Two alumni and a friend of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point were honored as the university presented its Distinguished Alumni Award, Alumni Service Award and William C. Hansen Distinguished Service Award on May 20.
Andrew Naumann of Melrose Park, Ill., a 1992 graduate of UWSP, was named the Distinguished Alumnus. Brant Bergeron of Plover, a 1985 alumnus, received the Alumni Service Award and Roy Menzel of Stevens Point received the William C. Hansen Distinguished Service Award.
The owner of Schilke Music Products in Melrose Park, Naumann heads one of the most respected trumpet manufacturing companies in the world. He first began making trumpets in his apartment in 1993, then worked for the Getzen Company, redesigning trumpets and establishing a custom line. Naumann was approached about buying the Schilke company a short time after he visited its factory in 2002. Within the first year of his ownership, the company broke all sales records, increased production, remodeled the factory and reestablished the Schilke name.
Naumann has shared his success with his alma mater by establishing the Andrew Naumann/Schilke Music Products full tuition Honorary Robert Kase Scholarship in honor of his friend and mentor, Music Department Chair Bob Kase. He’s also donated trumpets to the Department of Music and serves on the College of Fine Arts and Communication Great Artists and Speakers Fundraising Advisory Committee.
Bergeron, director of public and community relations for Ministry Health Care, is the former director of Alumni Relations at UWSP, a position he served for 12 years. During his time at UWSP, he was involved in the Academic Staff Council and Council for Advancement and Support of Education. He now volunteers for 90FM’s annual Trivia Contest, is a referee for alumni basketball games and advises the current Alumni Affairs Office.
An active volunteer in the UWSP community, Bergeron is involved with Plover-Whiting Youth Athletics, the Community Foundation of Portage County, Stevens Point Kiwanis Club, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Portage County, United Way of Portage County, Faith in Action, St. Bronislava Parish of Plover, Knights of Columbus of Stevens Point and the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.
Menzel, called a force of positive energy in the community by those who nominated him, was honored for his humanitarian service to the community with the William C. Hansen Service Award, named for a 1911 alumnus of UWSP who became its president from 1940 to 1962 and served as a Wisconsin State Senator from 1964 to 1969.
A public relations professional by trade, Menzel was one of the founders of the Green Circle Trail, securing land and generating funding and support for the project as well as serving on its board of directors. He is an avid supporter of UWSP’s Schmeeckle Reserve, was involved in creating Operation Bootstrap and was on Stevens Point’s Centennial Committee. His “On the Back Porch” columns appeared in the Stevens Point Journal in the 40s and 50s and reappeared from 2003-2004.
He also has taught public relations classes at UWSP, has served its chancellors and administrators as an unofficial liaison between the campus and community and served on the Board of Visitors, the Quarterback Club and Backcourt Club. He and his wife, Marge, have nine children, five of whom attended UWSP.
