Austin and his wife Melissa

College(s):
Minnesota State University – Mankato (2001-2003)
University of Minnesota (2003-2005), B.S., Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics
National Institute of Aerospace/Georgia Institute of Technology (2005-2007), M.S., Aerospace Engineering

What is your current occupation and what are some activities that it entails?
You’ve actually caught me in transition- I currently work for NASA, at the Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, but I have accepted a new position back at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Here at NASA I have done research under the Aviation Safety Program, aimed at reducing thenumber accidents in commercial aviation. The current research involves f light testing new experimental autopilot systems using subscale airplanes- think R/C model airplanes, butmuch more sophisticated! My new job at the U of M will be in the Aerospace Engineering Department, where I will be leading the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Research Lab. The faculty, students, and staff in the lab work on a number of different projects, from developing new aircraft sensors, to creating autopilots that can fly tiny airplanes indoors! I’m looking forward to being back in Minnesota!

What is your favorite part of what you do now?
Flight testing our small scale aircraft. This usually involves long hours in a remote area of the country, but it’s the best part, because you get to see all of your hard work pay off. It’s very satisfying to see something you’ve worked on take flight and perform as you expected.

What is your most interesting story from your career?
As part of my training, NASA sent me to the National Test Pilot School in Mojave, California to learn about flight testing. Part of the training involved flying an Aermacchi MB-326 military-style jet. While this is only a relatively tame jet trainer aircraft, you do wear the full fighter-pilot outfit, complete with helmet and oxygen mask. We flew all sorts of flight test and aerobatic maneuvers, including inverted spins, where the airplane is upside down and spinning like a top! I nearly lost my lunch!

Microgravity

Describe what were the most important or influential things in your past that lead you to this point? I think my family deserves a lot of credit- they have always encouraged me to pursue my dreams, no matter what they are.

What advice would you give to current Eagle Valley students who aspire to achieve what you have?
Work hard, and believe in yourself. Don’t ever say, “I’m not smart enough to do that”. People so often rise (or sink) to the level of their expectations- it’s a shame, because the ‘average joe’ is usually capable of so much more. I think success in life is more about having a dream and being willing to work hard to achieve it, than being born with some natural gift or talent.

What do you miss most about the Eagle Bend/Clarissa area?
The small town feel, where you know everyone, and everyone knows you. After living in big cities, and living on the east coast, small sleepy Eagle Bend sounds like a pretty nice place to live!

What is your fondest memory of Eagle Valley/Eagle Bend Schools?
That’s a tough one! Playing in Fargo dome for the section championship in football, making snow sculptures during Sno Daze, the massive water balloon fight at the last day of school, shop class… it’s hard to pick just one!

What, if any, plans for the future do you have currently?
As I mentioned before, I’ve taken a new job at the U of M, so my wife and I will be moving to Minneapolis in a few weeks. We plan to stay near the Twin Cities, so we will be looking for a house as well. We don’t have kids yet, but are planning to take that big step in a few years.

Jodi (Gayle's roommate and co-worker) dressed up at the international recognition event they planned and coordinated for over 300 guests from over 15 countries.

Graduation Year from High School: Class of 2004

College(s): St. Cloud State University, University of Miami (exchange program in New Zealand) Sophia University (Japan) and Yonsei University (Korea)

Major(s): Political Science and minor in East Asian Studies

Hobbies: Running, mentoring interns, traveling, reading, Junior Member of the Cargill Women’s Council, Member of American Marketing Association, Member of Cargill Animal Nutrition Community Service Committee, and drinking red wine!

Gayle and her fiance Lee in France at the Chateau Versaille

What is your current occupation and what are some activities that it entails?
I have been employed by Cargill Inc. for almost 3 years. I work at the corporation’s

headquarters in Minneapolis. I began at Cargill as a Human Resource intern in the Cargill Animal Nutrition business unit. I quickly realized that I really liked Cargill as a company and enjoyed Animal Nutrition as a business unit within the company, but did not have much passion for human resources as an occupation. My manager at the time suggested a second internship in the marketing department of Cargill Animal Nutrition. I got to work on some exciting and high impact projects right out of the gate such as creating an online ordering website. Immediately I could see how my everyday activities directly impacted the business and that’s when I knew that marketing was a much better fit. After my internship I was offered a full time marketing position with the same team that I had interned with. I gladly accepted and have now been with the same team for over 2 years.
Since that time my responsibilities have changed quite a bit. I began working in marketing not even knowing the basic marketing fundamentals. However, Cargill was patient with me and took the time to train me on our internal marketing academy program. The brand that I work on, called “Promote,” consists of products that are very technical in nature. It took some time to understand the science behind the product line so that I could effectively market them. Today, I am in a position within the brand, where I do most of the marketing activities and also assist in the strategic business planning.
A typical day for me would consist of getting to the office at 8:00am and starting my day with a

