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BHS Alumni Association
PO Box 267
Berlin WI, 54923
If your street address and/or e-mail address has changed, please e-mail your new information to bhsalumniassociation50@gmail.com or mail to the PO Box listed above in order to keep our BHS Alumni database current.
U.S. POSTAGE PAID OSHKOSH, WI PERMIT No. 67
Berlin High School Alumni Association Board of Directors
President: Donna McMartin, 1990
Vice President: Cindy Stobbe, 1975
Secretary: Pat Grahn, 1976
Treasurer: Emily Burns, 2012
www.berlinalumni.org
Berlin High School Alumni Association - “The Oldest in the State”
dairy farm. The school district itself had changed,” Gallinger said.
A total of eight honorary alumni are being inducted at the alumni banquet in May. To become an honorary alumni one must have worked a minimum of 25 years in the BASD as a teacher, principal, or superintendent. They must also be nominated by any alumni member, co-worker, community member, or Alumni Board of Director member.
“It came as a complete surprise to me when I received their invitation. In fact, I had to read the letter twice. I am, of course, feeling very honored to have been nominated and am looking forward to seeing any of my former students who might be there that evening,” honorary alumna Linda Hansen said.
Hansen was not the only one caught unawares with their induction.
Other honorees saw changes at the lower levels of school as well.
“Kindergarten was a lot different then than now. I’ve watched it evolve and been part of that evolving until my retirement,” honorary alumna Kay Roethel said.
Not all of the inductees were strictly teachers in the BASD, including honorary alumnus Steve Stellmacher who was also the Athletic Director for 34 years.
“My most memorable experiences were the 19 Conference Championships that I was part of, including a WIAA State Track Championship in 1986,” Stellmacher said.
Honorary alumnus Robert Prellwitz also says some of his memorable moments were related to sports.
Conrad Falk - 36 years
Chuck Gallinger - 35 years
Linda Hansen - 34 years
Michael Hermanson - 39 years
Robert Prellwitz - 35 years
Kay Roethel - 9 years public,
20+ years parochial
Steve Stellmacher - 34 years
Jim White - 35 years
Board Members: Judy Martin, 1960; Ramona Miracle, 1961; Chris Kalupa, 1983; Jodi Kalkis, 1983; Jason Umbreit, 1986; Doug Petraszak, 1982; Missy Daubner, 1990; Tori Okon, 2012
Honorary Board Members: Debra Dowen, 1973; Andrew Przybyl, 1998 SAVE THE DATE: MAY 25, 2024 5 p.m. Tickets available by mail, online or locally in Berlin. Doors open at 4 p.m. Dinner at 5 p.m.
“Well, it was kind of a surprise. I taught there for 35 years and I guess with COVID and everything going on since I retired, I kind of forgot about that sort of thing. I’m deeply honored to be selected to become an alumnus,” honorary alumnus Chuck Gallinger said.
Over the years these honorary alumni have seen many changes in the school district, including in the students themselves.
“In the 1977-78 school year the kids that I had in class were probably 75-80% farm kids, and when I retired in 2012 had one student who came from a family operated
“Certainly coaching the 1989-90 basketball team to the state tournament ranks very high. I also remember fondly the way I, along with a few other teachers, got involved in activities like the Talent Show and Homecoming skits,” Prellwitz said.
The honorees also shared memorable classroom moments.
“In kindergarten of course you had to learn to use the tools, and one of the tools was the scissors. I had a little boy who had a terrible time cutting and so I suggested to his mother at conference time that maybe he practice a little at home,” Roethel said.
The honorary alumni have seen many things change, but much has also stayed the same.
“People often ask me if students are different these days compared to when I started teaching. My answer is always, ‘No’. They’ve always been fun to be around and they keep an old guy like me thinking young. It’s good for my health!” Prellwitz said.
“And so when I saw her again, she said ‘well we got so-and-so some scissors and he practiced, he cut up his bedroom curtains.’ Things like that that make you laugh. I don’t know if he turned out to be a good cutter as a grownup or not.”
100 years of The Red’n’Green
In the year 2028 The Red ’n’ Green will be celebrating 100 years of publishing under the title The Red’n’Green. The Red’n’Green is looking for print newspapers from the past 100 years. All copies can be mailed or delivered to:
Berlin High School
Attn: Shannon Kuehmichel
222 Memorial Dr. Berin, WI 54923
Scan here to see the start of the digital archive.
ByAutumn Nikolai, 2025
Jim LaBuda ‘74 was awarded a scholarship from the Alumni Association 50 years ago.
This May, LaBuda will return to BHS to give a speech at the Alumni Banquet.
“My first thoughts of high school center on a time of finding myself and my confidence. My time at BHS was not a period in my life where I excelled,” LaBuda said.
