+Torch Summer 02 WEB - University of Minnesota, Crookston

UMCTORCH 

The 

TORCH 

Volume 35, Number 3, Summer 2002 

A MAGAZINE OR ALUMNI & RIENDS O THE UNIVERSITY O MINNESOTA, CROOKSTON 

◆ Graduation Highlights pp. 8-9 

◆ Maximum Flower Power pp. 6-7 

Mark Your Calendars 

Homecoming 2002 

September 20 & 21

The Evolution of the 

UMC Alumni Association 

Many colleges and universities have long histories of active 

alumni associations. Many of them are right in our backyard. The 

University of North Dakota, North Dakota State University, Mayville 

State University, and Minnesota State 

University-Moorhead all have roots 

dating back to the 1890’s. 

UMC’s alumni association is very 

young by comparison. In 1966 UMC 

began as a two-year post-secondary 

institution, and later, in 1993 became 

a “four-year” university. Over time, 

we have seen a tremendous 

evolution of not only UMC, but also 

the UMC Alumni Association. Today 

UMC is nationally acclaimed as a 

leader in the field of education 

through technology, and the number 

of active members in the alumni 

Curt Almlie, 

association rapidly grows. 

Director of Alumni Relations 

The UMC Alumni Association 

carries a no-dues policy. Graduates are automatically added to the 

alumni rolls. This year we added 150, and now we carry a total 

6,310 alumni on our roll. It’s impossible to keep up-to-date on all 

alumni and their contact information, but we try our best to maintain 

their files as accurately as possible. We have about 4,810 addresses 

that are current. We continually search for updates. 

Along with the increase in active alumni, it is our goal to improve 

the services we provide. The UMC Torch has experienced a 

dramatic change in the past year. A conscious decision was made 

to add more pages, enhance its appeal, and implement a full-color 

cover. Our basic audience consists of alumni, and we try to publish 

items of interest to them. We have heard positive comments about 

these changes, and we will continue to strive for the best possible 

publication. Of course, finances do dictate what we can do. 

Another service being introduced in this issue is the auto and 

home insurance group service policy. The University of Minnesota 

system and hordes of other universities have found the program to 

be advantageous. Please review and see if it is something you are 

interested in. I know I plan to research it. 

Another project, the UMC Directory, is in production as you read 

this. The Harris Publishing Company has, undoubtedly, contacted 

you already. You may purchase a copy if you are interested in finding 

out about former classmates and friends. The UMC Alumni Association 

is not directly involved in the sales of the directories, but we 

have provided information to develop the directory. 

One last item is our website directory—now with 700 names and 

e-mail addresses. Those of you who wish to be listed can simply 

provide us with your e-mail address. If you have any updates, 

please contact us. It is our hope that we can utilize these addresses 

to provide you with more information regarding UMC. 

Life is busy! We wish you well. Please keep in touch. 

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. 

Disability accommodations will be provided for any event listed in this 

magazine by calling 218-281-8439. © 2002, University of Minnesota, 

Crookston, All rights reserved. Printed in USA. 

UMCTORCH 

The 

A MAGAZINE OR ALUMNI & RIENDS O 

THE UNIVERSITY O MINNESOTA, CROOKSTON 

Volume 35, Number 3, Summer 2002 

The UMC TORCH is a publication of the UMC Alumni Association, 

published by the University of Minnesota, Crookston 

University Relations Office. 

Chancellor 

Donald Sargeant, 218-281-8342 

sargeant@umn.edu 

Director of University Relations 

Curt Almlie, 218-281-8436 

calmlie@umn.edu 

Director of Communications 

Andrew Svec, 218-281-8435 

asvec@umn.edu 

Alumni Support Staff 

Rose Ulseth, 218-281-8439 

rulseth@umn.edu 

Director of Development 

Michael Meyer, 218-281-8434 

meyer243@umn.edu 

UMC Alumni Board of Directors 

Leah (Stratton) Melsa ’93,Twylla (Johnson) Altepeter ’68 & ’02, 

Jeff Oseth, Douglas (Carl) Melbye ’77, Jennifer (Johnston) Tate 

’98, Stephanie (Hoeft) Helgeson, Arlene (Putikka) Tucker ’73, 

Heather (Pohlmeier) Dufault ’96, Shane Roers ’01, Mark Erickson 

’98, Sue (Gruhot) LeGare ’89, Korey Hegreberg ’98, 

Joey Alcorn ’01 

Ex Officio: Curt Almlie, Rose Ulseth ’87, Mike Meyer 

UMC Teambackers Board of Directors 

Ed Odland, Dave Dufault, Richard Hanson, Pete Wasberg, 

Stephanie Helgeson, Kent Freberg, Jim Ingeman, Dave Aamoth, 

Calvin Anderson, Chuck Hiller, Dave Hoff, Nick Nicholas, Chuck 

Wilder, Pete Graham, Tom Helgeson, Dave Nelson, Gary Zitzer, 

June Shaver, Nancie Hoerner, Chuck Larson, Ray Dusek, Ray 

Pierce 

Ex Officio: Curt Almlie, Lon Boike, Don Sargeant, Bob Nelson, 

Mike Meyer 

Northwest School of Agriculture Alumni Board of 

Directors 

Arlone (Thoreson) Cymbaluk ’47, Betty (Erickson) Floan ’47, Ray 

Dusek ’57, Wilford Dostal ’48, Warren Hamrick ’48, Bonnie 

(Vesledahl) Holmquist ’51, Lorraine (Zipoy) Love ’54, Harlene 

(Overgaard) Hagen ’47, Roger Odegaard ’60, Gerhard Ross ’45 

The UMC Torch is a publication of the UMC Alumni Association 

published by the Office of University Relations at the 

University of Minnesota, Crookston. It is published three times 

a year: fall, winter, and spring. Send address changes and 

information for the magazine to: UMC Alumni Association, 2900 

University Avenue, University of Minnesota, Crookston, MN 

56716-5001. 

Letters to the Editor are welcomed. 

Phone: 218-281-8439 or 1-800-232-6466, Ext. 8439 

FAX: 218-281-8440 

E-mail: 

rulseth@umn.edu, or 

calmlie@umn.edu 

Editor in Chief: Curt Almlie Editor: Andrew Svec 

Designer: John C. Zak Photos: Media & UMC 

Contributing writers: Twylla Altepeter and 

Nicholas Kornder

The Torch Is for You, About You 

So here we are, one full year into our 

revamp of The Torch. We’ve come quite a 

ways, I think. But I want you all to remember 

that this publication is for you and about you. 

Yes, YOU, our UMC alumni. 

It’s incredibly interesting to hear from 

each of you and find out what you are doing. 

I especially enjoy the features about people’s 

lives and careers after their UMC experience. 

We want to hear stories like these from all of 

you, and we want to share these stories with 

the rest of the UMC community. 

I encourage each of you to send in alumni 

news and photos. Also consider dropping by 

Andrew Svec, 

campus and visiting with faculty and staff. 

Director of Communications And don’t forget, we are always looking for 

alumni to feature in our columns—like Jerry 

Rude (pp. 6-7), Ruth Larson (page 11), and the Green 

House Girls (pp. 12-13). 

Contents 

2 

UMC Happenings 

6 

Cover Story: 

Maximum lower Power 

8 

Graduation Highlights 

11 

Alumni eatures 

22 

Athletics News 

28 

Alumni News 

Calendar 

UMC Teambackers Golf Classic Saturday, July 20 

Minakwa Golf Club, 

Crookston, Minnesota 

Crookston Ox Cart Days August 15-18 

UMC New Student Orientation 2002 August 23 - 26 

UMC Fall Semester Classes Begin Tuesday, August 27 

Athletic Hall of Fame 2002 Induction Friday, September 20 

Homecoming 2002 Saturday, September 21 

The UMC Torch 1

NEWS 

UMC Happenings 

UMC will establish a First Year Honors Society on campus as part of the continuing First Year 

Experience Program. Thirty-six first year students have been invited to become founding members of 

this organization based on their GPAs. Once established the honors society will apply to become 

chapter members of Alpha Lambda Delta, a national, non-profit society that honors academic excellence 

across the nation. 

On March 20 students from Roseau High School were the latest 

to take part in a special agricultural education project sponsored by 

UMC, the Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council, and 

the Northwestern Minnesota Regional Sustainable Partnership. 

UMC students and faculty led sessions on animal reproduction and 

bioethics, cryogenics, and plant grafting and cloning. This project is 

designed to introduce agricultural science and biotechnology 

activities in the context of existing high school curricula. Learn more 

at . 

UMC hosted the 18th annual Northwest Urban Forestry 

Workshop Friday, April 5. The workshop was cosponsored by 

UMC’s Natural Resources Department, the UMC Center for Adult 

Learning, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and the Headwaters 

Area Shade Tree Advisory Committee. 

The UMC Hospitality Association catered “Business After 

Hours” 

About 35 local retailers, professionals, and business leaders 

joined students involved with UMC’s Chapter of Students in Free 

Enterprise (SIFE) for “Business After Hours” on March 26 in Bede 

Student Center. The event is a post-workday, networking social 

cosponsored by the Crookston Chamber of Commerce. 

UMC hosted the regional championship competition of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association 

(IHSA) Saturday, April 6, at the University Teaching and Outreach Center (UTOC) Arena. The event 

began at 9:00 a.m. with the Hunt Seat riding competition and 

continued at 1:00 p.m. with the Western riding competition. Equestrian 

teams from Iowa State University, St. Cloud State University, 

University of Wisconsin—River Falls, University of Wisconsin— 

Madison, Carleton College, Ellsworth Community College, 

Gustavus Adolphus College, and University of Nebraska, Lincoln 

competed with UMC’s team. 

For a third consecutive year the UMC Students in Free Enterprise 

(SIFE) Team was named Regional Champion at the regional 

SIFE competition, held in the Twin Cities. UMC’s team advanced 

and competed at the SIFE National Exposition in Kansas City, MO, 

on May 12 - 14. 

Four UMC students competed in the Intercollegiate Horse 

Show Association Zone 6 Championship Show April 13 at the 

University of Wisconsin, River Falls. Shown from the left are 

Sharon Altepeter of Crookston, Andrew Hinrichs of Rose City, 

Coach Nicky Overgaard of Red Lake Falls, Julie Schlossberg 

of Crookston, and Keri Nelson of Henry, S.D. Hinrichs placed 

fourth in Intermediate Western Equitation, and Nelson placed 

eighth in the same class. Altepeter placed fifth in Open 

Reining Equitation. Schlossberg placed eighth in Intermediate 

Equitation Over Fences and Intermediate Equitation on the 

Flat. Riders from 25 colleges throughout the Midwest qualified 

for the championship show. 

Steve Brandt of Kimball, MN, and Jean Korkowski of Brandon, 

MN, were named UMC Athletes of the Year at the annual Athletics 

Awards Social on April 18. Brandt was also named the top male 

scholar-athlete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, the 

first UMC student to earn such an honor. 

Wildlife management student Dan Oberg has been named one 

of only five students in the nation to receive the Wildlife Leadership 

Award from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. He is also the very 

first wildlife student in Minnesota to receive this distinction. 

UMC hosted its Tenth Annual Regional Junior High Music 

Festival Wednesday, May 15. Junior high musicians from ten area 

schools took part in the day-long performance festival. 

2 The UMC Torch

NatR Students Attend Conclave 

UMC’s quiz bowl team for the North Central Student Wildlife Conclave 

included (from left) Nico Bennett, Richard Bohnen, Kara Clancy, and Dan 

Oberg. 

A group of UMC students attended the North 

Central Section of The Wildlife Society’s Student 

Conclave, held at Rosholt Lyon’s Camp near 

Stevens Point, Wisconsin, in mid-April. The 

conclave featured seminars and demonstrations 

related to wildlife observation and management 

as well as a quiz bowl competition designed to 

test participants’ knowledge in areas such as 

wildlife management and techniques, animal 

anatomy and physiology, statistical analysis, 

population dynamics, animal identification, and 

general resource knowledge. 

UMC’s quiz bowl team finished in fifth place 

among teams from Northern Michigan University; 

Iowa State; University of Missouri; Ohio State; 

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; Purdue; 

South Dakota State University; University of 

Wisconsin, Madison; and University of Wisconsin, 

Stevens Point. 

Marvin Windows Grads Mark U of M First 

UMC celebrated a University of Minnesota 

System first on Wednesday, May 15, with an 

evening graduation ceremony for the first five 

graduates of the Bachelor of Manufacturing 

program offered on-site at Marvin Windows 

and Doors in Warroad, Minnesota. These five 

graduates have completed the first fully offcampus 

undergraduate degree program in 

the University system. 

The graduates are Marvin Windows 

employees and include (front row from left): 

John Zeck, Cary Olson, Kevin Bruce, Jeff 

Dow, and Gale Mitchell Cole. Marvin Windows 

representatives included (back row, left) 

Susan Marvin and Peggy Ann Anderholm. 

UMC Chancellor Don Sargeant and University 

Regent Robert Bergland (back row, right) 

represented the U of M. 

UMC began offering the program entirely 

on-site at Marvin Windows in 1999. Students 

earn 15 credits per year in courses taught by 

UMC faculty at the Warroad plant. Twenty-five 

students are currently enrolled in the degree 

program. For more information about the 

Bachelor of Manufacturing program visit 

. 

The graduates are (front row from left): John Zeck, Cary Olson, Kevin Bruce, Jeff 

Dow, and Gale Mitchell Cole. Marvin Windows representatives included (back row, 

left) Susan Marvin and Peggy Ann Anderholm. UMC Chancellor Don Sargeant and 

University Regent Robert Bergland (back row, right) represented the U of M. 

The UMC Torch 3

Man and Woman of the Year for 2002 

Announced April 16 

UMC honored students with achievement and service awards at the annual Student Awards 

Reception on Tuesday evening, April 16, in Bede Ballroom. The ceremony is held each year to honor 

those who have made outstanding leadership and 

service contributions or who have achieved high academic 

standing at the University’s Crookston campus. 

