“Always be the first-rate version of yourself, instead of the second-rate version of somebody else.”
“Do
Talarie Wypasek Colin Wright
Woodin
Mindi Walters
Devon Wallace Christopher Wadsworth
Mersaydez VanDrew
Makenzie Toms
Madyson Tichler
Kenzie Thomas
Teller
Bailey Tegeler
Arielle Tefiku
Autumn Swift
Stokes
Stevens
Smith
EASTLAND HIGH SCHOOL
“You change the world by being yourself.”
Ella Peterson
Jaidyn McKinney
Eleanor Hanviriyapunt
Ava Parker
Abi Parker
Jameson Pannkuk
Joshua Nieves
Hannah Nampel
Haleah Nampel
Addison Mochal
Hunter Miller Mayson Meinert
Molly McKenna
Javier Mateo
Johnson Lauren
Alyson Knutti
Gage Kness
Cole Knebel
Olivia Klinefelter
Alyssa Kempel
Brayden Jackson
Hanna Graham Cooper Dollinger
Jessa DeuVall
Jordan Day Ella Dampman
Vance Crichton
Trinity Carroll
Cole Bremmer
Adam Awender
Jonathan Spoerlein
Talan Wright
Reid Witt
Austin Warner
Airon Thompson Andrew Sweitzer
Tanner Stern
Peyton Spears
Madison Schubert
Caylie Schubert
Alexander Salins
Dylan Rominski
Dalton Rogers-Ford
Robert Rodriguez James Reynolds Boston Pettenger
ERIE HIGH SCHOOL
Avery VanOosten
Peyton Umstead
Max Temple
Kaihden Stubblefield
Abigail Schipper
Hannah Ryan
Jayda Rosenow
Dakota Rick Mason Quinn
Keegan Peterson
Alexis Payne Jamie Neumiller
Zachary Murphy
Zoe Miller
Madilyn Meier
Lillian McWilliams
Chloee Lukehart
Samantha Kilker
Aidan Jepson
Noah Hovey
Eli Heyvaert
Erich Herzmann
Wyatt Hegwood
Makailey Hanlon
Ysabell Hamm
Jaylynn Hamilton
Keith Goodson
Isabelle Gabriel
Grace Friedrichsen
Kyle Finley
Madisyn Dornbush
Ethan Daubman
Rebekka Craven
Lotus Crady
Camden Collis
Kaleb Brooks
Brenden Boggs-Chavez
Aaliyah Bailey
Kiera Ary
Alexis Anderson
Kallie Wiseley
Robert Winters
Lily Willett
Shelby Wiersema
Gwyneth Wickes
Sophia Wheeler
Grace Wheeler
Jolene Wells
FAITH CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL FORRESTON HIGH SCHOOL
Cherish Dobbs
Selena Dixon Maddie Chesnek
Brennan Carr
Devin Bratt
Ayden Book
Evan Boettner
Tayton Bandy
Evvy Bamberg
Andrew Allen
Coehen Kirchner
Ayla Kiper
Grace Kaiser Ty Johnson
Benjamin Ils
Dausyn Heslop
Evelyn Haller
Brendan Greenfield
James Green
Ennen Ferris
Alee Worrell
Remington Warner
Elyse Stevens Emma Royer
Chloe Mennen
Ella McFalls
Lexi Huene
Helen Pfeiffer
Laney Guerrero Sam Dray
Bailey Cassens
Jacob Baker
FORRESTON HIGH SCHOOL
FULTON HIGH SCHOOL
Hannah Sheely
Mason Rogin
Colton Mcglynn
Aidan Yordy
Riley Wiggins
Chloe Weegens
Nathan Webster
Logan Tryggestad
Alexis Triplett
Isabella Thiel Lilly Swartz
Lucian Smuck
Dane Setterstrom Alec Schoonhoven
Jaiden Schneiderman
Mason Sanders
Aubrey Sanders
Colton Saldecki
Mckenna Rummel
Cade Rudy
Bailee Roop
Ashlyn Rinaldi
Lacey Politsch
Morgan Penn
Cassie Pals
Michael Owens
Aspen Niesman
Josiah Newill
Jayleigh Newill
Lucas Nelson
Aspen Mcglynn
Justin Myers
Bryce Miller
Donovan Magnuson
Sophia Lewis
Conrad Krigbaum
Deigon Krieger
Daniel Koehl
Isak Kivisto
Mikaela Fetalvero
Chloe Edwards
Skylier Crooks
John Carter
Lane Brewster
Kali Brewer
Braeden Brennan
Jonathan Borgman
Kordelia Boles
Olivia Babock
Annabella Houzenga
Ella Holmbo
Daniel Holman
Josiah Heald
Addyson Hartman-Kussmaul
Lucas Hartman
Addison Hartman
Xavier Hans Ruebecca Goodsman
Resse Germann
FULTON HIGH SCHOOL
Jack Mitchell Hunter Merema
Colin McGovern
Kaedence Kreider
Dominick Kramer
Olivia Knott
Max Klimstra
Chloe Ketelsen
Lydia Huizenga
Jacob Huisenga
Ethan Roberts Mason Resop
Aaron Portz Evan Piercy
Miraya Pessman
Mathias Paisley
Lucas Outzen
Makayla Nelson
Owyn Mulder
Jasmine Moreland
Ezekiel VenHuizen
Dane VanZuiden
Tommy Tome-Herrera
Logan Sweeney
Kylie Smither
Jace Smith Samantha Simpson David Schafer Parker Sanderson
Zachary Winkel Kira Wilson Brooklyn Whitney
KaLynn Westfall
Samantha Wendt Emery Wherry
Photo not available as of press time: Arihana Wheatley
Metro News Service
Earning a four-year degree is one path toward a rewarding career. However, that path isn’t the only one available to aspiring professionals. Enrolling in a vocational program can provide students with the skills necessary to engage in high-demand and well-paying jobs.