“However, my experience as the Editorial Editor and staff member of The Red ‘n’ Green definitely was one of the most positive experiences I had at BHS.”
LaBuda’s message for the class of ‘24 is on the impor-
tance of extra education for any field.
“They must look at education as an opportunity to create opportunities for themselves. They must take advantage of educational and training opportunities,”
LaBuda said.
LaBuda was a teacher in Vail, Colorado, Kona, Hawaii, and Las Vegas, Nevada. His career moved into administration, and he was a principal for nine years.
“In 1999, I was selected as the National Distinguished Principal of Nevada and was presented the award in Washington DC. The next year I returned to D.C. as Nevada’s representative in
the U.S. Education Summit,” Labuda said. Although his great achievements throughout his career, he still holds his time in highschool in his heart. “I consider the Class of 74 a very cohesive group. Laughter always seemed to be present. There were fun times decorating homecoming floats, attending school dances, playing softball ,gathering around lockers, trips to the youth center, and many other weekend gatherings,’ laBuda said. “Which remain remain only in memories, since they were prior to phone cameras and social media.”
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By Autumn Nikolai, 2025
Junior Arianna McCormick wins Youth of the Year for the Boys & Girls Club of the Tri-County area for 2024. She moved on to the state competition in March. “Arianna had to do essays, interviews, speeches, resumes, and applications. Then she competed against other students here at the club,” graduation specialist Eydie Reiser said. “Then we had to get her ready for the state level.”
This is a big responsibility for McCormick, since Youth of the Year is a program that aims to put youth into leadership positions.
help her cope in different ways.
“I used to struggle a lot with mental health going into middle school. My home life was going through a drastic shift,” McCormick said. “My father was very emotionally and verbally abusive to my siblings and me.”
McCormick’s goal with winning Youth of the Year will be to be able to reach out and be an inspiration to other kids that are going through some hard times either at school or at home.
“The whole purpose of this is to have one individual that everyone in the nation can look up to.
Math teacher Roberto Lara has taught McCormick both in middle and high school.
“Arianna has been a model of growth in our district. As a middle schooler, Arianna was a quiet, nervous student. As a high school student, she has developed a more confident, stable personality,” Lara said. “Her artwork and ability in math have always stood out to me as her math teacher for multiple grades. However, her most impressive attribute is her resilience.”
display her
in a unique way, as well as to solve math problems that require much focus,” Lara said.
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This list of donors includes names from 2022 and 2023. We apologize for leaving some names off in 2022.
McCormick’s application materials focused on how she has overcome a lot of obstacles growing up and ultimately turned to art to
Arianna epitomizes that, with all that she’s been through,” Reiser said. “She also has a voice in art and how she overcomes things. It’s very inspiring and she’s doing a great job of articulating that.”
Lara also said that because McCormick misses class often she can hold herself accountable very well for any missing work.
“She will outperform many, if not most, of her peers on assessments with less instructional time. Her attention to
“The stories that she can tell about her journey can motivate and inspire young people that can relate. With a new, growing confidence, Arianna will continue to overcome obstacles that come her way and lead by example.”
By Abigail Milliron, 2024
Steer wrestling is often called rodeo; which is when a person gets off the horse they try to get on the steer as they run down the dalloway. The dalloway is the pit in which is caged off, that they run the horses and steer in. Then they put the steer on the ground. They are then scored based on timing.
Goffard goes through the Wisconsin High School Rodeo Program and has been doing this for eight years. The sport sparked interest in his family through a family friend in Platteville. He tried it once and has been steer wrestling ever since.
“Two years ago I placed 15th in the National High School Finals and I am leading state now,” Gof-
fard said. Walker attended a steer wrestling school in Wisconsin, Iowa, Colorado, and Oklahoma, which furthered his interest in this hobby. His father Mark Goffard said that Walker has had a lot of help from experienced steer wrestlers Jon Ragatz, Jacob Burks, and Nick Guy. They have been very influential in helping Walker to better his skills.
Walker has gone out of state to Gillette, Wyoming for National High School Finals. He has also been to Huron, South Dakota for the Junior High School steer wrestling division.
“This past year Walker was given the unique opportunity to have an exhibition run at the Manawa Rodeo. The Manawa Rodeo allowed the top four Wisconsin High School Rodeo athletes in
each event to have the opportunity to show their skills during their Pro Rodeo,” Mark said.
Walker trains for three hours, five to seven days a week with his horses. He trains by running the horse around and sometimes he practices with his own steer dummies.
“Walker has spent many hours doing chores, feeding, groom-
The average cost for this sport is $180 going through Wisconsin High School Rodeo and thousands of dollars due to grooming and health expenses.
Walker plans to attend a college that has steer wrestling.
“I want to attend Kansas State because they have rodeo as an extracurricular,” Walker said.