Menomonie Minute

From the Wednesday's Table website.

Join us tomorrow, October 16th at Culver’s in Menomonie for Petal it Forward! This is a nationwide event that florists and local businesses take part in to pay it forward to their community. We will be handing out bouquets in the drive thru at Culver’s starting at 11 AM until we run out. Receive two flower bouquets, one for you to keep and one for you to pass along! See you tomorrow!

From the Lakeview Floral Facebook page.

During halftime of the October 11th Mustangs football game, the Menomonie Athletic Booster Club (MABC) donated $15,000 to the Menomonie High School Athletic Department. This is the first of two donations made during the school year.

The club holds several fundraisers every year, including a golf tournament, cribbage tournament, An Evening with the Coaches gala, and alumni basketball and volleyball tournaments. In addition, the club provides volunteers at home football games and earns money through concessions, blue seat sales, and 50/50 raffles.

The mission of the booster club is to promote MHS athletics, help provide needed resources for every team, and support ALL of our student-athletes and coaches. The MABC is made up of parents/guardians of MHS athletes, coaches, the Activities Director, and community supporters of MHS athletics. Money raised by the booster club is split between all MHS sports teams.

Each year, the booster club awards scholarships to two graduating seniors. The selection criteria may best sum up what being a true athlete is - sportsmanship, team spirit, perseverance, and integrity in sports and other school activities, NOT ability or varsity participation.

Since its inception, the booster club has donated over $700,000 to MHS athletics.

Donations can be made on the club's website. The booster club and MHS athletics appreciate donations of any amount.

In addition to finding information on the website, check the MABC Facebook group.

The club meets on the second Wednesday of the month - August through May - at the Stout Craft Co. at 6pm. All are welcome to attend.

Students receive national service award for second year in a row for dedication to community projects

By Abbey Goers, UW Stout

Representatives from 24 universities nationwide recently attended the Phi Upsilon Omicron Conclave at University of Wisconsin-Stout, hosted by student members of UW-Stout’s Tau Chapter.

Phi Upsilon Omicron, with 99,000 members nationwide, is the National Honor Society for Family and Consumer Sciences. The organization’s conference, held on Oct. 3-5, supports educators and students in FCS and related fields.

The three-day event included presentations and workshops led by leaders in education, a community service project and an awards ceremony, where UW-Stout’s early childhood education Program Director Lindsay Barnhart was recognized for her distinguished service as a Phi Upsilon Omicron adviser.

Barnhart received the Bachtel/Holbrook Collegiate Advisor Award. She was nominated by her Tau Chapter student members. 

“Lindsay is our biggest cheerleader when it comes to any service or planning we do. We wouldn't be able to do any of it without her support,” said Abbi Williams, Tau Chapter president. “Lindsay encourages us to be our best selves by taking on leadership roles. Lindsay does so much for Tau chapter and Phi U, as a whole.”

“Having my members nominate me was unexpected and an honor,” Barnhart said. “It is a joy to be a part of this organization and lead these stellar students to do the work they do. Hearing how they are impacted makes it even more rewarding."

“There are 71 active national Phi Upsilon Omicron chapters. While this award is not the highest honor the organization bestows, it is very meaningful when there are 70 other individuals that have the opportunity to receive it.” she added.

Barnhart was initiated as a Tau member in 2009 while earning her Ed.S. in career and technical education. She began serving as financial adviser in 2011 and became co-adviser in 2017 with her mother-in-law, Carolyn Barnhart. Lindsay Barnhart has served as adviser since 2020.

Student activities and awards

Conclave attendees joined in a community service project to pack 50 birthday bags to donate to Stepping Stones of Dunn County, a nonprofit food pantry and homeless shelter. They tied six blankets and donated sheet sets for Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit dedicated to building beds for children in need.

The Tau Chapter was selected by the national council to receive a top honor for its work within the community – the Region 1 National Service Project Award, for the 2023-24 academic year. It also received the award in 2022-23.

“The national project award is so special. Our organization really prioritizes giving back and completing service projects, and to be recognized for our hard work is very much appreciated,” Williams said. “It is a total team effort when it comes to these projects. We have 12 members in our chapter, which is low compared to other chapters. But I think why we are so successful when it comes to service is that we all work together, and we all pitch in.”

Last year, Tau members completed nine service projects, including gathering donations for Sleep in Heavenly Peace and the Menomonie Public Library. They made appreciation bags for support staff at River Heights Elementary and Wakanda Elementary and participated in Teach Day, a biannual UW-Stout event that invites high school students to explore education majors.

They sent seasonal cards to elderly community members, and volunteered at elementary school events, Sunday school programs and the Special Olympics basketball tournament. They made port pillows for local cancer patients and a gift basket for an alumni member who was going through cancer treatment.

Williams thinks there is a definite connection between teaching, community service and the theme of family.

“Through my experience in the teaching field, ‘family’ is something that comes up often, both in supporting our students’ families and in creating our own family in the classroom and school,” she said.

“Our chapter is privileged to make a difference in the lives of others. We are very lucky to have received monetary donations to complete service projects. As a family, it is our responsibility and honor to give back to others who may be less fortunate. Completing service projects is one of my favorite parts of Phi U because it empowers us and the individuals we can help.”

Eight UW-Stout students were awarded more than $26,000 in scholarships at the conclave:

• Megan Buhrow: early childhood education, Menomonie

• Josie Finocchiaro: family and consumer science education, Rockton, Ill.

• Sarah Flock: early childhood education, Cashton

• Anna Johnson: family and consumer science education, Eau Claire

• Taylor Luxem: human development and family studies, Appleton

• Kennedy Reckmann: early childhood education, Lake City, Minn.

