2018 Alma Mater Award

At St. Norbert, the name Sturzl is literally synonymous with service: The sign inside Todd Wehr Hall reads “Sturzl Center for Community Service and Learning.”

For Ed Sturzl (for whom, along with wife, Ann, the Center is named), service is both a commitment and a passion.

In the greater Plymouth community he and Ann call home, Ed was a longtime member of the Lions Club, not only as a fundraiser but as a frequent “chauffeur,” driving blind and visually impaired residents to medical appointments. He also served for a decade as a board member of the Rehabilitation Center of Sheboygan, which employs adults with disabilities in industrial positions. He has served on the parish council of St. John the Baptist Church. Plymouth’s Horizon grade school owes its existence in large part to Ed’s championing of it in the 1990s, and area schools have benefited from Ed’s service as a coach and referee.

Ed also volunteers frequently with equine organizations. For 4-H, he has raised his hand for everything from facilities improvements at the local fairgrounds to announcing at horse shows. He volunteers, too, with the United States Eventing Association at functions throughout Wisconsin.

Ed made equally substantive contributions in his professional life. Originally a distribution center manager for Sargento Foods, he became the company’s first human resources employee, building a department from which he would retire as executive vice president in 2001. Upon his retirement, Ed joined just five other recipients of the company’s Founder’s Ring.

It is his generous devotion of time and talent to the college, however, for which we are particularly grateful. Ed has been a trustee for 23 years, serving on a half-dozen committees. He and Ann were co-chairs of Campaign St. Norbert: Full Ahead, which not only had an unprecedented goal of $105 million, but unprecedented success, as well, surpassing its goal a year ahead of schedule. It must be said that throughout this long relationship, Ed’s service has been as unhesitating as it has been impactful.

For these reasons, the college is proud to bestow upon Ed Sturzl the St. Norbert College Alma Mater Award