Student Activities - Campus and Community

November 7, 2022

Student Activities – Campus and Community

By NCTA Associate Dean Jennifer McConville

We are well into the fall semester and have been enjoying the fall days the past two weeks.  I took a break one day last week to watch a group of visiting high school students from Perkins County interact with our recruiter on the football field. 

Rulon Taylor had the students participate in a roping event, introducing our guests to a favorite pastime of NCTA students.  The sun was shining, the breeze was light, and the dean’s office loved hearing the breakouts of laughter coming from the front lawn!

NCTA’s Student Services team works to engage students in many types of campus activities.  We bring in speakers, events, and fun activities that not only enrich the college experience but give the students time to relax and have fun. 

Intramurals are one example of these types of activities.  Students love to get active by participating in intramural sports. Students form teams and play each other in various sports, like flag football, volleyball, and basketball as well as many others. It’s a great way for them to stay active and have fun.

As a student worker on campus, Allison Wilkens helps organize and host intramural sports.  “I love being able to help scheduling the events and working with students but also being able to participate with a team. This experience has opened my eyes with working with others to make these fun events happen!”

District 11 FFA Career Development Events

This week, NCTA will be hosting FFA District 11 Livestock Judging, Natural Resources and Agriscience competitions.  I have been working primarily with Dr. Doug Smith and Vicky Armstrong (Maywood Public Schools) to coordinate these events on campus.

Armstrong commented, “These career development events (CDE) help prepare students for potential career opportunities after high school.  Skills gained from these CDE’s help students not only in agriculturally based careers after high school but can assist with any career students may wish to pursue.” 

NCTA believes in the importance of these CDE’s because Nebraska’s number one industry, comprising one in four jobs in the state is agriculturally related.  “We are planning to host over 425 students from the 17 schools in District 11 on campus” Doug Smith shared.

Discovery Day on Monday

NCTA invites prospective students and guests to explore the NCTA campus at the next Discovery Day on November 14^th.  This is a great opportunity to learn about the hands-on opportunities at NCTA by touring each academic department in the morning and hearing more about what you would learn as a student in that program. 

Visitors will also tour the campus, and meet Dr. Gossen or myself, visit the residence halls, and learn about the teams and clubs we have on our campus.

After lunch (provided by NCTA) participants will have the opportunity to participate in an interactive classroom with the program of their choice and see first-hand what it feels like to be a student at NCTA! 

Community Impact

NCTA appreciates the ever-present hospitality of our local community when we have our potential students coming to town for events such as FFA and Discovery Days.  I love pulling into town in the morning and seeing the welcome flags line the downtown area.  I know these types of events take time out of someone’s daily activities, and I want everyone to know they do not go unnoticed.  Thank you for all YOU do to support NCTA!

NCTA Events:

Nov. 8-9:  ESU Connect-the-Dots recruiting, Sidney, Lexington

Nov. 9:  District 11 FFA Career Development Events, NCTA Campus

Nov. 11-12: Ag Ed Symposium, Kearney

Nov. 14:  NCTA Discovery Day, Education Center

Nov. 19:  Aggie Alumni Association East Campus Tailgate, UNL Animal Science Complex, Lincoln

Nov. 21-25: Happy Thanksgiving (student holiday break)