NHS graduate comes home to pursue her career

KateLynn Slaamot
NLJ Reporter
 
A love of and loyalty to the community where she grew up led Shenae (LaCroix) Alberts back home to Newcastle after completing her degree in physical therapy. Alberts began working at the physical therapy department at Weston County Health Services in mid-July — the newest addition to the team.
Alberts, a 2013 graduate of Newcastle High School, is the daughter of Brad and Susie LaCroix. Her love of sports contributed to her interest in physical therapy, especially when a sports injury took her out of the game for a while when she got shoulder tendinitis in both shoulders during her sophomore year. 
Her stint being treated at physical therapy helped Alberts see the assistance that physical therapy provides to those who want to get back to the things they love. 
“I always knew I wanted to stay around athletes and helping people,” Alberts said. 
She interned in high school with physical therapy at WCHS, and then headed off to school at the Rapid City School of Mines and Technology. After attending there for one year, she went to Black Hills State University, earning her bachelor’s degree in exercise science in 2017. Last year, Alberts earned her doctorate in physical therapy at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. 
After Alberts had finished her degree, she decided she wanted to come back to the community that had made an impact on her life while she was growing up. 
“I really wanted to get back and help the community that made me who I am today,” Alberts said. “I like being around family and friends.” She added that she also loves the area, especially the Black Hills.
Alberts reached out to Mike Evenson, one of the physical therapists at WCHS with whom she had interned, to see if she could work there. 
“She (Alberts) was pretty outgoing from the get-go,” Evenson said, noting Alberts’ time interning in high school. The ability to confidently interact with others is very useful in physical therapy, according to Evenson. 
Alberts has already fit in really well with the WCHS team, and Evenson said that they’re excited to have her on board. 
“It’s just nice to see somebody from our community go off, get educated and want to bring that back to their community,” he said. 
In addition, the young physical therapist is hoping to bring some services to the practice that haven’t been offered. Alberts has received training in LSVT BIG, which is a special program that helps people suffering from Parkinson’s disease, or other neurological issues, and teaches them how to better utilize their bodies. LSVT stands for Lee Silverman Voice Treatment, and BIG is a program that deals with motor systems. Alberts also hopes to eventually work more with children and aquatics. 
Alberts said she is excited to make a difference in her home community as well as help others who have helped her and been a big part of her life. 
“It all comes down to one thing — just getting them (patients) back to what they want to do,” Alberts said.