Future Neenah has honored the following individuals and companies who have contributed positively to the quality of life in Neenah in 2023.
- Future Champion of the Year Neenah Award: Plexus Corp., for their dedication and contributions to enhancing the economic and cultural vitality of the City of Neenah.
- Nina Proud Award: Sunset Hill Stoneware, for 25 years of excellence, community involvement and showing their hometown Neenah pride.
- Civil Partner of the Year Award: City of Neenah, for 150 years of visionary leadership, outstanding contributions and impactful initiatives that make Neenah the best place to live, work, play and do business.
- Downtown Business of the Year Award: Grainworks Old + New: Local Bourbon Market, where they participate in all of the downtown community events and activities and host their own special events like tastings, raffle off tickets for bottles of bourbon, collect toys for kids, and support local pet rescues.
- Volunteer of the Year Award: Santiago Sanchez for providing photography for many of Future Neenah's special events and concert series.
For more information, visit neenah.org.
More news from around the Fox Valley:
McGuinness hosts a brown bag lunch show on Tuesday
Mark J. will host. McGinnis, Outagamie County Circuit Court Judge, The next Brown Bag Luncheon program is at noon on February 20 in the Branch 1 courtroom at the Outagamie Justice Center.
Please RSVP to Debbie Lang at 920-832-5152 or Deborah.lang@wicourts.gov. If you plan to attend in person, you must RSVP so the courtroom can be prepared. Lange can also answer questions about using Pexip.
Bike to the Beat is presenting the winter edition of the fundraiser
A winter edition of Fox Communities Credit Union's Bike to the Beat program will be presented on February 24-25. The indoor cycling event, held at Cycle Bar, 3825 E. Calumet St., Ste 100, Appleton, will raise money for the Fox Cares Foundation.
Riders can register for four sessions over the two days, with 44 riders per session. Online registration ends at noon on February 25.
Sessions are at 9 a.m. and noon each day. Register online at biketothebeat.com/winteredition.
Fox Cares Foundation works to end homelessness, fight hunger, and provide access to the arts. In 2023, the foundation awarded nearly $150,000 to 32 regional nonprofits. For more information about the foundation, visit foxcares.org.
The Fish Gallery offers fish, plants and equipment for sale
J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue will host the Fox Valley Fish Fair from 11am-3pm on February 24th. The fundraiser will be held at Lucky Dogz, 157 S. Green Bay Road, Neenah.
The public is invited to view a variety of vendors selling captive-raised and sustainably harvested fish, inverts, corals, plants, and new/used equipment. The event aims to provide enthusiasts and pet owners with responsibly sourced water options.
Admission is $3 with youth 15 and under free. Tickets can be purchased online at jraar.org or at the door.
Refreshments will be available for purchase.
Lawrence University is hosting a Black History Commission on February 26
A panel discussion titled “The Importance of Black History in the United States” will be held on February 26 at Lawrence University. The discussion will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Reston Auditorium (inside the Reston Center for the Arts at 613 E College Ave., Appleton).
The session will be moderated by Anna Ponder, Lawrence University's vice president for university advancement. The panel will include Lawrence University faculty Carla Daughtry, assistant professor of anthropology; Betsy Schlabach, associate professor of history; and Gerald Boudillard, professor emeritus of history.
The event is free and open to the public.
Lawrence is looking for families to host international students
Lawrence University helps international students transition to life in Appleton through the Family Friendship Program. Students are paired with a local family, who provides them with home-cooked meals, a place to vacation or just spend time together.
Lawrence also holds events for students and their partner families such as picnics, potlucks and game nights.
Lawrence is looking for more Fox Cities families to join the program. Participation has diminished during the COVID-19 pandemic. The organizers are looking forward to developing the program again.
Lawrence has 160 international students from 40 different countries during the 2023-24 academic year.
For more information, visit lawrence.edu/node/19697.
Local teachers honored with Bright Star Awards
The Fox Cities Chamber has announced the recipients of its 2024 Shining Star Excellence in Education Awards. Ten Fox Cities teachers were honored, and the Teacher of the Year will be chosen at the awards evening from among those ten.
This year's honorees include: Karen Hoffman, Business Administration and Marketing, Kimberly High School; Lisa Jelinek, eighth grade, Seymour Middle School; Chris Jones, science, Neenah Middle School; Sarah Lowman, second grade, Chilton Catholic School District; Elise Lucas, art, Appleton North High School; Paul Maronek, fourth grade, Liberty Elementary; Michelle Mays, 5th grade math, Riverview Middle School; Leila Ramagopal Pirtle, music, Edison Elementary School, Lawrence University; Dan Van Boxtel, Technology Education, Kaukauna High School, and Dan Van Eperen, English/Social Studies, Little Chute Career Pathways Academy.
The Chamber's Shining Star Awards for Excellence in Education program will be held March 21 at Butte des Morts Country Club. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit foxcitieschamber.com.
