Schlarmann’s future planning leads to success in college


Ellen Schlarmann has been planning to pursue a career in business since her sophomore year in high school. Taking classes through Kirkwood/JREC helped make that goal more of a reality. (Photo submitted)
By: 
Kim Brooks
Express Editor

     Ellen Schlarmann of Monticello has been out of high school for one year and she only has one year left of college before she earns her bachelor’s degree in business management.

     How is that possible?

     Schlarmann credits Kirkwood’s Jones Regional Education Center and its director, Lisa Folken. Folken credits Schlarmann and her parents for being so dedicated toward her education.

     Schlarmann actually started taking classes through JREC during the spring semester of her sophomore year at Monticello High School. She took online classes, just to get a feel for the college-level courses, and then attended classes at JREC during her junior year.

     “The ‘try before you buy’ theory gives students a great opportunity,” Schlarmann said of Folken’s concept of taking advantage of free college-credit classes before you have to pay tuition and take some of the same classes in college. Many times, young adults change their mind in terms of career goals and college majors.

     Not for Schlarmann, though. She knew quite early on that business was of interest to her. That helped in taking classes, both at MHS and JREC, that would benefit her most.

     After she graduated from MHS in May 2016, Schlarmann had 48 credits that transferred from Kirkwood to Iowa State University. She basically started as a junior her first year in college.

     “I was able to apply early for the professional program,” Schlarmann said of the major program at ISU.

     Aside from just taking the classes offered during the school year through JREC, Schlarmann also signed up for summer classes, either online or in-person at the Kirkwood center in Monticello. Folken said the eight high schools that JREC partners with help cover the cost of the college-credit classes for each student during the academic year.

     “Those are at no direct cost to the families,” said Folken.

     What Schlarmann chose to do above and beyond, her family paid for.

     Folken said last May Kirkwood had 12 students who earned their associate’s degree as they also graduated from high school.

     “In the last five years,” she said, “we’ve seen a swing in the number of students graduating.”

     Folken said what makes the story unique this time is the fact that Schlarmann had a goal in mind and worked to accomplish that benchmark.

     “Ellen used our classes as her electives and was ahead in all her required high school courses,” said Folken. She said they are also sensitive to the course offerings at area high schools, making sure to compliment rather than compete with those classes.

     This year, JREC was offering 10 different career academies, with enrollment expected to increase by 70 students in JREC’s ninth year.

     “When students can finish a year of college early, whether it’s an associate’s degree or bachelor’s, it’s pretty prenominal,” praised Folken. “They save money on tuition, rooms and board, textbooks… and can enter early employment and start generating income.”

     Schlarmann said her goal is to work for a non-profit some day in Eastern Iowa.

     “I have a passion to serve others,” she said. “I want to make a difference in others’ lives.”

     This passion stems from her 300-plus hours of community service she earned in high school, as well as her internship with Camp Courageous her senior year. Schlarmann said her stint as Jones County and State Fair Queen also played a role in serving youth.

     When it came to taking the right classes to transfer, Schlarmann, her mom Sue, and Folken researched through the ISU website.

     ‘The JREC staff were very helpful with my transition,” praised Schlarmann. “Here, you get individualized help and get the most out of your education.”

     She said the small class sizes and one-on-one help through JREC were a plus. While class sizes at ISU are much larger, Schlarmann said it was meeting so many different people that made it feel like college.

     Schlarmann was also the first MHS student to go through Kirkwood’s Workplace Learning Connection to line up an internship while in high school. She said they offer internships and job shadow experiences.

     “It’s a good resume builder,” she encouraged. Schlarmann put in 60 hours at Camp Courageous, working for the marketing and special events coordinator. “I received high school credit for that, too,” she said.

     Schlarmann added that the opportunity exposed her to the non-profit field she plans to pursue after one more year of college.

     The 48 credits that transferred into ISU, Schlarmann noted, saved her about $9,000 before college. She isn’t done. Over her winter break she also enrolled in online Kirkwood courses because the tuition is cheaper.

     “I saved some money and got another class out of the way,” she said.

     Sue Schlarmann offered a different perspective on her daughter’s education path. “As a parent of college-bound students, I can’t overstate how fortunate we are to have access to Kirkwood. If you are helping your student to plan their future education, I would highly encourage you to reach out to the staff and resources, as it can be overwhelming to make selections from the wide array of options offered at JREC. The staff have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to identifying what courses may be most beneficial for each individual student’s situation.”

     With this being Schlarmann’s first summer break while in college, she plans to just sit back and enjoy it.

     “Kirkwood definitely helped ease my transition into college, with time management and exposure to the college curriculum,” she said. “It was a huge cost savings.”

     For more on all that JREC offers, visit www.kirkwood.edu/jonesregional.

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