Student News Desk: Alexis makes mark at North Star with yearbook leadership talents < Updated

North Star High School senior Alexis is building up her leadership ligaments this year as one of the school’s journalism success stories.
 
The future physical therapist is currently strengthening the social muscles of North Star’s campus as the yearbook’s editor-in-chief. She has been involved with “The Polaris” for three years and is a well-respected member of the Gator family. She is involved in multiple North Star activities, works at a local YMCA and is a fixture on academic honor rolls.
 
Alexis said she has enjoyed her time as editor-in-chief. She said it has been rewarding to share uplifting moments with fellow staff members and students throughout the school year.
 
“I really like the leadership, and I like being able to help other people out,” Alexis said. “I think back to when I was a sophomore and I really leaned on upperclassmen to help me out, so to be that person now makes me happy.”

 
North Star teacher Shelby Cowan said Alexis is a joy to work with in her yearbook class. Cowan is the English department chair and advises the school’s Gator Galaxy mass media program. She said Alexis makes everyone around her better with her cheerful demeanor, intelligent actions and standout work ethic.
 
“I have had the extreme honor to watch her grow so much over the last three years,” Cowan said. “She seeks to include everyone, which is so special. She has this personality that people gravitate towards. What has remained constant over the years is her passion and pursuit of excellence in everything she does.”
 
North Star Principal Megan Kroll said she has also been impressed with those accomplishments. She said Alexis’ selfless approach to all of her activities has been noticed by hundreds of students, teachers and staff members.
 
“Lexi is a servant leader,” Kroll said. “I believe she would be a great example of the amazing LNS students I get to work with each day.”
 
Alexis’ first chance to bolster her journalism credentials came when she joined the yearbook staff at Schoo Middle School. She took a photography class her first year at North Star, which increased her interest in applying for a yearbook position. She learned about photo composition, how to process pictures and how to capture various subjects on film from the course.
 
Alexis gained more knowledge of the mass media throughout her sophomore year. She interviewed fellow Navigators for stories, became familiar with layout design programs and met deadlines for her assigned spreads as a staff member. She served as junior editor-in-chief the following year before rising to the head spot this fall.

 
Alexis said it is satisfying to help others feel valued and appreciated by including them in the yearbook. The past two editions – “The Journey” and “It’s a Great Year to be a Gator” – were filled with spreads on topics ranging from senior spotlights to social highlights. The 2025-26 product will include portrait galleries, school pictures and approximately 100 spreads.
 
“To put so many hours into it and to finally see the finished product feels really good,” Alexis said. “It’s definitely rewarding to see people’s reactions when they see their face on the cover or they’re getting interviewed in a spread. They’re like, ‘This is so cool,’ and that makes it fun.”
 
Alexis has built bridges across Lincoln with her well-rounded resume. She has participated in volleyball, track and field and unified bowling for four years, is vice president of the school’s National Honor Society chapter and is a member of the Lincoln Public Schools Equity Cadre. She also volunteers at Bryan Medical Center one day a week and coaches youth volleyball at a local YMCA.

 
Alexis said those connections have opened many doors for yearbook teammates when they are trying to secure sources for stories.
 
“It’s super helpful,” Alexis said. “When we have spreads and people don’t know who to interview, you can say, 'Well, I have this person on Snapchat,’ or something like that. I can give them a name and then they can go interview them. When people know you, they’re more willing to help you out with the yearbook, so being involved in a lot of activities is really good.”
 
Alexis said she is grateful for having a dedicated team of writers, photographers and editors on the yearbook staff. She said those friendships have made completing yearbook assignments easier.
 
“We’re all kind of a close-knit community,” Alexis said. “If you’re right at the deadline, everyone’s willing to help you, and you’re willing to do the same for them. It’s really nice.”

 
Alexis said being editor-in-chief has also prepared her well for life beyond North Star.
 
“I really do think this class has made me a better leader, and it’s been very helpful for teaching me how to work with people,” Alexis said. “Even if I decide not to use journalism in my future career, the things I’ve learned from this class will always be worthwhile.”
 
Cowan said Alexis has the academic, social and creative talents to make a strong impact in all of her future endeavors.
 
“Lexi is such a phenomenal leader,” Cowan said. “She is so committed to doing the best she can at everything she is involved in. To have this sort of focus and unwavering commitment is impressive and something I greatly admire. There is absolutely no limit to her future success.”
 
Interested in learning more about North Star’s mass media program? View more stories from the school’s newspaper and yearbook staff members.
 
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Posted on January 28, 2026

CNA class boosts health care prospects for Northwest students < Updated

Lincoln Public Schools students like Naomi are setting themselves up for future success by learning many lifesaving lessons at Northwest High School.
 
Naomi and her classmates are showcasing their hearts for health care at the Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program. They became certified nursing assistants (CNA) this past semester by completing a CNA course filled with essential information. They also received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certifications after completing a training session led by Bryan Medical Center (BMC) staff.
 
Naomi, a junior at Northwest, said the focus program has increased her career options. She said the CPR training had given her additional confidence in her choice to become a medical professional.
 
“I’m hoping to go to medical school, and I think having that certification, along with other certifications, is really important, especially when I’m trying to get a job to get patient care hours, which is required in medical school,” Naomi said. “If you don’t know how to do CPR and you’re the only person available, that could cost the person’s life.”

 
Katie Cutshall, Traci Mellor, Mindi Jo Porto and Becky Loewe encouraged the Falcons as they learned Basic Life Support (BLS) techniques like chest compressions and checking for pulses. All four BMC employees have more than a decade of experience in the field. Mellor, an 18-year veteran who is a registered nurse and clinical training specialist at BMC, said she enjoyed the enthusiastic responses students gave during the training.
 
“They can save a life with these skills,” Mellor said. “I think that when they realize that, it’s really exciting for them, and that’s what we need. We need them out there in the community saving lives.”
 
Northwest seniors Skylar, Ali and Patrice are using their focus program knowledge to accomplish exactly that. All three Falcons earned their CNA certifications last year and are now gaining valuable job skills in Lincoln. Skylar, who is planning to attend nursing school after she graduates, is working as a CNA at a local health care facility.
 
“The Bryan Focus Program has been the biggest help to me and my future,” Skylar said. “It has allowed me to get a head start in health care and build up so much experience.”
 
Ali is also relying on the focus program to prepare herself for a medical career. She said it has helped her build confidence in clinical skills like communicating with patients and taking their vital signs. She felt she also developed responsibility, professionalism, compassion and integrity during her time at Northwest.
 
“Currently working as a CNA, the clinical experience was especially meaningful to me,” Ali said. “Everything I learned in the program has been more than enough to ready me for my position. Seeing patients laugh and smile and hearing them say thank you made all the hard work feel worth it. There is a wonderful human side in health care, and it reminds me of why I chose this path in the first place.”

 
Patrice would like to become an orthopedic doctor in the future. She said the focus program’s immersive approach to medical education made it easier to select her career pathway. In the CNA class, for example, students learn how to assist patients with practical needs such as cleaning teeth and making beds correctly.
 
“It showed me what a professional health care setting should look like and allowed me to dip my toes in the water to see if health care was the right choice for me,” Patrice said.
 
Juniors spend their first year in the focus program taking classes such as Introduction to Health Professions, Ethics in Health Care, Certified Nursing Assistant and Medical Terminology. Ali said the CNA course was especially fruitful because of the many activities throughout the semester.
 
“What I enjoyed the most about taking the CNA class was how interactive the learning experience was,” Ali said. “Instead of only reading from a textbook, we were able to practice skills like transferring a patient and assisting with overall daily activities. Every passing week I felt myself becoming confident and capable.”
 
The CPR training session provided a snapshot of those career benefits. Mellor, Cutshall, Porto and Loewe taught students about many lifesaving techniques in one of the focus program’s classrooms. They discovered how to assess the scene for safety, activate an emergency response system, begin chest compressions, deliver ventilation to patients and run an automated external defibrillator (AED) device.
 
“It really mimics what it’s like in real life,” Mellor said. “They should be able to apply these skills to any situation that they come across somebody that is unresponsive.”

 
Naomi said it was fun to learn from the Bryan Medical Center professionals. She and one of her classmates gave a happy high-five after successfully operating the AED on a practice mannequin.
 
“It was good to see in a real-life situation how you would have to go about it,” Naomi said. “I really liked that.”
 
Skylar said she would encourage any LPS students exploring medical careers to consider enrolling in the focus program.
 
“The CNA class helped me to not only get my CNA license, but also just learn so much about health care,” Skylar said. “It was a great way to learn how to take care of patients and even practice it. All I want to do in life is help others, and this program is allowing me to do exactly that!”
 
Customize your high school experience. Turn your passion for medicine into a head start with the Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program. Explore this focus program today.
 
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Posted on January 28, 2026

LPS students embrace moving messages at MLK Youth Rally, Belmont visit

Lincoln Public Schools students embraced the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this week by encouraging everyone with their presence in the community.
 
Students, families and others from in and out of the area gathered at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Student Union for the 31st annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Rally. They participated in a choir, read poems, delivered speeches and showcased how their voices make a difference.

 
Belmont Elementary School fifth grader ZyOnnah said she enjoyed taking part in the rally, which was completely led by community youth. She said it gave her firsthand knowledge of why treating others with respect and love is so important.
 
“I’ve learned that there’s more to people’s lives than what they look like, because you never want to judge a book by its cover,” ZyOnnah said. “You can see somebody this way, but until you know who they are and how they feel, you never really know. You need to spread kindness all of the time and try not to spread negative vibes. You want to try to spread good vibes.”
 
The large audience listened to a special guest message from Jamersyn Hughes, who focused on this year’s theme of “The Audacity to Walk Together in Love.” Hughes, a senior at Statesboro (Ga.) High School, serves as junior mayor of the city and was on the MLK Youth Rally Planning Committee. He said it was inspiring to feel the excitement and energy from everyone in the room.
 
“I’ve never seen that many youth under one building who are all coming for the same mission, same goals and same purpose,” Hughes said. “It was awesome to see that.”

 
LaSara Mitchell said she was equally moved by the welcoming moments at the rally. Mitchell is program coordinator for the Statesboro Village Builders, which provides community resources throughout the town. The organization sponsors the Statesboro Youth Council, which offers leadership opportunities to students like Hughes.
 
“I don’t think it does it justice until you sit in that room and hear the heart of those students,” Mitchell said. “I was fighting tears. It was just phenomenal to hear their hearts and realize that our youth are not as distracted as we think. They’re not all with their heads down in their phones. They’re paying attention. They are concerned with the challenges that our communities are facing, and they’re also very proud of who they are and how they develop and where they come from.”
 
Mitchell learned about the rally a year ago after meeting Peter Ferguson, who serves as LPS multicultural coordinator and scholar development/assistant supervisor of recruiting. Ferguson has also been the lead adult advisor for the MLK Youth Rally for the past 29 years.
 
Mitchell told him about Hughes’ ability to connect with other people as junior mayor, and Ferguson was intrigued by the possibility of adding him to this year’s lineup. Hughes and Mitchell both jumped at the chance when Ferguson extended an invitation to come to Nebraska.
 
Belmont fifth graders like ZyOnnah had a special chance to listen to Hughes at their school the day after the rally. He spoke to them about the importance of audacity, shared details about his junior mayor role and encouraged them with a pair of songs. He said it was meaningful to serve as a visiting mentor to the Cougars.
 
“As we continue to grow and are equipped with tools as we go through life, we need to give back to the youth who are behind us, the next generation, so that the legacy can continue to go on,” Hughes said. “They’ll learn their purpose and use their voice too.”

 
Fifth graders Zaynab, Nazeer and Asher took those words to heart after Hughes’ presentation in the school library. They guided him on a detailed 45-minute tour of the building that gave everyone a chance to strike up a friendship. The quartet visited with food service professionals in the kitchen, watched a group activity in Morgan Dennhardt’s music class and looked at student pictures and artwork displayed in the hallways.
 
Hughes praised Zaynab, Nazeer and Asher several times for their knowledge of Belmont’s building. He said their ability to engage the community on a personal level was just as important as large-group events like the rally.
 
“This is awesome,” Hughes said. “You have an amazing school here.”

 
ZyOnnah said the rally and school visit provided powerful lessons about ways she can help her Belmont classmates every day.
 
“I want to lift others up,” ZyOnnah said. “When I see somebody and if they’re not in a good mood, I’ll ask them if they’re okay and if they need space. I want to listen to them and be a good friend to them.”
 
Mitchell said hearing those ways of walking in love were why she and Hughes would return to Georgia with warm memories of Lincoln.
 
“It’s such an amazing thing that’s happening in Lincoln,” Mitchell said. “We have thoroughly enjoyed our visit here.”
 
To see highlights from the 2026 MLK Youth Rally, you can view our slideshow or watch the LNKTV recording of the livestream below.

2026 MLK Youth Rally Recording

 
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Posted on January 21, 2026

Jason Shanahan will be the next principal at Goodrich Middle School

Lincoln Public Schools announced on Friday that Jason Shanahan will be the next principal at Goodrich Middle School.

Shanahan currently serves as principal at Mickle Middle School, a role he has held since 2021. Prior to being at Mickle, he was the principal at Irving from 2016-2021, and an associate principal there for two years before that. Shanahan began teaching at Lincoln Public Schools in 2009 at Schoo Middle School before becoming an instructional coordinator in 2012. He has been in education for 28 years teaching in Kansas, Kearney, Bellevue and Lincoln. 

Shanahan earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education degree from Fort Hays State University, and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Doane University.

Shanahan will begin his new duties at Goodrich on July 1, 2026.

Posted on January 16, 2026

LPS students achieve linguistic legacies with Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy Award

Lincoln Public Schools students secured verbal victories this winter for learning how to translate words into several world languages.
 
The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) and Nebraska Languages Association (NEBLA) announced that scholars from Lincoln High, East, Southeast and Southwest earned the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy Award. They were among nearly 200 young Nebraska linguists recognized for displaying a high proficiency in English and at least one other world language. The list includes students whose families have provided permission for the NDE to release their names and LPS to release their names and photos.
 
Southeast High School senior Isabelle Watkins was pleased to add the prestigious award to her resume. She earned the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy for her eloquence in French.
 
“It’s exciting to be able to communicate with others in their native language and learn about their traditions, values and perspectives,” Watkins said. “Studying a world language has challenged me to think differently and develop problem solving skills. Overall, it has given me greater confidence and a deeper appreciation for diversity, which I believe will help me personally and professionally in the future.”
 
Lincoln High senior Emele’ Ratumaimuri and East High School senior Raticha Wongummarukchok said they have already reaped benefits from their Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy knowledge in Spanish. Both have formed new friendships at school and felt they have become more effective communicators.
 
“My world language class helped me connect to others who spoke the same language I was learning,” Ratumaimuri said. “It was really cool to be out in public and understand what they were saying.”
 
“I have enjoyed gaining a greater understanding of Spanish culture and traditions in addition to learning the Spanish language,” Wongummarukchok said. “My advice for students is to take advantage of learning a world language in high school, or school in general, because learning a language is easier if you learn it at a younger age.”
 
Southeast High School teacher Kristen Tangen said she was proud of LPS students who put in the time and effort to receive the award. Tangen, a French instructor and the school’s world language department chair, said they met the Nebraska World Language Standards of communication, culture, connections, communities and cognition.
 
“Learning a language is about growth and taking small risks, more than about being perfect,” Tangen said. “To be able to cap off their high school language experience by earning this recognition shows that they have grown, taken risks and persisted through a fourth or fifth year of classes at a high level. I am pleased that LPS is expanding the opportunities for students to obtain this recognition and is celebrating these accomplishments.”
 
Students can apply for Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy recognition through their individual high schools. They must present evidence of proficiency in a second language through transcripts and test results. They can choose from multiple national exams that cover a variety of languages. Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy Advisory Board members review each application to accurately assess the proficiency levels of each student.
 
Watkins said she believes her world language skills will open up more opportunities both at school and in the workplace. She plans to study abroad for a semester in college, which will provide her with firsthand knowledge of French society.
 
“Knowing the language will help me fully experience the culture, connect with people and gain the most out of that experience,” Watkins said. “In the long run, being bilingual will make me more competitive in the job market and allow me to work with people with different backgrounds. It is an important skill that will help me build relationships around the globe.”
 
Tangen said being bilingual is also beneficial from many personal standpoints.
 
“Studies show that when you acquire another language, you learn more about your first language, you develop reading and communication skills, you increase cognitive abilities and memory skills, and more,” Tangen said. “I also believe that you understand more about your own identity and culture as you practice expressing yourself in your non-native language and study other cultures.”
 
