Waukee Public Library Friends Foundation

Meet Waukee Public Library Friends Foundation Board Member Stephanie Sheckels! Stephanie officially kicked off her time on the board in November 2025.

Stephanie lives in Waukee with her husband Brandon and their three kids Brielle, Julia, and Lucas. She is a Business Ex*****on Consultant at Wells Fargo, working on data analytics and reporting in HR. She loves spending time with family and friends, watching her daughters play softball, and attending the many other activities her kids are all involved in.

STEPHANIE, WHAT EXPERIENCES HAVE YOU HAD AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE THAT WERE IMPACTFUL?
"From studying and doing research at libraries when I was in school to taking my children to play with the puppets and story time at local public libraries when they were little, libraries have always been a great resource to our family."

WHAT PROGRAMS/ASSETS DO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ENJOY AT THE WAUKEE PUBLIC LIBRARY?
"My son has been obsessed with Scooby Doo and other DVDs at the Waukee Public Library, and my daughters have always loved going for books and enjoyed the Summer Reading Challenges."

For a while now, Stephanie's 5-year-old son Lucas asks on almost a daily basis if they can go to the library (usually to exchange DVDs), and he’s becoming more interested in the books lately, too. Stephanie said she was looking for a board to volunteer on and thought this would be a great way to support the library that has meant so much to her son and the rest of her family the last few years. Welcome, Stephanie!

Meet Waukee Public Library Friends Foundation Board Member Summer Evans! Summer was officially voted onto the board in August 2025.

Summer lives in Waukee with her husband Luke and their two daughters, Charlotte and Violet. She is a Marketing Manager at Des Moines Performing Arts and also owns a freelance marketing business. She keeps busy chauffeuring kids to activities, reading, baking, attending theater, and cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones!

SUMMER, WHAT EXPERIENCES HAVE YOU HAD AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE THAT WERE IMPACTFUL?
"My mom would take me to the Chariton Public Library when I was younger. I used to bring home more books (plus VHS and cassette tapes) than I could carry. As a family on a tight budget, the library was key to keeping us entertained and informed!"

WHAT PROGRAMS/ASSETS DO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ENJOY AT THE WAUKEE PUBLIC LIBRARY?
"When our girls were very young, a trip to the library was a Saturday staple – to play in the toy area, to check out books, see friends, etc. We’ve also attended STEM/STEAM sessions, crafting workshops, Life-size Candyland, and more. The Summer Reading Program is a must as well!"

Summer used to work for the City of Waukee and said she grew a deep respect for the Waukee Public Library and those who run it during that time. After leaving City employment, she still wanted to help the library brighten the community, so she decided to lend her time and talents to the Foundation Board. Welcome, Summer!