Wamego is a town of about 5,000, and although it’s just 15 miles from Manhattan — a city of about 10 times its size — it’s no bedroom community. Lincoln Avenue is full of vibrant businesses and attractions like the Columbian Theatre and the Oz Museum. Wamego truly shines during several tentpole events such as the Tulip Festival in April, a huge Independence Day celebration that includes the state’s largest fireworks display, and Oztoberfest, a fall event dedicated to all things Oz.
The same engine driving these events also sparked an unusual collaboration between the business community and the local high school.
Peer Chamber connects local businesses with Wamego High School juniors and seniors. The group encourages all students to get involved in monthly Chamber luncheons, educational opportunities and community service. Although the program sounds simple, the buy-in from professionals and students alike helps boost volunteerism, teach soft skills and build workforce capacity.
The effort started after a longtime mentoring program encountered scheduling problems. Two teachers stepped in with a new plan to help students prepare to enter the workforce through a kind of “junior Chamber,” complete with informational sessions and panels to help students learn about the local business community and how the Wamego Area Chamber of Commerce supports members. They brought in recent graduates to speak about the different paths they followed, from working in trades to attending college or technical school, plus offered events with representatives from a wide range of local businesses to give students a chance to talk to adults about what they do in their jobs.
Brian Wohler, vice president of Bank of the Flint Hills, was on the Chamber board when the program began. As the program has grown, he’s seen how it benefits students, businesses and the broader community.
“Students have a chance to meet others in the community and have an additional resource to draw from. They can ask, ‘Mr. Wohler, what do you do at Bank of the Flint Hills?’ They learn that a bank is more than a place with an ATM and tellers and some money in the vault,” Wohler said. Wohler has watched students improve their handshakes, eye contact, conversation skills and elevator speeches as they gain an understanding of the importance of networking and prepare to start careers. Bank of the Flint Hills has hired Peer Chamber participants for part-time jobs, but Wohler said perhaps the most vital outcome has been passing on a love for community that translates into volunteer efforts.
“It’s another way to teach what we call the ‘Wamego magic.’ It’s about being a community of net givers. The students are learning what it means to give back to the community. We hope it ties them to the community and they want to live here, but if not, we hope they will take that Wamego magic with them,” Wohler said.
Peer Chamber co-sponsors Kiley Moody, sixth- and seventh-grade English language arts teacher, and Jessica Bonewitz, high school counselor, are thankful for the “magic” that results in the right climate to connect students with business leaders. Moody said exposing kids to new adults helps build their confidence as they contemplate next steps after high school, and informal interactions at events like “Jingle and Mingle” in December help them see that adults are “not so scary.” It also helps students view themselves as leaders.
“Young people are told too often, ‘You need to wait.’ If you give them a role, it helps them see they have potential and capacity, and they are going to see themselves differently and show up in a different way,” Moody said.
In recent years Peer Chamber students have helped install a StoryWalk at the Wamego Recreation Sports Complex and changed out the stories to keep content fresh. Among other volunteer projects, they helped create a mural at the ballfield, made poppies for Memorial Day and sent valentines to residents of a local retirement community.
Darci Hildebrand, Wamego Public Library director, said the StoryWalk project involved students in everything from leadership meetings and decision-making to the hands-on work of installing the posts and pouring concrete to complete the story assembly. Students felt pride of ownership, and she even heard students say they plan to bring their families back someday to see what they built.
Along with engaging in large-scale projects as well as short-term community service, Hildebrand said Peer Chamber offers students a chance to learn from adults other than the teachers they see every day.
“Real-life professional people they encounter in Wamego come to talk about what students can do to improve their chances of getting a scholarship, or into a school, or a part-time job that could turn into a career. Students see leaders in the community differently than a teacher disseminating the information, and the skill-building is unique,” Hildebrand said.
Wamego Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jessa Peterson added that Chamber members enjoy playing a role in helping students build skills and find opportunities.
“We have business members come and interact with the students, and we always have a great turnout. There’s so much pride in the community, and anytime you can give a young person the opportunity to learn skills they are going to need as adults, it’s powerful,” Peterson said.
Wohler said Wamego has always been filled with people who have the civic pride and volunteerism to achieve their vision for success. Peer Chamber works well because giving back is in the community’s DNA.
“The students have to see the example being set. The leaders point out that the things that happen in Wamego don’t happen because of a bunch of paid staff — they don’t happen automatically,” Wohler said. “We think big, dream big, and we are able to do things big!”
If you’d like to get involved in Wamego’s Peer Chamber or learn more about the program, contact the Chamber at 785-456-7849 or director@chamber.com, or email Kiley Moody at moodyk@usd320.com.
