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Eden the comfort dog was enjoying herself while receiving pets from students -- something she’s been trained to do through the Lutheran Church Charities “Comfort Dog Ministry.” -
Kirsten Jensen, Aurora’s first-ever junior FFA chapter president, spoke in depth about her passion for cattle leading her toward the opportunity of leadership. -
Aurora elementary special education teacher Luey Shultz is officially retiring after 33 years of teaching -- 32 spent here in Aurora. She is pictured here in front of her “wall of heartstrings.” -
Tiffany Senff was one of two medalists for the Aurora girls wrestling team, finishing third in her division at the first-ever NSAA sanctioned state wrestling championships.
Scheele: ‘It only takes one’
As part of an all-day mental health event that stretched into the night before, Aurora High School welcomed keynote speaker Kyle Scheele to the stage Feb. 16 to speak to students.
In a unique combination of comedy and realness, Scheele touched on topics like fear, insecurity, connectedness and the power of kindness.
Scheele began his presentation with a personal story from his time in high school.
“We did this event one day that was called Every 15 Minutes,” he said. “Every 15 Minutes is a day-long, or sometimes two day long series of events all designed to drive home this one statistic. And that statistic is that every 15 minutes, someone in our country dies in an alcohol-related car accident.”
Jensen serves as first junior Aurora FFA president
Though soft-spoken and petite, Aurora High School junior Kirsten Jensen has no problem lugging around a full-grown heifer or leading her FFA chapter through another successful year.
And she’s doing it as the first-ever junior chapter president in Aurora FFA history.
So where did her story begin?
“I’ve always been on the farm,” Jensen began. “My dad farms and has raised cows for as long as I’ve known, so I just remember riding around in the tractor or combine with him all the time during harvest or planting.”
More directly, she explained that she has early memories of showing cattle with her cousins.
(MORE ON HAMILTON COUNTY'S FFA PRESIDENTS CAN BE FOUND IN AG SECTION)
Shultz ready to start new chapter after 33 years of teaching
Taking a bow after 33 years in education, Aurora Elementary School special education teacher Luey Shultz is only a few months away from retiring from a profession that has had a hold of her heart since a very early age.
“I think what makes sense to me is to start back in fourth grade with my teacher Mrs. Hicken,” Shultz began, asked to tell of her life in education. “I knew then that teaching was awesome, because she made me feel so special. I actually have a picture of her on my desk and a letter that she wrote me back in 1990. So I would say that was probably where the root of my love for teaching came.”
Just as she said, her love for teaching only grew after that. Throughout high school and into college Shutlz acted upon this love, she explained, by working for Mid Nebraska Mental Retardation Services for seven years. She explained later that this is the moment in her life where it all clicked for her.
Lady Huskies shine at first-ever state champs
Aurora didn’t officially have a girls wrestling team until October, less than two months before the first-ever girls season was set to begin.
By season’s end, the Huskies finished with a pair of medalists and a state finalist.
The 2022 NSAA state wrestling championships had a bit of a different vibe this year with girls wrestling taking center stage for the first time as a sanctioned sport.
Five Aurora girls and six total across the area competed in the first-time event, leading many to smiles and new goals despite the results.
It was a special moment in time for Aurora coach Sheri Thompson, who has been part of many state wrestling moments as a mother and fan. Friday afternoon, however, she took her spot in the coach’s chair.
Aurora Coop hosts live/online annual meeting
The Aurora Cooperative welcomed owners and guests back to a live format annual meeting last week in Grand Island, reporting a year of growth and continued change while also hosting two days worth of speakers and panels focused on ag-based issues.
Almost a full year after being named the company’s CEO last April, Chris Decker said he remains humbled and grateful for the confidence shown in him to lead the company forward.
“Wow, what a difference a year can make,” Decker said as he began his keynote address during Wednesday’s annual business meeting. “We have continued to be resilient as the COVID pandemic waged on and I am so proud of our team of employees who navigated the many challenges of our normal day-to-day operations, as well as the many labor and logistical issues that the agriculture industry, our nation and the world have faced after a year like 2020.”
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