Talent isn't the problem for rural students. Access is | Kirsten Lane Oct 1, 2026 4 hrs ago 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Kirsten Lane Submitted kAmpD 9:89 D49@@= D6?:@CD 862C FA 7@C E96 9FDE=6 2?5 8C:?5 @7 E96 4@==686 25>:DD:@?D AC@46DD[ E96 6IA6C:6?46 42? 36 5:776C6?E 7@C DEF56?ED :? CFC2= 2?5 FC32? 2C62]k^AmkAm(96? x H2D 2446AE65 E@ '2?56C3:=E &?:G6CD:EJ :? a_ab[ 25>:?:DEC2E@CD :? >J CFC2= r6?E6CG:==6[ %6??6DD66[ 9:89 D49@@= H6C6 D9@4<65i p 8:C= 7C@> @FC 5:DEC:4E 925 ?@E 366? 25>:EE65 :? @G6C ad J62CD]k^AmkAm%96 BF2:?E E@H? 92D @?=J @?6 9:89 D49@@=[ 3FE :E 3@C56CD @?6 @7 E96 ?2E:@?’D H62=E9:6DE 4@F?E:6D[ (:==:2>D@? r@F?EJ] r6?E6CG:==6[ H96C6 x 8C6H FA[ :D ;FDE 2 =:EE=6 =6DD E92? 2? 9@FC D@FE9H6DE @7 }2D9G:==6[ H96C6 '2?56C3:=E[ @?6 @7 E96 %@A `_ D49@@=D :? E96 4@F?ECJ[ :D =@42E65]k^Am The Duck River flows through rural Centerville, Tennessee, where students lack the resources of their suburban and urban peers. Nicole Hester / The Tennessean kAm$9@4< D9@F=5 ?@E 36 E96 5672F=E C624E:@? H96? 2 DEF56?E 7C@> 2 CFC2= D49@@= DF44665D]k^Am People are also reading… End of an era: NC DMV eliminates stickers, routine paper registration on Oct. 1. Here's why Davidson County woman awarded $850K in lawsuit against former Mooresville NASCAR driver Kannapolis beer and BBQ joint to permanently close. Here’s the last chance to visit Cabarrus County sees more top leadership turnover as commissioner resigns Kannapolis Fire Department hosts Fire Truck Parade, Food Drive, Bloodmobile Trump to begin sending $500 ACA refund checks. Here's where they're going Board OK puts business development grant, tax reinvestment fund to work in Cabarrus Morganton, Lenoir residents accuse Winston-Salem's Quality Oil of selling contaminated gas NC kills $9M incentive after Mooresville company failed to deliver on jobs NC constitutional amendments on 2026 ballot. Here's what you should know N.C. newborns now screened for two additional disorders Former Burke County coach charged with sex crimes against student in Hickory Two years later, Helene scars linger across WNC public lands Two years after Helene, NC roads are open but much rebuilding work lies ahead ACC Football Power Rankings after Week 4: Duke, Wake Forest on the rise kAm(9:=6 r6?E6CG:==6 :D :? 4=@D6 AC@I:>:EJ E@ '2?56C3:=E[ E96 @AA@CEF?:E:6D @776C65 E@ DEF56?ED 5@?’E DE24< FA E@ E9@D6 :? 36EE6C\C6D@FC465 A=246D] xEVD ?@E 2>3:E:@? E92E :D 9@=5:?8 E96> 324<] k^AmkAm#FC2= D49@@=D 2C6 @7E6? EC62E65 2D 2 3C665:?8 8C@F?5 7@C 3=F6\4@==2C H@C<6CD] x 92G6 :>>6?D6 C6DA64E 7@C E9@D6 :? E96 H@C<7@C46[ 3FE x 7:?5 :E F?72:C E92E DEF56?ED =:<6 E9@D6 :? >J 9:89 D49@@= 2C6 AC6DDFC65 :?E@ 2 A2E9 E92E 766=D 49@D6? 