info@stcloudtechalumni.org - St. Cloud Tech Alumni Association

Tech Alum Brett Mushatt Honored for Leadership and Community Service

St. Cloud Tech graduate Brett Mushatt, Class of 1994, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of Saint John’s University’s Bob Basten Excellence in Leadership Award. A standout athlete during his years at Tech and later an All-American football player at Saint John’s, Mushatt has spent much of his adult life giving back to the same Central Minnesota community where he grew up and now serves as Assistant Police Chief for the City of St. Cloud.

The Bob Basten Excellence in Leadership Award is presented annually to a former Saint John’s football student-athlete who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, meaningful service to the community and alma mater, integrity and a continued commitment to excellence. Mushatt will formally receive the honor during the Johnnies’ October 3 football game against Bethel at Clemens Stadium.

Long before his career in law enforcement, Mushatt was making a name for himself as a Tiger athlete. He graduated from Tech in 1994 and was an accomplished track athlete as well as a football player. At the 1994 Minnesota Class AA state track and field championships, Mushatt finished third in the 100-meter dash, running an 11.05 in the final. He won the Section 8AA 100-meter title the week before.

Mushatt continued his athletic career at Saint John’s University, where he became a four-year starter at defensive back. He earned All-MIAC honors as both a junior and senior and was named an All-American during the 1996 season. His nine interceptions that year remain tied for third in Saint John’s history, while his 15 career interceptions are also tied for third on the program’s all-time list.

After graduating from Saint John’s in 1998, Mushatt remained deeply connected to Central Minnesota. He first worked in several roles with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota and continues to serve on the organization’s board of directors. In 2002, he began his career with the St. Cloud Police Department. Over the next two decades he advanced through the department, becoming Assistant Police Chief in 2022.

His community involvement extends well beyond his work in public safety. Mushatt has served on the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust Peer Support Advisory Board and has spent many years volunteering as a coach. Saint John’s reports that he coached defensive backs for Sauk Rapids football for 17 seasons and has also coached track and field for the past seven years.

Saint John’s head football coach Gary Fasching pointed to Mushatt’s commitment to service and his work building trust between the community and law enforcement as examples of why he was chosen for the award. The same qualities that helped make Mushatt successful as an athlete — leadership, discipline, teamwork and commitment — have continued to shape his professional and community life.

For fellow Tech alumni, Mushatt’s story is an especially fitting one to celebrate. More than 30 years after representing the Tigers on the field and track, he continues to represent the values of leadership, service and commitment to the St. Cloud community.

Congratulations to Brett Mushatt, Tech Class of 1994, on this well-deserved honor.

Whatever Happened to the Old Tech?

The building that generations of Tech alumni knew as their high school hasn’t disappeared—it has simply started a very different chapter. After Tech moved to its new location in south St. Cloud in 2019, the oldest portions of the familiar brick building near Lake George were preserved, renovated and transformed into St. Cloud City Hall. Today, former classrooms are offices, city business takes place where students once learned, and pieces of the old school remain intentionally visible throughout the building.

For more than a century, the original building grew along with Tech High School. The original South Building opened in 1917, followed by the North Building in 1938. As enrollment and school programs expanded, so did the campus: a technical wing and cafeteria were added in the 1950s, classroom and administrative space followed in the 1960s, and the gymnasium and swimming pool arrived in the 1970s. By the time the old campus closed in 2019, generations of Tigers had known somewhat different versions of the same sprawling school.

When Tech moved into its new building, the future of the old campus became a major community question. Ultimately, the City of St. Cloud chose to preserve the historic 1917 and 1938 portions and adapt them for a new purpose. City planning documents specifically identified preservation of the century-old brick façade and reuse of the historic building as priorities.

The renovation wasn’t designed to erase the building’s past. In fact, planners intentionally kept reminders that City Hall had once been Tech High School. During construction, classrooms became offices and some of the original lockers remained. One particularly fitting discovery came in the space that would become the City Council chambers: beneath carpeting was the original gym floor. It was restored and incorporated into the new chambers.

The City of St. Cloud moved its offices into the former Tech building in 2022. The newer portions of the old campus did not survive the transition. The former technical and cafeteria wing, west classroom additions, gymnasium and swimming pool were eventually demolished, while the historic sections remained.

