Page 1-Fourth Issue August 2017

TRIO Club Students2Scholars Memorial Trees

Photo courtesy of Karen Henderson

By Karen Henderson
Karen.Henderson@HelenaCollege.edu

      On June 15, 2017, TRIO Club S2S realized its goal of memorializing Helena College students who have died too soon. Valley Farms planted two memorial trees, one on the Donaldson campus and one at the Airport campus, bringing one of TRIO Club’s major goals to fruition.

      In October 2016, Joe Smietanka died in an automobile accident, and his classmates in Creative Writing did not want his passing to go unnoted. Writing teacher Karen Henderson approached TRIO Club and asked them to take on the task of memorializing the many students who have died while attending or shortly after attending Helena College, and the club raised money and worked to obtain permissions to plant trees in memory of those students.

      The littleleaf linden trees are slow-growing but long-lived and will stand for many years as a testament to the memory of students who have died too soon and to the determination of the members of TRIO Club S2S. Eventually, memorial plaques will be purchased and a dedication ceremony will complete the process of noting the losses to our Helena College community and our greater community of Helena.

Photo courtesy of Karen Henderson

   
   
     TRIO Club is still seeking funding for the memorial plaques; interested individuals may contact Karen Henderson, Club Adviser, at Karen.Henderson@HelenaCollege.edu or 406-447-6973. Students interested in joining TRIO Club S2S (all students are eligible to join) can contact Karen or Club officers at Trio_ExOfficers@mail.umhelena.edu.

Rocket Project: The Rocket's Red Glare

Photo courtesy of Karen Henderson

By Karen Henderson
Karen.Henderson@HelenaCollege,edu

     Since last August, that rocket has been in the periphery and then eventually at the forefront of my consciousness until finally culminating in the publication. Never having done an oral history project before, I began with researching what such a project entailed. Next, I tried to imagine how I could get lots of different people to “buy in” to the project, including students who would have to push out of their comfort zones (challenged already by the whole college experience) and call, setup, and interview complete strangers about a local landmark. Putting myself into their shoes, I knew they would hate it, and they did. I also banked on the hope that my cultural capital with enough of them would float the project well enough to be successful, and it was a good bet. 

     Everyone eventually carried out their responsibilities, and many of them found that they grew dramatically as students—and citizens—after meeting such fascinating and inspiring people who were also donating their time and energies to support the fairgrounds and the Rocket Project. After literally hundreds of hours of my own time planning, arranging and facilitating interviews, grading papers, listening to and editing transcripts, and then publishing the book, I came away with a new reverence for civic engagement, selfless service, and the importance of “place” in our lives. I will never forget the experience of The Rocket Project.

Photo courtesy of Karen Henderson