MANITOWOC – From solar smarts to gold-rated performances, local students and community groups are stacking up wins this week.
Add scholarship news, free museum admission for military families and a top patient-safety grade at Aurora in Manitowoc County, and you’ve got plenty to celebrate.
Here’s a quick roundup of the latest briefs.
Valders, Mishicot students shine at WPS Solar Olympics at UW-Oshkosh
Valders High School and Mishicot High School students were among the top finishers at Wisconsin Public Service’s 30th annual Solar Olympics, held May 6 at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Nearly 150 students from 13 high schools competed.
Valders won the Solar Advertising Campaign and took first in the team competition. Valders students Norianna Burton and Liam Grall tied for the individual Solar Jeopardy title. Mishicot captured firsts in Solar T-Shirt Design and Solar Water Heater and tied for second in the team standings with Green Bay West and Ashwaubenon.
Manitowoc Lutheran students earn top marks at WSMA State Solo and Ensemble Festival
On May 2, 34 Manitowoc Lutheran musical events participated in the WSMA State Solo and Ensemble Festival at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Students earned 22 first ratings (gold) and 12 second ratings (silver).
Students earning a first rating (gold) were Calyn Allen (tenor saxophone solo), Malachi Hacker (piano solo), Sorcha Hang (classical solo and musical theater solo), Anya Hochmuth (musical theater solo), Natalie Hochmuth (violin solo), Abigail Huehn (flute solo), Tristan Hulse (classical solo and musical theater solo), Paul Krause (bass clarinet solo), Lizzie Laabs (classical solo), Hannah Nickels (violin solo and piano solo), Elizabeth Vogt (clarinet solo and piano solo), a barbershop quartet of Tristan Hulse, Logan Haupt, Coltyn Lyon and Oliver Stuebs, a barbershop quartet of Olivia Scheider, Rayahna Gaedtke, Lizzie Laabs and Dakota Hulse, a quartet of Oliver Stuebs, Logan Haupt, Coltyn Lyon and Tristan Hulse, a musical theater duet of Calyn Allen and Paul Krause, a musical theater duet of Dakota Hulse and Lizzie Laabs, a vocal duet of Paul Krause and Malachi Hacker, and the Lancer Singers.
Students earning a second rating (silver) were Calyn Allen (classical solo and piano solo), Quan (Coco) Chen (classical solo and flute solo), Rayahna Gaedtke (classical solo), Dakota Hulse (musical theater solo), Garrett Johnson (euphonium solo), Robin Knutson (classical solo), a piano six hands performance by Malachi Hacker, Calyn Allen and Elizabeth Vogt, a vocal trio of Abigail Huehn, Brylie Zirbel and Natalie Hochmuth, the MLHS Jazz Band, and a quartet of Luc Schulz, Levi Overland, Rayahna Gaedtke and Dakota Hulse.
The MLHS Lancer Singers have qualified for WSMA state for 28 straight years. A musical theater solo by senior Sorcha Hang, who performed “On My Own,” was nominated for an exemplary award. The Exemplary Performance Recognition Project recognizes outstanding performers at the WSMA State Solo and Ensemble Festival. State festival adjudicators nominate the most exceptional performances at each festival campus.
UnitedOne Credit Union names 2026-27 scholarship winners in Manitowoc and Sheboygan counties
UnitedOne Credit Union has named Jack Bauer, Kyle Heling and Tracy Arens as recipients of three $1,000 scholarships for the 2026-27 academic year.
Bauer, a Manitowoc Lincoln High School senior, plans to attend UW-Whitewater to become a financial adviser. Heling, a Sheboygan South High School senior, plans to attend Concordia University to study rehabilitation science and pursue physical therapy. Arens, a Manitowoc resident and Lakeshore College student, is an LPN bridging to an RN.
Two scholarships go to high school seniors in Manitowoc and Sheboygan counties, and one goes to a college student or working adult. Winners are chosen by an independent panel based on an essay.
Wisconsin Maritime Museum joins Blue Star Museums, offers free admission for active-duty military families
The Wisconsin Maritime Museum (75 Maritime Drive, Manitowoc) is participating in the Blue Star Museums program, which offers free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families.
The program runs May 16 (Armed Forces Day) through Sept. 7 (Labor Day). Eligible guests include active-duty service members, reservists and National Guard members, plus U.S. Public Health Service and NOAA corps. Each visit covers the service member and up to five family members with a valid military ID or DD Form 1173/1173-1; family may visit without the service member.
For a list of participating sites, visit arts.gov/BlueStarMuseums. For details, call 920-684-0218 or see wisconsinmaritime.org.
Aurora Medical Center – Manitowoc County earns Leapfrog ‘A’ for patient safety in spring 2026
Aurora Medical Center – Manitowoc County is one of 11 Aurora Health Care hospitals to earn an “A” grade for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group’s spring 2026 report card.
Leapfrog grades nearly 3,000 U.S. hospitals twice a year using 22 measures tied to errors, injuries, infections and prevention systems, assigning letter grades from A to F.
Aurora Health Care said it received more “A” grades than any other Wisconsin health system in the spring 2026 cycle.
Contact Brandon Reid at breid@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Valders wins team title at WPS Solar Olympics and more local briefs
Reporting by Brandon Reid, Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter / Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
