It’s the final day of South Dakota’s Week of Work, a statewide initiative connecting students to career exploration experiences that go far beyond the classroom. In the Sioux Falls School District, those opportunities extend throughout the entire school year. They happen all year, across all grade levels, and they are helping students discover who they are, what they love, and where they want to go next.
This week, we’ve celebrated only a handful of the incredible stories that show how hands-on learning, industry connections, and early career exploration are shaping the future workforce of Sioux Falls. From aspiring architects and military leaders to educators and community changemakers, one thing is clear, when students are given meaningful opportunities to explore their passions, their possibilities are endless.
For Hannah Jensen, it was the Teacher Pathway program at Roosevelt High School that opened the door. What began as a high school elective turned into a lifelong calling. And today, Hannah is back in the classroom, now as an English teacher at Jefferson High School. “Working in the community I grew up in is a privilege,” she said. “Not only do I get to pour into the future of Sioux Falls, but I also get to be part of the same activities that made my high school experiences so memorable.” Her story is a full-circle reminder of what’s possible when students are supported by programs and mentors who believe in their potential.
Sawyer Abbott, a senior at Lincoln High School, took a different path, but one rooted in the same foundation of opportunity. After joining the Marine Corps JRTOCT as a freshman, he found the structure, mentorship, and purpose he was looking for. “JROTC is all about leadership,” Sawyer said. “It gave me the opportunity to lead as early as freshman year and explore what kind of leader I want to be.” Soon, he will begin basic training as a United States Marine, with plans to serve in Combat Imagery and Multimedia, a creative twist inspired by his high school art class. “Mr. Hinton showed me that creativity still had a place in my future,” Sawyer shared. “It actually led me to the photography field within the Corps.”
Opportunities like this don’t happen by accident. They happen because of partnerships, with educators, businesses, and community organizations who believe in investing in young people. Events like Pizza, Pop, and Power Tools introduce middle school girls to careers in construction and skilled trades. Career fairs, industry tours, and classroom visits bring local professionals into the learning process. Whether it’s a welder mentoring a student or an engineer giving a tour, these moments build a bridge between classroom concepts and real-world careers.
Navaeh, a senior at Roosevelt High School, is already walking that bridge. Through CTE’s Internship class, she is working at TSP, Inc., shadowing architects and designers as she builds toward her dream of one day launching a nonprofit focused on sustainable housing. “This internship has confirmed that this is what I want to do,” she said. “It’s given me real-world experience that goes beyond what a classroom or college lecture could teach me.” Her path was shaped by hands-on classes like Carpentry I and community service with Habitat for Humanity. Navaeh is proof that when students are given the tools to explore, they don’t just find a career, they find purpose.
The stories of Hannah, Sawyer, and Navaeh show that there is no single path to success. But they also show what all students need. They need opportunities to explore, encouragement to grow, and access to real experiences that make learning come alive.
As Work of Week comes to a close, we celebrate not just these individual journeys, but the collective power of education, exploration, and community support. In Sioux Falls, we are not just preparing students for graduation, we are preparing them for life.