Edgar inducts two alum into Hall of Fame

By Casey Krautkramer

Edgar High School (EHS) inducted two new members, Debra Dahlke and Holly (Denfeld) Nowak, to its Hall of Fame on Friday afternoon following the homecoming parade. All EHS students and many middle school students listened to Dahlke and Nowak tell tehir stories in the auditorium on how they became successful in their job careers after graduating from EHS.

Michael Wilhelm, Edgar middle/high school principal, announced the EHS Class of 2024 Hall of Fame inductees before each of them spoke. He first introduced Dahlke, who is a 1984 graduate of EHS.

“When Madonna and shoulder pads were popular, this farm girl went to nursing school in Marshfield to fulfill her curiosity for biology, and to simply get a decent job,” Wilhelm said of Dahlke. “Moving to Milwaukee, Deb worked in the Coronary Intensive Care Unit at St. Luke’s, loving the acuity of the work and the camaraderie of her colleagues.”

Dahlke completed her bachelor of science degree at night when she wasn’t working, and applied for the competitive nurse anesthesiology program at Franciscan Skemp Hospital in La Crosse. She graduated summa cum laude in 1996, as a certified registered nurse anesthetist with a master’s degree in biology Dahlke has worked at UW Hospital in Level 1 trauma and the affliated Children’s Hospital, as well as in offices and small hospitals. She loves the art and science of taking care of patients when they are in their greatest moments of need.

Her career has brought a great deal of opportunity to grow and learn. She participated in seven pediatric medical missions to central America. Dahlke has served her professional association for over 20 years in various roles including two terms as president.

“In these roles, this self-described introvert has met with dozens of state and federal legislators to educate and advocate for her profession,” Wilhelm said of Dahlke. “She has lobbied on the state and federal levels, met with governors, testified on bills and participated in bill writing and negotiations.”

Dahlke learned the financial and governance side of leading a nonprofit and advanced her association.

“Her philosophy is that everything should be left better than how it’s found,” Wilhelm said.

She was recognized by the current leaders of her state association with an Advocacy Award in 2023. She currently serves on a committee with her national association and still advises leaders of her state association.

Dahlke is currently the head of the anesthesia department at Stoughton Hospital. She was voted Clinical Preceptor of the Year in 2022 by the Nurse Anesthesiology residents at Marquette University. She has a pilot’s license and open water scuba certificate. She has been on every continent except Antarctica, which is on her to-do list. She enjoys her pets, yoga, any activity outside and time with her husband and friends.

Dahlke admitted in her speech that she doesn’t typically enjoy applying for awards.

“I don’t like the attention, but I thought if it helps someone consider a career in advanced practice nursing, then the effort is certainly worth it,” she told the students. “I have a really awesome career that kind of occurred by accident. I love ICU nursing. Honestly, I’ve been doing this for a long time, so just be the best in your chosen field, no matter what trade you are in or what you do. A colleague told me early on in my profession if you aren’t part of the solution, you are part of the pollution. You need to have the attitude that you can make things better. If you are in a place of leadership, places that I didn’t expect to be in, approach it with a sense of humility. You are there to help make other people be successful now. Accept opportunities.”

Dahlke spoke about her first experience as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C.

“I sat back and thought, “Oh my God, I am a farm girl from Edgar going to see a senator. Is this a great country or what?’” she recalled. “When you open yourself to opportunities and put your fears aside, then you are going to stumble on some really great things. Lastly, I’ll never forget the patient in the ICU that looked at me and said, ‘Go travel now.’” She told me her husband and her waited to travel when they were retired, but now they couldn’t because she had a massive heart attack and he had leukemia. Even if it meant sleeping on a train or in a new city, I did it. It’s really an awesome world out there for you guys and you can always come back here because this is a great place, too, but go see some stuff. Go do things that you might be scared of and really just take advantage of opportunities because life is really fragile. I hope you guys do a lot of things, even accidentally like I did, and have a lot of fun.”

Wilhelm next introduced Holly Nowalk, a 2013 graduate of EHS.

“Holly Denfeld-Nowak lives her passion for construction and community service as a project manager at Miron Construction,” he said. “Holly works with others to build buildings that impact communities. She builds hospitals, schools and family engagement centers that provide critical services to the communities they serve. In her first six years of employment, Holly managed over $90 million of healthcare projects that improved patient care services in rural communities. Holly holds accreditation with her Wisconsin Healthcare Engineers Association and was one of 33 women recognized in the Daily Reporter for their annual Women in Construction event in 2020.”

Nowak is an advocate for the construction industry. She presents in high school and college classrooms, hosts job shadows and mentors interns that aspire to be leaders in construction. She is a mentor for Build Like a Girl, an event that focuses on building female interest in the construction industry.

She attended Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) where she earned bachelor of science degrees in construction management and architectural engineering. She earned several accolades in school and sports including CoSIDA Women’s Basketball Academic All American first team in 2016 and 2017 and the Josten’s Trophy in 2016, which is presented to Division 3 college athletes for their academic prowess, basketball performance and community service. She won the Associated General Contractors National Allhands Essay Competition in 2018 titled, “The Power of Inspiration in Managing the Labor Shortage in the Construction Industry.”

Nowak enjoys coaching girls basketball in Edgar. She has coached at the middle school and high school varsity levels, serving as assistant varsity coach when the team won several regional championships and a sectional title. She lives in Edgar with her husband, Matt, and their growing family.

She told students that she remembers sitting in the same auditorium when she was a student listening to Hall of Fame speeches.

“I thought to myself, ‘Wow, they are so successful. They must really have life figured out,’” she said. “For me, standing on this side of the auditorium, I can say that is not the case. I barely know what I am having for supper tonight let alone what life’s answers are, but I do think popcorn is on the menu at the football game later so that’s a must. My point being is that life is unpredictable. I left Edgar High School with a passion for construction but I didn’t really know what that meant. It was a series of fortunate and unfortunate opportunities that led me to where I am today. Some of those opportunities felt more like challenges or roadblocks, some of them took grit, some bravery and a bit of nerve but without risk there is no reward and the reward is only as great as the effort that is put into it.”

Nowalk left students with the following advice: “Do what you love and find your passion. Turn challenges into opportunities and take the risk because the reward might be great.”

NEW INDUCTEES - Holly Nowak, left, and Debra Dahlke were inducted into the Edgar High School Hall of Fame last Friday. Middle/high school principal Michael Wilhelm welcomed them.

STAFF PHOTOS/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER