Name: Leroy Kauffman

Cayuse Prairie Graduation Year: 1966

Activities at Cayuse Prairie: Played a lot of softball during recess. Not really anything organized at school in those days beyond an occasional competition with other area schools.

Their Best Memory from Cayuse Prairie: Being in a multi-grade classroom and the enjoyment of learning and interacting with students in other grades. Lots of memories of walking to and from school, roughly 2.5 miles (uphill both ways, of course).

Their Favorite Teacher: No one teacher particularly sticks out as my favorite. I enjoyed all my teachers - Mrs. Prestrude, Mr. Norman and Mrs. Compton.

High School Graduation Year: 1970

Attended High School at: Western Mennonite School, Salem, Oregon

What They Did After High School: Began college at Dawson College, Glendive, later FVCC and ultimately Eastern Mennonite College, earning an AAS and BS in Business Management along the way. In the summers and for a couple in between years I did ranch work for Myron Mast in Creston and spent one summer working on the MSU Research Farm in Creston.

Where They are Living Now: Clyde, NC.

What They are Doing Now: I retired in December 2022 after a 45+ year career in higher education, primarily teaching accounting but also some administration. I am married to Judy and we have 3 children and 4 grandchildren, all living in North Carolina.

Cayuse Prairie Impact: Got me off to a very good start in education. My father, Norman, was an educator so what I learned at school was reinforced at home and vice versa. Learned to get along with others who may see things differently and learned that you can accomplish much if you work hard. This country boy eventually earned an MBA from the University of Montana and a PhD from The Ohio State University and impacted thousands of student lives over my career.

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