Sandra Lee - Digitized Resources Murphy Library University of ...
Sandra Lee - Digitized Resources Murphy Library University of ...
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Alumnus<br />
u n i v e r s i t y o f w i s c o n s i n - l a c r o s s e<br />
Winter 2007-08, Vol. 34, No. 1<br />
<strong>Sandra</strong> <strong>Lee</strong><br />
Serving up alumni spirit
t h e v i e w f r o m g r a n d a d b l u f f<br />
Terry Milfred<br />
Moving on<br />
Principal should not be forgotten<br />
This winter, the Alumnus is honoring the bravery and sacrifice <strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> the<br />
university’s graduates, John Klang, ’79. John died on Sept. 29, 2006, protecting<br />
the students and staff <strong>of</strong> the Weston School District from an armed and<br />
emotionally distraught student. At that time I was serving my eighth and final year as<br />
the district administrator. I had been mentoring John, first as a principal and then as a<br />
superintendent.<br />
I was informed <strong>of</strong> the shooting by phone. Something <strong>of</strong> that nature happening<br />
seemed so unlikely and unanticipated that I felt as though I was dreaming as I<br />
attempted to manage the situation at Weston. Things became worse fast. When I<br />
arrived at Weston I was informed <strong>of</strong> the accidental death <strong>of</strong> junior student, Eric Fichtel,<br />
who died in a car crash a few minutes before his high school principal was shot. Eric’s<br />
death added to the trauma experienced by Weston’s students and staff. Later that day I<br />
was informed that John had died <strong>of</strong> his wounds following surgery.<br />
In the days that followed many decisions had to be made, daily news conferences<br />
were required, and two wakes and two funerals were experienced. As time passed we<br />
slowly began to attempt to return to a more normal routine as the focus <strong>of</strong> the state and<br />
nation moved on to other events.<br />
While John and Eric will not, and should not, be forgotten, we did have to move on<br />
and we have. I must say, however, that while the students, staff and community have<br />
continued an amazing recovery from the trauma we experienced, we could not have<br />
done so without the demonstration <strong>of</strong> strength and resolve <strong>of</strong> John and Eric’s families.<br />
Additionally, the tremendous outpouring <strong>of</strong> support from the community, region,<br />
state and nation was inspiring. For those <strong>of</strong> us who have benefited from that support, it<br />
has been a life-altering experience that will never be forgotten.<br />
Terry Milfred ’63<br />
Administrative Consultant
c o v e r s t o r y<br />
6 Serving up alumni spirit<br />
Find yourself looking for a quick, easy and reasonable way to make lunch<br />
or dinner? Alum <strong>Sandra</strong> <strong>Lee</strong>, who attended UW-L in the late ’80s, has<br />
been providing solutions for Food Network watchers for more than five<br />
years.This fall, she returned to La Crosse to dish up some collegiate and<br />
Coulee Region favorites.The four programs taped in La Crosse — one at<br />
UW-L — will air sometime in ’08.<br />
f e a t u r e s<br />
14 Celebrate UW-L success<br />
Members <strong>of</strong> the Class <strong>of</strong> ’57, fraternity brothers and ’92 national football<br />
champions were among the hundreds <strong>of</strong> alumni returning for the first<br />
“Celebrate UW-La Crosse.”The weeklong event combined traditional<br />
events from the Homecoming and FamilyWeekend <strong>of</strong> years past, along<br />
with some new activities.<br />
18 On track<br />
The men’s outdoor track and field team brought home another national<br />
championship this spring — a record 11th title.The team will be <strong>of</strong>f and<br />
running with a new coach — but familiar face — when they head back into<br />
competition in ’08.<br />
d e p a r t m e n t s<br />
What’s happening on campus 5<br />
Athletics 15<br />
Especially for alumni 19<br />
Foundation update 25<br />
La Crosse ties 28<br />
Coulee Coda 42<br />
w h a t ’ s h a p p e n i n g o n c a m p u s<br />
No. 3 again<br />
UW-L was ranked among the Midwest’s<br />
best universities in U.S.News & World<br />
Report’s 2008 “America’s Best Colleges”<br />
publication. UW-L is listed No. 3 in the Midwest<br />
among public universities <strong>of</strong>fering master’s degrees, and No. 22 among<br />
all public and private institutions that <strong>of</strong>fer master’s programs. The<br />
university has appeared on the U.S.News list each <strong>of</strong> the past 10 years<br />
and has been among the top three since 2002.<br />
“It adds credibility to our message when the editors <strong>of</strong> respected<br />
publications like U.S.News & World Report do their homework and take<br />
a critical look at many <strong>of</strong> the important factors that must be considered<br />
when choosing a school,” says Chancellor Joe Gow. “This information<br />
makes it easier for parents and students to make an informed choice.”<br />
He says the university’s high ranking on the U.S.News & World Report<br />
list affirms what many students and their parents already know: UW-L<br />
<strong>of</strong>fers a quality education for a reasonable cost.<br />
New vice chancellor<br />
Robert Hetzel<br />
Robert J. Hetzel has been named the<br />
university’s vice chancellor for<br />
administration and finance. Hetzel, who<br />
began Sept. 1, had been associate vice president<br />
for planning and chief <strong>of</strong> staff to the president at<br />
the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Northern Colorado. He<br />
replaces Ron Lostetter who retired in 2006.<br />
William Colclough, currently the university’s<br />
interim provost, served as vice chancellor during<br />
the interim.<br />
A colorful campus procession<br />
Students, many <strong>of</strong> them carrying flags representing their home<br />
countries, helped lead the parade through campus on the way to<br />
the inauguration <strong>of</strong> Chancellor Joe Gow Oct. 19.<br />
u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8 • 3
f r o m What’s t h e happening e d i t o ron<br />
campus<br />
Brad Quarberg<br />
An alum to<br />
be proud <strong>of</strong><br />
Obituaries and death notices arrive for the<br />
Alumnus weekly. Often, they’re<br />
accompanied by notes detailing the impact<br />
the person made during their lifetime.<br />
The notes explain the person’s fondness <strong>of</strong><br />
UW-La Crosse. They talk about how the person<br />
made a great difference in people’s lives. Or, they<br />
share humorous moments. I <strong>of</strong>ten find myself<br />
wishing we had more space — and the staff — to<br />
follow up on so many interesting eulogies.<br />
An alum’s death in fall ’06 was different.<br />
Weston High School Principal John Klang, ’79,<br />
went to work one beautiful fall morning with the<br />
excitement <strong>of</strong> Homecoming in the air. Before the<br />
school bell rang, Klang was shot and killed by a<br />
troubled teen. In a separate incident about the<br />
same time, a well-liked, popular Weston student<br />
was killed in a car accident.<br />
I never met Klang, but I wish I had. In the<br />
many eulogies I’ve heard, he’s the type <strong>of</strong> person<br />
I wish I could be more like. He’s the educator I<br />
hope for my children to have. He’s a person who<br />
took pride in his work, never realizing the great<br />
impact he was having. He’s the alum who was so<br />
proud <strong>of</strong> his alma mater, he <strong>of</strong>ten brought his<br />
family back to La Crosse. His daughter would<br />
eventually graduate from UW-L and start married<br />
life in the area.<br />
Klang’s story is one that needs to be told —<br />
and heard. It’s tragic, yet hopeful. His wife, Sue,<br />
told the 250 people gathered at a memorial for<br />
him and his student this fall: “The world is<br />
diminished because they are gone, but it is still a<br />
better place because they were here.”<br />
That’s something for all <strong>of</strong> us to strive for to<br />
be said when we’ve completed our earthly<br />
journey.<br />
Brad Quarberg, ’85<br />
Alumnus editor<br />
4 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8<br />
Alumnus<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Wisconsin-La Crosse<br />
Winter 2007-08, Vol. 34, No. 1<br />
U n i v e r s i t y o f W i s c o n s i n - L a C r o s s e<br />
Alumnus<br />
Winter 2007-2008, Vol. 34, No. 1<br />
<strong>Sandra</strong> <strong>Lee</strong><br />
Serving up alumni spirit<br />
The Alumnus is published in June and December for alumni<br />
and friends <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Wisconsin-La Crosse.<br />
Deadline for copy is April 1 and Oct. 1. Readers may submit<br />
news items to the editor in the <strong>University</strong> Relations Office,<br />
UW-La Crosse, 1725 State St., La Crosse, WI 54601.<br />
608.785.8572 • quarberg.brad@uwlax.edu<br />
e d i t o r<br />
Brad Quarberg, ’85<br />
Associate Director <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>University</strong> Relations<br />
<strong>University</strong> Relations Office<br />
a r t d i r e c t o r<br />
Sanja Dojcinovic<br />
<strong>University</strong> Print Manager<br />
<strong>University</strong> Relations Office<br />
s t a f f w r i t e r s<br />
Cary Heyer<br />
Dave Johnson, ’92<br />
Sue (Sullivan) <strong>Lee</strong>,<br />
’82 & ’87<br />
Brad Quarberg, ’85<br />
Janie Spencer, ’85 & ’86<br />
p h o t o g r a p h y<br />
Brad Quarberg ’85<br />
Sue (Sullivan) <strong>Lee</strong>,<br />
’82 & ’87<br />
e d i t o r i a l<br />
a s s i s t a n c e<br />
Al Trapp<br />
Interim President,<br />
UW-La Crosse Foundation<br />
Cary Heyer, APR<br />
Director <strong>of</strong> <strong>University</strong><br />
Relations<br />
Beth Dummer<br />
Program Assistant<br />
Jeff Kerkman,’86<br />
Alumni Representative<br />
Janie Spencer, ’85 & ’86<br />
Executive Director <strong>of</strong> Alumni<br />
Association<br />
Kelly Nowicki-Van Rooyan<br />
’98 & ’02<br />
Alumni Representative<br />
www.uwlax.edu<br />
View previous issues at<br />
http://murphylibrary.uwlax.edu/digital/uwl/Alumnus/index.html<br />
Production <strong>of</strong> the Alumnus is supported by grants from the UW-La Crosse Alumni<br />
Association and the UW-La Crosse Foundation.
Eddie Marino, La Crosse Fabricators,<br />
welds an ornamental handrail in the<br />
Frederick Theatre in Morris Hall, which<br />
has been completely renovated.<br />
Frederick Theatre<br />
facelift<br />
Frederick Theatre in Morris Hall has been updated.<br />
“Everything is brand new, including lighting and sound,”<br />
says Billy Clow, interim director <strong>of</strong> the School <strong>of</strong> Arts<br />
and Communication. The outdated, ill-equipped theatre was<br />
renovated as a “flexible thrust/black box theatre,” a theatre with<br />
black walls and a flat floor and permanent seating on three<br />
sides, allowing for more flexibility. It will be used for intimate<br />
theatre productions, as well as for classes. Another addition: a<br />
back stage. The theatre’s first production was "On the Verge"<br />
in November.<br />
w h a t ’ s h a p p e n i n g o n c a m p u s<br />
<strong>Library</strong>’s extensive<br />
steamboat photo<br />
collection going<br />
online<br />
Soon you can view <strong>Murphy</strong> <strong>Library</strong>’s extensive steamboat<br />
photo collection from home. UW-L and the UW-Madison<br />
Digital Collection Center will digitize the library’s extensive<br />
collection <strong>of</strong> steamboat photography in the next three years. The<br />
collection includes steamboats from the 1850s to the present;<br />
images <strong>of</strong> steamboat captains, engineers, pilots, passengers and<br />
crews; city and town waterfronts; levees; locks and dams; and<br />
river-related activities such as fishing, swimming and clamming.<br />
It’s thought to be the largest inland steamboat photo collection<br />
worldwide. When digitization is complete, the collection will be<br />
instantly accessible via the Internet.<br />
This photo <strong>of</strong> Riverside Park taken Sept. 4,<br />
1916, is one <strong>of</strong> 50,000 black and white<br />
photographs <strong>of</strong> steamboats and related<br />
images in <strong>Murphy</strong> <strong>Library</strong> Special Collections,<br />
one <strong>of</strong> the world’s premier compilations <strong>of</strong><br />
steamboat images. The boat on the left is the<br />
Sidney, the middle boat is unidentified and the<br />
boat on the right is the St. Paul.<br />
u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8 • 5
c o v e r s t o r y<br />
Lights, camera, (food)<br />
and action!<br />
Food Network’s <strong>Sandra</strong> <strong>Lee</strong> films episodes in La Crosse<br />
above and right: Bestselling author and<br />
internationally acclaimed life and style expert<br />
<strong>Sandra</strong> <strong>Lee</strong> returned to campus this fall to<br />
film a collegiate-themed cooking show,<br />
complete with UW-L cheerleaders, football<br />
players and marching band members. <strong>Lee</strong>, a<br />
physical therapy turned business major who<br />
attended UW-L from 1984-87, returned to<br />
La Crosse to tape four shows expected to air<br />
sometime in 2008. “This visit is long<br />
overdue,” noted <strong>Lee</strong> during the day-long<br />
taping on campus. “I have some great<br />
memories <strong>of</strong> this place.”<br />
6 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8<br />
By Cary Heyer<br />
UW-La Crosse was thrust into the spotlight when the<br />
crew <strong>of</strong> the Food Network’s Semi-Homemade<br />
Cooking with <strong>Sandra</strong> <strong>Lee</strong> program rolled into town<br />
to tape segments for several episodes to be aired next year.<br />
<strong>Lee</strong>, a physical therapy turned business major who<br />
attended UW-L from 1984-87, hosts the show that launched<br />
amidst rave reviews in 2003 and remains one <strong>of</strong> the Food<br />
Network’s top three highest rated programs. A bestselling<br />
author and internationally acclaimed life and style expert,<br />
<strong>Lee</strong> is CEO <strong>of</strong> <strong>Sandra</strong> <strong>Lee</strong> Semi-Homemade®, a multimedia<br />
corporation that focuses on quick and easy solutions<br />
for everyday living. Her 70/30 formula – 70 percent storebought<br />
ingredients accompanied by 30 percent fresh and<br />
creative touches – permits even those with modest culinary<br />
skills to take 100 percent <strong>of</strong> the credit for something that<br />
looks and tastes like it was made from scratch.<br />
Each <strong>of</strong> her Semi-Homemade shows revolves around a<br />
theme – Girls’ Cocktail Party, Midnight Musical, Indochine<br />
Brunch – you get the idea. Her trademark is creating a<br />
trendy tablescape with fanciful flowers, elegant<br />
arrangements and decorative desserts that transform any<br />
tabletop into a mood-making masterpiece. And each episode<br />
ends with a beverage that’s in keeping with the theme.<br />
<strong>Lee</strong> always wanted to do an episode that centered around<br />
“The Big Game.” So when the producers <strong>of</strong> the show<br />
called to explore whether UW-L would be amenable to<br />
serving as the backdrop for such a show, the answer came<br />
easy. The opportunity to share the beauty <strong>of</strong> the UW-L<br />
campus with a national TV audience is a rare opportunity.<br />
Sharing it on a TV show hosted by a successful alumna is<br />
even rarer.<br />
We leapt at the chance.<br />
continued on page 9
c o v e r s t o r y<br />
u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8 • 7
