Wall of Success / Distinguished Alumni

Adopted by the School Board: August 22, 2022.
Delegated to Administration: August 22, 2022

The purpose of this policy is to permit the District to honor Distinguished Alumni for excellence in and contributions to the greater Sun Prairie community, our State of Wisconsin, our nation, and/or our world. The Sun Prairie Area School District will complete this process of recognition through a Wall of Success to be located near or adjacent to the location where the Board of Education governs the school district.

This process should be guided by an Administrative Procedure and should include collaborative, ethical, and equitable decision-making.

This policy affirms that the expenses incurred do serve a public purpose, which includes but is not limited to inspiring current students, promoting the promise of public education, building rapport and collaborative connections with alumni, and encouraging service and volunteerism.

Created by: Administration
Adopted: August 22, 2022
Cross References: KC-F(1), Initial Nomination Form for Distinguished Alumni/Wall of Success Award; KC-F(2), Distinguished Alumni/Wall of Success Award Application; KC-F(3), Distinguished Alumni/Wall of Success Award Rubric

Purpose
The purpose of this procedure is to facilitate the recognition of distinguished alumni for excellence in and contributions to the greater Sun Prairie community, our State of Wisconsin, our nation, and/or our world. This award is to specifically recognize graduates of the Sun Prairie Area School District who have made significant contributions to society and whose accomplishments, affiliations, and careers have honored a legacy of excellence of the Sun Prairie Area School District. The Distinguished Alumni Award and subsequent placement of a plaque on the district’s Wall of Success is earned through unique distinction of success in their professions, service to the nation, and/or contribution to their communities. The Sun Prairie Area School District will complete this process of recognition through the display of a Wall of Success to be located near or adjacent to the location where the Board of Education governs the school district.

Objectives

1. To honor distinguished alumni of the Sun Prairie Area School District.
2. To inspire current SPASD students and to facilitate the opportunity for students to see and appreciate the contributions of SPASD alumni to our society.
3. To foster a relationship with alumni.
4. To engage our community in the selection of the awardee.
5. To encourage service to society.

Eligibility
1. Any alumnus of the Sun Prairie Area School District is eligible. The individual must be a graduate or have attended a minimum of 10 (ten) years if not a graduate. Nominees may be living or deceased (posthumously).

2. At least 10 (ten) years have elapsed since the nominee's high school graduation.

3. The nominee has demonstrated significant success in one or more of the following areas:
          a. Distinguished professional achievements and life experiences.
          b. Significant contributions to the advancement of others, especially the advancements of those who have significant obstacles to success.
          c. Exceptional service and support to the Sun Prairie Area School District.
          d. Significant service to the Greater Sun Prairie Area, our county, our state, and our nation.

4. Current employees or Board Members of the Sun Prairie Area School District are not eligible for the award. No current member of the Selection Committee, or their family members, is eligible for the award.

5. Finalists must agree to a background check, confidentially completed by the Human Resources Department. Criminal activity may immediately preclude a candidate from being considered by the Selection Committee.

Committee Selection Process
1. The Distinguished Alumni/Wall of Success Selection Committee shall consist of:
          a. 1 (one) high school principal, nominated by the Director of Secondary Teaching, Learning, and Equity.
          b. 3 (three) high school faculty members, one from each high school (West, East, PPA), nominated by their respective principals.
          c. 3 (three) high school juniors, each nominated by their respective high school principals from each of the three high schools.
          d. 1 (one) current School Board member, appointed by the Board President.
          e. 1 (one) representative from the Sun Prairie Business Education Partnership, appointed by the Chair of the Business Education Partnership.
          f. 1 (one) Council Member of the City of Sun Prairie, appointed by the City Council President.
         g. 1 (one) member of the Parent Leadership Collaborative, nominated by the group.
         h. 1 (one) member of the DSEI Community Cabinet, nominated by the group.
         i. The Superintendent of the Sun Prairie Area School District will facilitate the process as a non-voting member of the committee.

2. Invitations will be extended to all stipulated members listed above. Meetings do not require the attendance of all members.

3. Committee members who are alumni of the Sun Prairie Area School District, live within the Sun Prairie Area School District attendance boundaries, and/or who have children who have attended or are alumni of the Sun Prairie Area School District are encouraged to be appointed/nominated.