7@C E96> @? E96 >6C6 32D:D E92E E96J H6C6 C2:D65 :? 2 CFC2= 4@F?EJ]k^Am k2D:56 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?EQmk^2D:56m Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAm%9:D DE2CED H:E9 2 =24< @7 2446DD E@ 4@==686 C625:?6DD 2?5 E6DE AC6A AC@8C2>D] u@C 6I2>A=6[ >@DE @7 >J A66CD 2E '2?56C3:=E E@@< :?\A6CD@? 25G2?465 A=246>6?E 4@FCD6D H9:=6 E96J H6C6 :? 9:89 D49@@= E@ AC6A2C6 7@C E96 C:8@C @7 2? 24256>:42==J 492==6?8:?8 F?:G6CD:EJ] qFE >J 9:89 D49@@= 5:5?’E @776C E96>] k^Am kAm%96 DE2E6 @7 %6??6DD66 :?46?E:G:K65 >J 5:DEC:4E E@ C646:G6 Sd[___ A6C DEF56?E 6?C@==65 :? 42C66C E649?:42= 65F42E:@?] %9:D 2==@42E:@? 2AA=:6D E@ 6G6CJ 5:DEC:4E :? 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E96 &]$] !C@A6C 7F?5:?8 D9@F=5 36 6BF2==J 5:DEC:3FE65 24C@DD DE2E6D 2?5 2==@42E65 7@C 4@==686 C625:?6DD AC@8C2>D[ DF49 2D p! 2?5 x?E6C?2E:@?2= q2442=2FC62E6 4=2DD6D]k^Am kAm$EF56?ED ?665 C6D@FC46D 2?5 7F?5:?8 E@ 86E E@ C6DA64E23=6 EC256 D49@@=D[ =@42= DE2E6 F?:G6CD:E:6D 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ 4@==686D] qFE D@>6@?6 H9@ 5C62>D @7 D@>6E9:?8 5:776C6?E 2=D@ 56D6CG6D E@ 92G6 2 492?46 2E 7F=7:==:?8 E96:C 5C62>]k^Am kAm%96 D6=64E:@? 2?5 6IA6CE:D6 @7 CFC2= 9:89 D49@@= 4@F?D6=@CD 2=D@ ?665D :>AC@G6>6?E] |2?J D49@@= 4@F?D6=@CD 2C6 DEC6E4965 E9:?[ 2?5 :E :D :>A@CE2?E E96J 86E AC@A6C EC2:?:?8 E@ 96=A DEF56?ED E9C@F89 E96 4@==686 2AA=:42E:@? AC@46DD] u24F=EJ D9@F=5 =:7E DEF56?ED FA 2D E96J DEC:G6 E@ AFCDF6 E96:C 8@2=D C2E96C E92? AC6DDFC6 E96> :?E@ 36:?8 >@C6 “C62=:DE:4[” D@>6E9:?8 x H2D E@=5 >2?J E:>6D 2D 2 9:89 D49@@=6C]k^AmkAm#FC2= DEF56?ED 5@?VE 5:776C >F49 7C@> DEF56?ED 7C@> DF3FC32? @C FC32? D49@@=D] %96 ECF6 5:776C6?46 =:6D :? E96:C D49@@=D’ =24< @7 7F?5:?8 2?5 C6D@FC46D[ 2?5 E9FD E96 @AA@CEF?:E:6D E96J >:89E 92G6 2446DD E@] x7 H6 H@C< E@ 4=@D6 E96D6 82AD[ E96? @?6 52J :E >:89E ?@E D66> D@ D9@4<:?8 H96? 2 8:C= 7C@> 2 D>2== E@H? 86ED :?E@ 96C 5C62> D49@@=]k^Am Lane is a junior at Vanderbilt University. She wrote this for the Nashville Tennessean and USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect. 0 Comments Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Is our admiration for the Amish overlooking real harm? | The Ethical Life podcast 🎧 Behind an idealized image of simplicity and community are difficult questions about education, healthcare, gender roles, individual freedom… David Hoffmann: Local news can bring communities together Hello, I’m David Hoffmann. 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