ELLSWORTH – Four student-led community service projects received grants from the Empower Ellsworth program, an annual grant competition hosted by Ellsworth E3 Community Development Corporation in collaboration with Ellsworth Community School District.

The four projects, detailed below, received a total of $1,500. Ellsworth high and middle school students who applied for the program presented their ideas to a panel of judges March 28, including EHS Principal Oran Nehls, Village President Becky Beissel, Village Trustee Andrew Borner, and Pierce County Journal Editor/E3 board member Sarah Nigbor.

E3 would like to thank the businesses and individuals who donated to the program, allowing students to implement their ideas to make Ellsworth a better place: Brush Strokes Paint Party & Art Supply, YB Urban?, CCF Bank, Tiffany Meyer, WESTconsin Credit Union and Pierce County Journal. A big thank you to EHS teacher/E3 board member Anne Pechacek for organizing the competition.

Basketball camp

Ellsworth High School student Morgan Halverson received $250 toward a youth girls basketball camp for grades K-8. This will be Halverson’s second year hosting the camp, which aims to get more girls interested in basketball so they sign up for feeder programs such as summer camps, summer and fall sessions and traveling ball.

Last year 78 students participated in the camp, which featured basketball trainer Angie Wenning. Girls learned the basics of the sport and participated in fun activities. The money will be used for the trainer’s fee, T-shirts, snacks and gift bags.

Ellsworth mural

Ellsworth Middle School eighth-grader Eden Fritz will receive $400 for a mural she has planned for the East Ellsworth Mural Walk. The mural will feature two eyes. The one on the left will be a “world eye,” looking like planet Earth surrounded by vitiligo (two different skin tones). The right eye will feature an “out of this world” theme, made to look like a galaxy and night sky. The grant will be used to purchase supplies such as wood, brushes, primer and paint.

Fritz plans to paint the mural on six wooden panels that will be placed on the side of Comfort By Design (240 N. Broadway St.) sometime this summer, with the help of family and friends. This will be the third mural in the East End.

Panther Closet

The Panther Closet, presented by EHS junior Kayla Kressin (Molly Janke was unable to attend), is modeled after other care closets at area schools, such as Wiley’s Wardrobe in River Falls. The Panther Closet will be a room at EHS where students can grab things they need, such as clothing, snacks or hygiene products.

“In every community, including ours, there are less fortunate youth who cannot afford new clothes or hygiene products and may come to school hungry,” Kressin said. “The closet is a place to give students nutritious snacks so their brains can function throughout the day and clothes and hygiene products gives the students the relief that will help them focus more on their education, which benefits the school and community.”

The goal is to make the room inviting, comfortable and convenient. The $500 award will be used to purchase clothes hangers, shelves, a storage cart and mini fridge. The girls’ basketball team held a hygiene product drive this winter, which will help stock the closet. The group also received a grant for supplies from the Ellsworth Lions Club.

Kressin and Janke don’t want the closet to be temporary; they hope it will continue and expand to the middle school in the future. Underclassmen will be recruited to help with the project to ensure its continuation and success.

Ellsworth Tennis Clinic

EHS tennis team members Betsy Foster, Lander Levers, Josie Pechacek and Carter Price received $350 to host the second annual Ellsworth Tennis Clinic for grades 5-8. The clinic will take place after summer school in June for five days.

Last year’s clinic attracted seven participants, who learned the tennis basics. The goal is to introduce them to the sport in order to grow numbers for the high school program. The money will be used to purchase tennis balls, prizes, snacks and drinks for participants. Rackets, purchased last year, are provided to students to use.