Snapshots: 2026 Hagel Symposium Introduces Omaha Area Students to Public Service
Hundreds of area high school students were invited to explore civic engagement, leadership, and public service through the annual symposium.
- published: 2026/10/27
- contact: Sam Peshek - Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
- email: unonews@unomaha.edu
U.S. Secretary of Defense (2013-2015) Chuck Hagel addresses Omaha area high school students at UNO’s Strauss Performing Arts Center on Oct. 20, 2026. (Ryan Soderlin/UNO)
U.S. Secretary of Defense (2013-2015) Chuck Hagel greets Omaha area high school students at UNO’s Strauss Performing Arts Center on Oct. 20, 2026. (Ryan Soderlin/UNO)
U.S. Secretary of Defense (2013-2015) Chuck Hagel fields questions from Omaha area high school students at UNO’s Strauss Performing Arts Center on Oct. 20, 2026. (Ryan Soderlin/UNO)
What’s new: University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) alumnus and Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and UNO hosted the 2026 Chuck Hagel Symposium in Public Service on Tuesday, Oct. 20, engaging area high school students in conversations on civic engagement, leadership, and public service.
About the symposium: Established in 2018, the Chuck Hagel Symposium in Public Service has brought together students and experts through both in-person and virtual events.
Did you know: UNO’s Criss Library Archives and Special Collections is home to the U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel Archives, which contains records from Chuck Hagel's career as U.S. Senator from 1997 to 2009, and U.S. Secretary of Defense from 2013 to 2015, and includes his legislative papers, artifacts, photographs, campaign records, and other material. Hagel is a 1971 UNO graduate and a Nebraska native.
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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