Distinguished Service Award
Past Recipients
James Hollenhorst, 2002
Joe Greco, 2003
Friend of Education and
Distinguished Service
Awards
Marie Leekley, 2004
Sandra Swanson, 2005
Scholarship and Education Foundation, 2006
Richard Woosencraft, 2007
Harry Goetz, 2008
Sid Truckenbrod, 2009
Lynn Zindl, 2010
Cathy Hazzard, 2011
Amy Ignasiak, 2012
District Mission Statement
In partnership with family and community, the School
District of Menomonee Falls provides the best
personalized and comprehensive education so our students will be prepared for, and positively contribute
to, a profoundly different future.
Presented By
The School District
of Menomonee Falls
September 9, 2013
Friend of Education Award Winners continued
David Leigh
Frank Nerad
Jack Pitrof
Bill Dunnigan
Friend of Education Award
The Friend of Education Award was established as a way to
recognize unique contributions by individuals or organizations to the education of the children of Menomonee Falls.
The award is bestowed upon those whose efforts to improve or
enhance education within the District were so unique, that if it were not
for the individual or organization, the initiative would not have been implemented.
The Friend of Education Award recognizes the critical link between the School District of Menomonee Falls, the community, and the
many volunteers that serve both.
Third-grade artwork has become the trademark of the Friend of
Education Award. Each year, third-grade art students create original
“busscapes” that depict the famous yellow school bus transporting
children to school. The artwork is chosen by the art teachers for consideration as a Friend of Education Award. The artwork is framed and presented by the student artist to its recipient. Over the years, the
“busscapes” have found special places in many Menomonee Falls homes
and offices.
1999
Starkey Davis
Terry Lorbiecki
Duni Corporation
Dr. Richard Anderson
Dr. Clyde Chumbley
Matt Hakes
Rick Rechlicz
1998
Jim Rupnow
Ken & Bonnie Dison
Richard Schwabenlander
Dick & Donna Strong
Stephanie Schneider
Jane Radaj
Ron Cada
Don Nienow
Gregory Rossebo
Patricia Jahn
Sue Morency
Community Prevention
Council
Julie Attoe
1997
Elizabeth Wiest
Harley Davidson Motor
Co.
Joe Greco
Robert Unke
Doug Marvan
Llewellyn Tietz
1996
Kohls Corporate Office
Don Schneiders
James Brewer
Joe Fox
Linda Marcou
Faye Bonini, Susan
Schoepke
The Parent Connection
Connie Wolf
1995
Optimist Club of
Menomonee Falls
Sunrise Rotary Club
Lamplight Farms
Robert Jakubowski
Kiwanis Club
Sue Listwan
Don McNamara
David O. Steingraber
1994
D & L Manufacturing
James W. Wright
Margaret Goecks
Beth Harwood
Sonja Holt
Walter Marquardt
Lolita Schneiders
1993
Julie Altschafl
Carol Fay
Robert Janke
Menomonee Falls
Rotary Club
Harry Stoetzel
Cousins Corporation
Jean Armitage
Paul Wickesberg
John Coffee
1992
Aboretum Retirement
Community
Tri County YMCA
Angela Rester, Executive
Director
Linda Boxhill
Strong Corneliuson
Capital Mgmt
John Zorbini
Marie Simek
Diane Johnson, Johnson
Bus Service
John Evans
Falls Chamber
of Commerce
1991
Dick Goodnow
Carolyn Lemberger
Jim Riehle
Frank & Margaret
Roberts
Arlene Shimek
Elmer Lauer
Richard Klug
Thomas Joynt
1990
Patrick Noll
Donna Baldwin
Dick Becker
Judy Elsner
Diane Geisberger
Cathy Hazzard
Patricia Lein
Cherie Mayer
Walt Meyer
Kathy McBride
Debbie Shoemaker
Jeanne Verbsky
John Wandschneider
1989
Richard Hess
Richard Brillault
Raabe Paint
Friend of Education Award
Past Recipients
2012
Ron Burling
Dee Dee Ternes
Nate Taffel
Mike Grzesiak
Linda Meyers
Kathy Shurilla
2011
Carol Rudnick
Ted and Joan Majdecki
Keith Marty
Bob Simi
Bruce Roehsner
Rosalie Schulze
Sue Johnson
Ray Thornborough
John Seymour
2010
Tom McKillen
Pam Schwalbach
Eliot Chertack
Carol Heim
Amy Ignasiak
Jim Newman
Cindy Clough
VFW Post 9496/
American
Legion Post 382/Walter
Miller Post 5
John Cassidy
Anne Weiland
2009
John Furrer
Tailored Label
Bruce and Nancy Angeli
Henry DeBoer and Miz
Daisy
Tony Cherney
2008
Chief Robert J. Coon
Mike Lamp
Lynn Cassidy
Sue Jeskewitz
Warren Simonsen
Don Eisenhauer
Ted Klumb
2007
Bill Bigus
Tom Bauer
Camille Morris
Tom Hartmann
Students for Renovation
Chuck Demge
Doug Menne
Lou Sanicola
Sharon Whitman
John Potnek
Jerry Mislang
Mark Lamkin
Jim Held
Steve Raymonds
Linda Kons
Sid Truckenbrod
Brian Blank
Judy & Hank Linser
Jean Skibba
Lois & Hank Darkow
Joan Sanders
2004
Dave Glisczinski
Pam Oliversen
Marie Leekley
2003
Jeff & Susan Steliga
Sue Crowley