Twelve students received Student Achievement 

Awards, which UMC presents to recognize those 

students who have excelled not only academically, but 

also through leadership and service to the University and 

local community. Those students included (back row 

from left) Paul Detloff of Bertha, MN; Dan Oberg of Isanti, 

MN; Jim Myers of Woodbury, MN; Dan Weber of Crookston; 

(middle row) Brook Nordeen of Duluth, MN; Jean 

Korkowski of Brandon, MN; Alaina Burt of Jacobson, 

MN; Cheryl Isder of Little Falls, MN; (front row) Gianna 

Anderson of Springfield, MN; Steve Brandt of Kimball, 

MN; Dana Prudhomme of Crookston, and Kari Visness 

of Karlstad, MN. 

From that group, two students were recognized with 

the year’s top academic and student service award: 

“Man and Woman of the Year.” The UMC Man and 

Woman of the Year for 2002 are Steve Brandt, a business 

management and marketing major from Kimball, 

The 2002 Student Achievement Award winners 

MN, and Dana Prudhomme, a scientific and technical 

communication major from Crookston. Curt Kost, representing the Crookston Noon Day Lions, 

presented Prudhomme and Brandt with a cash award for their achievements. 

The Golden Eagle 

Has Landed 

The Golden Eagle Sculpture north of the UMC Sports Center 

was officially dedicated on Saturday, May 11, at 11 a.m. The 

ceremony included a welcome by Curt Almlie, Director of University 

Relations, remarks by Steven Brandt, CSA President, a presentation 

by UMC Chancellor Don Sargeant, and remarks by U of M 

President Mark Yudof. The Golden Eagle is dedicated to the 

enterprising spirit of all UMC students, Al Westburg, friend of UMC, 

who inspired this project, and the Crookston athletic community. 

Richard Arfsten of Burlington, Wisconsin, designed the sculture, 

which was made possible by a grant from the Northwest Regional 

Development Commission through funding from the Minnesota 

State Legislature. “If I were a gopher I would not go from here to 

there under that eagle” said President Yudof as he addressed 

those gathered for the ceremony. The eagle sculpture, with a sixfoot 

wing span, sits atop a 14-foot high podium. 

President Yudof comments on the Golden Eagle during the ceremony 

4 The UMC Torch

Bede Hall Replacement Project Approved 

On May 22 Governor Ventura issued his list of line-item vetoes to the capital bonding bill 

passed by the Minnesota Legislature. Funding was approved for the following projects in the 

University of Minnesota’s request: Higher Education Asset Preservation 

and Renewal (HEAPR) ($35 million), Plant Growth Facilities 

($17.7 million), Duluth Lab Science ($33 million), Nicholson Hall 

($24 million), Bede Hall, Crookston ($7.7 million), and Classroom 

Improvements, system-wide ($2 million). The total value of the 

approved projects for the University, including the University’s debt 

obligation and private contributions, is $119.4 million. Learn more 

about the entire process at U of M Government Relations: 

. 

Initial study and planning for the replacement of Bede Hall at 

UMC have already taken place. Bede Hall, the existing student 

center, was constructed in 1921 as a high school dining hall, 

dormitory, and classroom building. Originally built to serve a small 

high school enrollment of 155 students, the building is inadequate 

to meet the various needs of the current undergraduate enrollment 

of nearly 1,200 full-time students. 

U of M, Twin Cities Facilities Management is currently preparing 

the information for this project. The information will be sent to the 

State Designer Selection Board in June, and that will begin the process of selecting the firm 

that will design the building. UMC officials will appoint a campus planning committee to work 

with the firm this summer. 

Plans call for a full schematic design to begin in September 2002. The project will be bid 

in March of 2003, and construction will likely take place from May 2003 to July 2004. The 

completed building will be ready for occupancy in August 2004. 

UMC Students Sweep 2002 NACTA Competition 

On April 4-6, 2002, UMC students placed first in many contest that were part of the annual 

National Judging Competition of the National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture 

(NACTA). UMC teams traveled to California State Polytechnic University in Pomona and took home 

the overall NACTA Sweepstakes Trophy among several other 

awards. UMC has brought home the overall sweepstakes trophy 

seven times in the last ten years. 

Forty UMC students participated in the contests making up the 

competition: Knowledge Bowl, Agricultural Discussion, Agricultural 

Computers, Agricultural Business Management, Agricultural 

Biology, Horticulture, Animal Science, Crops, Livestock Judging, 

Horse Judging, Dairy Judging, and Soils. Dave Hoff, assistant 

professor of agricultural business, was the NACTA Coordinator for 

UMC’s teams. Martin Tubby served as UMC’s NACTA student 

spokesperson, Rebecca Kuechle served as Treasurer, and several 

faculty and staff, including Lyle Westrom, Harouna Maiga, Susan 

Jacobson, Marv Mattson, Chuck Habstritt, Christo Robberts, and 

Dave Hoff, coached the teams. 

UMC students prepare for the NACTA judging competitions 

throughout the year, starting as early as September. They spend 

many hours in study and fundraising in addition to their regular 

class workloads. Anna Anderson served as coordinator for the 

group’s biggest fundraiser, the UMC NACTA Car Wash. These 

students put in this effort because the NACTA contest is a great 

opportunity for them to gain more professional experience in their 

major field of study and to build career skills. 

Members of UMC’s 2002 NACTA Teams included: Back Row 

(from left): Brent Arndt, Luke Shields, Kyle Smith, Mary 

Wingert, Josh Johnson and Matt Fredrickson; Middle Row: 

Tony Lorenz, Cory Palm, Sara Eastman, Staci Slykerman and 

Anna Anderson; Front Row: Advisor Dave Hoff, Nick Ziemann, 

Martin Tubby, Tom Rude, Rebecca Kuechle, Sara Ehlers and 

Tim Adams. 

The UMC Torch 5

ALUMNI EATURES 

Maximum Flower Power 

Spring is the time of year 

many people spend thinking 

about gardening. Most of us 

stop by the local nursery to pick 

out a few flowers that happen 

to catch our eye, and then we 

take them home and plant them 

in pots or around the yard. It 

doesn’t take a great deal of planning, 

preparation, or work, and 

the end results are usually satisfying. 

Now imagine the planning, 

preparation, and work involved 

in dealing with 10,000 or more 

individual flowering plants. This 

is the annual task facing Jerry 

Rude, UMC’s landscape maintenance 

supervisor and landscape gardener, and 

his staff. But it is very much worth it, 

as the end results are truly spectacular. 

Unlike the rest of us, Jerry and his 

staff can’t simply stop by the local 

nursery. It’s much more economical 

for UMC’s flowers to be started from 

seed and grown in the campus greenhouses. 

It also doesn’t hurt that UMC 

has a great horticulture program with 

facilities that can be shared for this purpose. 

Staff plant the seeds and cuttings of different colors 

and varieties of such favorites as petunias, dianthus, snapdragons, 

marigolds, geraniums, begonia, salvia, among 

others beginning in January and continuing through April. 

Some years, for example, there may be as many as twenty 

different varieties of petunias grown. All in all, each year 

between 8,000 and 10,000 individual flowering plants are 

used in the various gardens across the campus. 

Spring planting season is crunch time for the Grounds Crew. 

On the cover and above: The UMC’s Grounds Crew includes four UMC alumni, (from left) 

Neal Vraa ’95; Greg Benoit ’90; landscape and grounds supervisor Jerry Rude ’83 & ’96; 

Michelle Holman ’80; and Bob Jeska. 

Crunch time comes in May during outdoor planting 

time (this year’s late spring didn’t help matters). But that’s 

just the beginning! Over the summer the gardens need to 

be watered, kept free of weeds and plant diseases, and then 

there’s the matter of removing the dead flower heads of 

many of the plants to encourage a longer blooming season. 

Just as no two plants are ever exactly the same, every 

landscape plan is different each year as well. Jerry knows 

how popular the campus gardens have become and tries to 

keep things fresh with new colors and designs. People 

from across the region make UMC a destination at some 

point every summer to appreciate the beauty of the campus 

and its well-manicured gardens. This is one way the 

work is rewarding, because the end results are noticed and 

appreciated by so many. “It’s also rewarding because I get 

to work with something my father started,” adds Jerry. 

Jerry began his career on the grounds crew at UMC in 

1973, after only a year of horticulture classes. Working 

full-time didn’t stop him from a degree, however. In 1983 

he earned his Associate in Applied Science Degree in Landscape, 

Turf, and Grounds. He says it took ten years to get 

his first degree because he was always so busy at work 

that he couldn’t take time off for classes. It took less time 

to complete his bachelors’ degree at UMC in Plant Industries 

Management—Horticulture, which he began in 1993 

and completed in 1996. 

In March of 1998 Jerry became the landscape and 

grounds supervisor, following in his father’s footsteps. His 

6 The UMC Torch

father, Curtiss Rude, held the same position at UMC from 

1967 until 1971 when he was tragically killed in an accident 

on campus. The fact that the gardens at the entrance 

of the campus are named the Curtiss Rude Memorial 

Gardens only adds to the importance Jerry and his staff 

place on caring for the plants on campus. 

“The key to our successful gardens at UMC,” says Jerry, 

“is having a dedicated crew willing to go the extra mile.” 

Two other full-time staff members make up the core of the 

landscape and grounds crew: Three UMC alumni are part 

of the crew. Neal Vraa ‘95 and Greg Benoit ’90 are on staff 

full-time. Rounding out the part-time summer crew are 

Michelle Holman ‘80, Dennis Tollerud, and Bob Jeska, who 

retired from his position as UMC Gounds oreman in 1997 

but comes back to lend a hand with the planting every 

spring. 

The entrance to campus sports a new look each year. This year the 

“UMC” garden is planted in red, white, and blue. 

This year the UMC landscape and grounds crew will 

have an additional charge. They will start working at replacing 

the 150 or more trees lost in the windstorm that 

ravaged Crookston last August. 

“With administrative and peer support the University 

is a very good place to work,” says Jerry. “Reflecting over 

the past 29 years it’s been the good people here that have 

made working in the grounds crew most enjoyable. I wish 

not to dwell in the past though, but look forward to the 

changes, challenges and possibilities ahead…except for 

weeds.” 

New Benefits Program 

May Save You Money on 

Auto and Home Insurance 

In an effort to provide you with the best possible benefits, 

the University of Minnesota, Crookston Alumni 

Association and Liberty Mutual, one of the nation’s 

largest insurers, have teamed up to offer you a program 

called Group Savings Plus ® . 

Here are just some of the great benefits offered by Group 

Savings Plus: 

• A money-saving group discount on auto, home and 

tenant insurance* 

• Convenient payment options with no interest or service 

fees** 

• Round-the-clock claims service 

• 24-hour Emergency Roadside Assistance*** 

• Individualized service from licensed insurance professionals 

Group discounts, coupled with other premium reductions 

such as multi-car, multi-policy, safe driver, passive 

restraints and anti-theft device discounts could result in 

substantial savings for you and your family. 

or your free, no-obligation quote call Liberty 

Mutual’s Direct Response Center at 1-800-524-9400. 

Liberty Mutual requests that you have your current 

policy available when you call. You may be surprised at 

what Group Savings Plus can do for you. 

*Group discounts are not available in all states. Discounts 

vary by state. 

** or Arizona residents, a $3 per month service fee will 

apply for the direct bill option. 

***Service applies to auto policyholders and is provided by 

Cross Country Motor Club of Boston, Inc., Boston, MA or 

through Cross Country Motor Club of California, Inc., 

Boston, MA. 

Applicants are individually underwritten, some members 

may not qualify. 

Coverage provided by and underwritten by Liberty Mutual 

Insurance Company and its affiliates, 175 Berkeley 

Street, Boston, MA. 

The UMC Torch 7

Like Daughter, Like Mother 

pleasure for me as well as a dream come 

true. I was proud to watch my daughter 

receive her bachelor of science degree. 

After a long hiatus (I got my 

associate’s degree from UMC in ’68), I 

was able to return to college and earn 

my own bachelor’s degree. I feel very 

privileged because I shared this oncein-a-lifetime 

experience with my 

daughter. 

Mother-Daughter graduates of UMC’s Class of 2002 included (from left) Tywlla Altepeter, 

Sharon Altepeter, Liz Tollefson, and Megan Tollfeson. 

Imagine attending college classes 

with your mother. Unheard of No. 

Uncommon Maybe. 

This year two sets of motherdaughter 

graduates walked across the 

platform to receive their diplomas as 

part of UMC’s Class of 2002. The only 

thing that determined who would receive 

the diploma first was the alphabetized 

order of their names on the 

program. 

We asked each of the graduates to 

share their thoughts on attending college 

with their parent or child. 

Sharon Altepeter 

“But Mom, I don’t want to go to 

class.” That didn’t work on my Mom 

when I was in high school, and it didn’t 

work when I was in college, particularly 

because we were both going to 

UMC. 

Although my mom and I were in 

separate areas of study, we ended up 

taking many of our classes together. 

How was that you may ask It was 

great! I always had motivation to go 

to class, and I had a fun, smart study 

partner as well as someone to share 

the commute with. 

One very unique experience for me 

was when I was a teaching assistant 

for an equine driving class Mom was 

taking. It’s not very often that you 

get to teach your mom a few things! 

What was the best part of going to 

school with my mom It was having 

her right beside me on graduation day, 

celebrating the same achievement that 

I was celebrating. It was an experience 

I’ll never forget. 

Twylla Altepeter 

Going to college with my daughter, 

Sharon, was more than a delightful 

extension of my role of being her 

mother. We took several classes together, 

and when we were study companions 

I admit I needed her computer 

expertise on many occasions. 

Granted, I struggled with my homework 

more than she did, but we often 

shared the frustrations of complicated 

assignments and the satisfaction of 

work completed. Okay, I did nag at 

her about homework, but that’s a 

mother’s prerogative. 

Our roles were considerably reversed 

when Sharon was a teaching 

assistant for a horse driving class I 

took. I really think she was tougher 

on me than the rest of the students. 

Our college experience was, for the 

most part, wonderful. The culmination 

was one of the highlights of my life. 

