High Five Fridays Are a Highlight for BVU Alum

Melanie Brashears looks back on her education at BVU and the positive effect it has had on her and others.

Every Friday during the school year, Storm Lake Elementary School (SLES) students line up for High Five Fridays. Community organizations greet students and parents with encouragement and of course, high fives.

“The idea for High Five Fridays came from a class I took in my master’s program,” says Melanie Brashears, professional school counselor at SLES. “My professor had done something similar, and I decided to adapt the idea for our school district.”
 
Initially, local businesses were invited to participate as a way to give young students a positive start to their day. Soon after, other groups and individuals began reaching out, and SLES made this a Friday tradition.

“I chose BVU because I did my undergrad there. I knew the expectations of the University, and I knew it was a place I would enjoy continuing my education.”

Melanie Brashears

Brashears’ education through BVU and her commitment to others has had far-reaching effects. This will be her second year at SLES as the professional school counselor, a position she assumed after completing her BVU master’s in professional school counseling.

BVU participates in High-Five Fridays at Storm Lake Elementary School
Dr. Leslie Haas, BVU Assistant Professor of Education, right, joined BVU students in greeting students at Storm Lake Elementary School in a High-Five Friday during the past school year. High-Five Fridays are an initiative introduced locally by BVU graduate Melanie Brashears.

She had graduated with her bachelor’s in psychology and criminal justice from BVU in 2014 with plans to be a probation officer before her first job post-college helped her discover her passion. At Seasons Center, she was working in mental health with children and adults when she discovered that working with people was her calling.

“My co-workers there were really supportive, and thought I could push myself to do more,” says Brashears.

She then began working full-time at the middle school as an aid to gain experience in a school environment while earning her master’s degree. The flexibility of online courses and Zoom meetings gave her the ability to complete her classes around her work schedule.

When asked about her favorite part of the counseling program, she responds, “The week-long residency was my favorite because we got to see our classmates face-to-face, and we got to practice our skills on each other and become closer as a cohort.”

Since Brashears had previously completed here undergrad at BVU, she claims it was an easy choice in returning for her master’s.

“I chose BVU because I did my undergrad there. I knew the expectations of the University, and I knew it was a place I would enjoy continuing my education.”

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