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2025 ESHS Scholarship Recognition Ceremony Community-Funded Scholarship Photo Gallery
Congratulations, scholarship winners and their families! This is a huge accomplishment that you will want to remember for a long time. To download your photo, right click the photo you want to download and select “Save Image As.”
2025 EHS Scholarship Recognition Ceremony
Congratulations 2025 Elkhorn High School Scholarship Recipients!
The Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation recognized our Elkhorn High School scholarship winners at our Scholarship Recognition Ceremony on April 22nd, 2025.
The scholarship recipients should be immensely proud of the hard work that has led them to their accomplishments! Your determination, organization, and commitment will take you far in life. Congratulations from the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation, Elkhorn High School, the scholarship selection committees, and our scholarship donors!
All photos will be downloadable and organized by type of scholarship (Community-Funded, ACHIEVE AP, & ACHIEVE CTE). Under the list of recipients and above the slideshow in each category, there is a link to a gallery of photos. Click that link to download individual recipient photos. Photos from all 2025 Scholarship Recognition Ceremonies will also be posted on our Facebook page.
Community-Funded Scholarships
The Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation currently administers 129 unique scholarships on the behalf of Elkhorn families, businesses, and organizations. During this week’s ceremonies, the Foundation is awarding 218 community-funded scholarships worth $330,550 to Elkhorn Public Schools’ seniors! We are extremely grateful for our scholarship donors, our scholarship representatives, and our 118 volunteer selection committees who partner with the Foundation to provide these great scholarship opportunities for our Elkhorn students!
Community-Funded Scholarship Winners at EHS
| Antler Football Legacy Scholarship | Gus Schultz |
| Antler Softball Booster Club Scholarship | Emerson Karstens |
| Antler Softball Booster Club Scholarship | Reese Turman |
| Arbor View Elementary Alumni Scholarship | Kendall Hansen |
| “Braver Than You Believe” Scholarship | Jayden Moody |
| Career Focus Initiative Scholarship | Emmett Jaworski |
| Carl Riley Brodersen Memorial Baseball Scholarship | Paxton Stracke |
| Carl Riley Brodersen Memorial Football Scholarship | Timothy Boomgarden |
| Carl Riley Brodersen Memorial Softball Scholarship | Preslee Yager |
| Carol S. Schlosser Memorial Scholarship | Kelly Knutson |
| Class of 1961 Memorial Scholarship | Naomi Bertucci |
| Class of 1961 Memorial Scholarship | Sara Ott |
| Core Bank Cares Scholarship | Charlie Lamski |
| Dennis Curtis – Class of ’64 Scholarship | Amelia Lorenzen |
| Don & Judith Petersen Family Scholarship | Skye Dixon |
| Don & Judith Petersen Family Scholarship | Samantha Griffin |
| Don & Judith Petersen Family Scholarship | Madison Harms-Davis |
| Don & Judith Petersen Family Scholarship | Sara Ott |
| Don & Judith Petersen Family Scholarship | Paige VanWagoner |
| Don & Judith Petersen Family Scholarship | Kaydn Zimmerman |
| EHS Achieving with Resilience & Perseverance: GRIT Scholarship | Talan Hellbusch |
| EHS Achieving with Resilience & Perseverance: GRIT Scholarship | Fon-Anjim Mofor |
| EHS Achieving with Resilience & Perseverance: GRIT Scholarship | Emma Walton |
| EHS Band Booster Scholarship | Quinton Raiser |
| EHS English Department Recognition Scholarship | Alaina Havran |
| Elkhorn Athletic Association Scholarship | Kelly Knutson |
| Elkhorn Athletic Association Scholarship | Kayd Matthews |
| Elkhorn Historical Society Scholarship | Jarett Paulson |
| Elkhorn Kids Campus Employee Scholarship | Tatum Zegers |
| Elkhorn Kids Campus Former Student Scholarship | Charlie Lamski |
| Elkhorn Lawn Care Entrepreneur Scholarship | Kelly Knutson |
| Elkhorn Lions Club Arnold Fencl Scholarship | Jarett Paulson |
| Elkhorn Middle School Booster Club Scholarship | Madison Harms-Davis |
| Elkhorn Middle School Booster Club Scholarship | Jarett Paulson |
| Elkhorn Swim Team Booster Club Scholarship | Logan O’Donnell |
| Elkhorn Swim Team Booster Club Scholarship | Claire Polly |
| Elkhorn Volunteer Rescue Scholarship | Rongyue Tu |
| Ella M. Barnes Achievement in Academics Scholarship | Rongyue Tu |
| EPS Alumni Scholarship | Kelly Knutson |
| Gene & Ruth Kruger Girls Basketball Memorial Scholarship | Emerson Karstens |
| Hillrise Elementary PTO Scholarship | Jake Petersen |
| Hillrise Elementary PTO Scholarship | Quinton Raiser |
| Horizons Scholarship | Talan Hellbusch |
| Jacob Ferguson Memorial Tennis Scholarship | Luke Bartlett |
| Legacy Eyecare Scholarship | Maureen Kubicek |
| Legacy Eyecare Scholarship | Rongyue Tu |
| Margretta, Gladys & Mabel Hamann Memorial Scholarship | Kelly Knutson |
| Margretta, Gladys & Mabel Hamann Memorial Scholarship | Emma Walton |
| Mary Kaye Eggers Memorial Scholarship | Emma Walton |
| Metro CU Excel Scholarship | Charlie Lamski |
| Nathan Waggoner Memorial Scholarship | Luke Bartlett |
| pARTners Scholarship | Lawrence Buckley |
| Philip E. Lawler Memorial Scholarship | Kira Ozyornaya |
