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Tech Teens

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The FIRST Tech Challenge Pathfinders

It’s a Friday evening, and we’re gathered in the basement of Owen Scott’s home. He’s one of eight members of the FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) Pathfinders, an award-winning robotics club in Waukee. (FIRST stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology” and is the parent organization of robotics clubs across the nation.)

We’re there for their weekly meeting. Scott and his teammates—a nearly equal mix of boys and girls—are eighth and ninth graders in the district.

The kids are huddled together on the couch as their coach, Shannon Stone, mother to team member Kristen Stone, and mentor Bhooshan Karnik, father to team member Arya Karnik, watch the students respond to my list of questions.

In addition to Arya, Owen and Kristen, Sabarish Mogallapalli, Shriya Magatapalli, Sean Eastman, Katie Morrison and Ben Avilez make up the FTC Pathfinders.

Behind the couch, there’s a large matted area known as “the field.” It’s where they’re fine-tuning their robotics project for an upcoming competition in Sioux City.

The FTC Pathfinders—named after NASA’s Mars Voyager—are one of seven robotics teams in the district.

“There’s also the STEM Punks, Enginerds, WaukeeTaukee, System Overlords, Circuit Breakers and ICE,” the students chime in.

They walk me through a typical meeting.

First, they begin by reflecting. Each student shares what they accomplished at the last meeting, what they hope to accomplish at this meeting, barriers to reaching their goals and how they can help each other overcome those barriers.

Next, they divvy up duties. Some work on finance and others on the engineering notebook—a record of everything they do throughout the season, including team activities that occur both in and outside Owen’s basement.

And, of course, they work on their robot.

“Each year, we’re given tasks and awarded point values for completing them. We design part of the robot to complete those tasks,” says Kristen.

The students are given a FIRST manual to follow, and they’re awarded points for whatever tasks their robot is able to do from that manual. The theme this year is space. The students and I walk over to the field to watch the robot in action.

There’s a red and white lander in the middle of the field. It looks like a miniature version of something you might see in a space exhibition. The robot lifts and lowers itself on and off the lander. Two corners of the square field are taped off, acting as storage depots for the “minerals” scattered around. The other two corners act as craters. One of the robot’s tasks is to pick up the minerals from the crater and deposit them in specific spots on the lander.

Most team members got their start in an FLL (FIRST Lego League) geared toward fourth through eighth graders. The FTC teams are for students in seventh through twelfth grade.

During their first season together (2014- 15), there were just two members from the current team. Together, they advanced to the state competition. As others joined, the Pathfinders’ success continued.

One of their most notable projects is an app called “City Recycle Day,” created with input from MetroWest Authority. It lists important dates for taking out trash and recycling receptacles.

In the spring of 2016, the team entered the app in the Verizon App Challenge. They won “Best in State.” They then submitted it to the Congressional App Challenge. They won that, too, and presented the app to members of Congress at the United States Capitol.

This spring, they’re headed back to Washington D.C. after winning with their latest submission, “FastLane,” which notifies parents and students about district bus schedules and delays.

While there, they’ll present to state representatives and attend talks by tech giants and innovators like Amazon, Microsoft, Southwest and Boeing.

Both apps have a community focus—something incredibly important to the Pathfinders. Outside of their meetings, the students spend time networking with teachers, visiting elementary schools across the district and making connections with local businesses.

Out of curiosity, I ask the team which subjects they’re thinking about studying after graduation.

This seems like a group that might know. They answer without hesitation.

“Aeronautical engineering,” says one.

“Biomedical or chemical engineering,” says another.

“Medical research.”

“Software engineer.”

It is evident I am far from the smartest person in the room. I am impressed with how, at such a young age, these students have already found a career path they love. For many, it’s all they’ve known.

“STEM is my life,” says Karnik.

Like many in the group, both of his parents work in the field.

“All the people I look up to are in STEM,” says Katie. “That’s where everything is headed. There’s so much you can do in it.”

Stone adds, “There is a significant shortage of engineers. It’s really important we prepare ourselves for the future. We have to keep evolving with the world.”

It’s obvious that their coach, Shannon, is proud.

“The team is just a great bunch to be around. They amaze me. They face a lot of challenges, whether it be tech or otherwise, and they always keep a positive attitude and support each other. They keep marching forward,” she gushes.

Not only do the Pathfinders get to practice their STEM skills in robotics club, they also work on fundraising and acquiring sponsorships, public speaking and presentation skills.

“We’re in a lot of situations where we’re talking to people about our team or projects—from judges, business owners and kids. So, we learn confidence and how to improve our speaking skills. We also learn time management and how to prioritize doing multiple things and meeting deadlines,” says Arya.

They also learn about a concept called “gracious professionalism,” a hallmark of the many virtues FIRST promotes. It’s the idea that despite their competition, teams should collaborate, learn from one another and help each other whenever possible.

“It’s just like good sportsmanship, whether you win or lose, you’re respectful and kind to those around you. That gets returned to you later when others are willing to help out,” says Katie.

The students are regular visitors in the Waukee elementary schools, where they participate in interest groups to discuss the club with prospective team members. They say teachers are their best advocates for recruiting future FLL or FTC students.

For information on joining a robotics club, visit firstinspires.org or reach out to the Pathfinders at pathfinders13497@gmail.com or email Jeff Longman, Director of Community Education at Waukee Community School District, at jlongman@waukeeschools.org.


Growing with the Community: 20 Years of the Waukee Chamber of Commerce

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In 2019, the Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce will celebrate 20 years of fostering growth, professional development, and connections within the community. The anniversary will be celebrated with a dinner and silent auction in February.

Since its inception in 1999, the chamber has added 290 members to its roster—beginning with 40 and now boasting 330. Members include area businesses and organizations of all sizes, as well as individuals with a passion for promoting growth and prosperity in the community.

Melinda Behn, President of the Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce, said the organization provides its members with opportunities to network, enhance their financial growth, participate in professional development and contribute to a thriving community.

“The Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce connects members to hundreds of companies throughout our region,” said Behn. “When a company joins the chamber, all employees gain access to our network of businesses and professionals from the area and Central Iowa region—through the Greater Des Moines Partnership.”

The Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce also offers members opportunities to develop business relationships and referrals, attend events such as ribbon-cutting ceremonies, and provide access to career and volunteer opportunities.

Members also can enhance their impact and presence in the community by attending meetings and events, sponsoring chamber events and joining and/or leading a committee.

Along with Behn’s leadership, the chamber is governed by a board of directors—business members from the community. Behn said each board member chairs a committee that, in collaboration with chamber committee members, is responsible for carrying out the chamber’s priorities.

