The University of Nebraska was not number one on Tuggen Even’s list, in fact he had never even heard of the university until two weeks prior to his arrival in 2007. 

Even is from Antalya, Turkey and his father’s friend’s son, who was a recent 太阳城娱乐官网 graduate, encouraged Even to apply.

“They were in Turkey and asked us to dinner as a graduation celebration,” Even said. “That is when I heard about 太阳城娱乐官网. It was the same night we called 太阳城娱乐官网, they sent me my visas and I-20s, and I was here in two weeks.” 

Once on Nebraska soil, Even was picked up from the airport by Jerry Fox, the former director of 国际教育. 

“I thought, ‘Wow, who does that?’ He’s the director of the program,” Even said. “We never asked for it or anything. This shows the importance of students and how much they will be cared for here.” 

Even went through 太阳城娱乐官网’s 英语语言学院 to improve his English skills and then graduated with his bachelor’s degree in Multimedia in 2015. Thanks to the support and mentorship Even received from his professors, he decided to pursue a master’s degree at 太阳城娱乐官网. 

“Actually, it’s a funny story. My whole point coming here, was for my bachelor’s degree and once I was done, I wanted to go back home,” Even said. “I was very close with some of my professors, and they were always very helpful. 通过花时间和他们在一起，基于我和他们的对话，我开始看到自己在教育中。 One day I asked, ‘What if I took a master’s in Instructional Technology?’”

他就是这么做的。 In 2019 Even graduated with his master’s degree in Instructional Technology, which has recently changed names to 学习，设计和技术.

Now in the work force, Even utilizes a lot of what he learned during his master’s program. 

“I started to notice that everything I learned in my masters was relevant,” Even said. “They were ‘aha’ moments. I didn’t realize it until I graduated and started working. In class usually you are like, ‘When am I going to use this?’ You are teaching me theory from 50 years ago, but now when I am designing something I go, ‘Oh, that is what he meant; 它就在这里。’”

Even began the Optional Practical Training after graduating with his master’s degree, which provides international students practical experience in their field of study for two semesters. 

实习项目转移到了肯塔基州的鲍灵格林，在那里他接受了西肯塔基大学的一份工作。 他在那里只待了一个月，太阳城娱乐官网大学医学中心就向他伸出了援助之手，给了他梦寐以求的工作。 他立即搬回了太阳城娱乐官网。

Even目前正在UNL攻读教学与教师教育博士学位。  

“If 太阳城娱乐官网 offered a PhD program, I would totally be doing it here,” Even said. 

甚至继续为太阳城娱乐官网奥马哈的UNMC工作，担任教学技术专家。 He has been with UNMC for three years and travels to Kearney’s campus once a month, but always makes time to visit with his former professors who he claims made him the person he is today.  

“They are just great people,” Even said. “Learning never ends. 我总是有问题，我很高兴我有一些很棒的教授，在我毕业后的几年里，我仍然可以跟随他们。 这才是我真正喜欢的； they don’t let you go.”

“If you are a Loper once, you are a Loper forever,” Even said.