Sun Prairie Business and Education Partnership - BEP

10/19/2026

Busy week last week as we recognized the 1st graders at Horizon Elementary School for working hard to achieve their goals!
Always an honor to represent the BEP, and we thank these volunteers for making the effort: Rebecca Griffin, Greg Granberg, & Patrick Terry from Sun Prairie Schools; Deanna Popke, Weather Tight Roofing; Betsy Butler; Rebecca Ketelsen, Sun Prairie Education Foundation; and Danielle Achterberg, Prairie Kids Club. Join us at www.spbep.org!

10/19/2026

Enjoyed celebrating Westside Elementary School, SPASD students this past week! Way to Go, Wildcats!
Thanks to BEP volunteers Greg Granberg, Sun Prairie Schools; Amy Ellis, Teddy's Place Childcare; Patrick Malinowski, Summit Credit Union; Kathy Franklin; and Sharlot Bogart for taking time to recognize these students. Join us at www.spbep.org

10/13/2026

Fantastic board meeting this morning, checking in on all that the BEP does in the Sun Prairie area. Thank you to all of these board members and volunteers who attended today! Your time and efforts make all the difference for Sun Prairie students!

Today’s host Stephanie Schoenberger Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Catholic School; from Sun Prairie Schools: Taren Turner, Nehemiah Barrett, Greg Granberg, Rebecca Griffin, Patrick Terry, Jennifer Metcalf Mathwig, Joel Coyne, Patrick Anderson, Tea S, and Soren E; Patrick Malinowski, Summit Credit Union; Deanna Popke, Weather Tight Roofing; Dave Batterman, North Central Utility; Jason Benda, Principal Financial Group; Cheryl Benda; Tiffany Jean & Andrea Mehlhorn Zawalich, Wilde East Towne Honda; Ryan Clark, QBE North America; Sharlot Bogart & Amy Ellis, Teddy's Place Childcare; Seth Degnan, Kicks Unlimited Family Martial Arts Center; Christina Foote Williams, Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce; Stephanie Leonard, Leading for Learning; Lauri Morehart, WPPI Energy; Pam Nicole, Bank of Sun Prairie; Danielle Achterberg, Prairie Kids Club; Betsy McCormick Butler.

10/02/2026

Thanks to volunteers from the BEP who recognized students at Northside Elementary today for being kind and working hard. WPPI Energy Sunny Nutrition Prairie Kids Club Sun Prairie Schools

09/12/2026

BEP Partners are back supporting students at the Royal Oaks Elementary School, SPASD, ROCKET RALLY this past week. The energy there is just so positive and uplifting - Principal Ackley spoke today about how students there are smart, kind, and loved!

Thanks to Laurie Vanderbloemen, Summit Credit Union; Danielle Achterberg, Prairie Kids Club; Jason Benda, Principal Financial Group; Cheryl Benda, Retired, and Betsy Butler, Retired Sun Prairie Schools, for giving high-fives to students! Be sure to join us at our next student recognitions on October 4th (2 schools), October 12th, and October 16th ! Sign up at www.spbep.org

08/24/2026

One of the BEP programs that has been around since 2008!

Learn how students in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, build real-world money skills through Reality Rocks, supported by Nelnet and community volunteers.

06/18/2026

BEP and SPEF are lucky to both get to work with this Sun Prairie Schools supporter! Thanks for all you do, Chris Swenson!

Meet our Trustee Chris Swenson! 👋

Chris Swenson is the Owner and President of Wisconsin Wealth Advisors, LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor. With over 25 years of experience as a financial advisor, he has helped individuals and families plan their financial futures. 📈💼

Chris has also served as a volunteer board member of the Sun Prairie Education Foundation (SPEF) for more than 20 years and has been a longtime volunteer with the Sun Prairie Business and Education Partnership. 💚 His passion for community service and education is a driving force behind his volunteer efforts, as he believes in giving back and making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. 📚

Chris and his wife, Tami, have two grown children, Zachary and Mackenzie. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, traveling, photography, spending time with family, and is an avid fan of the Wisconsin Badgers and Green Bay Packers. 🏌️🧳📷🏈

Thank you for all you do Chris! 🩵

06/05/2026

BEP Partners supported the last Royal Oaks Elementary School, SPASD ROCKET RALLY of the school year. The energy there is just so positive and uplifting - congratulations to students and staff for an amazing school year - Mr. Ackley was so proud!

Thanks to Nicky Wile, QBE North America; Laurie Vanderbloemen, Summit Credit Union; Danielle Achterberg, Prairie Kids Club (and daughters!); Betsy Butler, retired Sun Prairie Schools; Christi Winchel, Sunny Nutrition; Joel Coyne, Sun Prairie Schools, and Poonam Verma, Butterfly Creations LLC for giving high-fives to students! Happy Summer, Everyone! - Be sure to join us next school year! www.spbep.org

06/01/2026

Today a crew of 4 partners helped out Educator Shawn Peters’ Career Workshop class (Sun Prairie East High School) by conducting Mock Interviews.

Thanks to Scott Jeidy, Terry Twedell, Betsy Butler, and Theresa Heintz (Capitol Bank) for providing feedback to students!

05/29/2026

BEP supported the last student recognition today for Northside Elementary! Congratulations Fifth Graders on being recognized as class leaders for various attributes!
Way to go, Nighthawks! Northside Elementary School, SPASD

Thank you to Taylor Brown City of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, USA; Rebecca Ketelsen & Lorie Candelmo Sun Prairie Education Foundation; and Sharlot Bogart (Teddy's Place Child Care) & Betsy Butler Sun Prairie Business and Education Partnership - BEP for being there to cheer them on!