Twenty-four young Nebraskans from every corner of the state gathered in Norfolk to kick off a summer of uncovering the unseen assets that make their communities unique and working with local leaders to make an impact on the places they love.
As they floated down the North Fork of the Elkhorn River to end their opening retreat, Nebraska Community Foundation’s (NCF) 2025 class of Hometown Interns pondered the months of discovery that lay ahead of them.
This year’s group of interns – the seventh class since the initiative began – are working with NCF affiliated funds in Arnold, Perkins County, Hebron, Deshler, Byron, Bertrand, Callaway, Diller, Friend, Holt County, Howells, Leigh, McCook, Red Cloud, Shickley, Spencer and Verdigre. This year, six affiliated funds will be working with two or more interns.
A Hometown Intern is a current high school graduate who has spent at least six months away and lives at home for the summer. All have displayed curiosity, open-mindedness, flexibility, a desire to see their hometown through fresh eyes and a drive to contribute to the future of their community.
NCF Director of Asset-Based Community Development Becky Boesen visited with the Rural Radio Network about the program:
The 2025 NCF Hometown Interns are (asterisks indicate a student returning for another internship):
Landon Dobbins, Howells Community Fund
Avery Eitzmann, Byron Community Foundation Fund
Johanna Ford, Bertrand Area Community Fund*
Lucas Gomez-Wilson, McCook Community Foundation Fund
Amelia Hakl, Spencer Community Foundation Fund and Holt County Economic Development
Kiera Hennerberg, Diller Community Foundation Fund
Heidi Hollmann, Verdigre Community Foundation Fund
Hannah Miller, Shickley Community Foundation Fund*
Jordan Mireles, Perkins County Community Foundation Fund*
Caitlyn Mitchell, Hebron Community Foundation Fund
Gracie Neth, Arnold Community Fund
Jordan Noonan, Leigh Legacy Fund
Ava Pandorf, Callaway Community Fund
David Parde, Diller Community Foundation Fund
Avery Rasser, Red Cloud Community Fund
Delaney Rogers, Arnold Community Fund
Natalie Roberts, McCook Community Foundation Fund
Jadyn Schultis, Diller Community Foundation Fund*
Bryn Schwarz, Arnold Community Fund
Tierra Shardt, Deshler Community Fund
Ally Sedlacek, Holt County Economic Development*
Mariah Sliva, Shickley Community Foundation Fund*
Shelby Steyer, Friend Area Fund*
Natalie Tietjen, Byron Community Foundation Fund
