Class of 1960. Barna Cook graduated cum laude from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1964 and completed her graduate studies at the University of Illinois in 1966. Cook worked in education for many years as a kindergarten, first-, fourth-, and fifth-grade teacher in the Racine Unified School District and as an early childhood specialist.
She has served as a member and vice-chair of the Downtown Racine Corp., helping raise thousands of dollars for the community through events like Festival of Trees.
She is currently a member of the board of directors for The Prairie School, but has also served on the boards for the YWCA, the Racine Heritage Museum and the Racine United Arts Council. Cook has also helped fundraising efforts for the Christmas House for Cancer and the Racine Zoological Society.
Class of 1960. Nickelsen graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1964 and earned his master’s degree in educational administration and supervision from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1969. He began his career in education as an English teacher at Mitchell Junior High School in Racine, but moved into administration in 1983 as assistant principal at McKinley Middle School and served in the same position at Park High School. He later became the directing principal at Mitchell Middle School and ended his career at McKinley Middle School in the same role.
Nickelsen’s talents have taken him beyond the schools and into the field of broadcasting. He has hosted and produced at WGTD’s Jazz Channel as well as the popular local radio shows “Education Matters” and “At the Water’s Edge.”
Nickelsen has also been an important contributor to the local music scene as a booster for local band camps and as Racine Band Fest program announcer.
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*Congratulations*
Two of our 1960 Classmates were inducted into
Park High's Hall of Fame
on Sunday June 5, 2011. They are:
William G Boehm and Lynn C Bratley.