Velma B. Hamilton Student Claims 2026 All-City Spelling Bee Title

MADISON, Wis.—Casey Barnhill, an eighth-grade student at the Madison Metropolitan School District’s Velma B. Hamilton Middle School, earned top honors at Saturday’s Madison All-City Spelling Bee, securing a first-place finish and advancing to the upcoming state competition.

Barnhill was among 41 students in grades three through eight who qualified for the annual event after winning spelling bees at their respective schools. Participants represented public and private schools across Madison. The competition, hosted at Madison College, spanned multiple rounds and tested students’ spelling knowledge and vocabulary skills.

Barnhill clinched the championship by correctly spelling the final word—”Ecuador”—in the concluding round. Joanne Aldoori of Madinah Academy placed second, and Ignatius Fassino of St. Ambrose Academy finished third. All three students will move on to represent the region at the Badger State Spelling Bee on March 21 at Madison College’s Mitby Theater.

This year marked Barnhill’s third appearance at the citywide competition and his second consecutive top-two finish, having placed second in 2025.

“Casey’s dedication and perseverance truly stand out,” said Dr. Carlettra Stanford, assistant superintendent of schools and learning. “Competing at this level requires discipline, resilience and a genuine love of learning. We are incredibly proud of how he represented Hamilton and all of MMSD.”

The Madison All-City Spelling Bee has been organized by the Wisconsin State Journal since 1949 and continues to celebrate academic excellence among students throughout the community.

In total, MMSD was represented by 28 competitors:

Milan Ayachit (Grade 6) Georgia O’Keeffe Middle	Sofia Munoz Kiley (Grade 4) Lincoln Elementary	Logan Scherck (Grade 4) Dr. V. Henderson Elementary
Kuzma Babkin (Grade 5) Van Hise Elementary	Xinyan (Beney) Lin (Grade 5) Paul J. Olson Elementary	Inez Schultz-Brinkman (Gr. 4) Nuestro Mundo Elementary
Casey Barnhill (Grade 8) Velma B. Hamilton Middle	Fernando Lopez (Grade 8) Black Hawk Middle	Noah Singh (Grade 5) Glenn Stephens Elementary
Theo Eggerling-Boeck (Gr. 8) Cherokee Heights Middle	Mary Lubner (Grade 5) Shorewood Hills Elementary	Rhys Stolte (Grade 5) John F. Kennedy Elementary
James Bull (Grade 4) C.A. Elvehjem Elementary	Wren McCluskey (Grade 4) Orchard Ridge Elementary	Rashi Tiwari (Grade 6) Spring Harbor Middle
Cece Erling (Grade 7) James C. Wright Middle	Jordan Mitchell (Grade 8) Ray F. Sennett Middle	Aurora Wicihowski (Grade 8) Akira R. Toki Middle
James Hahn (Grade 5) Thoreau Elementary	Christian Moore (Grade 4) Crestwood Elementary	Will Wohlgamuth (Grade 7) Badger Rock Middle
Jack Houseman (Grade 8) A.G. Whitehorse Middle	Ruby Noguchi (Grade 5) Emerson Elementary	Esmae Xiong (Grade 5) Lake View Elementary
Julia Kidarsa (Grade 6) Ezekiel Gillespie Middle	Yasmin Sachs (Grade 5) Aldo Leopold Elementary	Cleo Zapala-Voss (Grade 5) Marquette Elementary
	Myra Sanghavi (Grade 3) Ray W. Huegel Elementary

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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.

40 Years and Counting at Lake Ridge Bank: Three Local Bankers Celebrate Milestone Anniversary

February 20, 2026 (MADISON, Wis.) – According to the most recent data gathered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median tenure of an employee in the USA is 3.9 years. So, Lake Ridge Bank was delighted to celebrate the 40th anniversary—10 times the national standard—of three associates in January: Steve Eager, Katherine Esser, and Betty Nonn.

“It’s an honor to work with all three of these amazing people because of their commitment and dedication to community banking as a vocation,” says Lake Ridge Bank CEO Jim Tubbs. “They don’t just say it; they believe in it.”

Lake Ridge Bank Market President Steve Eager may have been destined for lifelong banking. Eager’s father was a bank president, and generations of his family have been leaders in the industry for more than 100 years. “Growing up watching my family serve the community, I learned what community banking is all about and developed a desire to give back to the community who essentially helped raise me.”

While Eager was “born to bank,” Esser and Nonn developed an interest in banking more gradually—and a bit by accident.

