The Education Foundation of Albert Lea has announced the recipients of the 2011 Distinguished Alumni Award. Recipients will be recognized at the Education Foundation’s Pathways to Success Celebration banquet on Sept. 29.

The awards are given annually to graduates of Albert Lea High School who have achieved success in one or more areas of business and economic achievement, humanitarian and public service achievement or locally achieved success.

“We’re really excited about the people we’re honoring this year,” said Lilah Aas, president of the Education Foundation board.

The public is invited to the banquet at 6 p.m. Sept. 29 at Wedgewood Cove Golf Club. Tickets are $35 per person, and reservations can be made by mailing a check to the Education Foundation of Albert Lea, PO Box 828, Albert Lea, MN, 56007. Questions should be directed to Aas.

“The Education Foundation has really, really grown and does so much for students in Albert Lea Area Schools,” Aas said.

This year’s banquet will celebrate 11 years of commitment to children, recognize foundation founders and benefactors and honor distinguished alumni.

Aas said she enjoys highlighting graduates of Albert Lea High School, and that people often know of those recognized and didn’t know they were graduates or didn’t realize how far they had gotten in their careers.

“I love the fact that we honor our own,” Aas said.

This year’s distinguished alumni include James Brill, class of 1956, and Charles Schneider, class of 1956, for business and economic achievement; Sunny Sundal Hansen, class of 1947, for humanitarian and public service; Ralph Olson, class of 1952, for locally achieved success; and posthumous awards to Chris Berghoff, class of 1971, and James Tuberty, class of 1946.

Look for biographies on each of the alumni in upcoming editions of your Albert Lea Tribune. The day after the banquet, the four living alumni will present a panel discussion to members of the senior class at Albert Lea High School.

Aas said the foundation originally came about to help purchase items for the new high school, built in 2000. She said this year the banquet will recognize founders and donors from the last 11 years.

“We have had some very generous people who have made our work possible,” Aas said.

Since the foundation started it has changed its direction from buying physical items to directly helping students. Aas said their informal slogan is a “Community committed to children.”

“That is so significant that we are able to make a difference in the life of students,” Aas said.

Much of the work the foundation does is help encourage students to get good grades and work with social workers to identify students who need help financially. Aas said new this year will be a teacher grant program, where teachers can apply for funds for special events, like a field trip the district can’t afford.

“In a time when we see increased budget cuts, I’m sure we’re going to have many more requests for funding,” Aas said.