Alumni Profile: "Be Good, Do Right

ALUMNI NEWS "Be Good Do Right"

An alumnus' journey to America

“Ching!”

The door swings open, a cold gust of wind rushing in as it closes behind each Daylight Donuts customer on a colder-than-normal November morning. It’s 7:50 a.m., and the room ahead is buzzing with the white noise of each table immersed in their own, now caffeinated, conversations.

Robert “Bob” Tran Quoc, Waldorf Class of 1991, is seated at the table closest to a display case filled with fresh pastries decorated in sprinkles and various glazes. Two of his granddaughters are with him, their winter coats scrunched up around them as they sit, each one appropriately starting the day off with a doughnut of choice. A look of contentment on his face and a Styrofoam cup of coffee boasting “Daylight Donuts” in

hand as he sits back and watches the morning unfold before him.

As most everyone walking in is just starting their Wednesday morning, Bob is on the downhill slope of his day. He has been there since 11 p.m. the night before, filling the space with aromas of doughnuts of all shapes, sizes and fillings, and fresh pots of coffee as the brisk smell of winter makes its way into the last days of fall.

“Well, Bob!”

“Good Morning!” he turns to greet each customer, most of them by name, with a warm smile.

By 8:05 a.m., the place is as empty as it was packed only minutes prior, as employees and students have moved on from breakfast to start their day. The sudden quiet interrupted only by the ringing of the door from the occasional stragglers coming in to grab a cup of coffee along with a box of “I’m sorry I’m late” doughnuts for their coworkers.

After introducing myself and interrupting his trance, Bob encourages me to find a seat anywhere I’d like while he drives his granddaughters to school. Before he leaves, he hands me a steaming cup of black coffee and a 26-page essay he had written for a class during his time at Wartburg College, each piece of text intricately outlining the details and memories of a journey very few could relate to.

“I got an A on this paper,” he says with a twinkle in his eye and, what I would learn, is his signature boyish grin.

to seizing properties and forcing individuals to work as laborers digging ditches in the countryside, Vietnam was in severe turmoil.

Bob’s father had been a General in the South Vietnamese army, dying at war when Bob was just eight-years-old. Because of this, his mother knew that the communist government would be much harder on Bob when he turned 18 and was forced to join the military. With the knowledge that she wanted better for her oldest son, Bob’s mother made plans for him to move to America.

On December 28, 1979, at only 13-yearsold, Bob left his country and his family to depart on “Operation Freedom”, not knowbeing thrown into jail, the group was forced to pretend that they were all related, casually out catching fish as part of their family business. Under a starry, moonless sky that evening, as they docked and awaited their next boat, Bob finally let himself cry.

Later that same night, their small group quietly and quickly boarded another crowded boat, jam-packed with 116 strangers, all of them crouching low and not uttering a word for fear of being caught by the Vietnamese government.

Two days and two nights later in this position, and the anxiety of encountering sea patrol finally passed as they sailed into

Nothing about that Wednesday morning was unusual for the small business owner. However, the paper I held in my hand was evidence of an anything-but-ordinary story.

On April 10, 1975, the country of Vietnam gained its independence, and the North Vietnam communist government gained complete control of their southern neighbors. This marked the beginning of a nightmare for the South Vietnamese people, including Bob Tran’s family.

From the communist government sending South Vietnamese residents to concentration camps and fraudulent governmental currency exchanges that led many citizens to measures as drastic as committing suicide,

(LEFT) Bob by his display case at his doughnut shop, Daylight Donuts. (ABOVE) Vietnam boat like the one Bob was on when he fled Vietnam and headed for America.

ing if he would ever see any of the people or places from his childhood again.

Hearing about voyages to the United States can conjure up feelings of excitement and freedom for many who have never experienced such a journey. However, Bob Tran will be the first to tell you that the price many paid to reach the land of liberty was severe.

As they embarked on their voyage through the South China Sea, their group consisted of 12 individuals: the captain of the boat along with his two kids, Bob and others that he had never met before. Because of the keen eye of the communist government and the knowledge that they were all risking Thailand waters—only to be replaced by the dread of Mother Nature and the potential of encountering pirates. And for Bob, that list also included seasickness.

