By Alex Benzegala
Panhandle Post
The Nebraska Community Foundation revealed on Monday findings from a survey from Nebraskan High School Students in rural communities about what they think about their rural communities and what it would take for to keep Nebraska youth in those communities as adults.
Dr. Josie Schafer Director Center of Public Affairs Research at the University of Nebraska Omaha. "The main point, year after year is that students still prefer their small town," Schafer said. In the survey, 64 % of youth prefer living in a small town, and only 4% reported wanting to live in a major market like Chicago.
While the survey found that the majority of students want to stay in Nebraska and that students desire safety, good schools and proximity to family are also fact0rs when choosing where to live post-graduation.
Jeff Yost, President and CEO of the Nebraska Community Foundation says his thoughts on the youth of Nebraska surveyed in the study.
"Every generation has extraordinary potential, this one, more than many we've run into over time, especially as it relates to the renaissance to rural places," Yost said. "How do we take advantage of that? We take advantage of that by being open, by being super collaborative, and welcoming people in lots of different ways."
Over 3,700 students were surveyed over the last four years, This year, NCF and the Center for Public Affairs Research (CPAR) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha surveyed 980 middle and high school students in 11 communities: Arcadia, Crofton, David City, Diller-Odell, Imperial, Ogallala, Ord, Paxton, Pender, Shickley and Stuart.