UW-River Falls to honor outstanding alums, special contributor

 

Annual Evening of Excellence set for May 3

 

May 1, 2024 -- Four University of Wisconsin-River Falls alums and a long-time supporter of the university will be honored at the UWRF Evening of Excellence, Friday, May 3, in the Riverview Ballroom of the University Center. The event begins at 5:30 p.m.

“As we begin our year-long commemoration of UWRF’s 150th year, it seems even more meaningful to honor this year’s awards recipients who have carried on the Falcon tradition of making a profound difference in the world,” said UWRF Chancellor Maria Gallo. “Their many accomplishments prove yet again how the foundation of a UWRF education provides opportunities that lead to limitless achievements.” 

The UWRF Alumni Association will present four awards: Distinguished Alumni, Lifetime Achievement, Outstanding Young Alum and Outstanding Service.

Distinguished Alumni Award

Entrepreneurs. Innovators. Philanthropists. Jeff and Kristi Cernohous of River Falls have, together, established an impressive record of noteworthy career and life accomplishments.

After starting his career at 3M, Jeff founded Interfacial Solutions (IFS) in his garage. He grew the company significantly until 2014 when IFS was purchased by Stratasys, Ltd. He remained as general manager, developing new technologies related to materials science for the 3D printing market. Jeff founded Magna Flooring in 2012 and Interfacial Consultants (IFC) in 2016. In 2020, Nagase acquired controlling interest in IFC. Jeff is now IFC’s minority partner and chief operating officer as well as chief innovation officer for Nagase America. IFC employs more than 80 people and operates five facilities in western Wisconsin.

Jeff is an award-winning, innovative leader in sustainable materials, additive manufacturing, advanced composite and specialty additives. He is co-author of more than 50 scientific publications and 100 U.S. patents and patent applications. His patents have generated more than $5 billion of commercial product value for his companies Interfacial Solutions (IFS), Interfacial Consultants (IFC) and their customers.
Jeff earned a chemistry degree from UWRF in 1993 and went on to receive his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Minnesota in 1997.

Jeff has served on many boards, including the UWRF Foundation Board of Directors, the UWRF Chancellor’s Advisory Council, UW-Stout People Process Culture, UW-Eau Claire Materials Science Advisory Committee and multiple start-up/for profit companies. He also has also served as a UWRF lecturer, teaching a class on innovation and entrepreneurship in science.

Kristi Cernohous started her career in quality assurance at General Mills in 1993 where she was part of a team responsible for auditing third-party licensers and contract manufacturers using the Betty Crocker brand. She later served as a forensic scientist for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. She specialized in trace evidence analysis and was involved in several high-profile criminal cases. In 2007, Kristi joined husband Jeff and created critical structure and process to his rapidly growing businesses. She served as vice president of quality and characterization for both Interfacial Solutions and Interfacial Consultants.

The couple were leading advocates for UWRF’s Science and Technology Innovation Center (SciTech) and have contributed $1.25 million for the transformational project, which began construction in 2023.

Jeff and Kristi have three children and three grandchildren. They grew up in rural River Falls and continue to live here.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Gary Wagenbach, who earned a UWRF degree in biology and chemistry in 1962, went on to a long and accomplished career in education and research.

Wagenbach grew up in Barron, where he was captain of the 1957 Golden Bears football team. After graduation from UWRF, Wagenbach went on to earn his master’s degree and Ph.D. in zoology from UW-Madison. He also served in research positions at the University of Washington, Bermuda Biological Station, the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, Mass., and the University of Hawaii. 
Over a remarkable 39-year career at Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., Wagenbach served as the Winifred and Atherton Bean Professor of Biology, Science, Technology and Society and now holds emeritus status. He strongly encouraged faculty/student collaborative research and taught a variety of courses including off-campus research programs and environmental studies. He also served as the director of environmental and technology studies.

As an invertebrate zoologist, Wagenbach worked on the population of threatened freshwater mussels in regional rivers. He is the author of numerous research articles and has inspired generations of Carleton students who have gone on to notable careers in research and higher education. After retirement, he provided teacher professional development for Lumbini Academy, a K-12 school in Yangon, Myanmar. Walgenbach also teaches courses in the Master Naturalists Program and for the Cannon Valley Elder Collegium.

Wagenbach has been active in his community, serving as board member and officer of the Valley Grove Minnesota Preservation Society, a project manager for the society’s oak savanna restoration and an elected supervisor for the Rice County Soil and Water Conservation District. His military service includes five years with the Army Reserves 82nd Engineers at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

Gary and his wife, Linda, also a UWRF alum, live in Nerstrand, Minn.

Outstanding Young Alum Award

Elizabeth Byers has demonstrated a passion for student development, academic excellence, and the dairy community. She earned her UWRF bachelor’s degree in marketing in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. She went on to earn her master’s degree in education from UW-La Crosse.

Byers began her student affairs career at UWRF when she served as the career services career fair coordinator.  Her time as a Chancellor’s Student Ambassador, member of the Dairy Judging Team, and her term as Alpha Sigma Alpha’s president had a significant influence on her career trajectory.

Byers is now the assistant director of academic excellence and transformational education in the College of Agriculture at Purdue University. She implements events and programs to enhance student’s growth in the areas of undergraduate research, issues engagement, academic excellence, and leadership. Byers also collects and analyzes data on senior’s transformational experiences and manages various endowments to maximize investment returns while staying fiscally responsible.

She previously served as both a senior academic and career advisor and a student services specialist within the College of Agriculture at Purdue. In these roles, she organized numerous networking events, seminars, and industry tours to enhance students' professional skills and career understanding.

Byers has taught seminars for honors students and led study abroad trips to Haiti, Costa Rica, and Iceland. She advises the Purdue Agricultural Council and continues to meet up with students and alumni whenever they are on campus.

Byers is engaged in her community, serving as dairy superintendent for Tippecanoe County 4-H and as a member of the Tippecanoe County Extension Board. Additionally, she is the dairy judging coach for the local 4H team and volunteers with various 4H initiatives across the state.

Byers has received several awards, including Outstanding Club Advisor in Purdue’s College of Agriculture, Outstanding New Professional through the Purdue Advising Association, and the Chancellor's Award for Excellence as an undergraduate at University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

Outstanding Service Award

Linda Yde of River Falls is an accomplished health care professional, community leader, tireless volunteer and UW-River Falls supporter and advocate. 

After retiring from Regions Hospital where she served as a trauma program coordinator, Yde immediately became involved with the River Falls Rotary Club as a rotary reader, helping scores of elementary school students with their reading at Rocky Branch, Greenwood and Montessori schools. During winter months, Yde volunteers in the first grade classroom at Nancy Lopez Elementary School in Roswell, N.M.

Yde is now president of the River Falls Rotary Club and has led a successful diaper and baby wipes drive and spearheads the book giveaway for the yearly Tools for School program. She also chairs the Fifth Tuesday Committee which undertakes projects for students in the River Falls School District, UWRF, Chippewa Valley Technical College and community non-profit organizations such as Our Neighbor’s Place.

As for her UWRF support, Yde, originally from Shawano, has served an integral role in the reinstatement of UWRF’s marching band program. She provides important assistance to Director Tom Barnett with the Marching Falcons band camp by planning activities, meals and snacks for band members during their week-long training. Yde has also established three student scholarship funds at UWRF.

Until an unfortunate rib fracture, she was a member of the UWRF Pep Band, the St. Croix Valley Community Band and the Roswell, N.M., Community Band. Because she is no longer able to play trombone, she has turned her attention to piano and ukelele.