Friday 12th December 2025

November Pack the Backpack Winner: Zac Ceresa

Pack the Backpack, presented by Central Office Supply, a division of Minuteman and Kix 101.1! Each month during the school year, we will be awarding $101 to a Kix Country classroom to help out with supplies. We will award the prize on the last Wednesday of the month. You can listen to each new winner at 8:30a on the Morning Kix Start.

Our November winner is Mr. Zac Ceresa, 5th Grade Social Studies Teacher at Grinnell Middle School. He was nominated by his co-woker, Brenna Vogel. Here is what Brenna wrote to Kix 101.1.:

I would like to nominate Zac Ceresa for the Pack the Backpack award. He is a first year teacher at Grinnell Middle School teaching 5th grade Social Studies. He has so much enthusiasm for his subject AND for his students! I can hear him teaching because we share a wall and there is so much engagement from the kids because there is so much energy coming from Zac. He addresses them by name in the halls, remembers their birthdays with a note on their locker, and even spontaneously bursts into song! Knowing he is nearby brings a smile to our faces.

Thank you,

Brenna Vogel

Take a listen to our surprise interview with Mr. Ceresa below!

Nominate your Kix Country class by submitting a letter to us at backpack@kixweb.com.

 

More Episodes

the-list-2025-2
Jonathan Knight

The List for Thursday, December 11th 2025

Welcome to The List,

The Kansas City Chiefs are reportedly going out of their way to respect Travis Kelce’s relationship with Taylor Swift. They haven’t monetized the romance, they don’t splash her on the big screens, and they don’t blast her music in the stadium. Travis says he appreciates it because when he’s on the field, “it’s all about the team.”  Meanwhile, judging by how he’s been playing the last few games… it seems like his mind might be somewhere else. Maybe in a cardigan.

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Tim McGraw stunned fans at a recent concert after stepping onstage in skin-tight suede pants with tassels down the sides. Parade Magazine says the Internet responded instantly with commentary like: “Dude raided Lainey Wilson’s closet,” “Lainey Wilson wore them better,” and my favorite — “Lainey McGraw.” I mean… if you’re gonna rock tassels, commit. Somewhere, Faith Hill is lighting a prayer candle.

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Jelly Roll just had the moment dreams are made of. While chatting on Joe Rogan’s podcast, Joe played him a recorded message from Craig Morgan officially inviting Jelly to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Jelly immediately broke down in tears. This is the kind of full-circle moment that hits harder than his songs. From jail cells to the Opry… man, that story writes itself.

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Sharon Osbourne revealed heartbreaking details about Ozzy’s final night. She said he asked her to kiss him and hold him tight, and that he was incredibly happy in his final weeks thanks to the “Back to the Beginning” concert. Say what you want about the Osbournes… but that man loved his music, loved his fans, and clearly adored Sharon until the very end. That’s a tough one.

You can catch The List, weekday afternoons at 4:20 with Jonathan Knight. Only on Iowa’s BEST Country KIX 101.1

 
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