Booster Club
Gertie Fox
Jan Wilson
Barb Lowe
2002
Retired Senior
Volunteer Program
Karen Nelson
Gerard Severson
2006
Dick and Marianne
Rediske
John Tarantino
Mary Ellen Nelson
2001
Dr. James Shaw
Rog Rogers
Jim Hollenhorst
Paul Schramka
Dr. James Altschafl
David Eigner
Dennis Droese
Kurt Minor
2005
Richard Crane
Laurie Stout
2000
Michael Hurt
Linda Kent
Distinguished Service Award
The Menomonee Falls Board of Education established the
“Distinguished Service Award” in 2002 to honor those individuals
who have given graciously of their time and talents over a number
of years to the improvement of the School District of Menomonee
Falls and the community as a whole.
Given only once a year, the Distinguished Service Award
is the highest honor the Board of Education bestows on members
of the community.
The recipients of this award are community members,
educators, or other individuals who have made significant contributions to the School District of Menomonee Falls students and
staff, or the Menomonee Falls community as a whole.
Modeled after its first recipient, Mr. James Hollenhorst,
the award is presented to individuals who have given freely and
graciously to the support of the School District of Menomonee
Falls’ goals and whose efforts have helped improve student learning and professional development for district staff.
The Distinguished Service Award is awarded to those individuals who have proven to be leaders in bringing about positive
and meaningful educational change.
School District of Menomonee Falls
School Board Members: Faith VanderHorst, President;
Ron Bertieri, Vice President; Gina Palazzari, Clerk; Scott Ternes,
Treasurer; David Noshay, Member;; Paul Tadda, Member; Michele Divelbiss, Member.
Superintendent of Schools: Patricia Fagan Greco, Ph.D.
Friend of Education Award
Lynn Zindl
Distinguished Service Award
Menomonee Falls Optimist Club
Artist: Marisa Grzesiak, Ben Franklin
Lynn Zindl just doesn’t like retirement.
After teaching for more than 30 years, Lynn did not stop focusing
on children. She has worked as secretary of the Scholarship and Educational Foundation for the past several years, and works countless hours to
put together the annual Scholarship Night drawing hundreds of students,
parents, donors and community members.
“We’d be lost without her,” said Foundation member Cathy Hazzard.
Lynn’s efforts assist in the Foundation to give more of its own
money - $45,000 in 2011 and $47,000 last year.
In addition, Lynn serves as an active member of the High School
Business Department Advisory Board. Her input and knowledge help facilitate community involvement with various real-world educational initiatives including Reality Check.
Beyond her career, Lynn has been a friend of education throughout “retirement” and we are grateful to honor her tonight.
Nominated by Cathy Hazzard and the High School Business Department
(Sara Burling, Nick Heiting, Jill Hughes, Lisa Kiefer, Jim Nitz, Michelle Oliver
and Joe Seaman).
It’s hard to put into words how the Optimist Club benefits children.
It’s actually the mission of the entire club, which reads: By providing hope and positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in kids.”
If there’s any organization that puts its money where its mouth is,
along with a colossal amount of scrumptious popcorn that would put
movie theaters to shame, our Menomonee Falls Optimist Club is it.
The club gives scholarships with the thousands of dollars it raises
from its annual golf outing; it honors students of the month; it administers
oratorical and essay contests for children; it sponsors post prom; it holds
sports skills contests, a fishing derby and more.
The club’s membership is among the five largest in Optimist International, and we know its commitment to children is second to none.
The dedication has continued for decades with no signs of slowing down. This year, the Menomonee Falls Optimist Club turns 40 For
those of you keeping score, 1973 was years before you could send a text to
your friend saying, “Get to the popcorn wagon. There’s a line down the
street.”
About the wagon: It operates nightly from Memorial Day to Labor Day without fail, serving as the community water cooler of sorts, and
a stop for a summer snack for thousands.
It’s that kind of sense of duty for which we cannot thank the Optimist Club enough.
Please accept the Distinguished Service Award as a small token of
our appreciation.