At the top of a small mountain in Sweden

meeting with the General Manager of Holland and my manager to determine how to effectively grow the Promote brand market share, followed by a meeting with the accounting team to outline the transition our US business to a business that operated out of Holland, followed by brainstorming ideas for an improved sales commission program that takes regional differences into account, followed by lunch where I grab 30 minutes to eat down in the company cafeteria. At 1:00pm I might work on finalizing an email blast announcing the launch of our new online ordering website, followed by a call to announce changes to our product line to the sales team, next I have a meeting to assist in preparing a proposal to the Vice President asking for approval on hiring additional employees, next I check on the progress of a document needed to get products registered to import and sell into China, and lastly around 5:00pm I prepare for an upcoming meeting where our international and US colleagues will be brought together for training, strategizing, and more business planning. After work I hit the gym for an hour long work out and then home to get some dinner.

What is your favorite part of what you do now?
I love working with people from countries around the world, being mentally stimulated at work, traveling, and having full trust from those that I work with that I am capable of executing on my promises.

Milan, Italy for a work trip last spring

What is your most interesting story from your career?
Last spring I was on a work trip to Europe and decided to visit Italy, Holland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Switzerland. I was amazed that no matter which country I visited I could connect with a Cargill employee and have them show me the local culture. One of the more humorous examples of this took place in Holland. I was visiting one of our business locations which is situated in a small village. The local employees wanted to take me out to dinner but realized it was Monday and most restaurants in the village are closed on Monday. Well they were able to find a Thai restaurant that was actually open. They had never been there but thought we should give it a shot. We got there and were bewildered to find that the owners of the restaurant were Mexican, the food tasted more Dutch/Mexican than Thai, and patrons were dancing to a live polka band! Now, eachtime I go back for a visit, my colleagues joke that we should revisit the Thai restaurant. That Thai restaurant experience taught me that we are indeed living in a world that no longer has cultural borders.

Describe what were the most important or influential things in your past that lead you to this point?
A major pivotal moment in my life was participating on the Britain Bound trip as a junior in high school. Growing up in a small town I tended to only dream as big as what I knew existed in my small world. By traveling to Europe I realized that there is so much more to the world than I could imagine. Sure I had seen the world through the television set, but without experiencing it in person I still viewed it all from my “Eagle Bend, farm girl” filters. That trip shed me of my blinders and any limits I had put on my future. I decided right then that I wanted to experience as much of the world as I could in one lifetime. And with that I signed up for post-secondary at St. Cloud State and as soon as I had the required 2 semesters under my belt I began to study abroad. In my 4 years at St. Cloud State I was able to spend 1 summer in New Zealand, 1 semester in Japan and 1 semester in Korea. Each trip was a life changing experience that I would highly recommend.

What advice would you give to current Eagle Valley students who aspire to achieve what you have?
Get out of your comfort zone! A key to success is to have a skill set that sets you apart and that requires you to have unique experiences. Lastly, the way you are viewed at this moment in time does not define who you are and what you can become.

What do you miss most about the Eagle Bend/Clarissa area?
I miss all of the familiar faces and knowing that you are a part of a community that looks out for each other like family.

What is your fondest memory of Eagle Valley/Eagle Bend Schools?

Vacation to Mexico last spring

My fondest memory of Eagle Valley is being able to be a part of any activity that tickled my fancy. I talk with people that went to large schools and they actually had to try-out for sports, band, and other activities. If that were the case at Eagle Valley I would never have been allowed to participate in any activity! Ha-ha

What, if any, plans for the future do you have currently?
I am looking forward to my next career opportunity which will most likely be presented to me soon. The opportunity will allow me to advance my career in marketing and will have more of an international focus. Additionally, I am working on moving to Atlanta to be with my fiancé. That said, I am currently in the throes of planning my wedding which will take place in New York. I am excited to have met the love of my life (his name is Lee Thomas Knolls) and start our life long journey together. It’s going to be a busy year! After things settle down a bit, I plan to go back to school for my MBA and continue doing volunteer work in the community I reside.

