Graduation Year: 2016

College Education:

I graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in December of 2019. I received my Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Elementary Education. I am currently working online through Northwest toward my Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration as well.

How did your education at BPS prepare you for college and beyond?

I value my time (K-12) at Bennington Public Schools. I believe BPS prepared me very well for both college and beyond. In high school, I was able to take classes that challenged me and prepared me for college courses. It not only prepared me in terms of knowledge and content of the courses, but also in general life skills such as time management, community building, and problem solving. I was fortunate enough to graduate college in three and a half years, and I genuinely believe that is because of the courses and education I received at Bennington.

Current job? What do you enjoy most about teaching?

I am currently a third grade teacher at Northview Elementary in the North Kansas City School District. This will be my first year teaching, but I have always enjoyed guiding and facilitating student learning in order for every student to reach their full potential. My overall goal is to provide a learning experience for children that allow them to have a positive attitude towards education as a whole and to be an advocate for all of my students.

Favorite Teacher(s) from your time as a Bennington student? How did your teachers impact your teaching style today?

I can honestly say that all of my teachers during my time at Bennington were great!! If I had to choose some favorites, they would be Mrs. Allen (K), Mrs. Schumacher (Jr. High), Mr. Grinvalds (HS), Mrs. McGrew (HS), Mr. Olson (HS), Mr. Schumm (HS) and Mr. Frederickson (HS). Honestly, that list could’ve went on for a while, but those are the ones that stood out to me.

Do you have a favorite memory from your time as a student?

Also a very tough question!! My favorite memory from my time as a student is probably going to State Track every year (even if I didn’t perform well haha!). I feel as though that is an experience like no other, and I still love to go back and just be a spectator. The atmosphere of Burke Stadium during State Track is incredible! Other memories are all our food days in Spanish class, all homecomings and proms, and all of the sporting events! The community that BPS creates for students, staff, and the community provides so many opportunities for positive memories.

What advice would you give current students?

If I had to give some advice, it would be to get involved in extra-curricular activities and do what you enjoy. Make your high school experience about you, and don’t look so far into the future. Almost all of my memories from high school have to do with the extra-curricular activities that I was involved in, and one of my regrets is always thinking about college and worrying about the next step instead of just enjoying the experience. After high school, life hits very quickly, and it’s all fast forward from there! Enjoy the experience by making it your own!

What activities were you involved in during high school? How did participating in those impact your life today?

I was involved in Cross Country, Track, Basketball (2 years), FBLA, Student Senate, NLS, and FCA. Participating in these activities has provided me with a lot of time management skills that I do not think I would’ve made it through college without. In high school, I had to be very intentional with my time, and that has definitely been something that has stuck with me since. It also provided me with social skills, communication skills, and community building that allowed me to create relationships with peers, classmates, and co-workers. Lastly, these activities helped me find what I was truly interested in and what I could see myself doing as a career. They allowed me to find my strengths and how to use those in different ways to lead.

Why should people consider donating to the BPS Foundation’s Scholarship Fund?

College is a very big financial decision to make, especially when you are 18 years old. Every single scholarship that a student can get is helpful when those large bills come around! Speaking as someone that worked three jobs most of my college career in order to pay for things, any money is helpful at that point in life. Receiving the $5,000 scholarship helped me immensely in order to work less and get more involved on campus, provide more time for homework, and allow me to create relationships with professors, advisors, and classmates during my college experience as well. Students at BHS work hard during high school years to prepare for college, and receiving scholarships is one way to show appreciation and reward for all of their hard work. The BPS Foundation is very generous each year in order to provide scholarships to students in order to lessen the financial burden of college, which is something that I am forever grateful for receiving.