Tristen Rosby – AAS degree in Cyber Security - Minnesota State Technical and Community College

Spectrum Class of 2014

Where did you go and what did you do after graduating from Spectrum?

I went to Alexandria Technical and Community College for Law Enforcement, moved to Bemidji in 2016. I was a supervisor for a restaurant called Green Mill for 3 years while trying to figure what I wanted to do with life, then I was a sales consultant for Honda and Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram. In 2021 I moved to Fargo to go back to school at Minnesota State Technical and Community College for Cyber Security!

Describe any recent accomplishments.

I just graduated with honors at Minnesota State Technical and Community College for Cyber Security!

What is your favorite memory of your time at Spectrum?

Memory? More like memories!! I have no idea where to start!! Being apart of the very first baseball and football team was pretty memorable. Winning our first football game at our homecoming our junior year. Our first baseball and basketball game played on our own field and court. Having our junior year prom at TCF Bank Stadium. When the Yearbook crew lip synced Jesse's Girl and the whole school flooded the front stage. Making life-long friends!

What was your funniest moment as a student?

The funniest moment is when I try and describe what our freshman year was like. We were the last class in the temporary buildings out where the new sport complex is for Spectrum. The look on people's faces when I say "Yeah we were in two temporary buildings, and we had two hallways when I was a freshman" is absolutely priceless.

Describe Spectrum in three words.

Accommodating, Inspiring, and Life-Changing

Were there any teachers or staff who influenced your life?

The whole teaching staff at Spectrum was always in your corner. Coach Churchill, Mr. Bubna, Coach Remick, Coach Hyde, Coach Delo Reyes, Ms. Kinney, Mrs. Hoyt, Ms. Tyler, Mr. Skog, Mrs. Favre, Mrs. Mollet. The teachers and coaches listed above were the ones who really made an impact on my life that made me the person who I am today. Also, I can't forget about the office ladies at Spectrum! Mrs. Holum, Mrs. Dammeier, and Mrs. Bondy! (always went to talk to them during classes of course!)

What impact did Spectrum have on your life?

I cannot thank Spectrum enough for the life lessons I learned there; those lessons have carried onto my higher education and in my life. I have met some of the best people in the world there, and those people happen to still be in my life today, whether it is as a mentor or a friend. I would not be who I am today if I did not attend Spectrum.

What advice would you give today’s students?

It is okay to not know what you want to do in life right away! It is okay to hit the restart button! I thought law enforcement was my path, but it was not. I went back to school at the age of 25 to get my cyber security degree. Talk about nerve racking! I was one of the oldest in my class! Going back to school was one of the best decisions I made. Trust your teachers! Ask questions! They are there to help you succeed!

Jessyca Gleason (Kantor) – Associates Degree Nursing, RN, ADN - Central Lakes College

Spectrum Class of 2015

Where did you go and what did you do after graduating from Spectrum?

I completed my AA degree at Lake Superior College in Duluth then transferred to Central Lakes College where I graduated with my Associates Degree in Nursing.

Describe any recent accomplishments.

After graduating with my ADN, I passed my NCLEX- RN and accepted a position as a Registered Nurse at M Health Fairview. I recently have been accepted into a RN to BSN program that I will complete while working as a nurse!

What is your favorite memory of your time at Spectrum?

My favorite memory at Spectrum would be the service learning classes us students were involved in. For me, volunteering at the local nursing home in Elk River was where I really discovered my passion for serving others and also opened the window to my career.

Were there any teachers or staff who influenced your life?

I think all the staff influenced me in different ways throughout my years at Spectrum. They pushed me in the right direction and many supported me in my personal life.

Describe Spectrum in three words.

Quality, community, supportive.

What impact did Spectrum have on your life?

Spectrum has transformed every part of my life. I built the foundation to my career, life, and values at Spectrum and I was introduced to people who will be apart of my life forever, including my husband.

What advice would you give today’s students?

Take advantage of the opportunities and education Spectrum provides! Avid, cash/college classes, volunteering, tutoring, etc. They are there to help you succeed!! Also, don't overlook community or tech colleges straight out of high school!

Camden Goepferd – Associates Degree in Paramedicine - Century College

Spectrum Class of 2016

Where did you go and what did you do after graduating from Spectrum?
After graduation from Spectrum I attended Century College to obtain my Associates Degree in Paramedicine. I worked on a 911 ambulance in St. Cloud for about a year before being offered a job as a paramedic in the Stillwater area where I have been for the last 4 years. Lakeview EMS has offered me many opportunities for growth including completion of my Critical Care certification and a position working with the county Mobile Field Force team while waiting for a Paramedic Operator position to open up on the SWAT team. I also was hired on with the local fire department and completed my state fire fighter training to respond to both fire and rescue incidents.

Describe any recent accomplishments.
My biggest accomplishments have been buying a house and being promoted to a supervisor support role within Lakeview EMS company. This will allow me multiple opportunities for further growth. I also recently have completed multiple classes and received instructor certifications for ACLS/and Palls along with Narcan Instruction for first responders. These certifications allow me to help others and work with other fire and law enforcement responders in the community to better the care of patients in our area.

What is your favorite memory of your time at Spectrum?

My favorite memories are the multiple friends that I made while attending spectrum. Many that I still connect with and see regularly. I also enjoyed attending the choir tours each year and helping with the yearly theater productions.

What was your funniest moment as a student?   

Any of the number of pranks I played on Mrs. Kirkpatrick during choir rehearsals.

Were there any teachers or staff who influenced your life?

