For more than 20 years, the Jensen Community Center and the Jensen Community Spirit have selected and celebrated members of the community who exhibit exemplary community spirit. Every year, we receive many worthy nominations and this year was again no exception.
We are happy to announce the 2024 Person of the Year, Business of the Year, and Junior Person of the Year. Thank you to all of you for making the Tomorrow River area such a wonderful place to live.
Award recipients will be feted at our annual Appreciation Breakfast on Friday, October 18, at the Jensen Center.
Without further ado, we’re pleased to announce:
2024 Person of the Year:
Kelly Loken
Nominated by Melissa Blenker
Kelly is amazing in our community! I don’t think people realize how much she helps, volunteers, attends, and supports various endeavors in the community. She is also always talking up, sharing, and trying to get people to donate to or help with things in our community. Her family is always right behind her helping, too. The awesome thing is that Kelly is teaching her children to be selfless and to give back to their community. Kelly is all about Amherst!
Kelly has devoted 12 years to the Tomorrow River School District School Board. The amount of hours and time she puts in for the District to attend events to represent the Board, attend meetings, conferences, meals to celebrate staff, etc., is above and beyond, and a lot of times she is the only Board member showing up to them. It’s not just the monthly meetings for the TRSD that she attends. She received an award from the Wisconsin Association of School Boards in the fall of 2023 for all the points she has accumulated in only 12 years on the board; most members take more than 20 years to get that many points! She is a Level 4 Board member, and there are only five levels.
She volunteers for the Tomorrow River Business Association and is currently president. She was Vice President and helps to not only plan the events but then shows up to help run all the events, sometimes showing up at 5 a.m. to block streets, and you will find her there at 11 p.m. cleaning up. She runs the Wine Walk each year. Through all of these things and more, she has helped breathe life into the downtown! Some businesses say the Wine Walk night is one of their biggest sales nights of the year!
She helps out friends and neighbors when they need it, even working at their businesses when they are short staffed. She and her family donate time at their church whether it’s weeding or cleaning. She heads up the team meals for the football team at school; coordinating and feeding 70+ people every Friday for 12+ weeks is no small feat. You will find Kelly selling 50/50 tickets at games or working the concession stand. She volunteers at the fair, she will donate food for PTO at school, she helps the snowmobile club promote and sell tickets for their events and has served on their board in the past, asks for donations for Freddie’s Home Plate, umping games, volunteering at the Jensen Center for their events; the list goes on. Those are only some of the things she helps with, there is an even longer list of all the events she attends in town to support school, the Jensen Center, and other local businesses.
2024 Business/Organization
of the Year:
Amherst Veterinary Hospital
Nominated by Jennifer Brock
I am writing to express my support for Amherst Veterinary Hospital as a deserving recipient of the Business of the Year Award. Over the past 20 years, I have had the privilege of entrusting the health and well-being of my pets to the dedicated professionals at Amherst Veterinary Hospital. Their exceptional service and commitment to the community make them an outstanding choice for Business of the Year.
When you enter Amherst Veterinary Hospital, you immediately notice the welcoming atmosphere, with several resident cats, and the professionalism and expertise of the staff. Dr. Sandra Walter and Dr. Shannon Sowka and their team of three certified vet techs, two receptionists, an office manager, a kennel assistant, and five vet assistants go above and beyond to ensure every visit is a positive experience. This year, they added a vet intern to their summer schedule to help train the “next generation.”
Dr. Sandra Walter graduated from veterinary school and began working as a large animal veterinarian in the Amherst community. In 1991, she opened the Amherst Veterinary Hospital as a small animal hospital. Although corporations now own many vet clinics, our hospital remains independently owned.
One of the most impressive aspects of Amherst Veterinary Hospital is its commitment to the health and welfare of animals. They offer comprehensive services, from routine check-ups and vaccinations to complex surgical procedures and emergency care. The clinic is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and diagnostic tools, ensuring that every pet receives the highest standard of care. These tools enable in-house ultrasound, digital X-rays for real-time review, therapy laser treatment, immediate analysis of blood and fecal samples, and tumor analysis. Dr. Walter has always been a pioneer in embracing new technology that allows for better treatment of the animals that come to the clinic.
However, what truly sets Amherst Veterinary Hospital apart is its genuine compassion and dedication to the animals entrusted to its care. The staff, led by Dr. Walter and Dr. Sowka, takes the time to listen to concerns, thoroughly explains treatment options, and follows up to ensure that pets are on the path to recovery.
During COVID, Amherst Veterinary Hospital rose above other vet clinics, allowing clients to remain with their pets during the clinic visit. While other clinics closed due to COVID-19 or lacking staff, our hospital stayed open. It took on clients from different clinics, sometimes putting a strain on staff and working long hours to care for our pets.
Amherst Veterinary Hospital plays an active role in the community by supporting local organizations. Their dedication has earned them the trust and loyalty of numerous pet owners from our community and neighboring counties. As a result, the clinic and its staff have received multiple accolades and glowing reviews from satisfied clients due to their outstanding care. This satisfaction is evident from their winning the Best of Portage County award.
Dr. Walter is a passionate gardener who also oversees the daily care of her farm. Recently, Dr. Sowka welcomed a second child to her family. Both veterinarians are devoted to their families and homes while providing exceptional care for our pets. They demonstrate a strong work ethic and serve as mentors to others by leading by example. This often-underappreciated community business becomes crucial when our beloved pets require attention.
