MMSD Awarded Grant to Expand Urban Forestry and Outdoor Learning Opportunities

MADISON, Wis.—The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) has been awarded a $20,000 Green & Healthy Schoolyards grant from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to expand tree canopy and enhance outdoor learning opportunities at Sherman Middle School/Malcolm Shabazz City High School and Mendota Elementary School.

“This funding allows us to deepen our commitment to creating healthy, engaging outdoor spaces for students,” MMSD Sustainability Manager Bryanna Krekeler said. “Expanding tree canopy not only benefits our school communities environmentally, it also provides opportunities for outdoor learning and hands-on exploration.”

Planning for each site will be coordinated with upcoming building updates to ensure new plantings grow alongside long-term improvements. The work also builds on MMSD’s recent efforts to preserve and relocate trees at referendum project sites, where partners and volunteers helped protect valued natural spaces during construction.

Growing the tree canopy supports meaningful outdoor learning by creating comfortable, shaded spaces where teachers can bring lessons outside and students can engage with the natural world. These improvements bond school communities, support student well-being and create outdoor areas that families can enjoy during community events and after-school activities.

At Mendota, the grant will strengthen work already underway to enhance learning experiences outdoors. 

“Outdoor learning is a powerful tool for helping students connect with the natural world and with one another,” said Lindsey Jones, principal of Mendota Elementary School. “This grant will help us expand spaces where students can explore, learn and feel grounded in their school environment.”

MMSD’s work to improve outdoor environments is part of the district’s broader sustainability commitment. In 2022, the Board of Education adopted a resolution to reduce districtwide greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2045. This long-term effort includes investing in energy-efficient buildings, expanding green spaces, supporting outdoor learning and working toward healthier, more sustainable school communities for all students.

The grant, part of DPI’s Green & Healthy Schoolyards: Teaching In and About Urban Forests program, supports school districts in creating and enhancing urban forestry projects on school grounds. Funds will be used during the 2026–27 school year to plant additional trees and provide training for teachers and staff on incorporating outdoor education into their instruction. 

It does not require matching funds and aligns with MMSD’s continued focus on sustainability, environmental literacy and high-quality outdoor spaces across school campuses.

To learn more about the district’s approach to sustainability, please visit the MMSD website.

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The district’s vision is that every school will be a thriving school that prepares every student to graduate ready for college, career and community. With more than 6,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the district’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.

Sennett Seventh-Grader to Compete with Team USA at 2025 Pan American Judo Championships

MADISON, Wis.—Iliyan Hoskins, a seventh-grader at the Madison Metropolitan School District’s (MMSD) Ray F. Sennett Middle School, has been selected to represent Team USA at the 2025 U13/U15 Pan American Judo Championships in Lima, Peru, on Dec. 5–6, 2025. 

He will compete in the male -47 kg (approx. 104 lbs) division after qualifying for the USA Judo Pan American U13 Championship Team on June 20, earning berths in both the -47kg and -52kg (approx. 115 lbs) weight classes.

Hoskins began practicing judo at age 4 and has developed into one of the country’s top young competitors. He trains at the European Judo Academy in Wheeling, Ill., under coach Gela Kelikhashvili, whose guidance has strengthened Hoskins’ technique and competitive preparation. Hoskins has earned nine national championship titles and was ranked the nation’s No. 1 junior athlete in 2022 under former coach Sensei Os Millan.

“Iliyan is an exceptional student and an exceptional athlete,” said Jessica Fleischmann, Sennett Middle School assistant principal. “His commitment, humility and drive make him a role model for students across our school. We are incredibly proud to have him represent Sennett, MMSD and the United States on the international stage.”

For Hoskins, competing for Team USA is the result of years of steady work and personal growth.

“My goal is to keep getting better and compete in international tournaments where I can represent my country,” Hoskins said. “I like pushing myself and seeing how far I can go. Judo teaches me discipline and respect. Winning feels amazing, but even when I don’t win, I learn something that makes me better.”

He added that he is proud to represent his school community as well as his team. “I hope younger athletes see that if you work hard and keep going, you can do big things,” he said.

Beyond his athletic accomplishments, Hoskins is recognized for his sportsmanship, leadership and steady presence at school, all qualities that reflect the values of judo and contribute positively to the Sennett community.

