Education - Pierce County Journal

Ruby Magee is the Prescott Community Club Student of the Week for Sept. 9.

Prescott Community Club Student of the Week: Ruby Magee

The Prescott Community Club Student of the Week for Sept. 9 is Prescott High School junior Ruby Magee, who was nominated by PHS staff. Ruby was nominated by PHS Staff to be the WILS … more

9/9/26

New UW-River Falls students gather at Ramer Field with the Marching Falcons marching band and Freddy Falcon mascot to begin Orientation on Sunday, Aug. 30. The event was part of the kickoff to UWRF's Week of Welcome, which includes games and activities, live entertainment, athletic events and more to introduce new students to the campus and community.

UWRF welcomes new students to campus for 2026-2027 academic year

RIVER FALLS – The University of Wisconsin-River Falls welcomed new students to campus for Orientation on Sunday. The newest Falcons gathered at Ramer Field for rallying music with the Marching … more

9/9/26

Participants practice guiding pigs using sorting boards during a Humane Handling and Stunning workshop at the UW-River Falls Humane Handling Institute (HHI) in April. The next workshop for meat industry employees is scheduled for Sept. 17-18.

UWRF Humane Handling Institute trains livestock processors in safe and humane handling

RIVER FALLS – “We built this program from the ground up for you," said Kurt Vogel, director of the Humane Handling Institute (HHI) at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, as 17 meat industry … more

9/9/26

UW-River Falls graduates celebrate commencement in May, 2026. UWRF has been named a College of Distinction for the 2026-2027 academic year by Colleges of Distinction.

UW-River Falls named a 2026-2027 College of Distinction

RIVER FALLS – Colleges of Distinction has named the University of Wisconsin-River Falls a College of Distinction for the 2026-2027 academic year. The designation is reserved for institutions whose … more

9/9/26

Supt. column: Salute to educators

ELLSWORTH — There is nothing quite like the energy of a new school year starting up in Ellsworth. The quiet summer hallways are officially gone, replaced by the chaotic, wonderful noise of students … more

By Supt. Brian Nadeau Ellsworth Community School District | 9/2/26

Renee Alexander, a 1990 UW-River Falls graduate, poses for a photo with UWRF mascot Freddy Falcon on opening day of the Minnesota State Fair on Aug. 27, her fourth opening day as the event's CEO.

UWRF alum heads up the Great Minnesota Get-Together

RIVER FALLS – When Renee Alexander was a kid, she loved to go to the Minnesota State Fair, but she never thought it would lead to a career. "I never thought that the fair could be a … more

9/2/26

Arriety Lowell, a senior lecturer of physics, received the University Excellence in Service Award.

UWRF faculty recognized with awards for excellence in teaching, advising, research and service

RIVER FALLS — Four University of Wisconsin-River Falls faculty members have been recognized for outstanding contributions in the areas of research, service, teaching and advising. … more

9/2/26

2025 UW-River Falls graduate Sasha Resig stands at the Union Depot rail station in St. Paul, Minn. Since earning a triple-major bachelor’s degree in international studies, geography and Spanish, Resig has worked as an intern at the Metro Transit Police Department while pursuing a master’s degree in geographic information science at the University of Minnesota.

Falcon Futures: UW-River Falls grad serves his community while pursuing master’s degree

RIVER FALLS — When Sasha Resig of Minneapolis began his college career at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, he wasn’t sure where it would take him. He initially planned to be a teacher and … more

9/2/26

Students work in the greenhouse at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents approved a budget request Thursday that would replace the aging facility and fund planning and design for major upgrades to the university's Agricultural Sciences Complex. The projects are included in the capital budget request which will be delivered to the state Department of Administration for consideration by the governor and legislature as part of the 2027-2029 biennial budget.