c o v e r s t o r y<br />
8 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8
continued from page 6<br />
This isn’t the first time UW-L has been noted on Semi-<br />
Homemade, however. <strong>Lee</strong>’s life story was revealed on an<br />
episode <strong>of</strong> the Food Network’s Chefography program that<br />
aired last spring, during which she discussed her experience<br />
at UW-L. She vowed to return.<br />
“I’ve been begging these guys for five years to do a<br />
show here,” <strong>Lee</strong> said during her October visit to<br />
right : <strong>Sandra</strong> <strong>Lee</strong> discusses the finer points <strong>of</strong> “tablescaping” —<br />
using decorations, glasswear and props to create a central theme<br />
around which to plan a party.<br />
above: Chancellor Joe Gow welcomes <strong>Sandra</strong> to campus while<br />
members <strong>of</strong> the Eagles football team, marching band and cheer<br />
squad look on.<br />
La Crosse. “This visit is long overdue. I have some great<br />
memories <strong>of</strong> this place.”<br />
Six days <strong>of</strong> filming at several <strong>of</strong> La Crosse’s famous<br />
landmarks included Grandad Bluff, Riverside Park and<br />
Rudy’s Drive-In. The crew also captured footage at<br />
Oktoberfest and the Maple Leaf parade. But the<br />
centerpiece <strong>of</strong> <strong>Lee</strong>’s visit was “The Big Game” – the<br />
UW-La Crosse/UW-Whitewater football contest.<br />
The production included an opening segment with the<br />
Screaming Eagles marching band, the UW-L cheerleading<br />
squad, and the Eagles football team. A rousing musical<br />
prelude featuring the UW-L fight song was followed by the<br />
words, “Hi, I’m <strong>Sandra</strong> <strong>Lee</strong>. Welcome to my alma mater,<br />
the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Wisconsin-La Crosse!” Predictably, the<br />
crowd erupted with cheers.<br />
“The experience was amazing,” said Kelly Galvan,<br />
UW-L cheer and stunt coach. “<strong>Sandra</strong>’s enthusiasm is<br />
contagious, and she can cheer with the best <strong>of</strong> them. If she<br />
were a student, I’d put her on the team!”<br />
Tammy Fisher, director <strong>of</strong> the Screaming Eagles, says<br />
she and her band members have a newfound appreciation <strong>of</strong><br />
the hard work and minute details involved in producing a<br />
TV program. “It was a good learning experience for the<br />
students … to see how a shoot goes and what happens<br />
behind the scenes,” explains Fisher. “Any time you can<br />
provide them with a new experience you have been<br />
successful. It’s something they can tell their kids someday!”<br />
For two days, the tape rolled at UW-L while <strong>Lee</strong><br />
prepared party goodies including buffalo wing pizza, grilled<br />
romaine salad and chocolate cake. <strong>Lee</strong>’s skills in the<br />
outdoor kitchen were matched only by her deftness in<br />
creating a tablescape that was perfectly suited to hosting a<br />
pre-game tailgate celebration. Football-shaped cups and<br />
saucers, personalized placeholders made <strong>of</strong> miniature<br />
pennants, and maroon and gray linens were a fitting<br />
centerpiece for a pre-game rally.<br />
When she wasn’t sharing cooking or decorating tips, she<br />
<strong>of</strong>ten related her experiences at UW-L. “I have some very<br />
special memories here,” she reflects.<br />
Her beverage <strong>of</strong> choice to close the show? What else:<br />
Swamp water.<br />
“Swamp water is another La Crosse favorite,” <strong>Lee</strong> said.<br />
“I found somebody kind enough to give me the recipe.”<br />
We didn’t know there was one.<br />
TV time<br />
“Semi-Homemade with <strong>Sandra</strong> <strong>Lee</strong>” programs filmed in La Crosse are expected to begin airing in spring 2008;<br />
the episode featuring UW-L will likely be broadcast in fall 2008. Tune into The Food Network or visit<br />
www.foodnetwork.com for program details.<br />
c o v e r s t o r y<br />
u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8 • 9
i n m e m o r i a m<br />
A respected alum<br />
Principal left a lasting impact<br />
Kerri (Klang) Johnson, ’06, says her father,<br />
John Klang, ’79, brought the family back to<br />
La Crosse <strong>of</strong>ten. The visits helped her to<br />
decide to attend UW-L. Johnson says her<br />
dad, killed by a student one morning in fall<br />
’06, was proud she was graduating from his<br />
alma mater.<br />
1 0 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8<br />
By Brad Quarberg, ’85<br />
It’s been more than a year since a dedicated educator and<br />
principal — and UW-L alumnus — was gunned down by<br />
a student in a rural Wisconsin town. That same morning,<br />
another student from Weston High School in Cazenovia was<br />
killed in a car accident on his way to school.<br />
Since then, countless tears have been shed for John<br />
Klang, ’79, and 16-year-old Erik Fichtel. Memorial services<br />
were held. Counselors have spent hours at the school. An<br />
experienced counselor-administrator, Tom Andres, ’70, was<br />
hired to direct recovery. And, 16-year-old Eric Hainstock<br />
has been found guilty <strong>of</strong> fatally shooting Klang.<br />
This fall, a memorial was dedicated to Klang and the<br />
school is moving on under Terry Milfred’s leadership.<br />
Milfred, ’63, superintendent <strong>of</strong> the Weston School District,<br />
was grooming Klang to take over more administrative duties<br />
before Klang was killed. Now, Milfred and Andres are<br />
helping the small, rural school district move on. Andres<br />
became superintendent in February 2007; Milfred remains a<br />
consultant to the district.<br />
Milfred has much respect for his former colleague. “I<br />
can only try by saying that he was unselfish, caring,<br />
unassuming, dedicated, hard-working and brave,” he<br />
explains. “I was fortunate to know him.”<br />
Milfred says the school has undergone “an amazing<br />
recovery” from the trauma <strong>of</strong> losing a very popular principal<br />
and respected student leader. He attributes some <strong>of</strong> that<br />
recovery to the Klang and Fichtel families. “The families’<br />
unselfish focus while grieving for their loved ones was a<br />
moving example to us all,” he notes. “They did whatever<br />
they could to help the school and community recover and<br />
move forward.”<br />
Klang’s daughter, Kerri (Klang) Johnson, ’06, was in her<br />
senior year at UW-L when she found out her dad had been<br />
shot. A few days earlier, her boyfriend, Justin Johnson, had<br />
proposed. They had decided to wait until the weekend to tell<br />
the family in person.<br />
continued on next page
continued from previous page<br />
Kerri told her mom about the proposal in the waiting room at the<br />
hospital. “I wasn’t able to tell my dad until we were allowed to see him<br />
after he had already passed away,” she told a local reporter following<br />
the guilty verdict <strong>of</strong> her dad’s killer. “I sobbed as I told him. Everyone<br />
says he knows and he will be there with me, but it’s not the same.”<br />
She graduated from UW-L in December 2006, less than three<br />
months following her dad’s death. “He was so proud that I was<br />
graduating from the same university he had graduated from,” she says.<br />
Kerri says her dad was proud <strong>of</strong> La Crosse and brought the whole<br />
family back to the area <strong>of</strong>ten. They visited Grandad Bluff, the campus<br />
and the river. “He really liked La Crosse a lot,” she explains. “He<br />
loved to bring us here and walk on campus. And, he loved the bluffs.”<br />
The visits had an impact. Following graduation, Kerri stayed in the<br />
area with her husband, Justin. She currently works as an accountant at<br />
the La Crosse Center.<br />
Kerri says the memorial service, just a week before the anniversary<br />
<strong>of</strong> the shooting and car crash, continued the healing process, for her,<br />
her family and the community. “It was a beautiful ceremony and a<br />
beautiful day,” she says.<br />
The ceremony was positive and looked forward. Klang’s wife, Sue,<br />
told the 250 people who gathered “The world is diminished because<br />
they are gone, but it is still a better place because they were here.”<br />
The John Klang Memorial is a “Teaching and Gathering” area near<br />
the elementary-middle school entrance.<br />
In September, the<br />
Cazenovia community<br />
dedicated a “Teaching<br />
and Gathering” area<br />
near the entrance to<br />
Weston elementarymiddle<br />
school in honor<br />
<strong>of</strong> John Klang, ’79, who<br />
was murdered at the<br />
school a year earlier.<br />
Global<br />
growth<br />
International enrollment,<br />
overseas study up<br />
Around 300 students from 46 countries<br />
were on campus when classes started<br />
this fall. That’s up from about 178<br />
students last year and 100 a decade ago.<br />
“The increase is due to long-term<br />
international recruiting efforts,” says Jay<br />
Lokken, director <strong>of</strong> International Studies.<br />
“We’ve been very successful implementing a<br />
multi-faceted approach to recruiting. We have<br />
a recruiter based in China and a strategic plan<br />
for international recruiting.”<br />
Lokken says high U.S.News and World<br />
Report and Kiplinger’s rankings have<br />
increased UW-L’s reputation worldwide. The<br />
ranks, along with a more smaller campus<br />
atmosphere <strong>of</strong>ten gives UW-L an edge over<br />
larger, Big Ten-sized schools. “We’re able to<br />
personalize the relationship here at UW-<br />
La Crosse,” notes Lokken. “We <strong>of</strong>fer a<br />
chance to interact in the daily life <strong>of</strong> a typical<br />
Wisconsin family.”<br />
Lokken says the number <strong>of</strong> American<br />
students heading overseas for study has<br />
increased too. The Institute <strong>of</strong> International<br />
Education ranks UW-L 17th in the U.S. for<br />
participation in study abroad. Around 425<br />
students plan to study abroad this academic<br />
year, compared to 75 students a decade ago.<br />
u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8 • 1 1
w h a t ’ s h a p p e n i n g o n c a m p u s<br />
The way <strong>of</strong> stone<br />
Reuter rocks flow through phases <strong>of</strong> life<br />
Anew campus sculpture signifies the journey people<br />
take during their lifetime. Mequon artist Susan<br />
Falkman designed “The Way <strong>of</strong> Stone,” which winds<br />
its way through Reuter Hall.<br />
The sculpture, a metaphoric path <strong>of</strong> Wausau Red Granite<br />
blocks, moves from the west entrance to Reuter, through the<br />
hall foyer, to a triangular-shaped meeting space centered<br />
between the building’s east walkways. A cutout symbolic river<br />
“flows” through each stone, tracing a line <strong>of</strong> passage. Words<br />
are engraved into each stone just above or below the cut river.<br />
“The ‘river’ represents the flow <strong>of</strong> life, segmented by the<br />
1 2 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8<br />
Left: The view from the<br />
upper floors <strong>of</strong> Reuter<br />
Hall <strong>of</strong>fers a look at the<br />
question mark formed by<br />
the sculpture.<br />
Below, opposite page:<br />
“Character” is one <strong>of</strong> the<br />
words carved into<br />
one <strong>of</strong> the rocks in the<br />
new sculpture near<br />
Reuter Hall.<br />
space between the blocks, which represent the stages <strong>of</strong> our<br />
lives,” explains Falkman. “The period <strong>of</strong> time at the university<br />
is one <strong>of</strong> exploration. The words represent important concepts<br />
to be examined.<br />
The rocks serve as benches, Falkman says. The eight<br />
stones in the triangular area east <strong>of</strong> the building form a<br />
question mark and create meeting and observational areas for<br />
enjoying the bluffs to the east. “While waiting for friends or<br />
taking a break, the words on the stones are a part <strong>of</strong> the<br />
experience,” she notes.<br />
Falkman cautions observers to take time to grasp meaning<br />
continued on next page
continued from previous page<br />
in the work. “This sculpture is meant to be explored slowly over time —<br />
the color, and the textures <strong>of</strong> the stones, the spatial relationships between<br />
the stones, and the lines and patterns they form.” she says. “Like the<br />
stone from which the sculpture was created, this sculpture needs to be<br />
lived with. It can’t be understood with one cursory look because then all<br />
you would see would be ‘some big stones.’”<br />
Falkman sees the granite educating. “Stone has been my teacher for<br />
the 30-plus years I have carved it,” she continues. “Having just<br />
completed a 23,000 pound, 12 ton, sculpture in this same Ruby Red<br />
Granite, I learned about granite time, with its four-billion-year-old<br />
perspective. It has much to teach.”<br />
Eighteen artists applied to be considered for the commissioned work.<br />
A local committee narrowed that group to three semi-finalists before it<br />
selected Falkman’s sculpture. The $42,000 project is nearing<br />
completion, with only landscaping left to complete. The work was<br />
acquired through the Wisconsin Art Board’s Percent for Art Program<br />
with funds from the state <strong>of</strong> Wisconsin. Learn more about the program<br />
at http://arts.state.wi.us/static/percent/percent.htm.<br />
Words <strong>of</strong> Wisdom<br />
Among the words Artist Susan Falkman has carved into her<br />
stone sculpture around Reuter Hall are:<br />
QUESTION • MEMORY • EXPERIENCE • CHARACTER • FREEDOM •<br />
DREAMS • KNOWLEDGE • REALITY • BELIEF • IDEAS •<br />
TRUTH • PERCEPTIONS<br />
w h a t ’ s h a p p e n i n g o n c a m p u s<br />
Steam plant<br />
renewed<br />
UW-L received state funding and recently<br />
completed a large pollution control addition to<br />
the steam plant. The renovation assists the<br />
university with improving emissions.<br />
did know?<br />
You can view the first decade<br />
<strong>of</strong> The Racquet — and issues<br />
since 2000 — online? Click on<br />
http://murphylibrary.uwlax.edu/<br />
digital/uwl/Racquet/index.html<br />
and you’ll find issues <strong>of</strong> the<br />
campus newspaper from<br />
1910 to 1920 and from<br />
2000 to 2006.<br />
u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8 • 1 3
w h a t ’ s h a p p e n i n g o n c a m p u s<br />
Mind and body<br />
And a little bit <strong>of</strong> soul<br />
1 4 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8<br />
Mens Corpusque, the Latin words for “Mind and Body” found on the<br />
university’s seal, was the prominent theme for Chancellor Joe Gow’s<br />
inauguration Oct. 19. (From top left, clockwise.) The day started early at 6:30<br />
a.m with the traditional “Hanging <strong>of</strong> the Lantern” and a Run with the<br />
Chancellor at Hoeschler Tower. A processional parade wound through<br />
campus. Chancellor Gow was warmly welcomed by a crowd in the<br />
Recreational Eagle Center. He topped <strong>of</strong>f the ceremony by singing “Luck Be<br />
A Lady,” backed up by the UW-L Jazz Ensemble I. Gow received statewide<br />
attention for funding costs personally for the inauguration — around $8,000<br />
— in a time <strong>of</strong> tight state funding. Faculty, staff and students donated $3,950<br />
to fund the planting <strong>of</strong> 10 trees in honor <strong>of</strong> the university’s 10th leader, an<br />
area near the REC dubbed “Gow’s Grove.” Not all <strong>of</strong> that was needed for the<br />
trees, so just over $1,000 will fund student scholarships in Gow’s name.
