Saluting Those Who Serve
Viterbo University honors and supports veterans and those serving in our nation's military, several of whom are highlighted in this month's newsletter. This year, the university rose in rank from bronze to silver in its military friendly rating and constructed a new, larger lounge for military aligned students. In October, the campus hosted a display of the Remembering Our Fallen exhibit and conducted its traditional ceremonies on Veterans Day.
St. Francis is the patron of peace, a core Franciscan value, but early in his life Francis also was a soldier. Father Conrad Targonski OFM, a Navy chaplain for 22 years before coming to Viterbo, reflects on our Franciscan connection with welcoming soldiers and helping them on their paths. |
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Beth Sumner Over her 25 years in the U.S. Air Force, Col. Beth Sumner ’95 has seen the world, serving her country on every continent but Australia and Antarctica and racking up a mountain of frequent flyer miles. It’s all thanks to a Viterbo career fair she attended as a junior nursing major.
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Jervie Windom Jervie Windom '15 was near the end of his military career when he decided to pursue a Master of Arts in Servant Leadership degree at Viterbo. Since retiring as master sergeant, he started a church near Houston, Texas, but his ministry is one that can't be contained by the church walls. |
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Chad Milne When Col. Chad Milne ’94 joined the Wisconsin National Guard as a high school junior, he didn’t plan on making a career of it. “Once I got in the Guard, though, it became more about the mission at hand, and then it became more about the camaraderie and the people I worked with,” he said. |
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The Ultimate Sacrifice
Viterbo nursing major Rachael Hugo had a year to go before graduation when she was deployed with her Army Reserve unit in 2006 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. A combat medic, she was helping a wounded comrade when she was killed Oct. 5, 2007, two weeks before her unit was scheduled to come home. Honored with an award for her lifesaving work, Hugo was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart medal and a promotion to corporal. Hugo was back on the Viterbo campus Oct. 20–24 as part of the Remembering Our Fallen memorial exhibit, which featured photos honoring the more than 5,000 men and women who gave their lives during the War on Terror since Sept. 11, 2001.
(Charlotte Wiskow/Fallen Hero Portraits) |
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►SHARE YOUR STORY: Do you have a story that sheds light on Viterbo's Franciscan values and heritage? Drop us a line and let us know. |
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Alumni in the News
The La Crosse Tribune recently spotlighted young professionals in a special Rising Stars Under 40 section, including alumnae Whitney Hegseth '14, Jessica Himmer '06, and Liz Wallace '17. Find links to their stories on our Viterbo in the News page, which is packed with media reports on alumni and happenings at the university. Email Randy Erickson if you have a media report about alumni you'd like to add to this page.
Honoring History and Heritage
There's still time to join your classmates (and faculty members like Tom Thibodeau) supporting the Alumni Plaza and History Walk project to honor Murphy Center, the university's heritage, and all the alumni who have been transformed here.
Show your support before Dec. 31. It's a quick, easy, and secure process through our Alumni Plaza and History Walk webpage (www.viterbo.edu/ap), where you also will find photo galleries filled with Viterbo memories. Or you can call in your pledge at 608-796-3073 or email alumniplaza@viterbo.edu.
Alumni Children Scholarship
Each year, in the name of Celestine Cepress, FSPA, the Viterbo Alumni Association Board awards one or more one-time scholarships of at least $1,000 to first-year or transfer students whose parents or legal guardians are Viterbo University graduates.
In addition, children of alumni who are incoming first-year students admitted prior to Jan. 15 may be eligible for a renewable $1,000 annual alumni scholarship.
Visit the scholarship page for more details.
Alumni Travel Opportunity
Viterbo leaders Rick Trietley, interim president, and Fr. Conrad Targonski, OFM, university chaplain, will lead an alumni trip May 25–June 1, 2022, to explore the real Italy on the Amalfi Coast, in Padre Pio in Puglia, and Rome.
Visit the alumni travel page for more details.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Check the calendar on the alumni homepage for registration information and more details on alumni events. Details on campus events can be found on the events calendar.
Nov. 19–21: The Pajama Game theatre production
Dec. 4: Alumni Children's Christmas Party
Dec. 4–5: A Viterbo Christmas
Dec. 10–12: Nutcracker Ballet
Dec. 18: Commencement
Jan. 17: MLK Day of Service and Celebration
Jan. 26–Feb. 23: Alumni Art Show
Do You Know a Future V-Hawk?
One of the best compliments alumni can give Viterbo is sharing their educational experience with a colleague or friend looking to start, complete, or enhance their college education. Do you know someone perfect for Viterbo? Refer them today!
Give a Year-end Gift
The best year-end giving plans make a difference in the lives of others and can improve your own financial and/or tax situation—often right away. Here are some ways you can shift tax dollars to charitable dollars and support a cause like ours: ►IRA Charitable Rollover — People age 70½ or older can rollover up to $100,000 from their IRA to a qualified charity like ours. This may lower your income and taxes.
►Outright Gift of an Asset — Make a gift of stock, real estate, or another asset, avoid paying capital gains tax on the transfer, and receive a tax-saving charitable deduction.
►Donor Advised Fund (DAF) — Make a tax-deductible gift to a DAF, which gives you the ability to make grants to your favorite charities this year and in future years.
Visit our website to research the ways you can help Viterbo University with a year-end gift. Ready to talk now? Please give Eric Schmidt '08, '17 a call at 608-796-3078.
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| KEEPING UP: The Viterbo University alumni email newsletter is published eight times per year. To keep up on the latest news, visit websites for Viterbo alumni, Fine Arts Center, and V-Hawks athletics. |
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GETTING IN TOUCH
Kathy Duerwachter '10 |
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