Board of Regents approves UW-River Falls agricultural facilities projects

RIVER FALLS — The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents approved two major University of Wisconsin-River Falls capital project requests aimed at strengthening Wisconsin's agricultural … more

9/2/26

WEDC Secretary and CEO John Miller (left) learns about plans for a new Plant Science Discovery Center during a visit to the UW-River Falls campus on Tuesday. Funding for the project was recently approved by the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents for consideration by the governor and legislature as part of the 2027-2029 biennial budget. Also pictured l-r: Kurt Vogel, professor of animal welfare and behavior and director of the Humane Handling Institute; Interim Chancellor John Chenoweth and Brandt Berghuis, associate professor of crop science.

WEDC Secretary and CEO John W. Miller visits UW-River Falls

RIVER FALLS — Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Secretary and CEO John W. Miller visited the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Tuesday, where he had an opportunity to learn about … more

9/2/26

American historian and author to speak at UW-River Falls

RIVER FALLS — The Walker D. and Helen Bryant Wyman Speaker Series will present featured speaker Daniel Immerwahr at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in the … more

9/2/26

Keaton Anderson, Seventh Grade Science, Meyer Middle School

RFSD welcomes new staff for 2026-27

River Falls School District is pleased to welcome the following new staff members for the 2026-27 school year. Keaton Anderson Position: Seventh Grade Science, Meyer Middle School … more

9/2/26

Students at Prescott School District will be required to power off and turn their phones into a secured storage area for the entire school day.

Prescott passes ‘bell-to-bell’ cell phone ban

PRESCOTT – The Prescott School Board unanimously approved a policy Aug. 19 banning the use of all personal communication devices (PCDs) bell-to-bell during the instructional school day, which goes … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 8/26/26

In June, the Spring Valley Middle/High School commons area was under construction, making way for new HVAC, flooring and other system upgrades.

SV students return to refreshed building

SPRING VALLEY – The Spring Valley School Board’s Aug. 19 meeting addressed referendum project and strategic plan updates, as well as the introduction of a new communication system for students, … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 8/26/26

St. Croix Valley Foundation awards record $442,200 in environmental grants

HUDSON — The St. Croix Valley Foundation has awarded a record $442,200 in Environmental Grants to 29 organizations, marking the largest environmental grant cycle in the history of the … more

8/26/26

Lynette Livingston, Chippewa Valley Technical College provost and vice president of Academic & Student Affairs, and Mike Carney, UW-Eau Claire interim chancellor, welcomed faculty and staff from both institutions to Reaffirmation Day at CVTC in February. The two schools had already been discussing transfer opportunities for students pursuing careers in education, but conversations during Reaffirmation Day helped move the partnership forward.

Head of the class: CVTC, UWEC work together, create seamless transfer for students to become teachers

Until now, one of the best paths for aspiring teachers to begin at Chippewa Valley Technical College and transfer to UW-Eau Claire was through the University Transfer Liberal Arts associate degree. … more

By Chippewa Valley Technical College and UW-Eau Claire | 8/26/26

Prescott Middle School, Greenwood Elementary receives WI Lions Grant

ROSHOLT — The Wisconsin Lions Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of its inaugural School Technology Grant, developed through the Foundation’s Diabetes Awareness Project to help … more

8/26/26

Charles Kao, who taught economics at UW-River Falls from 1964 to 1998, speaks during a visit to the campus in 2006. Kao, an influential publisher and government adviser in Taiwan, passed away Aug. 6 at the age of 90.

UWRF community mourns passing of former economics professor and longtime benefactor Charles Kao

RIVER FALLS — The University of Wisconsin-River Falls community was saddened to learn of the passing of former economics professor and department chair Charles Kao, who left behind a legacy as an … more

8/26/26

SDRF’s preliminary budget to be presented at Sept. 28 annual meeting

RIVER FALLS — The School District of River Falls’ 2026-27 preliminary budget was presented at the Aug. 17 school board meeting, showing a 5.44% increase to the levy from a year ago. The … more

By Andrew Harrington | 8/26/26

Students walk on the UW-River Falls campus in October 2025. A recently released study indicates the university has a $295 million annual economic impact on Pierce and St. Croix counties.

UWRF study shows university has $295 million annual impact on region’s economy

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls 2026 Economic Impact Study shows that, by a conservative estimate, UWRF generates approximately $295 million in annual economic output for Pierce and St. … more

8/19/26