ELLSWORTH – Service learning is an important part of character education in the Ellsworth Community School District, apparent by the number of thoughtful projects presented to a panel of judges Thursday, April 17. Six groups of students seeking funding through the Empower Ellsworth grant program received a total of $2,500.

Empower Ellsworth is a collaboration between ECSD and E3 Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit group dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Ellsworth area by generating, managing and allocating resources to meet current and future needs in the community. Each spring, the Empower Ellsworth program awards grants to student-led projects in ECSD. Each year students present their ideas to a judging committee, who then award the funds. Funds are raised through the E-Town Collaborative rental fees and donations.

Eagle Scout candidate Trevor Doherty received $500 toward his plan to construct a kiosk at the entrance to Cairns Woods. The sturdy wooden sign, estimated to cost about $1,000, will include an aluminum map of the trails and be surrounded by fresh landscaping. Doherty also received $500 from the Village of Ellsworth for the project.

Bridget Dendinger, Anna Oleson and Bailey Oleson received $500 toward a summer tennis camp. The money will help pay for instructors to teach high school students interested in tennis new techniques and ways to improve their game. The camp will last 3-4 days in August and be taught by Ellsworth Head Coach Beth Friedrichsen and Altoona Head Coach Greg Emerson. The hope is to get more students interested in Ellsworth’s growing tennis program.

Maggie Pechacek received $450 to put toward next year’s Ellsworth Hall of Fame banquet. Pechacek spearheaded the project in Summer 2023 and about one month ago, the inaugural seven members were inducted. A committee chooses inductees each year, who are then honored at an annual banquet. The money Pechacek requested will go toward the cost of awards, inductees’ dinners and other costs.

Lillian Rewolinski of the Ellsworth FFA received $500 to go toward the FFA’s Elementary Ag Day. The FFA invites all Ellsworth elementary schoolers to learn about farming and agriculture. Throughout the event, FFA and community members have multiple stations that represent different species of animals, types of machinery, and horticultural practices. Elementary Agriculture Day encourages students of the next generation to have an interest in agriculture and creates the foundation for further thinking in pursuing a career path in Ag, Rewolinski said. The money will go toward making take-home bags for each student. The event is scheduled for May 21.

Eliana Nelson, Ragan Beck and Paighton Hotchkiss requested money to make dog treats to sell as a fundraiser for the River Bluff Humane Society. They received $50, which will go toward purchasing supplies to make dog treats to sell around town. The trio will take orders in the fall and donate the proceeds from their sales to the animal shelter, which serves the Ellsworth area. They have permission to use the Ellsworth High School Foods room to make batches of peanut butter banana treats, which they will sell six treats for $5.

Piper VanNocker, Mya Petersen and Mary Lundstrom received $500 for their Pretzels for Ukraine initiative. The Ellsworth Hearts & Minds Club began this project in March 2024 with the goal of sending supplies to more than 900 students in Ukraine ages 3-17. ECSD Special Education & Family Engagement Coordinator Melissa Casper’s stepmother is from Ukraine, and her children and grandchildren live there. The group’s mission is also to teach Ellsworth students about issues going on in the world and the impact they can have while ensuring that children and students in Ukraine have access to the basic necessities they need to thrive and feel safe.

The group will use the money to purchase ingredients to make chocolate covered pretzels, called Spirit Sticks, which will be sold at school and school functions. The proceeds will be used to purchase supplies to send to children in Ukraine through Casper’s contacts.

This year’s panel of judges included EHS Assistant Principal Rob Heller, EHS social studies teacher Jared Blaesser, and E3 board members Cheryl Johnson and Sarah Nigbor.