Schlueter and Simmons Honored at Commencement
John Allen Schlueter received the distinguished alumnus award at Commencement on May 9. Al Schlueter was born and raised in Canistota, SD. He attended Concordia Teachers College for two years and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Dakota State (General Beadle State Teachers College) in 1964. He later completed his Master's and 6-year professional degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Mr. Schlueter taught music and social studies at Orchard, NE for five years after his graduation from General Beadle. He then accepted a teaching position at Winside Schools where he later served as elementary and then secondary principal for ten years. In 1980 he returned to Orchard Public Schools as superintendent and has remained in that position to the present.
Mr. Schlueter has been an active advocate for educational reform in the state of Nebraska. Under his guidance, Orchard Public Schools has become a leader in standards based education. He is currently working with small school districts in the state on unification plans. He was active in forming and chairing a consortium called the Niobrara Valley Telepartnership, which was successful in obtaining grant funding to establish the first digital full motion distance learning system in the State of Nebraska.
In 1996 Mr. Schlueter was named Northeast Nebraska Superintendent of the Year and in 1997 was recommended by the Nebraska Commissioner of Education as Nebraska's representative for the AASA National Superintendent of the Year. Mr. Schlueter is active in several professional, school, civic and church related organizations.
Helen Simmons was honored at Commencement with the Distinguished Service Award. Mrs. Simmons served as Registrar at Dakota State from 1964 until her retirement in 1982. During her tenure, she provided strong leadership to the student services team by setting standards of professionalism, integrity, and continuous quality of service. She was active in the Upper Midwest Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and served on various committees throughout her association. At retirement, she was awarded Honorary Life Membership by this organization.
During her years in the Registrar's Office, Helen was involved with the conversion from quarters to semesters; in two name changes of the University; in the administrative association with the University of South Dakota; and in the first automation of registration activities from paper and pencil to data keypunch cards. She worked under numerous presidents, providing guidance, advisement and a solid foundation of information from which the University's applications for accreditation were built and approved.
Since her retirement, Mrs. Simmons has been involved in community and church activities. She continues to live in Madison with her husband.