At Junior Tours, we often measure our 50-year history in milestones and numbers. However, the true impact of our work is found in the life-long journeys of the educators we serve. We believe these experiences do more than offer a break from the classroom – they provide the spark that inspires students to pursue their future careers.

Alexis “Lexi” Rupp is a testament to how one trip can change the entire trajectory of a student’s life.

The Spark of a Student Traveler

Long before she was an educator, Lexi was a student at Francis Howell High School in St. Charles, MO. She first experienced the energy of New York City on two FBLA trips with Junior Tours in February 2016 and March 2017. Both journeys were organized by her Business teacher, Louise Power, who saw a potential in Lexi that the naturally shy student hadn’t yet seen in herself.

Louise’s impact on Lexi was profound. “She was super kind and made business concepts fun, but she also pushed us outside our comfort zones in the best way possible,” Lexi recalls. It was during those trips that Lexi’s interest in business transformed into a career path. Today, Lexi has incorporated those same tenets into her own teaching style as a Business teacher and FBLA advisor at Francis Howell North.

Paying it Forward

For many, those high school memories remain just that – memories. But for Lexi, the experience was so transformative that she felt a calling to provide that same spark of inspiration for the next generation. Seeing the trip first as a student and later as an adult chaperone for her mother’s trips allowed her to see the impact from both sides. She knew that to truly inspire her own students, she needed to get them out of the classroom and into the city.

In February 2026, Lexi officially brought her journey full circle by leading her own group of students on their inaugural trip to New York City. Her goal was simple but powerful: to open the same doors for her students that Louise Power once opened for her.

Familiar Faces

While leading a first trip can be a high-pressure experience, the nerves settled for Lexi before the group even reached the airport. In the lead-up to the February 2026 departure, Lexi noticed a name on her itinerary that felt like a sign: tour guide Paula Schuman. She suspected it was the same Paula who had guided her own student trips a decade earlier, and meeting at the airport confirmed it.

“I adore her,” Lexi says. “Paula is one of the coolest, sweetest, and most powerful women I’ve ever met.” There is a reason Paula has been a cornerstone of Junior Tours for 47 years. She is the kind of legendary guide who has everything under control, even if that means literally stopping Manhattan traffic to ensure her group stays together. Seeing that level of veteran command allowed Lexi to actually relax, knowing her students were in the best possible hands.

The sense of continuity was made even stronger by the presence of Lexi’s mother, Lori. A recently retired educator and veteran trip leader herself, Lori joined the 2026 tour as a participant. It was a proud moment for Lori to simply enjoy the ride, watching her daughter take command of a travel tradition that has been part of their family for years.

NYC Through New Eyes

While the landmarks of Manhattan remain constant, Lexi found that the view is quite different from the front of the bus. This year, she led her students through the same “business classroom” that once inspired her:

• The Empire State Building: Of all her memories, this remains the anchor. Despite visiting many times, the view from the top is still Lexi’s favorite – a constant in a changing skyline that never fails to provide those same “goosebumps” she felt as a student.
• The Financial District: Lexi remembers the excitement of her first visit to Wall Street, and this year, her students felt that same energy. They explored the heart of global commerce, connecting classroom concepts to the real-world pulse of the city.
• Times Square: For a student, Times Square is pure magic. For a teacher, it’s a masterclass in staying alert! Lexi joked that while she used to just look at the bright lights and billboards, she’s now much more aware of the organized chaos around her. Still, seeing the wonder in her students’ eyes – the same wonder she once had – made every bit of the visit worthwhile.
• Professional Seminars: Just as Lexi was once inspired by hearing the stories of business professionals, her students sat in on sessions that transformed classroom concepts into real-world applications.

50 Years of Full-Circle Moments

Lexi’s journey from 2016 to 2026 is a powerful example of why we do what we do at Junior Tours. Of the nearly 1,000 students to travel with us from the Francis Howell School District since 2010, Lexi represents the ultimate success: a student who was so moved by her experience that she chose to lead it herself. Our 50-year history as a company is defined by this kind of longevity, allowing us to support educators through every stage of their careers.

It has been a privilege to watch Lexi’s story come full circle as she’s moved from the student seat to the front of the bus. We look forward to supporting her as she turns these annual journeys into a lifelong legacy for her students.