Education

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering three STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics) Makerspace Open Lab sessions at its Waukon Center for the spring, according to the following schedule:

• February 25: STEAM Open Lab - Session 1
• March 25: STEAM Open Lab - Session 2
• April 15: STEAM Open Lab - Session 3

The youth classes will run from 3:30-5 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, 1220 Third Avenue NW. STEAM Makerspace Open Labs are for students in grades 3-7. The lab is a learning space for creative exploration of STEAM. Participants will use Legos, robotics, electronics, create movies and animation, design, build and more. A teacher will be available to guide students in the basic use of the tools and technology.

The deadline for the Allamakee Scholarship Fund (ASF), Inc. Alumni Scholarship has been set for February 28. This is the 21st year for the alumni scholarship instituted by the Allamakee Scholarship Fund, Inc. Board of Directors.

The award is made to a Waukon High School graduate who participated in ASF, Inc. while in high school and received an award as a graduating senior. The ASF, Inc. Board feels it is important to continue the encouragement to Allamakee Community School District graduates as they continue their education, not just as they start their post-high school program.

The group wishes to encourage participation in community service and college activities that are part of their educational growth and preparation for career and community life. Scholarship criteria include academic achievement, student participation in college activities, especially in their field of study, and community service.

The Allamakee County Conservation Foundation (ACCF) is offering scholarship opportunities for graduating seniors who will be attending a college or university pursuing a degree in Natural Resources or a related field. One $500 scholarship will be offered to a senior from each of the area high schools in Allamakee County: PostvilleCommunity, Allamakee Community, and Eastern Allamakee Community.

Students who would like to apply for the scholarship are encouraged to visit www.allamakeecountyconservation.org, the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center, or their school’s guidance counselor for an application. Applications will be accepted until April 3 of this year and recipients will be notified by May 5.

Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation (NEICAC) has announced its Head Start Preschool open houses and registration nights to apply for the 2026-2027 school year. In the Waukon area, the open house and registration night will take place Wednesday, March 4 from 5-6 p.m. at the Waukon Head Start Conference Room located at 955 3rd Avenue NW in Waukon, the rear portion of the West Elementary School building.

Head Start Preschool is an all-day, five days a week, three- and four-year-old preschool program. Nutritious breakfast, lunch and snacks are served daily. There is no cost for tuition or meals for qualifying families. Qualified teachers use the Creative Curriculum to provide children with the academic and social skills they need to succeed in kindergarten.

Recent data from the Iowa Department of Education has named the Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) as the top-rated public school district in the state. This “Exceptional” designation highlights the district’s commitment to academic excellence and its strong partnership with Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) to prepare students for future careers.

The 2024-2025 Iowa School Performance Profiles revealed that ACSD earned 707.52 points out of a possible 900, placing it at the pinnacle of Iowa’s 325 public school districts. The district was one of only two in the state to receive the “Exceptional” designation. Overall, ACSD matched or exceeded state averages in nearly every category, including graduation rates, post-secondary readiness and proficiency in math, science and English language arts.

State of Iowa Auditor Rob Sand announced Thursday, January 22 the 2026 winners of the Public Innovations and Efficiencies (PIE) program, designed to help Iowa communities slash waste and save tax dollars by sharing creative, common-sense ideas to improve efficiency. Among those PIE award winners is the Allamakee Community School District which shared the honor of Best Performing Class 3A Community School District with South Tama and Okoboji Community School Districts.

Auditor Sand will personally deliver a pie to each award winner in the coming months. “I want to congratulate the winning communities and thank all the PIE participants for making Iowa taxpayers a priority,” said Sand. “PIE proves that innovation and partnership can make government better for every Iowan.”

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met Monday night, January 19 for its regular monthly board meeting.

Under the Consent Agenda, the following personnel were approved, pending a satisfactory background check: Justin Thrailkill and Carley Spain as volunteer golf coaches, Bob Wasson as a volunteer track coach, and a change to full-time hours from part-time for paraprofessionals Calista Morris and Mataya Sommer. The board also accepted the resignation of Janet Walleser from her third grade teaching position due to retirement. Approval was also given to a special education contract with College Community School District and a Microsoft renewal contract in the amount of $5,484.48.

by Nancy Dunkel
Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation board member

Top Patriot’s Pen VFW Essay Contest entries from Waukon Middle School sixth grade ...
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 4117 and its Auxiliary selected the top entries from Waukon Middle School’s sixth grade class for its VFW Youth Scholarship Essay Contest. Pictured at right, left to right, are Brooklyn Corwin, First Place; Regan Miner, Second Place; and Raven Sweeney, Third Place.

Top Patriot’s Pen VFW Essay Contest entries from Waukon Middle School seventh grade ...
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 4117 and its Auxiliary selected the top entries from Waukon Middle School’s seventh grade class for its VFW Youth Scholarship Essay Contest. Pictured at right, left to right, are Nash Cunningham, First Place; Lail Curtin, Second Place; and Elsie Retallick, Third Place.

Alliant Energy is seeking applications for its 2026 Innovation Scholarships. Across Iowa and Wisconsin, up to 25 students will receive $1,000 scholarships to further their academic goals.

Applicants will write an essay that identifies a challenge in their community and presents their own innovative solution using science, technology, engineering and/or math. Scholarship recipients will be selected based on essay content, participation in leadership roles, volunteer work, community service, activities and grade-point average.

Applicants must be enrolled in their first full-time program at an undergraduate school. They also must be less than 25 years old and either a dependent of a current Alliant Energy customer or a customer themselves.

Students can submit applications to the Alliant Energy Innovation Scholarship Program online. The deadline is February 3, 2026.