The association’s committees include:

Membership: This group supports existing and new businesses. The committee hosts new membership welcome breakfasts twice a year and distributes the Waukee Chamber Monday Business Report—a newsletter with information about chamber happenings.

Community Development: This committee organizes and promotes the chamber’s annual dinner, as well as What’s Cookin’ in Waukee, the golf outing and Waukee Fall Harvest. It also coordinates the chamber’s participation in community-wide events such as Itty-Bitty Olympics at Celebrate Waukee.

Scholarship: A one-time annual scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior from Waukee High School who plans to attend an Iowa institution following graduation. This committee focuses on creating awareness of the scholarship and selecting the recipient.

Waukee YP: Waukee Young Professionals (Waukee YP) is a new committee that connects and provides growth opportunities for young professionals who work or live in the Waukee area.

Government Affairs: This committee serves as the legislative voice of the Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce membership. This committee stays up-to-date on legislative issues affecting businesses, participates in regional public policy meetings and events, and hosts election year forums. In the near future, the Waukee Chamber will partner with the metro’s west-side affiliate chambers to talk about the upcoming legislative session.

Economic Development: This committee organized the Sixth Annual Waukee Economic Development Bus Tour in September at Brick Towne at Kettlestone, off University. The tour showcased Waukee’s growing community by highlighting new development projects—such as the Holmes Murphy building off Grand Prairie Parkway and The Palms Theatre and IMAX venue off NE Westgate Drive.

Ambassadors: These are active members who help facilitate networking among members.

Paul Kerkhoff, owner of Kerkhoff Chiropractic, said the chamber has grown to be recognized as a premier professional business organization with ties that reach across the nation. “This involvement reaches international corporations as well as our state and national legislature. Being part of this organization brings our ideals and interests together for even greater opportunities for our future and generations to follow,” said Kerkhoff.

Don Frazer, owner of Heartland Co-op and a three-year chamber board member, said being a member has positively impacted his business. “The contact with other local business leaders has opened up additional opportunities,” he said. “The chamber has been an important part of the explosion of new businesses in Waukee, and growth is good for everyone.”

Both Frazer and Behn said one of the chamber’s biggest recent accomplishments is finding a new space for the organization to reside. Located at 208 W. Hickman Road in Waukee, the chamber has called their current location home for nearly two years. “The Board invested a significant amount of time in helping to locate the space, negotiate the lease and assist with the build out. We are truly fortunate to have so many wonderful people in our chamber who care about the future of Waukee,” said Behn.

The 2019 Waukee Chamber Annual Dinner and Silent Auction will provide a summary of 2018 accomplishments, a look at the year ahead, an introduction of the 2019 Board of Directors and recognition of the 2018 Member and Ambassador of the Year.  The event will be held Feb. 21 from 5:00 – 9:30 p.m. at the Sheraton in West Des Moines.

For more information about the Chamber, visit https://www.waukeechamber.com.

 

Wauk-Eats! New Waukee Restaurant Guide

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With the constant construction and expansion going on in Waukee, it’s no surprise that a slew of new restaurants have popped up on this side of town.  This past year saw a host of dining locations open their doors, providing a variety of new options for hungry residents. Here are a few new additions from the past year and a look at things to come!

Smoothie King

If your New Year’s resolution is to eat healthier and get more fit, Smoothie King is here to help you reach your goal.  With a stated vision of being an integral part of every health and fitness journey, Smoothie King’s offerings are designed to help you power through a workout, lose weight or unwind.  The franchise, which began in 1989, has grown to over 800 locations worldwide, and the Waukee location opened this past year on the corner of University Avenue and SE Alice’s Road.

Smoothie King offers four different categories of smoothies: Fitness Blends, Slim Blends, Wellness Blends, and Take a Break Blends. All smoothies, regardless of category, are formulated and blended using the franchise’s “cleaner blending” philosophy, with an emphasis on more whole fruits and vegetables and fewer artificial additives. There’s no high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors or flavors or preservatives in any of Smoothie King’s selections, and there’s no added sugar in more than 50 of their menu options. With a full roster of Kids’ Blends also available, the entire family can find something they like.

Customers can also add various enhancers to their smoothies. Enhancers include a “Super Grains” blend with essential amino acids, an “Immune Support” offering with additional vitamins and minerals, and a “Probiotic” option to support digestion and gut health.

For menu options and hours of operation, visit smoothieking.com.

Which Wich Superior Sandwiches

If your smoothie from Smoothie King hasn’t quite filled you up, head north just up Alice’s Road and grab a sandwich at Which Wich. This sandwich chain opened a location in Waukee this past year. From a Greek gyro to a Vietnamese cuisine-inspired banh mi sandwich, their menu spans a wide range of influences.

Their Signature Favorites include everything from the classic Philly Cheesesteak, to a Superfood Wich (featuring a vegan black bean patty and quinoa on a spinach tortilla) to a Brunchwich that includes rotisserie-roasted beef and lamb gyro slices and a sunny-side-up egg.  Which Wich’s proprietary Wicked sandwich comes loaded with turkey, ham, roast beef, pepperoni and bacon—the customer then chooses three cheeses to add, along with any additional toppings.

Customers can also build their own sandwiches or choose a salad or wrap instead.  With a variety of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options also available, Which Wich caters to those with dietary restrictions as well. Their menu and hours of operation can be found online at whichwich.com.

Central Standard Burgers

Central Standard, which opened on University Avenue in July of 2018, is the second location of a restaurant that got its start in Bettendorf, Iowa, about five years ago. According to General Manager Andy Crounse, the restaurant was developed as an alternative to more traditional “cookie-cutter” burger joints.

Among the dozen or so burger options on the menu are the “Oh No,” with cheese curds and fried pickles, and the “Heck No,” with jalapeño poppers and ghost pepper cheese. The menu also includes other sandwiches like the PB & J (pork belly and jalapeño), and various mac and cheese selections.  In addition to their non-traditional burgers, the restaurant is also well-known for its massive, creative shakes.

So if you’re in the market for a burger (and a shake) with a twist, give Central Standard a try.  Their menu and hours of operation can be found online at centralstandardburgers.com.  

R Taco

The “R” in R Taco comes from founder Rusty Fenton, who opened the first Rusty Taco location in Dallas in 2010.  The Tex-Mex chain arrived on University Avenue in West Des Moines earlier this year. R Taco’s specialty, as one might imagine, is authentic, Mexican street-style tacos, handmade and offered on corn or flour tortillas. With a wide variety of fillings available—BBQ brisket, Baja shrimp, fried chicken, and black beans, to name just a few—there’s something to suit everyone’s taste.

