34th Annual Excellence in Education: 124 Students & Educators Recognized

​The Chamber recently honored 60 area high school seniors and their chosen educators at the 34th Annual Excellence in Education Banquet. Students represented 10 area high schools. 

Each participating school selects honored students based primarily on academic achievement, although other important attributes, such as leadership, character, enthusiasm, community involvement, communication skills and self-motivation, 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 – Tom Burgraff, Altoona School District
• Contributor to Education Award – Deanna Fuller, Eau Claire North High School
• Unsung Hero Award – Brooke Kaldor, Altoona School District
• Unsung Hero Award – Jess Szymanski, Eau Claire Northstar Middle School 

Gerald Bauer, owner of JB Systems and a former Excellence in Education honoree from Memorial High School, was the keynote speaker. 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, Fall Creek Lions Club, HSHS Sacred Heart & St. Joseph’s Hospitals, Madison St. Auto Body Inc., Mayo Clinic Health System, McDonough Manufacturing Company, Memorial High School Student Council, NBI, Inc., North High School Student Council, PESI, Inc., Regis Catholic Schools, Rhom Construction, Royal Credit Union, School District of Eleva-Strum, SDS Architects, Senn Blacktop, Student Transit-Eau Claire, Sylvan Learning Center and Weld, Riley S.C.

Silver Sponsors: Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, Lions Club of Mondovi, Manpower, Marten Transport, Ltd., Minnesota Wire, Osseo-Fairchild School District, Realityworks, Inc, School District of Mondovi, UW-Eau Claire Foundation Inc.

Bronze Sponsors: AAUW, Altoona Area Foundation, Altoona Board of Education, Associated Bank, Augusta School District, CliftonLarsonAllen, 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, REALiving, Ryberg Law Firm, School District of Altoona, School District of Gilmanton, United Bank – Osseo Office, United Bank – Eleva Office, United Bank – Mondovi Office, Unity Bank and Wipfli.

In-Kind Sponsors: Altoona High School, Brent Douglas Flowers, Bill Hoepner and UW-Eau Claire.