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On April 6, Laona teacher, Carol Bartlein and Senior Kristin Zimmer received honors from the Herb Kohl Education Foundation at a recognition banquet in Green Bay, hosted by U.S. Senator Herb Kohl. Bartlein received the Herb Kohl Education Fellowship for Educators and Zimmer was recognized as a Kohl Excellence Scholar. They are the first recipients of both awards in the Laona School District.

Kohl Education Fellowship

Carol Bartlein, a junior and senior high teacher of Spanish and social studies, was one of three teachers from CESA 8 honored with the prestigious Kohl Fellowship Award. The award recognizes teachers who have demonstrated superior ability to inspire the love of learning in their students, have motivated others and have provided leadership and service both inside and outside of the classroom.

U.S. Senator Kohl established the fellowship in 1990 and annually awards one hundred Wisconsin teachers with $1,000 grants. The recipient’s school receives a matching $1,000 grant for use in educational projects. Excellence Fellowship recipients are selected by a statewide committee composed of civic leaders, Wisconsin DPI, representatives of CESA and the Wisconsin Newspaper Association.

Bartlein was nominated by fellow educator Rich Sorenson for her work in the classroom and for the many ways she stimulates students with activities such as the annual trivia contest, the use of technology and the promotion of the arts at Laona. In the nomination, Sorenson also stressed Bartlein’s leadership in starting the Laona Education Association’s Fall Festival for Scholarships.

Twenty-five years ago Bartlein helped to establish the Laona/Wabeno coop spring musical and still volunteers as choreographer and public relations director for the shows. She is also known for her many performances with the Wabeno Area Players, which she helped to co-found. She currently coaches the Laona High School Forensics team and directs One Act Play and mini-musicals that are taken on the road to area schools.

Bartlein is a member of the Wabeno Lions Club. For the past five years she has traveled with the Wisconsin Lions Mission to Mexico to participate in campaigns distributing used eyeglasses to the poor. Bartlein is the interpreter for the ophthalmologists and aids her fellow travelers with their day-to-day Spanish needs. She also is the organist for St. Ambrose Catholic Church.

Kohl Excellence Scholar

Senior Kristin Zimmer, a top scholar of Laona’s Class of 2008, was one of four students recognized from CESA 8 to receive the Kohl Excellence Scholarship. The 2008 award was given to 182 graduating seniors statewide who have demonstrated excellence in the academic arena and high motivation to achieve. They have also displayed a broad range of activity and leadership outside of the academic setting and have shown a strong promise for succeeding in college and beyond.

Zimmer has been captain of Laona’s volleyball, basketball and softball teams. In her high school career she has received eleven varsity letters, six all-conference recognitions and one all-area recognition. She is currently the President of the Laona Chapter of the National Honor Society, a charter member of the Laona Leo Club and active member of the Laona Fine Arts Club. She qualified for state competition in forensics four years, solo and ensemble two years, and Conservation Speaking contest two years.

Herb Kohl personally awarded Zimmer with $1,000 award that she will be using for tuition at Northland College where she will pursue a broadfield science major and coaching minor. She will also compete in UMAC Division III basketball and softball at Northland. The same weekend Zimmer received the Kohl Scholarship she traveled to Northland where she was awarded the Lake Superior Academic Scholarship, as well as the Engagement Scholarship.

To date the Kohl Foundation Scholarship and Fellowship program has awarded $6.4 million to Wisconsin educators, students and schools. At the banquet Kohl said, “Education is the key to the future of Wisconsin and our nation. I am very proud of the accomplishments of these students and teachers, and look forward to the great contributions they will make in the future.”

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