Nearly 90 universities across the nation have endorsed Seal of Biliteracy programs for high school students. The endorsements allow recipients to earn college credits for their multilingual talents. Many businesses and non-profit organizations in Nebraska and other states have also promoted Seal of Biliteracy efforts.
 
Tangen said the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy program falls in the same uplifting category as other school activities. She said it is exciting for students to display their multilingual talents to the world.
 
“I think about when students are learning an instrument or playing a sport; nobody expects them to be at a professional level (fluent) when they leave high school,” Tangen said. “We celebrate when music students earn a high rating at a music competition, or when athletes achieve a new personal best. We can now celebrate when students can show a high level of proficiency in two or more languages through this process.”

Fall 2025 Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy Recipients

Lincoln High: Abby Kruse (French), Azalia Heider (Spanish), Eli Moody (Spanish), Emele’ Ratumaimuri (Spanish), Frank Bomberger (Spanish), Julian Brown (Spanish), Maddy Amundsen (Spanish), Marione Forlemu (French), Omran Smoqy (Spanish), Philipp Georg Antony Groeger (German), Sebastian Aracena (Spanish)
 
East High School: Amelia Schupbach (Spanish), Erica Nesja (Spanish), Lily McEntarffer (Spanish), Ralph Wichman (Spanish), Raticha Wongummarukchok (Spanish)
 
Southeast High School: Clio Baird (Spanish), Elizabeth Sidders (Spanish), Isabelle Watkins (French), Sophi Lee (Spanish)
 
Southwest High School: Sherlin Fonseca Ramos (Spanish)
 
Want to learn more about world languages at LPS? Visit our World Language department to discover information about courses, proficiency levels and grading guidance.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Amelia Schupbach - East High School

Erica Nesja - East High School

Lily McEntarffer - East High School

Ralph Wichman - East High School

Raticha Wongummarukchok - East High School

Abby Kruse - Lincoln High

Azalia Heider - Lincoln High

Eli Moody - Lincoln High

Emele' Ratumaimuri - Lincoln High

Frank Bomberger - Lincoln High

Julian Brown - Lincoln High

Maddy Amundsen - Lincoln High

Marione Forlemu - Lincoln High

Omran Smoqy - Lincoln High

Philipp Georg Antony Groeger - Lincoln High

Sebastian Aracena - Lincoln High

Clio Baird - Southeast High School

Elizabeth Sidders - Southeast High School

Isabelle Watkins - Southeast High School

Sophi Lee - Southeast High School

Sherlin Fonseca Ramos - Southwest High School

Posted on January 16, 2026

Bay High students showcase creativity with passion projects

Cars, chords and creative writing were some of the ways that Bay High Focus Program students expressed their passions at a special showcase.
 
Hundreds of people filled Bay High’s campus this winter to view a series of passion projects. The semester-long assignments gave seniors a chance to pursue interests ranging from music concerts to car photography. They also gained lifelong benefits such as time management, organizational skills and community engagement knowledge.

 
Graham spent his semester snapping pictures of eye-catching vehicles at local car shows. He selected nine autos to highlight for his final project, which featured printed photographs and an assortment of related graphics. He said it was fun to learn why cars, trucks, buses and semis meant so much to their owners.
 
“I was most looking forward to sharing all of the pictures that I took, because these are special cars to the people who own them, and they want to share them with other people,” Graham said. “It was special to me to be able to share their cars with other people, too.”
 
Brayden was equally enthusiastic about his project, which focused on hardcore music in Omaha. He completed a 28-page magazine that included interviews with local bands, historical tidbits and photos from recent concerts. He added his finished product to a display table that also had music-themed tapes, apparel and art on it.
 
“I’m a musician and it’s something I love, so when we heard that for our senior project for our showcase we were going to use our passion project, I decided to do something about the hardcore music scene up there,” Brayden said. “I figured I should do something about the thing I’m most passionate about for my passion project.”

 
Bay High teacher Brent Jarosz said he was happy with the way students like Graham and Brayden tackled their projects. Jarosz said one of the main goals was to teach them about the importance of professional relationships. Students were paired with community mentors who provided ideas and guidance.
 
“It worked really well to have the community partners with them,” Jarosz said. “I think they learned a lot about the value of networking from it.”
 
That was the case with Brayden, who interviewed multiple musicians for the first edition of his magazine. He said their insights inspired him as the project went from concept to creation. He also realized that the words “Will you?” could be the starting point of many valuable life connections.
 
“It was really cool, because as a musician, when you’re growing up and you first get the desire to get into the music world, it feels really unattainable. It feels almost impossible,” Brayden said. “But when you ask people, ‘Hey, can I interview you for this magazine?’ or ‘I’d like to do a spread on you guys and I’d like to send over some questions,’ you get surprised at how willing people are to work with you. It’s one of those things where you just have to put yourself out there.”
 
Graham’s mentor also played a key role in his project. The mentor alerted him to a website that listed various fall car shows, and he turned that knowledge into many new friendships. Car owners immediately accepted him when they saw him with his camera, which helped him accelerate the assignment into a winning lane.
 
“It was so cool,” Graham said. “Everybody was so nice. They were talking about other cars that they’ve had in the past, and the amount of work that they’ve put into their current ones. They were all super happy for me to take pictures of their cars.”

 
Alaina experienced the same reactions when she traveled to car shows in Lincoln, Crete and Sprague. She created a portfolio website filled with pictures of cars that fit into a red, orange, yellow and blue color scheme. She narrowed her original 300 photos down to 90 for the website’s final cut.
 
Alaina said she learned many details about the vehicles while talking with owners. Those facts helped her decide how to position her camera by the cars and what the editing process should look like. The result was a product she was proud of.
 
“I had never edited pictures like I did for this project before,” Alaina said. “I was completely new to editing, and that’s probably why it took me a long time, but it was really cool to see the very last picture I edited versus the very first one. It was a drastic difference. It really was a good feeling.”

 
Brayden said Bay High’s wide-ranging curriculum made it possible to complete his project. The interviewing, designing and photography talents he acquired in classrooms as a junior paid off in shining ways as a senior.
 
“Bay High does a really good job of teaching you those all-around skills that you have to have,” Brayden said. “This is how you do public speaking, this is how you market something, all of those skills needed to create a magazine. It’s really good.”
 
Graham said the projects were an example of how Lincoln Public Schools is helping students explore their current and future passions through focus programs.
 
“I’d definitely like to do more of these projects in the future,” Graham said. “I’m definitely going to continue going to car shows and taking pictures just like these ones. It was honestly a lot of fun to do this for my project.”
 
Inspired by these Bay High Focus Program seniors? Choose your journey with LPS Focus Programs.
 
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Posted on January 16, 2026

Celebrating a Career: Salmen Reaches 50 Years in Nutrition Services

Leann Salmen walked into the doors of Kahoa Elementary School on December 1, 1975. Fifty years later, she’s still doing what she loves, caring for students and supporting her team as a substitute worker in nutrition services.

What brought Salmen to LPS initially was the opportunity to work part time while her three children were in school and time at home when they weren't. What made her stay was the work itself.

“Oh I love the job,” Salmen said. “I just love the people and the kids, getting the food ready and dishing everything.”

Over the years, she has worked in several kitchens, including Kahoa, Clinton, Norwood Park, Riley, Mickle and Brownell, where she was a kitchen manager. Today as a substitute, her favorite thing to do is dish alley, cleaning dishes.

She said she has seen many changes during her time, including more side and meal options and breakfast service in all schools. 

“People gravitate to Leann because of her warm and positive demeanor,” Norwood Park Principal Monique Ruiz said. “She always has a smile on her face and people can tell that she loves what she does. She makes all the hard work she does look easy, even though her job as a substitute is demanding.”

LPS Nutrition Services Director Andrew Ashelford said Salmen’s 50 years with LPS reflect a district that prioritizes students while supporting staff growth and fostering strong relationships. He pointed to her path from substitute worker to kitchen manager as an example of the department's mission-driven culture. 

“I like to think of our department as one big family!” Ashelford said. “I see it in each school building and cafeteria. The staff are preparing food but are also having a good time.”

Ashelford said the role of a long term substitute is invaluable because they help fill a need that exists within the schools they serve. Being a substitute and going into a new environment is not easy work, and it takes a special person to do the job successfully. 

“We appreciate Leann and all the wonderful substitutes we have in LPS because they really do fill a need and play an important role in creating a consistent, loving, safe school environment for our young scholars,” Ashelford said.

While Salmen is a substitute, she is proud to say she’s consistently booked up working 150-175 days of the school year. 

“I just try to do a good job and keep working at it,” she said. 

Interested in learning more about working in Nutrition Services at LPS? Visit LPS Nutrition Services careers for current opportunities.

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Posted on January 14, 2026

LPS students celebrate launch of new CDA program at TCA

Lincoln Public Schools students are leaping into their future careers through a series of new early childhood classes at The Career Academy.
 
Students, teachers and community partners gathered at TCA this fall to celebrate the launch of the child development associate (CDA) program. The adjusted pathway allows LPS students to participate in the early childhood initiative. They will also receive opportunities to take part in internships through the Lincoln Littles organization.
 
Autumn said she has enjoyed learning about the early childhood profession through the CDA courses. She said TCA Director Josh Jones was instrumental in alerting her about the opportunity. She is interested in working at an early childhood facility like a daycare after she graduates from Lincoln High.
 
“I’m so thankful that Josh actually came and talked to me about it and got me in the program, because I really love it,” Autumn said.

Jones said it is exciting to watch community relationships thrive through programs like the CDA initiative. In addition to Lincoln Littles, professionals from many local daycares have lent their support to students. They hosted field trips during the first semester and encouraged them at the celebratory event.
 
“Our students benefit every time they visit with a community partner either here on campus or on a field trip,” Jones said. “They get a lot out of the experiences that they have. At the same time, our community partners benefit because they get to see how amazing our students are and learn about the types of skills that they will bring to the workforce. It creates a symbiotic relationship that is good for everyone.”

 
TCA teachers Makayla Watson and Jame Cartwright teamed up to help the CDA program’s first members earn micro-credentials during the fall semester. They taught foundational principles of early childhood education to students from five LPS high schools and programs.
 
“Our goal is that they get the same experience as what other children would get in the same or in a similar pathway,” Watson said. “It’s really just making sure that they’re able to see that this is successful and we can help you outside of school. This is what’s kind of leading them into making that a successful jump for them once they graduate.”
 
Lincoln Littles Associate Director Suzanne Schneider said she was encouraged by what she saw during the evening. She said the event provided a place for students, families and childcare businesses to make career-building links with each other.
 
“This event was a wonderful way to not only celebrate the launch of the CDA at TCA, but to also celebrate the successes of the students participating in this event,” Schneider said. “The support from the families of the students was so impressive. Including the childcare programs that are partnering for practicum experiences was a great way to help the students and staff from those childcare programs connect and begin to build relationships.”
 
The idea for the CDA program at TCA began in February 2025. Preparations continued in earnest throughout the summer and led to the first classes in August. Watson and Cartwright prepared multiple lessons about healthy and safe learning environments in early childhood settings. They also arranged for students to attend educational field trips to Lincoln-based daycare facilities.
 
Watson said she and Cartwright have enjoyed watching the first CDA students learn how local daycare facilities operate. After one of their field trips, they overheard class members talking about getting a job at that business once they graduated from high school. Watson said those types of confidence-displaying moments have been meaningful to witness.

 
“It’s been fun watching them grow and blossom,” Watson said. “They actually are starting to really build connections with different daycares.”
 
Schneider said she heard similar positive comments from many childcare representatives who were at the celebration. The daycare leaders remembered students from their visits and complimented them about their knowledge and professionalism. The facilities will work with the class during more immersive practicums throughout the spring semester.
 
“The childcare program staff were so impressed by the students and what the students have been learning,” Schneider said. “That knowledge will be valuable as they step into classrooms with children. I left the event feeling inspired and energized.”
 
Autumn said the CDA program has made a major impact on her life. She has enjoyed talking with her classmates and getting an early glimpse of her future career. She is thankful that TCA teachers and administrators created the pathway.
 
“It has helped me make better friends and helped me be confident in my work,” Autumn said.
 
Autumn said she is proud of her choice to enter the early childhood profession. She is eager to play a firsthand role in the critical years of social, emotional and behavioral development in children.
 
“We need more people to shape the young minds of our future,” Autumn said.
 
Watson said the bright reactions she has seen this semester have made her even more enthusiastic about expanding the program in future years. She felt the initiative would help many CDA graduates make successful leaps into childcare areas.
 
“I’m really proud of the kids,” Watson said. “I’m really proud of the progress that we’ve made, and I think it’s really benefiting the community.”
 
See how community collaboration empowers LPS students to find their futures. The Career Academy is an example of this type of partnership with several career pathways. Explore The Career Academy.
 
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Posted on January 14, 2026

LPS Library Services project brings historical yearbooks to digital world

People living in Auckland, Amsterdam or Ainsworth can now access thousands of Lincoln Public Schools yearbook pages thanks to the efforts of LPS Library Services.
 
Chris Haeffner and Sara Scott are leading a project that is opening a world of archived LPS information to the general public. Haeffner, the LPS director of library services, and Scott, the LPS cataloger and archivist, have created digitized copies of yearbooks from six high schools and 13 middle schools. Their perseverance is allowing alumni, family members and current students to scroll through historical gems from the comfort of their favorite couches.
 
Scott and Haeffner began the yearbook project in 2023 and have unveiled their work under the yearbooks tab on the LPS Library Services website. They and high school technicians Logan and Mikah have used an Indus BookScanner 9000 machine to upload nearly every pre-2020 publication to the website. Some of the earliest copies include the 1917 Lincoln High, 1926 Whittier Junior High and 1928 Irving Junior High issues.
 
“We’ve found that people are incredibly interested in finding information not only about themselves, but about their grandparents and family members and anything related to genealogy,” Haeffner said. “We’ve had a ton of alumni who are very, very excited about and interested in what we’re putting out publicly for them.”
 
“It’s a really good feeling,” Scott said. “We want people to be able to see their history, and it’s so cool to know that it goes even beyond the city limits. There’s a far reach for this that I don’t think we could have necessarily predicted.”

 
Alexis Scargill represents Nebraska on the Midwest Archives Conference, which is a group that supports archivists, curators and information professionals from 13 states. She said the LPS digitization project is important in numerous ways.
 
“Digitization dramatically expands access while reducing physical handling of original materials,” Scargill said. “Yearbooks are heavily circulated items, and digitizing them helps preserve the originals while allowing for circulation online. This opens the yearbook up to students, alumni, families and researchers, regardless of their location.”
 
The yearbook project is the first part of a massive digital archiving endeavor that will eventually catalog every historical item at LPS. Scargill said Scott and Haeffner are doing a good job of putting the acronym LOCKSS – Lots of Copies Keeps Stuff Safe – into action. She said having multiple ways to access one-of-a-kind sources like yearbooks, documents and pamphlets is crucial in case of disasters or deterioration.
 
LPS experienced this situation in 2011 when the district administration building burned to the ground. Many materials survived the blaze, but the memory of the fire lives on in a special archives room in the current Steve Joel District Leadership Center. Scott and Haeffner can still smell smoke on some items that are now housed in file cabinets.
 
“Knowing that we’ve had a fire in the past made this even more important, because we didn’t have an inventory of items to know what was missing then,” Scott said. “We didn’t have an online catalog to be able to refer back to and know that this book was once 146 pages and we lost 50 in the fire. There wasn’t anything to refer back to, so we wanted to do this right, because we need to protect ourselves and those items. We need to know what we have.”

 
Scargill said Scott’s expertise allows LPS to retrieve and understand information in a thoughtful way. For example, all of the yearbook scans include optical character recognition (OCR) information. The OCR metadata makes it possible for people to search each yearbook for specific names, events or activities they might be interested in.
 
“Files must be managed, formats monitored and systems migrated and maintained over time,” Scargill said. “Having an archivist leading the way ensures that none of these digitization efforts are wasted and the materials are accessible well into the future.”
 
Haeffner said the yearbook project has strengthened the connection between LPS Library Services and the community. She said that could allow more historical items to come to light.
 
“Where we do have a missing book or two, someone might be looking online and say, ‘Hey, mine’s not there, but I have a copy,’” Haeffner said. “We’re hopeful some of the missing yearbooks might show up in that way.”
 
Scott and Haeffner cannot digitize a yearbook until every student pictured in it has graduated from high school. This creates a lag time of five years for high school, eight years for middle school and 12 years for elementary school books to appear on the website.
 
