Media Releases
Piece of college history returns to DCTC after 30 years
September 5, 2006 -
After 30 years, Louise Knippel has returned a piece of college property that was supposed to have been returned in 1976.
Louise, an 86-year-old former student and graduate of Dakota County Area Vocational-Technical Institute, recently sent a note via mail to what is now known as Dakota County Technical College. She was returning her student ID from 1976, which clearly stated on the back that it was the property of the college and was to be returned.
Intrigued by her note, DCTC initiated an exchange of letters, phone calls and visits to get to know more about Louis Knippel and her DCTC story.
Louise grew up near Owatonna, Minn. and completed ninth grade at Mantorville High School before accepting her first full-time job at age 16.
Married in 1941 at age 21, and widowed suddenly 16 years later, Louise was left to raise four sons - ages 15, 11, 5 and 14 months - on her own and worked various domestic jobs to provide for her family until her children were grown.
At the age 56, after her youngest son had finished coursework at Ridgewater College in Willmar, Louise decided it was her turn to complete her education.She remembered enjoying home economic classes at Mantorville High School and decided to enroll in the new Interior Design program at Dakota County Area Vocational-Technical Institute (now DCTC).
Because enrollment for the course was at capacity, Louise was put on a waiting list.However, her wait wouldn't be long, as there was an opening in the program less than a week later.
Louise would graduate with honors in 1978, as part of DCTC's very first Interior Design class.
The Interior Design major at DCTC has changed dramatically over the past 30 years, and as a two-year FIDER (Foundation for Interior Design Education Research) accredited program, students are still being put on a waiting list. The wait, however, is now considerably longer than one week.
As for Louise, she has worked a variety of jobs over the course of her lifetime – some because she had to, some because she wanted to, some that used her technical training, some that didn't.She has raised four sons and enjoys 12 grandchildren, four step-grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.She has traveled to Europe, Germany, and Canada.
Most recently, Louise has retired and will be spending more time focusing on her new passion - writing.Having written her aunt's biography, her husband's biography and her own autobiography, she has a good start in recording all of the rich and interesting history of her family.
DCTC is happy to have been a slice in Louise's history, as well as the history of others as they pursue their education and career goals.