Education - Pierce County Journal

Former UW-River Falls student Mikayla Birschbach works with a cow at the university’s Mann Valley Farm. This fall, UW-River Falls will host the longstanding Farm and Industry Short Course that teaches participants about farming during 16 weeks of classes.

Registration open for Farm and Industry Short Course at UW-River Falls

RIVER FALLS – Registration is open for the popular, longstanding Farm and Industry Short Course (FISC) at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls this fall. The program had been held at … more

6/1/23

Soon-to-be retirees Karl Erickson and Caroline Henk at Rocky Branch Elementary.

Rocky Branch teachers retire after 32 years with school

RIVER FALLS – The school bell rang as students headed to their class at Rocky Branch Elementary. It did not matter if you attended in the 1990s or 2023, physical education teacher Karl Erickson … more

By Andrew Harrington | 6/1/23

Northwood Tech offers free adult basic education classes

Adult basic education classes are available through Northwood Technical College at the four main campuses and several outreach sites. Classes are intended to help adults prepare for the GED/HSED … more

6/1/23

Seniors Seth Rohl and Payton Rohl march in the EHS graduation processional Friday, May 26

‘Go forth and set the world on fire’

ELLSWORTH – The Ellsworth High School Class of 2023 plans to leave its mark on the world, as apparent by its motto “Go forth and set the world on fire,” by St. Ignatius of Loyola. … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 6/1/23

Ellsworth High School students Ethan Hinrichs, Dyllin Faust, Cody Paider, Tyler Huron, Lane Brookshaw, Walter Hines after loading up a golf cart to be sent back to Courtesy Auto.

EHS students work together to assemble golf cart

ELLSWORTH – A group of Ellsworth High School students got to try their hand at automotive work, as the school stripped apart and rebuilt a golf cart for local auto shop Courtesy Auto. The … more

By Andrew Harrington | 6/1/23

Chishty selected as dean of the College of Education, Business and Allied Health

RIVER FALLS - Muhammad Chishty, Ph.D., has been selected as the dean of the newly established College of Education, Business and Allied Health (CEBAH) at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. … more

5/25/23

UW-River Falls senior Emily Larsen was recently named the Paul Thomas Floriculture Production Intern of the Year for work she did during a three-month internship in Colorado last summer. Larsen was chosen as the top intern nationally among those taking part in the prestigious intern program coordinated by the American Floral Endowment.

UWRF student awarded top national internship honor

RIVER FALLS – When Emily Larsen headed to Peyton, Colo., for an internship at a major greenhouse last summer, an award was the last thing on her mind. So when Larsen learned recently … more

5/25/23

Kisting selected as UWRF College of Arts and Sciences dean

RIVER FALLS – Wesley Kisting, who worked as an associate dean and an English professor at a Georgia university, has been hired as the new dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at the … more

5/25/23

Kindergarten entrance age policy changed by school board

RIVER FALLS – Entrance age for elementary students has been a topic of discussion for the River Falls Board of Education throughout its history, and the May 15 board meeting saw the topic at … more

By Andrew Harrington | 5/25/23

Prescott Kiwanis Students of the Week: Ramsey Nicolay, Kelcey Hanson

The Prescott Kiwanis Student of the Week for May 17 was Prescott High School junior Ramsey Nicolay, nominated by teacher Dylan Larsen. “Ramsey has grown academically by leaps and bounds … more

5/25/23

Sports performance coach position coming to PHS

PRESCOTT – The Prescott School Board is on board with a plan to hire a head coach of sports performance who would start in August. The position won’t affect the district budget and … more

By John McLoone | 5/25/23

Teacher Mike Thomley watches over as student Avery Braun drills a hole for a birdhouse.

Middle school STEM students raise hundreds through birdhouses

PRESCOTT – Teacher Mike Thomley and the STEM students at Prescott Middle School rose to the challenge when they were tasked with creating 40 bluebird houses for local visitor center Freedom … more

By Andrew Harrington | 5/25/23

Elmwood class of 2023 swap their tassels from the right to the left of their caps, signifying they have officially graduated.

Elmwood Class of 2023 says goodbye to high school

ELMWOOD - The Elmwood High School Class of 2023 commencement ceremony took place at 7 p.m. Friday, May 19 at Elmwood Football Field. Their class motto was "Together, we have experienced life. … more

Staff report | 5/25/23

Spring Valley FFA was awarded a $5,000 Bayer Fund America’s Farmers Grow Communities grant thanks to farmer Tony Shafer. Pictured are (back, from left): Ty Mader, Mattie Wilk, Tony Shafer, Maddie Shafer, Trista Falde (front, from left): Kaylee Eschenbach, Tatum Timm, Megan Wentlandt

SV FFA surprised with $5,000 grant

SPRING VALLEY – Local Farmer Tony Shafer recently directed a $5,000 Bayer Fund America’s Farmers Grow Communities donation to the Spring Valley FFA chapter. The Spring Valley FFA chapter … more

5/25/23

The UW-River Falls Crop Judging Team examined plants during competition as part of the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Student Judging Contest in Modesto, Calif., April 12-15.

UWRF teams take top awards at national competitions

RIVER FALLS – Coryn Davidson and her three teammates on the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Ag Business Team arrived at a national competition in Modesto, Calif., with high hopes. … more

5/18/23

(Left to right) Arlo L'Allier, Josh Muszynski, Elena Dexheimer and Derek Weissinger of River Falls High School; Myah Latour, Abby Lockrem, Danny Zolp and Owen Damkot of West Bend East & West High Schools; and Josie Tepp, Joshua Moberg, Ryan (Pouriya) Khalili and Alex Jurkuta of Waunakee High School, pose for a photo following the Wisconsin Civics Games state finals on Friday, May 12, 2023, at the state Capitol in Madison.

RFHS takes 3rd at Wisconsin Civics Games

MADISON – Four students from River Falls High School took third place at the third annual Wisconsin Civics Games, presented by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation. They were among 62 … more

5/18/23

Ellsworth High School Valedictorian Holly Hufnagle (left) and Salutatorian RaeAnna Smith were honored at the May 8 Ellsworth School Board meeting.

PKC rates may go up for first time in 13 years

ELLSWORTH – The Ellsworth School Board will vote in June whether or not to increase Panther Kids Club rates for the first time in 13 years. In that time, operating costs have risen 90%, said … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 5/18/23

Prescott Kiwanis Student of the Week: Alee Warp

The Prescott Kiwanis Student of the Week for the May 10 is Prescott High School junior Alessandra (Alee) Warp, who was nominated by business education teacher Kaden Nosbush. “Alee is … more

5/11/23

(From left): Dean Olson, CAFES Interim Dean; UWRF Chancellor Maria Gallo; and David Lenzmeier, 2023 Distinguished Agriculturalist.

Lenzmeier named 2023 Wisconsin Distinguished Agriculturalist

RIVER FALLS – David Lenzmeier has been named the 2023 Wisconsin Distinguished Agriculturalist by the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) at the University of … more

5/11/23

Keynote speaker praises UWRF graduates for overcoming obstacles leading to graduation

RIVER FALLS – University of Wisconsin-River Falls graduates have faced all sorts of challenges, including the coronavirus pandemic, and have worked hard to overcome them to graduate with their … more

5/11/23