Betty Nonn started working part-time in high school as a teller. Today she is the Senior Vice President-Technology Officer at Lake Ridge Bank. “My advice to anyone starting out is to stay curious and say yes to opportunities that stretch you,” Nonn shares. “Take advantage of training, learn new functions, and never stop building your skills. If you surround yourself with great people and keep challenging yourself, you can build a career you’re proud of—and enjoy the journey along the way!”

Those opportunities to grow and learn and take advantage of new challenges also influenced Esser’s decision to build her long career at Lake Ridge Bank.

“Over the last four decades, the bank has always challenged me with rewarding opportunities to professionally develop within my career,” says Kathy Esser, Vice President and Senior Personal Trust Officer on Lake Ridge Bank’s Wealth Management Team. “Those continued opportunities for growth made it an easy decision to stay loyal to Lake Ridge Bank. It really just came down to the fact that I have loved my job.”

Lake Ridge Bank President Paul Hoffmann says that everyone wins when people with this level of expertise and dedication commit their careers to one place. “Community banking is built on local relationships by people who live here, work here, and invest their time and energy into helping their neighbors succeed,” Hoffmann explains. “When associates grow, develop, and flourish here over decades, everyone benefits. While Steve, Kathy, and Betty may have contributed in different ways, they all had the same vision of building a great bank where our clients can prosper and grow.”

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Lake Ridge Bank’s mission is to “build prosperous communities, one relationship at a time.” For more than 100 years, this has meant getting to know each of our clients to offer personalized services to meet their specific financial goals. Lake Ridge Bank offers a full line of financial products and services. We focus on offering products and services to make your banking easy. Our business banking and mortgage lenders are trusted leaders in their field with the expertise to provide the right loan at a competitive rate for our clients. As a community bank, we are dedicated to reinvesting in, and making our communities great places to live, work and raise a family. Visit lakeridge.bank to learn more about how we can help you.

Madison Black Chamber of Commerce announces The Eras Ball

Honoring the Past and Shaping the Future

Madison, WI – February 18, 2026 – The Madison Black Chamber of Commerce (MBCC) proudly announces The Eras Ball, the 8th Annual Black Business Awards Recognition & Exhibition, an elegant, mission-driven celebration honoring Black business excellence, leadership, and community impact.

Event Details:
Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026
Time: 4:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Location: Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center, 1 John Nolen Drive, Madison, WI 53703
Attire: Eras of Elegance – Black Tie Affair

For over a decade, the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce has advanced Black-owned businesses by expanding access, elevating visibility, and building pathways for sustainable economic growth.

“The Era’s Ball is more than a celebration – it is a reflection of the relationships, leadership, and shared commitment that shape our work,” said Camille Carter, CEO and President of MBCC. “It also marks the beginning of the next era of growth, collaboration, and opportunity for Black-owned businesses across our region.”

The evening features premium networking, curated exhibits of entrepreneurial resilience including the official traveling exhibit of Black Wall Street created by the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum, live music, dancing, soulful fine dining, and an uplifting awards program recognizing Black Business Excellence.

The Era’s Ball invites community members, partners, supporters, and leaders to gather in celebration of progress, partnership, and purpose. Whether attending in person or supporting from afar, the event reflects a shared investment in the future of Black business and economic empowerment.

For tickets, sponsorship information, volunteer opportunities, and vendor participation, visit https://www.madisonblackchamber.com/businessawards26

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About the Chamber:
With over 850 member businesses, the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit member organization that empowers businesses through education, advocacy, promotion, and community building throughout South Central Wisconsin.

Student Demand Drives Expansion of Career and Technical Education Opportunities in MMSD

MADISON, Wis.—As part of February’s national Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month recognition, the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is spotlighting the breadth of career-connected learning opportunities available to students and the growing number who are taking advantage of them.

During the 2025–26 school year, more than 4,500 MMSD high school students are enrolled in at least one CTE course, up from 3,890 just two years ago. More than 2,000 students are taking two or more courses, while more than 200 are deeply engaged in four or more classes aligned to a specific career pathway.

The increasing participation reflects both strong student interest and a deliberate effort to expand hands-on, future-focused learning experiences.

“CTE plays a vital role in helping students see what’s possible for their futures,” said Dr. Carlettra Stanford, assistant superintendent of schools and learning. “These experiences connect academic learning to real-world application, build confidence and ensure students graduate with both the knowledge and the practical skills needed to thrive in college, career and community.”

