Pathways to Success Reception
The 2023 Pathways to Success reception recognizing Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Educators will be held at The Wedgewood Cove on October 12. For information about this year’s honorees and the event please scroll down on this page. Help us plan for next year—you may nominate Distinguished Alumni here and Distinguished Educators here .
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Special Events
Pathways to Success Reception
The Education Foundation of Albert Lea and Albert Lea Area Schools will host the Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Educators reception at The Wedgewood Cove on October 12. The Foundation will celebrate “Twenty-Three years of Success in 2023.” Please consider nominating candidates for these awards for next year. Forms may be downloaded from these sites: Distinguished Alumni Nomination Form and Distinguished Educators Nomination Form . We encourage the public to submit nominations and request that they are made by April 2024 so that adequate preparations may be made.
The event will begin with a social gathering/cash bar at 5:30 p.m. followed by a Charcuterie Board at 6:00 p.m. and program at 6:30 p.m. The cost per adult is $20 to help cover the reservation at the Cove and the Charcuterie Board. Reservation forms may be downloaded here. Questions about the event should be directed to Neal Skaar, President of the Foundation board of directors at the Foundation email address edfound.al@gmail.com.
The following morning, on Friday, October13, the 2023 Distinguished Alumni will lead an open discussion with members of the junior and senior classes in an assembly at Albert Lea High School.
Distinguished Alumni awards are given annually to graduates of Albert Lea High School who have achieved success in the area of Business and Economic Achievement or Humanitarian and Public Service Achievement. In addition, awards may be given posthumously to candidates in either of the categories.
The 2023 Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Educators are:
Alumni
Mac Ehrhardt
Class of 1980
In honor of his outstanding accomplishments in the agribusiness world and his service to his community
Tom Ehrhardt
Class of 1974
In honor of his outstanding accomplishments in the agribusiness world and his service to his community
Mike Rooney
Class of 1988
In honor of his career as an investment manager and his lifelong dedication to community and friends.
Becky Tennis Hanson
Class of 1970
In honor of her career as an educator and her outstanding willingness to be involved in a wide variety of community activities
Educators
Tom Dyrdal
1980-82; 1985-2015
I am blessed to have had a career in education and the opportunity to work with many wonderful teachers, students, and families.
Picture and full bio.
Karol Hansen
1988-2022
Education is a truly rewarding profession that teaches you that students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
Deb Monson
1989-2019
Teaching is a rewarding and challenging profession. Being a small part of the lives of so many students and working with wonderful staff is a blessing.
Picture and full bio.
Tom Mullen
1969-1999
My mission was to provide whatever Audio-Visual support services were needed by the students and staff of our educational community.
Picture and full bio.