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Alumni Spotlight: Philip Reedy
Written By Ann Huddleston, Alumni Relations
Every now and then, we may meet that one person whose stories and adventures are so fun and interesting that we will always remember “that one time when”… Phil Reedy is most definitely that person for his graduating EHS class of 1973. At Elkhorn, Phil had a perpetually curious mind and went on to nurture that curiosity by earning his PhD degree and then becoming a Chemistry professor in Stockton, California. He keeps himself busy with his hobbies, which include fly fishing and photography, which blend together nicely with some beautiful fly fishing action shots! In fact, in 2020 Phil was named California Outdoor Writer of the Year by the Outdoor Writer’s Association of California (OWAC) because of his photos published that year.
Q: What were some of your best memories while at Elkhorn High School?
A: My best memory from high school was acting and singing in My Fair Lady. When I was in elementary school the high school often put on plays and musicals, but it had been many years since they had done one. Thanks to the efforts of Band Director Herb Kaiman and Vocal Director Mary Sayre, it was a great success and so much fun for all of us who took part.
Q: What led you to study chemistry and get your PhD degree?
A: I still have an essay I wrote in third grade where I said that I wanted to be a scientist when I grew up. I didn’t know anyone with any interest or background in science at all, so my theory is that growing up at the dawn of the space age may have been the catalyst that set me on that path. The next year my parents bought me a chemistry set and the rest was history. I would take every spice and cleaning product my mom had and mix them with the chemicals in my set just to see what would happen. As I like to tell my students, I was a nerd before Bill Gates made it cool (see below). In 7th grade we had the most amazing science teacher, Dick Ackerson. He used to take me and a few others out on weekends to work on science activities and was very inspirational. A few years ago I tracked him down in Wyoming and showed up on his doorstep just to thank him for being such a wonderful teacher.
Like most boys ever, I mainly wanted to see if I could blow things up. We could get pretty nice firecrackers back in the 60’s, especially from Missouri. I always wanted to figure out how to make the explosive powder in those, and eventually succeeded in high school. It’s a miracle I still have 10 fingers, but that was sure fun. I was hooked on chemistry at that point and majored in it at UNL. From there I worked at Dow Chemical for six years in Michigan, but a vacation to California had my wife and I yearning to move out west. So, we loaded up the truck (U-Haul) and headed not to Beverly Hills, but Davis, a small town near San Francisco with a large university where I could work on my PhD. It was a great four years and I hated to leave and venture into the real world. Wanting to stay in California, I took a job developing laundry detergents at Clorox. While there I convinced the company to fund a science education program where we went to local schools and did science demonstrations. I found that much more rewarding that trying to create a detergent that did a better job than Tide at removing armpit stains from shirts and skid marks from underwear (I wish I were joking). The thought of spending my entire career doing that gave me the impetus to pursue my real passion of teaching others about chemistry. After two years at Clorox I landed my first teaching job at Monterey Peninsula College and never looked back. The best decision I ever made.
Q: What is it/has it been like teaching students at Delta College?
A: I have been telling my students for the past 35 years that teaching at a community college has to be the best job there is, joking that you actually get paid to blow things up. But seriously, it is a fantastic job. People often asked me why I didn’t teach at a university instead of a community college, and the answer is very simple. Any college student who took a science class at a large university knows that most of the teaching is done by graduate students whose skills are often marginal at best. University professors have to worry about obtaining grants and publishing papers, but at the community college level, our only responsibility is teaching. I retired two years ago, but still teach an online class every semester and will probably continue to do so as long as they need me. Below is a link to one of my classes.
Q: Can you tell me about your family?
A: My wife Jane and I have been married for 47 years now and have two sons. Sean is an accountant and father to our wonderful 3-year-old grandson Owen. We currently take care of him five days a week and love spending time with him. He loves to watch my chemistry demonstration videos on Youtube and I look forward to the time he is old enough to chemistry experiments with me. Our younger son Ryan is an Air Force pilot and currently a flight instructor in New Mexico. He will be getting married next year, so we may have more grandchildren in the not-too-distant future.