Currently living in the Twin Cities working for the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office. I have two boys, ages 6 and 9. They both love school and are involved in baseball, swimming, soccer, and piano, among other things. My parents are retired and are able to spend a lot of time with their grandkids, which is great. My brother Grant lives in Green Bay with his wife Trudy and is the manager of one of the Fleet Farm stores there. So far they are surviving in Packer country.

When did you graduate from Eagle Valley?

I graduated from Eagle Valley High School in 1989. The first graduating class from Eagle Valley. It was a very interesting time, and I think it went really well, even though things were rocky at times.

What did you do for post secondary school?

I went to North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND and received a BS in Political Science with minors in History and Business in 1993.

I went to the University of Minnesota Law School and got a JD in 1996.

How did you get started in your career?

I began working at the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office as a law clerk in 1995, and currently I am an Assistant Ramsey County Attorney working in the Human Services Section doing Child Support Enforcement. I go to court to establish paternity and child support, to collect child support, and to modify child support obligations when appropriate. One of my favorite parts is working with people and helping to explain to them how the system operates and how they can best participate. I am also heavily involved with hiring, training, and supervising our law clerks that appear in court a lot.

What are some of your favorite work experiences?

Favorite work experience probably relates to when I was working closely with the community. Working together we brought court actions to close up the last “sauna” in St. Paul, which was a front for prostitution, and a local bar that was a hotbed of drug activity that was spilling out into the community. Both experiences were very interesting, challenging and satisfying.

Who was most influential in making you who you are today?

Important and influential things would have to include my parents, my brother and extended family. A lot of teachers also greatly influenced me and at the risk of forgetting some of them, I would have to say my 3rd grade teacher Mrs. Pat Tuorila, Mrs. Lonna (Stevenson) Olson, and Dr. Gabe Rapatz were very influential in many different ways.

What advice would you give to people who are going to Eagle Valley right now?

As far as advice, I have two quotes that I really like. The first is that education is not about filling a bucket but about lighting a fire. The key is figure out what lights your fire. The second is that success is a journey not a destination. You have to enjoy the path you are on no matter where you are. If you become too focused on the goal, you might find yourself a little let down once you get there or overly disappointed if you aren’t able to reach it despite your best efforts.

What do you miss most about the Eagle Bend area?

I really miss the general feeling of comfort and safeness that I associate with growing up in Eagle Bend. I had a lot of freedom to explore and figure things out for myself. I’m not sure my boys have that same sense of freedom growing up in an urban area.

What is your best memory of school?

My fondest memories relate to the fact that I was able to participate in just about whatever school related activiey I wanted. I really enjoyed track, football, and basketball. I also enjoyed band, choir, and speech. My two favorites probably were the school plays and knowledge bowl. Geeky to be sure, but boy did we have fun.

Anything else you would like to add?

My current plans include more of the same. I am very happy working in the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office and specifically in the area of child support enforcement. We are likely going to have a new county attorney next year and so that may change things. There is a lot of variety available in the office and plenty of things to do that I haven’t done before so we will just have to see.

Starting lineups

Senior forward Phil Allen scored his 1,000th career point for the University of Minnesota-Morris Cougars against Presentation on a night ultimately dampened by the Saints’ long-range shooting. Despite out-rebounding Presentation 39-22, the Cougars played catch up all night as the Saints as they pulled away time and again with key three-pointers. Final score: Presentation 75, Morris 67.

Allen came into the game with 997 points. He notched the record-making basket near the 9:15 mark of the first half. The Clarissa native took a pass from Dan Fragodt on the elbow, faced the basket, drove down the right side, and, breaking through a set of flailing hands, dropped in an easy layup to join Brendan McNally, David Holler and select few in the 1,000-club.

Phil was a member of the Eagle Valley Rebels varsity basketball team from 2002-05.

~Taken from: http://www.morris.umn.edu/athletics/View.php?itemID=9601

Allen\’s 1,000 point

Coach Paul Grove weighs in

Phil\’s Reaction

College(s): Minnesota State and Community Technical College-Fergus Falls

Major(s): Music and Acting

What is your current occupation and what are some activities that it entails?

