Skip to main content
University of Nebraska Omaha logo University of Nebraska Omaha
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY

Students Faculty Staff Community
University of Nebraska Omaha logo
College of Arts and Sciences
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY
Students Faculty Staff Community
  • About Us Backback to Main menu
    • About Us
    • Departments & Programs
    • News & Events
    • Dean's Office Staff
    • Faculty/Staff Resources
    • Organizational Chart
  • Academics Backback to Main menu
    • Undergraduate Programs
    • Graduate Programs
    • Love Your Major
    • Pre-Health
    • Pre-Law
    • Arts and Sciences Minors
    • Academic Advising
    • Academic Support
  • Admissions
  • Student Opportunities Backback to Main menu
    • Scholarships
    • Student Organizations
    • Internships
    • Study Abroad
  • Community Engagement Backback to Main menu
    • Community Engagement
    • College Centers
    • Conferences
    • Nature Preserves
    • Professional Services
    • Teacher Training
    • Youth Programs
  • Research Backback to Main menu
    • Research
    • Student Research Support
    • Social Science Research Commons
  • Support Us
  1. UNO
  2. College of Arts and Sciences
  3. CAS News
  4. 2024
  5. 12
  6. Fall 2024 Grad Finds Home Away From Home at UNO

Fall 2024 Grad Finds Home Away From Home at UNO

Gaston Osee Kasongo Kant Bwele reflects on his three years at the University of Nebraska Omaha.

  • published: 2024/12/20
  • contact: Annie Albin - College of Arts and Sciences
A man wearing a patterned sweater leans on a desk and smiles warmly. Behind him is an abstract orange and yellow painting on a white wall.

Gaston Osee Kasongo Kant Bwele stands in Arts and Sciences Hall.

Finding a home away from home wasn’t hard for this international Maverick.

Originally from Congo, Gaston Osee Kasongo Kant Bwele set his sights on the University of Nebraska Omaha after hearing about the institution from a family friend. A seasoned traveler, he had already spent time learning abroad in both China and South Africa and knew that he wanted his next educational experience to be in the United States.

His arrival in Omaha in Fall 2021 would mark the beginning of three transformative years of academic acceleration and community connections.

“The very first week, the very first day, I felt very welcomed,” Bwele said. “I felt like, you know, the people that I was meeting wanted me to be here, and that they were available, and that they were supportive of me.”

After exploring UNO's diverse range of courses, Bwele decided that economics would be the best fit for his many musings. With interests in the social sciences, computer science, geography, and statistics, his economics studies allowed him to explore multiple subject areas while still contributing to the courseload for his major and Spanish and psychology minors.

“I'm a very eclectic person,” Bwele said. “I value the multi-disciplinary aspects of life and also of economics.”

Bwele hopes to attend graduate school for business analytics, and eventually return to Congo. With his earned expertise in business and economics, he hopes to make a long-lasting contribution to his country and its many natural resources.

But no matter where he goes in the world, Bwele knows that Omaha will always hold a special place in his heart.

While at UNO, he embraced every opportunity to give back to the university and local community. He worked as a peer success mentor, participated in service-learning opportunities in South Omaha, and strengthened his global network as a student ambassador to UNO’s Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Institute on Civic Engagement or Balkan Youth Leaders Civic Engagement Fellowship Program.

“There's just such a melting pot of experiences and people and positions that I've been exposed to and that that I've had the chance to be part of,” Bwele said. “And that's what I think sets Omaha apart from all those different places.”

From making worldwide friendships to finding the perfect major for his path, UNO has been everything Bwele imagined it could be.

"Omaha makes me feel valued," Bwele said.

News Sections

  • College of Arts and Sciences News Center
  • UNO News Center
  • Maverick Daily
  • The Bullseye
  • Campus Events

Featured

  • From On-Campus in 1971 to Online in 2025: Ben Simmons's UNO Experience
  • A Round of Applause: CAS Student Award Winners for Spring 2025
  • Deja Harris Found More Than Just a Major — She Found a Mission
  • Following Family Footsteps: Second-Generation Maverick Crosses the Finish Line at Commencement

Most Viewed

  • Four College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Receive Weitz Innovation and Excellence Fund Awards
  • UNO Researchers Protect the Role Bats Play in Nebraska’s Ecosystem
  • UNO James Madison Fellow Inspires Next Generation of Civic Leaders in the Classroom

About the College of Arts and Sciences

College of Arts and Sciences

Contact Us
  • 220 Arts & Sciences Hall
  • College Advising Office
Social media
College Resources
  • For Faculty and Staff
  • Math-Science Learning Center
  • The Writing Center
Arts and Sciences Hall building with large white columns in front of a pink and orange sunset.

Next Steps

  • Visit UNO
  • Request Information
  • Apply for Admission
  • The UNO Advantage
  • Our City (Omaha)

Just For You

  • Future Students
  • Current Students
  • Work at UNO
  • Faculty and Staff
  • A-Z List

Popular Services and Resources

  • my.unomaha.edu
  • Academic Calendar
  • Campus Buildings & Maps
  • Library
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Course Catalogs
  • Internships & Career Development
  • The Maverick Store
  • MavCARD Services
  • Military-Connected Resource Center
  • Speech Center
  • Writing Center
  • Human Resources
  • Center for Faculty Excellence

Affiliates

  • University of Nebraska System
  • NU Foundation
  • Buffett Early Childhood Institute
  • Daugherty Water for Food Institute
  • National Strategic Research Institute
  • Peter Kiewit Institute
  • Rural Prosperity Nebraska
  1. University Policies
  2. Privacy Statement
  3. Accessibility
  1. 402.554.2800

University of Nebraska Omaha
University of Nebraska Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68182
  • ©  
  • Emergency Information Alert
  • MavsReport

Social Media


Omaha Skyline

Our Campus. Otherwise Known as Omaha.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity. Read the full statement.