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- After high school, what did you do, where did you go? Immediately after graduation, I joined the Army and spent 3 years active. I entered the workforce for a few years and then went to college, graduating from UWSP with a BS in History. I re-entered the workforce and rejoined the military (WI National Guard) I was deployed for a year to Kuwait with the Marshfield/Wisconsin Rapids unit in 2005-06. After returning from deployment, I went back to school, getting an Associate’s Degree from MSTC in Clinical Research.
- What are you doing now? I am currently a Research Coordinator at the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute in Marshfield. I work on some very cool research studies. I have one daughter Courtney (Granton, class of 2014). I still live in Granton and am a volunteer on the Granton Park Committee. I help organize and run the softball leagues and tournaments down at the ball park.
- What is your fondest memory from Granton School? My fondest memory was feeling like I belonged. As a kid, we moved around a lot. We moved to Granton the summer before my freshman year from Marshfield. Granton was my 8th school district. All I knew about Granton was that my mom had cousins that went to school there and that my grandmother had went to school there in the 40s. I was a smart kid that felt like a small fish in a big ocean. Because we had moved so many times, I didn’t really like school. Granton changed that. I felt like I was important. Another fond memory from Granton was participating in sports. I was a scrawny kid with minimal athletic ability. I don’t think I would have made teams in other schools. Being in sports helped my self-esteem and taught me teamwork and confidence and so much more. In JV baseball, we had a game on the road same day as our Prom dance. We were all in a hurry to get back to Granton for Prom. I went in to pitch the final inning and Coach Mark Schroeder said that if I got them out in 3 pitches, he’d buy me dinner. 3 pitches later the game was done, I’m pretty sure we lost, but next game he bought me McDonalds. ?
- What do you think were some of your greatest accomplishments during your time at Granton School? Graduating, lettering in 3 sports. I was on the last wrestling team Granton had by itself. I joke that I was one match from having a perfect record my senior year. I somehow beat that kid from Necedah and ended up with 1 win and 14 losses. I was also on the cross country team that won Regionals in the Fall of ’88. Our plaque is in the trophy case in the lobby of the fieldhouse.
- Which teacher left the biggest impact on your life and why? Two teachers had big impacts on my life: Mr. Ed Smith fueled my love for learning and science. I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up and it took me a while to decide, but eventually I ended up in research and science. Mrs. Kay Yach was always there to talk to when I needed someone to listen. She was such a kind person.
- If you could give one piece of advice to our current students, what advice would that be? Try to always look at the positive in life. Take advantage of what Granton has to offer. Participate in sports. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t as talented as the other kids or if you lose, it’s the experience that matters. Be confident, but not cocky. Be kind, always. Volunteer, help others, even when you don’t have to. Look back at your Granton High School years fondly and be proud to have been a Bulldog.
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