Mary Jo Merwin (1969-70)

Administrator, Aurora Health Care, Fond du Lac

Bachelor of Science, Nursing

Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and Quality

Registered Nurse

Attending UW-Fond du Lac was one of the best decisions for me. The professors that I had were outstanding and the small class size allowed for the individual attention that is so important, especially when you are just beginning your college experience.

The ability to live at home and continue with my part time job, gave me one more year to save for college. I made life long friends while attending UW-Fond du Lac and, for that, I will always be grateful.

Don Noe (1969-71)

Retired Chief Meteorologist, WPLG Channel 10 in Miami, Florida

Bachelor of Science Degree in meteorology from UW-Madison

2005 UW-Fond du Lac Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient

Don's first job out of college was forecasting the weather in the Green Bay area for radio stations, ski resorts, power companies and show removal crews while working weekends for television station, WFRV-TV.

Don estimates he has done over 780 school visits during more than 30 years of service to schools in Wisconsin, Oregon and Florida. He presents lectures on science and weather to elementary, secondary and high school students. He has received numerous awards including the Silver Circle Award for 28 years of excellence in broadcasting by the Florida Suncoast Chapter of National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2001.

Dan R. Bell (1969-71)
District Sales Manager, The Vollrath Company LLC, Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Bachelor of Liberal Studies (BLS), UW-Oshkosh 1985

Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Cardinal Stritch College 1990

Having been with Vollrath for 23 years, Dan travels throughout the Midwest and Western United States for the OEM Division. Dan is also a member of the Mayville EMS and served 10 years as a Mayville Police/Fire/EMS Commissioner.

Dan is also a Incident Commander and Helicopter Operations Forest Fire Fighter for the US Fish and Wildlife Service and a veteran of 6 Western Wildfires. As the Director of Homeland Security for the Wisconsin Wing Civil Air Patrol, Dan holds the rank of Lt Colonel and is a member of the Wisconsin Military Sub Commission on Homeland Security.

An avid actor, Dan has starred or co-starred in numerous dramas and musicals for the Beaver Dam Area Community Theatre and has starred and co-starred in 30 Independent Films winning four classic "Telly" award statuettes.

At UW-Fond du Lac, Dan played the role of Dr. Gibbs in the Theater Department's 40th anniversary production of "Our Town" in November 2008 and co-starred in the film "Birthday Girl" produced by Frances Perkins, UW-Fond du Lac professor, in June 2009.

"I was on the first varsity Soccer team for UW (then WSU) Fond du Lac in 1969 and again in 1970, being awarded All Conference status as a Left Fullback in the Wisconsin Collegiate Conference (WCC) at the end of that season. I also wrestled for two years earning a total of four (4) varsity letters (2 soccer, 2 wrestling). Great memories with great fellow students and athletes."

Scott Wittchow (1969-71)

BA Journalism from UW-Oshkosh, minor English
Donald D. Jones Leadership Fond du Lac Outstanding Alumni Award
Action Publications Associate of the Year
George F. Hixson Fellowship from Kiwanis International
Hero Medal from National Marrow Donor Foundation for donating bone marrow

2013 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient

"Coach Dick Knar recruited me to play basketball at UW-Fond du Lac and opened my eyes to a whole world of opportunities because I eventually obtained a degree in journalism which launched a career in a profession that has been very good to me. UW-Fond du Lac was affordable and close to home allowing me to commute. Classes were small and we had outstanding instructors who gave me a solid foundation which prepared me for my junior and senior years of study."

Oscar Kraus (1969-72)

Retired Controller, St. Agnes Hospital

Bachelor's Degree, UW-Oshkosh

C.P.A.

2008 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient

When Oscar began attending UW-Fond du Lac part time in 1969, he was 30 years old, was married with three children and was working full time at Giddings & Lewis. He went on to graduate from UW-Oshkosh with a degree in accounting and then earned his CPA license.

Oscar began working at St. Agnes Hospital in 1974 and retired as the hospital’s controller in 1998. He has an impressive record of leadership in many community organizations including ASTOP, Blandine House, Noon Kiwanis, FDL Area Children’s Chorale, Loaves and Fishes and the Boy Scouts.

He is past president of the Sacred Heart Parish Council and currently works part time at Holy Family. Oscar served in the United States Marine Corps from 1957 to 1961, reaching the rank of Corporal.

The campus has impacted several members of the Kraus family. Oscar’s wife, Delores, attended the campus on her way to earning a teaching degree and two of their four children were UW-Fond du Lac students.

Lyle J. Birschbach (1970-72)

Agent for American Family Insurance since 1975

Bachelor's degree, Business Administration from UW-Oshkosh 1974

"The UW-Fond du Lac campus allowed me the opportunity to go to college, since I had to work and pay for my schooling and was married at the time. Today, I look around and see many of the great people that I got to know during my two years at the campus, and how successful they have become in their occupation. I appreciate my time at the campus today more than I did when I first left UW-Fond du Lac."

