Resolve to Stay Connected to Your Alma Mater in 2021

If you’re like most people, you were probably more than ready to close the door on 2020. It was a tough year for so many people, one that will be forever defined by the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect it had on just about every area of our lives. 

The great news as we kick off 2021 is that there is now a vaccine and a light at the end of the tunnel. But throughout most of the year, it will still be important for people to follow pandemic restrictions, meaning all of us will still need to be proactive about staying connected.

At Ripon Tiger Nation, we are as committed as we’ve ever been to helping alumni stay connected to their alma mater, even when we can’t physically gather together. If you’re looking for an idea for a New Year’s Resolution, consider making it a goal to stay actively involved with and connected to your alma mater through our organization this year!

Here are some ways you can accomplish this resolution:

• Join: If you haven’t already, join Ripon Tiger Nation and become a member, with all the perks that membership provides at its various levels. This is the easiest way for you to stay updated about everything happening in Ripon area schools and in our organization.
• Attend virtual events: Any time the opportunity arises, attend virtual events! These could include virtual alumni networking events, virtual class reunions, virtual fundraisers, etc. It’s still going to be a little while before it’s safe to have in-person events and activities, so this is a great way to stay connected to fellow alumni.
• Donate: School may be virtual, but there are still so many ways for our organization to support everything that’s happening in Ripon schools. Your dollars can make a big difference!
• Volunteer: Volunteer opportunities are not as numerous during the pandemic, but they still pop up here and there. If you’re in the area, be sure to check out volunteer opportunities whenever they arise if you feel like giving back to the district.
• Read: Be sure to regularly check out the district’s website and social media platforms for information about school events and to stay up to date about the latest news affecting the district. Staying informed is a great way to stay connected, and makes it easier for you to find opportunities to get involved.

We hope 2021 holds great things in store for you and your family. Happy New Year!

#RiponRoar Days A Roaring Success

The Ripon Education Foundation held its first annual #RiponRoar Days during American Education Week, November 16 - 20. The goal for #RiponRoar Days was to inspire at least 226 donors to give - that’s one gift in honor of every staff member in the Ripon Area School District.

The campaign was a HUGE success with 309 donors providing $44,801 which will directly benefit the Program Fund which supports RASD educators through grants to provide additional classroom supplies or experiences to students. The Program Fund also provides tutoring scholarships and other grants that expand student learning within RASD.

Congratulations to the Class of 2003 who topped the leaderboard with 21 donors giving a total of $1,225 to #RiponRoar. The Class of 2002 wasn’t far behind with $970 provided by 21 donors as well. Overall support came from 17 different states. A special shout out to the #RiponRoar Game Changers who challenged others with matching grants as well as individual gifts that together provided $25,000!

Donating to The Ripon Education Foundation helps to fund opportunities for new generations of students. Depending on the way in which you give, the money could help to fund scholarships, new course offerings, educational initiatives, important purchases and capital projects and extracurricular organizations and activities. You might also choose to fund purchases of classroom items and supplies, which many teachers often have to buy with their own money.

How Alumni Can Make an Impact 

The holiday season has arrived, and in this season of giving you may wish to make donations to RASD, or The Ripon Education Foundation for your alma mater. 

Provide opportunities for new students

There are a lot of benefits to doing this, beyond just the tax deduction you will be able to claim in the new year. For alumni who wish to make an impact even if they’re no longer living in the Ripon area, this is a great opportunity to give back. Here are just a few of the ways in which your donation can make an impact and why you should consider making a contribution if you’re feeling charitable over the holidays.

Give back in a meaningful way

Think about the experiences you had in high school that were meaningful and impactful for you. You can focus your donations on a specific area as a way of giving back. If you were involved in band, for example, you might give a donation specifically meant for the band program. You might decide to fund a specific scholarship that has meaning to you. Not only will this ensure future students are able to get the same opportunities you had, but it also attaches some extra meaning to the gift that can make it feel even more personal.

Sustain everyday operations

There are a lot of day-to-day expenses in schools that do not get a whole lot of public attention but need to be covered all the same. Given how many schools tend to have very tight operating budgets, any general donations you make could help provide schools with breathing room to keep things running smoothly.

Stay connected

Keep up with all the great things happening by following the District on Facebook and Twitter and subscribing to the District YouTube Channel. Connect and support your fellow alumni through the Ripon Tiger Alumni Facebook Page. Subscribe to the NEW Ripon Sports YouTube Channel and enjoy streamed games!

We hope you will consider making a donation this holiday season to support your alma mater and current and future generations of students!

November Updates: Ripon Roar Days and the RHS Distinguished Award Winner

Hello there Ripon Tiger Nation! We hope you’re all well, and staying safe and sane in these unusual times.