Scott is preparing to begin scanning available elementary yearbooks in the near future. She is also starting to digitize 3-D items such as athletic and fine arts trophies. LPS Multimedia Content and Broadcast Technicians David Koehn and Brian Seifferlein created a platform to capture images of these artifacts. Those will be housed on the Library Services website once that long-term project is completed.
 
Scott said it has been meaningful to digitize yearbooks for the public. She said it is fun to know that everyone living from A Street to Australia can answer questions because of the LPS archival work.
 
“You want to correctly document these items,” Scott said. “There are people who really care about these things. If we’re going to keep our history alive, we have to know these things and write these things down, because otherwise it’s gone.”
 
LPS Library Services provides many educational resources for students, families and the community. View home.lps.org/libraries to look at library lessons, eBook backpacks, educational videos and other helpful items.
 
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Posted on January 13, 2026

Mickle PTSO writes positive stories with new book club

Mickle Middle School parents are writing an encouraging chapter in the school’s history thanks to a new book club that is growing in popularity.
 
Mickle Parent-Teacher-Student Organization (PTSO) members have seen their group triple in size since introducing the book club in September 2024. Approximately 30 families are now attending PTSO meetings and the ensuing book club conversations. The family engagement strategy has helped parents become more invested in school activities, which has benefited the entire Mickle community.
 
Mickle PTSO President Jen Hubbard said the book club has made a meaningful difference with participation numbers at the monthly meetings.
 
“This year, our group has probably tripled, and I believe that having the book club has drawn some of the parents in, because they want to get more involved and learn about behaviors and things that can help parents,” Hubbard said. “We’ve had a variety of parents from every grade, sixth through eighth, which has been really encouraging.”
 
PTSO members Mary Pfoltner and Katie Reisdorff sat together at a table several minutes before the beginning of a recent meeting. They felt the book club served as a catalyst for more conversations and camaraderie among Mickle parents.
 
“I like it,” Pfoltner said. “This is our second year doing it, and all of the parents have seemed to really get into it, so I think it’s a good thing. It brings out a lot of good communication with everybody.”
 
“I love hearing from families, teachers and community members at the meetings,” Reisdorff said. “Everyone has different perspectives and they all bring strengths to the table.”

 
Mickle Principal Jason Shanahan introduced the book club idea to fellow members last fall after reading “Middle School Matters: The 10 Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond” by Phyllis Fagell. The book offers practical strategies for parents to support middle school students and staff. Shanahan felt offering a place for parents to talk about the topic together would open a door for more PTSO involvement.
 
“I wanted to find a way to engage our school community in a meaningful way with the school staff,” Shanahan said. “I had read a book that I thought middle school parents would benefit from and find interesting. We have an active PTSO, but they are a fairly small group. In an effort to expand the group, we invited parents to come to the PTSO meeting and to stay for the book club conversation.”
 
Hubbard, who has been involved with the PTSO for four years, was eager to try his suggestion. The PTSO provides resources for many student-based activities such as a fall dance. Members also support Mickle staff with a variety of kind acts. The group launched a craft fair for the first time this fall as a way to generate even more interest for PTSO activities.
 
Hubbard said the book club is a major reason why the Missiles have expanded their efforts in 2025-26.
 
“To see how successful we’ve been with our fundraising and family involvement this year, it really has become something big,” Hubbard said. “I’d like to see it become even bigger, honestly. It’s a good feeling.”

 
The Missiles are currently exploring Mike Smith’s book “Legacy vs. Likes” in their meetings. Mickle Instructional Coordinator Jill Haas recommended the book to help families and students learn more about high-value leadership qualities. It focuses on the differences between being a short-term influencer and a legacy-building leader.
 
Shanahan told parents at a recent PTSO meeting that he has spoken with many Missiles about this subject during his 12 years as principal. A major goal of those conversations has been to help students realize that they can use their attractive charisma for good purposes. Once that happens, they can become valuable leaders in their classes and school activities.
 
“It’s about showing them that they can use that leadership potential to actually lead,” Shanahan said. “I tell them that you have this ability to motivate others, and let’s talk about how we can make that a positive for those around you and a positive thing for our school.”
 
“It’s really relatable for the current day,” Reisdorff said. “It causes you and encourages you to talk with students about thinking about the bigger picture and what they want long-term.”
 
Mickle School Resource Officer Cam Cleland agreed with Shanahan and Reisdorff. He recently spoke with the group about his job and how he tries to steer students into a constructive leadership orbit.
 
“It’s amazing to be in the schools and watch the students, because you can tell who can be a leader,” Cleland said. “There are just kids who have that charisma. They’re not doing anything out of the ordinary, and sometimes it’s not great what they’re trying to influence other students to do. That’s when you talk to them and tell them that we want you to influence people in a positive way.”
 
“Having the resource officer here and being able to ask him questions was great, because he sees firsthand what these students are experiencing,” Hubbard said. “It ties into the book, because it really is leading versus likes.”

 
Hubbard said she believes PTSO activities are giving Mickle students more chances to write upbeat chapters in their Lincoln Public Schools stories.
 
“I want to see more parents involved at Mickle to help our students and make the experience even better for them,” Hubbard said. “It makes me happy to see all of the people who are here supporting them.”
 
Connecting with our families and community is a key part of student success. Discover how efforts like this support the Family and Community Engagement goals outlined in our 2024-29 Strategic Plan.
 
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Posted on January 13, 2026

Grizzlies gain business confidence through quick pitch contest at UNL

Standing Bear High School students learned how to turn their public speaking skills into profitable business ideas during a college visit this winter.
 
Fifty-three future business leaders polished their entrepreneurial talents in a quick pitch contest at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. UNL College of Business faculty and staff listened to three-minute proposals about a wide range of products and services. The activity gave students a chance to increase their personal confidence, improve their communication techniques and develop critical thinking strategies.
 
Harper was one of the first Grizzlies to pitch her idea to judges in the contest’s opening round. She said it was fun to learn more about the business world in a firsthand way.
 
“I think that it’s really important,” Harper said. “This is a great opportunity to be able to come here and get feedback from people who actually have really good experience in this topic.”

 
Harper developed an idea for battery-powered jewelry that tracks the health status of wearers. Her invention would run for six months on a battery that would be inserted in the watch, ring or other jewelry piece. She offered several price points for the items and informed the judges that her devices were designed for women aged 15-45.
 
“I think that I did pretty good,” Harper said. “I think the people in there listening had a positive attitude. It was really comforting, so I felt like I could stay really calm and just focus on my topic.”
 
Mallory Krenk, the student engagement and recruitment coordinator at the UNL College of Business Center for Entrepreneurship, and Kendra Ritchie, director of recruitment for the UNL College of Business, oversaw the contest at Hawks Hall. Krenk visited Standing Bear twice this fall to work on ideas with students in a World of Business class. She said it was important for them to learn speaking and persuasion skills from their conversations with judges.
 
“Helping them effectively communicate is a huge thing as well, and that’s something we want students to have when they come here to the College of Business or the Center for Entrepreneurship or UNL in general,” Krenk said. “It’s a great way for students to grow their confidence and ideas.”

 
The trip to UNL gave the Grizzlies a preview of what they can look forward to at the Nebraska Business Focus Program. The focus program launched at Standing Bear in 2023 and features many courses about accounting, finance, marketing and entrepreneurship. Business concepts are integrated into all classes for ninth and tenth graders in a pre-pathway, and juniors and seniors have an opportunity to pursue additional business knowledge in the focus program.
 
Ritchie provided instructions in a Hawks Hall auditorium before each student met judges in nearby conference rooms for their solo presentations. Rose Hull and Dylan Anderson talked with Harper and other Grizzlies during the morning in Room 021. Hull, an associate director of teaching and learning at the College of Business, said she was encouraged by the pitches she heard.
 
“I thought it went really well,” Hull said. “For high school freshmen, they did a great job. They made a lot of eye contact and stayed calm the whole time, so I was impressed with what they did.”
 
In Room 017, judges Kasey Linde and Ava Turk smiled as they watched Chase deliver a pitch about a product that would help golfers keep a firmer grip on their clubs. Linde, the director of teaching, learning and accreditation in the College of Business Teaching and Learning Center, said she was pleased with the creativity she witnessed during the morning.
 
“They really think of everything,” Linde said. “It’s been fun to hear what they’ve come up with.”

 
Judges had two minutes to ask follow-up questions after students delivered their proposals. Hull said that part of the process provided just as many life lessons as the business pitch itself.
 
“I loved the question-and-answer portion of it,” Hull said. “It gave them a lot of good experience in thinking on their feet. They had to figure out how best to answer the questions on the spot.”
 
After the first round concluded, the group went to a larger classroom to learn about the Clifton Strengths Institute at the College of Business. Former UNL professor Don Clifton created the CliftonStrengths assessment to help people learn about their personality traits and how they can use them to be successful. Jase said it was interesting to unpack information about the themes of strategic thinking, relationship building, influencing and executing.
 
“I learned that you can have different skills, and those skills can help you to grow in your future and have a better life,” Jase said.
 
Krenk felt the trip to UNL was a good way for the Grizzlies to learn how to polish their entrepreneurial talents for many years to come.
 
“We’re always pushing students to do things that make them uncomfortable, do things scared and do it anyway,” Krenk said. “I hope this experience kind of gives them the confidence to go do the things they might be scared of and go pursue these side hustles or businesses or ideas, no matter if they become a founder in ten years or even if it’s just an idea that they have that they can apply during their high school career, during their college career or even their career after college.”
 
Want to learn more about the Nebraska Business Focus Program at Standing Bear? Visit its website at business.lps.org to see how you can customize your high school experience. 
 
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Posted on January 13, 2026

Club activities help Bay High students fashion their futures

Bay High Focus Program students are crafting their goals through a series of educational clubs this year.
 
Juniors like Brilynn, Hazel and Zoey are exploring many imaginative activities through the focus program’s partnership with The Bay. They are learning about topics such as fashion, music and content creation in the clubs, which take place for 90 minutes each week during the school year. Students wrapped up a fashion club in the second quarter and will begin a music club in the third quarter.
 
Brilynn smiled as she worked on hand-sewing the final piece of her fashion project. She decided to replicate a multi-hued sweatshirt worn by a character in the Captain America storyline of Marvel Comics. She first removed the left arm of a black sweatshirt and was nearly done replacing it with gray-colored material. She said it was satisfying to see her efforts pay off in the form of a new clothing item.
 
“It’s the whole trial-and-error thing, so it’s fun having to learn over and over again to get it right,” Brilynn said. “Even if it’s not perfect, since I’m not a professional at this, it will still look good in the end.”

 
Hazel and Zoey shared the same type of excitement at a table in another area of the Bay High classroom. Hazel was using a sewing machine to make a sweatshirt with a sun on the front of it, and Zoey was attaching a bright yellow sunflower to a patchwork sweater. Both said they enjoyed experimenting with fashion techniques alongside their Bay High classmates.
 
“I’ve seen a lot of stuff online, and I thought I could try to recreate something,” Hazel said. “It’s the first time I’ve made something really big with a sewing machine.”
 
“I really like patchwork because it’s abstract,” Zoey said. “It doesn’t have to look perfect. You can do whatever you want with it, so it’s really fun for me.”

 
Bay High teacher Brent Jarosz said he has enjoyed watching students design extra learning opportunities in the clubs. Letura Idigima, the youth engagement director of The Bay, began leading the classes this year as a way to build more relationships at Bay High.
 
“It’s been a great chance for them to drive their own learning, which has been awesome to see,” Jarosz said. “They’ve been able to do research on what they wanted to do. A lot of them had ideas, but they’ve been learning how to apply the techniques that they wanted to do in these clubs.”
 
Students began the school year learning how to hone their creativity and physical fitness through skateboarding. Fashion was the focus for the second quarter of club activities. Idigima gave students wide latitude in how they approached their project. Some made new outfits, some attached jewels to shoes and others crafted corsets, skirts and patchwork-themed clothes.
 
“Our goal has been to have all students learn how to use and operate a sewing machine, but past that, we have students who are interested in crocheting, and we have some students who are interested in screen printing,” Idigima said. “Fashion has so many different layers, and our goal is to expose kids to a couple of those different layers in the fashion club.”
 
Hazel said she has appreciated the freedom to try new ideas with a wide selection of materials. Boxes and trays full of thread, fabric, markers and scissors sat on tables behind her as she worked on her sewing machine.
 
“The creative space that we’re given here is something I think is pretty cool,” Hazel said. “Just the access to supplies and the help with making stuff.”

 
Bay High will host a music and audio generation club during the third quarter. Students will learn how to write songs, create beats and work on behind-the-scenes skills like lighting and sound.
 
Idigima said Bay High will partner with radio station KZUM and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communication for a content creation club in the fourth quarter. It will incorporate lessons from the first three clubs into a capstone project that involves multiple types of media.
 
“We’ll pull the skate club, music club and fashion club into that final one,” Idigima said. “If they loved music club and they made a great song, then they’ll have an opportunity to have that song played on KZUM. For kids who are interested in fashion, they’ll get to partner with a student who’s interested in photography or videography and do a photo shoot. That fourth quarter club will just pull in a lot of different layers from each of our other clubs, and students will end up with a really cool project.”

 
Kaylea said her time in fashion club has given her a good creative foundation for the rest of her Lincoln Public Schools career. She decided to pursue a project that involved making an American Indian ribbon skirt as a way to showcase her culture. She said the Bay High activities have helped her fashion more confidence as she moves through the school year.
 
“I’m very excited about this,” Kaylea said. “It’s been a lot of fun to learn how to do this and to see the hard work turn out.”
 
Choose your journey! Explore how LPS Focus Programs like Bay High can customize your high school experience. Take the next step: home.lps.org/focus.
 
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Posted on January 13, 2026

TeamMates of the Month: Isa and Wendy

When Isa (“Lisa” without the “L”) was nominated for TeamMates in middle school, she admits she hated the idea.

“I thought they were trying to manipulate me into doing school.”

Her mentor, Wendy, sensed Isa was not all in at first.

“I could tell she was unsure. I tried to think: How do I tread slowly and get her to open up? Crafts helped. If her hands were busy she would talk more.”

For Isa, the pressure dropped with those activities.

“Oh, we're going to just do something fun and relaxing, so it's okay.”

Wendy knows that it hasn’t been easy for Isa to open up.

“We’ve come a long way. We’re close and we share a lot. We don’t necessarily talk about trust. It just happens. She can bring those walls down when she wants to.”

Now, Isa calls Wendy her conscience, someone she says “cares not only when you’re doing good,” but when you are “messing up.” 

She describes an annoying traffic situation in which she just automatically heard Wendy’s voice in her head. She slowed down and let the car merge ahead of her.

Wendy says that’s just one of the ways Isa is smart.

“She is smart about recognizing qualities within people, about recognizing what's happening in a situation, about trusting her own feelings and not being afraid to react in the way that makes sense for her.”

With Wendy in her corner, Isa’s feelings about school grew more positive too. In fact, Isa just got her acceptance letter from Southeast Community College and word of a scholarship, and she is waiting to hear back from Metro Community College too.

Wendy is proud of Isa’s transformation.

“When I look back to seventh and eighth grade, I mean, college wasn't even something Isa would consider. She wasn't even sure she'd make it through high school.”

Isa can already imagine Wendy, who she loves to share her big life moments with, at her graduation.

“Wendy’s enthusiastic. I wouldn’t doubt that she’d come with pom poms. Seriously. ”

And, Isa knows that Wendy is in her life to stay.

“When I was in Student Support, I thought that Wendy wasn't gonna be able to see me anymore, that I was just on my own, in a place I didn't know anyone, that I wouldn't be able to talk about anything. And that didn't happen. Nothing can separate us.”

Posted on January 13, 2026

Cavett students ace AI adventures during new computer science lesson

Maci’s face lit up with joy as she watched a cheese-writing pepperoni pizza pen appear on her computer screen at Cavett Elementary School.
 
The first-of-its-kind writing device was one of many creative ideas that Maci and fellow fifth graders came up with during a new computer science lesson. They experimented with a generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool during the Hour of AI project at Cavett. It was the first time the Cardinals worked with the emerging technology in their computer classroom.
 
Maci said it was fun to build the picture of her pen, which contained several pepperonis in the body and had cheese dripping down the sides. When she listened to instructions for the AI project, she wondered if she could combine food and writing into her image. She was pleasantly surprised when the AI program began to turn her pizza-themed vision into digital reality.
 
“I thought it would kind of look like a cartoon, but it looked a lot more realistic than I had thought,” Maci said.

 
Carrie Copley, a computer science teacher and elementary technology leader at Cavett, felt the AI session had been a resounding success. She said it had been hard to sleep the night before because she was excited about introducing the topic to students. Her enthusiasm soared even more after watching the Cardinals make everything from snowcapped mansions to ice-tipped baseball bats.
 
