Family Ties Kraig Hunter, ’88, began his education at University of Minnesota, Crookston in the early 70s. He moved into his first dormitory as a three-year-old and grew up in both Robertson and Stephens halls with his parents, Ken and Kathleen, who were both students and dormitory counselors. Kraig’s father, Ken Hunter, ’71, earned an accounting degree and currently farms near the Lancaster, Minn., area with his wife, Kathleen (Uscensky) Hunter, ex. ’71, who took courses in fashion merchandising. Both Kathleen and Ken formed good friendships that kept them coming back to campus for visits and athletic events. Ken was also very involved with the Vets’ Club. “As a child, we would stop by campus to visit Dave Hoff or attend homecoming,” explains Kraig. “When we were driving through Crookston, we would often stop to visit the people my parents knew there.” For Kathleen, Kraig’s mom, there were other campus connections. Her younger sister, Judy (Uscensky) Ness, ’73, attended the U of M, Crookston to earn her degree in accounting and has worked in Bismarck, N.D., for an insurance company for some 30 years. Kathleen’s younger brother, Bill Uscensky, ex. ’79, was a starter on the Trojan football team in 197879. He went on to the University of North Dakota to earn his degree in teaching. He taught and was the
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www.UMCrookston.edu
Seated (l to r): Ken Hunter, Kathy Hunter, and Bill Uscensky. Standing: Donnie Schmiedeberg, Jen Schmiedeberg, Kristin Erickson, Paul Erickson, and Kraig Hunter. Not Pictured: Judy Ness
boys basketball coach in Edinburg, N.D., and then moved to Minot, N.D., where for the last 21 years he has served as the junior varsity basketball coach. He was honored with the Outstanding Alumni Award in 1988, the year his team in Edinburg won the Class B State Boys Basketball championship in North Dakota. When Kraig, graduated from high school in the 80s, he headed to the U of M, Crookston. “I was comfortable with the campus, Kraig explains, “I remember the visits to campus and I felt the influence of my parents in the choice. When it was time to go to college, it seemed like a natural progression to head to Crookston.”
After two years at Crookston, Kraig headed for Minnesota State University Moorhead to complete a bachelor’s degree in teaching. He taught in Bowbells, N.D., and in 1993, he took a position in Elbow Lake, Minn., where he still works. For the past 17 years, he has taught business education and served as head basketball coach and offensive coordinator for the football team. “I think what I liked most about going to school in Crookston was the family atmosphere,” Kraig recalls. “The two years I spent in Crookston were the most fun of all my college years.” Following Kraig to Crookston, were his younger sister, Kristin