• Hannah Timm: family and consumer science education, Fremont

• Williams: early childhood education, Waupaca

Williams was one of three recipients of the Phyllis S. Howe Scholarship, who received $6,050 each.

“Teaching was always my plan, and even when I thought about doing something else, I always came back to teaching. Teaching brings me so much joy. I feel like there is no better investment than investing in future leaders. As a teacher, my goal is to provide a space where my students feel supported, safe and empowered to make a difference,” Williams said.

The conference also included presentations and workshops by UW-Stout faculty, staff and area educators: Associate Lecturer Ann Brand led a workshop on mindfulness; school psychology Program Director Angela Axelrod led presentations on Trauma Informed Strategies and Teaching, and ADHD and Learning Disabilities in the Classroom; AI Integration Technologist Emily Laird presented on generative AI’s role in education, and family and consumer sciences educator Sue Halama led a workshop on Laughter Yoga.

Allison Feller, director of the university’s Child and Family Study Center, led a tour of the state-licensed and NAEYC-accredited childcare facility.

UW-Stout’s School of Education offers nine undergraduate and five graduate programs, including on-campus and online options, along with five certificates and three certifications.

UW-Stout, a member of the Universities of Wisconsin, is Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, with a focus on applied learning, collaboration with business and industry, and career outcomes. Learn more via the FOCUS2030 strategic plan.

Joyful Noise Concert next week

Tuesday, October 22 wonderful spirit and fun celebration of Halloween and Thanksgiving.

From Menomonie United Methodist Church's Facebook page.

From the About A Boat Facebook page.

Ever wondered what options there are for your loved ones with disabilities? Please mark your calendars for Thursday, November 14th for the Dunn County Transition Resource Fair! Plan on perusing 30+ resources at our Transition Resource Fair. BINGO to follow, also in the Banquet Room.

See the flyer for more details. Spread the word!

From the Facebook post.

Ever wondered what options there are for your loved ones with disabilities? Please mark your calendars for Thursday, November 14th to support the SDMA S.O.A.R. Program at our annual Bingo event, following the Dunn County Transition Fair! See the flyers for more details. Spread the word!

From the Facebook post.

From the Tuesday's Table Facebook page.

Gift that created facility with state-of-the-art simulators, indoor putting and chipping green honors longtime golfer, family

By Jerry Poling, UW Stout

Women’s and men’s golf team members and students majoring in golf enterprise management have a new, high-tech practice and learning hub at University of Wisconsin-Stout — the indoor Pat Kell Golf Center.

The center, in the Recreation Complex, has two state-of-the-art monitors that provide instant swing and ball data paired with two golf course simulators for year-round practice. In an adjoining room is a putting green, about 35 feet by 12 feet, and chipping area with artificial turf.

Recently, members of the Kell family joined Mike Kell to dedicate the center, built in two former racquetball courts. Mike’s gift in honor of his wife, Pat Kell, who died in 2021, made it possible.

“She would be thrilled, tickled pink about this whole complex,” Mike Kell said.

The idea grew out of Pat’s lifelong love for golf and the multiple benefits that could be realized at UW-Stout. Along with players receiving instant swing feedback — such as ball speed, spin rate, distance — they can practice indoors during winter months and play simulated rounds of golf on holes projected onto a giant screen, a version of the game that has grown in popularity across the country as technology has advanced.

GEM majors, trained to take on management positions at top golf facilities, can use the center as a lab to learn about swing instruction, club fitting, event management and more.

In addition, the center will be available to the general student body, faculty, staff and the community to reserve.

“There are a lot of things we can do that we couldn’t do before,” said Andrew Delong, men’s team coach and GEM program director.

He noted that Blue Devil golfers by the nature of their sport didn’t have a locker room — until now. “It’s such a great opportunity for our kids to experience the highest level of technology.”

The facility includes player lockers and a social area with a TV and couch.

Men’s golf team member Andrew Bauer was on hand for the dedication and was practicing his chipping and putting with other men’s and women’s team members. “This will allow us to improve our games and gain an edge. It looks like a Division I facility,” Bauer said after personally thanking Mike Kell.

Bauer is a sophomore from Chippewa Falls majoring in business administration.

The women’s team recently took second place in the conference tournament, led by first-year player Julia Imai, who won the individual title by seven shots. Imai, from Brookline, Mass., is majoring in food science and technology.

Blue Devil Coach Sophia Connett, who also attend the Kell Center dedication, was named WIAC coach of the year.

Athletics Director Duey Naatz called the center a “top tier” facility and told Kell family members at the dedication that the university was “thrilled you chose to honor Pat in this way.”

Mike Kell is the son of Paul Kell, who founded Kell Container in Chippewa Falls. In 2004, Kell Container was purchased by Great Northern Corp. Kell Container and GNC have a long history of collaborating with UW-Stout and its academic programs.

Multiple Kell family members are alumni, including most recently Charlie Pierce, a 2023 graduate and grandson of Mike and Pat. Charlie graduated in packaging and works for GNC.

“The Kell family appreciates UW-Stout and always will,” Mike Kell said. “Stout made this happen.”

The gift was coordinated through the UW-Stout Foundation and Alumni Association.

The Pat Kell Golf Center is the first of many expected changes at the Recreation Complex, where a renovation supported by students is UW-Stout’s next major capital project awaiting state approval.

UW-Stout is Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, with a focus on applied learning, collaboration with business and industry, and career outcomes. Learn more via the FOCUS2030 strategic plan.