Skip To Main Content
Newton Public Schools N logo

Friends of Education

The Friends of Education Program recognizes volunteer efforts throughout our district. Nominations are solicited in three categories:   

1) School Volunteer
2) Community/Civic Organization
3) Business/Partner Activities

Newton Public Schools has recognized the following businesses, groups & individuals for their contributions to the USD 373 community:

 
  2025
     
    No Friends of Education were recognized this year.    
  2024      
  Business/Partner

All Together Now Slate Creek Playground Committee members: Joanna Bjerum, Erin McDaniel, Carly Stavola & Chris Conrade

 

   
  2023      

 

School Volunteer Dr. Deb Hamm    
  Business/Partner City of Walton (Shannon Nickel and Stephanie Ashby)    
  Business/Partner Thrasher Foundation (Shae Mapes)    
  Community/Civic Newton Wyldlife  (Loren Kurtz)    
  2022      
  School Volunteer Marci Brenneman    
  Business/Partner  Walton State Bank (John Esau)    

2021

   

 

School Volunteer

Erica Edwards

   

 

Business/Partner 

Mid Kansas Cooperative (MKC)

   

2020

   

 

Due to COVID-19, USD 373 did not recognize any Friends of Education in May of 2020.

   

2019

   

 

Business/Partner 

Excel Industries (Darrin Hiebert)

   

 

Community/Civic

Koerner Heights Church (Pastor David Froese)

   

 

Community/Civic

Trinity Heights United Methodist Church (Pastor Donna Voteau)

   

2018

   

 

Business/Partner

Norm's Coffee Bar (Tami Lakey)

   

 

School Volunteer

Kaylene Dicken

   

 

School Volunteer

Carolyn Penner

   

 

Business/Partner

Millennium Machine & Tool (Kris Wondra)

   

 

School Volunteer

Wendy Harris

   

 

School Volunteer

Dr. Charles Craig

   

 

School Volunteer

Dr. Richard Glover

   

 

School Volunteer

Dr. Jennifer Koontz

   

2017

   

 

Business/Partner

Workforce Development Center
(Tucker Allen, Deb Scheibler & Warren Scott)

   

 

Business/Partner

Kemper Sports/Sand Creek Station
(Chris Touhey)

   

 

Business/Partner

Harvey County United Way
(Tina Payne)

   

 

Business/Partner

Shelter Insurance
(John Hosford)

   

 

Business/Partner

Carter's Clothing Store

   

2016

   

 

Business/Partner

Budde Enterprises

   

2015

   

 

Community Leader

Sharon Allen

   

 

Community/Civic

Jill Gatz

   

 

School Volunteer

Stacey Musser

   

 

School Volunteer

Maddy Black    

   

2014

   

 

School Volunteer

Stacey Musser

   

 

Community Leader

David Nygaard

   

 

Community Leader

Carol Sue Stayrook-Hobbs

   

2013

   

 

School Volunteer

Amie Busenitz (Hv Co. Extention) 

   

 

School Volunteer 

Lester Limon

   

 

School Volunteer

Maureen Entz

   

 

Community/Civic 

Charles Olson Scholarship Fund

   

 

Community/Civic

Newton Treble Clef Club

   

 

Business/Partner

Newton Medical Center

   

 

Business/Partner

NMC/Project SEARCH

   

 

Business/Partner

Newton Walmart/Aaron Rohr

   

 

Business/Partner

Newton Walmart/Michael Haskew

   

 

Business/Partner

Horizon Milling, Cargill

   

 

Business/Partner

Newton Medical Center

   

2012

   

 

Partnership Activity

Harvey County Farm Bureau Assoc 

   

 

Public Sector 

Harvey County Health Department

   

 

School Volunteer

Sue Harper

   

2011

   

 

Partnership Activity

Mid Kansas Cooperative Association 

   

 

School Volunteer

NormOeding/Janzen Family Farms

   

 

Private/Public

Prairie Harvest

   

2010

   

 

Community Leader

Dan Heinze, Jr.

   

 

Community/Civic

Newton Recreation Center

   

 

Partner Activity

Bethel College Education Program

   

 

Private/Public 

Little Caesar’s of Newton

   

2009

   

 

School Volunteer

Mary Karst

   

 

Community Leader

Amy Mitchell

   

 

Private/Public

Newton Medical Center

   

 

Community/Civic

Circle of Friends

   

 

Partner Activity 

Peace Connections

   

2008

   

 

School Volunteer 

Lael Seymour

   

 

Community Leader

Walter Claassen

   

 

Community/Civic

KIDS Committee

   

 

Partner Activity

Newton Public Library

   

 

Private/Public

Wendy’s

   

2007

   

 

School Volunteer

Brad Marshall

   

 

Community/Civic

Big Bros/Sister - Harvey Co.

   

 

Private/Public

Newton Wal-Mart

   

 

Partner Activity

Newton Fire Dept

   

2006

   

 

School Volunteer

Dennis LeFevre

   

 

Community Leader

Detective LT. T. Walton

   

 

Community/Civic

Newton Rotary Club

   

 

Partner Activity

City of Newton

   

 

Private/Public

Dillons Store No. 24

   

2005

   

 

School Volunteer

Brett Gesell

   

 

Partner Activity

The Newton Kansan

   

2004

   

 

School Volunteer

Karen Dudte

   

 

Community Leader

Willis Heck

   

 

Private/Public

Hutchinson Comm. College

   

 

Partner Activity

Midland National Bank

   

2003

   

 

School Volunteer

Susan Bretches

   

 

Community/Civic

Newton Chamber of Commerce

   

2002

   
School Volunteer - Virginia Anderson and Kit Goering    

 

 

   

2001

   

 

School Volunteer

Stephen Biddle

   

 

Community Leader

Jody Meier

   

 

Private/Public

Midland National Bank

   

 

Community/Civic

Bethel College Mennonite Church

   

2000

   

 

Private/Public

Newton Pizza Hut

   

1999

   

 

School Volunteer

Peg Carden

   

 

Private/Public

Newton Fire & EMS

   

1998

   

 

School Volunteer

Carolyn Yoder

   

 

Community Leader

Officer Jan McCloud

   

 

Private/Public

Druber's Donut Shop

   

1997

   

 

Community Leader

Mary McDonald

   

 

Private/Public

Anderson Healthcare

   

1996

   

 

School Volunteer

Cindy Phillips

   

 

Private/Public

The Newton Kansan

   

 

Community/Civic

School Improvement Bond Committee

   

(No record of USD 373 participation prior to 1996)