‘Standing Up’ awards recognize rural schools, libraries, and communities

State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster presented Standing Up for Rural Wisconsin Schools, Libraries, and Communities Awards during a ceremony recently at the state Capitol in Madison. “These awards recognize the hard work, innovative programs, and collaborative efforts of our schools, libraries, and communities in rural Wisconsin,” Burmaster said. “The good work being done in our small rural communities is shaping the lives of our children as well as the future of this great state.”

This was the second year Burmaster presented “Standing Up for Rural Wisconsin Schools, Libraries, and Communities Awards.” Projects receiving recognition were:

• Fire and Ice, the highly acclaimed show choir at Washburn High School, for its 13-year history of exceptional musical and theatrical performances;
  
  
• Freedom Food Pantry, a partnership between the food pantry and Freedom FFA, for distributing about five tons of food annually in the Freedom area;
  
  
• Grandview Summer Academy, sponsored by the Pecatonica Education Charitable Foundation in collaboration with the Pecatonica and Dodgeville school districts and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, for summer arts enrichment classes taught by community residents and teachers from neighboring school districts;
  
  
• High Five After-School Program at Spooner Elementary School for after-school program services, resulting in improved academic achievement and self-esteem among student participants and increased community and parent involvement in the school;
  
  
• Kinship of Tomahawk, a non-profit organization in the Tomahawk School District, for promoting mentoring activities;
  
  
• Nicolet Distance Education Network, a collaborative partnership linking 11 rural PK-12 school districts and the Nicolet Area Technical College, providing expanded access to high-quality educational programs and other learning opportunities for students and residents in the region;
  
  
• Partnership with Reedsville Manor, a partnership between the district and the assisted living complex for elderly citizens, helping cognitively disabled students learn life skills while building community connections;
  
  
• Science, Technology, and Agriculture Classes of the Bayfield School District, a partnership between the district, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and other organizations, for providing high school students with high-quality learning experiences in the areas of science, technology, and agriculture;
  
  
• Summer Activities in the Park, a cooperative effort by the Jane Morgan Memorial Library and the Cambria Kiwanis Club, for offering a series of noon-time activities for children at Cambria’s Tarrant Lake Park; and
  
  
• Turtle Playscape Project, a community-based, service-learning project, for constructing a new school and community playscape with a “turtle” unifying theme.

Burmaster commended the individuals and organizations that work on the projects for their tremendous contributions to Wisconsin’s rural communities. “Your efforts reverberate throughout our communities and will have lasting effects for our children today and the generations to follow,” she said. A photo gallery of the winning project teams is available. Further details about the winning projects are available in the complete news release.

Last updated on 11/6/2006