Lake Geneva Tree Board Recognizes Ms. Candice Franks
Posted on 04/28/2023
On Friday, April 28th, the Lake Geneva Tree Board recognized Badger High School Teacher Ms. Candice Franks as their honoree for the 2023 Arbor Day Award for the City of Lake Geneva with a bur oak tree planted in her honor.
The Lake Geneva Tree Board has established an ongoing partnership with Lake Geneva Schools to promote local students' appreciation and hands-on education about trees in the city. This past year, Ms. Franks has been instrumental in furthering the goals of this partnership. City Forester Jon Foster and Ms. Franks have partnered to teach forestry classes on city property, with students learning the basics of planting and caring for a city forest.
Ms. Franks has been teaching at Badger High School for the last 15 years and has been a teacher for a total of 17 years. In that time, she has made an incredible impact on countless students, inspiring them to pursue careers in agriculture and empowering them to become leaders in their communities.
Ms. Franks' accomplishments are nothing short of impressive. She has been recognized with many prestigious teaching awards, including the Wisconsin Association of Agriculture Educators Sectional Agriculture Mentor of the Year award in 2023, the Kohl Fellowship Award in 2022, the Outstanding Agriculture Program award in 2020, and the Wisconsin Association of Agriculture Educators Sectional Outstanding Agriculture Educator award in 2019. These accolades are a testament to her tireless dedication to her students, school, and community.
In addition, she has been recognized as the National Agriscience Teacher of the Year in 2015, the National Agriculture Educators Outstanding Young Teacher in 2012, and the Association of Career and Technical Education Outstanding Young Teacher in 2011. These awards are a testament to her excellence in the classroom and her unwavering commitment to her students' success.
Her education is equally impressive. She earned her Bachelor of Agriculture Education degree with a minor in Horticulture from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, where she no doubt gained the foundational knowledge and skills needed to become an outstanding agriculture teacher. She then went on to pursue her Master of Natural Resources Management and Conservation degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, demonstrating her commitment to lifelong learning and her dedication to staying at the forefront of her field.
Ms. Franks’ impact on her students and community extends beyond the classroom. She is a true leader and mentor, always willing to go above and beyond to support her students and to help them achieve their goals. She is known for her infectious enthusiasm and unwavering commitment to her students' success.
Congratulations, Ms. Franks!
