Seven individuals honored at 2025 Homecoming Alumni Awards and Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony

The most lasting impact of my undergraduate years (at UMN Crookston) has been the friendships and connections I made - they've continued to shape and support me long after graduation. My undergrad experience also set me on the path toward medicine, giving me the foundation for the career I'm building today.

Seven individuals were honored by the University of Minnesota Crookston during Homecoming 2025 as this year's alumni award winners and athletic hall of fame inductees. Tim Dufault 1980 and Rose (Iraci) Ulseth 1987 were recognized with the Outstanding Alumni Award, Chelsea Wiesner 2014 received the Abbey [Promise] Award, and Karna (Plaine) Nixon 2006 (women's basketball), Kirk Rongen 1990 (football), Brittany (Looker) Pyfferoen 2015 (volleyball), and Bill Trew 1994 (hockey) were inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. Both Ulseth and Rongen were honored posthumously.

Watch a video recording of the event at: youtu.be/mY0MLwtMH78

View the Homecoming 2025 public photo gallery at: z.umn.edu/AAC-photos-2025

Tim Dufault
Tim Dufault graduated from the University of Minnesota Crookston in 1980 with a degree in agricultural business management, later earning a degree in agricultural economics from North Dakota State University. He was a fourth-generation grain farmer in the Crookston area before recently retiring. Dufault has since given six young farmers access to his land in Gentilly Township to help cultivate a new generation that will stay rooted in the community.

His college senior year, in 1980, Dufault received the UMN Crookston Agricultural Leadership Award and, in 2025, received the UMN Crookston Torch & Shield Award.

Dufault is currently serving as a member of the UMN Crookston Campus Advisory and Advancement Board and the Northwest Research and Outreach Center Advisory Board. He is also the chair of the board for Crookston Public Schools, and serves on the board of directors for the Crookston Area Community Fund. Dufault is the past chair of the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers, Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council, Northern Crops Institute, and Minnesota Ag and Rural Leadership program.

He and his wife, Marlene, have three children, and currently reside on the Dufault farm outside Crookston.
Richard Magnusson 1981 presented the 2025 Outstanding Alumni Award to Dufault and, during his acceptance speech, Dufault said UMN Crookston taught him to get out of his shell and get involved, and that helped lead him to where he's at now.

Rose (Iraci) Ulseth
Rose (Iraci) Ulseth graduated from the University of Minnesota Crookston in 1987 with degrees in executive secretarial administration and legal secretarial administration, and later worked on campus for 28 years as the donor relations and gift management specialist for the Alumni & Donor Relations department. Sadly, Rose passed away January 30, 2025.

Ulseth served on numerous campus committees over the years, including Commencement and Homecoming, and helped host countless events, especially alumni-focused gatherings like the annual Northwest School of Agriculture reunion. In recent years, she was a "regular" in campus social media videos most times providing comic relief. Community involvement included being secretary and treasurer for the township where the Ulseth family farm is located, and being a large supporter of local small businesses.

In 2023, Ulseth received the Distinguished Staff Service Award during the faculty and staff award ceremony. She was posthumously honored as a Trojan alumna featured in the 2025 Torch Alumni Magazine.

Rose and her husband, Marc, have three children, and five grandchildren, with the fifth born days after the awards ceremony.

Brandy Chaffee 2000 presented the 2025 Outstanding Alumni Award to Ulseth's family. Northwest School of Agriculture alumni board president Willie Huot 1963 shared comments about Rose for the occasion saying how it was always a joy to see her at the annual reunion as she knew the NWSA alumni very well, plus "her love for people simply showed through her smile, and her kindness towards others manifested more kindness."

Chelsea Wiesner, DO
Chelsea Wiesner graduated from the University of Minnesota Crookston in 2014 with a degree in both biology and health sciences. She went on to receive her doctorate of osteopathy from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

While at UMN Crookston, Wiesner received the Student Athlete of the Year award during the 2012-2013 academic year, held the career record and school record for digs in volleyball in 2014, received the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Myles Brand All Academic with Distinction honor during the 2013-2014 academic year, and was a member of the UMN Crookston All Academic Team that same year. She also earned a spot on the dean's list for 2012 and 2013, the chancellor's list in 2014, was a member of the National Society for Leadership and Success, held membership in Alpha Lambda Delta, and was a tutor for students.