Even the site’s newest additions acknowledge the connection between education and civic life. A public art installation created at City Hall in 2024 represents the building’s history and the relationship between its former role as a school and its present role in local government.

So while alumni can no longer walk into the building for English class, chemistry or morning announcements, a surprising amount of the old Tech is still there. The building that educated generations of St. Cloud students now serves the entire city—and, appropriately, continues to be a place where people gather, work and shape the future of the community.

For students who attended school in the Old Tech, City Hall may be worth another visit. You might even find that the office you’re visiting looks suspiciously like a classroom you once knew.

A New Generation of Tigers: Freshman Allie Lauer Wins State Clay Target Championship

Tech High School freshman Allie Lauer made school history this summer, winning the girls individual championship at the 2026 Minnesota State High School League Clay Target State Tournament. Her victory gave Tech its first Girls State Championship in clay target shooting — and continued a Tiger family connection, as her father, Jason Lauer, is a graduate of Tech’s Class of 1993.

Competing against athletes from across Minnesota, Lauer broke 99 of 100 targets in the June 26 state tournament. Her score tied Rosemount’s Isabella Blaz for first place, sending the championship to a reverse-run tiebreaker. Lauer’s reverse run of 83 topped Blaz’s 54 and secured the title.

A reverse run measures the number of consecutive targets hit at the end of competition, counting backward from the final target until the athlete’s most recent miss. Because Lauer finished with 83 straight hits, she claimed the championship tiebreaker. The state tournament format consists of four rounds of 25 targets, making her final score of 99 even more impressive.

The accomplishment is especially notable because Lauer had just completed her freshman year at Tech. She was competing against older athletes with more high school experience, yet handled the pressure well enough to miss only a single target throughout the entire competition.

Her performance also earned recognition beyond the state tournament. In July, Lauer was named one of StribVarsity’s All-Minnesota Clay Target Athletes of the Year, adding another honor to an already remarkable first year of high school competition.

For Tech alumni, there is another connection to celebrate. Allie’s father, Jason Lauer, graduated from Tech in 1993, making this championship part of a second-generation Tiger story. More than three decades after Jason’s graduation, the Lauer family remains connected to Tech — now with a state championship added to the family history.

And Allie still has three years of high school ahead of her.

Congratulations to Allie Lauer on an outstanding accomplishment and on making Tech history.

Alumni Association Awards Scholarships to Two 2026 Graduates

Every year, the Tech seniors are asked to submit essay applications for the traditional Tech Alumni Association scholarships. Thanks to the generous support of the Alumni, we continue support the scholarship program for Tech students. Alumni donations have provided over $120,000 for scholarships.

Similar to prior years, a committee of Alumni Association Directors selected the recipients. The candidates are selected based on excellence in academics, extra curricular activities, community service and their essay on what Tech has meant to them. In 2024 we expanded the format of the essay by allowing poetry, videos and artwork. We are pleased to present the 2026 scholarship recipients. Here are their essays –

Kyle Kroska –

St. Cloud Technical High School has meant more to me than just a place to attend classes each day. Tech has been a place of growth, opportunity, and preparation for my future. As a senior getting ready to graduate, I can honestly say that attending Tech has shaped both my academic goals and who I am as a person.

One of the biggest things that has impacted me is the support from the teachers. I have been fortunate to have teachers who genuinely care about their students, not just academically but personally. They push you to do your best while also making themselves available when you need extra help. Whether it was preparing for exams, asking questions about college, or just needing encouragement, my teachers have always been supportive. Their belief in me has given me confidence as I prepare to attend the University of Minnesota Twin Cities next year to major in Kinesiology.

The new Tech building has also been something special to be part of. Walking into a modern, well designed school each day creates an environment that feels professional and motivating. The updated classrooms, athletic spaces, and common areas have made learning more engaging and comfortable. It feels like a place built for opportunity and growth, and being part of the first classes to experience it has been meaningful.

The environment reflects the forward thinking mindset that Tech encourages in its students.

Beyond academics, Tech has helped me grow through athletics and personal challenges. In the fall of 2024, I tore my meniscus and had to go through physical therapy at St. Cloud Orthopedics. Balancing school, rehab, and responsibilities was not easy, but Tech gave me the flexibility and support I needed during that time. That injury ultimately inspired my decision to pursue a career in physical therapy. The resilience I developed during that period was strengthened by the encouragement of teachers, coaches, and classmates.

