Education

Iowa Girls State sponsored by The American Legion Auxiliary of Iowa is scheduled to be held June 10-15 this year on the campus of Drake University in Des Moines. American Legion Auxiliary Scenic Unit #722 of Harpers Ferry has selected Waukon High School junior Ella Homewood, daughter of Jimmy and Heather Homewood of Waukon, as its Girls  State Citizen for this year’s event. In addition to attending school, her interests also include art and horseback riding.

American Legion Auxiliary Iowa Girls State is one of the premier programs sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary and was started by a dream of four women over 75 years ago in hopes of teaching young women about the political process. Girls State is a “learning by doing” program, which takes the girls through the entire political process.

State of Iowa Treasurer Roby Smith announces the application process for the 2025 Robert D. Blue Scholarship is open. Soon-to-be and former graduates of any Iowa high school who plan to pursue post-secondary education are encouraged to apply. Awards are based on financial need, an original essay, academic achievement and recommendations.

Scholarship applications must be submitted by May 10. Visit rdblue.org to apply.
 

First-year student Olivia Marti of Waukon is nearing completion of the 2024-2025 President’s Leadership Class at Iowa State University. Marti majors in agronomy/agricultural business and is a 2024 graduate of Waukon High School.

Each fall, Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen invites 30 first-year students to participate in the program. They are selected for the class based on high school leadership experience, academic achievement, and involvement in school and community service. The President’s Leadership Class builds on these abilities and experiences, serving as an important training ground for students who will go on to become campus leaders; and ultimately, leaders in their professions and in their communities.

Waukon High School senior Mari Delaney was one of two students recently awarded a Hauschild Memorial Scholarship from Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative (ACEC). Delaney was awarded $1,000 from the Co-op.

She is the daughter of Jesse and Heather Delaney of Waukon. Her plans are to attend Iowa State University to study civil and environmental engineering.

Jack Scherf, a senior from Central High School, was the other ACEC Hauschild Memorial Scholarship recipient for this year.

The Hauschild Scholarship Fund was established in 1995 in memory of Robert “Bill” Hauschild by his wife and family. This scholarship is provided in recognition of Hauschild’s service as a board member from his election in 1988, until his death March 17, 1993. Scholarships are open to graduating high school seniors in Allamakee-Clayton Electric’s service area and are available to students who are entering a course of study within the electric field.

Iowa educators wanting to do a deep dive into finance topics but needing flexibility have until May 29 to register for “Small Change: Building Financial Security for Educators.” This Iowa State University Extension and Outreach blended course starts Thursday, June 5, with an introductory session from 4:30-6:30 p.m., followed by a four-week, self-paced, facilitator-led online learning experience that ends July 3. The certification course provides both teacher license renewal credit and audit options so educators can participate at their own pace.

The Standard newspaper office in Waukon hosted some special visitors the morning of Thursday, April 17. First grade students from the classrooms of Ms. Deb Hauber and Mrs. Thea Troendle at St. Patrick School in Waukon toured The Standard office for a field trip to learn more about the newspaper and its importance to the community, along with the jobs and processes involved in gathering news from within the community and publishing that information in the newspaper.

The students and newspaper staff also discussed the “5 Ws” involved in writing a story, including “Who, What, When, Where and Why”, in addition to the “1 H” of “How” that is often used in further writing a more complete story as well. Students in the two classrooms (pictured in the photos above and below) also had a chance to ask questions and helped contribute to and edit their own newspaper front page to print and take with them at the end of the field trip. Standard photos by Joe Moses.
 

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met for its regular monthly meeting Monday night, April 21. Board member Jesse Delaney was not in attendance. There were no written or verbal comments at the public hearing for the proposed budget for 2025-2026 or the public hearing to amend the 2024-2025 budget.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) Board of Directors held a series of meetings this month, including a special session Wednesday,  April 9 and its regular monthly meeting Monday, April 14.

The following board members were present for the April 9 meeting: Bobbie Goetzinger, Heather Lutz, Melanie Mauss, Joe Manning and Arla Wagner, as was Board Secretary Michele Martin. That April 9 special meeting was held at Central Community School District in Elkader, with which the EACSD shares the services of Superintendent of Schools Nick Trenkamp, who was recently placed on administrative leave due to concerns with social media posts. Meeting minutes reflect only that the board entered a closed session under Iowa Code 21.5(1)(i) to discuss personnel matters, concluding the session more than an hour later that evening, with no further action being taken prior to adjournment.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering a variety of in-person summer camps during the month of June at the NICC Waukon Center. This summer the Waukon Center is offering Storytelling with STEAM Camp, Kids in the Kitchen: Junior Chef and Build Your Own Business.

Camps are offered at a reduced rate courtesy of these sponsors: Allamakee County Community Foundation, Allamakee County Economic Development & Tourism and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

To register and learn more about these summer camps, visit www.nicc.edu/waukon or call the NICC Waukon Center at 844-642-2338, ext. 6700.
 

The Allamakee County Conservation Board has announced the offering of three free summer day camps for local youth this upcoming summer season. Each day camp will be for a different age range and will feature outdoor activities along a certain theme.

Registration is required and space is limited. For more information or to register, call 563-538-0401. The day camps being offered include the following:

Insectigations (Students entering 1st-2nd Grade): Wednesday, July 9 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Waterville Farm. Come and explore all the tiny critters Iowa has to offer. Participants will dig in to the fascinating world of insects and explore how they may be small but they are just as cool.