| Powers Automotive Technical Career Scholarship | Dylan Fast |
| Rick Christmas Memorial Scholarship | Elliot Beister |
| Ryan Bayer Memorial Wrestling Scholarship | Diesel Janovich |
| Sam Osborn Memorial Scholarship | Jordan Koneck-Schejbal |
| Terry & Paulette Peters Memorial Scholarship | Kelly Knutson |
| Tom Roach Memorial Scholarship | Emma Walton |
| Trent Tiller Memorial Scholarship | Jarett Paulson |
| Vic Porter Memorial Scholarship | Charlie Lamski |
| West Dodge Station Elementary PTO Scholarship | Charlie Lamski |
| West O Chamber Scholarship | Kayd Matthews |
| Western Douglas County Rotary Club Scholarship | Sara Ott |
| Westridge Elementary PTO Scholarship | Luke Bartlett |
| William Patton Life Sciences Scholarship | Rongyue Tu |
| Wortman/Bacus Commitment to Excellence Scholarship | Timothy Boomgarden |
| Wortman/Bacus Commitment to Excellence Scholarship | Kayd Matthews |
| Wright Sisters’ Cheer Scholarship | Lauren Vermeeren |
| Wyatt Tobin Memorial Scholarship | Lauren Fast |
| Wyatt Tobin Memorial Scholarship | Kelly Knutson |
Click here to download pictures of Community-Funded Scholarship Recipients at EHS!
EPSF ACHIEVE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
EPSF ACHIEVE Advanced Placement (AP) Scholarship
The Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation ACHIEVE Advanced Placement (AP) Scholarship has a long-standing history in the Elkhorn Public Schools District. This scholarship rewards students who challenge themselves by taking 4 or more AP classes and are actively involved in their school and community. This year the Foundation is awarding 244 ACHIEVE AP Scholarships totaling $265,050.
EPSF ACHIEVE Advanced Placement (AP) Recipients at EHS
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Maame Acheampong |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Avery Anderson |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Olivia Bailey |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Luke Bartlett |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Naomi Bertucci |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Lawrence Buckley |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Macie Burson |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Georgia Chyczy |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Skye Dixon |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Breanna Douglas |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Dalia Durant |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Lauren Fast |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Mateo Garces |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Kendall Hansen |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Madison Harms-Davis |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | McKenzie Harnisch |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Alaina Havran |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Madison Hubbard |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Anderson Huffman |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Diesel Janovich |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | John Karnett |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Kelly Knutson |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Braden Kobiela |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Maureen Kubicek |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Charlie Lamski |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Jacob Leyda |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Kayd Matthews |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Ava McCaslin |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Emily McElhose |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Mallory McGaughey |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Judah Narber |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Adriana Pagan |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Jarett Paulson |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Jake Petersen |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Weston Plathe |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Claire Polly |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Quinton Raiser |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Nathaniel Rasmussen |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Samantha Richards |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Ramisa Rowshon |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Gus Schultz |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Lainey Sulinski |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Rongyue Tu |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Peyton Turman |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Reese Turman |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Paige VanWagoner |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Lauren Vermeeren |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Jaxsen Wilt |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Preslee Yager |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Kaydn Zimmerman |
| EPSF ACHIEVE AP Scholarship | Jacob Zymola |
Click here to download pictures of ACHIEVE AP Recipients at EHS!