Graduation day at UMC was a double 

Liz Tollefson 

Photographs record many things: 

smiles, tears, reunions, separations, 

family, friends, and time gone by. The 

record of these images is one way that 

we can remember all the little things 

we may forget. Graduation day on May 

11, 2002 holds many of these recorded 

images. But there are recollections 

that photographs cannot record. Those 

memories are ones we carry only in 

our mind. They are unique to us and 

special by their uniqueness. 

Megan and I have shared countless 

hours of class time, study time, 

and then there are all those lessons 

taught outside the classroom, like how 

to not act like a “non-trad.” (I am not 

sure I have passed that one yet.) There 

have been discussions over how to 

interpret an assignment and whether 

or not we cited every source. I remember 

the first time I spoke out loud in a 

classroom, but I also remember the 

first time I heard a student respond 

and realized it was Megan. I remember 

thinking not many mothers get to 

sit next to their daughters in a classroom 

and how it was strange and wonderful 

at the same time. 

It is those memories that make 

graduation so fabulous. I had an experience 

not many people have. I am 

fortunate to have raised a daughter 

who tolerated it so well, who encouraged 

so much, and who believed I 

would make it when I didn’t. What can 

I say; it has been a great time for me. 

I hold in my mind and heart way more 

than what is captured in a photograph. 

Those moments have created 

an image that is commemorated by 

graduation, but one that I will savor 

forever. 

continued on next page 

8 The UMC Torch

Megan Tollefson 

There aren’t many college students who can say they 

went to school with their mom. Even fewer can say they 

graduated or will graduate from college on the same day. I 

am one of the lucky few. 

Going to college with my mom was great. We shared 

several classes. It was good when there was a group project, 

because we always knew who our partner would be. We 

share special memories of our education at UMC. 

I was very proud of my mom for all her hard work! My 

sister, Carrie (UMC Class of 2001), and I urged her to go 

back to school. or as long as I can remember, my mom 

has wanted her college degree. I was lucky enough to be 

part of that experience, not just at graduation, but every 

day. I have never seen anyone else set a goal and be so 

determined to reach it as my mom was. Being able to 

share my graduation day with her will always be a great 

memory for both of us. 

G RADUATION . . . 2002 HIGHLIGHTS 

To see more 2002 Graduation photos go to: www.crk.umn.edu/newsevents/notices01-02/Grad2002/index.htm 

The UMC Torch 9

UMC Students Plant a Forest 

encountered a porcupine, adding to the whole learning 

experience. 

Baird says the tree-planting trip has become a tradition 

with UMC Natural Resources students. “It’s something 

our former students always talk about when they 

come back to campus,” he says. “And it’s a good volunteer 

experience with the U.S. orest Service for a student’s resume.” 

Audrey Gustufson, a forester with the U.S. orest Service, 

joined in on the celebratory mood and presented Baird 

and eiro with volunteer awards marking 20 years of tree 

planting and recognizing the two for coordinating the 

project over that time. 

The NatR Club has planted trees at the Chippewa National Forest 

for 20 years. 

How many trees does it take to make a forest That’s a 

question faculty, staff, and students in the Natural Resources 

Department recently asked as they embarked on 

their 20 th annual volunteer tree-planting trip. 

A group of volunteers from UMC set out on the morning 

of April 25 for the Chippewa National orest, east of 

Bemidji on US Highway 2. or Phil Baird, assistant professor 

of natural resources, and Tom eiro, senior lab services 

coordinator, this trip marked the 20 th anniversary of 

their first tree-planting trip to this forest. In twenty years’ 

time Baird and eiro estimate that UMC volunteers have 

planted 140,000 trees—roughly equivalent to a 220-acre 

forest. This year’s group added about 4,000 trees to that 

grand total. 

While planting the trees, the students learn about forest 

ecosystems in a real-life laboratory. They can see the 

various growth stages of trees planted by UMC groups in 

previous years. Baird and eiro brought this year’s volunteer 

group to the site where UMC students planted their 

first saplings twenty years ago. Today that area is home to 

red pines averaging about 24 feet high. The group even 

The 2002 tree planting crew 

Tom Feiro and Phil Baird stand on the original tree planting site 20 

years later. 

The following students took part in this year’s treeplanting 

trip: Chris Alford, Andy Barnum, Nico Bennet, 

Richard Bohnen, Kara Clancy, Ben eiro, Tyler Gensrich, 

Ryan Gilbertson, Kati Klaverkamp, Jenny Linder, Dan 

Oberg, Justin Petrich, Kelly Sleen, and Lance Readel. aculty 

and staff members Bill Haase and John Loegering also 

took part in the trip, along with Baird and eiro. 

The project is one of several volunteer projects done by 

UMC’s Natural Resources Department and its students. 

UMC students have also been involved with trail clearing 

projects in the Superior National orest; they have collected 

prairie seeds and have conducted a bird census at 

Rydell Wildlife Area near Crookston; and they recently 

helped post conservation easement boundary signs at the 

site of the proposed Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge. 

10 The UMC Torch

Larsen inds Balance 

in Corporate Nutrition Sales 

Ask Ruth (Harmoning) Larsen ’86 

if she could have pictured herself as 

district manager for Nestlé Clinical 

Nutrition when she first came to UMC 

in 1984, and she quite candidly says, 

“Probably not. Who really knows what 

the possibilities are when you are just 

starting college” 

But ask Ruth if she likes her current 

job, and you will get a resounding, 

“Yes!” 

Since 1999 Ruth has been the district 

manager for Nestlé Clinical Nutrition 

covering Minnesota, western 

Wisconsin, and Michigan’s upper peninsula. 

She classifies herself as essentially 

a sales representative, but 

one who also does her fair share of 

consulting, informing, and educating. 

“Because of my background in nutrition 

and dietetics,” says Ruth, “and 

because most of my clients are dietitians 

and related professionals, I feel 

I can really be an effective sales person 

because I’ve walked a mile in their 

shoes, so to speak, and I know their 

needs and interests.” She adds that 

she never really pictured herself in 

sales, but now that she’s worked in 

that arena, she really likes the way 

“customers really become your friends, 

and I feel like I’m helping to provide 

the tools they need to do their jobs 

effectively.” 

Although Nestlé Clinical Nutrition 

is based near Chicago in Deerfiled, Illinois, 

Ruth works out of her home in 

Plymouth, Minnesota. “That allows 

me to have a nice balance of professionalism, 

travel, and family,” says 

Ruth. “I am probably gone on business 

one night a week, but with the 

phone, the Internet, and e-mail, I can 

maintain the professional contacts 

with my clients and still spend quality 

time with my husband Andrew and 

my daughter Lauren.” 

Ruth does have a strong background 

in nutrition and dietetics. She 

says even in high school she was 

drawn to home economics and organizations 

like HA. “Maybe it has to 

do with the tendency for young women 

to focus more on body image, but I’ve 

always had an interest in health, nutrition, 

and what is eaten,” she says. 

Ruth (Harmoning) Larsen ’86 (left) with UMC Associate Professor of Dietetics Sharon 

Stewart. Ruth presented her perspectives on a career in nutrition and dietetics at the annual 

UMC Dietetics Symposium on April 10. 

“But I think people have this misconception 

that there’s nothing more interesting 

than a group of dietitians 

ordering a pizza,” she adds, smiling. 

“Most people probably think that registered 

dietitians would never even eat 

pizza—that it’s on the ‘bad food’ list. 

While we really tend to practice what 

we preach about nutrition, most of us 

eat foods just like everyone else, and 

that myth is not really true.” 

This interest in nutrition and dietetics 

brought Ruth to UMC from her 

native Red Lake alls in 1984. After 

completing her Associate’s Degree in 

Dietetics at UMC she was a registered 

dietetics technician. She went to 

work and spent four years at North 

Country Hospital in Bemidji, before 

heading to the U of M’s St. Paul campus 

to work on a bachelor’s degree. 

By 1993 Ruth was a registered dietitian. 

After developing more contacts 

in the health industry Ruth soon began 

temporary work in clinical dietetics 

at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, 

Minnesota, and then Walker Methodist 

Health Center. Thanks to “lots of 

maternity leaves, where I could be a 

‘full-time’ temp, I was able to work into 

the system,” she says. Ruth spent 

eight years total in clinical dietetics 

in the metro area, before the opportunity 

with Nestlé Clinical Nutrition 

came up. 

Ruth encourages UMC graduates— 

especially dietetics graduates—to consider 

working in corporate sales. “It 

can really be fulfilling to know that 

you are helping people in this way, and 

with a background in nutrition and 

dietetics, you can really be effective,” 

she told current students and alumni 

at this year’s UMC Dietetics Symposium 

on April 10. 

If you’d like to ask Ruth a question 

or reminisce about times spent 

at UMC, she welcomes your e-mail 

messages. You can reach her at 

ruth.larsen@us.nestle.com. 

The UMC Torch 11

Who Can orget the 

Green House Girls 

The Green House Girls in 1984 (from left): Patty Schmaltz, Kathy Barry, Dina Vollan, Konni Teeters, Lori Hanson, and Diane Sabol. 

If only walls could talk! Story after story would probably 

come forth from the walls of the green house that 

once stood on the corner of North Ash and East 6 th Street 

in Crookston. Six young women, Kathy Barry, Dina Vollan, 

Lori Hanson, Konni Teeters, Diane Sabol, and Patty 

Schmaltz, shared their lives together while completing their 

education at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. 

These six forged a bond that has been unbreakable since 

they left UMC in 1984. 

“The Corner” 

by Diane Sabol 

Sweet Sixteen Years Ago, 

Six Girls Shared A Home, 

The Building Itself Is Forever Gone, 

But The Love and Friendship Carries On, 

And Like The Flowers That Now Grow There, 

So Do Our Lives That We Share, 

Thank You, My Sisters, For Being You, 

For The Hugs and Laughter And All You Do, 

Who Might Have Known Sixteen Years Ago, 

That On That Corner, A Family Would Grow. 

Arriving in the fall of 1982, these young women had 

decided to attend UMC because of the two-year programs 

and the small size of the campus. They made many friends 

like Donny Stets, Jim Stras, Jeff and Kerry Strandell, 

Carolyn Hapka, Deb Gallentine, Rita Schulz, Dawn 

Bucklin, Andy Blumhagen, Gene DeLaHunt, Ryan Johnson, 

LuWayne Loiland, and “Mouse” during that first year in 

Skyberg Hall. 

When that first year ended, these six girls were such 

good friends that they decided to live together the next 

year. Losing an opportunity to get an apartment on campus, 

they went downtown looking for quarters. Near the 

Courthouse they found the famed “Green House.” 

Being an older green colored house, much care and attention 

needed to be given to its revival. In the fall of 

1983, these six girls and their mothers made their way 

back to Crookston. They cleaned, cleaned, and cleaned 

some more and then painted before they moved in to set 

up housekeeping. 

A home featuring only one bathroom and a tub—not a 

shower!—shared by six young women made life very interesting, 

if not challenging, at times. Can you imagine getting 

ready in the morning for classes or, even worse yet, 

getting ready to go on a date 

Despite the singular powder room, the students shared 

a great deal of fun in that house—parties, toothpaste 

fights, mice, blue room stories, and laughter. As Konni 

recalls, “We became sisters, not just friends.” That be- 

12 The UMC Torch

came true, quite literally, for two of the girls. Kathy’s dad 

and Konni’s mom were both widowed, and the girls thought 

it would be “cute” to set them up. At their graduation 

party, the mom and dad met. They soon started dating 

and were married only eight months later. This made Konni 

and Kathy stepsisters as well as good friends. 

That graduation party in 1984 was also memorable because, 

according to Konni, they were honored by the attendance 

of Stan “The Man” Sahlstrom. This past winter 

Curt Almlie, Director of University Relations at UMC, had 

the opportunity to ask Dr. Sahlstrom if he remembered 

the “Green House Girls” According to Curt, “He didn’t 

even have to respond, anyone could tell by the smile on 

his face and gleam in his eye that he remembered these 

young ladies.” 

As the girls will attest, they cherished their years at 

UMC not only for a top quality education, but also for the 

lifelong friendships they made. The residence soon became 

a part of the vocabulary among UMC students. When 

people would ask them where they lived, the answer would 

be “Downtown.” The follow-up question would be, “Are 

you one of the green house girls” Hence, the Green House 

Girls received their name—not because they were horticulture 

majors, but because they lived in a green house! 

Interestingly enough the 1984 UMC Yearbook asks, 

“What Will You Miss About UMC in the uture Years” 

The list of replies includes, “The crew and mug night at 

Baloney Bills,” “Provost Stan, ‘The Man’ Sahlstrom’s ‘Good 

Morning,’” “The smell of the barns during the spring melt,” 

and oh yes, “The green house on the corner and the girls in 

it.” 

Unfortunately, the house is now gone thanks to a bulldozer, 

but the memories live on, and the friendships are 

intact. The Greenhouse Girls still get together. When 

they do, it seems as though no time has passed. They are 

as comfortable today as they were nearly 20 years ago. 

They attempt to have a reunion once or twice a year. 

They have an annual boat weekend with their spouses that 

usually takes place at the end of July. However, for some 

serious reminiscing about their days at UMC, they make a 

special effort to hold a girls-only reunion. One of their 

recent gatherings was held in Las Vegas. Their goal is, 

through a concerted effort, to remain friends even though 

they live in different parts of the country, have families, 

and are just plain busy. 

At one time the Green House Girls wondered if the faculty 

and staff ever thought they would survive. Well, they 

have, and all are leading productive lives. 

The Green House Girls Boat Weekend, July 2001 

Lori, a native of Bemidji, currently resides in Edina. 

She is an Administrative/Training Coordinator for 

the Airport Police Department at the Hubert H. 

Humphrey International Airport at Minneapolis-St. 

Paul. 

Dina, a native of Spicer, lives in Paynesville, and is 

married with two children. She is a kindergarten 

teacher. 

Kathy returned to Thief River alls where she manages a 

convenience store. She has two children. 

Diane, also a native of Thief River alls, is living in 

Harsaw, Wisconsin. She manages a local flower 

shop. 

Patty is married with two children and lives in Beltrami. 

