University of Nebraska at Kearney

No. 1 in Nebraska. Period. Excellence is the standard. #PowerOfTheHerd Be a Loper. unk.edu/apply

The stage is coming together... We can't wait to see everyone at the Fairgrounds tomorrow night! #PowerOfTheHerd

Maggie Wells came to Kearney from more than 800 miles away, drawn by an opportunity that combined athletics and academics. The senior from Conroe, Texas, chose UNK because it offered a chance to compete in the pool while pursuing a degree that matched her creative interests. Four years later, she’s preparing to graduate summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in multimedia and minors in media production and strategic communication. FULL STORY: unknews.unk.edu/2026/04/28/mee… #PowerOfTheHerd

This is the Loper Success Hub. We know you’ll be studying hard for finals Lopers but for more information on the Loper Success Hub or to sign up for tutoring head to the link below ⬇️ unk.edu/offices/loper-… #PowerOfTheHerd

A week of music 🎶 Take a look back at a busy week at the Fine Arts Recital Hall. You can still see Lopers perform on campus this weekend with a recital tonight and several different concerts on Sunday! #PowerOfTheHerd

Spring has entered the chat 🌸💐🌺🌼 #PowerOfTheHerd

The @UNKAlumni has selected five students as the 2026 Outstanding Senior Award recipients. The honor recognizes seniors for excellence in scholarship and leadership, as well as involvement and dedication to UNK and the Kearney community. Students were selected by a panel of UNK alumni. “Each of these students has made an impact on the University of Nebraska at Kearney,” said Tricia Danburg, director of alumni engagement. “Their leadership, service and academic achievement reflect the very best of UNK.” This year’s honorees include Elly Piper of Norfolk, Riley Rose of Murdock, Sam Schroeder of Seward, Marcus Utecht of Blue Hill, and Caleb Wiseman of Plattsmouth (not pictured). Congratulations to all five of these amazing seniors and thank you for making UNK and better place! FULL STORY: unknews.unk.edu/2026/04/23/unk… #PowerOfTheHerd

Janet Eckerson has been named interim dean of the UNK College of Arts and Sciences. Pending Board of Regents approval, she'll assume the role June 1, replacing current Dean Paul Twigg, who accepted a position at Murray State University. MORE INFO ➡️ unknews.unk.edu/2026/04/22/jan…

UNK Wins 2026 MIAA Championship By Two Shots; Central Regionals Next Up lopers.com/news/2026/4/22…

New artwork on campus! 🩺 Today a new sculpture was installed in UNMC's Douglas A. Kristensen Rural Health Education Complex. Eagle-eyed art fans may notice it is a replica of the "Healing" sculpture on UNMC’s Omaha campus. #PowerOfTheHerd

Finding her voice 🗣️ Sayo Kajiyama approaches each performance with the same goal. She doesn’t want to simply sound good. She wants to convey emotion and connect with her audience on a deeper level. “At the beginning, I just liked being on stage,” the UNK senior said. “Now, I want to share more feelings through the songs, and I want to have more interactions with the audience. When I feel like my music touched their heart, I feel so good.” That mindset will guide Kajiyama on one of the biggest stages of her college career. Next month, the music performance major will sing the national anthem during UNK’s spring commencement ceremony at the Health and Sports Center. It’s a moment that represents both her growth as a performer and a journey that began halfway around the world. FULL STORY: unknews.unk.edu/2026/04/21/fin… #PowerOfTheHerd

📍Explore Kearney: Kearney Trails System With over 22 miles of trails throughout Kearney there are plenty of places to explore. From walking and biking to paddling the water trails, Kearney’s trail system keeps you moving however you wish. 🚶‍♂️🚴‍♀️🛶 Rooted in the same landscape that once carried pioneers along the Oregon Trail, the Kearney trails system offers great views for anyone who wants to take the first step. #PowerOfTheHerd

Before she ever attended a college class, Godiva Kekeh was already getting involved at UNK. During New Student Enrollment, the Bennington native connected with a student leader who encouraged her to join the Black Student Union. What started as a conversation quickly turned into action, with Kekeh stepping into an executive role and helping plan events that summer. “That’s what first got me involved, then it just grew from there,” she explained. Now a junior studying criminal justice with minors in entrepreneurship and public law, Kekeh has since built a campus experience defined by leadership and service. Her long-term goal is to attend law school and eventually serve as a judge. “I’ve always wanted to help people,” she said. “A lot of my family members are health care professionals, but after taking a high school government course, I realized there are other ways to help people beyond medicine. This is something I enjoy and can see myself doing for a long time.” FULL STORY: unknews.unk.edu/2026/04/20/lop… #PowerOfTheHerd

Lopers closed out spring ball today with the Blue/Gold scrimmage. See ya in August for the season opener. @UNK_Athletics @UNK_Football

Real research. Real results. Hands-on learning took center stage Thursday at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where students shared projects that build real-world skills and expand classroom lessons. The annual Student Research and Creative Activity Day showcased work from 180 Lopers representing 23 academic departments, with presentations covering everything from farming practices and lizard habitats to antibiotic resistance, aircraft maintenance and name, image and likeness licensing in college athletics. Now in its 28th year, the event celebrates the scholarly and creative accomplishments of both undergraduate and graduate students while recognizing the faculty mentors who guide their work. "Providing research and creative activity opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students is a priority at UNK because it is central to how we approach learning. We emphasize experiential learning for all students. It isn’t an extra activity students do – it’s a key part of their education." – Kim Carlson, associate vice chancellor for research and creative activity FULL STORY: unknews.unk.edu/2026/04/16/stu… #PowerOfTheHerd

At UNK, the javelin throw has become part of one family’s legacy. Darren Grauerholz was the first to make his mark, earning All-American honors twice and setting the program record with a 212-foot toss during the 1992 NCAA Division II Championships. Three decades later, his nephew followed a similar path, then went even farther. Rylan Basart was a sophomore in 2024 when he broke his uncle’s record, hurling the javelin 212 feet, 9 inches during the Central Nebraska Challenge at Kearney High School. He ended up beating that distance two more times that spring, setting the new standard at 233-11 during the Loper Invitational. “It meant a lot for him to break it,” Grauerholz said. “I heard someone else almost broke it a few years prior and I was a little prideful about that. But now that it’s him, I wouldn’t want it to be anyone else holding it.” FULL STORY: unknews.unk.edu/2026/04/15/ryl… #PowerOfTheHerd

Murder, they wrote! University Theatre at Kearney is inviting audiences to step into a world of secrets, suspicion and sharp-witted humor with its upcoming production of “An Old-Fashioned Family Murder.” With its blend of humor, mystery and suspense, “An Old-Fashioned Family Murder” promises an entertaining time at the theater – where everyone has something to hide, and no one can be trusted. Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. April 16-18 and April 23-25, with a 2 p.m. matinee April 26. The production runs approximately two hours, including a brief intermission. For more information on the show: unknews.unk.edu/2026/04/15/sec… #PowerOfTheHerd

🚨🎟️🚨Attention UNK Students! 🚨🎟️🚨 You will have one final opportunity to claim a free ticket to the UNK Spring Concert! All information for claiming your ticket was sent to your email yesterday . The ticket link will close Friday, April 15th at midnight so get them now because once they're gone, they're gone! #PowerOfTheHerd

So fresh, so clean. Introducing the new and improved Buckle Court! #PowerOfTheHerd

"It’s truly inspiring to see so many people coming together to make a difference." More than 400 students volunteered at 60+ sites during the 20th annual Big Event! Read more about their impact: unknews.unk.edu/2026/04/11/its…