UNO Alumni Association

W.H. Thompson Alumni Center

University of Nebraska at Omaha

Omaha, NE 68182-0010

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: June 9, 2003

Contact: Anthony Flott

aflott@mail.unomaha.edu

(402) 554-2989

 

 

UNO Alumni Association to Celebrate 90 years

(OMAHA, NE) — The University of Nebraska at Omaha Alumni Association celebrated its 90th anniversary at its Founders’ Day Luncheon Friday, June 6, 2003. The luncheon was held at the W.H. Thompson Alumni Center.

 

Among the highlights of the Founders’ Day Luncheon was presentation of the Outstanding Service Award to Jim Leslie, president and CEO of the Alumni Association. Chairman Kevin Naylor presented the award in honor of Leslie’s 30 years as president of the Association.

 

Leslie is a 1963 Omaha University graduate who while on campus was among the more active students. He served as president of the student council and was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and Pi Kappa Alpha. He also was student chair of the 1963 mill levy campaign.

 

Leslie served six-months with the U.S. Army Reserve then became a life underwriter for Mutual of Omaha. He later became an assistant manager of life policy issue and worked in Mutual’s personnel department.

 

Leslie continued to serve his alma mater during this time, putting in a stint on the Alumni Association’s board of directors and chairing the 1972 Homecoming festivities.

 

He was hired in 1973 from among more than 60 candidates. More than 52,000 graduates have been added to the Association since then while the UNO campus has undergone radical change. More than a dozen buildings have been dedicated and colleges and campuses have been added.

 

Much of this has been made possible through fund raising. Since 1973, the Association’s UNO Century Club has raised more than $10 million for the university.

 

The Association, meanwhile, has moved out of its Storz Mansion residence and into what is now the W.H. Thompson Alumni Center. The center was expanded and renovated in 1994, and more than 400,000 guests have attended functions in the facility since then.

 

The Association also has instituted an aggressive awards campaign under Leslie’s watch. Nearly 100 Citations for Alumnus Achievement have been issued since 1973, while the UNO Hall of Fame, the Outstanding Service Award and the UNO Alumni Horizon award all were begun. Combined, more than 150 people have received those awards.

 

Under Leslie the Association also has begun more than 150 scholarships and 11 professorships. On his own, Leslie has chaired or been a member of numerous campus committees, including the UNO Chancellor’s Council. He’s received several awards on and off campus, including the Chancellor’s Medal in 1995.

 

"Jim Leslie's strong connection with our alumni is an indelible link to this institution's past, present and future,” UNO Chancellor Nancy Belck said. “His 30-year tenure at the helm of the Alumni Association is invaluable as UNO has transformed into a modern metropolitan university of distinction."

 

 

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