“In those two days [of seasickness] I could not eat anything. On the third day, I began to feel a little better and started to find my way toward the front of the boat,” Bob recalled in his college essay. “The ocean breeze caressed my body; I felt like I had a new life. While I was in the front of the boat, my eyes could not help wandering. The surroundings were stunning: water below, sky above; they both stretched as far as the eye could see. No words can describe the sceneries of the sunset and the sunrise. I

think everyone should have an opportunity to experience this work of art of Mother Nature. The sun was now rising on the other side of the world, the stars were beginning to come out, the temperature dropped rapidly, and darkness completely covered the sky.”

On the afternoon of the fifth day on the second boat, the refugees’ worst fears came true when they were stopped by Thai pirates. As the terrified group was forced to strip down and form two lines to be searched for gold, not one of them knew if they were going to make it out alive. They had heard of stories from survivors of pirates in which female refugees and children were raped and thrown overboard or where all men aboard were systematically killed.

Fortunately, their belongings were all the pirates desired of the group, and after pillaging their boat, taking a gold necklace and a gold ring that Bob’s mother had given him, the group was set free to continue their travels once again. Just two days later, a much larger group of pirates stopped them, but once again, God protected their boat and the pirates let them go without harm.

Not long after the second pirate invasion, they were finally able to cautiously breathe a sigh of relief as they reached land and were accepted onto Thai territory—another blessing that many refugee ships are not granted.

Two months, two countries, one refugee camp and one emergency appendicitis surgery later, Bob finally got the call that he was to meet with a Japanese UN official who would decide if he would be accepted into America.

While most individuals and families at the refugee camp desired to go to America, many were not granted this wish. First priority to the United States was given to a refugee who:

Had immediate family member(s) living in the United States,

Was a teenager traveling alone, or

Had family member(s) working for the U.S. government or the South Vietnamese government. Bob was fortunate, in this situation at least, to meet two of these three requirements.

“One day in March, I was called into the office. The American official wanted to interview me. I was so happy. At the same time, I was also scared because I did not know what I was going to do if the American government did not accept me. Where would I go, and how long would I be able to stay at this camp? These questions ran through my head at that time. When I walked into the office, I saw a large man sitting on a chair behind the desk. He had a long beard on his face; he looked very intimidating to me. Sitting beside him was a translator. She smiled at me and pointed to my chair. Before I got to sit down, she told me to raise my right hand and she swore me in. After that, the man looked me in the eyes and said, ‘What is your name?’ There was a nervousness in my voice when I said to him in English, ‘My name is Tran Ai Quoc!’…’Why do you want to go to America?’ was the next question. I told [them] it was because I wanted to continue my education, and this was not something I would be able to do if I stayed in Vietnam. The American official leaned over the desk and offered me his hand. I shook his hand with my two hands and said, ‘Thank you very much!’ …The American government had accepted me. I was so happy. There were no words that could describe my feelings at that time.”

It was the hope and promise of his future in America that lead Bob to finally write his first letter to his mother since he had left Vietnam nearly four months earlier. Though it took more than one sitting and countless tears to get through it, Bob reassured his mother that he was doing fine, that he loved her and not to worry about him. In fear of the communist government reading the letter before she received it, he also mentioned that he hoped they could go to see his uncle soon—which really meant that he wished they would be able to escape Vietnam. However, as Bob continued to wait for his turn to go to America, the giddiness and hope began to give way to feelings of loneliness and fear.

On the afternoon of April 17, 1980, the breeze that blew from the ocean onto the land could not help cool the heat from the cloudless sky. Most of the activities around the camp came close to a halt. Some people went swimming, some sat in the shade under the trees reading a book, while others just tried to stay out of the sun by staying inside the camp. The breeze was dry and yet heavy; perhaps it carried the agony of the boat people—that no one really understood until they became one themselves. I sat under the tree by the shore, day dreaming. I wondered what my family was doing at this moment? Did my friends know I was gone? Would I ever see my family again? What would the future be like for me? What was America like? Where would I live when I got to America? Will the family that I live with love me? Suddenly, I felt so alone and homesick, I broke down and cried. I tried not to cry in front of many people, but I had no control over my tears.

