Written by: Elisa Kensinger - DHS Science Instructor
Rylie Dohrmann is a modern-day renaissance woman. Whether it’s excelling in the classroom, the livestock show ring, the band room, or behind the counter of Clinic Pharmacy, Rylie Dohrmann is a student on the rise.
Not many student resumes are as complete as Dohrmann’s. Rylie, the daughter of Jason and Michelle Dohrmann, is currently a senior at Dickinson High School. She is actively involved in many extracurricular activities, including FFA, Science Club, 4H, Jazz Band, National Honor Society, and Drama Club. Her most recent accomplishment was being named the 2021 Grand Champion Poultry Showman at the North Dakota State Fair.
Dohrmann has also taken advantage of Dickinson High’s career and technical education (CTE) program: health occupational experience featured in the school’s Health and Human Services Academy. Through the pharmacy technician work experience program, she has pursued her future career path while still in high school. “The pharmacy technician program that our school offers really interested me because I already knew I wanted to go to college for pharmacy, but this allows me to gain more experience in a pharmacy before going to college. It also allows me to have a career started before I graduate high school, which I can work in until I become a pharmacist.”
The pharmacy technician work experience program is a combination of classroom-type learning and on-the-job work experience. Dohrmann is earning her pharmacy technician hours while working at Clinic Pharmacy in Sanford Health West. Dohrmann is grateful for the opportunity that the new academy model of learning at Dickinson High has opened up. “It is extremely beneficial that our schools offer programs like this because it allows students to get a headstart on jobs they might be interested in after high school and opens up new opportunities for them to work in the type of industries they might be involved in after graduation.”
Dohrmann credits her success to being willing to try new things. “My advice for younger students would be to get involved in your school and not be afraid to try new things and join new clubs/organizations you might be interested in.” Dickinson High School currently offers six different occupational experiences; certified nursing assistant, direct support professional, entry-level dental assisting, firefighter academy, pharmacy technician, and speech therapist student internship.