Education

The College Funding Forecaster allows students to input estimated costs, expected financial aid, savings and earnings to project total out-of-pocket expenses and potential student loan amounts at the college or university of their choice. Iowa Student Loan (ISL) Liquidity Corporation provides the College Funding Forecaster at www.IowaStudentLoan.org/Forecaster.

Students and families who don’t have financial aid notifications to refer to can still use the tool, according to ISL. The College Funding Forecaster uses historical data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard to display average costs and financial aid amounts for each institution covered by the tool.
 

Saturday, April 1, members of the Waukon High School Band participated in the Iowa High School Music Association solo and ensemble festival. The event was held at Waukon High School and hosted by the music staff along with the Allamakee Music Boosters.

The College and Career Connection (CCC) program at Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) provides high school students with work-based learning experiences, such as business tours and job shadows, to help guide their future professional success.

Many students throughout the year participate in CCC events and activities to gain insights into possible careers. These activities, and one-on-one guidance from College and Career Coaches, make a difference in the students’ understanding of what a career is really like and whether it’s a good fit.

State of Iowa Treasurer Roby Smith is reminding Iowans there is still time to contribute to their College Savings Iowa 529 account and deduct those contributions from their 2022 state taxes. “An added benefit for Iowa taxpayers is the state income tax deduction. If you want to maximize your $3,522 Iowa state tax deduction for each plan beneficiary on your 2022 taxes, the deadline for contributions is May 1, 2023,” stated Smith.

Whether opening a 529 account or already owning at one, College Savings Iowa can help save for future education costs while also taking advantage of tax benefits. “I want to ensure Iowa taxpayers make the most of the tax deduction available to them,” Smith continued.

Additional tax benefits for all participants include tax-deferred earnings and tax-free qualified withdrawals. For more information about College Savings Iowa, call 888-672-9116 or visit CollegeSavingsIowa.com.
 

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met Monday evening, April 17 for its regular monthly meeting. Two public hearing were held at the beginning of the meeting. The first was on the proposed budget for 2023-2024. The second public hearing was on amending the 2022-2023 budget. There were no verbal or written comments on either subject and the hearings were closed.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering a DIY (Do It Yourself) Kids Hanging Room Decorations class Tuesday, May 2 from 3:45- 4:45 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, located at 1220 3rd Avenue NW.

Kids and their imaginations will love creating their own hanging room décor. Using cut-outs of butterflies, stars, birds and other images, they can apply a wide range of colors to their take-home masterpieces. Paper will be provided for kids who have their own individual cut-out ideas. All supplies will be provided.

The deadline for paid registration is April 25. To register online visit www.nicc.edu/waukon or call NICC Waukon center at 844-642-2338, ext. 6700.
 

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering an Adult Eco-Printing Party class Tuesday, May 2 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, located at 1220 3rd Avenue NW.

Eco-printing is a popular craft that draws upon the beauty of items in the natural world, then captures their textures and patterns on fabric. Using a simple process, participants will learn to take natural objects like leaves and flowers and make an imprint. Participants in the class will use canvas tote bags, a natural bouquet and guidance from the instructor to create a custom keepsake of their very own. All skill levels are welcome. Attendees should feel free to bring their own leaves and flowers to try.

The deadline for paid registration is April 25. To register online visit www.nicc.edu/waukon or call NICC Waukon center at 844-642-2338, ext. 6700.
 

Kee High School will host its Fine Arts Awards Night Monday, May 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Kee High School gymnasium to celebrate the students’ successes and present awards. Families of students are welcome to attend. Cake and punch will be served following the celebration.

Pictured above are some of those Kee High School Fine Arts students who made up the cast of Kee’s spring production of “Be My Ghost” that took the stage at Kee High School April 1-2. Pictured above are: Left to right - standing, sitting or kneeling on the stage: Director Tammy Manning, Zoey Timmerman, Riley Troendle, Isaiah Wagner, Summer Walleser, Brayden Waters, Brooklyn Bakewell, Andrew Kolsrud, Brendan Jones, Ashlyn Henkes, Sean Lopez Vega, Cadan Evanson, Austin St. Mary, Jack Schweitzer, Sawyer Gramlich, Holden Welsh; and from top of stairs on down: Alyssa Hilleshiem, Brendan Croft and Lily Howe, Neva Peterson, and Phoenix Crass and Rhianna Jones. Submitted photo.
 

The winner of the 2022 entrepreneurial scholarship offered by the Lansing Area Women in Business organization for the first time last year, Kee High School graduated senior Abby Wood, is pictured in the center of the above photo with Lansing Area Women in Business members (left to right) Wendi Eiden, Maryann Baldwin, Amy Stracener, Diana Wilson-Thompson and Sammi Scholtes. The Lansing Area Women in Business organization is again offering its entrepreneurial scholarship this year, with applications due by April 14. Submitted photo.

Meenah Keenan has been selected as a Certified Student Practitioner at the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau (HLAB), an in-house clinic of Harvard Law School in Cambridge, MA. Each year, HLAB selects 15 to 20 law students from across the country to participate in its summer program. Student practitioners provide legal services to low-income residents in the Boston, MA area while being supervised by HLAB’s clinical instructors.

Keenan is a second-year law student at Suffolk University Law School in Boston, MA where she is a teaching assistant and Co-President of the Child and Family Law Association. For the 2023-2024 academic year she will serve as Vice-President of the Moot Court Honor Board, Journal of Trial and Appellate Advocacy. She will also be a Certified Student Practitioner for the Juvenile Defender’s Clinic at Suffolk University.