Tech has benefited me by preparing me academically for college, but also by teaching me discipline, perseverance, and the importance of community. The friendships I have built and the lessons I have learned here will stay with me long after graduation. As I move on to the University of Minnesota and work toward becoming a physical therapist, I carry with me the foundation that Tech provided.

To me, Tech represents growth and opportunity. It is where I discovered my career path, built lasting relationships, and developed the confidence to chase my goals. I am proud to be a Tech graduate and grateful for everything this school has given me.

Usha Ratha –

Tech has not only provided me with my academic growth, but it has also catapulted my personal growth because of the welcoming environment it offered when I was a lonely 13-year-old incoming freshman. As someone who grew up shy and younger than my peers, it wasn’t easy for me to make close connections with people, so I grew accustomed to studying them from afar. When I started joining clubs at Tech, these skills became vital for making a change. I learned how to empower and advocate for my peers. In AP Psychology, I understood why I noticed patterns in others’ behavior and why people made certain choices. It helped me discover my passion for helping others through a tutoring program I created as President of National Honor Society.

When I was a sophomore, I ran for my first election, for President of Student Council. I had put in the work, dedicating time and effort to every event, but I lost that election, leaving me devastated and utterly confused. I realized that leadership is not only work, it’s also a human connection. What I lacked was a personal attachment to any of the Student Council members. Instead of giving up on Student Council, I showed the same amount of effort as in my junior year, but I focused on building relationships and empowering my peers. I ran for President again and won, and while I felt pride in my accomplishment, I also felt that true leadership isn’t validated by a title, it’s proven by action.

As Student Council President, I spend much of my time making posters, activities, and fun events to grow student morale in the same way Student Council did for me when I came to high school. I was also elected President of National Honor Society, where I foster volunteer opportunities and monthly donation drives, providing necessities such as blankets and food for students at our school.

When I expanded my community outreach, I developed stronger abilities to understand and talk to people. Volunteering provided me with the social skills and self-esteem to believe in myself and put myself in empowering roles by running in school elections. Being elected gave me the power to increase my community outreach through bigger projects and the ability to connect with like-minded people who want to make a change. Serving my community has given me a desire to make more change and spread what I have learned into new projects.

The most joyful opportunity I take part in is tutoring my peers through the National Honor Society tutoring center. I love helping students through the process of learning with the advantage of my student perspective. My favorite part about learning is knowing that every piece of knowledge is something I can share in another perfect moment when I see everything click in a student’s mind. Psychology has made me a better person through communication, understanding, and teaching, and I was able to discover my passion with the opportunities Tech allowed me to have in my high school journey.

What I love most about Tech is the people. I love how Mr. Kopp, my Physics teacher, makes boring things theatrical and interesting. I never enjoyed a science class before I had him as a teacher. I love how Ms. Kensy, our principal, leads with joy and intention to know every student. I love perusing the poetry projects from Ms. Blair’s class every spring, where you can see the obvious dedication of each student. Tech taught me that it’s important to enjoy the journey and leave a positive impact on the people you meet.

Congratulations to the 2026 recipients! The Alumni Association is proud to welcome these two, exceptional, new alumni and the entire graduating class of 2026 as alumni. We wish them all the best as they go on to the next chapter in their lives. We now have over 36,000 Tech alumni!

To all classes – Please consider starting a class scholarship. The class of 1967 started this tradition several years back. The class of 1976 followed. The Class of 2017 has also initiated a scholarship.

If you or your class is interested and wish to start a scholarship, please contact us. We will work with you and Tech Guidance personnel to set up a scholarship. It can be as easy as providing funds or having your class review and select applications and then presenting at the annual scholarship night.

An Open Letter to the Alumni of Tech High School

Bruce Hentges, St. Cloud Tech High School Alumni Association

Bruce Hentges (Class of ’68) has recently retired from the Tech High School Alumni Association (THSAA) after serving for many years. Over his lifetime, Bruce had a very distinguished educational career in the St. Cloud Area Schools, spending his entire lifetime as a student (Clear Lake Elementary School, South Junior High School, Tech Senior High School), or as a professional educator teaching high school social studies, coaching (varsity baseball & football), school operations as a school administrator, activities director, director of district transportation services, school board governance official, chief executive officer of L.E.A.F (Local Education Activities Foundation), and member of the THSAA board of directors.