My parents passed away in 2010 and 2012, but I have to give them, especially my mom, credit for letting me do all of the crazy things I did in my youth. In the 60’s parent let kids take chances and explore new things. Some of those things I neglected to mention to them until I was much older, like the time I accidentally ignited a rocket I was building. It flew wildly around the basement, but luckily they weren’t home. By the time they returned I had aired out the house and they were none the wiser.
Q: How often do you get back to Elkhorn? Do you still have family here?
A: Since my parents passed, I don’t get back so often anymore. My wife still has her mother and brother living there, but that’s all the family we have left in Elkhorn. I do try to make all of our reunions and the 50th last year was a great time. I really enjoyed touring all of my old schools. Our kindergarten class of 1960 was the last to attend the old brick school which is now the administration building. When I do get back, the first thing I do is order a La Casa pizza, followed by a Little King #11 and a Runza. Can’t beat that Nebraska food.
Q: You clearly have an adventurous spirit, please share some stories with us! (hang gliding, fly fishing, etc..)
A: In that 3rd grade essay I mentioned before, I also said that I wanted to fly like Superman. I haven’t achieved that goal but was always fascinated with flight. I began building hot-air balloons in my parent basement when I was 14, and used to let them fly over Elkhorn in the evenings. More than once people thought they were seeing a UFO as the flame of the alcohol burner floated over town. From a humble beginning using dry cleaning plastic bags, by friend Mike and I eventually built a balloon 60 ft tall and 30 feet in diameter. It was so big that we convinced Larry Dlugosh, the high school principal, to let us use the gym to assemble it.
Back in 1972 the Readers Digest had an article about this new invention called a ‘hang glider’ that was being flown in Australia. Mike and I immediately ordered a set of plans from an ad in Popular Mechanics and set out to build one. Given our limited financial resources, we gathered what materials we could afford and set to work. By some miracle it actually flew and we managed not to kill ourselves over the next few years as we flew off the bluffs in Iowa. Until wingsuits came along, that was the closest one could get to soaring like a bird. It was amazing!
Q: How often do you go fly fishing? Where have you traveled to fly fish?
A: Over my lifetime, I have enjoyed many different hobbies and activities, including fly fishing. And when I began a new activity, I was passionate about it. Fly fishing was no exception. After catching my first fish on a fly back in 2003, I was hooked (pun intended). By myself or with a buddy, I would hit the water 50 times a year. I mainly fished in the Sierras but have travelled to many states from the Rockies to the coast. Fly fishing is a very peaceful pursuit, and I love the solitude of standing in a mountain stream watching my fly drift along, waiting for a trout to rise and take it.
Q: When did your interest in photography start?
A: A buddy and I drove to Colorado on spring break back in 1976, and I took along a borrowed Nikon Camera. It turned out that I loved taking pictures of nature, so immediately bought my first SLR camera and enrolled in a photography class at UNL. That was followed by a decade of landscape and wildlife photography in locations from our home in Michigan, to national parks all around the Western US, and farther afield to Europe and Australia. Like fly fishing years later, I was totally committed to it. When our first son was born in 1988, my focus (another terrible pun) was on taking pictures and videos of him. I didn’t get back into nature photography until I got a nice Canon digital SLR in 2013. Photography and fly fishing were a perfect combination, and I began to photograph friends fly fishing in the many gorgeous locations we have here in California. I had been reading fly fishing magazines for a number of years and admiring the beautiful photos gracing the covers. One day I decided to submit some photos, and to my amazement, the editor wanted one for his next cover. From that time on I spent less and less time fishing and more on fly fishing photography. Now my fishing trips consisted of dragging fly fishing buddies to the mountains to pose for me and I spent most of my time behind the camera. My 50th magazine cover photo was published the same month as my 50th high school reunion last year.