Professionally, Wiesner received the Resident Educator of the Year award in 2018 from Kingman Regional Medical Center in Arizona.

Wiesner is currently an emergency medicine physician at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd, Minn., diagnosing and treating patients in the emergency department. She belongs to the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine also serving as a member of their board.

Wiesner and her husband, Zack, have a one-year-old son and reside in Merrifield, Minn.

Elizabeth Tollefson 2002 presented the 2025 Abbey [Promise] Award to Wiesner, and, when she first learned she was going to receive the award, Wiesner said UMN Crookston made a lasting impact with the friendships and connections she's made, plus her undergraduate experience set her on the path toward medicine and gave her the foundation for the career she's building today.

Karna (Plaine) Nixon
Karna (Plaine) Nixon graduated from the University of Minnesota Crookston in 2006 with a degree in health sciences. She went on to receive her master's in occupational therapy in 2009 from the University of North Dakota. Nixon is currently the lead occupational therapist at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Nixon was one of the top women's basketball players in UMN Crookston history scoring 1,642 career points, which ranks third all-time in scoring in the NCAA era. She averaged 14.8 points per game in her career, was an All-NSIC First Team selection in 2004-05, All-NSIC Second Team in 2005-06, and All-NSIC Honorable Mention in 2003-04. Nixon holds multiple records including, but not limited to, first in career free throws made, third all-time in assists and steals, fourth in points in a game, seventh all-time in career rebounds, and eighth in offensive boards and defensive rebounds. She helped the Golden Eagles to a NSIC Tournament berth in 2004-05 with 16 wins.

Nixon was also an All-Academic team member, received the UMN Crookston Newcomer of the Year award in 2002-03, was named a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Women's Honor Student-Athlete, and received the UMN Crookston Female Athlete of the Year award in both 2004-05 and 2005-06. Nixon was a member of the dean's list every semester during her academic time at UMN Crookston and was involved in several academic research projects, plus she was president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and a member of the mentoring program.

Aside from work, Nixon currently coaches youth basketball and volleyball, and is a church youth volunteer. She and her husband, Ty, have three children and reside in Tea, S.D.

Mike Curfman 1990, former coach, honored Nixon as a 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee at the ceremony. During her acceptance speech, Nixon said UMN Crookston felt like home to her and were truly some of her best years, plus it was always fun to go to class the next day after a big win by the Golden Eagles basketball team.

Kirk Rongen
Kirk Rongen attended the University of Minnesota Crookston through 1990 and was a key offensive lineman for the Trojan football team during the 1988 and 1989 seasons. He was named All-American Honorable Mention for his efforts following his sophomore year in 1989 and went on to serve the UMN Crookston football team as an offensive coordinator after his own career during the 1995 and 1996 seasons. Rongen also played football for Minnesota State University Moorhead and his team claimed the Northern Intercollegiate Conference title in 1991. He was recognized as an All-American for Moorhead State and was inducted into their Athletic Hall of Fame alongside his 1991 football teammates. Sadly, Kirk Rongen passed away in 2020.

Rongen earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from Moorhead State in 1994, and his master's degree in sports management in 1995 from the United States Sports University in Alabama. In 1999, Rongen started the company Green View Spraying in Twin Falls, Idaho, and built it into one of the largest spraying companies in the state before selling to TruGreen ChemLawn in 2005. He then took time off and built a cabin in the mountains of Idaho where he would hunt, fish, and snowmobile. Soon thereafter, Rongen launched Mountain View Spraying in Boise, Idaho, and later expanded operations into Twin Falls where he worked until his passing.

In his free time, Rongen coached junior high football and various little leagues, served as an active member and board member of Our Savior Lutheran Church, and actively supported charity organizations such as CASA, Idaho Snowriders Association, St. Edward's Soup Kitchen, and Magic Valley Festival of Giving. He also led an annual golf tournament at Elk Valley Golf Course in Featherville, Idaho, with all proceeds benefitting local nonprofits such as the Pine Senior Center, Church of Wildwood, and Area 20 Groomers Association. Additionally, he held membership with the Idaho Environmental Care Association, Idaho Nursery and Landscape Association, and Idaho Pest Management Association where he was awarded the IPMA Pioneer of the Industry Award.

