Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award
2008 Recipients

See the Alumni Photo Album for photos from the most recent alumni award luncheon and ceremony.

View the list of past recipients of this award.

Terrence Craney '74

Terrence Craney, who graduated from UW-Eau Claire in 1974 with a degree in education, had a major in physics and a minor in mathematics. He earned a master's degree in physics education in 1977. He began his career in 1974 as an instructor of applied physics and math at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay. He served 23 years in the Wisconsin Technical College System.

During that time, Craney became involved with the Wisconsin Education Association Council and the National Education Association. From 1977-83, he was elected to represent the Wisconsin Technical College System on the WEAC board of directors. From 1986-91, he served the WEAC membership, representing Wisconsin on the NEA board of directors. In 1991, he was elected vice president of WEAC. Craney was elected president of WEAC in 1995, becoming a statewide leader of 90,000 teachers, WTCS instructors and education support personnel. Major public policy initiatives that he helped develop during his presidency include: the largest increase in public sector retirement benefits in state history; major revisions in state K-12 teacher preparation and licensure procedures; and a nationally acclaimed class size reduction program for the elementary grades. He also initiated the great schools community relations program, promoting the quality of public schools in Wisconsin.

President Bill Clinton appointed Craney to the National Skill Standards Board in 1994. In 2003, Gov. Jim Doyle appointed Craney executive director of the Governor's Work-Based Learning Board. Under his leadership, the GWBLB administered two successful statewide technical education programs, Youth Apprenticeship and Tech Prep. Since 2005, Craney has served as manager of the administrative services division of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, where he manages a $4.8 million budget and supervises 45 staff members and six managers in four bureaus.

Dr. Jane Schauer '76

Schauer received her nursing degree from UW-Eau Claire in 1976. She then earned a doctorate degree in exercise physiology in 1990 from UW-Madison. She attended UW-Madison medical school and completed an internal medicine residency and cardiology fellowship there.

Schauer is a member of the Presbyterian Heart Group in Albuquerque, N.M., specializing in non-invasive cardiology. She also started the Adult Congenital Clinic in New Mexico in conjunction with Pediatric Cardiology Associates. She has served as governor for the New Mexico Chapter of the American College of Cardiology. She is chair of the American College of Cardiology Board of Governor's to work for the improvement of quality of cardiovascular care for patients in New Mexico and across the country.

To nominate an individual for this award, please complete the online nomination form or contact the Alumni Association.

Read about other award-winning alumni.