Creighton Immersion Weekend gives students in-depth look at college life

by Mike Sunderland

posted on September 25, 2012

On Saturday, September 15th, seven Red Cloud High School seniors made the long journey to Omaha, Nebraska to take part in the Creighton Immersion Trip. During this four-day-long trip, the students were paired with mentors from Creighton University, who will assist the students on the rigorous Gates Millennium Scholarship application process over the next few months. Students also had the opportunity to tour Creighton, meet current students, and hear college admissions advice.

After the peaceful van ride across the Nebraska countryside, students arrived at the Office of Multicultural Affairs at Creighton on Saturday night. They met with a host of current Creighton students, including Red Cloud alumni Willie White ’08 and Dylan Fills Pipe ’08, both of whom are nearing the end of a successful course of study at Creighton. The Creighton students answered many questions about college life and gave a lot of meaningful insights and advice to the Red Cloud seniors.

On Sunday, the students toured Creighton at the school’s open house, “CU Sunday”. There, they heard information about Creighton, visited booths about different programs and majors, and toured both the campus and the greater Omaha area on Ollie the Trolley. At night, students ate a wonderful meal at The Spaghetti Works before visiting the family of RCHS freshman English teacher and Omaha native Clare Huerter, who chaperoned the trip.

Monday was the most jam-packed day. In the morning, RCHS students had a breakfast meeting with Creighton administrative and admissions staff. These staff members gave students advice on college and scholarship applications. After breakfast, the students hit up the Westroads Mall for lunch before the highly anticipated trip to the Omaha Zoo, one of the finest zoos in the country.

In the late afternoon, the students returned to Creighton to meet their mentors. Students and mentors worked late into the night on reviewing essays and résumé items for the Gates Millennium application. All seven students who attended the trip are eligible to apply for the scholarship. “The trip was helpful. It helped me write my essays and edit them,” said senior Amanda Standing Bear.

Feeling inspired and accomplished after the day’s events, students went to bed ready to return to the reservation the following morning. The students came back to Red Cloud on Tuesday with new insights, experiences, and wisdom into the college and scholarship application process.

Fr. Raymond Bucko, a professor of Anthropology and Native American Studies at Creighton, helps organize the Creighton Immersion Program each year. Fr. Ray is a former teacher at Red Cloud High School. Many thanks to Fr. Ray and all the Creighton staff who have helped numerous Red Cloud students over the years!