Before he believed, someone else did

For nearly six years, CLC Heavy Equipment Program Coordinator Anji Mousseau invested in one student long before he ever enrolled.

When Jacob Hoppe first toured Central Lakes College’s Heavy Equipment campus as a seventh grader, Anji took the time to show him what was possible. Before he left, she handed him a program information sheet.

That sheet found a permanent home on the family’s refrigerator.

Over the years, Jacob and his mom, Jenny, returned to campus again and again. Each time, Anji welcomed them back, answered questions, offered encouragement, and helped keep Jacob focused on a future in the heavy equipment industry.

What started as a campus tour became a goal. Then a plan. Then a reality.

As a high school senior at Sebeka High School, Jacob enrolled in the Heavy Equipment program through PSEO, allowing him to begin working toward his future while still attending high school. He graduated from high school in 2025, then returned to CLC to complete his second year of training.

This spring, Jacob graduated from CLC’s Heavy Equipment Operation and Maintenance program and entered the workforce with the skills, certifications, and confidence to succeed.

After graduation, Jenny brought that same information sheet back to campus, this time framed and gave it to Anji.

“It felt fitting for you to have it back and to know how much that simple piece of paper meant in our home,” she said.  “It became a true North Star for Jacob. On the hard days, it reminded him of what he was working toward and why the effort mattered.”

For the Hoppe family, the gift wasn’t the piece of paper. It was having someone who believed in Jacob long before he believed in himself.

For Anji, the recognition reflected something much larger than any one individual.  “It takes an entire team,” she said. “While I’m fortunate to work directly with our students every day, it’s the dedication of every person at CLC that makes the kind of impact that truly changes lives.”