If you’re interested look at more of Phil’s photography, visit the links below:
Hall Of Fame 2024
Annual Hall of Fame Banquet & Awards Ceremony
Thursday, November 7th, 2024
Every fall, the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation hosts its Hall of Fame Reception where we honor teachers, school staff, Elkhorn alumni, volunteers, and community businesses.
This year, we will host our Hall of Fame Reception on Thursday, November 7th at the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation Alumni Center at 20272 Veterans Drive in Elkhorn, NE. Catered dinner & refreshments will be provided starting at 6pm with the awards ceremony beginning at 7pm.
We are currently accepting RSVPs via the button below. RSVPs required by October 25th. If you would like to donate to the event, you can use the link below.
2024 Hall of Fame Recipients
| Carl L. White Educator of the Year | Sarah Addink, Manchester Elementary |
| Golden Apple Educator of the Year | Emma Jackson, Elkhorn North Ridge Middle School |
| Support Staff Member of the Year | Sigifrido Orozco, Spring Ridge Elementary |
| Former Educator of the Year | Pat McCoy |
| Alumnus of the Year | Susanne Jalbert |
| TeamMates Mentor of the Year | James Heinen |
| Community Booster of the Year | Metro Credit Union |
| Volunteer of the Year | Michelle Hunsinger |
Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsorship Opportunities are available as listed below. Proceeds help offset the cost of this event that honors our community members. All donations are tax-deductible contributions to the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation.
Sponsorships can be purchased through our Donor Perfect site or by invoice/check. If you have questions regarding a sponsorship or your RSVP, please feel free to give us a call at the Foundation office at (402)289.1727. Thank you for your consideration!
Hall of Fame Benefactor: $2,500
•Special thank you on Facebook page and email
•Business logo on EPSF Website
•Recognition in event presentation
•Business logo in event program
Hall of Fame Patron: $1,000
•Business logo or family name on EPSF Website
•Business logo or family name in event presentation
•Business logo or family name in event program
Hall of Fame Sponsor: $500
•Business logo or family name in event presentation
•Business or family name in event program
Friend of the Foundation
•Business or family name in event program
Alumni Spotlight: Cass Thielen
Dr. Cass Thielen is a 2012 graduate of Elkhorn South High School. She grew up riding and showing horses. Initially, Dr. Cass planned to become a veterinarian until her horse needed chiropractic care and she saw the benefits it could provide. Dr. Cass began seeing a chiropractor herself shortly after and found relief from daily headaches. She also noticed when she and her horse were well-adjusted, they performed better and placed higher. She realized the benefit of chiropractic care for all spines and began her chiropractic career.
Dr. Cass received her Bachelors in Animal Science from Iowa State University and graduated top of her class with her Doctorate of Chiropractic from Northwestern Health Sciences University. She received her animal chiropractic certification from Options for Animals. Dr. Cass is certified in animal chiropractic through the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA) and is a licensed chiropractor and animal therapist in Nebraska.
She is trained in caring for all the spines from kids to grandparents to animals. She believes every body deserves to be adjusted whether they have four legs, two legs, or no legs.
In her free time, Dr. Cass enjoys reading, hiking, cooking, hanging out with her husband and their daughter, and riding and showing her horses.
Q: What were some of your best memories at ESHS?
A: Playing basketball was probably my favorite part. I loved the competitiveness and being with the team, traveling on the bus to and from games. The classes I TA’d for were with friends, and I loved getting to hang out with friends (while getting work done) and getting to know the teachers better and hearing their life stories.
Q: What are some activities you were involved in?
A: I played basketball all four years (two at EHS, two at ESHS), was in the National Honors Society and FBLA, and worked as an office aide and TA for various teachers. I think there were more throughout the years, but those were the ones I remember being involved with all four years.
