The goal of any high school is to educate their students and prepare them for their future, whether that be higher education, trade school, or the workforce. They also aim to offer as many clubs, sports, and other activities as possible to provide those attending with a memorable high school experience. Over the years, Andale High School has managed to produce many impressive individuals, both athletically and academically. We sat down with Lauren Barthelme, an Andale High School alumni, to ask her about her experiences while here and to find out what she’s doing now.
Lauren Barthleme grew up in Goddard and Wichita, KS. She started her freshman year at AHS in August of 2017. During her time here, she participated in cheer, dance, volleyball, SADD, NHS, and was voted a member of STUCO. Lauren said one of the teachers who really inspired her was Mr. Gregg, because he helped her discover her passion for science. When asked how she thinks her high school prepared her for her future career, she shared with us that she managed to start college while she was a senior, which allowed her to fastrack and graduate early. In fact, she even mentioned that her favorite year of high school was senior year as she had the opportunity to spend most of it attending classes on the WSU campus.
After graduating from AHS in May of 2021, Lauren got her bachelor’s degree from Wichita State University in only two and a half years! During her time in college, she was awarded summa cum laude. She then started nursing school where she was the valedictorian. Lauren currently works as a nurse at Ascension Via Christi St. Joseph in Wichita, KS. Lauren’s favorite part of high school was her internship at a primary care office as she felt it helped her with networking down the road. If she could go back and change one thing about her time at Andale, Lauren said she would explore more positions in the medical field instead of just premed. Finally, her advice for students currently in high school is to enjoy their time and stay open minded.
Lauren Barthelme’s success is one of many inspirational stories that have come out of Andale High School in recent years. Lauren was a committed athlete, an extraordinary student, and an active member of the student council. Her internship helped her with networking that would come in handy for her future career. A favorite teacher helped guide her towards her passion for science. She was even able to take college classes while still in high school, which allowed her to earn her bachelor’s almost two years early! There is no doubt that Lauren’s great success stems from her impressive resolve and the resources and opportunities she was provided with while attending Andale High School. Thank you, Lauren, for answering our questions about your time at AHS!
