OLLAS Announces New Cohort of Next Generation Leadership Scholars

OLLAS Awards Record $310,000 in Scholarships to 40 UNO Student Leaders

Since its establishment in 2002, more than 167 students have been able to partially fund their studies at UNO with the Next Generation Leadership Scholarship (NGLS). This scholarship, funded by the Mammel Family Foundation and administered by UNO’s Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS), encourages and rewards academic excellence and community engagement among UNO students with significant financial need.

This year, the Mammel Foundation has graciously provided OLLAS, through the University of Nebraska Foundation’s Next Generation Leadership Scholarship fund, with additional funds to further increase financial support for our Next Generation Leadership Scholarship scholars. Thanks to the Mammel Foundation’s generous support, this year OLLAS is proud to award scholarships to thirty-eight UNO students, the largest group of recipients in the program’s history. That is more than five times the number of students in our very first cohort since the inception of NGLS when only seven students received scholarships and double the number of scholars in comparison to the 2024-2025 academic year.

In addition to scholarship support, the Mammel Foundation has also provided OLLAS with funding to support a Community Engagement trip for the NGLS senior scholars. The purpose of this trip is to help students connect with nonprofit organizations, develop leadership skills, and engage in cultural activities that expand their perspectives beyond the classroom. During the 2024–2025 academic year, scholars had the opportunity to travel to Chicago, IL, where they participated in site visits, discussions, and cultural activities designed to deepen their understanding of community engagement and leadership.

“This trip was different. It opened my eyes to the many nonprofit organizations that are doing powerful work to support the community in the city. I had never realized just how many groups are out there making a difference, and it was truly inspiring to see their dedication up close,” says Ninette Marquez, NGLS Scholar. “One of my biggest takeaways for me was learning the different ways I can give back to my own community. The trip showed me that community impact can take many forms, and it gave me new ideas for how I can get involved now and in the future.”

The scholarship is available to students that have graduated from the Omaha, Bellevue, Ralston, Papillion-La Vista, or Millard Public school systems and who plan to enroll or are enrolled in the Colleges of: Arts and Sciences; Education, Health and Human Sciences; Communication, Fine Arts and Media; Public Affairs and Community Service, or the Exploratory Studies program. Students are selected by a committee made up of UNO faculty and staff, as well as community members. Selection is based on demonstrated financial need and commitment to community engagement.

The 2025-2026 NGLS scholarship recipients are:

• Elizabeth Acosta, sophomore
• Amy Aguilar Portillo, senior
• Ana Avalos, junior
• Jannette Castro-Gomez, senior
• Annuarite Chanceline, sophomore
• Camila Delgado, junior
• Ben Dickson, junior
• Lexie Dinverno, junior
• Dee-Dee Djon, senior
• Alondra Escobedo, junior
• Shabanam Binti Faizal Hassan, first-year
• Husna Faizi, first-year
• Dawit Hailu, first-year
• Carli Harris, junior
• Arianna Hill, junior
• Alexis Hoang, sophomore
• Marysue Horbach, senior
• Jazmin Jimenez, sophomore
• Sky Lambrecht, senior
• Janaizsa Lawson, junior
• Dahly Long, senior
• Daniel Lorenzo, first-year
• Ninette Marquez, senior
• Alannah McLemore, junior
• Say Meh, senior
• Saw Mo, sophomore
• Kidist Negus, junior
• Hung Nguyen, junior
• Htoo Paw, senior
• Yesenia Ramirez, sophomore
• Albert Rodriguez Nuñez, sophomore
• Lorena Rueda Andrades, sophomore
• Jordan Russell, junior
• Bwey Shee, sophomore
• Lauryn Vacek, junior
• Savannah Vogel, senior
• Htoo Wah, junior
• Aaliyah Wilson, senior

“As a first-generation college student, this scholarship has and will help me in many ways by guiding me toward resources when I need support, connecting me with an encouraging community, and also easing the financial burden that could have stood in the way of my education,” says Say Meh, an NGLS Scholar. “I’m able to stay focused on my studies and remain encouraged, knowing that there are people who believe in my potential and are willing to invest in my future.”

Scholarship recipients participate in the OLLAS Learning Community, which aims to help students achieve academic excellence by helping them to connect with various on campus and community resources. Also participating in the OLLAS Learning Community are the scholarship recipients of the Anne C. Boyle Scholarship. Students are advised by Ana Diaz-Orozco, the OLLAS Community Engagement Coordinator.

The Anne C. Boyle Scholarship, established on April 19, 2019, honors the memory and lifelong commitment of Anne C. Boyle, whose dedication to public service and advocacy for equality and compassion continues to inspire our students.

The 2025-2026 Anne C. Boyle Scholarship recipients are:

• Nasrin Elrokhsi, junior
• Will Ramsey, senior

Together, the Next Generation Leadership Scholarship and Anne C. Boyle Scholarship have awarded nearly $310,000 to support 40 scholars for the academic year 2025-2026.

“Through the support of the Next Generation Leadership Scholarship and the OLLAS Learning Community, students are not only achieving academic success but also surrounding themselves with a supportive and uplifting community,” Diaz-Orozco says.

Online applications for the 2026-2027 academic year will be available on MavLINK website. The application deadline for submitting complete applications is June 5, 2026.

Awards are typically announced by early August.

For more information about the scholarship, contact the Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS): 402.554.3835 or unoollas@unomaha.edu.