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Alumni Spotlight: Morgan Holen
Written By Ann Huddleston, Alumni Relations
It’s not often a young person, or rather anyone, is so incredibly well spoken. Morgan Holen, ESHS Class of 2016, grew up in a family where they might get questioned about current events at the dinner table and be expected to share their thoughts. This resulted in being aware of the happenings around the world and the knowledge it takes to be able to communicate clearly, on the spot. Why? Morgan’s mom was Miss Nebraska 1988 and an active volunteer in the organization. Morgan and her sister grew up going to the events, observed behind the scenes, and Morgan eventually decided to compete. In 2014, she competed and won Miss Nebraska Teen. She also went on to Miss Omaha and then to compete in the Miss Nebraska pageant where she was crowned, then served as Miss Nebraska in 2021. Those dinner conversations helped train her to constantly stay informed and to be able to think on the spot with well thought-out answers.
Morgan graduated from Elkhorn South High School in 2016 where she participated on the dance team, varsity show choir, and student council. During that time, the dance team wasn’t competing on a national level yet. ESHS now has competitive dance and Morgan even grew up dancing at Kitty Lee with one of the current ESHS dance coaches Amanda Pyle! Some memorable teachers who stood out to her during her time at Elkhorn were her 4th grade Spring Ridge teacher, Miss Connell, who she saw while attending the Spring Ridge Carnival during her time as Miss Nebraska. Mr. Adam Lambert (not to be confused with the singer), the ESHS show choir director at the time, was also very pivotal in her education. He encouraged his show choir students to be involved in multiple interests rather than focus all of their attention on one activity. Because of this, the show choir had students of all backgrounds participating.
During her time as Miss Nebraska, Morgan toured the state and visited Washington, D.C., many times. She traveled about 30,000 miles over the course of the year! Mr. Lambert, her former ESHS show choir director, had since moved to Imperial, where he became the Superintendent of the district. Morgan visited Imperial, where she presented to the Chase County School District about the importance of mentorship and becoming a mentor, in this case, the mentorship program is with the TeamMates organization. The small town of Bertrand is another notable visit for Morgan. Her dad grew up there, and during the county fair, she was able to be in the parade, enjoy the energy of the town, see family members, and speak in many classrooms. As for her time in DC, Morgan was able to lay a wreath at The tomb of The Unknown Soldier and go under the bunker for a behind the scenes look. For her, it was meaningful being there and being able to honor all of the individuals that had served in the military and were buried there.
Morgan attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and while there, in addition to spending a year as Miss Nebraska, she participated in the Husker Dance Team, the Scarlets. Being a Scarlet meant being involved in every aspect of every game from football to softball, basketball to baseball. They started the day weightlifting in the mornings, practicing later in the day and maybe performing at a game later. On some days, they’d represent the athletic department in the community at locations such as nursing homes or fundraising events. Of course, the Husker football game day tunnel walk sticks out in her memory with some unforgettable moments.
While at UNL, Morgan continued mentoring students with TeamMates and spoke often about her experience at events for Miss Omaha/Miss Nebraska. Covid came into the picture during her senior year of college, so she used that time and leftover money from Miss Omaha to invest in becoming a certified Gallup Strengths Coach. She was able to use that skill to help other Miss America contestants learn their strengths. Morgan traveled across the country volunteering at a national level speaking with young women at different chapters of her sorority about the importance of their strengths and how to leverage them.
Currently, Morgan is a director of a local nonprofit organization called Women Investing in Nebraska (WIN), part of the University of Nebraska Foundation. In 2022, a week after she handed her crown to the next Miss Nebraska, she began working with this group of women to help award grants to the University of Nebraska system (Kearney, Lincoln, Omaha, UNMC) and other Nebraska nonprofit projects. The group has flourished with more than 300 women across the state and continues to grow. The winners of these grants span the whole state, not limited to larger metropolitan areas like Lincoln and Omaha. Morgan is still mentoring for TeamMates and traveling for her sorority, Chi Omega, on a leadership committee that travels the country giving workshops to collegiate students. In her spare time, Morgan enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling and dancing and choreography. Morgan recently became engaged to be married.
