Presented By:
Saturday, August 24, 2024
Beardmore Event Center of Bellevue
6:00 pm
Sponsorship Opportunities
Premier gala sponsorships provide valuable student opportunities while allowing the PLCS Foundation to publicly recognize important partnerships.
- Presenting Sponsor SOLD: Thank You, Meta!
- Auction Sponsor SOLD: Thank You, BCDM Architects!
- Photo Booth Sponsor SOLD: Thank You, D.A. Davidson!
- Centerpiece Sponsor SOLD: Thank you, Google!
- Beverage Sponsor SOLD: Thank you, CenterPoint Financial Group!
Platinum - $5,000
- Table for 8 guests
- Name read by emcee from the stage
- Logo/Name displayed on event program and large projection screens during the event
- Promoted on PLCS Foundation website and social media
- Recognition in annual impact report
Gold - $2,500
- Table for 8 guests
- Logo/Name displayed on event program and large projection screens during the event
- Promoted on PLCS Foundation website and social media
- Recognition in annual impact report
Silver - $1,500
- Table for 8 guests
- Name displayed on event program and logo displayed on large projection screens during the event
- Recognition in annual impact report
Bronze - $750
- Name on event program
- Recognition in annual impact report
Silent Auction:
Have an item, gift basket, or experience you'd like to donate for the Silent Auction? Contact Mindy at mindy.bieck@plcsfoundation.org.
Individual reservations:
$150 per person or $250 per couple
Will be seated at tables of 10.
PLCS employee reservations:
$125 per person or $200 per couple
Will be seated at tables of 10.
2024 Hall of Fame Honorees
Community Booster | Candy & Paul Johnston
Candy and Paul Johnston moved to Papillion in 1981 and they have been volunteering to make this community stronger ever since. Like many others, the military brought them here; Paul as an Air Force Navigator at Offutt Air Force Base, and Candy in Air Force Health Care Management. They are 43-year members of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church where they’ve served in many leadership roles, including each as finance committee chair. Paul was an elected member of the Papillion City Council and was the first president of the Papillion Library Foundation. With a shared passion for public education, they became loyal supporters of PLCS early on and never let up. Candy started with the Tara Heights PTA and was a Band and Soccer booster at Papillion LaVista High School. The family also hosted an international exchange student for one year. Paul was instrumental in the growth of the PLCS Foundation, where he was on the board of directors for 30 years. He served every role possible, including grants committee chairman, special projects chairman and board president. In 2021, the Johnstons generously supported the Skilled and Technical Trades program expansion at both high schools. Their daughter, Stacy, is a 1993 Monarch graduate and they have three grandchildren.
Legendary Educator | Dr. Harlan Metschke
Dr. Harlan Metschke is a lifelong educator who served school districts across Nebraska. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from UNL, an Educational Specialist degree from Kearney State College and a Doctor of Education degree from UNL. His impactful PLCS career began when he was hired by Superintendent Roger Miller to serve as Assistant Superintendent. Four years later, in 1993, he was appointed Superintendent and remained in the role until his retirement in 2007. Dr. Metschke oversaw significant growth in enrollment, staff and facilities, and was a driver in positioning PLCS among the state’s most respected school districts. He led one of the largest changes in district history when local citizens approved a $59 million dollar bond issue to fund construction of a second high school. Papillion La Vista South opened to students in 2003. Dr. Metschke also oversaw the construction of Rumsey Station Elementary, Walnut Creek Elementary, Portal Elementary, a maintenance facility, the PLCS Central Office, and many renovations and expansions of existing buildings. In retirement, Dr. Metschke was a consultant for Building Bright Futures until 2011 and remains an active volunteer for many local organizations.
PLSHS Distinguished Alumni | Dr. Alexis Bowder, PLSHS Class of 2007
Alexis Bowder excelled at soccer, cross country and academics during her time at Papillion La Vista South High School before graduating in 2007. She attended UNO and was on the Maverick Soccer team before completing her medical degree at UNMC. Alexis completed her residency at the University of Wisconsin. She earned a master's in public health degree in 2021 from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Today, Dr. Bowder is in the pediatric surgery fellowship program at the University of Iowa. Throughout medical school and during her research years she also worked in Haiti as part of the Harvard Medical School’s Global Surgery and Social Change program. She has global health field experience in Brazil, Costa Rica, Haiti, India, Peru, and Nepal. In 2022, she was presented the Resident Surgical Volunteerism Award by the American College of Surgeons. After completing her fellowship, Dr. Bowder will begin practice as a Pediatric Surgeon at Eastern Tennessee State University. She will also be the Research Director of the Quillen College of Medicine Global Surgery Initiative.
PLHS Distinguished Alumni | Brett Smith, PLHS Class of 2002
Brett Smith was a star student and outstanding athlete at Papillion La Vista High School, earning his high school diploma in 2002. He accepted an Ivy League offer to play quarterback for the Yale University football team in Connecticut. As a freshman at Yale, however, things changed dramatically. Brett was riding in an SUV carrying nine Yale University students when it crashed on an icy Interstate. Four students died. It left Brett with life threatening injuries and in a coma for nearly a month. When he woke, he had lost 50 pounds, was unable to control his right side, and was unable to speak. The outlook was grim but Brett is a fighter. Years of non-stop rehabilitation, weight training and hard work improved his health. In 2008 he returned to Yale, despite the odds against him, earned his college degree in 2012. At graduation he was also given an honorary letter for participation in Football. He then attended the University of Wyoming where he earned a Kinesiology and Health Promotion degree in 2016. His passion for physical fitness and health remains today. In 2018 he returned again to Yale as a strength and conditioning coach for both the football and lacrosse teams. Brett now lives in Boulder, Colorado, where he is a personal trainer.
