Education

Upper Iowa University (UIU) in Fayette celebrated academic excellence during its annual Honors & Awards Banquet Saturday, April 11, at the Fayette Campus. More than $500,000 in scholarships were awarded through 252 individual recognitions. These funds will support students during the 2026–2027 academic year.

Among those honored individuals were a pair of students from the Lansing area. Dalton Dibert was awarded the Northeast Iowa Charitable Foundation Scholarship, which is an endowed scholarship awarded annually to deserving students from the northeast Iowa area. Emma Munson was awarded the Kenneth J. & Sharon L. (Reisch) Erickson Scholarship Fund, which is awarded to students majoring in either Accounting or Finance who have successfully completed their first year of study and are maintaining a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0.

The annual P.E.O. reception for girls from the graduating classes at Waukon High School and Kee High School in Lansing was held Monday, April 13 at the Waukon Wellness Center Senior Center. This year marked the 63rd anniversary of the event.

The evening began with refreshments served. After a welcome by Chapter EK President Linda Carstens, introductions were made by members of Chapter EK and guests. Chapter EK member Bridget Ronan presented the program on “Lessons learned from the Hokey Pokey.” The senior girls in attendance (pictured above) then shared memories from their high school years. Submitted photo.
 

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community School District Board of Directors met in regular session Monday night, April 20. The meeting began with a public hearing on the proposed 2026-2027 budget, followed by a public hearing amending the 2025-2026 budget. There were no written or oral comments on either issue.

Under the Consent Agenda, the board approved the following personnel hires (pending a satisfactory background check): Katelyn Theissen, 9th Grade Volleyball Coach; Ben Pline, Carter Schellsmidt, and Josh Stigler, Volunteer Baseball Coaches; Brad Krambeer, Volunteer Softball Coach; Devin-James Beckert, 6-12 Vocal Music Teacher and Assistant Musical Director; Sara Retallick, Summer Tech Assistant; Bailey Wise, 6-8 ELA/Reading Teacher; Lynn Larson, Credit Recovery Para; Colton O’Neill, Summer Custodial Help; and Luke Zezulka, Middle School Night Custodian.

The Kee High School Drama Department will be presenting the musical production “Willy Wonka Jr.” on stage this weekend in the Kee High School gymnasium through special arrangement with Music Theatre International with words and music by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newly and the production adapted for the stage by Leslie Bricusse and Timothy A. McDonald. “Willy Wonka Jr.” is based off of the novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” by Roald Dahl, and the musical represents many of the classic songs from the original movie starring Gene Wilder.

The production is scheduled for two performances, including this Saturday, April 11 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 12 at 2 p.m. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door, and there will also be a sweets and cotton candy shop available to purchase treats from.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) is addressing a critical challenge in the manufacturing industry with the launch of its new Career Pathway Certificate (CPC): Core Manufacturing Skills. Developed in direct response to the regional skills gap, this two-week intensive program is designed to equip students with the foundational knowledge and soft skills necessary to enter the workforce ready to contribute from day one.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering a Mini-STEAM Camp for Kindergarten-5th grade students. This youth camp will be held Wednesday, April 22, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, located at 1220 Third Avenue NW.

Keep kids engaged on this scheduled day off from school by signing them up for a mini-STEAM camp. Children will be involved in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math activities. Snacks and supplies are provided, but attendees will need to bring a sack lunch.

The deadline for paid registration is April 15. To register, visit www.nicc.edu/waukon or call the NICC Waukon Center at 563-562-3263, ext. 6700.
 

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) Board of Directors held its regular meeting Monday, March 9 at Kee High School in Lansing. Board President Arla Wagner called the meeting to order, and voting members also present included Heather Lutz (Director District #2, Vice-President), Joe Manning (At-Large Board Member) and Tommy Martin (Director District #1). Glen Delaney (Director District #3) was not in attendance.

Other attendees included EACSD Superintendent Jay Mathis, Board Secretary and Financial Clerk Michele Martin, PK–12 Principal Donna Thomas, and Special Education Director and Associate Principal Liz Hill. Visitor Jenny Cole of Learning Tree Daycare was also present.

Dr. Michael Osterholm, who was recently named as one of the world’s “most influential leaders in health” by Time magazine, will discuss concerns surrounding the current status of public health in the world and what he recommends be done to address this crisis at the Dr. David J. Roslien Distinguished Lecture in Science and Leadership. The lecture, titled “Public Health in Crisis: What This Means to You,” will start at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall on Luther College’s campus.

The lecture is free and open to the public. It will also be livestreamed on Luther’s YouTube channel. 

This year’s Roslien Distinguished Lecture will be a conversational fireside chat format with Osterholm answering questions posed by Dr. Mark Larson, medical director of Mayo Clinic Care Network. Larson graduated from Luther in 1978 and he currently serves on the Luther College Board of Regents with Osterholm.

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community Education Association (ACEA) representatives met with Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Negotiations Committee members Beth Shafer and Erik Helgerson, as well as ACSD Superintendent Jay Mathis Tuesday, March 10 to begin the process of contract negotiations.

In its proposal to the district, ACEA asked for a $615 dollar increase to the teaching and coaching base salary, bringing that to $35,000. They also asked that step movement and lane changes be given as per Article XIII, Section 3. Total increase with step movement and lane changes as well as the base salary increase would be 3.05%.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering a Mini-Science Experiment Camp Tuesday, April 7. The youth camp will run from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, 1220 Third Avenue NW.

Join the Curiosity Crew on a three-part mission into the heart of science. Each part of this series will challenge young explorers to investigate fascinating phenomena and conduct awesome experiments.

The deadline for paid registration is March 31. To register, visit www.nicc.edu/waukon or call the NICC Waukon Center at 563-562-3263, ext. 6700.