Among the inductees<br />
into the Wall <strong>of</strong> Fame<br />
in 2007 were, from left,<br />
Richard Heller, ’59;<br />
Barbara Gibson, ’78;<br />
James Ingold, ’79;<br />
William Patza, ’82;<br />
Ann Heaslett, ’86, and<br />
Mike Kearns.<br />
Six engraved into<br />
Wall <strong>of</strong> Fame<br />
Coach, athletes and supporter recognized<br />
a t h l e t i c s<br />
UW-L Gymnastics Coach Barb Gibson joined four former student-athletes and a<br />
La Crosse sports broadcaster in the university’s Wall <strong>of</strong> Fame. The Wall pays<br />
tribute to former athletes and coaches for their exceptional ability and<br />
enhancement <strong>of</strong> school tradition. It also recognizes long-time supporters <strong>of</strong> UW-L<br />
athletics with the Donald Gordon Merit Award.<br />
This year’s inductees — honored during Family, Friends and Alumni Weekend in<br />
October — included:<br />
continued on next page<br />
u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8 • 1 5
a t h l e t i c s<br />
continued from previous page<br />
Barbara Gibson, ’78<br />
Gibson has impacted UW-L women’s<br />
gymnastics for more than three decades<br />
— first as a student, then a coach.<br />
Gibson was the 1975 conference<br />
champion on the balance beam and the<br />
1978 conference floor champion. When<br />
she returned as coach in 1985, she<br />
began an extremely successful career.<br />
Through her first 22 years at the helm, Gibson has led the<br />
Eagles to 11 national championships and 15 conference titles.<br />
She has coached 26 individual national champions and 128<br />
All-Americans. Gibson was named National Collegiate<br />
Gymnastics Association Coach <strong>of</strong> the Year three times and<br />
conference Coach <strong>of</strong> the Year seven times. She has compiled a<br />
607-158 career record (575-154 at UW-L) in her first 25 years<br />
<strong>of</strong> coaching. Gibson earned a master’s from Southern Illinois<br />
<strong>University</strong>-Carbondale in 1981. She and her husband, Mark,<br />
UW-L’s head athletic trainer, live in La Crosse. They have<br />
three children.<br />
Ann M. Heaslett, ’86<br />
Heaslett ran to success during the mid<br />
’80s. Heaslett earned letters in cross<br />
country and track all four years. She<br />
helped the 1982 cross country team<br />
bring home a national championship,<br />
along with national track titles in 1983<br />
and 1984. She set a school record in<br />
the 10K at 36:53 in 1983. She was<br />
selected by teammates to serve as captain <strong>of</strong> the cross country<br />
team in 1986. Heaslett earned a medical degree from UW-<br />
Madison in 1991. She continues to run and has participated in<br />
numerous high-mile races worldwide. She works at Mendota<br />
Mental Health Institute in Madison, where she and her<br />
husband, Tim, live.<br />
1 6 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8<br />
Richard D. Heller, ’59<br />
Heller set school and conference<br />
records as a swimmer in the late ’50s.<br />
A football, basketball and track athlete<br />
at Elroy High School, Heller took to<br />
the pool when he arrived on campus in<br />
1955. He set school records in the<br />
220-yard and 440-yard freestyle,<br />
earning the most points in a season. He<br />
captured all-conference titles and scored conference records in<br />
both, taking those with the team to its first-ever national meet.<br />
After teaching and coaching at two high schools in Michigan,<br />
Heller went to the State <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> New York-Buffalo in<br />
1965. He retired in 2001. In 12 years <strong>of</strong> coaching swimming<br />
at Buffalo, he compiled 116 wins and 38 losses, seven<br />
conference titles, and 31 All-Americans. He was the state’s<br />
1978 Swim Coach <strong>of</strong> the Year and served on the U.S. Men’s<br />
Olympics Swimming Committee from 1971-76. Heller earned<br />
a master’s from Wayne State <strong>University</strong> in 1964. He has five<br />
grown children from his first marriage. He and his wife,<br />
Lynn, have two children. They live in Bristol, Tenn.<br />
James R. Ingold, ’80 & ’88<br />
Ingold has finished all 300 races he has<br />
started. He gained speed for that<br />
accomplishment in cross country and<br />
track during college, following four<br />
years as a harrier at Monroe High<br />
School. At UW-L, Ingold ran to three<br />
All-American honors and three<br />
conference championships, including<br />
two conference records in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and<br />
5,000-meter run. He came within 12 seconds <strong>of</strong> qualifying for<br />
the Olympic Trials Marathon. Ingold, an assistant UW-L<br />
men’s cross country and track coach in 1987-88, taught in<br />
Monticello and Fox Point-Bayside schools before becoming an<br />
elementary physical education teacher and coach for Monroe<br />
Public Schools in 1991. Ingold and his wife, Nancy, live in<br />
Monroe with their two sons.<br />
Think someone deserves recognition?<br />
You can nominate alumni with outstanding athletic accomplishments at UW-L for the Wall <strong>of</strong> Fame. Athletes must have<br />
completed competition 10 years or more before consideration. Past UW-L coaches and athletic administrators may also<br />
be nominated; deceased nominees will be considered. Get details at www.uwlax.edu/athletics/traditions/wallfame/
continued from previous page<br />
William Patza, ’82<br />
Patza set numerous records in<br />
football and track in the late ’70s<br />
and early ’80s. The Seymour High<br />
School football and track standout<br />
continued those sports at La<br />
Crosse. Patza was a five-time<br />
All-American in track and field,<br />
setting long and triple jump<br />
records, along with being the first from La Crosse to<br />
reach 50 feet in a jump. He captured three indoor and<br />
outdoor triple jump conference championships. In<br />
football, Patza caught three touchdown passes in one<br />
game —UW-Whitewater in 1980 —a record that<br />
remained tied for third in school history going into the<br />
’07 football season. He caught 11 touchdown passes and<br />
brought down 62 receptions during his collegiate career.<br />
Patza, who also holds a fire science degree from Western<br />
Technical College, is a La Crosse Fire Department<br />
captain. He and his wife, Cindy, live in La Crosse with<br />
their daughter.<br />
Mike Kearns<br />
He’s called more UW-L football<br />
and basketball games than anyone<br />
else. Mike Kearns has been the<br />
voice <strong>of</strong> the Eagles on La Crosse’s<br />
WKTY radio for more than two<br />
decades. It’s a good reason for him<br />
to receive the Donald Gordon<br />
Merit Award. Kearns, sports<br />
director at the station since 1972, says his most<br />
memorable broadcasts were the football national<br />
championships in 1992 and 1995. The 1970 graduate <strong>of</strong><br />
La Crescent (Minn.) High School lives in La Crosse with<br />
his wife, Dawn. They have two children.<br />
a t h l e t i c s<br />
Werner watch<br />
From Mitchell Hall to Lambeau Field<br />
Former UW-L cager Joe Werner had a chance <strong>of</strong> a lifetime<br />
last summer. He signed as a free agent with the Green Bay<br />
Packers. Werner saw action in three <strong>of</strong> the Packers’ four<br />
exhibition games, playing against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle<br />
Seahawks and Jacksonville Jaguars. He recorded two tackles<br />
against the Steelers before being released Aug. 24.<br />
“The experience was amazing,” notes Werner. “I can<br />
remember when I was a kid<br />
going out in the yard at halftime<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Packers game and throwing<br />
the football around with my dad<br />
or brother, always pretending I<br />
was catching a pass from Brett<br />
Favre. During preseason I had the<br />
chance to actually live out this<br />
dream, to put the jersey on, run<br />
out <strong>of</strong> the tunnel at Lambeau and<br />
get in a couple <strong>of</strong> games and<br />
catch passes from Favre. It was a<br />
dream come true.”<br />
The 2006-07 Wisconsin<br />
Intercollegiate Athletic<br />
Conference Basketball Player <strong>of</strong><br />
the Year hadn’t played football for six years since high school at<br />
Chippewa Falls McDonell. Werner was worried he would just be<br />
somebody walking around and really not get noticed. That<br />
wasn’t the case. “The guys were great,” he says. “It would have<br />
been exciting to just go be on the team, but the people on the<br />
team made it that much greater.”<br />
His most memorable moments included signing to a contract<br />
after trying out, running on the field with the tight ends for<br />
Family Night and catching a touchdown pass from Favre in<br />
practice.<br />
He would love to give football another try, but it’s not up to<br />
him. “I’m staying in shape so if they give me a call back I will<br />
be ready,” Werner says. “I know I still have a lot to learn and am<br />
more than willing to put the required time in.”<br />
Werner, who hopes to complete an MBA in spring 2008, was<br />
married to former UW-L basketball player Katy Searing July 21,<br />
2007. He plans to go to Australia in January to play hoops. “My<br />
wife and I are trying to get her an opportunity to do her student<br />
teaching there,” he says.<br />
u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8 • 1 7
a t h l e t i c s<br />
On track<br />
Men’s track and field team<br />
captures a record 11th<br />
national outdoor title<br />
The men’s<br />
track and<br />
field team<br />
is on course to<br />
make its<br />
dominance <strong>of</strong><br />
the National<br />
Collegiate<br />
Athletic<br />
Association<br />
Division III last<br />
even longer. Last<br />
spring, the team<br />
used a balanced<br />
attack with 23<br />
athletes to capture its 11th NCAA Division III<br />
Outdoor Championship. The Eagles won the<br />
crown with 99.0 points at UW-Oshkosh’s J.J.<br />
Keller Field at Titan Stadium. With the 11<br />
national titles — the most in NCAA III history<br />
— UW-L has won six <strong>of</strong> the last seven outdoor<br />
championships.<br />
In the 2007 meet, UW-L captured the 4 x<br />
400-meter relay title with the team <strong>of</strong> David<br />
Kolbe, John Doble, Jeremy Deterville and Tony<br />
Marcinek. They set a stadium record with a<br />
winning time <strong>of</strong> 3:11.01. It’s UW-L’s fourth<br />
national crown in the last five years in the 4 x<br />
400-meter relay, also winning in 2003, 2004 and<br />
2005. The Eagles placed second in 2006.<br />
UW-L's Kevin Becker captured his second<br />
national title in the hammer throw with a facility<br />
record toss <strong>of</strong> 198-10. He also won the event in<br />
2005 and placed second in 2004. It’s Becker’s<br />
third national championship. He also took the<br />
weight throw at the 2006 indoor championships.<br />
Brent Ericksen was head coach in 2007.<br />
1 8 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8<br />
Baker enters<br />
N.J. Hall <strong>of</strong> Fame<br />
Eagles Athletic Director Joe Baker has been inducted<br />
into the Newark, N.J., Athletic Hall <strong>of</strong> Fame. Baker<br />
lettered in football, basketball and baseball at<br />
Newark’s Weequahic High School, making all-state, allconference<br />
and all-city teams in baseball and all-conference<br />
in football. After high school, he was <strong>of</strong>fered a pr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />
baseball contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but continued<br />
his athletic career at Montclair State <strong>University</strong> (N.J.)<br />
playing baseball, football and basketball. He earned a<br />
bachelor’s in physical education in 1970. Baker was named UW-L’s athletic<br />
director in 1998. He oversees 19 teams that have won 21 national championships<br />
and 68 conference titles.<br />
A familiar face<br />
Interim Coach Don Fritsch to head<br />
track team in ’08<br />
An alum with an excellent track record will serve as<br />
interim head coach <strong>of</strong> the men’s track and field<br />
team. Don Fritsch, ’80 & ’93, who serves as the<br />
Eagles’ head men’s cross country coach, replaces Brent<br />
Ericksen who resigned in July to become an assistant coach<br />
at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.<br />
As a long-time alum <strong>of</strong> the program and a 16-year<br />
veteran as a volunteer coach for track, Fritsch wanted to see<br />
a smooth transition. “Our goal will be to prepare and coach<br />
a highly-competitive team once again this year, but I want to do more than tread<br />
water for one year,” explains Fritsch. “I want to turn over a program and team to<br />
the future coach that is highly motivated, confident and very positive about the<br />
future <strong>of</strong> the program. The past success <strong>of</strong> this program has always hinged on the<br />
incredible attitudes and great work ethics <strong>of</strong> our student-athletes and that will not<br />
change.”<br />
Fritsch’s cross country teams have captured two NCAA III titles and six<br />
conference championships going into his 10th year as their coach. He was<br />
inducted into the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association Hall <strong>of</strong> Fame in<br />
January 2004.<br />
Fritsch, a health and physical education teacher at La Crosse's Longfellow<br />
Middle School since 1994, has also taught at UW-L and Viterbo <strong>University</strong>.
did know?<br />
The new UW-La Crosse license<br />
plates are available. Click on:<br />
www.dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/vehi<br />
cles/personal/special/universi.htm<br />
for details on how Wisconsin<br />
residents can sport — and support<br />
— UW-L!<br />
After spring commencement,<br />
UW-L has 63,836 recorded alumni.<br />
The UW-L Army ROTC program<br />
was one <strong>of</strong> the top ROTC programs<br />
nationwide in spring 2007. It<br />
received an Order <strong>of</strong> Merit ranking,<br />
given only to programs in the top 15<br />
percent <strong>of</strong> the nation’s 273<br />
programs.<br />
Physics student Gustave Borstad<br />
was one <strong>of</strong> just eight Wisconsin<br />
students to be awarded the<br />
prestigious Goldwater Scholarship<br />
for 2007-08, the premier award given<br />
to only 317 science-related majors<br />
nationwide. Two UW-L students<br />
received the prestigious award in<br />
2006-07.<br />
e s p e c i a l l y f o r a l u m n i<br />
Golf<br />
Outing<br />
Chancellor’s<br />
Chancellor’s golf<br />
fund-raiser draws<br />
supporters<br />
One hundred and thirty-three signed up for this year’s<br />
Chancellor’s Golf Outing Aug. 15 at Cedar Creek Country<br />
Club in Onalaska. Waterlogged conditions kept most <strong>of</strong>f the<br />
course, but donors shared camaraderie and a luncheon. The annual<br />
fundraiser supports alumni programming. Among those attending<br />
were, from left, clockwise, Larry Lebiecki, ’62, retired assistant<br />
chancellor; Kenneth Lindner, UW-L chancellor from 1971 to 1979;<br />
Chancellor Joe Gow; Ted Knudson, ’60; Carl Wimberly, retired vice<br />
chancellor; Robert Burns, retired, microbiology; Paul Taylor, retired,<br />
chemistry.<br />
u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8 • 1 9
e s p e c i a l l y f o r a l u m n i<br />
It’s a generational thing<br />
Alums join Alumni Association to stay connected<br />
Recent grads join to stay connected and volunteer. Some join to<br />
continue the “La Crosse tradition.” Others, because their degree has<br />
more value than the day they walked across the stage. “No matter<br />
what the reason, we need you to join!” says Janie Spencer, executive<br />
director <strong>of</strong> the Alumni Association.<br />
“When I think <strong>of</strong> UW-L, it always brings a smile to my face,” explains<br />
Anne Grayson, ’86, Onalaska. “Changes over the past several years have<br />
elevated the university to a top-rated educational institution. So, the<br />
undergraduate degree I hold has even greater value than it did the day I<br />
received it.”<br />
Grayson says the past and present have brought her wonderful things as<br />
an alum. “Staying connected through the Alumni Association is easy and I<br />
can’t wait to see what’s in store for the future.”<br />
Association membership is filled with benefits to stay connected to<br />
friends and the university. “The reason I became a member <strong>of</strong> the UW-L<br />
Alumni Association was because as a student I experienced the support that<br />
alums <strong>of</strong>fered and I wanted to continue that tradition,” notes Greg<br />
Natyshak, ’00, Savage, Minn. “As an alum I have had the opportunity to<br />
reconnect with old friends to reminisce, meet new friends and keep<br />
connected to what is happening on campus and in the La Crosse area.”<br />
Along with benefits, the Alumni Association plans events throughout the<br />
country. The association continues to look for volunteers to help with these<br />
events and support the university.<br />
“The UW-L Alumni Association allows me to stay connected to the<br />
campus,” notes Cheryl Behnke, ’07, La Crosse. “As a member, I am able<br />
to volunteer at many events on campus including the Etiquette Dinner,<br />
Move-In Day Ice Cream social and ‘Celebrate UW-La Crosse!’ These<br />
opportunities allow me to share in the positive and memorable experiences<br />
with students as they begin to build their relationship with the university.”<br />
Join today at www.uwlalumni.org/join.php and keep the “La Crosse<br />
Experience” alive for alumni and current students.<br />
2 0 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8<br />
Membership<br />
has advantages<br />
When you join the UW-L Alumni<br />
Association you help preserve the “La<br />
Crosse Experience.” And, you can take<br />
advantage <strong>of</strong> these benefits:<br />
• A Downtown Mainstreet Inc. discount<br />
card for many La Crosse area<br />
businesses. (NEW)<br />
• Discounts on merchandise at Games<br />
People Play in La Crosse and<br />
Onalaska. (NEW)<br />
• Discounts on select continuing<br />
education courses at UW-L.<br />
• Access to the Recreational Eagle<br />
Center and <strong>Murphy</strong> <strong>Library</strong> on<br />
campus.<br />
• Access to the online alumni directory<br />
to find friends and former classmates.<br />
• Special invitations for travel<br />
programs, with great destinations —<br />
Spain in spring ’08 and Ireland,<br />
Greece in fall.<br />
• Discounts on insurance products and<br />
special events.<br />
• Subscriptions to the Lantern, e-<br />
Alumnus and the Alumnus magazine.<br />
• And more! Visit our Web site for a<br />
comprehensive benefit list.<br />
Join today at<br />
www.uwlalumni.org/join.php.
