Harrisonville Public School Foundation

Last week, the Foundation participated in the school district's vendor fair providing information to district staff members on ways the Foundation can support their work. Staff can apply for teacher grants twice per year for a maximum of $1000 each and receive partial reimbursement for coursework to earn advanced degrees. The Foundation also provided information on programming to support students' academic achievement including senior scholarships, Excellence in Academics recognition, and sponsorship of leadership opportunities for high school students. Pictured, Foundation trustee Virginia Atkinson talks with HHS social studies teacher Eric DeVenney.

During the Harrisonville Schools Opening Meeting today, Foundation secretary Gina Smith & President-Elect RJ Knox made multiple presentations on behalf of the Foundation.
*Presented $100 Amazon gift cards to new teachers setting up their very first classroom. Gift card recipients included Peyton Hern, Laura Peters, Chloe Willmeth, Ikanwie Acha, Amy Enderlied, Leslie Parks, Marlee Cofer, Amy Kilgore, Lynn Aswegan, Cati Litchfield, Rhonda Coulter, Ashley Barnes, Mika Craig and Audrey Mayberry. We wish these teachers the best of luck as they begin their teaching career.
*Recognized Laura Frees as the district's 2023 Educator of the Year and gave her a $500 grant
*Presented the 2023 Bill Mills Leaving a Legacy Grants to 10 district programs as named by four-year Excellence in Academics recipients. The programs receiving the $250 mini grants and the students who nominated were as follows: HHS Student Council by Joey Berg, volleyball by Peyton Ritter, HATS by Kale Weber, show choir by Brooke Hopkins, boys' soccer by Tucker Lawson & Cort DeVenney, Key Club by Emma Schroder & Trey Hoffman, SADD by Kadence Schrock, cross country by Alex Barta, girls' soccer by Abby Overbay & Maddie Lalman, and HHS Games Club by Charles Sturgeon.
*Recognized three teachers who completed their advanced degrees while benefiting from the Foundation's Advanced Degree Reimbursement program - Hailey Comfort, Jenni Hawkins, & Tara Drabant.

In just a few days, the Foundation will present more than $3,000 to district programs as part of the fourth round of Bill Mills Leaving A Legacy grant presentations.

The Foundation established this mini-grant program in 2020. Each four-year Excellence in Academics recipient has the opportunity to choose a school-sponsored program, department or extracurricular activity to receive a $250 mini grant from the Foundation. The program creates an opportunity for four-year Excellence in Academics recipients to pay it forward within the school district. Leaving a Legacy aligns with the Foundation’s goal to enhance, supplement, support and expand student- and school-based learning activities and initiatives.

The Foundation created this initiative in honor of Mr. Mills because of his desire to invest in Harrisonville Schools programs and activities that benefit students throughout the district and to provide a small thank you for all he’s given to the Foundation over the years. Mr. Mills served on the Foundation board for more than 25 years and retired from the board last June. He is a past president and a Founding Donor at the Platinum Level. He is a 1972 graduate of Harrisonville High School and a 2014 inductee into the Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame.

**Photo from program announcement in 2020.

The 2023 Alumni & Friends Golf Tournament is ONE month from today - Sept. 8 at Country Creek Golf Course (Local Business), Hoots Hollow. All proceeds from the tournament support Foundation programming. Registration is $95/golfer or $350/team. Sponsorships are also available for $125, $500, $1000. For more information & to register as a player or sponsor, visit this link - https://www.harrisonvilleschools.org/Page/212.