R Taco also offers a selection of breakfast tacos, served all day.  If you like a margarita with your tacos (always a delicious idea), the Rusty Margaritas—“always made with fresh lime juice and cheap tequila,” per their website—have you covered.

So if, like Fenton, your motto is, “Tacos are the most important meal of the day,” R Taco is your kind of place.  Check out their menu and hours of operation online at rustytaco.com.

Rosati’s Pizza

Chicago-style deep-dish pizza arrived in Waukee this past November with the opening of Rosati’s Pizza on SE Alice’s Road.  Rosati’s, the first of which opened in Chicago in 1964, focuses on traditional, authentic Italian dishes made from Rosati family recipes that have been passed down through five generations of the family.

Their calling card, of course, is their Classic Chicago Pizza. “With a deep crust cradling the freshest ingredients in town, our deep dish sets the bar very high,” says Jeff Fournier, General Manager at the Waukee location.

Veggies are cut, mozzarella is shredded, dough is made and meats are prepped fresh every day at Rosati’s, says Fournier. This guarantees the quality of the final product.

If Chicago deep dish isn’t quite your speed, no big deal.  Rosati’s has an abundance of menu options, ranging from pastas, sandwiches (like their popular Italian beef), desserts and a variety of side dishes.  The location is “not just a pizza place, but a full Italian restaurant,” according to Fournier.

Rosati’s also features a full catering menu and can deliver anywhere in the Des Moines metro area.  So the next time you have a craving for pizza—particularly if a thin, flatbread pizza just isn’t going to cut it—give Rosati’s a shot! Find their menu and hours of operation online at rosatispizza.com.

Coming Soon

The slew of fast-casual favorites arriving in Waukee isn’t set to slow down anytime soon.  Culver’s, B-Bop’s, and IHOP are all scheduled to open locations in 2019, providing even more dining options for residents.  Keep an eye out for these in the coming year!

The Fridley Palms Theatres

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Waukee residents are only months away from having one of the state’s largest cinema screens in their backyard. The 85-foot IMAX screen at The Palms Theatres and IMAX, between NE Dartmoor Drive and NE Westgate Drive near Hy-Vee, is tentatively scheduled for a partial opening on Dec. 7.

Russell Vannorsdel, Vice President of Fridley Theatres, The Palms’ parent company, said the theater complex will offer something for every moviegoer.   
“We didn’t want to compromise anyone’s experience, so the design concept lets you pick what you want,” he said. “A variety of amenities will give customers the choice of less distraction or the experience of dining while watching a movie in a theater.”
The theater complex will have 15 auditoriums, all with reserved seating. Each auditorium will feature luxury recliners with tables and cup holders. Vannorsdel said the recliners in the IMAX are part of what makes The Palms exceptional.
“While some exhibitors have done retrofits without approval, IMAX has never approved luxury recliner seating in an auditorium before now,” he explained.

The facility will have a bar and a restaurant where customers can order their food to eat inside the restaurant or to take with them into the theater.

Dine-in seating will be offered in at least eight of the auditoriums. Each will vary in size, with the IMAX having the largest capacity and the others seating about 40 people.

“The small auditoriums will provide a more intimate experience,” said Vannorsdel. “We could have filled them with more seats, but we wanted to minimize distractions. They have more aisles so wait staff don’t have to walk in front of guests to take orders or carry in food.”
Eliminating distractions was top-of-mind when designing the concept for the IMAX theater, too. When designing the layout for the luxury recliners in the auditorium, Vannorsdel said they wanted to ensure all sightlines would be clear in all positions. “People should be able to see the top and bottom of the screen at all times,” he explained. “So if you’re fully reclined, and the person in front of you is not, you’ll still be able to see the bottom of the screen.”

Fridley’s, which is headquartered in downtown Des Moines, is not a newcomer to entertainment venues. Owner Bob Fridley has been in the movie industry since the 1930s. He turned 101 this past March. With the opening of The Palms, Fridley Theaters will have 21 complexes across Iowa and Nebraska, and a total of 101 movie screens.

During the research phase before building The Palms, Vannorsdel and Brian Fridley, President of Fridley Theaters, toured movie theaters across the country— including the historic Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood—to research what worked and what did not.  

“We took things we already knew and things we learned from other exhibitors around the world and brought them all together for The Palms,” said Vannorsdel.

Fridley initially considered making the IMAX screen the biggest in the United States, measuring more than 100 feet tall. “Two things changed our minds,” said Vannorsdel. “The first consideration was cost. Anytime you add more square feet, it gets more expensive. Plus, there wasn’t that much of a difference for the viewer between an 85-foot screen and one that’s 95 feet.”

Vannorsdel added that he wanted customers to be able to “take in” the entire screen, and it can be difficult to do that in an IMAX if you’re not sitting toward the back. “If you’re too close, you literally have to move your head to get the entire picture in,” he explained. “That’s why we put the first row farther back, so those sitting there can see as much as possible.”

In addition to the six-story tall, premium large-format screen, the IMAX theater boasts a Laser GT system with dual laser projectors.


Vannorsdel said they’re planning to have a staff of about 100 people— a mix of part-time and full-time—with 50 for theater operations and 50 for in-seat food, beverage and kitchen staff. Hiring has already begun with a general manager, operations manager and a chef for the restaurant.

“Hiring initially made me a little nervous, because of the low unemployment rates, but we’ve had a great response for all positions—everything from janitorial to concessional positions,” said Vannorsdel. “This project is so special that people are going to want to work here.”

According to Vannorsdel, when choosing a location for The Palms, he and Brian Fridley considered both Ankeny and Waukee because of their size and growth over the past few years. They settled on Waukee because the area doesn’t yet have a theater, and because of its easy access to the interstate via Grand Prairie Parkway.

“We want this to not only be a Waukee theater, but a Des Moines metro theater,” said Vannorsdel. “And with the IMAX, we expect this to become a regional theater. If it draws a lot of external guests, it can only be good for the area’s economy.”

The Palms is getting involved in the community, as well. They’re currently discussing a project with the APEX Program and Waukee School District to provide educational seminars, content and classes in the future. However, with the Science Center’s long history of educational programming, Vannorsdel said they’ll primarily stick to Hollywood movies.

“We hope the Science Center is able to reopen its IMAX, because they do such a great job bringing in that type of content,” he said.

The Palms also may be used to show big televised events, like the Super Bowl. “We intend on having the ability to broadcast live television with food and drinks available,” explained Vannorsdel.

He added that the IMAX will change movies about every two weeks, with hopes of showcasing “Mortal Engines” in time for the partial opening and “Aquaman” just before Christmas.

