Featured image: BHSC EAST students (from left) Kayla Ward and Rhett McDonald stand with the family of Jeanne Roepcke at the recent dedication ceremony for a new street in honor of Roepcke.
The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce recently held a dedication ceremony for a new street near the Batesville High School Charter (BHSC) and Junior High Charter campus.
The new road, which runs alongside Batesville Junior High Charter, was dedicated to the memory of the late Jeanne Roepcke, a career-long educator and EAST facilitator in the Batesville School District.
The EAST program at Batesville High School Charter is a self-directed, project-based class where students are encouraged to collaborate with community partners to solve problems in the community.
A newly constructed bus route required a name for campus security purposes. BHSC EAST students worked with the City of Batesville, Dr. Michael Hester, and the BSD School Board to name the street after their former EAST Facilitator, Mrs. Roepcke.
“Mrs. Roepcke stood out as someone who inspired, pushed for change, and did everything she could for others,” said BHSC EAST student Kayla Ward. “She accomplished much in her career, including being a Chamber Ambassador, a graduate of Leadership Batesville and Leadership Arkansas, working on key projects with the Arkansas Education Commissioner Johnny Key, the 2021 BSD Teacher of the Year, and receiving a key to the city.”
“We wanted to honor Mrs. Roepcke’s contributions,” said BHSC EAST student Rhett McDonald. “What better way to honor Mrs. Roepcke than to name this road after her.”
McDonald went on to thank community partners who supported the completion of the project, including representatives from the Batesville School District, the City of Batesville, and Mrs. Roepcke’s family.
The new street sign for J Roepcke Way can be seen near the intersection of Jennings Lane and Chaney Drive in Batesville.
Ambassadors in attendance included: Sijle Antosen (Weichert, Realtors – The Property Shoppe), Amanda Bledsoe (Network of Community Options), Lori Campbell (Batesville School District), Amy Crouch-Howard (Weichert, Realtors – The Property Shoppe), Adam Curtwright (Centennial Bank), Amanda Dickey (Block Insurance), Mary Duvall (Bad Boy Mowers), Ashley Engles (Citizens Bank), Amy Finster (White River Health), Tammy Foster (First Community Bank), Jesse Freiert (Fringe Salon), Brittney Harris (Independence Off Road), Kirsten Harvey (Arkansas Sherrif’s Youth Ranch), Eva Henriksen (Merchants & Planters Bank), Lindy Hopper (First Community Bank), Justin Keister (Syngery HR), Michael Kelley (Peco Foods), Aaron Moody (Independence County Sheriff’s Department), Sarah Perkins (Weichert, Realtors – The Property Shoppe), Megan Renihan (Batesville School District), Peter Rouiler (First Community Bank), Lori Tacker (Batesville Eye Care Center), Christina Watts (LaCroix Precision Optics), Angela Wilcoxon (Southern Bank), and Kimberly Williams (First Community Bank).
Images: Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce
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