Rural Scholars Program partners IU students with vital projects in rural communities

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A new program at the IU Center for Rural Engagement offers students unique experiential learning opportunities that support community goals in rural Indiana.

Launched in the fall of 2024, the Rural Scholars Program identifies high-priority projects in rural communities and matches them with students driven to make a lasting impact in the Hoosier state.

"We believe that authentic learning occurs when students can learn from a real problem affecting a real community," said Colleen Rose, director of student engagement. "Our rural partners benefit from motivated, eager students with the specialized skills to support projects that improve Hoosier lives."

This fall, Rural Scholars are recording the oral histories of Black elders for Indiana Landmarks' Black Heritage Preservation Program; creating placemaking designs for the communities of Washington and Ferdinand; performing archival work for the Santa Claus Museum & Village in Santa Claus, Indiana; and advancing rural health initiatives in south central Indiana.

The inaugural group of interns includes students Brittany Eckler, Olivia Grace Williams Novak, Shreya Pandit, and Francie McCormick. They’ve each had the opportunity to engage in hands-on work related to their academic disciplines—from library science to history to comprehensive design.

“In turn, the students have been able to support projects that will ensure the preservation of the history of Indiana and amplify the unique characteristics of our state's rural communities," Rose said.

Eunice Trotter, director of Indiana Landmarks' Black Heritage Preservation Program, said initiatives like the Rural Scholars Program are crucial to the organization’s efforts to build a statewide oral archive of Black history and heritage.

We are learning so much about the beginning of these communities, the accomplishment of people within those communities, and the trials they overcame to continue in those communities today.

Eunice Trotter, Director of Indiana Landmarks' Black Heritage Preservation Program

“Student internships are a tremendous help because they become an extension of our resources that we are really needing to increase,” Trotter said. “However, as we all know, that typically requires financial investment, and we are seeking that. But in the meantime, we are able to get crucial support through volunteers, and in this case, the Rural Scholars Program. It becomes a very significant support to the work that we're doing statewide.”

Trotter noted that many of the stories being recorded have never been fully documented.

“We are learning so much about the beginning of these communities, the accomplishment of people within those communities, and the trials they overcame to continue in those communities today,” she said.

The Rural Scholars Program complements the center’s Sustaining Hoosier Communities initiative, which relies on semester-long IU courses to advance community-identified projects.

“Not all projects are well-suited to the limitations of a 16-week course,” Rose said. “This program provides a more nimble and specialized response to advancing our partners' most important projects.”

Meet the Rural Scholars

Brittany Eckler

Rural Archives Scholar for the Santa Claus Village & Museum in Santa Claus, Indiana

Major: Master of Library Science

Eckler is working with the Santa Claus Museum & Village in Santa Claus, Indiana, to preserve, digitize, and catalog exhibit items and letters to Santa dating back to the 1930s.

The museum owns an extensive collection of historical documents and artifacts reflecting the town's unique history and its role as a major destination for "Dear Santa" letters from children across the globe.

Eckler’s goals are to create an accessible digital archive of artifacts and letters and to expand the museum's online presence.

“It's been special meeting with people in Santa Claus and seeing how passionate they are about their town, this museum, and the history,” Eckler said. “I think this project is important because rural communities don't always have a lot of access to the same resources that more urban or suburban communities have. They deserve just as much attention and help as any other community.”

Olivia Grace Williams Novak

Oral History Scholar for Indiana Landmarks’ Black Heritage Preservation Program

Major: Bachelor of Arts in History and Anthropology

Novak is interviewing Black elders across south central Indiana to capture their generation's history.

She's traveling throughout the state to conduct recorded interviews with participants, encouraging them to share stories about their lives beginning with early childhood memories. Novak then converts the recorded audio to MP4 format and transcribes the interviews into text, making the stories more accessible.

The final recorded audio and transcripts will become a part of Indiana Landmarks’ Black Heritage Oral History Collection on the Indiana Memory site operated by the Indiana State Library.

"Something I've learned with oral history is that it's good to notice emotion or pauses, things like that. It can tell you a lot about that person's story,” Novak said. “I think oral history is one of the best ways to learn about something because it's first-hand. I'm really interested in museum and archival work, and this experience with oral history is helping me shape what I want to do with my career."

Francie McCormick

Comprehensive Design Scholar for the communities of Ferdinand and Washington

Major: Bachelor of Science in Comprehensive Design

Building upon her experience as an intern for the 2024 Rural Placemaking Studio, McCormick is designing wayfinding signage for the City of Washington and a mural for the Town of Ferdinand.

For both projects, she’s working with residents and local leaders to create designs that feature historic buildings that are meaningful to each community. Her creative process involves sketching, photography, and 3-D modeling.

McCormick’s final work will provide each community with actionable blueprints to bring the collaborative visions to life.

"One of my biggest goals is to make these communities feel like they were seen and heard and are getting something that they want. People care about their communities, and that's inspiring to see,” McCormick said. “The practical experience is also very important to me. After graduating, I'd like to eventually take the skills I've learned in this role and apply them in a small community that might not have access to IU's resources."

Shreya Pandit

Rural Health Scholar for Brown County

Bachelor of Science in Public Policy Analysis (Healthcare Policy concentration), Master of Public Affairs

As part of her role in supporting rural public health initiatives at the center, Pandit is collaborating with IU departments and local organizations to help develop a community health needs assessment of Brown County, Indiana.

The results will guide the creation of a community health improvement plan, a strategic tool aimed at tackling public health challenges, expanding healthcare access, and improving community health outcomes.

Pandit said she was inspired to pursue the Rural Health Scholar role after attending a recent conference focused on local health departments and community health.

“I was always focused on healthcare at a national level, and I’d never considered the influence that could happen at a local level,” Pandit said. “I was drawn to this role’s rural health focus and how the Brown County project is focused on helping one community. When I can talk directly to people in communities, I just feel such an impact. That connection is so valuable to me.”