Alumni Association - Lakeland College

Lakeland College Alumni News

Alumni Awards to Be Given

Alumni Association - posted on 8/18/2009

Each year, the Lakeland College Alumni Association has the honor of acknowledging deserving alumni for their contributions to the college and to the community. This year, we are very pleased to announce that the following individuals will be recognized during Homecoming at the Alumni Awards Banquet on the evening of Saturday, October 10. Please make it a point to attend Homecoming this year and reserve your place at the banquet when we celebrate these illustrious alumni:

Will Mathes '61, Service to the Community Award

Will Mathes served in the US Army from 1954 to 1956. During his time at Lakeland, he was involved in many different athletic pursuits, including football, basketball, baseball, tennis, and track, and he excelled in all of them. Will was inducted into Lakeland's Hall of Fame in 1980 and continues to be an active HOF supporter. He was for 20 years the athletic director at Kiel High School and also refereed basketball for 50 years. The Service to the Community Award goes to an alumnus who has carried forward the mission statement of Lakeland College through volunteer work in the community. Will served as the supervisor on the Town of Eaton board for six years; was a member of Big Brothers for ten years, and participated for 25 years in Heart-A-Rama, a Heart Association fundraiser in Manitowoc. He also has served as a lay preacher at area churches for 35 years and wrote and produced numerous plays over the years at Bethlehem UCC. In 1985 he became self-sufficient by raising his own vegetables and chickens, tapping maple trees, and heating his home with wood. He generously has shared the bounty of his garden with the local food pantry, and has been a joyful steward of the environment, having planted over 9000 trees on his property.

Allen Wangemann '55, The President's Richard C. Preuhs '65 Award

Allen Wangemann served on the Lakeland College faculty from 1956 and is Emeritus Professor of Biology. He was the Chair of the Natural Sciences Division for many years as well as the Curator of the Museum. The President's Richard C. Preuhs '65 award goes to an alumnus of the college who then went on to be employed by the college and who has shown extraordinary commitment to the mission of the college by making noteworthy contributions to student success, campus community, or stewardship of campus resources. Dr. Wangemann touched the lives of so many students over the years in profound ways, and his legacy continues as his students, like faculty members Kathy Rath Marr and April Arvan, to name only two, continue to make significant contributions to the Lakeland community.

Joel Schuler '80, Service to the College Award

The Service to the College Award is given to an alumnus who has demonstrated excellent service to the college in at least two or more of the following: student recruitment, financial support, leadership in the LCAA, volunteer support of college programs, internships and/or job placement. Joel Schuler has served several terms on the Lakeland College Alumni Association Board of Directors, including in the role of board President. As such, he led the efforts to rekindle the alumni auction. He was an outstanding volunteer during the Legacy for Lakeland $15 million campaign, as well as the Annual Fund. Joel has played in or helped out at the Blasters Golf Tournament for many years and has also volunteered at the Movers and Shakers Gala and has been a supportive mentor to his Zeta Chi brothers.

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