Wisconsin Rapids, WI – December 11th, 2013.  The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters and Skyward, Inc. have partnered together to hold an Educator’s Appreciation Night at the ballpark in 2014.  As part of the evening, the Rafters and Skyward will honor an area teacher as the Skyward Central Wisconsin Teacher of the Year, while creating a bobblehead of that teacher to be given away to fans.  The teacher who is chosen will also be invited to the Educator’s Appreciation Night and recognized on the field prior to the Rafters game by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.  The teacher and their family will receive free tickets to attend the game, courtesy of Skyward.  

To facilitate this exciting, new promotion the Rafters are encouraging all students to nominate a teacher who they feel has made a positive impact on their life and deserves to be recognized as the Skyward Central Wisconsin Teacher of the Year.  Students, K-12, are invited to participate by submitting an essay (Criteria: One page or less, single spaced, 12 font):

1)    By mail to:
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
ATTN: Teacher of the Year
521 Lincoln Street
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494
      -Or- 
2)    By e-mail to: info@raftersbaseball.com.

The essay submission should explain the reasons as to why the teacher is most deserving of the recognition and is due by January 2, 2014.  The student with the winning essay will receive four free tickets to the Educators Appreciation Night, an autographed baseball from the 2014 Rafters team, and the opportunity to be the Junior Public Address Announcer for one inning during the game!

The Rafters will announce the date of the Educator’s Appreciation Night along with a full listing of the 2014 promotional schedule in the spring of 2014.

The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including MLB All-Stars Max Scherzer (DET), Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYY), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live and free of charge via the Northwoods League YouTube channel.  For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com.
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