Snapshots: Students Explore Leadership and Service at the Chuck Hagel Symposium
High school students from across the Omaha metro gathered at UNO for the annual Chuck Hagel Symposium in Public Service, a day designed to inspire future leaders through conversations about civic engagement, leadership, and public service.
- published: 2025/10/21
- contact: Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
- email: unonews@unomaha.edu
Former U.S. Secretary of Defense and U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel speaks to high school students during the annual Chuck Hagel Symposium in Public Service at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications.
UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, delivers remarks at the annual Chuck Hagel Symposium in Public Service, welcoming students and educators to campus. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications.
High school students line up to ask questions during a breakout session at the Chuck Hagel Symposium in Public Service, engaging in discussions on leadership and civic engagement. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications.
Future leaders took center stage at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) as hundreds of high school students from across the metro gathered for the annual Chuck Hagel Symposium in Public Service. Designed to ignite curiosity and inspire civic engagement, the daylong event invited students to explore what it means to lead with integrity, serve their communities, and shape the world around them.
🔍 Why It Matters
- The Chuck Hagel Symposium is part of UNO’s ongoing commitment to educating all learners and developing Nebraska’s next generation of leaders.
- By engaging students in discussions on civic responsibility and public service, UNO continues to build pathways between education, community leadership, and government.
🎒 Who Attended: Students representing Bryan, Omaha South, Ralston, Buena Vista, Westview, Northwest, Omaha North, Roncalli Catholic, Millard West, Burke, Papillion-La Vista South, and Central high schools took part in the daylong event.
About the University of Nebraska at Omaha
The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university, committed to innovating for the public good, advancing social mobility, powering workforce development, and serving as a hub for community engagement. Nearly 15,000 Mavericks choose UNO for its hands-on education experiences, nationally ranked online and graduate programs, military-connected student support, and innovative approaches to supporting lifelong learning. UNO holds the Carnegie Research Activity “R2” designation, securing more than $40 million annually in external research funding and counts its faculty among the world’s most cited scholars. Sixteen Omaha Athletics programs compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Summit League and National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC).
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