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CLC Alumni
Welcome
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 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. WANTED....Retired faculty or alumni A group is being organized to offer volunteer tutoring to CLC students. If you are interested, contact Charles Black Lance at (218) 855-8119 or e-mail him at cblacklance@clcmn.edu  Darlys Every Recognized as CLC's No. 1 Community Fan
Darlys Every, a 1961 graduate of the Brainerd Junior College and fixture at Raider athletic events, was recognized as CLC's No. 1 Community Fan. Several gifts were presented in appreciation of his loyalty and support of student athletes, including two season passes for all Raider athletic events. Every, who is also a member of the Brainerd High School Athletic Hall of Fame, has witnessed nearly every home athletic event at CLC - viewing the action from a wheelchair. ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT By Jean Beckmann  February, 2009 I don't think it's a secret that the world has very different ideas when asked to define "success." I'm inclined to side with Orison Swett Marden who said, "Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds." This is what I clearly saw in Jennifer (Evans) Jensen. I met with Jennifer recently at her Baxter store, Northern Blend, with the intent of learning about the years she attended Central Lakes College. Jennifer's story wasn't an easy one for me to hear. Her story is filled with a few (more than a few, really) bends in the road, the separation from family, and an addiction to methamphetamine. Jennifer was born in St. Paul, the daughter of a pastor. After a few moves the family found themselves living in Brainerd, where her father became the senior pastor of a local Baptist church. She graduated from high school in 1997 and soon enrolled at CLC in the Associate in Arts program. She quickly made her niche' within the music program under the instruction of Steve Anderson and Michelle Sakry. It was these two instructors who helped Jennifer feel accepted regardless of her life decisions and circumstances. These life decisions would take her down a path of getting "hooked up" with the wrong people and, one day, trying meth. It was this point in Jennifer's life that she refers to as "the beginning of the end." A downward spiral began that led to a drug addiction, homelessness for herself and young daughter and, eventually, losing parental custody of her child. In 2003 Jennifer was sentenced to a 15 month treatment program at Teen Challenge in Minneapolis. She's not afraid to admit she bucked the program and didn't feel she needed to be there but now, looking back, is more than appreciative for the second chance she's been given. After the completion of the program at Teen Challenge in 2004, Jennifer moved back to Brainerd and re-enrolled at CLC to complete her AA Degree. She shared with me that upon graduating from CLC, Anderson hugged her saying, "I'm expecting great things of you." According to Steve, he saw great enthusiasm and creativity in Jennifer. I'm inclined to believe he also saw past "the rather scattered life" she had been living and saw a young woman who was full of courage and the will to survive. Jennifer kept pressing on and continued to pick up the pieces. She regained parental custody of her daughter, married in 2006, had two more daughters with her husband, Kevin, and now has baby #4 on the way! As if life weren't busy enough, she opened her own business, Northern Blend, in the old Reed's building in Baxter in November 2008. Prior to her beginning this new endeavor she contacted her previous employers, Wendell & Roxanne King from Freyja's Coffee Bar & Café, for some advice on running her own business. Not only did they offer up advice to Jennifer, they offered her some of "Freyja's favorite" recipes for her to use in her own business; a gift she gladly accepted. Although Jennifer in many ways has gotten her life back on a positive track, her new business venture has not been immune to what is going on with the economy. As charming and as put together as her restaurant is, she admits to feeling the financial strain that many business owners are now feeling. One of the things that would benefit her business is signage, but Jennifer lacks the funding to make this purchase. Jennifer is a fighter and, in my opinion, has already reached a great level of success in her young life. There's no doubt in my mind that she has the courage and the will to overcome what lies ahead. I encourage any of you who would love the opportunity to make a new friend while enjoying a delicious, all-natural smoothie or one of "Freyja's favorite" sandwiches, to stop in and see Jennifer at Northern Blend in Baxter. You'll be glad you did! ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT By Jean Beckmann November 2008
Andy was born and raised in a military family, the second of three children. His father was a Major in the Marine Corps, having been a pilot during the Vietnam War. As a child, his family moved quite a bit, as most military families do. It wasn't until the age of 12 that Andy had a permanent place to call home. Upon his father's retirement from the Marine Corps, Andy's family moved to the Brainerd Lakes area and has been here since. Unsure of what he wanted to do after graduating from high school in 1975, Andy enrolled in the Liberal Arts program at Brainerd Community College. That year it happened that BCC had three of the Dunlap men attending classes at the same time and in the same program. Andy, his older brother, Thomas, and their father were students during the same timeframe. While attending BCC Andy worked two part-time jobs, one of which was with Dean's Auto in Baxter. It was there that he began to take an interest in cars and even more so the mechanics that made them tick. Upon his graduation from BCC in the Spring of 1978, Andy enrolled in the airplane mechanic program at Winona Vo-Tech. After one year, he received his Airframe License then began an apprenticeship for a year and a half