Building renovations to greet Mickle Missiles when they return for classes < Updated

A new building renovation project will give Mickle Middle School students more chances to fly in successful academic orbits.
 
Members of the Mickle Missiles community will enjoy the completion of multiple facility improvements when they return for classes in the fall. The project is part of the 2020 bond referendum approved by voters.
 
Mickle Principal Jason Shanahan and Associate Principal Kevin Deutsch both felt the renovations would benefit the school’s 730 students in many ways. A new front entrance will provide more safety features for everyone, and the refurbished cafeteria includes more eating space, a raised ceiling and a projector/screen to use in large meetings. The family and consumer sciences (FCS) area has new desks and equipment, the art room includes more storage space and the industrial technology classroom has new equipment and safety enhancements.
 
“I think as curriculum advances, especially in our lab classes, it’s important that so do our classroom environments,” Shanahan said. “It’s about making sure the physical structures of our classrooms fit the curriculum. That was needed.”
 
“We’re over-the-moon excited about everything that’s here now,” Deutsch said. “It’s fantastic. We’re really grateful for these improvements, because they’re going to make a big difference for students in our school.”
 
LPS Director of Operations Scott Wieskamp said he was pleased with the project’s outcome. Construction began during the second semester of the 2022-23 school year and was completed in the fourth quarter of 2023-24. The venture, which was a Tier I priority on the LPS ten-year facilities and infrastructure plan, cost approximately $2.7 million.
 
“There are a number of great attributes to the Mickle Middle School project,” Wieskamp said.
 
Shanahan and Deutsch said they were impressed with the way Mickle students responded to the entire construction process.
 
“The students dealt really great with it,” Shanahan said. “With middle school students, you would think that would be a really big challenge, but they did a nice job of making sure that they stayed out of areas they weren’t supposed to be in, and construction workers did the same and were respectful of our learning environment. It went really well.”
 
“There was so much prior planning that had been done, which was wonderful,” Deutsch said. “Operations did a great job of making sure the kids and the construction spaces were separate, nutrition services did a fantastic job of planning how to serve food out in the hallway, and our custodial staff worked really hard at coming up with a system so we could have kids eating on the auditorium stage.
 
“There was an awful lot of orchestration ahead of time, but as Jason said, our kids are resilient. They get it. They understood the benefits that were coming ahead because of the project.”
 
The expanded cafeteria is one of the most visible components. A raised ceiling has reduced overall noise levels in the space, and new upper-level windows let in more natural light. Workers also installed an audio-visual projector system that will be used for large student groups, staff meetings and community functions.
 
Another key part of the project involved a complete reconstruction of the FCS area.
 
“The FCS room was taken down to the studs,” Deutsch said. “There is a 100-percent change with this room, and it’s been awesome. It’s been really good for students.”
 
One half of the FCS room includes multiple sewing machines and desks. Machines sat on top of desks in the room’s previous arrangement, which left little room for students to write notes or review designs of sewing projects.
 
Under the new setup, each sewing machine is attached to a metal swinging system inside a floor-level cabinet next to the desk. When students are using the machines, they can raise them to the main desk level. When they are not using them, they can return them to the cabinet.
 
The classroom’s cooking side has also undergone major changes. Multiple cooking stations line the perimeter, and many cabinets provide storage space for utensils and appliances.
 
A new main entrance has also helped with safety and navigation. It features a large overhang that provides protection from rain, snow or other inclement weather. There is handicapped-accessible parking near the front entrance, and an expanded drop-off lane has improved traffic flow along North 67th Street. A secured entry monitor (SEM) will also be stationed by the front doors.
 
“Before, we had a long vestibule with glass windows before anybody would come to the secured entrance, which wasn’t the safest setup in 2024,” Shanahan said. “This has improved safety tremendously.”
 
Shanahan and Deutsch said the project’s successful completion has raised excitement levels among everyone at Mickle. It has provided momentum for a future effort to expand the student walking path behind the school building. It has also launched more school spirit for past, current and future members of the Mickle Missiles community.
 
“Anytime somebody who is familiar with what it used to look like comes in, they comment about what a difference it is,” Shanahan said. “One evening I was in here a bit later, and I heard someone talking out in the hallway, and it was John Neal, who had just come over to look around. He was a longtime principal here and he wanted to take a look at it, and he was just really happy to see the changes in the building. It’s pretty exciting for everyone.”
 
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Posted on July 01, 2024

Southwest students win national award for unified yearbook

The heartfelt determination of Southwest High School students to include everyone in the yearbook process has resulted in national recognition for the Silver Hawks.
 
Southwest Talon yearbook staff members earned an Innovation Pacemaker Award at this spring’s Journalism Education Association/National Scholastic Press Association national convention. Often referred to as the Pulitzer Prize of scholastic journalism, Pacemaker Awards are given to school journalism teams who showcase excellence in their newspaper, yearbook, magazine, broadcasting or online projects.
 
Southwest received the Innovation Pacemaker for being one of the first schools in the country to publish a unified yearbook created by students with intellectual disabilities in partnership with peer student-journalists. They printed their first unified publication in 2022-23 and distributed their second volume this spring.
 
Southwest junior Kaylie said she is proud to have both traditional and unified yearbooks at school. She was on the inaugural unified staff and became a unified editor this past year.
 
“It was amazing,” Kaylie said. “It was my first time ever being in yearbook, and I feel like this is the best way to go through it. I’ve been in unified since my freshman year, so it’s been fun to do this with kids that I’ve met through unified. It’s just been a great opportunity.”
 
Senior Chloe also said it was fun to work on the publication both years.
 
“It helped me get more comfortable talking to people, since I had to get out of my comfort zone and go to different classrooms and interview more people,” Chloe said. “It helped with social skills and helped me be a leader, and it also helped all of my teammates.”
 
The unified yearbook team produced 40 pages of material for a separate book each year. Their content was later included in the 300-plus-page traditional school yearbook to create a unified publication.
 
Jackie and Mallory both gathered a large amount of content for the 2022-23 unified yearbook. Both seniors returned this year to develop new material for volume two.
 
“I’ve liked the whole experience and seeing how it’s done,” Mallory said. “I like how there’s a lot of teamwork with the pictures and pages. I like doing yearbook with other people.”
 
“I like the environment and how we get to do different pages that we choose,” Jackie said.
 
Journalism teacher Brandi Benson said staff members wanted to add yearbook to a long list of successful unified activities at school. Students can also participate in unified council, club, book club, physical education, choir, track and field, bowling and swimming.
 
“The coolest part is giving opportunities to more kids,” Benson said. “If we didn’t unify it, there would be a demographic of students that wouldn’t get the opportunity to be a part of it. I think it’s important to find ways to unify as many extracurricular activities as we can to give kids a chance.”
 
Unified yearbook takes place during a 45-minute portion of the school’s fourth-block class period. Students learn how to use camera equipment, upload photos to computers and format photos into yearbook-sized images. They also develop communication skills such as speaking clearly and asking journalism-style questions.
 
The seven members of the 2022-23 unified staff interviewed dozens of students and faculty. They wrote stories about marching band and unified activities and created spreads on favorite books, pets and movies.
 
Eight staff members used a similar team-based approach to build the 2023-24 pages. They produced spreads about softball, the annual Senior Sunrise event and many unified activities. They also interviewed Silver Hawks about their favorite music, sports teams and manicure designs.
 
Juniors Mary Beth and Elliana both decided to join the 2023-24 staff after hearing positive reviews from their classmates. They said it was one of the best choices they could have made.
 
“It was amazing,” Mary Beth said. “It was a great experience. It was really cool being able to help design our school’s yearbook and learn a bunch of new things, but at the same time making a lot of great relationships and having fun.”
 
“It was truly amazing,” Elliana said. “I liked seeing all of the partners and journalists grow throughout the year and watching them become more confident in their abilities.”
 
Jackie said she was happy when the yearbooks arrived on campus. She said it was nice to see the pages go from concepts on a computer screen to printed copies in their hands.
 
“It was exciting because we took a lot of time to do it,” Jackie said. “It was on the computer, so it was nice to actually see a paper book.”
 
Benson said students were also proud when they learned they were unified trailblazers in the United States.
 
“It has been really fun,” Benson said. “We did not know we were the only ones in the country to have one until we had finished it and sent our whole book off to be judged. We had multiple people reach out and say, ‘We’ve contacted other yearbook publishing companies and no one’s ever done one before.’ That was pretty cool.”
 
Mary Beth said unified yearbook will continue to provide heartfelt experiences to all Silver Hawks in the future.
 
“I think with yearbook we’re able to learn a lot about writing skills and taking pictures and all of the great skills that we learn in class, but probably most importantly it’s about making relationships and how to work well with others,” Mary Beth said. “It’s about all of the things that unified teaches us about being inclusive.”
 
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Posted on June 28, 2024

Northeast welders learn valuable lessons through expanded mentorship program

Northeast High School students watched educational sparks fly in their welding classroom this year thanks to a valuable partnership between two of Lincoln’s largest employers.
 
The Rockets learned tips of the welding trade from skilled trainers at Kawasaki Motors. They came to the school’s advanced welding class to observe and help students as part of a six-week residency program. The training initiative was the latest expansion of a partnership that first began at Lincoln Public Schools in 2020.
 
Cooper has been in Northeast’s welding program throughout his high school career. The senior first joined the class because his older brother is a welder, and he wanted to see if he would enjoy it too. He said the Kawasaki training sessions have been a fun way to end a fulfilling four years of welding.
 
“I think I’ve learned the basics of welding and obviously much more,” Cooper said. “It’s really been a great stepping stone for any job.”
 
Omar said he has also benefited from the school’s welding program. After showcasing his welding skills to trainers, the sophomore earned an internship opportunity at Kawasaki’s Lincoln factory this summer. He said Northeast skilled and technical sciences (STS) teacher Robert Park helped him climb a valuable rung on his career ladder.
 
“I learned all of the processes, like how to set up the machines,” Omar said. “I’m pretty confident.”
 
Kip Glantz is a welding training supervisor at Kawasaki and has worked in the industry for 25 years. He said partnerships like the one between LPS and Kawasaki are essential for the future health of America’s manufacturing base.
 
“Absolutely we’re looking at the future as far as skilled workers,” Glantz said. “We have people like myself that have been welding for 25 years, and we have people that have been out there for 30 or 40 years. That talent is soon going to be lost, so we need to have a pipeline of students to replace those welders with in the future. Obviously, it’s critical to the industry.”
 
Park said the partnership has also benefited LPS in many ways. He has taught woodworking, welding, power mechanics and precision machining at Northeast the past four years.
 
“Not only are we fostering a relationship between industry and those students, we’re also fostering a relationship where we can see that return come back to LPS, whether it’s an instructor or the gentlemen that are here with us now or alumni of this school,” Park said. “We need that continuation. If we don’t have that continuation, we lose the valuable resource we have, which is the knowledge base.”
 
The link between LPS and Kawasaki first began four years ago after the Nebraska Department of Economic Development provided a $117,000 grant. State officials wanted to encourage more students to consider careers in manufacturing and engineering, and they felt establishing deeper connections between businesses and LPS would help meet that goal.
 
The company provided hands-on activities, instructional videos and virtual field trips to students at every LPS middle school through the grant. It was so successful that both sides decided to expand the partnership to the high school level.
 
Kawasaki established a six-week residency program at Lincoln High in the Spring 2020 semester and developed a course at Northeast this year. Glantz said he and other Kawasaki trainers will start mentoring students at Southeast in 2024-25.
 
Kyle Petersen smiled as he helped Northeast students learn how to weld a 90-degree corner of a metal frame. The California native has worked at Kawasaki for three years and volunteered to join the LPS mentoring program. He said it was rewarding to work with the Rockets on their welding launchpads.
 
“It would have been awesome to have this type of program at the high school I went to,” Petersen said. “We didn’t have these opportunities, so it’s fun for me to help the kids here. It’s fun to know that we’re able to give the kids the resources they need to explore the industry and start gaining those skills.”
 
Park said he is happy knowing that students will apply their STS knowledge outside of his classroom.
 
“What we teach them in here, they can go home and every day work with their mothers and fathers in the shop,” Park said. “They can rebuild cars, rebuild tractors and repair equipment, so the application you see here is very intuitive to what they’re going to do every single day. It’s more practical for a student to take this course.”
 
Cooper said his STS experience at Northeast has solidified his professional goals. He is planning to become a welder with the United States Air Force.
 
What would his advice be to current and future Northeast students thinking about joining the school’s welding program?
 
“I’d say take it,” Cooper said. “You can take it for just a semester if you wanted to, but I think it’s a great experience for anybody in high school. It’s awesome.”
 
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Posted on June 26, 2024

LPS students shine in SkillsUSA state events

Lincoln Public Schools students struck gold, silver and bronze this spring when they competed at the Nebraska SkillsUSA State Leadership Conference.
 
High school students from East, North Star, Northeast and The Career Academy (TCA) minted medal-winning moments during their trip to Grand Island. They met hundreds of fellow SkillsUSA members from across Nebraska and voted for new state officers. They also took part in dozens of competitive events ranging from additive manufacturing to welding sculpture.
 
East teacher Allyn Gonsor advises the school’s SkillsUSA chapter. He said the state trip provided a great way for all LPS students and staff to showcase their classroom knowledge.
 
“It was a very rewarding feeling to watch these SkillsUSA students work so hard throughout the school year and end up finishing towards the top in the state,” Gonsor said. “Witnessing their joy of success after a long weekend of competition is worth all the time and effort as an advisor.”
 
Alyssa Jones, Cade Henke, Jaxson Fleming, Vedah Henrichs, Gage Kildare and Kelton Smith earned state medals for Northeast. Jones and Henrichs led the Rockets with state championships in their categories. Jones finished in first place in the aviation maintenance contest and Henrichs placed first in the technical drafting event.
 
North Star students Jacob Kitten and Elizabeth Rik each brought home state titles for the Navigators. Kitten won the job skill demonstration contest and Rik finished first in the pin contest.
 
Thomas Cerny, Blake Fielder, Grant Christensen and Tobias Fisher all won medals for East. The four Spartans left the conference with bronze medals in their events.
 
State leaders called the names of TCA students many times during the awards ceremony. Advisor Tom Wheeldon led a chapter that included 14 medal winners in eight categories. Abby Steele, Dilyn Ryan, Hudson Miron, Titus Miron, Anthony Williams, Max Schessler, Austin Kamm, Chloe Inbody, Chase Dubas, Kennedy Bahm, Madison Fields, Caleb Prestwich, Preston Nicholls and Sapphire Guzman secured honors for TCA.
 
Steele earned a state championship in culinary arts, Hudson Miron won a title in cabinetmaking and Williams claimed first place in computer programming. Fields captured a championship in the internetworking category, and Kamm won a title in the agriculture job skill demonstration contest.
 
Bahm, Dubas and Inbody also teamed up for a title. They used their agriculture and food knowledge to win the career pathways showcase team championship.
 
All state gold medalists earned spots in the National Leadership and Skills Conference. Students from across the country will gather at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta for SkillsUSA action June 24-28.
 
LPS offers many career and technical education organizations such as SkillsUSA for students to participate in. The organizations allow students to expand their knowledge by applying academic and technical learning to real-life scenarios. They are part of a larger CTE umbrella at LPS that includes opportunities in many academic subjects.

The following LPS students finished first, second or third at the Nebraska SkillsUSA State Leadership Conference.