“I’m excited to teach it again and take what I learned from this group and make it even better,” Copley said. “They were so creative. I was very impressed with the things they thought to put together, like the cheese and the pen. A pen that writes with cheese? I would have never thought of that, so it was really neat to see.”
 
Copley said it was important to teach students about the expanding reach of AI in society. AI has been integrated into various technologies for many decades, but it has become more sophisticated over the past several years. Computers, televisions and smartphones are now featuring AI services that were only part of the science fiction world when Cavett’s fifth graders were born.
 
“It’s a part of their lives that they don’t even realize yet,” Copley said. “They are already talking to Alexa and they’re already using things that are AI-generated, but they don’t realize it. If it’s going to become a part of their life that they can leverage for themselves, I want them to have the skills to not be afraid to use it and try to figure it out.”

 
Copley began her lesson by explaining the basics of AI to students. She told the Cardinals that she wanted them to utilize the technology to become creators, rather than just consumers. She said going through the creative process would help them work on key skills like critical thinking, problem solving and following directions.
 
Copley asked each student to write prompts into the AI program based on a common formula. They could choose traditional objects like soccer balls, sunglasses or sneakers and then add an unexpected twist to them. Some of the possibilities included turning their object into transparent glass, placing it on a coral reef or covering it with tree bark, moss or flowers.
 
The Cardinals spent several minutes thinking about things they could create with AI, and they pitched their ideas to a partner at their table. They then dove into their AI project’s pool with the enthusiasm of an Olympic swimmer.
 
“It was just an energy in the room where they were so excited to get going and try it,” Copley said. “Even though it was the first time they’d done it, they kept trying, and I was really proud of them for that. I was proud of them for giving good effort.”
 
Wes developed an image of a person painting graffiti on a wall in California. He said he had always wanted to travel to the West Coast, and having seen graffiti on many Nebraska trains, he decided to combine those two ideas. He said he learned a lot from testing different prompts throughout the class period.
 
“It was hard to find exactly the words that matched what you were wanting to see in your head,” Wes said. “There was an image that I really wanted to have AI create, but it was hard to put it into words at first. I think it turned out really well though.”
 
After the Cardinals finished their rough drafts, they walked around the room to see everyone else’s creations. Maci said it was fun to discover new ideas during the tour.
 
“It was really cool walking around, because I feel like everybody chose really creative things,” Maci said. “It was cool to see what people thought of. Like, my partner’s prompts were different than what I would have thought of, so I got to learn from that.”
 
Copley plans to teach AI lessons to all Cavett fifth graders and will present a simplified version to fourth graders. That was music to the ears of Wes, who said he would like to come up with additional AI creations in his spare time.
 
“I’d like to do this more,” Wes said. “I’m probably going to download it and try it more at home.”
 
Discover more about computer science at Lincoln Public Schools. Interested in the skills your student is learning? Dive into our K-12 computer science curriculum.

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Posted on January 13, 2026

Falcons, Spartans script successful state play production moments

High school students from Northwest and East created theatrical highlights this winter with their state play production performances.
 
Both Lincoln Public Schools teams finished in the top five spots at this year’s Class A contest. The Spartans captured third place with their performance of “Peter and the Starcatcher,” and the Falcons finished fifth with their presentation of the Euripides classic “Hecuba” on stage.
 
Directors Helen Cooper and Samm Hanks guided students during the season. Cooper led East to the school’s fifth straight state appearance, and Hanks helped Northwest qualify for state for the third consecutive year. The Falcons also won their second straight Class A Outstanding Technical Crew honor.
 
Northwest
Cade Chiles and August Chadd helped the Falcons finish first in technical crew standings with their leadership skills. They received the two Class A Outstanding Technical Crew Member Awards for their stage and audiovisual work.
 
“I think the part about being involved in Lincoln Northwest’s play production that I enjoy the most is the satisfaction of seeing everyone’s hard work put together in such a beautiful way,” said Chadd, who served as hair and makeup crew chief. “Especially being someone that does work backstage and in the dressing rooms, I feel very proud of all of the cast and crew for what they’ve all brought onto the stage and atmosphere. It’s very rewarding to see all of the long nights transform into such a fantastic production.”

 
Chiles and Chadd were among 26 Falcons who were on this year’s technical crew. Other members of the state championship group included Elsa Bates, Jayden Bedea, Daeden Buresh, Elli Einspahr, Crist Geswein, Xavier Hamilton, Brady Henn, Delanie Hulit, Emily Keifer, Lilly Keifer, Mesa Koertje, Colby Lovelace, Sajjad Mahdi, Karen Mendoza, Addie Naviaux, Brian Parnell, Roslynn Provance, Harrison Quy, M’Kenzi Simon, Cameron Stockton, Elijah Sulzle, Regan Swedlund, Brayden Wasserburger and Natalie Williams. Jenna Williamson served as the performance’s technical director.

 
Northwest also received applause-worthy efforts from 35 cast members. Amelia Coughlin, who earned an Outstanding Performer Award at the District A-1 Meet, said the Falcons enjoyed rehearsing and competing together. She performed the title role of Hecuba in this year’s one-act play.
 
“My favorite thing about being a part of my school’s one-act was definitely going to competitions and competing on stage,” Coughlin said. “This year, we had a lot of drive and an important message to convey. Being able to show the audience and judges our hard work was definitely rewarding, and I loved performing on stage with my castmates. Even when I was nervous or anxious, that sense of camaraderie fueled me to perform to the best of my ability.”

 
Chadd said it was rewarding to spend time with teammates like Naviaux, who was the assistant hair and makeup crew chief. The senior said the activity’s fast-paced nature offered many life lessons.
 
“I think those experiences have shaped me into a better person,” Chadd said. “There have been many times where I thought we wouldn’t complete someone’s costume or makeup in time, but we always powered through and had the help of the hair and makeup crew along with the directors.”
 
Coughlin said playing Hecuba challenged her to reach outside her comfort zone. She portrayed the complex emotions of a mother suffering intense loss, which gave her a chance to grow both as an actress and a person.
 
“I learned to allow myself to be vulnerable on stage at a level that I’d never strived for before,” Coughlin said. “While it was definitely a challenge, being able to connect with my character and the audience on a deeper level was extremely fulfilling. The themes of this show also pushed me to reflect on the importance of morality and empathy, teaching me the repercussions of injustice and showing me that grief can be transformative and complex.”

 
Chadd said the Falcons could feel good about their work during the program’s three-year state run.
 
“I am very proud of our theater department and what we’ve been able to accomplish,” Chadd said. “I am thankful to be able to express this to more people.”
 
East
East pocketed third place with strong marks from all three state judges. The Spartans tallied scores of 59, 58 and 57 on a 60-point scale for their presentation.

 
Myles Hardt felt the team’s close-knit nature made the season successful. The senior performed the lead role of Peter on stage. He was part of a veteran roster that featured 28 cast members and 14 crew members.
 
“What I enjoyed most about being part of the play production team was the people,” Hardt said. “Everyone is so driven, hardworking and supportive of each other, which creates an amazing environment that promotes growth and just a really good time.”

Cooper said she enjoyed spending time with the Spartans this season. She said students were “incredibly self-motivated” and maintained positive attitudes from the first reading to final performance. Several seniors led their cast groupings and encouraged younger teammates in their roles.

“Our kids worked extremely hard this year,” Cooper said. “They juggled choirs, speech, jobs, sports and other activities while pulling together a special and dynamic show. I love one-act because I can see our kids grow so much as technicians and performers. The competition aspect is fun, but theater really is about working together as a team whether there is an award at the end of the process or not.”

“Peter and the Starcatcher” is a prequel to the familiar story of Peter Pan. The Spartans delivered their narrative about a young orphan who sails from Victorian Britain to a distant island.
 
Hardt said he learned the value of work ethic from playing Peter. He and other castmates spent many hours memorizing lines, drilling scenes and discovering how best to convey emotions of their characters. Their practice sessions paid off in both individual and group ways.
 
“I poured more time and energy into the role of Peter than I have for any role before, and it was a challenge,” Hardt said. “But I really felt that I was able to connect to the character on a deeper level than I’ve connected with characters in the past.”
 
The Spartans scripted their latest stateworthy story this season. Many sophomores, juniors and seniors had booked previous trips to Norfolk’s Johnny Carson Theater in their careers, and they were eager to follow a similar storyline in 2025. East finished second in Class A in 2024, fifth in 2023, fourth in 2022 and sixth in 2021.

Cooper said the program’s five-year state run is a direct result of the investments of time, energy and motivation the Spartans have made.

“I always tell the kids that they built the program,” Cooper said. “I can outline expectations until I’m blue in the face, but my assistant director, Erin Bell, and I can’t be the only people offering reminders and examples of fulfilling those expectations. We had graduated seniors come back and offer character coaching throughout the process, which really speaks to the ownership the kids have taken over the success of the program.”

Class A State Play Production Results

Gretna East 180 points, Gretna 178, Lincoln East 174, Malcolm 173, Lincoln Northwest 170, Fremont 168

Class A State Technical Crew Scores

Lincoln Northwest 58, Gretna East 57, Gretna 57, Lincoln East 56, Malcolm 53, Fremont 52

Lincoln East State Play Production Cast Members

Peter: Myles Hardt
Molly: Claire Rooney
Lord Aster: Hayden Mitchell
Prentiss: Sloan Donahoo
Teddy: Winter Guardiola
Black Stache: Gavin Foust
Mrs. Bumbrake: Ava Swank
Alf: Wade Combs
Smee: Washburn Hoffman
Slank: Aubrey Christensen
Grempkin: Cora Tinsley
Mack: Margeaux Allen
Narrator/Wasp Crew: Jilliana Venema, Lena Kathol, Juho Kim, Cora Thompson
Narrator/Neverland Crew: Pearl DeLong, Christian Paulsen
Teacher: Elizabeth Elitzin
Narrator/Mermaid: Alyssa Zimmerman, Alexandria Hansen, Kaelyn Livers, Brooklyn Ellenbecker, Liv Jarnagin
Fighting Prawn: Ethan Phan
Hawking Clam: Alister Murtagh
Narrator/Mollusk: Britton Fast, Evelyn Ockander

Lincoln East State Play Production Crew Members

Emily ByBee, Aydin Colberg, Lainey Kaufhold, Drew Lafferty, Jake Lenz, Melinda Lierz, Rawand Mohammed, Axol Nguyen, Cinae Schneider, Hazel Silva, Mimi Strong, Jordan Uglow, James Wilksen, Jerrica Zhang

Lincoln Northwest State Play Production Cast Members

Polydorus: Nicholas Niedbalski
Therapaina: Amelia Proffitt
Handmaiden 1: Lindsey Morris
Handmaiden 2: Emmy McInteer
Handmaiden 3: Lilly Rector
Handmaiden 4: Liv Butters
Handmaiden 5: Bianca Vannier
Handmaiden 6: Avery Hollman
Chorus: Sierra Albers, Hana Baranovicova, Adjoua Boko, Delaney Dubbs, Kendahl Hardwick, Finley Maly, Emily Paffrath, Cara Wesley, Nevaeh Worth
Chorus/Secondary Percussion: Bailey Petersen, Olivia Solodovnik
Hecuba: Amelia Coughlin
Andromache: Izzy Butters
Polyxena: Cassandra Colgrove
Odysseus/Secondary Percussion: Gabe Dick
Soldier: Jaxon Archer, Ben Hershberger, Jude Moats-Kile, Trystan Perdue-Juarez
Soldier/Secondary Percussion: Samuel Sulzle
Talthybius: Zayne Riggert
Agamemnon: Nicholas Bousek
Polymestor: Jonah Hagge
Deipylus: Lincoln Lappe
Admetus: Finn Carter
Primary Percussion: Owen Kloepping, Caden Placek

Lincoln Northwest State Play Production Crew Members

Elsa Bates, Jayden Bedea, Daeden Buresh, August Chadd, Cade Chiles, Elli Einspahr, Crist Geswein, Xavier Hamilton, Brady Henn, Delanie Hulit, Emily Keifer, Lilly Keifer, Mesa Koertje, Colby Lovelace, Sajjad Mahdi, Karen Mendoza, Addie Naviaux, Brian Parnell, Roslynn Provance, Harrison Quy, M’Kenzi Simon, Cameron Stockton, Elijah Sulzle, Regan Swedlund, Brayden Wasserburger, Natalie Williams
 
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Posted on January 13, 2026

LPS archivist preserves history for public with helpful knowledge

Sara Scott is preserving the historical legacy of Lincoln Public Schools one memory at a time.
 
Scott, the LPS cataloger and archivist, is using her wide-ranging expertise to maintain school-based moments from the past 150 years. She keeps track of thousands of LPS documents, digitizes older media such as VHS tapes and conserves one-of-a-kind items from performances, events and celebrations.
 
Scott recently earned a graduate certificate in archival studies, which gave her even more tools to help the LPS community. She is beginning to work on a long-term cataloging project that will involve documenting every historical item in LPS buildings.
 
“It’s fun to come to work when you like what you do,” Scott said. “I don’t think I’ve had a day that’s the same, because there’s always a new archival item to find. It’s great.”

 
Chris Haeffner and Alexis Scargill both said Scott is playing a key role in supporting the school district’s business, social and community interest goals. Haeffner, the LPS director of library services, and Scargill, who represents Nebraska on the Midwest Archives Conference, said Scott is making a noticeable impact on the lives of many people.
 
“I don’t think people often think about librarianism as a creative or innovative profession, but that’s what Sara’s doing,” Haeffner said. “She is creating and designing and building new and exciting things. It’s a lot of fun to see what she’s coming up with.”
 
“An archivist understands how to create a system that dictates retention and allows for access, even if that access is decades from now,” Scargill said. “We’re not only talking about student transcripts, but also documented policy decisions, enrollment records and curriculum changes. All of this tells the story of the district and community’s history. It’s institutional memory and it’s our cultural heritage.”
 
Scott’s work at LPS has caught the attention of larger organizations like the International Council on Archives (ICA). Claude Roberto, the archivist emerita for the government of Alberta, Canada, is a member of the ICA Extended Secretariat and takes minutes at ICA governance meetings. She said Scott is providing many ways for LPS staff, students, parents, alumni and educational researchers to access important information.
 
“Your historical items, passed from one generation to the other, will be of high interest to your community,” Roberto said. “It takes a professional archivist, just like Sara, to arrange and digitize the LPS written information, yearbooks, photos, audiovisual materials and artifacts in order to preserve these treasures and make them available to your community.”

 
Scott grew up in Hays, Kan., and earned her undergraduate degree in English from Wichita State University in 2017. She then earned a master’s degree in library and information science (MLIS) from Emporia State University in 2019. She was a member of ESU’s student chapter of the American Library Association during her graduate program.
 
Scott said it is exciting to be in a profession that ties the past, present and future together in educational ways.
 
“I really love that there’s this great opportunity for our archives to be used in the schools,” Scott said. “It builds that sense of connection with everyone in the community.”
 
One of Scott’s primary tasks is cataloging LPS paperwork that stretches back for decades. Her efforts ensure that those informational sources will always be available to use.
 
“Think of how many records a school district generates,” Scargill said. “Without archival training or a formal archival program in place, those records run the risk of being lost, poorly documented and thus difficult to access, or lost in staffing turnovers or building renovations. You can’t use what you can’t find.”
 
Scott is also responsible for creating a new inventory of LPS archives from scratch. The knowledge she gained from a graduate program at Louisiana State University is helping her accomplish that task. The archival studies curriculum included courses on preserving physical materials, establishing digital records and describing and categorizing items.
 
“They were classes that spoke directly to what we’re trying to do here,” Scott said. “I think I got so much out of those classes.”

 
Scott is applying some of her training to materials housed in a special archives room. Shelves of LPS historical gems line both walls of the space, and her desk is filled with binders, booklets and brochures. During one visit to the room, she pulled out a Lincoln High commencement program from 1883 before pointing to vintage school pictures arranged on a file cabinet.
 
Scott is also completing many 21st century archival projects. An East High School coach recently asked her if she could digitize football DVDs, so they could be viewed on newer technology. Scott embraced the request with a wide smile.
 
“I was like, ‘Absolutely, we can do that!’” Scott said. “I told him that we have the means and that’s what we’re here for, and now they have these digitized versions. We keep running into these things where we can help people make things accessible again, which is really exciting.”
 
Scott is researching how best to digitize even older media like film slides and reel-to-reel film strips. Those answers will help her expand her archival catalog throughout the coming years. She is planning to travel to school buildings to uncover, document and preserve additional items that will strengthen the LPS historical legacy.
 
