Arcadia Valley Alumna and rootEd Advisor Represents Rural Student Perspectives in Congressional Briefing in Nation’s Capital

Nicole Thomas, Arcadia Valley High School’s rootEd adviser as well as a proud graduate herself, represented Missouri’s rural students in Washington, D.C. at a recent Congressional briefing on advancing economic mobility and expanding access to opportunity for the next generation of rural Americans.

The July 9th program brought together a panel of rural leaders to discuss the importance of supporting rural students and connecting them to local workforce needs, as well as the imperative for federal resources to do so.

Thomas represented rootEd Alliance, a national nonprofit that trains and places dedicated career and college advisor in rural high schools. Nicole and rootEd advisors across the state work one-on-one with rural high school seniors to ensure they graduate on a path to a well-paying job—whether through college, career training, apprenticeships, or military service.

Reflecting on her experience during the briefing, Thomas shared, “I came back to my hometown because I wanted to help students like me—students who might not see all the options in front of them. The right support can open a student’s eyes to a future they didn’t know was possible.” 

During the panel, Thomas and her fellow speakers called on federal policymakers to release funding for the Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development (RPED) grant program and support the Success for Rural Students and Communities Act—efforts that would help fund rural-serving initiatives like rootEd across the country.

“Students in rural schools often have the drive and talent—they just need someone to help them navigate the maze of options after high school,” said Thomas during the event. “That’s where rootEd comes in. We help students explore real opportunities and build a plan for what’s next.”

Thomas, who has been Arcadia Valley’s rootEd advisor since 2022, highlighted the new career exploration programs that she has introduced, including a Tiger Certificate initiative and a “Lunch & Learn” speaker series. These and other efforts have helped boost Arcadia Valley student outcomes: 

• FAFSA completion rates at the school have increased by 27%, and 
• More than three-quarters of seniors are pursuing education or training following graduation.

Other rural-serving community leaders on the panel included Dr. Hal Higdon, Chancellor of the Ozarks Technical Community College system, Noa Meyer, rootEd Alliance Board Chair, and Eileen Worthington, Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Accelerator Project in Kentucky, and as well as Michael Scannell, an aquaculture entrepreneur from Maine. 

Meyer said, “Nicole Thomas is one of our most inspiring rootEd advisors, known for her deep commitment to her students and passion for helping them build careers. She continues to demonstrate the life-changing impact that dedicated career and college support can have for rural students.”

Thomas’s platform at the national level comes at a moment of growing momentum for rootEd in Missouri, reflecting the state’s strong commitment to the future of rural students and its workforce development goals.

Just this month, Governor Mike Kehoe signed the state’s fiscal 2026 budget, which includes a significant increase in funding for the program, as a testament to rootEd’s strong track record. With this expansion, rootEd will reach a total of 180 schools across the state, and approximately half of all rural schools in Missouri will be served by a rootEd advisor. 

Since rootEd began in Missouri in 2018, it has served more than 45,000 students across the state.

rootEd Missouri is a statewide public-private partnership between national nonprofit rootEd Alliance, Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Ozarks Technical Community College, and local participating school districts.

About rootEd Alliance
rootEd Alliance is committed to expanding economic opportunity and mobility for rural youth by ensuring every student graduates high school on a path to a well-paying career. rootEd Alliance places dedicated college and career advisors in rural high schools to work one-on-one with all seniors to define and create a plan for their futures, whether through a college degree, career credentials, apprenticeships, or military service. Launched in 2018 and now operating in Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Alaska, and Idaho, rootEd advisors served over 20,000 students at more than 200 rural high schools in the 2024-2025 academic year. rootEd Alliance is made possible by a group of philanthropists, convened by BDT & MSD Partners. Learn more here.