Q: Did any classes in high school lead you to choose your career path?
A: No classes specifically led me to my career, but some reinforced my passion for science. AP Chemistry was one of my favorite classes. I learned during that class I really am a huge science nerd and actually enjoyed figuring out chemical reactions and formulas. Mr. Specht made the class entertaining and I still remember some of the experiments we did. Anatomy class was another favorite. Understanding how the body works together and how form affects function is fascinating.
My other favorite classes (that had nothing to do with my field of study) were AP Lit with Mrs. Simons and AP US History with Mr. Bahe. I’ve always been a passionate reader, and Mrs. Simons selection of books for the class introduced me to new authors and genres I never would have tried otherwise. Two of the books we read in her class are in my top five favorite books of all time and ones I recommend to anyone looking for a good book to read. Mr. Bahe taught the most entertaining history class I have ever taken and the first time I enjoyed US history more than world history.
Q: What were those favorite books?
A: My all time favorite is The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien, followed closely by Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay. Pride and Prejudice and The Power of One were the two I read in Mrs. Simons class, and I reread Pride and Prejudice every year. I would reread The Power of One more often but my copy has been lent out more than it has been in my possession the last 10 years.
Q: How did you get started on the path of animal chiropractic?
A: My horse started getting adjusted when I was in high school. He always had issues collecting to the left, and after getting adjusted he would collect and bend well in both directions. I learned from our equine chiropractor that horses and riders tend to mirror the same issues. I started seeing a chiropractor and discovered I had a transitional lumbar vertebrae, meaning my last vertebrae forms a pseudojoint with my sacrum on the left, affecting my biomechanics and how my spine and pelvis move. My altered biomechanics affect my horse’s, which is why he never collected as well to the left. Once we both started getting adjusted regularly, he performed better consistently and we placed higher at shows. I knew from that moment I was going to be an animal chiropractor (who also worked on people).
Q: What is the certification process like for the IVCA (International Veterinary Chiropractic Association)?
A: You first have to be a licensed doctor of chiropractic (DC) or doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM), then graduate from an accredited animal chiropractic program. After graduation, you must pass the certification exam for the IVCA. There are continuing education requirements to maintain the certification, along with maintaining an active license.
Q: How long does it take to get results from animal patients vs human patients? Is it the same?
A: Animals actually tend to respond more quickly to chiropractic care than people do for a couple reasons. Because people have a higher consciousness and more developed brain, we tend to become our diagnosis and develop what I call a conscious block to recovering. Animals don’t have that, so they tend to respond pretty quickly to chiropractic. Babies and children actually respond more quickly than adults in most cases for the same reason. Another reason animals respond more quickly is people tend to wait until pain becomes unbearable before they seek treatment, and pet parents usually seek treatment as soon as their pet starts exhibiting signs of pain or disease. The earlier you start treatment, the quicker you see results.
Typical treatment plans for people are 10-20 visits and for animals 4-8 visits. Obviously each patient is different and how they respond to care depends on a variety of factors, so each patient may take more or less visits to get results and meet their goals.
Q: Some animals have health insurance- does animal insurance cover chiropractic care?
A: Most pet insurance companies do cover chiropractic. I recommend checking with your plan as to what the coverage is and who can perform the care. Unfortunately, some insurance companies only cover care done by a veterinarian. There are chiropractors actively working to change this though so any care your pet receives from a licensed provider is covered by insurance.
Q: What does a typical day look like for you, is there even a typical day?
A: I wouldn’t say there’s really a typical work day. On days I work with people, I work with a variety of conditions, from neck and back pain and headaches to plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, and TMJ dysfunction, among others. My patients range from a few weeks old to their mid-90s.
On days I work with animals, my clinic is mobile so I drive most of the day seeing dogs, horses, cats, and some cattle. Common conditions I work with are IVDD/spondylosis (arthritis) in dogs, general back or neck pain, performance concerns, behavior issues, and nervous system disorders or deficits. I also see a lot of general wellness patients as chiropractic is a great tool to help improve overall health and well-being. I can work on any animal with a spine, so I’m hoping to add more exotics to my patient base through the years!
