MMSD and Wisconsin Athletics Continue Reading Partnership with Role Model Reading Day at Sandburg Elementary School

MADISON, Wis.—The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) and Wisconsin Athletics are launching the second year of their literacy-focused partnership, beginning with a Role Model Reading Day at Carl Sandburg Elementary School on Monday, Sept. 22.

With a shared goal of inspiring a love of reading and closing the literacy gap, MMSD and Wisconsin Athletics are teaming up with the 2nd & 7 Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by head football coach Luke Fickell and his former Ohio State teammates Ryan Miller and Mike Vrabel.

Through the collaboration, UW student-athletes from a variety of sports will visit MMSD schools weekly to celebrate the joy of reading. Each session will see Badger student-athletes distributing free books and spending 30–40 minutes reading with MMSD students, helping foster a love of reading and supporting literacy development.

This year’s program will reach MMSD’s eight full-service Community Schools: Hawthorne, John F. Kennedy, Lake View, Aldo Leopold, Mendota, Orchard Ridge, Carl Sandburg and Lori Mann Carey.

“I’m honored and proud to once again partner our 2nd & 7 Role Model Reading Program with the Madison School District,” said Fickell. “Our goal is to inspire children and foster a love of reading, but it’s also a great way for our student-athletes to connect with the community here in Madison. I’ve heard from countless athletes over the years of the joy they get from visiting classrooms and hopefully the impact we’re having can be felt all over the Madison Metropolitan School District as well.”

The partnership aligns with the district’s Mad for Reading initiative and underscores its commitment to literacy as the foundation of student success.

“When young learners see people they admire taking time to read with them, it sends a powerful message about the importance of literacy,” said Cindy Green, MMSD’s assistant superintendent of strategy and innovation. “Just as athletics and other co-curricular activities build belonging and connection for older students, leading to stronger attendance and academic performance, these early experiences help our youngest learners see themselves as part of a community that values their growth.”

The partnership is coordinated through MMSD’s Office of Strategy and Innovation and its Community Schools, ensuring that it supports school improvement plans and strengthens family-school-community connections.

The 2025–26 Role Model Reading Program runs from Sept. 3 through May 10, with student-athletes scheduled to visit participating schools on Mondays. The program is part of Badgers Give Back, UW Athletics’ community engagement platform.

For more information about the district’s approach to literacy, as well as ways for families and community members to support young readers, 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.

MMSD Leads the State in National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists

MADISON, Wis.—The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) holds the distinction of having more semifinalists for the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program than any other Wisconsin district.

West High School has 28 semifinalists, the most of any school in the state. Along with East (four semifinalists) and Vel Phillips Memorial (11), MMSD’s high schools are collectively home to 43 semifinalists, determined based on their performance on the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which tested participants in the areas of evidence-based reading, writing, language and mathematics. 

The registration deadline for this year’s PSAT is Thursday, Sept. 24. In addition to eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Program, students are encouraged to take the PSAT to get feedback on their college readiness and give themselves an idea of what to expect when they take the SAT as juniors. 

“These results highlight the incredible talent, perseverance and dedication of our students, as well those who support them,” said Superintendent Joe Gothard. “Achievements like this remind us of the potential within every student and reinforce our commitment to providing rigorous, high-quality learning opportunities for them.”

Each year, National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists comprise approximately 16,000 seniors, out of an eligible pool of approximately 1.3 million. Of those 16,000 students, about 15,000 go on to receive the title of National Merit Scholar finalist, 6,390 of whom are selected as Merit Scholarship winners. The combined value of all scholarships issued by the program is over $33 million.

MMSD’s full list of semifinalists is as follows:

Lauren Alibali (West)	Noah Estrella (West)	Mable Miller (Memorial)
August Andersen (West)	Raena Grainger (Memorial)	Enzo Ng (West)
Seth Banks (West)	Silas Grant (West)	Josh Pierotti (Memorial)
Josemaria Barut (East)	Zijun He (West)	Gabriela Retana (West)
Joseph Beal (West)	Isaac Hessman (West)	Brandon Royalty (West)
Theodore Beilfuss (East)	Oliver Hoeksema (East)	Simon Sellwood (Memorial)
Madeleine Bohn (West)	Anya Isaac (Memorial)	Hunter Shadman (West)
Edward Bradbury (West)	Naomi Jovaag (East)	Kayla Shelton (Memorial)
Alex Byrnes (Memorial)	Tavish Kennedy (West)	Ravi Suryan-Beilin (West)
Michelle Cai (Memorial)	Steven Kuemmel (West)	Beatrice Vaughan (West)
Timon Cantley (West)	Thanish Lankella (Memorial)	Rosemary Walsh (West)
Samuel Carlsson (West)	Eleanor Lawler (West)	Clara Warrick (West)
Angelina Chang (West)	Jason Li (Memorial)	Chase Xia (West)
Christabel Engel (West)	Mae Loewen (West)	Nina Zhu (Memorial)
	Benjamin Mayeshiba (West)

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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.

MMSD Unveils New, Aspirational Brand Identity, Inspired by Community Voices

MADISON, Wis.—The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) today unveiled a new brand identity that reflects the district’s values and aims to strengthen recognition across the community and position Madison as a destination school district.

The brand launch introduces MMSD’s first districtwide logo designed with a clear strategy and marketing lens. The logo was shaped by feedback from students, families, staff, community leaders and the Board of Education.

“An organization of our size and importance in the community needs a unifying symbol that builds recognition, fosters pride and supports our mission to prepare every student for success,” said Superintendent Joe Gothard. “This new identity is more than a logo. It’s a visual representation of our collective values, our vision for the future and the strong connections that make Madison unique.”