The Harrisonville Public School Foundation’s programming includes teacher grants presented twice a year; endowed and named scholarships for seniors; the Excellence in Academics program which recognizes the top 15% in each class at the high school; the Bill Mills Leaving A Legacy grant program which serves as a pay-it-forward opportunity to top seniors; Advanced Degree Reimbursement Initiative for staff who are seeking a degree to advance their career; and the Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame to honor alumni accomplishments and contributions to their community. Learn more at www.harrisonvilleschools.org/foundation

The Harrisonville Public School Foundation is a non-profit organization which started in the early 1990s to support and enhance the educational programs and activities of Harrisonville Schools. The Foundation is managed by a 13-member Board of Trustees. Throughout this fall, we’ll share information on our programs, opportunities to support our work, and our impact on students and teachers in Harrisonville. We'll also introduce you to the volunteers who make it all possible. For more information now, please visit our website - www.harrisonvilleschools.org/foundation.

Proud to sponsor opportunities for our Wildcats to grow their leadership skills.

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Wanda Foster this week. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Foster family.

Wanda L. Foster Obituary 2023 - Dickey Funeral Homes, Inc. View Wanda L. Foster's obituary, send flowers and find service dates or sign the guestbook.

Congratulations to our 2023 Donna Pfautsch HATS Scholarship recipient Kalli Stout! This scholarship is presented to an 8th grader in the Harrisonville Academically Talented Students - HATS program and is disbursed upon graduation from Harrisonville High School. The scholarship is made possible through an endowment gift to the Harrisonville Public School Foundation by Mrs. Pfautsch's family.

Congratulations to the teachers who were selected by our 2023 four-year Excellence in Academics recipients as their most influential teacher! We truly appreciate the impact you have on our students!

What a fantastic event to honor our seniors! We are honored to be the co-hosts of this event each May! Congratulations to all!

The Foundation is proud to sponsor the district’s Educator of the Year award each year. Congratulations to the 2023 recipient - Laura Frees!

This morning, Foundation trustees surprised teachers in their classrooms with teacher grants for the spring grant period. Teacher grants were awarded to the following:

➡ Jamie Crutchfield, HHS theatre to purchase five new Brother Sewing Machines which will be used by the technical theatre class to teach students to build costumes.
➡ Jacqueline Florence, HES first grade to provide classroom toolkits and tools to take a positive, relationship-based approach to nurturing emotional intelligence in the classroom.
➡ Alisha Schutz, HMS special education for books which will help her students make connections in their lives to the lives of the characters in the novels. It allows students to see real-world skills written and how characters evolve through the novels. It will also help build soft-skills which are necessary for the students' lives outside of school.
➡ Ann Hammonds, HES third grade to purchase classroom sets of novels to engage students in the Love2Read program. The goal of the program is to develop a love of reading by engaging students by reading books that assist in the understanding of others and developing empathy through well written texts. In addition, the texts have engaging storylines which will assist students in learning the value of completing a text as they will become invested in learning the outcome of the story.
➡ Sara Doherty, HES special education Harrisonville Elementary School to provide start-up funds and materials for a new program to support students with autism. The grant will help purchase independent work boxes. These independent work boxes are learning tasks that the students can complete independently. Students with autism need one-on-one teaching, however, there is not staffing available to have one adult for every student that will use this room. Therefore, the independent learning boxes are essential to having seamless learning.
➡ Maggie Knight, HES second grade to purchase hands-on science supplies items for all teachers to use at Harrisonville Elementary.
➡ Caleb Noland, HHS PE for an electronic timing system. The system will be used in weights class, as well as by various athletic teams.
➡ Laura Herbst, HES speech & language, to purchase materials to support speech/language interventions, sensory needs, and materials that can be used with students of a variety of ages and skill levels.
➡ Tonya Ours, McEowen library media specialist to help fund an author visit to the school next March. Jennifer L. Holms will be coming to the school to talk to all students about the writing process and being an author.

More than $7,100 in grants were presented this cycle. Throughout the 20 years of the teacher grant program, nearly $134,000 has been presented to teachers. The goal of the program is to enhance the education of Harrisonville students by encouraging and recognizing new educational approaches and concepts that are not currently funded by the district.

The Harrisonville Public School Foundation is a not-for-profit organization established to support the educational activities and programs of the Harrisonville School District. To learn more about the Foundation, contact Executive Director Jill Filer at 380-2727, ext. 1224.

