Class
Notes
1950
s
Kathryn “Kak” Swanson ’51
(
Rochester, Minn.) was recently
featured in the Rochester Post-Bulletin
for her pioneering efforts in girls
sports. “Coach Kak” entered teaching
and coaching shortly after graduating
from Winona State and started girls’
sports program in Columbia Heights
and Rochester. Her swim teams at
Mayo High School won 50 of 51
regular season dual meets from 1974
through 1980. She was also an out-
standing volleyball coach. She retired
from full-time teaching and coaching
in 1980 but continued to make her
mark in Rochester: she and her hus-
band co-founded the Ronald McDon-
ald House there and they shared the
Mayor’s Medal of Honor in 2009.
1960
s
Don Klagge ’60/’64
(
Winona) was
honored with Kerwin Engelhart Award
for his outstanding service to Winona
Senior High School and Region 1AA.
Don was the Winhawks’ athletic direc-
tor from 1978-2000. During his time
there, he added nine varsity sports
and increased student participation.
1970
s
Lorne Grosso ’74
(
Rochester, Minn.)
has received the 2012 Kerwin Engel-
hart Award. The longtime Rochester
Mayo High School hockey coach has
more than 600 career wins, the most
by a Minnesota high school hockey
coach.
Katie (Buck) Baab ’77
(
Winona)
writes that she finished her degree
at Winona State at age 47 and then
landed her dream job: teaching
English as a second language to IBM
employees and high school students.
She also raised her four children to
successful lives and careers,
1980
s
Cindy (Owen) Sloan ’82
(
Heron
Lake, Minn.) has been named softball
coach at Austin High School. She was
most recently volleyball and softball
coach at Southwest Star Concept High
School. In addition, Cindy has more
than 30 years of teaching experience
and will teach special education at
Austin.
John Blondell ’83
(
Santa Barbara,
Calif.) recently directed Henry VI, Part
3
for the Bitola (Macedonia) National
Theatre, which played at Shake-
speare’s Globe London. Produced in
anticipation of the recently completed
Summer Games, the festival was part
of London’s Cultural Olympiad, and
featured all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays
performed in 37 different languages.
John is director of theatre and pro-
fessor of theatre arts at Westmont
College.
William Ihrke ’87
(
Plainview, Minn.),
head football coach for Plainview-
Elgin-Millville High School, was picked
to coach the Minnesota All-Star Foot-
ball Game. He began his high school
coaching career while still a student at
WSU, coaching wrestling at Hous-
ton High School after the Warriors’
football season ended. In 15 years
at P-E-M, Bill has compiled a 125-37
record with four section titles and one
state championship in 2002.
New
Leader for Alumni Relations
Ann MacDonald ’01
has been named Winona State’s new interim director of Alumni Relations.
MacDonald has been at WSU since 1997 and most recently served as director of Educational
Improvement and Leadership and worked in Outreach and Continuing Education. She has more
than 30 years of experience in leadership and partnership development, making her a good fit
for connecting with the university’s 50,000 alumni worldwide.
“
My work here at Winona State has focused on providing leadership and professional develop-
ment programs for area businesses and industry as well as the university,” said MacDonald. “This
position gives me the opportunity to create programs that will help our graduates enhance their
personal and professional expertise as well as remain connected with each other and the university.”
MacDonald earned her bachelor’s at Truman State University and master’s in training and
development at WSU. She co-developed the first Applied Educational Lean Facilitator
Certificate program in the country and is also certified to facilitate numerous professional
development programs.