CHADRON – A program started at Chadron State College in 2017 to help address the shortage of trained legal professionals in rural Nebraska was a primary factor in helping Alliance native Samantha (Carillo) Stephenson fulfill her goal of becoming a county attorney.

Stephenson is a 2021 CSC graduate who completed a Juris Doctor at the University of Nebraska Lincoln and passed the Nebraska Bar Exam in 2024. She is one of seven CSC students accepted to the Rural Law Opportunities Program (RLOP) who have successfully completed law school and one of three CSC RLOP students practicing law in rural Nebraska.

Stephenson credits the program and her Justice Studies professors for providing the tools she needed to earn a law degree and begin her career as a Deputy County Attorney in North Platte.

“My experience at CSC benefited me in many ways while at law school,” Stephenson said. “Without the benefit of professors who gave me confidence to question the unknown, to search for answers and to enjoy the learning process, I would not have succeeded in law school.”

Now in her second year as a Deputy County Attorney in North Platte, where she has handled cases from traffic citations to felony offenses, Stephenson said RLOP was key in allowing her to achieve her post-graduation goals of passing the bar exam and becoming an attorney in rural Nebraska.

“Those future plans are now my present,” she said.

RLOP was created with impetus from the Nebraska State Bar Association to address the needs of residents of rural Nebraska, where as many as 30 of the state’s 93 counties have few or no practicing attorneys.

Legal services are vital for rural Nebraskans, Chadron attorney Matt Watson said in a 2024 roundtable discussion with CSC RLOP students and business leaders.

“Rural community members need legal services to have opportunities to open a new business, sell or purchase an existing business, and successfully start or transition agricultural operations,” Watson said. “Without access to legal services, these opportunities will vanish, and rural communities will struggle.”

Students who are accepted to the RLOP are provided with tuition waivers and provisional acceptance to the University of Nebraska Lincoln College of Law, according to Project Coordinator Kate Pope. During their undergraduate years, RLOP students sit in on classes during visits to the UNL law school, attend continuing legal education seminars with practicing attorneys, observe actual court cases, and meet informally with Panhandle area attorneys and judges.

Stephenson first became aware of RLOP while working as a student intern in CSC’s Justice Studies department. Acceptance into the program provided benefits she would not have otherwise enjoyed, including preparation for the grueling Law School Admissions Test.

“[RLOP] allowed me to have one foot in the door, so when I started law school, I did not feel unprepared or surprised with what was ahead,” she said.

That is the sentiment of many RLOP graduates, Pope echoed.

“The most common feedback I get is how well prepared they are for law school with the background they gain at Chadron State,” she said.

CSC continues to promote RLOP to current and prospective students through the college website, social media, and targeted recruitment of high school students who participate in activities like speech and mock trial, said Pope. Students are selected for the program based on academic potential, recommendation letters and personal interviews. Initially limited to accepting five RLOP students per year, the number has since been increased to 10, Pope said.

Rangeland program welcomes students from near and far

CHADRON – The Rangeland Management program at Chadron State College has a wide variety of students with diverse backgrounds, gathering from around the world to learn about the environment. Kai Isa, Gavin Molinar, and Patty Timmons all come from various places, yet they have united as classmates proving that CSC is a place of collaboration and community.

Rangeland Management’s program is designed for a wide assortment of interests, offering emphasis options in ecology, livestock management, wildlife management, fire management, equine management, agriculture science and agribusiness.

Isa, an international student from Nagaoka, Japan, came to CSC after attending community college in Kansas. Now a junior, her passion for nature and dream of working on a grassland farm with animals attracted her to the program.

Isa said she chose to attend CSC because of the access to nature and affordable tuition.

“I’ve been loving this college a lot, because of the beautiful hills and warm community. For me, having a lot of nature close to me has helped me mentally, giving me a peaceful vibe,” she said.

For Isa, the Rangeland Management professors have been the key to making professional connections.

“They are always providing information for internships related to rangeland and opportunities to get practical experience on actual fields,” she said.

Molinar of Johnstown, Colorado, graduated from high school in 2021 and went directly into the workforce as a construction worker and farmhand. Working 60 to 70 physically demanding hours a week became tiring for him, so he decided to follow his dream of becoming a firefighter.

