Two more high-achieving graduates of Austin High School will be honored as part of homecoming festivities this week.

Timothy Hoopman, class of 1963, and Nancy (Jordan) Eitreim, class of 1960, will be honored by the Austin High School Alumni & Friends Association as the 2011 Distinguished Alumni. Hoopman and Eitreim plan to travel back to Austin for a reception and dinner Sept. 22 along with taking in Austin High’s homecoming festivities Sept. 23, including the parade of student floats through downtown.

Members of the public are invited to attend the Sept. 22 reception and dinner for this year’s Distinguished Alumni at the Hormel Historic Home in Austin. Tickets for the dinner need to be purchased in advance.

A school assembly also is being planned for the morning of Sept. 22 at Austin High’s Knowlton Auditorium, where Hoopman and Eitreim each will be honored and give a speech to the student body.

Eitreim urges students to keep their eyes and ears open.

“Listening is a gift and a key to leadership,” she said. “Leaders find opportunities for others — listen to the passions of your co-workers, friends and members. Outline the opportunities and challenges in your business or organization, invite participation and share the success.”

Timothy Hoopman

Class of 1963

Timothy Hoopman, who lives in River Falls, Wis., worked for 35 years for 3M Company in Minnesota, earning 34 patents at 3M while building his reputation as an expert in micro-replication technology that furthered product development in many areas. In 1997, he received 3M’s Carleton Society Award, the company’s honor for the highest technical achievement.

Hoopman, a registered professional engineer in Wisconsin, had patents at 3M related to various products and processes, with the biggest involving cube corner retroreflective sheeting for highway signs.  Sold internationally, these brighter signs have provided greater public safety and better visibility for the aging population.  3M has sold more than $1 billion in products protected by these patents.

Hoopman, whose wife Carole (Kreuger) Hoopman, is an Austin High Class of 1964 graduate, also has participated in 3M’s “Visiting Wizard” program that does science shows for students in third through sixth grades to stimulate the children’s interest in technology. He presented the program to more than 2,500 students in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Students should remember that it’s not possible to be good at all things or please all people, Hoopman said.
“Find your natural talents and what you love to do,” Hoopman said. “Search for a career that allows you to utilize those talents. Your work will then bring you pleasure and excitement. You will be highly motivated and successful.”

Nancy (Jordan) Eitreim

Class of 1960

Nancy (Jordan) Eitreim, who resides in Seattle, had a 45-year career as a community organizer, public affairs specialist and development director.  She was involved in paid and volunteer positions that included publicizing the abuse of young children, homelessness, voter education and participation, and providing leadership for the League of Women Voters of Seattle. She has retired to volunteer leadership work since 1999.

Eitreim has won national awards for public-affairs campaigns, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for nonprofit organizations, and played a key role in revitalizing a neighborhood abandoned by the establishment of Seattle and redlined by banks.

While serving as president of the League of Women Voters of Seattle from 2003 to 2007, Eitreim increased membership and donations, raised the public profile, maintained a reputation as a trusted convener on difficult issues, advocated for LWV positions before city and county councils, and increased outreach to partners and allies. The Seattle LWV is one of the largest local leagues in the United States, with about 700 active members.

She also has served as a director on the National Board of the League of Women Voters, an organization with about 800 local Leagues in every state and 150,000 members and donors.