Lester Prairie Education Foundation
The Lester Prairie Education Foundation - McLeod County East Dollars for Scholars has provided more than $150,000 in grants to Lester Prairie students since it was formed in 1984.
The education foundation experienced a dormant period several years ago. Then, Lester Prairie School Superintendent Joe Miller called all of the existing board members in an attempt to get things going again.
A new board was formed, and the group adopted new bylaws three years ago, Miller said.
The group raised nearly $40,000 the first year. Since then, the Education Foundation adopted the Bulldog Bash as its main fundraiser. This year’s Bulldog Bash will take place March 29, and will be the third year for the event.
Miller said the goal of the Education Foundation is to spend as little of the capital as possible, using the interest from investments to support its programs.
The group has provided several $500 grants to teachers in each of the past two school years.
In 2007, the Education Foundation entered into a merger agreement with McLeod East Dollars for Scholars.
Currently, the group has about $175,000 available in its scholarship program.
The group offers 11 scholarships totalling $13,500 each year. This includes five $2,000 scholarships, one $750 scholarship, and five $500 scholarships.
Miller said the school has never really had an alumni organization, and the Education Foundation has been working to establish the base for an alumni association.
It started by compiling an alumni list, and took on the name Lester Prairie Reflector for its newsletter, the same name as the school’s first annual that came out in the mid 1930s with the late Art Schwichtenberg as editor, according to Miller.
The group is also in the process of developing a web site within the school web site, www.lp.k12.mn.us.
The Education Foundation meets three times each year. The group’s officers include Joe Miller, executive director; Kelli Machemehl, secretary; and Doug Jilek, treasurer. Other board members include: Dale Anderson, Nancy Krull, Rollie Radtke, Joe Scoblic, Heather Yellick, Karla Heigl, Sheila Jilek, Merrilea Kyllo, Chris Schultz, Mary Wiemiller, and Lloyd Wortz.
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