While he wouldn’t disclose the total cost to build The Palms, Vannorsdel said that the general contractor’s expense, which excludes all furniture, movie screens, and equipment, was around $16 million.

For more information on The Palms Theaters and IMAX, or to apply for a position, please visit fridleytheatres.com and use the locations tab to find the Waukee location.

 

Second High School Coming To Waukee

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Waukee area students in graduating classes 2022-25 could be the first to attend the area’s second high school, which is set to open in 2021.

The fast-growing Waukee Community School District was ready to burst at the seams with Waukee High School nearing capacity. Total districtwide enrollment increased from 2,198 students in September 1999 to more than 10,000 this year with a projection of nearly 13,000 in five years.

Meanwhile, the city of Waukee had grown from 5,180 in 2000 to 20,649 last year. Its recent one-year increase of 9 percent was the highest of any city in the Des Moines area.

The Waukee City Council and the Waukee school district took action in May 2016 to deal with the influx. They approved the joint use of 160 acres of green space for a new high school and a city-owned sports complex. The yet-to-be-named 395,000-square-foot, 1,800-student capacity high school will reside just north of Hickman Road near the Waukee Family YMCA.

Most of the land will be used for the school and its amenities with the remaining space slated for 12 softball/baseball fields and a parking lot.

Voters had to approve a referendum for $117 million in general obligation bonds for the new high school in February to make the project a reality. It required 60 percent for passage. It got 90.27 percent.

Meeting Short-Term Needs

The Waukee Innovation and Learning Center—a facility for innovative partnerships between local businesses, the community and high school students—may be used to house additional Waukee High School programs until the second high school opens. Details are still being worked out.

Ten Elementary Schools by 2022

The district is also adding two elementary schools to accommodate growth. Radiant Elementary, at 5050 170th St. in Urbandale, is under construction and expected to open in the fall of 2019.

Land has been purchased for a tenth elementary school off Ashworth Road, west of Ute Avenue and Highway R22. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2020 and it’s expected to open in 2022. A name for the elementary school has not been determined.

In the meantime, Nicole Lawrence, Communications Coordinator with Waukee Community School District, said the district is closely monitoring enrollment and bringing on new teachers to ensure classrooms stay at an appropriate size.

News about the district’s progress on the elementary and high school fronts has sparked questions about the middle schools as well. The district’s website dedicated to providing information about the second high school addressed the issue by stating it will monitor updated enrollment data and then make plans for how to accommodate students at the middle level.

The New High School’s Design

The concept for the new high school was developed through a six-month immersive design process between FRK Architects & Engineers, district administration and a visioning committee comprised of parents, students, staff and community members.

“In a series of three visioning sessions, the committee learned about current standards and trends in high schools around the country, reviewed multiple layouts from newer high schools and then created building layouts to reflect district values,” said Lawrence.

Feedback from the committee was used to create the building’s three-story layout, which includes a rooftop terrace, a media center with a second-floor mezzanine, an auditorium with a second-floor balcony and orchestra pit, a commons area for students and several individual and group learning areas for students and staff.

There will also be a single, secure entrance for staff, students and visitors during school hours.

“Open, light-filled spaces that promote collaboration and student development were high priorities for the committee, with student safety being a top priority,” said David Briden, Senior Project Architect and Principal with FRK Architects & Engineers.

Incorporating a pond on to the campus was also an important and notable feature when designing the school’s layout.

“A natural drainage channel through the center of the site allowed a pond to be placed as a focal point around which the city and school district facilities could be developed,” said Briden. “Placing the building adjacent to the pond allows it to take advantage of views over the pond to the north. The natural slope of the terrain creates a structure that tucks into the hillside, helping to marry the large scale of the building with the site.”

As instructional methods and learning styles continue to evolve, Briden said each classroom space would be adaptable and future-ready for students.

The school parking lot will be ready for newly licensed drivers, too, with enough room for 1,360 stalls.

Athletic Facilities

Lawrence said that while the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union (IGHSAU) ultimately determine sports classifications, the district anticipates each high school to compete at the 4A – IHSAA and 5A – IGHSAU level.

“Both high schools will offer similar programming and opportunities to students,” she added.

The second high school’s outdoor athletic facilities will feature a football stadium with a field and track, four practice fields, 12 tennis courts, and baseball and softball competition and practice fields. Additional amenities such as concession stands and team rooms are also included in plans.

The stadium will be built in a bowl-type setting into the ground. Inside, the school will have a gymnasium seating 2,500, an auxiliary gymnasium, and a three-lane track.

Parents Embrace the Second High School

Abby Jones, a Waukee parent whose fifth-grade son could be attending the second high school said the addition was a definite need for the community.

“It’s amazing to think how this area has grown in such a short period,” said Jones. “When I attended the University of Iowa, I remember some of my classmates from the Chicago suburbs said they graduated with a class of 1,000. That seemed huge, but we’re not far behind those numbers anymore.”

“I really think so much of our growth can be attributed to the school district’s commitment to offering students a truly high-quality education,” she added.

During the 2015-2016 school year, 855 kindergarten students enrolled in the district—a sign of even larger classes to come.

 

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Go Biking Waukee

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It’s that time of year. The grass has started to green, neighborhoods have emerged from hibernation and the area’s evolving trail system is ready for use.

As residents dust off their bikes, strollers and tennis shoes, let’s walk through the winding trails of Waukee and beyond.

Overview

Waukee has three main trails—Heart of the Warrior, Sugar Creek and Raccoon River Valley Trail (RRVT).

The Heart of the Warrior Trail is three miles long and runs east to west through many of Waukee’s residential neighborhoods. Parking is available on the east side of the trail at Lion’s Park. Heart of the Warrior connects to Clive’s Greenbelt Trail, which leads to an extensive trail system. Centennial Park also sits along the trail, just across Ashworth Road, and provides a nice place for picnicking and playing outdoor games.

The Sugar Creek trailhead is at the intersection of Warrior Lane and University Avenue and curves through the city’s southern neighborhood of Glynn Village. This trail also runs through Centennial Park by way of a pedestrian bridge connected to the Spyglass neighborhood. Scenic views of the Sugar Creek Golf Course are an added treat.

Racoon River Valley Trail is the area’s largest system, spanning across 89 miles of trail and connecting to 13 additional communities outside Waukee. The trailhead is on the corner of Hickman Road and North 10th Street, where restroom facilities also can be found. Visit raccoonrivervalleytrail.org/the-trail for a
description of attractions and amenities in each community.

