Education

The Waukon Lions Club hosted its annual Waukon High School Honors Banquet at the First Presbyterian Church in Waukon May 4. Students ranking in the top 15% academically of the Waukon High School graduating class of 2022 were honored. The evening included a meal served by the Presbyterian Women and an inspirational talk by guest speaker Amy Wasson, current High School Counselor of the Allamakee Community School District. The graduates told the audience of their future plans and then were presented certificates by Waukon High School Principal Jennifer Garin and District Superintendent Jay Mathis. Pictured above are the honored students and speaker Amy Wasson. Left to right - front row: Lincoln Snitker, Ashlyn Johnson, Braden Hemann, Brinley Jones, Vicente Quiroz; Back row: Janett Farning, Ella O’Neill, Brenna Berns, guest speaker Amy Wasson, Justine Sullivan, Emily Bieber, Madelyn Helgerson. Submitted photo.
 

Emily Bieber, a senior at Waukon High School, was recognized by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg for outstanding academic achievement at the 20th Annual Governor’s Scholar Recognition Ceremony held May 1 at Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. The statewide program, sponsored by the Iowa Governor’s Office, Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and its title sponsor the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), honored 419 high school seniors from across Iowa. Bieber is pictured in the center of the above submitted photo at the award presentation with Lt. Governor Gregg (left) and Governor Reynolds (right).

Nolte, Cornman & Johnson P.C. of Newton recently released an audit report on the Allamakee Community School District in Waukon. A copy of the audit report is available for review on the Auditor of State’s web site at https://auditor.iowa.gov/audit-reports.

The District’s revenues totaled $17,363,803 for the year ended June 30, 2021, a 3.78% increase from the prior year. Expenses for District operations for the year ended June 30, 2021 totaled $16,401,681, a 2.57% increase from the prior year.

The increase in total revenues was due in part to increases in revenues from operating grants, contributions and restricted interest compared to the prior year. The increase in total expenses occurred primarily in the support services function.

Saturday, May 7, the Waukon High School Band and Choir students performed at the Large Group Contest in Osage. The choir received a Division 1 rating, which is the highest level of achievement that can be obtained at contest. Three judges provided comments to and rated the group on a variety of musical aspects including tone quality, intonation, rhythm, balance and blend, technique, musicianship, diction, and other performances factors such as appearance, choice of music, poise, memory, and facial expressions.

P.E.O. Chapter EK of Waukon recently awarded a pair of scholarships to Waukon High School graduating seniors. Madelyn Helgerson and Ella O’Neill were each honored with a scholarship for their academic and extracurricular activity success, leadership and community involvement.

“P.E.O Chapter EK of Waukon is very proud of these two girls and we wish them success in their future educational pursuits,” P.E.O. Chapter EK leaders expressed.

Madelyn Helgerson, a senior at Waukon High School, was selected to receive a $2,500 STAR Scholarship from the P.E.O. Sisterhood.  She was recommended by P.E.O. Chapter EK of Waukon.

Eryn Catherine Keenan graduated summa cum laude from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Saturday, May 7, earning a Bachelor of Science degree. She double majored in Communication Studies and Psychology.

Keenan was also the recipient of the Seymour-Junkman Award, an honor bestowed upon the top graduating senior in the College of Arts and Sciences at UW-River Falls. That honor is based on grade point average (GPA) and overall academic performance.

She is the daughter of Jeff Keenan of Chaska, MN, formerly of Waukon, and Jessica Popp of Richfield, MN. She is the granddaughter of the late Lawrence and Maureen Keenan of Waukon.
 

For families that will have a new college freshman next year, this is a great time to look for scholarships that will help offset the cost of an education. Scholarships are considered “gift aid,” meaning that they do not need to be repaid later. Some are one-time awards that can be used while a family’s college savings continues to grow; others are renewable as long as the student remains eligible.

While we hear a lot about athletic scholarships or awards for high academic achievement, no student should overlook the possibility of earning some scholarships. Many different types of organizations offer scholarships, so casting a wide net will help students locate the opportunities they are most eligible for.

Here are some tips from Iowa Student Loan for finding and applying for scholarships:

The Iowa Health Care Association (IHCA) Foundation is offering 88 scholarships to help individuals interested in pursuing or advancing their career in long-term care. Scholarship opportunities are available for current long-term care employees seeking to advance their health care or leadership skills, as well as high school seniors, veterans or individuals residing in rural Iowa counties who are pursuing an education in health care.

Allamakee Scholarship Fund, Inc. is participating in the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque’s Great Give Day Wednesday, May 18. Great Give Day is a 24-hour, online giving day established by the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque to celebrate and support area nonprofits and build a stronger community. Since 2014, Great Give Day has raised more than $2 million for nonprofits across the region. Last year, the campaign collected over 2,700 gifts, attracted 788 first-time donors, and raised over $357,000 for local nonprofits.

“We’re excited to be a part of Great Give Day through the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque May 18,” said Julie Rotach. “Dollars raised through Great Give Day are added to our endowment and will grow and add to our scholarships every year.”

Tuesday, May 17 at 7 p.m., the Senior Awards Program for the Class of 2022 will be held in the Waukon High School Auditorium. All students, parents and families, and community members are invited to attend.

Allamakee Scholarship Fund, Inc. and many community groups will present scholarship awards that evening. Honors and achievements by Waukon High School Class of 2022 members will be recognized.