University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds to make weeklong Western Nebraska trip

University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds, who recently marked his first year in office by laying out an ambitious agenda for success, will spend the next week traveling through Western Nebraska to talk with citizens about the university’s opportunities in the years ahead.

Bounds’ trip includes stops in Ogallala, Alliance, Bayard, Scottsbluff, Kimball, Sidney, Grant, North Platte, Curtis and Kearney. He will engage with high school students and principals, university students and faculty, policymakers, donors and a range of business and community leaders. He will cap his trip by attending commencement events at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture and the University of Nebraska at Kearney before returning east to participate in commencements at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Bounds will be accompanied on the trip by NU Regent Bob Phares, who represents District 7 on the Board.

During his April 15 installation address, Bounds detailed four “cornerstones” for success that he said will make the University of Nebraska one of the nation’s leading institutions. They are:

Bounds will discuss the cornerstones with Nebraskans at each stop during his trip. In visiting area high schools, Bounds will promote his newly launched “Commit to Complete” initiative, which encourages timely graduation so students can minimize their debt and enter the workforce sooner. Commit to Complete is aligned with Bounds’ first cornerstone for student success.

Members of the media are invited to attend any of the following events. Nebraskans are encouraged to keep up with Bounds by following him on Twitter at @hankbounds, or visiting his website at www.nebraska.edu/president.

Monday, May 2

8:30 a.m. MST: Ogallala High School visit
205 E. 6th St., Ogallala

Noon: Alliance Rotary Club
Newberry’s, 110 W. 4th St.

2:30 p.m.: Bayard High School visit
726 4th Ave., Bayard

Tuesday, May 3

9:30 a.m.: UNL Panhandle Research & Extension Center visit
4502 Avenue I, Scottsbluff

10:45 a.m.: Scottsbluff High School visit
313 E. 27th St.

Noon: Scottsbluff/Gering Rotary Club
Scottsbluff Country Club, 5014 Avenue I

2 p.m.: Western Sugar Cooperative visit
2100 East Overland Dr., Scottsbluff

3 p.m.: Kelley Bean Co., Inc., visit
2407 Circle Dr., Scottsbluff

6 p.m.: Kimball Rotary Club
Kimball Eagles Club, 218 S. Chestnut St.

Wednesday, May 4

9 a.m.: Sidney High School visit
1100 19th St.

Noon: Grant Rotary (joint appearance with Nebraska Sen. Dan Hughes)
Newberry’s, 110 W. 4th St.

3:30 p.m. CST: UNL West Central Research and Extension Center visit
402 West State Farm Road, North Platte

Thursday, May 5

1:30 p.m.: NCTA commencement (with Gov. Pete Ricketts and UNL Chancellor-elect and Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Vice Chancellor Ronnie Green)
Curtis Memorial Community Center, 301 Garlick Ave., Curtis

7 p.m.: University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing Kearney Division commencement
UNK Health and Sports Center, 2501 15th Ave.

Friday, May 6

3 p.m.: UNO commencement (Colleges of Business Administration, Public Affairs and Community Services, and Information Science & Technology)
Curtis Memorial Community Center, 301 Garlick Ave., Curtis

Saturday, May 7

9:30 a.m.: UNL undergraduate commencement
Pinnacle Bank Arena, 400 Pinnacle Arena Dr.