“No one else has the skills that Sara has,” Haeffner said. “I love it when she comes to me and says, ‘What do you think about doing this?’ She is setting the standard for the school district and is creating her own bar of excellence.”
 
Visit the LPS Library Services website to access library resources and digital yearbooks.
 
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Posted on January 13, 2026

Raptors enjoy first experience with Backstage at the Ballet

Robinson Elementary School students pirouetted their way into a firsthand look at the world of ballet this winter. 
 
Hundreds of Raptors enjoyed lessons about dancing, costumes and makeup during the school’s first Backstage at the Ballet experience. Lincoln Public Schools students and Lincoln Midwest Ballet Company (LMBC) leaders taught sessions about “The Nutcracker” in December. Twenty-five performers capped the week with a series of ballet dances in front of the entire school.
 
Robinson second grader Gracie experienced the freedom of leaping in the air during a mid-morning activity. High school students gave the Raptors tips about how to twirl, tap and turn to music from the famous ballet’s second act. Gracie said it was fun to learn dance moves with her classmates in the gym.
 
“I like it because I get to move around,” Gracie said. “I really like the one where we jump and we’re like a star.”

Later in the morning, third grade students traveled to the art room to create their own costumes for the ballet dancers. They used materials like fabric, ribbons and beads to design dresses and uniforms for the stage. Emry said she enjoyed picking out everything for her pink ballerina outfit.
 
“What I liked is we got to customize it and design it however we wanted to,” Emry said.
 
Krista Couton was thrilled when she saw those creative moments happen in classrooms. Robinson’s general music specialist reached out to LMBC organizers two years ago to ask if they would consider coming to Robinson. The group had already chosen a school for that year, but Couton learned this fall that the Raptors would have a chance to be in Backstage at the Ballet. Robinson opened in August 2022 and serves more than 400 students.
 
“I teach ‘The Nutcracker’ every year to kids because I feel it’s a great introduction to ballet and it has really famous music,” Couton said. “I was excited to have it come to life for them this year.”
 
Couton said many Robinson teachers shared her happiness when the Backstage at the Ballet announcement came. They remembered when choreographers, dancers and artists came to their elementary schools growing up in Lincoln. LMBC Artistic Director Shari True said Backstage at the Ballet has visited 36 LPS buildings during the program’s existence.

 
Couton spent time one morning watching the Raptors work on their costume designs. She said it was a great chance for students to increase their creativity, independence and decision-making skills. Emry and classmates like Majdallah, Franklyn and Kathryn worked hard on their crafts and were proud to show them to their teacher afterwards.
 
“I’ve really enjoyed seeing kids just take ownership of their materials and their projects and want to make something they’re really proud of,” Couton said. “They’re able to feel that connection to the story they’ve been learning about for years. It’s really neat.”
 
Those links came to life at the end of the week when the LMBC presented portions of the ballet at a school assembly. Maralee Maldavs, the LMBC head costumer and costume builder, led a team that created clothing for 156 dancers in this year’s production. Cast members wore those outfits as they performed in the gym, which True said was special for students to see.
 
“It’s really cool for you to get to see the dancers up close and personal,” True told the audience.
 
One of the presentation’s highlights came when more than a dozen Raptors joined the dancers for a song. Gracie was among those who were selected during their choreography tutorials earlier in the week. Her eyes lit up when she learned that she had been chosen to appear with the LMBC crew.
 
“I was very excited,” Gracie said. “I really like dance.”

 
All of the dancers then introduced themselves to students at the end of their performances. They came from multiple LPS middle and high schools and had varying amounts of experience. Southwest High School junior Hayley was taking part in the LMBC’s annual ballet for the ninth time, and other students had only been in the production for several years.
 
Couton said she felt the Backstage at the Ballet experience had been a success. She said Robinson students had learned important lessons about the fine arts and the behind-the-scenes effort that happens for each performance.
 
“I think it’s huge because so much of this specific type of art starts from a young age,” Couton said. “It’s something they can really get involved with now if they want. Even if they choose not to do ballet, I think it’s cool for them to start noticing these things from a young age. They can grow up with an understanding of just how much work goes into what they see on stage or what they buy a ticket for.”
 
One of the goals of the 2024-29 LPS Strategic Plan is to extend learning beyond the classroom through activities like Backstage at the Ballet. Visit home.lps.org/strategicplan to view more information about family and community engagement at LPS.
 
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Posted on December 19, 2025

LPS counseling program shines at the state level

Lincoln Public Schools school counselors Ann Spotanski and Kate Pittack moved on as Nebraska Counselor of the Year finalists and were at the top of their grade levels at the Nebraska School Counselor Association (NSCA) Annual Awards Luncheon.

“This honor represents the strength of the LPS community of counselors,” Spotanski said. “This honor means the daily work we do - planning whole group and small group lessons, meeting with students and families, collaborating with teachers and staff - makes a positive impact in the school community.”

Spotanski is a school counselor at Clinton Elementary School and Pittack serves Scott Middle School. For the second consecutive year, LPS accounted for six of the state’s 12 School Counselor of the Year finalists. Each level has three finalists, and this year’s elementary and middle school winners are both from LPS.

“It truly is a reflection of the incredible work of the Scott Middle School counseling team,” Pittack said. “As counselors, we get to see a unique side of students that is separate from the classroom and are able to help them set goals and celebrate those successes. One of my greatest joys is watching students grow up and accomplish things that they couldn't have ever imagined.”

LPS School Counseling Supervisor Lori Hemmett said the nominations were scored using a standardized rubric from the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), which shows LPS is excelling at the state level as its work continues to align with the ASCA national and state standards.

“This is a huge accomplishment as it demonstrates that others are beginning to understand and value the role and importance of school counselors,” Hemmett said. “Because of these outstanding school counselors, students are getting skills they need for life and school, and those that need more support are able to be identified through various data points, which allows for more efficient and student-centered use of all support personnel and resources.”

Both finalists said they hope the recognition highlights the essential role school counselors play every day.

“I hope this recognition highlights the important and essential work of school counselors and ensures that every LPS school continues forward with a counselor who supports students academically, socially and emotionally,” Pittack said. “We show up every day to advocate for what is best for students and to make sure every student and every educator feels supported and valued.”

Spotanski said she hopes the honor also brings attention to the broader impact school counselors have across all buildings.

“School counselors are part of a team that works to build systems that set all students up for success,” Spotanski said. “We work to ensure students and families have the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.”

Pittack added that she hopes families feel heard and valued.

“I want my students to know that I am in their corner and ready to advocate for them in any way,” she said.

Want to learn more about school counseling at Lincoln Public Schools? Visit our website at home.lps.org/counseling to get more information. 

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Posted on December 18, 2025

Southwest students gain global knowledge from Japanese course

Southwest High School students are discovering how the Japanese language is a never-ending source of academic energy.
 
Silver Hawks like Arrisyn and Jess are creating brilliant learning moments in a class that features many interactive lessons. Southwest is one of the few Nebraska high schools to offer the world language, and scores of students are learning from an award-winning curriculum. They brush up on their calligraphy skills, experience tea tasting on a local college campus and correspond with pen pals in Japan each year.

Arrisyn and Jess both wanted to sign up for the course when they enrolled at Southwest this fall. The ninth graders said they have been happy with the variety of activities on the class calendar.
 
“I just really like the Japanese culture, and I thought it would be fun to try it,” Jess said. “It’s been great. I’ve really liked learning the writing style and figuring out how to come up with sentences and paragraphs. It’s been a really good experience for me.”
 
“Honestly, the entire experience has been awesome,” Arrisyn said. “Everyone in the class is really open and welcoming, and that makes you feel good, because you know everyone is going for the same thing. We’re all trying to get better at Japanese because we like the culture and history of it.”

LPS Curriculum Specialist for World Language Katie Damgaard said Southwest is the only LPS high school that provides Japanese classes. The course has taken place at Southwest ever since the school opened in 2002.
 
Southwest teacher Tammy Lamprecht earned the 2023 Outstanding World Language Teacher Award from the Nebraska Languages Association because of her commitment to her craft. She said it is satisfying to teach a world language because of the many academic opportunities that are available. She has watched her students learn valuable life skills such as persistence, teamwork and dedication in her classroom. They have also gained knowledge about geography, culture, history and fine arts from their lessons.
 
“Language is something that constantly changes over time, so there’s never an end to the things to study,” Lamprecht said. “There’s such a depth to the Japanese language and the culture, which makes it extremely fun.”

 
ACTFL Language Connects, a national organization of teachers of world languages, provided one of the reasons why learning Japanese is an important skill. They surveyed 1,200 U.S. employers about their need for employees familiar with world languages. The report showed that 17 percent of companies wanted to hire employees who knew how to speak Japanese, making it one of the top five in-demand languages.
 
Lamprecht began studying Japanese in 1990 and spent a year at Kwansei Gakuin University in 1994-95. She later returned to Japan for three years before beginning her education career outside of Lincoln. She founded the LPS program in 2002 and is now teaching the children of those first alumni in her classrooms.
 
Lamprecht said one of the most rewarding parts of her job is watching students become familiar with the language’s writing style. The Japanese alphabet features the scripts of kanji, hiragana and katakana, which are phonetic symbols and logographic characters. It is different from Latin or Germanic languages such as English, Spanish, French and Italian, which can make it seem more challenging to learn.
 
“I think a lot of students think that because of the writing system it might be daunting, and then they realize that they can do it,” Lamprecht said. “My favorite part is equipping them so they can do this on their own. There comes a time when I tell them, ‘You don’t need me for this, because you have all of the tools to be successful. You can do this.’ I love those moments.”

 
Arrisyn said she has been proud of her progress with the language’s fundamentals. She is more comfortable with the sounds and words than she was several months ago.
 
“One hundred percent,” Arrisyn said. “I still have a long way to go, but I feel way more confident about reading and writing the language now than I did at the start of the year. It’s a really good feeling.”
 
Lamprecht tries to increase student wellbeing with many interactive projects. The Silver Hawks began one class period with a game that reinforced Japanese language principles. Students competed to see who could most quickly match the sounds of Japanese words with the correct symbol from more than 20 cards on their desks.
 
The class then moved on to a calligraphy assignment, which provided additional training with the written word. They brushed Japanese characters on special paper in a practice referred to as shodo. Calligraphy is an important part of the country’s culture and is a key part of the school curriculum there.
 
Jess said he has benefited in many ways from the wide assortment of lessons.
 
“It really helps with reviewing the sounds,” Jess said. “I have fun doing this, and I think that helps me absorb everything a lot better.”

 
Lamprecht said she is optimistic that even more students will gain similar academic energy in the future. LPS has created a course for sixth and seventh graders that introduces them to multiple world languages. The goal is to prepare students for global careers by helping them become more aware of various cultures.
 
“That’s been wildly successful,” Lamprecht said. “It makes me feel good knowing that we’re preparing students like this at LPS.”
 
LPS students are becoming informed global citizens with their world language experiences. Visit home.lps.org/worldlanguage to learn more about a wide range of language opportunities at LPS.
 
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Posted on December 17, 2025

Ram Fam Fancy Feast rewards Rousseau students for royal behavior

Rousseau Elementary School students are experiencing royal moments this year for treating their classmates like kings and queens.
 
Staff members are honoring students for their positive behavior with the new Rousseau Ram Fam Fancy Feast program. Every teacher nominates one Ram from their classroom each month to eat lunch in a “royal ballroom” with other recipients. They enjoy a feast at a table decorated with flowers and electric candles while movies like “Beauty and the Beast” play on a background screen.
 
Fourth graders Everly, Nora, Max and Hank spent one day eating lunch with Rousseau Principal Monica Jochum and Assistant Principal Wendy Barry. They said it was exciting to receive a fun reward for their kind actions in the classroom, on the playground and at cafeteria tables.
 
“It feels cool to be selected,” Hank said. “This is a lot of fun.”
 
“Kids can be picked by being respectful to others, even if teachers aren’t around,” Everly said. “They can do the right thing.”

 
Rousseau teacher Katie Sostad said the Ram Fam Fancy Feast has had a positive effect at school this year. In addition to teaching students about the value of being respectful, responsible and honest, it has also been a source of unity throughout the building.
 
“I think it is important to have a schoolwide program like the Ram Fam Fancy Feast because it gives students something exciting to look forward to and reminds them that their positive behaviors aren’t going unnoticed,” Sostad said. “It’s been so fun to see how excited the kids get, not just for themselves, but for their classmates too. When a student’s name is announced, the whole class cheers and celebrates together. It’s created such a positive energy around kindness and positive behavior, and it helps build a real sense of community in our school.”
 
Rousseau teachers Sara Yount and Katherine Anderson agreed with Sostad. They said the award’s schoolwide nature has made it even more special for students who are selected.
 
“The peer recognition associated with a public reward is often more motivating than the reward itself,” Yount said. “Being acknowledged by an adult and having their positive behavior noticed by classmates reinforces a sense of belonging and community. When a desirable, tangible event like the Fancy Feast is the reward, it provides a clear, exciting goal.”
 
“This is highly motivating for students,” Anderson said. “The Fancy Feast has been a wonderful addition to our school to help engage in positive behaviors.”
 
The idea for the Ram Fam Fancy Feast emerged this past summer as part of Rousseau’s School Improvement Plan (SIP). Staff members wanted to promote consistent schoolwide routines and expectations regarding kind behavior. They felt that rewarding students who were making safe, respectful and responsible choices each month would accomplish this goal.
 
Jochum said the upbeat reaction to the plan has been encouraging for everyone.
 
“We’ve had such a positive response to this, not only from students, but from families too,” Jochum said. “It’s been awesome to see.”
 
The Ram Fam Fancy Feast has served as an extension of the school’s existing Ram Bucks program. Students in Yount’s class, for example, can accumulate Ram Bucks for trying hard on assignments, sharing items with classmates, listening to others and being friendly in the hallways. They can then use their Ram Bucks to receive prizes like new pens to write with or special chairs to use for a day. Yount selects the top Ram Buck earner each month for the Ram Fam Fancy Feast.
 
“Each class does something a little different, but it is nice to have a whole school incentive that builds off of what we do in the classroom already,” Yount said.

 
Jochum sends each feastgoer a printed invitation for the upcoming event. Clara, a third grader, and Everly said it was a big moment when they received their personalized messages.
 
“I was really excited to get the invitation,” Clara said. “I hung it up on the fridge.”
 
“When I found out, I told my mom, and she was super proud,” Everly said. “That was a good feeling.”
 
The Ram Fam Fancy Feast has also taught students about the lifelong benefits of being responsible and compassionate. Hank said he has learned that kindness is something that should take place all of the time, not just when there is an audience.
 
“People can see when you work hard and help others,” Hank said. “They might not tell you right away, but they know when you’re nice to people.”
 
Fifth grader Gabryella said she feels good when she is kind to her classmates because she likes watching them smile. She said it would be fun to help others in her job someday.
 
“I want to be a nurse,” Gabryella said. “I want to get good grades because I’d like to have a good job like that. I like helping people.”
 
Jochum congratulated each of the recipients at a recent feast as they got up from their seats. Third grader Amara responded with a royal smile after hearing the kind words from her principal.
 
“I had a lot of fun today,” Amara said. “I’m really glad I got to come.”
 
LPS students learn about responsibility and kindness through many prosocial projects and activities like the Ram Fam Fancy Feast. Visit home.lps.org/prosocial to discover more ways students are building strong foundations in social, emotional, behavioral and interpersonal ways.
 
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Posted on December 17, 2025

Rockets learn keys of car sales through interactive project

Northeast High School students fine-tuned their educational engines this fall by gaining firsthand perspectives about the car sales industry.
 
Automotive students in Northeast’s Skilled and Technical Sciences (STS) Academy partnered with Sid Dillon Automotive on a project that covered all aspects of car sales. They learned about sales and marketing processes, communication strategies, vehicle inspection techniques and fundamentals of financing through the weeklong activity.
 
Northeast student Cesar felt the project would help him become more confident when he buys a car in the future. He also discovered valuable information about the wide range of careers found in the automotive industry.
 
“I feel a lot more informed about what to do,” Cesar said. “I found out how important it is to build a rapport with a customer and to get to know them. It was really useful what I learned in here today.”
 
LPS Career and Technical Education Curriculum Specialist Jason Thomsen said one of the project’s goals was to help students become more familiar with foundational car sales skills.
 
“The partnership is intended to teach students the process of selling a used car, everything from when it comes into the shop and gets inspected to how it is marketed, sales techniques and then learning the financial side of the car business,” Thomsen said. “But to be clear, LPS is not selling the car. The students are helping in the process of inspection and marketing and gaining practice at sales techniques.”
 
