Ogden Alumni Association

05/06/2026

05/06/2026

Please help our students in FCCLA attend the National Conference in Washington DC. If you can donate, please consider doing so. The students need to raise $5500 to attend. Thank you!

04/27/2026

Committee Spotlight: Amy Hawcott

Amy Hawcott joined the committee in September 2022 after expressing interest in getting more involved at the Bulldog Ball. Her journey began when she filled out an interest card at the event, which was later passed along by Jessica Siler—connecting Amy with an opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way.

Since then, Amy has become a valued and dedicated member of the team. She plays an important role in securing donations throughout the year and is always willing to lend a hand at the annual Bulldog Ball. Amy also brings a creative spark to the committee, helping develop fun games and fresh ideas that enhance the event experience.

This year, Amy’s creativity truly stood out. She took a donation of 13 books and transformed them into six unique, distinct, and entertaining themed book baskets—each thoughtfully put together and expanded beyond just books to create something truly special.

We’re grateful to have Amy as part of the committee and appreciate the energy, creativity, and commitment she brings to the group.

04/20/2026

Committee Spotlight ✨

This week, we’re shining the spotlight on Lauren Britton!

Lauren joined in the fall of 2023 and has already made a meaningful impact. This year marked her third “Bulldog Ball,” and her involvement began when she saw a call for volunteers on the OAA page and decided to jump in.

Behind the scenes, Lauren handles the majority of our digital design. She spends countless hours creating flyers and posters—both leading up to and for the Bulldog Ball—helping bring our events and messaging to life in creative and engaging ways.

Lauren shares that she truly appreciates the opportunity to show students how valued they are. She’s continually inspired by how invested our community is—not only in providing the essentials, but also in creating opportunities and unique resources that help our students thrive.

Thank you, Lauren, for your creativity, leadership, and dedication to our students and community! 💙

04/17/2026

Boone County Community Foundation awarded the Ogden Alumni Association a $2500 grant! These funds will go towards the 4 Therapy dogs that will start work in August 2026.

Samantha Stephens accepted the check on behalf of the OAA. In attendance also was Richard Elbert, a founding member of the organization.

All funds raised through OAA go directly back into the Ogden Community School District.

04/14/2026

🌟 Committee Member Spotlight: Dr. Rick Elbert 🌟

In 2014, the Ogden Alumni Association was founded by a small group of dedicated individuals who believed in strengthening local education through community support. Among those visionaries was Dr. Rick Elbert, whose leadership and experience played a key role in bringing this mission to life.

Drawing on his involvement with a similar initiative in the 1990s for the Gilbert School District, Dr. Elbert helped establish the foundation of the OAA alongside Matt and Traci Vansickle. His commitment from the very beginning has helped shape the organization into the impactful force it is today.

Dr. Elbert continues to be an invaluable member of the committee, dedicating countless hours to connecting with local businesses and securing support across Ogden, Boone, Ames, Ankeny, Des Moines and all surrounding communities. His efforts have made a lasting difference in sustaining the association’s mission.

Beyond his work with the OAA, Dr. Elbert is deeply invested in the community. He serves on the Ogden Legacy Board and housing committee, and in 2011, he relocated his chiropractic practice to Ogden—further demonstrating his commitment to the town and its future.

Please join us in thanking Dr. Rick Elbert for his dedication, leadership, and continued support of our schools and community! 👏

04/13/2026

Thank you Boone County Hospital for your generous donation to our Therapy Dog Program!

03/27/2026

✨ Committee Member Spotlight: Amy Krause✨

We’re excited to highlight Amy Krause, Elementary Principal for the Ogden Community School District, who joined the OAA Committee in Fall 2025.

Amy began her tenure as elementary principal on July 1, 2019, and also serves as the district’s K–12 Director of Curriculum and Special Programs. Since joining the committee, she has been instrumental in helping keep us informed about the needs and opportunities within the elementary school, while also helping share updates with teachers and parents through the school’s page.

Amy has supported the Bulldog Ball for several years by helping coordinate thoughtful donations, including a wonderful themed basket and an Ogden Bulldog serving tray for this year’s event. She even joined in on the fun by serving as one of the three “reels” in our Human Slot Machine during the annual fundraiser!

We are incredibly grateful to have Amy working alongside us to help support Ogden Schools. Thank you, Amy, for your continued partnership and dedication to our students and community! 🐾

03/24/2026

03/20/2026

✨ Committee Member Spotlight: Kim Rhodes ✨

Meet Kim Rhoades, our go-to gal for liquor and logistics!

Kim joined the OAA Committee in 2022 when the event moved to the Boone Fairgrounds. As a member of the fair board, she played a key role in helping make that transition possible. That same year, she also stepped in and served as our bartender.

In 2022, Kim jumped right in by helping with event setup and teardown, ensuring everything ran smoothly behind the scenes. Starting in 2023, she expanded her role and became actively involved in the planning process, bringing organization, reliability, and a great team spirit to the committee.

Kim also spends a great deal of time going down different “rabbit holes,” so to speak, in search of some of our most unique and out-of-the-box donations—and those efforts help make our event even more special each year.

We’re grateful for Kim’s dedication and all the work she puts in to help make our event a success. Thank you, Kim, for being such an important part of the OAA team! 👏