Nebraska’s Life Skills program provides innovative resources and support throughout college and beyond to best prepare Husker student-athletes for life after sports. Services foster transition, retention, responsible decision-making, leadership, volunteerism and career development.
A Life Skills pioneer, Nebraska was one of five NCAA Division I schools to win the prestigious Program of Excellence Award in 1998. The award recognizes a strong commitment to total person development. In 2005, Associate Athletic Director for Life Skills Keith Zimmer was the recipient of the Dr. Gene Hooks Award recognizing him as the top Life Skills administrator in the country.
Husker Life Seminar – All incoming student-athletes complete a 13-week fall semester seminar addressing a variety of life skills topics ranging from leadership to money to relationships and study skills. Team Workshops – Campus and community experts facilitate team-specific life skills education workshops. Student-Athlete Assemblies – Meetings featuring remarks from Athletic Director Tom Osborne and nationally recognized life skills trainers.
Resume Development – Each student-athlete is assigned a Life Skills counselor who assists in the creation of a personalized resume for the student-athlete. Periodic follow-up meetings will take place through graduation to ensure a well-rounded college experience and marketability to realize career goals.
Nebraska student-athletes combine to impact over 100,000 people statewide on an annual basis. Team Service Requirement – Each team participates in a minimum of two service projects per year. School Outreach – Individuals participate in numerous school outreach campaigns in both classroom and assembly settings. Hospital Visits – Huskers are frequent hospital visitors providing cheer and encouragement to a variety of patients. Miscellaneous Outreach – Outreach requests are received daily from the entire state requesting involvement from Husker student-athletes. Mentoring Programs – Typically requires one hour of service per week serving as a youth mentor.
Life Skills promotes leadership development and provides recognition opportunities for extraordinary citizenship. Student-Athlete Advisory Committee – Elected team representatives from each of the 23 sports serve as the “voice” of the entire student-athlete population discussing student-athlete welfare, legislation and service events. HERO Leadership Award – Individual recognition to Huskers who have consistently went above and beyond serving as an exemplary role-model. Heart and Soul Award – Presented annually to the top senior student-athlete leaders for extraordinary service throughout their college careers. Brook Berringer Citizenship Team – Annual “Good Works” team honoring football players for dedicated service in memory of late Husker Brook Berringer. Nebraska Football Uplifting Athletes - A newly recognized UNL student organization initiated in 2012, Nebraska football players and UNL student leaders work collaboratively to raise funds and awareness for those with rare diseases. Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead was named the 2012 recipient of the National Rare Disease Champion Award for his mentoring of Jack Hoffman. Life Skills Award of Excellence – Presented to the single men’s and women’s team with the highest point total in the life skills team competition.
In addition to the creation of a personalized resume and game plan, the following career resources are available to every Husker. Student-Athlete Career Fair – Attended by approximately 25 companies. Networking Night – Former Husker student-athletes and other professionals thriving in their chosen career fields share valuable insights with sophomore student-athletes. Assessments – On-line assessments to help individuals discover talents and match with a major and career. Practical Experience – Programs in place to facilitate shadowing and internship placements. Job Preparation – Expert advice on cover letter writing, interviewing skills and evaluating the job offer.
Commitment to helping student-athletes pursue postgraduate plans and scholarships. Career Nights – Learn from the experts to gain valuable insight on timelines, application procedures, entrance requirements, personal essays and more. Scholarships – Seniors in their final season of athletic eligibility can apply for numerous postgraduate awards.