ISD 181 Viewpoint: A community partnership for student success

ISD 181 Viewpoint: A community partnership for student success
Posted on 05/27/2018
This is the image for the news article titled ISD 181 Viewpoint: A community partnership for student successThis past week, the Brainerd Public Schools Foundation had the privilege of partnering with staff from Brainerd High School to host the annual Senior Recognition Night. Principal Andrea Rusk captured the essence of this event when she said, "We honor and celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of many seniors in the Brainerd High School Class of 2018. These accomplishments come in the areas of academics, arts, athletics, activities, service, and career readiness."

The mission of BPSF is to enhance opportunities for quality academics, arts, activities and athletics for the students of the Brainerd Public Schools. We do this by working with community members and organizations to raise funds that can be invested in providing our Brainerd Public Schools students with a well-rounded education. While BPSF supports many activities throughout the year, Senior Recognition Night is sort of a capstone event for us as scholarships are the reason why BPSF was founded in 1987. Thanks to the generous support of many across our community, I was so proud to be able to award $108,000 in scholarships to this year's seniors on behalf of BPSF.

The pool of money that fund these incredibly generous scholarships will help our students reach the next step on their educational journey. BPSF has the honor of bringing together diverse funding streams to support our graduates at Senior Recognition Night. Examples of that support are: endowments from individual and family memorials; scholarships from local civic groups and service organizations, businesses and elementary school parent groups; and awards from Brainerd alumni.

It is impossible to leave Senior Recognition Night without feeling so touched by how our community rallies around our students. The impressive sum of money given to students (nearly $340,000 this year!) through BPSF and community scholarships is just one way that we communicate to our students that we believe in them. The time adults spend volunteering in classrooms, enjoying student performances, cheering from the stands, appreciating student art, and giving financial resources are an invaluable investment in our students' future that does not end on graduation day. I am so incredibly proud and grateful to be part of a community that so strongly supports our students and to be able harness that support in my role at BPSF. Thank you!

Gangl is executive director of the Brainerd Public Schools Foundation
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