FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1999
Sixth grade students at Akira Toki Middle School will be recognized for their contributions to solving community problems at a ceremony at the school on Friday, April 30 at 10 a.m.
Four of the students – Whitney Henningfield, Louise Jones, Alicia Sprecher and Sara Velden – earned national recognition for their suggestion on how to improve pedestrian safety at the busy intersection of McKenna and Hammersley Road near the school. Earlier this month, the students from Toki teacher Jo Olson's class were selected as one of 30 semifinalist teams from across the country for the Bayer/National Science Foundation Award for Community Innovation.
The students will be recognized for their successful participation in the Bayer/NSF competition at the April 30 ceremony by district science coordinator Lisa Wachtel. The group also will present their project, which suggests either an overpass or underground tunnel at the intersection, to the City of Madison Pedestrian and Bike Commission on Tuesday, April 27 at 5 p.m.
Over the course of the school year, students in Olson's class studied problems ranging from litter at Elver Park to bus and bike safety. At the April 30 event, mayoral aide Judy Olson will present eight students with certificates of appreciation for their work, and Wisconsin Department of Transportation representative Susan Fox will present certificates to all students in the class for their involvement in the second phase of the department's Beltline planning process.
Akira Toki Middle School is located at 5606 Russett Road on Madison's west side.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Jo Olson, Sixth Grade Teacher
Akira Toki Middle School
273-5910
Public Information Office
545 W. Dayton St.
Madison, WI 53703
608-266-6270
email: mmccabe@madison.k12.wi.us
Last Modified: 1999-04-26
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