Education Foundation of Albert Lea
Special Events
Pathways to Success
Distinguished Alumni
Pathways to Success Recognition Banquet
The Education Foundation of Albert Lea and Albert Lea Area Schools are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2011 Distinguished Alumni Award. The Foundation will “Celebrate 11 years of Success in 2011” with all attendees at a banquet.
The awards are given annually to graduates of Albert Lea High School who have achieved success in one or more of the areas of Business and Economic Achievement, Humanitarian and Public Service Achievement, or Locally Achieved Success. In addition, awards will be given posthumously to candidates in any of the above categories.
Recipients of this year’s awards will be recognized at the Education Foundation’s Pathways to Success Celebration and banquet on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011, at Wedgewood Cove, Albert Lea, MN. All are welcome to attend this event to share in the Foundation’s commitment to the community’s children.
The Celebration will begin with refreshments at 6 p.m. followed by the dinner and program beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person.
Reservations may be made by mailing a check to the Education Foundation of Albert Lea, P.O. Box 828, Albert Lea, MN, 56007. Questions should be directed to Lilah Aas, President of the Foundation board of directors.
This year’s event program will provide opportunities for “Celebration, Recognition, and Inspiration.” Those attending will join in celebrating 11 years of commitment to children in 2011, in recognizing Foundation founders and benefactors, and in inspiring future success through honoring distinguished alumni.
The following day, the four living 2011 Distinguished Alumni will present a panel discussion before members of the senior class in an assembly at Albert Lea High School.
This year’s Distinguished Alumni follow:
Business and Economic Achievement:
Dr. James P. Brill (Class of 1956) – Professor Emeritus of various Petroleum Engineering courses at Tulsa University in Oklahoma and researcher in multi-phase flow pipes in oil wells.
Maestro Charles Schneider (Class of 1956) – Current Conductor of symphony orchestras of three New York communities and professor of music with a long repertoire of symphonic performances on Broadway and in Europe.
Humanitarian and Public Service:
Dr. Sunny Sundal Hansen (Class of 1947) – Professor Emeritus in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Hansen created the Born Free program and Integrative Life Planning. Both of these have online formats.
Locally Achieved Success:
Ralph Olson (Class of 1952) – Lifelong resident of Albert Lea with a 45-year career with Interstate Power (currently Alliant Energy). In addition, Olson has long serviced the Albert Lea community on many local boards and foundations.
Posthumous Awards:
Chris Berghoff (Class of 1971) – Founder and CEO of Control Products, Inc. In addition to creating an internationally successful company which makes specializes electrical monitoring controls, he was a professor in the graduate schools of business and executive management at the University of Minnesota and University of St. Thomas.
Brigadier General (Retired) James T. Tuberty (Class of 1946) – Left high school to serve in the Army in World War II and then returned to finish and graduate from high school after the war was over. He also served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War after which there followed numerous other military assignments.
Visit our Pathways to Success web page