KEARNEY – Loper Nation came together in a big way during the 2024 One Day for UNK. A record-setting 2,029 gifts were received from 1,358 donors, raising $289,568 to create a brighter future for the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
The fourth annual giving day was held from noon Wednesday to noon Thursday. Gifts were made online during the 24-hour period at givingday.unk.edu.
“One Day for UNK powerfully demonstrates the generosity of our UNK community,” said Interim Chancellor Charlie Bicak. “Every gift makes a lasting impact, directly supporting our students and enhancing UNK. We are grateful for this tremendous support from alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students.”
The number of gifts and donors, as well as the amount raised, all set new records. Gifts were received from 40 states and six countries to support the university. More than 200 UNK faculty and staff made a gift, also setting a record. Alumni and donors gave more than $153,000 in challenge and matching funds to encourage others to give.
One Day for UNK generated enthusiasm across campus. The giving day raised funds to support priorities across the university, including Loper students, scholarships, Loper Athletics, UNK’s three colleges, the library and the 86 student organizations, fraternities and sororities that participated.
The Japanese Association at Kearney (JAK) is one of those student organizations. In its 23rd year, JAK provides support for the university’s 100-plus Japanese international students while raising awareness of Japanese culture in the Kearney community.
“Nebraska is thousands of miles away from home, so some students may feel isolated,” said Ryo Suzuki, JAK adviser. “We’re organized in a way that our students always have someone to talk to. We’re always putting the experience and knowledge of all of our students into the organization for it to be shared.”
Another student organization to participate in One Day for UNK is the VAW Medical Chapter. The organization is made up of students who are committed to addressing health disparities in developing countries.
Chapter fundraising chair Isabel Zaruba said the VAW Medical Chapter will use funds raised during One Day for UNK to help support an upcoming trip to Guatemala, where students will work in mobile health clinics and teach education classes.
Zaruba, a freshman from Columbus, Nebraska, is in UNK’s pre-medicine program as part of the Kearney Health Opportunities Program, which recruits and trains students from rural Nebraska who are committed to practicing in those communities as health care professionals. She also has received scholarship support to pay for her undergraduate education.
She had a message for donors:
“I would like to convey how grateful I am,” Zaruba said. “It’s just such a generous thing to do – to give to help students who you don’t even know.”
UNK student Clarisa Lopez Chojolan, a junior majoring in criminal justice, also has benefited from scholarship support. The first-generation student from Grand Island said that because of donors’ support, she can focus on her education without the added financial stress that accompanies college life.
“This scholarship helped not only me, but my family,” she said. “This financial support has helped me continue pursuing my dreams, and I’m really grateful for that.”
Gifts made during One Day for UNK supported Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future, which has a goal to raise $3 billion from 150,000 unique benefactors to support the University of Nebraska. More information is at OnlyinNebraska.org.
