25 Years Later: The Community That Shaped Me

As the Watertown Area Community Foundation celebrates 25 years of Youth Council, we’re reconnecting with alumni to reflect on their experiences, the lessons they’ve carried forward, and the lasting value of youth leadership in our community. Kelsey (Likness) Raml was a member of the inaugural Youth Council in 2001.

By Kelsey (Likness) Raml

Growing up in Watertown gave me many opportunities, but one that has stayed with me for 25 years is being part of the very first Youth Council at the Watertown Area Community Foundation. In 2001, I joined five fellow students, Kristen (Bartelt) Henderson, Esther (Deutsch) Flaherty, AJ Franken, Amanda Kauer, and Jaime (Erickson) Brown, as the inaugural Youth Council members. The following year, Meggie Gough and Clay Wilfahrt joined us after Esther and AJ graduated.

 

As many of you know, Kristen is the Communications Director for the Community Foundation. So, when she asked me to write the editorial, I told her it feels funny not including her in this as she has truly lived full circle with the Foundation! Kristen and I have been friends and classmates for many years and Youth Council was just one activity we participated in together. We also earned our Girl Scout Gold Award together and I especially love seeing her on a regular basis as our kids attend the same school now! 

 

After high school, I graduated from SDSU with my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Human Nutrition and Dietetics and became a Registered Dietitian. I now run my own nutrition consulting business, providing nutrition services and care to many long-term care facilities and one rural hospital and clinic in the Northeast South Dakota area. I am married to Adam Raml, another WHS Class of 2003 classmate, and we have two sons Corbin and Carson.

 

>>> Kelsey (Likness) Raml with her husband, Adam, and their sons, Corbin (11) and Carson (7).

 

The skills I developed through being on Youth Council have truly impacted me as an individual and professional. Communication, time management, decision-making, and teamwork were all valuable lessons, but perhaps most importantly, Youth Council helped instill in me a lasting appreciation for giving back to my community. 

 

As I look back on my time with Youth Council, one of the things I remember most is the remarkable group of people I had the opportunity to serve alongside. They were intelligent, motivated, great communicators, and natural leaders. It was inspiring to be part of a group so committed to making a difference in our community.

 

In addition to my co-members, it was truly a pleasure getting to know Jan DeBerg, then Executive Director of the Foundation, and seeing first-hand the incredible impact she made on our community. Youth Council also opened my eyes to the many needs within Watertown and the organizations working every day to meet them. I came to appreciate just how fortunate we are to live in a community where people genuinely care about taking care of their neighbors.

 

The first Youth Council raised $1,400, which supplemented the $5,000 provided by the Community Foundation Board. The following year, we raised $2,300 in addition to the Foundation’s $5,500 distribution. We were able to award many great organizations financial support for their programs. It was awesome to experience the impact our efforts made around Watertown.

 

>> Youth Council charter member Kelsey (Likness) Raml, right, makes a fundraising call to Foundation board chair John Hopper and community leader Joy Nelson in April 2003. 

 

I am grateful the Foundation has continued to support Youth Council the last 25 years and hope to see the continued success for years to come. To the current Youth Council members – make the most of your time with Cammie and Kristen. Soak it all in, ask questions, learn lots, and optimize each opportunity that comes your way! The experiences and lessons you gain through Youth Council will stay with you long after high school. And don’t forget where you came from! 

 

Growing up in Watertown, I was fortunate to have so many opportunities to learn, grow, and get involved. Now, as a parent, I have an even greater appreciation for the people and organizations who invest their time, talents, and resources to make those same opportunities possible for the next generation.

 

Twenty-five years later, I am proud to be part of a community that continues to look out for one another, and I am truly grateful that I get to raise my own children in the community that gave me so much.