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

Students Faculty Staff Community
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY
Students Faculty Staff Community
  • About
    About UNO
    • Leadership
    • Mission and Strategic Plan
    • Accreditation
    • Our City: Omaha
    • Facts & Figures
    • News
    • Events
    • Organizational Units
    • Campus Safety
    • Buildings and Maps
    Get Started
    • Apply
    • Campus Visit
    • Contact Us
    Front view of UNO's ASH building
    Get Started Today

    Apply Now
  • Academics
    Majors and Programs
    • Undergraduate Programs
    • Master's Programs
    • Doctoral Programs
    • International Programs
    • Online Programs
    • Class Search
    Colleges
    • College of Arts and Sciences
    • College of Business Administration
    • College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media
    • College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
    • College of Information Science & Technology
    • College of Public Affairs and Community Service
    • Graduate Studies
    Resources
    • Catalogs
    • Academic Calendar
    • Library
    • Advising
    • Academic Affairs
    • Registrar
    • Academic Support
    • Request Transcript
    Top view glance of calendar showing August 2024
    Deadlines Are Approaching

    View year-at-a-glance calendars that include term start and end dates, and school holidays.

    Academic Calendar
  • Cost & Aid Backback to Main menu
    • Undergraduate Tuition
    • Graduate Tuition
    • Financial Support
    • Cost of Attendance
    • Undergraduate Scholarships
    • All Scholarship Information
    • Military and Veterans Benefits
    • Consumer Information
  • Admissions
    Get Started
    • Apply
    • Complete Your FAFSA
    • Schedule a Campus Visit
    • Request Info
    Admitted Students
    • Orientation
    • Enrollment Deposit
    • Transcripts
    • UNO 101
    • New Student & Family Events
    Cost & Aid
    • Undergraduate Tuition
    • Graduate Tuition
    • Financial Aid
    • Cost of Attendance
    • Scholarships
    • Military and Veterans Benefits
    • Consumer Information
    Admissions
    • Undergraduate Admissions
    • Transfer Students
    • Graduate Admissions
    Students walking together on campus for a tour
    Visit UNO's Campus

    Schedule a Tour
  • Student Life
    Campus Life
    • Event Calendar
    • Athletics
    • Campus Dining
    • Student Housing
    • Campus Recreation
    • Milo Bail Student Center
    • Parking and Transportation
    • Campus Safety
    Involvement and Leadership
    • Student Organizations
    • Student Government
    • Career Services and Internships
    • Spirit and Tradition
    • Student Leadership, Involvement, and Inclusion
    Support
    • Academic Support
    • Maverick Advising Center
    • Accessibility
    • Durango's Advancement & Support Hub (DASH)
    • Student Service
    • Student Safety
    Resources
    • Health Services
    • Military-Connected Resources
    • Student Conduct and Community Standards
    • Division of Student Life and Wellbeing
    Students participating in a beading craft activity
    Get Involved on Campus

    See Events Calendar
  • Engagement
    Students
    • Student Service and Leadership Collaborative
    • Find Volunteer Opportunities
    • Maverick Food Pantry
    • Voter Information
    • Internship Opportunities
    • Career Services
    • Student Resources
    • Become an Engaged Scholar
    Faculty and Staff
    • Faculty Senate
    • Center for Faculty Excellence
    • Staff Advisory Council
    • Faculty Resources
    • Engaged Research
    • Service Learning Academy
    • Community-Based Learning Courses
    Community
    • Campus Resources
    • Service Learning Academy
    • Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center
    • Promote Volunteer Opportunities
    • Promote Internship Opportunities
    • Rent Office Space
    • Senior Passport Program
    • Community Engagement Partnership Initiative
    Office of Engagement
    • Connect to Campus
    • Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center
    • Service Learning Academy
    • Rent Office Space
    • Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center
    • Partner With Us
    • Senior Passport Program
    • Nebraska Business Development Center
    • Community Partners on Campus
    Student volunteering with a food bank
    Connect with Us

    Contact the Office of Engagement
  • Research
    Student
    • Research and Creative Activity Fair
    • Graduate Research (GRACA)
    • Student Conference Travel Fund
    • Undergraduate Scholarly Experience (FUSE) Fund
    Faculty
    • Grant Databases
    • External Funding
    • Awards and Committees
    • Office of Sponsored Programs
    Research at UNO
    • Office of Research and Creative Activity
    • Research News
    • Centers and Institutes
    Students giving presentations on research projects
    UNO Pushes Innovation Forward

    Read UNO Research News
  • Athletics
    Men's Teams
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Golf
    • Hockey
    • Soccer
    • Swimming & Diving
    • Tennis
    Women's Teams
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Golf
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Swimming & Diving
    • Tennis
    • Track & Field
    • Volleyball
    Game Day Resources
    • Purchase Tickets
    • Team Schedules
    • Buy Maverick Gear
    Baxter Arena
    • Calendar
    • Tickets
    • Directions & Parking
    • Clear Bag Policy
    • Public Skating
    Hockey player walking out on the ice arena
    Cheer on our Mavericks!

