P. Stephen Baenziger, PhD.
1969
Dr. Baenziger, the Eugene W Price Distinguished Professor in the Department of Agronomy at the University of Nebraska, has specialized in the improvement of winter wheat, barley, and triticale. He is one of the best-known researches in wheat breeding and devoted to improving plant yields to feed more of the world’s growing population.
Inducted 2007
Hans Wahl
1969
From a simple sixth grade teacher to working in the headquarters of Amnesty International to a director of Penal Reform International to a managing director of INSEAD. Imbued with a passion and an energy that never abates. Hans continues his mission to create a more compassionate and more humane world. For over thirty years, he has fought to bring justice to those behind bars, to those who are tortured, to government and systems which are not up to par with the international standards of human rights.
Inducted 2008
Kenneth Piest, MD.
1972
Dr. Kenneth Piest was a renowned surgeon in the field of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. During his career, Dr. Piest was the recipient of numerous prestigious awards and was a dedicated volunteer in helping patients afflicted with craniofacial disorders and neurofibromatosis. Outside of medicine, he was an advocate of animal rights. During his illness with leukemia, he was instrumental in forming a foundation to fund bone marrow drives that register donors with the National Bone Marrow Program. Dr. Piest died awaiting a bone marrow transplant. This foundation continues his legacy by helping others.
Inducted 2008
John Schafer, MD.
1963
Dr. Schafer, a neurologist, has focused his efforts in stroke, multiple sclerosis and movement disorders. He has worked as the stroke director at his hospital and has opened a multiple sclerosis clinic providing people with MS greater diagnostic tools and treatments. He has volunteered his time with the local chapters of the American Heart Assoc., American Stroke Assoc., and National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Dr. Schafer is also clinical professor of Neurology at U of CA, Davis. He firmly feels volunteer experiences supplement one’s professional activities.
Inducted 2009
Donald Maruska
1968
Don has served as a legislative advisor in the U.S. Senate. As the founder and CEO of three companies he won the National Innovators Award in 1988. He has aided start-up companies which later became public companies and has worked as a consultant successfully solving critical issues for many multi-million-dollar companies and government agencies. Don writes the “Business Success” column, speaks and consults on solutions to the most challenging problems.
Inducted 2010
Sandra Heinisch Teichow
1961
Sandy had a passion for teaching and humanitarian services. She taught at Gateway Technical College in Elkhorn, WI. She traveled many times to Central America and Eastern Europe for teaching, helping children in orphanages get shoes, and building brick houses. She started Humanitarian Clubs at the international schools in Kiev, Sarajevo and Minsk. Sandy had a zest for life and a constantly upbeat outlook that endeared her to everyone she met.
Inducted 2011
Douglas Merkel, MD.
1975
Douglas completed the 6 year medical school program at Northwestern University. Spent one year of research in Flow Cytometry and a three year Fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio in molecular biology. The fellowship was under Dr. Maguire, a pioneer in the field of breast cancer. Douglas is now the second in the country for the volume of breast cancer patients under his care. His positive attitude is reflected by his patients. When asked how he can deal with the horror of the disease he said, “I focus on how many lives I can save.”
Inducted 2011
James Sorensen
1969
Jim taught language arts, literacy, social studies, and science for thirty-four years at Chippewa Middle School in Des Plaines. He received a Those Who Excel Award in 1992 from the Illinois Board of Education. In 1999 he was selected a Golden Apple award winner. The North Suburban Library Association named him Community Advocate of the Year in 2003 for his service projects bringing children to the Des Plaines Library. Like many teachers who’ve dedicated their lives to education, Jim believes the real award is finally seeing the light turn on in the eyes of a struggling child.
Inducted 2012
Allen Blue
1985
Allen is a thoughtful problem solver who always connected with and assisted his peers. Graduating from Stanford in 1990 majoring in Technical Theater he built sets and scenery and also was a website designer. Together with some friends from Stanford they built a system on the internet “that would let professionals stay in touch and also set the stage for them to network with experts in their field and to search for job opportunities.” A co-founder of LinkedIn he has used his many talents and creativity for making a difference in the world.
Inducted 2013
Elliott Dodge
1962
Elliott “Kip” Dodge’s expertise and talents are expansive, including engineering, leadership and art. A large portion of his still growing career was spent designing and leading designers in NASA and NASA associated companies. Some of his projects include the Gamma-Ray Telescope, Mars Science Laboratory, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and Mars Exploration Rovers. His award-winning talent in landscape painting has been showcased in Regional and International art shows. He is a true Renaissance Man.
Inducted 2014
Douglas Lauffenburger
1971
After starting as a Chemical Engineer, Doug shifted his field of study to finding mathematical approaches to view cellular biology. His work has led to the better understanding of the dynamics of cells and the process of embryonic tissue development to angiogenesis and cancer. This knowledge will help design drugs to combat health problems when cells go awry. As a professor he continues to challenge his students at MIT by using an engineer’s approach to solve biological problems.
Inducted 2015
James Kahn, MD.
1965
James Kahn is a practicing Emergency Room physician who began his career as a novelist with the mystery Diagnosis: Murder. He was a medical advisor on Steven Spielberg’s ET: The Extraterrestrial, then went on to novelize Spielberg’s movies Poltergeist, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, The Goonies, and Return of the Jedi. He has a long career in television writing and producing. His screen plays for TV include Melrose Place, E.R., St. Elsewhere, and Star Trek: Voyager. He was nominated for an Emmy for writing for All My Children. As a singer-songwriter, he’s produced 3 Americana CDs. He continues to let his artistic talents grow with more stories to tell, movies to produce, and songs to be sung.
Inducted 2016
David Barker
1963
David is an exemplary teacher, administrator and leader. He worked throughout his forty-year career to improve students’ education. He’s the first Maine high school graduate to become a Principal of a Maine high school, following his father’s path as an educator and Principal. Initially teaching German and Russian at Maine East, David fostered the English Language Learners programs, first as coordinator then chairing the ESL/Bilingual Education Department. He sponsored many organizations and tirelessly worked to improve education for the students and teachers. After retiring, David continued to serve the district by becoming a trustee in the School Based Health Center and a trustee in the District 207 Educational Foundation. His belief that students need to “be well to do well” is still encouraged and lived in the district.
Inducted 2017
Quentin Schultze
1970
Dr. Quentin Schultze writes, speaks, and consults about the art and soul of communication. As a professor of Communication Arts and Sciences at Calvin College since 1982, Dr. Schultze has used his experience to instill in his students a desire to learn. He learns right along with his students, staying current in order to motivate his students into thought-provoking discussions between age-old questions and current events. He has consulted on communication projects for many organizations, mentored professionals about their interpersonal and public communication, and conducted communication workshops for many organizations.
Inducted 2018
Jason DeRusha
1993
Jason DeRusha has had a passion for broadcasting that goes as far back as elementary school. He describes himself as a TV News Anchor, Strategic Communicator, Curious Leader and Food Critic. He graduated from the Honors program at Marquette Univ. with Poli. Sci. and Broadcast Comm. degrees. He has been nominated for twenty regional Emmy Awards and has won nine for his reporting at WCCO television in Minneapolis. He is also a contributing editor for the Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine, as a food and wine columnist. His food coverage was a finalist for Outstanding TV Segment in the prestigious national James Beard Awards, the Jaycees named him one of the Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans, and Minneapolis proclaimed Sep. 21, 2009, “Jason DeRusha Day.”
Inducted 2019