The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District Board of Education recognized five students for demonstrating excellence in critical thinking and problem solving during its April awards, according to an announcement on Apr. 23. The honorees—Radhika Gupta, Isla Holmstrom, Jacob Jensen, Anna Larson, and Martin Ortiz Calderon—were selected from elementary, middle, and high schools across the district.
The recognition is part of the Cardinal’s Journey framework, which aims to prepare students for future challenges by focusing on key mindsets and foundational skills each month. This initiative highlights how the district supports student growth in areas such as communication, collaboration, adaptability, and accountability.
Teachers and staff nominated students who have shown outstanding abilities in analyzing problems and developing creative solutions. Superintendent Dr. Dana Monogue nominated Gupta for creating an app to help high school students organize information from clubs and activities. “Radhika has developed an app that helps high school students organize information from clubs and activities they are involved in. She has been working on the app for almost a year. She saw a problem that needed to be solved — students being bombarded with information on a variety of platforms — and created a one-stop solution that will be attractive to high school students across the country!” Monogue said.
Other educators also shared their reasons for nominating award recipients. Middleton High School teacher Sara Schulz praised Holmstrom: “I have had the privilege of working with Isla both as a student in graphic arts classes and as a design colleague for a client within our community… Isla brings empathy, respect, and enthusiasm to every interaction… Isla’s unique blend of creativity, critical thinking, visual communication, and collaboration makes them not only an outstanding graphic designer and artist but also an inspiring student who truly embodies the qualities within a Cardinal’s Journey.” Park Elementary teacher Lisa Breunig highlighted Jensen’s persistence: “Recognizing critical thinking and problem solving in kindergarten is vital because it shifts the focus from ‘getting the right answer’ to ‘valuing the process.’ Jacob shows these qualities on a daily basis… Jacob can stay with a difficult task until it is completed… We are lucky to have Jacob in our kindergarten class this year.” Elm Lawn Library Media Specialist Dan Stuntebeck described Larson’s initiative: “Anna was strategizing a way of helping her classmates learn material for the library … Anna took the initiative to make out her own practice cards for classmates … seeing a problem and finding creative solutions.” Kromrey Middle School Bilingual Resource Teacher Cindy Muralles commended Ortiz Calderon: “Martin demonstrates great problem solving abilities in math class … Additionally Martin has navigated English effectively … We are so proud of his perseverance.”
According to the official website, Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District promotes community engagement through extracurricular activities while maintaining facilities that support education from early childhood through high school with emphasis on literacy, math programs, social-emotional learning initiatives as well as leadership opportunities.
The district achieved top ACT composite scores among public non-charter schools both locally in Dane County as well as statewide according to its official website. It aims to understand diverse backgrounds among its student body while preparing them academically for global challenges yet drawing inspiration from local communities according to its official website.
Dr. Dana Monogue currently serves as superintendent according to district sources. The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District serves families throughout Middleton and Cross Plains area in Wisconsin according to its official website.
This month’s awards follow previous recognitions focused on other elements of Cardinal’s Journey such as Collaboration Foundation or Community-Oriented Mindset; May will see awards given out recognizing Adaptability.