But the pain of the waiting game that Bob found himself in would soon come to an end. Enter T-550,197: his American identification, and a number Bob Tran will never forget. More than four months after his departure from home, he finally heard this number over the loudspeaker at the refugee camp—a sound he had been waiting for since the night he stepped foot on the boat.

On April 23, 1980, with mixed feelings of sadness for leaving behind many friends who he had come so far with, and an anticipation of all of the excitement for the future, Bob set sail for his last stop in a Bangkok refugee camp before his final destination. On the morning of April 26, Bob, along with hundreds of other refugees, boarded an American Airlines 747 at the Bangkok International Airport to finally put an end to their journey to the United States.

Bob standing in the same place in Vietnam where he departed when he was a kid.

Through the generosity of his foster parents, Rich and Nancy Oltman, Bob made a new home for himself in Lake Mills during his high school years. He made friends, became involved in the high school golf team and began attending Salem Lutheran Church in Lake Mills, where he eventually accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior.

Even though he was a regular attender of church and youth group at Salem Lutheran, Bob’s transformed faith wasn’t a sudden, overnight event.

“I just started by praying,” Bob explained of how he came to know God. “And then all of a sudden, I began to realize that God really did answer those prayers, and it just kept going from there!”

And while he gives God the glory for all the ways in which he was protected and for the blessings that allowed him to get to where he is now, through Bob’s journey to the United States as a teenager and into adulthood, he has continued to reflect on and be extremely grateful for all that his mother did for their family as well. As a widow with three boys, she was the strong one who held their family together in even the toughest of times while also having a playful heart that was open and loving toward the wild imaginations of her rambunctious boys.

Most importantly, Bob’s mother instilled in each of her children a love of education.

“What you learn is yours to keep,” she told Bob after catching him playing hookey from school one day in his younger years. “The key to success in life is through education, and no one can take that away from you.”

This deeply rooted aspiration for furthering his education not only helped Bob get to the United States, but it also lead him to eventually enroll in a small, ELCA institution in Forest City: our beloved Waldorf College.

While at Waldorf, Bob studied business management with the dream of one day owning his own business. He was a part of the Lutheran assistance program through the school, and got involved on the golf team— even being named MVP his senior year.

Bob and his younger brother, Trung Quoc

Bob and his mom, Thuy Trang Tran - Jan 2020

Bob and family friend in Vietnam

Bob and wife, Chaunez, in market in Vietnam

Ribbon Cutting ceremony for Daylight Donuts

the very beginning, and there was never a question in his mind that he would one day be called to run his own business. In 2015, Bob’s wife Chaunez found out that the owner of Daylight Donuts in Algona, where the duo resided, was planning to retire and encouraged her husband to consider taking over the franchise. However, Bob, who was managing the local Cargo Express convenience store at the time, wasn’t so sure, and he prayed that God might send him a sign of clarity.

During this same time, with the knowledge of the couple’s goals in mind, the Trans’ realtor wanted to show the couple another restaurant that was for sale in downtown Algona. When Bob went to go take a look at the second building one afternoon, he borrowed the realtor’s keys that she had used earlier that morning. After painstakingly attempting to unlock the door time after time with no luck, Bob took that as the sign that he had been looking for.

Once his decision was made, Bob and his family announced their plans to renovate an old boutique in Algona with the goal to re

vive the popular breakfast establishment. A few short months later, Daylight Donuts reopened their doors at 502 S Phillips St., and the Tran family hasn’t looked back since.

“I feel like I wake up every day with a purpose,” Bob reflected on his life as an entrepreneur. “Whether that’s just to be there to listen to someone who needs to talk, or to be a place that they can come that’s safe, we are here.”

Through circumstances that forced him to grow up much quicker than others his age, the opportunities that were provided by escaping to the United States, and through the education he received, including during his time at Waldorf, Bob Tran has truly lived out the American Dream.

