May 2025

🚀Reaching New Heights - Together!

🎈On May 1, 2025, UNO and Creighton University partnered for a collaborative high-altitude balloon flight carrying near-space experiments. 🌌

Launched from the UNO Pep Bowl, the 1200g weather balloon climbed to an astonishing 81,338 feet—touching the edge of the mesosphere! 

📡 Tracked in real-time with a SPOT GPS and equipped with a PTERODACTYL multi-sensor/datalogger, the balloon captured valuable data before descending safely under a nylon parachute, landing just west of Oakland, Iowa.

The sky is no longer the limit—it’s just the beginning. 💫

Announcements

Congratulations Nebraska State Champions of Science Olympiad 2025! 

⚗️🔬 The UNO STEM TRAIL Center was proud to sponsor the Nebraska Science Olympiad for the first time this year—partnering with UNL to host an action-packed day at East Campus on, Saturday, April 26!

This year’s competition brought together 91 teams from across Nebraska, with 525 students tackling 23 different science events—from lab challenges like Forensics and Potions & Poisons to engineering feats such as Bungee Drop and Helicopter.

🏆 A huge congrats to our 2025 State Champions: Brownell Talbot Middle School and Lincoln Science Focus High School! They'll represent Nebraska at Nationals over the Memorial Day weekend at UNL. Good luck—we’re cheering you on! 👏

S-STEM Scholars Celebrate a Strong Finish to the Academic Year

🎉 That’s a Wrap on a Semester of Growth! 🌟

The S-STEM Scholars program closed out the latest semester with unstoppable momentum, deep connections, and transformative learning experiences.

From small-group sessions with faculty and community mentors to monthly all-group meetings led by UNO staff, scholars explored everything from navigating college life to planning their next steps after graduation. These students also gained insight into campus resources that are often under the radar—but incredibly valuable.

Over the semester, scholars showed stronger self-motivation and a growing confidence in reaching out for support. 🙌

We closed out with a fun and inspiring final gathering, complete with the STEM Challenge 🧠⚙️—and we’re already excited for fall, when returning scholars will take on a new role: mentoring and inspiring the next S-STEM cohort.