Application Window Open for MMSD’s Early College Academies

MADISON, Wis.—The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is now accepting applications for its Early College Academies, a set of tuition-free dual-enrollment programs offered in partnership with Madison College that allow students to earn high school and college credit at the same time. Applications will be accepted through Jan. 29.

“These pathways are designed to meet students where they are and help them see what’s possible,” Mary Jankovich, MMSD executive director of career, community and college readiness said. “When students participate in Early College Academies, they gain confidence, earn valuable credits and build a strong foundation for whatever they choose next.”

The academies provide students hands-on experience, industry-relevant coursework and a head start on postsecondary education. Each academy includes dedicated support, small cohorts and real-world learning opportunities tied to high-demand career areas.

“Young people in the Early College Academies prove what is possible when they are given access, support, and the chance to earn college credit tuition-free,” said Tina Ahedo, Madison College Vice President of Student Success Pathways. “Their accomplishments inspire us, and we’re eager to see even more students step into these programs and build on this growing legacy of success.”

Since their inception in 2018, the Early College Academies have welcomed more than 700 MMSD students, helping them graduate with not only the lived experience of having taken part in college-level coursework in an actual college environment, but also with credits that they have been able to apply toward their post-secondary careers.

All academies operate on a cohort model; virtual information sessions will be held on Dec. 10 and Jan. 15.

• STEM Academy: Open to students who apply in their sophomore year for enrollment during their junior and senior years. The academy focuses on science, technology, engineering and mathematics and gives students access to lab-based coursework and college-level STEM experiences.
  
• Education Academy: Open to students who apply in their junior year for their senior-year participation. Students explore careers in education, gain early teaching experience and complete coursework that supports future studies in the field.
  
• Networking and Cybersecurity Academy: Open to students applying in their junior year. This academy introduces students to IT systems, security fundamentals and hands-on technical skills aligned with a fast-growing sector.
  
• Biotechnology Academy: Open to students applying in their junior year. Students participate in lab-based biotechnology coursework and explore pathways in biomedical research, lab sciences and related careers.
  
• Running Start – Personalized Academy: Open to students applying in their junior year. Running Start allows students to enroll full-time at Madison College during their senior year and earn up to a full year of transferable college credit.

“Early College Academies provide students with the opportunity to engage in college-level learning, develop essential real-world skills and begin mapping their paths toward high-demand careers—all before they graduate from high school,” said Schauna Rasmussen, Madison College Dean of Early College and Workforce Strategy. “This opportunity is exactly the kind of access and momentum we want for every learner who aspires to lead a fulfilled life.”

For more information on Early College Academies, including application links and details about upcoming information sessions, visit MMSD’s Early College Opportunities webpage.

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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.

Read(y) to Wear designer outfits now on display at Dane County Regional Airport

A display of 20 unique creations from each year of Read(y) to Wear, Madison Reading Project’s preeminent paper fashion design competition supporting local literacy, is now enlivening Dane County Regional Airport’s Art Court.

Until mid-June, the detailed and handmade paper clothing designed by local teams of individuals, students, businesses, artists, and nonprofits is showcased for viewing for all travelers and visitors to the airport. The designs highlight some of the best creativity from the eight years the local nonprofit has produced the annual fashion design show.

Paula Panczenko and Andreé Valley curated the exhibit. Travelers, fashion, and art lovers can get a sneak peek at what’s in store at the 2026 event. “This nonprofit has blown me away at every level,” says Panczenko. “This fundraiser is not just a show using fabrics, every costume must be made of 90% paper. The results are breathtaking and unbelievably imaginative!” 

“The hours of design and fabrication time to make wearable paper fashion are not overlooked,” says Rowan Childs, the nonprofit’s co-executive director and founder. “Not only does it need to look good, but it needs to hold together while the model wears it all night, walking the stage and strutting on the catwalk. The airport display allows many more people to see unique, local creativity and learn about our nonprofit work and mission.” 

With a nod to the reality TV show “Project Runway,” Read(y) to Wear incorporates original designs made from all kinds of paper materials, conforming to a literacy theme. The 2025 theme was Legend and Fairy Tales; the 2026 theme will be announced in January. The volunteer hours for the nonprofit show are donated to Madison Reading Project through a team’s design time and the day of the event, creating a unique, one-of-a-kind fundraiser. 

