This Friday evening, as part of our homecoming festivities, the Southeast Polk Hall of Honor will recognize and celebrate this year’s inductees. The Hall of Honor was established in 2009 to recognize outstanding alumni, educators and community leaders who, through achievements, endeavors, leadership and character, are positive role models for the student body of Southeast Polk Community Schools.
The celebration will begin at 5 p.m. in the high school auditorium, with the induction ceremony recognizing these outstanding individuals who have impacted our school and community in numerous ways. The induction is free and open to the public. After the reception, the guests of honor and their families will proceed to the Big Ram Bash and then the stadium, where they will be introduced at 6:35, prior to the kickoff of the Homecoming football game. In addition, all members are recognized with a plaque on the SEP Hall of Honor wall at Southeast Polk High School.
We are proud to welcome these outstanding Southeast Polk citizens into our Hall of Honor:
Joni Bell, the daughter of Frank and Bonnie Sloan of Runnells, attended Runnells Elementary Schools and graduated from Southeast Polk in 1983. In 1997, she began Great Caterers of Iowa, which operates in Pleasant Hill. Joni’s passion for cooking was attributed to her Grandmother Irma Nelle VanWyk and her mother Bonnie. Her recipes include many family favorites such as chocolate chip cookies and chocolate fudge brownies. The catering company was voted the #1 caterer in the state of Iowa in 2017. The Iowa Restaurant Association named Joni Bell as one of the Top 40 Women to Watch in the hospitality industry in 2019. This year, Joni was also awarded the Blue and Gold Award, which celebrates excellence in support of the Iowa FFA Association.
Two of the highest attributes an alumnus can display area strong work ethic and giving back to the community they grew up in. Joni has beena strong partner with many entities of Southeast Polk, helping to fundraise and support youth in their desired goals. There are rarely days that you visit Great Caterers of Iowa and find Joni missing in action, as her average work week far exceeds the normal 40 hours. The family is forever faithful to the communities included in the RAMS family.
The Elder family has been in the earthwork business for over 60 years, formed as R.G. Elder and Son, and renamed to Elder Corporation in the spring of 2000. Under J.’s leadership, what started as a two person company digging basements in 1960 has expanded to a team of over 300 people today. Elder Corporation does complex specialty projects such as highway construction, real estate development projects, and critical infrastructure like airports, data centers, and most recently solar farms, to name a few.
Ask J. Elder II what he’s most passionate about and he’ll likely tell you “giving back.” J. believes in supporting causes in the community that make a lasting impact.
He is an active member of his community and church, dedicating his philanthropic activity to organizations such as the Wildwoods Hills Ranch, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the fight against human trafficking, and dozens of organizations that support kids’ development.
J. has supported Southeast Polk Football, Wrestling, Rugby, Cheerleading, and Cross Country teams, as well as the development of the Skilled Trades building.
Elder’s legacy is summed up by Acts 20:35: it is more blessed to give than to receive.
Katie Temple is a Southeast Polk transplant. She grew up on a farm in southeast Iowa, the sixth of eleven children. After graduating valedictorian from Keota High School, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Iowa. She and her husband, Al Reeve, moved to rural Runnells when he accepted a position with the Iowa Air National Guard flying A-7D and F16 jets.
Their children, Emma, twins Sam and Seth, and Leah attended Runnells Elementary and graduated from SEP. Katie began her work with the district as a parent volunteer and in various PTA positions. Eventually, she served as a Southeast Polk board member for fourteen years and four months. She also was a member of the IASB board for a term and received multiple IASB Better Boardsmanship Awards. After her years on the SEP board, she completed the substitution authorization classes and went on to substitute as an RN and a teacher in the district. She has now come full circle and is a volunteer again.
Katie’s passion is international medical trips. Since 2006 she has participated in twenty-four weeklong trips in Central America and the Caribbean, half of them in Haiti. She is an active member of the Runnells Christian Church, where she is an elder and Sunday school teacher. She can be found volunteering at Runnells Elementary and in the book department of the Many Hands Thrift store once or twice a week, jogging, and studying Creole.
To see previous Hall of Honor Inductees, click here: Hall of Honor
