"Congratulations! You have been nominated for a 2008 Distinguished Service Award."

So begins a letter recently sent to 39 MMSD employees, citizen volunteers and students whose colleagues, friends and teachers submitted nominations describing their exceptional work and dedication to the Madison Metropolitan School District. A panel of judges reviewed the nominations and concurred.

Now it's time to celebrate their accomplishments.

Of the 39 nominees to be honored at this year's ceremony, 14 employees will receive the Distinguished Service Award for Staff, three students will receive the Joe Thomas Community Service Award for High School Seniors, and one volunteer and one Parent Teacher Organization will receive the Distinguished Service Award for Citizens.

A complete list of nominees and award recipients follows.

2008 marks the 25th anniversary of the MMSD Recognition Awards ceremony. The event will be held on Monday April 14, 2008 at the La Follette High School Auditorium at 7pm. Everyone is invited to join in this MMSD annual tradition.

The ceremony will be videotaped for telecast on MMSD-TV Cable Channel 10.

In addition to the Distinguished Service Award recognition, five teachers will be honored as the district's nominees for the Kohl Teacher Fellowship, a program of the Kohl Education Foundation. Fellow are selected by the Cooperative Educational Service Association (CESA), and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Kohl Awards will be announced in early March.

For more information on the MMSD Recognition Awards, go to www.mmsd.org/dsa.

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2008 MMSD Recognition Awards

Elementary Teachers

Nominees
Barbara Christopher, Elvehjem Elementary
Maureen McGilligan-Bentin, Marquette Elementary
Patricia Means, Van Hise Elementary
Julie Olsen, Hawthorne Elementary
Award Recipients
Maria Dyslin, Glendale Elementary
Jill Leigh Smith, Orchard Ridge Elementary

Administrators

Nominees
Pam Emmerich, Chavez Elementary
Welda Simousek, Coordinator - Talented and Gifted
Award Recipients
Jack Jorgensen, Educational Services
Rick Rogness, East High School

Educational Assistants

Nominee
Tom Crawford, Lincoln Elementary
Award Recipients
Lavon Accola, Toki Middle
Winnie Kaschub, Hawthorne Elementary

Citizen — Single School

Nominees
Gail Ringgenberg, Sennett Middle
Vicki Swedish, Chavez Elementary
Award Recipients
Midvale/Lincoln PTO
Cheryl Daniels, Glendale Elementary

Middle School Teachers

Nominee
Margaret Owen, Hamilton Middle

Custodial/Building Services

Nominees
Al Klinger, West High
Gary Larson, Buildings & Grounds
Award Recipients
William Currie, Shorewood Elementary
Mark Wigdal, Thoreau Elementary

High School Teachers

Nominee
Michele Guyette, La Follette High
Award Recipients
Mary Paulson, East High
Don Vincent, West High

Food Service

Nominee
Kathy Eder, Sennett Middle

Support Personnel

Nominees
Pamela Wallenfang, Educational Services
Award Recipient
Lynne Gabrielson, Mendota Elementary
Phillip Hubble, Memorial High

Clerical/Technical Personnel

Award Recipients
Dee Nicolai, Franklin Elementary
Vicky Woider,Technical Services

Joe Thomas Community Service Award for Students

Nominees
Marcus Thomas Chavous, Work/Learn Lapham
Amadou Fofana, East High
Tony Freiberg, La Follette High
Namratta Sehgal, Memorial High
Darnell Small, La Follette High
Award Recipients
Allison Freid, Shabazz High
Tiffany Jones, Memorial High
Dorothea McDonald, West High

Kohl Teacher Fellowship*

Nominees
Scott Eckel, East High
Joshua Forehand, Nuestro Mundo Community School
Linda Mayfield, Thoreau Elementary
Marilyn Smith, Franklin Elementary
Victoria Straughn, La Follette High

Distinguished Service and Joe Thomas Community Service Award nominations were submitted by colleagues, supervisors and friends who answered essay questions and gathered letters of support. Nominations were scored by a panel of judges representing students, citizens, Board of Education, media and representatives of every MMSD employee category. Up to two awards may be given in each category to the nominees with the highest qualifying scores. *The Kohl Teacher Fellowships, awarded by the Kohl Education Foundation, will be announced in early March.