    Buy Tickets
  • Alumni Backback to Main menu
    • Alumni
    • Transcripts
    • Thompson Center
  1. UNO
  2. News
  3. 2021
  4. 03
  5. Omaha: A City of Opportunity

Omaha: A City of Opportunity

A robust network of support is helping students turn small chances into big opportunities.

  • published: 2021/03/01
  • contact: Charley Steed - University Communications
  • email: contact@unomaha.edu
  • search keywords:
  • acdc
  • internships
  • CIST
  • information science
  • technology
A photo of Suraj Poudel.

"After I got the internship, it really helped me with college because I was learning materials at college I was already doing at work." - Suraj Poudel

“Welcome to our campus... otherwise known as Omaha.”

It's a phrase seen in airports, on buses, and on billboards across the metro area; however, it is also a truth that has provided many students opportunities that no other campus in the region can provide. Students like Suraj Poudel.

It was seven years ago when Poudel's parents moved their family to Omaha from Nepal, to a new city, a new school, and new language. Today, Poudel is a Maverick who is not just surviving - but excelling thanks to the opportunities Omaha - and UNO - have to offer.

This past fall, Poudel not only marked his first semester as an Computer Science student within the College of Information Science and Technology (CIST), but as a software engineer intern with Union Pacific, one of several Fortune 500 companies with headquarters in Omaha.

"The first semester was a little rocky because high school is completely different than university," Poudel says. "But after I got the internship, it really helped me with college because I was learning materials at college I was already doing at work."

Poudel and fellow CIST first-year student Evelyn Espinoza-Macias were selected for the Union Pacific internship as they were finishing their senior year at Omaha South High School and participating in the AIM Institute's pilot workforce development program. The program teaches students important skills, but also helps meet a need locally to cultivate a new IT workforce.

“IS&T’s close relationship with industry partners is a major factor in our ability to deliver the kind of high-quality education our students are craving,” CIST Dean Hesham Ali, says “Union Pacific has been one of our biggest champions, and we’re consistently excited to see the opportunities they create for the next generation of technology leaders.”

“I think when students are able to understand the big picture behind a tech job ... they will want to study a technical subject in college,” Addison Parker, a senior project engineer at Union Pacific who oversees the internship program, told the Silicon Prairie News this past November.

"If more companies show there can be benefits like [internships] it could cause those students to try harder [in school] and it can also help them economically," Espinoza-Macias says.



Are you a student looking for an internship? Or looking for general internship information?

Check out these resources from the UNO Academic and Career Development Center.


Poudel admits he never saw himself as a programmer, but had always been interested in computers. It wasn't until he took an elective in computer science at Omaha South High School that he began to truly cultivate a passion for technology.

"I was actually thinking I would want to work more with hardware and servers, but with computer science you realize that one small piece of code can change our world."

Changing the world - changing the future - is something near and dear to Poudel's heart. As a first-generation student and Goodrich Scholar, he explains that he wants to make the most out of the sacrifices his parents made for him and his siblings.

"My dad was really supportive of education; he wanted to be a doctor, but due to my grandparents experiencing some crises he wasn't able to do what he wanted," Poudel says. "Even though he was excellent in his education, my grandparents never gave him the financial support. He ... wants to provide that support to all of his children so they can get their education without any barriers, but after he came here there were still barriers to jump through to continue our education."

Espinoza-Macias, who is also a first-generation student, says those barriers are one thing that she knows these kinds of experiences, with UNO's help, will help others in the future.

"There are a lot of things, as a first-generation student, nobody can really help me with at home, such as filling out the FAFSA, and so everything is new to me," Espinoza-Macias says. "But I think it's good because I have two younger siblings, which, me being the first one will allow me to help them."

Neither Poudel or Espinoza-Macias know exactly what their future plans look like yet, but they don't need to. Their drive, passion, and love for their families, their community, and the impact of technology is sure to serve them well as they continue their Maverick journey.


About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

Located in one of America’s best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community.

Follow UNO on Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. 

  • News Sections:
  • UNO News Center
  • Maverick Daily
  • The Bullseye
  • Campus Events

News Sections

  • News Center
  • Maverick Daily
  • The Bullseye
  • Campus Events

Featured Stories

  • UNO and the College World Series
  • UNO Statistician Who Predicted the 2024 Men’s CWS Champion Releases 2025 Forecast
  • 10 Things to Know About UNO During the College World Series
  • Durango Steps Up to the Plate for UNO, CWS Partnership

Contact Us

If you have a story idea, news tip, or other question, please email the UNO News team at unonews@unomaha.edu.

About the Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications (MarComm)

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.