Q: Since you work with animals and people, is there a split or percentage you feel you work with people and animals?
A: Currently, my animal/people split is about 50/50. I’m working toward doing mostly animal chiropractic though!
Q: What advice do you have for current high school students thinking about what to do with their future?
A: Whatever you may be interested in, explore it! Don’t limit yourself or think you have to have it all figured out in high school. Keep your options open. You have so much time left to figure out what you really want to do. Shadow as many professions as you think you may be interested in, and shadow multiple professionals in each field. Everyone works a little differently and will have a different perspective on their job. Definitely find what you are passionate about because going to work stays enjoyable.
Alumni Spotlight: Kristin Higgins and Tricia (Higgins) Hultgren
(Kristin on left, Tricia on right)
(Kristin on left, Tricia on right)
Becoming a medical doctor is already a difficult achievement. Twins becoming successful MDs in different fields; even more impressive! Kristin Higgins and Tricia (Higgins) Hultgren attended Skyline Elementary, Elkhorn Middle School, and graduated from EHS in 1998. From there, they each chose separate but similar paths. Through it all, they remain supportive of one another and travel to be together three or four times a year.
Tricia attended medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She interned at UNMC in Internal Medicine and completed her residency at Loyola University Medical Center, where she was Chief Resident. Tricia is board certified in Dermatology and is the past President and member of Nebraska Dermatology Society. Currently,Tricia lives in Elkhorn with her husband and two sons. Dr. Hultgren is a senior partner and practices Dermatology at Dermatology Specialists of Omaha. Most days she works at the new Elkhorn office. During the Covid Pandemic, it became clear that Dermatology Specialists of Omaha needed more space for their physicians and physicians assistants to provide their best care, and Tricia was integral in the expansion of the practice to west Omaha. Tricia loves interior design and if you check out the office in Elkhorn, you will see her flare for design! In her free time, Tricia enjoys traveling with her family and spending time with her two bernedoodles, Milton and Walter.
Kristin attended Tulane University School of Medicine. She interned in internal medicine at Duke University Medical Center. Following up with a residency in Radiation Oncology at Duke. Kristin lives in Atlanta with her husband and two sons. In January 2024, she accepted the position of Chief Clinical Officer at City of Hope Cancer Center in Atlanta. Dr. Higgins has authored over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts and several book chapters, and she co-chaired the 2021 World Conference on Lung Cancer. Kristin doesn’t have that much spare time, but when she does, she enjoys spending time with her family, dog, and decompressing with yoga.
Q: Who were some of your favorite Teachers?
T: Miss McCoy, Mrs. Bock
K: Mr. Wortman
K&T: Frerichs, going into pre-med that class (AP Chemistry) really helped prepare us for college level classes.
Q: What activities did you participate in in High School?
K&T: Newspaper, gymnastics (outside of school) as freshmen and sophomores, cheerleading
K: Also track
Q: Do you have any favorite memories hanging out at Elkhorn?
K: I liked going to the Dairy Chef. We liked going to the Kwik Shop and Godfather’s Pizza. We cruised around on Highway 31. Football and basketball games were fun too.
Where did you go to college after high school and what was your major?
T: Iowa State, originally I thought I wanted to be a veterinarian, but then switched to pre-med.
K: I went to Vanderbilt majoring in Neuroscience
Q: Did you do any activities in college?
K and T: We were both cheerleaders in college, basketball games were a blast!
Q: What led you to a career in your field?