Bruce has also been honored as an elected member of the Tech High School ‘Athletic Hall of Fame’ and the Tech High School ‘Distinguished Alumni.’ Thank you, Bruce (and Colleen), for your diligent, loyal and faithful service to the students, parents, educators, service employees, programs and community-at-large of School District #742, St. Cloud Area Schools.

Bruce Mohs (THSAA, Class of ’62)

Tech High School Alumni Association Dues Request

St. Cloud Tech High School Robotics image_020826

April, 2026

Dear fellow Tech Alumni,

Greetings from your Tech High School Alumni Association (THSAA)! We hope this note finds you well. After
the 2026 school year, there will be over 36,000 graduates from Tech High School.

As in prior years, we are looking for your support to raise funds to assist in supporting the Tech students and our
many traditions. With your donations, we will continue funding scholarships for the graduating classes, our
Distinguished Alumni inductions, Athletic Hall of Fame events, help with reunion planning, graduation party
gifts, band, orchestra, choir, Speech Team, Trapshooting, Robotics club, Aerospace program and athletic teams.
We are looking forward to another Distinguished Alumni induction in the spring of 2027 – Details will be
communicated as planning evolves.

Your support has resulted in awarding approximately $120,000 in scholarships. In the last 5 years, $30,000
in donations has been given to Tech student activities. THANK YOU!

The donation form below allows you to direct your gift. We will work to support all of your intentions.
Please complete the form below and mail it back to us with your donation or visit our website and follow
the online donation instructions. You can access our new website by going to stcloudtechalumni.org

We hope you have good memories of your time at Tech. THSAA will continue to inform you of Tech happenings
through our emailed newsletter and website postings. Stay informed, keep us updated with your contact
information.

Thanks in advance from the 2026 THSAA Board of Directors!

We are a registered 501(c)(3), your memberships and donations may be tax deductible. Consult your tax
professional for specific advice.

Membership $______ (Suggested 2026 Dues – $25)

Make checks payable to – THSAA.
Scholarships $______

2027 Distinguished Alumni $______

Athletic Hall of Fame $_______
Special Intention ____________________________ $ ______

Total $_______

Name: __________________________________ Graduation Year:____________________
Address: ________________________________ email: ______________________________
________________________________ Phone:______________________________

Please return this form with your donation to: THSAA, PO Box 2255, St. Cloud, MN 56302-2255

Or, to make an online donation, please go to our website: https://stcloudtechalumni.org
Scan QR Code to Donate

THSAA – 2026 Dues Mailing Letter – 2026-04-21 – Final

Tech High School Alumni Association – Distinguished Alumni Event

The old St. Cloud Tech High School brick sign

Call for Nominations: 2027 Distinguished Alumni Recognition Event

St. Cloud Tech High School Alumni Association Newsletter

Spring 2027 will be a special season for the Tech High School family. The Tech High School Alumni Association (THSAA) is proud to announce that planning is underway for our next Distinguished Alumni Recognition Event — and we need your help to make it memorable.

The Distinguished Alumni program exists to honor Tech graduates who have gone on to leave a lasting mark on their professions and communities. These are the men and women who carry the Tiger spirit with them long after they walked the halls of Tech — and whose achievements deserve to be celebrated by the people who knew them first.

We are now accepting nominations.

Do you know a Tech graduate who has built an extraordinary career? Someone who has given back to their community in meaningful ways? A trailblazer, a servant leader, a quiet hero? This is your opportunity to make sure their story is told.

Nomination Criteria:

Must be a Tech High School graduate of 20 or more years
Must have demonstrated a distinguished career in their vocation or service
Must have made a significant contribution to their community
Awards may be given posthumously

Nominations are open now, and you may submit more than one. We encourage you to think broadly — across graduating classes, career fields, and walks of life. Every class has its standouts, and some of the most deserving honorees are waiting to be recognized by someone who remembers them.

Visit stcloudtechalumni.org to submit your nomination and learn more about the event as details are finalized.

Let’s fill the 2027 class with the remarkable Tigers they deserve to be. Thank you in advance for taking the time to honor those who have made us proud.

Go Tigers!