Morgan regards her time in Elkhorn with fondness. She thinks of it as a community that bands together in tough times. Elkhorn encourages an environment where you strive for excellence and being involved. In fact, Morgan was on the University of Nebraska at Lincoln’s homecoming court with three other Elkhorn alumni. Four out of twenty were from Elkhorn, which is telling of the culture. She advises current students to invest back in the community and ask to be involved with the things they love. She advises, “Find something you love and spend a lot of time there. To lead a lot of different people you’ve got to be around different types of people and make them your community.”
EPS Retired Teachers’ Luncheon 2024
Thank you to all the retired teachers who attended!
The Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation welcomed approximately 40 retired Elkhorn Public Schools’ teachers at our annual Retired Teachers’ Luncheon on Wednesday, November 13th at 11:30 am!
A catered lunch was provided with time to socialize and network with other retired Elkhorn Public Schools teachers. During the luncheon, there were three speakers: Anne Doerr, Executive Director of Student Services; Dr. Bary Habrock, EPS Superintendent; and Mark Wortman, former EPS teacher and current EPS School Board member.
Anne encouraged attendees to become a TeamMates mentor. Currently, there are over 100 TeamMates mentors in Elkhorn, and they are always looking for more with many students on the waitlist. Visit this link if you are interested in becoming a TeamMates mentor.
Dr. Habrock presented the new ACHIEVE Career & Technical Education (CTE) Scholarship to the retired teachers. During his presentation, he discussed the history of the ACHIEVE Advanced Placement (AP) Scholarship. “This was the right step, but we weren’t finished,” he said. The new ACHIEVE CTE Scholarship is similar to ACHIEVE AP Scholarship in that students are aiming for clear targets including being involved in activities, volunteering, and completing certain class requirements. However, the ACHIEVE CTE Scholarship differs in that students must also complete courses in a program of focus and complete multiple career exploration experiences. The overall goal of the ACHIEVE program is to “celebrate kids,” said Dr. Habrock.
Mark Wortman finished the presentation by discussing his photography project. He is working to create a photography book that catalogues the history of the Elkhorn Public Schools. He challenged the teachers to send him pictures that they may have from their teaching careers. Mark and the audience also had a good time recognizing familiar faces and names in some of the old photos he displayed. If you would like to contribute photos, click this link to be taken the webpage explaining Mark’s project.
View pictures from the event!
Retired Teachers’ Luncheon 2024
The Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation will host our annual luncheon for retired Elkhorn Public Schools’ teachers on Wednesday, November 13th at 11:30 am at the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation Alumni Center!
Free to attend! RSVP required!
We are excited to host the annual Retired Teachers’ Luncheon for former Elkhorn Public Schools’ teachers. Teachers give so much during their careers, and this is one way we want to show our appreciation. It is a wonderful way to learn more about the district from our event speakers and connect with other former EPS educators. The event is free to attend, but we ask that you to RSVP using the button above. We look forward to seeing you on November 13th!
If you know other retired teachers that may want to attend in the future, please tell them to email alumni@elkhornfoundation.org or call (402)289-1727 to be added to the list.
Alumni Spotlight: Cass Thielen
Dr. Cass Thielen is a 2012 graduate of Elkhorn South High School. She grew up riding and showing horses. Initially, Dr. Cass planned to become a veterinarian until her horse needed chiropractic care and she saw the benefits it could provide. Dr. Cass began seeing a chiropractor herself shortly after and found relief from daily headaches. She also noticed when she and her horse were well-adjusted, they performed better and placed higher. She realized the benefit of chiropractic care for all spines and began her chiropractic career.
Dr. Cass received her Bachelors in Animal Science from Iowa State University and graduated top of her class with her Doctorate of Chiropractic from Northwestern Health Sciences University. She received her animal chiropractic certification from Options for Animals. Dr. Cass is certified in animal chiropractic through the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA) and is a licensed chiropractor and animal therapist in Nebraska.
She is trained in caring for all the spines from kids to grandparents to animals. She believes every body deserves to be adjusted whether they have four legs, two legs, or no legs.
In her free time, Dr. Cass enjoys reading, hiking, cooking, hanging out with her husband and their daughter, and riding and showing her horses.
Q: What were some of your best memories at ESHS?
A: Playing basketball was probably my favorite part. I loved the competitiveness and being with the team, traveling on the bus to and from games. The classes I TA’d for were with friends, and I loved getting to hang out with friends (while getting work done) and getting to know the teachers better and hearing their life stories.
