Viterbo University Alumni Association

Holly Blanchard ’98 is receiving the College of Business, Leadership, and Ethics professional achievement this year!

She credits Viterbo for the many opportunities she has had within her extensive career with Trane Technologies. “Viterbo played a role in providing me with an opportunity to advance my education and build confidence. I would not have achieved my career goals without the support and education from Viterbo. My career progressed farther than I ever thought it would,” she shared.

Read her full article:

2024 Distinguished Alumni Award Winner Holly (Deml) Blanchard ’98 | Viterbo University Professional Achievement, College of Business, Leadership, and Ethics Holly (Deml) Blanchard ’98 credits Viterbo for the many opportunities she has had within her extensive career with Trane Tec

Congratulations Sr. Mary Ann!

TBT! Check out this photo from 1954 of Viterbo's International Panel that was printed in the Lumen (Volume 1, Issue 1, October 8, 1954). The caption read, "These six students from four countries give a distinct international atmosphere to the student body of Viterbo College, La Crosse. Five of them conducted a panel on international understanding for the parent-teachers association of Ontario Public School. From left to right: Carmen Arterg (From Guam), Delia Morales (Puerto Rico) [class of 1959, home economics major], Cecilia Mi (China), Olga Arill (Puerto Rico) [1957, medical technology major], Carmen Salas (Venezuela), June Liu (China) [1957]." Did you ever participate in Viterbo's International outreach programs?

Congratulations to Jessica Himmer ’06 for winning the Service to the University award! (Jessica Himmer, The Bill Favre Team, atproperties La Crosse )

She enjoys life as an entrepreneur, a career choice she would not have any other way. “I grew up surrounded by entrepreneurs and have always admired them,” she explained. “They risk everything to bet on themselves while they dedicate their life to serving others.”
As Himmer chose to follow in those footsteps, she had Viterbo to help prepare her along the way. She described how she refined her leadership skills during college before stepping into the business world. “As a young manager, I felt ready, and I understood that lifelong learning will always be a part of my journey.”

Read all about her: https://bit.ly/4gcruxE

Congratulations to Christine Newkirk ’03, ’06 for winning the Spirit of Francis award this year

She is the Director of the Office of Ecclesial Ministries and Diocesan Consultation with the Diocese of Superior, a position she has held for the past 15 years of her 24-year career there.
Newkirk supports all the parishes within the 16 counties of the diocese, located throughout Northern Wis. She assists with planning and development and helps parishes manage change and group dynamics. She provides diocesan-sponsored programs and workshops, including their School of Servant Leadership and Professional Development Days.
Read all about her:

2024 Distinguished Alumni Award Winner Christine (Drahos) Newkirk ’03, ’06 | Viterbo University Spirit of Francis Christine (Drahos) Newkirk ’03, ’06 is the Director of the Office of Ecclesial Ministries and Diocesan Consultation with the Diocese of Superior, a position she has held for th

TBT! This weekend is Family Day for our current students! Here's a flash from the past with a picture of music major Isabelle Ruetten '66 with her mother on Parent's Day in the early 60s! Do you have any good memories of your parents visiting you on campus? Tell us in the comments!

Congratulations! We love seeing what our alumni do after graduating!

ALUMNI NEWS!

Congratulations to recent 2024 graduate, Virginia Foshee who will be performing as a Singer/Dancer on the “Carnival Sunshine” cruise line this October-April! We hope you have a wonderful time at sea!🤍

Congratulations!

The Delong era.

Head Coach Ryan Delong picks up his 600TH WIN in a match against Dakota State. What an incredible accomplishment.

Congratulations, Ryan 👏

Thanks to everyone who came to our pickleball event at The Blue Zone! We had a blast checking out the space and playing pickleball with new and experienced players.

Make sure to check out our website for future events: https://www.viterbo.edu/alumni/viterbo-university-alumni eve

Hey soccer fans!! Bruce Waldron, his college roommate, and Viterbo soccer standout Chad Clift are bringing his high school team from the Peoria area to play Bruce Waldron’s Holmen Vikings. It should be a great game as they are both top teams in their areas. Hope to see everyone there.

Friday, September 6th
5:00pm
Viterbo Soccer Field(Hwy 16)

Chad and Bruce are pictured in the photo ufrom their VHawk days … almost 30 years ago. Chad is back row second from left next to the VHawk coach. Bruce is front row fourth from left.

TBT! As the school year starts up again, we reflect on everyone who makes students' lives full of fun. Here's a photo of four members of the Student Activities Board in the 90s! Did you participate in the activities board? Tell us in the comments!

We are delighted to announce our 2024 recipients of the Saint John XXIII Award for Distinguished Service!