She and her husband, Bruce Mosher operate two 

businesses, Advanced Tackle and Mosher Photography. 

Konni was employed as a legal assistant for a law firm 

in Minneapolis until 2000. She now resides in San 

Jose, California, and works part-time as a legal 

assistant in a small law firm. She and her husband 

have two children. 

Special thanks to this sisterhood for letting us share some of 

their life. The UMC Alumni Association wishes them well. 

Join us for UMC Homecoming 2002 

on September 20 and 21! 

The UMC Torch 13

GOLDEN EAGLE SIGHTINGS 

Alumni Highlights 

Many alumni, faculty, and current students attended the wedding of Shane Roers ‘01 and Lisa Detloff ’01 on April 

27, 2002, in Staples. UMC has a strong tradition with both the Roers and the Detloff families. Shane’s father, Jim, 

graduated from UMC in 1972, and many other Roers call UMC their alma mater. Lisa’s brother, Paul, is a member of 

UMC’s Class of 2002. Congratulations Shane and Lisa! 

Former Golden Eagle Playing for the Amsterdam Admirals 

Michael Jonsson, a former UMC football offensive lineman 

and team captain is currently a member of the 

Amsterdam Admirals in the NL Europe League. Jonsson 

is from Tidan, Sweden and played for the Golden Eagles in 

1999 and 2000. 

Jonsson went to a NL Europe mini camp in Tampa, 

lorida, and was successful. orty-six national players 

were selected at the national player mini camp. Jonsson 

was the only offensive lineman chosen. 

Jonsson is listed on the Admiralty roster as number 

73. His stats are 6’ 3”, 305 pounds, and runs the 40 yard 

dash in 5.2 seconds. 

The World League of ootball is the forerunner to the 

current National ootball League Europe League. It began 

in 1991. There were ten teams at that time. Mike Lynn, 

former general manager of the Minnesota Vikings, was 

president of that league in its beginning. The league currently 

has six teams and its season runs from April 13 to 

June 15 with the World Bowl played in Dusseldorf, Germany 

on June 22. 

Many of the league’s players are former NL players 

and many players have successfully moved to the NL. 

14 The UMC Torch

Don Sargeant to Step Down 

as UMC Chancellor Next Spring 

UMC Chancellor Donald Sargeant 

announced Wednesday, June 5, that 

he will step down as UMC’s Chancellor 

effective June 30, 2003. 

Sargeant said, “Serving as UMC’s 

chancellor has been challenging and 

rewarding, and the efforts of administrators, 

faculty, staff, and students 

working together have created 

a truly unique higher educational 

institution—one that is 

very meaningful to the students 

and public we serve and one 

that upholds the tradition of 

excellence of the University of 

Minnesota. We can all take 

great pride in UMC.” 

After he steps down as 

Chancellor next spring, 

Sargeant says he will take a oneyear 

leave “to strengthen my 

skills in areas related to the development 

and documentation 

of technology-based courseware 

effectiveness.” He will then return 

as a faculty member. He 

also plans to support the UMC 

Development Office by identifying and 

working with potential donors. 

“I look forward to spending more 

time with my wife, Mary Beth, and our 

two sons Dan and Doug. I’ve given 

considerable thought to the future 

contributions I can make as an emeritus 

administrator and a faculty member—and 

to the personal goals Mary 

Beth and I have set for our future,” 

said Sargeant. 

“I’m convinced that as the academic 

program offerings and the polytechnic 

mission of UMC evolve, 

technology-based instruction is becoming 

ever more critical to our success, 

and there is a need for expanded 

faculty support and training in this 

area,” added Sargeant. “I plan to focus 

my faculty work on instructional 

technology, including the support of 

UMC faculty in the development of 

courseware and documentation.“ 

Sargeant began his career at UMC 

in June of 1970 as an assistant professor 

teaching courses in agricultural 

marketing and farm management. He 

had just completed graduate work at 

Penn State University that focused on 

Students and technology continue to be high priorities 

during Don Sargeant’s tenure as UMC Chancellor. He is 

pictured with student James Guerrier ’02. 

the development of computer assisted 

instructional materials in agriculture 

education. He was promoted to associate 

professor in 1973 and to full professor 

in 1978. 

Sargeant also served as chair of the 

Agriculture Division from 1970-1973. 

He then moved on to serve as the assistant 

provost for academic affairs 

from 1973 until 1985, when he was 

appointed Chancellor of the Crookston 

Campus. He succeeded Stanley Sahlstrom, 

the founding provost of the 

college. 

As Chancellor, Sargeant is credited 

with two major initiatives that began 

in 1993 and essentially transformed 

every aspect of the Crookston Campus. 

That year, after much planning 

and preparation, UMC began offering 

baccalaureate degree programs and 

also became the first college to provide 

laptop computers to all students 

and faculty. 

Sargeant became well known in 

higher education circles as a resource 

and consultant with expertise in integrating 

technology and managing 

institutional change. Since 1993, 

representatives from over 150 other 

colleges and universities have visited 

UMC to learn more about the campus, 

its technology initiatives, and its 

transformation into a baccalaureate 

college. Recently Sargeant authored 

an article detailing the lessons learned 

from UMC’s technological transformation. 

The article is included as a chapter 

in a book produced by David G. 

Brown, vice president and dean of the 

International Center for Computer 

Enhanced Learning at Wake orest 

University. 

Over his 32-year career at UMC, 

Sargeant has also served in an advisory 

capacity for numerous 

other higher education organizations. 

He has served as chair 

of the Midwestern Higher Education 

Commission for Interactive 

Courseware and as a 

consultant and evaluator for the 

North Central Association of 

Colleges and Schools. He also 

holds membership on the Publications 

Committee for the National 

Association of College 

Teachers of Agriculture, the Minnesota 

Educational Telecommunications 

Council, the 

Northwest Educational Telecommunications 

System, and 

the Minnesota Campus Compact 

Steering Committee. 

Sargeant has also been very active 

in the community of Crookston and 

northwest Minnesota, earning many 

honors including an Honorary American 

A Degree, the Toastmasters International 

Communications and 

Leadership Award, and the Crookston 

Chamber of Commerce Partners in 

Education Award. He has also been 

named to the Red River Valley Shows 

Hall of ame and the U.S. Jaycees Hall 

of ame. He has also served on several 

regional corporate boards and currently 

serves on the boards for 

American ederal Bank, Phoenix Industries, 

and the Glenmore oundation. 

Sargeant holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural 

Education and Educational Administration 

from Penn State. He also 

holds a certificate from the Institute 

for Educational Management at 

Harvard University. He completed his 

Master’s and undergraduate work at 

the University of Illinois in Urbana. 

Prior to completing his Ph.D., he 

taught high school vocational agriculture 

at Tri-Valley Schools in Ellsworth, 

Illinois. 

The UMC Torch 15

Faculty & Staff 

Updates and 

Accolades 

Mark Huglen, Assistant Professor of 

Communications, has coauthored a 

new book Poetic 

Healing, with Basil 

B. Clark. The book 

is published by 

Unlimited Publishing 

and recounts 

Vietnam veteran 

Clark’s personal 

journey and healing 

process as analyzed 

from a communications perspective 

by Huglen. The book is available at 

Barnes and Noble as well as online. 

T. Christo Robberts, Program 

Manager, Bachelor of Manufacturing, 

has authored a 

textbook, Food Plant 

Engineering 

Systems, scheduled 

for release on 

June 12 by CRC 

Press. The book 

presents an overall 

view of the orchestration 

of the various 

integrated service systems necessary 

to keep a food production plant running 

at optimized efficiency. Detailed 

background knowledge of each of 

these service systems is also provided. 

The text is heralded as the first truly 

comprehensive look at food plant 

operations. 

Roger Wagner, Associate Professor 

of Horticulture, received the UMC 

Distinguished 

Teaching Award for 

2002 at the annual 

faculty and staff 

recognition celebration, 

held May 16. 

Wagner has a 

distinguished 27- 

year career of 

teaching horticulture 

courses at UMC. He was cited for 

his service to students as an excellent 

teacher, advisor, and role model and for 

his “concern and guidance, not only 

about students’ academic performance 

and progress, but equally so in their 

16 The UMC Torch 

growth as individuals and up-andcoming 

professionals in the field of 

horticulture.” Students and colleagues 

asked to comment on his effectiveness 

as a professor consistently commented 

on his professionalism, his knowledge 

of both the science and industry of 

horticulture, and the high expectations 

he holds for his students. He has been 

a faculty member at UMC since 1975. 

Wagner was also named one of four 

University-wide winners of the John 

Tate Award for Excellence in Undergraduate 

Advising for 2001-2002. The 

award was presented at a ceremony 

held at the McNamara Alumni Center 

on the Twin Cities Campus Friday, April 

26. 

The UMC Distinguished Professional 

and Administrative Award for 

2002 was presented 

to Heidi 

Patterson, Associate 

Director of 

Financial Aid, at the 

annual faculty and 

staff recognition 

day. The award 

promotes and 

recognizes excellence 

in job 

performance among UMC professional 

and administrative staff 

employees. Patterson was honored, 

specifically, for her knowledge, student 

service, and professionalism within the 

realm of student financial aid. She has 

worked in the Office of Financial Aid at 

UMC since the summer of 1997. 

Meloni Rasmussen, Senior Administrative 

Specialist, has been named 

Employee of the 

Semester for Spring 

2002 by the United 

Staff Association 

(USA). Rasmussen 

works for the UMC 

Counseling and 

Career Center and 

for the UMC Student 

Activities and 

Service Learning Office. She was cited 

for her dedication to her job and for her 

service to UMC students. She has 

been employed at UMC for the past 

three years. 

Also honored at the faculty and staff 

recognition day was Don Wieland, 

Senior Operations 

Engineer in the 

Facilities Management 

Department. 

He received the 

UMC Distinguished 

Civil Service and 

Bargaining Unit 

Award for 2002. 

Wieland, who has 

worked on the campus for over 40 

years, was recognized for his “unsurpassed 

knowledge of campus building 

mechanics,” his willingness to work 

collaboratively to solve problems, and 

his dedication to quality work and 

service. 

George French, Associate Professor 

of Music, received the Outstanding 

Community Service 

Award for 2002. 

This award was 

first presented in 

1999 to recognize 

the contributions 

UMC faculty and 

staff make within 

the larger community 

of Crookston 

and the region. French began his 

career at UMC in 1980, and, in addition 

to his responsibilities at UMC, he has 

been an active member of the music 

and arts community since he first came 

to the region. He has served numerous 

terms on the boards of the Crookston 

Community Theater and the Crookston 

Civic Music League. He is the music 

director of Trinity Lutheran Church in 

Crookston and is also involved in the 

Red River Valley Chapter of the American 

Guild of Organists and the American 

Legion Ninth District Band. Faculty, 

staff, and community members 

overwhelmingly agree that his personal 

attributes include, as one faculty 

member stated, “amazing versatility, 

remarkable talent, and boundless 

energy.”

Paula Viker, Instructor of Health 

Management, has Received the 2002 

UMC Service 

Learning Award for 

her willingness to 

incorporate service 

learning projects 

into her coursework. 

The award is 

presented each 

year by the Office of 

Student Activities 

and Service Learning to recognize 

faculty who take the most active role in 

promoting and developing service 

learning projects for their students. 

Deb Zak, Northwest District Director 

for the University of Minnesota Extension 

Service (with 

central office 

located on the UMC 

campus), was 

selected as one of 

the recipients of the 

University of 

Minnesota 

President’s Award 

for Outstanding 

Service for 2002. She received the 

award from President Mark Yudof at a 

ceremony on May 8, at Eastcliff, the 

president’s residence. The President’s 

Award for Outstanding Service is 

presented each spring and honors 

active or retired faculty or staff members 

who have gone well beyond their 

regular duties and have demonstrated 

an unusual commitment to the University 

community. 

Rae French, Admissions and 

Financial Aid Representative, received 

the first Builders of 

Diversity Award, 

presented by the 

UMC Office of 

International and 

Multicultural 

Programs. She 

was recognized for 

her dedication to 

and support of UMC 

efforts to increase 

student diversity and for helping to 

foster a climate that appreciates 

diversity. The award was presented at 

the annual Student Awards Reception 

on April 17. 

Faculty & Staff 

Updates and 

Accolades 

Dan Svedarsky, Professor of 

Natural Resources, has been chosen 

as a recipient of the 

2002 Award of Merit 

from the Honor 

Society of Agriculture 

Gamma Sigma 

Delta, an international 

honor society 

recognizing 

contributions to all 

facets of agriculture. 

Current UMC students honored 

selected faculty and staff members with 

special awards at the annual Student 

Awards Reception on April 17. These 

awards are significant in that the entire 

UMC student body votes to select the 

award recipients. Awards were 

presented in four categories: 

◆ Outstanding Educator: Jennifer Loy 

Johnson (left), Composition Instructor; 

◆ Outstanding Service to Students: 

Stacey Grunewald (center), Student 

Health Services Coordinator; 

◆ Most Creative Use of Technology: 

Bruce Brorson (right), Associate 

Professor and Program Manager for 

Information Technology Management; 

◆ Most Supportive of Students: Bruce 

Brorson. 

WELCOME 

Welcome to our new Director 

of Campus Ministry, Christine 

Boike, who is stepping in for the 

retiring Collette Conati. Boike 

comes to UMC with a degree 

from the College of St. Teresa in 

Winona, Minnesota, and has 

previous work experience as the 

Assistant Director of Undergraduate 

Admission at the 

University of Dubuque in Iowa. She is currently 

involved as a member of the Life Teen Core Team for 

the Cathedral Parish and will be pursuing a Certificate of 

Ministry this summer. She is married to Lon Boike, UMC’s 

Director of Athletics, and they have two children. 

Jennifer Wilson has been hired as 

Director of Health Science. She will guide 

the development of new degree programs 

in the area of health sciences and will act 

as a liaison with the University of 

Minnesota’s Academic Health Center in 

the Twin Cities. Wilson comes to UMC 

from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, 

AZ, where she served as Associate Vice 

President for Academic Affairs. She holds 

an MBA from Grand Canyon University and an EdD in nursing 

education from Teachers College at Columbia University. She 

also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in psychometrics 

and evaluation at Columbia University. Her undergraduate and 

master’s work in nursing and psychology was completed at 

the U of M. She has also served in the US Army Nurse Corps. 

