Nebraska has a new Kid Governor! Fifth grader Charlotte “Charlie” Couch from Meadows Elementary in Ralston is stepping into this unique role for 2026, ready to lead, inspire, and make a difference for kids across the state.

This year, Charlie’s focus is Cancer Awareness, a cause close to her heart. In her first message to Nebraskans, she shares why this issue matters to her, the projects she and her cabinet are excited to take on, and how communities can get involved.

Read on to hear Charlie’s message to the kids and families of Nebraska and find out how she plans to turn ideas into action this year:

“My name is Charlie Couch and I am a student at Meadows Elementary School in Ralston, Nebraska. To the kids of Nebraska, I am your Kid Governor.

My focus for 2026 is Cancer Awareness. This topic is important to me because my older sisters’ father died of cancer when they were very little. I was not born yet but I know this was hard on them and on my mom because they talked about it at home. One of their community resources was Camp Kesem.

Camp Kesem is a free overnight summer camp that is run by UNL volunteers. It is for kids whose parents have been affected by cancer. It is a place for kids to go to have fun and to be with other kids like them. Since a lot of kids whose parents have been affected by cancer have to grow up too fast to help their family, Camp Kesem is a place for kids to just be kids before that happens.

Because it is free for families, the student volunteers must raise a lot of money for those families. I want to help them fundraise and get the word out about the services that Camp Kesem offers like Friends and Family days where the kids can play and the grownups can meet and support each other. I also visited the Hope Lodge in Omaha where cancer patients can stay with their families while they are getting treatment or waiting for treatment. We will organize community groups to make those families supper and play games with them.

My cabinet all have good ideas too and we will all be working together on those projects. I am excited to work with Alma, Eila, Kenzlie, Reid, Victoria, and Will. We are showing everyone what leadership looks like in our state and in our communities.

What I am excited for in the Kid Governor Program is helping people and figuring out what I will do next alongside my cabinet and having some fun along the way. I hope to see you all out there in support of our projects. Just think of all that we can accomplish together. Let’s get to work, Nebraska.”

Read more updates from Charlie and her fellow cabinet members at ne.kidgovernor.org.