1980-89

            Jay W. Carlson, `80 (Rockville, MD) colonel, U.S Army Medical Corp, was honored recently at Walter Reed Medical Center, Washington, D.C., upon his retirement, after 24 years of service. After his graduation from Winona State University with a degree in nursing, he joined the Army Nurse Corp as a second lieutenant. He then attended and graduated with honors from the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1987. After completing his transitional internship and OB/GYN residency at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas, he completed his fellowship in gynecologic oncology at the University of Minnesota. He was then assigned as division director for the Gynecologic Oncology Service at William Beaumont Medical Center and was appointed the chief of the Department of OB/GYN in 1996. In 1998, he became the division director and fellowship program director at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.  Carlson was also the OB/GYN consultant to the Office of the Surgeon General, a position he held for four years. Carlson has published over 70 medical articles and book chapters primarily focused on women’s cancer and has received numerous awards and commendations. He and his wife live in Lowell, Mich., where he is currently in private practice.

            Mark A. Johnson, `80 (Cresco, IA) teaches language arts to high ability students in Howard-Winneshiek CSD in Cresco, Iowa. He has received several honors in recent years. He was named Iowa’s Secondary Technology Teacher of the Year in 2001. In 2003, he was named Iowa’s High School Citizenship Teacher of the Year and has been a multiple-year nominee to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. He was also named an Adobe Master Teacher (one of ten in the nation) by Adobe Software in May 2004. In October 2004, he was named a national semifinalist in Technology and Learning magazine’s, “Education Technology Leader of the Year.”

            Raymond E. Aucker Sr., `83 (Gallup, NM) completed his Ed.D. in 1993 and is the director of psychological services behavioral health in Gallup, N.M.

            Sheri L. (Williams) Blowers, `83 (Albuquerque, NM) works as an educational assistant at Inez Middle School in Albuquerque, N.M. She incorporates her mass communication and theatre degrees in helping with kids who are brain injured and children with special needs. She is also a Pampered Chef consultant. She and her husband Cody have three children.

            Laurie Lin (Bigelow) Weyant, `83 (Rochester, MN) is employed as a registered nurse at the Federal Medical Center in Rochester for the Bureau of Prison. Her husband Rick works as a correctional officer at the same institution.      

            Dawn J. Quame, `84 (St. Paul, MN) received the Master of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary on May 22, 2005, at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minn.  As part of her degree requirements, Quame served as an intern at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City, Iowa. Before entering the Luther Seminary, she worked as a youth director for St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lakeville, Minn. Following graduation, she plans to serve as a parish pastor in the Western Iowa Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

            Elizabeth (Colapietro) Vozzola, `84 (West Hartford, CT) is associate professor and chairperson for the Department of Psychology at St. Joseph College in West Hartford, Conn. She has also been named publication and publicity chair/editor of the Association for Moral Education Forum and was elected president of the St. Joseph College faculty committee (governing body of the faculty). She has also recently become a grandmother.

            James Becker, `86 (Tucson, AZ) is a reporter with KOLD-TV channel 13, the CBS affiliate in Tucson, Ariz. A highlight of his career was the interview he did with Richard Threlkeld regarding Dan Rather’s decision to step down as CBS anchor. Aside from work, he enjoys playing guitar and singing. He performs with a group by the name of “The Hanging Chads.”

            Karen E. Oesterlin, `87 (Rochester, MN) is a registered nurse working for Olmsted Medical Center working as a telephone triage nurse. She has three children in high school.

            Dean and Kimberly (Harper) Rorig, `88 (Bloomington, MN) have one son, Gabriel (7). Dean is a major in the United States Army Reserve. He is now serving full time as an active guard and reserve (AGR) at the 88th Regional Readiness Command at Fort Snelling, Minn. He serves in the Deputy Chief of Staff G-4 Office as the plans and operations officer.

            Susan (Thalacker) Thomas, `88 (Eden Prairie, MN) and her husband Vincent are the proud parents of Katelyn Michele, born May 5, 2005.

            Kurt R. Johnson, `89 (White Bear Lake, MN) was elected president of the Minnesota State Auctioneer’s Association at its annual conference held in St. Cloud, Minn., in January 2005. Kurt has 16 years in the auctioneering business and has carved his niche as one of the nation’s premier fundraising and corporate motivational auctioneers, helping his clients raise over 22 million dollars. He is a certified instructor at Continental Auctioneer’s School and writes a monthly column for Auction World, a national publication. He is also a past presenter at the National Auctioneer Association Conference and Show. At the conclusion of his presidential year, he will host the Minnesota State Auctioneers Conference in Minneapolis, Minn.   

            Leah M. Nishimura, `89 (Brooklyn Park, MN) is a claim representative with State Farm Insurance. She has been employed with State Farm since 1992.

Last Modified: Monday, November 26, 2007 15:25 by Rhone Richard