'Imagine a World That's Free of Terrorism': Photos and Video from NCITE's Ribbon Cutting
On June 25, NCITE students cut the ribbon on the Center's new offices at the Scott Technology Center. Check out photos and video from the event.
- published: 2024/07/08
- contact: NCITE Communications
- phone: 402 554 6423
- email: ncite@unomaha.edu
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- counterterrorism
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NCITE students (from left to right) Jack Rygg, Ryan Vilter, Kalyn Wettengel, Callie Vitro, Alexis d'Amato, and Anthony Roberson cut the ribbon on the Center's new offices in the Scott Technology Center. Photo credit: Ryan Soderlin, Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
NCITE Director Gina Ligon, Ph.D., addresses the audience at the Center's ribbon cutting. Photo credit: Ryan Soderlin, Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
Jeff Gold, M.D., smiles while addressing the audience at NCITE's ribbon cutting. Gold began his term as University of Nebraska System president in July. Photo credit: Ryan Soderlin, Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA addresses the audience at NCITE's ribbon cutting. Photo credit: Ryan Soderlin, Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts of Nebraska addresses the crowd at NCITE's ribbon cutting at the Scott Technology Center. Ricketts helped UNO secure the award that established NCITE in 2020. Photo credit: Ryan Soderlin, Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
Guests watch a presentation at the NCITE ribbon cutting. The event included debuting a new video outlining NCITE's mission and vision. Photo credit: Ryan Soderlin, Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
Sen. Pete Ricketts speaks with NCITE Director Gina Ligon at NCITE's ribbon cutting on June 25. Photo credit: Ryan Soderlin, Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
Durango greets guests at the NCITE ribbon cutting at the Scott Technology Center. NCITE first moved into its new space in August 2023. Photo credit: Ryan Soderlin, Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
NCITE student Cater Welch, left, speaks with guests at the NCITE ribbon cutting. The event included guided tours – led by students – of NCITE headquarters. Photo credit: Ryan Soderlin, Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
NCITE student Bradley Corwin speaks with Sen. Pete Ricketts at a technology demonstration during NCITE's ribbon cutting. Photo credit: Ryan Soderlin, Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
As storm clouds gathered outside, six NCITE students stood before an audience and sliced through a brand-new red ribbon.
Varied in their academic interests – political science, IT Innovation, business, criminology, psychology – the group represented the spirit of collaboration that's essential for solving critical, complex problems. It's a spirit that more than a few in the audience and at the podium that evening hoped would define this new space.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony, held June 25, marked the official opening of NCITE's new headquarters in the Scott Technology Center on the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Scott Campus. The evening, which kicked off NCITE's annual conference, ENVISION24, included remarks from university leaders, including Jeffrey Gold, M.D., now president of the University of Nebraska System and UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA.
Welcoming the audience, NCITE Director Gina Ligon, Ph.D., asked attendees to close their eyes and "imagine a world that's free of terrorism."
That world, she said, is unfortunately not today's reality. But NCITE and its partners in government, academia, and industry are working tirelessly to keep our communities safe. The ribbon cutting, she said, provided an opportunity to celebrate that work.
"Ribbon cuttings allow us a time to pause and slow down and reflect a bit on our pride and our gratitude," she said.
U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts of Nebraska also spoke about the many threats facing our nation today and the important role Nebraska can play in addressing them.
"Here in Nebraska, one of the things we do really well – we collaborate, we communicate, we cooperate," he said. "And this is a team effort."