Joe Foss Community Partners

Rarely can success be attributed to a single person or organization.  Such is true for the programs at Joe Foss at Axtell that have inspired students, given them new direction, and built a community of "cheerleaders" who answer the call whenever and wherever it is needed.  

In early March, these community and building partners were recognized for generously sharing their expertise with our Joe Foss students for anywhere from 3 to 10+ years. They have been part of the Joe Foss counseling initiatives  in some way throughout a span of 25 years, providing education/support services to Joe Foss students through the following activities:

  • Living On My Own Group
  • Vision & Voice
  • Second Chances Musical
  • Career Education for Young Women-Dream It Be It 
  • Joe Foss Scholarship sponsor
  • Sheds of Hope,
  • Joe Foss Racquetball tournaments

Pictured starting top left:  

Kim Bartling, Theatre Director, Long- educator- Second Chances Musical, Vision & Voice.  5 years

Jenn Atkinson, Axtell Counselor, Living On My Own Group- 8 years

Jon Sommervold for Tallgrass Recovery- Vision & Voice- 5+ years

Aimee Ullum- Axtell Nurse- Living on My Own Group-5 years

Michelle Huebner of Soroptimist International of Sioux Falls- Dream It, Be It,  Sponsor of our Joe Foss Scholarship for graduating females. 10+ years

Taryn Latza for Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation- Support for Second Chance Musical, Vision & Voice.  5+ years

Alica Muldrow for SDSU Cooperative Extension Service- Living On My Own Group 10+ years

Rod Lipka- LSS Center for Financial Resources-Living On My Own Group- 7 years

Mallory Kloucek, The Joe Foss Project- now Vision & Voice, NAMI- 4 years

Evan Brown, Great Western Bank- Living On My Own Group- 4 years

Dawn Trowbridge, Great Western Bank- Living On My Own Group - 6 years

Tyler Engelson Dean of Students Joe Foss/Axtell

Jean Gross of Delta Dental- Living On My Own Life Skill group- 10+ years

Christine Therkildsen and Sommer VanDewater and for Dept. of Labor and Regulation- Living On My Own Group,- Daily/weekly student assistance- 8 years

Joan Zych, Tallgrass Recovery- Living On My Own Life skill group, The Joe Foss Project/Vision & Voice- 8 years

Janelle Mills, SFSD - Counselor- 25+ years

Rosio Duarte for Farm Bureau Insurance- Living On My Own Group- 10+ years

Allison DeSchepper-Division of Economic Assistance, DSS - Living On My Own Group- 5 years

Amber Metzger--Division of Economic Assistance, DSS - Living On My Own Group- 3 years

Jeannie Meyer Haugland, ASVAB Career Exploration Program- 5 years

Not pictured:

Darla Klinger, Avera McKennan Sleep Diagnostic Center, Living On My Own Group, 10+ years

Hugo Barron and Kathy Anderson for Sioux Empire Housing Partnership, Living on My Own Group- 5 years

Jim Jones, Former Axtell Building Manager, Living on My Own Group- 5 years

DJ Wittrock, Farm Bureau Insurance- Living On My Own Group, Sheds of Hope, Racquetball Tournaments- 10+ years

Breck Miller,  Realtor, Living On My Own Group- 7 years

American Ink, Vision & Voice 

Tyler Busch- ABC Rentals- Vision & Voice

Patrick Gale- Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation- Support for Second Chances Musical, Vision and Voice - 5+ years

Future Supporters of Self-Care and Living On My Own groups are the following:

  • Children's Inn- Self-Care Topic presenters
  • Sioux Falls Pride- Self-Care Topic presenters
  • Paul Schaefer- Living On My Own, Presenter
  • Sanford Children’s Community Programs- Weekly Teen Parenting Group

SFSD and the Joe Foss Program couldn't do this work without YOU!  Our students are better because of your generosity!