Editor’s note: This is the eighth in a series of feature stories celebrating the Class of 2026 valedictorians and salutatorians at the five high schools in Shelby County.
FAIRLAND – In retrospect, Hanover College felt like a safe choice for Brynne Aukerman to continue her educational track past Triton Central.
The highly-organized senior wanted to get her commitment official and the southern Indiana school offered a similar learning environment to what she thrived in.
But a March visit to the campus at Indiana University offered a different perspective.
“In that setting, it completely changed it with me,” said Aukerman, who admitted she had visited Bloomington before.
The Triton Central Class of 2026 Co-Valedictorian with Aiden Mitchell applied to Indiana University and got accepted into the Honors College. She took that as the final sign to change her commitment.
“Everything felt like it fell into place. This is what I’ve been waiting for,” she said. “They have a great program and I really love the campus. Since then, I’ve been more and more excited to go there. I felt like I made the right decision and I am excited.”
Aukerman will major in Exercise Science for Occupational Therapy. Just like choosing the right college, Aukerman waited for the right sign to find a career choice.
“I always wanted to do something medical but not a surgeon or with needles,” she said. “I looked at physical therapy but it didn’t feel like my thing. I kind of bounced around with a few different things. I tried to find something in a hospital setting but I didn’t have to go to nursing school or anything crazy.
“When I was looking into physical therapy I found occupational therapy. It sounded similar but with a little more in the teaching aspect, and both of my parents are teachers. It’s been an innate thing I’ve felt pulled to. I didn’t want to be a teacher but it was a nice medium of the medical aspect and I get to help people. I did some research and it felt right.”
So Aukerman found the right career path and the right school to get her there. Now comes the adjustment to a larger school setting in Bloomington.
“I felt like I settled on Hanover because it felt familiar,” she said. “I was never fully happy with that situation but I wanted to say where I was going. Choosing IU will be a huge shift. The more I think about it, the more excited I get.”
Aukerman is the daughter of Jason and Karla Aukerman.
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