UW-River Falls to honor outstanding alums, special contributors

Annual Evening of Excellence set for May 5
 

April 28, 2023 - Three University of Wisconsin-River Falls alums and two longtime supporters of the university will be honored at the UWRF Evening of Excellence, Friday, May 5, in the Riverview Ballroom in the University Center. The event begins at 5:30 p.m.

“This year’s award recipients have carried on the Falcon tradition of serving others and creating a better world,” UWRF Chancellor Maria Gallo said. “They’ve proven that the opportunities they experienced at UWRF provided a strong foundation for a future of limitless potential.”

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

Distinguished Alum Award

For more than three decades, Margaret Keating built a remarkable record of achievement at Hallmark. She started in 1979 as a process controller and advanced through various positions of increasing responsibility in operations, graphic arts and human resources. In April 1994, Keating was promoted to vice president of the graphic arts department and named a Hallmark corporate officer. 

As the group vice president of operations, Keating was responsible for all United States and Canadian manufacturing, distribution, transportation, graphic arts and global procurement for the entire Hallmark family of companies, which included buying offices in Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Shanghai. Keating retired from Hallmark in 2010.

Keating, originally from New Richmond, has served on many boards, including the UW-River Falls Foundation Board of Directors, the University of Missouri-Kansas City Bloch Advisory Council, United Way of Greater Kansas City, Women’s Leadership Council, Girl Scouts of Mid-Continent, the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and the Master of Supply Chain Management Corporate Advisory Council.

Keating is now an adjunct professor within the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri-Kansas City where she teaches supply chain curriculum. Keating also serves on the board of Outreach International, a global nonprofit that supports local leaders and community-led groups who develop lasting solutions to poverty-related issues.

Keating earned a business administration and economics degree from UWRF in 1975. Keating and her husband, Daniel Turkisher, live in Raymore, Mo. She enjoys spending time with her two children and five grandchildren.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Chaplain Richmond E. Stoglin, Arlington, Texas, a first-generation student who earned a UWRF history degree in 1979, has gone on to a career of exceptional service to his country and his community.

Stoglin served his country in the United States Navy Reserve Chaplain Corps from 1985 to 2013. During his service career, he attained the rank of commander and former regimental chaplain to the 14th Marines, the largest artillery command in the U.S. Marine Corps. He also served as command chaplain of the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan and the Combined Security Training Command-Afghanistan.

Stoglin served for more than 22 years for the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas. His last position within the Department of Justice was as department head of Religious Services.

After retiring, Stoglin started his own consulting group, The Stoglin Group. The firm specializes in consulting organizations, corporations and nonprofits through mediation, family mediation, workplace ethics, strategic planning, leadership development, public policy and law enforcement counseling.

A decorated veteran, Stoglin’s accolades include being awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal and two National Defense Service Medals. He’s been a recipient of the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce MVP award and was named the University of Texas-Arlington’s Outstanding African American Alumnus.

Stoglin was the first African American to be ordained in the Minnesota United Methodist Conference in 1981. In January, he became the first African American ordained to the priesthood in the Fort Worth Anglican Diocese of the American Church of North America.

Stoglin enjoys walking, reading, public speaking and volunteering for multiple charitable causes. He is also a published author. He lives in Arlington with his wife, Reecia.

Outstanding Young Alum Award

Ali Kofiro is the first Somali student accepted into the UWRF School Counseling Program. After earning his master’s degree from UWRF in 2010, he went on to become the first Somali licensed school counselor in the region and possibly in the nation.

Recognizing a need and opportunity to have more diversity in counseling, Kofiro became a tireless advocate, encouraging members of the Somali community to explore counseling as a career opportunity.

“I wanted to show them the way,” Kofiro said. “I showed them how to apply and connected them to the right people at UWRF, such as Dr. Mark Gillen. I helped mentor them through the program.”

As a result of Kofiro’s efforts, there are now 16 licensed Somali school counselors in Minnesota. Several have moved on to become principals. The group continues to network and encourage others to join the UWRF program. Kofiro returned to UWRF to teach classes and is a leading member of the program’s stakeholders’ group.

Kofiro has been a school counselor at Wellstone International High School in Minneapolis since 2011. He is also the founder and president of Disability Benefit Solutions, a firm that specializes in representing people with disabilities who need to apply for Social Security disability benefits. Since 2018, Kofiro has handled thousands of Social Security disability claims across the nation.

Kofiro earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in 2006.

Outstanding Service Award

Charles and Ruth Anne White, River Falls, are longtime community leaders and generous supporters of UW-River Falls people, programs and projects.

After graduating from River Falls High School in 1945, Chuck attended River Falls State Teachers College for one year, where he starred on the debate team. He transferred to UW-Madison, received his bachelor’s degree in 1949 and earned his law degree in 1951. He then served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps in Korea, where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Korean Service, the Korean Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal.

Following his service, Chuck returned to his hometown, where he became one of River Falls’ community leaders. He practiced law for 42 years and taught business law at UWRF. Chuck earned many high honors in the Masonic fraternity, served as chancellor of the Episcopal Diocese of Eau Claire and was a longtime member of the First National Bank of River Falls Board of Directors.

Ruth Anne grew up in Viroqua and earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from UW-Madison. She went on to a long career at the Niro Atomizer manufacturing plant in Hudson, which produced evaporation equipment for food, dairy and chemical products.

The Whites have been long-time generous supporters of UWRF, establishing multiple scholarship funds and providing support for major university projects such as the renovation of David Smith Stadium at Ramer Field, the Falcon Center and the Science and Technology Innovation Center (SciTech).

“Funding scholarships for UWRF students has been one of our favorite causes,” Chuck said. “The joy expressed by the recipients is very heartwarming. It’s our hope we’ve made a great difference in students’ lives.”