Jim Bagniewski, Pat and Linda Kerrigan, and Steve Tanke, all of whom have a long and impressive history of community service and giving back to others, are the 2024 recipients of the Viterbo University Saint John XXIII Award for Distinguished Service. The awards will be presented at a banquet and ceremony on campus Thursday, Sept. 19.

Dick and Tony Bennett are also recipients and were presented with their awards on campus last month.

The Saint John XXIII Award is the highest non-academic award bestowed by Viterbo University. Recipients are chosen based on contributions in one or several of the following categories: education, business, philanthropy, peace and justice, and religious life.

You can read all about their community service and contributions at: https://bit.ly/3AZQyaW

Congratulations and thank you for your service to our communities!

TBT! As our current students return to Viterbo, we're reminded of all the fun our past students have had in the dorms and apartments on campus. Here's a picture of an unidentified student playing hangman in 1989. Tell us one of your favorite Viterbo memories in the comments!

Viterbo alum golfers were able to get together for a round of golf this weekend in Milwaukee.
Golfers from left to right are Sam Nevins, Josh Kohnhorst, Justin McConnel, Derrick Meier, John Tierney, Drew Schroeder, and Gage Maurer.

Send in any impromptu gatherings that you have with fellow alumni to [email protected]!

TBT! Check out this photo of Viterbo President Grace (Justille) McDonald, FSPA, at an event in the gymnasium, on the first floor of the main college building, which was later known as Murphy Center. This picture is likely from the 50s or 60s. What are your favorite memories from Viterbo events?

We celebrated our annual alumni soccer game last Saturday! Check out these photos of our alumni, current V-hawks. and future v-hawks!

We were honored to present Dick and Tony Bennett, the father-son coaching duo, with the Saint John XXIII Award for Distinguished Service on Wednesday.
WXOW interviewed them while they were on campus.
Please join us in congratulating them!

Read the full article:

Bennetts receive award from Viterbo Wisconsin basketball legends Dick and Tony Bennett were in La Crosse Wednesday to receive an award from Viterbo University.The school honoring the father-son coaching duo with the Saint John XXIII

TBT! Alumni soccer is this weekend, check out the team photo of the 1999 men's soccer team. They are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their MCC regular season and tournament championships. What were your favorite sport games to attend?

The 1999 team included: Dan Benda, Adam Bockman, Matt Carl, Bryan Crogan, Cory Chapman, Craig Davis, Tad Diciaula, Mike Fautch, Thanh Gip, Chris Herman, David Hufman, Jake Janiszewski, Shane Lanning, S. Laurenzano, Dan O'Donnell, Darren Orcutt, Tony Pecus, Tony Robles, Eric Tweed, Eric Werket, and Eric Zimmerman

St Francis School of Nursing (SFSN) alumnae celebrated their August 1 annual reunion. They enjoyed each other's company, received university updates, learned about the Wisconsin Nurses Honor Guard organizations, and the SFSN scholarship.

Check out all photos from the event: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBCsMt

The Viterbo Center for Professional Learning team of Nicole Van Ert ’10 and Alycia Larson ’20, were featured in the most recent issue of Coulee Region Women magazine. Congratulations Nicole and Alycia and thanks for all you do for the CPL and Viterbo!
You can read the most recent issue online at: https://bit.ly/46D6k7m

TBT! Check out this picture of student Jackie Derner '57 working in the science lab. Viterbo has been supporting women in science for a long time! Who are the women in STEM that inspire you?

Have you heard about the kitchen remodel that the Sr. Thea Bowman Center received in 2023? Since then they've been able to welcome even more guests to enjoy the space. Emilio Alvarez ’17, director of Viterbo Campus Ministry is making sure that everyone feels welcome at the Sr. Thea Bowman Center. “We take a lot of our values, especially our core values, and encourage our students to experience them in their lives," he said.

Most recently they've started roasting and brewing their own coffee beans for all to enjoy.

Read all about it: https://bit.ly/3y6cO21

Krista Coey ’16 ’18 was in the Army National Guard for 14 years and after coming back she knew that mental health counseling was her calling. She started her own private practice, to help nonprofit development, where she focuses on community health and wellness.

Read all about her journey: https://bit.ly/4fg8FsP

TBT! Gloria Peterson '66 is was a home economics faculty member here in the 80s! Here she is displaying her embroidered pillows. Did you ever have a class with Gloria Peterson?

Check out what this group of Viterbo students have been working on!

Some students in Viterbo’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program have been conducting research aimed at discovering new antibiotics that will defeat life-threatening infections caused by increasingly prevalent antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

SURF is a great opportunity for STEM students to continue learning over the summer while allowing them to get more in depth with their work.

Read the full article: https://bit.ly/3YitXA6