by SUSAN HOUSTON KLAUS
As Manali Kate reflects with her twin sister, Manasi, on their time at the University of Nebraska at Omaha — and as newcomers to the United States and Nebraska — she says it “feels like it was a dream.”
The siblings came to the U.S. from India in 2019, an opportunity made possible by UNO alumni Beverly and Al Thomsen. The Thomsens provided financial support for the Kates, funding the twins’ education expenses as well as personal expenses throughout their years at the university.
Now, as December 2023 honors graduates, the sisters said they’re grateful not only for their education but also the connections they’ve gained and the lifelong friendships they’ve made.
Manali, who received a Bachelor of Studio Arts in Graphic Design, is an executive office coordinator at Refugee Women Rising, a local nonprofit. She’s considering going back to UNO to get her master’s —maybe an MBA.
She credits her UNO professors with teaching her professional skills needed in the workplace, like multitasking, attention to detail and the differences between verbal and written communication.
“These are all things that we did not think of before coming here, and these are very important things in the professional world,” said Manali. “All the projects, all the assignments prepared us to face all the challenges that we had when we started working.”
Manasi received a Bachelor of Science in Communication. While she pursues a Master of Arts in Communication and Media Studies, she’s working as a graduate teaching assistant, teaching two public speaking classes.
She marvels at what her time as an undergraduate at UNO has prepared her to do, she said.
“I would never [have believed] that I could actually go stand in front of a lot of students and teach them public speaking,” Manasi said. “So, I’m kind of proud of that, but also it gave me opportunity to actually pursue my graduate degree at UNO.”
The opportunities the women had during their time at UNO are different than what they would have back home, said Manasi. Most of their classmates, she said, are married with children and no longer work outside the home.
“But this is totally different,” Manasi said. “Since I got here, I have more experience, I have a lot of connections, I have a lot of motivation to do something new in the world and make change in the society. I think Nebraska kind of changed our life. I think my future looks great because of the education I have.”
The sisters keep in touch with the Thomsens, regularly meeting them for a meal out or just getting together for a chat. The Thomsens provided another generous gift to the sisters after they graduated, writing them recommendation letters and funding six months of living expenses while they found their footing in the work world.
As recent international graduates, the Kates’ time in the United States is never guaranteed. But as Manasi and Manali start to plan their futures, Nebraska feels less like a dream — and more like home.
Learn more about the Kate Sisters’ journey from an orphanage in India to Omaha and the support provided by Al and Beverly Thomsen in the story Al Uncle, Bev Aunty and the M&M Girls originally published on the UNO Alumni Association website in 2022.
