By Peighton Yoakam OMAHA, Neb. — As temperatures drop and the need for community support rises, students at the University of Nebraska Omaha are stepping up, turning classroom theory into real-world action. Through UNO’s Service-Learning Academy, students connect with local nonprofits, schools, and organizations to provide hands-on service while gaining valuable experience
Hands-On Learning Meets Community Service
The Service-Learning Academy helps students, faculty, and community partners collaborate on projects that range from food, clothing, and blanket drives to long-term partnerships that improve nonprofit operations.
“We have projects like that going all the time,” said Rosey Higgs, associate director of the Service-Learning Academy. “They’re often part of a larger project where a service-learning class might work with a nonprofit, looking at their processes, marketing, or social media practices, and then they might add a food or clothing drive to help the organization even more.”
Higgs emphasized that the goal is to connect what students learn in the classroom with real-world experience.
“That is the heart of service learning, taking the theory that we’re learning in the classroom and seeing how it works in real life,” she said.
Graduate Assistants Play a Key Role
UNO graduate assistants also help coordinate projects, staying with them from start to finish. Carrie Valez, a graduate assistant for the academy, said that each day can look different, from organizing supplies to working directly with community partners.
“There are 10 GA’s (Graduate Assistants) for the Service-Learning Academy, and all of us have different projects throughout the semester. We start with the class, work with the professor, and stay with the project all the way to the end,” Valez said.
Valez said the work is not only rewarding but also reinforces the importance of giving back.
“If you have the opportunity, if you have the time, if you have the resources, if you have the money, what can you do to help other people? Because that’s what we’re here for. We have a responsibility to help the people around us,” she said.
Long-Term Impact on Students and Community
Service-learning at UNO doesn’t just help the community, it also equips students with practical experience, problem-solving skills, and networking opportunities that extend far beyond graduation. Many students continue their civic engagement, volunteerism, and community support long after leaving campus, ensuring a lasting impact on Omaha and beyond.
Higgs highlighted that projects could vary widely, but the shared goal is always the same: making a tangible difference while learning lessons that last a lifetime.
“Service learning is the best way to take classroom learning and see how it applies in real life, while also positively impacting the community,” she said.
UNO’s Service-Learning Academy demonstrates that education and community engagement can go hand-in-hand, proving that even small classroom initiatives can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
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