The tale of how Lukas Fricke managed, somewhat even to his own surprise, to mount a major fund-raiser event for the Team Jack Foundation is a lesson in determination and belief in one's vision, even if you're "just" a college sophomore.
Fricke, of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Alpha Gamma Rho chapter, got the idea last summer at a campus community event when Sue Voss of UNL's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources was talking about how students can make an impact. He saw Nebraska native Daniel Lawrence Whitney, better known as Larry the Cable Guy, doing some charity work and wondered if Larry would be willing to help with a fund-raiser event for the Team Jack Foundation, which supports research that focuses on identifying and treating brain cancer genetic mutations.
He mentioned the idea to Reshell Ray, associate director of student involvement at UNL, and she encouraged him to proceed. It wasn't long before Fricke found himself working with Larry's agent.
"It got bigger and bigger from there," he said.
Fricke insisted on having the event at the new Pinnacle Bank Arena, but arena officials were skeptical it would be that big a draw. Ultimately, the event drew about 9,000 people to the arena, including students who had to pay only $13, and the event raised nearly $200,000 for the worthy cause.
"It kind of blew everyone's socks off," said Fricke, a native of Ulysses and graduate of David City High School who's double-majoring in animal science-meat science and ag business-livestock marketing. Fricke also is a Nebraska Beef Scholar and an Engler Entrepreneurship Scholar.
Fricke said he learned a lot from this venture, especially how to work and communicate with a team. He's working on another event for next year focusing on agricultural education and feeding people.