What’s New

In March, Waukee unveiled a new $1.1 million-dollar public art installation on the RRVT gateway trailhead. “Waukee Railroad Pergola: In the Shadow of the Rails” was designed by nationally recognized artist David Dahlquist and RDG Planning and Design of Des Moines. Dahlquist is also the mastermind of the High Trestle Trail bridge lighted superstructure that runs across the Des Moines River between Madrid and Woodward.

Similar to the High Trestle Trail bridge, the Waukee Railroad Pergola will be illuminated from dusk until dawn. At least six additional locations along the RRVT loop will adopt aspects of the main trailhead structure, making it the longest linear public art installation in the country.

In November, a pedestrian underpass that runs across the west side of Alice’s Road was completed along with a sidewalk to the east. “The new tunnel is really cool,” said Andy Walsh, who owns Mickey’s Irish Pub with his wife, Amy—both of whom are major supporters and participants in all things biking. “It’s not a straight shot. It’s a winding tunnel that goes back and forth. It’s neat.”

Grand Prairie Parkway also consists of two pedestrian underpasses. Waukee Parks and Recreation Director Matt Jermier said the underpasses were necessary for safety reasons. “We were getting a lot of comments about how busy that road is, and how dangerous it is to get across. As you’re trying to develop your trail system, the last thing you want is residents interacting with a six-lane road,” he said.

What’s Ahead

What’s next for the Waukee trail system? Jermier said their top priorities are safe
commutes and connectivity. “As we continue to put in more parks and develop new neighborhoods, we’re looking at ways for parents to not have to get in their car and drive to an elementary school,” said Jermier. “A good example of this plan working is the trails in Fox Creek Park that connect to Grant Ragan Elementary. There are many residents who can see the school from where they live and walk from the trail system.”

Safer routes also mean creating more underpasses. “The crossings on Hickman are just way too crazy,” said Walsh. He has been involved with numerous fundraising efforts for the trail system and says a connector from RRVT to the High Trestle Trail is another project on the list once more funds become available.

“It would be amazing. If bicyclists want to ride High Trestle Trail right now, it involves loading up the back of a truck and unloading in Woodward. With a connector, we could get on our bikes from here, ride to Woodward, curve around the north side of Des Moines and back down. That would be great.”

Raccoon River Valley Trail Events

Jermier said there has been an uptick in charity events and 5k runs since completing the north loop on RRVT. “We get usage numbers from Dallas Country Conservation, and those continue to increase year after year,” said Jermier.

One of Waukee’s largest and best-known trail events will take place on Saturday, June 16. The annual BACooN ride covers 71 miles of on the Racoon River Valley Trail and will be presented by the Blue-Ribbon Bacon Festival, RAGBRAI and the Iowa Bicycle Coalition. Numerous stops along the way will provide tasty bacon treats.

Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee is the official post-party location for the ride, featuring three bands and food and drink specials for riders. Additional RRVT events include the Market to Market Relay for runners on May 12 and live
music on Fridays and Saturdays from 7-10 p.m. at Perry’s historic Hotel Pattee.

Side Bars

If you’re looking for a pit stop where you can grab a drink and pump some more air in your tires, consider the following Waukee establishments: Mickey’s Irish Pub, Saints Pub and Patio, and Hy-Vee Market Grille (where the tire pump is located at Hy-Vee Gas).

Additional places with food and/or drink near the Waukee trails include 1908 Draught House, Rookie’s Sports Bar and Grill, Kenny’s Garage, Sidetrack Pub, and Broheim’s Indoor Golf and Pub.

Walsh, who has owned Mickey’s for 11 years, says bicyclists generally prefer to stop at bars that are known to be ‘bike-friendly.’ “That means the place might be
owned and populated by bikers,” he explained. “‘Bike-friendly’ bars put out a station for filling water bottles, provide extra bike racks and create specials for bicyclists—things like that.”

We Have It Good

Walsh thinks some Iowans tend to take for granted how good of a trail network we have. “We’ll have people driving across the country who stop here and jump on
the RRVT,” he said. “We’ll show them our network, and they’re blown away by all the paved trails. It’s not a priority for most places, like it is here.”

For more information on Waukee’s trails, visit waukee.org.

Gastro Pub & Grub

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Life had been going so well for Andrea Gleason, half of the husband-and-wife ownership duo of Waukee’s new restaurant, Gastro Grub and Pub.

She was planning her wedding with the love of her life, and she had never been happier. And then she was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer.

“I’m sorry, what is it?” Andrea asked her doctor.

“You have cancer,” the doctor said.

“No, I don’t. I’m fine.”

Andrea’s mother was sitting next to her and began to cry. She and Andrea’s father had a friend who had recently died from melanoma. She didn’t know how her daughter would survive this.

“There’s no way,” Andrea repeated to herself. “We’re thriving. This can’t happen now.”

Andrea and her now-husband, Sean, met while working at Legends Grill in West Des Moines. She’d been trying to earn some cash to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. He’d been studying pre-med at Drake, but dropped out after losing his father—a prominent Des Moines doctor —to suicide three years earlier.

She was smart, beautiful and full of life. He was handsome, brimming with untapped potential and ready for whatever life would present next. They had fallen in love instantly.

A few months into dating, Andrea had told Sean she wanted to move to Los Angeles, which also would give Sean an opportunity to recreate his life. So they packed their bags and headed west.

When they arrived in L.A., Andrea encouraged Sean to do something he really enjoyed. He’d always had a knack for cooking, and his mom had been urging him to become a chef since he was a teenager.

“Even when we first started dating, he would cook full meals for me,” said Andrea.

Sean began taking courses at Le Cordon Bleu, a culinary arts school, while working at Fig and Olive, an upscale restaurant. Andrea landed a restaurant gig at Katsuya, a popular L.A. sushi joint, and went to auditions in her free time.

“I ended up spending more time at the restaurant than I did on acting,” she said.

After a year at Fig and Olive, Sean left for The Village Idiot. That’s where he and Andrea had their first taste of gastro pub fare—what Andrea describes as a fusion of eclectic foods.

Sean worked his way up to Sous Chef there within three years. After four years of hustling and getting a taste of the L.A. restaurant scene, the big city lifestyle began to wear on Andrea. It was time to go home. “We were working six days a week just to pay rent,” she said.

The couple decided to make the most out of their trip home and planned a two-week
road trip to visit several National Parks. When they landed in Yosemite, Sean proposed.

“We were so excited, we had to get a drink just to calm ourselves,” she laughed.

Back in Iowa, they moved in with Sean’s mother—with no jobs and no money. But they had a dream. “We wanted to open a restaurant,” said Andrea.

With Andrea’s experience and Sean’s talent, they created a business plan and presented it to potential investors. But nobody would bite.

“Who are you? You just moved back from California. You don’t have any money. Why should we go all-in when you have nothing to lose?” they were told.

