Like all 2020-21 seniors, Apollo High School graduate Win Koering didn’t have a typical senior year, but he did everything he could to continue maximizing his high school experience.
“[Early in high school] I tried to be as active in the [school] community as I could be,” reflects Koering. “It started by joining soccer and later tennis and golf. As I got into the high school spirit and going to games, I started realizing the school culture. I think what really drew me to it was football games. The more people that were there, the more fun I had … all being there together. It gave me this good feeling. So, when I was an upperclassman, I joined the student union.”
According to Koering, the student union “rules the school.” They make the decisions on homecoming, snowball and prom, but they also engage students within the community such as through food and blood drives.
But student union wasn’t quite enough for Koering. During his junior year, he started Newscast, a club made up of students who liked to film, create videos and report the news. He was very excited and proud of the group. However, just as things were ramping up, COVID-19 forced schools to close and students shifted to distance learning the remainder of the year.
So, when Koering’s senior year went back and forth between hybrid, distance and in-person learning models, his Newscast group wasn’t able to meet and continue. Without Newscast, Koering had time to try other new things.
“My senior year, I picked up the [school] play,” says Koering. “That was a new experience!”
Despite the challenges of his senior year, he was determined to make the best of it.
This year, the student union met virtually once a week to come up with ideas to create positive school culture since school sports were not an option and school activities could either be on or called off at a moment’s notice.
“We did things like blood drives and giveaways,” says Koering. “We tried to maintain participation in things outside of academics in school. So, we did a few challenges, dress-up days, photos and videos of trick shots you could submit.”
This Year He’s Learned
Koering has learned flexibility, independence, confidence, leadership and even entrepreneurship during this unusual year. Though his senior year may have been one of the most unique in history, he looks forward to his future.
Koering will attend the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. His plan is to become a certified public accountant (CPA). It was a difficult decision for him to make because he has a passion for many things.
“I originally applied to the school of science and engineering [at the University of Minnesota],” says Koering. “I like so many different things … like aerodynamics … real estate and architecture. I’ve always been a math ‘god.’ Math was always my favorite class. I had a thought of going into the medical field, too. I just couldn’t decide on one. This year, I got into entrepreneuring and running my own … photography business [ WKP].”
Koering’s business took off right away. He was hired to shoot real estate photography and senior photos. He also began selling landscapes. As he began to develop his business more, he discovered accounting.
“Accounting would allow me to work with people and in any field I want,” shares Koering. “I can be a CPA for an aerospace company like Boeing or NASA. I could be a CPA for the CIA. Everything needs a CPA. I can go into real estate, architecture and CPA manage those things. Since I started photography, it’s a huge passion. If things work, I can know how to properly run my own photography business and grow it.”
Koering graduated from Apollo with highest honors and as a member of National Honor Society. Down the road, he sees himself as a CPA for one of the “Big 4” accounting firms with his photography business on the side. He attributes the lessons he’s learned about engaging students in school culture, following your passion and entrepreneurship to the challenges of an abnormal senior year. He expects those lessons will lead him to a bright future.
Fun Facts:
- Koering considers himself a technology “geek” and has already built his own computer.
- He loves to travel and plans to explore the world.
- Koering’s goal is to be the best golfer at whatever company he works at.
- He started the Before I Die group and arranged the exhibit in Jules’ Bistro in downtown St. Cloud.
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