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Four Students Named Semifinalists in 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program

Four seniors from East High School have been named semifinalists in the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Nathan Deisinger, Ezra Olson, Kevin Peck and Margaret Reid are among the semifinalists in the 55^th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,200 National Merit Scholarships, worth more than $36 million, that will be offered next spring.

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing and approximately half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 500 business organizations and higher education institutions that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence. 

Whitman Teacher Wins Recognition for Her Paintings

Whitman Middle School art teacher Kathy Moss-Reeves won three awards for her work from Milwaukee Area Teachers of Art and the Wisconsin Visual Artists groups.

In June, the Milwaukee Area Teachers of Art presented Moss-Reeves with the Founder’s Award for her painting titled “Louisa.” The Milwaukee Area Teachers of Art promotes art and art education in the community through schools.

In July, Moss-Reeves was given a merit award by the Wisconsin Visual Artists for her painting titled “Getting Ready/Study for Zombie Nightmares.” The painting was part of an exhibition on display at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Performing Arts. Most recently, in August, Moss-Reeves was awarded first place by the Wisconsin Visual Artists for her painting titled “Summer Nemesis.” The painting is on display at Mount Mary College through October 4.  Wisconsin Visual Artists is a nonprofit organization of visual artists and friends united to advance opportunities and services for artists and the general public, and committed to the importance and value of art and its creation in society.

22 Topics Part of Tosa Workshop Choices

Workshops on home energy efficiency, landscaping, cooking, home improvement, computers and even UFOs are among the 22 topics scheduled for Learning Never Ends…An Evening for Adults on Tuesday, October 27.

Registration, at $10 per person, allows participants to register for two 75-minute workshops. Sessions will be held at Wauwatosa West High School, 11400 W. Center St., from 6:45-9:30 p.m.

Detailed information about the 22 workshops and registration forms for Learning Never Ends are included in the Fall Activity Guide from the Wauwatosa School District’s Recreation Department. Registration forms are currently available for downloading from the website at www.tosarec.com.

For more information, contact the Wauwatosa Recreation Department (414) 773-2900, or stop at the office located at 11324 W. Center St., at the southeast corner of Wauwatosa West High School.

Tosa United to Host Prescription Drug Collection Event

Tosa United will be collecting old, unused or expired medications for proper disposal on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 8 a.m.- 1 p.m. in the parking lot at City Hall in Wauwatosa, 7725 W. North Ave.

Proper disposal ensures these medications will not be misused and protects the environment by staying out of waterways. Personal information can be removed before the medication is dropped off at the collection, however, identifying labels should remain on the medication.

Tosa United works to unite the Wauwatosa community in a cooperative effort to develop an environment free of problems stemming from the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Tosa United also works to unite attitude, policy and message with regard to no tolerance of underage drinking, underage smoking and other drug use within the community and to promote the role of the adult population in the prevention of youth involvement with alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

For more information about the prescription drug collection event or Tosa United, contact Rebecca Huenink at (414) 773-2966.

Whitman Student Honored by Wisconsin Association of School Boards

Whitman Middle School student Celia Ellsworth, an eighth grader, has been recognized as a third place winner in the 2009 Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) Write and Illustrate Your Own Picture Book contest.

Ellsworth’s book, Riggio Spaghetti: A Memoir, was judged one of the best from among 254 entries. She entered the contest last spring as a seventh grader. Ellsworth received a cash prize and a certificate of commendation for her accomplishment. Her book will be on display with other winning entries during the WASB Fall Regional Meetings throughout the state.

A nonprofit, membership organization, the WASB fulfills its mission of fostering effective school board practices for student success by sharing information among school boards and offering services and programs in the areas of school law, policy, governance, legislative activity and employee relations.

Register for the 3rd Annual Red Raider Golf Outing

Golfers can hit the links and help support the boys’ basketball program at East High School by taking part in the third annual Red Raider Basketball Golf Outing.

The outing will be held Saturday, Oct. 10 at New Berlin Hills Golf Course, 13175 W. Graham St., New Berlin. Registration will be held 8:30-9:30 a.m. with golfers teeing off beginning at 10 a.m.

The cost is $75 per golfer or $95 per golfer with a contest package which includes one mulligan, a power drive on par 5, putting contest, five raffle tickets and putting string to shorten a putt. Hole sponsorships for the event are $75. The sponsorship includes having company name and logo displayed at a green or tee.

For more information, email tosaeastbasketball@gmail.com or contact Matt at (414) 795-3781. A brochure and order form can be downloaded by visiting the district’s website at www.wauwatosaschools.org.

The Wauwatosa East boys’ basketball program has a history of excellence. From state championships to standout student-athletes, the Red Raiders have a rich and storied tradition that the East High School community is proud of. Golf outing participants can help continue to build on that strong tradition and help write the next exciting chapter. All proceeds from this event will benefit the East High School boys’ basketball program.

Tosa West Cheerleaders Attend Universal Cheerleading Camp

Two Wauwatosa West High School cheerleaders recently captured All-American honors from the Universal Cheerleading Association (UCA).

Team captains, Rachel Bekele and Kaitlyn Gutter, won All-American honors and can participate in London’s New Year’s Parade.  Bekele and Gutter, along with the other members of the West cheerleading team, recently attended the Universal Cheerleading Camp held at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells.

In addition to the honors given Bekele and Gutter, the team was awarded the camp’s leadership plaque, an award that is voted on by the squads attending the camp. The team also brought home a second place trophy for home dance, fifth place for cheer and also for superior squad.

Along with Bekele and Gutter, the team members are Julia Anthony, Eden Bekele, Jenny Compton, Star Donaldson, Jennie Fischer, Jessica Hagen, Jazmine Mason, Leilanie Morales, Tamara Walls, Kristina Wanjiru, Morgan Welch, Lisa White and Erica Williams. The team’s coaches are Bettye Locklear and Kistra Fells.

UCA was founded in 1974 to provide high quality educational training for college and high school cheerleaders through summer camps and clinics.

Nominate a Teacher for a Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Fellowship Award

The Herb Kohl Educational Foundation is celebrating its 20th year of providing fellowships for 100 teachers and matching grants to the schools of those teachers. Teacher fellows receive $1,000, with an additional $1,000 grant going to the school of each Kohl fellow. This program is an opportunity to recognize excellence in education.

To be eligible to compete for a fellowship, teaches must be nominated by parents, teachers, students, community members or administrators. Nomination forms must be submitted to the Department of Public Instruction on or before Friday, Oct. 2.

Click here for more information and a nomination form.

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