The UNO Echo Project
In the summer of 2014, Shaylea Valentine and myself, two Omaha South High Graduates, came up with the idea of students developing their academic and professional potential by serving the socioeconomically disadvantaged communities in Omaha, Nebraska.
Specifically, we wanted students in the College of Engineering, where Shay and I both study, to use their very technical, valuable education in a service oriented way.
With the concepts of collaboration and sustainability as our guides, we developed the Spring Housing Rehabilitation Project in partnership with Abide Network. The idea of this project was to create a network of partnerships with local Omaha companies, non-profits, and schools.
This would allow UNO students to plan, market, design, and execute the exterior renovation of an Abide owned home to assist Abide in the fulfillment of their mission.
In turn, UNO Echo would fulfill our own mission by developing its student members professional, academically, and personally. This year is UNO Echo’s Second Annual Spring Housing Rehabilitation Project in our second year of existence as an organization.
In addition to gaining support from 6 local companies, 2 local non-profits, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and Benson High School, UNO Echo also has won a NASA Space Grant and an undergraduate research grant.
This will allow us to carry out weekly, year-long Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Educational Outreach at Omaha South High School and Gomez Heritage Elementary School.
We want to thank One Stop Creates for their support of UNO Echo as we strive to make positive change in Omaha.
Sincerely,
Andrew Martinez