Anyone with more than one child knows that none of them are the same. They each have their own characteristics and their own quirks, their own way of learning and their own way of responding to a situation.
Just as every child is different, every high school class is different. Ask any teacher who has been teaching a few years about the ebb and flow of classes through a school.
But this class of 2020 will have the distinction of truly being different.
Along with everyone else, their year was upended this past spring. And while hopefully, the next class will be able to return to some sort of normalcy, the Class of 2020 will not get those opportunities back.
There was no senior celebration or senior trip. The spring sports season was lost to the history books. And there was no final chance to say goodbye to teachers and friends.
But the McCook High School Class of 2020 is fortunate to have one final hurrah with an adjusted graduation and a semblance of a prom to close out their high school career.
As the MHS Class of 2020 prepares to walk across the stage Friday evening to “officially” graduate, it will be about as normal as normal can be these days. Their name will still be read, speeches will be made and someone will sneak in an airhorn to celebrate the milestone.
But the changes to the graduation ceremony will not be missed. The stands will not be packed because of the health directives in place. There will be family members with hurt feelings because they could not be included. And there will be fewer kids in the chairs, as some have already left for the military or moved onto the next phase of their life.
If there is an upside to all this, everyone is hopefully a bit more lean and sporting a summer tan in all those graduation photos. After all, it’s the end of July. Graduation should have been two months ago when we were still trying to shed our winter fat and just unveiling our pasty white legs.
After graduation, many will take their diplomas, leave for college or a career elsewhere and never look back. Letting these kids go is a missed opportunity on our part, but one that can be easily amended.
The McCook Community Foundation Fund conducted a “youth survey” at the McCook High School this past spring, the fifth survey held over the past 20 years.
We were supposed to do follow-up conversations with the kids in April about the results, but obviously that didn’t happen. That was going to be our opportunity to have a dialogue about what they want to see in their community and how they could be involved and make that happen.
But more importantly, it was going to give us a chance to do the one thing that many adults fail to do: Ask our youth to move back to McCook.
In the survey results, nearly 65 percent of the kids said they had never been asked to stay or return to McCook.
While it may seem like a simple concept, people like to be asked. They like to feel appreciated. They like to feel valued. And that is what that question boils down to: We want our youth to move or stay in McCook because we want them to be part of our community. We want them to establish a career here. We want them to raise their families here.
As the parent of a graduating senior with a husband who has taught nearly everyone of these graduates, we have grown close to these kids and I would love to see not only my own kids but all of them stay or return to McCook.
As the McCook High School Class of 2020 prepares to graduate on Friday, we wish them nothing but the best. We want each and everyone of them to know that they are a valuable member of this community. We want them to know that they can always call McCook home. And just in case no one else told them (or they missed it during this week’s graduation practice when Tyler McCarty was supposed to be sharing that message but instead was memorably throwing shrimp at them): Class of 2020…we want you to return home to McCook and help us make this community an even better place to call home.
Jeremy Shaw named April 2025 McCook Volunteer of the Month
While the Bison Alumni Newsletter will still be available digitally, a new printed service is available.
During a recent performance at the Fox Theater by the Lied's Arts Across Nebraska, there was one group who was not thanked: those who showed up for the event, which is a big deal.
Mark Friehe named March McCook Volunteer of the Month.
Although the Bodensteiners no longer live in Southwest Nebraska, they are still connected and wanted to see if prosper and thrive.
From long-term projects to weekly events, you cannot say "there is nothing to do" or "nothing is happening."
With the goal of reaching 200 subscriptions, the Bison Alumni Newsletter is launching a subscription service.
Long-time volunteer Don Harpst was recognized as the first McCook Volunteer of the Month in March 2025.
McCook's youth survey shows that young people now value safety in their community, something McCook provides.
Building Connections in McCook Matters June in McCook will be abuzz with fun events including a Youth Summit, hosted by McCook Community Foundation Fund. Our young people in Youth Change Reaction will host the first Nebraska Community Foundation gathering for youth, which will bring youth from across Nebraska to McCook. While still in the planning stages, our students identified that McCook is great because of connections . Our young people easily recognize how critical this factor is to people attraction, to people retention, and to improve their futures. What I miss most about my high school classroom is connections with students and colleagues. In education, I taught first, second, and sometimes third generations in families. My husband, Greg, and I are not McCook natives, but I eventually knew who was related to whom and usually where the parent(s) were employed. Going to the grocery store meant greetings from students and sometimes their family members. I officially retired from my high school classroom nine years ago in May. When you retire, the most-asked question becomes “What do you do with your time?” I try to maintain those connections and make new ones by belonging. For the past seven years, Sharon Bohling and I have volunteered to help plan and organize Bison Days for our high school students, which took place February 10 and 11. It would not happen without the financial support of McCook Community Foundation Fund, plus the McCook High School, local businesses, and the talented people of Southwest Nebraska who say “yes” when one of us reaches out to ask for the donation of time and talent. I would venture that they allow us to be on the Bison Days’ committee because we both have connections within our community—it’s certainly not our computer savvy. Connections can also solve a problem. Recently, I signed up to help a local family in crisis. My morning plan revolved around delivering my donation at a designated drop-off place. That didn’t work out. Fortunately, I still work with youth in various capacities, so I know that Keri Wilkinson works for Camy Bradley. Keri was an organizer for the family fundraiser, so I walked in Camy’s office hoping to find Keri. She was not there, so Camy and I visited briefly. She knew someone (who I did not know) who could possibly give me further direction. Only in a town with connections are you able to interrupt someone’s business, have her reach out for you using her connections , and offer to keep the donations for me until Keri’s return. Another great example of connecting can be found over coffee. Dee Friehe and I are longtime teacher friends. During a chance meeting at the grocery store a few weeks ago, she shared how she was there following a funeral service and was gathering supplies to deliver supper to the grieving family that night. She also updated me on her group of adults who meet for coffee on Thursdays at Ember’s, which varies from 8-28 depending on the day. She recognized the need for adults moving to McCook or folks just wanting to get out to make connections . Dee’s husband, Mark, also hosts his own group of men who are new(er) to McCook. She regaled me with stories of their Christmas party and other special gatherings. Wanting to call McCook your home is solidified by building connections . Ronda Graff has written about McCook Connects which matches a McCook person with someone new to the community of similar interests. I earned my McCook Connects’ T-shirt welcoming a young family with children. We have since spent many hot summer days sitting on bleachers together cheering on our 4-H horse kids while they show their horses. Warning: I connected them with a “free” new-to-them horse. Be careful connecting with me or you’ll probably own a horse. You do not have to be retired to connect in this community. Volunteering is a surefire way to meet people. McCook has many civic groups looking for new faces. Attend a church here; we have many welcoming congregations. Go to ball games or school concerts, attend concerts in the park, learn a new skill through the college, show up at a Third Thursday event or invite the neighbors for a BBQ. Take your youngsters to story hour or Move and Groove at the library. Go watch an event at the Kiplinger Arena. You can even take it a step further: Make a friend or call a friend and invite him/her to go with you. It is human connection that keeps us healthy and happy. If McCook Community Foundation Fund can help you connect in some meaningful way, please reach out for advice or support. *** While Pam Wolford may be retired, she is just as busy serving on the McCook Community Foundation Fund committee and started a new Learn and Return Scholarship with MCFF, while stepping up to grandparent whenever the call comes in.