The UMC Torch 17

Teambacker 

Fun Nite 

Another record-setting UMC 

Teambacker Fun Nite was held on 

Friday, April 26. Due to a schedule 

conflict, the Crookston Eagles 

graciously hosted and served an 

outstanding dinner to nearly 200 

people. Following the dinner, an 

evening of games and entertainment 

began. Tommy Helgeson was 

master of ceremonies. 

Breaks Records 

The UMC Teambacker Fun Nite 

Committee, under the leadership of 

Ray Dusek, directed the seventh 

annual event. This year’s event broke 

previous years’ fundraising records as 

approximately $13,500 was netted. 

The funds raised will go to scholarships 

for student athletes at UMC. 

Special thanks go to all participants 

and all UMC Teambackers for 

making Fun Nite an enormous 

success. 

If you would like to become a 

member of UMC Teambackers, 

please contact: 

Curt Almlie 

Director of University Relations 

(218) 281-8436 

calmlie@mail.crk.umn.edu, or 

◆ The Crookston Eagles Club hosted the Golden Eagles for the most successful 

Teambackers Fun Nite to date. Many Crookston community members and 

business leaders joined UMC faculty and staff for a fun evening of fundraising 

for athletic scholarships. 

Lon Boike 

Director of Athletics, at 

(218) 281-8415 

lboike@mail.crk.umn.edu 

Cash gifts of any amount are 

accepted, and membership benefits 

begin at $50. 

18 The UMC Torch

CHANCELLOR 

Donald G. Sargeant, 

Chancellor 

From the Chancellor 

The big news this summer is that President Yudof will be returning to Texas. Of course, 

everyone is concerned about what that means for the University and for UMC. He has been an 

outstanding leader who was able to garner legislative and donor support while 

working well with faculty and staff. There is no question that the University 

received much positive attention under his leadership, and, in turn, all colleges 

benefited—including UMC. Bob Bruininks, who has served as the Provost and 

Executive Vice President, has been named the interim president. This is good 

news because in addition to demonstrating great leadership for the entire 

U of M system, he has also been extremely supportive of and has shown a 

keen understanding of UMC. Despite the loss of President Yudof, I’m sure 

that the U of M and UMC will continue to do well. 

As for enrollment, at this stage we have registered a few more freshman 

and a few less returning students as compared to last year. Overall we expect 

about the same enrollment as a year ago. We hope to add new programs in 

health sciences during this upcoming academic year, so by fall 2003 we will 

see additional growth in student enrollment. 

The Class of 2002 was our largest graduating class to date. President 

Yudof was our speaker at graduation, and the day’s celebrations were very 

invigorating. 

Our budget was finalized in June. Great news: UMC will receive funding of $7.7 million for 

the replacement of Bede Hall. We are in the process of hiring an architect with hopes of 

beginning construction in spring of 2003 and completion by fall of 2004. 

We recently hired Dr. Jennifer Wilson as Director of Health Science Programs. We are 

also currently interviewing for replacement faculty in sports and recreation, horticulture, agbusiness, 

information technology, equine science, and we also have positions open in 

admissions and in residential life. 

The University of Minnesota Regents will hold their regular monthly meetings at UMC on 

September 12 and 13. We look forward to hosting them. We also look forward to bringing 

Kiehle Building back on line in September, along with some improvements on the mall as we 

enhance the area around the gazebo. 

Hope you are enjoying summer. Stop by to visit and see the great work of our grounds 

crew! 

# 

Mail to: UMC Alumni Association, 2900 University Ave., Crookston, MN 56716-5001 

We Need Your Alumni Support 

Please include my name on the Honor Roll of Contributors 

I would like my gift to be used 

❏ Where the need is greatest 

❏ Support the Torch 

❏ Scholarships 

❏ Specify 

NEWS: ______________________________________________ 

_____________________________________________________ 

_____________________________________________________ 

______________________________________________________ 

Here is my gift of 

❏ $15 ❏ $25 ❏ $50 ❏ $75 ❏ $100 or 

$ _______ payable to the University of Minnesota Foundation 

Method of payment: ❏ Check ❏ VISA 

❏ Mastercard ❏ Discover 

Credit Card # ___________________________ Expiration ________ 

Authorized Signature _____________________________________ 

Name __________________________________________________ 

Street Address __________________________________________ 

City/State ________________________________ ZIP ___________ 

Phone ( ) ____________________________ 

e-mail ___________________________ Grad/Attend Year _______ 

The UMC Torch 19

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 

From the President 

Sue (Gruhot) LeGare ’89 

UMC’s 2002 Commencement was an exciting time! The third annual “Grad 

Dance” was sponsored by the UMC Alumni Association on the evening prior to 

commencement and added to the anticipation and excitement of the next day. 

The Alumni Association also sponsors Homecoming, Ag-Arama, reunions, the 

outstanding alumni recognition event, and various other functions. We would 

love to have all of you attend these social activities in the future. If you would like 

to go one step further and be a member of the board to help with organizing 

these activities, please contact Curt Almlie, Director of Alumni Relations, or 

Rose Ulseth at the alumni office. 

Personally, being on the board has been a fun way to remain active with 

UMC, and it is very rewarding. I know being on the board might not be for 

everyone, but all of you have special gifts and talents. I urge you to share your 

gifts with others by becoming a volunteer. 

Those who know me well know that I have two celebrity role models. 

Sue (Gruhot) LeGare ’89, Number one is George Strait and number two is Reba McIntire. They are both 

Alumni Association President country music performers. I’d like to share with you some facts about Reba 

McIntire. 

Besides being a dedicated wife, mother, country performer, and most recently, Broadway 

and television star, Reba is also a dedicated volunteer. Throughout her career, Reba has 

contributed her time and talent to numerous causes. Her efforts have built the Reba Ranch 

House for families of hospital patients, a rehabilitation center, and Habitat for Humanity 

homes. She has donated some proceeds from her albums to various charities such as the 

Salvation Army and USA Harvest food banks. These are just to name a few of her many 

humanitarian efforts. 

In 1999 Reba wrote a book titled “Comfort from a Country Quilt.” I would like to share with 

you one sentence from that book that really touched me. Reba states, “If you aren’t giving 

some of your time to serve your community, then I think you will have a terrible loneliness and 

isolation no matter how rich you are.” 

You may ask yourself, “What can I do to help others” There are thousands of ways, really. 

Very simply at first, love somebody. Be a good mom or dad; be a loving son or daughter; be a 

mentor, a teacher, a friend. Get involved in your church, community, or the several volunteer 

organizations out there. Ultimately, what you offer to the world is exactly what you get back. 

So, if your goal is to create a joyful life filled with abundance, the most important thing you can 

do is to help others do the same. 

Thank you for playing an important role in UMC’s past, present, and future. Your financial 

support and participation are vital to the success of UMC and the community. Keep up the 

good work! 

Do you have an update for UMC Alumni News 

Now you can send us your updates via the Web! 

Go to www.crk.umn.edu/people/alumni/ and send us 

your news today. 

20 The UMC Torch

DEVELOPMENT 

From the Director of Development 

With the arrival of summer comes the end of our fiscal year, so I am pleased to share 

some of the great things happening here at UMC and also at the University of Minnesota in 

general. 

As many of you know the University of Minnesota system is entering the final 

year of the largest private fundraising effort in Minnesota history, Campaign 

Minnesota. The goal is to raise 1.3 billion dollars in five years. Our goal at UMC 

was to raise 5 million dollars toward the campaign goal during these five years. 

Our fiscal year-to-date total of gifts and pledges designated for UMC is 

$667,438. Thanks to the tremendous support of our alumni and friends, I am 

pleased to announce that the four-year total of gifts and pledges designated for 

UMC has now reached $5,166,272—with one year left on the campaign! 

This is great news, but our work is not done yet. A large portion of this total 

gift dollars figure is in future pledges and sponsored programs. These types of 

commitments will help to keep UMC growing and vibrant in the future and are 

essential to our long-term success. But, as we enter this, the final year of the 

Michael Meyer, 

campaign, our emphasis will be on increasing scholarships that may be used 

Director of Development immediately to provide support for current students and as a means of drawing 

new talented students to UMC. 

If you are interested in starting a scholarship in an area of interest to you or in contributing 

to an existing fund to provide scholarship support, please call us toll-free at 1-800-232-6466 

and ask to speak with someone in the Development Office. Any of our staff—Del Roelofs, 

Ardis Thompson, or myself—will be glad to assist you. 

Until we chat, have a great summer. Don’t forget the sunscreen! I look forward to seeing 

you at Homecoming in the fall. 

Breakdown of Commitments for UMC for Fiscal Year 2001-2002 

Use Total Gifts Total Dollars Total Amount 

Academic Program Support 795 774 $393,842 

Scholarships & Fellowships 343 310 $228,620 

Capital Improvements/ 

Facilities 9 9 $ 2,275 

Research & Outreach 8 8 $ 42,700 

TOTAL 1,155 1,100 $667,438 

Consider Remembering UMC in Your Will 

Gifts to honor UMC in a will or trust may be worded as follows: 

“I give, devise, and bequeath to the University of Minnesota Foundation, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 

[percentage of residue, sum or description of property] for the benefit of the University of Minnesota, 

Crookston Campus.” 

For help with specific will or trust language, please contact me at 218-281-8434 or at 800-232- 

6466, e-mail meyer243@umn.edu 

—Michael Meyer, Director of Development 

The UMC Torch 21

ATHLETIC NEWS 

UMC Softball Has 

Best Season Ever in 2002 

The UMC Softball Team 

completed their best season 

ever as a four-year institution 

in 2002. Under first year Head 

Coach Brandy Kropp, the 

Golden Eagles won more games 

this season than the last three 

combined. Solid pitching and 

an increase in offense helped 

the Golden Eagles reach this 

new plateau. 

The bulk of the wins came on the 

Golden Eagle’s spring trip to Orlando, 

lorida. The team returned from the 

trip with an 8-2 record competing 

against six different teams from 

around the nation. 

Things cooled off, literally, after 

returning from their trip. The cold and 

snowy weather caused the cancellation 

of seven double headers in a row. 

So after taking a half a month off from 

competition, the Golden Eagles returned 

to play. 

In a double header the Golden 

Eagles picked up their first ever win 

in the NSIC. The two wins over the 

University of Minnesota, Morris put 

the Golden Eagles at the top of the 

conference at that point. 

The Golden Eagles then went on a 

dirt spurt, losing five conference games 


in a row in St. Paul at a NSIC crossover 

tournament. “We knew we would 

have our hands full going into the 

tournament. We were definitely in two 

of the games, but lost them in the late 

innings,” said Kropp. “Even though 

we lost all five games at the crossover, 

we managed to maintain a positive 

attitude and knew we needed to con- 

The Golden Eagles had their best year ever under first year coach Brandy Kropp (top left). 

The season went well overall. Look for the team to improve and make their mark in the NSIC. 

centrate on the parts of our game that 

needed more improvement.“ 

That next weekend brought the 

Golden Eagles to Moorhead for another 

NSIC crossover tournament 

where they took on five conference 

opponents. The Golden Eagles did not 

fare well on this weekend, collecting 

only one win. However, that 2-1 win 

was over the defending conference 

champions, Concordia College of St. 

Paul. 

“We only won one game at this 

crossover, but that win was a huge one 

for us,” added Kropp. Everything came 

together just right, just like I knew 

these ladies were capable of. rom the 

last crossover to this crossover, we 

made major improvements in our 

game. Everyone worked so hard all 

year long, it was great to see the team 

improve so much,” 

The season went very well overall 

for the Golden Eagles. Many of their 

goals were achieved from the beginning 

of the season, along with competing 

in every game they played. Look 

for the Golden Eagles to continue to 

improve and make their mark in the 

NSIC next spring.

Cold Spring Takes Toll 

on UMC Baseball Team 

The Golden Eagle Baseball Team 

had a season filled with solid competition. 

They started the year off traveling 

to Missouri to play five games 

against some of the nation’s best 

teams. It was admittedly a challenge 

playing against teams from warmer 

climates, where most teams were already 

in their fifteenth game of the 

season. This, compared to 

Crookston’s late, cold spring (which 

hadn’t even offered the opportunity for 

UMC’s team to practice outside), put 

UMC at a distinct disadvantage. 

The Golden Eagles played well despite 

this situation. Their best game 

on the trip came against Central Missouri 

State, the team that finished 

third in the nation in NCAA Division 

# 

UMC Athletic Hall of Fame 

I wish to nominate the following individual or team: 

UMC Golden Eagles Baseball Team under the leadership of Coach Steve Olson (top left) 

II last season. The Golden Eagles 

competed well, but lost 16-10. UMC 

returned home from their trip 0-5, but 

they felt they accomplished what they 

had set out to do: use these games to 

gain experience and begin to mesh well 

as a team. 

The return home was a cold one 

for the Golden Eagles, playing the 

majority of the rest of the season in 

poor weather conditions. The big wins 

for UMC came against their conference 

rival Concordia College of St. 

Paul. The Golden Eagles were able to 

rebound from a sweep a day earlier 

and take two games from the muchimproved 

Golden Bears. Solid pitching 

and clutch hitting gave UMC the 

win, and sophomore pitcher Ryan Kill 

of Alberta, MN, took home NSIC 

Pitcher of the Week Honors. 

The games to follow did not go 

quite as well; the Golden Eagles 

couldn’t put it all together in a game. 

If the pitching was good, the fielding 

or hitting struggled. If they were scoring 

runs, the pitching struggled. 

Overall, Coach Steve Olson admits 

he was disappointed with his team’s 

record, but he knew that he had a 

young team and that the years to come 

will bring improved play from key positions. 

The big offensive loss was All- 

Conference Honorable Mention 

catcher and designated hitter Mike 

Kragenbring, while Mike Kill at second 

and pitchers Sevrin Anderson and 

Eric Conkins were the big defensive 

losses. 

