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Welcome Nicole Lauck
June 9th, 2009 by Mike Knutson
The Rural Learning Center has the good fortune of having two interns who will write for the ReImainge Rural blog this summer. To help readers get to know them better, I’ve conducted a short interview with each. What follows is an interview with Nicole Lauck of Corsica, SD.
Where did you grow up, where are you going to school now, and what are you studying?
I grew up in Corsica, South Dakota and now attend Augustana College in Sioux Falls studying English and Secondary Education.
What do you hope to write about this summer?
I will be writing about rural education, rural youth, and ways of connecting in rural settings, whether it is social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), websites, or other forms of interaction.
What’s one of your most favorite memories about growing up in a rural community?
If only my bicycle had an odometer. I don’t know how many miles I put on it riding back and forth to the swimming pool, friends’ houses, the drive-in, and anywhere else we could think of going. Summer time at the swimming pool is definitely a favorite memory of mine.
What’s one of your least favorite memories about growing up in a rural community?
I never felt that community members expected me to return after college (granted, I don’t know if I will return to my hometown). Not that I was rejected, but the community needs a self-esteem booster to realize that high-achieving young people with degrees can and will find homes in small towns.
What’s the “coolest” small town or place in a small town that you have been to?
I love small town main streets, street dances, and festivals. I love potluck dinners and just visiting with people over great food and celebration. Fourth of July celebrations are one of the coolest times of the year to be in a small town - greased pig rodeos, barbeques, bed races, etc. are great!
I’m excited about Nicole being onboard for several reasons: First, she will help deliver a younger voice of experience. For instance, I found it interesting that she suggested many community members in her hometown don’t expect talented, young people like her to want to live in a rural community. Her experience seems to correspond with the focus of soon to be released Hollowing out the Middle.
Second, Nicole wants to teach in a rural community and understands the value of place-based education – a subject dear to our hearts in Miner County. I’ll let her elaborate on more of that in later posts; but it’s very refreshing to hear that a future educator understands the value of connecting students to their community.
Welcome aboard Nicole!
Tags: Corsica SD, Gen Y, place based education, teaching
Posted in Community Development, Gen Y, Rural, Youth | Comments (
4 )
June 9th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Nicole
I remember my first bike in the big community of Woonsocket, SD (950 folks). I got it thru my Dad’s John Deere store and it came in a big truck with all kinds of tractor parts, etc. BTW, if you like 4th of July celebrations and greased pigs, you out to hit Deuel County over July 3-4. http://deuelco.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/whos-headed-to-gary-on-july-3rd/
June 9th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Place-based education! I can’t wait!
June 9th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
caheidelberger,
Nicole tells me that her Education profs at Augie are big on place-based education. Changed my opinion about Augie :-). Would I be equally impressed with the DSU professors?
June 10th, 2009 at 5:08 am
That would be a good question to pose to our education professors! I haven’t had much interaction with DSU’s ed faculty (my pedagogical training was at SDSU 15+ years ago… and the talk then was all about multiculturalism, but not so much place). As for our business and info. sys. faculty, there’s certainly some good South-Dakota-centered work going on (research related to DUSEL, electronic medical records, etc.). Then again, I’ve also had professors frown at the idea of writing a dissertation focusing on South Dakota, saying a general theoretical paper would be a greater contribution to science. Hmm…