Features, Meeker

First benefit event for ‘Young Leaders & Dreamers Scholarship’ Saturday in Meeker

MEEKER | “I wanted to be an attorney my whole life,” said Class of 2009 Meeker High School alumnae Meg Nieslanik about her life plans prior to graduation. Like so many others, her course changed dramatically during her college experience. She started with a degree from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., followed by a master’s degree from New York University in higher education and student affairs. She went from wanting to become a collegiate-level athletic director to working for the School of the New York Times. During that journey she worked for the School of American Ballet, which trains dancers for the New York City Ballet.
“I kind of didn’t know anything about ballet,” she said. “I’m now a huge ballet fan.”
In 2016 she went to work as an executive personal assistant at Cadre, a real estate investment firm whose founder, Ryan Williams, was named in Forbes “30 under 30” list. Jared Kushner is a co-owner of the firm.
“I was thrown into this very crazy world,” she said. A few months later she determined that world wasn’t for her. She quit “in a very millennial way” in Nov. 2016. After two months of job-hunting, she got a job at The School of the New York Times which provides opportunities for pre-college students to come to New York City and study with The New York Times.
“I think my job title has changed about three times in a year,” she said. Entering her third year with the program, her work focuses primarily on the summer academy.
“We use New York City as our campus,” she explained. She organized activities and classes last year for 940 students who come to Manhattan for two weeks to work with experienced New York Times reporters.
“I’ve really enjoyed working one on one with students,” she said. Now she wants to extend her skills and experience to help her fellow MHS alumni navigate the often tricky path through college and into a career.
“White rural students are not finishing college,” she said. Navigating college and the transition to career can be especially challenging for youth from rural areas. Rural students are statistically less likely than their non-rural peers to even attend college and are more likely to be “undermatched,” meaning their ACT or SAT scores qualify them for highly selective colleges, but they choose colleges that don’t match their academic ability, often to stay near home.
“It’s difficult to navigate wanting to be connected but recognizing the limitations of the small town you came from,” Nieslanik said. “The skills and experiences you have growing up in a small town can serve you beautifully.”
That’s where Nieslanik’s plan to create a scholarship program and mentoring network for local graduates comes into play. Step one is establishing a scholarship fund.
“We’ll have one winner to start,” she said. “I would love to have a male and a female winner.”
She’s in the process of creating a selection committee, and said the qualifications won’t be dependent on a student’s GPA, but more on their desire and dedication. “I want to be as inclusive as possible and focus on someone who is really dedicated to their own future and success.”
After setting up the scholarship, Nieslanik plans to create a “mentor and alumni” network of people who can provide guidance for students and help them “get their money’s worth” from their educational experience.
The first fundraising event for Nieslanik’s scholarship program will be this Saturday, Dec. 23 at Holliday’s’ in Meeker. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased in advance at https://mhs-holiday-scholarship-benefit.ticketleap.com/mhs-scholarship-benefit/details or at the door. Tickets include one drink and unlimited appetizers. Nieslanik said she’s planning a raffle and door prizes as well. Everyone over 21 is welcome to attend, whether or not they are an MHS graduate.

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  • Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
  • The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
  • It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
  • It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
  • Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
  • Read part three of the story of M.T. Streeter in this week’s edition of History Lessons! Find it in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
9 hours ago
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The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
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View on Instagram |
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It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
16 hours ago
View on Instagram |
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It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
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2 days ago
View on Instagram |
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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View on Instagram |
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View on Instagram |
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Meeker FFA Chapter members competed at the District Leadership Development Event in Craig, Colorado, this month. Top row from left to right: Eva Scritchfield, Charlie Rogers, Alan Rivera, Trent Sanders, Koy Weber, Orion Musser, Said Rodriguez, Carlos Carrillo, Aidan Tapia, Hayden Garcia, Tristan Rollins, Mathew Willey, Quentin Simpson. Middle row: Sidney Keetch, Aurora Stallings, Sydnie Ross, Ava Nay, Lili Piper, Leah Wood. Bottom Row: Jaicee Simmons, Kailynn Watson, Cody Richardson, Kayla Castillo, Braydin Raley, Autumn Stallings, Aimee Shults, Emily Hamm. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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