Q: What are some activities you were involved in?
A: I played basketball all four years (two at EHS, two at ESHS), was in the National Honors Society and FBLA, and worked as an office aide and TA for various teachers. I think there were more throughout the years, but those were the ones I remember being involved with all four years.
Q: Did any classes in high school lead you to choose your career path?
A: No classes specifically led me to my career, but some reinforced my passion for science. AP Chemistry was one of my favorite classes. I learned during that class I really am a huge science nerd and actually enjoyed figuring out chemical reactions and formulas. Mr. Specht made the class entertaining and I still remember some of the experiments we did. Anatomy class was another favorite. Understanding how the body works together and how form affects function is fascinating.
My other favorite classes (that had nothing to do with my field of study) were AP Lit with Mrs. Simons and AP US History with Mr. Bahe. I’ve always been a passionate reader, and Mrs. Simons selection of books for the class introduced me to new authors and genres I never would have tried otherwise. Two of the books we read in her class are in my top five favorite books of all time and ones I recommend to anyone looking for a good book to read. Mr. Bahe taught the most entertaining history class I have ever taken and the first time I enjoyed US history more than world history.
Q: What were those favorite books?
A: My all time favorite is The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien, followed closely by Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay. Pride and Prejudice and The Power of One were the two I read in Mrs. Simons class, and I reread Pride and Prejudice every year. I would reread The Power of One more often but my copy has been lent out more than it has been in my possession the last 10 years.
Q: How did you get started on the path of animal chiropractic?
A: My horse started getting adjusted when I was in high school. He always had issues collecting to the left, and after getting adjusted he would collect and bend well in both directions. I learned from our equine chiropractor that horses and riders tend to mirror the same issues. I started seeing a chiropractor and discovered I had a transitional lumbar vertebrae, meaning my last vertebrae forms a pseudojoint with my sacrum on the left, affecting my biomechanics and how my spine and pelvis move. My altered biomechanics affect my horse’s, which is why he never collected as well to the left. Once we both started getting adjusted regularly, he performed better consistently and we placed higher at shows. I knew from that moment I was going to be an animal chiropractor (who also worked on people).
Q: What is the certification process like for the IVCA (International Veterinary Chiropractic Association)?
A: You first have to be a licensed doctor of chiropractic (DC) or doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM), then graduate from an accredited animal chiropractic program. After graduation, you must pass the certification exam for the IVCA. There are continuing education requirements to maintain the certification, along with maintaining an active license.
Q: How long does it take to get results from animal patients vs human patients? Is it the same?
A: Animals actually tend to respond more quickly to chiropractic care than people do for a couple reasons. Because people have a higher consciousness and more developed brain, we tend to become our diagnosis and develop what I call a conscious block to recovering. Animals don’t have that, so they tend to respond pretty quickly to chiropractic. Babies and children actually respond more quickly than adults in most cases for the same reason. Another reason animals respond more quickly is people tend to wait until pain becomes unbearable before they seek treatment, and pet parents usually seek treatment as soon as their pet starts exhibiting signs of pain or disease. The earlier you start treatment, the quicker you see results.
Typical treatment plans for people are 10-20 visits and for animals 4-8 visits. Obviously each patient is different and how they respond to care depends on a variety of factors, so each patient may take more or less visits to get results and meet their goals.
Q: Some animals have health insurance- does animal insurance cover chiropractic care?
A: Most pet insurance companies do cover chiropractic. I recommend checking with your plan as to what the coverage is and who can perform the care. Unfortunately, some insurance companies only cover care done by a veterinarian. There are chiropractors actively working to change this though so any care your pet receives from a licensed provider is covered by insurance.
Q: What does a typical day look like for you, is there even a typical day?
A: I wouldn’t say there’s really a typical work day. On days I work with people, I work with a variety of conditions, from neck and back pain and headaches to plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, and TMJ dysfunction, among others. My patients range from a few weeks old to their mid-90s.
On days I work with animals, my clinic is mobile so I drive most of the day seeing dogs, horses, cats, and some cattle. Common conditions I work with are IVDD/spondylosis (arthritis) in dogs, general back or neck pain, performance concerns, behavior issues, and nervous system disorders or deficits. I also see a lot of general wellness patients as chiropractic is a great tool to help improve overall health and well-being. I can work on any animal with a spine, so I’m hoping to add more exotics to my patient base through the years!