East

Mobile Robotics Technology – Thomas Cerny, Blake Fielder – Third Place
Robotics: Urban Search and Rescue – Grant Christensen, Tobias Fisher – Third Place

North Star

Job Skill Demonstration – Jacob Kitten – First Place (State-Only Contest)
Pin Contest – Elizabeth Rik – First Place (State-Only Contest)

Northeast

Aviation Maintenance – Alyssa Jones – First Place (National Qualifier)
Photography – Cade Henke – Second Place
Power Equipment Technology – Jaxson Fleming – Second Place
Technical Drafting – Vedah Henrichs – First Place (National Qualifier)
Television (Video) Production – Gage Kildare, Kelton Smith – Second Place

The Career Academy

Culinary Arts – Abby Steele – First Place (National Qualifier)
Culinary Arts – Dilyn Ryan – Second Place
Cabinetmaking – Hudson Miron – First Place (National Qualifier)
Cabinetmaking – Titus Miron – Third Place
Computer Programming – Anthony Williams – First Place (National Qualifier)
Computer Programming – Max Schessler – Second Place
Agriculture Job Skill Demonstration – Austin Kamm – First Place (National Qualifier)
Career Pathways Showcase: Natural Resources/Ag/Food – Chloe Inbody, Chase Dubas, Kennedy Bahm – First Place (National Qualifier)
Internetworking – Madison Fields – First Place (National Qualifier)
Masonry – Caleb Prestwich – Second Place
Masonry – Preston Nicholls – Third Place
Job Interview – Sapphire Guzman – Third Place

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Posted on June 26, 2024

LPS middle school Honors Cadre students celebrate achievements

Dozens of middle school students marked a milestone in their lives this spring when they celebrated their Honors Cadre achievements.
 
Honors Cadre students from Culler, Dawes, Lefler and Mickle gathered at The Career Academy for their final junior high event. This year was the first time eighth graders from all four Lincoln Public Schools buildings came together for the ceremony. End-of-year celebrations for Honors Cadre members were previously held at individual sites.
 
Mickle Middle School student Emiya beamed with a graduation certificate she received from Honors Cadre leaders during the evening. Emiya said she has had many good experiences in the leadership program throughout middle school. She will take her knowledge with her to Northeast High School this fall.
 
“I’ve enjoyed being with my classmates,” Emiya said. “We’ve had a lot of fun in the program.”
 
LPS Emerging Educators Empowerment Specialist Barb Miller co-founded Honors Cadre activities at Lefler nine years ago. She told the audience it was rewarding to see how much the program has grown since that time. Students, parents and guardians filled tables in the commons area for the event, and more than two dozen of Emiya’s classmates smiled with their certificates.
 
“I am so excited to stand here and look out and recognize how many phenomenal young scholars we are graduating to high school,” Miller said.
 
Miller and current LPS Director of Secondary Education Jessie Fries came up with the Honors Cadre idea when Fries was principal at Lefler. They wanted to provide a support network for middle schoolers that would help them succeed in their academic journeys.
 
Honors Cadre students take many advanced courses throughout their time in the program. High school and college mentors provide inspiration and advice to them, and field trips and motivational speakers enrich the entire Honors Cadre experience.
 
Emiya said the combination of activities both on and off Mickle’s campus have made Honors Cadre memorable. She and her friends have traveled to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, talked with local high schoolers and met LPS graduates who are excelling in their careers.
 
“The field trips and other opportunities have been awesome,” Emiya said. ‘We’ve gone to UNL a bunch of times.”
 
Lincoln High freshman Amira was one of six high school students who provided additional insight at the Honors Cadre celebration. They opened the evening with a question-and-answer session about their high school experiences. She encouraged those in junior high to maintain good academic habits in all of their future classes.
 
“Take your notes and study over them,” Amira said. “Look over your notes 20 minutes a night and it will be worth it.”
 
Amira also told students to become involved in as many activities as possible. She said she had benefited from participating in both volleyball and track and field this year. In addition to having fun and learning skills like persistence and dedication, the two sports have given her a chance to expand her network of friends.
 
“Make new friend groups,” Amira said. “Don’t just be with everyone you were with in middle school. Be in those clubs. Be in those sports. You can meet a lot of new people and new friends.”
 
Honors Cadre leaders recognized each student in attendance after the question-and-answer session. Students from each middle school walked to the front and received an achievement award as their name was called.
 
Miller closed the evening with three words of wisdom for everyone in attendance.
 
“Go be great,” Miller said.
 
For Emiya, that is a goal she will be striving for when she enters Northeast’s hallways for the first time this fall. She said Honors Cadre has given her a solid foundation for her next four years at LPS.
 
“I’ve learned how to be more confident,” Emiya said. “I’m looking forward to being older and having a lot of good experiences in high school.”

If you want to know more about the AVID program or nominate a student visit our website at https://home.lps.org/curriculum/avid/.

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Posted on June 24, 2024

LPS students grow knowledge at major FFA, land judging events

Lincoln Public Schools students produced positive results this spring when they attended major FFA and land judging activities.
 
Students from The Career Academy took part in the State FFA Convention and the National Land and Range Judging Contest. State FFA events happened in Lincoln and land judging activities took place in Oklahoma.

State FFA Convention

TCA students joined more than 7,000 FFA members, advisors and guests during the state conference. They participated in competitive events, took educational tours and leadership workshops, attended general sessions and listened to motivational speakers. Activities took place at Pinnacle Bank Arena, Haymarket-area hotels and University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus.
 
Austin Kamm, Johanna Roux, Sapphire Guzman, Isabel Cressler, Kennedy Bahm, Chloe Inbody and Chase Dubas all won state awards in FFA leadership development events.

Kamm and Roux highlighted TCA’s trip by finishing second in the agricultural demonstration contest. They created a project on drip irrigation management and presented their findings to a panel of judges.

 
Bahm, Inbody and Dubas created a project on wise landscape management for the agricultural demonstration contest. Cressler delivered a presentation about prairie management for the natural resource speaking contest, and Guzman represented TCA in the employment skills category.

State FFA Leadership Development Events Results

Employment Skills – Sapphire Guzman – Silver Medal
Natural Resources Speaking – Isabel Cressler – Silver Medal
Agricultural Demonstration – Kennedy Bahm, Chloe Inbody, Chase Dubas – Silver Medal
Agricultural Demonstration – Austin Kamm, Johanna Roux – Gold Medal (State Runner-Up)

National Land and Range Judging Contest

Cressler, Guzman, Roux and Parker Smith turned their national dreams into reality when they traveled to the Canadian County Expo Center in El Reno, Okla. More than 700 students from across the country took part in events near Oklahoma City.
 
TCA qualified for nationals after finishing fifth of 46 Nebraska teams at the state land judging contest last October. Cressler earned second place in individual standings at state and Smith finished fifth. It marked the first time TCA students qualified for nationals.

 
Teams took part in 4-H and FFA divisions at the national contest. TCA finished 47th of 99 teams in the FFA division with 559 points. Blue River Valley FFA of Indiana claimed the FFA title with 760 points. Grady (Texas) FFA finished second with 734 points.
 
Thousands of students participate in land judging contests in their home states each year. The activity’s goal is for them to understand soil structure of different land parcels. They learn how to recognize physical features of the soil and determine land capability for crop production. They also evaluate what management and stewardship practices landowners should take.

 
Students used evaluation cards to judge four soil pits during the national contest. They assessed surface and subsurface texture, soil depth, potential for erosion and surface runoff and the permeability and slope of each land plot. They also determined what vegetation could grow on the land, what fertilizer would work best on each plot and what conservation methods would be suitable.
 
Judges rated each student’s evaluation card to determine individual and team scores in each division. More than 300 students collected individual scores in the FFA land judging contest. Roux led TCA with a 65th-place mark of 211 points. Smith received a score of 178 points, Guzman tallied 170 points and Cressler posted 136 points.
 
Cressler, Guzman, Roux and Smith also met multiple state and national conservation leaders during their trip to Oklahoma. National Resources Conservation Service Chief Terry Cosby, Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur and Oklahoma State Conservationist Jeanne Hamilton all spoke to students during an awards ceremony.
 
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Posted on June 21, 2024

Science Focus Program students secure major honors at state science fair

Lincoln Public Schools students turned their scientific knowledge into state-level achievements this spring through their involvement with the Science Focus Program.
 
The Nebraska Junior Academy of Sciences (NJAS) honored several SFP students for their efforts at regional and state research contests. All SFP juniors and seniors presented projects in the Southeast Regional NJAS Science Fair, and six students were selected to showcase their talents at the state level.

 
Ellery, Charlie, Elin, Joey, Hyrum and Skyler traveled to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Campus for the NJAS State Science Fair. Students from six regions of Nebraska spoke with judges about topics ranging from botany to biochemistry.

 
Skyler’s water research project netted her an invitation to a major contest this summer. Judges selected her to be Nebraska’s representative in the United States Stockholm Junior Water Prize. The Stockholm International Water Institute founded national and international prizes in 1997.
 
Skyler said it was exciting to be chosen for the contest. The competition is open to all high school students in grades 9-12 who have reached the age of 15 by Aug. 1. State winners will travel to Golden, Colo., in late June to present their research about water-based science topics.

 
“The competition that I entered is the Stockholm Junior Water Prize,” Skyler said. “It is the most prestigious water research competition in the world for high schoolers.”
 
Skyler developed a research project called “The Effects of Rotenone Used in Lake Kill-Offs on Macroinvertebrate Populations in Wagon Train Lake Over Time, Lancaster County, Neb.” Rotenone is an odorless and colorless substance used as an insecticide and pesticide. Wagon Train Lake State Recreation Area is located south of Lincoln near the town of Hickman.
 
The Nebraska Water Environment Association is sponsoring Skyler’s trip to Colorado. The United States winner will advance to the international contest in Stockholm, Sweden.
 
Many previous Stockholm Junior Water Prize contestants have made significant contributions to water research. Naomi Park of Greenwich, Conn., won the international prize in 2023 for her work on the removal of carbon dioxide and oil products from the ocean. She developed a Styrofoam-based substance that acts as a sponge to absorb those items from water.
 
Joey was selected to represent Nebraska at the 2025 American Junior Academy of Sciences (AJAS) Annual Conference. He will travel to Boston to present his research and meet student scientists from across the country.
 
Joey credited his SFP background for helping him succeed at the science fair. He is planning to pursue a degree in biochemistry at the UNL College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. He would like to study emerging genetic technologies for crop science in college.

 
“I really love science, which is why I went to the Science Focus Program,” Joey said. “The extremely small class size of less than 90 students and the staff who are knowledgeable, kind and caring were truly integral in forming my education and friendships which helped me become the learner I am today.”
 
Joey spent half a year analyzing DNA of soybean plants in an experiment designed to improve plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs) for the vegetarian food market. He then created a large number of papers, tables and charts that showcased the data he accumulated.
 
Joey said the inspiration for his project came from a research course he took at SFP this past year.
 
“A piece of advice for seniors in that class was to pursue something you are interested in,” Joey said. “I have always been interested in emerging genetic technologies such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR). I pursued this field by heavily researching my topic for months and then acquiring a job at the UNL plant biotechnology laboratory.”
 
Joey said he was immediately impressed with the high-quality projects he saw at the state science fair. Students had to finish in the top six spots of their regional contests to qualify for state. Their presentations included a posterboard that illustrated key aspects of their investigations, one copy of their research paper and a research notebook that showed how they gathered their data.
 
“When I walked into the science fair, I saw the other projects and did not think I was going to win,” Joey said. “There were extremely good projects in that room.”
 
Joey said his primary goal was to have good conversations with every judge he spoke with. He soon discovered he had a lot in common with many of them. One judge worked as a chemical manufacturer for the specific protein – Legume Hemoglobin – that Joey used in his project. Another owned a doctorate in animal science and talked with him about Nebraska’s cattle industry.
 
“Each judge was a master of their niche field and had interesting and unique insights into my project and field as a whole,” Joey said. “That is what I enjoy most about science, the conversations. Nothing can be more interesting than discussing science with someone who is both knowledgeable and passionate. I have always left these sorts of conversations with more knowledge, and more questions, than before.”

If you want to learn more about LPS Focus Programs like Science, visit our website at https://home.lps.org/focus to browse our options and fill out an interest form to get more information about joining.

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Posted on June 21, 2024

Smith collects state award for FCS teaching talents

Scott Middle School students enjoyed walking into Tia Smith’s classroom this year because they knew they would leave with a full plate of important knowledge.
 
The Nebraska Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (NAFCS) recognized Smith for preparing those educational meals this spring with the 2024 New Achiever Award. Smith, a native of Neligh, Neb., has taught family and consumer sciences (FCS) courses at Scott for the past two years. The New Achiever Award honors FCS teachers who have shown the potential to significantly contribute to the field during their career.

 
Cross County High School teacher Sarah Hubel presented the award to Smith at this year’s NAFCS State Convention. Hubel is past president of the NAFCS and has led many local and statewide teaching initiatives. She said Smith has displayed both strong leadership in the classroom and a willingness to help people across Nebraska.
 
“Tia was selected because of her significant early contributions to the field of family and consumer sciences,” Hubel said. “As a young professional, she has already taken on high-level leadership roles within our state for multiple professional organizations. She collaborates enthusiastically with other professionals to ensure that students across the state have quality family and consumer sciences opportunities.”
 
Kristin Vest, curriculum coordinator of FCS and health sciences at Lincoln Public Schools, served as NAFCS recording secretary this past school year. Vest said Smith has made a positive impression on everyone at Scott.
 
“Tia’s colleagues shared that Tia is positive, encouraging, dedicated, passionate and creative,” Vest said. “During staff meetings, Tia is always willing to share curriculum ideas and lesson plans, ask questions and seek feedback and strategies to best meet the needs of her students. Her positive attitude, even in the face of challenges or transitions, is enviable.”

 
The FCS curriculum at LPS includes a wide range of courses to help students learn skills such as food preparation, fashion and interior design, nutrition, sewing, hospitality and making wise consumer choices. Smith said she enjoys working with students in grades 6-8 because of their enthusiasm for the subjects she teaches.
 
“I love their perspective on things,” Smith said. “They get so excited about little things, so it’s really fun to get to introduce them to new concepts. They get so excited and they always bring energy.”
 
Smith became interested in FCS when she attended Neligh-Oakdale High School in northeast Nebraska. She was involved in her school’s chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), which incorporates many FCS topics into state and national activities. She said her time in FCCLA inspired her to choose a teaching career.
 
“One year when I was at the state conference, they brought up all these teachers who were retiring, and it hit me that all of the things I love to do are encompassed into FCS,” Smith said. “Then, when I got into classrooms doing practicums, I realized that I love being in classrooms with students and getting to teach them. It started as a love for the content area, and then it became a love for teaching kids.”
 
Smith attended Northeast Community College and Wayne State College before completing a student-teaching assignment at Southwest High School. She enjoyed being in Lincoln and applied for an open position at Scott when she received her college degree.
 
Smith was also excited to reunite with Vest at LPS. She was a member of a FCCLA state peer education team in high school, and Vest served as that group’s advisor.
 
“She’s an absolute, fantastic role model and a real champion for family and consumer sciences, so I just want to thank her as well,” Smith said.

 
Smith said hands-on activities are a main reason why she enjoys teaching FCS courses. Her lesson plans are filled with students sewing materials together, cooking well-balanced meals and figuring out how to create a sustainable budget. Many students have applied that knowledge to projects in their kitchens or living rooms at home.
 
“It’s always my favorite thing when kids ask for the recipes that we made in class, or when I get an email from their parents and they say, ‘They made this for us when they came home,’” Smith said. “Those kinds of things are always fun to hear.”
 
Smith said she has learned just as much from her students as they have gained from her. She said it has been encouraging to look back over the past two years and see how she has changed.
 
“I am a completely different teacher than what I was last year, and I know that next year I’ll be an even more different teacher as I grow,” Smith said. “It’s crazy to look back at last year and think about how I would have handled the situation, and then this year it’s totally different. That growth has been good.”
 
Hubel said that ability to self-reflect and improve is a good indication of Smith’s potential for future success.
 