Jim Neumann (1971-73)

CEO and Second Generation Owner, RB Royal Industries, Inc. of Fond du Lac

Jim Neumann is active on many Fond du Lac area non-profit boards including the UW-Fond du Lac Foundation. He also serves on the board of Fox Valley Savings Bank of Fond du Lac, National Fluid Power Association and Precision Machined Products Association.

He received a Wisconsin Family Business Forum Fellowship at UW-Oshkosh and the Rotary International Paul Harris Fellowship.

"My experience at UW-Fond du Lac was very positive. I was able to attend while living at home as well as work part-time in our family business.

I benefitted from the smaller class sizes and personal attention available from the faculty. Those ample resources would have been a challenge to provide in a large university setting. "

Robert (Bob) Carew (1973-74 / 1975-76)

President and Publisher, Action Advertising, Inc.

Publisher, The Reporter

Retired

Bachelor's Degree in Journalism, UW-Oshkosh, 1978

2007 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient

Bob’s notable career in the newspaper and printing business began over 38 years ago. Throughout high school and while attending UW-Fond du Lac, he worked at Action Advertiser and Action Printing. He assisted his father, Jim Carew, founder of Action Advertising, Inc., and other family members by setting type, designing and selling advertising, collecting and writing news and running a printing press.

With his family, Bob created a community newspaper which became the first free newspaper in history to win back-to-back General Excellence or Best of Show awards from the Association of Free Community Papers as the best free newspaper in North America. Action Advertiser has captured that award over 20 times and recently won the award for an unprecedented sixth straight year.

The printing division of Action Advertising, Inc. has received the National Association for Printing Leadership’s Gold Top Management Award seven out of the past nine years.

Gannett purchased Action Advertising, Inc. in 2002 and Bob remained as president and publisher at Action. Last year, Bob was also named publisher of The Reporter.

Bob’s involvement in the community is wide reaching. He has served on the board and was the chairman of the Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce, has served as chairman of Walleye Weekend, is a member of Fond du Lac Noon Rotary where he was awarded the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship for exemplary service to his community, has served as a director of National Exchange Bank and Trust since 1995 and was a member of and served as president of the UW-Fond du Lac Foundation Board.

Paul Rosenfeldt (1974-76)

Partner at Edgarton, St. Peter, Petak & Rosenfeldt Law Office

Member of the American Bar Association

2006 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient

Rosenfeldt attended UW-Fond du Lac from 1974 to 1976 and then went on to UW-Stevens Point. He then continued his education at Marquette University, earning his law degree in 1987.

Rosenfeldt is currently practicing in the areas of business law, commercial litigation and municipal law.

He is recognized for his many contributions to community organizations in our local area including the YMCA, Exchange Club and Lutheran Home Board. A member of the UW-Fond du Lac Foundation Board of Directors until 2004, Rosenfeldt held various positions on the Board over a period of 17 years.

Mark Kohl (1975-77)

Teacher Lodi High School

2005 Wisconsin Teacher of the Year Award Recipient

Mark Kohl has taught history and communications at Lodi High School near Madison for the past 23 years before being chosen as the 2005 Wisconsin Teacher of the Year. In addition to his classroom work, Kohl has directed the district’s forensics program, is a founding member of the Lodi Stepping Stones Theater, works with the Friends of the Arts group and volunteers with the Lodi Challenger 4-H organization.

Terri McCormick (1975-78)

President, McCormick Dawson CPG, Ltd.

former Wisconsin State Representative

Terri grew up in Fond du Lac and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science – Magna cum Laude from UW-Oshkosh. She also holds a master’s degree in administrative leadership.

Representative Terri McCormick was elected to the WI Legislature in 2000, and self term limited in 2006. Prior to government service, she founded the Leadership Solutions Institute (1998), Educational Consultants, Ltd. (1996), and Education Services, Inc (1992). Education Services, Inc was the spring board to McCormick’s founding of the Wisconsin Charter School Association as well as her pioneer legislation founding Charter Schools in the state of Wisconsin

She is currently president of McCormick Dawson CPG, Ltd., a consulting firm which brings public policy, private business and non profit business development experience to national and international markets.

Teri was the UW-Fond du Lac Commencement speaker in May 2006.

Mark R. Strand (1976-78)

Chief Deputy/Undersheriff - Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office

Bachelor's Degree - UW-Oshkosh

Master's Degree - Marian College (University)

2010 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient

Strand is Chief Deputy/Undersheriff with the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office, a position he has held since 2006.

He began his career in the Sheriff’s Office as a correctional officer in 1981. He served as a patrol officer from 1983 to 1992 when he was appointed Sergeant. In 1997, Strand was promoted to Lieutenant and in 1999 was promoted to Jail Administrator. He has served as a K-9 officer, Dive Team leader, Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Boat Patrol supervisor and serves on numerous law enforcement promotion boards.

Strand and his wife of 31 years, Mary, have three sons. Dustin is a United States Deputy Marshal, Brandon is a legislative assistant to a State Senator and Jordan recently graduated from UW-Milwaukee. Dustin and Jordan also attended UW-Fond du Lac.