By Kim McDarison
The School District of Fort Atkinson Board of Education Thursday was presented with a recap of several awards and achievements earned last school year by students and staff.
Recognitions and achievements were highlighted during a presentation given by Superintendent Rob Abbott.
Awards and achievements highlighted included: the WordMasters Challenge; the NAMM Foundation, naming the district among “2022 Best Communities for Music Eduction,” which, Abbott said, is a distinction the district has earned for 10 years in a row; the Jerry Awards, which recognized students in the Fort Atkinson High School production of “The Little Mermaid”; National Scholastic Art Awards earned by two of the district’s art students, and Fort Atkinson High School FFA, which had two teams qualify for the state competition and Fort High School students received a National Chapter Award.
Also recognized were several supporting programs, such as Youth Apprenticeship and the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation, along with efforts made by several members of the district’s staff to aid the district in its overall mission.
WordMasters Challenge
Within his presentation, Abbott recognized the successes of several of the district third-, fifth- and eighth-grade students participating in the WordMasters Challenge.
According to information supplied by the district in June, the WordMasters Challenge is a national vocabulary competition involving nearly 125,000 students annually.
Information shared with Fort Atkinson Online in June noted: “the fifth-grade team scored 189 points out of a possible 200 in the last of three meets this year, placing eighth in the nation.
According to the June release: competing in the Gold Division of the WordMasters Challenge, were third-graders Meara Kelly and Briggs Luedtke, fifth-graders Aubrey Keller, Alexandria Luebke, and Emilio Quintana Gonzalez, and sixth-grader Emily Mallin (who took the Grade 8 Challenge). Each earned a perfect score of 20 in the recent meet. Nationally, only nine third-graders, 47 fifth-graders, and 30 eighth-graders achieved this result. Other students at the School District of Fort Atkinson who achieved outstanding results in the last meet of the year include fifth-graders Kiefer Anderson, Ava Krahn, and Jocelyn Velazquez, and eighth-grader Samantha Mallin.
The students were coached in preparation for the WordMasters Challenge by Nancy Leisgang, School District of Fort Atkinson Gifted and Talented Program assistant, Abbott said.
An earlier story about the program and the district’s students is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/fort-team-earns-honors-in-national-vocabulary-competition/.
‘2022 Best Communities for Music Education’
In 2022, as reported Thursday by Abbott, the district is the recipient, once again, of the “2022 Best Communities for Music Education.”
As reported by Fort Atkinson Online last April, the district had then-received the recognition for its ninth year. A news release noted that the NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit organization supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its approximately 10,400 members around the world. The foundation advances active participation in music-making by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs.
In its 23rd year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.
To qualify for the Best Communities designation, the School District of Fort Atkinson answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs, according to the release.
On Thursday, Abbott recognized the district’s music education staff, including: Donna Berg, Holly Dow, Jenna Schiewer, Amanda Hein, Andrea Haffelder, Bill Callaway, Peter Finnegan, Justin Steger, Donald Walden, Sam Fettig and Kiah Snow.
An earlier story about the Best Communities for Music Eduction designation is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/school-district-of-fort-atkinsons-music-education-program-receives-national-recognition/.
Jerry Awards
During Thursday’s presentation, Abbott acknowledged Jerry Awards which were given to several students in June, including Abbey Hoffman, who graduated in 2022 and played the the lead role of “Ariel” in the Fort Atkinson High School production of “The Little Mermaid,” which was performed in November.
Hoffman received an Outstanding Lead Performer recognition and a Spirit Award from the statewide organization, which, according to the Overture Center of the Arts website, as “one of Wisconsin’s High School Musical Awards Programs … began in the 2009-10 school year as the Tommy Awards, and was renamed in (the) 2017-18 season to The Jerry Awards after philanthropist and arts supporter W. Jerome Frautschi. Educators and industry professionals review productions at more than 85 high schools in 30 counties around the state providing valuable feedback. The program elevates the importance of musical theater within high schools.
The stage crew of The Little Mermaid, also was recognized in June, receiving the Outstanding Stage Crew Jerry Award from the program.
Crew members receiving the award included: Sahanna Ahmad, Sara Betchey, Amelia Belzer, Peyton Bishop, Izzy Birk, Jenka Carter, Mackenzie Cramlet, Cloe Francis, Kylie Frey, Willow Gutheridge, Jack Jonas, Wylee Lopez, Hannah Meyo, Ariel Miller, Jessica Nguyen, Vincent Sitkiewitz, Conner Smit, Evanna Thao, Adyn Theriault and Avie Vasquez.