T: I am visual learner, and Dermatology is the perfect specialty for me in that I can examine a patient’s skin and come to a diagnosis.There is a clinical-pathologic correlation with how skin appears when biopsied and examined under the microscope that is exciting to learn. Additionally, It can be extremely fulfilling to treat a disease process that manifests itself outwardly. Patients are very grateful when their skin disease improves or is cured. I also enjoy the cosmetic side of dermatology, helping people look like a better version of themselves.
K: I chose a career in oncology because I wanted to do something impactful, meaningful, to help people. This is important work.
Q: Do you have a special moment in your career that you’d like to share?
T: When I diagnose melanoma in an early stage and help save someone’s life. Treating stage one early melanoma and other complex medical conditions; your patients are so thankful. I diagnose at least one melanoma a week.
Q: Do you have any wisdom to share for current Elkhorn students?
T: We have a unique gap year program for students after graduating from college before applying to med school or PA school, we employ them and teach them how to use the electronic med system, draw blood, blood pressure, etc. We will also write letters of recommendation to help them get into med school. They’re so much more prepared for medical school after this one year experience. We take 10 gap year students a year. It’s fun and fulfilling to teach these students. They work at both of our offices.
K: Never underestimate yourself, you can do whatever you want. You can move anywhere or compete in any environment-even if you were from a relatively small town.
*Kristin had to leave early for a work meeting and missed a small portion of the interview.
Thank you to our generous Tornado Relief Fund donors!
We ❤ You!
Through the generosity of our donors, the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation Tornado Relief fund raised more than $162,000 for EPS families severely impacted by the tornado. Thank you for donating to this amazing cause where all funds directly benefited EPS families for their general needs!
Elkhorn Public Schools’ administrators identified families severely impacted by the tornado and asked them to complete the Foundation’s Tornado Assistance form. Ultimately, 53 families received assistance from our two revenue sources: Tornado Relief Fund Donations and the City of Omaha Community Grant.
We received tornado relief donations from people in 20 different states including California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. In Nebraska, more than 135 people donated money to help their fellow Nebraskans. Truly, people rose to the challenge to help our Elkhorn families. The Foundation also received a $50,000 grant from the City of Omaha to help families impacted by the disaster.
During the aftermath of the April 26th tornado, the connection between the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation and the Elkhorn community has strengthened. Together we’ve helped relieve some of the stress of our Elkhorn families whose lives were upended on April 26th. We will continue to support and care for our EPS students, and we are honored to help our Elkhorn community in its time of need.
Alumni Spotlight: Jason Lindsay
Elkhorn High School Class of 1994
Q: What activities did you participate in during high school?
A: I was in band, and I ran cross country for a year or two. I think my mom thought that it would keep me focussed and out of trouble, but I mostly just ran and hid behind the toilets at Ta-Ha-Zouka Park until Mr. May blew the whistle. Then I would run in with probably a bit too much energy and enthusiasm for someone who should’ve been running for the past 45 minutes.
Q:Who was your favorite teacher?
A:There were so many great teachers at EHS. I really liked Mr. Bacus, VP Maher, Mr. May and Ms. Studnicka, but Mrs. Helicker (business) was my favorite. She was the most patient, gracious, and encouraging teacher I had. I loved the classes I had with her. We pulled a lot of practical jokes in her classroom that I’m not sure a lot of teachers would’ve put up with, but she often was a good sport about it and had a laugh. She was great.
Q: Where did you study after high school?
A: I went to both UNL and UNO, and studied in England in 1998, before moving to Los Angeles in 1999 to pursue a career in film and television.
Q: How did you end up in New Zealand?
A: When I was studying in England, I met my wife, Kate, who is a Kiwi (New Zealander). We got married about a year and a half later at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas and had two children in Los Angeles. The idea of raising our daughters in Los Angeles didn’t appeal to us, so we decided to move to New Zealand to be nearer to family. I also love the ocean, so Nebraska was out as an option..
Q: What made you decide to stay?
