Northwestern College | Classic magazine - Winter 2004-05 - Vol. 76 ...

AlumninewsNorthwestern ClassicClass notesMiniprofilePetersen is definitely going placesby Justin HillHampton ChronicleFor years, WadePetersen ’87 has been knownto don a Napoleon costumeor TP his own classroom andlet students smash raw eggsin his face during MardiGras.Now, after 15 years ofteaching French at Hampton-Dumont High School, he hasthe Iowa High School ForeignLanguage Teacher of theYear award to show for it. Hereceived the award at theIowa World LanguageAssociation Conference inDes Moines in October.“My philosophy is towork hard and play hard,”says Petersen. “I expect a lotfrom my students, but I liketo have fun. Any way I canmake it more fun and creative,the better.”The educator says heenjoys the various areas hegets to teach—from historyto culture—that fall underthe umbrella of his Frenchprogram. And he appreciatesthat his subject is ripe withpossibilities for makinglearning exciting.“There are so manyactivities you can do,”Petersen says, sitting in hisclassroom where pictures ofpast class trips to Franceadorn what he calls theFrench Corner.Most of the members ofthe Iowa World LanguageAssociation have knownabout Petersen’s teachingstyle from his award-winningpresentations at the stateconference over the pastseveral years.They also know himas a published author.“Since 1998, it’s beenmy second career,” saysPetersen, who earned a master’sdegree from DrakeUniversity.Petersen’s works—including activity books andcreative assessments, venerablehow-to guides forFrench, Spanish and Germanteachers—are put out by theTeacher’s Discovery publishingcompany, which callshim a teacher with a “creativeand practical mind.” Hecurrently has 22 products,include poster sets andgames, on national andinternational markets.But it all comes back tohis teaching, part of whichhas included taking studentsto France six times in thepast decade.“You get to see themgrow up so much over there.That’s the best part,” saysWade Petersen offers advice to students who are preparing to write a mysteryfor an advanced French class at Hampton-Dumont High School.Petersen, who spent thespring semester of his junioryear at NWC studying inParis. “And it’s not a once-ina-lifetimeopportunity. Mostpeople who have gone overhave done it again.”Students come backwith treasured memories,like climbing the Eiffel Toweror standing in front of theArc de Triomphe for thefirst time.And Petersen sharesthose treasured memories,like the one of the studentwho, while standing in theLouvre, had tears in her eyes,saying it was too beautifulto look.“Just thinking aboutthat, even now my heartstarts to pound,” Petersensays, almost out of breath.“Those are the moments Ilive for.”Doug and Amy (Kindwall ’91)Kueper, son, Connor Douglas,joins Kyle (7) and Madison (4).Ryan and Cindy (Pletke ’92)Blackard, son, Garrett Charles,joins Ian (3).Greg and Michelle (Boeve ’92) VanWyhe, twins, Rex Arthur andRegan Marie, join Riley.Jody and Renia (Park ’93) Snyder,son, Joshua Ray.Tonya (McGee ’93) and Dan Venema’96, son, Cole Paul, joins Caraand Brooke.Corey and Stephanie (Fogelberg ’94)Olson, daughter, Bethany Paige,joins Adrienne (3).Lynnette (Webb ’94) and AdamRasmussen ’94, daughter, LesiaJolynn, joins Annika (6) andKirsten (2).Jamie and Josh Bird ’95, son,Kayden Nazareth.36 ▲ Winter 2004-05