The Fort Atkinson High School production is choreographed by Doug Reed and directed by Kiah Snow.
An earlier story about the Jerry Awards is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/fort-students-recognized-as-statewide-jerry-awards-recipients/.
National Scholastic Art Awards
Also among students highlighted Thursday were 2022 graduates and sisters Jessica and Elee Sharp.
Abbott noted that Jessica won a National Gold Medal in Sculpture in the Scholastic Art Awards and Elee won a National Silver Award for her art portfolio.
Both students traveled in June to New York City’s Carnegie Hall where they were honored as award recipients.
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards recognizes national medalists annually.
According to information supplied within a news release in May, the annual Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is the nation’s longest running and most prestigious program for creative teens in grades 7–12.
In 2022, the release stated, “more than 260,000 works of art and writing were submitted by teens from U.S. territories, Canada, and every state in the nation. Works by 40,000 teens received regional recognition, and nearly 2,000 works earned national awards.”
During an earlier interview with Fort Atkinson Online, both sisters said they had been guided throughout their school career by the district’s art teachers, and each lauded the instruction they received from the Fort Atkinson High School art program.
High School art teacher Angie Szabo was among teachers who guided the sisters and helped them organize fundraising efforts to make their trip to Carnegie Hall possible.
Also recognized Thursday was high school art teacher Frank Korb.
An earlier story about the Sharp sisters and their awards is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/fort-sisters-receive-national-art-recognition-ceremony-planned-at-carnegie-hall/.
Fort Atkinson High School FFA
Abbott noted that two Fort Atkinson High School FFA teams qualified for the state competition. Additionally, he said, at the Wisconsin State Convention students were awarded with a National Chapter Award, bronze rating.
“This is the first time in five or more years that our high school FFA team has earned this award,” Abbott said.
He extended congratulations to Cade Hein, Kaiden Bates, Julian Bos, Mariah Luebke, Jessica Besch, Katelyn Schneck, Cal Anderson, Mason Brandl, Liam Bos, Marnie Draves and Cory Hamilton, along with their advisors Shannon Lyon and Allison Parsons.
An earlier story about the FFA banquet is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/fort-atkinson-ffa-92nd-annual-banquet-held-recognitions-received/.
Other organizations and programming
Also mentioned was the District’s Youth Apprenticeship program which operates in conjunction with the State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
The program integrates school-based and work-based learning into a school experience to instruct students in employability and occupational skills as defined by Wisconsin industries. Local programs provide training based on statewide youth apprenticeship curriculum and guidelines that are endorsed by businesses and industry, Abbott said.
Abbott said some 50 Fort Atkinson students had come through the program in 2021-22. Students, along with participating local businesses, will be recognized on social media throughout the summer months, he said.
In addition, Abbott said, he wanted to recognize “our extremely generous community.”
The graduating class of 2022 was granted more than $415,000 in scholarships directly from the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation, he said.
An earlier story about scholarships awarded to the graduating class of 2022 is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/senior-scholarship-award-recipients-2022/.
Also noted, was the work of Angie Salamone, pupil services and special education coordinator, who, Abbott said, has applied for and been granted more than $83,000 this year to support Fort Atkinson students.
Grants will provide students with two new CNC machines and other pieces of manufacturing equipment, he said. Monies also will be used to support a peer-to-peer suicide prevention program.
Abbott noted that D.J. Scullin, the district’s director of technology, played an integral role in securing a $1.96 million Edge Broadband Grant. Scullin worked with the city of Fort Atkinson, Jefferson County and Edge Broadband to secure the grant funds to offer fiber internet in unserved and underserved areas surrounding Fort Atkinson.
An earlier story about the grant and fiber network is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/officials-share-fiber-optic-network-business-availability-future-residential-plans/.
Abbott also pointed to recognition earned by the district’s Director of Business Services Jason Demerath who was awarded a 2022 Pinnacle Achievement Award by the Association of School Business Officials International.
An earlier story about the recognition is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/elementor-70291/.
School District of Fort Atkinson Superintendent Rob Abbott, at the podium, provides the district’s board of education with a recap of awards and achievements earned by students and staff during the 2021-22 school year. The presentation was made Thursday during the board of education’s regular meeting.
Screen captured photo.
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