Gayle Solsvig: the woman behind the emails
Gayle Solsvig is an important resource for students planning their futures at SAHS. Her frequent stream of emails have given students access to scholarship and job opportunities for years. It is important to, “Cherish the important part of your life whether it be going to a four year college, a technical school, the military or a job,” said Solsvig. She helps students prepare to live these years to their fullest.
December 8, 2013
Gayle Solsvig sends out thousands of emails to Stillwater Area High School students through Naviance. The emails she chooses to send usually regard college visit opportunities, college scholarship opportunities and job opportunities. The large amount of emails Solsvig sends has made her known as the “woman behind the emails.”
Solsvig sends out one to two emails everyday, depending on what is going on and what upcoming events are taking place. Solsvig uses Naviance to send the emails automatically.
Solsvig said, “I put all the school visits in the Naviance program under ‘visits’ and if students have indicated on their profile a certain school it will notify the student by email letting them know the school will be visiting. This is totally automated; I have no clue who has indicated what school they would like to visit.”
Many seniors at SAHS use the College and Career Center often while they are on their path to graduation and moving forward in their post-secondary education.
Senior Paige Hietpas said, “I read the emails quite frequently. They are helpful in moving forward in my college process because they are all about ways of earning money and searching for the college best suited for me.”
Along with emails regarding college visits and scholarship opportunities, sophomores and juniors may be more interested in the emails regarding job opportunities in the community.
Junior Sarah Matschi said, “I find all the emails helpful because I would love to get some college scholarships and I am also hoping to get a job soon. I like having Gayle Solsvig sending out emails for both making it easier for me to know all the opportunities I can capitalize on.”
The main goal of the College and Career Center is to give students options for when they are out of high school. Whether a student is planning on going to college or finding a job after graduation, the College and Career Center has many resources to help with finding the right path for each student.
“Cherish the important part of your life whether it be going to a four year college, a technical school, the military or a job. Hopefully more students will sign up for Naviance so they can see all the information that is shared with each of these opportunities,” said Solsvig.
The most common email that students find themselves being intrigued by are the ones regarding scholarship opportunities. With college being so expensive, anything will help.
“Since I am already pretty set on where I am going to college, the emails about scholarships are what really interested me in receiving the emails. She sends ones about scholarship meetings, essay contests and other scholarship opportunities. I know going to the College Career Center informs any senior of scholarship opportunities they would have never dreamed of,” said Hietpas.
Emails are sent out to all that apply or could find use in them to avoid sending large amounts of emails to every student when they may not be interested.
“Many scholarships are sent out and they are sent out on a criteria basis. In other words, if a scholarship requires only seniors above a 3.7 GPA, that is who the email is sent to. If a scholarship is to be sent to Native American students only, that is who I will send that to. I will always look at criteria before I send an email and then try and get it to the right student group,” said Solsvig.
All of Solsvig’s emails are intended to help students of all grades seize every opportunity possible. As each student decides what their future will hold after graduating, Solsvig and the rest of the staff at SAHS will do everything they can to help each student succeed.
Sabrina Storms • Jan 13, 2014 at 2:25 am
I like this article a lot! nobody really knows or thinks about who sends those helpful emails! very well written article.
Carson Kuball • Jan 13, 2014 at 2:13 am
I think it was a great idea to do an article on Gayle! As a senior, I get all kinds of emails from her, but no one really knows who she is. This article did a great job explaining what she does and why she does it. It was also nice to have quotes from students and how they use the information Gayle provides.
Megan Katula • Jan 13, 2014 at 1:46 am
I think this article was a really good idea because no one really knows about who she is. I like how the article describes student opinions in addition to Gayle’s.
Sydney Spreck • Jan 12, 2014 at 4:59 pm
This article was very well written. Most students have received emails from Ms. Solsvig in their time at the high school, but not many have actually met her, making this an article that connects with and interests a lot of people. You used a lot of good quotes from a variety of people that were compelling and shaped the article. My only suggestion for improving the article would be to focus more on who Ms. Solsvig is, rather than just her job. But otherwise, this is a well written article! Good job!
Jessica Thomas • Jan 11, 2014 at 5:15 pm
I really liked this article! It was very well written with a ton of good sources. It is very relatable because her e-mails really do help when it comes to everything my future needs, therefore making it a cool article. I love the headline too because it’s very cute and funny! Good work!