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.

Erica Monterroza

911 Communications Dispatcher

"When I was younger, I wanted to be a fashion designer. In high school, I took three years of fashion classes. However, I started to realize that not a lot of people make it into the fashion industry without a great scholarship or personal contacts. My fashion teacher said I’m great with people,...
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Omar Mares-Salazar

Paving Foreman

"In high school, construction was interesting to me because of the nice trucks that construction workers had — plus, my brother worked in construction, so I’d seen what it was like firsthand. So, I took all of the courses my high school offered related to construction. My school had a program that...
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Jade Ramsdell

Learning Management System Administrator

“My mom was a single parent. While she worked, I often spent time with older relatives and neighbors, helping them out. This taught me to be a caretaker at an early age. I always imagined myself going into nursing. I volunteered in high school assisting people with disabilities. Then one day in...
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Breiton Pfannenstiel

Heavy Equipment Operator

“My dad’s an electrician. Growing up in Hays, I always wanted to be just like him. He’d do side work for friends, and I would tag along, get some experience watching and helping him. I liked doing that. But as I got into high school, I started to learn about other possibilities through career days...
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Ben Loewen

Heavy Equipment Operations Manager

“I didn’t really have construction experience before working at MJE, but a friend told me I should apply, and the money was great, so I did. I’ve always felt like you can learn whatever you need on the job — work ethic matters more than anything. My willingness to show up every day and get the job...
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Nathan Brown

Senior Technician

“When I was 20, my wife and I moved from Concordia to Manhattan for her education. Shortly after, my computer began slowing down due to malware. As I was researching how to clean up the computer to speed it up, I had an epiphany that I like electronics and that this could be the field for me.
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Heather Brewer, MBA, PTA, ATC

Manager of Outpatient Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy Services

“When I was in high school, I knew I wanted to work with people and I wanted to work in the medical profession, but I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do. Maybe it was because I enjoyed my science classes, or that I played sports, had injuries, and watched others recover from injuries. I...
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Josh Brewer, RN

Clinical Manager

"I always knew I wanted to help people. After high school, I went to Hutchinson Community College and was a full-time firefighter for 10 years. Then, a motorcycle accident kept me from firefighting. I had to endure a lot of surgeries and I realized I wanted to make a greater impact, so I decided to...
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Kati Butrico

Executive Chef

“I grew up in a very sports-focused family. My dad and I watched a lot of college basketball together, and I played on a team all the way through high school. But as I grew older, it became obvious I wasn’t going to be a professional athlete. I needed to find a different type of team.
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