EPSF ACHIEVE Career & Technical Education (CTE) Scholarship
The ACHIEVE Career & Technical Education (CTE) Scholarship was introduced in 2024. Students must complete coursework in one Career & Technical Education Program of Focus and complete a multitude of Career Exploration Experiences, Extra-Curricular Activities, and Community Service. This year, the Foundation is awarding 87 ACHIEVE CTE Scholarships worth $100,000. We firmly believe that regardless of the path our students choose, they will be career and college ready.
EPSF ACHIEVE Career & Technical Education (CTE) Recipients at EHS
| EPSF ACHIEVE CTE Scholarship | Sophia Anderson |
| EPSF ACHIEVE CTE Scholarship | Max Beard |
| EPSF ACHIEVE CTE Scholarship | Lawrence Buckley |
| EPSF ACHIEVE CTE Scholarship | Macie Burson |
| EPSF ACHIEVE CTE Scholarship | Lauren Fast |
| EPSF ACHIEVE CTE Scholarship | Samantha Griffin |
| EPSF ACHIEVE CTE Scholarship | Diesel Janovich |
| EPSF ACHIEVE CTE Scholarship | Kelly Knutson |
| EPSF ACHIEVE CTE Scholarship | Maureen Kubicek |
| EPSF ACHIEVE CTE Scholarship | Becca Leise |
| EPSF ACHIEVE CTE Scholarship | Judah Narber |
| EPSF ACHIEVE CTE Scholarship | Sara Ott |
| EPSF ACHIEVE CTE Scholarship | Kira Ozyornaya |
| EPSF ACHIEVE CTE Scholarship | Samantha Richards |
| EPSF ACHIEVE CTE Scholarship | Paige VanWagoner |
| EPSF ACHIEVE CTE Scholarship | Jaxsen Wilt |
| EPSF ACHIEVE CTE Scholarship | Jacob Zymola |
Click here to download pictures of ACHIEVE CTE Recipients at EHS!
Special thank you to Bland & Associates for being our Scholarship Recognition Ceremony Sponsor!
2025 EHS Scholarship Recognition Ceremony Community-Funded Scholarship Photo Gallery
Congratulations, scholarship winners and their families! This is a huge accomplishment that you will want to remember for a long time. To download your photo, right click the photo you want to download and select “Save Image As.”
2025 EHS Scholarship Recognition Ceremony ACHIEVE CTE Photo Gallery
Congratulations, scholarship winners and their families! This is a huge accomplishment that you will want to remember for a long time. To download your photo, right click the photo you want to download and select “Save Image As.”
2025 EHS Scholarship Recognition Ceremony ACHIEVE AP Photo Gallery
Congratulations, scholarship winners and their families! This is a huge accomplishment that you will want to remember for a long time. To download your photo, right click the photo you want to download and select “Save Image As.”
Alumni Spotlight: Joe Wherry
Interview conducted by Ann Huddleston, Alumni Relations
1996 Elkhorn High School alum Joe Wherry is a former detective with the Omaha Police Department, and current local business owner – Mathanisum and Junk King. Math is one of those subjects that just doesn’t come easily to everyone. Some of us might need a little extra help turning on that light bulb. Following a positive experience with his son and Mathnasium, Joe opened Mathnasium in Elkhorn on 205th St. in 2022. After graduating in ‘96, Joe studied Criminal Justice at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He then interned for the Omaha Police department in 2000, joining the force the next year. In 2005, Joe became a detective and then a sergeant in 2007. He spent time in the North Investigations and Homicide divisions before transitioning to Internal Affairs in 2018. In 2020, Joe returned to Elkhorn to work in patrol at the West Precinct. He retired from the police force on February 1st, 2025, in order to focus his attention on his businesses. And since Joe likes to stay busy, he signed on to be a part-time School Resource Office for Omaha Public Schools. Joe and his wife, Andrea, live in Elkhorn with their two sons, Grant, ESHS Class of 2023 and Alex, ESHS Class of 2026.
