Kenneth E. Wedell served the apprenticeship programs at Moraine Park for 15 years as apprentice coordinator, retiring in 1986. He was a journeyworker patternmaker and had worked in the field before he redirected his career to education by helping others achieve their journeyworker status in the skilled trades. He got his start in pattern making while in the Navy, and in 1951 he graduated from Stout State University (now the University of Wisconsin–Stout) with a bachelor's degree in industrial education then advanced to a master's degree in the same field from the University of Minnesota. In retirement, he enjoyed woodworking, the outdoors and spending time with his family.

Wedell passed away in March 2010 at age 89. Recognizing that education can open doors to the future, his family has established the Kenneth Wedell Endowed Scholarship for Apprentices with the Moraine Park Foundation. This scholarship will assist apprentices with their tuition, fees, books and supplies.

"The apprenticeship program at Moraine Park was very important to Dad," said daughter Ann Wedell Secrest of Anchorage, Alaska, who spoke for the family.

"Dad was such a strong proponent of vocational education. We established this scholarship so Moraine Park's apprentices will benefit and strengthen the industry in which they work."

The Moraine Park Foundation has eight endowed scholarships and 19 annual scholarships that honor the memories of loved ones and make a difference for current students. For more information about the Foundation or establishing an endowed scholarship, visit morainepark.edu/foundation.

Katie Halbach, daughter of Tom and Karen Halbach, works part time year round on the family farm outside of St. John. She is attending UW-La Crosse.

Will Johnson attends UW-Platteville and is pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering. To earn money for his education Will works the summer months at Walmart in Chilton. He is the son of William and Karen Johnson.

Kelsey Lau is spending her summer months working at Trinity Lutheran Daycare. Kelsey is attending UW-Fox Valley and is pursuing a degree in accounting. She is the daughter of Bill and Keri Lau.

Lucas Pattermann is attending Northeast WI Technical College and is pursuing an associate degree in architecture. He works at Brooks Oil Company and High Cliff Golf Course. Lucas is the son of Lee and Ellen Pattermann.

Nick Sweere, son of Dave and Brenda Sweere, is working the summer months at Lunda Construction Company in Hilbert. He is pursuing a degree in business management at UW-La Crosse.

The Rossmeier Family Scholarship has been awarded every year since 1986 and is given in memory of Verena, Joseph, John and Mary Kay Rossmeier.

Appleton, WI
Mandy Meitner, Sophomore, Justice & Public Policy;

Brillion, WI
Jessica Krueger, Senior, Mathematics-Sec Ed; Tyler Mentzel, Sophomore, Athletic Training;

To be named to this distinctive list, students must achieve a minimum 3.50 grade point average on a possible 4.0 scale.

Founded in 1881, Concordia University Wisconsin is located on 200 acres of beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline at 12800 North Lake Shore Drive, Mequon. The University and its 16 centers and classrooms locations are home to 7,178 undergraduate and graduate, traditional as well as non-traditional students from 44 states and 26 foreign countries. The University offers 60 undergraduate majors and is affiliated with The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. It is a member of The Concordia University System, a nationwide network of colleges and universities.

Prospective students are invited to stop in at their convenience during this time to meet one-on-one with an admissions advisor or pick up application materials. Applications are being accepted for the fall 2010 semester which begins on Sept. 2.

UW-Fond du Lac offers courses for the Associate of Arts and Science Degree in the traditional 15-week classroom format or in an accelerated blended format of six to eight week courses which combine face-to-face classroom time with an online component in the FastTrack degree program.

Tuition at UW-Fond du Lac is currently frozen at 2006 levels and is $191.89 per credit for part-time students. A typical three-credit course would be $575.67. Returning adult students may be eligible to receive financial aid.

To schedule an appointment with an advisor on a different day, call (920) 929-1122. For more information about UW-Fond du Lac courses including the FastTrack program and bachelor degree completion programs available visit the website www.fdl.uwc.edu.

Stockbridge High School is one of the oldest schools in the state having been open for over 130 years. It has had a relatively small enrollment throughout its history, but those from the school say that’s what makes Stockbridge great.

The enrollment at the high school for the 2009-10 school year was 74 students, which featured a senior class of 20 students. While this is a considerable amount less than the schools surrounding Stockbridge, Administrator Dave Moscinski thinks that adds to one of the strengths of the school.

“Here we have personalized instruction and much more access to the teachers,” Moscinski said. “We also have a very dedicated and knowledgeable staff who hold our kids to the highest of academic standards.

The average GPA (grade point average) for the 2010 senior class was 3.5 and the students combined to earn more than $76,000 in scholarship money that is renewable for four years of college. In four years that would total more than $250,000. This could attest to Moscinski’s claim that it is simply a misconception that because you are small somehow you are less.

“Small can be priceless, just look at a diamond,” Moscinski said. “The kids here are tough like diamonds too.”

The classroom isn’t the only area where Stockbridge students have made a name for themselves. During the basketball season the girls’ team learned the Oostburg High School head coach was diagnosed with cancer. They decided to make a quilt for her and provided a get-well message. Numerous e-mails were sent to staff at Stockbridge talking about the class and sportsmanship the kids from Stockbridge showed.

Sportsmanship and respect for opponents is something, which is very important to the students at Stockbridge. Even with the low numbers of students, they still expect to compete. The school is now exploring the idea of going to eight-man football, which would be specifically for schools with low enrollment.

“When you don’t have as many students the odds would seem to be against you athletically,” Moscinski said. “However, we still expect to be competitive and I believe we have the coaches to bring out the best in the kids.”

Eric Olson, a 2003 graduate of Stockbridge High, thinks he got a quality education in his years at the school. He also thinks the small school atmosphere allowed him to have opportunities he might not have otherwise had in a bigger district.

“Stockbridge has a staff of great teachers who prepared me and all their students for success in college and in life,” Olson said. “I also had the opportunity to play soccer, basketball, and baseball while at Stockbridge. The small school environment allowed for more opportunities to see game action throughout high school.”

Olson also went on to mention how there is a true sense of community within the small school. He says students have a pride in attending a smaller school and feel as though they are just as well prepared for life beyond high school as someone in a larger district.

The school is important to people in the Stockbridge community and perhaps that is why every year at graduation they honor the 25-year, 50-year, and 75-year graduates with special diplomas. Also shown at the ceremony is a slideshow of the senior class, which usually includes everything from baby pictures to prom pictures.

One thing appears to be certain, and that is people from Stockbridge and those who went to school there take great pride in that fact. The school is special to the community and people who went there. It would be difficult to see that changing anytime soon.