CSC alum, Walz, selected as Harris’ running mate

CHADRON – Current Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee for 2024, has chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Chadron State College graduate, as her vice president.

Walz, who is currently in his second term as Minnesota’s Governor, became the first Chadron State College graduate ever elected governor of one of the 50 states in 2018. His career as Governor was preceded by being the first CSC alum to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, which he did for 12 years, representing Minnesota. He is also now the first VP candidate with CSC ties.

“Gov. Walz is an inspiring individual who demonstrates to all former, current, and future Chadron State College graduates that you can make a difference in the world, even if you start at a small college in the corner of northwest Nebraska,” said CSC President Ron K. Patterson. “Chadron State provides opportunities for leadership, scholarship, and service, and we are proud of Gov. Walz for personifying those values. Chadron State College congratulates Gov. Walz on his selection as the vice presidential nominee for the Democratic party.”

Walz received the college’s Distinguished Alumni Award in May 2014 and provided the address at commencement. In his speech, Walz said he appreciated how his alma mater provided middle class families like his the opportunity to earn a college education.

“The professors at this college wanted us to succeed,” Walz said. “The door was always open for us to learn and to grow. (We’ve) got a great base for future success. A healthy and educated populace creates economic and national security. We have the right of self-governance which was paid for with blood. We need more critical thinkers like the students who graduated from CSC today.”

Walz, who was born in West Point, Nebraska, and spent most of his childhood in Valentine, graduated from Chadron State in 1989 and spent the following year teaching English and American history and culture in southern China.

Following a year in China, Walz taught global geography in Alliance for six years. During that time, he met his wife, Gwen, a native of Minnesota who also was teaching in the Alliance Schools. In 1997, the couple moved to Mankato, her hometown, and he joined the faculty at West High School as a geography, history, and sociology teacher.

In 2002, Walz, who joined the National Guard after graduating high school, was one of six Minnesota teachers to receive a $10,000 award recognizing their high-level performances and contributions to teaching. His award was for Ethics in Education. Soon after he had been honored, his teaching career was interrupted when the First 125th Field Artillery Battalion from Minnesota that he had joined was sent to Afghanistan during the early stages of a conflict there.

He had served in the National Guard 24 years when he retired with the rank of Command Sergeant Major. When he took office in the U.S. House, he became the highest ranking retired enlisted soldier to ever serve in Congress. Throughout his tenure in Washington, he championed enhanced veterans’ benefits.

(Contact Chadron State College at 800-242-3766)

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