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Mavericks Recognized in 2024 TOYO! List

  • published: 2024/02/05
  • contact: Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
  • email: unonews@unomaha.edu
TOYO Awards

Four Mavericks were among the 10 individuals recently recognized as “Ten Young Outstanding Omahans” (TOYO) by the Omaha Jaycees. Vetted from hundreds of applicants, these young professionals, ages 21 through 40, have shown that they are committed to improving the Omaha community through acts of kindness while excelling in their professional careers. All recipients of the TOYO Award will be honored at the 90th Annual Ten Outstanding Young Omahans (TOYO!) Award Banquet at Champions Run on Thursday, Feb. 8.

TOYO Honoree Sammi Kaiser, Ph.D.

Sammi Kaiser

UNO Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Success, Sammi Kaiser, Ph.D., is one of this year's honorees. Kaiser has worked in higher education for 15 years, specializing in the areas of academic advising and support, new student orientation, first-year curriculum and retention, and career and workforce development.

"I am deeply honored to be one of the TOYO recipients this year. UNO and the Omaha community have been instrumental in providing me with valuable opportunities to evolve as a young professional," Kaiser said. "I am eternally grateful for my family, friends, and colleagues who continue to provide support and encouragement."

According to the Omaha Jaycees, Kaiser's role "aligns her passions in both advocating for the transformative power of higher education and creating pathways of lifelong success for all learners. Her current work includes leading initiatives to support mobility for transfer students; functional lead for UNO’s student success management system MavCONNECT; and supporting the directors and teams in Career Services, Maverick Advising Center, Testing Center, and New Student and Family Programs."

Congratulations to All Maverick Honorees:

  • Sammi Kaiser: UNO Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Success.

  • Kiley Freeman: Bachelor of Arts, 2009. Master of Fine Arts in progress.

  • Javier Saldaña: Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies, 2021.

  • Noni Williams: Bachelor of Arts, 2015. Master of Science, 2021.

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university, committed to innovating for the public good, advancing social mobility, powering workforce development, and serving as a hub for community engagement. Nearly 15,000 Mavericks choose UNO for its hands-on education experiences, nationally ranked online and graduate programs, military-connected student support, and innovative approaches to supporting lifelong learning. UNO holds the Carnegie Research Activity “R2” designation, securing more than $40 million annually in external research funding and counts its faculty among the world’s most cited scholars. Sixteen Omaha Athletics programs compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Summit League and National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). 

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