Education

Kee High School senior Owen Henkes received All-State Individual Speech recognition for his Improvisational Acting following his performance at the State Individual Speech Contest that took place Saturday, March 13 at Postville High School. This is his second recognition for Improvisational Acting, as he received the honor last year as well. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will be no All-State Festival this year, but medals, certificates and other All-State materials were sent to each All-State honoree. Photo courtesy of Kee High School.

Waukon High School Prom 2021 is scheduled for Saturday, April 24. Parents of high school students are again hosting the annual substance-free Post Prom event at the Waukon High School gym immediately following Prom, from 11 p.m. until 3:30 a.m. the next morning.

Very strong past support from parents of Waukon High School students, as well as from local businesses and civic organizations, has resulted in the continued success of providing Prom-goers a safe alternative for celebrating the annual event. That support has provided these young adults with games, food, entertainment, games and prizes at the Post Prom event each year.

Assistance is needed for the event in two main areas:

The Waukon High School Musical Theatre Department will present “West Side Story” Friday, April 16 at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 17 at 7 p.m. and a Sunday Matinee April 18 at 1 p.m. The production is being brought to the Waukon High School auditorium stage under the guidance of Director Sarah J. Bieber, Assistant Director Louise Wild and Choreographer Adam Hooten.

The musical comes to life in silence, and the tension between the Jets and the Sharks comes alive at the snap of a finger. This snapping rhythm sets the tones of the mayhem beginning to take place under the foggy, hot and humid summer sky in Puerto-Rican New York.

The playwright, Arthur Laurents, wrote a story of two hostile teenage gangs fighting for leadership among the corners, bridges and buildings of the West Side. Waukon High School’s Ryan VanderVelden, as “Bernardo”, and Ethan Hooten, as “Riff”, star as leaders of the Sharks and the Jets street gangs.

Nine Waukon High School students took part in the State Individual Speech Contest that took place Saturday, March 13 at Postville High School. Of those nine, two performers received the required two judges nominating them for All-State Honors as Outstanding Performers this year. Pictured individually above, left to right, Vivian Kahn received All-State nomination in the Original Oratory competition, and Abby Wiemerslage received All-State nomination in both Storytelling and Reviewing. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will be no All-State Festival this year, but medals, certificates and other All-State materials were sent to each All-State honoree.

Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation (NEICAC) has announced the availability of NEICAC Scholarships supported solely by employees and friends of Community Action. The application and criteria for eligibility are available through the County Family Service Offices or the Administrative Office in Decorah (563-382-8436), online at https://www.neicac.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2021-Scholarship-Filla..., or at high school guidance counselors’ offices. Applications must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 23 to be considered.

The Allamakee County Conservation Foundation (ACCF) is offering scholarship opportunities for graduating seniors who will be attending a college or university pursuing a degree in natural resources or a related field. One $500 scholarship will be offered to a senior from each of the area high schools in Allamakee County in the Postville, Allamakee Community, and Eastern Allamakee Community School Districts.

Students who would like to apply for the scholarship are encouraged to visit www.allamakeecountyconservation.org, the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center, or their school’s guidance counselor for an application. Applications will be accepted until April 1 and recipients will be notified by May 1.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering a “Cooking with Your Air Fryer” class scheduled for Tuesday, April 20 from 6-8 p.m. at Kee High School, located at 569 Center Street in Lansing. Owners of an air fryer or those thinking of getting one can join the class to explore a range of easy-to-prepare meals and snacks.

To register online for “Cooking with Your Air Fryer” (#81869) or for more information about the class, visit www.nicc.edu/solutions/81869, or call the NICC Waukon Center at 844-642-2338, ext. 6700. Registration deadline with payment is April 16.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering “Kids and Canvas - It’s Elementary!” Wednesday, April 14, from 3:30-5 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, located at 1220 Third Avenue NW.

Children can explore the world of painting in this class designed for elementary school-aged kids. In class, the kids are provided the paint and artist’s canvas, an age-appropriate subject and step-by-step guidance to release each child’s inherent creativity.

To register online for “Kids and Canvas – It’s Elementary!”  (#81871) or for more information, visit www.nicc.edu/solutions/81871, or call 844-642-2338, ext. 6700. Registration deadline with payment is April 9.

Kee High School’s spring production will be a comedy called “Nun of Your Business” by Craig Sodaro and published by Eldridge Publishing Co. The play will be performed this Saturday, March 27 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 28 at 2 p.m. in the Kee High School gymnasium. Admission fee will be taken at the door. Social distance seating will be made available throughout the floor of the gym as well as seating in the bleachers. This light-hearted comedy is filled with practice scenes that keep the cast and crew laughing and involved, some of whom are pictured above. Photo of cast and crew submitted by Kee High School.

The seven Kee High School students pictured at right competed in 10 different events at the State Contest held Saturday, March 13 in Postville. Those 10 events received seven “one” ratings and three “two” ratings, with Owen Henkes and Abby Wood each competing in two categories and both receiving perfect scores in each of their performances. Pictured at right are the participating students, listed below with the categories they competed in. Left to right - Front row: Neva Peterson (Storytelling), Cadan Evanson (Storytelling), Owen Henkes (Improvisation and Literary), Lilly Peterson (Prose); Back row: Riley Troendle (Prose), Abby Wood (Music Theatre and Poetry) and Monica Davis (Prose and Poetry). Submitted photo.