Q: Since you work with animals and people, is there a split or percentage you feel you work with people and animals?
A: Currently, my animal/people split is about 50/50. I’m working toward doing mostly animal chiropractic though!
Q: What advice do you have for current high school students thinking about what to do with their future?
A: Whatever you may be interested in, explore it! Don’t limit yourself or think you have to have it all figured out in high school. Keep your options open. You have so much time left to figure out what you really want to do. Shadow as many professions as you think you may be interested in, and shadow multiple professionals in each field. Everyone works a little differently and will have a different perspective on their job. Definitely find what you are passionate about because going to work stays enjoyable.
Class of 1979 Gives Back For Their 45-Year Class Reunion
Thank you Elkhorn High Class of 1979 for your donation!!
Elkhorn High Class of 1979 celebrated their 45th year reunion by connecting with the community. Members of the class built a float featuring a giant cake for the Elkhorn Days Parade. The class will have their reunion at the end of June.
They also gave back to the community by making a donation to the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation in honor of their 45 year class reunion! The class designated their $500 donation toward the EPSF Tornado Relief Fund.
Jeff Holling, a spokesperson for the Class of 1979, said “We initially had class members donate money to help build our Elkhorn Days Parade float. When it became apparent that there would be funds left over, the team working on the float considered what should be done and then jointly agreed the money should be used as a donation, to give back to the community.”
We are so thankful for alumni who continue to help the community that raised them. If you or your graduating class would like to make a donation, contact alumni@elkhornfoundation.org or visit this donation link. You can allocate your donation to certain Foundation programs including the EPS Alumni Scholarship, Tornado Relief Fund, Classroom Grants, Math & Reading Intervention Groups, and more. You can see a full list of options on our donation form.
Alumni Spotlight: Irma Lamprecht
“The Graduation Party I Never Had”: Irma Harder Lamprecht, Class of 1944
Written by Lynn Lamprecht
Sections contributed by Ann Huddleston
On the evening of June 8th, at the Elkhorn Legion Club, Irma Harder Lamprecht was honored as the oldest living alumnus of Elkhorn High School and the last surviving member of the Elkhorn graduating class of 1944.
A group of alumni puts together an Alumni Banquet each year honoring Elkhorn High School alumni. This year honored classes in attendance were from graduating years of 1944, 1949, 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969 and 1974.
Irma was born at her farm home located just north of 180th and Dodge on December 10, 1926, to Amanda and Max Harder. Irma was their only child.
Irma attended District 48 Country School which was located 1 ½ miles south of their home on the corner of 180th and Pacific. From the age of five until graduating 8th grade, she walked to and from the country school. When she was five years old, Dodge Street was under construction. A road worker would meet her every day, before and after school, to carry her across the street safely.
Irma attended Elkhorn High School when she was in 9th grade. In those days, they called daily attendance. She thought it was quite funny when the teacher called daily roll call, they first called Irma’s name and then the name of the next person in the alphabet who was Betty Hell, so it was Harder and Hell together every day. Also, during winter months, Irma would stay at a family home in Elkhorn and return home on the weekends.
Irma graduated in 1944 with 25 individuals in her class, 13 boys and 12 girls. They did not have a formal graduation because of the war but instead each graduate got their picture taken with cap and gown. Twelve of the boys in her class were drafted into WWII and they left for war shortly after graduation. Happily, all 12 returned to Elkhorn safely when the war was over.
Irma attended one year of business school in Omaha and then worked for Union Pacific Railroad for three years. Her job was to track the car numbers on each train car and their location throughout the U.S.
Irma married John Lamprecht in March 1947 and lived for two years on a farm located near Waterloo, NE. Later, the family moved to a farm near Gretna, NE where they raised five children. It was a dairy farm where the cows were milked twice a day. She raised chickens and collected and sold the eggs. She performed all the routine daily activities as a farm wife but was also a leader of a 4-H club, participated in church circle, and other community activities.
John and Irma moved off the farm in 1983, as the farm was sold to Tim and Jan Vala, who turned the farm into Vala’s Pumpkin Patch. Interestingly, their family home is still standing. Visitors to Vala’s might have already toured the home, remodeled into what is now known as the Vala’s Pumpkin Patch Haunted Farmhouse!
