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UNO Celebrates Student Excellence at 2026 Honors Convocation

The annual ceremony celebrates academic excellence, leadership, research, and service across campus.

  • published: 2026/04/28
  • contact: Sam Peshek - Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
  • email: unonews@unomaha.edu
A university official in academic regalia shakes hands with a smiling student holding a UNO-branded award folder on stage during a formal honors ceremony, with U.S. and Nebraska flags in the background.

University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Phil He, Ph.D., congratulates an honoree at the 2026 Student Honors Convocation. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) recognized its high-achieving students during the 2026 Student Honors Convocation, an annual tradition spotlighting Mavericks who lead in the classroom and beyond.

➡️ What’s new: Held April 24 at the Strauss Performing Arts Center, the ceremony honored undergraduate and graduate students for academic excellence, leadership, research, and community impact.

💡 Why it matters: Honorees pair strong academics with real-world impact, with work reflecting the university’s commitment to student success, community engagement, and research that improves lives locally and globally.

🔎 Zoom in: Top honors include:

  • Helen Hansen Outstanding Graduate Student Award: Grace Gunderson and John Ursino
  • Chancellor’s Award for Academic Excellence: Isabelle Vargas
  • Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Student Leadership: Daniela Martha-Palma
  • Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Service Learning: Isabella Frederick
  • Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research or Creative Activity: Sarah Nakamura
  • Outstanding Student Athletes: Jackson Scott Burrus and Emily Karmazin

📣 What’s next: View a complete list of honorees on the Academic Affairs website.

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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