Look for the Golden Eagles to use 

the off-season to work out the kinks 

and come back next season ready to 

excel in the NSIC. 

To be considered for the Athletic 

Hall of Fame 2002, Nominations 

must be received by June 28, 2002 

Name of Nominee ______________________________________________________________________________ 

Graduation Year/Year attended _____________________________________________________________________ 

Address ______________________________________________________________________________________ 

Submitted by __________________________________________________________________________________ 

Address ______________________________________________________________________________________ 

Mail to: UMC Alumni Association, 2900 University Ave., Crookston, MN 56716-5001, or 

e-mail your nominations to rulseth@umn.edu 

The UMC Torch 23

Thank You Alumni 

The UMC Alumni Association (UMCAA) would like to thank the following, who have donated to the UMC Alumni Association 

Fund between July 1, 2001 and May 31, 2002. Where possible, alumni donors are listed by class year. 

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact 

the UMCAA office at 218-281-8436. 

1968 

Lee W Eastland 

Dennis B Hjelle 

Leo J Lofgren 

Donald J Matson 

Larry L Murphy 

Roger Amundson 

Twylla J Altepeter 

Nancy E Martin 

Jane Provo 

Peggy L Hilton 

Glen F Kloempken 

Richard P Hebert 

1969 

Rebecca S Clow 

Arlen K Hanson 

Gaylon D Iverson 

Jim Dillman 

David L Baston 

Richard D Le Cocq 

Andrea C Hotzfield 

Cynthia J Maloney 

Vernon W Suedkamp 

Duane T Sebenaler 

1970 

Dean E Carlson 

Harlow K Grove 

Joseph M Metcalf 

Beverly R Bernhagen 

Warren L Stoe 

Linda L Romuld 

Bruce A & Marlys Mjoen 

Bruce G Berg 

1971 

Jerome G Lee 

Dennis W Kuehne 

Bernard J Koltes 

Eric M Olson 

Harold C Overland 

Ronald J Scegura 

John F Seibert 

Curtis W Swanson 

Jody Thompson 

Larry C Nelson 

Duane J Lura 

Terry L Gaddis 

Gary W Kaltenberg 

1972 

Wayne A Wagner 

Dinah A Honerbrink 

Robert J Anderson 

Gregory T Mutchler 

Larry D Blatchford 

John W Reitmeier 

Steven L & Beverly A Sellnow 

Ronald C Williams 

Gene Witte 

Tim Sebenaler 

1973 

Alma E Burmeister 

Robert F Danielowski 

Leigh R Sovde 

Paul A Liedberg 

Michael E Hoemberg 

Judy S Ness 

Bruce R Paulson 

John H Saude 

Mark E Swanson 

Linda D Nordin 

Arne L Roseland 

Sr Jeanne Campeau 

1974 

Curtis L Swanson 

Roger G Hagen 

Loren J Hegge 

Michael L Hanson 

Brad R Irwin 

Mary B Randall 

Jan L Oen 

R Scott Sorvig 

Kathryn M Boula 

Vickie M Dahl 

Sue J Dwyer 

Rebecca E Hagebak 

Scott L Pearson 

David M Thom 

David A Lee 

John E Beckwith 

Steven R Krause 

Curtis F Zimmerman 

Janet R Olson 

Kyle O Pearson 

John P Rogalla 

Gregory A Toutges 

1975 

Brian W Hopper 

Dean E Aakre 

Anne M Jaeger 

Gayle R Gustafson 

Irene M Evenson 

Krista B Proulx 

Raymond E Niedzielski 

Larry H Sindelir 

Michael S Stenlund 

Douglas & Barbara Aretz 

Kevin L Fluegge 

Mark F Price 

John C Gunvalson 

Gary L Swanson 

Mary D Fisher 

Charles H Crummy 

Edward M Helgeson 

Allen L Paulson 

Scott L Solum 

Lynn C Sundby 

1976 

Merle P Adolphson 

Daniel J Derouin 

Janet M Krause 

De Ann K Zavoral 

David J Rodel 

Wayne G Omundson 

Brent E & Dorla K Jacobson 

Carolyn T Meyer 

Rick S Jones 

1977 

Larry E Fetting 

Susan L Heller-Bailey 

Gary M Whitlow 

William H Sugden 

Darryld L & Janet Oistad 

Gary C Borgendale 

Frank J Schindler 

Patricia A Starks 

Steven J Johannes 

Jo Anne M Bitker 

Thomas L Skjei 

Brad J Bjerken 

Linda A Buschette 

David D Gatzlaff 

Bradley J Krantz 

1978 

Georgine A Roers 

Douglas M Melbye 

Bruce J Conkins 

Rory D Hamre 

Eugene A Dufault 

John E Jacobson 

Belle A Nelson 

Rita L Wolbeck 

Laurie A Cullen 

Jill And Blaine Schatz 

Donald A Smith 

Maurice J Brule 

Thomas J Walker 

Mark J Bruggeman 

Clyde A Davidson 

Timothy J Hagl 

Jami L Nelson 

Mark C Briese 

Joleen A Gunderson 

Mike Gasper 

1979 

Deborah L & Randolph L 

Prososki 

Robert J Backman 

Curtis R Bartz 

Sharee L Bogenschutz 

Linda & Bruce Hanstad 

Catherine L & Ephrain H Dickey 

Sharon R Dierkhising 

Mary Jo Melbye Eastes 

Douglas M Johnson 

Tammy J Graff 

Leanne L Kasper 

Tracey & Gene Rigstad 

1980 

Kathy J Goodyke 

Thomas C Gasper 

Kenneth J Peterson 

Timothy M Dufault 

Randall J Engelstad 

Sam G Mondry 

Douglas E Sublet 

Toni J Grove 

Wanda R Cary 

Timothy J Nelson 

Scott R Scheving 

Ann F Scheidecker 

Kim J Althoff 

Theresa M Trocke 

Kelly L & Gordon L Huttunen 

Mrs Sharon Y Kozojed 

Kevin D Beekman 

Joann K Kerian 

Beth R Gerhardson Walter 

1981 

Paul V McNelly 

David M Simmons 

Dean L Marshik 

Thomas B Gold 

Jon L Olson 

Linda L & Gregory S Morris 

Robyn E & Timothy R Chapman 

David & Linnea Genereux 

Steven M Hammero 

Theresa E Madel 

Jeannette A Nelson 

Brenda L Kaiser 

Tammy J Tomoson 

Peggy A Sheridan 

Daniel J Desrosier 

Shane K Sorenson 

Lynn A Krogstad 

Steven J Biermaier 

Charolette Borman 

24 The UMC Torch

1982 

Brian K Andrew 

Mitzi L Pederson 

Mark A Ramsay 

Christine M Thompson 

Maureen G Kostrzewski 

Scott & Jo Ann Brolsma 

Keith A Pohl 

Layne Stangeland 

Michael D Boland 

Curtis E Haugen 

Susan Bergeson 

Mark J Narloch 

Steven M Addabbo 

Craig A Anderson 

Karin A Hermansen 

Andrew V Miller 

Michael J Muzzy 

June E Shaver 

1983 

Paul D Craigmile 

Gail M & Donald M Yutrzenka 

Charles R Lariviere 

Debra A Noss 

Todd G Glass 

Mark A La Crosse 

Debra K Beiswenger 

Brent R Haug 

Wendy J Krueger-Sehl 

Alexander S Lamers 

Mark A Morrison 

Kevin J Kovar 

Marty J Andrews 

Kim A Brandner 

Paula M Tellers 

John & Rebecca Halland 

Nathan A Thingelstad 

Kent R Usgaard 

Victoria L Seltun 

Jon W Carlson 

Steven C Sing 

1984 

Royce A Richards 

Marshall A & Judy L Hagen 

Jodi L Hultgren 

Evonne I & Phillip D Wold 

Michelle L Jorgenson 

David J Miller 

Brenda L Grangruth 

Patricia Mosher 

Konni G Thomas 

Christine M Davenport 

Lori K Hanson 

Randy S Holmgren 

Wayne P Rakow 

John L Bowman 

Kathy M Peterson 

1985 

Kenneth J Asp 

Brian H Hamilton 

Michael R Pawloski 

Scott E Rocholl 

Jeannie L Maanum 

Valerie A Walker 

Douglas J Leitheiser 

Thomas D Fischer 

Sonia Portillo 

1986 

Robin D Hulst 

Todd A Pester 

Linda C Voller 

Kevin T Weber 

Diane J Manthei 

Shawn A Naas 

Todd C Geselius 

Barbara J Hermann 

Michael G Hayes 

Michele M Thiel 

Curtis J Fast 

Aaron Simmons 

Terence W Steffen 

Thomas M & Janelle M Schaefer 

1987 

Dale R Price 

Barbara J Anderson 

Rose Ulseth 

1988 

Kim D Shol 

Kelly L & Troy E Larson 

Mark K Wiese 

Wayne S Nosal 

Kathleen R Brokke 

Michael J Goldade 

William H Rickoff 

Sandra G Desrosier 

Lori J Wolff 

1989 

Sue & David Le Gare 

Glen W Kaschmitter 

Carol L Plante 

Julie A Brandon 

Dawn Baker 

Linda L Menser 

Rhea L & Tyler A Grove 

Thomas P Durand 

1990 

Susan Laymon Miller 

Laura C Kosen 

Candace J Riely 

Sherri E Johnson 

Philip J Miller 

R John Johnson 

Leslie G Ball 

Janice H Taus 

Larry M Gunderson 

Becky J Lein 

Jeffrey J Stauffenecker 

1991 

Thomas E Erlandson 

Janie R Knott 

Kristin A Erickson 

1992 

Chad V Beckala 

Bruce A Nelson 

Angela M Kjos 

Chad R Jacobson 

Terry A Anderson 

Melissa A Young 

Tricia L & Chad A Priewe 

1993 

Kristen J Allmaras 

Jenny A Hovde 

Eric & Sandy Sorenson 

Scott D Berge 

Lori D & Trent E Johnson 

1994 

Chad A Simons 

Jodee M Miller 

Doris A Driscoll 

Jill C & Timothy J Stanislawski 

Michael J Boucher 

1995 

Mary M Deboer 

Troy R Stauffenecker 

James R & Stacy R Hlatky 

Traci L Steever 

Nancie K Hoerner 

Gloria A Norby 

Casey T Bryl 

Warren W Raguse 

1996 

Heather D Dufault 

Steven J Bentley 

Andrea L Niswender 

Dustin A Mjoen 

Thomas E Clennon 

Thomas A Feiro 

Jeremy R Bartosh 

Kelly J Sharpe 

1997 

Byron A Fischer 

Marshall K Coleman 

Jared J Hutton 

Donnie L Schmiedeberg 

Ryan R Rued 

Angela M & Bryan E Malone 

Pam Neil 

1998 

Timothy L Overmoen 

Tracy L Ellenbaum 

Amy M Biermaier 

Travis A Kotrba 

John A Miller 

Jacquelyn S Mason-Jabs 

Jennifer L Tate 

Dana & Katy Blume 

Mark G Erickson 

Todd And Amber Strack 

Gregory A Tvrdik 

Diane L Loeslie 

Korey L Hegreberg 

Chad M Marthaler 

Marcus D Meiners 

Marlene Niemann 

1999 

Neil A Wiese 

Ms Amanda M Larson 

Carolyn M & Daniel M Weber 

Christy L Wiltse 

Leslie A & Jayson D Brunette 

Barbara J & Kevin G Leiran 

William T & Renae N Neumann 

Brian N Sautter 

Alicia J Wiebe 

Tim Coauette 

Tifanii J Jacobs 

Mark P Olsonawski 

Scott R Younggren 

2000 

Deborah D Harrison 

Jeffery W Pokorney 

Jason S Carlson 

Ryan T Cochran 

John D Rozek 

Karen M Floan 

Corey R Hanson 

Sheila A Roux 

Daniel E Wigen 

Blake A Christianson 

David J Hemmes 

2001 

Warren V Raddatz 

Shane & Lisa Roers 

Kari Baker 

Carla K Juntunen 

Christopher L Cymbaluk 

Alumni, Friends, 

or Others with 

no academic information 

Pam Elf 

Beth Fortier 

Gary Gales 

Doug Knowlton 

Korlann Stock Farm 

Shirley McKinney 

LaVonne Metcalf 

Bernard & RoseMary Meyer 

Patti & James Paul 

Barbara Price 

Rhonda Salentiny 

The Swap Shop 

Kari Torkelson 

Douglas & Kathy Twite 

Rosemary & Michael Woelfel 

Matching Gifts 

3M Foundation 

Wal-Mart Foundation 

The UMC Torch 25

ALUMNI SERVICES 

A Wild, Wild West Homecoming 

September 20-21 

It’s that time of year again—time to start thinking about Homecoming 2002. 

Homecoming will be held September 20-21, 2002, and this year’s theme is 

“Wild, Wild West.” The UMC Golden Eagle Football Team will take on the 

Mustangs of Southwest State University on Saturday, September 21, at 1:30 

p.m. at Ed Widseth Field on the UMC campus. 

Homecoming begins on Friday, September 20, with the Athletic Hall of Fame 

banquet honoring outstanding individual athletes and teams. On Saturday, we 

begin with the Homecoming parade around the campus mall. Some of the 

many participants in the parade include the current inductees into the Athletic 

Hall of Fame, Outstanding Alumni, local and state officials, Homecoming King 

and Queen, floats and other units from student clubs, organizations, and the 

community, as well as a marching band. Following the parade there will be a 

tailgate party in the parking lot adjacent to the football field. The football game 

begins at 1:30 p.m. and we will honor our Outstanding Alumni for 2002 during 

Rose Ulseth, 

half-time of the game. The day wraps up with a post-game social for all alumni, 

Alumni Support Staff families, and friends at Minakwa Golf Club. 

There is still time to nominate someone for the Athletic Hall of Fame as well 

as for the Outstanding Alumni Award. See below and the facing page for nomination information, 

or e-mail your nominations to rulseth@umn.edu. 

