Last summer, my video production teacher informed us that we had won a grant to create a video and podcast studio for Bulldog Productions, our student-run media team. He allowed us to help pick out all of the furniture and paint, and we had a blast transforming the space. In collaboration with the North Platte Public Schools Foundation, we started Bulldog Banter, a podcast aimed at bringing together students, stakeholders, and alumni to talk about the transformative power of education.
Before starting the podcast, I hadn’t considered the impact of alumni stories. I was worried some of the shows featuring alumni would be boring, and my peers wouldn’t be interested. However, after podcasting for almost a year, I have met so many amazing alumni who have inspired me more than they will ever know.
Big Stories with Small Town Roots
Our very first podcast was with Traci Trego Dugan, a North Platte High alumnus. She told her story about how she started as a small-town girl and created a leading global company in aviation. Growing up in the small town of North Platte, she had to face many obstacles to create the company she has today. She emphasized that the most important thing for her was making North Platte the headquarters for the worldwide company.
Hearing how important my hometown is to a highly successful multinational company owner made me start to think about the things not only I, but other students, are truly capable of. Her story made me realize that as a woman, I am capable of more than I ever imagined.
Editor’s Note:
This piece was written by Madi Hilderbrand, a student content creator from a public high school in Nebraska, as part of a recent live student contest specifically for high school content creators. At Class Intercom, we’re passionate about empowering student content creators to learn new skills and evolve existing ones. That includes formal instruction in the classroom, learning by doing, and experimenting with tools and ideas. The next step is sharing that knowledge with others. The Insights from Student Content Creators series allows students to share their knowledge and experiences with a global audience.
Recently, we had Erica Larsen on our podcast, who also grew up in a small town and then went on to go to the University of Nebraska-Lincon and then California Institute of the Arts. She now owns, Calibraska Arts Initiave, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting creativity in communities where resources for aspiring artists are limited. She brings her animation expertise back to Nebraska, teaching students across the state. Knowing that she was able to create such a successful organization out of a small town gives me confidence that one day my love for media and film can go just as far, and maybe even further.
The Power of Perspective
Starting Bulldog Banter, I expected to get bored listening to all these different stories about the same small town I live in. However, through this journey, I’ve listened to countless alumni talk about how great it is to grow up in North Platte. Every alumnus we talked to, without exception, talked about how North Platte is a great place to be.
Many of our guests had incredible stories that had taken them to great heights. Recent graduates (whom I’ve always looked up to) have given me some of the most inspiring advice. One of my favorite shows was with Ryleigh Lampe, my co-host Reagan’s sister. Hearing someone I’ve known for many years give deep, realistic advice for the future made me realize not only how much she’s learned from North Platte, but what I’ve subconsciously been experiencing and learning my whole high school career. Now pursuing a degree in Marketing at UNL, she spoke about how she now realizes how great both North Platte and North Platte High School are—and she wishes she hadn’t taken them for granted.
Stories Matter
Listening to successful alums, recent graduates, and teacher alums helped me realize we all had something in common in our stories: NPHS and North Platte. It wasn’t until I heard their stories that I realized: Although my story isn’t finished, it can be as amazing as theirs. We all have a common chapter, and the rest of our story is only limited by what I can dream. I want all our guests to know their story mattered to me, more than they will ever know.
About the Author
Madi Hilderbrand
Madi is a rising senior at North Platte High School in North Platte, Nebraska, where she’s part of the school’s video production team, Bulldog Productions. She is involved in all the school’s media classes, operates the scoreboard at sporting events, and is the co-host of her school’s podcast, Bulldog Banter. After high school, she hopes to pursue a degree in sports media and communications.
This story is part of a series called Insights from Student Content Creators. If you know a student, educator, or community member with a skill or story to share about the power of content and storytelling, send them our way! Amplifying student voices and sharing authentic stories is at the core of who we are. Drop us a line and let’s get in touch.