To be considered for the 2027 event, nominations must be received by October 01, 2026

You can send the completed nomination(s) to :

THSAA, PO Box 2255, St.Cloud, MN, 56302 or

email to techtigeralumni@gmail.com or

Call Jim Dahl, Cell 320-310-3538, with nominations or any questions

2027 – Distinguished Alumni Nomination Form

Class of 1976 – 50 Year Reunion

St. Cloud Tech High School sign, the original Tech

The class of 1976 is planning their 50th class reunion and things are moving along nicely.

Here is the current plan. There will continue to be work on the events to address details.

Friday, August 21, 2026
– Tour of the new Tech – 1:00 PM. You might not know but the Tech building we spent time in is now the St. Cloud City Office complex. A new Tech was built and opened in 2019. The location is 4200 33rd Street South, St. Cloud, 56301. Gather at Door 1 – Main Entrance. If you remember the Persian Club, the new Tech is close by.
– Gathering at the House of Pizza – 7:00 PM – Close. We have reserved the date and time. Classmates will be able to order food and drinks. We will have a “check in” table for name tags, information and ability to capture updated contact information. Please note that the original House of Pizza is no longer open. We will be at the 4040 2nd St S, St. Cloud location.
– Tour of the old Tech – To be determined. We are working with the current Mayor on a possible tour – He is also a Tech graduate.
The Tech tours will take place at staggered times to allow classmates and guests to attend both tours. At this time, Friday looks to be the date both tours will be conducted.

Saturday, August 22, 2026

– Golf – Jody (Lehner) Yunger is working on getting an event together. Current thoughts are to conduct the event Saturday at noon. It will be at the Angushire Golf Club, 224 Waite Avenue South, St. Cloud, 56301. For this event to take place, we will need to know if there is sufficient interest. We will need around 36 participants to make this event work efficiently so that all can start and finish in about the same time.

– Gathering at the St. Cloud Eagles Club. 730 41st Ave N, St. Cloud. 5:30 PM – Close. We are looking at having light food available. We are not looking at an organized dinner. We will have a brief presentation to pay respect to the classmates who have passed.

We are not looking to gather any payment ahead of the reunion. However, it is important that you respond with your interest in attending and the events you would like to participate in so we can plan accordingly.

We ask if you feel comfortable in sharing other classmate contact information you may have, please do. Even if we already have it, it is our goal to get the word out to all. We prefer cell phone information or a current landline number. If you want to help locate classmates, please let me know and I will get you a list.

Couple other items –

– I have several 1976 Techoes that I made a donation to acquire when we cleaned out the old Tech. I have given a few out to classmates already. Let me know if you want one or no someone who might.

– Our Tech High School Alumni Association (THSAA) has worked to digitize all Techoes from 1921 – 2021. They can be viewed on this website – Click on “Yearbooks” at the top of the home page.

In summary, please respond and provide the following –

– Your attendance plans. Even if you cannot make it, let us know.

– The events you are interested in attending. Include spouse or guest. Please note that it is critical to know if you want to golf – We need at least 36 golfers to conduct.

– Your current address, phone, email or any name change.

– Any classmate contact information you feel comfortable sharing.

– We will likely be preparing slide shows. If you have pictures you want to share, send them my way.

Assist in Finding Contact info for Classmates

If you want to help with finding classmates or assist with the events, call or let me know and I can get you any needed information.

We have information for the majority of the approximately 450 classmates, which is nice. However, there are 180 classmates who we need help contacting – See the list below.

Of the 180, we have made initial attempts to contact 130 classmates through email or other methods. The other 50, we have never had any contact information since they graduated.

If you have information for anyone on the list, please contact Jim Dahl with any updates. Call, text or email.

Thanks!