“I am so proud,” Hubel said. “It is no surprise to see Tia doing so well. I have known her for many years and she has a history of success. It is great that she is able to pass on that excellence with middle school students in Lincoln Public Schools.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on June 17, 2024

Northeast students build hope for Lincoln family with 30th new home

Northeast High School students turned wooden two-by-fours into a home for a local family this school year.
 
Nine seniors in Bob Freese’s residential construction class helped build a modern home at 5010 Starr Street during the first and second semesters. T.J., James, Nathaniel, Harley, Sam, Justin, Brian, Derek and Deuce received commemorative hammers for their efforts during an open house this spring. The 2023-24 school year project marked the 30th year that Northeast students have helped the community with their construction talents.

Brian and Justin both smiled as they spoke about the house in one of the upstairs rooms. Students began working on the garage last fall and continued building the main house during the winter and spring. It will become a home for a Lincoln family through a lease-to-own program offered by the Lincoln Housing Authority (LHA).
 
“It feels pretty good,” Brian said. “My mom has family friends who got the house last year, so it’s kind of nice to know that it’s going to a family in need.”
 
“It just felt fulfilling, I guess,” Justin said. “Just being able to do everything and just actually seeing something that you put effort into come up. It just felt very fulfilling and good.”
 
Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and LHA Executive Director Chris Lamberty joined an appreciative crowd in the garage during the open house celebration. Both city leaders told the nine Rockets they were impressed with their work on the project.
 
“I hope you do feel an incredible sense of accomplishment,” Gaylor Baird said. “What a marvel to have made this with your hands, and to know that you’re contributing to create a home for someone. Not just a house, but a home.”
 
“It’s an amazing win-win program where we have students learning how homes are built and learning construction trades, and at the end we have an affordable house to sell to a first-time homebuyer,” Lamberty said.
 
Freese has impacted the lives of hundreds of Northeast students over the past 40 years with his leadership in skilled and technical sciences classes. His first few groups completed garden sheds and other smaller projects, but he began searching for something more advanced for them to work on. The solution came when LPS and LHA formed an educational homebuilding partnership 30 years ago.
 
“It can be challenging, but they’re really eager to do something real,” Freese said. “I think that’s one of the neatest things about this. This is a real house. There’s going to be a family living here. There are probably going to be families living in here for generations, no telling how long this will last. So, it’s something real.”
 
LHA employees purchase a lot each year and hire a general contractor and architect for the project. This year’s general contractor, Burt Muehling of Muehling Homes, handled specialized tasks such as electrical and plumbing work. Northeast students examined the design of home architect Corby Renard before completing the other construction assignments.
 
Approximately 25 students in Freese’s introductory construction class framed all of the walls for the house during the first semester. The nine residential construction students worked with subcontractors to carry out more complex tasks throughout the year.
 
The only prerequisite for Northeast students was a willingness to work hard. Justin had previously spent time helping his dad with some projects on his farm, which sparked his interest in signing up for the homebuilding class.
 
“I just like working with my hands,” Justin said. “I’m not one of those people who likes to sit still, so to have this during my school day, it just seemed like the right thing.”
 
Freese said the “aha moment” for students comes each year when they approach the date for the open house.
 
“When they get to this stage, where everything’s together and looking good, they’re pretty proud,” Freese said. “It’s neat to see. Just within the last few days, when we’re cleaning up and getting things ready, they have a sense of pride more so than what I’ve seen earlier in the school year. I think it’s rewarding, and for many of them, this is the first time they’ve done it, so we’re exposing them to different career options.”
 
Freese said teamwork, time management and perseverance are some of the skills students gain each year. They also build self-confidence as future opportunities begin to come into focus.
 
“They’re realizing that maybe they have strengths in these areas,” Freese said. “Not everybody is going to be a doctor or a lawyer. My dad was a plumber, and I know what he always said was, ‘Well, you know what? When a doctor needs a new toilet or a hot water heater goes out, they don’t do it themselves.’
 
“The trades, there are all kinds of great opportunities right now. Hopefully some of these guys will go into it, and I know a lot of students in the past have gone into it.”
 
Justin said he enjoyed being able to make a difference in the lives of others.
 
“It’s just nice to see that the work is being appreciated,” Justin said. “That there’s people here that are going to live here, and I actually made an impact doing something. Everybody here. We all made good impacts here.”

To learn more about Career and Technical Education at LPS, visit our website at https://home.lps.org/cte/.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on June 14, 2024

Meet LPS Focus Program Senior: Jamil, Bryan Community

The mission of Lincoln Public Schools is to prepare ALL students for successful careers, lifelong learning and civic engagement.

High school graduation is a culmination of our scholars' and educators' hard work toward this significant milestone. 

The LPS Focus Programs’ core values of exploration, education, engagement and empowerment are beliefs rooted in the overall LPS mission and the school district’s commitment to high school graduation. 

Read how Bryan Community Focus Program senior Jamil used LPS Focus Programs to Launch at LPS in this Q&A. 

Name: Jamil 

Grade: 12

Home High School: Lincoln High

Focus Program: Bryan Community 

Why did you choose the Bryan Community Focus Program?

I chose Bryan because I felt like it would give me a second chance at high school and I would actually be able to graduate.

How did the Bryan Community Focus Program change your high school experience?

I like the teachers at Bryan. I feel like I can depend on them and like how they teach.

What is the greatest lesson you learned from the Bryan Community Focus Program? Why?

Don't take things for granted. Teachers are being nice and trying to help you learn - don't take that for granted. 

If you take this for granted, it could lead to people not trusting you or not helping you as much. Make sure to express gratitude to those who help you.

How did the Bryan Community Focus Program help you reach your graduation goals?

It helped me focus when I needed to so I could actually pass my classes every semester and graduate.

What are your post-graduation plans?

I plan to go to trade school (Southeast Community College at Milford) and become an electrician.

How did the Bryan Community Focus Program help prepare you for those post-graduation plans? 

It made me try harder and get better.

How did the Bryan Community Focus Program help prepare you for the future?

It made me think about money. The classes teach about taxes and financial planning.

What would your advice be to younger students considering joining your focus program? Why?

Always try your best. If you are doubting yourself, take the time to relax and know that you got this.

Always give the teachers a chance. You don't know who will be the one who ends up helping you the most.

What are you most thankful about this experience? Why?

I got a second chance and I am actually able to graduate.

Congratulations, Jamil! We wish you the best in your future endeavors. We are thankful our educators could help you Launch at LPS!

Choose your passion. Choose your community. Choose your future with LPS Focus Programs. 

Learn more about the Bryan Community Focus Program by visiting its website at https://bryan.lps.org/ or stop by our website home.lps.org/focus to get more information about all our focus programs.

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on June 13, 2024

Kramer helps feed thousands of Pound students through recipes of kindness

Whenever Pound Middle School students took a bite out of a cinnamon roll or chocolate chip cookie over the past 30 years, they experienced the care that Sue Kramer put into every recipe.
 
Kramer crafted her final batch of homemade items this spring after spending three decades in the school’s kitchen. She began her career as a food service worker and later secured the job as head baker at Pound. She said it has been fulfilling to watch students benefit academically, socially and emotionally from eating quality food every day.
 
“That’s why I think I stayed as long as I did,” Kramer said. “It’s rewarding to see the kids get a good meal.”
 
Kramer’s dedication to Lincoln Public Schools students has been noticed far outside Pound’s walls. LPS Director of Nutrition Services Andrew Ashelford congratulated Kramer during her final week at school. He said she was a top-notch example of the important roles that kitchen workers play throughout the school district.
 
“Andrew told me this morning that he calculated out that in my years I’ve been here, I’ve made over 100,000 cookies, just off the top of his head,” Kramer said with a laugh. “That’s quite a few.”

“Sue was an outstanding worker!” Ashelford said. “She provided great leadership in the baking department but also in the other areas of the kitchen. She always stepped up and helped fill in as needed. She helped train new employees with food production and also using kitchen equipment.”
 
Kramer trained at East High School with a food service worker who had been there ever since the building opened in 1967. She brought those lessons with her to Pound and began using her talents to help students.
 
Kramer and her fellow Pound kitchen workers spent hours each morning preparing food during the 2023-24 school year. Approximately 100 students came through the line for breakfast each day before heading off to classes, and the team served 500 lunches in the late morning and early afternoon.
 
Many items Pound students had on their trays were made from scratch in the kitchen. Kramer baked hundreds of loaves of bread throughout the fall, winter and spring, and she produced a large array of cinnamon rolls, tea rolls and cookies.

Ashelford said cinnamon rolls were one example of Kramer’s culinary skills. After looking at historical menus, he calculated that Kramer baked batches of cinnamon rolls for students approximately 12 times per year. This meant she created 111,600 homemade cinnamon rolls in her career.
 
“Sue is going to be missed,” Ashelford said. “She was a terrific worker and mentor and truly cared about the students at Pound and throughout LPS.”
 
Kramer’s granddaughter Emma said many students appreciate those efforts. She was an eighth grader at Pound this year and said she was proud of what Kramer has accomplished.
 
“It means a lot,” Emma said. “I know she works really hard. She loves being here. She loves her co-workers. It just means a lot that she’s getting recognized.”
 
Kramer said spending time with both students and co-workers has been an enjoyable part of the job. She operated a card register in one of Pound’s food lines after spending the morning preparing meals. That gave her a chance to connect with students and brighten their day with a smile.
 
“Working with the ladies, you get to know them pretty well, and it’s fun. It really is,” Kramer said. “Seeing the kids every day is fun too. Some kids, they say thank you and they really enjoy lunch. It’s been good. It’s going to be sad not seeing them anymore.”
 
The job has also allowed Kramer to strengthen her own family bonds. All of her children attended Pound when they took classes at LPS, and she talked with two of her grandchildren in lunch lines this past year. Both Emma and Henry, a sixth grader, said hi to Kramer as they left with their food each day.
 
“It’s been really nice,” Emma said. “I always make sure to go in her line, because she always greets me.”
 
Emma said she feels fortunate that she has been able to go to Pound at the same time as her grandmother. 
 
“She’s been here a long time,” Emma said. “We always joke that she stayed just for me.”
 
Kramer said her three decades at Pound have been filled with many positive memories. She said it was a privilege to put care and concern into everything she created in Pound’s kitchen.
 
“They went pretty fast, believe it or not,” Kramer said. “It’s been surprising. I can’t believe it’s been 30 years here. My kids all came through Pound and my grandkids are here now. It’s unbelievable.”

Ready to make a difference in the lives of our students? Join the Lincoln Public Schools team and start your journey today!

We're currently seeking talented individuals to fill various positions, including nutrition services workers and more.

Take the first step towards a rewarding career by visiting our careers page at https://home.lps.org/hr/careers.

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on June 12, 2024

Lefler students embrace personal history during embroidery project

Lefler Middle School students stitched together significant moments of their personal histories this spring during an artistic social studies project.
 
Eighth graders in Becky Boswell’s American history classes showcased their personal culture and identity through handheld embroidery projects. More than 150 students designed images of their hobbies, cultural heritage and family history. They then stitched them onto fabric blocks that they could take home as a source of personal pride.
 
Sarah and Brody both said they were excited to work on the project. Both were glad Boswell chose to create a unique way to teach history lessons.
 
“At first I was kind of surprised, because I didn’t expect it to be something about ourselves,” Sarah said. “I expected it to be about something in history or related to social studies, but as we further got into the project, I realized it kind of does have something to do with social studies and history. It’s about our history and what makes us, us.”
 
“I was kind of surprised too, because at first it didn’t go into history or what we were doing in class,” Brody said. “Embroidery is not something you’d usually do in social studies class. It was surprising, but it made sense though, because it does show how it ties in with history and about yourself.”
 
Principal Allison Meister said she was thrilled when she learned about the project. She said the embroidery experience dovetailed nicely with one of Lefler’s current school improvement goals. Teachers and staff would like to help students foster deeper connections with everyone in the school and community.
 
“One of the components of community is sharing your identity, and so this is really critical to the creation of a greater sense of community in the building,” Meister said. “It is very important to all of us that kids feel that they can share who they are with one another.”
 
Boswell has woven many creative assignments into her American history classes during her career. She was brainstorming for new project ideas when she spoke with students who were taking a family and consumer sciences (FCS) class. She realized the embroidery designs they were working on there would blend right in with her social studies curriculum.
 
“Not all the kids take that class, but the ones who do were really excited about the embroidery projects they would do, and so it turned into having them tell the story of themselves,” Boswell said. “For a lot of people, it included immigration stories, it included stories about family and essentially what makes them who they are. Culture’s a big part of understanding history, so it’s important for kids to understand their own culture and their own history.”
 
Boswell received two $1,000 grants from the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools and Humanities Nebraska for the project. She purchased fabric, needles, embroidery thread, hoops and needle threaders for each person to use. She also asked family members, retired friends and Lincoln Quilt Guild members if they would volunteer their time to help students learn the basics of sewing.
 
Students then took off from there. Boswell said she was impressed with the enthusiasm and energy they showed with all of their embroidery ideas.
 
“One boy had this elaborate plan, and I said to him, ‘You know, that’s a lot. I just want to make sure you understand what you’re getting into,’” Boswell said. “And he said, ‘Oh no, I am so into this. This is going to happen. I want all of this on here because it’s all such an important part of who I am.’
 
“So they took this home, they worked on it at night, over the weekend. I’ve never seen kids doing so much homework in my life as they did with embroidery.”
 
Brody sewed a picture of himself on his piece of fabric with a cross, the letter ‘B,’ the words ‘friends’ and ‘family’ and a U.S. Marines symbol. Brody said he wants to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, great-uncle and second cousin, who all served in the Marines.
 
Sarah included a Sudanese flag on her quilt block, as her family immigrated from the country when she was younger. She also added a volleyball, a photo of herself as a toddler, pink and blue hearts and red and pink flowers.
 
“The flowers come from my mom, because she really likes to plant a lot,” Sarah said. “It also represents part of who I am, because I like to plant flowers too.”
 
As each project began to take shape, students would glance over at their classmates and become curious at their designs. The questions that followed – Why that pattern? What does that symbol mean? What is your family history? – helped them become closer with one another.
 
“A lot of times we would go around to different people, and you’d learn new things about them, something you might not know,” Brody said.
 
Sarah said those positive connections helped everyone sew together lasting memories from the project.
 
“I would say everyone enjoyed it, even if they’ve never embroidered before,” Sarah said. “That was fun to see. Everyone ended up making a really good project. I learned a lot about everyone from doing this.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on June 12, 2024

LPS students capture top honors at national speech tournament

Lincoln Public Schools students showcased their speaking talents this spring by capturing top honors in a national speech tournament.
 
East, North Star, Southeast and Southwest students traveled to Bellevue West High School for the National Individual Events Tournament of Champions (NIETOC). The four LPS speech teams joined more than 150 other schools for NIETOC workshops and competitive events.
 
Students participated in 12 speech categories at NIETOC. They earned trophies for advancing to the octafinals, quarterfinals, semifinals and finals of their events.
 
NIETOC officials split schools into three equal divisions – Act I, Act II and Act III – based on the number of competitors each team brought to Bellevue. Students scored different amounts of points for their schools based on how far they advanced in each event.

Lincoln East

East enjoyed one of the best NIETOC finishes in school history. The Spartans claimed third place in Act III team standings with 271 points. Apple Valley, Minn., was first with 334 points and Moorhead, Minn., was second with 275 points. East edged Harlingen South of Harlingen, Texas, (269 points) for the third-place spot.

 
East head coach Nick Herink said he was thrilled with the team’s success. Max Apel and Luke Nash each won national championships and Isabella Razdan and Harper Schupbach were national runners-up. Fifteen other Spartans helped the squad earn the coveted third-place trophy.
 