Great to see our teacher grants in action!

Teacher Grant in Action!!

We love seeing our teacher grants in action! Looks like a fantastic field trip!

The Harrisonville Public School Foundation is pleased to announce that it will begin presenting a new scholarship for Harrisonville High School seniors in May 2023. The John & Wanda Foster Healthcare Professional Scholarship in honor of Renee Endicott, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC will provide $1,000 over a two-year period to a graduate who plans to study nursing.

John and Wanda Foster established the scholarship through an endowment with the Foundation to honor their daughter Renee Endicott. The Foundation will name the scholarship’s first recipients at the 2023 Senior Excellence in Academics Ceremony.

Candidates must have been accepted into a program of advanced education, complete the application and submit the required essay. Preference will be given to students completing the Cass Career Center Health Services program. Access scholarship information and the application on the Foundation website at www.harrisonvilleschools.org/foundation. Applications are due April 6.

Renee Endicott was born and raised in Harrisonville. She has been a Registered Nurse for over 35 years and Family Nurse Practitioner for over 20 years. She attended William Jewell College where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. She completed both Master in Nursing and Doctorate of Nursing Practice at the University of Missouri Kansas City. She is certified by American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and American Nurses Credentialing Center. She has practiced as a Nurse Practitioner in Family Practice, Internal Medicine and Geriatrics. Additionally, she taught as a clinical instructor in the Family and Adult Nurse Practitioner Program at the University of Missouri Kansas City, School of Nursing for seven years. Renee is the co-owner of Direct Family Healthcare in Harrisonville.

Seniors can apply at this link - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_RN5mMq0czftKiC19HtUttCwzjFMVbmTLvRkXygLWQ9htJQ/viewform

The Foundation presented checks to the district's elementary schools today as part of the 2023 Major Saver sales. The Foundation splits proceeds from the sales with the participating schools. The overall proceeds totaled $12,777.75. Harrisonville Early Childhood Center Wildcats received $1,282.50; Harrisonville Elementary Wildcats earned $3394; and McEowen Elementary Wildcats received $1,792.13. Thank you to all who purchased a card and to our participating restaurants....
Culver’s (MPH Dining), Mazzio's Pizza Harrisonville Mo, Kurzweil's Country Meats, Harrisonville Daylight Donuts, El Maguey Harrisonville, Dairy Queen, The Ville Nutrition, Papa Murphy’s, The Best Burrito, Apple Barrel, Brick House Coffee Bar & Eatery, Shivers Ice House, The Garage Burgers and Brew, Dunkin’ Donuts, MOD Pizza, Brewbakers, Sonic Drive-In, Price Chopper, SeaLife/Legoland, Family Center Farm & Home of Harrisonville, and Charlie Hustle.

The Foundation will use its portion to fund its programming which includes the Excellence in Academics program, teacher grants, district grants, and Advanced Degree Initiatives.

Thank you to all the students who sold Major Saver cards to raise money for our schools & our Foundation!

GRANTS IN ACTION
In the fall, the Foundation approved a district grant (matched with district funds) to ensure all math classrooms at HHS had the most up-to-date calculators. The math department had been using TI-84s which are over 10 years old and were starting to fail. The new TI-nspire calculators help the math teachers give instuction and let students see in real time how different mathematics techniques effect their work.

Last Friday, our 2023 Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame inductees spent time in classrooms at Harrisonville High School & Cass Career Center talking to current students about their careers, advice, and life lessons. Dr. Bowman spoke to Health Science students, Mr. Mathes spent time with Fire Science & EMT student, and Lt. Col. Britz spoke with social studies classes. We truly appreciate their time giving back to our Wildcats!

Congratulations to our 2023 Wall of Fame inductees!

Who remembers hall decs?? They’ve been “gone” for a while but they’re back!! Check out these “Under the Stars” themed halls! And post your best memory from hall decs in the comments.

