Education

Waukon High School graduating senior Katerina Kovarik was recently honored as a member of the 2023 “Best of the Class”. KWWL and the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) recognized valedictorians or top graduating seniors from across eastern Iowa at a celebration held Saturday, April 29 at the McLeod Center on the UNI campus in Cedar Falls. Kovarik is pictured in the center of the above photo with (left to right) KWWL Sports Director Rick Coleman, news anchors Collin Dorsey and Ron Steele, and Chief Meteorologist Mark Schnackenberg.

The Waukon Lions Club hosted the annual Waukon High School Honors Banquet at the First Presbyterian Church in Waukon Wednesday, April 26. The top 15% academically of the 2023 Waukon High School graduating class were honored. The evening included a meal served by the Presbyterian Women and an inspirational talk by guest speaker Erica (Langland) Nosbisch, a 2003 Waukon High School graduate and the Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Waukon Center Director. The graduates told the audience of their future plans and were presented certificates and medallions by Waukon High School Principal Jennifer Garin, Guidance Counselor Amy Wasson and Allamakee Community School District Superintendent of Schools Jay Mathis.

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met Monday, May 15 for its regular monthly board meeting. Under the consent agenda, the following personnel items were approved: substitute bus drivers; Caleb Ferring as Skills USA advisor; Sara Retallick as summer technology assistant; John O’Neill as varsity girls basketball coach; and Justin Piggott as transportation director.

The board also accepted the following resignations: Jon Fretham from his Social Studies teaching position and John O’Neill from his 10th grade boys basketball coach position. Approval was also given to an out-of-state field trip for the music department scheduled for November 8 of this year to the Chanhassen Dinner Theater for a performance of “Jersey Boys.”

Saturday, April 1, members of the Waukon High School Choir participated in the Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA) State Solo and Ensemble Festival held in Waukon. Through the solo and small group contest process, students work to improve their vocal abilities while learning how to sing as vocal soloists, with a duet partner, or in a small group.

“The kids learn a lot about themselves, their work ethic, and their individual musical abilities during this process,” Waukon High School Vocal Music Director Sarah Bieber shared. “The comments given from the judges help them improve in their vocal abilities, and we had incredibly helpful judges this year.”

All the 9th-12th grade vocal solos and ensembles received the two highest scores - all Division 1’s and Division 2’s out of a range of Division 1 - Division 5. “This is outstanding news for the high school vocal department,” Bieber said.

The Allamakee Community Education Association (ACEA) recently donated to the Waukon High School chapters of FFA and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA.) The ACEA collaborated with FBLA students on a fall food drive and with FFA students for a roadside clean-up this spring. A donation of $100 was presented April 28 to each student organization. Pictured above, left to right, are: Front row: Mari Delaney, Josh Keenan, Nate Keenan, Laurel Keenan, Lisa Snitker and Michele Pladsen; Back row: Isaac Ericson, James VanderVelden, Berlin Troendle, Joanne Ericson, Natalie  Byrnes, Alaina Gebel and Jessica O’Connor. Submitted photo.
 

Teacher Appreciation Week at Allamakee Community School District is being celebrated this week, May 8-12. During this week, teachers will acknowledge and celebrate the profession.

Teaching is a calling, exemplified by individuals who work tirelessly to positively impact, inspire and educate local youth. Teachers are frequently found collaborating with fellow staff members, families and community members. Teachers in the Allamakee Community School District were surveyed in late April, replying to the following question:

What do you love about Allamakee Community Schools?

Their replies included the following:

“The ability to follow students throughout their school years; Watch their accomplishments”

“The collaboration and teamwork amongst staff in the district! We have a great team!”

The annual P.E.O. reception for girls from the graduating class at Waukon High School was held Monday, April 24 at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, marking the 60th anniversary of the event. The evening began with refreshments served. After a welcome by president Loretta Schafer, introductions by members and guests were made. Amy Elizabeth Youngstrom presented the program on “Empower and Encourage.” The girls then shared memories from their high school years. Submitted photo.
 

Alaina Gebel, a graduating senior at Waukon High School and the daughter of Nate and Tami Gebel of rural Lansing, has been named one of 628 semifinalists in the 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The semifinalists were selected from over 5,000 candidates expected to graduate from U.S. high schools in the year 2023.

Gebel is a semifinalist for U.S. Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education. She is one of eight students from the state of Iowa to advance among this year’s overall semifinalists and one of two semifinalists from the state of Iowa in the program’s Career and Technical Education component. Another northeast Iowa student, Justin Berlage from Decorah High School, is also a semifinalist this year.

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.