Skip to main content

Students: Apply Now for the Maverick Passport Project

UNO Education Abroad is calling all Mavericks looking to get their first U.S. Passport to apply for the Maverick Passport Project. 75 UNO students will be selected to have their passport fees covered and help navigating the passport application process. Deadline Extended: Apply by October 10th!

a graphic image of Durango and a passport

If you are a UNO student and have never had a U.S. passport, UNO Education Abroad wants you to apply for the Maverick Passport Project. 75 lucky Mavericks will have their passport fees paid for ($145) and will have the support of the UNO Education Abroad office to guide them through the passport application process. Read on to learn who is eligible, how to apply, and who is providing the funding to make the Maverick Passport Project possible!

Who is Funding the Maverick Passport Project?

To help build momentum for the project, The Institute of International Education (IIE) selected UNO as one of their 40 IIE American Passport Project institutions. IIE will be funding 25 Pell-eligible freshman at UNO to obtain a passport. Learn more about IIE and the American Passport Project

UNO's Office of Academic Affairs was excited to match IIE’s contribution, and will support 25 additional Mavericks to receive passports. This expands the student’s eligible to receive a passport beyond Pell-eligible freshman, granting further access to global learning opportunities.

Michael Blakely, UNO grad (2014) and study abroad alumni, heard about the Maverick Passport Project and wanted to give back. His company, InterOperate, has donated funds for 25 additional UNO students to receive a passport through the Maverick Passport Project and the monies to cover 25 students' passport photos on top of the $145 per student for passport fees.

Learn more about InterOperate and their CEO, Michael Blakely

Who is Eligible to Apply for Passport Funding Through this Project?

IIE American Passport Project

The 25 passports funded by IIE require the applicant to meet the following criteria:

  • U.S. citizen
  • First-year student enrolled at University of Nebraska Omaha
  • Pell grant eligible
  • Meets diverse identity criteria, which may include any of the following: racial/ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ students, gender diverse students, first-generation student (first in family to attend or graduate from a college or university), students with disabilities, students with demonstrated financial need, veterans, non-traditional age students, students who are parents, students who have never traveled abroad, rural students, student athletes and students with majors academically more challenging to study abroad.

UNO and InterOperate Funding

The 50 passports funded by UNO and InterOperate have the following eligibility requirements:

  • U.S. citizen
  • Student enrolled at University of Nebraska Omaha

Students underrepresented in study abroad will be given priority in the selection process. This may include, but is not limited to: racial/ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ students, gender diverse students, first-generation student (first in family to attend or graduate from a college or university), students with disabilities, students with demonstrated financial need, veterans, non-traditional age students, students who are parents, students who have never traveled abroad, rural students, student athletes and students with majors academically more challenging to study abroad.

Students may apply for the passport funding regardless of their year in school. Those within two terms of graduating from a degree program should provide specific plans to study abroad in their final year OR to use the passport after graduation such as the Fulbright Program, The Peace Corps, enrolling in an international degree program, teaching English abroad, or similar.

The Maverick Passport Project is for first-time passport applications, not passport renewals. There may be some exceptions to this condition for U.S. military veterans or the children of U.S. military veterans.

How do Students Apply?

Students must log-in to UNO’s Education Abroad Portal, called Via TRM. The log-in for Via TRM uses the same credentials as other UNO systems, and is synced with MavLINK. Once logged in to Via TRM, the link below will take you to the Maverick Passport Project application page. If you have never had a U.S. passport before, we greatly encourage you to apply!

Apply for the Maverick Passport Project