(Shenandoah) — Legendary Shenandoah graduates and educators were celebrated at a special event Saturday night.
Shenandoah’s Elks Lodge was the site of the Shenandoah Iowa Education Foundation’s 4th Annual Banquet. It was a double celebration of sorts, as Shenandoah High graduates from 45 and 65 years ago were honored as alumni of the year. Margaret Brady graduated from SHS in 1980, then returned to the community years later to practice veterinary medicine. Having attended Shenandoah schools from kindergarten to high school, Brady tells KMA News she credits the district for giving her a great start.
“I was blessed with loving, caring teachers,” said Brady. “I was instilled with that love of learning, and to read everything. I wasn’t a star athlete. I wasn’t the top of my class, or anything like that. But, I was really given a love of learning. After high school, I went onto college, and then onto vet school. So, I really have been appreciative of all the teachers in Shenandoah that gave me a great start.”
After opening Healthy Trails Retreat in 2013, Brady began rehabilitating houses in 2019. She’s best known for renovating the former Johnson Brothers Mill Building–a collaborative project between her company, MALOJA, Incorporated, the city of Shenandoah and the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Brady says restoring dilapidated properties is a passion.
“I really enjoy taking old things that maybe had a previous life,” she said, “and they’ve gone to the point where they’re no longer viable, and I can see them back revitalized. One of my big passions is to take houses–the most obvious one being the Johnson Brothers Mill–and bring it back to life as a viable asset to the community.”
Brady is now taking on a new challenge, as she’s been named executive director of Vision Shenandoah.
Bruce Stevens is a 1960 Shenandoah High graduate who made his mark in the corporate world. In addition to working 17 years with the Polaroid Company–including three years in Japan–Stevens served 23 years as president and CEO of Steinway and Sons, the world-renowned piano manufacturer. Currently living in Winchester, Massachusetts, Stevens says returning to Shenandoah was an emotional journey.
“Coming from Shenandoah as a place growing up was just, you know, the gift of a lifetime,” said Stevens. “I loved it here. It was all about family, community. Everybody asked me on the East Coast what I remember most about growing up in a small farm town. I tell them it was worth ethic and accountability. It was just a fabulous place to grow up. So, today, it was really very emotional driving around town, and seeing our old house, and so forth.”
Stevens credits the Shenandoah district and community for his success in the business world.
“Education is what it’s all about–then and even today,” he said. “If you’re going to be successful in life–and as a country, for that matter–education’s where it’s all at. Specifically, when I grew up, I thank God for the educators and the administrators, and so forth, for keeping us–people like myself–focused in getting through school, because it sort of created the foundation, if you will, the bedrock of then being able to go on and be a responsible citizen, and so forth. Then, the rest sort of takes care of itself.”
Six district staffers received the SIEF Spirit Awards for going “above and beyond to build school pride, student engagement and community spirit.” Nominated by fellow staff members, recipients were Andy Campbell, Brian Daoust, Stacey Lihs, Sarah F. Martin, Jordan Newberg and Jon Weinrich. In addition, 10 staff members were honored for 25 years or more in education: Liz and Jon Skillern, Kent Schubert, Todd McGinnis, Kristi Vance, Tricia Johnson, Skip Eckhardt, Jacqueline Barrett, Deanne Marriott and Kellee Clarke.