For more than 46 years, Paul Aughinbaugh (Distinguished Alumni) was a trusted, steady and reassuring voice in Fargo-Moorhead and across the region. The 1979 graduate of Fergus Falls High School attended Brown Institute of Broadcasting in Minneapolis shortly after graduation. As his coursework neared completion, he accepted a news reporter position at KVOX K100 in Moorhead. On March 15, 1983, Aughinbaugh, known professionally as Paul Jurgens (he married Nancy Jurgens, also FFHS Class of 1979), moved to KFGO, the leading news-talk station in the market. Promoted to news director in 1990, Jurgens helped the station achieve hundreds of local, state, regional and national broadcast journalism excellence  honors, including Eric Sevareid Awards from the six-state Midwest Journalism Association, prestigious Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association, Marconi Awards from the National Association of Broadcasters and two Peabody Awards, widely considered the highest recognition in radio, television and online media. In 2024, Jurgens was presented with the North Dakota Broadcasters Association Pioneer Award for his decades and dedication to fair and unbiased broadcast journalism. Jurgens retired on May 29, 2026. He and Nancy have 8 grandsons and love to travel thanks to Nancy’s 40+ years in the travel industry. They reside in Fargo, ND and on Blanche Lake.

Tom Beck (Distinguished Alumni) was born and raised in Fergus Falls and graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1978. He then moved to Minneapolis to attend the University of Minnesota. Since then, he has lived in multiple locations, but returns frequently to Fergus Falls to visit family and friends. Tom is the youngest son of Linwood and Joycelyn Beck, both of whom passed away at 86 and 97 years old, respectively. He has three older brothers: Dick, Chuck (who is deceased) and Dan. Tom attended Eisenhower for kindergarten, Madison for grade school, Fergus Falls Junior High and then FFHS. Tom enjoyed his youth in Fergus Falls and is very grateful for the strong public education that helped prepare him for his career as a scientist. After starting out as a pre-med student at the U of M, Tom realized he preferred math and physics, and decided to change over to the field of chemistry. He applied for graduate school at the University of Chicago and was accepted. This was exciting as he had just watched a PBS series on the Manhattan Project and several of his professors at Chicago served on the Manhattan Project. While in Chicago, he also started playing the string bass in a jazz band, something he has pursued until the present. He even played in the Chicago Blues Festival with Pigmeat Jarrett in 1992. Following graduate school, Tom did post-doctoral work for two years at the Los Alamos National Lab, where Oppenheimer led the Manhattan Project. He then applied for about 40 open faculty positions in chemistry and landed a position at the University of Cincinnati. There, Tom rose through the ranks to full professor and department head while mentoring 25 students towards their PhDs, and teaching thousands of undergrads basic and advanced chemistry. Five years ago, Tom was alerted to a leadership position at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He applied and was offered the position as section head in the Computational Directorate. He has been engaged in exciting research in computational science, artificial intelligence, biophysics and quantum computing. He is currently focusing on a project to develop fusion energy that could provide a nearly limitless source of cheap, reliable energy with low environmental impacts. Tom is married to Mindy Wise, is stepdad to PJ and Eva, and father to Eleanor and Nolan.

Diane (Anderson) Prischmann (Distinguished Service) is a 1965 graduate of Fergus Falls High School, where she was deeply involved in all aspects of the fine arts. In high school, Diane was a member of the band, sang in choirs, was a National Honor Society member, participated in “Quill and Scroll” and the German and French Clubs, and was in many plays. In 1965, she received the “Best Actress” award from the local branch of Thespians. After attending Concordia College her freshman year, she transferred to the University of Minnesota where she graduated with a bachelor of science degree in Theatre, Speech and English in 1970. Diane worked part-time for ISD #544 by tutoring homebound students and subbing. She also briefly worked for the district at the Regional Treatment Center in the drug recovery unit for teens. While teaching, she received her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the College of St. Thomas. Before beginning her 35-year teaching career in an English classroom, she brought back the high school musical. While raising her three children: Leslie (‘89), Jon (‘92) and Nick (‘95) with her husband, Carl (‘61), she directed many plays and musicals, and coached competitive speech and Knowledge Bowl teams. In 2001, her One-Act Play reached the highest level and went to state. Although the musical arts were her passion, she realized there were many students who needed a place to showcase their visual arts. In 1998, with the help of family, teacher friends and local artists, she developed an annual juried art show which is now called “The Blondeau Art Festivale”. Even after her retirement in 2014, she continues to substitute teach, mainly at the high school. In the community, Diane has been very visible performing and singing on stage, directing, and sometimes working backstage coordinating makeup, costumes and publicity for musicals. Diane has played the title role in Hello Dolly, performed with The Old Time Variety players, sang with the Center Singers, and participates in A Center for the Arts’ annual Razzle Dazzle show. She has also been singing for 30+ years with the adult community choir, singing twice at Carnegie Hall. She continues to sing with the First Lutheran Church choir and the blended worship team. Diane has been a volunteer with the United Way, at First Lutheran Church and with the district’s Parent Teacher Association. She also plans reunions for the Class of 1965 and has served for 10 years on the Otter Tail County Planning Commission.

Linda (Knutson) Brophy (Athletics), Class of 1986, was not only a record-breaking athlete for Fergus Falls High School, but a pioneer for girls athletics at a time when they were just emerging across the state. Linda participated in volleyball, basketball, track and weightlifting throughout her 4 years as an Otter athlete. By the time she graduated, Linda held 15 volleyball and 12 basketball records, along with five weightlifting records for her weight class. In basketball, she was the first Otter (male or female) to reach 1,000 points and finished her career with 1,187 points, a record that held until 2002. She still holds the career steals record with 402. During her senior year, Linda was named All-State Honorable Mention in basketball, and participated in and was named MVP of the Minnesota All-Star Game. She was also named a United States Army High School Outstanding Female Athlete in 1986. Linda married fellow 1986 Fergus Falls grad James Brophy and they have three adult children: Ella, Freddie and Charlie.

Brianna (Rasmusson) Pearson (Athletics), FFHS Class of 2014, was a three-sport athlete and 16-time letter winner who competed in eight state tournaments: four in track and field, three in basketball and one in volleyball—the first athlete to do so in the school’s history. Brianna set five volleyball school records, including career and season records for set assists and aces, and the season record for kills. In basketball, she set career, season and game assist records, scored more than 1,000 points and ranks fourth all-time in season assists in girls basketball in the Minnesota State High School League. In track and field, she set records in the triple jump, long jump and 4 x 200-meter relay. Brianna earned All-State Honors in volleyball and basketball, was a three-time State All-Tournament Team selection and was a Top Five finalist for Minnesota Ms. Basketball. She was also a AAA Award winner, the 2014 Senior Female Athlete of the Year, Academic All-State, a Fargo Forum All-Area First Team selection, and a member of the Minnesota Basketball and Volleyball All-Star Teams. Brianna continued her volleyball career at North Dakota State University, where she was a four-year starter and recorded more than 3,000 set assists and 1,000 digs. She earned conference honors as a freshman and senior, and was a 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-District® 6 First Team selection. After completing her athletic career, Brianna earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy and continues her passion for volleyball through coaching in Minnesota and North Dakota. She helped establish Lakes Elite Volleyball Club and serves as its club director, leading an elite program that brings together athletes from several area schools. She gives back to the local volleyball community through coaching, hosting youth camps and mentoring young coaches. Brianna and her husband, Drew, have two sons, Carter and Emmett.