The Oshkosh Area School District (OASD) held its 42nd Annual Retirement and Recognition Dinner on June 1 to honor retiring staff, celebrate long-serving employees, and recognize key community partnerships.

The event highlighted the careers of 54 retiring district employees recognized since the conclusion of last year's ceremony and 18 staff members reaching their 25-year milestone with the OASD in 2025-2026. School and district leaders shared specific stories detailing each retiree's impact on local students and families. As a token of appreciation, retirees received traditional glass apples and 25-year employees were presented with commemorative clocks.

"The 54 retirees collectively boast 1,014 years of experience," said OASD Board of Education President Michael Ford. "That level of experience and passion is incredible. Board members come and go, but OASD employees are the constant who impact our students and our community. Thanks to all for their years of dedicated service."

A complete list of honorees, including reflections from retirees, is available in the OASD Board of Education 42nd Annual Retirement & Recognition Program. Event photos are available in the 2026 OASD Retirement and Recognition Photo Gallery.

The district also presented its annual Friends of Education Awards to an individual and an organization for their work in expanding student resources, literacy, and community engagement.

Trina Woldt received the 2026 Individual Friend of Education Award for her consistent advocacy and community engagement efforts on behalf of public education. Beyond her ongoing work with Youth Leadership Oshkosh and Leadership Oshkosh, Woldt recently partnered with the district to develop the "Read More Oshkosh" campaign, establishing a new model for community-wide literacy advocacy. She has also provided direct outreach and resources to OASD teachers and administrators to support day-to-day school operations. Woldt was also highly engaged in information-sharing efforts regarding the recent facilities referendum, and served on the Oshkosh Schools Summit Design Committee, helping to shape the strategic vision for the future of our schools.

SEPO received the 2026 Corporate Friend of Education Award for its work in removing learning barriers and supporting academic growth for OASD students. Operating as a direct extension of the district’s "Students First" mission, SEPO prioritizes literacy and academic growth through free ACT preparation courses to build student confidence. A key strength of their partnership is family engagement, specifically working alongside OASD’s multicultural outreach programming to help diverse families connect with the school system. Additionally, SEPO addresses out-of-classroom needs for students by organizing no-cost transportation to extracurricular activities and providing essential food and hygiene resources.

The annual recognition dinner brings together families, school staff, and community leaders to wrap up the academic year. The Oshkosh Area School District extends its appreciation to all 2025-2026 retirees, milestone career employees, and community partners for their shared commitment to our students.