PLATTEVILLE - Two area teachers who have impacted the lives of thousands of young people over decades of instruction recently received the Distinguished Alumni Award from their alma mater, University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
Conductor Larry Daehn oversaw the New Glarus High School music program for 27 years. In total, he spent 35 years teaching vocal and instrumental music to students. He directed the New Glarus High School band to six national trophies and four Wisconsin Governor's Commendations.
"I was lucky to end up in a place that supported music very well," Daehn said. "I had a great bunch of kids who were anxious to learn music."
Belmont native Arnie Miehe has been running since junior high and just kept going as a teacher at Darlington High School, where he also coached the school's cross country and track teams for nearly 40 years. His cross country teams have won nine state championships and five runners-up awards. He coached 34 conference champions and was inducted into the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
"I've always wanted to be a teacher," Miehe said. "You look at what kind of impact you've had on kids, but you never really know. You hope you've had a positive impact on the kids you've worked with while at the same time you've had a winning record, but that the impact outweighs the record."
Miehe attended Platteville to earn his bachelor's degree in 1979 and a master's degree in 1987. From there, he moved to his wife's family farm in rural Darlington. The couple will soon celebrate 30 years together raising four children and tending to a farm while he also taught at Darlington.
Both award winners were recognized during the University Awards and Recognition Ceremony on Friday at the university's arts center.
Daehn pursued a graduate degree in music from UW-Platteville over four summers, receiving his master's in 1975.
The Rosendale native earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Daehn said Platteville seemed the best option when he decided to further his education. The personal touch and accommodating professors fit his style, especially when he wanted to learn new things to help him become a better teacher. His choices were accepted, whether he wanted to become proficient in the clarinet or pursue a philosophy course.
Like Miehe, the subject Daehn felt drawn to was something he excelled at in his youth. While Miehe was winning state track championships, Daehn was learning basics that would lead to his accomplishments as a nationally known composer and guest conductor in nine states.
"I just saw what a good teacher could do, that one could really just make miracles," Daehn said. "I kind of aimed at that."
Miehe retired in 2014 but returned to Darlington High School in fall 2016 to help three juniors who were at risk of not graduating. He's aiming for the students to graduate in the spring, though he noted one still has to put in more work.
"I still enjoy teaching, and I missed teaching," Miehe said. "It gave me the chance to work with them. I like the challenge."
Part of his goal was to create service-oriented young people, which Miehe said he hopes was a by-product of beginning a cross-state Relay for Life run 15 years ago. The runners begin by dipping their toes in Lake Michigan and then make the trek across southern Wisconsin, reaching Monroe by the end of the day.
Each student runs a half-mile before jumping in a van to be replaced by another. Miehe and his runners have raised $25,000 for cancer research since he organized the event.
"It's really been a good example for these kids to see generosity," Miehe said.
While running, people have happily reached into their pockets to help fund the effort, he said. It has also been a way for young people to learn not to judge someone based on outward appearance.
During a run, Miehe said the group was passing through New Diggings when a group of motorcyclists asked what the runners and their accompanying van drivers were doing. Upon hearing about their fundraising efforts, the group added $400 to their collection.
"We've been fortunate because pretty much everyone has been so supportive," he said.
Both teachers received awards by way of nominations. Daehn was nominated by a mentee named Monte Muller, who Daehn chose to be his presenter during the ceremony Friday, and UW-Platteville Director of Bands Barry Ellis.
"This was a long overdue award," Ellis said. "I respect Larry very highly for his musicianship. Going into a school of that size and producing a top-notch band is really a very noble thing. He's an amazing musician and an inspiration to all of his students."
Miehe said the work he has done led to his most recent award, but it could not have been done without his wife, Ann, who has worked alongside him for the last three decades. He also credited parents and community members, many of whom made things like the Relay for Life run possible.
"This isn't just my award, it's Darlington's," Miehe said. "Someone had to get everything going, I'll take that, but this award belongs to Darlington too."
While Daehn has made a notable impression on students throughout the years, he has also been acknowledged throughout the country and internationally. He was commissioned to write "The West Point Bicentennial March" for the 200th anniversary of the West Point Military Academy in 2002. Daehn said the enormity of the performance at Carnegie Hall weighed on him even if he tends to forget the details of the day as famous astronauts and director Steven Spielberg sat in the audience.
"I said, 'I've got to remember what it was like to be there,'" Daehn said. "But it's all just a blur. That was really something."
Now in his later years, Daehn still appreciates the acknowledgement of his accomplishments.
