, '25, was one of only three recipients of this year's Gamma Phi Beta Foundation's Ruth A. Seeler, MD Fellowship. This award provides significant financial assistance for alumnae of Gamma Phi Beta who are pursuing medical school. Olberding will begin her second year of medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in the fall.
Olberding credits her time in Honors for preparing her for this moment. "While Honors certainly prepared me academically, it also gave me opportunities for leadership, service, and research that challenged me to grow in ways I never expected." She further highlighted the value of the Honors community and the lifelong connections she built. "My favorite part of Honors was definitely the community. I was introduced to students from different majors that I never would have met otherwise, and many of them became close friends. Beyond that, I was able to build meaningful relationships with Honors faculty. I am incredibly grateful for those connections."
While medical school is challenging, Olberding is excited for the future. She plans to pursue a residency in internal medicine followed by a gastroenterology fellowship. "I hope to become a compassionate physician who helps patients feel heard, supported, and genuinely cared for."