“We were through-the-roof excited,” Herink said. “Most people don’t appreciate how competitive speech can be, but these kids work year-round with competitions and practice. It was so cool to see an achievement like this that all of the kids had a direct hand in making happen.”
 
This year marked the second time the Spartans finished in the top three at nationals since NIETOC began in 2010. The school placed second in Act III in 2015.
 
Apel (dramatic interpretation) and Nash (oral interpretation of poetry) both soared to the top of the medal stand. Their final-round performances let them leave Bellevue with golden awards.
 
“It was a very exciting and humbling experience when I heard my name called,” Apel said. “I was so thankful to be on that stage surrounded by such talented competitors from across the nation.”
 
“The only way to describe it would be that it felt amazing,” Nash said. “I kinda felt like I froze and had to let it sink in for a moment, and then after I was just ecstatic. I can’t really put into words exactly how I felt. I had all of these people around me asking how I felt or telling me good job, and all I could think to say in response was ‘amazing’ or ‘thank you.’”
 
Razdan (extemporaneous speaking) and Schupbach (informative speaking) earned second place in their categories. In addition to their individual achievements, both earned a large number of team points.

 
Nash said it was exciting when the Spartans looked at the final leaderboard and saw they had moved into third place.
 
“It was pretty awesome to be the third-place team at a national tournament,” Nash said. “We had never done this well on the national level. Last year we placed seventh at NIETOC and were top ten at NSDA nationals, and now all of a sudden we were the third-place team. It’s really cool and I’m so happy and proud to be part of the team.”
 
Apel and Nash joined an elite group of LPS students to win national titles. The previous NIETOC champions from Lincoln were East students Carla Seravalli (2015, expository speaking), Suvy Qin (2015, original oratory) and Claire Rooney (2023, poetry) and Southwest students Mattison Merritt and Hunter Maude (2014, duet acting).
 
The Spartans began the year by setting a goal of a top-five finish at NIETOC. Herink said it was rewarding to see them secure their national dreams.
 
“The kids were the ones who came up with the goal, and at first I was admittedly nervous,” Herink said. “But then we buckled down and got to work. These kids push each other and applaud each other. To have them see their goal can be accomplished with teamwork and dedication, to me, that is the greatest lesson you can learn through speech.”
 
Lincoln East Results
Dramatic Interpretation: Max Apel – National Champion, 1st overall
Dramatic Interpretation: Sophia Wang – Octafinalist
Dramatic Interpretation: Linnea Blankenhorn – Octafinalist
Dramatic Interpretation: Jack Welstead – Octafinalist
Dramatic Interpretation: Nusrat Amin – Octafinalist
Dramatic Interpretation: Abena Bonsu – Octafinalist
Oral Interpretation of Poetry: Luke Nash – National Champion, 1st overall
Oral Interpretation of Poetry: Vesta Anderson – Semifinalist, 10th overall
Oral Interpretation of Poetry: Sloan Donahoo – Semifinalist, 12th overall
Informative Speaking: Harper Schupbach – National Runner-Up, 2nd overall
Informative Speaking: Nitya Haridas – Octafinalist
Informative Speaking: Maggie Lammie – Octafinalist
Extemporaneous Speaking: Isabella Razdan – National Runner-Up, 2nd overall
Extemporaneous Speaking: Hannah Tang – Quarterfinalist
Humorous Interpretation: Max Apel – Semifinalist, 7th overall
Humorous Interpretation: Nusrat Amin – Quarterfinalist
Humorous Interpretation: Korben Ockander – Octafinalist
Program Oral Interpretation: Max Apel – Semifinalist, 11th overall
Program Oral Interpretation: Jack Welstead – Quarterfinalist
Program Oral Interpretation: Claire Rooney – Octafinalist
Program Oral Interpretation: Korben Ockander – Octafinalist
Duo Interpretation: Claire Rooney, Jack Welstead – Quarterfinalist
Duet Acting: Nusrat Amin, Claire Rooney – Quarterfinalist
Original Oratory: Isabella Razdan – Quarterfinalist
Original Oratory: Reazin Bauman – Quarterfinalist
Original Oratory: Ellie Hiser – Octafinalist

Lincoln Southeast

Southeast placed 11th in Act III with 75 points. Eight Knights reached the octafinals of their events and the team posted points in ten categories.

 
Olivia Nelson used her speaking talents to become a two-time semifinalist for Southeast. She finished ninth in the country in humorous interpretation and secured a tenth-place finish in informative speaking. She also teamed up with Bella McCown to earn octafinal-level points in duo interpretation.
 
Gideon Terwilleger and Aolani Wilson each reached the semifinals and Julia Johnson was a two-time octafinalist. Lillias McKillip, DaZayah Hartshorn-Harvey and Kalainey Nickel all added points for the school.
 
Lincoln Southeast Results
Dramatic Interpretation: Julia Johnson – Octafinalist
Original Oratory: Julia Johnson – Octafinalist
Informative Speaking: Lillias McKillip – Octafinalist
Humorous Interpretation: DaZayah Hartshorn-Harvey – Octafinalist
Program Oral Interpretation: Kalainey Nickey – Octafinalist
Duo Interpretation: Olivia Nelson, Bella McCown – Octafinalist
Oral Interpretation of Poetry: Gideon Terwilleger – Semifinalist, 8th overall
Oral Interpretation of Poetry: Aolani Wilson – Semifinalist, 11th overall
Humorous Interpretation: Olivia Nelson – Semifinalist, 9th overall
Informative Speaking: Olivia Nelson – Semifinalist, 10th overall

Lincoln Southwest

Southwest placed 16th in Act III with 37.50 points. Head coach Matt Heimes said he felt the Silver Hawks did well against many older competitors.
 
“I am extremely proud of the Southwest team members who competed at NIETOC,” Heimes said. “Many of them are underclassmen, so this was a great opportunity for them to watch and learn from some of the best programs in the entire country.”

 
Claire Timperley earned a national medal with a tenth-place result in impromptu speaking. Brooklyn Bruggeman posted points for the Silver Hawks in three categories, and Jack Anderson, Mason Farmer and Brooklyn Shoemaker all helped the team on the scoreboard.
 
“It was great to have several of our students advance to the elimination rounds, and the fact that Brooklyn Bruggeman advanced in all three of her events was a highlight,” Heimes said. “Claire making the national semifinals as a sophomore is another great accomplishment.”
 
Lincoln Southwest Results
Duo Interpretation: Jack Anderson, Brooklyn Bruggeman – Octafinalist
Duo Interpretation: Mason Farmer, Brooklyn Shoemaker – Octafinalist
Dramatic Interpretation: Brooklyn Bruggeman – Octafinalist
Program Oral Interpretation: Brooklyn Bruggeman – Octafinalist
Impromptu Speaking: Claire Timperley – Semifinalist, 10th overall
Extemporaneous Speaking: Jack Anderson – Quarterfinalist

Lincoln North Star

North Star tied for 44th place in Act I with ten points. Act I was the largest division with 92 teams. White Bear Lake, Minn., won the Act I team title with 85 points.
 
Head coach Alison Finn-Couch said she was proud of the way the Navigators handled the pressure of performing at nationals. Mabruka Mumade, Reyce Usher, Braxton Stuart and Avery Usher represented the school.

 
“I felt like my team did very well at NIETOC!” Finn-Couch said. “All four were simply honored to be there and gave their all in their rounds. Some even tried supplemental events as well. They were supportive of one another and the community, and were all around the pride of North Star speech.”
 
Mumade led the team by advancing to the quarterfinals of original oratory. Finn-Couch said she was thrilled to watch her enjoy a successful weekend.
 
“To see someone as dedicated and humble as Mabruka advance as far as she did was amazing to be a part of,” Finn-Couch said. “She put in so much time, energy, thoughtfulness and effort into her speech, and it was truly incredible to see her hard work being celebrated. My favorite part about seeing her advancing was seeing the team cheer her on and get as excited as they did when they saw her name.”

Lincoln North Star Results

Original Oratory: Mabruka Mumade – Quarterfinalist
Expository Speaking: Mabruka Mumade – Participant
Program Interpretation: Reyce Usher – Participant
Impromptu Speaking: Braxton Stuart – Participant
Duo Interpretation: Avery Usher, Braxton Stuart – Participant

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on June 11, 2024

Meet LPS Focus Program Senior: Khalid, Science

The mission of Lincoln Public Schools is to prepare ALL students for successful careers, lifelong learning and civic engagement.

High school graduation is a culmination of our scholars' and educators' hard work toward this significant milestone. 

The LPS Focus Programs’ core values of exploration, education, engagement and empowerment are beliefs rooted in the overall LPS mission and the school district’s commitment to high school graduation. 

Read how Science Focus Program senior Khalid used LPS Focus Programs to Launch at LPS in this Q&A. 

Name: Khalid

Grade: 12

Home High School:  East

Focus Program: Science

Why did you choose the Science Focus Program?

I chose the Science Focus Program because I wanted a space where I could find my scientific passion through the abundance of classes.

How did the Science Focus Program change your high school experience?

Here at the Science Focus Program, we focus heavily on independent learning. I have been able to collaborate with my classmates and teachers on a much deeper level than what you would get at a regular high school.

What is the greatest lesson you learned from the Science Focus Program? Why?

It is perfectly acceptable to ask your teachers and classmates for help. Every time I am stuck on something, whether that be a half-angle formula or a crew paragraph thesis, I am greeted by classmates and teachers happy to help the best they can.

How did the Science Focus Program help you reach your graduation goals?

I have been able to find my passions within STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). I have also been able to take lots of fun elective classes such as publications, heroes in literature, and environmental chemistry.

What are your post-graduation plans?

I will attend Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., in the fall to major in biochemistry.

How did the Science Focus Program help prepare you for those post-graduation plans? 

I've learned to embrace a small collaborative environment with a tight-knit community through my time here at the Science Focus Program (SFP). The experiences of working and listening to others will help me with my future career goal of becoming a physician.

How did the Science Focus Program help prepare you for the future?

Research is a huge part of the Science Focus Program. 

As a freshman, you learn the basics of how to do scientific research and we even make a mini-project of our own. As a sophomore, you expand your knowledge and work on a year-long project on an animal at the zoo. As a junior and senior, you get to branch off on your own and find a topic you are passionate about for a year-long project that you present at the Nebraska Junior Academy of Sciences (NJAS) and Senior Research Night. I plan to work on research during my undergrad at Emory, and this journey of research is the perfect preparation for that.

What would your advice be to younger students considering joining your focus program? Why?

It's perfectly okay to be unsure about your passions, whether academically or in extracurricular activities when entering high school. Branching out and discovering yourself is part of the journey. I believe that SFP provides the ideal environment to help you figure those things out.

What are you most thankful about this experience? Why?

I am most thankful to my peers and especially my teachers. They have supported me all four years of my journey and I credit all my success to them.

Congratulations, Khalid! We wish you the best in your future endeavors. We are thankful our educators could help you Launch at LPS!

Choose your passion. Choose your community. Choose your future with LPS Focus Programs. 

Learn more about the Science Focus Program by visiting its website at  https://science.lps.org/ or stop by our website home.lps.org/focus to get more information about all our focus programs.

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on June 10, 2024

Meet LPS Focus Program Senior: Denzel, The Career Academy

The mission of Lincoln Public Schools is to prepare ALL students for successful careers, lifelong learning and civic engagement.

High school graduation is a culmination of our scholars' and educators' hard work toward this significant milestone. 

The LPS Focus Programs' core values of exploration, education, engagement and empowerment are beliefs rooted in the overall LPS mission and the school district’s commitment to high school graduation. 

Read how senior Denzel used The Career Academy (TCA) to Launch at LPS in this Q&A. 

Name: Denzel

Grade: 12

Home High School: Lincoln High 

Focus Program: The Career Academy 

Why did you choose The Career Academy?

I chose this program because I wanted to learn how to become a better welder.

How did The Career Academy change your high school experience?

It helped me work on the skills to become a welder and gave me real experience in the workforce. 

What is the greatest lesson you learned from The Career Academy? Why?

Mine would be the knowledge of real-world problems and learning the skills on how to solve them.

How did The Career Academy help you reach your graduation goals?

It helped me by giving me a high standard to hold myself to. 

What are your post-graduation plans?

My post-graduation plan is to go to Southeast Community College (SCC), get an associate degree and get certified as a welder.

How did The Career Academy help prepare you for those post-graduation plans? 

Going to TCA in high school took a year off of having to go to college. It gave me the skills I need to finish college and start my welding career sooner. 

How did The Career Academy help prepare you for the future?

It gave me skills that I can use in a trade that will always have a job available.

What would your advice be to younger students considering joining your focus program? Why?

I think everyone should do it. it will help start good skills you need to be in the trades and provide other opportunities in other pathways.

What are you most thankful about this experience? Why?

I'm thankful for my great instructors (Mike and Ricky), all the great friends I've made and the skills I've learned.

Congratulations, Denzel! We wish you the best in your future endeavors. We are thankful our educators could help you Launch at LPS!

Choose your passion. Choose your community. Choose your future with LPS Focus Programs. 

Learn more about The Career Academy by visiting its website at  https://home.lps.org/tca/ or stop by our website home.lps.org/focus to get more information about all our focus programs.

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on June 10, 2024

LPS students get a boost with first school district-wide AP exam prep sessions

More than 300 Lincoln Public Schools ninth-grade students got the chance to refine their Human Geography knowledge before the Advanced Placement (AP) exam this spring. 

LPS and Nebraska Wesleyan University invited students from all eight high schools and the school district’s focus programs to a special weekend test preparation session on NWU’s campus for the first time this spring. 

“I was unsure of my abilities to score well on the AP test,” Science Focus Program ninth-grade student Lillian said. “So, I wanted to come to this session to feel more prepared for it.”

The free test prep workshop and transportation were all made possible through the $1.9 million PROMISES grant secured by LPS and Nebraska Wesleyan from the U.S. Department of Education last fall. The grant will also provide free AP exams in U.S. History, Human Geography and American Government for LPS students.  

“We are hoping to give every AP Human Geography student the opportunity to receive a quality prep session regardless of which high school they attend,” LPS PROMISES Project Coordinator Kevin Rippe said.

Rippe and other veteran LPS AP educators spent their morning leading the ninth-grade scholars in various 45-minute breakout sessions. They taught test-taking and studying strategies related to the AP Human Geography exam. Students learned tips including how to handle the multiple-choice questions and which vocabulary words to review.  

“I'm feeling more confident about the test and now I know like what I should be reviewing and what I should be focusing on,” Southwest ninth-grade student Hawk said. 

“I learned some good study tips like making a schedule of what to study and when, which is good because I didn't have any strategies before that,” Lillian said. 

The PROMISES grant aims to remove potential barriers for students to take and succeed in academically rigorous social studies courses. Organizers said this is why they wanted to have these preparation lessons for all students ahead of the exams, especially for ninth graders who would be taking AP classes and the test for the first time. 

“These AP Prep sessions are another way to remove barriers to equity. The AP Prep sessions ensure that every student has access to the extra help from teachers that often makes a big difference on AP exams,” Nebraska Wesleyan history professor Kevin Bower said. “The College Board, which runs the AP program, recommends that prep sessions be open to everyone but that is not always the case in many school districts. We are making sure that we give every student in Lincoln the maximum chance to succeed.” 

Bower is also one of the PROMISES grant project directors along with LPS K-12 Social Studies Curriculum Specialist Jaci Kellison. 

During the prep workshop, the participants had the opportunity to collaborate with other ninth graders – not only building their knowledge but also relationships with peers across the school district. 

“I think that interaction is important so that we can understand, like, these are my peers, they're in the same situation that I'm in so we can see what they know and what I know that we can, like, both learn from each other,” Hawk said. 