Once joining the program, Molinar said that Chadron quickly became his home.

“Chadron being such a tight knit community is something that is very important to me,” he said. “I have developed a family of sorts, I have great connections with all my professors, as well as my peers. The town of Chadron has opened its arms to me and welcomed me in from day one.”

According to Molinar, the array of classes offered in the program helped him narrow his academic focus. While he originally joined with an interest in firefighting, the program allowed him to explore more specific topics, such as grassland wildfires.

Timmons, unlike the other two students, grew up immersed in the Midwestern ranching industry. From an early age, Timmons worked on her family’s ranch in White Owl, South Dakota, and secured her fascination in sustainable agriculture during her high school Future Farmers of America program.

“I immediately became interested in the topic and felt it was something I wanted to pursue as a career,” said Timmons, a freshman. “I hope to work for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) as a Rangeland Management Specialist in the future.”

Timmons felt an attraction to CSC because of the proximity to the Black Hills and unique opportunities such as the Rangeland Club. With the club, she travels to local and international Society for Range Management conferences, broadening her expertise.

“I am grateful to have found CSC and the many opportunities it provides,” she said.

The Rangeland Management program at CSC has become a learning sanctuary and place of connection for Isa, Molinar, and Timmons. Whether they come from across the world, from demanding jobs, or from local family ranches, each has found a place to prepare for a meaningful career.

CSC plans to acknowledge MLK Jr. Day

CHADRON- The Chadron State Connections and Community Committee is sponsoring activities in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, Jan. 19, a day when classes do not convene across the Nebraska State College System.

CSC will host its annual MLK Jr Day march at 10:30 a.m. starting at the intersection of Third and Main Streets and proceeding south to the CSC Student Center. Immediately following the march, warm beverages will be available in the Student Center Ballroom. History faculty members Dr. Kurt Kinbacher and Dr. Sam Herley will make presentations about Martin Luther King Jr. in the Ballroom at 11 a.m.

Ellis to become next Publications Specialist

CHADRON – Riley Ellis has been hired as a Publications Specialist at Chadron State College, where he will manage the Print Shop and provide graphic design for the college’s marketing and communications efforts. Ellis’ first day is Jan. 5, filling a position vacated by Dewayne Gimeson, who retired in early January.

Ellis earned a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from CSC in 2019. He said returning to campus in a professional role has been especially meaningful.

“Having the opportunity to return to my alma mater in a professional setting is exciting,” he said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a place that played such a big part in my education.”

Ellis has been a Marketing Specialist II and Graphic Artist at Western Nebraska Community College since Oct. 2021. In that role, he designed and produced a wide range of print and digital materials for college departments, recruitment efforts and community outreach. His work emphasizes brand consistency and storytelling, from brochures and viewbooks to posters and event materials, while overseeing projects from concept through final production.

“Graphic design has so many avenues, and I have found that design in higher ed is what speaks to me, because it’s designing with a purpose,” Ellis said. “The work I get to do has purpose in a way that it can help potential students, current students, and communities understand the mission of the school.”

A key part of Ellis’ role at CSC will include managing print production. He said the balance between design and print is essential to strong visual communication.

“The design and print sides of the job naturally complement each other because they are both hands-on, craft-driven processes,” Ellis said. “Understanding how something is printed, finished, and handled informs better design decisions and results in stronger, more cohesive pieces.”

Before joining WNCC, Ellis worked as a graphic artist at Outlaw Printers, where he designed custom graphics for print materials, apparel and signage, and worked directly with clients. Earlier in his career, he gained experience as a student worker in CSC Athletics, designing game programs, posters, social media graphics, and supporting game-day operations.

“Being a student in Chadron was awesome because I was part of a big school in a small town,” Ellis said. “My work study job in Athletics let me combine my love of sports with design, and gave me my first taste of having deadlines, handling multiple projects at one time, and collaboration.”

Ellis said he is excited about collaborating with colleagues.

“I am looking forward to working with the people at the college and in the community to help bring ideas to life,” he said. “I’m excited to use my skillset in a purposeful way to help others and create some memorable things.”