She also recognizes the friendship she continues to have with her former advisor Associate Professor Jerry Knutson, who taught biological sciences on the campus for many years until retiring in 2004. Torkelson also participated in choir and campus ministry as a student and went on to work as an RA at North Dakota State University (NDSU), where she transferred to pursue a bachelor’s degree. It was during her sophomore year at the U of M, Crookston that Kari decided she wanted to pursue a career in optometry. She transferred to NDSU and then, to Indiana University, Bloomington, where she completed her bachelor’s degree and her doctorate of optometry as well. She is currently an optometrist at Lifetime Vision Center in Grand Forks, N.D. When Torkelson moved back from Indiana to this area she said it was natural for her to return to the Crookston campus for athletic events. “I felt at home with so many people I knew when I was a student,” she states. “I had a great student experience. I wanted to come back and I wanted to help any way that I could.” Torkelson has given back generously of her time to the campus, serving on the Teambacker board, the All-College Advisory Committee, the U of M, Crookston Alumni Association Board, the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee, and a number of others. Volunteering has become a huge part of Torkelson’s personal life. She serves on the foundation board for the North Dakota School for the Blind as well as the board of Habitat for Humanity in Grand Forks, N.D. For a number of years, she was a member of the Grand Forks Master Chorale and served on their board. Torkelson has found connections to what is important to her through service. It is one of the reasons she was honored with several awards in the past year, like the Teambacker of the Year Award. She followed that with the prestigious University of Minnesota Alumni Service Award presented to her by U of M President Robert Bruininks during graduation ceremonies in May. For Torkelson though, it isn’t about recognition, it is about service and trying to ensure students on the campus today have the same great experience she had. “I believe in getting involved,” Torkelson explains. “By choosing to be involved, I have made great connections throughout my life, and when I am asked to serve, I say ‘yes’ because I believe in the U of M, Crookston, and for me, serving has helped build lifelong relationships I value deeply.”
Top Right: When Torkelson was a sophomore at the U of M, Crookston, she decided to pursue a career in optometry. Bottom Right: A number of her family members, including her father, Wallace, celebrated with Dr. Torkelson when she was honored at commencement with the U of M Alumni Service Award.