The Pan American Judo Championships bring together top youth athletes from across North, Central and South America for one of the highest levels of competition in the sport. Hoskins’ participation is a point of pride for Sennett Middle School and for MMSD, which supports students in pursuing excellence inside and outside the classroom.

For information about the after-school athletics opportunities available to MMSD middle-schoolers, please visit the Madison School & Community Recreation  website.

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The district’s vision is that every school will be a thriving school that prepares every student to graduate ready for college, career and community. With more than 6,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the district’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.

New Steeple Set at Historic Holy Redeemer Catholic Church

Rebuilt steeple reclaims its place in Madison’s skyline

Madison, WI — Vogel Bros. Building Co. has reached a significant milestone in the restoration of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church with the successful placement of the church’s newly rebuilt steeple on November 17. Located at 120 W Johnson St. in downtown Madison, Holy Redeemer is the city’s oldest Catholic church, originally constructed between 1865 and 1869.

The original steeple suffered severe damage in May 2024 when the church was struck by lightning, resulting in a fire that compromised the structure. Vogel Bros., serving as the general contractor, has been leading the effort to rebuild and restore the steeple in partnership with a team of specialized subcontractors.

The new steeple, a 48-foot-tall, 16,000-pound structure topped with a 10-foot cross, was built on site before being lifted into place with a crane. Its installation marks a major step forward in the multi-phase restoration project.

“Our team and partners have been working diligently to bring this historic landmark back to its full presence in the Madison skyline,” said Matt Schultz, Vice President of Vogel Bros. Building Co.

“Reaching this milestone is a testament to the craftsmanship and coordination of everyone involved.”
Restoration work on the church will continue into next year. The full project is expected to be
completed in early 2026.

Vogel Bros. Building Co. (www.vogelbldg.com) is a fifth-generation construction services company
with offices in Madison, WI and Lakeland, FL. As an award-winning company, Vogel Bros. has earned
recognition for completing large-scale complex projects, encouraging innovation, embracing new
technologies, and making a difference in our communities. We owe our success and longevity to the
values established by the Vogel family that have been shared through the generations and are
embodied in our employees. Vogel Bros. mission is to continually improve our services to enhance the
lives of the people in the communities we serve.

StartingBlock Wins $75,000 from SBA to Advance Entrepreneurship in Wisconsin

StartingBlock Madison has been selected as a 2025 recipient of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Growth Accelerator Fund Competition, receiving $75,000 to expand our support for entrepreneurs across south central Wisconsin.

National Recognition for Regional Impact

This marks our second SBA Growth Accelerator award, following our 2023 win. Being selected from a competitive national field – just 76 organizations were chosen – validates both the quality of our programming and the strength of the ecosystem partnerships we’ve built together.

As I reflect on this recognition, I can’t help but think about what it represents: federal acknowledgment that south central Wisconsin is building something special. We are thrilled that our federal partners understand and value the work that StartingBlock is doing in the Madison ecosystem. We are looking forward to partnering with regional government, industry and university partners to further entrepreneurship in south central Wisconsin.

Building on Proven Success

This award comes as we build on strong performance metrics from our 2024-2025 WEDC Entrepreneurial Partnership Grant, where we served 85 entrepreneurs.

The $75,000 will enable us to enhance support for entrepreneurs across key regional sectors – advanced manufacturing, agricultural technology, clean energy, health technology, and information technology – while serving businesses at every stage from concept validation through scaling.

An Invitation to Partner

This momentum creates exciting opportunities for collaboration. As we expand our programming and pursue additional funding opportunities we’re seeking partners who share our vision of establishing south central Wisconsin as a nationally recognized innovation hub.

Whether you’re interested in providing mentorship, exploring pilot projects with emerging companies, connecting students to real-world entrepreneurship, or simply learning more about what we’re building together, I’d welcome the conversation.

Let’s Connect

Visit startingblockmadison.org to learn more about our programming and partnership opportunities.

2025 AmFam Champ raises more than $2 million for charity

MADISON, Wis. (Nov. 18, 2025) – The 2025 PGA Tour Champions American Family Insurance Championship was held at a new location, TPC Wisconsin and featured a new team format. However, the tournament’s primary purpose – raising money for deserving nonprofits – remained the same. The 2025 event raised $2,035,000, it was announced today, to bring the total raised to $21.78 million since the inaugural event in 2016.