Northeast STS teacher Andy Christensen said he was pleased with the project’s outcome. He felt students like Cesar emerged from the lesson with a broader range of communication and financial tools.
 
“This is a great opportunity to learn the ins and outs of car selling,” Christensen said. “However, the most important aspect is the knowledge the students gain, for they will also have buying power by understanding the process.”

 
Sid Dillon representatives Bill Siefker and Jon Lanik mentored students throughout the week. Siefker, a 32-year veteran of the car industry, has worked at Sid Dillon for 15 years and is now a sales manager. Lanik, a new and pre-owned sales consultant, has been with the business for five years.
 
The car professionals began the opening class by giving students a detailed description of their jobs. Siefker graduated from Northeast in 1986 and has helped hundreds of people purchase vehicles throughout his career. He told students that honesty, respect and trust are among a car salesperson’s most important character attributes.
 
“We want to make sure that our reputation is that we put the customer first,” Siefker said. “It’s all about taking care of our customers. It’s the main thing. Establishing that trusting relationship is absolutely key.”
 
Siefker said that customers first determine if they can trust a car salesperson before moving on to the emotional and logical portions of their decision-making process. He told students that a salesperson’s job is to answer questions about items like safety, performance and price in a straightforward and friendly fashion. Those conversations can help customers decide whether they want to buy that particular car or consider another vehicle.
 
Siefker then provided students with tips on how to approach the car-buying process. He told them it was essential to research both the car itself and potential car dealerships to visit. He also said establishing a good credit score and understanding the overall car market were both vital steps to take.

 
Lanik, Siefker and Christensen wrapped up the opening session by leading students on a practice sales walk-through of a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox. They explained how to speak to customers, display the vehicle and answer questions about the car.
 
The Rockets inspected the vehicle on day two and completed a second sales practice session on the third day. Sid Dillon's sales staff gave them details about the financial process of purchasing a car on the fourth day.
 
Christensen said the project provided students with an important networking opportunity. He said many people have sources they can turn to for questions about topics like real estate, and the same logic applies to buying and selling a car. Siefker and Lanik gave the Rockets their business cards and told them they would be happy to help them with any future car concerns.
 
“It’s good that the kids will know both Bill and Jon now,” Christensen said. “If they ever have any questions, it’s nice that they can call them up and say, ‘Hey, I have a question,’ because now they’re someone they can trust.”
 
Siefker said he was happy to help the Northeast classes throughout the week. Not only did the project introduce students to potential careers, but it also handed them the keys of car knowledge that they can use for the rest of their lives.
 
“This is a good opportunity for them,” Siefker said. “If they decide later on to get into the industry, then they have that experience, and it also educates them on what the process looks like for buying a vehicle. They’re going to be educated when they go out in the real world and buy a car for themselves.”
 
Career and technical education (CTE) courses are helping LPS students learn a wide range of important life lessons. Visit home.lps.org/cte to discover details about nearly 100 CTE courses available in our school district.
 
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Posted on December 12, 2025

Spartans cruise academic skies by coding drones in computer science class

East High School students like Calvin, Owen and Ryan turned their coding knowledge into aerial adventures during a Computer Science Week lesson in early December.
 
Computer Science Foundations students learned how to program drones to accomplish specific tasks with block coding software. They instructed their drones to take off, move through the air and land on circular paper targets on a cafeteria table. The drones had to land on all three targets that were arranged in a triangular shape in the lunchroom.
 
Owen and Ryan said they were excited to try the activity for the first time. The ninth graders said they liked seeing their coding work come to life in the form of soaring drones.
 
“I think it’s kind of cool to see how your code actually can do things in the real world instead of just on a screen,” Owen said. “It’s fun to see your progress in real time.”
 
“I enjoy it because I think coding’s just kind of cool and a neat thing to do,” Ryan said. “Being able to do it with something that moves and not just on a computer program or a Chromebook is interesting.”

 
East math teacher Peter McGinley said he was pleased with the way the Spartans approached the assignment. He said these types of lessons were important because of the growth in computer science and technology industries. Drones are now being utilized in various career fields, ranging from agriculture to marine biology.
 
“We have a lot of kids taking it at East, but I think we should have everybody taking computer science in some form because of the logical reasoning behind it,” McGinley said. “It kind of shows why things work and how things work, and it’s something you’re going to see more and more in the everyday world.”

 
McGinley taught the Spartans how to use a block coding program called “Blockly” prior to the activity. It was one of the first times students used block coding in the Computer Science Foundations class. Much of their work this semester has been with a script-based coding program called Python.
 
Students started their code with a ‘run’ button. They created a ‘takeoff’ command that lifted the drone from its resting place on a table, and they then included an ‘up’ command that told the drone to rise above cafeteria tables that were between the starting point and the three targets. They completed the first part of the coding process by instructing the drone to move forward in the air before landing on the target.
 
After reaching the first piece of paper, the Spartans had to program their drone to turn 90 degrees in the air and land on the second target. Their goal was to then successfully return to their home base.

 
McGinley said learning how to solve problems through a trial-and-error method was a key lesson for the class. If drones came too close to each other, the resulting changes in airflow caused some of the devices to be pushed off their original path. Two students had to unexpectedly change their drone’s batteries midway through the activity, and others had to alter their code to accommodate for greater distances between the first and second targets.
 
“You would see them have some success after a little bit of trial and error,” McGinley said. “I think it’s important to show them that it’s not always going to work out the way they want to. It’s hopefully something that they can apply to other classes that they take.”
 
Owen said he enjoyed testing potential solutions for each of the puzzles. He, Calvin and Ryan adjusted their code during the afternoon to bring their drone closer to the right landing spot.
 
“Sometimes it was a little too far to the side of the target, but over time, we got it closer,” Owen said.

 
The Spartans also learned how to incorporate new strategies into their answers. McGinley moved around the cafeteria and offered advice to the groups when needed. Their excitement level soared when they watched the promising results of the updated drone flights.
 
“Mr. McGinley came over and helped us by telling us that if we used this command, it would help it go up further and it would help it not be attracted to other things,” Calvin said. “It just made it better.”
 
Owen said the Computer Science Foundations class has been a good extension of the earlier exposure he has had to coding and programming. LPS students begin learning how to code in elementary school, and they take computer science courses in both middle and high school.
 
“I enjoy being able to learn to code because I feel that’s something becoming a lot more prevalent today,” Owen said. “It’s a useful skill.”
 
“I’m kind of amazed at how developed my students are with their coding skills when they get here,” McGinley said. “I think that kind of allows us to raise our expectations, so I think it’s a great idea to get them started young.”
 
McGinley said he would encourage people of all ages to enter the world of coding.
 
“Anybody can be successful in coding,” McGinley said. “Even people who wouldn’t think that they would normally be good at coding, just give it a try, because I think it’s a great path to pursue.”
 
LPS students explore computer science topics in many classes and school organizations. Visit home.lps.org/cte/cs to discover more information about our computer science curriculum. 
 
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Posted on December 12, 2025

Hemmett earns statewide honor for school counseling leadership

The Nebraska School Counselor Association (NSCA) named LPS School Counseling Supervisor Lori Hemmett as the 2025 Administrator of the Year in November. It’s an honor she shares with the 137 school counselors serving LPS.

“This recognition means a lot because the nomination comes from the group I feel are my peers and who I aim to serve and advocate for every day,” Hemmett said. 

Hemmett’s path at LPS began in 2002 as a Spanish teacher at Southwest High School, where she was part of the original staff. After nine years, she moved to North Star High School to start her school counseling career. In 2016, she became the leader of East High School’s counseling team. She’s been in her current position as school counseling supervisor for three years.

“I was drawn to education because I knew I loved to work and help people, and what I discovered throughout my career is that my ability to foster and cultivate relationships was my biggest strength,” Hemmett said. “Leaning on this, I was drawn more and more to helping the adults I worked with have strong systems and support so they could best serve students, and that is what drew me to become an administrator.”

Hemmett said she started with a simple vision that outlined the role of the school counselor and the need for articulated goals and a K-12 school counseling curriculum.

“School counselors are involved in all facets of school, ensuring that all students have access to an adult that can help them with personal needs, academic support and career exploration, so I serve on several committees and other groups in order to bring the school counseling perspective to light when decisions are being made about programming, systems and student supports for all our students in LPS,” Hemmett said. 

Within her tenure as the school district’s counseling supervisor, LPS has added 24  school counseling positions. The school district added 16 counseling staff at the elementary level, two at middle school and six at high school.

Currently, the counseling team is building its school counseling core curricula with lessons based in four quarterly themes. These are designed to support the LPS mission of preparing all students for successful careers, lifelong learning and civic engagement. LPS also initiated an elementary summer school counseling program, featuring lessons designed to reinforce prosocial and career readiness skills for all elementary summer school students in grades K-5.  

“All of these initiatives exist because the hard-working school counselors in LPS demonstrate the importance of great school counseling, and that when we all work together with the same focus, we can make a difference and create outcomes for student learning and success,” Hemmett said.

During the NSCA awards luncheon, six LPS counselors were among the 12 finalists for Nebraska School Counselor of the Year. Ann Spotanski, the school counselor at Clinton Elementary School, received the NSCA Elementary School Counselor of the Year Award. Spotanski said Hemmett has been a role model for everyone at LPS with her award-winning leadership.

“I believe that leaders grow leaders,” Spotanski said. “That is what Lori has done for school counselors in LPS. Also, why I believe so many LPS counselors were recognized. She guides us to be our best and sets every one of us up for success within our own building.”

Want to learn more about school counseling at Lincoln Public Schools? Visit our website at home.lps.org/counseling to get more information. 

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Posted on December 11, 2025

New career readiness curriculum creates more college applicants at Bryan Community

Bryan Community students are watching college doors fly open this fall thanks to an increased focus on career readiness in school.
 
The Phoenix are using field trips, AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) classes and personalized career planning sessions to achieve success. Prior to three years ago, only a handful of Bryan Community students applied to college each year. The school’s new strategy yielded nearly 25 college applications last spring, and that number is likely to grow for members of the Class of 2026.
 
Bryan seniors Shy, Emily and Bel are all planning to walk through college entryways. They credited Melissa Sellon, Chelsea Gibeault and Joanna Davis-Yoakum with helping them find postsecondary paths. Sellon is the school counselor and Gibeault and Davis-Yoakum lead AVID classes.
 
“They actually take the time to know what each of us want to do after we graduate,” Shy said. “Once they know, they try to help us learn about what we want to do so we’re prepared for it.”
 
“I like that they’re providing us with information and resources for how to get into college,” Emily said. “I really appreciate that we’re getting opportunities to find that information. It’s helping us find scholarships so we can go to school for a lot less money than we would have otherwise.”
 
“It’s just overall bettering your skills,” Bel said. “They’re teaching us about writing, doing essays, catching information on slides and getting an overall idea of longer pieces of information. They’re showing us a lot of things that we’ll need.”

 
Sellon, Gibeault and Davis-Yoakum came to Bryan three years ago when the school introduced a multi-pronged plan to boost college application rates. Establishing AVID classes was one of the strategy’s major components. The AVID curriculum teaches academic, social and behavioral skills that prepare students for both college and the workplace.
 
Gibeault said it has been exciting to watch students put their newfound AVID talents into practice. Not only have college applications increased, but the Phoenix are securing more scholarships and career footholds as well.
 
“The first year we started AVID, even bringing up college was met with a lot of animosity from the students,” Gibeault said. “But now, when you start the year, they already know, ‘Well, I’m going to go to this apprenticeship,’ or ‘I know I want to go to this school first and then transfer here.’ It’s transitioned from us teaching about college to being able to dive in and learn about the paths they’ve chosen and start getting them on that path. It’s really exciting for us.”
 
Sellon said Gibeault and Davis-Yoakum have created a culture that values ongoing learning and the pursuit of education and training beyond high school. They invest more class time to talk through the college-going process, since many students will be the first members of their families to attend.
 
“Bryan has long mastered getting students to graduation day, and we wanted to go even further: to the ‘beyond’ part of our mission,” Sellon said. “Not only are my AVID teachers incredibly knowledgeable about teaching postsecondary skills through the AVID framework, but they go above and beyond to plan how to tailor that for our specific population.”

During one class period, Gibeault asked students to read a handful of winning scholarship essays. After identifying strong points from each one, they began writing their own 500-word scholarship letters. They learned how to tell their own stories, deliver compelling introductions and explain why they were a good candidate for the award.
 
Bel took many notes from each essay before starting the first draft of her letter. She plans to major in social work in college and hopes to become a police officer.
 
“They help you go through things like this so you know what to do,” Bel said. “Where do you need help? What exactly are you looking for? They can help you get the closest thing to a perfect resource that you need to be successful.”
 
Bryan Community has also increased the number of field trips students have taken over the past three years. They have leaned into experiential trips that provide hands-on activities for the Phoenix. These have included visits to industrial arts classrooms, hairstyling schools and health care facilities.
 
Shy and Emily have both benefited from the field trips initiative. Shy was accepted at a local hairstyling college after visiting it with Bryan classmates last year. Emily plans to pursue either a career in criminal justice or automotive mechanics in college. Her interest level in the auto field increased this fall after a group of Phoenix went to Southeast Community College’s Milford campus.
 
Gibeault said the auto mechanics visit made a noticeable impact on students. They practiced painting a car with a virtual reality headset, worked with powersports engines and learned how to change car tires. Bryan is now partnering with the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools to create Fund-A-Needs for additional field trips.

 
“We had a few students who dove right in,” Gibeault said. “They were just buzzing with excitement and jumping up and down. It was a really cool trip.”
 
Sellon said she is proud that many more Bryan students will be telling their stories at postsecondary institutions in the future.
 
“Their voices deserve to be heard,” Sellon said. “I’m just happy to hand them the microphone.”
 
AVID classes are helping many LPS students boost their future prospects. Visit our website at home.lps.org/avid to learn more about the AVID process and how middle and high school students can apply for the program.
 
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Posted on December 11, 2025

LPS honored for noteworthy contributions to All-State music event

Lincoln Public Schools employees received a note of encouragement this fall when they were honored for helping students play sweet sounds at a state music convention.
 
The Nebraska Music Education Association (NMEA) presented the LPS Music Department with the Bryan R. Johnson Distinguished Service Award. The NMEA gives special recognition each year to individuals or groups who have made outstanding contributions to the music profession in Nebraska. LPS received the award this fall for providing music instruments and equipment for the NMEA Conference/In-Service Clinic on an annual basis.
 
“The LPS Music Department and the Nebraska Music Education Association share a deeply valued and longstanding partnership,” NMEA President Debbie Martinez said. “In recognition of the extraordinary support the LPS Music Department provides in ensuring the annual NMEA Conference is a success, the NMEA board is proud to present them with the Bryan R. Johnson Distinguished Service Award.”
 
NMEA Executive Director Cheyenne Grannan and NMEA Immediate Past President Clay Blackman said many All-State musicians and their families have benefited from the annual LPS contributions. All-State orchestra, choir, concert band and jazz band ensembles use the instruments for their public concerts at the Lied Center for the Performing Arts.
 
Groups from many Nebraska schools also perform at the NMEA event. More than 2,000 K-12 students, music educators, college students and music exhibitors gathered in Lincoln this fall for concerts, clinics and networking opportunities.
 
“The Lincoln Public Schools should be lauded for their willingness to help the Nebraska Music Education Association, which in turn, helps every All-State student, parent and teacher,” Blackman said. “For that reason, NMEA was more than happy to award them the Bryan R. Johnson Distinguished Service Award.”

“Their staff is consistently responsive and flexible, ensuring that our event operates smoothly,” Grannan said. “They also go above and beyond, taking extra measures to verify that any equipment they provide is in the best condition possible. Without this partnership, we would not be able to hold our concert hours, which showcased 18 different student ensembles during the conference.”

 
Amy Holloman is the LPS supervisor of music and Amy Thorpe is the LPS music coordinator. Both gave a large amount of credit to the LPS Distribution Center team for transporting items to and from the downtown conference sites. LPS Distribution Center Warehouse Supervisor Brian Kailing and fellow employees spent multiple hours planning logistics, delivering items before the convention and picking up instruments and equipment after the final All-State concert.
 
“Our music department works often and closely with distribution on a regular basis,” Holloman said. “Brian Kailing and his department are always wonderful to work with and have been flexible in times where we needed to pivot for pickup/delivery based on something beyond our control. We are incredibly grateful for the wonderful relationship we have with our colleagues at distribution!”
 
