“I’ve been at Blaine for 15 years,” Boisjolie said.
Earlier this month Boisjolie was named the Minnesota Secondary Business Professionals of America (BPA) Advisor of the Year.
“I’m super excited for her,” said Blaine student Ericka Miller. “She’s really deserving.”
This honor recognizes Boisjolie’s outstanding ability to develop students inside and outside the classroom. Getting the award was a lightning bolt out of the sky that caught Boisjolie by surprise.
“I had no idea that it was coming,” Boisjolie said. “I was extremely honored for sure.”
Miller, Nolawi Gibe and Tristan Harris are three Bengal seniors that Boisjolie has taught. Miller has high praise for Boisjolie.
“She’s one of those teachers that you can even think of them more as a mentor,” Miller said. “Not obviously just in the class but as an advisor, as a figure that you look up to.”
Bengal bond
Boisjolie has a knack for connecting with the kids in her classes at Blaine
Said Miller: “It feels like she develops a bond with each and every student that she has.”
Harris is ecstatic that Boisjolie is finally getting recognized for the outstanding work she does for the entire Bengal nation.
“For the last four years when they’ve been describing the person who won the award, every single time it sounds like Holly and I’ve been surprised it hasn’t been her,” Harris said. “So it was really nice to see that she finally got the award this year.”
One of Boisjolie’s pet projects is Coats for Kids, which gives Bengal students a chance to give back to those less fortunate. Boisjolie takes great pride in this annual holiday event at Blaine High.
“We do a lot at Blaine when it comes to community service for our Coats for Kids drive,” Boisjolie said. “That’s kind of a tradition I’ve carried on…Also with our torch awards program I am on the BPA board and the region chair. Then my students are just very successful.”
Gibe gives Boisjolie plenty of credit for his development as a student and a person
“Ms. Boisjolie is always the first teacher that I go to when I’m asking for any type of advice, or if I’m in a sticky situation she’s the first person that I go to,” Gibe said. “She’s helped me in my career, in jobs and stuff like that.”
For Boisjolie getting accolades is great – but the coolest payoff is seeing her students grow and succeed.
“Our kids are seen all across the country in BPA,” Boisjolie said. “They’re not just in business. We have our finance, marketing and advertising and we also have engineers and doctors. We have some that are models.”
Boisjolie has a reputation for doing whatever it takes to succeed and puts in long hours on the job.
