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Evelyn Dwyer and Noah Fischer, both seniors at De Pere High School, have earned $10,000 student scholarships from the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation. 

Award recipients are selected by a statewide committee composed of civic leaders and representatives of education-related associations and the program’s co-sponsors: The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, regional Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESA), the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators, and the Wisconsin Homeschooling Parents Association. Criteria include academic, extracurricular involvement and community leadership.

"Being selected as a Herb Kohl Student Excellence Scholar is an immense honor for which I am extremely grateful and proud," said Dwyer. "This scholarship will help me to achieve my college and career goals, which entail studying Materials Science and Engineering at an undecided university. I am very thankful for the assistance provided to me by De Pere High School staff members and community volunteer organization leaders as well as the opportunity presented by the Herb Kohl Scholarship Foundation."

Fischer, who plans to study business and/or marketing at UW-La Crosse said he is thankful for all the support he's received from the school and his peers through the challenges he experienced over the course of his freshman and sophomore years.

"Down the road, I’d love to hold a leadership position in a company or own my own online business. Throughout my four years, De Pere has prepared me for the next steps and I am more than grateful for every opportunity I have been given. I can’t wait to be in a position to pay it forward in the future."

Voters yesterday (Apr. 2, 2024) authorized the Unified School District of De Pere to exceed its state-imposed revenue limit by $4,750,000 per year for five years, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year and ending with the 2028-2029 school year. Funds will be used for operational and maintenance expenses.

"The District’s budget has been tight for the past four years. We could not sustain current programming and service levels any longer without additional funds," said Supt. Christopher Thompson. "Thank you to those who took the time to attend a town hall meeting, read our informational materials, submit a question or otherwise become more familiar with our current financial needs. 

"School funding in Wisconsin is complex. It is encouraging that residents showed a strong desire to learn more about this challenging topic. The investment our residents have made in our schools will benefit our students, our staff and our community." 
 

De Pere High School teacher Rob Guyette and De Pere Middle School teacher Heather Wright have been named 2024 Teacher Fellows by the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation. Educators are chosen for their superior ability to inspire a love of learning in their students and ability to motivate others, and for their leadership and service in and outside the classroom. 

After being nominated, Guyette and Wright had to submit to the evaluation committee written responses to a series of six essay questions and provide details on their service, civic and citizenship-based activities. Both teachers and their respective schools will each receive a $6,000 grant. 

Guyette currently teaches English 9, English 10, Journalism and Multicultural Influencers classes. He is a 1991 graduate of Syracuse University with a double major in journalism and psychology, and earned his teaching certificate through St. Norbert College. He has taught in the District for 23 years. 

"I want to thank the De Pere school district for encouraging innovative classes and projects, my students for bringing their enthusiasm and discussion to class, and my teachers at De Pere Abbot Pennings High School for making such a strong impact on me," says Guyette. "I teach because I want to be the role model for current students that my teachers were for me at Pennings."

Wright has taught in the District for 18 years. She has a bachelor's degree in education and psychology from St. Norbert College; teaching certifications in broad field social studies and psychology (EA-A), regular education and social studies (MC-EA) and computer science for grades 4-12; and a master's degree in applied leadership for teaching and learning from UW-Green Bay.

Wright currently teaches Digital Literacy to 7th and 8th graders at De Pere Middle School.

"This award recognizes teachers for their ‘ability to inspire a love of learning and to motivate their students.' Students are the ones who inspire and motivate me!" says Wright. "They continually rise to the challenge when I seek new ways to connect learning to life, enhance problem-solving skills and encourage them to use their creativity with technology. 

"The motto in our classroom is ‘Design, Create, Inspire, and Innovate! This achievement would not be possible without the amazing support of my family, colleagues, and administration."

Award recipients are selected by a statewide committee composed of civic leaders and representatives of education-related associations and the program’s co-sponsors: The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, regional Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESA), the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators and the Wisconsin Homeschooling Parents Association.
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 The Kohl Foundation award program was established by Herb Kohl, former U.S. senator, philanthropist, and businessman who died December 27, 2023. Since 1990, the foundation has awarded nearly $38 million to Wisconsin educators, principals, students, and schools.