“This year, we had a sell-out crowd of more than 500 attend Read(y) to Wear,” Childs adds. “The 2026 fashion show/literacy fundraiser is June 11 at The Sylvee. We appreciate the spirit and enthusiasm of our contestants as this wonderful event couldn’t happen without them.”

“In early spring, design sign-ups begin,” Childs adds. “Anyone can put a design team together and join the competition. At showtime, each team competes in front of the audience and a panel of local celebrity judges, who vote to select the winners. All proceeds go to Madison Reading Project to further our mission of providing free books to area kids and literacy support.”

Since 2014, Madison Reading Project has worked with children, families, and educators and  engaged annually with more than 250 area partners, connecting the community with free, new books and literacy resources to ignite a love for reading and affirm and reflect the diversity of young readers. With multiple programs in order to reach many children, families, and educators, the nonprofit has given more than 885,000 books to communities across greater Dane County and in working with Dolly Parton Imagination Library program an additional 155,000 per year since 2022.

 More info at madisonreadingproject.com/readytowear2025

MMSD Partners with UW Women’s Basketball for Annual Education Day

MADISON, Wis.—Hundreds of Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) students will fill the Kohl Center on Wednesday, Dec. 10, as part of the University of Wisconsin–Madison women’s basketball team’s annual Education Day, with the Badgers taking on the University of San Diego Toreros at 11 a.m.

Education Day invites district and other local schools to attend a regular-season game during the school day, offering students an opportunity to experience a collegiate sporting event while engaging in fun, school-focused activities. UW Athletics and MMSD maintain a medium-intensity partnership that supports the district’s eight full-service Community Schools (Hawthorne, John F. Kennedy, Lake View, Aldo Leopold, Mendota, Orchard Ridge, Carl Sandburg, and Lori Mann Carey elementary schools), whose participation is prioritized for this event. 

UW will provide attendees with educational activity packets, LED batons and interactive in-game experiences, including a Teacher Shootout during halftime.

This year’s game builds on the excitement of past Education Day events, which have drawn crowds of nearly 6,000 students from across the region. MMSD schools have used the event to support student engagement, community building and real-world learning beyond the classroom.

“Education Day is a wonderful chance for our students to see learning come to life in a new setting,” said Cindy Green, MMSD assistant superintendent of strategy and innovation. “It highlights the connection between athletics and academics, helps students feel part of our broader community and shows how powerful partnerships can be in expanding student opportunity..”

Sonia Spencer, MMSD senior strategic partnerships coordinator, said the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to student success.

“Our students benefit tremendously when organizations across Madison come together on their behalf,” Spencer said. “UW Athletics has created an event that is not only joyful, inclusive and inspiring, but also directly connects athletics with our literacy initiatives.”

“Wisconsin Athletics is thrilled to welcome students to the Kohl Center for Education Day—a unique opportunity to learn and experience the excitement of Badger women’s basketball,” said Marija Pientka, senior associate athletic director for sports administration/senior woman administrator (SWA). “We are proud of our partnership with MMSD that makes it possible to turn a school day into an inspiring, hands-on experience.”

The event underscores the district’s continued focus on building partnerships that connect students with meaningful experiences across Madison.

Tickets are available to the general public at UW Athletics’ official ticket website. Organizations interested in partnering with MMSD are encouraged to visit the district’s website for more information.

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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.

About Wisconsin Athletics

The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison provides student-athletes opportunities to excel, and thereby advance their athletic, academic, and social development. Through its commitment to education, broad-based opportunity and competitive excellence across its 23 Division 1 sport programs, UW Athletics is elevating the lives of our student-athletes, each other and people in the university community. For further information, visit:  http://UWBadgers.com

Dupaco’s fraud prevention efforts save members millions in 2025

DUBUQUE, Iowa — Fraud attempts are on the rise, and scammers are becoming more sophisticated every day. For more than 77 years, Dupaco Credit Union has been committed to protecting its members and their money. Through expert monitoring, education and advanced technology, the ongoing effort is paying off: in 2025, Dupaco has already helped prevent nearly $7 million in potential losses, reinforcing its role as trusted partner in safeguarding members’ financial well-being.  

