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The Education Foundation of Albert Lea and Albert Lea Area Schools on Thursday will host the 2024 Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Educators reception at Wedgewood Cove Golf Club.

The foundation and guests will celebrate “Twenty-Four Years of Success in 2024, according to the event website.

The reception will begin with a social gathering/cash bar at 5:30 p.m. followed by a charcuterie board at 6 p.m. and program at 6:30 p.m. The cost per adult is $25 to help cover the reservation at the Cove and the food.

Questions about the event should be directed to Neal Skaar, secretary of the foundation board of directors, or at the foundation email address at edfound.al@gmail.com.

Distinguished Alumni awards are given annually to graduates of Albert Lea High School who have achieved success in the area of business and economic achievement or humanitarian, artistic and public service achievement. In addition, awards may be given posthumously to candidates in either of the categories.

The following morning, on Friday, the 2024 Distinguished Alumni will lead an open discussion with members of the junior and senior classes in an assembly at Albert Lea High School.

The 2024 Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Educators are the following:

Alumni

Grant Arends
Class of 1986

In honor of his outstanding accomplishments in the world of finance and investment management

Arends has been a part of the family business, rebranded as intellicents in 2016, and helped expand the business into the Kansas City area. There are now 10 locations and 75-plus team members.

He also promotes the firm’s mission of overserving the underserved, whether that be in the company or in his own life.

He has enjoyed mission trips to Africa and has a passion of providing clean drinking water to remote villages in the Malawi, Africa, area.

Duane Arens
Class of 1979

In honor of his outstanding accomplishments in commercial development and his leadership in business

Arens worked in several roles after graduation from high school and college before finding his true calling as an entrepreneur.

He started with a run-down, century-old building in Northeast Minneapolis, and developed it and its area into what is now a vibrant arts district. He has also purchased four other commercial buildings in Northeast Minneapolis and is a well-respected member of the local business community.

Always keeping an eye towards the future and with community in mind, Arens and other partners successfully brought the Taste of Minnesota back to life. Last year, the event drew more than 100,000 people to Downtown Minneapolis.

In addition to his professional life, Arens has made a name for himself giving back to the community, both in financial resources and time and talent.

Tom Butsch
Class of 1964

In honor of his career as a scenic artist designing and creating sets for professional theater, TV shows and live events at Disney theme parks.

Butsch is known for his career designing scenery and decor for theater and live entertainment, including as resident scenic designer at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres for 14 years, an art director in television for two years and senior art director for the Walt Disney Company at Disneyland for 24 years.

He also designed numerous freelance projects at regional theaters around the country and now lives in San Francisco with his wife, Joan Graham, also an Albert Lea graduate.

Ted Unseth
Class of 1964

In honor of his outstanding contributions for the preservation of Jazz music from the ’20s and ’30s

Unseth credits a spark from his American humanities class in Albert Lea that started him on over 60 years of creative music exploration, working as a singer/songwriter from 1965 to 1972 and classic jazz orchestra director from 1973 to 2014.

From 1973 to 1979, his orchestra was featured at several high profile venues, including Scotties on Seventh, The Commodore Hotel and Castle Royale, among others.

They also performed in Washington, D.C., for President Jimmy Carter’s inaugural ball and were featured on initial broadcasts of “A Prairie Home Companion.”

Educators

Bob Berthelsen
An educator from 1962-1986

Berthelsen started his teaching career in Albert Lea at Southwest Junior High School in 1962, before moving into administration and becoming a guidance counselor at Southwest.

He was the assistant principal at Southwest from 1970 to 1980, when he moved to the senior high. He was the principal there from 1980 until his retirement in 1986.

After his retirement he served three terms as a Freeborn County commissioner and has served on numerous other community boards.

Charlie Carpenter
An educator from 1962-1983

Carpenter began teaching in Albert Lea in 1962 at the junior high school, which was part of the high school at the time. He and Russell Harding, a colleague, were instrumental in the creation of the mobile Science Laboratory trailers, the only ones in the United States.

These mobile labs were used at Forestville, Itasca State Park, and the Gun Flint Trail for older students through 12th grade, and Brookside and Southwest Junior High School for seventh grade students. They also received a grant to purchase a small trailer to be used as kitchen facilities for their outings.

He received the Minnesota Federation of Teachers and Pennell Award for a lifetime of service for the betterment of education and in 1979 ran for state representative against Robert Haukoos.

His life was ultimately cut short by cancer.

John Cliff
An educator from 1966-1996

Cliff started his teaching career in Hayfield and Des Moines before accepting a job in Albert Lea at Southwest Junior High School, where he taught mathematics and algebra and coached boys and girls junior high golf.

He later transferred to Albert Lea High School, where he taught math, algebra and trigonometry, until he retired in 1996. He coached the Albert Lea High School Math Team for several years and the girls high school golf team for the last five years.

Glen Parsons
An educator from 1970-2005

Parsons knew from a young age that he wanted to be a teacher and work with children and met a role model that shaped his teaching career when he was in fifth grade.

He was hired in Albert Lea to teach fifth grade in the eight-room Northside School and was the first male teacher at the school.

In 1983, Northside and three other elementary buildings were closed, and he was transferred to Lakeview Elementary, where he taught fourth grade.

He was chosen as Teacher of the Year in 1984 and has served on the Teacher of the Year Committee every year afterward.

Aside from teaching, he has been involved in numerous community efforts in Albert Lea, including as chairman of the Marion Ross Statue Committee, one of the 2019 Governor’s Fishing Opener lead team, president of both ACT and Minnesota Festival Theatre boards and a member of the Downtown Redevelopment Steering Committee, among others.

He also taught Sunday school for 30 years has been involved with choirs at the church and is currently the music chair at the church.

Most of his family has also followed suit with his love of music and theater.