By George Ledbetter
A desire to take a few classes at Chadron State College after moving to northwest Nebraska in 1999 eventually led to an advanced college degree and a second career for Chadron State Foundation Living Legacy member Leslie Stewart.
Leslie already had a degree in environmental education from the University of Colorado and had worked in technical publications for telecommunications companies for 26 years before coming to Chadron. Living on the Great Plains sparked a desire to study rangeland science and botany, Leslie says. After completing her master's degree at Chadron State in 2004, she joined the U.S. Forest Service. Most of her 10-year career with the Forest Service was spent as rangeland manager for the Oglala National Grasslands.
"The knowledge I gained at CSC enabled me to change my direction in life to enter an entirely different career and finish my working life doing something I really loved," Leslie says.
Two instructors, Dr. Chuck Butterfield and Dr. Ron Weedon, were particularly influential during her time at Chadron State. Dr. Butterfield instilled a love for the prairie ecosystem, and Dr. Weedon was a mentor who helped guide her through a graduate assistant role to complete her degree.
Leslie says she had put off estate planning for years before deciding it was time to get serious and set up a trust that reflected her respect for the work that educational institutions do in preparing people of all ages to make the world better.
For Leslie, a belief in the value of education learned from her father goes beyond the value of preparing students to get jobs.
"I also believe in providing a liberal arts education to encourage students to question, to form their independent opinions and have a broad knowledge of the workings of the world," she says. "Including The Chadron State Foundation in my estate plan is one way to support my beliefs."
Leslie encourages others to support CSC.
"Periodic contributions to the college are certainly one way to contribute, and I do that as well," she says. "But larger gifts can help attain larger goals."
There are many ways you, like Leslie, can make an impact on Chadron State College's future with a planned gift. Contact Ben Watson at 308-432-7007 or bwatson@csc.edu to learn more.