‘I appreciate all she has done in taking on this new responsibility’

ROCHELLE — Rochelle Township High School Registrar Teresa Haggestad earned the February 2023 Critical Thinking Award. She was nominated by Principal Chris Lewis who said, “She has taken on a new job (registrar) and is learning new things every day. We have not missed a beat. I appreciate all she has done in taking on this new responsibility.”

Haggestad had been assistant to Librarian Ann Marie Jinkins for a decade.

Critical Thinking awards are a component of the Renaissance program made possible by a gift from the RTHS Class of 1961 and the Rochelle Rotary Club which teamed up to support an add-on to the existing RTHS Renaissance Recognition program encouraging critical thinking skills development and expression.    

Why is it important for Rochelle Hubs to become critical thinkers? According to Chuck Stocking (RTHS 1961), a lifelong Rotarian, the reasons are many:

As business owners, the group is interested in employing critical thinkers who can solve problems,  who care about their peers, and about the mission of the enterprises.  

And so, on behalf of the RTHS class of 1961 and on the 30th anniversary of the RTHS Renaissance program last year, they committed $10,000 to recognize exceptional expressions of Critical Thinking both at the student level as well as at the instructional/administrative level.  

Both teachers and students may be nominated for the awards.