Organizers said these opportunities are also key to helping LPS students gain confidence and skills to succeed beyond high school. 

“These opportunities are important for students because success on the AP exam often provides a major boost to students,” Bower said. “Not only does it potentially yield college credit that can help students get a head start on college, but it allows students to develop the confidence that they can and will succeed should they choose to attend college.” 

LPS ninth-grade students weren’t the only ones who had the opportunity to get some extra AP exam help before the tests. LPS and NWU also held another test prep session for AP U.S. History and AP U.S. Government for LPS juniors and seniors later in April. More than 100 students participated in that workshop. 

Students enrolled in AP social studies courses who took the AP exam also increased by more than 30% in 2023-2024. 

To learn more about the PROMISES grant project, visit our social studies website at https://home.lps.org/socialstudies/promises-project/. 

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on June 07, 2024

Finley leaves lasting legacy as Southwest wrestling coach

Aaron Finley’s ability to speak words of encouragement to hundreds of students helped him leave a lasting legacy in Southwest High School’s wrestling room.
 
Finley announced this spring that he would step down as head boys wrestling coach after 22 seasons. He founded the program when Southwest first opened its doors in 2002, and he has remained a trusted mentor for many Silver Hawks ever since. Even though he is stepping away from coaching, Finley will remain chairperson of the school’s world language department and continue to teach German classes.
 
Terry Morrow has had a front-row seat to Finley’s positive actions for the past 17 years. He joined Southwest’s coaching staff in 2007 and watched Finley teach wrestlers the vocabulary of hard work, dedication and perseverance.
 
“I mean, the significance of his tenure in this program is tremendous,” Morrow said. “I think he’s built up a great wrestling program that’s well known in Class A where we’re always, always tough to beat, and that we’re always going to give you our best.
 
“And Aaron’s passion and dedication to the sport, not only just the sport but in teaching also, it goes hand in hand with him. He brings his teaching in here. Sometimes he’ll speak in German, so it’s fun, but, you know, just his passion, his dedication, his will to always make people better, make everybody around him better.”
 
Southwest students Titus and Cole both said Finley made major differences in their lives. Titus enjoyed both academic and athletic success while wrestling under Finley the past four years. Cole soaked in a full array of lessons from the veteran coach during his sophomore season.
 
“I mean, he’s the type of guy that just keeps his cool when he needs to,” Titus said. “He doesn’t get too fired up unless he has to, but he knows when to get fired up and he knows when to motivate.
 
“And I think that he showed me what kind of a good leader is like, level-headed and just passionate where you need to be, but also he can be there for you emotionally when you’re going through something, or he’s there for you when you just won a big match and when you just want to hug somebody and give somebody a high five, you know? So, he knows how to be with kids. And he’s had a great impact on me as a person. He’s taught me hard work.”
 
“He’s always positive and always wants the best for everyone,” Cole said. “He always assures that he can get everyone on the mat by taking care of everyone, and if they need something, he takes care of that too.”
 
Finley came to Southwest after spending five years on Brad Hildebrandt’s staff at Omaha Skutt. He helped the Skyhawks win four straight Class B team titles from 1998-2001 before learning about the head coaching opportunity in Lincoln.
 
While success on the mat has been important – Justin Ferguson (2008), Kenny Martin (2013) and Connor Clanton (2017) have all won state titles at Southwest – Finley said that hasn’t been the primary objective. His top goal has been helping students become fluent in an entire set of lifelong skills.
 
“It’s never really been about wins and losses. It’s just been about the process,” Finley said. “And I know that’s kind of a cliché thing to say, but that’s one thing that Brad always said. And this is a guy that won 21 state titles in Class B, so success is always about more than wins and losses. We would joke around with kids like, ‘If you leave here with anything, it’s just that you know how to be like, a real person.’ So, I mean, it’s just life lessons. It’s things like that.”
 
Finley said he has enjoyed coaching in Southwest’s close-knit community. He said the support from parents, teachers and administrators has not gone unnoticed. He believes that encouragement will continue under Pat Miron, who will become the new head boys wrestling coach next year. Miron was a volunteer coach on Finley's staff last season.
 
“Here at Southwest, it’s different,” Finley said. “There’s still about a dozen of us that opened the school here, so I just feel like it’s a different place to be. We’re all interested in each other’s activities and the things we’re coaching and sponsoring. So, it makes it a lot of fun to be here because people sincerely care about what’s going on. And that’s not just with me, but that’s everything, really, from Science Olympiad to the theater program to music to athletics to whatever.”
 
Finley’s dedication to students has also extended beyond the wrestling mat. When he learned Titus wanted to enroll in the construction management program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he wrote a recommendation letter full of praise and support. The letter helped Titus earn a full-ride scholarship.
 
“Oh, it was huge,” Titus said. “I needed someone to write it for me, and it was during wrestling season, and I was like, ‘Finn, you know me the best.’ So, he wrote a letter and yeah, it paid off. Thank you, thank you.”
 
Finley said those moments are why he has enjoyed speaking words of life and learning to Southwest wrestlers.
 
“Only a certain number can ever be on varsity. Only a certain number will ever go to the state meet or be a state medal winner,” Finley said. “But our goal was to coach them all and for everyone to take away something. And I feel like, obviously that’s not going to happen with 100 percent of everybody. That’s just an unreasonable thing to think. But we certainly tried, I feel like. I kind of left it up to them to take away something from this program. And in most cases, they did.”

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on June 06, 2024

Fourth graders travel back in time at one-room schoolhouse

Fourth graders from Wysong Elementary School opened their calendars to 1892 this spring during an immersive visit to a local one-room schoolhouse.
 
Twenty-two students in Clara Calkins’ class traveled back in time as they took lessons in the Cunningham School (formerly known as Heritage School) at Pioneers Park Nature Center. They learned how to write with an ink-filled quill, took part in a spelling bee and sang old-fashioned songs like “Clementine” during their technology-free experience. 
 
Elsie and Modi said they were enjoying their morning and afternoon at Cunningham School. They were happy to have a chance to see what life was like for students more than 125 years ago.
 
“I was really excited, because we usually don’t get to experience how people lived in a different time,” Elsie said. “It’s fun to see how they lived and what they did in school. It’s really made me think of the things they had to do to go to school.”
 
“It was a little scary because I didn’t know what would happen, but I was excited too, because I didn’t know what would happen,” Modi said.
 
Calkins said she was proud of her class for the way they handled their journey back in time. Many of the girls were donned in 1800s-era dresses and bonnets, and several boys sat in their wooden desks wearing plaid shirts.
 
“It’s fun to watch them take on this challenge because they know how to do school, but they don’t know how to do school in 1892,” Calkins said.
 
Calkins said the educational visit helped students learn how to thrive in a new environment. Rather than using a hands-free faucet to clean up before lunch, they relied on a pitcher and washbasin in the back of the school. The tablets they held came equipped with chalk instead of a keyboard, and games were played with a thimble instead of their favorite electronic devices.
 
“I think it’s really fun,” Calkins said. “It gives them an immersive experience. For them this is very out of the norm, so it’s really cool to watch them take it in stride. To try using chalk and a slate and washing your hands out of a basin, those everyday things.”
 
Courtney Wiegand joined students in their time travel as the one-room schoolhouse teacher. She instructs thousands of fourth graders from every LPS building each year as part of their social studies curriculum. Wiegand told the Wysong class at the beginning of a morning activity session that they needed to work hard to prepare for that afternoon’s spelling bee.
 
“You have two rounds in the rotation to practice your spelling,” Wiegand said. “There are a lot of words for you to practice.”
 
Students received a list of nouns and verbs that would have been common to use back then. They used a piece of chalk to make words like recite, quarrel, gopher and pastime appear on their rectangular slate.
 
“I like that we’re learning new words and how to spell them,” Modi said. “Like prairie sounds like it only has an ‘a,’ but it really has an ‘ai.’”
 
Calkins went over story excerpts from an old McGuffey Eclectic Reader with students during one part of the morning, and Wiegand helped others write with a quill pen. Groups spent seven to ten minutes in each station before rotating to another activity.
 
Wiegand told students that feather-tipped quills are hollow inside because they are only made from birds that fly. She first showed them how to dip the quill in ink and check the ink levels with a piece of blotting paper. They then penned their first names in either cursive or print in a copy book.
 
“Just think of how long it would have taken to write the Declaration of Independence,” Wiegand said as students nodded their heads in amazement. “Every three words they would have to redip their quill in the ink, so they had to have a lot of patience when they were writing.”
 
Elsie said using the same writing utensils as Abigail Adams, William Shakespeare and Leonardo da Vinci was a highlight of the day.
 
“Probably writing with the quill and ink because we don’t do that at school,” Elsie said. “We use normal pencils, so that was really cool.”
 
Wiegand began the noon hour by passing out songbooks that contained tunes such as “Home on the Range,” “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean' and “Whistle Mary.” Students filled the air with music as they took turns washing their hands. They retrieved brown bag lunches in the cloakroom before returning to their seats to eat.
 
The class competed in a spelling bee during the early afternoon before returning to the year 2024 by 2 p.m. Calkins said all 22 students had written positive words on their calendars during their trip to 1892.
 
“It’s so much more meaningful to come here,” Calkins said. “It’s all very cool. You can see them just light up with it too. All of the kids are getting something out of it.”

Learn more about the Cunningham School on our website at https://home.lps.org/socialstudies/cunningham/.

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on June 03, 2024

Meet LPS Focus Program Senior: Vaishvika, International Baccalaureate (IB)

The mission of Lincoln Public Schools is to prepare ALL students for successful careers, lifelong learning and civic engagement.

High school graduation is a culmination of our scholars' and educators' hard work toward this significant milestone. 

The LPS Focus Programs' core values of exploration, education, engagement and empowerment are beliefs rooted in the overall LPS mission and the school district’s commitment to high school graduation. 

Read how International Baccalaureate (IB) senior Vaishvika used LPS Focus Programs to Launch at LPS in this Q&A. 

Name: Vaishvika

Grade: 12

Home High School:  Lincoln High

Focus Program: International Baccalaureate 

Why did you choose the International Baccalaureate Program?

When I first heard about the International Baccalaureate (IB) program in seventh grade, I liked the idea of taking higher-level classes that would help me prepare for college and connect with students who had similar interests and goals. I went to IB Academy Day that year and decided to do the program immediately after!

How did the International Baccalaureate Program change your high school experience?

IB has definitely had an influence on the friends I've made and the subjects I've developed a greater interest in throughout the years. Beyond that, I think my participation in IB has also helped me get other opportunities such as internships and leadership roles.

What is the greatest lesson you learned from the International Baccalaureate Program? Why?

The biggest lesson I've learned from the rigor of IB is to focus on improving by taking on new challenges rather than fixating on perfection.  When we spend all of our time trying to be perfect, we can't grow nearly as much as we do when we allow ourselves to make mistakes. 

How did the International Baccalaureate Program help you reach your graduation goals?

The IB program helped me stand out as a student during the college application process. The challenging nature of the program also kept me motivated throughout high school, pushing me to continue putting effort into all my classes and extracurricular activities.  

What are your post-graduation plans?

I am majoring in biochemistry at the University of Pennsylvania.

How did the International Baccalaureate Program help prepare you for those post-graduation plans? 

A large part of IB is learning how to study efficiently, work on independent research projects, write extensive essays and prepare for important exams. By getting used to these tasks in high school, I feel much more prepared to be a college student in the near future.

How did the International Baccalaureate Program help prepare you for the future?

IB has helped me develop a more comprehensive skill set – especially in terms of communication skills and study skills - that I know will come in handy in the future, no matter what I decide to do.

What would your advice be to younger students considering joining your focus program? Why?

My advice would be to focus on building connections with other students, setting reasonable goals and continuing to find ways to have fun even when the workload gets heavy.

What are you most thankful about this experience? Why?

I'm thankful for the friends I've made in IB and the work ethic I've developed during my time in the program. I've definitely improved as a student, but I've also met great people and had meaningful experiences that have made me a better person as well.

Congratulations, Vaishvika! We wish you the best in your future endeavors. We are thankful our educators could help you Launch at LPS!

Choose your passion. Choose your community. Choose your future with LPS Focus Programs. 

Learn more about the International Baccalaureate Program at Lincoln High by visiting its website at https://home.lps.org/ib/ or stop by our website home.lps.org/focus to get more information about all our focus programs.

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on June 03, 2024

LPS students find success at UNL Language Fair

Lincoln Public Schools students spoke words of respect, enthusiasm and discovery this spring during their time at a major language-based contest.
 
Students from six LPS high schools traveled to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for the 45th annual UNL Language Fair. Lincoln High, East, North Star, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest competed in a wide range of events throughout the day. The fair featured more than 500 students from 35 high schools across Nebraska.
 
Southwest students Kira Muckel and Layna Bernt said they enjoyed being at the fair. Both are in Tammy Lamprecht’s Japanese class at school and were involved in multiple contests on the UNL campus. LPS students participated in music, drama, poetry, dance, short film and poster design events at five UNL buildings.
 
“I enjoyed being able to appreciate various cultures and languages with classmates,” Muckel said. “The events are what makes the fair so special, because everyone has something to show that could be familiar or different.
 
“Exploring the events is among my favorite parts of the language fair. In my case, it was such an amazing experience to be able to wear traditional Japanese clothing and be able to perform to demonstrate the respect and passion I have for the language and culture.”
 
“I enjoyed being able to perform the dance and demonstrate my knowledge and passion for languages the best,” Bernt said.
 
Southeast students Natalia Villamil and Avery Williams were also happy to share their work at the fair. They joined classmates Koa White and Cameron Wesche for a Spanish poster that focused on Columbia. The Knights earned first place for their detailed explanation of a conflict that has lasted more than 50 years in the country.
 
“What I enjoyed the most was the cultural diversity I could see at the fair and how U.S. Americans perceive our Columbian and Hispanic culture,” Villamil said. “It’s very different from what I have experienced before.”
 
“I enjoyed seeing the representations of different cultures and how many different things people did,” Williams said.
 
Southeast Spanish teacher Teresa Barta said she was proud of her students for their efforts. Her class decided to explore the “War, Peace and Reconciliation” theme of this year’s fair by focusing on Columbia. They filled their poster with vivid accounts of past events that impacted people living there. Barta said their work helped explain the current situation in the country and what Columbia might look like in the future.
 
“The main reason was that two of the students in this small class have Columbian roots, so it was a meaningful topic for them and for their classmates, who were interested in them,” Barta said. “It was a great opportunity for them to share their perspectives, and for others to contrast those with what they learned in class or researched and see its relevance.”
 
Lamprecht said these types of projects were one reason why the language fair was important for students. LPS participants brought home awards for their abilities speaking Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese and Spanish.
 
“Students gain so much from participating in the UNL Language Fair,” Lamprecht said. “They get to branch out and express their creativity and talent in the arts using the target language they’ve been working so hard to become proficient in, which challenges them in a positive way, whether that’s because of the language aspect, the pressure of performance or the creative arts being out of their comfort zone.”
 
Southeast world language teacher Kelleen Rosebaugh said seeing younger students gain knowledge from older peers at the fair is also rewarding.
 
“All the competitions require the students to recite and perform in the target language and about their target culture, and it gives them something to look forward to in their learning process,” Rosebaugh said. “They get to see and meet other students from across the state and see what their peers in levels one, two, three and four of language are doing. The levels get to mix, and beginning students see what advanced students can do and start planning how they can do that in the coming years.”
 
Students also learned lessons away from the stage. They attended classes about languages that are less commonly taught such as Swedish, Basque, Lakota, Ponca, Danish and Swahili. They also watched Spanish and Latin cultural dances, learned about world events and networked with representatives from many community organizations.
 
Rosebaugh said it has been exciting to watch the fair grow over time.
 
