Preserving community history: Students gain key experience working on West Michigan heritage projects

Nora Salas, associate professor of history and director of the Kutsche Office of Local History, explained how the department supports students while advancing their mission.

"The goal of the Kutsche Office is to give West Michigan's diverse histories more attention," Salas said. "We serve the larger community, and also the GVSU community. We work with community organizations to develop internships for students and then sponsor those internships so they can be compensated, paid experiences."

Students who are working on community history or heritage projects can connect with the Kutsche Office to explore possible new relationships and provide other students with opportunities.

"One of the biggest things I look for in students is somebody who wants to develop more independence in their learning and their work, who's going to work on the project on their own, because internships are not as planned as a class," she said.

Salas also emphasized the importance of ensuring compensation for these internships, as it allows more students to take advantage of opportunities that may have otherwise been impossible for them to pursue.

Community members can support these students and local history efforts by considering donating to the Kutsche Office, she said.

Peg Padnos is the chair of the Kutsche Office Advisory Council. Padnos said the office's namesake, Paul Kutsche, would be proud of these and other interns.

"Paul Kutsche understood the importance of helping students develop a strong intellectual foundation as well as guiding them into their next steps as young professionals," Padnos said. "I have no doubt that if he were still with us, Paul would be pleased beyond words at the increasing role of student interns in the work of the Kutsche Office."

- Sofia Ellis is a senior writing major and a student writer for University Communications.