Congratulations to 2025's Altrusa scholarship recipients, who are making great progress toward their educational and career goals! Each year, Literacy Network partners with Altrusa International of Madison to provide scholarships for Literacy Network students pursuing higher education.

Nine 2025 recipients have begun their studies. These include (pictured above, clockwise from upper left):


• Alexa, childcare and early education
• Giovanna, finance
• Christopher, medical interpretation
• Kimberly, Foodpreneur program
• Omid, finance
• Gabriela, dental assistant program
  

Altrusa, a service organization, promotes literacy by supporting efforts that help children and adults meet their full educational potential. Thank you, Altrusa, for support that allows us to award scholarships for students' higher education.

Each year, the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) honors local partners who offer outstanding support their local schools. We are proud to share Literacy Network was recognized this year at the nomination of the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD)! For more than 20 years, we have partnered with MCPASD to offer Community English classes, where adults build language skills so that they can engage in their family’s education, advocate for their family’s needs, and participate in their local communities.

Superintendent Dr. Dana Monogue and Board President Bob Hesselbein (pictured with Literacy Network Director of ESL Group Instruction, Bex Fabrizio) presented honorees' awards during an MCPASD Board of Education meeting on October 27.

Thank you, MCPASD, for this recognition and for your decades of partnership!

October marked two years of our Student Leadership Council (SLC)! The SLC helps shape Literacy Network by offering student perspectives. During its second year, the SLC:

• Provided feedback on our four-year strategic plan, annual student survey, student needs, and lesson plans
• Contributed to an article in a national adult literacy publication
• Volunteered at events including new student registration and our annual student achievement ceremony
• Served as ambassadors at community events
• Learned about our Board of Directors. One SLC member joined the Board!
• Recruited new members
  

And more! Thank you, SLC members, for sharing your time, opinions, and skills!

We're proud to offer students a beautiful space to learn—both inside and out! If you visited our learning center this summer, you may have noticed our perennial gardens. First planted in 2024, the gardens truly blossomed this summer.

We extend heartfelt thanks to volunteers Judy, Dan, and Katja, who kept them looking their best throughout the growing season.  Each gardener adopted one of our three garden areas—the Shade Garden, Entry & Cottage Garden, or the Naturalistic Garden—and cared for it weekly all summer long.

In 2026, we plan to add one more garden on the remaining side of our building. Interested in helping next season? Watch our volunteer page this winter for details on how to get involved!

GivingTuesday is December 2! This year, we are excited to share a special campaign highlighting our citizenship program's record-breaking 2025.

Watch for more information in the coming weeks on how you can support students during this international day of giving.

Please consider monthly and planned giving. Find out more here.