Join us as we celebrate our 2023 Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame inductees at a reception on Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the high school Performing Arts Center lobby. The induction will follow between the girls' varsity & boys' varsity basketball games in the gym at approx. 6:30 p.m.

GRANTS IN ACTION. Harrisonville Early Childhood Center Wildcats kindergarten teacher Heather Caldwell received a teacher grant this fall to purchase a light table and a sensory table for her classroom. The tables are engaging and student-driven devices for learning and exploration of reading, writing and math.

‘21 HHS grad Riley Mathew is a member of the Mizzou Golden Girls who were inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame over the weekend! Congratulations!

Check out the current edition of The Foundation, our e-newsletter. Read about our 2023 Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame Nominees, Grants in Action, and Senior Scholarships.

The Foundation The Foundation A publication of the Harrisonville Public School Foundation

The Harrisonville Public School Foundation will induct three Harrisonville High School graduates into the HHS Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame on February 10. Dr. Lynthia Andrews Bowman, Class of 1968; Scott Mathes, Class of 1981; and Lieutenant Colonel Jared Britz, Class of 1999 will be honored during a ceremony at the Wildcat basketball games. The community is invited to a reception in the Harrisonville High School Performing Arts Center lobby from 5:30-6:30 p.m. that night.

Dr. Lynthia (Bradley) Andrews Bowman is a recognized leader in the field of hospital and prehospital emergency medicine. She was honored by the Missouri Emergency Medical Services Association (MEMSA) as the 2022 Physician of the Year.

Dr. Andrews Bowman earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Master’s degrees in Healthcare and Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She earned her Doctor of Osteopathy from the Kansas City College of Osteopathic Medicine.

She began her career as an emergency department physician at the University of Health Services in Kansas City. She moved on to Lafayette Regional Health Center as an emergency physician before going into private practice in Lexington, Missouri. For the past 32 years, she has worked as an emergency medicine physician at Heartland Regional Medical Center/Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph, Mo.

Dr. Andrews Bowman was named to the Missouri State Advisory Council on Emergency Medical Services in 2004 by Governor Holden and has served as chair of the council for 17 years. In recent years, she was instrumental in the development of a Time Critical Diagnosis (TCD) system and the passage of a bill to establish a TCD Advisory Committee at the state-level to ensure critically ill patients have rapid access to appropriate treatment.

She has been honored as the 2003 MEMSA Physician of the Year, the 2009 Missouri State Council of Emergency Nurses Association EMS Physician of the Year, and the 2012 and 2019 recipient of the MEMSA Presidential Leadership Award. She was honored by Heartland Health (now Mosaic Life Care) with the Humanitarian Award in 2012.

The last 32 years, Dr. Andrews Bowman has worked as an emergency medicine physician at Heartland Regional Medical Center (now Mosaic Life Care). In addition to her Emergency Care duties she has served as medical director of Pediatric Life Support programs, medical director of Life Net Helicopter Services, Buchanan County EMS, Worth County EMS, Hillyard Technical School and St. Joseph Fire Department training entity.

There has been more than work in Dr. Andrews Bowman’s life. She had one daughter, Stephanie who made her the proud grandmother of Hailie and Bishop Manlimos, godmother to Elizabeth Price, Ethan Hooser, Noah Price, Isabella Price and Paisley Hooser.

An avid golf fan, she has been to all the major tournaments including the British Open in Scotland and has been a “ceremonial” golfer at many golf fundraisers.

She frequently returns to Harrisonville to visit relatives and friends, particularly her aunt, Peggy Clum (previously recognized as a Distinguished Alumni of Harrisonville High School).

Scott Mathes' love of fire rescue began at an early age. In 1976, at age 13 he began volunteering with the Harrisonville Fire Department. Over 45 years later, he is still serving our community. He is currently the Central Cass County Fire Protection District Assistant Chief and volunteers as a firefighter/EMT with the East Lynne Gunn City Fire Protection District.