“It’s really lovely to see more and more students attending the UNL Language Fair,” Rosebaugh said. “Students who stay in world language classes can attend each year, and it’s a feedback loop. More kids attend and want to take the advanced courses, so we have more students competing in advanced courses that novice students see and want to emulate.”
 
Lamprecht said the fair has become one of the focal points of the school year for her students. She said they always return to Southwest’s hallways with overflowing enthusiasm for global languages and cultures.
 
“At the end of the day, my students feel extremely proud of their hard work and know that it was worth all the toil it took to prepare for this day,” Lamprecht said. “The next day at school they’re already talking about what they will do next year!”

Click here to learn more about world language programs at LPS and how they help prepare students to be global citizens.

The following list includes LPS students who finished in either first or second place in their contests:

Arabic Poetry – Ali Waly – Lincoln High School – Winner
Chinese Drama Level 2 – Achan Abdelkarim, Aaron Hazelwood, Priscilla Ton – Lincoln North Star – Winner
Chinese Poetry Level 2 – Dalin Chea – Lincoln North Star – Winner
Chinese Poster Level 1 – Allyson Hale – Lincoln North Star – Winner
Chinese Poster Level 1 – Jenny Dinh – Lincoln North Star – Honorable Mention
Chinese Poster Level 2 – Aspen Hemmerling – Lincoln North Star – Winner
Chinese Poster Level 2 – Aaron Hazelwood and Dalin Chea – Lincoln North Star – Honorable Mention
German Music Level 1 – Joselyn Shoemaker – Lincoln East – Winner
German Music Level 1 – Jonah Forry and Michael Steyer – Lincoln Northwest – Honorable Mention
German Music Heritage Speaker – Lisa Marie Adolphi – Lincoln Northwest – Winner
German Poetry Level 1 – Calum Krikac – Lincoln East – Winner
German Creative Poetry Level 1 – Yurii Balanovich – Lincoln Northwest – Honorable Mention
German Poetry Level 2 – Helen Brozovic – Lincoln High – Winner
German Poster Level 1 – Rachel Koch – Lincoln East – Winner
German Poster Level 1 – Lucrezia Casati – Lincoln Northwest – Honorable Mention
German Poster Level 2 – Sam Christiansen – Lincoln High – Winner
German Short Film Level 1 – Rider Behnke, Ryker Kolikowski, Jaxon Dougherty, Graham Schlueter, Robin Lange, Colleen Lange – Lincoln Southeast – Honorable Mention
German Short Film Level 2 – Chase Oakes, Jonah Majorins, Tyler Suing – Lincoln East - Winner
Spanish Poetry Level 1 – Shelby Swapp – Lincoln High – Honorable Mention
Spanish Poster Level 1 – Autumn Veen – Lincoln Northwest – Winner
Spanish Poster Level 2 – Natalia Villamil, Cameron Wesche, Koa White, Avery Williams – Lincoln Southeast – Winner
Spanish Poster Level 2 – Mai Jacobo – Lincoln North Star – Honorable Mention
Spanish Heritage Speaker Dance – Maria Manriquez Guerrero – Lincoln Northwest – Winner
French Music Level 1 – Huck Madsen – Lincoln High – Winner
French Music Level 1 – Eh P’Zaw Paw – Lincoln High – Honorable Mention
French Music Level 2 – Maddyn Wenstrand – Lincoln Southeast – Honorable Mention
French Drama Level 2 – Lip Lip Hung – Lincoln East – Honorable Mention
French Poetry Level 1 – Ali Waly – Lincoln High – Winner
French Poetry Level 1 – Dodavah Nyicho – Lincoln East – Honorable Mention
French Poetry Level 2 – Gideon Terwilleger – Lincoln Southeast – Honorable Mention
French Creative Poetry Level 2 – Diwata Patrick – Lincoln Southeast – Winner
French Heritage Speaker Poetry + Creative Poetry – Alexandra Djopnang Konmegne – Lincoln East – Winner
French Heritage Speaker Poetry + Creative Poetry – Deborah Tshibangu – Lincoln North Star – Honorable Mention
French Film Level 1 – Timofei Prakapchuk, Maeson Sallinger, Roman Stepanyuk, Zeineddine Akpo-Idrissou – Lincoln Northwest – Winner
French Short Film - Eden Duweling, Katelyn Pischel, Katelyn Sheets, Addison Wolfe - Lincoln Southeast - Winner
French Poster Level 1 – Thee Lah Moo – Lincoln High – Honorable Mention
French Poster Level 2 – Audrey Coatney and Madison Lemons – Lincoln Northwest – Winner
French Poster Level 2 – Monty McIntosh and Morgan Lewandowski – Lincoln Northwest – Honorable Mention
French Heritage Speaker Poster – Deborah Tshibangu – Lincoln North Star – Winner
French Dance – Holli Matson – Lincoln Northwest – Winner
Japanese Music Level 2 – Vee Lundquist – Lincoln Southwest – Winner
Japanese Drama Level 1 – Camden Armstrong, Kelsey Blevins, Lizzy Davidson, Brennan Davis, Keegan Delgado, Bryson Esau, Carter Fairchild, Jayden Jensen, Paxton Kizzier, Dionna Lafler, Liv Mannschreck – Lincoln Southwest – Honorable Mention
Japanese Drama Level 2 – Layna Bernt, Morgan Christensen, Zoe Donner, Lily Huynh, Mercedes Lepper, Vee Lundquist, Colton Mahony, Kira Muckel, Kyyon Nguyen, Noah Slevin, Saxon Strait, Liam Williams – Lincoln Southwest – Winner
Japanese Poetry Level 2 – Noah Slevin – Lincoln Southwest – Honorable Mention
Japanese Poster Level 1 – Jay Myers – Lincoln Southwest – Honorable Mention
Japanese Poster Level 2 – Saxon Strait – Lincoln Southwest – Winner
Japanese Dance Level 1 – Colton Mahony – Lincoln Southwest – Winner
Japanese Dance Level 2 – Layna Bernt, Kira Muckel, Morgan Christensen, Lily Huynh, Kyyon Nguyen – Lincoln Southwest – Winner

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on June 03, 2024

Bay High seniors capture memorable moments for Yankee Hill peers

The clicking of cameras led to many friendly conversations between students from Bay High Focus Program and Yankee Hill Education Center this spring.
 
Students from both schools gathered on Yankee Hill’s campus for a senior photo experience. The two-hour event provided both practical and social benefits for everyone involved. Bay High students pocketed real-world practice behind the lens, and Yankee Hill students received a treasured keepsake of their key educational milestone.
 
Bay High seniors Alex, Eli and Mikey are all members of a photojournalism class at the focus program. They began the afternoon taking pictures of one student on a gravel road just outside of school, and they captured more photos inside Yankee Hill’s main hallway. They said it meant a lot to be given the chance to help students the same age as them.
 
“As seniors ourselves, we know how important senior photos are,” Alex said. “We want to do a good job for them because it’s important. We have an opportunity to make memories for them, so this is something that’s really cool.”
 
“It’s one thing to work with cameras at Bay High, but getting to take actual pictures out here is something that takes it to another level,” Mikey said. “It’s a lot of fun. These are pictures that they’re going to use and look at.”
 
Yankee Hill parent Serina watched with pride as her son smiled for a group of photographers. They snapped their first pictures on steps on the west side of the school building, and they then took multiple portraits on the gravel road.
 
“It’s amazing to watch,” Serina said. “He cares a lot about this, so it’s nice to see him have his pictures taken.”
 
Bay High teacher Brent Jarosz said he was excited for students from both schools. It was the first time the two sites worked together on the project.
 
“They’ve practiced all semester doing different techniques with the camera, doing different things, and then this opportunity presented itself, and we decided to jump on it,” Jarosz said. “It’s giving a real-life experience for Bay High students, but then also giving an opportunity for Yankee Hill students who may not have it. It’s a cool thing.”
 
Bay High opened during the Fall 2022 semester as a partnership between LPS, local businesses and the nonprofit Rabble Mill. The goal is to provide entrepreneurial-minded students with a chance to explore many creative fields.
 
Bay High’s curriculum includes multiple classes for high school juniors and seniors. Students take four Business, Marketing and Information Technology (BMIT) content creation courses during the two years. They learn general business and technology skills through a variety of projects and event planning sessions.
 
Bay High juniors also take courses on personal finance, digital design, journalism, web design and programming, sports and event marketing and podcasting as literature. Seniors complete classes on journalism, photojournalism, video production, entrepreneurship and personal branding and marketing.
 
Jarosz said he has enjoyed watching photojournalism students become more confident with their cameras during the semester. Many of them were familiar with photography language like shutter speed, aperture and depth of field before the class, but multiple students had never spoken that vocabulary. They formed partnerships and helped each other explore the options found on their cameras.
 
“There are some students who are using cameras as a side gig already, and then there are some kids who picked up a camera for the first time this semester,” Jarosz said. “It’s been cool to see them work together and communicate on different things.”
 
Eli and Alex said it was valuable to have those conversations outside their focus program site. They were encouraged by the positive feedback they were receiving from Yankee Hill students about their photos.
 
“It’s a lot like the first step in being a professional photographer,” Eli said. “This is definitely more of a professional experience. I’m enjoying it, because the more experience you have, the better you get at photography.”
 
“It’s going to be fun to see how these turn out,” Alex said. “We’ve been able to try out different places for the pictures, and we’ve used a lot of different settings on the camera. This is giving us a chance to try out what we’ve been practicing during the semester.”
 
Bay High teacher Tina Le sent several other students on photography assignments to various spots on campus. They practiced their skills by capturing images of trees, bushes, exterior building walls and classroom materials. They learned how tree leaves can create shadows on subjects, what type of angles to use for nature scenes and which camera lens would work best for close-up and faraway pictures.
 
Eli said he would remember the Yankee Hill trip for the many positive lessons it provided everyone during the day.
 
“It’s more personal than an assignment we’d do in class,” Eli said. “Getting to help people by taking pictures is fun. We’re helping them get to do something that maybe they normally wouldn’t have a chance to do.”
 
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Posted on May 31, 2024

Meet LPS Focus Program Senior: Alex, Bryan College of Health Sciences

The mission of Lincoln Public Schools is to prepare ALL students for successful careers, lifelong learning and civic engagement.

High school graduation is a culmination of our scholars' and educators' hard work toward this significant milestone. 

The LPS Focus Programs' core values of exploration, education, engagement and empowerment are beliefs rooted in the overall LPS mission and the school district’s commitment to high school graduation. 

Read how senior Alex used the Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program at Northwest to Launch at LPS in this Q&A. 

Name: Alex 

Grade: 12

Home High School: Northwest 

Focus Program: Bryan College of Health Sciences 

Why did you choose the Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program?

I chose the Bryan College of Health Science Focus Program at Lincoln Northwest High School due to its wide variety of opportunities available to its participants. The focus program drew my attention when I was looking for a new home high school. The partnership with Bryan College of Health Sciences is what sealed the deal for me. Knowing that after high school, I wanted to become a healthcare worker, this program would help me reach my goals.

How did the Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program change your high school experience?

The Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program changed my high school experience in unspeakable ways, from obtaining my certified nursing assistant license (CNA) to getting hands-on healthcare experience and speaking with healthcare professionals about the career I want to pursue right after high school. I was given countless opportunities to better my understanding and knowledge of healthcare. Most importantly, I was set up for success unlike ever before, having gained college experience and college credit.

What is the greatest lesson you learned from the Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program? Why?

The greatest lesson I learned from this focus program is that if you want something, chase after it and don't stop running. I knew coming into this program it wasn't going to be easy to take college courses at such an early age with no previous experience. My peers and instructors helped and gave me guidance to chase the grades I wanted, the experiences I wanted to have and the connections I wanted to make with healthcare professionals while in this program. I chased what I wanted and didn't stop running.

How did the Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program help you reach your graduation goals?

The focus program provided me with dual credit courses, which applied to my graduation requirements and my college transcript. I was able to take college courses for high school credits while at the same time gaining college credit. I gained college experience and improved my ways for academics.

What are your post-graduation plans?

My post-graduation plan is to pursue a cardiovascular sonography degree at Bryan College of Health Sciences.

How did the Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program help prepare you for those post-graduation plans? 

The focus program helped me gain preparedness for my post-graduation goals, connecting me with individuals whose jobs are to help students with college success. I was able to make connections, practice college admission procedures and meet with individuals who work one-on-one with college students. The focus program has helped me get to a place where I am confident that I will succeed in my post-graduation plans.

How did the Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program help prepare you for the future?

The focus program provided a course that exposed me to numerous healthcare fields and associated jobs. I was able to interact with medical professionals and ask questions about their journey to where they are now, and gain plenty of knowledge for how to ensure my success through my college journey.

What would your advice be to younger students considering joining your focus program? Why?

Don't overthink what you think you cannot do and go for it. This is your future and you need to lead it in the right direction. I'm glad I made the connections with my peers and instructors that I did. They helped me to a stance where I am confident I will succeed, and I'm sure of what I want to do with my future.

What are you most thankful about this experience? Why?

I'm most thankful for the diversity, interactions, knowledge gained and overall experience. This program provided me with so much that words cannot express my gratitude. I was given countless opportunities to expand my views of healthcare and what's possible. I am thankful for everyone who helped lead me in the right direction.

Congratulations, Alex! We wish you the best in your future endeavors. We are thankful our educators could help you Launch at LPS!

Choose your passion. Choose your community. Choose your future with LPS Focus Programs. 

Learn more about the Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program at Northwest High School by visiting its website at  https://healthsciences.lps.org/ or stop by our website home.lps.org/focus to get more information about all our focus programs.

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on May 30, 2024

LPS senior finds direction through Graduation Pathways program

Lincoln Public Schools student Clara discovered which road she wanted to take in life through her involvement with the Graduation Pathways program.
 
Clara relied on the program’s teachers and staff members to help her reach her high school academic ambitions. She completed all of her graduation requirements in December 2023 and walked across the stage with her classmates in late May. She will enter college this fall and plans to become a pharmacy technician.

Clara said Graduation Pathways made a major difference in her life. She was unhappy at her home high school, but she found a renewed sense of purpose and direction once she enrolled full-time in the program.

“The teachers had more time to individually work on stuff with students,” Clara said. “Every day, from each of my teachers, I got asked, ‘How are you doing, Clara? How is work going in all of your other classes?’ It was more relaxed and I had fun. I didn’t feel as stressed, and I wanted to learn.”

 
Graduation Pathways offers classes for students who have experienced challenges at their home high schools. They must be between the ages of 17-21 and must have successfully completed 170 or more high school credits. They must be eligible for traditional school placement to apply for admission. 

Graduation Pathways Program Supervisor Chris Schefdore said she has seen many people experience similar positive endings to their LPS stories. She said helping students like Clara reach the finish line of high school is the goal for everyone who works at Graduation Pathways.
 
“The staff here have a passion,” Schefdore said. “We really want to help students succeed, not just academically, but holistically.”

 
Schefdore said the program has grown significantly since classes began during the 2018-19 school year. In the first year only night courses were available for a handful of enrollees. Now, classes are available during both the school day and evening hours to help 152 students complete the credits they need to graduate. The program currently has a teacher for every core academic discipline, and a school counselor and secretary are available to help students remain on successful routes.
 
Clara first came to Graduation Pathways while dual-enrolling with her home high school. She chose to attend the program full-time during the spring semester of her senior year. The scholar finished all of her coursework the following semester. She said she felt a sense of empowerment and confidence after spending time in the program.
 
“When you’re walking in here, you’re in charge of your own stuff,” Clara said. “You’re your own adult here.”

