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In celebration of AARP’s 50th Anniversary, AARP South Dakota presented a $10,000 award to the Chester Area Cyber School. The award pays tribute to AARP’s founder and former educator Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus and recognizes the Chester School Districts innovative efforts to connect generations and foster greater civic engagement among its students and their communities.

In celebration of AARP’s 50th Anniversary and to recognize the outstanding educational achievements in public high schools throughout the nation, AARP has donated more than $1 million to support educational programs which have demonstrated a commitment to connect generations and foster greater civic engagement among students and their communities. The awards include $10,000 to one high school in every state. South Dakota’s recipient of the $10,000 award is Chester School for the Chester Area Cyber School (CACS).

This award pays tribute to AARP’s founder and former educator Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus. “Dr. Andrus was a champion for all generations who believed, as we do today, that the generations are connected by a strong commitment to values, community and service,” said AARP South Dakota State Director, Sarah Jennings. “The Chester Area Cyber School demonstrates a similar commitment. It is AARP’s pleasure to recognize the program’s educational achievements with this award.”

Through the use of WebCT, an e-learning system, CACS offers online classes and instruction via Intranet to students in 26 Hutterite colony schools in South Dakota. This provides students of any age an opportunity to earn a high school diploma. Most students graduating from eighth grade in a Hutterite colony do not have an opportunity to further their education.

“It’s a great honor to be chosen for this award,” said Mark Greguson, Chester Superintendent. “I’m sure there are a lot of good things other schools are doing, so for us to be picked it was definitely an honor.” Greguson said the $10,000 award will be used for Cyber School staff development to send staff to conventions and workshops to enhance the distance learning program.

The program began with just 30 students. Now its third year, the program serves 260 students in 26 colonies. The program receives no state aide for 68 of the students because they are over 21 years of age. CACS courses are closely aligned to South Dakota State standards and are facilitated by certified instructors.

“The Chester Area Cyber School showed a creative and unique use of technology by educators who are dedicated to designing and providing educational opportunities for rural students in South Dakota,” said Pat Gross, volunteer state president for AARP South Dakota.

Public high schools in six cities designated as focal points of AARP’s 50th anniversary celebrations were eligible to compete for the $100,000 awards. In addition, public high schools in all U.S. states and territories were eligible to compete for $10,000 awards honoring innovative programs. In total, AARP received nearly 1,000 applications from public schools throughout the nation and granted an Innovation Award to one public high school in every US state and Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia.

 

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