Nikole Hanson
Business, Class of 2025
Butler Tech alumna Nikole Hanson has always been driven by ambition and a desire to grow. Her journey into career technical education began with a clear intention: to challenge herself academically, creatively, and personally. She chose Butler Tech not to leave her home school, but to find an environment that would help her reach higher.
Nikole found that opportunity in the Business program.
“Business is a universal language,” she said. “It can take you anywhere.”
That perspective guided her into a pathway that expanded far beyond a single career focus. Courses in entrepreneurship, marketing, financial literacy, leadership, and professional communication gave her the tools to begin shaping her future long before graduation.
During her senior year, Nikole launched Blind Date with a Book, a small business rooted in her love for reading and writing. Each package featured a wrapped mystery book paired with curated items such as bookmarks, stickers, reading logs, and themed surprises. What started as a creative project quickly became a real entrepreneurial venture.
“Working with Nikole over the past few years has shown me just how naturally entrepreneurial she is,” said Jeremy West, Entrepreneurship Coordinator at Butler Tech. “She built Blind Books into a successful venture and wrote a book at the same time, a true reflection of her drive. As we celebrate Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, Nikole stands out as a powerful example of what young women can achieve. Her journey continues to inspire young girls who hope to follow in her footsteps, and her impact is only just beginning.”
Entrepreneurship opened new doors for Nikole, but writing has always been her greatest passion. After years of filling notebooks with poetry, story ideas, and drafts, she dedicated the last two years to completing her first full-length novel.
Last month, she reached a milestone many aspiring authors never achieve. The publication of her debut book, The Vanguard Project, is now available through Barnes & Noble.
Instead of taking the traditional publishing route, Nikole chose to self-publish. She managed every part of the process, from editing and formatting to revisions, layout, and hiring a cover designer. She embraced the challenge fully.
“Writing the book was the easy part,” she reflected. “Publishing it was the true test.”
Her persistence paid off. The Vanguard Project follows a group of teens in a post-apocalyptic world as they navigate rising threats, hidden truths, and the struggle to hold onto their humanity when survival becomes the only objective.
And Nikole is just getting started.
She plans to continue writing and publishing future books and may eventually explore traditional publishing opportunities. Academically, she will graduate in May with her associate degree in Paralegal Studies and intends to pursue her master’s degree in business management.
On Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, Butler Tech is proud to celebrate Nikole’s achievements. Not only as an author and entrepreneur, but as a young woman who embraces opportunity, takes bold risks, and turns her passion into impact.
Her story is still being written, and we cannot wait to see what she creates next.