HASTINGS, Neb. – 20 high school students from across Nebraska came together at Hastings College to use design thinking to solve real-world, community based problems ranging from economic to social to developmental issues. 

In its first year, the Walter Scott, Jr. Community Leadership Challenge drew 90 applicants, but only 20 student were selected for a weekend of workshops and conferences with local and state leaders, as well as other like-minded students.

The Hastings College Scott Scholars developed and implemented the program in partnership with the City of Hastings, the Hastings Chamber of Commerce, the Hastings Economic Development Corporation, the Hastings Community Redevelopment Authority, the Hastings Community Foundation and the Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation.

Below are the experiences of four students involved in the challenge.

Mackenzie Whitlow is a senior at Hastings College who helped develop this new program and said the aim is to engage students with high-level issues in their communities.

"We're really trying to challenge these students with real-world problems that not even people in current positions of powers can solve," said Whitlow. "These students are working on these challenges together to see if they can bring a new fresh perspective that other people who have been working on these problems for years still haven't been able to solve."

Samuel Acosta Castellanos is a senior at Grand Island Senior High who wants to be a teacher. He hopes to take this challenge's experiences home with him to make him a better leader.

"I see students throughout the school day go to school and not be recognized by their teachers, and I feel like there needs to be better teachers across Nebraska to be there for them," said Acosta. "I feel like this challenge is really good for me to a better leader."

Brooke Johnsen is from Fort Calhoun, and said the city has a strong connection with Hastings College. Her group's project is to make Hastings a safer place by adding more inclusive opportunities for everyone.

"We are finding a lack of strength in the physical safe spaces for everyone in Hastings," said Johnsen. "We are trying to find ways to incorporate where people can stay, hang out, and have fun with other people, and still feel that strong emotional connection that Hastings has in its roots." 

Delaney Rogers is from Dunning, NE. She is excited for this program to branch out of her small town.

"I'm from a town of 600 people, so I go to school with the same 12 kids for eight hours a day, my days look a lot alike for the last four years," said Rogers. "To be able to come to this, and to be able to meet like-minded people, and to be able to share my ideas and have them accepted, and receive ideas from others has been truly amazing."