Jeremiah James Concert

I am acting at the moment and doing music.. I played on the Action Sports Tour and The X Games Tour… was able to go on the Europe tour with Blink 182 so that was a blast! Now working on a few new music projects and working on new songs and writing for other musicians… Acting has been fun I have gotten some good spots but nothing great so far just a few commercials Harley Davidson, Jc Penny, Crown Royal, The Hartford insurance and doing a few different print jobs as well.. But until I’m selling albums and or on a sitcom I’m not satisfied!
I started working behind the camera and working my way up!! i have worked as a camera assistant or camera operator on 23 reality shows… NEW one starts tonight actually on MTV it’s the last show i worked on Called The Buried Life…
did 3 season of the hills and so many others. That helped getting my music placed on the shows..

What is your favorite part of what you do now?

Favorite part of what I do now would be getting to travel and never doing the same thing!! Meeting new people every day and people that either helps me in life or I help them!! Spiritually or emotionally.. People are just that people so everyone has something going on!! it’s fun i have the time at this point in life to just do whatever i really feel like : ) ha ha ha and sometimes that even means I get paid for it

Hanging out with the cast of Heroes

What is your most interesting story from your career?

Favorite story??  Well there are tons of them! one would have to be having dinner with the prince of Monaco I went to Monte Carlo south of France for a TV festival and in a small room with all A list actors from TV shows and movies and I was thinking what am I doing here talking about hunting ducks with the leader of a country ha ha ha … Everyone was so recognizable and yet it was the first time I realized it was just a job for them as well!! They all had kids and or husbands and wives or problems of their own.. They just make more money for their job!! But for the most part still put in the same struggles to build their self as a business. We all had dinner and wine with the prime minister and the Prince of Monaco was a lot of fun…

Describe what were the most important or influential things in your past that lead you to this point?

Influence would be a few teachers that never once put down any dream no matter how crazy it sounded! Also my parents would always want me home farming but they seem to drop a word of encouragement when i needed it!! BUT the most influence that i remember is my first concert seeing MXPX rock out at the age of 12 made me say!! YES that’s what i want to be doing..

What advice would you give to current Eagle Valley students who aspire to achieve what you have?

Fun times in the studio

I’d say to anyone that if you have a talent or idea or passion to make it a skill and not just think you could be good at it BUT sharpen every part of it so it becomes Perfected and not just something you do… Keep working on every part… as a musician I’m not the best drummer or guitar player or singer BUT I keep writing i keep practicing and i keep watching people who are better at it than me… no one is ever too good…

What do you miss most about the Eagle Bend/Clarissa area?

I miss the Farm!! i miss hunting whenever I want to.. I miss my close friends from home!!! I miss family I miss not really having to worry about what’s next but just knew the cows had to be milked ha ha

What is your fondest memory of Eagle Valley/Eagle Bend Schools?

I would say my best memory would be driving snowmobile to school and playing football with the boys… I loved my shop classes and the writing classes!! The smell of the football field and the smell of the music room

What, if any, plans for the future do you have currently?

Family Picture

Future!!! Well if you would have asked me 10 years ago i would have said married but now nearly 10 years out of high school I’m just hoping to get back on a tour over the summer and keep booking acting jobs on my down time…
I’m one day soon getting a place back in Minnesota to help my dad out when I can and see family!! Build a studio there and just record there…. Clarissa is too great not to live there again BUT LA right now is not so bad at 75 degrees; )

Current band members

There will be an all school reunion for Eagle Bend/Eagle Valley alumni on July 2-3, 2010. This is a save the date and there will be more details to come.

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Declining enrollment, since the schools have combined, have made moving to one building inevitable. There is no question that dragging of feet in making a decision WILL lead to the district dissolving. Making the change now will buy Eagle Valley enough time to get things in order for potential building upgrades, course additions,  and new teaching tools. The district has a collection of some of the best teachers in the entire state. Let us do what needs to be done to let these talented individuals keep doing what they do best.

Through the years Eagle Valley has produced some of the best and brightest people in our country. Eagle Valley’s alumni have gone on to excel at a number of professions including doctors, veterinarians, pilots, aerospace engineers, accountants, athletic trainers, and teachers. What we learned at Eagle Valley was crucial in our cognitive and social development. It was not the building where the learning took place, but the quality and determination of the entire staff that was important. I am not alone in wanting that storied tradition of excellence to continue. Please make some decisions soon so that our school can live on.

Barry Lunemann and Phil Allen at EV Commencement 2005