Andrea understood the rejection. But she also knew they weren’t giving up.

About a year passed with no luck when the city of Des Moines announced it was approving food truck permits. They decided to give it a shot. With a small investment from their parents, they bought a food truck off Craigslist.

By the summer of 2015, Gastro Grub was ready for customers. It was just the two of them. Andrea took orders and Sean cooked.

They frequented events like the Valley Junction Farmer’s Markets on Thursdays, Hinterland and various food truck festivals across the metro.

When winter came, Andrea and Sean decided to keep going and parked outside
Confluence Brewery every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The profits weren’t great, but staying open helped the couple get their name out in the community.

Gastro Grub grew in popularity, and by the summer of 2016, “the requests were coming in like crazy,” said Andrea. “It was so good that it was more than we could handle.”

Andrea’s mom joined their party of two, helping Sean in the kitchen.

When she wasn’t on the food truck, Andrea played volleyball at The Sands, one of her favorite things to do in the summer. Her arm started to bother her, and she thought she may have hurt it playing.

Then she found a lump, and Sean’s mom, a nurse, urged her to get it checked out.

She was told it was nothing serious and was given several courses of antibiotics, but the lump kept growing and it became painful and bruised. Sean’s mother suggested Andrea be seen again.

One summer afternoon, when the flow of customers had settled around the food truck, Andrea sneaked away to Mercy’s Urgent Care in Clive.

“Sean’s dad helped create that facility. In some weird way, I think he sent me there to get the right tests,” she said.

The doctor sent her to get a biopsy. Soon after, she went back in for the results.

“Denial. I was in total denial,” said Andrea. “It felt like the future Sean and I were planning was ruined.”

She told Sean she didn’t want to do the food truck anymore. “We had just booked our wedding, and now I didn’t even want to marry him. I wanted him to find someone else, so he didn’t have to go through this. I was broken,” she said.

But Sean knew he wanted to be with Andrea forever—until death do they part.

A PET scan showed Andrea’s cancer had metastasized in the lymph node under her arm and spread into eight more tiny tumors across her chest. She was sent to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics where she qualified for a clinical trial that had cured other patients with her type of cancer.

“Keep trying to live your life as much as you can,” her doctor told her. So she did. That meant, despite taking 12 pills a day, flying to Vegas for her bachelorette party and not missing out on summer festivals like Hinterland.

But the side effects of treatment caught up with her. Andrea recalls sitting in her car one morning, getting ready to pick up burgers and buns for the truck. “I just cried,” she said. “I felt so awful and wanted to crawl back in bed, but I knew that wouldn’t help anything, so I just pushed through and did the best I could.”

Her subsequent scans showed the treatments were working. Her tumors were shrinking. “I felt like I was going to be saved,” she said.

But right after the wedding, Andrea felt the tumor in her armpit growing larger, and her doctors confirmed her worst fears. The cancer was growing again, and it was aggressive.

“It was so depressing to have this false hope that I was going to be fine. Life was going so well, and it was being taken away from me again,” she said.

Amid her treatments, Andrea and Sean worked with a realtor and local bank to nail down a spot for their restaurant. “We really wanted to make it happen,” she said. “Not only because it was our dream, but because both Sean and my parents knew the truck was wearing me down.”

She said they looked for space downtown, but were worried it was oversaturated. Their realtor took them out to Waukee, and they fell in love with the space formerly occupied by Louie’s Wine Dive off University.

The couple secured a loan through the Small Business Administration and made a down payment on the building. “We needed the restaurant,” said Andrea. “I wanted it for Sean. I thought if I wasn’t going to make it, Sean couldn’t do the food truck without me. But I thought he could do the restaurant if I got it up and running for him. That was my goal, so he would be OK. I told him if I died, he could not give up everything we’ve worked for.”

Andrea’s doctor scheduled her for surgery for her 31st birthday to try to remove the remaining tumor in her armpit. She was told there was a chance she’d lose her arm.

Luckily, she woke up to good news. “I think we got it all,” her doctor told her.

After surgery, Andrea started radiation three days per week for six weeks. The first session landed on the week of Gastro’s Grand Opening. “I would go straight to the restaurant from Iowa City,” she said. “I was going to make this work and take it one day at a time, just like everything else.”

Although Andrea completed radiation in early February, her doctors can’t definitively say she’s in remission until she has several clear scans. She’ll remain on a treatment called Keytruda for the next 12 to 15 months.

Since Gastro Pub and Grub opened, Andrea said quite a few cancer survivors have come in to tell her she’s inspiring them not to give up on life. “I just have to stay strong and keep doing what I’m doing,” she said. “I still worry. I want to be done and move on with my life, but it’s always in the back of my mind.”

She said cancer has shown her how much we need to support one another. “So often, we’re so selfish. We forget to love one another and take care of each other. If anything, I can help do that now. I can try to make people’s lives a little bit better.”

The couple plans to donate some of their proceeds to a charity every month and is helping support the metro non-profit Freedom for Youth by using Freedom Blend Coffee in their restaurant.

Andrea said they’re hoping to set themselves apart from other area competitors by taking their food industry experiences in California and infusing that into their meals and drinks. Items on their menu range from a bourbon bacon jam burger to a vegan barbecue jackfruit sandwich to pork chops and mashed potatoes.

Andrea said operating a business with her spouse has its ups and downs. “We’re together every single day, but we’re so busy,” she said. “I miss him even more now and still get the butterflies when I see them. Our love is still strong, and we put that into the restaurant.”

Waukee’s 8 Year Old Miracle

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Ella Goering isn’t your typical 8-year-old. With a mature, caretaking personality, you can find her reading and crafting alongside older children or adults, unless she’s taking care of younger children. Then, she’s a mother hen. In her wise, young years, Ella’s faced more than most anyone will encounter in a lifetime: she has a brain tumor.

“Ella fell at school in kindergarten and hit her head pretty badly,” said Ella’s mom, Sherri. “Shortly after the fall, she began getting headaches. After seeing several doctors, they determined she had a concussion and time would be the best medicine. Ella would still get headaches about once a month after vigorous activity, but usually laying down for a bit would help.”

The family managed the headaches for almost a year, and then they started to become more frequent. Different doctors told the family it was anything from the flu to migraines. Yet, Sherri knew something more was going on. In December of 2015, Ella had an MRI.

“We went in that morning for the MRI and had actually planned to spend the rest of the day Christmas shopping,” said Sherri. “As Ella was coming out of sedation, the radiologist and nurses came in to talk to me in a private room. I immediately sensed something was very wrong, but I couldn’t have imagined what they were about to tell me. Thank God my dad was there. I thought I was going to faint when they told me Ella had a large brain tumor.”

