John Armbruster's 2022 book, "Tailspin," recounts the true story of a poor farm boy from Wisconsin who enlisted to serve his country in World War II and survived an unimaginable ordeal—he fell four miles to the ground in the tail of a plane without a parachute, became a prisoner of war, and was forced to take part in a 600-mile death march.

Biology/chemistry major Shane Peper '98 had a doctoral degree in analytical chemistry by the time he was honored with a Viterbo Young Alumni Award in 2004. Much of his career, which took him all over the world, was spent in nuclear research and security, but he also delved into molecular pathology as a researcher and educator. He's now on assignment in France doing nuclear security work for INTERPOL.

Education major Debra (Kelly) Schams '81 was honored with a Viterbo Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 1989, the same year an alumni award for global community service was given to Thea Bowman, FSPA '65. Schams was a much-loved teacher in La Crosse's Aquinas Catholic Schools until her recent retirement.

Ministry major Michael Krueger '10, '15, was honored with a Young Alumni Award in 2013 while he was in the process of earning his Master of Arts in Servant Leadership degree. He worked in residential facilities for adults with developmental disabilities, as a social worker, and as a stay-at-home father before landing in his current role as director of affiliation for the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.

A longtime social worker, Josh Court ’12 came to Viterbo for an MBA as he was drawn to take on leadership. In addition to his work at Gundersen Health System, he serves as director of La Crosse SOUP, an organization that crowdfunds community projects.

The Rev. Michael Churchill ’15 came to Viterbo to study nursing, and that’s what he did. But through campus ministry he also discovered a calling to serve the Lord. A year ago, he was ordained as a Catholic priest in the Winona-Rochester Diocese.

As a Viterbo student, Jim Loomis ’80 formed a deep friendship with Thea Bowman, FSPA ’65. To honor her, he created an endowed fellowship in her name to keep her memory and legacy alive, one last example of the generosity for which he was known.

Jim Loomis '80 wrote a story titled "One September Day" about forming a friendship as a student with Thea Bowman, FSPA '65, a friendship that endured and grew stronger until Sr. Thea's death in 1990.

By the time Gundersen Health System CEO Dr. Scott Rathgaber enrolled in Viterbo’s Master of Arts in Servant Leadership Degree program in 2018, 30 years after earning his doctoral degree, he’d already had a lifetime of learning. But growing up in Indiana, his parents instilled in him a strong love of education, and Rathgaber felt the obligation as a CEO to be the best possible leader he could be.

Dean Yohnk he knew when he came to Viterbo in 1982 that he wanted to become a theatre arts and English teacher himself. He became that and more, a much honored college professor and administrator in a career that saw him teaching at Viterbo from 1992-2001.