The logo’s design elements represent core aspects of MMSD and the city it serves:

• A bold “M” stands for Madison, emphasizing the city as the heart of the district’s identity.
• A central book symbolizes knowledge, growth, inspiration and literacy as the foundation of learning.
• Pillars underscore strength, stability and unwavering support for students.
• The Capitol dome and skyline honor Madison’s iconic setting and the pride shared across the community.

“MMSD has never truly had its own unified logo identity,” said Edell Fiedler, MMSD’s senior executive director of communications. “Past logos were donated or created without a comprehensive strategy. This process gave us, for the first time, a purpose-built identity that reflects both who we are and where we’re going.”

“This new brand identity reflects the collective pride we share in our schools and our city,” said Nichelle Nichols, president of the MMSD Board of Education. “It’s a symbol of our commitment to every student and of Madison’s strong tradition of public education. We’re excited to see it unite our community as we look to the future.”

The rebranding effort began in March 2025 and included surveys, roundtables and interviews to gather input from students, families, staff, partners and leadership. 

“This is a visual identity that honors our history while boldly looking forward,” Superintendent Gothard said. “It belongs to our entire community, and it represents the strength, pride and promise of public education in Madison.”

The district expects full implementation across facilities, communications and signage over the next year.

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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.

Dupaco Maximizes Mortgage Rate Relief Program to Support Homebuyers

Dubuque, Iowa – Dupaco Credit Union has successfully concluded its participation in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLB Des Moines) Mortgage Rate Relief Program, ensuring funds allocated to the credit union were used to make homeownership more affordable for eligible buyers. 

Through this initiative, Dupaco provided permanent mortgage rate reductions to qualifying homebuyers, helping them achieve long-term savings and greater financial stability. The program reflects Dupaco’s ongoing commitment to improving members’ financial well-being and supporting sustainable homeownership across the communities it serves. 

“This program was about more than just lowering rates—it was about opening doors,” said Krystal Frederick, AVP Mortgage Lending at Dupaco. “We’re proud to have helped so many members take that important step toward homeownership, and we remain committed to finding new ways to make those dreams a reality.” 

While the special Mortgage Rate Relief program has ended, Dupaco continues to support homebuyers with personalized guidance and affordable financing options. This includes fixed-rate mortgages, VA loans, first-time homebuyer programs, construction and lot loans and investment property financing. Dupaco’s mortgage team is available to find the right fit for your home, budget and goals. 

For more information on Dupaco’s home loan programs, visit http://www.dupaco.com/HomeLoans. 

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ABOUT DUPACO COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION  

Dupaco Community Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned financial cooperative headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa. It is dedicated to the financial well-being of its members, and specializes in personalized financial counseling, money advice and education. It offers savings, loans, investments, insurance and wealth management products for individuals and businesses. Dupaco serves residents in 118 counties throughout Iowa, northwest Illinois and southwest Wisconsin. Founded in 1948 by ten Dubuque Packing Company employees, membership has grown to more than 175,000 with assets exceeding $3.5 billion. It has over 600 employees and 23 branch office locations. It is a Forbes Best-in-State Credit Union, Forbes America’s Best Small Employer, and a Des Moines Register Top Workplace. Learn more at www.dupaco.com. 

ABOUT FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF DES MOINES 

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines is deeply committed to strengthening communities, serving 13 states and three U.S Pacific territories as a member-owned cooperative. We work together with over 1,200 member institutions to support affordable housing, economic development and community improvement. FHLB Des Moines is one of 11 regional Banks that make up the Federal Home Loan Bank System. Members include community and commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies, thrifts and community development financial institutions. FHLB Des Moines is wholly owned by its members and receives no taxpayer funding. For additional information about FHLB Des Moines, please visit www.fhlbdm.com. 

CyberNINES CEO Appointed Chair of The Cyber AB’s C3PAO Advisory Council

MADISON, WI, UNITED STATES, August 14, 2025 — CyberNINES CEO Scott Singer has been appointed Chair of The Cyber AB’s inaugural C3PAO Advisory Council.

The Cyber AB will leverage the Council as a primary source of advice and feedback, both for its role as an ISO/IEC 17011:2017-compliant accreditation body and to help shape the CMMC Ecosystem. The Council will provide insights on assessment methodologies, CMMC implementation, and emerging technologies relevant to the program.

As co-founder and CEO of CyberNINES, Scott brings more than 30 years of experience, including active duty and reserve service in the U.S. Navy. He has deep expertise in regulatory frameworks and government contracting, including FAR, DFARS, and NIST SP 800-171. Scott has testified before Congress on CMMC Implementation: What It Means for Small Businesses.

“It’s an honor to serve as Chair of The Cyber AB’s C3PAO Advisory Council at such a critical moment for the CMMC Program. Our goal is to ensure we are meeting the rigorous certification requirements while supporting our Defense Industrial Base (DIB). I look forward to working alongside my fellow Council members to provide guidance, promote best practices, and help strengthen cybersecurity across the entire CMMC Ecosystem.”
— Scott Singer, CEO, CyberNINES

Members of the C3PAO Advisory Council volunteer their time and serve in a non-compensatory capacity. Each member will serve a two-year term and oversee specialized committees on accreditation, assessment guidance, external services, and the CMMC Assessment Process (CAP).

About CyberNINES

As an authorized CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO), CyberNINES provides COMPLIANCE WITHOUT COMPLEXITY^® delivering expert assessments, remediation, and full journey consulting to businesses nationwide. CyberNINES is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) focused on those supporting the U.S. Department of Defense. Their mission is to guide businesses through their entire cybersecurity journey, protecting critical systems and information from ever-evolving threats.

For more information, visit: https://cybernines.com.