During the evacuation of the Japanese from the West Coast, many Nisei students had their collegiate studies interrupted. Once in the camps, the only way for the students to resume their studies was through schools East of the exclusion area. Many of the students applied to schools all over the country and were turned away for various reasons. One of the most common excuses used against Nisei students was that the schools had already met their quota for Japanese students.

The University of Nebraska stood out because of the willingness to accept Nisei students from the camps. With the help of Chancellor Chauncey S. Boucher, over 100 Nisei students enrolled at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln between 1942 and 1945.

The students were hesitant to go to Nebraska at first because the state seemed so foreign to them. They also feared the racism against Japanese-Americans that was so prominent during World War II. Upon arriving in Lincoln, the Nisei students quickly grew comfortable with the city after many of the community members welcomed them with open arms. Reverend Robert Drew and his family were particularly helpful and understanding of the plight of the Nisei students. Rev. Drew and his family helped out immensely when it came time to acclimate the Nisei students to their new homes in Lincoln, Nebraska. His family helped the students find places to live, jobs, and other community groups to help them adjust to their new life in Nebraska. Along with Rev. Drew, many UNL faculty members provided help and support for the newly arrived Nisei students.

The acceptance of so many Nisei students to the University of Nebraska represented a place of hope for the students. It was a place that tore down the racist boundaries and accepted the Nisei as American students, not foreign enemies.

Of the 104 students that enrolled at UNL between 1942 and 1945, 55 finished undergraduate school, 23 obtained a masters degree, and 11 earned a doctorate. Many of the students moved back to the West coast to find work and their families. Some of the students, however, stayed in Nebraska. Below, is a list of all 104 Nisei students that enrolled between 1942 and 1945.

• • Yuriko Maruyama Adachi.
  • Ed Akamine
  • Gladys C. Aoki
  • Ruby Hayashi Arai
  • Setsuo Dairiki
  • Toshiko Dairiki
  • Roy Deguchi
  • Joe Fujimoto
  • Thomas H. Fujimura
  • Yoshiyuki J. Fujimura
  • Kiyo Fukasawa
  • Harry Fukuhara
  • George John Furutani
  • Arthur S. Gorani
  • Ann Miyamoto Gorani
  • Phoebe (Ichinaga) Grange
  • K. George Hachiya
  • Keay Hachiya
  • Esther Hashiba
  • William F. Hashimoto
  • Utah Ibata
  • Peter Ida
  • Carol K Ikeda
  • Frederick Kazuo Ishii
  • Joseph Ishikawa
  • Samuel S. Kamino
  • Roy Kamo
  • Henry Kanazawa
  • Adeline K. Kano
  • Eugene (Tatsuru) Kimura
  • Kazuo Kimura
  • Robert Kimura
  • Dolas Okawaki Kogan
  • Mary Kamino Kogiku
  • Joe Kubota
  • William Kuratani
  • Kenzo Kuroda
  • Ben Kuroki
  • Fred S. Kuroki
  • William Kuroki
  • Harry T. Matsuyama
  • Patsy (Takemoto) Mink
  • Nora Maehara Mitsumori
  • John Mitsumori
  • Tom S. Miya
  • Midori Sakamoto Miya
  • Arthur Miyahara
  • Ed Miyahara
  • James K. Miyamoto
  • Manson M. Momoda
  • Martha Okuda Moore
  • Margaret (Iwata) Morimitsu
  • Richard Y. Morita
  • Tetsu Morita
  • William H. Morita
  • Cromwell D. Mukai
  • Kotaro Murai
  • Shizue Murashige
  • Frank Nagaki
  • Fusaye Inouye Nagasaki
  • Pershing Nakada
  • Takuro Stephen Nakae
  • Shigeo Nakanishi
  • Martha (Masako) Nakashima
  • Yukio Nakashima
  • Colbert K. Nakata
  • Joe Nishimura
  • Maudie Nakada Noma
  • Sukeo Oji
  • Mary Kumagai Okamoto
  • George Okano
  • Frank Sakai
  • Yozo Sakai
  • Masao Sakamoto
  • William K. Sakayama
  • Patrick Sano
  • Yoshimaro Shibuya
  • William Shimasaki
  • Rodney S. Shindo
  • John Shiokari
  • Tom Shiokari
  • Marie Yamashita Snell
  • Jeanne Namba Stanwood
  • Tony Takashima
  • Teruaki Jack Tamai
  • Kei Tanahashi
  • Harry Teshima
  • Henry Teshima
  • Dorothy Ichinaga Thomas
  • Tom Tokumsa
  • Edward M. Tokunaga
  • Noboru Tosaya
  • Lillian Hashiba Trimble
  • Meyer M. Ueoka
  • Alice Nakada Ugai
  • Beatrice (Nakada) Ugai
  • Francis G. Uyematsu
  • Frank Watanabe
  • Anna (Okawaki) Wysong
  • Edward Ko Yada
  • Stanley Yamamoto
  • Thomas I. Yamashita
  • Vic Yoden
  • Victor Yoden
  • Howard F. Yoshina