When I joined North Platte High School’s counseling team, I was struck by the immense potential of our students and their endless possibilities beyond high school. This year, our team set out to create tangible moments for students to reflect on and plan for their futures. This led to hosting our very first
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With encouragement from our principal, Cory Spotanski, and the commitment of our counseling team — Sky Seery, Brett Julius, Nashea Meduna, Traci Foster, and me — we launched these events to inspire students and show them that their dreams are achievable.
Coming up with a theme that resonates with students can be challenging, but we were determined to make our first WhyApply event exciting and memorable. One day, as “Despicable Me” played in the background at home, inspiration struck. With three kids who adore the little yellow characters, a fun idea was born: “[A] Minion Different Ways to Go.”
Our administration and counseling team dressed up in yellow overalls and goggles, costumes inspired by the popular animated characters. The lighthearted theme immediately grabbed students' attention, set a welcoming tone, and sparked questions about postsecondary options.
The seniors especially enjoyed it — the theme added an approachable feel to the event, which helped break the ice and get them thinking about their future paths in a fun way. Having such a visible theme that was embraced by not only the counselors, but the administration too, created a memorable experience that will help us grow events in the future.
A Community of Encouragement
Supporting students at North Platte High School means providing guidance for all postsecondary paths. While many students pursue college, we also emphasize and support the pursuit of trade schools, workforce opportunities, and military service.
We’re fortunate to have Traci Foster as our Career Counselor, who coordinates internships, Career Fairs, ASVAB testing, and meetings with military recruiters. This holistic approach ensures that students feel confident navigating their unique futures.
We believe that knowing our students individually — understanding their goals, challenges, and strengths — allows us to guide them toward opportunities that are truly meaningful.
Tracking Growth in Postsecondary Engagement Though this was our first year hosting WhyApply events, the positive impact was already clear. More students than ever actively engaged in conversations about their next steps. We’re excited to track application rates in the coming years and witness this initiative evolve into a tradition.
Our ultimate goal is to ensure every student, whether they are college-bound, entering the workforce, or choosing an alternative path, feels supported in achieving their goals.
Overcoming Challenges Like many districts, challenges around equity and access remain key areas we focus on. Many of our students may not have access to postsecondary information or opportunities at home, and some face financial and/or transportation barriers when it comes to testing.
We’ve taken steps to address these challenges by embedding
ACT prep into our school day through the John Baylor Test Prep program and hosting the ACT on campus. We also provide credit recovery programs, summer school, and personalized graduation plans to ensure every student has a clear path forward.
As an official ACT test site, we’re also able to offer the exam in a familiar and comfortable environment, which helps students feel more confident when test day arrives.
Recognized as an American College Application Program School of Excellence Being named an ACAC School of Excellence is a testament to our commitment to student success. It’s a meaningful acknowledgment that aligns perfectly with our broader vision of becoming a “Destination School District.”
Our team works hard every day to help students discover and pursue their own version of success, and this award is an encouraging validation of those efforts. This recognition not only motivates our team but showcases our ability to provide a supportive environment where students can thrive. It’s also helped us strengthen relationships with families who are seeking a school district that prioritizes opportunity and personalized support.
Building Strong Relationships At the heart of our success is a commitment to getting to know our students individually. Relationships are the foundation of everything we do. By understanding our students’ goals, challenges, and strengths, we can guide them toward resources and opportunities that matter most.
Programs like our career and technical education offerings, dual credit courses, and college and career planning are rooted in these relationships. We’re deeply proud of what we’ve built together and excited to continue evolving to meet our students’ needs.
Our goal is to make sure every student not only earns a diploma but leaves our school with a plan for what comes next.
Looking Ahead The reaction to our WhyApply events, though in the early stages, has been encouraging. We know that with even more outreach and effective advertising, participation will grow in the years ahead, and these events will become a tradition both students and faculty will look forward to.
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