Support the Ryan Houser Memorial Scholarship Fund

To provide scholarships for Physician Assistant students at UNMC

Ryan Houser portrait
Ryan Houser

On April 9, 2022, our alum, Ryan Houser, died unexpectedly in an automobile accident. He attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln from 2003-2009 where he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and athletic training. During his time at UNL, Ryan played played trumpet in the Cornhusker Marching Band, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Band. He loved the Cornhusker Marching Band so much he decided to take six years to graduate.

Ryan later attended the Physician’s Assistants program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, graduating in 2017. At the time of his passing Ryan worked as a PA at MD West One Orthopedics.

A scholarship in his name has been created to provide scholarships to the Physician Assistant students at UNMC. This scholarship is very important to his family to keep his memory and legacy alive. The family is hoping to raise enough money so the scholarship can become an endowment and thus a permanent scholarship.

The scholarship donation page is currently active, and collecting donations until March 31, 2023.

Support Glow Big Red — 24 Hours of Husker Giving

Glow Big Red. February 15-16, 2023

We’re gearing up to celebrate the fifth annual Glow Big Red! On Feb. 15-16 from noon to noon (central time), we’re celebrating 24 Hours of Husker Giving — and we’re counting on you! Our fundraising will specifically support the Jack R. Snider UNL Band Alumni Association Scholarships.

The Jack R. Snider Scholarship is awarded to current members of the Cornhusker Marching Band who are non-music majors. Recipients demonstrate leadership (formal or informal), volunteerism and integrity. They are a role model for their section and the band and exemplify what it means to be the Pride of All Nebraska.

Last year, we received 23 gifts totaling $2,550 and made a big difference! Check out a few impact stories from previous scholarship recipients.

You’ll uplift Husker students and make a meaningful impact in their lives when you:

  • Give: Join your fellow Huskers by making a gift of $5 or more!
  • Share: Share your Husker pride on social media, using the hashtag #GlowBigRed; and
  • Glow: Light up your room, home, or business to let your Husker pride shine.

We’ve set an ambitious goal of $4,000 and we’re confident we’ll meet this goal together! Thanks to band alum, Scott Washburn, all gifts will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $1,000. Make your gift ahead of time at glowbigred.unl.edu and still have it count toward our big day.

bucket hat

Let’s Glow All In for Glow Big Red, Huskers!

P.S. Make a gift of $60 or more by noon (central time), on Feb. 16 and the NU Foundation send you a reversible Husker bucket hat! Perfect to wear with your alumni uniform for the Reunion Weekend.

Jack Snider Scholarship Recipients Announced

person playing mallets
Anna Gullett

Anna Gullett is a junior from Bellevue, Nebraska with a major in Mathematics and minor in Statistics. Over her past two years at UNL, Anna has been a part of numerous clubs and activities including Math Motivators, Actuarial Science Club, and the Cornhusker Marching Band. As a junior marching band member, she is in her first year on the leadership team.

In addition to her on-campus activities, Anna also teaches the front ensemble at Bellevue West High School. Over the years, she has performed with the Colts Drum & Bugle Corps as well as the Blue Devils. In spring of 2023, Anna will move to San Jose, California where she will perform with RCC Indoor Percussion, study remotely, and teach various ensembles in the area. After graduation, Anna hopes to pursue a career in data analysis. 

Brynn Boes plays percussion and is a junior in Biological Sciences from Gretna, Nebraska.

band member in stands
Peter Lux

Peter Lux is a freshman from Blair, Nebraska with a major in Mechanical Engineering. Peter began playing trumpet since he was seven years old. While attending Blair High School, Peter was a member of the show choir, concert, jazz, and marching bands. He also played in the

pit orchestra for his school’s musical. Peter is proud to have made all state four times and have been awarded the Louis Armstrong Jazz award in high school. Peter is a member of the hall of fame for Musical Distinction.

Peter joined the CMB because he really enjoys playing the trumpet and thought that he may have had to give it up otherwise. By majoring in Mechanical Engineering, he doesn’t have much time to practice his instrument or play in other bands, that is why he’s so grateful to be a part of the CMB. It allows him to not only to keep playing but connect with a group of people whom he may have otherwise never known.

“My experience with the CMB so far has been extremely positive and fulfilling. Performing in front of a crowd of thousands of people is both exhilarating and enjoyable at the same time. Quite frankly even my first time performing on the Memorial Stadium Field I never felt nervous or anxious in the slightest. I would say this is due in part to the fact that the Nebraska fans are always so supportive of the band and excited to see it.”

Peter Lux

Your help is needed!

Kappa Kappa Psi-Epsilon Omega Chapter is running a fireworks stand in Omaha (14444 West Center Rd. Omaha, NE) to raise funds for the Tyler Butterfield Memorial Scholarship fund, with a scholarship to be awarded in the Spring 2023. KKΨ is asking alumni for help as they cannot cover all the shifts themselves, especially the overnight shifts.

  • Setup begins on Monday, June 27. Shifts are 3 hours and run from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  • Sales shifts begin Tuesday, June 28 and end Monday, July 4. Shifts are approximately 3 hours and are from 8:45 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
  • Overnight watches are for 3 hours beginning Monday, June 27 through Sunday, July 3. Shifts are for 3 hours and run from 10:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.
  • Teardown help is also needed on Monday, July 4 starting at 10:00 p.m. and runs until done.

If you and a friend would like to volunteer for a good cause and to hang out with some pretty awesome band nerds, please go to the sign-up sheet online and type your name in the shift spots available. When working, please wear your Band shirt or Nebraska shirt.

The Band Letter

Have you wondered the story behind the UNL Band Alumni Association logo? In 2019, we redesigned our logo as a circle, creating unity with our generations while the calligraphy-style “N” honors our past.

University of Nebraska Band Alumni Association, Inc.
UNL BAA Logo

A search through the yearbooks brought up some pictures of the band and of Gamma Lambda. In 1931, the first image of the band sweater was found. The original sweater had the traditional shako hat with a calligraphy-style “N” on it.

Group of men wearing sweaters
Gamma Lambda 1931 from the UNL Yearbook

By 1939, the hat was replaced with just the “N” as the band letter. It appears for many years as a white “N” on red sweaters to a red “N” on white sweaters.

Gamma Lambda 1939 from the UNL Yearbook

By 1940, the “N” became simplified, and the horizontal bars were gone, but the calligraphy-styled “N” was still used. You can view an example of the chenille band letter on display at Westbrook Music Building used during the 1941 Rose Bowl.