We’ve got a couple updates to share with you that we’re excited about!

Ripon Roar Days

The Ripon Education Foundation (REF) will launch its first annual #RiponRoar Days on November 16, 2020. This event features an online giving campaign, with dozens of volunteers working diligently to spread the word all across social media and other platforms. 

This event is a great new way to attract young donors in particular, especially from the school district’s youngest alumni. It also aims to be a showcase of everything that’s great about Ripon, including the enthusiasm and loyalty of alumni, educators, students and community members and their shared appreciation for the Ripon Area School District experience.

The REF has a goal of reaching 226 donors, which is one for every member of staff in the Ripon Area School District. It would be a symbol of REF’s commitment to changing lives through expanding educational opportunities. 

Please consider contributing, and spread the word!

RHS Distinguished Award Winner

The Ripon Area School District announced Anthony Alvarado as the winner of the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award. 

Mr. Alvarado was inspired by personal struggles and achievements in his own life to start Rise Together in 2013. This nonprofit organization “harnesses the power of storytelling to ignite a movement of hope that saves lives.” The organization has helped to educate and empower hundreds of thousands of people to prevent addiction and promote stronger mental health and mental health advocacy. 

Be sure to check out the full press release issued by the district. Congratulations Anthony!

How You Can Be an Advocate for Your Alma Mater

Many alumni like to find ways to stay connected to their alma mater after graduating high school. Some might wish to even engage in advocacy on behalf of their former school or district, seeking ways to support programs, educational initiatives, fundraisers and referendums. 

While taking an active role as an advocate for public schools is understandably not for everyone, school districts are also more likely to thrive when there is a strong, supportive advocacy group comprising community members and alumni. So if you’re looking to take on a more active role in advocating for your alma mater, here are some of the ways you can step up.

• Join your alumni network: Getting involved with your alumni network is one of the easiest ways for you to learn about various opportunities to support your alma mater, including volunteer opportunities, fundraisers, events and important educational issues and programs. Consider joining Ripon Tiger Nation and the Ripon Tiger Alumni - all years welcome! Facebook Page to stay connected!
• Donate: Keep a look out for a big announcement from the Ripon Education Foundation about their new #RiponRoar campaign to celebrate being a Tiger! 
• Vote: If you still live within the boundaries of the Ripon Area School District, you will be able to vote on the Operational Referendum. This gives you a direct way to impact the future of the district and its schools.
• Contact board members: Consider writing letters to school board members or administration when important issues arise, so you can advocate for a particular position and lend your support when the district is in need. In many cases, community and alumni support can make for some significant leverage when board members must make decisions. You can even speak in person during open school board sessions, if you are comfortable doing so.
• Write local publications: You can also write letters to local newspapers and publications, expressing your support for the district and its educational initiatives. This is especially helpful when the public is preparing to vote on a referendum, and the issue needs additional advocates from outside the district itself.
• Show school spirit: Finally, on a bit of a lighter note, you can be an advocate for your alma mater simply by displaying your school spirit, even long after your time in Ripon schools comes to an end. Purchase Tiger apparel and memorabilia, proudly display school colors, and make it clear you are proud to be a Ripon alum. This kind of pride is contagious, and proud alumni are more likely to become advocates themselves!

Want some more specific tips on how you can support your alma mater? Contact Ripon Tiger Nation today.

The Value of a Great Education

Whether it’s at an international conference or a local school board meeting, education is one of the most widely discussed topics at every level—and for good reason. The quality of education children receive can make a huge difference in the rest of their lives. 

In the Ripon Area School District, our students, alumni and community members are well aware of the benefits of a high-quality education.

Education and personal wellbeing

Education affects individuals in very personal and lasting ways. For one, it is one of the biggest determining factors with regard to expected lifetime earnings and general success. The higher the level of education a person achieves, the more likely they are to secure a high-paying job. This means your education can have a lasting, lifelong impact on your financial wellbeing.

Because so many full-time positions require applicants to have earned a college degree, employment rates tend to be lower among those without that level of education. The jobs available to people with a high school diploma or lower tend to be less lucrative and less consistent than those available to college graduates. 

However, this does not mean that everyone has to get a four-year degree. Those with specialized vocational training—such as radiation therapists, electricians and web developers—can make high salaries and work in fields with low unemployment. 

Global effects of education

Education influences so much more than just an individual’s success and earnings potential—it also affects society on a national and global level. Communities with greater access to education and a more educated population tend to have healthier economies, lower levels of poverty, less crime and better quality of life. Education also promotes innovation and creativity within a community, sparking new ideas to advance technology and make the world a better place.

To ensure that future generations are given greater educational opportunities, it’s essential for people at every level of society to support educational organizations and institutions. This starts with local school districts like the Ripon Area School District.