Delta Sigs<br />
celebrate 40 years<br />
Retired pr<strong>of</strong>essor Bob<br />
Wingate, who continues to<br />
serve as faculty adviser to<br />
Delta Sigma Phi,<br />
participated in the<br />
fraternity’s reunion during<br />
this fall’s “Celebrate<br />
La Crosse!” event.<br />
It wasn’t a traditional homecoming bonfire. It was better.<br />
For the Delta Sigma Phi 40th anniversary celebration in October,<br />
fraternity brothers held the formal burning <strong>of</strong> the mortgage <strong>of</strong> their<br />
fraternity house just blocks from campus at 1429 Main St. More than 500<br />
brothers have lived in the house since it was purchased in 1968. Alumni<br />
have made certain that the nearly 100-year-old home maintains the charm<br />
and character it had when built in 1909.<br />
That historic setting is fitting for the Epsilon Iota Chapter <strong>of</strong> the<br />
National Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity, the longest continuously-run social<br />
fraternity in UW-L history. Just over 200 brothers gathered as part <strong>of</strong><br />
“Celebrate UW-La Crosse!” Oct. 19-21. The chapter boasts more than<br />
700 alumni scattered throughout the states and a few foreign countries.<br />
In 1965 the Delta Sigs began from scratch as a colony. In 1967 they<br />
successfully applied for chapter status. They gather every five years to<br />
celebrate the beginning <strong>of</strong> the brotherhood. The 45th reunion will be in<br />
2012. Brothers are already talking about a major celebration for the 50th<br />
in 2017.<br />
Current undergraduate brothers achieved a 3.32 GPA last spring and<br />
continuously compete at or above the male average on campus. Along<br />
with an active social calendar, the chapter is involved in numerous<br />
campus and area philanthropic causes.<br />
The Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity is the longest continuouslyrun<br />
social fraternity on campus. For more information on<br />
the Epsilon Iota Chapter visit www.dsp-ei.org.<br />
e s p e c i a l l y f o r a l u m n i<br />
Residence Life<br />
staffers return<br />
More than 170 UW-L residence life alumni and<br />
friends attended the Residence Life Alumni<br />
Club all-class reunion Oct. 27-28. The weekend<br />
<strong>of</strong> entertainment and reconnecting with campus and<br />
friends included campus tours, a fundraising lunch for<br />
Thomas Harris, a home football game, updates from<br />
current Director <strong>of</strong> Residence Life Nick Nicklaus, and a<br />
special guest appearance by Neil Diamond (aka: past<br />
Director <strong>of</strong> Residence Life Dick Kohler).<br />
Future residence life get-togethers being planned include:<br />
• a reunion within the next year or so to commemorate<br />
Baird, Trowbridge, and Wilder halls which are<br />
scheduled to be replaced by a new academic<br />
building.<br />
• a NACURH reunion within the next three years.<br />
• another all-class reunion in five years.<br />
The alumni club plans to continue supporting<br />
Residence Life and the Alumni Association through<br />
training, presentations and support <strong>of</strong> current residence life<br />
staff members. The club hopes to maintain and update<br />
both the residence life alumni contact list and Web site.<br />
The Residence Life Alumni Club continues to look for<br />
volunteers and new ideas. Contact the club at<br />
rlac@uwlax.edu.<br />
u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8 • 2 1
e s p e c i a l l y f o r a l u m n i<br />
Family, friends and alumni<br />
2 2 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8<br />
Fraternity brothers, former football players and<br />
Class <strong>of</strong> ’57 grads were just some <strong>of</strong> the many<br />
alumni groups returning to “Celebrate UW-<br />
La Crosse!” Oct. 19-21. One special highlight was the<br />
inauguration <strong>of</strong> the university’s 10th leader, Chancellor<br />
Joe Gow. In addition to the pomp and circumstance <strong>of</strong><br />
the formal inaugural ceremony, Gow wowed the<br />
audience with his rendition <strong>of</strong> “Luck be a Lady<br />
Tonight,” backed up the the UW-L Jazz Ensemble I.<br />
Students, their families and alumni enjoyed Bingo, a<br />
live eagle demonstration, a hypnotist, the Eagles football<br />
win over UW-Oshkosh (24-0) and a family brunch at<br />
Whitney Center. Mark your calendars for Oct. 17-19,<br />
2008! For more photos, visit the UW-L Alumni<br />
Association Web site, ww.uwlalumni.org.
e s p e c i a l l y f o r a l u m n i<br />
‘Celebrate UW-La Crosse!’<br />
Clockwise, from top left previous page: 1. Members <strong>of</strong> ’92<br />
national championship football team catch up with one<br />
another. 2. A future UW-L alum shows support. 3. A bald<br />
eagle graced the campus before the football game. 4. Head<br />
Football Coach Larry Terry shares a laugh during the reunion.<br />
5. The class <strong>of</strong> ’57 poses for a class picture. 6. UW-L<br />
students cheer on the Eagles football team. 7. The Eagles<br />
showed their strength defeating UW-Oshkosh, 24-0.<br />
u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8 • 2 3
e s p e c i a l l y f o r a l u m n i<br />
Flamenco dancers<br />
swirl, bullfighters<br />
whirl<br />
Join UW-L alumni, friends<br />
on a trip to Spain<br />
Picture yourself in the Prado taking in one masterpiece after another, or<br />
sipping sangria on a café-lined promenade on the sandy beaches <strong>of</strong> the Costa<br />
del Sol. Enjoy watching a flamenco dancer swirling in a red dress, and a<br />
bullfighter twirling his red cape. These and other sights and sounds are awaiting<br />
alumni April 18-27, 2008.<br />
Go Next, UW-L Alumni Association’s travel partner, has taken care <strong>of</strong><br />
the details. All you need to do is relax and decide what you want to do<br />
each day!<br />
The $2,699 base cost includes:<br />
• Round-trip transportation to Madrid, Spain<br />
• First-class hotel accommodations: three nights in<br />
Torremolinos/Benalmadena on the Costa del Sol<br />
• Buffet breakfast daily<br />
• Sightseeing <strong>of</strong> Madrid, Seville and<br />
Cordoba<br />
• All transfers as specified in<br />
itinerary<br />
• Transportation from Madrid to<br />
Cordoba and Malaga to Madrid<br />
via a high speed “Talgo” train<br />
• Luggage handling and related<br />
tipping<br />
• Local government and hotel<br />
taxes<br />
• Services <strong>of</strong> a pr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />
travel director<br />
• Complete pre-flight information<br />
2 4 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8<br />
Other optional excursions will be available<br />
to purchase 45 days prior to departure.<br />
Get complete details at<br />
www.gonext.com/uwla/spain08.html.<br />
Membership<br />
adds up<br />
Accountancy alum wins<br />
Spain trip<br />
Christa Baldridge, ’99, never expected a<br />
call at work one Friday afternoon last<br />
summer. “The noise I made attracted a<br />
crowd,” recalls Baldridge. “An intern came<br />
running and asked ‘What happened?’” The noise<br />
Baldridge made was because she had won the trip<br />
to Spain <strong>of</strong>fered by the Alumni Association as an<br />
incentive during its June membership drive.<br />
“If I hadn’t known better I would have thought<br />
it was a joke,” says Baldridge. “I had totally<br />
forgotten about the contest.”<br />
Baldridge, a CPA with Virchow Krause in<br />
Milwaukee, is looking forward to the trip not only<br />
because she and her husband have never been to<br />
Europe —it falls three days after tax season.<br />
“I really like the fact that it is a guided tour,”<br />
notes Baldridge. “I don’t have to plan anything or<br />
worry about remembering my high school<br />
Spanish.”
‘In the red zone’<br />
f o u n d a t i o n u p d a t e<br />
Fundraising for Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex nears goal<br />
By Cary Heyer<br />
The two-minute warning has sounded. The home team is<br />
on <strong>of</strong>fense and we’re in four-down territory. The<br />
backfield is in motion and the ball has been snapped …<br />
What happens next depends on the ability <strong>of</strong> the<br />
quarterback – in this case, UW-L Foundation Development<br />
Officer Mike Desmond – and his star backs to punch the<br />
ball into the end zone. In this case, however, the goal line<br />
isn’t marked by foam-padded pylons. But it’s no less<br />
evident.<br />
To proceed with the construction <strong>of</strong> a new Veterans<br />
Memorial Field Sports Complex, Desmond and his team<br />
must raise about $18 million. That’s about $3 million more<br />
than the original target for the project. But during a recent<br />
news conference, Desmond was joined on the dais by<br />
Chancellor Joe Gow and Vice Chancellor for Finance and<br />
Administration Bob Hetzel who shared that the scope <strong>of</strong> the<br />
project – and costs associated with it, particularly fuel and<br />
materials – has changed since the project was announced<br />
18 months ago.<br />
Raising an additional $3 million over the original goal<br />
is a daunting proposition, to be sure. But with the steely<br />
confidence that the New York Jets’ Joe Namath showed<br />
when he guaranteed a victory over the heavily favored<br />
Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, Desmond says it<br />
will happen.<br />
There’s good reason to believe him.<br />
continued on next page<br />
Artist’s rendering <strong>of</strong> the new Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex<br />
Contact<br />
For more information or to contribute to the Veterans Memorial<br />
Field Sports Complex, contact Mike Desmond at 608.785.5322 or<br />
desmond.mich@uwlax.edu<br />
Artist’s rendering <strong>of</strong> Veterans Hall <strong>of</strong> Honor interior.<br />
u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8 • 2 5
f o u n d a t i o n u p d a t e<br />
continued from previous page<br />
As <strong>of</strong> Jan. 7, over $13 million in private gifts has been raised for the<br />
campaign. Four $1 million contributions and support from La Crosse County and<br />
the cities <strong>of</strong> Onalaska and La Crosse, thanks to a proposed one percent room tax<br />
earmarked for the project, have moved the ball into the red zone. In the past six<br />
months alone, the UW-L Foundation has received $4 million in pledges toward<br />
the project.<br />
“That places us in the fortunate position to proceed with the project in two<br />
phases,” Desmond says. Pending the approval <strong>of</strong> the UW-L Foundation board <strong>of</strong><br />
directors on Feb. 1, construction <strong>of</strong> the first phase <strong>of</strong> the project will begin as<br />
scheduled in June 2008. Phase One will include all the essential elements <strong>of</strong> the<br />
complex, including the track, football field, west-side bleachers and concourse.<br />
Phase Two, which would include the east side bleachers, strength training center<br />
and home team locker room, would begin when the overall goal <strong>of</strong> $18.6 million<br />
has been reached.<br />
Desmond, who earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education in ’76 and<br />
a master’s in education in ’87, has spent much <strong>of</strong> his career — 27 years, to be<br />
precise — as a basketball coach. But he’s quick to use a football analogy when<br />
describing the status <strong>of</strong> the fundraising campaign for the Veterans Memorial Field<br />
project. “We’re in four-down territory and the clock is running. It’s time to<br />
complete the drive.”<br />
The UW-L Foundation has launched an aggressive effort to build support for<br />
the project with a series <strong>of</strong> informational, full-page ads that are being published<br />
courtesy <strong>of</strong> the La Crosse Tribune. An editorial penned over the signatures <strong>of</strong><br />
campaign co-chairs Dyanne Brudos, Duane Ring Jr. and Dave Skogen detailed in<br />
specificity the benefits <strong>of</strong> the campaign for the community. And, <strong>of</strong> course,<br />
members <strong>of</strong> the development team at the UW-L Foundation are meeting with<br />
potential donors to state the case for the dollars needed to move forward.<br />
“We’ve been encouraged by the support this project has received,” Desmond<br />
says. “Each day’s mail brings checks that are tagged for the stadium.” But with<br />
fundraising as in athletics, the final two minutes are <strong>of</strong>ten the most challenging.<br />
So he’s calling on the motivational skills he’s learned as a coach to secure a<br />
victory. His plea is passionate, sincere and direct.<br />
“We have no Plan B,” Desmond says. “Repairing and retr<strong>of</strong>itting the current<br />
facility would exceed its value and is not a practical or financially responsible<br />
option. We must get this done.”<br />
“This” includes a multi-use facility that would continue to host events for<br />
Special Olympics, the YMCA, the American Cancer Society, area elementary<br />
schools, and the National Youth Sports Program, and high school football games<br />
and other recreational, cultural and civic events. The new facility could host high<br />
school and collegiate sports tournaments, concerts, home and garden shows,<br />
outdoor exhibitions, graduation ceremonies for area schools, art fairs and more. It<br />
will also include an enhanced Veterans Hall <strong>of</strong> Honor and barrier-free access to<br />