4. Due to the selection process, all Selection Committee members shall be required to sign a Confidentiality Agreement.

Award Nomination Process

1. All initial nominations (Addendum 1) will be reviewed by the Selection Committee. If selected to apply, the nominee will be invited to complete a full application for the Selection Committee’s consideration. Since a nominator may not be able to disclose the details of a nominee’s contributions, accomplishments, and service, as to which the nominee is able, at this point in the nomination process, nominees will be invited to complete the SPASD Distinguished Alumni Application (Addendum 2).

2. In addition to completing the application, nominees are encouraged to submit supporting items that further inform the nominee’s impact, including but not limited to: a.

         A letter of nomination by the nominator (required),
         B. Letters of support from non-family members that specifically address the criteria (optional),
         C. A current biography (required),
         D. Newspaper, magazine, or research publications (optional),
         E. Personal story or stories,
         F. Awards or certificates of achievement,
         G. Other items that pertain to the selection process.

3. Only one nomination per nominee will be considered by the Selection Committee.

4. All nominees, even though not selected, shall remain in the nomination pool of potential candidates and reconsidered without re-nomination for three years, at which time the nominations will be confidentially purged. Nomination paperwork and application materials may be updated by request. Nomination paperwork and application materials will be held in the office of the superintendent.

5. No more than one nominee can be selected as a Distinguished Alumni to be honored on the Wall of Success per year. No limitation will be placed on the total number of nominations accepted for consideration.

6. The name of the nominator will be disclosed to the nominee if selected.

7. The school district will collect and organize submitted nominations on behalf of the Selection Committee. 

Awardee Selection Process

1. The Selection Committee will begin with an assessment of each nominee’s qualifications against the Selection Committee Rubric.

2. The Selection Committee vote will be completed by closed ballot and majority vote of the members of the selection committee who attend the meeting. A quorum of 7 members of the Selection Committee is required. Attendance at all committee meetings is mandatory to vote on the nominations, and virtual attendance is not permitted.

3. The Selection Committee will utilize a rubric to determine the most admirable attributes of each candidate to inform their vote for selection. The Rubric is Addendum 3.

4. Preceding the closed ballot vote, the members of the selection committee shall review each candidate’s application materials and utilize a rubric to discuss significant contributions to society, including accomplishments, affiliations, and careers honoring a legacy of excellence of the Sun Prairie Area School District.

5. The closed ballot vote shall be cast with the facilitator counting each ballot. The ballots shall be kept for record for one year after the selection.

6. In the event of a tie, the selection committee will re-examine the application materials of each candidate, review the rubric of qualifications (significant contributions to society, including accomplishments, affiliations, and careers honoring a legacy of excellence of the Sun Prairie Area School District), and re-vote. In the event of a second tie between two or more candidates, the selection committee will re-examine the application materials of each candidate, review the rubric of qualifications (significant contributions to society, including accomplishments, affiliations, and careers honoring a legacy of excellence of the Sun Prairie Area School District), and re-vote a third time (initial vote and two re-votes). In the event of a third tie, the facilitator will be the tie breaking vote.

7. The Selection Committee’s majority vote signifies a final decision; no appeal process will be considered.

Recognition

1. The Sun Prairie Area School District will complete this process of recognition through a Wall of Success to be located near or adjacent to the location where the Board of Education governs the school district. KC-AG Page 4

2. The Wall of Success Ceremony to honor the Distinguished Alumni Award shall happen annually at a Special Board Meeting before a regularly scheduled Board meeting.

3. The Wall of Success Ceremony shall include:
          a. Welcome, Background, and Congratulations from the Superintendent
          b. A Congratulations from the School Board President
          c. One speaker as chosen by the Award Recipient
          d. The Award Recipient speech
          e. The Presentation of the Wall of Success Plaque

4. A reception for the Award Recipient, friends, and family will be immediately held after the ceremony.

 

Distinguished Alumni/Wall of Success Award Selection Rubric

The purpose of this rubric is to objectively evaluate each candidate against the approved criteria in order to inform the selection of the candidate most deserving of this award for the current year. Each member of the Selection Committee will utilize a rubric to determine the most admirable attributes of each candidate to inform their vote for selection. 

Objectives of the Distinguished Alumni Award

1. To honor distinguished alumni of the Sun Prairie Area School District. 
2. To inspire current SPASD students and to facilitate the opportunity for students to see and appreciate the contributions of SPASD alumni to our society. 
3. To foster a relationship with alumni. 
4. To engage our community in the selection of the awardee. 
5. To encourage service to society.

 

 

Evaluation Matrix: