Amanda Allcock, C.O.R.E. Board of Director – President
Amanda Allcock is currently the Director of Sales and Tourism at Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation. Amanda grew up in Colorado and graduated with a B.A. from the University of Colorado. She and her family moved to Black Hills of South Dakota in 1992. She has be employed for Crazy Horse Memorial® since 1997 and has a passion for the project. She also serves on the Executive Board of Black Hills Vacations and is on the Custer Chamber Board. Amanda began her relationship with C.O.R.E. in the winter of 2013 when the Southern Hills Program was looking to move their program to a larger facility. She is passionate about Freshman Impact and strongly believes that the program and core values have the ability to change young lives and help the community in a positive way and is honored to serve on the Board. Whenever the opportunity arises, Amanda enjoys her 2 daughters, twin grandsons and granddaughter along with traveling, hiking and enjoying the beautiful Black Hills.
Jackie McPherson, C.O.R.E Board of Director – Vice President
Jackie brings many years experience in the legal and education fields. She is currently employed by the Douglas School District as the Administrative Assistant. She has worked many years with kids as a 4-H Advisor and Youth to Youth Advisor. Jackie is a board member for C.O.R.E. and has the challenging work of book keeping for C.O.R.E. as well. She is inspired by observing the students faces and hearing their remarks as they go through C.O.R.E.’ s programs. Jackie has seen kids lives saved and changed because of this program and what it brings to the communities it serves. She whole heartedly believes in the program. If she has spare time she enjoys her 12 grand children and gardening.
Jesse Fagerland , C.O.R.E Board Member – Treasurer/Financial Advisor
My name is Jesse Fagerland. I am a Sergeant with the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. I have worked for the PCSO nearly 18 years and have served in several different positions. Currently I supervise our School Resource Officer program, which covers part of Rapid City Area Schools, Douglas School District, New Underwood School District and Hill City School District. I became familiar with Freshman Impact when I was an SRO from 2010-2017. I have been a CORE board member since February, 2023. I currently serve on the board as Treasurer.
John Weigelt, C.O.R.E. Board Member Education Advisory
Mark Naugle, C.O.R.E. Board Member Education Advisory
Caroline DeCory, C.O.R.E. Board Member Education Advisory
Olivia Siglin, C.O.R.E. Board Member Education Advisory
Founder of Freshman Impact: Caught in the Moment
Rick McPherson, founder of C.O.R.E.
Community Organized Resources for Educating youth, is married to his wife, Jackie; and they live in South Dakota. Their faith is the center of their lives and reaches out to those around them. They enjoy family time with their 3 grown children and 12 grandchildren. Rick, when he has extra time, loves hunting, fishing, and the outdoors.
Rick is a retired Pennington County Deputy from South Dakota with 31 plus years of law enforcement experience. During those years, he served in many different capacities in two states—Ohio and South Dakota. He served as a Certified State Mounted unit, Supervisor, Patrol officer, State Park Ranger, K -9 Unit, DARE Officer, 3 years in Special Crimes Unit, and a stint as a Special United States Marshall.
Through all his service, his heart’s inspiration and passion shows through in caring for the youth in our communities. Rick has taken his law enforcement experience to a new dimension taking a pro-active approach. Rick believes in educating our youth in a very unique, interactive training that involves many agencies, students, schools and local communities.
Because of his inspiration, he founded the Freshman Impact® program in 2006 in Wall SD, with one school and only 60 students attending. The program became a 501 c (3) non-profit organization in 2012 and has federally registered copyrights and trademarks. As of 2018, the Freshman Impact® program has given over 12,000 freshman students in over 60 school districts in 4 states the opportunity to see the real-life consequences of poor choices before it happens to them—and has saved countless teenage lives.
Today his inspiration, passion and dedication to helping our youth continues. It shines through in every Freshman Impact® program, its trained Local Coordinators and into every community that has the privilege of attending one of these programs.
April Hix, C.O.R.E., Virtual Driving Interactive Program Coordinator
April is the Virtual Driving Interactive Program Director for C.O.R.E. her role is to engage with youth and provide a way to bridge the gap between theory and actual behind the wheel driving by having them practice on a driving simulator that has a whole program of learning modules from basic mirror setting to inclement weather driving and even distracted driving.
Beyond her professional prowess, April is a proud mother of twin boys and resides in Box Elder, SD. A graduate of Black Hills State University with a degree in Human Services and Sociology, her commitment to community service is evident through her diverse roles in her community. April’s passion extends to supporting education and sportsmanship for children, as demonstrated by her involvement on various non-profit boards. Join us as we welcome April to the team with her unwavering commitment to making a positive impact.
Karaleigh Two Crow
District Program Coordinator, Freshman Impact: Caught in the Moment
Karaleigh Two Crow, our dedicated District Coordinator for Indian Reservation Programs in South Dakota. A proud Pine Ridge native and full-time 911 dispatcher, Karaleigh has played a crucial role in bringing our programs to the reservations. Beyond her professional commitments, she’s a loving mother to a spirited daughter. Join us in celebrating Karaleigh’s passion for community service and her integral role in making a positive impact.