PAUL AHRENDT HONORED AS DISTINGUISHED
ALUMNUS
Lincoln businessman given
Dana College's highest alumni award, Oct. 1
Paul Ahrendt was honored with Dana College’s highest alumni
honor Oct. 1 in Blair, Neb., when the college bestowed upon him
the title of “Distinguished Alumnus,” at a special ceremony
held as part of Homecoming festivities.
Honorees are chosen for their achievements after leaving Dana College.
In Ahrendt’s case, his emphasis on civic involvement was a
deciding factor.
Persistence. It’s a philosophy and a way of life that have
taken Paul Ahrendt from Dana’s high hill into a successful
career as owner of a growing small business.
The desire to continue his education and play football brought
Ahrendt to Dana College after his graduation from LeMars Community
High School in 1963. It was also the beginning of family tradition.
His wife, Kathryn (Hulsebus) also attended Dana; they have five
children. Their oldest is son Travis; their daughters (Tami ’96,
Traci ’00, Teri ’01 and Toni ’02) followed in
their father’s footsteps in graduating from Dana.
Ahrendt found the classwork at Dana challenging at first. In fact,
he credits the Academic Probationary Board as being a strong college
influence, believing in him enough to allow him to stay in school
even though his grades didn’t measure up at first. Others
at Dana who strongly touched Ahrendt’s life were Coach Paul
Peterson, Pastor Richard Jensen and Ernie "Greek" Abariotes.
While at Dana, Ahrendt was a four-year member of the football team,
lettering each year. He also participated in wrestling. He received
a bachelor of arts in physical education degree in 1968.
In 1977, he began his own business in Lincoln, The Tool House.
The business has grown from one small store to three locations in
Lincoln, Omaha and Des Moines. The business has 40 employees, ages
18-83.
He has been a member and high school Sunday School teacher at Sheridan
Lutheran Church in Lincoln for more than 35 years. From 1993-99,
he helped organize and support a small mission church, Lord of Life.
He has served on the Sheridan Lutheran Church council. He is a long-time
member of the Lincoln Builder’s Bureau, and three different
trade-related associations: the Specialty Tools and Fasteners Distributors
Association (STAFDA), the Associated Builders and Contractors, the
Evergreen Association and the Associated General Contractors. He
served in many leadership roles for each organization. He received
his black belt in Taekwondo in 1990; received a Peddler Award from
STAFDA in 1996 and the ABEL award in 2000, recognizing employment
of the elderly.
He has continued to support Dana, both with financial donations
and time as a past member of the Dana Alumni Council. He credits
Dana with helping him to believe in himself, and for fostering relationships
with faculty members, students and other alumni which continue to
this day.
Dana College is a place where all students actively participate.
They make things happen — in their own lives and in the lives
of others. Through a highly supportive faculty and campus community,
Dana students develop interpersonal skills, leadership abilities,
and other important values and knowledge as they make choices about
their future. Dana’s outstanding academic programs in business,
education, art and social work, among others, ensure that students
have the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to pursue challenging
careers or placement in graduate school.
Dana College is a private, liberal arts institution in Blair, Neb.
To learn more, visit www.dana.edu.
Dana College: Develop talents, Take charge,
Build a future — We’re with you all the way.
— END —
For more information contact:
Sarah Cavanah
Communications Coordinator
Dana College
(402) 426-7216
scavanah@dana.edu
|
