The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented annually by the UW-Barron County Foundation to outstanding UW-BC alumni who reflect the ideals of UW quality and have established an exceptional reputation in their careers and communities.
The UW-BC Foundation is soliciting nominations from the public for the Distinguished Alumni Award. The criteria and selection process has been determined by the Friends of the University Committee of the UW-BC Foundation. The nomination form should be submitted by April 1.
Native of Cumberland, Wisconsin
Louis E. Muench, Jr., manager of Louie’s Finer Meats in Cumberland, was named as the first recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award sponsored by the UW-Barron County Foundation and UW-BC Alumni Association.
Muench is a UW-BC class of 1974 alumnus who went on to graduate from UW-River Falls. He and his four siblings along with his son Louis are all UW-BC alumni.
Louie’s Finer Meats has been family owned and operated for over 35 years. Louie, Sr. learned many trade secrets from his father, a Bavarian Wurstmacher, and in turn passed this knowledge on to his three sons: Louie Jr., Jim, and William. More than 200 state, national and international awards attest to the success of the business. In May 1995 the business was awarded two gold medals at the International Trade Fair in Frankfurt, Germany. Most recently, in 2005, they garnered 18 awards, 14 of which were won at the Wisconsin Meat Product Competition, the largest of its kind in the U.S. In 2003 Louie, Jr. was inducted into the American Association of Meat Processors Hall of Fame.
Louis also has a long-standing record of “giving back.” Louis and his wife Barbara were Cumberland Citizens of the Year and was a past Grand Marshall of Cumberland’s Rutabaga Festival. Just some of the organizations that he has generously given his time and expertise to are Cumberland Redevelopment Authority, Municipal Utilities Commission and City Planning Commission. He has received many honors from the Cumberland Jaycees and is active in church ministries and leadership at St. Anthony Parish. In March 2000 he and his wife were named Superior Diocese Family of the Year. He is also active in Kiwanis, FFA, Cumberland Area Ski Touring Association and the Cumberland Boy Scout Troop 24. In his spare time he is a substitute school bus driver and a volunteer bus driver for the elderly.
His list of accomplishments in service to his community and church is astounding; you almost have to wonder how he finds time to work!
Commenting on UW-BC, Louie stated, “UW-BC gave my college and professional career an unbelievable kick start! UW-BC is a small community, in and of itself, which allowed me to form a solid, supportive network of friends and professionals. By attending a University close to home, I was able to test the waters of adulthood in a controlled manner! The foundation I prepared for myself at UW-BC enabled me to financially and mentally prepare for my transition to UW-River Falls, where I successfully completed my degree. I look back on the time I spent at UW-BC with fond memories and still cherish the time spent there. The friendships and network that began all those years ago is still intact today.”
Native of Rice Lake, Wisconsin
“I’m living proof that if you have a dream, you can achieve it.”
Lance Allan Hajdasz, became the second recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award. In acceptance he stated, “I want to thank you for the Distinguished Alumni Award. It truly means a great deal to me. This university gave me a lot and prepared me for what was to come.”
Lance Allan, his professional moniker, is the main sports anchor at WTMJ-TV (TODAY'S TMJ4) in Milwaukee and contributor to the Packers pre-game show on WTMJ-AM. As such he gets to meet, interview, and rub elbows with all of the players and coaches from the major sports teams throughout the state including the Badgers, Brewers, Packers, and Bucks.
Lance attended UW-BC from fall 1988 through spring 1990. While at UW-BC he was a member of Phi Theta Kappa, co-editor of the campus newspaper, and vice-president of the Student Government Association.
After attending UW-BC he continued his education at UW-Madison where he majored in broadcast journalism. He started his professional career at WJFW-TV in Rhinelander and went on to WFRV-TV in Green Bay before joining TODAY'S TMJ4 sports department. Lance noted, “In my opinion, TODAY'S TMJ4 has the best reputation around the state as far as the place to be in broadcasting.” Not only is he at the best place for sportscasting, he IS one of the best. Among his awards: 2005 Wis. Sportscaster of the Year, as selected by the Natl. Sportscasters & Sportswriters Assoc.; 2006 AP and Wis. Broadcasters Assoc. Sports Story of the Year; three-time AP Sports Story of the Year award winner; two-time Wis. Broadcasters Assoc. Sports Story of the Year award winner; two-time Milwaukee Press Club Sports Story of the Year award winner; and two-time Best Sports Special award winner.