persons with disabilities.<br />
“It would complement the wonderful facilities that already exist in the<br />
La Crosse Center, Onalaska OmniCenter, Logger’s Field at Copeland Park, and<br />
Riverside Park. It’s intriguing to consider all the possibilities,” Desmond says.<br />
The prize is in sight. You have the ball.<br />
2 6 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8<br />
Foundation<br />
welcomes<br />
new board<br />
members<br />
Three alumni and one faculty member<br />
were approved by the UW-La Crosse<br />
Foundation Board to begin four-year<br />
terms starting in September 2007. They include:<br />
Jerry Augustine, ’74 — Owner <strong>of</strong> a Milwaukee<br />
insurance company. He majored in teacher<br />
education. Augustine was a pitcher for the<br />
Milwaukee Brewers.<br />
Randy Erickson, ’81 — Senior Vice President,<br />
Chief Administrative Officer and General<br />
Counsel for Marshall & Ilsley Corp.,<br />
Milwaukee. He majored in computer science.<br />
Mike Hayford, ’81 — Chief Operating Officer and<br />
Chief Financial Officer for Metavante Corp.,<br />
Milwaukee. He majored in accounting.<br />
Michele Thorman — Physical Therapy Program<br />
Director, UW-La Crosse. She holds a<br />
bachelor’s from the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Nebraska and<br />
an MBA from Cardinal Strich College.<br />
Randy Erickson Mike Hayford<br />
Michele Thorman
Established<br />
funds support<br />
scholarships,<br />
programs<br />
The Jean and William Gilles Scholarship for Physical Therapy<br />
Third Year Internships Fund, supports scholarships for<br />
physical therapy, third-year internship students.<br />
Thomas J. Hill Memorial Scholarship, supports students<br />
from the Tomah, Colby or Wisconsin Dells school<br />
districts pursuing a career in education.<br />
Warta Krueger Hall Scholarship Fund, supports students in<br />
teacher education.<br />
Wayne P. Krumel Multipurpose Endowment Fund, supports<br />
the departments <strong>of</strong> communication studies and theatre<br />
arts.<br />
Markel-Joyce Guest Artist Fund in Theatre Arts, provides<br />
support for visiting guest artists.<br />
Medical Dosimetry Fund, supports the Medical Dosimetry<br />
Program.<br />
Pride Center Fund, supports the programs and mission <strong>of</strong><br />
the Pride Center.<br />
Promising Future Psychologist First-Year Scholarship Fund,<br />
supports scholarships for entering freshmen majoring in<br />
pre-psychology.<br />
The Risk Watch Safe Communities Fund, supports youth<br />
injury prevention activities <strong>of</strong> the Risk Watch Safe<br />
Communities <strong>of</strong> the La Crosse Area.<br />
The River Watch Fund, provides assistance during the<br />
academic year for security around the Mississippi River.<br />
For information on these funds, or to find out<br />
how to establish a fund, contact the UW-L<br />
Foundation at 608.785.8489.<br />
f o u n d a t i o n u p d a t e<br />
Free tuition comes<br />
at a prime time<br />
Free tuition is always good — especially when one <strong>of</strong> your parents<br />
became unemployed. Ryan Farwell, a sophomore from Plattsburg,<br />
Mo., majoring in sports management, found out in May that his<br />
raffle ticket was drawn and he would receive in-state tuition for the<br />
fall ’07 semester. That was especially good news for an out-<strong>of</strong>-state<br />
student whose dad had just lost his job. The bi-annual raffles, which pay<br />
in-state tuition for each semester, raise around $30,000 for UW-L<br />
Foundation scholarships, emergency student loans, research, and<br />
on-going and new projects.<br />
Desmond earns<br />
state fame<br />
Ryan Farwell<br />
won tuition in<br />
the UW-L<br />
Foundation’s<br />
bi-annual<br />
raffle.<br />
UW-L Foundation Development<br />
Specialist Mike Desmond,<br />
’76 & ’87, was inducted into the<br />
Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association<br />
Hall <strong>of</strong> Fame in September. Desmond,<br />
head boys basketball coach at La Crosse<br />
Aquinas High School from 1988-2004,<br />
was an assistant for the UW-L men’s<br />
basketball team from 2005-06.<br />
His high school team won the Wisconsin<br />
Interscholastic Athletic Association<br />
(WIAA) Division II State Championship<br />
in 2003.<br />
u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8 • 2 7
l a c r o s s e t i e s<br />
Classnotes<br />
To learn how you can keep in touch with us, go to page 37.<br />
’47<br />
Tim Nugent, Champaign, Ill., received<br />
the Chancellor’s Medallion from<br />
Richard Herman, chancellor <strong>of</strong> the<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Illinois at Urbana-<br />
Champaign. During a 37-year career<br />
at the school he was instrumental in<br />
improving the lives <strong>of</strong> those with<br />
disabilities through rehabilitation<br />
education.<br />
’52<br />
C. Ashley Ellefson, Cortland, N.Y.,<br />
had a book-length manuscript,<br />
“William Bladen <strong>of</strong> Annapolis, 1673?-<br />
1718: ‘the most capable in all<br />
Cheaper by the dozen<br />
2 8 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8<br />
Respects‚’ or ‘Blockhead Booby‚’“<br />
placed on the Web site <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Maryland State Archives. It’s the first<br />
thorough study <strong>of</strong> Bladen, a lawyer<br />
who came to Maryland in 1692 and<br />
quickly became a political favorite.<br />
Ellefson’s commentary about Bladen<br />
provides an alternative to flattering<br />
comments historians have made<br />
about him. Ellefson is retired from the<br />
State <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> New York in<br />
Cortland.<br />
’54<br />
Thomas Rosandich, Daphne, Ala.,<br />
recently celebrated the 35th<br />
Thomas<br />
Rosandich<br />
anniversary <strong>of</strong> the<br />
U.S. Sports<br />
Academy, which he<br />
founded.<br />
Rosandich says the<br />
academy is “the<br />
only accredited,<br />
free-standing<br />
sports university in<br />
America and the largest graduate<br />
sports program in the country.”<br />
’55<br />
Holly and Donna (Mucha) Jansen,<br />
’56, celebrated their 50th wedding<br />
anniversary Aug. 17, 2007.<br />
When the Bassueners get together, it’s not<br />
only a family reunion, it’s a UW-La Crosse<br />
reunion. A dozen family members boast<br />
alumni status. Those posing to show their<br />
La Crosse pride include, from left, Mike<br />
Bassuener, ’08; Kristy (Boland) Bassuener,<br />
’01; A.J. Bassuener, ’99, holding future<br />
alum Kendell Bassuener; Jill (Bassuener)<br />
Fletcher, ’97; <strong>Lee</strong> Fletcher, ’93; Kay<br />
(Hegge) Bassuener, ’89; Craig Bassuener,<br />
’88; Paula (Steebs) Bassuener, ’76; Robert<br />
Bassuener, ’76; Dawn (Kolstad) Bassuener,<br />
’72; Alan Bassuener, ’65 & ’71; and Carol<br />
(Hettinga) Bassuener, ’64 & ’72.
Still the Best (House)<br />
’62<br />
George W. Schubert and his wife,<br />
Arline, have returned to Grand Forks,<br />
N.D., where Schubert will be an<br />
adjunct pr<strong>of</strong>essor at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
North Dakota Law School. He served<br />
27 years as the faculty representative<br />
at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> North Dakota, has<br />
authored many articles in sports law<br />
and is co-author <strong>of</strong> the textbook,<br />
Sports Law. Arline Short-Schubert,<br />
who attended La Crosse State, is a<br />
retired attorney and spends much <strong>of</strong><br />
her time playing Bridge and traveling.<br />
’63<br />
Lonnie C. Smith, Burnsville, Minn.,<br />
retired Aug. 31, 2007, from the<br />
Lakeville (Minn.) Public School District<br />
after serving 10 years as director <strong>of</strong><br />
business services. Since 1966, Smith<br />
served as a teacher, coach, principal,<br />
superintendent and business manager<br />
working in two school districts in<br />
Wisconsin and five in Minnesota,<br />
completing 41 years in public<br />
education.<br />
’66<br />
Larry Weinberg, Coconut Creek, Fla.,<br />
has retired to southern Florida to golf<br />
and fish year ’round.<br />
l a c r o s s e t i e s<br />
Graduates from the ’60s who lived in Best<br />
House continue to meet annually. Attending the<br />
2007 event in La Crosse were, from left, Sue<br />
Hickey ’67, Green Bay; Gayl (Gutknecht)<br />
Christensen, ’67, Browntown; Darryle (Damon)<br />
Clott ’66 & ’71, La Crosse; Sonja (Pfaff) Haske,<br />
’66; and Shirley (Walsvik) Merill, ’67. (Missing<br />
from the photo is Andi (Elstad) Sosalla, ’67,<br />
Bella Vista, Ark.) The group used to meet every<br />
five years, but several years ago members<br />
realized they needed to “seize the moment” and<br />
gather annually. “As always with true friends, we<br />
seem to pick up immediately where we left <strong>of</strong>f<br />
the previous visit, and the years vanish as we<br />
share the past year’s adventures, joys and<br />
sorrows,” explains Clott. “The most noticeable<br />
thing about us is that the seeds <strong>of</strong> everything we have become were there back on campus all those years ago.”<br />
Clott says the roommates haven’t changed much. “Shirley still inspires us with her positive outlook, Sonja continues her life-long quest for<br />
education, Sue cares for everyone who crosses her path, Gayl’s value system is one all strive for, Andi’s humor is unsurpassed,” says<br />
Clott, adding while in semi-retirement, she “still goes 24/7.”<br />
’67<br />
Ronald J. Cook, Custer, retired from<br />
Sentry insurance in May where he<br />
was director <strong>of</strong> corporate wellness for<br />
30 years. After retiring, Cook began<br />
helping a friend develop and market<br />
golf products to help golfers improve<br />
balance, flexibility, stretching and<br />
strength, www.golfstretcher.com. He<br />
and his wife, Katharine, enjoy seeing<br />
their family, particularly their two<br />
grandsons.<br />
u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8 • 2 9
l a c r o s s e t i e s<br />
’71<br />
Elizabeth “Betty” (Brown) Freeman,<br />
Marco Island, Fla., was named<br />
Caregiver <strong>of</strong> the Year by the Sunrise<br />
Rotary Club in Marco Island. She was<br />
honored for her work with community<br />
members on and <strong>of</strong>f the island.<br />
’75<br />
Mike, ’75, and Sandi (Bracey), ’78,<br />
Nitka, Waukesha, have three children<br />
— all attending UW-L. Cal is a senior<br />
Royal members<br />
Two members <strong>of</strong> this fall’s Oktoberfest<br />
royalty have UW-L ties. Steve Hole,<br />
’76, was the 2007 Oktoberfest Torchlight<br />
Parade Marshal. Hole is a teacher<br />
and activities director at La Crosse’s<br />
Logan High School. Mandy Nogle, a<br />
senior majoring in communications<br />
from Mondovi, was crowned 2007<br />
Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest. Nogle<br />
will compete in the Miss Wisconsin<br />
scholarship pageant, part <strong>of</strong> the Miss<br />
America organization, in June.<br />
Both will continue to represent<br />
La Crosse throughout the Midwest<br />
until next year’s fest.<br />
3 0 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8<br />
Part <strong>of</strong> the family for 40 years<br />
in accountancy; Matt, a senior in<br />
finance; and Megan, a freshman in<br />
the physician assistant program. They<br />
also have a niece and cousin<br />
attending UW-L. “I guess you could<br />
say attending the university runs in<br />
the family,” says Sandi. “Mike and I<br />
really enjoyed our time at La Crosse<br />
and it must have made an impression<br />
on our children.”<br />
Pete A. Wysocki, Muskego, will be<br />
starting his 32nd year at Brookfield<br />
Central as a student supervisor. He is<br />
involved with videotaping and<br />
technology work with the football<br />
program, taping for boys basketball,<br />
and coaching his 33rd year in boys<br />
track, coaching the jumps. Pete and<br />
his wife, Mary, have been married for<br />
11 years.<br />
A second generation <strong>of</strong> the Sherrens has<br />
graduated from UW-L. Ann Sherren, center,<br />
earned a degree in sociology and business<br />
in May 2007. She’s the daughter <strong>of</strong> two<br />
other La Crosse alums — Margo Ann<br />
(Gardner) Sherren, ’71, and Brian Sherren,<br />
’73, <strong>of</strong> St. Germain. “Our family returns<br />
regularly [to La Crosse] to enjoy the area<br />
and visit the university,” says Brian. “We’re<br />
proud to support the UW-L Foundation.” The<br />
Sherrens have owned and operated L<strong>of</strong>ty<br />
Pines R.V. Park since 1971. Their son, Ian,<br />
attends UW-Whitewater.<br />
’76<br />
Julianne Justmann Born, Ripon, is a<br />
high school social studies teacher and<br />
K-12 coordinator for gifted education<br />
with the Rosendale-Brandon School<br />
District. She was the recipient <strong>of</strong> a<br />
Japanese Fulbright Memorial<br />
Scholarship. From Nov. 12-30, 2006,<br />
she learned about Japanese<br />
education, government and culture in<br />
Japan. The scholarship, available<br />
through the Japanese government, is<br />
a way <strong>of</strong> saying thank you in response<br />
to the William J. Fulbright program that<br />
hosts foreign teachers. Born returned<br />
to assist the school district with an<br />
Asian thematic year. She is a past<br />
president <strong>of</strong> the Wisconsin Association<br />
for Talented & Gifted. She and her<br />
husband, Gary, have three children, all<br />
college grads.
