Education

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions and Allamakee County Economic Development & Tourism is offering a “Build Your Own Business” summer camp (#81182) July 28-29 for students entering fourth through sixth grades in the fall.

This two-day camp gives students a chance at a “Shark Tank-style” experience where they can learn basic business concepts and vocabulary, create a business plan and pitch their ideas in a presentation to young entrepreneurs from the area. The entrepreneurs will share their business stories and help students learn everything from a proper greeting handshake to good customer service skills to building a professional business card.

The deadline for paid registration is July 19. To register online for “Build Your Own Business” or for more information, visit www.nicc.edu/solutions/81182 or call NICC Waukon Center at 844-642-2338, ext. 6700.

Over the past year, many essential workers in the northeast Iowa region have made sacrifices to serve and care for their communities. Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) has created a new “Moving Forward” Speaker Series, supported by federal CARES Act dollars, that provides local professionals with an opportunity to learn from nationally recognized experts from five presentations.

Remaining speakers include Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach. Their presentations provide insights in how to rise above the long-term effects of the pandemic, overcome stress and thrive. Learn more and register for the series at https://www.nicc.edu/business-community/.

The final “Moving Forward” Speaker Series presentation is scheduled for July 21 from 6-7:30 p.m. Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach, Bestselling Authors will present “Finding the Strength to Persevere”.

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District Board of Directors held a pair of meetings thus far in the month of June, a special meeting Friday, June 4 and the board’s regular monthly meeting Monday, June 21. Coverage of both meetings appears below.

FRIDAY, JUNE 4
The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met Friday morning, June 4 for a special meeting. The following personnel were approved for hire: Jessica Keenan as Food Service Director; Kirby Jones as School Nurse; Sarah Hagen as Assistant Musical Director; Caitlyn Owens as Elementary Vocal Music Teacher; Jason LaPage as Middle School Play Director; and Heath Kelley as Technology Director.

Each year the Waukon Middle School staff acknowledges a boy and girl from the sixth, seventh and eighth grades for the Middle School Citizenship Award. These students demonstrate positive attitude, academic excellence, exemplary character, school spirit and community involvement. This year’s recipients are pictured above according to grade level. From front to back, left to right, are sixth graders Reegan Benzing and Vaughn Stegen, seventh graders Avalea Burns and Connor Stilwelll, and eighth graders Mari Delaney and Graine Curtin. Submitted photo.
 

Over the past year, many essential workers in the northeast Iowa region have made sacrifices to serve and care for their communities. Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) has created a new “Moving Forward” Speaker Series, supported by federal CARES Act dollars, that provides local professionals with an opportunity to learn from nationally recognized experts from five presentations.

Remaining speakers include Brandon Marshall, Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach and more. Their presentations provide insights in how to rise above the long-term effects of the pandemic, overcome stress and thrive. Learn more and register for the series at https://www.nicc.edu/business-community/.

The “Moving Forward” Speaker Series remaining schedule includes the following:

Robey Memorial Library in Waukon invites teenagers in grades seventh through 12th to participate in its Summer Book Club in July and August.

July’s book selection is “Marcus Vega doesn’t speak Spanish” by Pablo Cartaya. Teenagers are invited to join Robey Memorial Library Wednesdays, July 7 and July 21 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. for snacks and discussion of that book. Those who register for July book club by June 17 will receive a free copy of the book to keep, donated by the Robey Memorial Library Foundation.

August’s book club will meet Wednesdays, August 4 and 18 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. and discuss “The inheritance games” by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Those who register for August book club by July 15 will receive a free copy of the book to keep, donated by the Robey Memorial Library Foundation.
 

Waukon High School students under the direction of Industrial Technology instructor Jed Hemann constructed new picnic tables and planter boxes for the Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation (NEICAC) Waukon Headstart classrooms. Pictured below is Mr. Hemann with students from one of his classes that participated in the project, and pictured above are students and staff members of the Waukon Headstart classroom with some of the new picnic tables and planter boxes. Submitted photos.

The Allamakee County Conservation Foundation (ACCF) has announced that 2021 graduates Owen Henkes of Kee High School in Lansing and Charles Waters of Waukon High School are the winners of the 2021 ACCF Scholarship. After high school, Henkes plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Platteville majoring in Biology and Zoology. Waters plans to attend the Natural Resources Management Program at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo. Pictured in the submitted photo above, left to right, at the scholarship award presentation are Allamakee County Conservation Naturalist Ross Geerdes, Allamakee County Conservation Board members Jeanie Carroll, Gary Krapfl and Marilyn Clark, scholarship recipients Charles Waters and Owen Henkes, and Allamakee County Conservation Board members Jesse Delaney and Steve Weymiller.

The application window remains open for this year’s Master Gardener training offered online in the fall. A total of 17 educational modules will be offered by Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach.

Applicants have through July 1 to apply. Apply and learn more about the program online at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/mastergardener/become-master-gardener.

For more information, Susan DeBlieck, program coordinator can be reached at 515-294-6764, or at deblieck@iastate.edu.
 

Wednesday, May 26, a luncheon was held in the Waukon Middle School Gym for all employees of the Allamakee Community School District (ACSD). In addition to commemorating the end of another school year, the luncheon was held to honor employees of the district who have achieved 15, 20, 25 and 30 years of continuous service within the district along with those who are retiring from the district. Pictured above are the ACSD employees who have now retired from the school district following completion of this school year. Left to right - Front row: Karen Burke, Tess Pladsen, Denise Tysland, Joan Schmidt, Joan Schwartz; Back row: Virginia Kurth, Julie Magner, Mary (Muggs) Berns, Debra Rissman, Cindy Wuebker, Jim McCormick. Not pictured: Cindy Egan, Pat Snitker.