gracie kitchell

When some of the top seniors at Logansport High School were asked what they really wanted in town they all pretty much agreed unanimously.

A mall.

While The Junction isn’t quite what they had in mind, the prospect of a new shopping center still excites them. They still saw it as a mall.

“The mall is just such a starting point for the town growing,” said Gracie Kitchell. “And I’m really excited to see where that takes us.”

The sad irony is when The Junction really gets going and Logansport has new shopping options to choose from, and maybe a new place to hang out, those seniors will be on their way to college.

“It will be great though for when we come back on vacations,” said Halle VanCuren.

There have been a lot of changes in Logansport. There are a lot of ideas about what the city can be and what it should be. But what do the young people want? What will bring these talented young women and men back to Logansport when they finish college?

To stay or go?

There are different things that the students like about Logansport.

For Luna Tafolla, it’s the diversity. VanCuren said she liked the safe feeling of living in a small town. Jacob Patty was happy about the education he is receiving at Logansport and the many college level courses the school offered. For Jeremiah Miller, Moo Lwe Paw and Kitchell, it’s the deep connection to friends and teachers.

“Some people might want to venture off and explore new things but I think most of us like it here,” Miller said.

Mayor Chris Martin said it is important to get young people to return after college. However, It was a struggle before and it still is, he said.

Most of the students said they wanted to return to Logansport when they finish college. Only a few students were adamant that they wouldn’t be returning. Some still wavered as conversation progressed.

But going into their last semester of high school, they don’t know where life will take them in the next four years and beyond, have no understanding of how their worlds will change thanks to study abroad opportunities, internships, meeting new people and possibly a significant other.

It’s easy to say you will come home at 17 or 18. It’s not so easy when you graduate college and the world is your oyster.

Bill Cuppy, president of the Logansport Cass County Chamber of Commerce and the Cass Logansport Economic…