Vocational school, often referred to as “trade school,” can be an advantageous route for many people who are looking for an alternative to college. In 2020, the National Center for Education Statistics said a four-year private college cost around $50,300 for a student living on campus, while a four-year public college was roughly $24,300 annually. A 2018 poll from The Learning House, a skills training and coursework company, found 35 percent of students said tuition and other fees were their primary concerns when choosing college programs. Trade schools can cost three times less than other schooling, making them more palatable to young people concerned about the high costs of college.
Career and Technical Education programs number around 1,200 in the United States alone. Many students begin vocational career tracks in high school, according to American Education Services. Here are some benefits to pursuing an education in the trades.
Lower cost: According to NCES, trade schools cost significantly less than fouryear institutions. Data from the U.S. Department of Education says programs may run between $3,600 to $16,000 per year. Most vocational programs last two years, meaning that students graduate with far less debt than they might accrue when pursuing a four-year college program.
Individualized attention: Many trade programs offer instruction in very intimate settings, with experienced practitioners serving as mentors and trainers. While each program is different, vocational training schools tend to have lower faculty-to-student ratios than traditional colleges.
Fewer admission requirements: Trade schools may not have the same stringent application and admissions processes as colleges. Course prerequisites and grade point average requirements also may not dictate trade school admissions policies.
Direct, hands-on training: Unlike a traditional college that marries general education courses with those specific to a major, trade school programs focus only on skills and training relevant to each student’s chosen career path.
Less time to complete schooling: More direct lessons means that students can complete their certifications or degrees in shorter times and enter the workforce much more quickly than their counterparts at traditional colleges and universities.
Metro News Service
Many high school students tend to enjoy a few months of summer vacation after they graduate, and then embark on new adventures at college or trade school. Graduating college seniors follow a similar path of joining the workforce or beginning post-graduate work after earning their degrees. But such paths are not the only ones available to students. Some students may want to consider a gap year.
A gap year is a break from academia to pursue other interests or even experiential learning, according to Forbes. It’s more than just a time to relax, and can prove especially helpful to self-development and discovery. If time and budget allows, taking a gap year can be a worthwhile and productive endeavor. Here are a few ideas and benefits relating to gap years.
Hone skills: Some see a gap year as a chance to goof off or lounge around. Instead, this break provides an opportunity to sample the workforce and gain experience. Individuals can seek opportunities that will be relevant to the careers they intend to pursue in the future. A future certified public accountant, for example, may want to spend tax season working with an accounting firm to learn the ropes.
Learn a language: Students may think a gap year is the perfect opportunity to become more proficient in a foreign language or two. Bilingualism can be a key advantage in one’s
job search and future career. Traveling to a country where a studied language is spoken and learning it while immersed in the culture can be a particularly effective means to acquiring language skills.
Engage in a passion project: There are many projects that may be put on hold because of lack of time or resources while in school. A gap year can be the ideal time to write more or explore an innovative new business idea.
Perform service work: A gap year can be an opportunity to engage in social change or to help a cause. Certain people may want to travel to underprivileged areas on humanitarian missions or teach English to students overseas. These are experiences that will promote personal growth and help boost a résumé when it comes time to find a job.
Improve academic performance: A study by Colorado College’s Gap Year Research Consortium reported that those who participate in gap years exceeded their predicted GPAs by roughly 0.15 points. A gap year may help a person become a better student.
Land an internship: Some companies may want to extend internship offerings beyond the standard semester. Many professionals land their jobs through networking, so taking time away from school to participate in a lengthy internship can make for a smoother entry into that company should one want to work with them in the future.