Welcome to the Central Lakes College Alumni and Friends website!

Whether you attended Staples Technical College, Brainerd Technical College, Brainerd Junior College, or Brainerd Community College you are considered an Alumni of Central Lakes College. In 1995, all of these colleges merged to form what is now called Central Lakes College with campuses in Brainerd and Staples.  As much as things have changed over the years, one thing that hasn't is the quality of the programs and services that CLC offers to their students.  The faculty and staff at Central Lakes College continue to strive to provide a quality education for its students.

You will be happy to know that your alma mater is providing a quality, affordable education to nearly 5,000 students. CLC offers more than 60 degree and diploma programs designed for transfer to four-year universities or to qualify students for immediate employment. Approximately 92% of our students in career programs find jobs in their related fields.

Take a moment to browse through the Central Lakes College website to see the current happenings on campus.  It's always a pleasure to hear from past students whether in person, by phone or via email.  I may be reached by phone at 218-855-8135 or by emailing jbeckmann@clcmn.edu.  It's an encouragement to current and future students when Alumni share their stories of their time spent taking classes at CLC, and of their accomplishments in the years after.

Jean Beckmann
Alumni Coordinator

 

 CLC ALUMNUS MISSING

Peter Achermann of Leader, MN, a BCC/CLC alumnus from 1991-92, mysteriously disappeared on July 24th, 2009, about 4 miles north of Staples, MN. He was last seen at Ernie’s Market in Staples buying groceries at about 11:55 a.m. that morning. He never returned home. His car was found abandoned on a minimum maintenance road on Saturday, July 25th. Since then, family members, hundreds of volunteers, the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, the Minnesota National Guard, search divers, mounted posses, over 30 K9 search dogs, and investigators with cadaver dogs have found no trace of Peter.

Peter went to town to get his wife's prescription and milk. He met his son and some of his grandchildren, who were in the area to attend a family wedding, for coffee.

He then went on to finish his errands. He picked up his wife's prescription, went on to a grocery store in Staples, picked up a few groceries and then vanished.

Peter was expected home by 3:00. He lives about 20 miles north of the grocery store where he was last seen. With his granddaughter getting married the next day, he was looking forward to seeing all of his family.

His car was found on Saturday, July 25th, stuck on a long minimum-maintenance road. He was wearing glasses, a brown shirt, khaki-colored pants, and a red, white, and blue “floppy” beret-type hat. He was carrying cigars, matches, a diamond willow wood cane and crucifix with him.

Peter had no dementia or Alzheimer’s. He was a very healthy 82-year-old man who spent his days helping others. He regularly brought the elderly and incapacitated to doctors appointments. According to Fritz Bertelt, English Instructor at CLC and one of Peter’s former instructors, “Peter provided great contributions to discussions in the class. His life experiences brought immeasurable value to the course. It truly saddened me when I heard that an alumnus from our CLC family had gone missing.”

CLC instructor and alumna Dar Houle along with her husband Ron, also a CLC instructor and alumnus of CLC, has been actively searching for Peter since his disappearance. Dar, a long-time family friend of the Achermann family, asks that all CLC alumni keep Peter and his family in their thoughts and prayers as the search continues to bring him home to his family.

Larry Lundblad, CLC President, offered his thoughts saying, “Mr. Achermann’s many friends and acquaintances at Central Lakes College are distressed by his disappearance. A number of our students, faculty, and staff have been involved in the search. As an alumnus, Mr. Achermann has a special place in the hearts of his instructors and fellow alumni. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”

A benefit event will be held on Saturday, October 24th starting at noon at the Bear’s Den in Leader to raise funds to be used to pay for the expenses of the continuing search. A spaghetti buffet will be available starting at noon. A silent auction along with raffles and games will be available throughout the afternoon. A live auction will be held from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. For additional information on the benefit, go to www.helpfindpeter.com.

Cash donations for the search efforts can be sent to the Peter Achermann Search Fund, c/o Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union, PO Box 39, Staples, MN 56479  

 

 

 

Alumni Spotlight
By Jean Beckmann
April, 2009

When I'm out and about in the Lakes Area, I continue to be amazed how frequently I run into someone who turns out to be a graduate from Central Lakes College. Once I get to talking with someone (as girls love to do), it's only a matter of time before the individual will say, "I graduated from CLC." This really shouldn't come as a surprise. Central Lakes College has been providing a quality education to its students for over 70 years!

On September 3, 2009 while on my way to work I was in a little "fender bender." Subsequently, I needed to go through the process of purchasing a new vehicle (yes, I totaled the old one); this is when I met Aaron Larson of Crosslake.

Aaron is a 2003 graduate of Anoka High School. During his senior year, he was also a Post-Secondary (PSEO) student at Anoka/Ramsey Community College. He enrolled in the Aviation & Careers program because he thought it would be "interesting." Little did he know that upon graduating, he'd not only have a high school diploma, but a pilot's license as well!

Aaron moved to Brainerd immediately after graduating from high school, taking a year off from school to work full-time. He enrolled in the Business Management program at CLC in 2004, with an interest to one day go into banking, and graduated in the Spring of 2006. Aaron couldn't praise his CLC instructors enough: Pat Swarthout, Thurman Knight, Fritz Bertelt, and Tom Reese, to name a few. According to Aaron, in and out of class, they were always "approachable" and very "one on one" with their students. It was because of these attributes, and others, that Aaron looked forward to coming to class every day. And it's these attributes that Aaron has most assuredly carried forth in his line of work today. You see, it's the modeled behavior of these instructors (the education that Aaron didn't have to pay for) that really made the greatest impression on him.

Aaron did end up working in the banking industry. In December of 2007 he began working with Affinity Plus in Brainerd. This is where I met him. After my car accident, my husband and I needed to acquire a loan to purchase a new vehicle. All it took was one short phone conversation with Aaron and we had become one of his newest customers. I can't say enough about the exceptional service we received from Aaron during our first encounter, and continue to receive today. According to Aaron, it's about "people helping people." The circumstances of today's economy are more than enough for some to bear. He doesn't believe in making things harder for someone when it really isn't necessary.

It may appear elementary, but it goes back to the Golden Rule principle, "Treat others as you want to be treated." Seems simple, I know, but not always easy. Now, on a personal level, Aaron's parents had much to do with molding him into who he is today. For that, they should be very proud. But on a professional level, it's a different story. Aaron felt genuinely cared for by his instructors at CLC, he wasn't just another name on an attendance roster. They set the stage for this young, impressionable student, sharing a priceless lesson with him; a lesson which he has carried forth in his career today. I know this because I've experienced it.