We're fortunate to live, work and learn in a community that supports its public schools. If you would like to get more involved, whether it's through volunteering, mentoring or making a financial contribution, we encourage you to contact us at Ripon Tiger Nation.

The extended school closures this past spring gave the Ripon Area School District an opportunity to get an early start on installing new artificial turf at Ingalls Field.

Crews were able to replace the old turf, which was installed in 2008 and had reached the end of its useful life. The new surface, known as Ironturf, includes a 14mm shock-pad under the surface. The replacement and installation cost about $514,500.

RASD will cover two-thirds of the cost, while Ripon College will one-third of the cost. An endowment fund established during the 2006 referendum meant that the school district did not need to pay for the replacement out of its operating budget. 

We are also pleased to share that the Ingalls Field Community Group has been reestablished as part of this effort. The group, made up of individuals and business leaders from throughout the community, is working to sell advertising to raise funds for further renovations of the stadium. They hope to raise enough for new fencing, goal posts, a sound system and a concrete entrance. Anyone interested in helping with the efforts should contact:

Warren Sherman, Ingalls Field Community Group

(920)-748-2013

[email protected]

Tom Stellmacher, School Board Member

(920) 896-2679

[email protected]

Jonah Adam, RASD Business Manager

(920)-748-4600

[email protected]

It's wonderful to see our community rally around our outstanding football, soccer and track facility!

What Does Virtual Learning at Ripon Look Like?

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to massive changes in the day-to-day lives of just about every American, including here in the Ripon area. On March 13 students and staff left our school buildings for their Spring Break. District leadership was hearing of the possibility of schools being closed so it was decided to be proactive and send student devices home on that last day before break.

While staff and students were away, the leadership team began formulating a contingency plan if schools were told to close. Indeed, at the end of Spring Break, our Wisconsin Governor ordered that all Wisconsin schools be closed. On March 23, all staff met virtually for a one-day in-service to prepare to flip all learning from "brick & mortar" to virtual. This goal was accomplished for over 1,600 students. Check out this video to find out how your Ripon school district is continuing to provide innovative learning.

Traditions to Honor Graduates Continue?

The Class of 2020 will soon be joining Ripon Tiger Nation with a unique story to share for generations of Tigers to come. While the landscape has changed, our school community is committed to celebrating this milestone in their lives. The traditional Senior Recognition Night was held through a virtual video premiere event that saw huge participation. A Graduation Caravan will take place on May 23 with the hope of being able to offer an "in person" event at a later date dependent upon guidelines from health officials.  Please join us in wishing the Class of 2020 all the best!

No matter when you graduated from Ripon High School, your support of Tiger Nation is always welcome. Whether it’s talking to students about a possible career path or helping students with the cost of college, there are many ways that you can make a difference as a Ripon alum. 

Below are three recent examples of how alumni are continuing to stay involved with their alma mater and help current students grow and learn. 

Alumnus creates two scholarships for 2020 RHS grads

The Ripon Education Foundation recently announced two new scholarships for Ripon High School seniors from the class of 2020. Alumnus Justin Krueger (‘97) will generously fund two $5,000 scholarships recognizing students in these areas:

• Community service: A student who actively performs community service benefitting Ripon and who plans to continue his or her education after graduation. 

• Trade skills: A student who will attend a postsecondary institution to learn a trade skill (e.g. welding, construction, mechanical engineering). 

The scholarship recipients will be announced at RHS Senior Awards night May 13. 

The scholarship came about as a result of Krueger’s interaction with the “Ripon Tiger Alumni - All Years Welcome!!” Facebook page. Krueger is the President and CEO of MFRG-ICON Construction. He has first-hand knowledge of the importance of skilled trade workers and how learning a trade can transform families and communities. He also cited a desire to reward people who give back to the community. 

Thanks to Justin for being a great example for Ripon Tiger Nation!

Alumni share IT engineering experience with Ripon Middle School students

Two RHS alum recently shared their experience in IT careers via a video call presentation with Mrs. Schoff’s eighth-grade computer science class. Corey Schoff ('13) and Logan Spillner ('11) talked to students about their jobs in networking and what their educational path looked like to prepare for those jobs. 

Schoff is a Network Systems Administrator at Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority and Spillner is a Network Engineer at Epic. Students also learned about a software career from a software developer at Epic who also joined the call. Students enjoyed talking to practicing computer scientists about their exciting careers!

Alumnus makes triumphant return to RHS stage

Rob Neill (‘87) has spent his career in theater, performing in a national Broadway tour and serving as the artistic director for an independent theater in New York City. Neill returned to Ripon to help drama students with their spring performance of “Peter and the Starcatcher.” 

