THIS IS NEBRASKA
Staff & Coache s
2015 Huskers
In 2014, gymnast Jamie Schleppenbach (left) earned
a prestigious Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO
Leadership Award for her commitment to NU’s awardwinning Life Skills program. Director of Athletics
Shawn Eichorst presented the award. Nebraska
gymnasts are active in the community. Jennifer Lauer
(below) was among many Huskers to participate in
Maxey Elementary Fun Night the past three years.
Intro
Nebraska’s Dick and Peg Herman Family Student
Life Complex (left page) opened after receiving an
$8.7 million expansion and renovation in 2010. The
complex tripled the size of NU’s previous academic
support area for student-athletes. The Nebraska
Life Skills program helps Husker student-athletes
experience the benefits of service to others while
learning to expand their own leadership skills.
Opponent
Nebraska has long been considered a pioneer in life skills support and programming. In 1998,
Nebraska was one of five Division I schools nationally to win the prestigious Program of Excellence
Award recognizing a strong commitment to total person development. In 2005, Keith Zimmer,
Associate A.D. for Life Skills, was the recipient of the Dr. Gene Hooks Award recognizing him as the
top life skills administrator in the country.
Life Skills Components
Proactive Education
Husker Life Seminar – All incoming student-athletes complete a 13-week fall semester
seminar addressing a variety of life skills topics ranging from leadership to money to relationships
and study skills. Team Workshops – Campus and community experts facilitate team-specific life
skills education workshops. Student-Athlete Assemblies – Meetings featuring remarks from
nationally recognized life skills trainers.
Personalized Support/Individual Sessions
Resume Development – Each student-athlete is assigned a Life Skills counselor who assists in the
creation of a personalized resume for the student-athlete. Periodic follow-up meetings will take place
through graduation to ensure a well-rounded college experience and marketability to realize career goals.
Community Outreach
Nebraska student-athletes combine to impact over 100,000 people statewide on an annual basis.
Team Service Requirement – Each team participates in a minimum of two service projects
per year. School Outreach – Individuals participate in numerous school outreach campaigns
in both classroom and assembly settings. Hospital Visits – Huskers are frequent hospital
visitors providing cheer and encouragement to a variety of patients. Miscellaneous Outreach
– Outreach requests are received daily from the entire state requesting involvement from Husker
student-athletes. Mentoring Programs – Typically requires one hour of service per week
serving as a youth mentor.
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Leadership/Citizenship
Life Skills promotes leadership development and provides recognition opportunities for extraordinary
citizenship. Student-Athlete Advisory Committee – Elected team representatives from each of
the 24 sports serve as the “voice” of the entire student-athlete population discussing student-athlete
welfare, legislation and service events. HERO Leadership Award – Individual recognition to
Huskers who have consistently gone above and beyond serving as an exemplary role-model. Heart
and Soul Award – Presented annually to the top senior student-athlete leaders for extraordinary
service throughout their college careers. Tom Osborne Citizenship Team – Individual recognition
to Huskers across all sports who have completed at least six service projects during the academic
year. Nebraska Football Uplifting Athletes - A recognized student organization initiated in
2012, Nebraska football players and UNL student leaders collaborate to raise funds and awareness
for those with rare diseases. Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead was named the 2012 recipient of
the National Rare Disease Champion Award and C.J. Zimmerer won the award in 2014. Life Skills
Award of Excellence – Recognizes team services and leadership with the top men’s and women’s
programs being honored on an annual basis.
Career Commitment
In addition to the creation of a personalized resume and game plan, the following career resources
are available to every Husker. Student-Athlete Career Fair – Attended by approximately
25 companies. Networking Night – Former Husker student-athletes and other professionals
thriving in their chosen career fields share valuable insights with sophomore student-athletes.
Assessments – On-line assessments to help individuals discover talents and match with a major
and career. Practical Experience – Programs in place to facilitate shadowing and internship
placements. Job Preparation – Expert ad f