“By the grace of God, and a lot of really good people, I’ve been given opportunities that many do not get,” Bob humbly evoked. “Many refugees didn’t even make it across the ocean. For some reason, God was looking out for me.”

the Round Robins

As we find ourselves constantly connected to others all around the world in our work, on Facebook and Instagram, and through all of our smart devices, it’s hard to remember a time without these conveniences. Today, we can video chat our loved ones on the other side of the globe, we can engage with real-time photos of our friends, even if we haven’t seen them in years, and we can send a message to anyone we want that can be received and responded to within seconds. However, the members of the Waldorf class of 1954 can attest that staying in touch wasn’t always so easy.

It was a time when Waldorf was still a junior college, attendance at chapel was mandatory, men weren’t allowed past the foot of the dormitory staircase and female students had to be in their rooms by the 10 p.m. curfew each night. It was also a time when nine girls formed what would be their most treasured support throughout their lives: the “Round Robins.”

Through shared education classes and study sessions, choir rehearsals, living near each other in the dormitories and working together in the kitchen to help pay for tuition, it didn’t take long for Arlys (Leach) Hopkins, Phyllis (Thompson) Moen, Esther (Erickson) Ziemer, Louise (Haugen) Varnes, Thora (Greenfield) Peterson, Faye (Johnson) Aamodt and Jeanette “Jean” (Leean) Melby to befriend one another on Waldorf’s campus. No one really knows exactly how the group connected for the first time, only that finding each other was an undeniable act of God.

“We’ve all agreed that Waldorf was an anchor for us,” Jean expressed. “It was such an important time in our lives.”

The Round Robins’ time on campus included convening in one another’s room until the house mother would knock on the ceiling below with her broom, regular devotions and chapel together, cheering each other on in

grades and exams and, of course, Tillie Rasmussen’s famous rolls on Sunday mornings.

“We were all there for the same reasons: our faith and our education,” Arlys explained.

“Waldorf was instrumental in steering our lives to have the faith that we have,” Faye agreed.

Not only were the women given the opportunity for their spiritual lives to be transformed, but they found that the quality of education on Waldorf’s campus was unmatched as well.

“In our education program at Waldorf, we had better teachers than any state school that I went on to,” Esther stated matterof-factly. “They were absolutely excellent in their field, but even more than that, you could feel their faith and that they cared about us as students.”

By the time the group was getting ready to graduate and go their separate ways, Arlys,

the idea generator of the crew, knew they had to find a way to stay in touch after Waldorf. Enter the inspiration for their nickname: the “Round Robin” letter.

It was decided that the Round Robin letter concept would begin with Arlys who, instead of sending a separate letter to each individual woman, would write a single letter and send it on to the next person in the group. That woman would read Arlys’ letter, and follow it up with writing a letter of her own just beneath it. The letter would then move on to the third group member in line, and so on.

Sixty-six years, thousands of miles, and only a couple of lost letters later, the Round Robin letter is still going strong today.

“It went really well until everyone got married and had babies,” Arlys joked about the lost letters. But even when their families began to grow, and their schedules filled up quicker than ever before, the Round Robin group only grew stronger.

“We wanted to involve our families. We wanted our husbands and children to know our friends,” Arlys explained.

Through camping adventures, picnics and visiting each other’s homes, the Round Robins’ immediate families became dear friends with one another, eventually joining the women on many of their get-togethers and trips.

“I moved around, Arlys moved around, but the Round Robin always found us,” Faye reminisced. “If not for the Round Robin, I’m sure I would have lost touch with everyone. Instead of eight letters, I only had to write one.”

And while the letter remains at the core of the way they interact, the Round Robins have added phone calls to their modes of communication, making it much easier to connect on a more regular basis.

“Arlys’ son connected us to a—oh, what’s it called?—a conference call!” Louise excitedly explained. “We set a date and a time, and Arlys gave us a number that we were to call, and it worked wonderfully.”

“I said to my son, ‘Well, how much does it cost?’, and he replied, ‘Mom, it doesn’t cost anything!’” Arlys recalled as the group laughed. “After our last call took two hours,

we were informed that only one person should talk at a time!”