"It comes at a very good time in a person's life if you're old," he said. "At a time when you're pretty sure no one remembers you anymore, it's very good for you to see people still recognize your work."
Conductor Larry Daehn oversaw the New Glarus High School music program for 27 years. In total, he spent 35 years teaching vocal and instrumental music to students. He directed the New Glarus High School band to six national trophies and four Wisconsin Governor's Commendations.
"I was lucky to end up in a place that supported music very well," Daehn said. "I had a great bunch of kids who were anxious to learn music."
Belmont native Arnie Miehe has been running since junior high and just kept going as a teacher at Darlington High School, where he also coached the school's cross country and track teams for nearly 40 years. His cross country teams have won nine state championships and five runners-up awards. He coached 34 conference champions and was inducted into the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
"I've always wanted to be a teacher," Miehe said. "You look at what kind of impact you've had on kids, but you never really know. You hope you've had a positive impact on the kids you've worked with while at the same time you've had a winning record, but that the impact outweighs the record."
Miehe attended Platteville to earn his bachelor's degree in 1979 and a master's degree in 1987. From there, he moved to his wife's family farm in rural Darlington. The couple will soon celebrate 30 years together raising four children and tending to a farm while he also taught at Darlington.
Both award winners were recognized during the University Awards and Recognition Ceremony on Friday at the university's arts center.
Daehn pursued a graduate degree in music from UW-Platteville over four summers, receiving his master's in 1975.
The Rosendale native earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Daehn said Platteville seemed the best option when he decided to further his education. The personal touch and accommodating professors fit his style, especially when he wanted to learn new things to help him become a better teacher. His choices were accepted, whether he wanted to become proficient in the clarinet or pursue a philosophy course.
Like Miehe, the subject Daehn felt drawn to was something he excelled at in his youth. While Miehe was winning state track championships, Daehn was learning basics that would lead to his accomplishments as a nationally known composer and guest conductor in nine states.
"I just saw what a good teacher could do, that one could really just make miracles," Daehn said. "I kind of aimed at that."
Miehe retired in 2014 but returned to Darlington High School in fall 2016 to help three juniors who were at risk of not graduating. He's aiming for the students to graduate in the spring, though he noted one still has to put in more work.
"I still enjoy teaching, and I missed teaching," Miehe said. "It gave me the chance to work with them. I like the challenge."
Part of his goal was to create service-oriented young people, which Miehe said he hopes was a by-product of beginning a cross-state Relay for Life run 15 years ago. The runners begin by dipping their toes in Lake Michigan and then make the trek across southern Wisconsin, reaching Monroe by the end of the day.
Each student runs a half-mile before jumping in a van to be replaced by another. Miehe and his runners have raised $25,000 for cancer research since he organized the event.
"It's really been a good example for these kids to see generosity," Miehe said.
While running, people have happily reached into their pockets to help fund the effort, he said. It has also been a way for young people to learn not to judge someone based on outward appearance.
During a run, Miehe said the group was passing through New Diggings when a group of motorcyclists asked what the runners and their accompanying van drivers were doing. Upon hearing about their fundraising efforts, the group added $400 to their collection.
"We've been fortunate because pretty much everyone has been so supportive," he said.
Both teachers received awards by way of nominations. Daehn was nominated by a mentee named Monte Muller, who Daehn chose to be his presenter during the ceremony Friday, and UW-Platteville Director of Bands Barry Ellis.
"This was a long overdue award," Ellis said. "I respect Larry very highly for his musicianship. Going into a school of that size and producing a top-notch band is really a very noble thing. He's an amazing musician and an inspiration to all of his students."
Miehe said the work he has done led to his most recent award, but it could not have been done without his wife, Ann, who has worked alongside him for the last three decades. He also credited parents and community members, many of whom made things like the Relay for Life run possible.
"This isn't just my award, it's Darlington's," Miehe said. "Someone had to get everything going, I'll take that, but this award belongs to Darlington too."
While Daehn has made a notable impression on students throughout the years, he has also been acknowledged throughout the country and internationally. He was commissioned to write "The West Point Bicentennial March" for the 200th anniversary of the West Point Military Academy in 2002. Daehn said the enormity of the performance at Carnegie Hall weighed on him even if he tends to forget the details of the day as famous astronauts and director Steven Spielberg sat in the audience.
"I said, 'I've got to remember what it was like to be there,'" Daehn said. "But it's all just a blur. That was really something."
Now in his later years, Daehn still appreciates the acknowledgement of his accomplishments.
"It comes at a very good time in a person's life if you're old," he said. "At a time when you're pretty sure no one remembers you anymore, it's very good for you to see people still recognize your work."