The two most influential teachers for me were Mrs. Mollet and Mrs. Kinney. They both taught me many classes and relevant topics which I still use today.

What impact did Spectrum have on your life?

Attending Spectrum allowed me to complete all of my college generals prior to graduation which allowed me to save about a year and a half of school and tuition payments when I completed my degree.

Makayla Morrell – Bachelor's degree in Business - Bethel University

Spectrum Class of 2018

Where did you go and what did you do after graduating from Spectrum?

After graduating from Spectrum, I attended Bethel University. I graduated in December 2021 with my Bachelor's degree in Business with an emphasis on marketing. After college, I worked for a new private high school called Trilogy STEM Academy. At Trilogy, I was in charge of their social media and marketing as well as planning and coordinating their first fundraiser event for the school. In addition, I was tasked with creating and designing their new summer childcare program, Camp Trilogy. After my time at Trilogy, I went on to become a wedding coordinator for BG Events and Design, and I currently work as a paraprofessional back at Spectrum High School. My long term goals include attaining a career in digital marketing while working in event planning.

Describe any recent accomplishments.

My biggest accomplishments have been buying my first house, graduating college, and getting engaged! I cannot wait to see what other life goals and achievements I accomplish in the future.

What is your favorite memory of your time at Spectrum?

I have many great memories from Spectrum however my favorite memories would be the times spent with my softball team. We were like one big family and looking back I felt like we were always laughing and having fun together while motivating each other to be better people. I am still close friends with most of the girls today.

What was your funniest moment as a student?
I had so many good laughs and funny moments at Spectrum that it is hard to think of just one. Again, softball was always filled with funny shenanigans. For instance, we had our annual mud day at practice, our Talker Tuesday "boys talk" where our coaches gave us the run down on all things boys on our annual team retreat, the time Alisa Johnson was told to slide into the base and she panicked so she just sat down on second base, and finally the canoe races across the athletic complex pond. In addition, my teachers made the experience fun which reminds me of the one time I went to the bathroom in Nyquist's class and I came back to him to find him sitting at my desk, or the time Ms. Kinney had us memorize and recite a part of Romeo and Juliet to the class and I spent so much time saying it to myself to prepare that I ended up answered the phone at Buffalo Wild Wings, where I worked at the time, and instead of saying "Thank you for calling Buffalo Wild Wings" I said, "O Romeo, Romeo wherefore art thou Romeo?" Safe to say I immediately hung up the phone! There are too many funny memories at Spectrum to list without writing a novel.

Were there any teachers or staff who influenced your life?

I loved all my teachers at Spectrum, and they all shaped me into the person I am today. My coaches, Rob Rogers and Brad Selley, had a major impact on the person I am today. They repeatedly would tell us that if softball was the only thing they taught us then they failed as coaches. They stressed the idea of becoming not only good players, but also becoming hard working, respectful individuals. We would have Talker Tuesdays every Tuesday where they would end practice early and teach us a life lesson that we could instill in our future. You could tell our coaches deeply cared for our well-being and that is something I will always cherish.

Describe Spectrum in three words.

Challenging, Influential, Supportive

What impact did Spectrum have on your life?

I can 100% say I would not be where I am today without Spectrum. I still have a lot to learn and many more goals to accomplish in life but Spectrum equipped me for not only my academic future, but also life in general. The school left me with so many great relationships and resources that might have been harder for me to find at a normal public school.

What advice would you give today’s students?

As hard as the curriculum and demands at Spectrum may seem, they really are prepping you for the future and all the hard work does pay off. I still have great relationships with my old teachers and I would not be who I am today without the school. I may have disliked it in the moment but looking back I would not trade it for the world.

Parker Brown – Media Major -  University of Sioux Falls

Spectrum Class of 2019

Where did you go and what did you do after graduating from Spectrum?

I went to the University of Sioux Falls to study media in concentrations of multi-media broadcasting and social media marketing.

Describe any recent accomplishments.

I got involved at USF very quickly. During my time at USF, I held the positions of Student Senator, Peer Mentor, Concert Chorale Chaplain, and Resident Assistant. I am currently the manager for our student radio station, KCFS. Last summer I interned for a professional baseball team in Sioux Falls, the Sioux Falls Canaries. I moved into an Assistant Broadcasting and Media Relations position towards the second half of the season where I interviewed players, co-commentated on the radio, updated rosters, and much more.

What is your favorite memory of your time at Spectrum?

While it's extremely difficult to pinpoint a single favorite memory of my time at Spectrum, I would have to say that my favorite memory at Spectrum was my final choir tour and choir concert. There were so many bittersweet moments and I still hold those songs we sang close to my heart.

What was your funniest moment as a student?   

My funniest moment as a student at Spectrum was most likely when my class arranged the creation of a Thanos cake as a prize at our Senior homecoming pep fest.

Were there any teachers or staff who influenced your life?

The faculty at Spectrum are fantastic and numerous staff members have had a positive impact on my life. The most influential people to me were Mrs. Chrest, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, and Mr. Mills. All three of them helped me find the things I was passionate about, gave me the tools to go after my goals, and taught me countless life lessons.

Describe Spectrum in three words.

Enriching, challenging, and engaging.

What impact did Spectrum have on your life?

Spectrum provided me with an experience that I couldn't get anywhere else. It provided me with many opportunities to serve my community, get involved in many school groups, and find personal growth.

What advice would you give today’s students? 

Continue to challenge yourself and enjoy your time as it goes by way too fast.