“We were incredibly humbled to be honored and grateful to have such a fantastic LPS Distribution Department that transports equipment across our district,” Thorpe said. “They are an incredibly hardworking team, and we are so glad that they were recognized for the outstanding service they continue to provide.”
 
Kailing said the distribution team enjoys helping the NMEA Conference run smoothly. LPS employees transported a marimba, xylophone, bass drum, glockenspiel, tam tams, chimes and a set of timpani for All-State musicians to use this year. A large portion of the convention took place at the Lied Center for Performing Arts and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Westbrook Music Building.
 
“We are just a small part of the puzzle for this event,” Kailing said. “Even though we are not in the classrooms, we take pride in knowing that we contribute to the overall success of the students and staff of LPS.”
 
Music and distribution employees begin planning their transportation strategy in early October each year. LPS high schools share instruments for the conference on a rotating basis, and it was East High School’s turn to provide items for the 2025 event. Holloman, Thorpe and Kailing determined how best to move instruments out of East’s building, which route to use to go downtown and when and where the NMEA would like instruments to be dropped off.
 
NMEA leaders provide a final list of needed instruments to LPS one week prior to the convention each fall. The All-State inventory can vary from year to year. Kailing said his team fit all of the 2025 items into one truck, which helped workers navigate construction by the UNL Glenn Korff School of Music more easily. LPS delivered two trucks' worth of equipment to the NMEA for last year’s conference.
 
Thorpe said teamwork is a vital component of the delivery and pickup process. Phone calls, e-mail messages and face-to-face meetings allow everyone to finalize important details each year.
 
“With so many involved, a positive working relationship and strong communication are essential,” Thorpe said.

 
Martinez said that helpful attitude was on full display during the past two years of construction at UNL. She praised the LPS team’s “consistent and exceptional willingness” to provide NMEA with instruments and equipment for the conference.
 
“During the period when construction required NMEA to relocate to other venues without essential resources, the LPS Music Department demonstrated exemplary teamwork,” Martinez said. “They transformed what could have been a debilitating logistical problem – far surpassing the routine movement of equipment – into a manageable operation through creative and shared solutions.”

Grannan said it is important to recognize these types of behind-the-scenes efforts. She said the timely delivery of percussion equipment and other essential gear ensures that each venue is ready to go for students, teachers and audiences.

“These logistical contributions often happen out of sight, yet they make every onstage moment possible,” Grannan said. “Honoring this work underscores how vital LPS’ support is to producing rehearsals, concerts and a positive experience for students and directors at this event that brings together people from across our state.”
 
Holloman said it is rewarding to know that LPS employees are giving students a chance to record pitch-perfect All-State moments every year.
 
“We have continued to provide instruments and equipment to help ensure LPS and Nebraska All-State students have access to what they need for a successful performing experience,” Holloman said.
 
LPS music teachers and administrators are helping students compose many sweet-sounding achievements in practices, concerts and performances. Visit our website at home.lps.org/music to learn more about our music curriculum. 
 
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Posted on December 10, 2025

Styling their futures: Bryan students explore careers in hair and makeup

Lincoln Public Schools students Jurny and Amiah saw how they could style their futures in the world of hair and makeup during a field trip to downtown Lincoln.
 
The Bryan Community Focus Program classmates traveled to the College of Hair Design (CHD) alongside fellow AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) students. The group learned how to become hairstylists, cosmetologists and estheticians and discovered how those jobs help other people.
 
Jurny and Amiah said they are interested in traveling on that career path after earning their LPS diplomas. They said the topics of hair and cosmetology have had positive effects on their own lives.
 
“I love doing my hair and makeup and just love it in general,” Jurny said. “I know how it can make everybody else feel, and I just want to bring that good feeling to other people.”
 
“I always felt like those were things I enjoyed,” Amiah said. “What’s something that I like to do that I can combine with art and creativity, and then also make money from it and give people something that they like? I was like, ‘Oh, I could do hair. I could do makeup. I could do nails. I could do body care.’”

 
The field trip was the latest career exploration adventure for Bryan students in the AVID program. They have investigated a wide variety of job options by visiting with professionals, touring workplaces and learning about postgraduate schools. They went on six field trips last year and will take at least that many this year.
 
Bryan teachers Chelsea Gibeault and Joanna Davis-Yoakum and school counselor Melissa Sellon accompanied the group to the College of Hair Design. Gibeault and Davis-Yoakum began leading AVID classes at Bryan last year and incorporated field trips into their lineup of lessons. Gibeault said providing students with firsthand views of potential careers has been life-changing for many of them.
 
“Last year we had more kids apply to college and get accepted to college than ever before, and we attribute a lot of that to the field trips,” Gibeault said. “The trips showed students what the possibilities for their futures are. They showed them that these are careers they can do, and once the kids saw that, they wanted to know what steps they needed to take to get there.”

 
Gibeault and Davis-Yoakum have asked AVID students about their career interests to gauge which field trip locations would have the most impact. Class members have also completed career assessments to further pin down prime destinations.
 
“A lot of our students have been interested in cosmetology, esthetician or barber,” Davis-Yoakum said. “We decided that we would make it a point to take our students on a field trip to this area.”
 
Bryan sophomore Maddix said he was impressed with what he learned during the visit. Four current CHD students talked about their experiences at the school and why they wanted to join the profession. Several CHD instructors also spoke about their backgrounds and offered details about the college’s curriculum, class structure and financial aid options.
 
“It was really informative and it was really open,” Maddix said. “You could talk back and forth and there was a lot of opportunity to get feedback. It was less of a one-sided lecture and more of a conversation.”

 
CHD students complete 1,800 hours of schooling in the barber arts curriculum. In addition to core elements such as cutting, styling, shaving and chemical texturing, they also study chemistry, bacteriology and skin and nail diseases.
 
Jurnie has been cutting, styling and dyeing her own hair for several years. She would like to attend CHD and eventually open her own hairstyling business. She spoke with excitement after the presentation and building tour were completed.
 
“I want to do cosmetology and hair-cutting in the future, which is a big reason why I wanted to come today,” Jurnie said. “Coming here and hearing about the experiences everybody had made it set that I wanted to come here for school.”
 
Amiah said a previous conversation with a CHD staff member had been a confidence-boosting moment. The same staff member spoke with students during the field trip, which reinforced Amiah’s belief that a hairstyling career was possible.
 
“I’m the main person pushing myself to do it and I want it the most, so I feel like I can do it,” Amiah said. “She gave me a lot of motivation.”
 
Gibeault, Davis-Yoakum and Sellon said the field trips have dovetailed well with a new state law requiring students to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Sellon said it has been a revelation for many future LPS graduates to know that scholarships and grants are available.
 
“With the FAFSA law, kids are realizing that they can get financial aid to go to school,” Sellon said. “Some of them never knew that before.”
 
Gibeault said it is encouraging to watch Bryan students begin to braid together successful career outlooks this year.
 
“We’ve never had as many kids bring up the topic of college to us as they have recently,” Gibeault said. “It’s really cool. They’re definitely focusing on their futures.”

Learn more about our AVID program on the LPS website at https://home.lps.org/avid/.
 
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Posted on December 10, 2025

Lincoln AFJROTC cadets build camaraderie at Papillion Fitness Challenge

Lincoln Public Schools cadets made healthy history this fall by competing against students from across the state in a fitness challenge.
 
Lincoln Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) members traveled to Liberty Middle School in Papillion for the Papillion Fitness Challenge. Jackson, Sam, Saryia, Trinity, Kriss and Mathiaus completed multiple indoor and outdoor activities during the morning and early afternoon. They represented the NE-20091 AFJROTC detachment in both individual and team-based contests.
 
Mathiaus, Kriss, Sam and Jackson said they were glad to experience the event for the first time. They said it taught them valuable lessons about communication, teamwork and camaraderie.
 
“It was very fun and encouraging,” Mathiaus said.
 
“It’s very important to have team-building exercises,” Jackson said. “We learn to work together and build friendship.”
 
“It’s very important, because we build each other up and we strengthen our character as people and teammates,” Kriss said.
 
“It is important to have team-building activities like it in class, so then each person is comfortable with the other people around,” Sam said.

 
Retired Master Sergeant Justin Twilley is the LPS aerospace science instructor. He felt the trip generated long-lasting benefits for everyone involved, especially with respect to teamwork.
 
“Team building is the cornerstone of willful learning in my experience,” Twilley said. “People are willing to take shortcuts for themselves, but they will often go further for others than they will for themselves. Any activity that builds a small team or a small unit will almost always get better results, as the individuals will stop working for themselves and will try to advance the group’s interests instead. The moment when they start self-correcting and managing each other’s behaviors is a great thing to see.”
 
The Papillion Fitness Challenge is part of a nationwide JROTC fitness program called Raiders. Students from all six military branches compete in an array of team-based fitness challenges. They square off against other schools in male, female and co-ed categories.
 
The Papillion event featured physical education contests such as sit-ups, push-ups and pull-ups inside the school’s gym. Students then journeyed outside for a series of endurance exercises. They participated in a rescue drill activity by carrying and pulling their partners across a football field. They also competed in relay races on the track.

 
The Lincoln cadets recorded many bright individual moments. Sam returned home with a championship medal after completing 63 sit-ups, and multiple students registered personal-best marks in their fitness categories. Twilley said the competition gave them a chance to reach current goals and discover new ones to set for the future.
 
“Fitness activities are always great for the obvious reasons like health and wellness, but competitions are wonderful for showing everyone how far they need to go,” Twilley said. “Seeing their peers perform the same activities and being able to measure themselves directly gives them real, tangible targets to aim for. The direct effect on their confidence and ability to interact with new environments only continues to build their personal toolkits and prepare them for new challenges.”
 
Jackson and Kriss said they picked up the tools of perspective, strategy and fortitude at the contest. In addition to showcasing these skills in physical fitness activities, they will also use them in their academic work each day.
 
“I learned how to pace myself during challenges,” Jackson said. “I also learned proper form and how to build more usable muscle.”
 
“It teaches you endurance and to have fun,” Kriss said. “And to not be discouraged about not getting a certain score as long as you had fun.”
 
The cadets also used the Papillion Fitness Challenge as a way to create community engagement opportunities. They met fellow JROTC members from many high schools and gained new ideas about possible classroom and physical fitness activities. They discovered that a large number of students are interested in participating in Raiders.
 
Twilley felt the trip to Sarpy County was a successful one for LPS. He said it was encouraging to watch students make positive memories from their time together.
 
“We are teaching the cadets how to function in a small team, how to manage at their own level, and how to coordinate and effectively communicate as they strive for a common goal,” Twilley said. “It may be a simple event, but the return we get from our cadets is a marked spirit of camaraderie and self-confidence, as well as a huge boost to their peer reliance.”
 
LPS students are gaining lifelong skills through our focus programs like AFJROTC. Visit home.lps.org/focus to learn more about how you can choose your journey with LPS Focus Programs. 
 
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Posted on December 09, 2025

LPS chefs display first-class cooking skills at LPS contest in new location

East High School junior Addie symbolized the main goal of this fall’s LPS Culinary Contest when she chose to decorate her frosted cookies with images of an owl.
 
Addie joined more than 200 Lincoln Public Schools students for a full day of culinary competitions at the Nebraska Innovation Campus. They gained owl-level wisdom by cooking, preparing, decorating and plating food for judges in more than a dozen contests. They also toured the Nebraska Innovation Studio, participated in food science activities and met fellow chefs from across the city.

Kristin Vest, the LPS coordinator for both family and consumer sciences (FCS) and health sciences, said students and teachers were excited about having the contest at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for the first time. The event was beginning to outgrow its previous home at The Career Academy, and UNL leaders were interested in providing space for hundreds of participants and guests. The result was a five-star meal of academic opportunities for everyone.

 
“We are so grateful for the partnership with UNL and their willingness to support our students in helping to host this event for us,” Vest said. “The feedback from our students, teachers, volunteers, judges and UNL faculty and staff has all been positive. They have all asked us back next year!”
 
Addie began decorating cookies for the first time this year as part of her culinary classes. She said she has enjoyed figuring out how to make cookies interesting and attractive through the use of colors, textures and designs. She returned home from the contest with a first-place medal in the Culinary II Decorated Cookie - Royal Icing category.
 
“I just think it’s fun and calming,” Addie said. “You get to be creative.”

 
Grayson walked into the banquet hall with the same energetic mindset. The Standing Bear sophomore said he was looking forward to competing in a salad plating contest later that morning. He was also pleased to meet other students who shared his culinary interests. He joined Addie on the awards list with a first-place showing in the Culinary II Salads event.
 
“I love culinary a lot, so I thought it would be a great day to go around and see things,” Grayson said.
 
Vest was pleased to hear those types of comments as she oversaw activities in the banquet hall. She has watched the culinary contest expand its menu of options during the past four years. She said students learned a great deal from creating tasty entrees, decorating cookies and displaying vegetable-slicing talents.
 
“When students are working to demonstrate their culinary skills in a competitive way, they are earning recognition, communicating with industry professionals and showcasing their creativity and the technical skills learned in their culinary classes,” Vest said. “Additionally, for our students participating in the team competition events, they showcase communication skills, problem solving and teamwork in addition to the creative and technical skills learned in their culinary classes.”
 
Tracy Richter was one of six judges who worked with students during the dessert plating contest. Richter is senior assistant director of dining with UNL’s University Dining Service, and she was interested in learning more about the pipeline of potential culinary talent in Lincoln. A friend told her about judging opportunities at the LPS Culinary Contest, and she seized the chance for the first time last year.
 
“I thought it was a good opportunity to see the up-and-coming culinary and hospitality students,” Richter said. “It’s fun to see the students’ creativity and what they learn in school.”

 
Richter watched more than a dozen chefs display cheesecakes for the dessert plating contest. Northwest student Izabella produced a raspberry cheesecake theme for her dessert, and Southwest student Sutton created pink butterfly wings at the ends of her display. Other students incorporated beach colors, avocados and mixed berries into their presentations.
 
“It was good,” Richter said. “There was a lot of creativity. There were some nervous hands too, but they did really well.”
 
Younger chefs like Standing Bear students Delaney and Isaac were also eager to explore the contest’s academic opportunities. They were preparing to represent Standing Bear in one of the day’s quiz bowls. The contest requires teams to answer trivia questions about cooking terms, processes, equipment and ingredients.
 
“I decided to come today because I really enjoy culinary, and I think it’s really cool to get information about it,” Delaney said. “I’m doing the quiz bowl, so I like learning a lot of information.”

 
Isaac said he has enjoyed taking the Culinary I: Fundamentals of Food and Nutrition class this fall. The course serves as a foundation for a series of culinary arts classes at LPS.
 
“I feel like Culinary I is more about nutrients than it is about cooking techniques right now, but that’s okay, because you need to know what you’re eating,” Isaac said. “It’s been fun learning more things about that.”
 
The Culinary II: Culinary Skills course teaches students basic professional food preparation requirements and safe and sanitary food practices. The Culinary III: Advanced Culinary Skills class builds upon that knowledge by giving them chances to prepare meals and learn plating techniques.
 
Delaney said she was looking forward to stepping into the entrée arena for herself one day. She wanted to follow Addie’s example and continue accumulating owl-level cooking wisdom for a possible future career.
 
“I’m definitely open-minded about that,” Delaney said. “I think it’s a lot of fun to do this.”

