As we kicked off a new academic year this fall, I was reminded of the possibilities that come with every new beginning. Our students arrive with different interests, talents and ideas. Our role is to provide opportunities to expand knowledge, experiences and relationships that turn those possibilities into something meaningful.
Nebraska Business alumnus John Wirtz, ’05 & ’06 MBA, offers a great example of what that can look like. When John looks back on the beginnings of Hudl, he doesn’t point to a single moment that made the difference. Instead, he talks about the foundation he and co-founders Brian Kaiser, ’06, and David Graff, ’05 & ’06 MBA, built at Nebraska. They turned a class project into a business plan, pitched it and won startup funding through the Center for Entrepreneurship’s New Venture Competition, and launched their business with the support of a greater community that believed in their idea.
That foundation became the starting point for Hudl, a sports tech company serving athletes and teams around the world.
This year, we have a special reason to celebrate where that foundation began. The Center for Entrepreneurship is celebrating 40 years of helping Nebraska students turn ideas into action. John’s story is one powerful example of that legacy, and there are countless others. We want to celebrate the students, alumni, faculty, donors and friends who have made those stories possible.
I hope you will join us at the Business Alumni Tailgate on Saturday, Nov. 21, as we celebrate 40 years of entrepreneurship at Nebraska. It will be a chance to reconnect with classmates and friends across the Nebraska Business community, hear from some of the people who have helped shape this legacy and celebrate what our students continue to build. RSVP to reserve your spot.
John’s story also reminds us that, although we don't exactly know where our students will go, we can give them the foundation to get there. That idea is at the heart of our redesigned Nebraska Business undergraduate core curriculum, which launched last fall.
As our first semester freshmen walk through the doors of Hawks Hall, they start doing business from day one. They learn about the different areas of business, build teams and work with a corporate partner. Then they apply what they learn to a real-world challenge through their first college competition, the Business Battle. With guidance from volunteer business consultants and peer coaches, students research opportunities, develop strategic recommendations, pitch their ideas and receive feedback.
The Business Battle recently earned a national innovation award, recognizing the College of Business’ approach to providing hands-on, real-world experiences into the classroom from the beginning of a student’s college career.
The three courses in the first-year experience help students learn about business and themselves. As they identify their strengths and apply what they learn, students build the skills, confidence and perspective needed to prepare for their careers and make an impact.
This year, the curriculum expands with a new course, Navigating Emerging Technologies in Business. The course moves students beyond simply understanding artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. It teaches them to think critically about how businesses can use these tools to create value and make better decisions.
These experiences reflect a long-standing commitment to prepare students not just for their first job, but to adapt, lead and create throughout their careers. That commitment extends across our programs and serves students and alumni at every stage of their professional journeys.
The Nebraska Online MBA was recently ranked No. 7 in the nation by The Princeton Review. The recognition reflects the quality and value of our program that helps working professionals advance their careers while delivering a strong return on investment. Nebraska MBA students and alumni praised the program’s rigorous academics, supportive faculty and flexibility. With total tuition under $35,000, the program continues to offer an accessible path to an MBA without sacrificing the quality or connections students expect from a Big Ten business school.
For those thinking about their own next chapter, I invite you to virtually join me and the University of Nebraska Foundation for Let’s Talk Legacy – Retirement Considerations, Planning and Assets on Friday, Oct. 30, from 12 to 1 p.m. We’ll talk about retirement planning and assets and ways you can create a lasting legacy for future generations of Nebraska Business students. Register today.
Whether you graduated recently or decades ago, you are part of the Nebraska Business story. Thank you for the many ways you continue to support our college and our students. I hope you will join us this fall to reconnect, celebrate 40 years of entrepreneurship and see what today’s students are building for the future.
I look forward to celebrating this special milestone with you at the Business Alumni Tailgate.
Go Big Red!
Dean Kathy Farrell