Schefdore said the program works with each student to create the best options for graduation. All in-person classes take place at The Career Academy building on Southeast Community College’s campus, and Graduation Pathways offers online courses to accommodate a variety of student schedules. All students in both online and in-person classes take tests at TCA to allow staff to monitor their progress.
 
“We have both in-person and online classes, so we have a mix of classes to help fit what will help the student,” Schefdore said. “Flexibility is very important for our students.”
 
Clara said those options are valuable for everyone who attends the program. She said each person has full ownership of their academic destinies at Graduation Pathways.
 
“I think it depends on the student’s drive,” Clara said. “It depends on if the student comes to school. The more the student is determined to come, the faster the student will graduate.”

 
Clara used her determination and perseverance to achieve her personal goal of earning a diploma. She completed her final 25 high school credits at Graduation Pathways and was accepted into SCC’s pharmacy technician program. She said becoming a medical professional would provide both stability and joy in her life.
 
“It’s reliable,” Clara said. “It’s always going to be here.”
 
Clara said she had many good memories from her time at Graduation Pathways. She said returning to SCC’s campus for her college courses would remind her of the care and concern LPS staff showed her there.
 
“I’m definitely going to enjoy coming back here,” Clara said.

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on May 29, 2024

Kahoa students plant memories during special tree lesson in park

Kahoa Elementary School students expanded their learning roots this spring with an activity that helped both themselves and the environment.
 
Fourth graders changed the landscape of Kahoa Park by planting 40 trees across the property. They spent time during the afternoon learning about trees and the many ways they benefit both people and nature. They then moved dirt, patted down mulch and beamed with pride when their trees were standing upright.
 
Andi and Sawyer both said they enjoyed being with their classmates at the park. They were happy after working with two trees in their small groups. Andi said she and her teammates named their trees Charles and Peanut Butter, and Sawyer’s group decided Billy and Bobby would be good names for the planting project.
 
“I liked that we got to plant trees,” Andi said. “It was a lot of fun. I think it’s something that I’m going to remember for a long time.”
 
“I had a really good time,” Sawyer said. “First we learned how to plant trees, and then we did it ourselves. I thought it was awesome.”
 
Kahoa Principal Mandy Nickolite-Green smiled as she watched students work together. They discovered details about trees and why they are a critical part of nature earlier in the week. Ontario-based professor Elwood Pricklethorn shared his decades of horticulture and arboriculture knowledge with them at a school assembly.
 
“It’s been great,” Nickolite-Green said. “The kids have had a great time today. It’s been really neat to see how they’ve connected what they learned in the assembly to coming out here and getting to plant trees for themselves. It’s been a really good experience.”
 
Arbor Day Foundation representative Taylor Barnes had a similar point of view. She hoped students would want to copy the Kahoa project in their own backyards and neighborhoods. The foundation provided tree seedlings for everyone to take home with them after they finished at the park.
 
“Plant the seed and inspire the next generation, because there is no better time than now to plant trees,” Barnes said. “That’s our goal. The great thing is these students will be able to look at their adjacent park and see the trees that they’ve planted as they continue to go through elementary school.”
 
Lincoln Public Schools Sustainability Department Coordinator Brittney Wees said multiple school and community organizations planned the tree planting adventure. Wees and fellow LPS Sustainability Department representatives Mandy Bydalek and Alex Coffelt worked with the Arbor Day Foundation, Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department, the Early College and Career STEM Focus Program at Northeast High School and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
 
“This is something that has taken months of planning, so it’s exciting to see everything come together today,” Wees said. “I’m really happy for the kids. It’s been great to see how enthusiastic they are about planting their trees.”
 
City crews used an auger to create dirt holes for each tree before students arrived on site. Lance Wolken, a district supervisor with Lincoln Parks and Recreation, then began the day by teaching the fourth graders the correct way to plant trees. He explained where tree roots were located and why it was important for them to be vertical in the ground.
 
“Should the tree go this way?” Wolken said as he held it in a slanted direction in the hole.
 
“No!” students said.
 
“Should it go in this way?” Wolken asked as he held it straight.
 
“Yes!” students replied.
 
Wolken taught everyone about the importance of rainwater and nutrients before showing them how to spread mulch around the tree's base. He told them mulch keeps moisture in the ground and prevents weeds from accessing the tree.
 
Students also learned there are many types of trees. The Kahoa project included northern catalpa, Canada red cherry, bur oak, swamp white oak, autumn brilliance serviceberry, spring snow crabapple, prairiefire crabapple, common hackberry, skyline honeylocust and triumph elm species.
 
Kaylyn Neverve, a park planner at Lincoln Parks and Recreation, was one of many volunteers who helped students plant trees. Neverve watched her group place a bur oak in the ground before racing to another hole on the park’s east side. She was impressed with the many lessons students gained from their time outdoors.
 
“Not only does it help the environment, but the kids get a lot out of this too,” Neverve said. “I could just see them gaining confidence as they started to plant their trees and they could see that they were really doing this. They were taking ownership of it and making it their project. It’s really exciting when something like that happens.”
 
Students enjoyed popsicles in the park’s shelter house after all 40 trees were in the ground. They listened to several presentations from school and community leaders before returning to Kahoa.
 
Andi said she would especially remember the teamwork that was on full display in the park. She felt that was one of the best parts of Kahoa’s tree planting adventure.
 
“It was fun to see everybody working together,” Andi said. “I really liked that. Everyone got to help, which I thought was really cool.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on May 29, 2024

Student-artists shine at 2024 Secondary District Art Show

Emeri is using her interest in nature to create scenes that show an earth-sized amount of imagination, ingenuity and intelligence.
 
Emeri, a senior at Northwest High School, joined hundreds of middle and high school students at the 2024 secondary district art show. Lincoln Public Schools students, parents and community members admired a wide range of drawings, paintings and prints this spring. The artwork filled every floor of the Steve Joel District Leadership Center.
 
Emeri gave a humble smile as she stood in front of a pencil drawing called “The Crows” at the show. Her artistic abilities helped her become one of the most decorated students in the building. Teachers selected five of her pieces for visitors to view on the walls.
 
“I was shocked,” Emeri said. “I was really expecting just one to be here, but to get five, that’s shocking.”
 
Emeri said Northwest teacher Megan Cherry has played a critical role in her art career. She took a Drawing II class with Cherry this year and learned about many illustration methods and mediums. She would like to major in wildlife biology in college, and those future plans are helping to inspire her current artistic ambitions.
 
“When I draw, I just typically focus on animals and plants,” Emeri said. “That’s what interests me.”
 
Standing Bear High School freshman Leah and Schoo Middle School eighth grader Keaton also said they like to focus on subjects that are appealing to them. Leah produced a prize-winning photo called "The Wonderous World of Shadows” for the art show. She took a selfie of her own shadow that was silhouetted by a light pole outside Standing Bear’s building.
 
“In photography, I enjoy working with art – shadows and light for the most part,” Leah said. “I guess the light pole gave me a cool opportunity to maybe use the jacket I was wearing for a cool photo.”
 
Keaton showcased a piece called “Dinosaur” for art show visitors. His digital media collection featured six different dinosaur species in a variety of colors. The sketches included a tyrannosaurus walking by trees, a brachiosaurus extending its head and a pteranodon flying through the sky.
 
“I came up with it just from simply drawing little doodles on the iPad,” Keaton said. “I eventually started gradually adding on to the doodles more and more. They ended up making up the pieces to the artworks that I eventually made.”
 
Keaton’s mom Tara said her son has enjoyed being an artist for many years. She has saved boxes of his art projects and posts social media updates about his latest creations to her friends. He began making t-shirt designs this year and has added digital pieces to his skillset.
 
“It’s amazing,” Tara said. “I’m super proud of him. He’s been drawing since he could write.”
 
Keaton spent a large amount of time on the project during his digital art class at Schoo. He said teacher Evan Asche encouraged him to explore a whole series of ways to use his talents.
 
“I think art class helps with that because it allows me to be a lot more creative,” Keaton said. “Because originally I started with pencil drawings, and the pencil drawings were really good, but when I found out that we were using digital art, I wanted to try and see if I could color them in, because I thought that would be easier.”
 
Irving Middle School eighth grader Neva said she has also enjoyed her digital media class. She beamed as she talked about her project called “Molly Tuttle.” She created a color block portrait of a faceless woman holding a guitar and wearing a necklace with a gold coin.
 
Neva said her favorite guitar player came to mind when she first learned about the assignment. She felt drawing Molly Tuttle would stretch her artistic skills in a good way.
 
“First you find a picture of the person, and then you trace the area around them,” Neva said. “Then fill it in with colors that work together.”
 
Neva said it was important to have art classes in school because they provide a creative outlet for everyone. She said they also teach students many important lessons that apply to other parts of life.
 
What was one of those lessons she learned from this project?
 
“That art isn’t always as easy as you think it is,” Neva said with a friendly laugh. “Her hair was so hard to make.”
 
Leah said being included in the district art show has led to a dictionary-sized amount of good outcomes. She has received encouraging words from many classmates and friends, and she has gained confidence from knowing other people have enjoyed her artwork. She said it has also been nice to know her family supports her in all of her photography pursuits.
 
“I think they’re proud,” Leah said with a smile.
 
Click here to learn more about the wide array of art classes available at LPS. The site includes a list of school and district art teachers, programs of study and links to area museums and galleries.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on May 28, 2024

Southeast senior prepares for takeoff after high school success

Southeast High School senior Porter is preparing to fly into successful skies after gaining a stratosphere-sized amount of knowledge on campus.
 
Porter has used his four years in Southeast’s hallways as a launchpad to his future goals. He has participated in many school activities, formed friendships with various students and represented Nebraska at a national event in Washington, D.C. The future Air Force Academy cadet said Southeast has been a source of confidence and encouragement for him.
 
“Southeast has been the perfect school to go to because I’ve been able to have every opportunity and every chance to make my dreams come true,” Porter said. “I’m really grateful to all of the organizations and teachers that have helped me realize my potential and always pushed me and encouraged me to be the best I can every day. It’s full of people who want the best for you, so it’s been such a blessing to be here.”

 
Kelley Winter has worked at Southeast for 13 years and helps students as a school counselor. She said Porter has made a positive mark on hundreds of lives.
 
“He is an outstanding student, but more importantly, he is just the greatest human,” Winter said. “He has strong values, strong morals, he has great character, he’s kind to everyone, he says hi to people, he knows other students’ and teachers’ names and he’s always asking about people’s day or how they’re doing. He’s authentic and genuine. In all my years of being a teacher or school counselor, Porter’s just the best. He really is.”

 
Porter began his Southeast career in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Winter first met him during a Zoom meeting they arranged to discuss schedule changes. She said his polite personality and attention to detail were apparent from the very beginning.
 
“Right away, I thought, ‘This kid is a rock star,’” Winter said. “That was a ten-minute meeting, and he made that impression on me right away.”
 
Porter said he had a similar reaction when he met Southeast teachers and staff. Even though the year was different on many levels, the inspiration he received during that time filled up his personal fuel tank.
 
“It was obviously a weird first year, but nonstop, all of the teachers I had were like, high school is really where you can transform yourself into the person you want to be,” Porter said. “They encouraged me to think about what you want to become and then take every chance you can. That was language and encouragement that I really hadn’t had yet, so getting into high school and having all of the teachers say that was very kind of them.”

 
Porter said being in many organizations has helped him. He served as president of National Honor Society and Key Club and was a member of state-qualifying football and boys golf teams. He also participated in Shield Club, Leadership Cadre and Hope Squad.
 
“I think the most important thing is the range of people I was able to meet and form friendships with,” Porter said. “Each organization has its own small group of people and friends, but when you get to diversify yourself into so many groups, I feel you get a super holistic view of the student body that makes up the school that I’m so fond of.”

 
A life-changing moment for Porter took place last summer when he attended the annual Cornhusker Boys State program. He impressed Boys State leaders so much that he was picked to be a Nebraska delegate for the prestigious American Legion Boys Nation event in July.
 
Each state had just two delegates at Boys Nation, which took place in the Washington, D.C., metro area. Students debated bills in a simulated U.S. Senate, toured the National Mall and visited Congressional leaders on Capitol Hill.
 
“It was a really fun time to meet incredible people from across the nation,” Porter said.
 
Winter felt it was one of the top achievements she has seen from a student in her career. The list of prominent Boys Nation alumni includes former U.S. President Bill Clinton, former U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former Montana Governor Steve Bullock.
 
“I just feel that’s gone a little unnoticed,” Winter said. “It’s a huge deal.”

 
Porter said the trip also played a key role in his decision to apply to the Air Force Academy.
 
“Whenever I got to speak with a veteran, there was such authority and respect that came with each word they said,” Porter said. “I found it admirable and I thought their path of service was worth emulating, so it really sparked my journey toward the military academy.”
 
Porter will begin basic training this summer and will start classes this fall. His goal is to enter flight training school in his sophomore year.

Porter said his diploma symbolizes how much Southeast has prepared him for the successful flights that lie ahead.
 
“It’s sad because you know you’re going to be leaving behind so many incredible people and great friends, but there’s also so much pride knowing that I’m going to be able to tell people that I’m from Lincoln Southeast High School,” Porter said. “I get to look back and say that those were the walls that shaped me and they let me accomplish everything I could possibly want.”

Congratulations, Porter! We wish you the best in your future endeavors. We are thankful our educators could help you Launch at LPS!

Looking for LPS graduation information? Check out our graduation page at https://home.lps.org/graduation/ to get the details on celebrating your favorite high school grad.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on May 24, 2024

Board to consider updated facilities plan and proposed construction project at Yankee Hill

Lincoln Board of Education members will consider revising the school district’s ten-year facilities and infrastructure plan to include a new 47,000-square-foot facility at the Yankee Hill Education Center site at the next regular meeting on May 28.
 
Lincoln Public Schools leaders discussed the proposal on Friday. LPS staff members have identified a need for additional space for student support programming at elementary, middle and high school levels, which led to the development of the Yankee Hill proposal. 
 
LPS Director of Operations Scott Wieskamp said the timing was right for the Yankee Hill project. If the board approves the proposal, LPS would build a new facility on 25 acres of land south of the current site at West Burnham Street. The district already owns the property, and the project was previously included in the Tier 2 priority list of the ten-year facilities and infrastructure plan.
 
“Now is an opportunity,” Wieskamp said. “We have enough money to do the facilities the right way.”
 
The proposed project would cost approximately $25 million. LPS Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs Liz Standish said all of the funding is already in place due to good fiscal responsibility. District leaders took advantage of a favorable financing climate when voters passed a bond issue in 2020. They also used prudent construction practices to successfully stretch the dollars in all of the bond projects.
 
“We had an extremely favorable interest rate, and our net proceeds from that issuance were higher than we estimated,” Standish said. “That’s what created the capacity and the funding to go into Tier 2. We’re following a longstanding practice in the Lincoln community with good management.”
 
Lincoln Board of Education initiated a ten-year facilities planning process in 2005 to serve as a guideline for district needs. The document has been subject to annual reviews, approvals and changes over the years as circumstances and conditions have warranted.
 
The current plan was approved on Dec. 10, 2019. Many community-based groups such as the Superintendent’s Facilities Advisory Committee and High School Task Force identified numerous needs for district students. Sixty-two percent of Lincoln residents voted in favor of the bond issue on Feb. 11, 2020.
 
The district used the bond money to first address needs listed on Tier 1 of the facilities plan. LPS leaders then looked at possible Tier 2 projects. LPS Director of Student Services Ryan Zabawa said the Yankee Hill site proposal rose to the top for educational reasons.
 
“We’re overcrowded,” Zabawa said. “We have more students than we have space, so we have to rotate on an A/B schedule during the day to accommodate all the students’ needs.”
 