And while it’s obvious the group’s camaraderie still mimics that of their younger selves, there’s a bittersweet nostalgia that can be heard every so often in their voices as they speak. Diagnoses of memory loss conditions and macular degeneration, stories of greatgrandchildren and having to move into town after 50+ years on the farm are all evidence of a new phase of life for the lifelong friends. The two holes in the room also serve as a constant reminder of the years and changes since their time on campus.

Jane (Greenfield) Herbst ’54, a member of the Round Robins and cousin of Thora, passed away nearly 20 years ago of cancer, leaving behind her husband and two children. The 10th member of the group, Dorothy (Oftedahl) Fish ’54 is in a care center in California and is unable to travel anymore. However, her husband Gordon knows the impact the Round Robins have had in his wife’s life and continues to write Dorothy’s portion of the letter in their correspondences.

Throughout each loss and every change, the Round Robins have been each other’s support. Amidst the death of children and husbands, divorce, foster parenting orphans, moving around the world and aging, their faith has never faltered as they continue to pray for one another and find their strength and hope in the Lord. Their incredible friendship was built on the solid foundation of faith and education that they found at Waldorf.

Fast forward 66 years later, and women can stay out past 10 p.m., Tillie’s famous rolls are a thing of the past and students remain on campus for four years instead of two. However, Waldorf’s mission to impact the whole person remains at the core of everything it means to be part of the Warrior family. We are humbled by stories such as these that remind us how privileged we are to be part of this community and how much of an impact our Waldorf relationships have long after graduation.

Thank you, ladies, for sharing your stories with us and for serving Waldorf and one another for all of these years.

(LEFT-story cover) the Round Robins at Homecoming 2019. L-R, Arlys Leach, Phyllis Moen, Faye Aamodt, Esther Ziemer, Thora Peterson, Louise Varnes and Jean Melby. (TOP TO BOTTOM, L TO R) The Round Robins': Arlys Leach, Dorothy Oftedahl, Esther Erickson, Faye Johnson, Jane Greenfield, Jeannette "Lean" Leean, Louise Haugen, Phyllis Thompson and Thora Greenfield.

Alumni Profile ROBERT JACKSON VFW NATIONAL FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR

Afew years ago, Robert Jackson ‘17 was sitting at his home with his oldest daughter Magdalene, discussing with her the importance of attending college after high school.

When the first response out of her mouth was, “You didn’t go, so why should I?” Robert and his wife Sarah knew that they both had a point to prove.

Firefighting was practically a family tradition for Robert’s family while he was growing up. His dad, grandpa and uncle were all firefighters, and there was no doubt in Robert’s mind that he would follow in their footsteps. When the time came to graduate high school, Robert went directly to the fire academy in Radcliff, Ky., getting hired on in their fire department soon after.

Throughout his career, Robert worked his way up the department, succeeding in several different roles during this time. However, through each of these experiences, he began to realize how much more there was in addition to fire service.

When their department would get called out, oftentimes to multi-agency incidents, Robert began to take notice of and be intrigued by the emergency management officials who would arrive at the scene. He enjoyed the big picture perspective that emergency management focused on, as they dealt with all parts of emergency services. It was this interest and a desire to dive even deeper that led him to eventually pursue his master’s degree in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Emergency Management from Waldorf University.

During an assignment in one of his courses, Robert’s professor encouraged their class to go spend an afternoon at a local Emergency Management office in order to get more of a grasp on what their responsibilities entail. It was during this initial visit with the local emergency management department that Robert was asked to join their team. By the time he left the emergency management office that afternoon, his off days as a firefighter were no longer days of rest. He would now fill the role of a coordinator for the Emergency Management’s Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters. He had gone into his meeting that day for a simple Waldorf homework assignment, and he came out with a role that would get him that much closer to his ultimate goal of a full-time career in emergency management.

“I got an A on that one,” Robert said with a chuckle regarding his assignment. “Really, though, this opportunity has helped me advance in all aspects of my career.”

Robert wasn’t the only one in his household to be motivated by his teenage daughter’s honesty, however. Sarah ’18, Robert’s wife, is also a Waldorf alumnus, having graduated with a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership with a Criminal Justice concentration.

Not only did their Waldorf degrees give the couple the tools and the knowledge to continue to advance in their workplaces, which even resulted in a departmental promotion for Robert, but it also was a way for the duo to give back to their daughters, proving to

them that continuing on in one’s education truly can lead to success.

