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3 Ways to Support IS&T During Wear Black, Give Back

  • published: 2025/09/30
  • contact: Yahya Shema - College of Information Science and Technology
Logo of Wear Black Give Back

"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

As the wise proverb states, going far requires going together. Wear Black, Give Back (WBGB), UNO's 24-hour giving day, is just around the corner—from Oct. 8 at 12 p.m. to Oct. 9 at 12 p.m. This year, every gift, share, and challenge brings us closer to unlocking life-changing opportunities for the entire Maverick Family—let’s see how far we can go, together!

Campaign Goals for 2025 🎯

  • UNO goal: 6,500 gifts during WBGB. Once this goal is reached, additional game-changing gifts will be unlocked (more details below).
  • College of IS&T goal: 100 gifts, which would be the most raised in WBGB history for IS&T, unlocking more donor matches, gifts, and opportunities.

3 ways to support IS&T this giving season

1. Spread the Word 🔊

Share with at least 3 people. There are so many simple ways to help: send a WBGB email to 3 friends, update your email signature, change your Zoom background, or post on social media. Every share amplifies our impact and brings us closer to our goal!

Click the link to access all the digital campaign resources

2. Participate in Fun Activities & Win Prizes 🎉

Whether it's participating in fun on-campus scavenger hunts or exciting challenges online, there are many ways to engage in this year's WBGB. Below are a few sample ways to join the fun:

  • Mini Durango Scavenger Hunt (for students) - Find 10 Durangos with prizes totaling $500
  • Woof Back, Meow Back - Share a photo of your furry Mav fan on social for a chance to win a $100 gift made in their name plus a UNO pet jersey
  • Throw the Horns Challenge - Show us your horns! Winner gets a gift made in their name plus a UNO t-shirt

Click to view the full list of fun challenges

3. Give and Transform Lives 💝

Achieving 6,500 gifts UNO-wide and 100 gifts for the College of IS&T is ambitious—and we need YOU to make it happen! Every gift of $5 or more to ANY area helps achieve our milestone. Plus, donors of $75+ receive an exclusive UNO belt bag as a special thank you.

Here's What Your Generosity Helps Make Possible ✅

  1. $350,000 in UNO Scholarships - If we hit 6,500 gifts, an anonymous donor will give $350,000 to support scholarships! Thank you to this generous anonymous supporter for believing in our students.

  2. $10,000 for UNO Student Scholarships - If 500 students give $5+, $10,000 will be donated to UNO student scholarships, thanks to the generous donation of Chancellor Joanne Li.

  3. $6,000 matching funds to the College of IS&T - First $6,000 given to the College of IS&T will be matched dollar-for-dollar thanks to the generous support of MCL Construction ($5,000 gift) and Lindsay Corporation ($1,000 gift).

  4. $1,000 for College of IS&T student scholarships - For every donation to College of IS&T scholarships, an additional $10 will be added for each donor (up to $1,000 total), thanks to the generous donation of Brian Dorn, Ph.D., College of IS&T Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs.

  5. $5,000 for College of IS&T student scholarships - If 100 people give $5+ to the College of IS&T, $5,000 will be donated to College of IS&T student scholarships, thanks to the generous donation of Martha Garcia-Murillo, Ph.D., College of IS&T Lee D. and Willa Seemann Distinguished Dean.

  6. $15,000 for Faculty & Staff - Via the Faculty and Staff Challenge: If 750 UNO employees give $5+, Phil He (Ph.D. '97) and Ling Ren (Ph.D. '06) will generously donate:
    • $10,000 to Staff Advisory Council
    • $5,000 to Faculty Senate

Click here to view College of IS&T WBGB website

Key Times to Give ⏰

Power Hours - Don't Miss Out:

  • Champions Power Hour - Oct. 9, 9-10 a.m.: Champion page with the most donors wins $500 bonus!
  • Early Bird Challenge - One gift made before noon on Wednesday gets $250 added to the total. All early gifts will be eligible for this match, and one winner will be chosen randomly.

Milestone Rewards - Be THE Special Donor:

UNO, we'll celebrate in a big way when we reach different milestones:

  • 6,500th Gift - Fran Marshall will add $5,000 to the 6,500th gift made! We're grateful to Fran Marshall for this amazing grand finale gift.

[view other milestone rewards on the website]

A Heartfelt Thank You ❤️

To all our challenge donors, match supporters, and every single person who gives during WBGB—THANK YOU! Your generosity creates ripple effects that transform lives, fuel dreams, and build a stronger Maverick community. Together, we're not just reaching goals; we're changing the future for students, faculty, and staff across our entire campus.

Let's make the impossible possible—together!

GO MAVS!!