Alumni Success Stories
A UW-Eau Claire education is a springboard to success. Just follow the links below to learn more about some of the recent achievements of UW-Eau Claire alumni.
Bruce Fox '83, a UW-Eau Claire music education graduate, has received a Fulbright Teacher Exchange grant to teach in Wil, Switerland.
Ben Seidman '07, a UW-Eau Claire theatre arts graduate, is the resident magician at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Visit his Web site.
Karyn Schauf '79, a UW-Eau Claire elementary education graduate, has received the UW-Barron County Foundation 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award. Full story.
Registered nurses John Folstad '96 (master of science in nursing) and Julie Folstad '79, a UW-Eau Claire nursing graduate, recently came to the aid of music graduate Adam Bassak '03. (Photo by Dan Reiland of the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram) Full story.
Jim Dimock '75, a UW-Eau Claire special education graduate, has retired from the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District after 34 years of service to the system. Full story.
Larry Dissmore '83, a UW-Eau Claire music graduate, is director of the Evangel University Concert Orchestra and recently traveled with the group on a 31-day European tour. Full story.
Shane Hicke '95, a UW-Eau Claire journalism graduate, has been named the first head coach of the Troy Bruins Junior A Hockey Team. Full story.
Wade Labecki '87, a UW-Eau Claire business education graduate, has been named deputy director of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. Full story.
Alyce Nelson '75, a UW-Eau Claire special education graduate, has retired after a 34-year career in education, with her last 19 years spent at Afton-Lakeland (Minn.) Elementary School. Full story.
Mark Kalish '79, a UW-Eau Claire marketing graduate, debuted his Lightning Electric Hot Rod in Madison this spring and has plans to produce and sell the environmental muscle car. Full story.
Graydon Peterson '03, a UW-Eau Claire music graduate, is a member of the Twin Cities jazz quintet Frankhouse. Full story.
John Menard '63, a UW-Eau Claire business administration graduate, has been inducted into the Business Hall of Fame established by the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce and Peoples Bank of Wisconsin. (Photo by Dan Reiland of the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram) Full story.
Justin Vernon '04, a UW-Eau Claire comparative studies in religion graduate, performed with his band, Bon Iver, at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tenn. (Photo by Andi Stempniak of the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram) Full story
Kevin Steiner '82, who received a master of business administration degree from UW-Eau Claire, has been promoted to president and chief executive officer of West Bend Mutual Insurance Co. Full story.
Amy Rubenzer-Wilder '99, a UW-Eau Claire art graduate, has won the logo design contest for the Chippewa Falls Oktoberfest celebration for the second time. Full story.
Travis Myren '97, a UW-Eau Claire political science and economics graduate, has been appointed director of Dane County's Department of Administration. Full story.
Jason Gillette '96, a UW-Eau Claire music graduate and a music teacher at Brookfield Central High School, has received Lawrence University's 2009 Outstanding Teaching in Wisconsin Award. Full story.
Shawn LaPean '83, a UW-Eau Claire political science graduate, is director of Cal Dining at the University of California, Berkeley. Full story.
Jane Berenz '82, a UW-Eau Claire special education graduate, has been chosen as the new superintendent of the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagen (Minn.) School District. Full story.
Dennis Luginbill '92, '99, who received bachelor's and master's degrees in music from UW-Eau Claire, was commissioned to write a composition for the Chippewa Valley Symphony. (Photo by Dan Reiland of the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram) Full story.
Steve Shimon '78, a UW-Eau Claire biology graduate, co-owns Peaceful Pets, a pet funeral and cremation service based in Richfield. Full story.
Luke Bruflat '07, a UW-Eau Claire kinesiology graduate, has been named sport conditioning specialist at Momentum Sport Fitness of Eau Claire. Full story.
Jon Sunde '06 and his brother, Jason '03, both UW-Eau Claire music graduates, make up two-thirds of the indie pop band Daredevil Christopher Wright. Full story.