Approximately half of the 2025 proceeds will be distributed to the American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, and 161 primarily local charities will share the rest in varying amounts. A lifetime total of 1,171 grants have been distributed to charitable organizations.

The total proceeds raised, and charitable organizations supported, were revealed at an annual event today held at American Family Insurance corporate headquarters in Madison. The event featured tournament host/player and 2023 AmFam Champ winner Steve Stricker, his wife Nicki, American Family Insurance Chair and CEO Bill Westrate, President Telisa Yancy and representatives from community nonprofit grant recipients.

“We’re grateful to our fans, sponsors and volunteers for coming along with us to our new home at TPC Wisconsin and continuing to support this PGA TOUR Champions event that benefits our communities in so many ways,” said Steve and Nicki Stricker. “We’re happy about the positive feedback we’ve received about the new location and new format, and the best part is knowing with this year’s proceeds we’ve raised more than $21 million for charity.”

The ninth American Family Insurance Championship attracted thousands of fans and nearly 1,000 volunteers from 17 states, who took part in the three days of tournament play. Volunteers provided 18,500 hours to the event. The total local economic impact of the tournament from 2016-2025 is estimated to exceed $125 million.

“At American Family, our values include showing up in our communities and having an impact in meaningful ways, and we’re proud the AmFam Champ has been an important part of that commitment,” said Bill Westrate, American Family chair and CEO. “More than ten years ago, this tournament started out as just an idea and today has contributed nearly $22 million in the form of grants to organizations that build healthy children and families and strong, thriving communities. We join them in their efforts and support these nonprofits that create brighter futures.”

In addition to the American Family Children’s Hospital, here are just three of the recipient organizations and the various needs they’re addressing in our communities:

Madison Parks Foundation Inc.

The Madison Parks Foundation partners with the Madison Parks Division to help fund the K.N.O.W. (Kids Need Opportunities at Warner) program, serving 200+ underserved youth ages 11-21 weekly at the Warner Park Community Recreation Center. Their mission is to provide comprehensive support through sports-based youth development, mentorship and life skills programming for Madison’s northside communities.  The program operates six days weekly and includes basketball referee certification training that creates future employment opportunities, Family Fun Nights that engage entire families, and school-based programming that reaches an additional 200+ students. Through this innovative public-private partnership model, KNOW transforms individual lives while strengthening entire neighborhoods by providing safe spaces, skill development, and pathways to economic empowerment.

The Road Home Dane County

The Road Home Dane County provides opportunities for homeless families to achieve self-determined goals and affordable, stable housing. The Road Home Dane County operates 13 housing programs that serve an average of 250 families annually, including more than 550 children. Beyond simply providing a place to live, their programs are grounded in a holistic, strengths-based approach that surrounds families with the support, tools and relationships they need to thrive. This model emphasizes family-driven goal setting and trust-building as families move from the crisis of homelessness toward stability and long-term independence.

Vera Court Neighborhood Center, Inc.

Vera Court Neighborhood Center, Inc. is a nonprofit agency located in Madison, with two neighborhood centers, Vera Court Neighborhood Center on the northside, and Bridge Lake Point Waunona Neighborhood Center on the southeast side. Their agency’s mission is to stabilize and empower underserved communities by providing inclusive and innovative programming that supports youth, adults and families in achieving their full potential. The centers provide youth development programs, adult education, senior engagement, nutrition security and bilingual support. They are committed to stabilizing and empowering communities by fostering connection, building skills and providing the resources needed for long-term success.

“Since day one, the American Family Insurance Championship has delivered a best-in-class experience for our players, partners and fans,” said PGA TOUR Champions President Miller Brady. “That unwavering commitment to showcasing the tremendous city of Madison each year has also benefitted the greater Dane County area through incredible charitable efforts, ensuring the tournament’s impact is felt year-round. The dedication from American Family Insurance, Nicki and Steve Stricker, and the entire tournament team has set a foundation in place for long-term success. We are excited for a bright future ahead as we build on a great 2025 event which saw an exciting new team format, a great host in TPC Wisconsin, and amazing fan attendance.”

Next year’s event at TPC Wisconsin will be held June 1-7, 2026, with special events during the week and tournament play June 5-7. Stricker will host the tournament for the tenth time and play for the ninth time.

Those interested in volunteering for the 2026 event can learn more about the AmFam Champ volunteer program and register.