“I am humbled by this honor. Always remember that your preparation here plus your perseverance out there will take you any place you want to go. Thank you UW-BC.”
Native of Arcadia, Wisconsin
Film, television, and stage actor John Paul Gamoke was named recipient of the UW-Barron County 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award. Gamoke, a UW-BC student from 1974 – 1976, began his acting career with roles in UW-BC productions and at the local Red Barn Theatre. He went on to establish a highly respected 30 year career in the performing arts.
His stage credits include performances at the Guthrie Theatre, Minnesota Festival Theatre, Children’s Theatre, Country Dinner Playhouse, the Ordway, and Chanhassen Dinner Theatre. He has also assumed roles in theatres in Kentucky, Denver, Phoenix, Fort Worth and Escondido, California at the Lawrence Welk Theatre. In 2004 he returned to the UW-BC stage to perform in the musical “State Fair” and provided theatrical learning experiences for campus students.
On television, Gamoke has worked in “A Chance of Snow,” “In the Line of Fire,” “The Comeback,” “Dennis the Menace,” the mini-series “Amerika,” “Bronx Zoo,” “Jake and the Fatman,” “Moonlighting,” “Oldest Rookie,” and “Mr. Smith.” In films he was cast in such movies as “Sweet Land,” “The Mighty Ducks,” “Untamed Heart,” “Twenty Bucks,” and “Feeling Minnesota.” In these venues he has worked with Ed Asner, Andy Griffith, Bruce Willis, Kris Kristofferson, Muriel Hemingway, and Robert Urich.
He has also performed in over 350 commercials including those for Best Buy, Northland Ford, and Dairy Queen.
He used his performing arts experiences to teach the class “Acting for the Camera” for three years at the University of Minnesota and authored the book “Great Game – Poems about Fathers and Sons and Little League.”
The plaque presented to John Paul Gamoke stated, “For commitment to enhancing educational opportunities at UW-Barron County and for exemplary achievements and contributions to communities and audiences through the performing arts.”
Native of Barron, Wisconsin
Karyn Nelson Schauf of Barron was named as the
recipient of the UW-Barron County Foundation 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award. This award recognizes outstanding UW-BC alumni who reflect the ideals of UW quality and have established an exceptional reputation in their careers and communities.
The award was presented to Schauf by UW-Barron County Foundation member Joe Thrasher at the University of Wisconsin-Barron County Commencement Ceremonies on May 20. Schauf attended UW-BC from 1973 – 1975 then transferred to UW-Eau Claire and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1978 with a major in Elementary Education and a minor in Music.
Karyn married Robert Schauf in 1979 and in 1981 they founded Indianhead Holsteins LTD, a large purebred dairy farm with 12 employees that raises and shows purebred cattle and exports embryos to 17 nations. Their business won the Wisconsin Export Award in 2008. They also operate Indianhead Shavings, a livestock bedding business that distributes product to various farms throughout Northwestern Wisconsin.
As president of the Barron County Farm Bureau and member of Barron County Ag. Promoters, she advocates for agricultural and environmental issues and travels often to Madison to speak on behalf of agriculture. Over the past 30 years, Karyn and her husband have worked with the University of Minnesota and have hosted and trained over 50 foreign agricultural college students who serve six month apprenticeships on their farm.
In the community she is the church organist, has played in the bell choir, taught Sunday school, and is active in the World Day of Prayer service. She is a member and past president of the Barron Federated Music Club, accompanist for many middle school and high school concerts, directs Christmas plays, and volunteers with Cupboard and Closet and the Pregnancy Help Center. She also serves on the UW-Barron County Foundation.
A short listing of Karyn’s many achievements and awards include 1977-78 Wisconsin Alice in Dairyland, 1986 Wisconsin State Outstanding Young Farmer Award, 1987 U.S. Jaycees National Outstanding Farmer Award, 1991 UW-River Falls Distinguished Agriculturist and 1991 Barron County Farm Wife of the Year, 1995 University of Minnesota Gopher Dairy Club Distinguished Service Award, and 1997 Barron County Distinguished Breeder.
Karyn and Robert are the parents of four sons; two are founding members of the rock band “Catchpenny.”
