Spring/Summer 2025
NOMINATIONS WANTED
Jumbo Magnatiles, $619.04, Katie Lindsay
Read Aloud Materials, $1,125.17, Elizabeth Medrano
Literacy Growth: Vocabulary and Science of Reading Enhancement, $2,231.04, Amy Goette
Playground Communication Board, $1,583.43, Dawn Pope
Supporting the Language and Literacy Development in Discovery Classrooms, $1,660.10, Katie Chapek, Gretchen Erickson, Gabriela Deusangeli, Frances Heilman and Kailey Synoground
Individualized Audio Access, $3,000, Nicole Edwards
Advance Academics Critical Thinking STEM Materials, $410.59, Jamie Zielke
Transforming Learning Space: Modern Adaptive Furniture, $2,023.09, Hunter Wentz
Math Games and Manipulatives, $1,128.37, Chelsea Ritter, Chrissy Holtberg, Jake Vela and Brigette Rambadt
Decodable Text Library, $2,374.40, Katie Keller
3rd and 4th Grade Carpets, $1,719.25, Katie Keller
Barred Instrument Restoration, $576, Nikky Tolde
Classroom Libraries, $20,000, Dewey Schara
Maude Hart Lovelace Nominated Books, $500, Alison Witiak
BARR U-Time Lesson Supplies, $2,741.53, Dewey Schara
Decodable Chapter Books, $3,130.47, Stephanie Fehn and Tracy Garry
Sound Sponge Quiet Dividers, $4,050.72, Rachel Underwood and Wendy Kosel
Organization in the Music Room, $650, Katie Tharp
Rifton Adaptive Tricycle, $2,467.50, Lindsey Dahlstrom
Science of Reading Instructional Materials, $1,500.16, Christy Halsey
Guided Hands Device, $1,402, Krystal Lennie and Samantha Dooley
Experiential Play Furniture and Accessories, $976.98, Cassie Leathers
Literacy and Brain Breaks, $340.79, Andrea McKichan
Orchestra Supplies, $500, Leah Mott
Enhancing Math Learning: TI-30XS Calculators, $3,690.60, Lindsey Schaefer, Brandon Drescher and Ashley McLaren
$1,040.05, Dewey Schara
EXCEL Classroom Headsets, $580.97, Kasey Ellis
Leveled Readers, Language Arts, $552.89, Virginia Campbell
Auto and Small Engines Visual Aids Upgrade, $875, David Heers
Packer Profile Seminar Resources, $491.31, Rebecca Deyo
Language Arts 9 Classroom Supplies, $317, Alexa Dolan Peterson
Food Chemistry Lab, $2,590.94, Christina Ebeling
Math Vertical Learning Group Whiteboards and Graphs, $944.79, Felicia Finley Headphones for Horizon, $259.22, Matt Lambaere
Testing Accommodations, $1,571.16, Ryan Riedl
BARR I-Time Lesson Supplies,
3D Printer, $1,999, Jessica Bernand
Weightlifting - Team Singlets (Girls and Boys), $1,500, Jacy Bodi
In January, Gerhart and three others opened Main Street Pinball in downtown Austin next to Rydjor Bike Shop. With a few dozen machines ranging from classics to newer ones, Gerhart’s business welcomed more than 200 people over two days when it opened. For $10, customers can play unlimited games of pinball in one day. Main Street Pinball is open Fridays and Saturdays.
Austin High’s first boys volleyball team sanctioned by the Minnesota State High School League started its inaugural season this spring with Thaw as the head coach. Thaw, who played on the AHS club volleyball team when in high school, is the youngest head coach in Austin Packers history. “I am thrilled at the opportunity to lead our boys’ volleyball team into a seson of growth, teamwork and victories,” Thaw told the Herald. Thaw works as an Austin Public Schools success coach for students from the Karen community. The district employs 16 success coaches, who serve as a bridge for families to help ensure student success, such as assisting with interpreting.
Noelle (Baker) Day
In recent months, Day has been featured a few times by the Austin Daily Herald for the impact she’s making on many children in Mower County through her nonprofit The Read Seed Inc. The nonprofit’s mission is to “support kindergarten and elementary school readiness by increasing access to high -quality, age-appropriate literature and offering other early literacy supports in Mower County. She and her husband Dan Day (Class of 2007) and their three children
Katie (Nelson) Ulwelling
Patricia Meisel Class of 1955
Barry Rush Class of 1960
Brian Christianson Class of 1997
Major improvements are coming this summer for the Austin Packers tennis teams’ courts at the Wescott
In March, the Austin School Board approved a bid for reconstructing Paulson Courts located along
With the nearly $517,000 project, which have degraded pavement creating hazards
completely reconstructed but will keep the same 8-court footprint of the complex. Two of the courts also will feature lining for pickleball.
Construction is expected to be done by August ahead of the fall season for the Austin Packers girls tennis team.
In 2002, the tennis complex was named after long-time coach Keith Paulson, who coached for 27 years and led teams to the state title in 1969 and 1982.
, ’48, died Jan. 2.