“With me, that has been one of the foundations of my success,” Robert explained of his graduation from Waldorf. “Every time I’ve applied for a job, it’s the first thing they notice and compliment me on. It’s impressive to them.”

Being a firefighter at any level is an undeniably noble profession. However, throughout his career, Robert has continued to take this selfless vocation to an entirely new level. It wasn’t until his dad, a Vietnam veteran, passed away that he realized his passion for serving and advocating for veterans as well.

“I wanted to start giving back to my community and the veterans for what they had done for my dad when he passed away,” Robert reflected in the time following his dad’s funeral.

Through countless hours of volunteering for veterans through the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) groups and working with his

(LEFT-story cover) Jackson receiving his Firefigher of the Year award. (ABOVE) Jackson's awards

city’s local high school JROTC program, Jackson began to gain attention on a district and regional level for his efforts.

In 2019, as evidence of his passion for serving others, out of thousands of other nominees, Robert was officially recognized with the esteemed title of the VFW’s National Firefighter of the Year.

An eagerness and a giddy anticipation filled Robert as he prepared himself to accept the award in August 2019, but one thing dimmed the brightness of the excitement on the evening of Robert’s award recognition. James Rathburn, mentor, VFW Commander, and nominator of Robert for this award, had sadly passed away during the award process without getting to see his life goal achieved: someone from his post taking home a national award. In his place, James’s wife Nancy Rathburn was privileged to present Robert with his recognition, with the undeniable knowledge that James would have been exceptionally proud to see Robert on that stage. The feelings were overwhelming that night for the Waldorf alumnus.

“Even in my speech that evening, I was more or less without words, and I told the crowd that it was the greatest achievement of my career,” Robert reflected on the honor. “There would be no other award that could ever top that; that was my greatest achievement.”

Although Robert has already been recognized at a level that the vast majority of those in his field will never reach, he isn’t done yet. After finishing his master’s degree from Waldorf, he had a hunger for more. Robert went on to enroll at Capella University and will graduate with a Doctorate in Emergency Management in the spring of 2021, finishing his degree working in a residency program with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). His dreams are many, and with the help of his degree from Waldorf, he plans to accomplish each and every one of them.

“I would highly recommend a degree online through Waldorf,” Robert enthusiastically expressed. “It’s a flexible program, you can work around your schedule, and in the long run, it can definitely lead to success.”

And with Sarah’s graduation from Waldorf last year and the Jacksons’ oldest daughter, Magdalene considering Waldorf University online for her next move, there’s no doubt that Robert and Sarah’s grand plan turned out to be foolproof for the whole family.

Through his choice of a courageous profession, his endless volunteer work with veterans and the inspirational path he has taken through his education, there’s no doubt that Robert Jackson has chosen a life of humility and service. While even the smallest acts of service should not go unnoticed, Robert is undoubtedly deserving of the accomplishments and recognition that he has received from his efforts, and he truly encompasses all that it means to be a Waldorf Warrior. Waldorf is proud and privileged to call the VFW National Firefighter of the Year one of our own. Thank you for your continued hard work and determination, and congratulations, Robert!

Bob has suffered much loss, recent history has also provided him with much to be grateful for. Since the early 2000’s, Bob has been reunited with his mother two separate times, each reunion filled with a tidal wave of emotions. This past Christmas season also brought extra blessings as Bob and his brother Trung Quoc, a now-California resident, hopped on a plane to Vietnam to be reunited with their mother—the first time all three of them have been together in 40 years.

Bob’s constant roll-with-the-punches attitude toward life is one that makes you want to befriend him immediately upon the first introduction. Not only does he use his positivity and their family’s business to touch lives in their small, North Iowa town, but he also makes time to actively serve on his church board. In this role, he has appropriately gained the reputation of being the man who listens far more than he speaks. However, when he speaks, it’s impossible not to listen.

“Be good, and do right,” is the motto that Bob lives by on a daily basis and the words that have helped him stay on track to build such a solid foundation in the midst of adversity at a young age. Through the way he loves and listens, no matter what role he is serving in, each day and each moment has a purpose for the Waldorf alumnus.