Behind the scenes at Dupaco’s operations center in Dubuque’s Millwork District, the financial cooperative’s fraud team works tirelessly to ensure members accounts are protected from potential fraud losses. They collaborate with other financial institutions, partner with law enforcement, and complete regular training to ensure all Dupaco employees remain informed so they can be a leader in fraud prevention. 

Dupaco also continues to invest in innovative technologies to help detect suspicious account activity. These systems are designed to recognize anomalies and inconsistencies—flagging any issues before they become problems.  

“Fraud prevention is a shared effort. Everyone’s vigilance matters,” said Jill Gogel, vice president, fraud services at Dupaco. “Fraud attempts are rising everywhere. When members stay alert and we stay ahead of the trends, we create a strong line of defense—together.” 

Gogel provides these tips as a few ways to stay proactive in the fight against fraud on financial accounts: 

• Monitor your accounts online regularly. 
• Review your credit report regularly. Dupaco members can use Bright Track, the credit union’s free tool within their Shine online or mobile banking to keep tabs on their credit report and spending trends.  
• Set up eNotifiers to receive alerts for things like account activity, balance and debit card usage. At Dupaco, these can be delivered by text, email or both—your choice.  
• Use strong, unique passphrases. Then, be sure to update them often. 
• Sign up for two-step login verification for your online accounts, then verify your contact information with your financial institution to ensure your verification codes are reaching you.  
• Utilize the passcode or biometric options on your personal phone and other devices. 
• And most importantly—trust your gut. If something feels off, or you think you may have been targeted by a fraudster, don’t hesitate to reach out. 

For more fraud prevention resources visit dupaco.com/protection.  

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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 178,000 with assets exceeding $3.5 billion. It has over 600 employees and 23 branch office locations. Learn more at www.dupaco.com. 

La Follette High School Educator Taylor Koss Wins Silver at 2025 Deaflympics

MADISON, Wis.—Taylor Koss, an American Sign Language teacher at the Madison Metropolitan School District’s (MMSD) Robert M. La Follette High School, captured a silver medal in the 4X100 relay at the 2025 World Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan. 

“Representing Team USA as a Deaf athlete is something I take great pride in,” Koss said. “Competing at the Deaflympics and bringing home a medal is an honor, but so is being able to share that experience with my students. I want them to know that their identity is a strength and that they can succeed on any stage.”

Upon his return to the school, students and staff honored Koss with a celebration featuring the La Follette band and messages of support from the Lancer community. His achievement reflects years of dedication to his athletic pursuits and his work with students.

“Taylor is an incredibly valued member of our school,” La Follette Principal Mat Thompson said. “Our students look up to him not only for his athletic success but for the leadership, positivity and authenticity he brings to the classroom every day. Mr. Koss is such a role model for our Lancers. We are proud to celebrate this accomplishment with him.”

Koss has represented Team USA three times before this year and is known for training independently, often without a coach or major sponsorship. USA Deaf Track and Field receives no government funding, and athletes frequently balance full-time work with travel, training and fundraising efforts. Despite these challenges, Koss has remained committed to competing at the highest level while serving students at La Follette.

As an ASL teacher and Deaf educator, Koss contributes to a learning environment where sign language, accessibility and Deaf culture are embedded throughout the school community. La Follette High School, along with Ray F. Sennett Middle and Dr. Virginia Henderson Elementary schools, serves as a hub for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students and offers specialized resources that support communication access, language development and academic success.

MMSD’s DHH programming includes:

• Direct instruction from licensed DHH teachers 
• Educational sign language interpreters who support communication in academic, social and extracurricular settings
• Audiology services that maintain and monitor hearing equipment
• American Sign Language coursework through level four at La Follette 
• School environments where sign language is normalized and used widely, including by hearing peers

“Having educators like Taylor makes a meaningful difference in the lives of our students,” Thompson added. “He shows them what is possible and helps create a school culture where DHH students feel seen, supported and valued.”

To learn more about MMSD’s special education services, which include DHH programming, 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.