Each participating school selects honored students based primarily on academic achievement, although other important attributes, such as leadership, character and community involvement also were considered. The Excellence in Education Banquet also recognizes an additional student from each school who has exhibited extraordinary qualities and effort, above and beyond what is considered normal or expected, and who is quite likely not a top academic achiever. Each student was asked to select an educator who incited a special interest in a specific subject or learning in general, demonstrated exceptional knowledge, served as a mentor or caused the student to do more than what might be considered possible.
For a list of all student and educator honorees, click here.
In addition, the following honorees received Special Educator Awards:
• Innovation in Teaching Award – Sarah Hoplins, School District of Eleva-Strum
• Innovation in Teaching Award – Rebecca Mattson, Robbins Elementary, Eau Claire
• Contributor to Education Award – Holly Larson, Longfellow Elementary, Eau Claire
• Unsung Hero Award, Sue Maenner, Augusta School District
5ive for Women Magazine Publisher and Editor in Chief Jen Theisen was the keynote speaker, and Bob Gallaher of WEAU 13 News was the emcee.
The event is made possible by the following sponsors:
Platinum Sponsor: Marshfield Clinic
Gold Sponsors: Banbury Place, Bush Brothers, Chippewa Valley Technical College, Eau Claire Area School District, Eleva-Strum School District, Fall Creek Lions Club, Higgins Travel, HSHS Sacred Heart & St. Joseph’s Hospitals, Johnson Litho Graphics, Leader-Telegram, Mayo Clinic Health System, McDonough Manufacturing Company, NBI, Inc., Royal Construction, Royal Credit Union, SDS Architects, Senn Blacktop, Student Transit-Eau Claire and Weld, Riley S.C.
Silver Sponsors: Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, Lions Club of Mondovi, Manpower, Osseo-Fairchild School District, PESI, Inc., School District of Mondovi, UW-Eau Claire Foundation Inc.
Bronze Sponsors: Altoona Area Foundation, Altoona Board of Education, Associated Bank, Augusta School District, CliftonLarsonAllen, DeLong Middle School, Eau Claire Area Retired Educators Association, Eau Claire Association of Educators, Fall Creek School District, Hillside Dental, Kris Javurek, Kleven Real Estate, L&M Mail & Courier, Marten Transport, Ltd., Memorial High School Student Council, North High School Student Council, Realityworks, REALiving, Regis High School, Ryberg Law Firm, School District of Altoona, School District of Gilmanton, Sylvan Learning Center, United Bank – Eleva, Mondovi and Osseo offices, Unity Bank and Wipfli.
In-Kind Sponsors: Altoona High School, Brent Douglas Flowers, Johnson Litho Graphics, Bill Hoepner and UW-Eau Claire.
Special thank you to the following Excellence in Education Committee members for planning this year’s event: Chair Kayann Bock - Sylvan Learning Center, Cherrie Bergandi - Chippewa Valley Technical College, Karen Hauck - Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes, Bill Hoepner - UW-Eau Claire, Patti Iverson - Eau Claire Area School District, Lynette Livingston - Chippewa Valley Technical College, Joyce Orth - School District of Altoona, Dale Poynter - SDS Architects, Inc., Carrie Ronnander - Chippewa Valley Museum, Vicki Seltun - City of Eau Claire, Sue Tietz - McDonough Manufacturing Company and Jamie Trullinger - Security Financial Bank