Education

The Waukon Lions Club hosted its annual Waukon High School Honors Banquet at the First Presbyterian Church in Waukon Wednesday, May 1. Students ranking in the top 15% academically of Waukon High School’s 2019 senior class were honored at the event. The evening included a meal served by the Presbyterian Women and an inspirational talk by guest speaker Jay Mathis, Superintendent of the Allamakee Community School District and a Waukon High School Class of 1982 graduate. The honored seniors shared with the audience their future plans and then were presented certificates by Waukon High School Principal Dr. Mike Hardy and Waukon High School Guidance Counselor Amy Wasson. Pictured above are the honored students with speaker Jay Mathis. Left to right - Front row: Megan O’Neill, Michaela Dehli, Leslie Halverson, Molly Brodahl, Madisen Ahlstrom, Aubree Cota; Back row: Brigid Berns, Micah Treptau, guest speaker Jay Mathis, Nathan Helgerson, Lauren Griffith, Lauryn Behrend.

The Waukon High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Chapter continued to prove itself as one of the top chapters in the state of Iowa with a second-place finish at the FBLA State Leadership Conference held in Coralville March 28-30. The Waukon chapter claimed more than 60 award-winning finishes by its members within the top six of a variety of project and testing competitions, including 13 event championships.

The annual State Leadership Conference is an opportunity for students to compete against other students from around the state of Iowa in various business-related tests, presentations and speeches. Many projects were done throughout the past couple of months and then presented to judges at the Conference. Events also included case studies and written tests.

by Waukon High School Publications students Olivia Opat, Madelyn Helgerson and Janett Farning

Throughout the Allamakee Community School District (ACSD), both students and staff have been celebrating National Teacher Appreciation Week from May 6-10. Students across the school district commented on the topic of why they appreciate their teachers.

Two children from elementary school shared why they appreciate teachers, including a student named Cole. He stated, “Teachers are like water. You need them to survive. They have traits that make them unique. They teach their passion and that passion may be one of yours.”

Another elementary student, Leah, stated, “I appreciate my teachers because they know more than we do and they are trying to teach us some of the knowledge.”

The Allamakee County Master Gardeners and the Waukon High School FFA chapter have combined their efforts this year to host a plant sale scheduled for this Saturday, May 11 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. in the 4-H Building at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon. The Master Gardeners have been busy planting herbs and vegetables, while the FFA members have been busy with the flowers.

Since the closure of Luster Heights in Allamakee County, the Master Gardeners have been able to start seeds in the Waukon High School greenhouse. Prior to that closure, residents of Luster Heights started the plants in their own greenhouse. The Allamakee County Master Gardeners appreciate the Waukon FFA chapter sharing its greenhouse with the Master Gardeners for this venture.

The family of Walter “Red” Rixen and Dr. James Rixen, father and son, will continue to honor their memory and legacy of community support with a new endowed scholarship being made available to Waukon High School graduating seniors. The “Red” Rixen and Dr. Jim Rixen Scholarship will be first distributed at this year’s Waukon High School Senior Awards Program through the Allamakee Scholarship Fund, Inc.

Walter “Red” Rixen was born in Harlan and served in the U.S. Army during WWII.  He began his teaching and coaching career at Waukon High School, where his 1953 and 1957 Waukon Indian football teams played to undefeated seasons. After completing a Master’s degree in Administration at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), Red went on to be a school principal at St. Ansgar, for many years at Grinnell High School, and also at Davis Elementary. He and his wife, Helen, retired back to Waukon.

Sixth grade students from New Albin Elementary recently enjoyed their afternoon learning all about clay, as well as creating their own pottery masterpiece. George Blair, a renowned potter from New Albin, had the students and teachers awed at his talents. The students had a great experience thanks to the generosity of this local artist. Submitted photos.
 

Tuesday, May 14 at 7 p.m., the Senior Awards Program for the Waukon High School Class of 2019 will be held in the school auditorium. All students, parents and families, and community members are invited to attend.

Allamakee Scholarship Fund, Inc. and many community groups will present awards that evening. In addition, honors and achievements by Waukon High School Class of 2019 members will be recognized. Any organization presenting an award needs to contact Amy Wasson at Waukon High School to confirm program information and inclusion in the program by Tuesday, May 10.
 

Waukon High School Prom 2019 is scheduled for Saturday, April 27. 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 and prizes at the Post Prom event each year.

Assistance is needed for the event in two main areas:

Undergraduate students from Iowa State University (ISU) in Ames headed south the second week of April to share their research and scholarship with their peers from across the nation at the 33rd annual National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) held April 11-13 at Kennesaw State University in Georgia. About 4,000 undergraduate students from across the U.S. present their research at this annual conference, the largest such conference in the country.

This is the third year ISU students have attended NCUR. Iowa State’s 62 students representing 30 different majors marks the university’s highest level of participation yet. In addition to presenting their research and scholarship, these students were also provided with networking and professional development opportunities.

The eighth grade students of Waukon Middle School once again were up bright and early Thursday, April 4 for their annual trip to Des Moines. Students and chaperons boarded two charter buses for the annual trip. The trip included one new venue this year, a visit to the John Deere factory in Ankeny. That visit started with a video introduction followed by a 60-minute motorized tour of production of cotton harvesters. Students also visited the State Capitol (some of those students are pictured outside above and some inside below) in Des Moines, getting a chance to visit with area Representatives Anne Osmundson and Michael Bergan. Students also got to visit either Terrace Hill or the Iowa Hall of Pride. Students were commended at each stop for being courteous and attentive. They represented their school and community in a very positive way. Submitted photos.