A: When I met Kate, I wasn’t exactly sure where New Zealand was. I knew it was close to Australia, but I thought it was where Papua New Guinea is (which would’ve been significantly warmer than Dunedin, where I mostly live now). We immediately made some of the best friends in our life, with people we got to know during our school drop offs. We were on open-door status with our friends, never needing to knock, and always welcomed in for a coffee or cup of tea, with our kids all becoming friends. We had a very tight friendship group, and once that happened, there was really no looking back.
Q: Was it always your intention to live somewhere else?
A: I had decided after my first year of University that I would like to pursue a career in film, so that was probably when the reality, that I would eventually need to leave, set in.
Q: What is your day-to-day life like?
A: I mostly left the entertainment industry about 7 years ago. I realized that when my kids were watching someone on YouTube play video games for 4 hours at a time, and it didn’t really cost anything to produce that, my career would most likely be in jeopardy in the near future. So Kate and I bought a large derelict heritage building in Dunedin and started to restore it, eventually converting it into a nice commercial building that houses about 70 businesses, including a few of our own. We started working on the building in 2014, and we opened in 2016. This has, unfortunately, dominated my time and hasn’t left me with a lot of free time, but as we are reaching the end of the project, I am optimistic (perhaps naively) that I will have a lot more time to spend with my family and friends, both in New Zealand and in the States. Seventy business probably makes it sound bigger than it is. There is probably about 250 people in the building, and a lot of the businesses are small 1-3 person businesses. It’s a co-working space called “Petridish” which was meant to be a play on the words “Culture” and “Growth”, but it turned out to be one of the most poorly named businesses during a worldwide pandemic.
Q: Can you compare American life vs New Zealand life?
A: My life in New Zealand is a lot more like how I remember Nebraska, than Los Angeles. I split my time between a town of about 140k population, Dunedin, and a town of about 800 people, Russell. I prefer a small population community to a place like Los Angeles, where it is so big that people don’t always feel the social pressures of being decent to each other. I loved living in Los Angeles, but moving to New Zealand was one of the best decisions that I’ve made in my life. It is full of kind people, some of the best scenery in the world, hiking trails with no natural predators, and some of the best beaches (mostly empty) in the world.
Q: How has your experience growing up in Elkhorn impacted your life so far?
A: I have realized that when comparing Nebraska to other communities that I have lived in, Nebraskans have incredible work ethic, are naturally friendly and likable, and look out for each other. I am still blown away by the philanthropy that I am aware of in Omaha compared to what I have seen anywhere else. I am still a proud Nebraskan at heart.
Q: Is there anything you miss about the US?
A: I miss a lot about the U.S. The first thing that hurts when you move anywhere is the food that you left behind. I haven’t had great Mexican food for 15 years. I probably haven’t had a Runza for 17 years. Kate and I are coming back to visit family in August, this year, so I am fully aware that I will probably eat as much as I can, to excess. I also miss friends and family a lot, but as much as you can get bummed out that you have left these people to live somewhere else, I have found that with family and good friends, you always pick up where you left off and it just fills you up with the best joy you can have in life.
Q: Do you have advice for high schoolers on where their paths will lead them?
A: I think if you are open to experiencing whatever you can manage in life, it will take you to some of the most unexpected and fantastic places. Be kind and give of yourself what you can to help others and life will take on an incredibly rewarding journey.
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Class of 1979 Gives Back For Their 45-Year Class Reunion
Thank you Elkhorn High Class of 1979 for your donation!!
Elkhorn High Class of 1979 celebrated their 45th year reunion by connecting with the community. Members of the class built a float featuring a giant cake for the Elkhorn Days Parade. The class will have their reunion at the end of June.
They also gave back to the community by making a donation to the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation in honor of their 45 year class reunion! The class designated their $500 donation toward the EPSF Tornado Relief Fund.
Jeff Holling, a spokesperson for the Class of 1979, said “We initially had class members donate money to help build our Elkhorn Days Parade float. When it became apparent that there would be funds left over, the team working on the float considered what should be done and then jointly agreed the money should be used as a donation, to give back to the community.”