Jim Dahl

Cell – 320-310-3538

Email – jdacdahl@aol.com

FIRST LAST MAIDEN

SHEILA ALBERS HEID

KEN ALLEN

JILL BALLANTINE

DARLA BARRETT LONG

DONNA BEBUS HEMMELGARN

NITA BECKMAN

CATHY BERTSCH OLSON

PAULA BLUMKE MEYER

JAMES [JIM] BRAMBRINK

MATT BURKETT

RICHARD CAMPION

BARB CARROLL DINGMANN

CHERYL A CHRISTEN VANHALE

BRENDA COPELAND

SHARON COULTER

SANDY B CRUZEN POEPPING

DEBBIE CZECH LINDBERG

MARY JO ELIZABETH DESOTA WAGAR

JOYCE DINNDORF GROSS

KEVIN DOLS

DIANA DROSSEL

LAURIE DVORAK

JULIE EKENSTEEN

BRENDA EMSLANDER TOENJES

SHERRIE M EUTENEUER

SHIELA FINBURG VAN VICKLE

RISE FINKE ANNIS

KATHY FISHER OSOWSKI

DALE FLATEGRAFF

SHEILA FOLEY

RUSSEL FOWLER

DEBRA FREESE BISSONETTE

KAREN FREITAG

ART FUCHS

ROBERT GOHMAN

JON GOTTSHALL

LINDA GRANZOW

JANE GROSS REINE

MICHELE GROSS DEMARS

MARY GRUBER FOEHRENBACHER

MARY GRUNDMAN MCGUIRE

CINDY GUSTAFSON-TAUER GUSTAFSON

TONY HABIGER

LUANN HARREN LEHMEIER

KENT HELGESON

DONNA HEMMELGARN IMHOLTE

KRIS HEMMING

CATHIE HEYING ANDERSON

SUSAN [SUE] HEYSSE SCHMIDT

THU HOANG

DANA HOESCHEN

WAYNE HOLLENKAMP

MARY JO HOWARD

SUZANNE ISAKSON KONSOR

CHERYL JACOBOSKI STATZ

SHIRLEY JACOBS STEUVE

CHERYL JENSEN GAPINSKI

BETTY JOHNSON BENOIT

CHRISTA JOHNSON

STEVEN A JOHNSON

DEBORAH KAMPA FLOM

PHILIP KINNEY

TOM KIRCHNER

JANE KISPERT HIEMENZ

MARK A KLAVERKAMP

SUSAN KLIPPEN PETERSON

DEBBIE KNOLL KIELTY

CRAIG KOVELL

LOIS KRAEMER IMHOLTE

SANDRA KRAMER

MARY M KRITZECK WEBER

ANN LAHR

RONALD LAHR

ERNIE LANDWEHR

BRUCE LANG

VIBEKE LARSEN

ANN LATTERELL LEY

MARK LEE

BROCK LIEBERMAN

MIKE LINTGEN

BRENDA LODERMEIER JOHANNES

BECKY LOHSE VOGT

MIKE MAKARRALL

ANN MANTHEY

JOYCE MARX BENSON

PAM MASSMAN HASSELBRING

PATRICIA MAYER ACKLEY

STUART MCDOWALL

CAROL MCEVOY MAURER

CHRISTINE MCGUIRE SCHMIDT

PAULETTE MCMILLAN PETERSON

MIKE MICKELSON

MICHAEL A MIX

RON MOCKENHAUPT

RICH MOHS

MO MOLTAJI

TERESE K MURPHY

TERRI NYLUND LOKENSGARD

VICKI O’CONNOR KUEBELBECK

PAT OBRIEN HORMANN

IDA OKSA VANDER EYK

MIKE OLK

DANIEL OLSON

CHERYL ORTH BARTHEL

CAROL PAYNE MAUS

JON PAYNE

BECKY PEDERSON ALLEN

JOHN PEEBLES

KAREN PETERS OSOWSKI

JAMES [JIM] PETERSON

JERRY PETERSON

ANITA PFEILER

GREG PHILIPPI

JANE PLATH HARTMANN

KEITH D POST

DAN PRIEBE

JOYCE QUADE KRUPA

LUANN RAMEY JENSON

BRYANT RICHARDS

TOM RILEY

CHRIS ROSS BROWN

DEBBIE ROSS FAHSL

LAURA ROSSMAN

GWEN ROY GRAFFT

LYNELL RUSSELL KURPIUS

TIM RUSSELL

EDA SAYAN

BRENDA SCHAEFER

MARK SCHMIDT

TONY SCHMIDT

COLLEEN SCHMITT

DIANE SCHNEIDER

ANNETTE SCHROEDER SCHMIDT

JEAN SCHULTZ

RANDY SCHWARTZ

DENNIS SELIX

CINDY SHOKEH STANGLER

MARK SIMON

CATHY A SIS WIEHOFF

DIANE SPAULDING

KATHY SPEED

GARY SPODEN

JOHN STEINBACH

TERESA STEINHAUS GOHMAN

LEROY STEINHOFF

DEB STOFSLET MOKLER

JEFFREY STONE

MARK STORMS

MICHELLE STREITZ KASIMOR

KATHY STROMBECK LIND

JEFF SWAN

MARK J SWORSKI

MARY TACKER MASTEY

RICHELE TERWEY

TAMMIE THEISEN TODD

JAMES THELEN

DAVID THIESSEN

JAMIE THIESSEN MUELLER

KEN THOLE

DAVE TOOHEY

PAM TOULOUSE KNOPIK

DEBRA TRNKA

MICHELE UNCH FICKER

JACK UNDERSANDER

JIM VANGERUD

JIM VARNER

JUDY VARSHAL KRUCHTEN

DUANE VOIGT

WILLIAM VOIT

GAY WAKEMAN

EUNICE WALBERG HARDESTY

LIZ WALESCH HALL

KATHY WARNER PEKA

LISA WEISMAN DINGMAN

CHERYL WELLE HOMMERDING

JOANNE WESTPHAL DIEDRICH

ROZZI WETHERBEE

BRIAN GLEN WIPPER

KIM ZEMLICKA WILLIAMS

CINDY ZWILLING LINTGEN

THSAA’s 6th Distinguished Alumni Induction (April, 2023)

St. Cloud, MN — On April 13 & 14, 2023, Tech High School welcomed the 6th Induction into the Tech Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame!