Friend of Education Award
Linden Grove Rehabilitative Center
Friend of Education Award
Al Garcia
Artist: Abbi Nelson, Valley View
Artist: Hailey Maas, Shady Lane
Valley View Elementary School regularly teaches to reach out to
others. Linden Grove helps put that value into action.
The facility allows our first- through fifth-graders to participate
with residents in various activities like bingo, bowling, trivia, puzzles, reading buddies, sing-a-longs, arts and crafts and play presentations.
Each December Valley View staff donate holiday gifts to the residents, and the students distribute the gifts and bring cheer to Linden
Grove’s annual holiday party. The fifth-grade chorus performs each year
for the residents, along with impromptu holiday sing-a-longs.
Over the past decade, Linden Grove residents have come to Valley View to watch kindergartners fly their kites with their fifth-grade buddies.
The culminating event each year is the Linden Grove Carnival,
involving all Valley View volunteers in games, clowns, magicians, balloon
animals, ice cream, face painting, tattoos and more.
Linden Grove’s partnership has built compassion and understanding among Valley View students and staff.
Linden Grove is a friend of education, and we are grateful for its
partnership.
Al Garcia could have written this himself.
As an Army soldier in Vietnam, it was Al’s job to send stories to
local newspapers about their hometown heroes defending freedom overseas.
Each year for nearly a decade, Al and two of his veteran friends,
Jerry Witt and Joe Campbell - who we also honor this evening - come to
the high school to share their war experiences with students. While many
veterans find it difficult to discuss war even with their closest family members, these three keep returning to bring education to life and put a face
on the Vietnam War our students may never otherwise experience.
Al shares the story of five friends who lost their lives in Vietnam
as he has vowed to carry on their legacies. He brings rubbings from their
names on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. One year, one
of the students in the audience tearfully introduced himself to Al as a
nephew of one of those five friends, a Menomonee Falls native. Al was
put in contact with the family so they could connect after all these years.
Al helps provide a firsthand perspective on the impact of war that
textbooks, teachers and videos cannot; he talks to students on a human
level and shows them how freedom is indeed not free.
Al is a friend of education and we are humbled by his sacrifice, his
service, and for sharing his stories with our students.
Nominated by Valley View fifth-grade teacher Marsha Denny
Nominated by High School Social Studies Teacher Jodi Mayne
Friend of Education Award
Jerry Witt
Friend of Education Award
Joe Campbell
Artist: Aidan Kilbourn, Shady Lane
Artist: Beth Katzman, Ben Franklin
Jerry Witt helps prove that soldiers sometimes come with four
legs and tails.
As a solider in Vietnam, Jerry was a dog handler whose work no
doubt saved countless American lives.
Each year for nearly a decade, Jerry and two of his veteran
friends, Al Garcia and Joe Campbell - who we also honor this evening come to the high school to share their war experiences with students.
While many veterans find it difficult to discuss war even with their closest
family members, these three keep returning to bring education to life and
put a face on the Vietnam War our students may never otherwise experience.
Jerry shares his stories of missions with Scout and Satan, touching
many students who can relate to their relationships with their dogs. Jerry
and his dog went ahead of soldiers, using the canine’s keen senses to detect the enemy.
In addition, the Menomonee Falls resident participates in the annual Memorial Day Parade and speaks in numerous other schools and for
police officers who use dogs. The kind, compassionate man believes in
education and providing authentic learning experiences for students.
Jerry helps provide a firsthand perspective on the impact of war
that textbooks, teachers and videos cannot; he talks to students on a human level and shows them how freedom is indeed not free.
Jerry is a friend of education and we are humbled by his sacrifice,
his service, and for sharing his stories with our students.
Joe Campbell made sure children overseas impacted by war had a
merry Christmas.
Each year for nearly a decade, Joe and two of his veteran friends,
Al Garcia and Jerry Witt - who we also honor this evening - come to the
high school to share their war experiences with students. While many veterans find it difficult to discuss war even with their closest family members, these three keep returning to bring education to life and put a face
on the Vietnam War our students may never otherwise experience.
Joe’s humor and humility resonate with our students. His candid
stories of packing as many children as he could into his jeep to celebrate
Christmas in Vietnam helps us comprehend the impact of war on youth.
Joe also openly discusses how he, like many Vietnam veterans,
battled alcoholism upon their return home. Joe has been sober for 15
years and leads an AA session at the VA every Sunday. Our students acknowledge his personal strength with resounding applause.
Joe helps provide a firsthand perspective on the impact of war
that textbooks, teachers and videos cannot; he talks to students on a human level and shows them how freedom is indeed not free.
Joe is a friend of education and we are humbled by his sacrifice,
his service, and for sharing his stories with our students.
Nominated by High School Social Studies Teacher Jodi Mayne
Nominated by High School Social Studies Teacher Jodi Mayne