Marlin Hardinger '00, a UW-Eau Claire political science graduate, is a U.S. Foreign Service officer working with a reconstruction team in Helmand, Afghanistan, helping civilians create a local government structure that will assist with restoring order to the region.
James Butman '80, a UW-Eau Claire business finance graduate and an executive at Madison-based TDS Telecommunications Corp., has been elected treasurer of the national trade association for the competitive local telecom industry (COMPTEL). Full story.
Kathy Anderson '82, a UW-Eau Claire elementary education graduate, recently joined the Northeast Bank Insurance Group in Auburn, Maine. Full story.
ary Ellen Leicht '83, a UW-Eau Claire management graduate, has been named acting director of the National Junior College Athletic Association. (Photo by Sandra J. Milburn of The Hutchinson News) Full story.
Tamara Hughes '92, a UW-Eau Claire mathematics graduate, is one of two finalists in "American Title V," an "American Idol"-style writing contest run by Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine. Full story
Claire B. Lang '76, a UW-Eau Claire journalism graduate and Green Bay native, covers NASCAR for Sirius Satellite Radio as host of the show "Dialed In." Full story.
Deb Tackmann '88, who received a master of education-professional development degree from UW-Eau Claire, leads the award-winning health curriculum at Eau Claire's North High School. (Photo by Steve Kinderman of the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram) Full story.
Reggie Bicha '92, a UW-Eau Claire social work graduate and secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, is a recipient of a Commissioner's Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Full story.
Nick Prueher '98 and Joe Pickett '99, both UW-Eau Claire communication-electronic media graduates, are hosts and curators of the traveling "Found Footage Festival." Full story.
Mary Hilfiker '67, a UW-Eau Claire history graduate, Ray Hilfiker '65 (history) and Alice Hilfiker Butler '67 (elementary education) were recently featured in the magazine Mammoth Tales, a publication of the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation.
John Hecht '80, a UW-Eau Claire accounting graduate, is president and chief executive of WPS Community Bank of Monona, which opened its doors in January. Full story.
John Oliver Lewis '01, a UW-Eau Claire art graduate, had ceramic sculptures featured in an exhibit at the College of the Redwoods Creative Arts Gallery in Eureka, Calif., during the month of March. Full story.
Christopher Porterfield '06, a UW-Eau Claire journalism graduate who lives in Milwaukee, recently took the stage at the Oak Center General Store in Lake City, Minn., as solo artist Conrad Plymouth. Full story.
Lisa Stark '79, a UW-Eau Claire art graduate and Eau Claire County Circuit Court judge, is among 13 applicants to become the next federal judge for the western Wisconsin district based in Madison. Full story.
William Baillargeon '82, a UW-Eau Claire history graduate, has been named by Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm to take over a vacant district court seat in Allegan County, Michigan. Full story.
Thomas Hughes '85, who received a master's degree in school psychology from UW-Eau Claire, has been named superintendent of schools for the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District. Full story.
Sean Hogan '08, a UW-Eau Claire mass communication graduate, is a member of the Eden Prairie-based indie-rock band The New Monarchs, whose song "Kiss Me At the Gate" was featured during a "Gossip Girl" episode on The CW. Full story.
Kyle Zander '08, a UW-Eau Claire sociology graduate, and Zac Barnes '07, a Latin American studies grad, are members of E.C. Bikes, an informal community group that repairs old bikes and donates them to people in the community who can't afford to buy their own. Full story.
Paul Dankers '98, a UW-Eau Claire music graduate who is music director at the Snowmass Chapel in Snowmass Village, Colo., recently starred in a production of "Forever Plaid" as part of the Winter Culture Series he established. (Photo by Stewart Oksenhorn of The Aspen Times) Full story.
Paul Gocker '80, a UW-Eau Claire management graduate, has been hired by Strategic Wealth Management Group LLC in Neenah as executive vice president. Full story.
Andy Winget '95, a UW-Eau Claire accounting and management graduate and division controller with Mercury Marine, has joined the Fond du Lac Area United Way 2009 board of directors. Full story
See more UW-Eau Claire alumni success stories.