The official diagnosis was medulloblastoma, an aggressive, cancerous brain tumor. The tumor was at the base of Ella’s spine, causing a blockage so the fluid couldn’t flow to the spine, which caused the headaches and visual trouble. Ella, Sherri and family were transferred to Iowa City, where Ella was scheduled for surgery to drain the excess fluid from her brain and to remove the tumor. However, Ella didn’t come out of surgery as planned.

“Ella woke up unable to talk, walk, swallow and more. After a week, we found out she developed posterior fossa syndrome (PFS). It was the scariest time of our lives,” said Sherri.

Ella and Sherri were sent to MD Anderson in Texas for proton radiation, where they spent 91 days in the hospital doing radiation, chemotherapy and intense therapy to regain Ella’s abilities. Ella’s father Jerrod stayed in Iowa with 4-year-old Adelle.

“Being thousands of miles from everyone and everything we knew was heart-wrenching, but we knew it was going to offer the best treatment option for the type of brain tumor she had,” said Sherri. “We were incredibly grateful for technology, so we could see our family. Ella’s best friend, Kendall, called almost every single night. Kendall would do the talking for both of them, since Ella couldn’t speak. That friendship would inspire anyone to call their friends and catch up.”

Slowly but surely, Ella started making progress. Each new development, from swallowing to squeezing a hand for yes/no communication to regaining her voice, was a big win. Yet somehow, her cancer grew during treatment. When the radiation and chemo were complete, Sherri and Ella made their way home to Iowa. Without a doubt, the entire journey changed their family.

“If not for deep faith in a plan larger than my own, I’m not sure how I would’ve made it through each day. God told me to trust Him,” said Sherri.

In an act of complete surrender in faith, the family focused on quality of life, stopping treatment to allow Ella to experience life to the fullest. That next December, the family’s prayers were once again answered.

“I learned of a ketone supplement that could help her,” explained Sherri. “I did a ton of research and contacted the company. I took it myself before giving Ella the recommended dose for children the next day. I was across the house when I heard loud belly laughter. I knew it wasn’t Adelle’s laugh, and I ran to find Ella laughing hard with happy tears rolling down her cheeks.”

The ketone supplement continued to benefit Ella. She regained some of her strength and her schoolwork began to improve, too. Since then, her MRI’s have been stable, and Sherri said they don’t talk or think too much about the cancer itself.

“Our minds can’t orchestrate the series of events that God’s plan entails,” said Sherri. “Living in a surrendered place has opened us up to what I perceive as miracles. I’m not saying I don’t worry or fall into trying to control life, but when I realize I’m doing it, I surrender and let it go.”

“If you see us out and about, feel free to smile and say hello,” she continued. “Ella does use a walker, so it helps when parents talk with their kids about why that is, instead of having others stare or ask condition-specific questions.”

Sherri posts updates on her Facebook page, facebook.com/ellagoering. These days, the forum is filled with walking practice and sleepovers with new friends from school.

“I pray no one has to face anything like this, but life is happening for all of us,” said Sherri. “Everyone has a story, and I hope what you take from ours is to let go and let God. God has everything figured out, and as hard as it can be, we need to step out of the way and let Him work.”

The Adventures of Paul & Moose: Serving the Community Through Animal Therapy

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Dogs are known as man’s best friend, and for Waukee resident Paul Mohlke and his 6-year-old labradoodle, Moose, the title couldn’t be more fitting. Not only do they share the typical owner-pet bond, but these two are committed to community outreach through animal therapy.

Their story began about seven years ago, when Mohlke became ill and ended up in the hospital. It was during his hospital stay that he first experienced what a therapy dog could do.

“My sisters knew I had always liked dogs, but with my work and my schedule, I wasn’t in a position to have one of my own,” said Mohlke. “During my time in the hospital, my sisters asked the staff if the therapy dog could come to my room. As soon as the dog came in, everything changed, and I instantly knew I wanted to have this same impact on people.”

Every day for the remainder of his hospitalization, Mohlke was able to see the therapy dog, and it was because of those visits that he began researching dog breeds and the process of training a therapy dog.

Roughly a month later, he was leaving a Walgreens when he noticed a dog sitting behind the wheel of the car parked next to his. Not knowing the breed, he stayed in the parking lot until the dog’s owner returned. He learned the breed that captured his attention was a labradoodle, a mix between a Labrador and a poodle. Not long after, he connected with a family that raises labradoodles in rural Northeastern Iowa.

“I let them know I was planning to train a puppy for therapy work,” said Mohlke. “Two days after our first conversation, they reached out saying someone returned one of the puppies due to conflicting emotions about losing a dog not long before. The next day, I went to meet the puppy, and once I saw him, I knew Moose was the one.”

Coincidentally, Mohlke learned the family who returned Moose also had plans to train him for therapy work. It’s as if Moose was destined to be a therapy dog.

The duo started therapy dog classes when Moose turned 2 years old. Mohlke used a center in Urbandale to help with the training, and he and Moose worked together one night a week for an entire year. At the end of 12 months, Moose took a test through Therapy Dog International.

“Moose has a great personality and loves people, so he was easy to train,” said Mohlke. “But, the testing felt a little like how I imagine American Idol contestants must feel. After the testing, all of the handlers, along with the dogs, were brought into a room, and Therapy Dog International selected some of us to move to another room, while the rest stayed. That’s how Moose earned his certification, and it was extremely rewarding.”

With a formal certification in hand, Therapy Dog International connected Mohlke and Moose with places in Central Iowa looking for therapy dogs. The first place they were sent was the VA Central Iowa Health Care System (VA), and four years later, you can still find them meeting with veterans there for two hours on Saturday mornings. Additionally, every Tuesday, they visit the students and staff at Orchard Place School.

Mohlke explained that these two sites are very different, but the variety works well for them. He gets to interact with veterans at the VA, and Moose loves the kids and the attention they give him at Orchard Place.

“Sometimes, it doesn’t take much to impact someone’s day—you can just do the littlest thing, and it makes all the difference,” said Mohlke. “I’ve had kids ask, when Moose and I are getting ready to leave, if they can just give me a hug, and the students make cards for Moose on his birthday every year. I’ve also received a letter from the daughter of a veteran who passed away, telling me how our visits meant everything to her father. Things like that make it all worth it.”

Mohlke and Moose were named “Volunteers of the Year” for Orchard Place this past year for the service they provide. Perhaps it’s partly because, as Mohlke explained, Moose is extremely perceptive during their visits, finding and sitting with the people who need him most.