Better than a reunion<br />
For 30 years, a group <strong>of</strong> alums and friends has come together for golf and dinner.<br />
The semi-formal reunion <strong>of</strong>fers a chance for them to catch up, see what’s happening<br />
in La Crosse, and simply have a good time. “The group has a great sense <strong>of</strong> humor,”<br />
says Jeff Kessler, ’81, an assistant in coordinating the annual event that draws up to<br />
50. Winners in the golf tournament in June 2007 posed with Chancellor Joe Gow.<br />
They included, from left, Mike Gerardy; Steve Ward, ’88; Paul Beitlich, ’79; Chancellor<br />
Gow; Jeff Bloxdorf, acting commissioner, ’80; and Peter Dailey.<br />
Karen Malmquist recently married<br />
Steven-Paul Walker. Karen is<br />
associate director <strong>of</strong> <strong>University</strong> Career<br />
Services at Georgia State <strong>University</strong><br />
in Atlanta. She enjoys European and<br />
South American travel.<br />
’82<br />
Robert Rausch Jr., West Springfield,<br />
Mass., enters his 14th year at Westfield<br />
State College in the department <strong>of</strong><br />
movement science, sport and leisure<br />
studies. He is the head mens (13th<br />
season) and womens (12th season)<br />
cross country coach at the NCAA III<br />
school. Last year he received Conference<br />
Coach <strong>of</strong> the Year honors after both<br />
teams claimed conference titles.<br />
Additionally, he served as president <strong>of</strong><br />
the Massachusetts Association for<br />
Health, Physical Education, Recreation<br />
and Dance for 2006-07.<br />
Kennan Timm, Oshkosh, was<br />
honored for 25 years <strong>of</strong> service in the<br />
sports information pr<strong>of</strong>ession at the<br />
2007 College Sports Information<br />
Directors <strong>of</strong> America Convention in<br />
July. He has served as the host media<br />
relations director for 15 NCAA<br />
Division III championship events in six<br />
different sports, as well as over 50<br />
NCAA Division III regional<br />
tournaments. He began as UW-L’s<br />
l a c r o s s e t i e s<br />
sports information director in 1982<br />
until moving to UW-Oshkosh in 1985.<br />
’84<br />
Mike Bunch, Lake St. Louis, a<br />
national retail accounts manager for<br />
Motorola, led a<br />
team that was<br />
awarded “Supplier<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Year” for the<br />
wireless category<br />
at Wal-Mart. Bunch<br />
also received<br />
Retail Account<br />
Mike Bunch<br />
Manager <strong>of</strong> the<br />
year at Motorola for his achievements<br />
and earned an all expense paid trip to<br />
Hawaii, along with his wife, Patti<br />
(Suhm), ’84. They have two sons,<br />
Conner (13) and Parker (10).<br />
Oktoberfest serves<br />
as reunion<br />
La Crosse’s fall festival serves as the<br />
annual backdrop for five college<br />
roommates from the class <strong>of</strong> ’89.<br />
Those returning for Oktoberfest ’06<br />
included, from left, Michele (Christians)<br />
Fraser, Stacey (Baker) Smith, Annette<br />
(Vogel) Ashton, Martha (Suehs)<br />
Althaus, and Polly (Bonk) Pendergrass.<br />
u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8 • 3 1
l a c r o s s e t i e s<br />
’90s grads remain connected<br />
Four members <strong>of</strong> a college household <strong>of</strong> six<br />
were able to gather for a Labor Day reunion in<br />
September. They included, from left, top row<br />
Carrissa (<strong>Murphy</strong>) Brayer ’94; Heidi (Olson)<br />
Kemper, ’94; Erika (Damschen) Schneider, ’93;<br />
Julie (Wirtz) <strong>Lee</strong>, ’94; and, Gavin <strong>Lee</strong>. Bottom<br />
row, from left, Anabel Brayer, Kelsey Kemper,<br />
Ava Schneider, Mila Schneider, Christian<br />
Brayer, Justin Brayer, Kendra <strong>Lee</strong>, Courtney<br />
<strong>Lee</strong>, Adelyn Kemper. All live in Wisconsin<br />
except <strong>Lee</strong>, who moved to Illinois, and<br />
Schneider, who lives in Colorado. “I consider<br />
myself privileged to have met these wonderful<br />
women during college and am so fortunate to<br />
be able to still have them as my friends,” says<br />
Schneider.<br />
Jeffrey Harrington continues to serve<br />
in the U.S. Army, while his wife,<br />
Margaret (Raymond), ’85, is<br />
employed by Overseas Service Corp.<br />
Their son, Andrew, has graduated and<br />
is enrolled at Baker <strong>University</strong> in<br />
Baldwin City, Kan.<br />
Janene Perkins, Montello, has<br />
headed back to the classroom. She<br />
became certified in biology, chemistry,<br />
environmental science, and broadfield<br />
science and is teaching chemistry,<br />
advanced chemistry, physical science<br />
and forensic science in Montello.<br />
’85<br />
Brad Toll, Green Bay, became<br />
president/CEO <strong>of</strong> the Greater Green<br />
Bay Visitor & Convention Bureau<br />
3 2 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8<br />
“Packer Country” in December 2006.<br />
’86<br />
Laura (DeNell), ’86, and Mark<br />
McClurg, ’87, have relocated to<br />
Lancaster, Ohio, with their two<br />
children, Nick and Dana. Mark<br />
recently accepted a job with Kitchen<br />
Collection <strong>of</strong> Chillicothe, Ohio.<br />
’87<br />
John Knoble, Goose Lake, Iowa, has<br />
been promoted to program manager<br />
for the Mississippi River Project, Rock<br />
Island District in Illinois. He oversees<br />
recreation, safety and land<br />
management programs for a 314-mile<br />
stretch <strong>of</strong> the river in Illinois, Iowa,<br />
Missouri and Wisconsin.<br />
The next in line<br />
When Katie Jo Du Mez graduated in<br />
May 2007, she was the second <strong>of</strong> the<br />
third generation in her family to earn a<br />
degree from La Crosse. Getting<br />
together for the photo op showing the<br />
legacy family were, from left, Justin<br />
Jehn, ’04; Heather (Du Mez) Jehn, ’04;<br />
Jill (Cross) Du Mez, ’79; Katie Jo Du<br />
Mez, ’07; Danielle Du Mez, currently a<br />
sophomore at UW- L, and William<br />
Cross, ’49.
’89<br />
Jerry Champer, ’89 & ’94,<br />
Watkinsville, Ga., is a teacher and<br />
assistant swimming coach at the<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Georgia. He and his wife,<br />
Lu, recently celebratred their sixth<br />
wedding anniversary. They have three<br />
daughters, twins Emma and Jenna,<br />
and Mya.<br />
John Weinzierl and Julie A. (Zieher)<br />
Weinzierl, both ’89, live in Batesville,<br />
Ark. John, an adjunct in the UW-L<br />
history department from 1997-2002,<br />
was named 2007 “Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Year” at Lyon College where he has<br />
been an assistant pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> history<br />
since 2002. Julie is employed by<br />
Batesville Montessori School.<br />
’91<br />
Lisa (Harmon) Harmann, Denmark,<br />
has been named a human resource<br />
consultant with Simon Insurance &<br />
Investments Inc. in Green Bay.<br />
’93<br />
Laura Sonsalla, La Crosse, is serving<br />
as the 2007 Wisconsin Jaycee state<br />
president.<br />
’94<br />
Samantha McGill, Fond du Lac, is<br />
principal <strong>of</strong> Horace Mann High School<br />
in North Fond du Lac.<br />
’95<br />
Kate Squire Kobinsy, ’95 & ’00, Sun<br />
Prairie, has been named the<br />
Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line<br />
coordinator for the UW Center for<br />
Tobacco Research and Intervention.<br />
’96<br />
Craig Acker married Ingrid Gouge<br />
July 7, 2007; they live in Jackonsville.<br />
Acker is executive director <strong>of</strong><br />
operations for Titus Sports Academy.<br />
Chris Finn, San Leandro, Calif., is<br />
head coach <strong>of</strong> the USA National<br />
Power Soccer Team that won the first<br />
ever Power Soccer World Cup in<br />
Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 13.<br />
Book Nook<br />
I Don’t Mean to Smash Your<br />
Tomatoes, Honey!: A Glimpse at<br />
Life’s Perspectives from A-Z<br />
Co-author: BerNadette Lawson-Williams ’97<br />
l a c r o s s e t i e s<br />
’97<br />
Brian Yahn, Madison, is the owner <strong>of</strong><br />
Square Toast Technologies, which<br />
provides technology consulting to<br />
restaurants, retailers and small<br />
businesses. The company recently<br />
partnered with Radiant Systems to<br />
provide Aloha s<strong>of</strong>tware and service to<br />
southern Wisconsin.<br />
’98<br />
Bradley Binsfeld, Alma, Mich.,<br />
completed a residency in orthopedic<br />
surgery from Genesys Regional<br />
Medical Center in Grand Blanc, Mich.,<br />
A conversation led to writing a book. And a conversational tone<br />
about real lives is what the book is about.<br />
BerNadette Lawson-Williams, ’97, says she and friend Tracie<br />
Thomas were discussing the lack <strong>of</strong> non-fictional literature about<br />
young women pr<strong>of</strong>essionals and experiences they encounter in<br />
their pr<strong>of</strong>essional and personal lives. So they decided to do<br />
something about it: write a book.<br />
The book features essays from 13 co-authors. The essays are<br />
based upon a variety <strong>of</strong> life topics from A-Z and provide savvy<br />
solutions to many <strong>of</strong> the dilemmas encountered daily by<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essionals <strong>of</strong> all ages and genders. “Many <strong>of</strong> the essays that I composed deal<br />
with my experiences at UW-L either directly or indirectly,” says Lawson-Williams.<br />
“I acquired so many pr<strong>of</strong>ound experiences while attending UW-L that have had an<br />
immense positive impact on my development into the self-confident and selfassured<br />
woman that I am today.”<br />
The book is available through amazon.com and IUniverse.com.<br />
u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8 • 3 3
l a c r o s s e t i e s<br />
in June. He received a medical degree<br />
from the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Bio Science in<br />
Kansas City, Mo. He has taken a<br />
position in general orthopedics at Mid<br />
Michigan Bone and Joint in Alma.<br />
Binsfeld comes from a family with UW-<br />
L ties. His dad, Jerome Binsfeld,<br />
Kenosha, graduated in ’66, as did his<br />
brother Brian, ’92, and sisters Tara ’94<br />
and Joanna, ’01.<br />
Erin Skalecki and Steven Stacey<br />
were married April 28, 2007. They live<br />
in Janesville. Erin is the <strong>of</strong>fice<br />
manager for Daniels Sentry Foods.<br />
Kim Van Antwerpen, Albuquerque,<br />
N.M., is a microbiology laboratory<br />
supervisor with Cardinal Health. Van<br />
Antwerpen recently earned an MBA<br />
from the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Phoenix and a<br />
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt<br />
certification.<br />
’99<br />
Matt Greenberg, Sch<strong>of</strong>ield, is student<br />
activities coordinator and academic<br />
adviser at UW-Marathon County.<br />
Jason Karls<br />
Jason Karls (see<br />
photo), Chilton, has<br />
been promoted to<br />
assistant controller<br />
for Menasha<br />
Corp.’s Neenah<br />
complex. He has<br />
been with the<br />
company since<br />
2005.<br />
3 4 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8<br />
Kristina (Kozlovsky) and<br />
Christopher C. Kolinski, both ’99,<br />
live in Eau Claire. Kristina works at<br />
Chippewa Falls High School;<br />
Christopher, at Ameriprise Financial<br />
Advisors. They have a son, Caden (2).<br />
’00<br />
Derek Hillestad married Kelli Reihsen<br />
June 23, 2007. They live in rural<br />
Surprise, Ariz. Derek works for Global<br />
Spectrum, a facility management<br />
company that operates the <strong>University</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> Phoenix Stadium, home to the<br />
NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and Super<br />
Bowl XXII.<br />
Revved up for UW-L<br />
Elena B. Kabet married Aaron J.<br />
Popowitch April 28, 2007. They live in<br />
McLeansville, N.C. Elena is a research<br />
specialist at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> North<br />
Carolina.<br />
Krist Poppe and Kate A Schulz,<br />
both, ’00, were married April 14,<br />
2007. They live in Sun Prairie. Kate is<br />
the student leadership program<br />
manager at Magna Publications; Krist<br />
is a senior territory representative with<br />
Ecolab.<br />
Don’t be surprised to see UW-L’s Web address racing around Wisconsin. Scott<br />
Erickson, ’04, likes to brag about UW-La Crosse to his high school students. “Being<br />
an educator in the public school system is not the most lucrative job in the world, so I<br />
cannot send a lot <strong>of</strong> money back to the university,” says Erickson who left his<br />
teaching job in Phoenix this spring to return to teach in the Midwest this fall. “To show<br />
my appreciation, I put www.uwlax.edu as a sponsor on my car that I own and race<br />
each summer.” He says other racers are curious as to what UW-L gave him for the<br />
ad. His response: “Four great years!”
Wedding spurs UW-L reunion<br />
When Abigail Foth, ’04, was married Jan. 6, 2007, it was a mini UW-L reunion.<br />
Among the bridal party and friends were these alumni, from left, Nathan Schultz (current<br />
student), Sarah Turner, ’04; Katie Cashman, ’04; Andrea Holdorf, ’03; Ralph Holcomb<br />
(adopted alum through marriage); Abigail (Foth) Holcomb, ’04; Joshua Rybaski, ’04;<br />
Heather (Du Mez) Jehn, ’04; Shannon Jones, ’07; and Justin Jehn, ’04. Abigail and<br />
Ralph live in Chicago where she’s a residence hall director at the School <strong>of</strong> the Art<br />
Institute <strong>of</strong> Chicago. She graduated from Southern Illinois <strong>University</strong> Carbondale with a<br />
master’s in May 2007.<br />
’01<br />
Andrew McLeod, Boston, graduated<br />
in 2006 from the New England College<br />
<strong>of</strong> Optometry, Boston, with a master’s<br />
in vision science and a doctorate in<br />
optometry. He completed a residency<br />
in cornea/contact lenses in 2007.<br />
Recently, McLeod began a faculty<br />
position at Boston <strong>University</strong> Eye<br />
Associates/Boston <strong>University</strong> School<br />
Medicine.<br />
Britta (Grieshaber) Osborne, has<br />
moved from Greensboro, N.C., to<br />
Lincoln, Neb., because <strong>of</strong> her<br />
husband’s new job. Britta is assistant<br />
director <strong>of</strong> graduate recruitment for the<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Nebraska, focusing on<br />
life sciences.<br />
Angela Swenson, Plover, began as<br />
the social norms coordinator at the<br />
Stevens Point Area Senior High<br />
School in July 2007.<br />
’02<br />
SGT Brian Armstrong returned in<br />
July from his third tour to Iraq with the<br />
175th Rangers. He is stationed at<br />
Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Ga.<br />
l a c r o s s e t i e s<br />
Robin Linn Brett and Benjamin J.<br />
Chambers, II, both ’06, were married<br />
May 5, 2007. They live in Rochester,<br />
Minn., where they both work for the<br />
Rochester Area Family Y.<br />
Maria Stadler married Jim<br />
McEachran June 24, 2007. They live<br />
in Cudahy. Maria is a teacher at the<br />
KinderCare in Greenfield. She is<br />
attending UW-Milwaukee for early<br />
childhood education teacher<br />
certification and plans to graduate in<br />
May 2008.<br />
’03<br />
Alison (Frei) Baker, Maple Grove,<br />
Minn., is a recruiting specialist in the<br />
Twin Cities with Thrivent Financial for<br />
Lutherans.<br />
Phoebe Connolly, Amherst, Maine, is<br />
a master’s student at the School for<br />
International Training studying conflict<br />
transformation. She recently<br />
completed coursework and began<br />
working at the Karuna Center for<br />
Peacebuilding in Amherst.<br />
Amanda Converse, Kimberly, was<br />
recently promoted from flight training<br />
records and travel specialist to<br />
corporate hotel travel manager with<br />
Air Wisconsin Airlines Corp.<br />
Anna Haus, ’03 & ’06, married Erick<br />
Lehman, ’04. They live in Menomonie.<br />
Erick is manager <strong>of</strong> Wells Fargo<br />
Financial in Woodbury, Minn.; Anna is<br />
a physician’s assistant at the Red<br />
Cedar Medical Center, Menomonie.<br />
u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8 • 3 5
l a c r o s s e t i e s<br />
Jessica Irlbeck and Jay Smith, both<br />
’03, are engaged and plan to marry in<br />
August 2008. Jay graduated from<br />
Marquette Law School in May 2007.<br />
He works for Neuberger, Wakeman &<br />
Associates. Jessica works for<br />
Travelers Insurance. They live in Lake<br />
Mills.<br />
Kristin L. Kalpinski, Madison, is a<br />
juvenile court counselor at the Dane<br />
County Juvenile Reception Center.<br />
Book Nook<br />
The Battle Within<br />
Author: Travis Klingman ’04<br />
Todd, ’03, and Jennifer (Crawford),<br />
’04, Lynch live in Oregon. Todd<br />
earned a doctorate from the Illinois<br />
College <strong>of</strong> Optometry in May 2007<br />
and works independently as an<br />
optometrist. While Todd was going to<br />
optometry school, Jennifer worked at<br />
Chicago Public Schools. She now<br />
teaches third grade at Brooklyn<br />
Elementary in Oregon.<br />
3 6 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8<br />
’04<br />
Brent D. Allen, ’04, married Lynnea<br />
Shober, ’05, June 24, 2006. They live<br />
in Minnetonka, Minn.<br />
Paige C. Brown and Nick E.<br />
Patenaude, both ’04, celebrated their<br />
two-year wedding anniversary in July.<br />
Paige completed a master’s in<br />
educational psychology from UW-<br />
Milwaukee and was hired as a<br />
guidance counselor at Mukwonago<br />
High School. Nick is a physical<br />
What to do after college? That’s the question for many graduates.<br />
And it’s the basis for a book by ’04 graduate Travis Klingman.<br />
“The Battle Within” is a psychological thriller/mystery about the trials and<br />
tribulations <strong>of</strong> trying to find oneself after college.<br />
“The novel has experienced some online success, jumping in and out — mostly in<br />
— <strong>of</strong> Amazon Hot 100 Psychological Thriller/Suspense New Release,” notes Klingman.<br />
He has held readings and signings in the La Crosse area.<br />
education teacher at a middle school<br />
in downtown Milwaukee. He coaches<br />
wrestling at Menomonee Falls High<br />
School.<br />
Christine M. Halverson, Menands,<br />
N.Y., earned a jurist’s degree in May<br />
2007. She was named Barry Gold ’70<br />
Clinical Fellow at Albany (N.Y.) Law<br />
School.<br />
Travis L. Klingaman, Onalaska, has<br />
released his first novel, “The Battle<br />
Within.” He is working on a second<br />
novel. He plans to enroll in film school<br />
to expand his horizons in the<br />
entertainment industry and pursue a<br />
dream as a filmmaker.<br />
Josh Ruston ’04 & ’05, and Lindsey<br />
Schroeder, ’04, plan to marry in fall<br />
2008. They both live in the greater<br />
Milwaukee area.<br />
’05<br />
Kristine Van Handel married Ben<br />
Robarge Sept. 15, 2007. They live in<br />
Nashotah. Kristine is the aquatics<br />
coordinator at the YMCA at Pabst<br />
Farms in Oconomowoc.<br />
Justin Running, Burlington, N.C., is<br />
teaching physical education and<br />
coaching basketball at Alamance<br />
County Schools.<br />
Josh Schaub, St. Paul, Minn, is<br />
director <strong>of</strong> player personnel and<br />
procurement for the Edmonton<br />
Cracker Cats <strong>of</strong> the Northern League.<br />
Sarah Wittrock, ’05 & ’07, New<br />
Berlin, has been named an academic<br />
adviser at UW-Whitewater.
