Spring 2008

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Alumni in the News

Boyd Huppert, 1984, received an Emmy for outstanding feature story in a regularly scheduled newscast as part of the KARE-TV team, which included photojournalist John Drilling and news director Tom Lindner. Their story was about artist Kaziah Hancock, who paints portraits of soldiers who were killed in action. Huppert and Drilling traveled to Utah to visit Kaziah while she worked on a portrait for a Minnesota family. Their story aired on KARE 11 and was later broadcast on NBC's Today Show, making it eligible for the national award. The full video and Huppert's story can be found by visiting the Extra archives at www.kare11.com and searching for “Portrait of Compassion.”

Randy Romanski, 1989, has been named deputy secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Romanski previously was Executive Assistant for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and also had served as deputy chief of staff for Governor Jim Doyle, executive assistant for the Department of Transportation, and spokesperson and policy analyst for the Wisconsin Department of Justice. He also has experience in the state legislature in staff positions in both the Senate and the Assembly working on agricultural, rural affairs and natural resources issues. (The Dunn County News, Menomonie, Wis.)

Paul Oman, 1993, has used his artistic talent for teaching science to junior high school students and in serving as a pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church of Birchwood, Wis. Oman started drawing at an early age with notable success. As a fourth grader, he presented a watercolor of a whitetail deer to Governor Lee Dreyfus during Youth Art Month. Art lessons contributed to further success. In college, he studied science and after graduating made his living as a science teacher who offered an after-school art class for his students. An early desire to attend seminary was realized, and in 2003 he graduated and began his duties as a pastor at Birchwood where he incorporates art into services by depicting religious themes and scenes. He has received numerous awards for his paintings and watercolors. (Compiled from an article by Frank Zufall, Spooner Advocate, Spooner, Wis.)

Patrick Traynor, 2005, an Ellsworth native, is using his degree in biochemistry to provide custom finishes needed to match old woodwork in historic buildings. Patrick developed his craft by building cabinets during college to pay expenses. Demand for his skill grew and Traynor Woodworking was started as a family operation with nine other employees involved in the business. Regional magazines and HGTV cable network plan to feature the renovation of the old St. Croix County Courthouse in Hudson for which Traynor won the contract for refinishing and refurnishing the woodwork. (Compiled from an article by Bill Kirk, Pierce County Herald, Ellsworth, Wis.)

Dan Hischke, 1994, and wife, Erin, have the help of some unusual family members in their farming operation. The couple use a registered English Shepherd named Shooter, who is also the foundation for their development and promotion of the breed. Two females, Lucky and Blondie, are also part of the team. The dogs began by herding cattle on the 1,000-acre, 600-cow farm. Their duties now include herding sheep, pigs, turkeys and broilers, for which the Hischke's children, Lane, 9, Ethan, 5, and Ella, 2, share a part of the work–and the profits. Erin is a registrar for the American Working Farmcollie Association and maintains the farm's Web site at www.englishshepherdhome. com. (Compiled from an article by Judy Brown, The Country Today, Eau Claire, Wis.)

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