By Elaine Rassel
I was in for a surprise when I read in a local newspaper that a former Marcus resident, Sara Olson, had been given an Iowa Tourism Award as an Outstanding Individual Leader by the Iowa Tourism Office and Travel Federation of Iowa.
I wanted more information on Sara as to when she graduated from MMC, so I called her mother, Lorna Schmidt for this. Once I had the graduating year, I could go back in my files and find out more information on Sara. Sara graduated from MMC High School in 2010. When a person is given a scholarship, how do they use it? Sara was one of the two graduates that received a Marcus Lions Club Award given to students having achieved academic excellence; one of two students to receive a PEO Chapter FM Scholarship given to students having achieved academic excellence; an Alumni Grant from Morningside College Alumni in recognition of outstanding High School Achievement and promise as a Morningside College student; a Morningside College Art Grant for outstanding future art students at the college showing promise and potential; and a Morningside College President’s Scholarship Award that was a renewable award given to only top incoming freshmen based on a resume of exceptional academics, extra-curricular participation and leadership. Her future plans at that time was to go on to Morningside College for Art Education.
Sara went to Morningside College for four years and to St. Cloud for a year. She now had a background in public history and library science. Then she was offered a position at Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and accepted it. This is what she was interested in as far as a job was concerned. She has been employed at Lewis and Clark’ Interpretive Center for six years as their education director.
She was honored and given a reward at a ceremony during the Iowa Tourism Awards Luncheon as part of the Iowa Tourism Conference in Des Moines recently. Just what is this award? The award recognizes individuals who support and grow tourism in Iowa, how they reach new markets especially through the use of technology, how they overcome challenges using creativity, and how they support Iowa tourism as a whole.
It has not been an easy task for Sara as she has had many COVID related challenges in the year 2020. With COVID closing most places down beginning in March of 2020, this involved closing the 900 Larsen Park Road cultural complex. Sara wanted to find a way to keep the Interpretive Center’s education programs going even though visitors couldn’t come into the facilities. This is where she began using 21st century technology to keep up the work of 19th century explorers. She overcame challenges by using creativity and was able to reach new markets by using modern technology.
She began by developing several new strategies such as creating a virtual tour for use in the classroom, was able to find skills needed to stream; found technology to record kid’s programs and activities to share on public media, and acquired skills to allow the Lewis and Clark Center to stream programs via Facebook and their website.
Because of her dedication and efforts in spite of COVID, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center has seen measurable growth in visitor numbers, both live and online.
The Interpretive Center will still continue with online services while gradually increasing in-person programs.
This summer there will still be Exploration Wednesdays returning June 2 and ending June 23. There are two forty-five minute classes on these days (second grade and younger and third graders and older) offered but limited to 15 kids per class. Masks are still required. Lewis and Clark aren’t just names in a history book. She asks, “Do you know anything about the Floyd monument, or why there is a Boulevard named after Lewis? She tells the kids all about these two men, Lewis and Clark.
Is it just local people who want to learn more about Lewis and Clark. Sara states that other people in the U.S. and even from China and Australia have visited the Center to learn more about Lewis and Clark. At this time, there are more visitors coming to go on the tour she offers with the Center’s interactive animated exhibits.
When COVID struck, it meant that people had to adjust their ways. It left them finding challenges in using new skills. Sara Olson did find new skills that would keep the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center active.
Officials at Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center have stated that Sara has been a wonderful ambassador for activities along the Lewis and Clark Trail as she networks with many tourism sites to be able to pass along information to visitors at Lewis and Clark Center.
Congratulations, Sara on your Tourism Honor!