Award winners recognized during Le Mars Community Schools Foundation Banquet
Several award winners were recognized during the Le Mars Community Schools Foundation Banquet held on Wednesday evening at the Le Mars Convention Center.
Kari Kopperud, an Elementary guidance counselor at Clark and Franklin Elementary Schools, was honored as this year’s “Decades of Excellence Crystal Bell – Teacher of the Year.” In her acceptance speech, Kopperud shared how she uses sign language with students to teach character traits, including empathy, courage, and gratitude.
Dr. Dan Bowers, a 1969 graduate of Le Mars Community Schools, returned to Le Mars from his home in New York to accept the Distinguished Alumni Award.
Dr. Bowers’ career included pioneering in the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
The banquet also recognized Benji Kasel, as a 25-year employee of the School District. Kasel has been a 5th grade teacher at Franklin Elementary, as well as an assistant boys’ basketball coach, middle school girls’ track coach, and as a football coach for 15 years. The Le Mars Community Schools’ “top five percent” students of the Class of 2026 were also recognized, as well as the school’s “Employees of the Month.”
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Le Mars Public Library to celebrate National Library Week
The Le Mars Public Library will celebrate National Library Week next week with a slate of special events and activities.
On Monday, children in kindergarten through 2nd grade can attend the “Stuffed Animal Story Time Sleepover” from 6:45-7:30pm; registration is required. “Tech Tuesday” will be held the next day from 2-4pm, with the library inviting guests to find the joy in Libby & Kanopy digital services. Wednesday is “Share Your Library Joy Day” from 10am-12pm, with cookies, a prize drawing, and the ability to record your own “library story” video available for attendees. The previously announced “Andrew Carnegie’s Riches in Iowa” presentation will be held on Thursday, and the week will wrap up on Saturday with the “1,000 Books before Kindergarten Graduation” at 10am.
First celebrated in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries of all types across the country each April. This year’s event will tie in with the Le Mars Public Library’s 150th Anniversary celebrations, with the library hosting a final 150th Anniversary celebration in August.
National Library Week will kick off on Sunday, April 19th, and run through Saturday, April 25th.
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