2025 Alumni Awards
Outstanding Graduate Award was given to Debra Elfstrom Rudquist – Class of 1978
In high school Debra was active in volleyball, band and choir. She was also involved with the student council. Debra recalls being fortunate to have been taught by some great teachers and counts Mr. Moberg, Mr. Stueland and Mr. Christensen as the most impactful.
Debra worked her way from being a nurse to being the President & CEO of Amery Hospital & Clinic. Along the way she has achieved many amazing things academically, professionally, and socially.
A registered nurse by background, Debra has an undergraduate degree from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul. She then earned her Master’s Degree in Nursing Administration from the University of Minnesota and is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Debra spent 19 years at Allina Health, where she held several positions, including executive director of ambulatory services. She served as the vice president of the cardiovascular service line at Fairview Health Services for five years. In 2014 Debra was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer at Amery Hospital and Clinic. Through this position she is responsible for the administration of the facility in all activities and departments.
Under her leadership, Debra has overseen strategic and operational management of 13 cardiovascular clinics, three cardiovascular labs, two electrophysiology programs, two cardiothoracic surgery programs and a heart transplant & ventricular assist device program.
She recently accepted a recognition award from the Amery Community Club commemorating Amery Hospital & Clinic’s 65 years of service to the Amery community.
Other accomplishments include:
Program Administrator, FACHE (Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives) Western Wisconsin Rural Family Medicine Residency
Board President, KINSHIP OF POLK COUNTY, established in 1980 as an outgrowth of work by concerned citizens of the county who determined the need for a youth mentoring program. Kinship of Polk County is a nonprofit program funded through grants, contributions from the broader community, and a service contract with Polk County Human Services.
Chair, Wisconsin Hospitals Association Council on Workforce Development
Board of Directors – Polk County Economic Development Corporation
Wisconsin Family Medicine Residency Program, HealthPartners
Debra has been married to Douglas Rudquist for 38 years and together they have one daughter Lindsey, who lives in St. Paul. Debra currently enjoys any outdoor activity, particularly hiking, and is trying to learn to golf. She and Douglas spend much of their free time in Hayward, Wisconsin, at their lake home, where they love being on the water.
Outstanding Citizen Alumni Award was given to Darlene Chilstrom Shafer – Class of 1963
Darlene was born Jan. 24, 1945, in Superior, Wisconsin, and lived in Dairyland until she was 11 years old when her family moved to Shafer, Minnesota.. She joined the Taylors Falls class of 1963 in 4th grade. Darlene’s daughter, Kim, lives with her husband in Brainerd where they are both employed at Ruttgers Resort.
While attending Taylors Falls School Darlene was active in FHA, Library Club, Pep Club, Paper Staff (serving as editor) as well as serving as Drum Majorette with the TFHS marching band. Darlene’s passion throughout her life has always been to help others.
After high school she attended Beauty College for two years and in 1966 married Richard Shafer. Their family moved to Forest Lake where she started her own business, Change About Wig, in 1969, selling the business in 1974 and moving to Rochester Minnesota.
In 1976 Darlene and her family returned to Lindstrom where she worked for Chisago County Human Services for 25 years as a financial specialist. As a medical assistance worker, Darlene helped families
without financial means to provide for the needs of their loved ones as they required skilled nursing home care.
Darlene opened Meadows on Fairview, an assisted living residence in Wyoming, Minnesota. She enjoyed helping senior citizens and getting them settled into a new lifestyle. Next she was recruited to Phoenix Arizona, spending seven years working in sales and marketing for senior facilities. Darlene’s husband passed away in 2010 while they were both working at Grand Senior Living in Phoenix. Darlene stayed for another four years and in 2014 retired and moved back to her home in Lindstrom.
Retirement was not for Darlene and she found employment with Ecumen Point Pleasant Heights in Chisago City as its Senior Living Consultant where she is still employed today. Darlene celebrated 10 years in February, 2024, as a Sales and Marketing Director.
Always an active citizen, Darlene joined the Chisago Lakes Lions and the Chisago Lakes Rotary and continues to serve her community. She also travels as much as she can with cruises being her favorite.
Darlene has fond memories of TFHS, including many great teachers, including Mrs. Ruth Cedergren and Mrs. Donna Westlund whom she credits with her strong work ethic and wanting to take care of people.