WSEF Donations at Work
The endowment has grown to over $750,000 because of your generous donations and memorials. The interest received from the principal finances a variety of activities that directly benefit students. Please consider donating to the Foundation in honor or in memory of an important person in your life. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3), therefore all donations are tax deductible. Many employers will match your donation–we will assist you. Many families choose to donate to the Foundation rather than purchase gifts for family members during holidays, birthdays, and other important times in their lives. Thank you for these gifts–you make the WSEF a success.
Foundation Programs
Ed & Erlene Kading Mini Grants
Grant Erlene Kading graduated from Ireton High School in 1928, and taught school in Ireton and West Sioux for many years. Her husband Ed was a lifelong farmer in the Ireton area. Upon their death they made a very generous donation to the West Sioux Foundation. The Foundation Board wanted to use the interest earned on their donation to assist faculty to purchase items for their classroom. Each year, West Sioux faculty members can apply for one of the grants. A few of the grants awarded include: library books, classroom games, advanced function calculators, and exercise balls.
Flora Schoeneman Steffen Middle School Trip
When she was 91, Flora Schoeneman Steffen contacted the Foundation about making a gift. Her gift to the Foundation was stocks that we eventually sold. To have the greatest impact on students it was decided to fund the eighth-grade field trip to Des Moines to tour the Iowa state capital, the governor’s mansion, and Living History Farms. Numbers have decreased for the eighth grades, so now the whole middle school visits the capital every third year. In opposite years they find other important touring opportunities. Flora was a 1920 Hawarden graduate.
Lakeside Labs
For many years the high school science program has taken students to Lakeside Labs, operated by Iowa State University at Lake Okoboji. Students stay a couple of nights to explore the land and waterways for insects, and plant life, study their findings with high-tech lab equipment, and put on presentations about what they learn. Currently, we pay $60 for each student’s registration. As the principal grows and more interest is received, we will increase the amount we assist each student.
Fourth Grade Field Trip
Every year fourth grade students visit educational areas such as the Sioux City Museum, Air and Space Museum, local TV stations and Lewis and Clark History Center. The cost usually runs $600.
Britzman Award
Jerry Earll made a significant donation in memory of former Hawarden Schools Superintendent Britzman. Earll and his sister, Madelyn Earll Yates, were students at Hawarden High School graduating in 1945 and 1946. Upon graduation they returned to the farm to help the family on the farm, but Supt. Britzman encouraged them to attend college. They attended Wayne State College, and their donation is to recognize the impact that Britzman had on their lives. Senior students are asked to nominate a teacher who has made an impact on them while students at West Sioux. The teacher is awarded $500 to be used to purchase items for the classroom or for continuing education.
Dorhout Award
After his death, the family of Mike Dorhout wanted to create an award for a teacher who has a special impact on students. That teacher is nominated by their peers. A $500 award is given to that teacher to be used for the classroom each year.
Financing College Entrance Exams
We’re always looking for new educationally sound projects to fund that will impact a large number of West Sioux Students. To encourage students to continue their education beyond high school, the West Sioux Educational Foundation board is now paying the student’s cost to take a college entrance exam. The board will pay up to $50 for a junior or senior taking one ACT, SAT, or Junior College test. For more information please contact a WSEF board member or the guidance counselor at West Sioux.
Ashley Cares
The West Sioux Educational Foundation is partnering with Scott (WS ’81) and Gina Vreeman to develop Ashley Cares, a new program that will focus on addiction education in the school system.
In December of 2016, the Vreemans lost their daughter, Ashley (WS ’07), who had battled addiction for many years. Since that time, Scott has become passionate about speaking out on addiction and working to get resources out to people in need. Ashley Cares is in the early stages of planning, but we are looking forward to providing speakers, handouts, and resources to students in our district.
Together, we are optimistic that we can have a positive impact, reduce the taboo associated with addiction, and help our students develop a better understanding of this disease and how to resist the temptations that lead to addiction.
Can you identify the following street drugs: Binge, Dust, Rock, Crack, Devil Drug, Reds, Yellows, Roofies, Super C, Acid, Love Drug, Skunk, White Horse? These are the street names for drugs that can be purchased from someone, whether you live in Hawarden, Ireton, Chatsworth, Los Angles, Dallas, or New York. Most young adults and teens can tell you what they stand for in the drug world. But as the saying goes, “I wouldn’t think about getting addicted. That happens to someone else.”
It may start simply by using alcohol at a friend’s house or at a party at the “sand pit.” Some young people decide that is not the route they want to go down, but for others, it’s a release from the pressure of being young adult. It’s a way to look like an adult, or a way to take the pain away. For some it leads to marijuana, oxycontin, meth heroin, and cocaine.
Recently I asked someone if he sells marijuana and what age was the youngest person he had sold to in the school district. He said age 12. That’s a very early start down a path that could lead to death.
With Ashley Cares’ ongoing program for drug abuse prevention, we want to include not only West Sioux, but also students and families from, Alcester-Hudson and Akron-Westfield.