From Case Challenges to Culminating Wins: Tyler Gerhold’s 3DE™ Journey

Image caption: Student Spotlight: Tyler Gerhold, 9th Grade – Alburnett High School Tyler has already helped his team win two 3DE™ Culminating Events this year and continues to grow his leadership, teamwork, and presentation skills through real-world case challenges.

At Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa, students in 3DE™ are developing real-world skills that prepare them for life beyond the classroom. One student who truly embodies that spirit is Tyler Gerhold, a 9th grade student at Alburnett High School.

Tyler has stood out this year not only for his academic performance, but also for the leadership, teamwork, and initiative he brings to every challenge. According to 3DE™ School Coordinator Tessa Vaske, Tyler consistently goes above and beyond expectations.

“Tyler is a respectful, positive leader who other students enjoy working with. He consistently goes above and beyond in the effort he puts into his work and the way he contributes to his team,” said Vaske.

Through 3DE™, Tyler has enjoyed collaborating with classmates to solve real-world problems and develop solutions during case challenges. He values the opportunity to work with diverse teams, gather research, and combine different perspectives to create stronger ideas. These experiences have helped him strengthen critical skills like time management, flexibility, and problem solving.

One area where Tyler has seen significant growth is in presentation skills. While he already felt comfortable speaking in front of others, the case challenges have helped him improve how he communicates ideas, presents evidence, and confidently explains solutions to judges.

That growth has translated into success. Tyler and his team won the first two 9th grade Culminating Events this year and have now qualified as finalists for the third.

Beyond the competitions, Tyler says 3DE™ has helped him think differently about school and his future by connecting classroom learning to real-world scenarios. The program encourages students to develop critical thinking skills and work through complex challenges—skills that will be valuable long after high school.

Working with classmates has also been one of Tyler’s favorite parts of the program. Because teams are often randomized, students collaborate with peers they may not normally work with. For Tyler, this has created opportunities to build new friendships while learning how to strengthen ideas through teamwork.

Looking ahead, Tyler hopes to continue sharpening his skills, win more culminating events, and maintain his 4.0 GPA while building strong relationships with his peers.

Students like Tyler represent what makes 3DE™ so powerful—young leaders developing the confidence, collaboration, and problem-solving skills needed to succeed in the future.