BELOIT — Beloit Jr./Sr. High School (BJSHS) is proud to be honored as one of 26 U.S. schools named as a 2025 School of Excellence. This award recognizes Beloit Jr./Sr. High School’s efforts to increase the number of first-generation college students and students from under-resourced communities pursuing a college degree or other higher education credentials.
“Receiving the 2025 School of Excellence Award is a proud moment for our entire school community,” said Casey Seyfert, BJSHS Principal. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our counselors, teachers, and staff who work every day to ensure every student has the opportunity to pursue higher education. We are humbled to be the school chosen by the state of Kansas to receive this honor.”
The college and application events that have been hosted and postsecondary preparation activities that have taken place at BJSHS throughout 2025 contributed to record-breaking participation from students, not just in its community but throughout the nation. Nearly two million seniors attended these events, four times as many as the previous year, and submitted 2,602,562 college applications. These numbers represent young learners and bright futures. They represent the dedication of the students, but also those who support them. It proves that these types of events matter, and investment in these efforts pays off.
Applying to college can be one of the most intimidating parts of a student’s high school education. Beloit Jr./Sr. High School works proactively with students to help them better understand the process, ultimately empowering every 2026 senior to complete an application.
Every year, ACAC works with coordinators in nearly every state and the District of Columbia to host college application events and reach students in their schools and communities, encouraging them to apply to college. “We believe that getting students excited about college goes far beyond filling out an application,” Brennan Eilert, Beloit High School Counselor said.
“Our culture of student empowerment cultivates confidence in students, inspiring them to believe in their potential and to take an active role in shaping their futures. We are in our tenth year of the Individual Plan of Study process with our students 6th grade through 12th grade, so our students become engrained in the idea of envisioning, planning, and taking steps toward creating their future from an early age. Furthering their education in some capacity beyond high school is the expectation of our school and community. We work hard to make college feel real, accessible, and achievable for every single one of our students.”
Beloit Jr./Sr. High School is a 7-12 school that serves 360 students on average each year, many of whom will be the first in their families to pursue a four-year college degree. BJSHS has championed not only postsecondary success, but also postsecondary access. When students believe something great is possible for them, that motivation takes them to new heights with new possibilities.
“The 2025 School of Excellence award belongs to our students and our entire faculty and staff,” Brennan Eilert, BHS Counselor. “Watching our students take that important step toward their postsecondary goals and plans is one of the most rewarding parts of this work. We are honored that ACT and ACAC have recognized our commitment to making college a reality for all students."
To learn about ACT’s national campaign, visit https://impactandlearning.act.org