Class <strong>of</strong> 20??<br />
Alumni announce new arrivals to<br />
their families.<br />
Martin R., ’88, and Cristina Welles,<br />
Washington, D.C., a son, Robert William,<br />
May 16, 2007. He joins twins, Marty and<br />
Laura, born May 4, 2006. For those<br />
keeping score, that’s 600 diapers a<br />
month! Martin received an LL.M. with<br />
highest honors in litigation and ADR from<br />
George Washington Law School. He is<br />
enrolled at Georgetown Law School<br />
pursuing a second LL.M. in taxation with<br />
a focus on employee pensions and<br />
benefits. He is a labor and employment<br />
attorney with the U.S. Postal Service in<br />
Washington, D.C.<br />
Roberta (Cornwell), ’92, and Murray<br />
Lear, Prairie du Chien, a son, Garrett<br />
Scott, June 4, 2007. He joins sisters Rylie<br />
(3) and Reaghan (2). Roberta is<br />
admissions director at Wyalusing<br />
Academy in Prairie du Chien.<br />
Paul, ’92, and Kaye L. (Peterson), ’96,<br />
Michael, La Crosse, a daughter,<br />
Charlotte Esther, Dec. 16, 2006. Paul is<br />
employed by Big Brothers Big Sisters <strong>of</strong><br />
the Coulee Region; Kaye, by Marine<br />
Credit Union.<br />
Jennifer (Ford), ’93, and David<br />
Labadie, Chanhassen, Minn., a son,<br />
Nicholas Gordon, Dec. 5, 2006. He joins<br />
sister Sophia (3).<br />
David, ’94, and Beth (Smith), ’95,<br />
Morrell, Onalaska, a daughter, Devin<br />
Ava, May 2, 2007. She joins sister Svea<br />
Anna (2).<br />
Carol “CJ” (Mehring), ’95, and Mike<br />
Neal, Baileys Harbor, a son, Sean<br />
Michael, Aug. 17, 2007. He joins brother<br />
Aiden (3).<br />
Melissa (Franke), ’95, and Tim Shirk,<br />
Prospect, Va., a daughter, Alana<br />
Catherine, Feb. 26, 2007. She joins a<br />
sister, Kiley (2). Melissa is a busy stay-athome<br />
mom, but finds time to use her<br />
degree in math education to do tutoring.<br />
They have been in Virginia for six years<br />
where Tim is employed in house<br />
construction. He recently finished building<br />
their own home.<br />
Stephanie (Beirne), ’96, and Peter, ’99,<br />
Leuer, Verona, a daughter, Kathryn<br />
Maeve, July 21, 2007. She joins brother<br />
William. Stephanie is a stay-at-home<br />
mom; Peter works for the Wisconsin Milk<br />
Marketing Board.<br />
Deanna (Johnson), ’96, and Tom Plant,<br />
St. Louis Park, Minn., a son, Matthew<br />
Dean, Aug. 11, 2007.<br />
Susan (Flynn), ’97, and Michael Walsh,<br />
Chicago, a daughter, Moira Charlotte,<br />
June 18, 2007. She joins sister Lileigh<br />
Victoria (2). Susan has been teaching<br />
second grade in Glenview, Ill., for nine<br />
years.<br />
Matt, ’98, and Nicole (Swayzee), ’95-<br />
’98 attendee, Lehmann, Holmen, a<br />
daughter, Avery Jeannette, April 6,<br />
2007. Matt is the assistant vice<br />
l a c r o s s e t i e s<br />
Keep up your<br />
La Crosse<br />
Pride!<br />
Keep in touch with us, and we’ll<br />
keep in touch with you! It’s easy:<br />
Alumni Association phone<br />
608.785.8490<br />
1.877.UWL.ALUM<br />
Fax 608.785.6868<br />
E-mail alumni@uwlax.edu<br />
Web www.uwlalumni.org<br />
Mailing address<br />
UW-La Crosse Alumni Association;<br />
Cleary Alumni & Friends Center;<br />
615 East Ave. N.; La Crosse,<br />
WI 54601<br />
Submit news to the Alumnus<br />
www.uwlalumni.org/whatsnew.htm<br />
Online alumni directory<br />
http://directory.uwlalumni.org<br />
Design your own UW-L clothing<br />
www.mygarb.com/UWLaCrosse<br />
Nominations for alumni awards<br />
www.uwlalumni.org/awards.htm<br />
Join the UW-L Alumni<br />
Association<br />
www.uwlalumni.org/join.php<br />
u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8 • 3 7
l a c r o s s e t i e s<br />
president <strong>of</strong> Citibank’s Student Loan<br />
Corp.-Midwest Region; Nicole teaches<br />
special education at Harry Spence<br />
Elementary in La Crosse.<br />
Brooke (Blomquist) and Bradford<br />
Saron, both ’98, Cashton, a son, Leo<br />
Hartford, May 8, 2007. He joins brother<br />
Maxwell (4) and sister Kazzie, (2). Brad<br />
was recently promoted to district school<br />
administrator at Cashton Public Schools.<br />
Brooke stays home with the kids and<br />
does freelance copyediting and<br />
pro<strong>of</strong>reading.<br />
Sarah (Wasmundt), ’98, and Tim<br />
Sonsalla, Woodbury, Minn., a son,<br />
Book Nook<br />
The Pawn<br />
Author: Steven James Huhn, ’91<br />
3 8 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8<br />
Gabriel Carl, July 9, 2007.<br />
Caryn (Ziemer), ’99, and William<br />
Ihlenfeld, III, Waukesha, a daughter,<br />
Brooke Nichole, March 20, 2007. She<br />
joins brothers Wil (6) and Grant (3). Caryn<br />
is a stay-at-home mom.<br />
Teri Retzak, ’99 & ’03, and John<br />
Thomas, Wisconsin Rapids, a daughter,<br />
Emma Lynn, July 7, 2007. Teri teaches<br />
first and second grade in Wisconsin<br />
Rapids.<br />
Jared and Kelli (Ferrier) Arn,<br />
both ’00, Kewaskum, a daughter, Stella<br />
Elizabeth, Sept. 11, 2006.<br />
He’s written more than 20 books, but this fall Steven James Huhn, ’91,<br />
released his first novel. Huhn, who writes and gives presentations with the<br />
name Steven James, has written short fiction, scripts and inspirational<br />
books. He also is a pr<strong>of</strong>essional storyteller throughout the country.<br />
His first novel, “The Pawn,” features an investigator who combines 21st<br />
century investigative techniques with the deduction <strong>of</strong> Sherlock Holmes to<br />
track serial killers and arsonists.<br />
James got the idea for the book after wondering what made him<br />
different from those who are serials killers or an occult member. He spent<br />
time talking with one <strong>of</strong> three survivors <strong>of</strong> the 1978 Jonestown Massacre.<br />
“Those questions as well as nearly a year <strong>of</strong> research on criminal pr<strong>of</strong>iling helped me to<br />
shape a story about a killer in the mountains <strong>of</strong> North Carolina with a strong subplot that<br />
deals with occult that has connections to Jonestown,” he explains.<br />
James’ outdoor recreation studies at UW-L that included an internship as a wilderness<br />
guide shaped the book’s main character who is a wilderness guide leading 28-day wilderness<br />
trips when he was in college. “Sad to say, he’s a better rock climber than I am but I still try to<br />
get out and hit the crags when I get the chance,” he notes.<br />
“The Pawn” is the first in a series <strong>of</strong> thrillers featuring FBI agent Patrick Bowers. The<br />
second, “The Rook,” should be out in June 2008. Find out more about James visit<br />
www.stevenjames.net<br />
Jared works for the Kohler Co.;<br />
Kelli works for Pfizer Inc.<br />
Amanda L. Bergel, ’01, and Lucas<br />
Gerrits, Green Bay, a son, Jacob James<br />
Gerrits, April 26, 2007.<br />
Wendy (Whitney), ’01 & ’03, and Wayne<br />
Scherer, Eastman, a daughter, Alexis<br />
June, May 22, 2007. Wendy is a middle<br />
school special education teacher for River<br />
Ridge School District in Bloomington.<br />
Lisa (Strike), ’02, and Luke Engel, Green<br />
Bay, a son, Tyson James, June 4, 2007.<br />
Justin, ’02, and Hollie (Small) ’99-’03<br />
attendee, Mader, Marathon, a daughter,<br />
Kiley, Sept. 22, 2006. She joins sister<br />
Ella (3).<br />
Angel Jay Ann (Miller), ’02, and<br />
Cameron Olson, ’03, Eau Claire, a son,<br />
Micah Harry, June 13, 2007. He was<br />
welcomed by sister, Madison (3) and<br />
Cameron “CJ” (2).<br />
Joy (Parker), ’02, and Dan Schwarz,<br />
Andover, Minn., a daughter, Anika Grace,<br />
May 26, 2007.<br />
Michael, ’04, and Melissa Hintz,<br />
Stoughton, a son, Lakyn James, Dec. 8,<br />
2006. Michael is director <strong>of</strong> ISEA<br />
Operations with the Sport Enhancement<br />
Academy in Stoughton.<br />
Jill (Larsen) and Brad Mathwich,<br />
both ’05, Wausau, a daughter, Alyssa<br />
Marie, April 22, 2007.
