Guest Column by Lilah Aas

It’s a new year and the Education Foundation of Albert Lea is seeking nominations for individuals to be honored as this year’s distinguished alumni. Starting in 2007, the Education Foundation of Albert Lea has honored graduates of Albert Lea High School who have achieved great success in their careers — success not measured by attaining wealth, but rather by what the person has done to have an impact on his or her community. Please consider nominating someone!

The Education Foundation  has honored 46 individuals in the past nine years. These honorees are a diverse group of people coming from a wide variety of occupations. The most important things they have in common are that they graduated from Albert Lea High School and that they have given back to their communities. For some, it has been living a life of public service, while for others it has been the ability and willingness to give back financially.  We also like to honor at least one person posthumously every year.

You may know someone who should be nominated, and we encourage you to nominate him or her. For nomination forms and more information about the Distinguished Alumni/Pathways to Success program, go to our website at www.efal-us.org. Please send your nomination to Education Foundation of Albert Lea at P.O. Box 828, Albert Lea, MN 56007.

Here is an update on how the 241 Challenge is doing. In December we announced our challenge to find 241 people to donate $241 for two years, four years or one year to supplement the existing, but insufficient Student Assistance Fund, which helps provide funds for needy students to participate in school activities. As of Jan. 15, we have received 41 donations totaling over $9,000. Not all of the checks have been for $241, but no donation is too small. If you want to help meet our challenge, please donate by sending your check to the address cited above.

 

Lilah Aas is president of the Education Foundation of Albert Lea.