Real Success Stories

Meet real role models working in various industries who have found success through alternative pathways after high school — and what they like about what they do! Looking to dive deeper? Complete this scavenger hunt to help you explore the many paths to success.

Dustin Shellito

Manager, Pioneer Nutrition

After 13 years in law enforcement, I was ready to change my profession to a role without on-call duties in the middle of the night.
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Payton Siemens

Speech Therapist

As a child, I dreamed of becoming a veterinarian because I loved helping animals. Over time, that passion evolved into a career focused on helping people. Today, I’m a speech therapist, literacy intervention specialist and reading specialist at No Stone Unturned in Manhattan, Kansas. I enjoy...
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Austin Vincent

Staff Attorney

I’ve always been passionate about agriculture. I grew up on my family’s fifth-generation ranch, where I learned the value of a handshake and satisfaction of a job well done. But it wasn’t until my senior year of college that I realized I wanted to dedicate my career to the industry. A policy...
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Kylene Caquelin

Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)

I always knew I wanted to work with kids. Today, I’m doing just that as a board-certified behavior analyst at No Stone Unturned in Manhattan. I work with kids who are diagnosed with autism to lessen their maladaptive behaviors. Maladaptive behaviors are actions that stop someone from facing new or...
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Sarah Weber

Pruning Supervisor

Growing up, I could never decide what I wanted to do for a career. I had so many different interests and bounced around so many things — I couldn’t have guessed I’d be where I am today.
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Beau Means

Plumbing Manager

Growing up in a family of plumbers, it’s no surprise that I ended up in the same field. But when I went away to college, plumbing was the last thing I planned to pursue. That changed when I heard my family talk about their work at gatherings. I realized how proud they were of helping homeowners...
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Emily Beyer

Neurosurgery Nurse Practitioner

Growing up, I always wanted to be in the medical field. I initially considered working with animals like my mom, but I soon realized I wanted to help people directly and communicate with my patients to understand exactly where they hurt.
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CJ Moorman

Plant Manager/Concrete Batchman

I’ve always loved the construction industry, and over time, I saw all the opportunities it offers. I was drawn to the idea of driving big trucks and operating heavy equipment, and I set a goal to master those skills as I got older.
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Brandy Sayre

Court Reporter

Growing up, I wanted to be a physician. After graduating from high school, I started working for a court reporting firm editing transcripts. I did that while I was in college, and I decided what I really wanted to do was to be a court reporter.
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Taylor Case

Project Engineer

When I was a kid, I dreamed of being either a country singer or a veterinarian. Growing up on a farm, loving animals and always watching Country Music Television on Saturday mornings, I thought those career paths would be good fits. As it turned out, though, I can’t sing (well) and didn’t want to...
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