Events included a dinner/induction ceremony at the new Tech High School on Thursday evening, April 13 with plenty of opportunities to visit with inductees and old friends – as well as see the “New Tech High”! On Friday, there was an all-school assembly to introduce our 10 inductees and their accomplishments to our current students.

Following are the brief sketches of the some of the AMAZING ACHEIVEMENTS of our 10 inductees. Congratulations to the 2023 Inductees!

· Dr. Sarah Ahlberg (Class of 1999): Director of Research & Technology, Cardiac Ablation Solutions, with Medtronic, Inc, a global leader in medical technology. Her resume includes 9 issued patents, over 20 journal publications, more than 35 scientific presentations, and teaching assistant positions in Advanced Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology Courses at the University of Minnesota

· Rollie Anderson (Class of 1964): CEO/Chairman of the Board of Anderson Trucking Service – one of the largest “for hire” carrier/trucking companies in North America, including Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii. St. Cloud area philanthropist.

· TyRuben Ellingson (Class of 1977): The Senior Director in the School of the Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University who has contributed to the creation of ground-breaking special effects in films such as Jurassic Park, Star Wars, etc. Received the Art Director’s Guild Certificate of Appreciation for the ADG Award winning project Avatar- for Contribution to Excellence in Production Design for a Fantasy Film.

· Tony Ewers (Class of 1998): An active-duty Lieutenant Colonel who flies Air Force One! He has been deployed 11 times, spent over 1,000 days overseas, logged over 5,500 hours as a Command Pilot, and commandeered over 300 combat missions.

· Jim Dahl (Class of 1976): He spent over 30 years in Information Technology as a developer, analyst, and project and program manager for several firms during his career. Brought his organizational skills to the THSAA, where he has served as president for over 20 years.

· Patti Gartland (Class of 1976): Currently President of the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation after serving many years as Planning Director for the City of St. Cloud and City Administrator for Sartell. Has received several Excellence in Service awards in recognition of her Civic work.

· Bruce Mohs (Class of 1962): After graduating from Tech and SCSU, spent his career as an educator in Milwaukee, Wis. He returned to St. Cloud in retirement and pursued community service in a variety of roles, including serving 16 years on the St. Cloud School board and president of LEAF, St. Cloud’s education foundation.

· Sandy Neutzling (Class of 1968): An entrepreneur who owns her own Insurance Business and has served as the Rotary Club president and Chair of the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce

· Anoop Prakash (Class of 1991): Was awarded a Navy Commendation Medal and has two Harvard Business degrees. Worked in the Bush administration and led Harley Davidson, Canada. He has two Harvard Business School case studies written about his work and career.

· George Van Cleve (Class of 1968): A Harvard University Law School and Oxford University graduate, he served as Deputy Assistant U. S. Attorney General in the U.S. Dept of Justice. After receiving his PH D in History from the University of Virginia, has written 3 successful history books and has been a Law Professor and Visiting Scholar at several major universities.