2025 LPS Culinary Contest Results

Culinary I Knife Skills (34 entries)

1) Selena Mukusha (Southwest), 2) Oakley Coffman (Standing Bear), 3) Mady Thelen (Northeast), 4) Tracy Liu (Standing Bear), 5) Diamond Martin (East), 6) August Downes (Southwest), 7) Thao Ong (Northeast), 8) Gabe Albright (Lincoln High), 9) Ben Lynch (Lincoln High), 10) Brooke Lofquist (Standing Bear)

Culinary I Quiz Bowl (eight teams)

1) Standing Bear, 2) Southeast

Culinary I Nutrition Poster

1) Al Lococo (Lincoln High), 2) Graycie Kumpula (East), 3) Aaliyah Lafon Patterson (Southeast)

Culinary II Quiz Bowl (five teams)

1) Lincoln High, 2) East

Culinary II Safety and Sanitation Poster

1) Jennifer Cruz Guzman (Lincoln High), 2) Lily Hoffart (East), 3) Adyson Lakey (Southeast)

Culinary II Sauces (21 entries)

1) Eddie Meza-Vidales (Lincoln High), 2) Kaleigh Epps (Lincoln High), 3) Spencer Cacek (Standing Bear)

Culinary II Salads (20 entries)

1) Grayson Schroeder (Standing Bear), 2) Alex Rasmussen (Northeast), 3) Dorian Knowlin (Southeast)

Culinary II Decorated Cookie – Royal Icing (13 entries)

1) Addie Odle (East), 2) Anna Gomez-Rozmairek (Lincoln High), 3) Isabelle Watkins (Southeast)

Culinary II Decorated Cookie – Buttercream Icing (12 entries)

1) Chloe Troupe (Standing Bear), 2) Zoriah Stevens (Lincoln High), 3) Abby Irons (Southwest)

Culinary III Dessert Plating (11 entries)

1) Sutton Classen (Southwest), 2) Anthony Steen (Southeast), 3) Laura Traudt (Southwest)

Culinary III Team Entrée Competition (six teams)

1) Southwest Silver (Sam Cederberg, Prince Goronga, Mikayla Vauiso, Hailey Wagner), 2) Southwest Green (Jack Lipka, Lily Newcomer, Madeline Prouty), 3) Standing Bear Grizzlies, 4) Southwest Knights of the Round Tablecloth, 5) Southeast MidKnight Snackers, 6) North Star Gators

School Spirit Award

Standing Bear High School (For showcasing school spirit, attentiveness and participation in demonstrating excellent sportsmanship during the culinary competition)
 
LPS students are cooking up a full menu of nutritious academic meals in their culinary arts classes. Visit home.lps.org/cte/fcs to learn more about the school district’s family and consumer sciences (FCS) courses.
 
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Posted on December 08, 2025

LPS students shine in All-State music concerts

Lincoln Public Schools students scaled to the top of the All-State music mountain this fall when they sang and played with scores of other elite performers.
 
Elementary, middle and high school students took part in rehearsals and concerts at the Nebraska Music Education Association (NMEA) Conference/In-Service Clinic. More than 2,000 teachers, exhibitors, college students and K-12 performers gathered in Lincoln for the All-State weekend. They showcased their musical skills at five downtown venues.
 
Southeast High School junior Charlotte made her second career appearance in the All-State Choir this fall. She said forming new friendships was her favorite part of singing with the group.
 
“It’s a really cool feeling already to be surrounded by 450 of the most talented people in the state, but it’s especially cool when you get to spend time with people from other schools that you know but don’t usually see, or even have the chance to meet new people,” Charlotte said. “That’s something I find so beautiful about music in Nebraska as a whole.”

 
Heera Jang and Riley Herringer both said the All-State experience was a superb teaching tool for students like Charlotte. Jang leads music classes at Prescott Elementary School and Herringer is head vocal music director at Southeast. Jang had four Panthers sing in the All-State Children’s Choir, and Herringer had ten Knights who were either selected for the All-State Choir or chosen as an alternate.
 
“I think participating in the All-State Choir gives students the opportunity to greatly improve their musical skills and gain confidence by working with an advanced ensemble and performing on a big stage,” Jang said. “It also helps them build responsibility and patience as they stay focused during long rehearsals while preparing for the concert.”
 
“Music connects people, and this unique shared experience allows all students involved to make music at a high level where everyone is invested in what they are doing,” Herringer said. “This is one of the experiences in our students’ lives that is hard to replicate and requires them to be engaged in learning and open to trying new things. Being able to make music like this with people they’ve never met before connects to the humanities we try to teach our students every day.”

 
LPS Supervisor of Music Amy Holloman expressed excitement about the large number of LPS students who were accepted into All-State groups. Musicians from 15 elementary, nine middle and seven high schools represented the school district on stage. This year’s concert lineup featured music from the All-State Band, All-State Chorus, All-State Jazz Band, All-State Orchestra, All-State Middle Level Band, All-State Middle Level String Orchestra and All-State Children’s Choir.
 
“We are always incredibly proud of the number of students from LPS who are represented in All-State ensembles each year,” Holloman said. “That is a testament to the outstanding instruction and music opportunities that our LPS directors provide.”
 
Holloman said it is challenging to earn spots. Elementary music teachers are allowed to nominate only a few students for the All-State Children’s Choir each year. Middle and high school students must compete for positions through a statewide audition process. They record digital files of their music and upload them through a website portal for judges to review.
 
“Students from all over the state audition every year to be selected as a Nebraska Music All-State student,” Holloman said. “It is the highest honor a music student can receive. The preparation and musical rigor is very difficult, and students spend many hours preparing for their audition.”
 
Pershing Elementary School music teacher Nicholas Besse said it was meaningful for five of his students to appear in the All-State spotlight. Alison, Gwen, Daynica, Adaline and Emerson learned they could achieve many life goals through hard work and motivation.
 
“For some of them, this was their very first time performing on a stage, much less singing alongside nearly 400 other students from across Nebraska,” Besse said. “Experiences like this show them a world of possibility beyond their everyday environment. They get to work with outstanding conductors, meet peers who share their love of music, and feel what it’s like to be part of something much bigger than themselves. Our Pershing students came back proud, inspired and excited to keep growing as musicians.”

 
Charlotte and Herringer both said the All-State kinship made the weekend even more special.
 
“From your school’s choir director to a director of a college ensemble, everyone in the festival wants to see you succeed, especially the All-State director,” Charlotte said. “Although it’s not possible for one All-State Choir director to individually meet and connect with everyone, they still want you, as a person, to enjoy your experience and to grow as a singer and person.”
 
“Students often find strong community ties to the music programs in our schools, and it’s very cool to see them experience that same feeling of community and belonging on such a large scale,” Herringer said. “Our students know that they are not alone in their interests and talents. It’s so special to see them shine in a place where they are understood and valued for who they are and what they can do.”
 
Charlotte said her All-State trip was a mountaintop experience that amplified her love of music.
 
“I met so many fantastic people and made some memories that I will remember not only for the rest of my high school career, but for the rest of my life,” Charlotte said. “All-State is a blessing and a privilege, and I could not be happier to participate.”

2025 LPS All-State Music Participants

All-State Children’s Choir

Arnold Elementary School: Alyssa Vine, Allura Duran, Luna Edwards, Aleah Hochstein, Emilia Wendel
Calvert Elementary School: Sebastian McAndrew, Eva Hicks, Harper Huckeby
Campbell Elementary School: Becca Broxterman, May Byron, Julissa Moncayo Gallegos, William Moses, Em Towle
Clinton Elementary School: Jaxon Dane, Remedi Wynne, Brinda Garis, Carlos Gonzalez
Fredstrom Elementary School: Dima Kheder, Jocelyn Joya, Brooks Quiring, Dah Hse
Hartley Elementary School: Eleanora Sheen, Angie Reyes, Grant Vadnais
Holmes Elementary School: Kendall Phillip, Nick Schwab
Kloefkorn Elementary School: Ben Furasek, Amaiya Zeeb, Brenna Hesser, Lucy Rischling, Lincoln Lambert
Maxey Elementary School: Kaylei Smith, Celia Barjenbruch, Breckin Carlson, Mattea Berge, Sawyer Suing, Tilly Kuhn
Pershing Elementary School: Alison Truong, Gwen Villines, Daynica Temple, Adaline Berks, Emerson Beaubier
Prescott Elementary School: Isley Hamel, Ivy O’Donnell, Olivia Owens, Fiona Ross
Randolph Elementary School: Phoebe Anderzhon, Leia Arleque, Johnnie Dodge, Iggy Gengler, Archer Sullivan
Robinson Elementary School: JJ Hansen, Izzy Johnson, Everly Sampson
Rousseau Elementary School: Lennon Abbott, Estella Pabst Beltran, Selah Cunningham, Amiah Hoover, Penelope Ianno, Kylie Kingery
Sheridan Elementary School: Oscar Lohrman, Bridget O’Donnell, Jane Rawson, Hudson Salem

All-State Middle Level Band

Culler Middle School: Sophia Contino (alternate), Elsa Luke (alternate)
Lux Middle School: Ella Peters, Nataliya Schliep, Liam Yunghans
Mickle Middle School: Keira Anderson, Mackenzie Nelson, Natalie Stone
Moore Middle School: Hailey Baker, Norah Profitt
Park Middle School: Orlando Streater
Pound Middle School: Toby Peterson, Phoebe Pointon
Scott Middle School: Logan Rowe

All-State Middle Level String Orchestra

Irving Middle School: Sawyer Antholz, Carson Blimling (alternate), Auggie Hansen, Amelia Harewood, Jaxon Harvey, Clara Hoyer, Qianyi Lu, Micah McKee, Elise Peters
Lux Middle School: Henry Conroy, Valerio Forgione, Koen Kanter, Harrison Littrell, Bella Sharif, Tyler Wilson, Judah Wittenburg
Moore Middle School: Mia Cooper, Lauren Ham, Mady Hart, Phoebe Stohs, Adeline Tran, Jonathan Zeng
Schoo Middle School: Teresa Dao, Kelvin Howell (alternate), Nadiya Solodovnik
Scott Middle School: Charlie Chance, Hazel Costenbader, Charlotte Handelman, Lucy Marino, Lucy Neri, Vanessa Pham, Logan Rowe

All-State Band

East High School: Julia Tully
Lincoln High: Oliver Brassil, Orion Welsch-Mixan
Northwest High School: Sierra Albers (alternate), Harper Pryor, Averie Smith, Olivia Solodovnik
Southeast High School: Madeleine Melang-Thoren, Joslyn Morgan, Brayden Neesen, Savannah Runyan
Southwest High School: Macy Gonderinger
Standing Bear High School: Hannah Baker, Peyton Roker (alternate)

All-State Chorus

East High School: Delton Dellinger, Alex Duden, Sawyer Elley, Myles Hardt, Zach Johannes, Emily Kumm, Harper Ricenbaw, Noah Robb, Gibson Sayre, Sophia Schulz, Phoebe Strong, Joslyn Walton
Lincoln High: Addison Davy, Avery Fletcher, Alex Gansher, Eli Martin, Sam Maser, Ryan Ostrander, Juliana Vazquez-Tapia
Southeast High School: Hanchan Ang, Carly Brittenham, Grayson Crabtree, Blake Gustafson, Avalee Hoyer, Sydney Kjeldgaard, Charlotte Mar, Devin Miller, Neely Nichols, Zenjin Schroeder (alternate)
Southwest High School: Emily Ayres, Garytt Brown, Leah Byelick, Joshua Carl, Xauiki Garcia-Adame, Kyrus Jensen, Grant Johnson, Jeremiah Keele, Josiah Kirchner, Vee Lundquist, Mide Omoniyi, Chance Ready, Esther Robinson, Carson Rogers, Avery Runestad, Edie Ulrich, Lily Wirth, Cayson Witt
Standing Bear High School: Gus Rose, Kenzie Schaefer

All-State Jazz Band

Lincoln High: Liam Giesbrecht (alternate)

All-State Orchestra

East High School: Bennett Bacon, Cecilia Cary, Wensi Cui, Luigi Forgione, Alyssa Freeman, Charlotte Fryda, Konnor Garrett, Alex Ge, William Guo, Anisa Kholmurodzoda, Annabelle Kumm, Abby Moorehead, Jeff Shen, Cora Thompson, Avery White, Brooks Xia (alternate), Jade Xia
Lincoln High: Sebastian Aracena, Colt Dillashaw, Eleanor Erickson, Hugh Skretta (alternate)
North Star High School: Wade Metzger
Southeast High School: Lucy Deitering, Hudson Lewandowski, Miles Melang-Thoren, Nnadozie Ogbonnaya, Baran Safa, Scott von Scheliha
Southwest High School: Lily Bohnart, Elsa Cortinas, Jamison Dixon, Kaylee James, Lily Johnston, Khang Nguyen, Ha Quach, Weili Wang, Caitlyn Yeggy
Standing Bear High School: Sam Cooper, Daniel Seifert, Jacob Thimmesch

LPS students are learning many life skills from their music experiences in elementary, middle and high school. Visit home.lps.org/music to find out more about our music curriculum.

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Posted on December 08, 2025

LPS students show kindness to others with Food Blitz drive

Hundreds of local residents will receive nourishing meals this holiday season thanks to hard work of many Lincoln Public Schools students.
 
LPS high schoolers gathered more than six tons of food and hygiene items for the People’s City Mission (PCM) during the Food Blitz XIII event. Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and DECA business club students from East, North Star, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest and Standing Bear displayed life-changing kindness at the food drive. They collected 12,526 pounds of materials from shoppers at Lincoln grocery stores and transported the items to PCM’s headquarters.
 
Southwest FBLA students Harnoor, Addison and Xavier said it was fulfilling to help others with their gifts of communication, teamwork and volunteerism. They promoted the event on multiple media outlets, spoke to people at grocery stores and packed food, water, toiletries and cooking supplies into trucks.
 
“I think it is so important to help the community by doing this event because everyone deserves the opportunity to have an adequate amount of food, especially for those who may not be able to afford enough to feed themselves and their families,” Addison said.
 
“One thing I enjoyed about this year’s Food Blitz was having the chance to interact with the community,” Harnoor said. “I was able to talk with those who donated, but also those who were curious about what we were doing. In the end, everyone understood the impact that our Food Blitz makes and supported us in any way they could.”
 
“It was amazing to see so many chapter members passionate about our cause of fighting against food insecurity,” Xavier said. “It felt a lot like one of our biggest years yet, and to be able to work on all aspects of the event from news promotion to being there the day of, it was awesome to be so involved.”

 
Southwest business teacher Josh Hinrichs said he was thrilled with the way the Silver Hawks responded to the community’s need. Hinrichs advises the school’s FBLA chapter and began a food drive at Southwest in 2011. He said the project teaches students about community engagement, planning, organization and overall kindness.
 
“I am very proud of my students’ interest in and support of our event,” Hinrichs said. “The time my leadership team members gave up to promote the event on TV and radio and the time the members at large gave to help on the event day shows how much they care about the purpose of the event. I also appreciate when some of our alumni members come back during the event and donate.”
 
Hinrichs partnered with a local grocery store on Pine Lake Road in 2011 for a “Fright Hunger” event with his FBLA chapter. FBLA and DECA advisors from other LPS high schools joined forces with Southwest the following year. They determined they would send all of the items they collected from the “Food Blitz” community service event to People’s City Mission.
 
LPS students averaged 4,300 pounds of donated items during the first eight years of the drive. Hinrichs said those numbers began to significantly increase in 2022. The Food Blitz effort netted more than 9,000 pounds that year.

 
Hinrichs said some of the program’s recent success can be attributed to citywide communication. Students began promoting the event on local television and radio stations. They answered questions from professional journalists and were able to spread the word regarding the who, what, when, where, why and how of the drive.
 
“It has been a great experience for my students to learn how to represent our chapter and speak about an event to a broader audience,” Hinrichs said.
 
Groups from each school were then assigned to stand in front of store locations and hand out informational flyers to customers as they entered. The flyers listed items that PCM requested for its residents. Students asked customers if they would be willing to buy those products and place them in shopping carts outside for the drive.
 
Hinrichs said he watched many Silver Hawks develop important face-to-face conversational skills with local residents this year.
 
“This is a great experience for students, as communicating verbally with people they do not know is not something many of them have done,” Hinrichs said. “It is fun to watch the students step out of their comfort zone.”
 
Addison and Xavier said the activity also showcased the type of impact a simple smile can have on people. Multiple shoppers returned to the front of stores with full carts of items to donate.
 
“For this year’s Food Blitz event, I really enjoyed seeing how generous the community was with the donations they gave,” Addison said. “Many of them were more than happy to give food to a good cause, which was a great thing to see.”
 
“One of my favorite parts was working in the truck organizing food,” Xavier said. “Although stressful, it was fun to organize a whole cart full of groceries, only to see that there were another three to organize after. It was clear evidence of the ‘Nebraska Nice’ that Lincoln shows every day.”
 
The drive also has a good-natured competitive aspect to it, as each high school group tries to raise the most food in the city. Southwest and North Star FBLA chapters collected 3,941 and 3,237 pounds for the cause, and Southeast’s FBLA and DECA teams produced a school-record amount of 2,306 pounds. Standing Bear’s FBLA chapter also set a record with 1,819 pounds.
 
Harnoor said events like the Food Blitz are one way for LPS students to make life-changing differences during the holiday season.
 
“It is important to help our community because we are all one team,” Harnoor said. “You never know what your friends or neighbors are going through, and you never truly know the impact of what one can of food can do for a family. We are all trying to live life to the fullest, and everyone deserves the chance to thrive, not just survive.”
 
LPS students are learning many business, marketing and information technology (BMIT) skills through activities like FBLA and DECA. Read more about BMIT courses and student organizations at home.lps.org/cte/bmit and home.lps.org/cte/student-organizations.
 
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Posted on December 05, 2025