For Travis Lape, finding the University of Sioux Falls as a senior in high school felt like a calling. It felt like finding his place. The first in his family to go to college, choosing a school was no small feat.
"USF was home for me," Lape said.
Why USF?
Lape knew his future was in education. He just needed to find a school that offered real classroom experiences as a foundation to launch him into that world.
Coming from Marion, SD, not far from Sioux Falls, he knew that the area was rich with opportunities for an aspiring educator.
“Being right here in Sioux Falls, we had a lot of opportunities to see the elementary schools, take up practicum visits and be in the classroom right from the start. That really opened my eyes to see that this is the right place for me.”
During his time at USF, Lape was driven by the campus community and fell in love with elementary education, declaring it as his major in his sophomore year.
Purpose Beyond the Classroom
Lape built connections on and off campus and was propelled into his career with just the experience and guidance he needed to achieve his goals.
“When I was at USF, so many doors were opened by different people," said Lape. "When I think about where I’m at today in my career, teaching in the Harrisburg School District, I think about everything that really paved the way for that — from my practicum experiences to my connections to the USF community.”
Today, he and his wife live in Sioux Falls, SD, and both work in the Harrisburg School District. They have two boys and are so happy to be in the classroom with young minds each day.
But Lape's influence goes far beyond the classroom.
"The biggest thing I walk away from campus with is this service mindset of 'How can I serve the world?'" Lape explained.
He now serves on the board for Educators Rising and enjoys serving for other organizations, aiming to inspire others to achieve their own greatness as his mentors at USF did for him.
"They didn’t need to provide that opportunity, but they did," said Lape. "It opened up so many more things for me. It made me a better person so that I can go out and do the same thing for others."