For nearly 80 years, students at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln have found their voice behind a campus microphone. The university's first campus radio station, KNUS, began broadcasting in the 1940s. In 1970, it evolved into 90.3 KRNU, where generations of Huskers launched their journeys in broadcasting.
"90.3 KRNU was the first place I could ride with my training wheels on without fear of crashing and burning," said Kevin Kugler, a 1994 graduate and national sportscaster. "It gave me a safe place to learn, fail and grow."
Now, a $1.1 million investment from the Donald and Lorena Meier Foundation, based in Chicago, and the Nebraska Broadcasters Association will bring new life to 90.3 KRNU. Their support will transform the station and strengthen the college's efforts to create a cross-platform media environment where students can tell stories through audio, video and digital formats.
The renovation builds on the momentum of the 2022 construction of the Don and Lorena Meier Television Studio, funded by a combined $855,000 gift from the same donors. Together, these projects link KRNU with the college's television, newsroom and podcasting spaces, creating an integrated learning environment where students gain real-world experience across media platforms.
"The Donald and Lorena Meier Foundation Board of Directors is excited to extend a grant in support of the renovation and modernization of KRNU," the Board said in a statement. "This effort shines as a lasting legacy of Don Meier and his wife Lorena and their efforts to offer the students at UNL innovation in media broadcasting. The Board believes that this investment continues the Meier's support of the university and its commitment to offering a training ground for future broadcasters."
Construction will begin in August 2025 and wrap up in January 2026. The Meier Foundation's $1 million pledge will begin paying out in 2029. The university will provide interim funding to launch the project this fall. The Nebraska Broadcasters Association contributed a $100,000 gift to support the renovation. The total renovation budget is $1,060,044, with remaining funds reserved for future technology and equipment enhancements.
The Nebraska Broadcasters Association's gift reflects its mission to strengthen the state's media industry by investing in the next generation of broadcasters.
"More than ever, students need to work with modern technology inside a modern facility to experience all of the power and fun that radio broadcasting offers – both as a career and as a public service," said Jim Timm, executive director of the NBA. "Given the decades-long partnership between UNL and the NBA, we are excited to see this project come to life and feel fortunate to be in a position to assist with the funding."
That same commitment to student opportunity is central to the Meier Foundation's investment.
"Being part of the growth of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the College of Journalism and Mass Communications aligns with the legacy of the Donald and Lorena Meier Foundation," said Anthony J. Madonia, president of the Board. "The Meiers believed in learning from experience, and a modernized KRNU gives students this opportunity.”
Jane T. Olson Endowed Dean Shari Veil said both partners understand what students need to succeed.
"Both the Meier Foundation and the NBA understand the power of hands-on learning," Veil said. "This investment ensures our students will train on the same systems they'll encounter in the field, preparing them to lead from day one."
KRNU has not undergone a complete renovation since 2001. Its outdated equipment lacks backup systems and cannot be remotely managed. A single point of failure could take the station off the air, limiting both operations and student learning opportunities.
Even so, students continue to produce award-winning work. KRNU has earned national recognition through the Hearst Journalism Awards and Edward R. Murrow Awards, among others, despite operating on an aging infrastructure.
The renovation will replace analog routing systems with professional-grade audio-over-IP networks and add a modern transmitter with a redundant system to prevent outages. Students will gain access to upgraded mixers, microphones and automation software. These tools will allow them to report from the field, host live shows and produce original podcasts.
Additional improvements include lighting that reduces glare on equipment screens, acoustic treatments to enhance audio quality and ventilation upgrades to eliminate distracting background noise. The network infrastructure will also be rebuilt to support the performance needed in a fast-paced, multiplatform newsroom.
"This gift brings our infrastructure in line with our teaching," said Rick Alloway, associate professor and general manager of 90.3 KRNU. "KRNU has always been central to our hands-on learning and now our students will have the tools they need to thrive in professional environments."
KRNU's legacy goes beyond the hardware. For decades, it has helped students build confidence, discover their purpose and launch their careers.
That impact reflects Don Meier's own belief in the value of practical experience.
"To paraphrase Don Meier, he said that if you are passionate about your goals and prepare for them, you will succeed," said Bob Bennett, a member of the Meier Foundation board.
That belief has echoed across generations of KRNU students.
In 1963, alumna Lynn Grasz Hall (’66) stood behind the KNUS mic when a wire report arrived with history-altering news.
"The wire said President Kennedy is dead," Grasz Hall said. "I took it and I went on the air and I announced that. I'm glad the university had an outlet where I felt like I was doing something important."
The Meier Foundation's support reflects Don Meier's own journey as a student in the 1930s. The Oshkosh, Nebraska, native worked his way through the University of Nebraska during the Great Depression, often pausing his studies to earn money. That experience shaped his commitment to making education accessible.
"I remember my own struggles to complete my college education," Meier said, according to the Don and Lorena Meier Foundation. "It became apparent to me as I pursued my own career that the main thing is not only the support, but it's important to get kids into college."
Don Meier graduated in 1941. After serving his country as a U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel in WWII, in 1946, he went on to pioneer early broadcast television. He created the Emmy Award-winning "Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom." The highly-rated TV program brought wildlife into the living rooms of millions of American families. Lorena Meier, known as Lorie, managed the business side of the production with precision.
"Don Meier was all about supporting students through his many gifts to the University of Nebraska,” said Keith Miles, senior vice president and general counsel at the University of Nebraska Foundation. “His foundation's commitment to renovating the KRNU studios will continue the broadcasting legacy Don began eight decades ago. This project is the perfect bookend for the Meier Foundation's earlier commitment to the Don and Lorena Meier Television Studio in Andersen Hall."
Don Meier died in 2019 at the age of 104. Lorena Meier died in 2018 at the age of 100. Their four Emmy Awards and memorabilia from "Wild Kingdom" are on display at Andersen Hall.
Veil said the investment honors the past while propelling student media into the future.
"The Meier Foundation and the Nebraska Broadcasters Association believe in the power of media to educate, inform and inspire," she said. "With their support, our students will gain the experience to tell stories that matter and the confidence to lead with integrity."
The renovation of 90.3 KRNU is more than a technological upgrade. It is a continuation of a legacy and an investment in the next generation of student voices.
The Meier Foundation and the NBA have laid the foundation. With continued support from alumni and friends, the next era of KRNU will be even stronger.
