Campus Connection

[caption id="attachment_6116" align="alignleft" width="450" caption="From left, Kate Gorman, UW-L senior and Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest; Florence Aliesch, UW-L director of Creative Services and Mrs. Oktoberfest; and Karla Stanek, UW-L director of Career Services and former Mrs. Oktoberfest."][/caption]For more than a decade, La Crosse native Florence Aliesch has helped prepare young women to join Oktoberfest’s royal family as Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest. This year, she’s getting pointers herself on being in the royal family. Aliesch was officially named the 2011 Mrs. Oktoberfest at a special reception Wednesday, Sept. 21, at UW-La Crosse. The title honors a La Crosse-area woman who has impacted the community in her profession and as a volunteer. She was the fourth of five Oktoberfest Royal Family members named for 2011, which is the 51st year of the festival, Sept. 23-Oct. 1. “I am deeply humbled and honored to become part of the Oktoberfest Royal Family,” says Aliesch, who is director of Creative Services at UW-La Crosse. She was told about the honor in June. Two past Mrs. Oktoberfest title holders took her to lunch under the auspices [caption id="attachment_6119" align="alignleft" width="450" caption="Kate Gorman, UW-L senior and the new Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest, walks with children in the annual Campus Child Center Oktoberfest Parade on Thursday. Her predecessor, Elizabeth Kramer, photo left, is also a UW-L student."][/caption]of asking her to do some more volunteer work for the Mrs. O reception. Instead, they told her she was being honored this year. The new Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest is also from UW-L. Kate Gorman, a UW-L senior and communication studies major, earned the title Sept. 10. Gorman says the recognition allows her to become more connected to the community and promote her platform, “Take a Bite Out of Hunger,” which seeks to increase healthy food donations to area food banks. “When you walk into a room with one of these shiny things on your head, people listen,” says Gorman referring to the tiara she wears during her reign. “It gives you such a vehicle to drive your message.” Gorman notes her communications experience through UW-L classes has helped her in her new, public role as Miss/ La Crosse Oktoberfest. She’s excited to promote community service, involvement and empowerment, which she calls “the heart of Oktoberfest.” Aliesch has more than a decade of volunteering with Oktoberfest. She was on the Board of Directors from 1997-2003, serving as president in 2002. She chaired the Miss [caption id="attachment_6124" align="alignleft" width="450" caption="The new Mrs. Oktoberfest, Florence Aliesch, stands with her husband, Mike Aliesch."][/caption]La Crosse/Oktoberfest Scholarship Pageant from 2002-08, and still works with the program. And, she was the chief designer for “The Fest of Times,” a book detailing the first 50 years of Oktoberfest published in 2010. But, Aliesch hasn’t limited her volunteering to the fest. She was one of the original planners of the Neighbors Helping Neighbors project that helps the elderly, disabled and others get their yard work done by volunteers each spring. She helped organize downtown parades in January 1997 and 1998 to celebrate Green Bay Packers Super Bowl appearances. And, she helped organize welcoming celebrations for visiting riverboat passengers in 1997. Aliesch also continues to volunteer to advance her profession of graphic design. She has been a member of the conference committee for the Great Lakes Region of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, a Midwestern organization for college advancement professionals. For more than a decade Aliesch has done award-winning design work on the district’s marketing materials. With her love of graphic design and volunteering dedication, Aliesch selected “Art of Volunteering” as her slogan for the upcoming year. Each year the Mrs. selects a theme that is put on a specialized button that she hands out to fest-goers. This year Aliesch designed the Mrs. Oktoberfest button again – but this time for herself. The Florence Aliesch file • Director of Creative Services, UW-La Crosse, since 1998. • Previously Graphic Designer and Promotions Coordinator at the La Crosse Tribune, Graphic Artist at Fort McCoy, Crescent Printing and Gateway Foods. • Holds a bachelor’s degree from Viterbo University, 1981. Community recognition • Maxine Garvalia Excellence in Philanthropy Award, Scenic Bluffs Chapter of the American Red Cross, 2011 • YWCA Tribute to Outstanding Women, Volunteer Services, 2005 Community involvement • Rotary Lights Steering Committee, 1996-present • Adopt-A-Highway volunteer, 1998-present • Scenic Bluffs Chapter of the American Red Cross Board of Directors 2004-2011 Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest Scholarships Program, 2002-08 • Oktoberfest Board of Directors, 1998-2003 • Neighbors Helping Neighbors Project organizing committee, 1996-2001 • Visiting River Boat Task Force, 1997 • Downtown Packer Parade organizing committee, 1997, 1998 • Onalaska Jaycees member, 1982-86 • Various fundraising walks Professional Great Lakes District of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, Conference Committee member and graphic designer, 1999-present • Married to Mike Aliesch. Children: Joshua and Brandi Aliesch, Sonja Aliesch, Emily and Joshua Swanson, Joe Heintz and Dan Heintz. Six grandchildren: Zachary, Vincent, Taylor, Ione, Sophia and Nora.

Past Oktoberfest royalty with UW-L ties

This is the second year in a row a UW-L staff member is part of the Oktoberfest royal family. Here’s a list of past UW-L faculty and staff who have been honored by and held leadership in Oktoberfest. 1966 — Jim Conway, Mass Communications Department, Maple Leaf Parade Marshal 1971 — Bob Mullally, Student Activities, President 1981 — John Alexander, Music Department, Maple Leaf Parade Marshal 1981 — Bob Mullally, Student Activities, Festmaster 1988 — Noel Richards, Chancellor, Maple Leaf Parade Marshal 1991 — Bob Wilhelm, Physical Plant, Maple Leaf Parade Marshal 1993 — Bill Otto, Recreation Management Department, Festmaster 1993 — Donna Mae Phillips, Chancellor’s Office, Grenadier General 2000 — Rollo Taylor, Exercise and Sport Science Department, Festmaster 2001 — Brad Quarberg, University Communications, President 2001— Roger Harring, Exercise and Sport Science, Maple Leaf Parade Marshal 2002 — Florence Aliesch, University Communications, President 2010 — Karla Stanek, Career Services, Mrs. Oktoberfest 2011 — Florence Aliesch, University Communications, Mrs. Oktoberfest