Popcorn Pop-Up

Popcorn Pop-Up. The best hour of the week!

Popcorn Pop-Up is the best hour of the week - an afternoon social hour with 100s of Huskers. 

It’s free and every student, staff, and faculty is welcome.

Snack on fresh-popped popcorn directly from the kettle. Join in the activity while learning about campus organizations and departments. Mingle with friends and new acquaintances.

JOIN THE CROWD

Every Thursday
3 to 4 p.m.

@ Nebraska Union's The Crib

* during the academic calendar year only. Excludes holiday breaks and the summer term, unless otherwise noted.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Always FREE popcorn.
Always FREE drinks.
and a NEW activity each week.


Enjoy fellowship, laughter, friends, and smiles.

The activity will change weekly. It might be trivia, or maybe a sport, a craft, or karaoke.

There will always be fresh popcorn, including special mix-ins.

Get your free Pop-Up Cup

Each first-time attendee receives a FREE reusable yellow Popcorn Pop-Up Cup. 

Be sustainable. Hang on to your yellow cup. Bring it to subsequent Popcorn Pop-Ups to refill with popcorn treats.

Yellow cup for Popcorn Pop-Up.

Check in with Event Pass

As you enter this event, have your individualized UNL EVENT PASS ready to be scanned.  

Download your pass in less than 1 minute from your NvolveU account and save it to your Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.

VIDEO: Downloading your EVENT PASS 

Upcoming Dates + Activity Hosts

JAN 29, 2026
Photo Booth "Sparkle Against Stalking"
with Center for Advocacy, Response, & Education (CARE)
_______________

FEB 5, 2026
Black History Month: Pipe Cleaner Flowers
with Fraternity & Sorority Life's National Pan-Hellenic Council
_______________

FEB 12, 2026
with Center for Academic Success and Transition
_______________

FEB 19, 2026
with Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)
_______________

FEB 26, 2026
with Kawasaki Reading Room
_______________

MAR 5, 2026
Origami
with Husker Hub
_______________

MAR 12, 2026
Build your own "Spring Break Survival Kit"
with Nebraska Alumni Association
 _______________

No Pop-Up on March 19 during Spring Break Week.

_______________

MAR 26, 2026
with University Health Center


Earn your spot in the Golden Kernel Club

To recognize and honor frequent attendees. 

How to become a member:

  1. Go to the weekly Popcorn Pop-Up.
  2. At the check-in table, scan your individual Event Pass to officially record your attendance.
  3. Attend ten (10) Popcorn Pop-Ups to become an official member. Attendance does not have to be consecutive weeks.
  4. Once your attendance count is verified and you become a member, you will receive an exclusive stainless steel Golden Kernel Club Cup, and your name will be added to the Golden Kernel Club's roster.
sample of Golden Kernel Club's stainless steel cup.

Golden Kernel Club Members

Spring 2026

Brandon Fogel  •  Edwin Salgado-Martinez  •  Eric Einspahr  •  Grace Slater  •  Jordan Ashmore  •  Kishan Agrahari  •  Lizzie Vietz  •  Madison Schnacker  •  McKinley Morgan  •  Nazli Ramirez  •  Nhi Nguyen  •  Stuti Sitesh  •  Vanessa Vaught
 

* Bold Names are the newest members as of Jan 22, 2026.

Fall 2025

Aden Minchow  •  Alex Berry  •  Alex Lupori  •  Alex McMurchie  •  Alexis Mendez Santiago  •  Allie Whalen  •  Amorese Avila  •  Amy Stewart  •  Andie Barefield  •  Anthony Rubek  •  Ayela Ruiz  •  Bre Sabin  •  Brett Tomjack •  Brooke O'Connor  •  Carl Mangold  •  Cat Dinh  •  Charles Morgan  •  Chloe Fitzgibbon  •  Claire Schaunaman  •  Clark Schulte  •  Cooper Morgan  •  Daniel Gonzalez  •  Danielle Elsasser  •  Drishti Takoo  •  Dylanne Hatfield  

Elizabeth Buescher  •  Emily Drain  •  Emma DeShon  •  Emine Alp  •  Domonique Cudjo  •  Gabriel Spray  •  Gianna Zitella  •  Gideon Casimiro  •  Grace Clark  •  Izzy Lewis  •  Jenny Bowen  •  Jessie Matthes  •  Jesus Campos  •  Josie Golka  •  Journey McManus  •  Justin Brown  •  Kailyn Drain  •  Karen Wills  •  Kashish Nangia  •  Kathar Chuol  •  Katherine Ortiz  •  Kayla Woodruff  •  Kyla Patel  •  Laurel Hogan  •  Lauren Haring

Liberty Stuart  •  Logan Livers  •  Lulu Diaz-Aldama  •  Luzelena Moreno  •  Madaux DeLong  •  Madeline Condon  •  Madie Beasley  •  Makenna Zimmerman  •  Marcos Ortiz Ibarra  •  Marcus McCaskill  •  Mia Personelli  •  Molly Clark  •  Molly Edwards  •  Nancy Anderson  •  Natalie Hill  •  Nathan Ertzner  •  Nathan McCormick  •  Nick Stefanik  •  Nina Marie Kudlacz  •  Olivia Cupp-Whiteman  •  Oluwatobi Tevoedjre  •  Paige Knebel  •  Paula McKillip  •  Robert Coleman  •  Rosella Zaske

Sarah Frances Brown  •  Scott Nester  •  Shannon Hays  •  Steven Semadeni  •  Sydney Metzler  •  Teddi Humphrey  •  Teresa Calafiore  •  Titus Willems  •  T.J. McDowell  •  Tori Riggs  •  Travis Nguyen  •  Vivian Landis  •  Yael Nolan  •  Yannis Melessike  •  Yashvi Patel  •  Zoe McManaman  


91 members.    

13 of the 15 inaugural inductees in the Golden Kernel Club.  November 13, 2025.
 

Eleven individuals pose together as the inaugural inductees in to the Popcorn Pop-Up's Golden Kernel Club. November 13, 2025.
Two addtional individuals pose with Karen Wills as the inaugural inductees in the Popcorn Pop-Up's Golden Kernel Club. November 13, 2025.

Questions? Connect with Karen Wills  kwills2@unl.edu  |  402-472-9749

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