Students Give Back to the Omaha Community through Mavs Make a Difference

As students look for ways to get involved beyond the classroom, the Mavs Make a Difference program is giving them a new path to serve.

Launched during the Spring 2026 semester by the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s (UNO) Office of Engagement, the program was created to make volunteering more accessible by connecting students with consistent, offsite opportunities with community organizations.

The idea was simple, according to Anna Spethman, the Office of Engagement’s volunteer and civic engagement manager: to remove barriers, make service easier to join and help students build meaningful connections through hands-on community work.

“Volunteering is one of the easiest ways to get connected to the community, to other students, and even to yourself,” Spethman said. “It’s a chance to step outside your routine, make a real impact, and build skills and experiences that go beyond the classroom.”

Mavs Make a Difference also expanded the ways students can participate in service. Spethman said the program complements existing efforts such as 60 Minutes of Service, which brings community partners to campus, by offering another option for students whose schedules or preferences make offsite volunteering a better fit. Rather than leaving students to coordinate the details themselves, the program is designed to streamline the process and make showing up the easiest part.

Some volunteering events in the past have included organizing diapers at the Nebraska Diaper Bank and packing supplies into backpacks to be later distributed to children navigating the child welfare system with Court Appointed Special Advocates for Douglas County.

For some students, the program opened the door to service for the first time.

Freshman accounting major Tu Hoang said the opportunity sounded like a fun way to help people.

“This is a whole new experience for me,” she said. “I just wanted to do something good for my community.”

For students who are still finding their place on campus, that kind of entry point matters. A single volunteer experience can introduce them to service, connect them with classmates and show that giving back does not have to begin with a major time commitment.

Standing at a makeshift assembly line at the Nebraska Diaper Bank’s warehouse, a group of students organized and package diapers for distribution, putting together thousands of diapers in a session to service most parts of Nebraska.

“I feel like giving back now is important,” said Meleny Mejia, a communications major, “Because you never know if you may need the help one day.”

Many said they fit these volunteering events in their schedules, even committing an hour or two between classes.

Spethman said that flexibility is one of the program’s biggest strengths. Students can choose opportunities that work with their schedules, meet new people in a relaxed environment, and gain experiences that extend beyond the classroom and into their daily lives.

“We do all the planning — so all you have to do is show up and make a difference,” she said.

The next event for Mavs Make a Difference will take place on April 29, where students will assemble gardening beds at Sheltering Tree.

For more information about Mavs Make a Difference or to browse other volunteer efforts, visit the Office of Engagement’s Volunteer and Civic Engagement Programs.