Kristen Koci,
Sociology Major
Sophomore sociology major and English minor Kristen Koci is highly involved in the Department of Sociology’s Center for Rural Studies. Growing up her entire life in Katy, Kristen always imagined that she, like her sister, would attend Texas A&M University.
However, when Kristen was allowed three excused absences to go on college visits during her senior year of high school, she only needed one. Kristen fell in love with Sam Houston during her campus tour. Kristen is now entering her third year at SHSU. While at Sam, Kristen has been awarded the Walter and Minnie Bennet Scholarship, the Ramsey Wood Scholarship, and has won a writing award through the English department.
Additionally, Kristen has volunteered with the Huntsville Boys and Girls Club, been involved with the Sociologists for Women in Society organization, and been involved in Sociology club, even serving as the club’s vice president. Kristen has devoted most of her spare time, however, to Sam Houston’s Center for Rural Studies.
After hearing about the center during her Introduction to Sociology class, Kristen knew she wanted to become involved, specifically with the center’s youth-based community outreach efforts. After vocalizing her interest, Kristen was introduced to Cheryl Hudec Pekar, former Associate Director for the center.
Cheryl quickly enlisted Kristen’s help. Although she has worked on several projects, most of Kristen’s energy has since been devoted to the Rural Community Youth Development Program, which organizes a camp each summer co-hosted by Sam Houston State University’s Center for Rural Studies and Texas Workforce Solutions. Sam Houston and Workforce partner to prepare high school juniors and seniors for internships with local businesses within their own communities.
Kristen, who is responsible for many of the planning, organizing, booking, and curriculum aspects of the camp, explains that many of the campers are in need of employment for various reasons. Further, because virtually none of the campers have had a job before, Kristen believes that much of what the camp accomplishes is simply empowerment—telling the kids “hey, you know you can do this, right?”, and providing opportunities and tools to help them succeed within their own communities and throughout their lives.
Workforce uses the 2-day camp to prepare students for employment by teaching them things like what to wear and how to talk to their bosses. Workforce also uses the time to learn about the campers’ individual interests so that they are placed in an appropriate internship. SHSU, on the other hand, works to familiarize the students with their specific rural communities.
For example, before this year’s camp, SHSU gave students a camera to capture photos of what they felt were important people, places, and events within their communities. Kristen organized tours of important community buildings, including Chambers of Commerce, City Halls, and Courthouses during camp, a mapping exercise of several rural communities, and a scavenger hunt to local businesses.
Kristen says that the aim of such activities is to teach students that their journey begins in their communities, that “knowing their communities is just their first step.” SHSU’s Center for Rural Studies teaches campers about their communities (what’s there, what opportunities exists within it), and then encourages campers to go beyond that knowledge. The camp and internship are essentially all about empowerment, telling the kids “you can do this, and this is how you can.”
Looking back, Kristen had no idea that she would become so involved with the center through one simple “Hi, can I help?”. However, Kristen is extremely glad that she did become involved, and expresses many thanks to Cheryl Hudec Pekar, Dr. Michael Fortunato, and Dr. Gene Theodori for their commitment to her professional development.
When asked about her future plans, Kristen explains that the work she is doing now for the center of Rural Studies is her dream job. Kristen plans to stay with the center until she leaves Sam Houston. She does plan on pursuing a master’s degree in sociology, and maybe even a Ph.D. in rural sociology and women’s studies.
No matter what, though, Kristen knows that she wants to continue the work she has started at SHSU’s Center for Rural Studies by empowering youth, especially youth raised in rural communities. Kristen explains, “Why would I not do something that I love that much? If it is where my passion is, I’ll be fine.”