MONROE - A variety of student achievements were recognized as the Monroe Arts & Academics Booster Club (MAABC) hosted the inaugural Arts and Academics Awards night in the Monroe High School Performing Arts Center April 25. Individual MHS departments recognized their Student of the Year honorees, along with other awards earned throughout the school year in arts and academic contests in the Badger Conference and throughout the state. Both individual and team awards were recognized across the spectrum of offerings at MHS, from elective areas such as cabinetry, metals, business, consumer science, instrumental and vocal music, to the core curricular subjects of math, English, science, and social studies, as well as special education.

Teachers Kathy King and Jenny Moehn, current MAABC board members, teamed with principal Rick Waski and fellow teachers Tim Brown and Simon Larson to coordinate the awards night. The concept of an the Arts and Academics Awards night was developed with MHS staff, administration, and the MAABC, which was launched in September 2011 to support and promote continued excellence in academic and arts activities throughout Monroe High School. Since its inception, the MAABC has funded several thousand dollars of grants for extra- and co-curricular programming at MHS, and has provided graduating seniors with scholarships for excellence in both academics and the arts, organizers said.