Hall of Fame Class of 2024

Laurie Knapp

Laurie began her career in education as a social studies teacher in Duluth. After nine years in the classroom, she entered administration and served four years as Assistant Principal at East before becoming Principal. She served 16 years as principal and implemented many long lasting innovations in the school, such as "Jump Start" and "WIN" - the program that tailored student educational needs to the individual student. In 2010, she was named Principal of the Year for Northeastern Minnesota. As Laurie often pointed out, "At East, Everyone Achieves Success Together.”

Kenneth Stromquist

Ken (Class of 1963) served for 35 years in both the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard. He began his service in Viet Nam ﬂying over 400 combat hours. In 1973, Ken returned home and joined part of the 148th Fighter Wing, in Duluth. He served as the First Alert Commander at the 148th's 24/7 alert site at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. Later, Stromquist was appointed as the Air National Guard’s liaison to NORAD. He served as commander of 148th Fighter Wing and Vice Commander of 1st Air Force. Stromquist retired in 1999 at the rank of Brigadier General.

Dr. Tom Aufderheide

Tom is a Professor of Emergency Medicine, Associate Chair of Research Affairs, and Director of the Resuscitation Research Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin. An internationally recognized researcher in emergency cardiac care, he pioneered and was instrumental in establishing paramedic use of 12-lead ECGs, public use of automated external deﬁbrillators (AEDs), improved hemodynamics during CPR, and ECMO-facilitated resuscitation. In 2009, he was elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) for his contributions to medicine and public health.

Dr. Julie Heimbach

Julie is a professor of surgery and Director of the Transplant Center at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Heimbach is a transplant surgeon who is recognized nationally and internationally for her contributions to the ﬁeld of liver transplantation. Her work has focused on living donor liver transplantations and related medical conditions. Heimbach has also been a leader in the development of organ allocation policy at the national level, having served both as the chair of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Liver Committee, and on the Board of Directors of the OPTN.

Matthew Sanford

Matthew (Class of ’84) has inspired and enhanced the lives of thousands as he demystiﬁes the mind-body connection through his work as an author, speaker, and yoga teacher. Matthew was paralyzed at age 13 in a devastating car accident that killed his sister and father, Sanford followed the advice of doctors to "forget his lower body" until, at age 25, he discovered yoga and the healing power of the mind-body connection. Sanford uses his pioneering experience with yoga, paralysis, and disability to transform the current approach to rehabilitation. He was given a Volvo For Life Award.

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