Please watch your mail in August for a special flyer featuring more detailed Homecoming 

information. In the meantime, check out our Homecoming website at . There you will find information on Homecoming 2002 as well as links to past 

Homecoming events, photos, and more. Be sure to check the site often for updates and more 

information. 

Each year, I notice more and more alumni are returning for Homecoming activities. Pick up 

the phone or send an e-mail to your old roommates and friends and make plans to attend 

Homecoming 2002. We hope to see you there! 

# Clip and mail 

UMC Outstanding Alumni 

I wish to nominate the following individual: 

Deadline for Nominations 

is August 1, 2002 

Name of Nominee ______________________________________________________________________________ 

Graduation Year/Year attended _____________________________________________________________________ 

Address ______________________________________________________________________________________ 

Submitted by __________________________________________________________________________________ 

Address ______________________________________________________________________________________ 

Mail to: UMC Alumni Association, 2900 University Ave., Crookston, MN 56716-5001 

26 The UMC Torch

UMC Outstanding Alumni Honorees 

1980 

Thrainn Kristjansson ’72, Winnipeg Manitoba 

Darrell Larson ’72, Park Rapids MN 

Gerald Moritz ’68, Winnemucca NV 

Wayne Omundson ’74, Fosston MN 

Kenneth Pazdernik ’72, Ada MN 

Grace Stromli ’78, Grand Forks ND 

1981 

Thomas Feiro ’75, Crookston MN 

Anne Granitz ’68, Roseau MN 

Debra (Gunnerson) Habedank ’76, Fargo ND 

Keith Ramberg ’68, Mentor MN 

Richard Ramey ’70, Crookston MN 

1982 

Lon Christianson ’70, Fargo ND 

James Clauson ’74, Crookston MN 

June Delorme ’72, Red Lake Falls MN 

Brent Jacobson ’76, Amery WI 

Robert Larson ’79, Bertha MN 

Jim LeClair ’70, Mayville ND 

Kenneth Oehlke ’72, Garden City KS 

1983 

Paul Aakre ’70, Angus MN 

Donald Martodam ’69, Hawley MN 

Sherry (Hoeft) O’Gorman ’69, Crookston MN 

John Schleicher ’76, Crookston MN 

1984 

Linda (Schmitz) Bergh ’74, Hallock MN 

Brenda (Quanbeck) Packer ’79, Roseau MN 

Krista (Boen) Proulx ’75, Crookston MN 

Mark Schwiderski ’72, Benson MN 

1985 

Cindy Bigger ’79, Foley MN 

Roger Dvergsten ’76, Greenbush MN 

Jerry Jacobson ’72, New York NY 

Randy Mitteness ’76, Ada MN 

Jerry Rude ’83, Crookston MN 

1986 

Terry Correll ’74, Jordan MN 

Jan (Pickar) Hankey ’79, Kearney NE 

David Thom ’74, Aurora MN 

Ron Tobkin ’68, Perham MN 

1987 

Leif Aakre ’74, Stephen MN 

Margaret Benson ’78, Okemos MI 

Peggy (Johnson) Engh ’68, Shoreview MN 

Allan Gustafson ’68, Thief River Falls MN 

Joel Lilliquist ’75, Mesa AZ 

Kristina (Knute) Long ’77, Lisbon ND 

Dan Motschenbacher ’70, Glyndon MN 

Nancy Tish ’70, Minneapolis MN 

Theresa Trocke ’80, Eagan MN 

1988 

Scott Bjornson ’78, West Fargo ND 

Evonne (Ellingson) Chase ’77, Aurora CO 

John Gunvalson ’75, Gonvick MN 

Kevin Kopischke ’72, Alexandria MN 

Nancy (Beresford) Martin ’68, 

Timothy Persson ’79, Crookston MN 

Gene Rigstad ’79, AppletonWI 

William Uscensky ’79, Minot ND 

1989 

Kim (Wittenburg) Althoff ’80, Wahpeton ND 

Steven J. Biermaier ’81, Crookston MN 

Frederick A. Beuning ’75, Seffner FL 

Cheryl C. Fox ’76, Stanton MN 

Janet L. Utech ’75, Boston MA 

1990 

Kenneth L. Beich ’76, Rochester MN 

Jack V. Lundbohm ’77, Roseau MN 

Robert P. Noonan ’73, Sioux Falls SD 

Curtis F. Zimmerman ’74, Cottage Grove MN 

Jacqueline J. Burke ’75, Crookston MN 

Jami L. Nelson ’78, Stephen MN 

Jerry C. Oxborough ’69, Blue Springs MO 

1991 

Kurt Keena ’83, Perham MN 

Gregory Parenteau ’81, Erskine MN 

Ronald Reitmeier ’68, Fisher MN 

Mary Lou (Wosick) Sweet ’81, St. Paul MN 

1992 

Twylla (Johnson) Altepeter ’68, 

Crookston MN 

Craig O. Anderson ’73 

Gary C. Borgendale ’77, Moundsview MN 

1993 

Kerri Utizinger-Acheson ’74, Hibbing MN 

Richard Hebert ’68, Stephen MN 

Andrew Miller, ’82, Irving TX 

Douglas Sandstrom ’73, Longville MN 

1994 

DaNell Johnson-Jamieson ’83, Aurora IL 

Dean Aakre ’75, Hawley MN 

Robin P. Bouta ’79, Maple Grove MN 

1995 

Ronald Burke ’91, Lincoln NE 

Harlow Grove ’70, Climax MN 

Vicki Melbye ’73, Willmar MN 

June Shaver ’76, Crookston MN 

1996 

Douglas D. Busselman ’78, Reno NV 

Peter J. Kappes ’77, Ada MN 

Brian M. Winter ’78, Glyndon MN 

1997 

Dave Ekman ’81, Fargo ND 

Mark Oja ’82, St Paul MN 

Larry Ronsberg ’78, Fargo ND 

Colleen Thompson ’77, Crookston MN 

Tim Torkelson ’86, Eau Claire WI 

1998 

Harold Stanislawski ’81, Fergus Falls MN 

Chuck Levine ’80, Roseville MN 

1999 

David LeGare ’89, Crookston MN 

Wendy Krueger ’83, St. James MN 

2000 

Jean (Fischer) Whalen ’80, St. Paul, MN 

Richard LeCocq ’69, Mora, MN 

2001 

Dean Carlson ’70, Kennedy, MN 

Kari Torkelson attended ‘89-’91, 

Grand Forks, ND 

Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees 

1999 

Jim Clauson 

Jim LeClair 

Herschel Lysaker 

Lloyd Mayes 

1973 Championship Football Team 

2000 

Marv Bachmeier 

Jerry Dahlberg 

Dana Powers 

LeeAnn (Langenbau) Stange 

1993-94 NJCAA Championship Hockey Team 

2002 

Stanley Sahlstrom 

Rod Mosher 

Gary Wagner 

Pablo Ronderos 

Kelley Pierce 

1985-86 Men’s Basketball Team 

Use the forms on 

pages 23 & 26 

to nominate individuals 

for this year’s 

Outstanding Alumni 

Awards and 

Athletic Hall of Fame 

Awards 

The UMC Torch 27

Summer 02 

Alumni 

News 

. . . Compiled by Rose Ulseth. 

Please send news items and photos to Rose by e-mail: 

rulseth@umn.edu 

or via mail: UMC Alumni Association, 2900 University Avenue, 

Crookston MN 56716-5001. 

60’s 

Larry Murphy ’68, Warren, MN, has been 

employed as the manager of the Marshall 

& Polk Rural Water System for the past 26 

years. Larry and his wife, Jane, have 

been married for 31 years and have three 

grown children. His hobbies include 

spending time with his four grandchildren, 

fishing, antique shopping, collecting metal 

horses, remodeling their home and driving 

his 1928 Model A Ford. He volunteers at 

their church and is a member of the 

Knights of Columbus. For the past three 

years, Larry and Jane have been involved 

in the Greater Grand Forks Relay for Life 

and they have also participated in the 

Komen Twin Cities Race for the Cure, 

which is a 5K walk. E-mail Larry at 

murphyl@mncable.net. 

70’s 

Randy Bye ’79, Brainerd, MN, is the owner 

of Chaparral Restaurant, Bunkhouse 

Motel, and R & P Catering in Brainerd. 

Mary Barnard Randall ’74, Plymouth, MN, 

moved back to Plymouth with her family 

after 17 years in Philadelphia. She is 

currently a store manager for Tuesday 

Morning in Plymouth. Her daughter, Sara, 

18, finished her freshman year at the 

University of Pittsburg and her son, Clark, 

13, will be in 8 th grade. Mary’s husband, 

Roger, is the vice president of marketing 

for an advertising company in Minneapolis. 

Rick Jones ’76, Sauk Rapids, MN, has 

worked at St. Cloud State University for 

25 years and he will celebrate his 30 year 

high school reunion this summer. His 

oldest daughter is in her third year at St. 

Cloud State University, and his youngest 

daughter has just graduated from high 

school. E-mail Rick at 

rjones@stcloudstate.edu. 

Tom Skjei ’77, Crookston, MN, was 

selected as a “Best of Bremer Award” 

recipient from Bremer Bank, Grand Forks, 

ND. 

Tom Walker ’78, New Hope, MN, has 

worked for Honeywell International since 

1984, and he is a partner in a multimedia 

production company. E-mail Tom at 

tom.j.walker@honeywell.com, 

Elizabeth (Schouviller) Anderson ’79, 

Argyle, MN, is the dietary director at the 

Good Samaritan Center in Warren. 

Elizabeth and her husband, Jeff, have 

three children, Shawn, 17; Nathan, 15 and 

Kayla 11. 

80’s 

Greg Parentau ’81, Erskine, MN, is 

currently an owner of the largest Oof-da 

Taco franchise. He and his wife, Donna, 

have four boys, Corey, 17; Austin, 7; 

Hunter, 4; and Joey, 2. He is back in the 

area after living in New York, California, 

Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. E-mail 

Greg at oofda@gvtel.com. 

Phil and Evonne Wold ’83 & ’84, Crookston, 

MN. Phil is the director of energy 

programs at Tri-Valley Opportunity 

Council, where he has worked for 19 

years. Evonne has been employed as an 

accountant for Dee, Inc. for 12 years. 

Their son, Josh, is married and lives in 

Duluth; their daughter, Jessica, is a 2002 

high school graduate; and their son, 

Nicholas, is a junior in high school. E-mail 

Phil and Evonne at phil@tvoc.org or 

ewold@deeinc.com. 

Kathy (Walsh-Zavoral) Fillmore ’87 & 99, 

Middle River, MN, is employed by the 

USDA Natural Resources Conservation 

Service as a district conservationist in 

Thief River Falls, MN. Kathy married Todd 

Fillmore in October 2001, and she has two 

daughters, Beth and Maggie. 

Denise (Johnson) Byrd ’89 lives in 

Cheyenne, WY. Denise works as an 

administrative assistant for a taxation and 

revenue lobbyist. She volunteered at the 

2002 Olympics. Denise is married and has 

two daughters. Her husband, Jon, is in 

the Air Force. 

Jeff Schneider ’87, Langdon, ND, is 

employed with TR 

Waind Insurance 

as an insurance 

agent. He married 

Kim Ihry on June 8, 

2002. 

Linda (Hemmesch-Stangler) Schmitz 

’87, St. Cloud, MN, 

is employed by 

Smurfit Stone 

Container Corporation. 

She married 

Robert Schmitz, Jr. 

on April 20, 2002. 

90’s 

Michelle (Gustafson) Weberg ’92, 

Stephen, MN. E-mail Michelle at 

smweberg@wiktel.com. 

Sean Jalbert ’93, Grandin, ND, is a market 

agronomist for Betaseed, Inc. He and his 

wife, Anita, reside in Grandin. 

Stacey Lee ’93, Badger, MN, is a selfemployed 

dairy and 

grain farmer. He 

will marry Wendy 

Bratlien on July 20, 


Leah (Stratton) Melsa ’93, Fisher, MN. 

E-mail Leah at ldmelsa@bhshealth.org. 

28 The UMC Torch

Doris (Nikle) Driscoll ’94, East Grand 

Forks, MN, is the dietary, maintenance and 

housekeeping director at the Good 

Samaritan Village in East Grand Forks. 

E-mail Doris at tdac@att.net. 

Jason Selvog ’94, Clear Lake. MN, is 

employed by the Benton Soil & Water 

Conservation District doing most of the 

forestry work. 

Stacy (Stelling) & Jim Hlatky ’95, Eagle 

Bend, MN, have two children, Amber, 4 ½, 

and Payton, 2. Stacy works at Barta 

Publications in Long Prairie, MN, and Jim 

works as a feedlot officer at the Courthouse 

in Long Prairie. 

Jennifer (Walter) Yutrzenka ’95, 

Pahrump, NV. E-mail Jennifer at 

jyutrzenka10@yahoo.com. 

Brian Williams ’96, Grand Forks, ND, holds 

a management 

position at T.C.B.Y. 

He will marry 

Penny Landman on 

August 10, 2002. 

Lori (Vold) Pulkrabek ’97, Euclid, MN, is a 

clinical diet technician for Altru Health 

Institute. She is married and has a oneyear-old 

daughter. E-mail Lori at 

lpulkrabek@altru.org. 

Amanda Benbo ’98, Winger, MN, is 

currently the food service director at the 

Mahnomen Health Center. E-mail Amanda 

at abenbo@hotmail.com. 

Amy Biermaier ’98, Minneapolis, MN, had a 

baby girl, Allison Mae, on March 31, 2001. 

E-mail Amy at mbiermaier@mn.rr.com. 

Tracy (Peters) Ellenbaum ’98, Glyndon, 

MN, is working as a program coordinator 

for a senior citizen nutrition program in 

Region 4, Nutrition Services, Inc. E-mail 

Tracy at jandtellenbaum@juno.com. 

Dean Heffta ’98, Waukee, IA, recently 

moved to the Des Moines area to work as 

a sales agronomist for Heartland Co-op. 

E-mail Dean at dmh@netins.net. 

