PRESCOTT – Afton Apple, a longtime supporter of the Prescott School District, received the WASDA Bert Grover Child Advocacy Award at the WASDA Annual Educational Conference on Thursday, April 23 in Elkhart Lake.

The Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators has a priority interest in advocating for the welfare of Wisconsin youth. One effort is to recognize either individuals or organizations who do this in an exceptional way. The WASDA Child Advocacy Committee has selected Afton Apple as the 2026 Bert Grover Child Advocacy Award - Business recipient for their decade long, generous support of Prescott students’ education experience. They aim to support every child and all aspects of their well-being by providing fresh apples at lunchtime, safer playground equipment, donations towards new learning equipment and technology, volunteering at school events, and the list goes on.

Afton Apple has been more than a local business; they have been a cornerstone of the Prescott School District, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the well-being and academic success of its 1,200 students. Afton Apple's impact is visible in every corner of the district, from the physical safety of its facilities to the innovative nature of the curriculum. Their advocacy is best highlighted through several key pillars of support:

• Enhancing learning environments: Between 2018 and 2020, Afton Apple was instrumental in implementing flexible seating across all Malone Elementary classrooms. These allow K-3 teachers to use multiple learning spaces at the same time to engage students in different learning tasks.
• In 2025, they funded vertical whiteboards to support Building Thinking Classroom (BTC) initiatives, directly fostering collaborative and active learning spaces for students including donating funds for vertical whiteboards.
• Physical wellness and play: Their generosity revamped the Malone Elementary playground (2021-2023), including the purchase of a web structure and a slide-obstacle course. These contributions ensure a safe and engaging recreational space for students and the broader community.
• Literacy and community building: In Spring 2024, a $10,500 donation supported the One School, One Book program at the elementary schools. They continued this in 2025 by providing books for every student and teacher at Malone. These programs do more than teach reading; they build community through shared experiences, guest speakers, and direct workshops with authors.
• Holistic support: From providing fresh apples at back-to-school events to funding musical instruments, art supplies, outdoor sun shades, and "Kindness" speakers, Afton Apple ensures our students have a well-rounded, supported educational experience.
• Volunteer support: Sarah Parkos (owner) and her family are at many school district events volunteering, cheering, and supporting all families.

Afton Apple's dedication is not a series of one-time gestures but a sustained partnership. They are already collaborating on future literacy programs and kindness events for the 2026-2027 school year.

Afton Apple donated $15,000 to support the Prescott Cardinal students February of 2026, which brings the total to approximately $92,000 over nine years. As their 250-acre orchard continues to grow, so does their support of the Prescott School District as well as districts through their educational agricultural tours. Their decade-long legacy of giving has fundamentally improved the educational landscape in Prescott.

As recognition for the support to Afton Apple and the Prescott community, Sarah Parkos and Cindy Femling, family business owners, will receive a plaque to display at Afton Apple.

Submitted by Prescott School District