“On a recent visit to the school, Moose gave particular attention to one girl,” explained Mohlke. “He kept licking her and making her laugh. Her teacher told me that she wasn’t having a good day, and somehow, Moose just knew.”

While “working” does leave Moose enjoying recovery naps at home afterward, Mohlke believes Moose loves his job. “His tail just wags all the time,” he said. “Moose really likes it because, just like us, he enjoys having a purpose and a job to do.”

Moose even has a baseball card that Mohlke makes himself and hands out to the people they meet. The front features a smiling headshot of Moose, bandana around his neck, and on the back, people can learn more about the friendly labradoodle, including his favorite toy (squeaky tennis balls), his favorite treats (hot dogs and string cheese) and his favorite activities (chasing rabbits and squirrels, along with visiting people, of course).

Mohlke explained that he’s looking forward to retirement, so he and Moose can visit even more organizations that request therapy dog visits, such as hospices and hospitals.

“I’ve found that Moose has the ability to help anyone, regardless of their role,” said Mohlke. “I’ve had nurses run us down in the hall, asking to see him because they’ve missed him so much. And now, a lot of the kids we see say that when they grow up, they want to do this. It’s rewarding to know they’ll know what a program like this is and what it means to experience it firsthand. Life is more than just work and having a job. When I was in the hospital seven years ago, I asked myself, ‘What’s my purpose?’ And, I can honestly say both Moose and I have found ours.”

The Waukee Innovation & Learning Center: An Inspiring Place for Aspiring Professionals

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Waukee Innovation and Learning Center

Tucked slightly off the road just south of the Waukee Timberline Soccer Complex, you’ll find a spaceship-looking building, better known as the Waukee Innovation & Learning Center (WILC).  This sleek and modern facility is part of the Waukee Community School District and is the only one of its kind here in Central Iowa.  

The WILC opened its doors this past January and is now home to the Aspiring Professional Experience (APEX) program for local high school students.

Michelle Hill, director of APEX, says the WILC was purposefully designed to be a welcoming, collaborative environment.  “Our philosophy at APEX is for students to take ownership and leadership of innovation, and that’s exactly what’s reflected in the WILC,” said Hill.

APEX offers courses in five economic sectors—engineering; human services; finance and insurance; business, technology and communication; and bioscience and value-added agriculture.  Within these sectors, there are 11 courses (soon to be 14) for the 2017-2018 school year.

Each course has its own “studio” within the WILC.  The building also features some open learning spaces, like the “triangle” in the middle of the building, where furniture can easily be moved for small group work or large speaking events.  One of the more unique features of the WILC is The Hub Café, which offers fresh food and even has a reclaimed barn wood kitchen table with the APEX logo for its base conceptualized and designed by students.

“When people are looking for me, I’m usually at that kitchen table,” said Hill.  “I’m like the ‘APEX mom.’  I enjoy helping students to find what makes them happy.  High school can be such as scary time, where they’re supposed to have it all figured out.  We play a part in helping them figure out what the next step is.”

Waukee Innovation and Learning Center Staff

Every aspect of the WILC allows for what Hill and her team call “creative collisions.”  As students come to co-work, serendipitous interactions happen, including relationships with business professionals.

Russ Goerend, an APEX instructor who previously taught sixth grade English in Waukee, says the WILC structure and the APEX program give metro high school juniors and seniors a rare learning opportunity unlike anything in the traditional classroom.

“APEX is a different, consultant model,” said Goerend.  “While the school-to-work program functions more like an internship, APEX exposes students to working with real clients on real projects with real feedback, paired with the technical skills for completing the work and delivering the final product.”

Each APEX course has its own curriculum team made up of academic and business partners.  Curriculum is evaluated and refreshed every six months to keep it relevant to the needs of the industry.  Hill, Goerend and the APEX instructors also receive support from an advisory board of 23 partners who assist with program strategy and planning while also assessing workforce trends.

Before the WILC opened, students met exclusively at the offices of APEX partner businesses—what the program calls “host sites.”  Now that students have a permanent space, they have the luxury of equally splitting course time between the WILC and in the professional environment, which Goerend said is essential to the program’s success.

While the school-to-work program functions more like an internship, APEX exposes students to working with real clients on real projects with real feedback, paired with the technical skills for completing the work and delivering the final product.

“APEX wouldn’t work without our business partners,” said Goerend.  “Our APEX course standards are designed around client relationships, career exploration and development of technical and professional skills.  Our business partners play an integral role in that.”

One such partner is the City of Waukee.  Goerend teaches a course called Designing Communications Solutions, and as part of this course, he once had his students partner with the City to establish a portfolio of photos from around Waukee.  The students were responsible for scheduling, shooting and editing the photos and then delivering the finished photo library to the client.

Waukee Innovation and Learning Center Students

But, prior to receiving their course projects, APEX students go through a two-week onboarding period during which they adjust to professional dress every day and business basics, like firm handshakes and looking others in the eye.  

“They quickly become independent and use me as a coach and sounding board for projects,” said Goerend.  “Students learn to be self-motivated and independent learners, which is exactly what business partners want in employees.”

One of the foundational tenants of APEX is there are no prerequisite courses or GPA requirements to join the program, nor an application process. Students simply need to register with their counselor, signing up just like any other elective course at the high school.

“APEX can impact any student, regardless of where he/she might be in school,” said Goerend.  “If they feel as though they’ve diverged from what school can offer, we’re here; if they feel as if they’ve reached the maximum school can offer, we’re here.  The motivation is there from APEX students, and the experience they receive is incomparable.  The amount of work and growth they’re able to accomplish in a semester is amazing.”

Primarily filled with students from the Waukee Community School District, APEX has seen tremendous growth, doubling and tripling its class size since its inception.  Next year, APEX expects to see 400 students and will add an additional instructor.

While WILC and APEX offer students a unique learning environment and the chance to explore career possibilities, staff members also hope students begin to see the metro community in a different light—and perhaps consider the Des Moines area when deciding where they want to live and work in the future.

Waukee Innovation and Learning Center Interior

“One of the metrics we track with students after they finish APEX is how likely they are to return to the Des Moines area post-college,” said Goerend.  “What we’re learning is just how much insight APEX gives them about what the Des Moines business and industry landscape has to offer.”

Goerend firmly believes in the APEX program, not only for the students he mentors and teaches, but for his own family, too.  He and his wife, who is also a teacher in the Waukee School District, hope their three young boys will embrace APEX when they reach high school.  “I want our own sons to have this experience,” he said.  “I don’t care which APEX sector they choose, but I will highly encourage them to pursue this opportunity.”

For more information on the WILC and APEX, including how to apply or how to become a business partner, visit waukeeapex.org.

 

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