Outstanding Alumni - 2005
Todd Haugen
Bemidji State University Graduate 1979
Coming east from Grand Forks, ND, Mr. Haugen attended Bemidji State University eceiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography in 1979. In an effort to remain in Bemidji after commencement, he worked a season at Buena Vista ski area and then took a part time job the following January as a radio announcer for KBUN-AM and KB101-FM. His natural talent for acting and speaking landed him a full time job by April of that year, and later a spot co-hosting the Morning Show with Mardy Karger. What started out as a part time position has turned into a career in radio as an announcer and manager. In 1985 Mr. Haugen was named the Program Director of KB101, in addition to his on-air responsibilities as co-host of the "Morning Show" and "Chat-About" a public service program aired on KB101 and KBUN. In 1998 he assumed additional responsibilities as the Operations Manager for KB101 and KZY-FM radio stations. Mr. Haugen has significant community volunteer experience, including mentoring two boys through the Kinship North program, for which he earned a United Way Volunteer award in 2003. He has been a volunteer reader at area elementary schools, has befriended and helps care for three senior citizens in the community, has served on the Bemidji Centennial Celebration Committee, the Paul Bunyan Playhouse Board of Directors, the Logging Days Committee and has volunteered numerous times for the United Way's Fall Campaign. When his parents' home in Grand Forks was flooded, he brought them to Bemidji to live with him and eventually moved them in next door so he could help care for them and their home. Prior to his dad's death, Mr. Haugen was his home health care aid as he received kidney dialysis. Mr. Haugen and his wife, Danelle, celebrated the birth of their first child in May of 2004 and make their home in Bemidji.