What are some of your standout memories of your time in Elkhorn and Elkhorn High School?
One memory that stands out is when I recently volunteered with the West-O Chamber to deliver food baskets to families in need. It really brought me back to my own childhood. Growing up on the outskirts of Elkhorn, my family often needed help, especially since my parents were both sick. We got food baskets and other support from the community, which made a huge difference. I’ll never forget when classmates would drop off meals after my mom passed away. The Elkhorn community really came through for us.
Another memory is biking to school along the Old Lincoln Highway and stopping for ice cream at Dairy Chef afterwards. Also, my first job at Gateway Lanes was great. I loved being able to bowl for free whenever I wanted!
Do you have any favorite teachers?
I remember Mrs. Weckerman (though we called her Mrs. Watermelon). She was a fun, friendly teacher, and I remember her swinging on the swing set at Hillrise during recess. It was so out of the ordinary, but it made me realize how cool she was.
In high school, I connected the most with the football coaches—Mr. Wortman, Mr. Koll, and Mr. Bacus. I had a lot of respect for them and always enjoyed being in their classes.
How did you decide to major in Criminal Justice?
Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be a police officer. Growing up, we didn’t have much, and we only had one TV in the house, which my dad controlled. He watched old westerns, Andy Griffith, and military shows, and I think that influenced me. Those shows always had good guys standing up for what’s right, and I wanted to be like them. We also had positive experiences with local law enforcement, and I admired their professionalism. I figured a Criminal Justice degree would help me get where I wanted to go in my career.
Can you share any interesting stories from your time as a detective?
I spent about 15 years as a detective, so there are a lot of cases I could talk about, but one that sticks out was one of my first homicide cases. At the beginning, we didn’t have much to go on, but through careful work, we brought in a suspect. During the interview, I could tell the suspect was starting to crack. Then, there was this moment when he became emotional, sighed deeply, dropped his head and confessed. It was a huge relief, and it felt great to give the family the answers they needed.
Another story I remember is when Elkhorn was annexed by Omaha. I was assigned as the detective covering the newly added Elkhorn area, and a lot of people were upset. As someone who grew up there, I could relate to their concerns and reassure them that crime wasn’t going to increase just because they didn’t have their own police department anymore. It helped to have that personal connection with the community.
You opened Mathnasium in July of 2022, what inspired you to open Mathnasium?
The idea for Mathnasium came from my son. When he was in 8th grade, he was really struggling with math, and his test scores were below the district average. I found a Mathnasium center nearby, and after a few months, he came home and said, “Math is easy now.” That was a big turning point for him, and I noticed how many other kids could probably use that same kind of help. So, when I returned to patrol, I realized it was the perfect time to try something new. I reached out to Mathnasium, and even though they initially told me Elkhorn wasn’t big enough, I convinced them to give it a shot. After a discovery day in Los Angeles, I bought the territory and opened the center in 2022.
How does it work? Why is it different?
What makes Mathnasium different is that we don’t just help kids with their homework; we address the root of the problem. If a student is struggling with division word problems, for example, we’ll look at their foundational skills and find that they might be missing something basic like understanding how to halve odd numbers. Once they master those building blocks, things like division become a lot easier. It’s not just a quick fix—it’s about building confidence and skills that last.
Traditional tutoring tends to only fix the immediate problem. A student might get help with a specific topic, but they’ll continue to struggle with other concepts if their foundation isn’t solid. At Mathnasium, we make sure they fully understand the fundamentals before moving on. And for advanced students, we push them ahead of their grade level. I’ve seen students test out of subjects like Algebra because they’ve already mastered it at Mathnasium!
Do you have any new projects in the works?
I’m excited to share that I’ve recently acquired the rights to a Junk King franchise, covering the entire metro area as my service territory. Junk King is North America’s leading junk removal company, with nearly 200 locally owned locations across the U.S. and Canada.
At Junk King, we make junk removal easy, affordable, and eco-friendly. Our trucks are 20% larger than the competition, providing more value per load. Plus, Junk King’s model requires franchisees to recycle or donate at least 60% of everything we haul—helping to keep items out of landfills.
I’m currently preparing for launch, with two weeks of training scheduled this month and an active search underway for the right location to set up shop. I plan to open between April and May and can’t wait to bring Junk King’s trusted service to the community!
