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NARRATOR: Diplomas are presented, tassels turned, and students officially become graduates of the University of Nebraska at Kearney. For Mayra Flores, it’s the reward at the end of a long and challenging journey.
MAYRA: The things that are hard are the ones that are more valuable to you. And getting this degree has given me a lot of value.
NARRATOR: As she steps out into the world, Mayra can start her career out from under the burden of student loan debt. And that’s a promise.
In this episode of Leading Nebraska, a look at the Nebraska Promise—a program that opens the world of higher education to families across the state.
After the graduation ceremony, it’s time to celebrate. Mayra meets up with her proud family.
MAYRA: Oh, there you are…where’s Mom?
NARRATOR: Mayra is the first in her family to earn a college degree. And Mom is beaming with pride. Mayra was able to attend college with help from the Nebraska Promise. The program offers free tuition for undergraduate students at University of Nebraska campuses in Kearney, Lincoln, Omaha and Curtis whose families earn sixty-five thousand dollars or less.
KABOUREK: Nebraska Promise—it’s simple.
NARRATOR: University of Nebraska System Interim President Chris Kabourek says the program makes college accessible to working class and low- to middle-income Nebraskans.
KABOUREK: That's really the key. We want to make sure all Nebraskans have this opportunity and know that higher education is an opportunity for them.
NARRATOR: The program was launched in 2020 amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic. It offered a beacon of hope to families who were concerned about the economy—and how they would pay for college.
KABOUREK: Because at that time, if you recall, people were losing their jobs, we were closing down businesses, and there was a lot of uncertainty about what the future held. We wanted to make sure we did not lose any momentum for students thinking about college, particularly if their parent lost a job, or they lost a job themselves. So the commitment was really strengthened during the pandemic to give our families some assurance, some predictability that the university was going to be there for them. Since 2020, over 18,000 Nebraskans have taken advantage of the program from all 93 counties across the state. It's been wildly successful.
NARRATOR: Mayra’s family faced additional pressure caused by historic flooding that hit Nebraska in 2019. She was graduating from high school in the central Nebraska town of Gibbon when the Flores family lost their home to floodwaters. The University of Nebraska at Kearney opened residence hall doors to those who sought refuge and offered food, clothing and a place to stay.
MAYRA: Then I came to UNK and UNK opened their arms to me. My family didn't have a place to stay. And they had the towers where there were hundreds of people there trying to find shelter. There were people from everywhere, because even the hotels were flooded. Everybody came over here and I got to sit down at the cafeteria with all of them. And realized this is a big thing that a lot of people went through. It was very powerful because everybody came together to help.
NARRATOR: The ability to attend UNK without the pressure of paying tuition was a gift to the Flores family at a stressful time.
MAYRA: I've had a really great support system here at UNK. That's what helped the most.
NARRATOR: Chris Kabourek knows about the strong community found in rural Nebraska. He grew up in David City and played basketball in high school. He still remembers the warmth of a town where everybody knows your name.
KABOUREK: Rallying around Friday nights at football games or pep rallies or those kinds of things; how the community comes together to support one another. That's what I love about rural Nebraska.
NARRATOR: Kabourek also knows just how intimidating it can be for students like Mayra who want to go to college. More than half of Nebraska Promise students are the first in their families to go to college.
KABOUREK: Over half of them—roughly 53%—are first generation higher ed students. I myself am a first-generation student; I was the first in my family to go to college. I got through school with Pell Grants and student loans. I understand that—the scariness of making that investment and the sacrifice it takes from families. That's really the key. We want to make sure all Nebraskans have this opportunity to know that higher education is an opportunity for them.
NARRATOR: Nebraska Promise helps Dalton Cooper attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
DALTON: It just really lessens the burden for me so that I can actually go to college.
NARRATOR: He’s a sophomore from Nebraska City majoring in advertising and public relations. As a high school senior, Dalton considered enrolling in a community college before learning he could qualify for free tuition.
DALTON: Because of Nebraska Promise, someday I hope to go into advocacy work and help others that don't have the opportunity to speak for themselves. I want to amplify their voices.
NARRATOR: Growing up, Dalton’s family struggled to make ends meet. But he had his sights set on college. And Nebraska Promise paved the way. Dalton credits the Nebraska Promise for helping make college a reality and giving him the chance to pursue his passions.
DALTON: They make it affordable and allow me to continue my career without having to stress about that. When I go into the workforce, I'll be able to just live my life normally rather than being stressed about a monthly payment, a two-week payment—all that kind of stuff. UNL’s helping me not be stressed about my future.
NARRATOR: Students and their families aren’t the only ones who benefit from Nebraska Promise. Kabourek says the program is an economic engine for the state—and an employment pipeline. So far, more than 5,000 students who have received help through Nebraska Promise have earned an undergraduate degree or certificate from NU.
KABOUREK: Nebraska has a workforce shortage. I talked to many business leaders, and it’s workforce, workforce, workforce. What can you do to help us there? We have shortages across the state: nurses, teachers, engineers, farmers, ranchers, you name it. Our job is to help educate the next generation of young people to fill those jobs.
In order to meet the workforce needs, we want to be the destination of choice for all Nebraskans—and we want to make sure that we are accessible and affordable. As a first-generation student, I understand when you're making those kinds of decisions, and you're looking at the price tag, we don't want that to be a barrier for you. So hopefully, Nebraska Promise is a very simple message: that's one less thing you have to worry about.
NARRATOR: The benefits of Nebraska Promise extend across the state. Now in its fourth year, Nebraska Promise is currently serving 7,500 students across the university system.
KABOUREK: This program is near and dear to my heart. Hopefully it's helping some other families that may be in the same situation that I was. It's just one less thing they have to think about. So if this is one less burden we can take off of those families’ plates as they're thinking about whether this is a sacrifice they want to make, we've been successful. If we're able to achieve just one person’s dream—whether they want to be a teacher or a nurse—and it wasn’t an opportunity available to them without Nebraska Promise, then we've hit a homerun.
NARRATOR: Tuition debt is a burden Dalton doesn’t have to face.
DALTON: Had it not been for Nebraska Promise, I wouldn't have the opportunities that I have currently. And I wouldn't be in the position that I am now.
NARRATOR: Mayra’s future is wide open—and she is walking through the door with confidence.
MAYRA: Because I did it. You know, that's my proudest moment. Because throughout college, it was challenging. I didn't really know how important it was. And I didn't really know how valuable the skill set I was gonna get through UNK. But I know now. And that's my proudest moment. Because I did it and I learned and I am going to go forward in this journey of life.
NARRATOR: You’ve been listening to “Leading Nebraska.” For more information about Nebraska Promise—or to read the transcript of this podcast—visit Nebraska.edu/promise.