Local Elementary Principal and Alumna Promoting Early College Awareness
The Tornado colors promoting college degrees were worn by more than 200 kindergarten students on the first Friday of the school year, which happened to be the first of many High Five Fridays at Storm Lake Elementary School.
“Career readiness conversations need to happen early on,” says Storm Lake Elementary School principal, Barb (Buckwalter) Lange SL’92. Lange is leading a new initiative to help her staff encourage their students to earn a college education, which extends from younger children at the Early Childhood Center to seniors at Storm Lake High School.
Over summer 2018, Lange was preparing for her first year as principal by seeking sponsors for green t-shirts that read “Future College Graduate” in white. Local businesses including Buena Vista Regional Medical Center, Central Bank, Sports Rehab and Professional Therapy Associates, and Buena Vista University sponsored the t-shirts.
“We are so thankful to have the community support us each day, and providing the funds for these t-shirts was a great way to make an impact in our school,” says Lange. “I really wanted BVU on board because they’re an accessible University in town, and as an alum, I’m honored to continue working and living in Storm Lake. The schools try to stay connected the University.” Local districts partner with BVU by providing work opportunities, student teaching experiences, and Partner in Excellence classroom connections. Lange says that she has a supportive staff of teachers eager to share the importance of higher education with their students and the students’ families. “Students are starting to become more aware of the advantages a college education can provide, and the t-shirts mean the parents are becoming more aware as well.”
"I really wanted BVU on board because they’re an accessible University in town, and as an alum, I’m honored to continue working and living in Storm Lake."
Barb (Buckwalter) Lange SL’92
The Tornado colors promoting college degrees were worn by more than 200 kindergarten students on the first Friday of the school year, which happened to be the first of many High Five Fridays at Storm Lake Elementary School. High Five Friday was introduced to Lange by new Storm Lake Elementary School guidance counselor Melanie (Kopaska) Brashears SL’14. Brashears is spearheading the weekly event in which community organizations greet students and parents with smiles, signs, and high fives. BVU President Joshua Merchant, education faculty members, and BVU women’s soccer team players were present on the first day and witnessed students wearing their new t-shirts. “It’s so rewarding to see the smiles on our students’ faces when they walk into school on Friday mornings now, and we have a great response overall,” says Lange. “We have a lot to be proud of here in Storm Lake, and this is just the beginning.”