What do you do in your spare time?
Right now, I exercise at Crossfit Elkhorn (formally OneGym Elkhorn) 4-5 days a week at 5 am. I am a fair-weather bicyclist. I like to ride from my house around Lake Zorinsky and back. It is a great way to decompress and listen to podcasts. On my days off from Omaha Police, you’ll often find me working other off-duty police jobs at local events. I like to stay busy. I also like to take at least one vacation a year, we have gone to Disney World a few times, Cancun Mexico (Moon Palace is great 3-times), and Las Vegas several times.
What is your advice for current high school students?
My advice would be to do your research before jumping into a career or business. Find something that suits your skills and passions. Also, don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. When I thought about opening a business, I was really stressed about the uncertainty, but I did my homework, reached out to other business owners, and felt much more confident in my decision.
And, of course, math is super important. A lot of jobs in STEM fields require strong math skills, and that’s only going to grow in the future. If you search the top 20 highest-paying jobs out of school, you see most if not all have a basis in math. It’s a great way to open doors for your career!
Accepting Donations For Bids For Kids 2025
Mark Your Calendars for Thursday, Oct. 9th!
We know it’s early, but we wanted get Bids For Kids 2025 on your calendar! Tickets, tables, and sponsorships will be available during the summer. One way to contribute to Bids For Kids now is by donating an auction item. See below for auction item donation suggestions.
Interested in donating or have questions? Contact us at foundation@elkhornfoundation.org or call the Foundation office at (402) 289-1727.
Elkhorn High School sweethearts Jace (1991) and Teresa (Todd, 1992) Swartzendruber
Interview conducted by Ann Huddleston, Alumni Relations
High school sweathearts Jace and Teresa (Todd) Swartzendruber have been together 34 years together and counting! Jace Swartzenruber works at Conagra Brands as a supply chain manager. Locally, he serves as a TeamMates mentor and a high school youth leader at Relevant Community Church. He is also part of the EPS Alumni Scholarship selection committee. Teresa works at Fat Brain Toys as a warehouse coordinator. They have three children who all graduated from Elkhorn High School as well: Kyle, class of 2016, Emily, class of 2018, and Sophie, class of 2021. Kyle is married (also married his high school sweetheart from Elkhorn (Holly Poehlman), Emily is also married, and Sophie is finishing her senior year of college at the University of Nebraska.
Jace shared the answers to the following questions:
Give us a brief history of when you started dating and how long you’ve been married.
We started dating at the end of my senior year (Class of ’91) and the end of Teresa’s junior year (Class of ’92). We have been married 29 years and will be celebrating our 30 year anniversary this July.
What’s your favorite memory together?
My favorite high school memory is Teresa waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs of the senior balcony to say goodbye before she headed out to soccer practice. Every day I would look forward to it 🙂
When you were in high school, did you picture your lives together the way things are now?
Yes, very similar to our current lives. We dated for 4 years after high school but we both knew well before that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. We stayed in the Omaha area but always wanted to get back to the Elkhorn school district before our children started high school.
Do you have any relationship advice?
Prioritize and invest in your relationship with your spouse over your kid’s activities. Time spent with your kids is short compared to the lifetime you will spend with your spouse.
NEW ACHIEVE Career & Technical Education (CTE) Scholarship
A new scholarship pathway that parallels the successful ACHIEVE Advanced Placement (AP) Scholarship
Nebraska is no different than many other states who are facing employee shortages, especially in the skilled & technical trades. School administrators across the state are taking notice of these shortages and coming up with different solutions. The Elkhorn Public Schools and the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation decided to incentivize exploring more Career & Technical Education (CTE) and career exploration opportunities by creating the new ACHIEVE Career & Technical Education (CTE) Scholarship.
In 2009, the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation teamed up with the Elkhorn Public School District and launched the ACHIEVE Program. The goal was to recognize and award students who challenged themselves by taking numerous advanced placement classes, participating in school extracurricular activities, and volunteering in their community. The program was unique in that all students who met the requirements would be awarded a scholarship.
The ACHIEVE Scholarship Program has been extremely successful. In 2009, there were 19 recipients, and the number has steadily grown from 80 in 2015 to averaging over 200 in recent years. The dollar commitment from the Foundation funding this program has also grown from $40,000 in 2014 to averaging $240,000/year.
