Google Executive Shaun Aukland Returns to Case High School

Case High School graduate Shaun Aukland returned to his high school alma mater this week. The Racine Unified School District provided Patch with an account of Mr. Auckland's visit via Emily Neubauer.

RACINE -- Shaun Aukland never forgets where he came from.

The 2006 Case High School graduate has traveled the world – a new city, sometimes even a new country, every few weeks. Aukland is an Account Executive within the travel industry at Google. He works with the company’s top destination and vacation attraction advertisers every day. Earlier this year, Aukland was named among the top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing. But on Thursday, the former eagle could be found walking the halls of his old stomping grounds, the place he says helped shape him into the man he is today.

“For the four years I was at Case High School I was involved in a number of clubs like the theater program, yearbook and National Honor Society,” Aukland explained. “It was never to pad my resume, it was a chance to take part in things that would help me grow. Case taught me to face the things that I was uncomfortable with and learn ways to fix them.”

During his visit, Aukland spoke to several groups of students including freshmen, marketing and business students and the student government. His message focused around social justice and the importance of going to college.

“I feel a deep responsibility to come back and remind students that there’s ways to pay for college if you’re not able to, that they can challenge themselves and come out of their comfort zone and use their talents to bring them anywhere they want to go,” Aukland said.

While his talents brought him across the country, he says he will always make time for home. “It’s important to reiterate the message to this generation of students that companies want strong candidates that want to change the world and there’s no reason that shouldn’t be all the eagles here at Case High School and other high schools in RUSD.”

image: Racine Unified School District