Working through the Rural Futures Institute, 17 Huskers are spending the summer working on projects in 10 communities across the Cornhusker State.
The summer mentorships are part of the Rural Futures Institute’s Student Serviceship program, which connects current student pairs with community mentors to complete actions of service and strategic, future-focused projects.
“We are proud to match the talents, perspectives and expertise of high-achieving students with the experience, dedication and knowledge of community leaders through this program,” said Chuck Schroeder, executive director of the Rural Futures Institute. “Bringing students together with communities, and for several projects with researchers as well, is where we believe innovation can truly happen.”
Students participating in this year’s experience come from hometowns large and small — from Crofton, a town of approximately 800, to Chennai, India, population 7 million. Students’ areas of study include agribusiness, disease and human health, exercise science, hospitality, political science and public administration. They also range from freshmen to graduate students.
Each student pair was created to intentionally connect complementary skill sets and varying backgrounds and experiences.
In terms of communities and projects, students will problem-solve and create opportunities within the areas of housing, community recruitment, community planning, welcoming and economic development. They will participate and lead projects that will include strategic planning, event planning, assessment creation and analysis, visioning and marketing.
For example, in Neligh, Michayla Goedeken, an integrated sciences major, and Rhiannon Cobb, a political science and global studies major, are creating a regional mapping report on the greater northeast Nebraska region. The report will examine demographics, economic trends, infrastructure details, geography and available technologies to shape Neligh’s strategic planning process.
During their first week in Neligh, the students worked with Gabriel Steinmeyer, director of economic development, met with community boards and business owners, and discussed the upcoming renovation of a movie theater with community foundations.
“I have interned in Washington, D.C., the past two summers, and I wanted to be in the field working with the people I am supporting in D.C.,” said Cobb, who is from Omaha. “(Rural Futures) provides such an amazing opportunity to not only work in making Nebraska a better state, but allows the development of rural Nebraska.”
This year marks an important milestone in the growth of the Rural Futures’ summer program by more than doubling the total number of student and community participants. The reach has also been expanded beyond rural localities, to communities of practice through partnership with the Omaha Land Bank Authority and Black Hills Energy, both of which aim to serve the state of Nebraska as a whole through their work this summer.
Overall, the summer 2018 program includes 24 students from the University of Nebraska system and Peru State College. Each student pair will spend 10 weeks developing the individual project.
A complete list of project descriptions and weekly updates are available online.
Arts and Sciences Huskers participating in the summer 2018 program and their majors are:
- Trenton Buhr, classical languages, classics and religious studies, political science and psychology
- Rhiannon Cobb, political science and global studies
- Emily Coffey, political science