Faculty/staff<br />
obituaries<br />
Dyar Reis, 73, died May 24, 2007, in La Crosse. Reis was born in Rio de<br />
Janeiro, Brazil, on Dec. 29, 1933. He obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degree<br />
in aeronautical engineering. After working for 10-plus years, Reis returned to<br />
education. He received his MBA at the Getulio Vargas Foundation in Sao Paulo,<br />
Brazil, where he began his formal university teaching career. He taught master<br />
and doctoral level courses there prior to obtaining a prestigious scholarship<br />
sponsored by John F. Kennedy’s Alliance for Progress in collaboration with the<br />
Brazilian Government. The scholarship fully financed his Ph.D. program in<br />
management science, production management and organizational behavior at<br />
Michigan State <strong>University</strong> in East Lansing, Mich. Reis taught on campus for more<br />
than 26 years, serving as chair <strong>of</strong> the management department for approximately<br />
10 years. He is survived by his wife and colleague, Leticia Pena; five daughters,<br />
three sons, and four grandchildren. Funeral services were May 31 in La Crosse.<br />
Memorials may be sent to the International Education Project, UW-La Crosse<br />
Foundation, 1725 State St., La Crosse, WI 54601.<br />
Stanley R. Rolnick, 82, pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> history from 1957-1988, died June 2,<br />
2007, in La Crosse. He was born in Frederick, Md., on Nov. 2, 1924. Rolnick<br />
received an undergraduate degree from the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Maryland. He received<br />
a master’s and doctorate from UW-Madison. He came to UW-L in 1957, where he<br />
taught until retiring in 1988. Rolnick is survived by a daughter, son, four<br />
grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Funeral services were June 5.<br />
Karl A. Ruebel, 77, who taught German in the foreign languages<br />
department from 1967-1992, died in Charlotte, N.C., June 17, 2007. Ruebel also<br />
taught English and French as an exchange pr<strong>of</strong>essor at Guangxi <strong>University</strong>. He<br />
was born in Saarbruecken, Germany. He earned a translator’s certification at<br />
Ruprecht-Karls-Universitaet Heidelberg and a doctorate in economics at Karl-<br />
Franzens Universitaet, Austria. Funeral servcies were held June June 22.<br />
Ray Schoen, pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> English from 1978-2005, died Aug. 2, 2007, in La<br />
Crescent. Schoen was born on Staten Island, N.Y., on March 2, 1942. He<br />
received a bachelor’s degree from H<strong>of</strong>stra <strong>University</strong> in Long Island, N.Y.,<br />
completed a master’s from Purdue <strong>University</strong> and a Ph.D. from UW-Madison.<br />
Schoen taught English at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Notre Dame from 1968-1978 before<br />
joining the UW-L English department, where he served as chair for the last six<br />
years before his retirement in August 2005. Funeral services were held Aug. 6.<br />
He is survived by his wife, Joan Callahan; two sons and three grandchildren.<br />
Memorials may be given to the UW-L English Department Fund, UW-L<br />
Foundation, 1725 State St. La Crosse WI 54601.<br />
For complete obituaries <strong>of</strong> most faculty members, visit<br />
www.lacrossetribune.com and click on “Obituaries” under “News.”<br />
In memory<br />
l a c r o s s e t i e s<br />
1928 — Mary (Nagel) Stark, Flint, Mich.<br />
1938 — Vienna Lewis James, Golden Valley, Minn.<br />
1938, ’59 and ’64 — Alta Mackey Johnson, Holmen.<br />
1938 — William K. Ogilvie, DeKalb, Ill.<br />
1939 — Dorothy (Adler) Lindner, Oneida.<br />
1940 — “Mr. Wizard” Don Herbert,<br />
Bell Canyon, Calif.<br />
1940 — Montross “Monte” Pelton, Bellavista, Ark.,<br />
Neenah and La Crosse.<br />
1941 — Margaret H. Schmidley, Sheboygan.<br />
1941 — Maxine Packman Schwartz, Peoria, Ariz.<br />
1945 — Margaret Tollin, Olathe, Kan.<br />
1950 — Catherine “Kay” (Porter) Brown,<br />
Bozeman, Mont.<br />
1950 — Earl M. Holm, Weston.<br />
1950 — Gerald “Jerry” C. Miller, Rock Island, Ill.<br />
1950 — Robert Quackenbush, Sparta.<br />
1952 — June M. Koplin, Lake Mills.<br />
1952 — Bill Mayo, Reno, Nev.<br />
1952 — Charles H. Odegaard, Seattle.<br />
1953 — Richard George Larson, Waterford.<br />
1955 — Nora (Byers) Richardson, Atlanta.<br />
1956 — Alan Richard Siff, Richmond, Va.<br />
1957 — Mary Martha “Marti” (Swanson) Sandvik,<br />
La Crescent, Minn.<br />
1958 — Gene Rand, Brookfield.<br />
1960 — Wayne Jurgensen, Gays Mills.<br />
1960 — Dorothy Krause, Viroqua.<br />
1964 — Beverly (Virak) Opperud, Viroqua.<br />
1964 — David A. Pedersen, Hamden, Conn.<br />
1967 — Peter Fink, Green Bay.<br />
1969 — David Oscar Pfaff, Baraboo.<br />
1974 — James W. Stark, Mauston.<br />
1975 — James “Jim” La Fleur, West Salem.<br />
1977 — Joan (Kuivinen) Haberlie, Lancaster.<br />
1977 — John Henricks, West Salem.<br />
1977 — Kerry McDonald, Apache Junction, Ariz.<br />
1977 — Alice (Rounds) Thompson, Seatonville, Ill.<br />
1982 — Pamela Olson, Strum.<br />
1986 — Michael McGlynn, Reedsburg.<br />
1992 — Paul R. “Butter” Arneson,<br />
La Crescent, Minn.<br />
u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8 • 3 9
l a c r o s s e t i e s<br />
Alumni advocate<br />
Janie Spencer, ’85 & ’86, is a key to growth <strong>of</strong>,<br />
maintaining school spirit<br />
Janie Spencer<br />
If you’re a UW-L alum who’s kept ties to the university, you more than likely<br />
know Janie Spencer. Spencer, executive director <strong>of</strong> the UW-L Alumni Association<br />
since 1998, has done much to foster lifelong relationships between the university<br />
and its more than 60,000 alumni. Among her accomplishments: a more than 400<br />
percent increase in association memberships since she returned to her alma mater.<br />
Spencer, ’85 & ’86, was working at Gundersen Lutheran in La Crosse when the<br />
association was looking for a new executive director. She liked the challenge. “I<br />
applied, interviewed and got the job,” explains Spencer. “And here I am 10 years<br />
later and still loving it.”<br />
Over that decade, Spencer has strived to get more departments involved with<br />
alumni programming. And, she’s implemented programs to create awareness about<br />
alumni among current students.<br />
“We want them to know what the Alumni Association is and that it’s a lifetime<br />
connection to the university,” explains Spencer. “These students are our future<br />
alums and our future leaders.”<br />
Among the new programs Spencer has initiated for students: Freshmen Send-<br />
Offs in numerous Midwestern cities; the Move-In Day Ice Cream Social, and the<br />
Etiquette Dinners. She’s helped expand alumni clubs in Tokyo and Taipei, along<br />
with campus organizations such as ROTC, Silver Eagles, theater and Residence<br />
Life. And, she re-energized a membership committee that brought in the record<br />
number <strong>of</strong> memberships. “I’m very proud we’ve grown our membership to where<br />
it is — but, we’ve got a lot more to do,” she says.<br />
Spencer is deeply humbled by receiving the 2007 Academic Staff Excellence<br />
Award from her peers. She’s quick to give credit for the association’s growth in the<br />
past decade to colleagues and the alumni with whom she gets a chance to work.<br />
“I don’t view any <strong>of</strong> my work success as simply my accomplishments,” she<br />
says. “Instead, I attribute them to a great team <strong>of</strong> coworkers and alumni.”<br />
She says a group <strong>of</strong> committed alumni who serve on the association’s board <strong>of</strong><br />
directors, along with its strong committees, is key. “This group is by far the best<br />
volunteer board I have ever worked with,” she explains. “They are such a<br />
committed, passionate group. They’re committed and dedicated to the university<br />
and want to see its continued success as we move ahead.”<br />
The association plans to move forward. The association conducted an attitude<br />
survey and recently approved a new strategic plan. “We’ve positioned our<br />
organization for future success,” notes Spencer.<br />
That fast-pace atmosphere is what drives her. “Having the opportunity to work<br />
with alumni all over the world, students while they are here and caring faculty and<br />
staff is very rewarding,” she says. “I love what I do.”<br />
4 0 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8<br />
The Janie<br />
Spencer<br />
File<br />
• Executive director <strong>of</strong> the<br />
UW-L Alumni<br />
Association since 1998.<br />
• Campus service:<br />
Homecoming, Joint<br />
Minority Affairs<br />
Committee, L-Club,<br />
various search and<br />
screen committees.<br />
• Community service:<br />
Valley View Rotary, Big<br />
Brothers/Big Sisters,<br />
Gundersen Lutheran<br />
Partners, PEO Chapter<br />
D.C., Association <strong>of</strong><br />
Fundraising<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essionals.<br />
• Two UW-L degrees:<br />
bachelor’s in<br />
psychology, 1985;<br />
master’s <strong>of</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />
development, 1986.
w h a t ’ s h a p p e n i n g o n c a m p u s<br />
UW-L Alumni Association events<br />
January<br />
4 Membership committee, Cleary<br />
Alumni & Friends Center<br />
8 Communication committee,<br />
Cleary Alumni & Friends Center<br />
8-10 Washington, D.C.,<br />
alumni event, TBA<br />
11 Executive committee, Cleary<br />
Alumni & Friends Center<br />
23 Madison alumni event, Capitol<br />
Brewery, Middleton<br />
28 Classes resume<br />
31 Finance committee, Cleary<br />
Alumni & Friends Center<br />
April<br />
4 Membership committee, Cleary<br />
Alumni & Friends Center<br />
5 L-Club Final 4 Party, Cedar<br />
Creek, Onalaska<br />
15-17 Milwaukee/Fox Valley alumni<br />
event, TBA<br />
17 Finance committee, Cleary<br />
Alumni & Friends Center<br />
18-27 Alumni and friends trip to Spain<br />
23 Outback lunch, Onalaska<br />
25 Executive committee, Cleary<br />
Alumni & Friends Center<br />
28 UW-L Foundation scholarship<br />
reception, Cleary Alumni &<br />
Friends Center<br />
February<br />
1 Membership committee, Cleary<br />
Alumni & Friends Center<br />
1 UW-L Foundation board meeting,<br />
Cleary Alumni & Friends Center<br />
6 Alumni Association Board<br />
meeting, Inn on the Park, Madison<br />
6 UW-L Foundation Development<br />
committee meeting, Inn on the<br />
Park, Madison<br />
6 Political Science & Public<br />
Administration event, Inn on the<br />
Park, Madison<br />
27 Spring Career Expo, Valhalla,<br />
Cartwright Center-Gunning<br />
Addition<br />
27 Etiquette Dinner, Cleary Alumni &<br />
Friends Center<br />
27 Outback lunch, Onalaska<br />
29 Theatre – “Oklahoma”, Toland<br />
Theatre, UW-L Center for the Arts<br />
For more information, visit<br />
www.uwlalumni.org or call<br />
1.877.UWL.ALUM.<br />
March<br />
7 Membership committee, Cleary<br />
Alumni & Friends Center<br />
8 Dinner Theatre – “Oklahoma,”<br />
Cleary Alumni & Friends Center<br />
11 Communication committee,<br />
Cleary Alumni & Friends Center<br />
17-21 Spring Break<br />
18-20 Arizona Alumni event, TBA<br />
26 Outback lunch, Onalaska<br />
31 Teacher Employment Seminar,<br />
Valhalla, Cartwright Center-<br />
Gunning Addition<br />
31 Countdown to Commencement,<br />
Cleary Alumni & Friends Center<br />
May<br />
2 Membership committee, Cleary<br />
Alumni & Friends Center<br />
3 Alumni Association Board<br />
meeting, Cleary Alumni &<br />
Friends Center<br />
7 Outback lunch, Onalaska<br />
9 UW-L Foundation Board meeting,<br />
Cleary Alumni & Friends Center<br />
13 Communication committee,<br />
Cleary Alumni & Friends Center<br />
16 Alumni awards reception and<br />
ceremony, Cleary Alumni &<br />
Friends Center<br />
17 Commencement, Mitchell Hall<br />
17 Student Alumni Ambassadors<br />
Flower Sale, Mitchell Hall<br />
u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8 • 4 1
c o u l e e c o d a<br />
Top <strong>of</strong> the world<br />
Alum likes the view teaching in Alaska<br />
Ben Dolgner enjoys fishing in the surrounding<br />
Alaska area during his summer break<br />
from teaching.<br />
4 2 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 7 - 0 8<br />
By Sue (Sullivan) <strong>Lee</strong>, ’82 & ’87<br />
Growing up in Dalton, a rural Wisconsin community <strong>of</strong><br />
approximately 100, Ben Dolgner, ’04, is no stranger to life in a<br />
small town. However, after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in<br />
education, his first teaching job took him 4,000 miles away from home to<br />
one <strong>of</strong> the most isolated places in North America: Little Diomede Island,<br />
Alaska. This fall, Dolgner moved to Stebbins, a larger village in the 80,000<br />
square-mile school district.<br />
Although beautiful, Little Diomede Island, an island <strong>of</strong> 120 people,<br />
has no roads and is isolated by its location, rough seas and, during the<br />
warmer months, fog. The school is one <strong>of</strong> 15 in the Bering Strait School<br />
District in Alaska, which serves around 1,800 students. About 40 <strong>of</strong> them<br />
go to Diomede. Nearly all are Alaskan Native Inupiat, Y u’pik or Siberian<br />
Y u’pik Eskimo. Most schools are accessible only by bush aircraft.<br />
A 1,000-foot trek to the top <strong>of</strong> Little Diomede Island is always worth<br />
the trip, Dolgner says. On a clear day, he can see mainland Russia. Big<br />
Diomede Island, Russia, is just over two miles away. Siberia is about 26.<br />
The school district <strong>of</strong>fice is in Unalakleet, the first checkpoint on the<br />
Norton Sound for the Iditarod Dog Sled Race, 851 miles from the start in<br />
Anchorage. “Unalakleet is like going to the big city for any <strong>of</strong> us,”<br />
Dolgner explains. “They have two decent-sized stores, a pizza delivery<br />
place and many roads leading out into the surrounding countryside.”<br />
Planning is essential. Anything Dolgner can’t get in “The Bush,” he<br />
gets via mail. Life revolves around helicopters. If the weather is good, they<br />
get mail once a week by helicopter. During a bout <strong>of</strong> bad weather, he went<br />
2-1/2 weeks with no mail. Dolgner was waiting for groceries he’d ordered<br />
and his cabinets were close to empty.<br />
In spite <strong>of</strong> its physical isolation, the school is on the cutting edge <strong>of</strong><br />
technology. Dolgner had eight computers in his classroom and used<br />
videoconferenced Webcasts, and Skype, as well as other digital media.<br />
Skype allows users to make telephone calls from their computer to other<br />
Skype users free <strong>of</strong> charge and includes instant messaging, file transfer,<br />
short message service and video conferencing.<br />
Dolgner and another teacher taught sixth through 12th graders. They<br />
split the students up by age and academic level. Classes ranged from four<br />
to 11 students, fluctuating throughout the day and when one or the other<br />
teacher was out <strong>of</strong> the classroom. Dolgner taught reading, math, social<br />
studies, science and projects to meet state standards. “Sometimes it looks<br />
continued on next page
continued from previous page<br />
like chaos in motion and other times it looks really smooth,” he<br />
notes.<br />
For the most part, western and local native cultures have<br />
meshed. “Kids come to school with iPods and do the same things<br />
kids in the lower 48 and the rest <strong>of</strong> the digital world are doing:<br />
chatting, blogging and e-mailing,” he says. They wear jeans and<br />
T-shirts, but when the weather gets<br />
cold, they’re also wearing seal skin<br />
mittens and fur hats. Temperatures<br />
can range from +65 to -68 degrees<br />
fahrenheit, not accounting for wind<br />
chill. Days range from no darkness<br />
in summer to only four hours <strong>of</strong><br />
light in winter.<br />
The fundamentals <strong>of</strong> being a<br />
good teacher are the same wherever<br />
he might teach, he says. “It is all<br />
about knowing the students you<br />
teach and meeting them at the level<br />
they are ready for, then adding<br />
challenges as you go.” In Diomede,<br />
kids hang out in school at the end <strong>of</strong><br />
the day and on weekends, stop by<br />
his house wanting to visit or talk —<br />
not something he’d anticipate<br />
happening in Wisconsin.<br />
There are other differences too.<br />
Almost every Sunday night, kids,<br />
adults, and elders gather at the<br />
village rec hall to dance to music<br />
played on traditional stomach-made<br />
drums, as well as those made with<br />
newer, synthetic materials. It’s a treat<br />
to see and to be invited, he says.<br />
He’s assimilated into their culture<br />
in other ways as well. His diet now includes whale, greens that<br />
grow on the mountain, walrus and seal — both unique tastes but<br />
good, nonetheless, he says. His favorite, though, is the crab they<br />
catch along the island in the winter, followed by the polar bear meal<br />
he was invited to when one <strong>of</strong> his students shot his first bear.<br />
Along with a two-week Christmas break, Dolgner has 10 weeks<br />
<strong>of</strong>f from teaching each summer. Weekend travel isn’t an option<br />
because <strong>of</strong> the risk <strong>of</strong> being stuck <strong>of</strong>f the island with no way to get<br />
back and no substitute teachers. Going home to Wisconsin takes 30<br />
hours on planes and helicopters along with an over three-hour drive.<br />
During bad weather, it can take days.<br />
He misses hunting and hanging out with family and friends in<br />
Wisconsin, but he’s enjoyed every minute he’s been in Alaska.<br />
c o u l e e c o d a<br />
“I love the things I get to do,” he says. “Not many people can say<br />
I got to my job this year in a helicopter. Or, I saw a polar bear out<br />
my window today.”<br />
From his classroom, he saw animals he’d only seen in zoos<br />
before, including a walrus and several kinds <strong>of</strong> whales and seals. He<br />
enjoyed climbing to the top <strong>of</strong> the island in the fall, going out on the<br />
Little Diomede Island, Alaska, is where Ben Dolgner, ’04, taught school after graduating. The<br />
chopper pad — the main way to get on and <strong>of</strong>f the island — is at the top center <strong>of</strong> the photo. The<br />
blue-ro<strong>of</strong>ed building on the right side is part <strong>of</strong> the school where Dolgner taught.<br />
ice in the winter, and crabbing with the kids. Overall, he could not<br />
have asked for a better first teaching job, he says.<br />
As for the move to Stebbins, Dolgner was looking for a new<br />
challenge and adventure. Stebbins has roads and daily flights, and is<br />
connected to neighboring Saint Michael. Since moving, he has<br />
been duck hunting and is looking forward to his first moose hunt.<br />
“I have worked with some amazing people in our district, all<br />
dedicated to the students we teach and making sure they receive the<br />
best every day,” he says. “I want to continue down that road as long<br />
as I can. If not, I have heard great things about other places in<br />
Alaska. Beyond that, the world is the limit.”
‘In the red zone’<br />
The fundraising for the Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex is nearing its goal. Read more on page 25.<br />
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