CURTIS, Neb. — Around 20 students from the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture spent part of their fall break back in familiar classrooms, sharing their college experiences with students at their former high schools.
The visits stemmed from a civic engagement assignment in their Foundations classes, giving students an opportunity to serve their home communities while helping prospective students learn about NCTA.
By returning to their former agriculture classes, students offered a firsthand perspective on the transition from high school to college. They shared what they liked about attending NCTA, offered advice about going to college, and encouraged high school students to explore the college’s program options in Agriculture and Veterinary Technology through campus tours and Discovery Days.
For Marcy Smith of Flagler, Colorado, the visit included information about NCTA’s dual enrollment opportunities, along with her own experiences adjusting to college. “I also talked to them about my own experience from high school to college and what I recommend they do,” Smith said. She also told the class how NCTA’s Discovery Days and campus tours are great opportunities for students to learn more about NCTA and picture themselves on campus.
In Lewiston, Nebraska, Annika Glenn shared the same message. She joined NCTA alumni recruiters Tera Horky and Madalynne Kashner, both of whom graduated from NCTA in 2025. Together, they brought current student and recent graduate perspectives to conversations about the college. The Lewiston classroom connection also included NCTA alumna Carri Howell Burris, a 2020 NCTA graduate. (Her husband, Troyal Burris, is also an NCTA alumnus, graduating in 2019.) These connections show how NCTA’s alumni network continues to link the college with communities and future students.
For high school students, hearing from someone who once sat in the same classroom can make the college conversation more personal. Questions about college life, hands-on learning, and leaving home become opportunities for honest conversations with a familiar face. For NCTA students, this offered them a chance to return home with a new perspective and give back by sharing what they have learned.
The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) in Curtis is a two-year institution within the University of Nebraska system, dedicated to developing the next generation of agricultural professionals and veterinary technicians. NCTA offers specialized programs in Animal Science, Agronomy, Ag Equipment, Agribusiness Management, Agricultural Education, Equine Industry Management, and Veterinary Technology, all grounded in a practical, career-focused approach to learning by doing.
