Mark Wallace, '80 (Sussex, NJ), Supervisor of Technological Studies at High Point Regional High School, has been selected to receive The International Technology Educators Association's highest honor, the "Distinguished Technology Educator Award".  Consideration for the award is based upon documented evidence of leadership/management skills, continuing participation in association education programs, and demonstration of leadership in association, community, and personal activities. Mark supervises seventeen staff members in the Business, Home and Family, and Technological Studies departments. He currently teaches Women in Engineering and Communication Technology. He is a Cubmaster in Vernon and resides in Wantage with his wife Gail and three children. Mark is active in civic and community organizations. Mark was the recipient of the WSU Distinguished Young Alumni Award in 1991.

David Monsen, '81 (Lakeland, FL). The year was 1978. I was returning for my junior year at Winona State University. A friend of mine from WSU named Reggie Cooper asked me to visit him for a few days before school started. So I went to our nation's capitol and visited my friend Reggie. During our drive back to Winona, Minnesota, Reggie asked me, “Hey, “New York” why don't you run for homecoming king? Everybody loves you on campus and knows you.” I had never thought about running for homecoming king, Reggie planted the seed and I said, “Yeah, I'll run for homecoming king.” I considered myself just lucky and blessed just to be attending college in the first place... it was a dream come true just to be attending college at all. Winona, Minnesota to me was like a paradise in away, so beautiful; and the people were beautiful and friendly. There I was running for homecoming king against mostly juniors. I'll never forget it. The day was a Friday, 27 years ago. I prayed that day and the outcome would come later that evening. I received my first bible from some Gideons at WSU a few months earlier. I read the bible and how Jesus loves us and that we should love our neighbors as ourselves and even to love our enemies also.  Later that night, the couples lined up for the outcome for homecoming king and queen. The gymnasium was packed. No basketball game while I attended WSU was so full of people. The results came in; David “New York” Monsen is the new homecoming king. What a great honor and a thrill to be voted into the history of such a great college. To this day, besides being saved by Jesus and marrying a great wife, I just want to thank God (Jesus) for the honor of being homecoming king 1978 and thank God for blessing me so much.

Leigh Davis, '83 (Carroll, IA) was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service while serving in Afghanistan from May 30, 2004 to May 30, 2005 with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry of the Iowa National Guard. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge for actions against enemy forces on October 7, 2004. Leigh returned home to Carroll, IA on June 6, 2005 after serving 467 on active duty as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Leigh is a 1983 graduate of WSU with a degree in Mass Communications. He is currently employed as a registered nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll. He is married and has two sons, both of whom are serving in the active army.

James Fuchsel, '83 (West Salem, WI) and wife Kathleen had a baby boy on June 23, 2005.

Brian Thorson, '83 (Eden Prairie, MN), a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), recently took office as the 2005-06 president of American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) headquartered in Park Ridge, Ill. Thorson will serve as president until August 2006. “Leading the Association of the nation's hand-on anesthesia providers, which administer 65 percent of all anesthetics in the United States is an honor,” said Thorson. “In the year to come, I will make decisions based on what is right for our profession and most beneficial to our patients.” Thorson is currently a staff nurse anesthetist at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minn.

A. Bruce Blatti., '84 (Worthington, MN), Principal of Worthington High School, was recognized by MASSP for 30 years of service. Bruce was also recognized as the 2005 High School Principal of the Year.

Sally Schwenker, '85 (Gila Bend, AZ). In 2003 Sally received her Masters of Education in elementary education degree with a reading endorsement from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. In 2004-2005 she was selected into the 9th edition of Who's Who Among America's Teachers. In 2005 Sally was selected as the Westside Impact's Teacher of the Year for the small schools of west Maricopa County in AZ.

Daniel Swartling, '85 (Cookeville, TN), Assistant Professor of Chemistry, has been named the recipient of Tennessee Tech University's Outstanding Faculty Award in Teaching. Swartling, known affectionately as "Dr. Dan", has the unique ability to motivate and challenge while simultaneously earning the respect and admiration of his chemistry students by a combination of teaching with unconventional methods, and offering an "open door policy" that makes him universally approachable to students.

Robert Murray, '86 (Fort Sill, OK) is married to the former Kim Suk Kyong of Seoul, South Korea. They have three children: Ryan (12); Sean (11); and Isabell (8). Robert is currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Army holding the rank of Major. He commands a unit called the Field Artillery Training Center Detachment.

Mark Fratzke, '89 (Visalia, CA) has been named the new Nurse Administrator in the Neurology/Rehabilitation Division at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

Chuck Frederick, '89 (Duluth, MN), after years as an award-winning reporter for the Duluth News Tribune, has been promoted to Deputy Editorial Page Editor. His book, "Duluth: The City and the People," was published in 1995.

Last Modified: Monday, November 26, 2007 15:14 by Brooke Sherer