Aksarben Ball

Name: Aksarben Ball
Address: 2120 S 72nd Street Ste 800, Omaha, NE, 68124, US
Telephone: (402) 554-9600

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For over 130 years, the Aksarben Ball has united Nebraska families to honor service, celebrate generosity, and strengthen our state.

10/12/2026

✨Last night at the 131st Aksarben Ball, we celebrated one of Nebraska’s true difference-makers.✨

The Aksarben Foundation is proud to name legendary former University of Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook as our 2026 Most Honored Citizen — the Foundation’s highest honor.

Revealed during the final moments of the Ball at CHI Health Center Omaha, this recognition honors a lifetime of leadership, mentorship, and deep commitment to Nebraska and Nebraskans.

In 25 seasons leading Nebraska Volleyball, Coach Cook built far more than a championship program. He developed student-athletes, elevated women’s athletics, and created a culture of excellence, connection, and Nebraska pride that reached well beyond the court. He guided the Huskers to 4 NCAA national championships, 14 conference titles, and a 722-103 record. Under his leadership, the program set the world attendance record for a women’s sporting event when 92,003 fans filled Memorial Stadium for Volleyball Day in Nebraska in 2023.

His “Dream Big” mindset has inspired generations. As he has said: “I’ve always said to ‘Dream Big,’ and we’ve dreamed bigger than any volleyball program in the history of the world.”

That commitment continues. In retirement, Coach Cook has advocated for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Rodeo Team and a new facility on East Campus. He also serves as Co-Owner and General Manager of the Omaha Supernovas, helping grow professional volleyball right here in Nebraska. His legacy is further recognized with the naming of John Cook Arena in 2025 and his selection to the 2026 University of Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame class.

Aksarben celebrates not only what he achieved, but how he led — with mentorship, excellence, and a belief that strong leaders create lasting impact for the next generation. As Ball Committee Chair Alicia Edsen noted, Aksarben wanted to recognize his pursuit of excellence in women’s sports and the development of women leaders well past their collegiate careers.

Congratulations, Coach Cook. Thank you for showing Nebraska — and the world — what’s possible when we dream big together.

📷: Hooton Images

10/09/2026

✨ The Women’s Ball Committee ✨

Behind every Aksarben Ball is a year of work behind the scenes — and a circle of women who make it possible.

The Women’s Ball Committee was established in 1930. Today it is 19 members, each serving a three-year term, chosen for community leadership and the skill to turn tradition into a night that still feels new.

They plan the Ball and everything that leads up to it: Court nominations and family communications, Royal Court weekend, décor, programming, and the thousand details guests never see. They honor what the Ball has always been — a celebration of service across Nebraska — while adapting the evening for the families and leaders of today.

The year is full of meetings and checklists, but it is also full of laughter and fun. These women spend months planning side by side, and many leave with friendships that last a lifetime. That joy is part of the tradition, too. ❤️

From the first committee nearly a century ago to this year’s team, the work has stayed the same at heart: gather the Court, welcome the families, and present an evening worthy of the people it honors.

Nebraska Ever After is not only a theme. It is the story they keep writing, one carefully planned — and joyful — night at a time.

📷: Hooton Images

10/05/2026

✨ Princesses & Es**rts | Nebraska Ever After ✨

They are the heart of the Court — college seniors invited in honor of their families’ volunteerism and leadership.

Princesses and Es**rts have a large role in the Aksarben Ball. They are presented as the next generation of Nebraska leaders: young people who spend the year in peer socials, networking, and conversations with Governors and Councillors — not only for one glittering night, but as a way to keep talent and purpose here in the Heartland.

Their place in the story is old and new at once. For more than a century the Ball honored families through a royal court. Queens once represented the future of the state. That coronation tradition changed in 2018, but the honor of Princesses and Es**rts remained — still celebrating service, still introducing tomorrow’s leaders to the room.

This year’s theme, Nebraska Ever After, is a fitting frame. Ever after is not a fairy-tale ending. It is the work families keep doing — scholarships, communities, and young people who choose to stay and lead.

Congratulations to this year’s Princess and Es**rt families. Your sons and daughters carry that legacy into the ballroom. We are proud to celebrate them with you.

Here’s to the Court — and to a Nebraska that keeps writing its next chapter.

📷: Hooton Images

10/01/2026

✨ The 2026 Aksarben Ball is officially SOLD OUT! See you October 10th! ✨

09/29/2026

✨ The Standard Bearers of Aksarben ✨

They are the smallest group in the Court — and one of the most distinctive.

Around 13 years old, Standard Bearers’ names are announced with their parents and hometowns, an honor that ties family service to the pageantry of the night.

