OMAHA, Neb. - The Bartholet family has established a $100,000 athletic endowed scholarship fund that will provide financial assistance to student-athletes pursuing their education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

David and Gina Bartholet created this brand new endowed athletic scholarship through a gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation in support of Omaha Athletics in June. The David and Gina Bartholet Athletic Endowed Scholarship recipients will be annually selected by Omaha Athletics. Student-athletes studying any major who have demonstrated financial need and/or outstanding academic achievement will be eligible for scholarship awards that will be renewed annually until they graduate.

"We are so thankful to the Bartholets for supporting Maverick student-athletes by establishing this significant endowed scholarship," said Adrian Dowell, Omaha Vice Chancellor / Director of Athletics.  "Dave and Gina are two of our most passionate supporters and we are excited to see the impact of their generosity in perpetuity."

Dave and Gina Bartholet were born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. After graduating from Burke High, Dave served two years of active duty in the United States Army then another six years in the Nebraska National Guard. Upon finishing his time in the active Army, he returned to Omaha and enrolled at UNO as a Criminal Justice major. He was a member and president of Sigma Phi Epsilon and a student senator for the College of Public Affairs & Community Service. He graduated in 1991 with a BS, then spent 20 years in the criminal justice field. Gina graduated from Omaha South High School and also attended UNO before a successful, 35+-year career in business and marketing.

In 2004, the couple founded DiBar Enterprises, a real estate holding company. Dave began to work full time for the company in 2009. The Bartholets focused on the Blackstone District, and DiBar quickly became one of the most successful real estate holding and management companies of apartments and houses in midtown Omaha.

"As longtime season ticket holders in multiple UNO sports, we are "all in" for Maverick athletics," stated Dave and Gina Bartholet in a joint statement. "As spectators and donors, we are committed to giving back to future and current student-athletes competing for and studying at UNO."

The Bartholets married in 1993 and have two children: Andrew is a 2020 UNO graduate with a BS in Education and a BS in Physics; Anna, a 2020 UNL graduate with a BS in Psychology, is expected to earn a Master's Degree from UNO in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2023 and become a licensed therapist.

For more information on athletics scholarships and other ways to philanthropically support Maverick student-athletes, please contact Brock Wissmiller with Omaha Athletics at 402-502-4911.

About the University of Nebraska Foundation

The University of Nebraska Foundation grows relationships and resources that enable the University of Nebraska to change lives and save lives. It is ranked among the top 20 public universities for fundraising, among the top 25 for endowed assets and is ranked as one of America's Favorite Charities by the Chronicle of Philanthropy. During the foundation's last fiscal year, 46,639 donors gave $343 million to aid UNK, UNO, UNL and NCTA, UNMC and its clinical partner Nebraska Medicine, as well as university wide institutes and affiliates. More than 99% of all foundation assets are restricted to a specific use. More information is available at nufoundation.org.