After John passed away in 1995, Irma stayed on their acreage just north of Gretna for several years but later moved to Fremont where she currently lives in an assisted living facility.
Along with her five children, Irma has 13 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren. Family members love Irma for who she is but say her greatest asset is her ability to not pass judgment on anyone but rather accept everyone for who they are!
When Irma was asked about being honored as the oldest Elkhorn alumnus, her response was “When I graduated, World War II was happening, and there was always the thought in the back of my mind of war. The boys were drafted right away. People did not think of the celebrations, as it was a serious time. The alumni banquet was the graduation party I never had.”
Classroom Grants
The Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation partners with the Elkhorn Public Schools District to enrich education and create opportunities through our Classroom Grants Program.
Flip Flop Book Swap
To read about the impact of Classroom Grants, check out the story below:
In the 2024-2025 school year, the Foundation will be funding 68 Classroom Grants totaling over $124,000 that will benefit classrooms across the Elkhorn Public Schools, impacting thousands of students.
A few new and exciting classroom grants requested this year include a welding TIG grinder for Welding II students, books for a middle school Battle of the Books, quiz bowl buzzers, literacy nights at several elementary schools, and dramatic play items for kindergarteners. Other common grants requested are literacy assistance kits, eBooks, play production, robotics equipment, and middle school-wide speakers.
If you would like to make a contribution to our Classroom Grant program, please click the link below or call the Foundation at (402) 289.1727 to discuss your gift. Thank you for your support!
Multiple Schools
2024-2025 Multi-School Classroom Grants
Elementary Schools
2024-2025 Arbor View Elementary Classroom Grants
2024-2025 Blue Sage Elementary Classroom Grants
2024-2025 Fire Ridge Elementary Classroom Grants
2024-2025 Hillrise Elementary Classroom Grants
2024-2025 Manchester Elementary Classroom Grants
2024-2025 Sagewood Elementary Classroom Grants
2024-2025 Skyline Elementary Classroom Grants
2024-2025 West Bay Elementary Classroom Grants
2024-2025 West Dodge Station Elementary Classroom Grants
2024-2025 Westridge Elementary Classroom Grants
2024-2025 Woodbrook Elementary Classroom Grants
Middle Schools
2024-2025 Elkhorn Grandview Middle School Classroom Grants
2024-2025 Elkhorn Middle School Classroom Grants
2024-2025 Elkhorn North Ridge Middle School Classroom Grants
2024-2025 Elkhorn Ridge Middle School Classroom Grants
2024-2025 Elkhorn Valley View Middle School Classroom Grants
High Schools
2024-2025 Elkhorn High School Classroom Grants
Math & Reading Intervention
The Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation funds the Math & Reading Clubs that take place in Elkhorn’s elementary schools before and after school through the proceeds of our annual Bids For Kids event.
These clubs help students gain confidence and improve their overall math and reading comprehension through small group tutoring.
In the 2023-2024 school year, over 330 elementary students needed additional instruction in math and reading. Because of the generous support of our Bids For Kids sponsors, bidders, and donors, we’re able to continue to fund these vital programs as the need for them increases.
If you are an Elkhorn Public Schools Staff Member and are interested in working with your school’s Math or Reading Assistance Program or Club before or after school, please contact your principal for more information.
Thank you for your support!
To learn about the benefits of Math & Reading Intervention clubs, read the story below:
TEAM Campaign 2023
EPSF Raised Over $48K during 2023-2024 TEAM Campaign
Every year, the Foundation works with the Elkhorn Public Schools District to launch our TEAM Campaign.
The Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation TEAM Campaign is an annual fundraiser that helps raise awareness about the opportunities the Foundation provides and a chance for EPS staff to donate to the Foundation to help fund its programs. By donating to the Foundation’s 2023 TEAM Campaign, they help us provide additional funding for programs including Classroom Grants, Scholarships, Teacher Tuition Reimbursement, Math & Reading Intervention, our Kids in Need Fund, and more!
THANK YOU to every Elkhorn Public Schools staff member who contributed to our TEAM Campaign this year. Together, we were able to raise over $48K!
THANK YOU FOR “GETTING ON THE BUS” AND HELPING US SUPPORT OUR ELKHORN PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROGRAMS!