The role has a long history. In earlier decades, Standard Bearers were often young men related to members of the Women’s Ball Committee. In the 1970s and early 1980s the tradition opened so more families across Nebraska could be recognized for their volunteerism — the same spirit that still guides the Court today.

Congratulations to this year’s Standard Bearer families. Your children’s place in the procession honors the work you give to our communities. What a proud moment they will share on Ball night!

The Aksarben Ball has always been about more than one evening. It is families passing down service, and young people carrying the colors forward.

Here’s to the Standard Bearers who lead the way — and to the families standing behind them.

📷: Hooton Images

09/25/2026

✨ The Pages of Aksarben ✨

They are the youngest members of the Court — second- and third-graders invited because of the volunteerism and generosity of their parents and grandparents.

Dressed in silk, gold, and silver, they race down the runway, bringing delight and energy to a tradition that began in 1895.

For more than a century the Pages have been part of the pageantry of the Aksarben Ball. In earlier decades they even carried the king’s train. Today they still represent the next generation of Nebraska leadership — and many former Pages have gone on to lead companies and civic organizations across the state.

Congratulations to this year’s Page families. Your children’s place in the Court honors the service you give to Nebraska, and we are so proud to celebrate them. Swipe to see this year’s group photos of the Girl and Boy Pages — what a beautiful start to the evening they will bring!

The Ball has always honored families who give their time and talent to the Heartland. The Pages remind us that this spirit of service is passed from one generation to the next.

Here’s to the little ones who open the night — and to the families whose generous spirit makes the evening possible.

📷: Hooton Images

09/18/2026

Seats are filling fast! Make your reservations before we officially sell out! Reserve online using your invitation QR code or mail in your invitation today! Hope to see you at the 2026 Aksarben Ball! ✨👑

09/16/2026

Last year, Aksarben named Joan Squires its 2025 Most Honored Citizen — one of the Foundation’s highest tributes for a lifetime of service to Nebraska.

As the first and only president of Omaha Performing Arts, Joan has helped shape the state’s cultural landscape. Under her leadership, O-PA grew into a nationally recognized organization operating the Holland Performing Arts Center, the Orpheum Theater, Steelhouse Omaha, and the forthcoming Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement. The organization reaches more than 600,000 people each year and generates an estimated $61 million in annual economic impact, with arts education programs that touch all 93 Nebraska counties.

Inspired by Van Gogh’s words — “I am seeking, I am striving, I am in it with all my heart” — Joan brought that same determination from a music-education start in Pennsylvania to dual master’s degrees at Michigan and leadership roles with major orchestras before making Omaha her home. Her honors include the Omaha Business Hall of Fame, an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from UNO, the Governor’s Arts Award, and Midlander of the Year from the Omaha World-Herald.

We remain grateful for her example of leadership, access, and heart.

The story continues being written as the identity of the 2026 Most Honored Citizens will be revealed at the 131st Aksarben Ball on Saturday, October 10th, at CHI Health Center Omaha — one of Aksarben’s most cherished traditions.

Join us in celebrating those who embody the Spirit of Aksarben!

📷: Hooton Images

09/10/2026

✨ Once upon a time in Nebraska…✨
The newest chapter is almost here.

We are officially ONE MONTH away from the 2026 Aksarben Ball and the excitement is building!

On Saturday, October 10th at CHI Health Center Omaha, we gather for Nebraska Ever After—a night of honor, tradition, and the next pages of our state’s story. The unveiling of the 2026 Most Honored Citizens, as well
as the Princesses, Es**rts, Pages, and the Court of Honor will step into a celebration that has lifted Nebraska since 1895: scholarships, service, and the families who keep writing the future.

The gowns are coming together. The court is set. The countdown is real.

This is more than a ball. It’s Nebraska’s story—told in candlelight, community, and the promise of what comes next. See you there! 👑

📷: Hooton Images

06/24/2026

🌟 Investing in Nebraska’s Brightest Futures 🌟
At Aksarben, we’re proud to support the next generation of leaders through our scholarship program. These talented scholars aren’t just receiving financial support — they’re building skills, chasing dreams, and strengthening our communities right here in Nebraska.
From STEM fields that power our innovation economy to hands-on learning that turns ambition into action, our scholars represent perseverance, leadership, and the true spirit of the Good Life. Many are first-generation college students, Pell-eligible, or from across every corner of our state — proving that opportunity knows no zip code.
Swipe through (or watch the reels!) to meet some of our incredible winners and hear their stories. Their success is Nebraska’s success — keeping talent home and building a stronger future for all of us.

💙 Proud to be part of this impact. Tag a scholar or future scholar who inspires you!
GoodLifeNebraska

Address

2120 S 72nd Street Ste 800
Omaha, NE
68124

Telephone

(402) 554-9600

Website

http://www.aksarben.org/

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