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Oh, the places Blue Earth Area grads will go!

BEA’s Class of 2024 will study criminology, become vets, and weld

By Fiona Green - Staff Writer | May 19, 2024

The group of students pictured above represents a small selection of the 76 seniors who will graduate from Blue Earth Area High School on Sunday, June 2. In the back row, left to right, they are Jamie Johnson, Delanie Bruellman and Ben Anderson. In the front row, left to right, are Naoma Bruellman, Eric Sheppard and Cassie King. Although the six students have very different plans following graduation, they all agree that they are excited to start a new chapter in their lives.

On Sunday, June 2, 76 Blue Earth Area seniors will gather together for the last time to don their gaps and gowns, receive their diplomas, and say ‘farewell’ to Blue Earth Area High School.

The students have shared many experiences up until this point, but June will mark a divergence in their paths.

The Class of 2024’s post-graduation plans will scatter them far and wide – from Blue Earth, Minnesota, to Wisconsin, Wyoming, Missouri and Hawaii.

Their many and varied plans show there is no ‘right’ path to take after high school.

Attending college in Minnesota

Thirty-nine BEA graduates plan to attend in-state colleges after crossing the stage in June.

Although they are all staying in their home state, the students’ fields of study vary widely.

Some students, such as senior Cassie King, are pursuing a career which has been their dream since middle school.

King, who will be studying criminology at Hamline University this fall, says she decided on her major long ago.

“I’ve been interested in criminology since I was 12,” King explains.

Her classmate, Naoma Bruellman, is also going to be studying a long-time passion at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

“I’ve been into psychology ever since middle school,” Bruellman says. “What I would study was a toss up between psychology, writing and the arts, but I figured psychology would provide a wide variety of opportunities.”

Seven BEA graduates will join Bruellman at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus, and two students will study at the University of Minnesota’s Duluth campus.

Other Minnesota schools selected by the Class of 2024 include South Central College, Riverland Community College, Minnesota West Community & Technical College, Central Lakes College, Rochester Community & Technical College, Minnesota State University-Mankato, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, Winona State University, St. Cloud State University and the College of Saint Benedict.

Attending college out of state

Twenty members of BEA’s Class of 2024 will be flying a little further when they leave the nest this spring.

Among them is senior Jamie Johnson, who will be attending Brigham Young University in Hawaii to study political science.

He also has big plans for the future – a mission trip following his first year at Brigham Young, and, eventually, law school.

In the meantime, political science interested him due to its potential for future opportunities.

“A lot of politicians are older,” Johnson notes. “Not a lot of people in our generation want to go into politics right now.”

Delanie Bruellman has also decided on a specific career path. She plans to attend Buena Vista University in Iowa to study pre-veterinary medicine.

“I wanted to take everything I love and put it into my job,” she says. “I think it’s a good opportunity to work with animals and people. I like both.”

Two BEA graduates will join Bruellman in Iowa when they attend Iowa State University and North Iowa Area Community College.

Eleven students, meanwhile, intend to study at schools in South Dakota, including Southeast Technical College, South Dakota State University and Augustana University.

Five BEA graduates will attend schools in Wisconsin, including the University of Wisconsin’s Eau Claire and La Crosse campuses, Chippewa Valley Technical College and Carthage College.

Attending specialty training programs

Two soon-to-be BEA graduates have already found their profession of choice, and plan to attend specialty training programs to get a jump-start on their careers.

One senior will attend the Western Welding Academy in Gillette, Wyoming, and another, Ben Anderson, will attend the Missouri Welding Institute.

“I started doing (welding) as a fun, easy thing to do,” Anderson says. “There are lots of different career paths in welding.”

Joining the workforce

Thirteen members of BEA’s Class of 2024 plan to enter the workforce after graduating, including senior Eric Sheppard.

Sheppard decided not to spend a lot of money on college when he is already interested in careers which do not require a degree.

As of now, he plans to continue working as a cashier at Winnebago’s Marketplace Foods, but someday he might be interested in working at Everidge, a commercial refrigeration manufacturer in Winnebago.

“I like the people I work with,” Sheppard says. “I’m pretty comfortable with my current decision.”

Alternative paths

One prospective BEA graduate will join the Army after receiving their diploma, and another senior is still finalizing her school of choice.

Bruellman suggests there is no reason to rush decisions about where, or what, to study as the end of senior year approaches.

“A lot of us stress about what we want to do one day,” she says. “It’s okay to go to college and not know what your major is. Let yourself figure it out – you’re less likely to change your major then.”

The Class of 2024 has additional advice for younger students as they approach their senior year.

“I only learned the significance of the classes you pick when I was a junior,” Sheppard said, explaining he would have liked to take more credit-bearing college readiness courses in high school.

“I would take the College Now courses now,” Naoma Bruellman agrees, reasoning that taking the classes in high school is a great opportunity to take college-level courses with the stronger support system offered in high school.

For those students who are considering college, King recommends the Educational Talent Search Program, which provides free career and college planning services for students.

Johnson, meanwhile, urges younger students to join clubs and activities.

“You can learn a lot intellectually in class, but you can learn a lot socially in activities,” he explains.

Also an advocate for building social connections, Anderson recommends building a network of local professionals who can open doors for career exploration.

“If you want to do something, go talk to someone who actually does that thing,” he suggests.

And, all of the students agree that following your passion is the best way to discover your post-high school path.

“When you’re in eighth grade, the standard custom is to search for what job pays more money,” Johnson remembers. “Don’t look at the dollar signs.”

“My personal advice is, do what you love,” Sheppard agrees. “Otherwise, you may be paid more, but you’re spending your happiness.”

Their future plans may be very different, but the six seniors are, indeed, all following their passions after graduation.

And, they agree that they are ready to take the next step.

“I’m really excited,” Delanie Bruellman says. “I’m always just living in the future. I’m ready to be in the workforce.”

“I’m ready for the next chapter,” Johnson agrees.