Shauna Grove ’98, Grand Forks, ND, is 

working for the 

North Dakota State 

University (NDSU) 

Extension Service 

as a food, nutrition 

and health 

extension agent. 

The NDSU 

Extension Service 

presented her with 

an awarded for 

her work on the 

Teens Serving Food Safely program. 

E-mail Shauna at 

slgrover22@hotmail.com. 

Amy (Landgraff) Hapka ’98, Warren, MN, 

is a crop insurance 

agent for Progressive 

Ag Systems 

of Fargo. 

Tonia (Sperr) Meadows ’98, Devils Lake, 

ND, is employed at the Good Samaritan in 

Devils Lake as the director of dietary 

services. She married Jeff Meadows on 

April 15, 2002. Tonia and Jeff have one 

daughter and are expecting their second 

child in July. E-mail Tonia at 

tmeadows@good-sam.com. 

ADawn (McClean) Melbye ’98, Red Lake 

Falls, MN, has been 

selected as the 


Association of 

Agricultural 

Educators’ (MAAE) 

Outstanding Young 

Member for the 

2001-02 school 

year. ADawn will 

be presented with 

this prestigious 

award at the 2002 

MAAE Summer Conference in July. 

Linda (Nelson) Quern ’97 is working for a 

furniture store in Bagley, MN, doing the 

bookkeeping and also some selling. She is 

married to David and they have a son 

Brandon. E-mail Linda at 

lquern@hotmail.com. 


Alumni 

News 

Erik Halbur ’99, Brainerd, MN. E-mail Erik at 

halburs@hotmail.com. 

Leah Isaacson ’99, Fisher, MN, is working 

as a Data Analyst for Quality Management 

Department of Altru Hospital in Grand 

Forks. 

Andy & Lisa (Pedersen) Jenson ’99, 

Welch, MN, are the proud parents of a 

daughter, Josephine, who was born on 

January 3, 2002. Andy continues to work 

for Schafer Farms, Inc. of Goodhue and 

farms at home with his uncles. Lisa 

works at the Prairie Island Nuclear Plant 

doing administrative work. E-mail Andy 

and Lisa at aljenson@redwing.net. 

Jason Lura ’99, Carrington, ND, is employed 

by the U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife 

Service at the 

Chase Lake Prairie 

Project, 

Woodworth, ND. 

He will marry Traci 

Shock June 22, 


Jarod Peterson ’99, Warren, MN, farms in 

the Warren area. 

He will marry 

Jessica Rivard on 

June 28, 2002. 

Carolyn Weber ’99, Crookston, MN, is 

attending graduate school at the University 

of North Dakota School of Communication. 

Her anticipated graduation is 

August 2002. 

The UMC Torch 29


00’s 

Alumni 

News 

Rebecca Jelinek ’00, Comstock, MN, 

received her master’s degree in management 

from the University of Mary on May 

4, 2002. 

Shane & Deborah (Wosick) Kolling ’00 & 

’01, Grand Forks, 

ND, were married 

June 8, 2002. Deb 

is employed as an 

account representative 

with Pitney 

Bowes in Fargo, 

ND, and Shane is 

employed with 

Airgas as an 

account manager 

in Grand Forks. 

E-mail Deb at 

deborah.wosick@pb.com. 

Angela Palmer ’00, Bemidji, MN. E-mail 

Angela at angejeff@charter.net. 

Nate Rasch ’00, East Grand Forks, MN, is 

employed as a 

deputy sheriff in 

Polk County. 

Jon Ackerman ’01, Hastings, MN, is 

employed by Bailey Nursery as a 

customer service representative. 

E-mail Jon at 

jon.ackerman@baileynursery.com. 

Jerry Bennefeld ’01, Fargo, ND, is working 

as an American Family Insurance agent in 

Fargo. E-mail Jerry at 

jbennef2@amfam.com. 


Chad & Landi (Lewis) Larson ’01 & ’00, 

Hawley, MN, were 

married April 6, 

2002. Chad is 

employed by The 

Nature Conservancy 

in Glyndon, 

MN and Landi is 

employed by US 

Bank in Fargo. 

Shawn & Barb (Heinze) Linder ’01, 

Lakeville, MN, were 

married June 8, 

2002. Shawn is a 

graduate student at 

the University of 

Minnesota, St. Paul 

and is majoring in 

agricultural 

education. Barb is 

currently employed 

by Bailey Nurseries, 

Inc. 

Emily (Sinks) & Ted Luckow ’01 & ’99, 

Crookston, MN, 

were married 

March 23, 2002. 

Emily is employed 

at the UMC Early 

Childhood Development 

Center as a 

preschool teacher. 

Ted is a supervisor 

at Dahlgren & Co. 

Angela Muscha ’01, Fargo, ND, is pursuing 

a master’s degree 

in horticulture at 

North Dakota State 

University. 

She will marry 

Robert Waletzko on 

August 3, 2002. 

Don’t forget to 

send a photo with 

your news. 

Emily Spinler ’01, Owatonna, MN, is 

employed with the 


Department of 

Natural Resources, 

Division of Wildlife 

in Steele, Rice, 

Freeborn and 

Dodge counties. 

She married Tom 

Hutchins on June 

15, 2002. 

Angie Swanson ’01, Brainerd, MN, was the 

assistant woman’s basketball coach last 

season at Brainerd High School. 

Milissa (Skarsten) & Ryan Van Eps ’01 & 

’02, East Grand 

Forks, MN, were 

married September 

8, 2001. Milissa is 

the WorkLife 

Center Coordinator 

at Altru Health 

Systems and Ryan 

is employed at 

King’s Walk Golf 

Course in Grand 

Forks. 

Wendy Bennefeld ’02, Ada, MN, is the 

office manager at 

Outback Engineering 

in Ada. 

Outback Engineering 

provides small 

business solutions 

with computer 

sales and service, 

web page design 

and computer 

networking. 

Derek Dehn ’02, South St. Paul, MN. E-mail 

Derek at dehn66@hotmail.com. 

Sara Hamre ’02, Bemidji, MN, is working for 

Paul Bunyan Telephone. E-mail Sara at 

sara@paulbunyan.net. 

Megan Tollefson ’02, Crookston, MN, is 

employed by the Crookston Chamber of 

Commerce as the Tourism/Travel Center 

Coordinator working half-time for the 

Travel Center and half-time for the 

Crookston Visitors Bureau.

# 

Clip 

Have We Heard from You Lately 

Let us know any information or news you’d like to share with your UMC classmates and friends. To submit an item 

for the Alumni News Section, just complete this form and send it to UMC Alumni Relations, 2900 University Avenue, 

Crookston, MN 56716, or e-mail rulseth@mail.crk.umn.edu 

Photos of you and your family are always welcome! Additional stories, letters, news articles, or phone calls as also 

welcome. Please be sure to include your year of graduation or years of attendance. Also, please include your e-mail 

address if you have one. 

and mail 

Attention UMC Alumni: Win a New Golden Eagle T-Shirt! 

Name ______________________________________________________________________________________ 

First Middle Initial (Maiden) Last 

Year of Graduation ______________________________________ or Years of Attendance ____________________ 

Address ____________________________________________________________________________________ 

City _____________________________________________State/Province __________ Zip/Postal Code ________ 

Phone Number ( 

) _____________________ E-mail Address* _____________________________________ 

*Can we include your e-mail address in the Alumni News section of The UMC Torch Yes _______ No _______ 

*Can we include your e-mail address in our online e-mail Alumni Directory Yes _______ No _______ 

www.crk.umn.edu/people/alumni/UMC_Alumni_Contacts.htm 

Information or news you wish to share (new job, career or family achievements, hobbies, etc.) 

________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Return this form to: 

UMC Alumni Relations 

2900 University Avenue 

Crookston, MN 56716-5001 

Or call us toll-free: 1-800-862-6466 ext. 8436 

And check out the UMC Alumni Association website at www.crk.umn.edu/people/alumni 

Return the above form or send us your e-mail address by Monday, August 5, 2002, and 

you’ll be eligible to win one of three t-shirts featuring UMC’s Golden Eagle logo. At noon 

on August 5, three names will be randomly drawn from those who have submitted their 

e-mail addresses. We’ll send those three alumni a free t-shirt! Contact 

rulseth@umn.edu to submit your e-mail address. Also let us know your T-shirt size 

and whether or not you’d like to share your e-mail address with other UMC alumni via 

our online directory. And, while you’re at it, drop us a line about what’s new in your life 

for our next Alumni News update! 

Andrew M. Svec 

Director of Communications 

The UMC Torch 31

Help Us Find These “Lost Alumni” 

Do you know where these former UMC students are If so, please provide us with their address and/or 

phone number. We want to be sure they receive mailings from the UMC Alumni Office. City and state 

listed are the last on record. 

1973 Roger Drevlow, Ada MN 

1973 Daniel Miller, Whitefish MT 

1974 Kim Barsness, Borup MN 

1974 Michael Adams, Elk River MN 

1974 Daniel Omundson, Detroit Lakes MN 

1974 Terrence Nelson, Ashby MN 

1975 David Boorman, Deer Creek MN 

1975 Bradley Davenport, Minneapolis MN 

1975 Vigil lock, Sioux City IA 

1975 Kristela Rodgiguez, Sabin MN 

1975 Robert Swanson, Bigfork MN 

1976 Avis Dolan, argo ND 

1976 Greg Eull, St. Michael MN 

1976 Larry Gooden, Belcourt ND 

1976 Robert LeCocq, West argo ND 

1976 ord Symonds, Austin MN 

1976 Patrick Thomas, Hibbing MN 

1977 David Hurlbut, Majestic Beach NY 

1977 Craig Kroonblawd, Brainerd MN 

1977 Randolph Radniecki, Anchorage AK 

1978 Gayle Granlie, Serafina NM 

1978 Mary Kiser, Duluth MN 

1978 Todd Tisdal, Davenport IA 

1979 Donna Appel, Aitkin MN 

1979 Kevin Malloy, Hickory Hills IL 

1979 Terry Zolin, Erskine Mn 

1980 Holli Avderson, Warroad MN 

1980 Gloria Korby, Reddick L 

1980 Dean Urness, Crookston MN 

1981 Patricia Barry, Cerritos L 

1981 Donald Korach, San Jose, Costa Rica 

1981 Scott Morgan, Satellite NV 

1981 Tod Tonsager, Swanville MN 

1981 Michele Wenzel, St. Paul MN 

1982 Lori Anderson, Grand orks ND 

1982 Dawn Koch, Milbank SD 

1982 Nadine Waller, Grand orks ND 

1983 Bashir Bomai, Crookston MN 

1983 Stacy Johnson, Granite alls MN 

1983 Theresa Wetzel, Proctor MN 

1984 Kathleen Annonson, Pinewood MN 

1984 Paul Meleen, Glendale AZ 

1984 Jorge Vina, Crookston MN 

1985 Jill Boyum, Wichita KS 

1985 Chris Ploof, Mesa AZ 

1985 Charlotte Vian, Brainerd MN 

1986 Rebecca Landman, Red Lake alls MN 

1986 Daniel Trontvedt, Scottsdale AZ 

1986 Timothy Torkelson, isher MN 

1987 Karen Backman, Dalbo MN 

1987 Linda Landgraff, ranklin MN 

1987 Brenda Schmeichel, Tuscon AZ 

1988 Angela Bergeron Smith, Grand orks ND 

1988 Dawn Cummins, Dilworth MN 

1988 Kimberly Johnson, Little alls MN 

1989 Cindy Decoteau, Grand orks ND 

1989 Mike Stavick, Crookston MN 

1989 Sherilyn Swenson, Junction City KS 

1990 Elaine Baumgarner, Champlin MN 

1990 Catherine Jorgensen, Crookston MN 

1991 Pamela Peterson, Agoura CA 

1992 Daryl Doubleday, Stonewall MB CANADA 

1993 Matthew Kennelly, Grafton ND 

In Memory 

Dennis Tuseth ’73-’74 attended 

Moorhead MN 

March 7, 2002 

Lisa (Tulibaski) Wangen ‘85 

Crookston MN 

April 11, 2002 

Memorial Gift Account 

UMCAA has a memorial fund set up to receive 

memorial contributions honoring departed alumni, 

friends and loved ones. If you wish to honor an 

individual, please make your gift to the UMCAA and 

send it to our office and we will notify the family that our 

office is in receipt of a memorial gift. Amounts will not 

be disclosed. 

Please consider your alumni association family for 

future memorial gifts. 

Keith Onstad ‘88 

West Fargo ND 

February 21, 2002 

32 The UMC Torch

The UMC Alumni Association 

thanks you for your support! 

Stay connected to your alma mater! 

In this issue we have listed those who have contributed to the 

operations of the UMC Alumni Association during 2001-2002. 

The UMC Alumni Association (UMCAA) appreciates the support. 

It is the lifeline of the organization. 

Please continue to allow us into your life. 

As an Alum you can: 

◆ Interact with other grads through the alumni network 

◆ Receive the alumni news magazine, The UMC Torch 

◆ Participate in alumni activities like those held during Homecoming 

◆ Find out where other alumni are through the UMC Directory 

◆ Participate in a group auto and home insurance policy 

◆ Access an online alumni directory listing 

Your Contribution Is Important! 

Inside back cover: Alumni photos -- the UMC music group 

“Vocal Force” from the 80s, International Student Ski Trip 

to Itasca in the 90s, UMC Graduation from 2002, and the 

UMC billboard. 

The UMC Torch cover photos: (front) Ten Thousand Flowers 

story on page 6 and 7. (back page) Aerial view of the UMC 

Campus. 

Have You 

Seen It! 

The UMC Billboard 

On Interstate 94 

Near the 

Sauk Centre Exit

UMC Alumni Association 

University of Minnesota, Crookston 

2900 University Avenue 

Crookston, MN 56716-5001 

Nonprofit Organization 

U.S. Postage 

PAID 

Permit No. 1918 

FARGO ND 58102 

Address Service Requested 

Crookston 

CROOKSTON 

TM 

UMC Website: www.crk.umn.edu

+Torch Summer 02 WEB - University of Minnesota, Crookston

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