Yankee Hill Education Center has been part of the neighborhood since 1954. The facility currently serves as home for a high school behavioral skills program for students in grades 9-12. The students who currently attend have been identified as needing a period of time in a safe, supportive, therapeutic environment that focuses on building pro-social skills along with academics. Staff members are trained in a behavior program model to create a structured and safe school environment for students.
 
The proposed new facility would house the existing Yankee Hill program to address high school behavioral skills, and add the student support and transition programs.

The high school student support program is in the Student Services Department. It provides students with an opportunity to continue their academic progress and earn credits during times of transition, long-term suspensions or expulsions. Currently located at Nuernberger Education Center, it helps students in a smaller, more-structured environment.
 
The high school transition program allows LPS students to work on obtaining graduation requirements through an eLearning curriculum. The program, which can serve up to 40 students in grades 9-12, is currently located at Northeast High School and Nuernberger Education Center.
 
The current Yankee Hill facility would be repurposed into a space for the district’s Individual Success Program (ISP). ISP is a comprehensive special education program for students who have developmental disabilities. It serves students from kindergarten through age 21 and helps them with academic performance, mental health, social wellbeing, behavioral needs and inclusive advocacy.
 
Elementary students currently take ISP classes at Humann and Robinson schools. All middle school students take classes at Lux, and students in grades 9-12 take courses at both East and Northwest high schools. LPS Director of Special Education Mindy Roberts said it will benefit students, staff and community members to have all students in one location at the refurbished Yankee Hill site.
 
“Bringing them here in one location would really support resources in a better way, as well as giving them opportunities to be around more of their peers than they are in their smaller programs that are housed in our traditional schools,” Roberts said.
 
The project would allow Nuernberger Education Center to be fully dedicated to serving middle school students. Don Sherrill Education Center would continue to serve elementary students in the student support program.
 
If the board approves the proposal to update the ten-year facilities plan in May, it would advance to a second reading on June 11. Wieskamp said the tentative design process would take approximately nine months and construction could begin during the Spring 2025 semester. A soft opening is planned to happen in January 2027.

Posted on May 24, 2024

Scott Chopped creates recipes for student learning

Scott Middle School students used a winning recipe of teamwork, time management and top-level organization during a competitive cooking activity this spring.
 
Eighth graders in Tia Smith’s Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) course took part in the “Scott Chopped” contest. They had to create flavorsome dishes in a safe and speedy manner for a panel of judges. Teams had just 20 minutes to prepare and serve meals that featured the main ingredients of chicken, ramen noodles, pineapple and carrots.
 
Alexis and Ryann said they enjoyed working with their teammates on their dishes. Alexis helped Team Gray create a ramen noodle soup that was served with glasses of milk. Ryann helped Team Yellow cook up a stir fry meal that highlighted each of the top four ingredients.
 
“It was really fun and I really liked having something to do with everybody,” Alexis said. “I feel like it really built character.”
 
“I just like cooking,” Ryann said. “It’s very therapeutic.”
 
Smith said she was impressed with the skill level her students displayed in their kitchens. All six groups in her second-period class completed their meals in time for judges to evaluate. They also showcased a level of cooperation that would have passed the test at five-star restaurants.
 
“They had one knife, so if we’re cutting carrots and chicken and pineapple, they had to figure out who is using the knife when, and did it get washed between uses?” Smith said. “The teamwork-in-the-kitchen aspect was a big thing.”
 
The idea for “Scott Chopped” came after veteran cook Toby Antonson visited Smith’s class last fall. Antonson is a pitmaster of a professional barbecue competition team and runs a barbecue food truck business in Lincoln. He spoke to students about food safety, customer service and running a business.
 
Antonson and Smith felt a cooking contest would be a good way to give students practical FCS experience. They decided to model it after the popular “Chopped” television show.
 
“We liked the competition aspect of this one, where it was timed, you had to work as a group, and if you didn’t, you didn’t get done,” Smith said. “We liked that part of it.”
 
Students had to incorporate chicken, pineapple, carrots and ramen noodles in their dishes, but they were free to create any type of recipe. Smith provided them with a large pantry of spices and sauces they could add to their meal.
 
“We did give them the ingredients a day beforehand, so if they wanted to do some research to figure out something, they absolutely could,” Smith said.
 
Groups had six minutes at the beginning of class to finalize their meal plan and delegate preparation responsibilities. They also picked out who would be the lone spokesperson for presenting their food to judges.
 
“Everything was really hands-on,” Alexis said. “We didn’t get a set plan of what we needed to do. We got to come up with all of it ourselves.”
 
Alexis and Ryann both said it was eye-opening to experience how fast time melted away. Twenty minutes soon reduced to ten, five and one as they attempted to put the final flavors in their food.
 
“I learned how to work with people, and I learned that time management is very important when you’re being timed,” Ryann said.
 
The judges visited each kitchen and asked presenters about their meal and why they chose their recipe. Each dish was then tasted and the scores were tallied.
 
Team Blue students smiled when Antonson announced that judges had selected their chicken teriyaki meal as the winning entrée. Team member Cooper played a key role with his speaking abilities. Antonson told the entire class that Cooper’s attentive and detailed presentation made the difference in the final standings.
 
Cooper said after class that he was happy to play a small part in Team Blue’s victory.
 
“I don’t do a ton of cooking, so I was just going along with everyone in the kitchen,” Cooper said. “The only thing I was really good at was speaking, I guess, so I wanted to do that to help the team as best I could.”
 
Antonson congratulated each team at the end of class. He said he was proud of them for the way they worked together to reach their goals.
 
“I can tell you that this was amazing to watch,” Antonson said. “All of you did well.”
 
Alexis said she enjoyed the entire “Scott Chopped” experience. She felt her time in Smith’s FCS classroom would be a main ingredient in her recipe for success in life.
 
“I really like having hands-on classes and being able to learn things that I’ll use in real life,” Alexis said.
 
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Posted on May 23, 2024

Arts and Humanities Focus Program crafts a community over 25 years

The Arts and Humanities Focus Program hit a special milestone this year.  The program celebrated 25 years by welcoming current and past students, staff and families to an open house in April. 

“It's like walking through a time capsule and somebody has messed up a little bit. It definitely brought back a ton of memories,” Arts and Humanities Class of 2013 alumni Connor Gee said. 

Dozens of people packed into the site near 25th and J streets to reconnect and relive some nostalgia. Some toured the building and peeked their heads in the classrooms while others chatted with past classmates and educators. 

“I was excited to see such a great turnout,” math teacher Emily Dvorak said. “I was especially excited to see so many alumni, both recent, but going all the way back to the early 'oughts as well.  I feel like this says a lot about how important students' experience here was to their lives.”

“There's something about being in a place with really positive experiences with young people,” former social studies teacher John Clark said. He taught at the program for 17 years.

Arts and Humanities is the second oldest focus program at Lincoln Public Schools, starting in 1999. It began with 65 young creatives and is now the home to 90. The Arts and Humanities curriculum centers on “identity development, personal and social responsibility, empathy, critical thinking and creativity.”

Several students and staff involved with the program over the years noted its strong community as a critical factor to its longevity and success. 

“When I first got accepted into arts, I remember my dad hugging me as I began crying because I realized I was finally going to a place that had people who thought like me and who enjoy being creative and thinking creatively,” ninth grade student Emaan said.

They mentioned how those tight-knit bonds helped them thrive in the program's walls and beyond. 

“When I first came here, my dad was diagnosed with brain cancer. So, the community that I built here was what got me through high school,” Gee said. “I wouldn't have graduated from any high school if it wasn't for arts. It kept me in a place where I could actually do things I wanted to do and move forward in my life.”

His wife, Angela Nance, a 2012 alumna of the program, agreed it influenced her to explore various paths and pave her future. 

“There’s a sense of community and mutual support that develops that keeps a lot of people going who might have struggled otherwise,” she said. “Just being able to get out into the community, see what people are doing and have the experiential learning, I feel like for me it was really important.” 

“Some things I love about teaching are helping scholars make connections and seeing their ‘Aha’ moments, and help them become better versions of themselves and learn skills to help them live the lives they want,” current social studies teacher Falla Halsey said. 

The 25th-anniversary celebration also marked the end of an era. It was one of the final occasions people could see the program’s current building before renovations. While the physical space of Arts and Humanities is changing, there is one thing that its participants hope will always stay the same – its mission. 

“At Arts and Humanities, students have the opportunity to become a greater version of themselves as not only artists but as people,” Emaan said. 

If you’d like to contribute to Arts and Humanities to keep its legacy going past its 25th anniversary, visit its donation page through the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools at  https://www.foundationforlps.org/give/ah-parent-collective/give.html.

Posted on May 22, 2024

Meet LPS Focus Program Senior: Hannah, Early College and Career STEM

The mission of Lincoln Public Schools is to prepare ALL students for successful careers, lifelong learning and civic engagement.

High school graduation is a culmination of our scholars' and educators' hard work toward this significant milestone. 

The LPS Focus Programs core values of exploration, education, engagement and empowerment are beliefs rooted in the overall LPS mission and the school district’s commitment to high school graduation. 

Read how Early College and Career STEM senior Hannah used LPS Focus Programs to Launch at LPS in this Q&A. 

Name: Hannah

Grade: 12

Home High School: Northeast 

Focus Program: Early College and Career STEM at Northeast (FEWSS) 

Why did you choose the Early College and Career STEM Focus Program?

I've always wanted to participate in a Future Farmers of America (FFA) and agricultural program and this is the closest I could get.

How did the Early College and Career STEM Focus Program change your high school experience?

It opened my eyes to see that there are more career opportunities than farming and ranching in the world of agriculture.

What is the greatest lesson you learned from the Early College and Career STEM Focus Program? Why?

Food, Energy, Water and Societal Systems (FEWSS) are applicable to every aspect of our lives. During the FEWSS experience class, we explored the different ways food, energy, water and societal systems have affected our world in the past and how they can help us lessen the consequences of climate change in the future.

How did the Early College and Career STEM Focus Program help you reach your graduation goals?

This focus program has helped me to know what sectors of the agriculture industry sound most appealing to me and give me a general understanding of what careers in those fields are better suited to me.

What are your post-graduation plans?

I plan to get a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education at Concordia University in Nebraska.

How did the Early College and Career STEM Focus Program help prepare you for those post-graduation plans? 

Being a part of the Early College and Career (FEWSS) Program prepared me for post-graduation by providing me with opportunities through other clubs that I wouldn't have gotten to experience otherwise.

How did the Early College and Career STEM Focus Program help prepare you for the future?

The Early College and Career Program prepared me for the future through networking. Without this program, I wouldn't know half of the people that I do at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln or Extension Centers across the state. Through activities sponsored by the program, I met lots of people that regular high schoolers don't get to meet that often. One of them was U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

What would your advice be to younger students considering joining your focus program? Why?

Don’t be afraid to try new things. There are always lessons lying behind every experience.

What are you most thankful about this experience? Why?

The thing I'm most thankful for is Bailey Feit (program coordinator). She organized many opportunities for me to make sure I picked the college that was right for me, even if it wasn't UNL, and showed me aspects of agriculture that I hadn't thought possible.

Congratulations, Hannah! We wish you the best in your future endeavors. We are thankful our educators could help you Launch at LPS!

Choose your passion. Choose your community. Choose your future with LPS Focus Programs. 

Learn more about the Early College and Career STEM Focus Program at Northeast by visiting its website at  https://eccsp.lps.org/ or stop by our website home.lps.org/focus to get more information about all our focus programs.

Also, check out our graduation page at https://home.lps.org/graduation/ to get the details on celebrating your favorite high school grad.

Posted on May 22, 2024

Lincoln High senior defies expectations and inspires peers

Every time Zion walks into Lincoln High School’s weight room, he showcases the type of internal and external strength it takes to be a leader.
 
Zion has overcome multiple obstacles to become a role model of determination and perseverance. He lost his central vision in both eyes in fourth grade and experienced a lack of confidence when he entered high school. Now, the senior will play football at Peru State College this fall and is planning to pursue a career in physical therapy.

 
LHS Principal Mark Larson said Zion has written a positive story throughout his Lincoln Public Schools experience. He has used his encouraging personality to make a big difference in many lives.
 
“Zion is a great kid,” Larson said. “He has overcome his disability to not only be successful and get his diploma, but Zion has become involved in sports and clubs and has been an important part of our school community.”
 
Dan Beckmann teaches physical education and coaches football at Lincoln High. He first met Zion four years ago at an introductory weight room workout for incoming freshmen. He said Zion’s classmates look up to him because of his work ethic and attitude.
 
“His leadership down there is phenomenal and it really sets him apart,” Beckmann said. “When we have a lot of students down there, it’s easy to be a follower and do what other people are doing. He goes in and he sets the tone in regards to what he knows needs to get done, and he’ll get other people to follow him. It’s really neat to see there.”

 
Zion said his father taught him about the importance of setting a good example for others.
 
“I always like helping people, and that’s why I tried to step into being a leader,” Zion said. “I really like it. I didn’t like being a follower.”
 
Ko Inamura, a teacher of the visually impaired at LPS, has worked with Zion for seven years. Zion discovered in elementary school that he had a rare genetic eye condition called Stargardt disease. The disease causes fatty material to build up on the macula – the small part of the retina needed for sharp, central vision – and results in central vision loss. There is no treatment currently available.

 
Inamura said it has been inspiring to watch Zion soar into a successful spotlight in athletics. He earned All-City honors this past fall for his work on the football field, and he was a mainstay for the Links at track and field meets this spring. He ran on a medal-winning 1,600-meter relay team and competed in both the 200 and 400 meters.
 
“I was impressed with his tenacity and perseverance in sports and his belief in himself for making tangible results out of his effort in sports,” Inamura said. “Stargardt disease is not a minor eye disease. With that kind of eye condition, he must have received countless discouragement – for pursuing a serious dream in sports – implicitly and explicitly from many others. He must have had a lot of internal struggle about it as well.
 
“But Zion has never become negative or remorseful about his eye condition. He just kept training for the sports he is in – football and track and field. And Zion did leave good results in both.”

 
Zion has accomplished the same feats in the classroom. Patients with central vision loss have difficulty reading small letters on a computer screen or in a book. Inamura spent many hours helping Zion learn different technologies that would allow him to access information. He continued to work hard and was able to improve his grades year after year.
 
“In his freshman year, Zion required lots of adults’ help – mine and other teachers at LHS – to be successful in his classes,” Inamura said. “By his senior year however, it appeared to me that Zion had found the way to deal with his unique hardship in learning. Now Zion does his academic work independently without much help from adults. This is another aspect of Zion I am very proud of.”

 
Ask Zion what he feels he has overcome in high school, and the topic of Stargardt disease doesn’t come up. Instead, he says he is most proud of developing emotional strength.
 
“I’d say building more confidence and overcoming the fear of messing up and failing,” Zion said. “I used to be, when the team would lose or I would lose a race, I’d get upset. I remember sophomore year every game that we lost, I cried. I was a sore loser. I’ve started to get away from that. That’s the biggest thing, I would say.”

 
Beckmann said that confidence is one reason why Zion will continue to showcase strength throughout his life. He said future patients in Zion’s physical therapy office would benefit from the leadership skills he acquired at Lincoln High.
 
“If students take a weight training class and want to be physically fit for the rest of their lives, that’s awesome, and then to go ahead and have someone want to pursue a career in it, that’s next-level stuff,” Beckmann said. “Having him talk to me about this path that he wants to do, and have him say that he likes being in the weight room working with students, that’s amazing.

“To see someone like Zion have that kind of passion for helping others, and for it to be physical therapy, it’s a neat feeling.”

Congratulations, Zion!
We wish you the best in your future endeavors.
We are thankful our educators could help you Launch at LPS!
 

Looking for LPS graduation information? Check out our graduation page at https://home.lps.org/graduation/ to get the details on celebrating your favorite high school grad.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on May 17, 2024