Presented By: Hoyt Nebgen, Texas Tech University
Co-Authors: Jason Headrick, Texas Tech University
Erica Irlbeck, Texas Tech University

Rural communities face a unique set of experiences in comparison to their urban counterparts. For rural youth, these experiences are just as important. Ties to education and community create a foundation for how they view rural America. This content analysis reviews existing literature on education, out-migration, civic engagement, community vitality, and belongingness for students in rural areas. Through this analysis, researchers aimed to better understand the landscape of rural education and community experiences through an application-based approach. The objectives of this presentation are to inform the audience on the status of rural students' academic and community experiences and provide direction for future research in this area. Using Elsevier, MDPI, Springer, Wiley Online Library, and Taylor & Francis databases, the research team reviewed and analyzed 28 articles. These articles were published no later than 2012 to provide relevant, timely information. Analysis reveals that rural communities face higher out-migration, fewer educational opportunities, aging populations, and higher poverty rates that contribute to a sense of belongingness. Establishing community programs founded on civic-based education can promote civic engagement, but more research is needed to understand how to create sustained engagement. When it comes to youth, they tend to be attracted more towards symbolic factors in the community as compared to material factors. Nevertheless, there is a gap in the literature that shows the specific role of youth and how to establish a sense of belongingness. Through this content analysis, we can better recognize and validate the lived experiences of youth in rural America. Researchers in this area should continue to promote and advocate for the resiliency of these communities through practical, application-oriented studies.