Welcome to the second edition of SHP Alumni Profiles! Our intent is to make this a regular feature on our blog. Turns out SHP alums lead pretty interesting lives! We thought perhaps you’d like to read about them.
Today we’re focusing on the Olson family. Brothers Jeff and Daniel are from Holdrege, and Jeff married Renae Jorgensen, from Alma. Jeff is a new member of the SHPAA board. They attended SHP in the 2000s and 2010s, but they have a connection dating all the way back to the program’s start. Jeff and Daniel’s grandfather Rod Smith was the administrator of ESU #11 from 1976 to 1998 and a major supporter of SHP and gifted education in Nebraska. He hired Cindy Anderson and encouraged her to secure a grant to fund the Summer Honors Program, which was launched in 1978. Rod died unexpectedly in 2003 at age 64. His wife, Kathy Smith Anderson, continues to support SHP in a variety of ways. She shared these comments with us about the origins of SHP and how she and her family have maintained their SHP involvement for decades.
Rod and I moved our family to Holdrege in 1976 when he became Administrator for ESU #11. He felt that there were good programs for special education, but that there was a program lacking for gifted/higher ability learners. He worked up a proposal to present to our area school administrators at a monthly meeting. With their approval, Rod presented this project to the ESU #11 Board of Directors. They agreed to proceed. Cindy Anderson was hired to set up and hire instructors for these accelerated classes. Social evenings were part of the plan for the students to get to know each other. The staff also could have prep and social time. Rod enjoyed the high quality and enthusiasm of staff from throughout the country.
I was happy both of my grandsons participated in math, logic or drama for five years each. Rod didn’t live to see this, but I know he would have been very pleased.
My daughter has kept out-of-town students in her home for many years.
I ask students who participated if they liked the classes and if they would like to go back for the next year. I enjoy seeing faces light up and tell me about their experience…and yes, they want to continue.
Another thing, Rod retired in 1998. His office had a super retirement party planned. Some of the Summer Honors students participated with a fun skit. That was pretty special!
I like to go to the talent show and graduation each year to see the students and hear about what the classes did those two weeks. I have memories of the talents of previous students, including Mike Lewis and ‘The Flaming Tards’! Funny!
I do want to keep supporting this encouraging program for the students we are blessed to have each year. I do want to help celebrate 50 years in 2027!
We had each of the three Olson alumni fill out a questionnaire. Here are their responses.
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Name: Jeffrey Olson
SHP years: 2005-2009
SHP classes: Drama x4, Logic
High school and graduation year: Holdrege High School 2009
College: UNO, no diploma
Where do you live now? Johnson Lake, NE
How old are you? 33
What’s been your story since high school? I eventually found out college wasn’t the path I wanted to take. After getting married to Renae Jorgensen in 2013, we settled down in Farnam, NE, for 3 years before moving to Johnson Lake. I’ve worked as a field technician for Spectrum for 7 years now. We had a baby boy in March of 2021 named Carter, who is the sweetest little boy you’ll ever meet.
How did Summer Honors influence your life? It allowed me to meet all sorts of new people and led me to eventually talking to a girl who would one day become my wife. It helped me build more confidence to make new friends. It proved to me that there were plenty of other goofballs out there.
What books, films, TV shows, plays, art, music, essays, poems, or other creative works have most influenced you in your life? Why? The Lord of the Rings, Dragon Ball Z, and superheroes have helped me have something in common with other people I was able to make friends with.
What’s your favorite place on earth? Why? Bahamas and Rocky Mountains. Beautiful oceans and high peaks.
What are your goals at this point in your life? Take care of my family and advance my career at Spectrum.
What are you most thankful for? My friends and family.
What’s your favorite thing about yourself? I like to think I have a positive attitude and outlook on situations.
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Name: Renae Olson
Former name: Renae Jorgensen
SHP years: 2006, 2007
SHP classes: Drama and Creative Writing
High school and graduation year: Alma Public School 2007
College and graduation year: Doane College 2011
Where do you live now? I currently live at Johnson Lake.
How old are you? 35
What’s been your story since high school? After high school I attended Doane College and earned my education degree in K-12 Vocal and Instrumental Music. I accepted a job teaching K-12 Vocal and Instrumental Music at Eustis-Farnam Public School in Eustis, Nebraska, and just started my 14th year here! I met my husband, Jeff Olson, at SHP in 2006 when we were in Drama together. There was definitely not a romantic interest right away, but we later started dating in the fall of 2007. We were married in 2013. In March of 2021, we welcomed our son, Carter, into our family.
How did Summer Honors influence your life? Summer Honors gave me my best friend/husband. Summer Honors also showed this small-town girl that there were other people out there just like her. I felt like I belonged at SHP. Summer Honors brought me lifelong friends who I wouldn’t have met otherwise.
What books, films, TV shows, plays, art, music, essays, poems, or other creative works have most influenced you in your life? Why? Music obviously plays a very important role in my life. One of the best experiences I’ve ever had with music was when I was pregnant with our son. Every night I would play the same song for him (“Forever Now” by Michael Bublé). He would respond to it every time. My one request when he was born was to have that song played right away. Once he was placed in my arms, Jeff played it. Carter stopped crying and just stared at us. It was one of the coolest experiences ever; even our doctor said so! Music is powerful at any age and that moment proved it.
What’s your favorite place on earth? Why? My favorite place on earth is either the Bahamas, mountains or right in my own home with my little family.
What are your goals at this point in your life? My goal is to be happy and content with my life. I am enjoying this moment of being a mom to my toddler and all the ups and downs it brings. I also want to be the mom who bakes the world’s best chocolate chip cookies…and according to my father-in-law, I do just that!
What are you most thankful for? I am most thankful for my family. They have always supported me in everything I do. Still to this day my parents attend the music programs I put on every year. They go above and beyond, showing me what it means to be a parent. I’m also thankful for the family I married into. They also support me in everything I do.
What’s your favorite thing about yourself? My favorite thing about myself is that I am a great cook and baker!
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Name: Daniel Olson
SHP years: 2009-2013
SHP classes: Math for 3 years. Logic for 2.
High school and graduation year: Holdrege High School in 2013
Colleges and graduation years: Wayne State College leaving in 2016. University of Nebraska Medical Center for Pharmacy. Graduating in 2020.
Where do you live now? McCook Nebraska
How old are you? 29
What’s been your story since high school? My story has been fairly straightforward for a college student. After completing my degree in Pharmacy, I got a job at U-Save pharmacy in McCook. I have been working there since graduation for four and a half years. I have also found my wonderful fiancé Emily Wood in town. We are to be married or will be married at the time of this being printed. Our wedding is September 21st, 2024.
How did Summer Honors influence your life? Summer Honors has affected my life with relationships made there still continuing to this day. I also fondly remember discussions had with my instructors. Those talks have pushed me into critical thinking and deep analysis of situations before acting. Logic class helped the most in truly trying to understand difficult problems or situations.
What books, films, TV shows, plays, art, music, essays, poems, or other creative works have most influenced you in your life? Why? The Bible as it centers my faith.
What’s your favorite place on earth? Why? My favorite place on earth is wherever I am with my family or friends. It doesn’t matter to me where I am as long as a good time is being had.
What are your goals at this point in your life? My goal is to continue to build my family and pursue my career in pharmacy.
What are you most thankful for? I am most thankful for the opportunities given to me by growing up in south central Nebraska. I had the opportunity to go to a nice high school and attend higher education allowing me to live in a small town. Plus there are few opportunities like Summer Honors anywhere else in the country.
What’s your favorite thing about yourself? My favorite thing about myself is my ability to connect with others and listen to what they have to say.