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Graduating seniors: We want you back in McCook
McCOOK, Neb. -- The HomeTown Competitiveness (HTC) Youth Task Force offered a strong message to graduating seniors: "We want you back in McCook."
The HomeTown Competitiveness (HTC) Youth Task Force offered a strong message to graduating seniors: "We want you back in McCook."
April 6, McCook High School seniors gathered for one last lunch sponsored by the Optimists. At the lunch, each senior received a mailbox with his or her name on it and the message, "This is My Hometown." Inside the mailbox was a letter to the seniors from the Youth Task Force and the McCook Community Foundation congratulating the seniors and encouraging them to eventually make McCook their home. This is the second year the task force has given the seniors mailboxes.
After the lunch, seniors went to the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center for commencement practice. Before practice began, HomeTown Competitiveness Youth Task Force committee member Mark Graff gave a short message encouraging the students to go out and explore the world and then come back to McCook to establish a home and family.
"For many years, the message we sent to our youth was 'you need to leave to be successful,'" said Youth Task Force committee member Andy Long. "When young adults returned, sometimes the first question they heard was, 'What happened?' as if something went wrong and they had to return home. We want to send the message that the quality of life in the McCook area can't be beat, there are opportunities for young people here, and we want you to make this place your home again some day."
Giving the seniors an invite to return home was the first event April 6; the following day, the HTC Youth Task Force sponsored the seventh grade McCook Appreciation Day. McCook seventh grade students spent the day looking at some of the historical parts of McCook that make the town unique.
The first stop was the Fox Theater where they heard from Bill Longnecker and Nate Schneider. Both had the message that they had opportunities in a variety of places and could do what they do almost anywhere, but they choose to live in McCook. The quality of life, the support of the community, and the importance of family were some of the key qualities that make McCook the best place for them.
After leaving the Fox, the seventh graders were split into six groups and each group visited the Fox Theatre, High Plains Museum, Keystone Business Center, McCook National Bank, Norris Home and Sehnert's Bakery. Highlights of the tour included seeing the entire town from the top of the Keystone to hearing from George and Ellie Norris (Clark and Donna Bates) at their home.
Throughout the day, the students were able to see some of the people, places, and things that make McCook a great place. High school students involved in the organization Youth Change Reaction (YCR) served as the tour guides to take the seventh graders around town.
Long said the tour was an idea this past year to try to reach students earlier.
"We enjoyed giving the seniors mailboxes this past year, but many on the committee thought we had to show students at an earlier age how great of a hometown they have," he said. "This brought about the seventh grade McCook Appreciation Day. Our schools do a great job of promoting McCook and we wanted to be able to help. The day wouldn't have ran nearly as well as it did if it wasn't for the work of Chad Lyons and the teachers who accompanied the students during the day."
The HomeTown Competitiveness Youth Task Force's goal is to help young people pursue their future in the McCook area by being actively involved with their community and gaining the skills necessary to be successful as entrepreneurs and civic leaders. It is an all-volunteer group that always is looking for volunteers to help in these activities. If you are interested, please contact Andy Long at longa@mpcc.edu or 308-345-8119.