Mathes has previously served as a captain, firefighter and EMT with Central Cass beginning in 1979, a firefighter/EMT with Harrisonville Emergency Services from 1976-2019, a fire chief/EMT with West Dolan Fire Protection District from 2007-2015, a firefighter/EMT with West Peculiar Fire Protection District from 1998-2010, and a fire captain/specialist/EMT with the South Metro Fire Protection District from 2004-2009.

Throughout his years, he completed education and training with the University of Missouri, the Missouri Division of Fire Safety, and the National Fire Academy.

In 2022, he was named the Central Cass County Officer of the Year. He’s also earned the South Metro Fire Protection District Firefighter of the Year award, the Great Save Award from Research Medical Center for life saving heroic actions, and the West Peculiar Firefighter and Fire Company of the Year award.

He is a member of the KC Arson Task Force, Fire Marshall Association of Missouri, Fire Fighter Association of Missouri, and the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians.

During his career, Mathes continuously worked to give back to his community through school presentations and support of Bright Futures Harrisonville.

He is married to Carla and they have two daughters and sons-in-law with four grandsons.

Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Jared Britz is Chief of Capabilities Development at U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER) at Fort Gordon, Georgia.

LTC Britz holds a bachelor’s degree from Northwest Missouri State University and was Cum Laude and a Distinguished Military Graduate. He also holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts, and a Master of Military Arts and Science in Strategic Studies from the Command and General Staff College. He is a graduate of the Armor Officer Basic Course, the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course, the Cavalry Leader’s Course, the Command and General Staff College, and the Functional Area 50 Qualification Course. He served as an Army Fellow at the MITRE Corporation in McLean, Virginia.

LTC Britz served four years as an enlisted member of the Missouri Army National Guard as an Artilleryman, over 14 years as an Armor and Operations branch officer, and over 5 years as an Army Force Manager Officer. His service includes numerous assignments stateside as well as in Germany, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Korea.

LTC Britz began work in Force Management and was assigned to the Pentagon as a Synchronization Staff Officer on the Maneuver Team as part of the Soldier, Maneuver, Robotics, and Synthetic Training Environment Division.

LTC Britz has helped solve some of the Army’s most complex problems including deploying a Stryker Cavalry Squadron and developing the Assigned Modernization concept as part of the Army's Regionally Aligned Readiness and Modernization Model. He was selected to manage the Next Generation Combat Vehicle portfolio, the number #1 priority portfolio for ground combat systems. He initiated the program to develop the Infantry Squad Vehicle and the Cold-weather All-Terrain Vehicle, both programs are currently being fielded as part of the Army 2030 Modernization initiatives. He also worked on developmental efforts as part of the Army's signature modernization efforts for the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle and the Mobile Protected Firepower ground combat systems. He is currently working to ensure cyber survivability for the Army's material and non-material development efforts.

LTC Britz's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medals, Meritorious Service Medals, Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medals, Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign Medals, Korea Service Medal, NATO Medal, Parachute Badge, the Combat Action Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.

He is married to Hyun Jung Lee and they have two children, Brayden and Elayna.

Inductees are selected based on their significant contributions to their communities or fields of work. Nominations are accepted continuously. Each year’s submission deadline for consideration is Oct. 31.

For more information, contact the Harrisonville Public School Foundation at 380-2727, ext. 1224.

We truly appreciate the students & families who participate in Major Saver sales, those who purchase cards, and the restaurants whose offers are on the card!

Students in grades K-5 are selling Major Saver cards through Monday. The final day to turn in orders is Tuesday, Jan. 17. The cards are $15 each and offer Buy One, Get One Free deals at area restaurants and entertainment locations.

This year’s locations include - Culver’s, Mazzio's Pizza Harrisonville Mo, Kurzweil's Country Meats, Harrisonville Daylight Donuts, El Maguey, Dairy Queen, The Ville Nutrition, The Best Burrito, Apple Barrel, Brick House Coffee Bar & Eatery, Shivers Ice House, The Garage Burgers and Brew, Dunkin' Donuts, MOD Pizza, Brewbakers, Sonic Drive-In, Price Chopper, SeaLife/Legoland, Family Center Farm & Home & Charlie Hustle.