We are so thankful for alumni who continue to help the community that raised them. If you or your graduating class would like to make a donation, contact alumni@elkhornfoundation.org or visit this donation link. You can allocate your donation to certain Foundation programs including the EPS Alumni Scholarship, Tornado Relief Fund, Classroom Grants, Math & Reading Intervention Groups, and more. You can see a full list of options on our donation form.
Alumni Spotlight: Irma Lamprecht
“The Graduation Party I Never Had”: Irma Harder Lamprecht, Class of 1944
Written by Lynn Lamprecht
Sections contributed by Ann Huddleston
On the evening of June 8th, at the Elkhorn Legion Club, Irma Harder Lamprecht was honored as the oldest living alumnus of Elkhorn High School and the last surviving member of the Elkhorn graduating class of 1944.
A group of alumni puts together an Alumni Banquet each year honoring Elkhorn High School alumni. This year honored classes in attendance were from graduating years of 1944, 1949, 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969 and 1974.
Irma was born at her farm home located just north of 180th and Dodge on December 10, 1926, to Amanda and Max Harder. Irma was their only child.
Irma attended District 48 Country School which was located 1 ½ miles south of their home on the corner of 180th and Pacific. From the age of five until graduating 8th grade, she walked to and from the country school. When she was five years old, Dodge Street was under construction. A road worker would meet her every day, before and after school, to carry her across the street safely.
Irma attended Elkhorn High School when she was in 9th grade. In those days, they called daily attendance. She thought it was quite funny when the teacher called daily roll call, they first called Irma’s name and then the name of the next person in the alphabet who was Betty Hell, so it was Harder and Hell together every day. Also, during winter months, Irma would stay at a family home in Elkhorn and return home on the weekends.
Irma graduated in 1944 with 25 individuals in her class, 13 boys and 12 girls. They did not have a formal graduation because of the war but instead each graduate got their picture taken with cap and gown. Twelve of the boys in her class were drafted into WWII and they left for war shortly after graduation. Happily, all 12 returned to Elkhorn safely when the war was over.
Irma attended one year of business school in Omaha and then worked for Union Pacific Railroad for three years. Her job was to track the car numbers on each train car and their location throughout the U.S.
Irma married John Lamprecht in March 1947 and lived for two years on a farm located near Waterloo, NE. Later, the family moved to a farm near Gretna, NE where they raised five children. It was a dairy farm where the cows were milked twice a day. She raised chickens and collected and sold the eggs. She performed all the routine daily activities as a farm wife but was also a leader of a 4-H club, participated in church circle, and other community activities.
John and Irma moved off the farm in 1983, as the farm was sold to Tim and Jan Vala, who turned the farm into Vala’s Pumpkin Patch. Interestingly, their family home is still standing. Visitors to Vala’s might have already toured the home, remodeled into what is now known as the Vala’s Pumpkin Patch Haunted Farmhouse!
After John passed away in 1995, Irma stayed on their acreage just north of Gretna for several years but later moved to Fremont where she currently lives in an assisted living facility.
Along with her five children, Irma has 13 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren. Family members love Irma for who she is but say her greatest asset is her ability to not pass judgment on anyone but rather accept everyone for who they are!
When Irma was asked about being honored as the oldest Elkhorn alumnus, her response was “When I graduated, World War II was happening, and there was always the thought in the back of my mind of war. The boys were drafted right away. People did not think of the celebrations, as it was a serious time. The alumni banquet was the graduation party I never had.”
Annual Alumni Banquet 2024
The 66th annual Alumni Banquet was held by a committee of Elkhorn alumni on June 8th to honor Elkhorn High School alumni. Honored class years of 1944, 1949, 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969, and 1974 had members in attendance. It was a great evening of reconnecting, food, and conversations of how much Elkhorn has grown!