We pray you would be inspired by Bob’s story and that no matter what you choose to do in this life, loving and serving others through both your words and actions would be at the top of your priority list.

Warrior family, we leave you with this reminder: Just like Bob Tran, always remember to be good and do right—and that it never hurts to start the day with a doughnut.

ALUMNI DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS

During the 2019 homecoming celebrations, Waldorf hosted the annual Alumni Distinguished Service Award banquet on Saturday, October 19. The Alumni Distinguished Service Award is an annual honor that recognizes Waldorf alumni who have performed distinctive and meritorious service in areas such as public affairs, education, church, business and government and have demonstrated their Christian faith in service to community and church. At this banquet, the Recent Alumni Award for Service is also awarded to an alumnus who has graduated within the past decade and has demonstrated extraordinary efforts in the area of service to community, Waldorf and/ or the church.

Waldorf President Bob Alsop presented the Alumni Distinguished Service Awards to this year’s recipients, Leslie “Les” Aasheim ’57, former Waldorf President Thomas “Tom” Jolivette ’74 and the Recent Alumni Award for Service to William Stokes ’08.

Les was honored for his dedication to the education of youth and his extensive volunteerism efforts and ongoing leadership within the church and community. The alumnus began at Waldorf College in the fall of 1955, serving as the manager of the football team, president of the International Relations Club, a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and one of the founders of the Men’s Student Council.

Following his graduation from Waldorf in 1957, Les continued his life of service by joining the United States Army, where he was awarded a Good Conduct Medal, a Certificate of Achievement and a letter of commendation during his three years of active service. After leaving the army, Les returned to school to earn his Bachelor of Arts degree in Education and eventually a Master’s Degree in Education Administration from University of Northern Iowa before spending the next 30+ years working his way through the education system. He retired as the Junior High Principal of the West Des Moines Community School District after 22 years.

In the final years of his career in education, Les became involved in local politics in the Des Moines suburb of Clive. Les served on Clive’s Board of Parks and Recreation, and in 1986, he was elected to serve as a City Council member until 1997 and again from 2000-2001. In 2001, Les’ service and love of his community was recognized in a big way when he was elected Mayor of the City of Clive.

Since 2009, the Waldorf alumnus has served on the City of Clive Iowa Development Association, as President and volunteer for the City of Clive Historical Society, a member of the Des Moines Metropolitan Planning Organization, on the Iowa Civil Service Commission and as a member of more than 30 years and President of the Clive Lions Club. In 1994, Les was named the Clive Citizen of the Year, in addition to receiving the Matt Parrott Integrity Award in 2007. Even Les was surprised in June 2010 with the unveiling of the “Aasheim Plaza.”

Waldorf was also privileged to recognize Rev. Thomas Jolivette ’74, former president of Waldorf, that evening. Rev. Jolivette was honored for his passionate work in Christian higher education and ministry and his proven leadership in the

field of development.

As an 18-year-old from Jewell, Tom Jolivette arrived in Forest City and quickly became an integral member of the Waldorf Concert Choir, played trumpet in the Concert Band and directed the student pep band. He organized a contemporary Christian music group called “Covenant” that performed locally and beyond, including a full summer tour out west. His natural leadership was recognized and widely respected, as evidenced by his classmates electing him student body president during his sophomore year—his first, but not his last taste of a Waldorf presidency. Upon graduation in 1974, Tom was selected to receive the Dean’s Award.

Following his time as a Warrior, Tom attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD, before continuing his education once more at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. In 1980, he took on the title of Rev. Jolivette, as he was ordained into the ELCA. Following his ordination, he served the congregations of Samuel-Holmes in Eagle Grove for the next three years. In 1983, he found his home once again on Waldorf’s campus— this time as an associate on the development team. His God-given talents in the area of development were apparent almost immediately, and after just one year in this role, Tom was appointed as Vice President for Development where he served for the next eight years.

In the summer of 1999, Tom took over as the 13th president of Waldorf College. Upon stepping down from the Waldorf presidency, Tom continued his service of ministry and returned to Luther Seminary