COMMUNITY IMPACT SHOWCASE HIGHLIGHTS
What an incredible morning at the 2025 Community Sunrise Showcase on Thursday, October 30! It was a dream come true to celebrate 30 years of serving Liberty Public Schools alongside our amazing community of supporters, students, and educators.
From an opening performance by JayRock to district updates from Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Tucker, every moment reflected the dedication and passion driving our schools forward.
A big thank-you to the Liberty North High School Culinary Arts Program for the delicious snack boxes that showcased our students’ culinary talents.
Celebrating Legacy Programs
We honored two of the Foundation’s longest-standing programs — the HOPE Awards and educator grants.
Dr. Mitch Hiser, principal at Lewis and Clark Elementary, received one of the Foundation’s very first HOPE Awards in 1996. He was joined on stage by Luke Wekamp, a South Valley Middle School student who received a HOPE Award in April 2025 for his kindness and humanitarian efforts. Between Dr. Hiser’s and Luke’s awards, 1,734 students have been recognized through the HOPE Awards program!
The impact of educator grants came to life through Jane Boswell, a retired teacher who received a grant in the program’s first year (1997), and Kara Stanley, a current Industrial Technology teacher at Heritage Middle School and one of our most recent recipients.
Since launching the program, the Foundation has proudly invested over half a million dollars through 737 grants—empowering teachers to dream, create, and transform their classrooms into places of discovery and possibility.
Honoring Lifelong Educators
We were proud to recognize two remarkable LPS retirees — Mrs. Clara Howerton and Dr. Marty Jacobs — for their continued investment in our educators.
Mrs. Howerton’s generosity supports first-year elementary teachers with grants to create strong, welcoming classroom environments.
Dr. Jacobs’ contribution provides professional development scholarships for teachers throughout the district, ensuring our educators continue to grow and innovate.
Continuing to Dream
This year’s program also included an update on the Liberty Cares Fund, and an exciting announcement from Dr. Carrie Marcantonio (LEF Board Member and LPS Teacher) about our Bright Futures Student Scholarships.
District Update
Director of Communications, Dallas Ackerman, shared the recent news of Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Tucker’s upcoming retirement at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. Dr. Tucker shared a district update and received a standing ovation from the community, in appreciation of his 12 years leading Liberty Public Schools.
A Joyful Finale
The program concluded with the cast of Heritage Middle School’s Dare to Dream Jr. previewing their upcoming show — and the morning ended in true celebration with Happy Birthday and a balloon drop to mark 30 years of impact!
Thank You to Our Partners
A heartfelt thank-you to our Corporate Council Sponsors and Ray of Sunshine Society members for their annual commitment to the Foundation’s mission and the students we serve.
Keep the Dream Alive
We hope everyone who attended felt it was the perfect way to start their day! Enjoy the video and photos below — and if you’d like to help us continue shining bright for Liberty students, make a one-time or recurring gift at www.libertyeducationfoundation.org/shinebright.
HIGHLIGHT VIDEO
FEATURED VIDEOS FROM OUR PROGRAM