The proceeds from card sales will benefit the Harrisonville Public School Foundation and the participating schools. Cards are also available for purchase online at www.majorsaver.com or at the district office, 503 S. Lexington.

Harrisonville Early Childhood Center Wildcats
Harrisonville Elementary Wildcats
McEowen Elementary Wildcats

We are so excited to once again partner with our elementary schools & Major Saver for the annual discount card sales! If you don't know an elementary student, you can go online & order at www.majorsaver.com or come by the district admin office, 503 S. Lexington, beginning Monday to buy a card!

Thank you to our supporters who use AmazonSmile to support the Foundation! We received $112.31 in the last quarter & have received nearly $2,000 total.

The Bill Mills Leaving a Legacy grant program provides graduating seniors the opportunity to pay-it-forward by designating an influential program/organization as a mini-grant recipient.

Today the Foundation's surprise squad was back in action presenting grants throughout the school district! Congratulations to the recipients!!

Teachers and students in the Harrisonville School District recently received more than $9,300 in grants from the Harrisonville Public School Foundation.

Throughout the 20 years of the teacher grant program, nearly $126,800 has been presented to teachers. The goal of the program is to enhance the education of Harrisonville students by encouraging and recognizing new educational approaches and concepts that are not currently funded by the district.

Teacher grants were awarded to the following:

Caitlin Jimenez, McEowen Elementary School fourth grade for Building Fact Fluency: A Toolkit for Addition & Subtraction which will provide teachers with resources and games to help students build their addition and subtraction facts through the use of strategies. This grant was funded through the Velma Stephens Elementary Teacher Grant Endowment.

Karli Enderle, Cass Career Center Teaching Professions for the purchase of a classroom set of books to conduct a book study centered on "Help for Billy.” Students in the Teaching Professions program will develop strategies for working with students with high levels of trauma both in their Cadet Teaching, Student Teaching, and future classrooms of their own.

Lindsey Thorpe, Harrisonville Elementary School PE for HES Physical Education to purchase pickleball and badminton equipment to utilize in class. This equipment will help teach students the fundamentals of both sports while incorporating sportsmanship, teamwork, cognitive thinking, and problem solving while being physically active and engaged in class. This grant was funded through the Cade Filer Teacher Grant Endowment.

Heather Caldwell, Harrisonville Early Childhood Center kindergarten for a light box and manipulatives to make learning more engaging and student-driven in the areas of reading, writing and math.

Missy Eddleman, McEowen Elementary School 5th grade, to fund a field trip to the National World War I Memorial for all fifth grade students.

Additionally, the Foundation funded half of a district grant fund request from Harrisonville High School math department chair Josh Bebout for TI-Nspire calculators. The district will fund the remainder of the request to ensure all high school math classrooms have a set of these advanced calculators for use. The Foundation’s portion is $5,936.

The Harrisonville Public School Foundation is a not-for-profit organization established to support the educational activities and programs of the Harrisonville School District. To learn more about the Foundation, contact Executive Director Jill Filer at 380-2727, ext. 1224.

One of our 2022 Bill Mills Leaving A Legacy mini grants in action!!

Foundation president Alice Roach provided the partner organization report at Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting. She talked about our programs, fundraisers, and strategic planning process.

Today we honored 83 students for achieving Excellence in Academics during the 2021-22 school year. This honor goes to students who finish the year in the top 15% of their class based on annual GPA.

Loved see our Educator of the Year in the Homecoming Parade this year! Congratulations once again to Sara Doherty, HES special education!

The 2022 Four-Year Excellence in Academics recipients paid it forward through the Foundation's Bill Mills Leaving A Legacy mini grant program. Each honoree selected the program or department that had an impact on them to receive a $250 grant. The certificates presented with the grants include the graduate's reason for nominating that particular group or program.