MMSD offers a broad range of high school CTE programs spanning skilled trades and high-growth industries. The largest areas of enrollment include Culinary & Hospitality (1,246 students), Marketing & Sales (1,121), Business & Financial Operations (772), Healthcare Occupations (721), Auto Technology (727) and Construction & Carpentry (668). Culinary 1: The Essentials is the district’s most enrolled CTE course, with more than 880 students participating.

Additional pathways continue to expand, including Engineering & Manufacturing (281), Digital Technology & Game Design (352), Information Technology (208) and Education & Training (246), where students gain classroom experience supporting MMSD 4K programs. East High School also hosts the district’s unique Barbering & Cosmetology program (113 students).

Many programs include industry partnerships and dual-credit opportunities, including Certified Nursing Assistant coursework, school-based credit union internships in partnership with Summit Credit Union and advanced IT academies through Madison College.

At the middle school level, district leaders continue building earlier exposure to career pathways, ensuring students can begin exploring interests before entering high school. That work includes both in-school coursework and expanded out-of-school programming.

“Introducing career exploration in the middle grades helps students make more informed decisions as they move into high school pathways,” said Nar Doumbya, CTE specialist for middle schools. “It gives them time to discover strengths, build foundational skills and see how their interests can translate into meaningful careers.”

One example is the district’s free CTE Summer Discovery program for middle school students, which continues to grow in both size and scope. The program provides hands-on experiences led by licensed CTE educators, allowing students to explore fields such as skilled trades, technology and design while building connections with peers and industry partners.

CTE programming is further supported through industry partnerships, dual-credit opportunities and facilities designed to replicate professional environments. Many of these learning spaces were modernized through recent school construction and renovation projects, allowing students to train on industry-standard equipment.

Throughout CTE Month, MMSD schools will host classroom showcases, student demonstrations and partnership highlights that elevate the impact of career-connected learning across the district.

By aligning coursework to high-demand fields and providing early, hands-on exposure, MMSD aims to ensure graduates leave high school with clear direction, valuable credentials and confidence in their next steps.

For more information about the district’s CTE offerings, 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.

Four- and Five-Year-Old Kindergarten Online Enrollment for 2026–27 School Year Now Open 

MADISON, Wis.—The online enrollment portal for the Madison Metropolitan School District’s (MMSD) 2026–27 four-year-old kindergarten (4K) and five-year-old kindergarten (5K) programs is now open. Families are encouraged to enroll early to assist with staffing and classroom planning ahead of the upcoming school year.

Families who need assistance can schedule an in-person or virtual appointment with school staff on Monday, Feb. 23, between 2 and 6 p.m. They are also encouraged to:

• Call their school after Feb. 23 to schedule an appointment if they need to enroll or verify their students’ enrollment documents. 
• Use the district’s Find Your School tool and schedule an appointment for an in-person or virtual meeting. 

Children who will be four years old on or before Sept. 1, 2026, and who reside both within and outside of MMSD attendance boundaries are eligible to enroll. (Families residing outside of MMSD boundaries need to also apply for open enrollment.) Students currently participating in the district’s 4K program will automatically transition into 5K, while the 5K enrollment window is intended for families new to MMSD.

Why choose MMSD’s 4K program?

• Engaging, play-based learning experiences
• A strong foundation for kindergarten readiness
• Social, emotional and cognitive skill development
• Supportive educators who foster growth in every child

“Our 4K program is intentionally designed to meet children where they are developmentally while helping them grow in confidence and independence,” said Culleen Witthuhn, MMSD’s director of early learning. “Students strengthen early literacy and numeracy skills, but just as importantly, they learn how to collaborate, communicate and navigate a classroom community. Those early experiences create a strong foundation for long-term success in school.”

Students benefit from licensed staff and high quality early learning experiences that strengthen language development, cognitive and critical-thinking, alongside opportunities to practice teamwork, emotional awareness and problem-solving. Educators provide individualized attention to ensure each learner’s developmental needs are met.

The district has continued to broaden access to early learning programming in recent years, made possible through community-supported operational funding. Families can select from full- and half-day models, bilingual settings and dual-language immersion pathways. Transportation is available for eligible students in accordance with Board of Education policy.

For the 2026–27 school year, 4K will be available at MMSD elementary schools and community-based early care and education sites located throughout Madison and Fitchburg, offering families a range of options.

More information about MMSD’s 4K program and enrollment process is available on the district 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.