Name: Mariah Sliva
Hometown: Shickley, NE
Affiliated Fund: Shickley Community Foundation Fund
School: Doane University
What do you love about your community? What are some of its greatest assets?
What I love most about Shickley is the people here. Everywhere you go you get a lot of friendly waves and smiles, and you can feel that you’re always welcomed. Growing up here, I always felt a lot of support from the rest of the community, and I am very grateful for that.
What made you want to pursue an NCF Hometown Internship?
I knew that I wanted to return home for this summer, and I saw this as the perfect opportunity to do that while learning more about my hometown.
What projects are you working on this summer?
This summer I hope to help update and preserve some of Shickley’s past by working with the old scrapbooks and interviews. I also am looking forward to tackling the missions that NCF has given me and using what I discover to help grow my community.
What do you hope to learn or experience?
I have already learned so much about Shickley, and I hope to continue this as I work with the Shickley Community Foundation Fund during my internship. I also am looking forward to seeing how my connections with the other interns will grow and discovering what we can all accomplish together!
How would you describe the opportunity so far?
So far, this experience has been very eye-opening. I am already seeing parts of my hometown in a new light, and I am excited to continue learning more about Shickley. It’s also been wonderful to meet with other communities across the state and hear what rural Nebraska has to offer.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future of your hometown?
While I already think Shickley is a great place to call home, I can’t wait to see what the future will bring to this community. I know the Shickley Community Foundation Fund is dedicated to making the town the best it can be, and I am so excited to work alongside them this summer. I hope during my time in this internship I can make a positive impact on my community.
What are you looking for in a place to call home?
I look for a place that is welcoming, where you can find people that make it feel like home. I believe home should be a place where people feel safe, appreciated, and supported throughout every step of life.
Could you see yourself living in Greater Nebraska in the future?
I definitely think that Nebraska communities possess the qualities that make a place feel like home. Between the people and the lifestyle, living in rural Nebraska is something special. While I may not know exactly where my future will take me, I know that I will always be welcomed here.