at Anderson Aero under the instruction of Walter Mount, a WWII Veteran, of Stewartville . There is much to be said for someone who invests their time into taking someone under their "wing" and showing them the ropes; as a 30 year friendship has resulted from Andy's year and a half apprenticeship with Walter. This is something that Andy has willingly embraced as he himself has had five apprentices working under him during the last several years. Andy fully understands the need to give of oneself and talents to the next generation. Soon after Andy and Tina married in the Fall of 1980, they moved back to the Brainerd Lakes area where he began a 28 year career with Airmotive Enterprise, Inc. as an airplane mechanic. After being challenged a time or two on the depth of his knowledge (regarding planes, that is) and being told he was "just a mechanic", he was hit with the drive to work toward achieving his pilot's license. Andy planned to nip that stereotype in the bud, and fast. Originally, he was licensed strictly for recreational purposes. As the years passed, he became licensed in Commercial Instrument, Multi-engine, Sea Planes, and as Flight Instructor just to name a few (yes, there's more!). In February 2008 Andy accepted a position with FedEx "haulin boxes", as he so eloquently put it, to and from Rochester five days per week. As of the date of our meeting he'd logged 242 trips and has not grown tired of seeing the same tree tops. Andy's passion for being a pilot and drive to accomplish yet another goal (to earn his helicopter license) was more than evident to me. Much to their pleasure, Andy and Tina's fourteen year old son, Joe, has acquired Andy's interest in mechanics and planes. From the age of 2, Joe has been Andy's little shadow at the Brainerd Airport. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that Airmotive has another Dunlap on the payroll one day. Thanks again, Dunlap's, for having me in your home. I'm so glad we're friends! ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT By Jean Beckmann October 2008
Although we have worked together for almost a year, I just recently met Denise to learn about her not only as an Alumna of CLC, but that of a fellow co-worker as well. We were joined by Diane Scearcy, Executive Director of the CLC Foundation, and spent our time together talking girl-talk about our husbands, children, jobs, our pasts, and, yes, dental work! When Denise began her general studies at BCC, she was a single parent, having been recently divorced, with two children at home. Up until the time of her enrollment, her full-time job was that of a stay at home mom tending to her family and her home. She speaks of herself as being a woman who was extremely shy, scared, and one who had much trouble looking people in the eye. Had she not shared this with me, I would have never guessed I was enjoying lunch with the same woman; as I found her to be extremely pleasant, confident, and very easy to talk to. Soon after she began her studies at BCC, Denise met a counselor there by the name of Dave Sjoblad. One of Dave's responsibilities was to facilitate a focus group for non-traditional students. These students would meet on a regular basis; sharing their individual struggles and triumphs with each other. Sjoblad took Denise under his wing; encouraging her and seeing her through the ups and downs of college life as a single parent and as a non-traditional student. A special bond was formed between the two of them that has lasted to this day. If you ask Denise, she attributes much of her success today to Sjoblad. She speaks of him with great fondness, and admits she still sends him a Father's Day card every year. Once her general studies were completed, she enrolled in the 11 month Dental Assisting Program under the instruction of LeAnn Schoenle at Brainerd Vo-Tech, whom she now is privileged to work with side by side. Soon after graduation in 1996 she married Rick Segler and began her internship with Lakes Dental Care in Brainerd. She was eventually hired as a full-time permanent employee; staying with them for 11 years, during which time she gave birth to two more children, until her acceptance of her current position with CLC. When asked what she misses from working in a dental office, she most assuredly says, "the patients". Her love for them was evident. She found great joy in seeing them come back for their regular check-ups; getting to know them, young and old. When asked what she enjoys most about being employed with CLC in the Dental program, Denise was quick to respond, "the clinical days". For Denise it's all about the patients. It's about taking a moment to learn something new about them and building relationships. It's about giving of herself to comfort those who are scared of an impending procedure. It's about caring for them with utmost integrity. It seems these days whatever business I patronize locally, I come in contact with someone who is an Alumni of Central Lakes College. And slowly but surely, I am realizing that many of my colleagues were students here, too "back in the day". I look forward to hearing more stories of how this aspect of their lives has come "full circle", just like Denise's.
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"When I think about that I have come back a long ways physically," Every told the Brainerd Dispatch. "There are a lot of things I can't do. But there are a lot of things I can do."
According to Webster's Dictionary, the definition of ambitious is "having a strong desire for success or achievement". After meeting Andy Dunlap, I believe this definition fits him to a T.
For Denise Segler of rural Brainerd one thing in life has come full circle. Twelve years ago she enrolled as a non-traditional student in the Dental Assisting Program at Brainerd Vocational Technical College in Brainerd after taking her General Studies at Brainerd Community College. This past October she accepted a position as a College Lab Assistant with Central Lakes College in the very same Dental Assisting Program with which she proudly graduated from.