Dr. Bary Habrock, EPS Superintendent, saw the impact of the Foundation’s ACHIEVE Scholarship Program on student achievement and wanted to replicate it to highlight careers. This parallel pathway rewards students who take a progression of CTE courses and complete a multitude of career exploration experiences with the goal of incentivizing more students to pursue a skilled & technical trade as a career. In an ambitious effort, they soft-launched the scholarship during the 2023-2024 school year. Administrators worked with their high school counseling teams to develop an application to identify seniors who were eligible to receive an ACHIEVE CTE Scholarship.
The results from the Class of 2024 were promising. Last April, the Foundation recognized 32 ACHIEVE CTE Scholarship recipients at its annual Scholarship Recognition Ceremonies! For the Class of 2025, the applications have been incorporated into the Foundation’s online scholarship platform, and we expect the number of recipients to steadily grow like the original pathway, which has been renamed the ACHIEVE Advanced Placement (AP) Scholarship. EPS administrators and the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation board members are asking Nebraska businesses and Elkhorn families to consider donating to the ACHIEVE Scholarship Program to ensure the sustainability of the program for future generations of Elkhorn students!
Class of 2024 ACHIEVE CTE Recipients
Partnership & Alignment Committee (PAC)
2024 PAC Projects:
The Foundation’s Partnership & Alignment Committee (PAC) reviews, approves, and funds projects that align with the Elkhorn Public School District Strategic Plan and Goals.
Helper Helper App
The Elkhorn Public Schools does a great job incentivizing students to participate in school activities, strive for high academic achievement, and volunteer in the community through the Foundation-funded ACHIEVE Scholarship Program. To assist students with tracking their volunteer hours, PAC provided funding for the Helper Helper app. Currently, Helper Helper is being piloted by the freshmen classes at the high schools with the goal of expanding it to more students next year.
Meg Starman, ENHS Counselor, describes Helper Helper as a “platform that allows students to track and verify their service hours throughout high school.” Another benefit according to Megan Scobie, EHS Counselor, is that through this platform “they have an app at their fingertips to track their hours instead of the old paper copy that they were expected to keep track of for 4 years.” Additionally, she is “excited to see the response from students on the ease of use and effectiveness.”
Helper Helper has the additional functionality to browse volunteer opportunities. In the future, Jess Hoskins and her fellow ESHS Counselors “hope to have service opportunities posted on the app for students to attend (blood drives, school clean ups, etc.).”
Meg said, “It is very generous of the Foundation to help with the funding, and we are hopeful that the students love the service.”
Social Media Speaker
In alignment with the district-wide goal to focus on mental health, the Elkhorn Public Schools with the financial support of the Foundation welcomed Dr. Jean Twenge, professor of psychology at San Diego State University, in the spring for her presentation: “Parenting and Guiding the Smartphone Generation.” Following her presentation, there was a panel discussion composed of Dr. Twenge, Creighton Volleyball coach and EPS parent Kirsten Bernthal Booth, ENHS Counselor Martha Dowd, and several EPS students.
Dr. Twenge’s presentation highlighted the similarities and differences between the various generations. In an effort to guide parents of teens, she encouraged parents to prioritize sleep, enforce rules that keep kids safe, and reframe the smartphone, which means: “The smartphone needs to be a tool we use, not a tool that uses us.”
Cohort Pathways Program
The Cohort Pathways Program is an opportunity for Elkhorn Public Schools’ teachers to begin pursuing their master’s degrees through a cohort coordinated by the Elkhorn Public Schools, the Foundation, and the University of Nebraska Omaha. The cohort features three courses taught by EPS administrators and is taken with fellow EPS educators. The second cohort started during summer 2024 and has 10 participants. After completing the three courses, participants can complete their UNO master’s degree at their own pace. Due to the rising cost of higher education, the benefit of this program is that the Foundation pays for the participants’ tuition up front, with a stipulation that it will be paid back upon completion of the coursework, which is offset by the participants’ coinciding pay increase earned by completing those three courses.
District-Wide Safety Initiatives
The Elkhorn Public Schools is dedicated to keeping our students and staff safe. Steps the district has taken to increase safety include hiring a Director of Safety & Security, adding doors to previously open concept school buildings, and more. Additionally, the district partnered with PAC to purchase safety-alert software that will be used district wide.