I wholeheartedly recommend Amherst Veterinary Hospital for the Business of the Year Award. Their dedication to our pets’ health and happiness, exemplary service, and quiet but recognizable community contributions make them a truly deserving recipient of this honor.
[Editor’s note: This second nomination for the Amherst Veterinary Hospital by Amy Hussin was edited for length.]
I would like to nominate the Amherst Veterinary Hospital (AVH), located at 313 County Road KK, Amherst for the Business of the Year 2024.
I took a job in the Amherst community 17 years ago and started bringing the dogs and cats in my life to the AVH. At that time (2007), I lived in a rental 30 minutes away. I had two dogs, both rescues, and two rescue cats. I lived on 20 acres, and I figured the stray cats had put up hobo signs marking my house as I had a steady stream of feral kittens end up in my home. I brought them all to AVH for spay/neuter and first vaccinations and found forever homes for them.
In a minimal amount of time, I was on a first-name basis with anyone answering the phone and was able to merely say “Hi, it’s Amy.” I would always hear a cheerful voice in response say, “Hi Amy, what is going on today?”
I am truly blessed to have such compassionate caretakers when it came time to say goodbye to seven dear pets who were in their transitional stages. Currently, I am living with Gracie and Atticus (felines) and Sierra (canine).
All my pets have been incredibly important to me and were and are incredibly loved. To have medical staff and doctors who not only offer care for your animals but also care about them? That is some kind of special.
A prime example of that special care came with my rescue dog, Sugaree, who had a long-named, hard-to-pronounce type of cancer. Several growths had to be surgically removed and seemed to always be in very hard-to-dress places for the wound to heal. Everyone at AVH were incredible in trying to keep Sugaree’s sutures/staples protected, wrapped, and dressed for healing.
If it were not for Dr. Sondra Walter, I would not have had Sugaree around to love for those many years. With the trauma that Sugaree went through for so many years, you would think she would be afraid of going to the vet as so many dogs are. Sugaree was not scared at all; in fact, she loved everyone at the AVH and would wag her tail ferociously at every appointment. I think that is quite a compliment within itself.
AVH participates in the community by supporting local organizations. I see them out there doing it. I also know that they received a Best of Portage County award.
I am equally encouraged when I happen to be at the facility for a pet appointment and get to see friends from the surrounding areas with their pets. I find that a compliment to the doctors and the staff.
To Dr Walter, Dr Sowka, Chandra, Amanda, Sharon, Jenny, Sarah, Hannah, Ashley, McKenzie, Brooke, Alisia, and Julia. I could not thank you enough for the care, dedication, research, kindness, compassion, and, I will say, friendship that I hold dear to me.
2024 Junior Person of the Year: Noah Spoelstra
Nominated by Brandon Stremkowski
Noah deserves this award because he is the perfect combination of intelligence, empathy, ambition, humility, and kindness. I’ve had Noah in Pre-Calculus and in AP Statistics. There is no better kid who consistently comes to class, follows the rules, does the right thing, helps others, and does this all while being in more extracurricular activities than I can count. He is involved in football and baseball as well as choir. I know he’s in more; I simply can’t name them all.
The most important reason why I’m nominating Noah is because he does everything he does with such grace. He’s a student who you’d want your kids to be friends with. You know he’s on the right path, and his character is as high as his GPA. His kindness and ability to get along with those around him is truly unique in a high school student. I teach the higher level math courses, which involves many Juniors looking to excel in this area, and Noah sets himself apart from the rest. He does all this while not seeking a career in biochemistry or engineering, but perhaps teaching (although he isn’t certain). Looking into a field in which he can help others and apply himself in his community aligns exactly with the young man I see every day.
Past Award Winners
Congratulations to all our Spirit Award recipients. If you would like to nominate a deserving party for the 2025 awards, a form is available on our website at jensencenter.org. Click on the “News” tab and then select “Award Nominations.” Nominations can be submitted at any time between now and September 1, 2025, and will be considered in the next round of selections next September.
Please note: Past recipients are ineligible for nomination.
Person of the Year Recipients
2004—Mark Olson
2005—Don Aylesworth
2006—Hans and Jane Suomi
2007—Rich Stuczynski
2008—Shelly Platten
2009—Janet Glodowski
2010—Ken and Barb Konkol
2011—Connie Pitt
2012—Aralda Bell
2013—Terry Anderson
2014—Butch Somers
2015—Jake Barnes
2016—Nina Cass
2017—Russ and Linda Schroeder
2018—Ed Haebig
2019—Victor Voss
2020—Kris and Dave Crubaugh
2021—Bob and Chris Lane
2022—Ida Frizzell
2023—Verna Toftum
Business/Organization
of the Year Recipients
2018—International Bank of Amherst
2019—Ambrosia Pub & Grill
2020—The Village Hive
2021—Judah Studios
2022—Hidden Studios Art Tour
2023—13 Chairs
Junior Person of the Year Recipients
2018—Ben Villnow
2019—Makena Maves
2020—Abigail Helbach
2021—JoJo Peplinski
2022—Landen Prescher
2023—Scout Spadoni
2024 Person of the Year Kelly Loken
2024 Business of the Year Amherst Veterinary Hospital
2024 Junior Person of the Year Noah Spoelstra