Rongen and his wife, Ann-Pell Rongen, who graduated from UMN Crookston in 1993 with a degree in business administration, have three children. Rongen joins his sister, Lisa (Rongen) Duckstad 1985, as a member of the UMN Crookston Athletic Hall of Fame; she was inducted in 2023.

Robert Sip honored Rongen as a 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee at the ceremony, and presented the award to his family. Ann-Pell said football was a gift to Kirk, not just the game, but the lessons, the discipline, the friendships, and the opportunities it gave him, and "it made Kirk who he was and it carried him from playing on this very field to coaching at the college level at UMC."

Brittany (Looker) Pyfferoen
Brittany (Looker) Pyfferoen graduated from the University of Minnesota Crookston in 2015 with a degree in health sciences and a minor in chemistry. She went on to receive her master's in medical science physician assistant studies from Midwestern University in 2017 and is currently a physician assistant (MMS, PA-C) at Mayo Clinic in radiation oncology.

Professionally, she is an instructor in radiation oncology and a board member for Southern Minnesota Volleyball Club (SMV).
Pyfferoen is one of the top volleyball players in program history for the Golden Eagles. She was named All-NSIC (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) First Team in both 2013 and 2014, was an All-NSIC Second Team honoree in 2012, plus she earned All-NSIC Honorable Mention in 2011. Pyfferoen holds the career kills record with 1,454, and holds school records for attack attempts, plus points in a career with 1,663. She is second all-time in single season kills with 437, second for service aces with 134, and fourth all-time with 3.56 kills per set.

Pyfferoen helped UMN Crookston to a NSIC Tournament berth in a stacked field in 2013, leading the squad to 15 wins. She received the NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award in 2015, earned the UMN Crookston Female Outstanding Athlete of the Year award during the 2012-2013 year, and was involved in Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Alpha Lambda Delta.

Pyfferoen and her husband, Kevin, have a two-year-old daughter and a son due in October, and reside in Rochester, Minn.
UMN Crookston Assistant Athletics Director Shawn Smith honored Pyfferoen as a 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee at the ceremony, as well as former coach Lee Anderson with a video message. When Pyfferoen first learned she was going to be recognized, she shared that UMN Crookston had a significant impact on her life by providing "an excellent education (small classes, big degree!)" where she was able to grow both academically and personally.

Bill Trew
Bill Trew attended the University of Minnesota Crookston through 1994 and was one of the top hockey players in program history. He helped UMN Crookston to back-to-back NJCAA National Championships in 1993 and 1994, plus he was named a 1993-94 NJCAA All-American and most valuable player for the Trojans. Trew earned a degree in business and marketing from the University of North Dakota in 2001, and played two hockey seasons for UND where he scored 13 goals and tallied 23 assists.

Trew put together an impressive 24-year hockey career, suiting up until he was 47 years old. He played professionally in the United States and Germany for the El Paso (Texas, USA) Buzzards, Straubing (Germany) Tigers, Landshut (Germany) Cannibals, EV (Germany) Regensburg, and EV (Germany) Dingolfing. Trew was part of seven championship teams in his career in Minnesota, Texas, and Germany, and his best season came in 1999-00 when he scored 103 points with Straubing. He was named the playoff MVP for the El Paso Buzzards in 1998, was an All-Star Game MVP in El Paso in 1999, earned the regular-season MVP for Straubing in 2000, and the playoff MVP in 2012 for Landshut. Trew had his jersey retired in Straubing.

Trew went into coaching following his playing career and currently serves as the head coach and youth hockey supervisor for the ERC Ingolstadt U-15 squad. He has also helped with the U-17 and U-20 squads for ERC Ingolstadt, and served as head coach for EV Dingolfing, in addition to being development coach for the Straubing Tigers.

Trew and his wife, Jennifer, have two children and reside in Straubing, Germany. He is a native of Garden Hill, Ontario, Canada.

Scott Gruber 1993 honored Trew as a 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee at the ceremony. During his acceptance speech, Trew said he hadn't been back to campus for 30 years and he was happy his mom from Ontario was able to accompany him. He also mentioned how fortunate he is to be a part of the two championship teams, and complimented his teammates who were there in the audience.

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