The University of Nebraska–Lincoln has awarded $400,000 in We Give Blood grants to seven faculty- and staff-led projects aimed at improving student and community health and well-being across the Cornhusker State.
The awards are funded through the $1 million We Give Blood prize, which the university earned through an inaugural 2024 blood drive competition sponsored by Abbott and the Big Ten Conference. Projects selected will be implemented through 2026, with results and impact reports shared at the end of the year.
Project topics range from after-school athletics and bicycle ridership to therapy for veterans and behavioral health access.
“The work supported by these grants embodies the university’s mission to serve Nebraska and change lives for the better,” said Dee Dee Anderson, vice chancellor for Student Life. "These projects funded by Abbott's generosity not only highlight our faculty and staff’s commitment to serve, but also demonstrate the breadth of our impact from sixth graders in Lincoln to rural Nebraskans to veterans across the state."
Huskers are encouraged to donate blood and log their donations to count toward Nebraska's total in the 2025 We Give Blood campaign through Dec. 5. Nebraska won the friendly contest and the $1 million prize from Abbott in 2024. As of the morning of Nov. 6, Nebraska is in second place with 9,827 donations in the 2025 contest. Wisconsin leads the Big Ten with 9,874 donations. Learn more about the contest and how to help register your blood donation here.
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The awards process was led by the Office of Student Life, with support and guidance from the Office of Research and Innovation. Each proposal was considered through a multi-panel review and evaluated based on potential impact, implementation plan and assessment strategy.
The student health and well-being research grants are the third major investment of Nebraska’s Abbott prize. Other projects include a new award program to support programming by Recognized Student Organizations; the hiring of a full-time well-being coordinator focused on financial literacy; and launching an Abbott Access fund to eliminate small financial barriers.
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is again vying for the We Give Blood competition’s top prize. Learn more about the competition and how Husker Nation can bring home another $1 million prize to support well-being efforts on campus and across the state.
A total of 25 full applications were submitted for the grant competition. The seven projects earning funding are listed below. Full project information is available on UNL's We Give Blood website.
Get In the Game: Expanding opportunities and establishing a model for youth fitness and sports in Nebraska
Principal investigator: Jennifer Meek, research director, Nebraska Public Policy Center
Co-investigator: Ashley Miller, senior research specialist, Nebraska Public Policy Center
Award: $95,000
The “Get In the Game” program will expand after-school sports opportunities for sixth-grade students at six middle schools, five of which are Title I schools. The project aims to create sustainable access to soccer, volleyball and basketball, and eliminate barriers to participation.
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Sustainability on Wheels: Reducing barriers to participating in active transportation on campus
Principal investigator: Haylee Kraker, sustainability coordinator, Office of Sustainability
Co-investigators: Jordan Messerer, assistant director, Campus Recreation; Morgan Hartman, sustainability manager, Office of Sustainability; Madeline Yeatts, sustainability coordinator, Office of Sustainability
Award: $20,000
The “Sustainability on Wheels” project will promote student health through increased access to bicycles and education on safe ridership. The program seeks to build community and encourage sustainable, active transportation options.
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Creative Recovery: Maker-based mental health support for Nebraska veterans
Principal investigator: Travis Ray, program coordinator, Nebraska Innovation Studio
Co-investigators: David Martin, director, Nebraska Innovation Studio; William Johnston, training and design specialist, Nebraska Innovation Studio
Award: $45,000
The “Creative Recovery” project will expand the Veterans in Recovery program, offering maker-based therapy and informal counseling for veterans on campus and in the community.
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Husker Produce: A campus farm for nourishing the community, spurring innovation and building local food systems
Principal investigator: Sam Wortman, associate professor of agronomy and horticulture
Co-investigators: Andrea Basche, associate professor of agronomy and horticulture; Christian Stephenson, associate professor of practice in agronomy and horticulture; Benjamin Jewell, associate extension educator, Nebraska Extension; and Martha Mamo, professor and department head for agronomy and horticulture
The "Husker Produce" farm will engage more than 300 students annually in sustainable agriculture and food systems education. The farm is expected to produce more than 30,000 pounds of fresh produce each year for donation to local food banks.
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Intern Foundry Expansion: Behavioral health across Nebraska
Principal investigator: Tamy Burnett, director, University Honors Program
Co-investigator: Rebecca Baskerville, associate director of experiential and global learning, University Honors Program
Award: $65,000
The “Intern Foundry” project will expand the university’s existing program to place nine interns statewide in partnership with the The Foundry and the National Alliance on Mental Illness Nebraska. The interns will support mental health initiatives while addressing workforce needs in communities.
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Standardization of First-Year Prevention Efforts
Principal investigator: Jon Gayer, assistant director, alcohol and drug education, Campus Recreation
Co-investigator: Megan Hopkins, project director, Nutrition and Health Sciences
Award: $40,000
The project will modernize the Year One College Behavior Profile, a prevention program for first-year students at colleges across Nebraska, to better reflect current student behaviors through the use of new prevention science.
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Enhancing Student Health, Well-Being and Belonging at Western Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center
Principal investigator: Julie Peterson, professor of entomology, interim director, West Central Research, Extension and Education Center
Co-investigators: Kelly Bruns, professor, Nebraska Extension; Bobby Skates, facilities manager, West Central Research, Extension and Education Center; John Westra, professor of agricultural economics, director, Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center; Michell Stephenson, associate professor of agronomy and horticulture, associate director, Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center
Award: $45,000
The initiative will improve the well-being of students working at research and extension centers located up to 400 miles from Lincoln. It will create opportunities for community engagement, social connection and wellness activities.