A Brief History of St. Cloud Tech High School

The old or original St. Cloud Tech High School, St. Cloud, MN. History

A BRIEF HISTORY OF ST. CLOUD TECH HIGH SCHOOL (By Bruce Mohs)

The history of St. Cloud Tech High School (pre-1917 thru 2025) is an important and relevant part of the history of St. Cloud and Central MN. However, what remains continuous throughout the school’s history over the course of time are the stories and legacies of its students (33,000+), its administrators, faculties, counselors, coaches, and non-licensed staff; its classrooms, curriculums, and academic, athletic, art and activity programs; its buildings & venues where teaching and learning has taken place for over the past century and will continue thru this century.

These personal and professional stories and legacies of excellence and achievement are described & catalogued throughout the one-hundred eight years (1917-2025) of collections including yearbooks, school newspapers, framed photographs, and trophies & awards. These collections are gathered, stored, arranged, exhibited and securely showcased within the Tech High School ‘Tiger Den’. All of these records and mementos are archived for past, present, and future students and educators. And these historical documents will provide an opportunity for Tech Alumni and their guests to come to the ‘Tiger Den’ (individually or collectively), and reminisce, reflect and remember a great High School (and their time in it) which has served many great students and educators for over one-hundred years throughout the many great neighborhoods and communities within our city.

PRINCIPALS
The cumulative history of a great school is influenced greatly by the purposeful leadership of its building administrators. They steadfastly steer the student body and faculty of a great school to remain focused on the written mission and values of the school. They are the final decision makers of all matters associated with the methods, resources, staffing and safety of the students, educators and community members that are in and around the school and its disparate and distinct educational venues. The building principals of Tech High School, from 1917 to the present, were: Elizabeth Clark (1917-1947), Frank J. Herda (1947-1964), Paul Kinney (1964-1969), Chuck Sell (1969-1983), Wally Pretzer (1983-1991), Gayla Holmgren (1991-1996), Ed Johnson (1996-1999), Roger Ziemann (1999-2014), Adam Holm (2014-2015), Charlie Eisenreich (2015-2020), Jason Harris (2020-2023), and Molly Kensy (2023-present).

BUILDINGS
When speaking about the “teaching and learning resources” needed for quality education, the conversation regularly and recurrently centers around curriculums, books, materials, supplies, equipment and the likes. Of course, all of these items are necessary and important, and need to be available & accessible for both students and educators.
But equally as important, significant, and consequential are the buildings, venues, locations, and sites that safely provide and educationally meet and deliver the needs of all students as they transition from pre-school to elementary school, to middle-school, and (in the fullness of time) graduate from high school. The historical buildings of Tech High School were: Union School (post Civil War-1917); South Building (1917-2019), sold to City of St. Cloud, restored as City Hall); North Building (1938-2019), sold to City of St. Cloud, restored as City Hall); Cafeteria & H.B. Gough Technical Wing (1958-2019), sold to City of St. Cloud, demolished); West Wing Administration & Classrooms, first two floors (1963-2019), sold to City of St. Cloud, demolished); West Wing Administration & Classrooms, third floor (1965-2019), sold to City of St. Cloud, demolished); Gymnasium & Swimming Pool (1975-2019), sold to City of St. Cloud, demolished); Clark Field (1938-2019), sold to City of St. Cloud (to be developed as a public park); New Tech High School & Athletic Campuses (2019-present).

During parts of two Millennia, the 20th and 21st Centuries, and 10.5 Decades (from 1917-2019), the history and legacy of St. Cloud Tech High School’s students and faculty have been serving and supporting our Nation and its Allies during wars, conflicts, strifes, and historically changing social movements. Some of these historical movements have been:
Wars: World War I, World War II, Korean War, Cold War, Cuban Crisis, Vietnamese War, Gulf War, War in Iraq, War in Afghanistan, and The Syrian War.
Domestic and Global Civil Wars and Social Movements: The Stock Market Crash and The Great Depression, Free Speech and Civil Rights Movement, Women’s Suffrage ‘Right To Vote’ Movement, Anti-War Movement, LGBTQ Movement, Environmental Justice Movement, Disability Rights Movement, Racial Justice Movement, Reproductive Justice Movement, and multi-nationalism Global Movements (The Arab-Israeli War, The Indo-Pakistani War, The Congo Crisis, South Africa Apartheid Movement, The Libyan Civil War, The Somalian Civil War, and The Guatemalan-El Salvadoran War.

More information about St. Cloud Tech and the St. Cloud Tech Alumni Association at https://stcloudtechalumni.org/