He was the perfect person to help. Neill toured with the national production of the show, where he was an understudy and performed three roles. He was excited to give back to his alma mater and support Ripon students. 

As you know, being a part of Ripon Tiger Nation is something truly special. If you’d like to share your experiences with our students, contact RASD staff member, Jolene Meyer  at [email protected] to be linked with opportunities!

6 Things We Love About Ripon Schools 

As a proud member of Ripon Tiger Nation, you know there are so many things to love about our schools and community. While we enjoy the benefits of a strong public school district every day, it’s important to take a moment to reflect on what makes our schools so special.

If we could write a love letter to the Ripon Area School District community, here are some of our favorite things that we would praise.

The students

A school would be nothing without its bright, eager students. We were once students at Ripon schools, and know just how special it is to receive an education here. We’re grateful for the experiences students have shared across the generations. More importantly, we’re excited to see the new opportunities our current students are exploring!

The teachers, administrators and staff

Teachers are the heart of our schools. They dedicate their careers and their lives to ensuring generations of young Tigers are excited about learning and prepared for adulthood. Staff are critical to ensuring that teachers and students alike are supported in their learning. Administrators make the big decisions that keep our schools and district moving forward.

The volunteers

Students, teachers and staff have an important job to do, but volunteers help because they want to join our mission. Community service is a central tenet of our district's values and embodies the Ripon Tiger Nation spirit. We’re so grateful to those who choose to spend their time in classrooms, on campus, on the field and organizing events. So many of our favorite activities could not happen without volunteers!

The Ripon Education Foundation

Our Ripon Education Foundation helps fund fantastic projects for students. They organize excellent fundraisers that not only benefit our schools, but are also just plain fun for participants. They set big goals for themselves and our community to ensure we are always reaching higher to provide the best for our students. 

The Tigers

Who doesn’t love being a Ripon Tiger? Our student-athletes bring us so much pride on and off the field. Whether they are crushing our rivals, making us proud as college athletes or taking their skills all the way to the top of their game, we’re grateful that they represent us so well.

Our Alumni

We may be biased, but Ripon alumni are the best! We’re always so happy to see alumni from across the decades show their continued pride for our schools. Whether it’s planning class reunions or cheering hard at homecoming, our alumni sure know how to show current students the true value of our community.

There are so many people, places and events that make our community special. Some of them helped shape our youth, while others arrived later to benefit younger alumni and students. No matter how far you are removed from the halls of Ripon High School, you can still show some love and say thank you for all those wonderful years.

Make a Big Difference in the Ripon Community by Volunteering

Have you ever wanted to spend more time volunteering, but are not sure where to start? The Ripon Area School District is always looking for committed people to support our wonderful school community. Getting involved with our alma mater is a great way to stay connected with our schools, while also making a positive impact on the lives of our young people.

Here’s how you can get more involved with Ripon area schools:

Mentor a student

Students benefit from having trusted adults who they can talk to as they navigate this important time in their lives. All young people need someone in their corner, but not all students have that person readily available to them. Mentorship programs help kids form social skills and build useful life experiences. Learning from someone from their hometown will help students think about what they can achieve, too!

Coach a sports team

Are you a former athlete? Do you enjoy a particular sport? Share your passion with young athletes. Sports leagues are always looking for adults to coach, referee or perform other tasks that support the love of the game.

Even if you weren't the team captain yourself, there’s a role you can play! Coaches have an excellent opportunity to not only help a team, but also to build lasting relationships benefitting both athlete and coach.

Ask where help is needed

If you are not sure where to help, start by asking the school office. There are a variety of opportunities to support students and teachers. Possible opportunities include serving as a classroom helper,  library assistant, field trip chaperone, art presenter, or the BRAVE program. Remember that whenever you work with children, you’ll need to go through an application and background check process. Once you register as a volunteer with the school, you can help in a variety of roles that fit your skills and schedule.

Contribute your skills

Not sure that working directly with students is your thing? Volunteer your time in other ways by providing a professional service. Are you a graphic designer? Offer to help design the programs for the school play. Own a catering company? Help host a special teacher appreciation breakfast.

Support the Ripon Education Foundation

The foundation plays a key role in providing the students of the Ripon Area School District with the tools and support they need. In addition to generous monetary donations from the community, they also need hard work and dedication from community members like you. Learn more about these opportunities at https://www.riponeducationfoundation.org/. 

Join Ripon Tiger Nation

There are plenty of opportunities to get involved with Ripon Tiger Nation. Volunteering means that you can help to create the alumni community you want to enjoy. We encourage you to get in touch to learn more about how you can help!

Make this the year you give back to your alma mater. We hope you’ll consider the many ways you can get involved with Ripon schools!