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CONCORDIA ALUMNI HONORED WITH SENT FORTH AWARDS
Cmdr. Brian C. Kesselring, a 2000 Concordia graduate and Fargo native, and Tara (Steuber) Wilson, a 2006 graduate and native of Perham, Minn., have been named Sent Forth recipients by Alumni Relations.
Kesselring joined the Navy in 2001. Following fighter jet training, he served with several squadrons, trained aircrew at the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), and completed combat deployments in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, and Inherent Resolve. He has more than 3,900 flight hours, 812 carrier arrested landings, over 120 combat missions, and received several medals and awards. He earned a master’s degree in national security strategy (JPME Phase II) from the Naval War College. Most recently, Kesselring was selected to serve as the Blue Angels’ commander leading a team of 141 members serving as ambassadors to the Navy and Marines.
Wilson earned her master’s degree and a doctorate, both in mathematical sciences, from Clemson University where she was honored with the Outstanding Citizenship Award in 2009. She is currently senior decision science consultant for The Walt Disney Co., based in Orlando, Fla. Her team performs analytical consultation, research, and applications/systems development to optimize business decisions for various segments across the company, including several resorts, the Disney Cruise Line, and ABC and ESPN. She volunteers at Quest Camp Thunderbird, a camp for adults and children with disabilities, and with Central Florida Junior Achievement.
The awards will be conferred at a future time.
The Sent Forth Award is conferred upon young alumni who have distinguished themselves early on in their careers and service to others. For graduates of less than 20 years, the Sent Forth Award is reserved for alumni who have shown vocational precociousness.
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