If you’ve ever met a graduate of the Physical Education (P.E.) Class of 1975, consider yourself lucky. Fifty years ago, in the Fall of 1971, a group of women began their first semester of college courses here at UNCG.
With the guidance of class advisor Pat Hielscher and professors such as Dr. Kate Barrett, Ethel Martus Lawther, and Dr. Rosemary McGee, this class became one of the most unique graduating classes UNCG has ever seen.
It has been 46 years since graduation, and everyone still stays in touch. Because of their wonderful class advisor, Pat Hielscher, keeping the class together and motivating them during their college careers, the class decided to name a scholarship in Pat’s honor. The P.E. Class of 1975 scholarship fund awards a scholarship to one student every year who then becomes a “Hielscher Scholar.”
In preparing for their 50th Reunion, the Class is joining together in an effort to raise a significant amount of funding to support the P.E. Class of 1975 Scholarship to name a cohort of students to be known as the “Hielscher Scholars”. If you or someone you know would like to make a gift to support the Physical Education Class of 1975 Scholarship, click here. Enter your gift amount, select “Choose a Different Designation” and select “Other.” In the comment box, type “Physical Education Class of 1975 Scholarship” and complete the form.
Below are excerpts from interviews of eight P.E. Class of 1975 members:
BS in PE Class of 1975
Take advantage of the opportunities UNCG will provide. You will need to study, but don’t lock yourself away to the point that you aren’t involved. Get clarity: think about why are you here, what are you trying to accomplish, and then get it done! Focus on getting an education that means something to you and use your time wisely.
2. Tell us about your career.
After graduation and receiving the phone call to serve in the military, I went to Virginia for Officer training. I spent 6 years in the USMC as an active-duty officer which took me from Quantico, VA to Camp LeJune, NC to Camp Smith, HI to Okinawa, Japan to El Toro, CA. I then left active duty and went into the reserves. I joined Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in Los Angeles, CA in 1981. That took me to New York to learn about Pfizer, and it was a lot of science. I leaned a lot on my education and how I studied at UNCG to get me through learning Pfizer’s products. I spent 26 years at Pfizer, going from Sales Rep to Sales Rep Training, to Sales Manager, to Director of Sales Manager Training. This ‘thread’ from UNCG where I received my teaching degree helped me understand how to teach, coach, and train others in the USMC and in Pfizer. Now, I’m a Consulting Partner with The Ken Blanchard Companies®.
3. Do you have any messages about “paying it forward”?
It’s the right thing to do. My father paid for me to attend St. Mary’s. For me to transfer and attend UNCG, I had to get loans and a job. I wasn’t qualified for any scholarships. So, I worked on campus as the telephone operator and took out student loans. I paid them off quickly after starting in USMC. What I want to do now is be a good steward in my own life, reach back to help others, and assist them in achieving something great. I hope that sets the foundation for others to be able to pay it forward when they are able, however they are able.
BS in PE Class of 1975
I felt like I needed to give back to a place that did so much for me. I first got involved financially to honor the faculty, advisors, classmates, my education, and the University. We’re at a leverage point with the class scholarship that we can help more young people who want college educations. From that financial assistance, students start to receive opportunities that can only come from a college education.
2. Why did you choose UNCG?
I chose to come to UNCG because I knew I would belong. We were taking a tour of campus and I just had this overwhelming sense of ‘this is where I fit in, this is where I belong.’ It was a beautiful Fall day and everyone was so nice and welcoming. Where I grew up, it was a big move for someone to go out of state to college. Everyone knew who I was back home, so I was ready to be a little more anonymous at college. I wanted to have my own space to really study physical education. UNCG was the place for me to do just that.
3. What’s your favorite memory from your time at UNCG?
Our class advisor, Pat Hielshcer, was the resident manager of Piney Lake. Pat would help us set up socials and out of class activities. We would have class retreats at Piney Lake to hang out, swim, grill, and have a good time. There was one weekend in particular where we performed a talent show. We all dressed up, sang, danced, and had fun. Those weekends with the class, where we weren’t worried about studying for a moment, were some of my favorite memories.
BS in PE Class of 1975
My involvement is staying connected with my classmates. I often call everyone up when I come to town and make plans to get dinner, visit campus, or go to UNCG’s bookstore. I just always make sure I stay in touch with everyone. If I lived closer, I would get involved probably on a committee or with the Alumni Association.
2. Would you encourage others to get involved?
Yes, but I’d say first take a minute to reflect on everything you went through. Think about your time on campus, in your classes, people you’ve met, what’s your next step, where do you want to go, etc. Think about if these people are ones you want to stay in touch with? Does UNCG mean so much that you want to help it survive financially? It’s a real thought process first. Connect with a close friend and think about getting involved. Maybe you identify something really special to you like a scholarship fund, or your department, or a center, or an office on campus, and you both choose to support it. Support could be financially with a donation, reading their emails, attending any of their events, and many other things.
3. Do you have any advice for current students?
I have two pieces of advice. First, The University motto is service, and I have been oriented in that direction. Do something that you don’t expect to be paid for. Do something that intrinsically you feel you’re doing some good for somebody or some group. From doing service, stay connected with those groups and know you have a University family just like your personal family. Second, don’t forget where you came from. I would never give up my education that I got from UNCG because it wasn’t just learning from a book. It was so much more than going to class and studying. We learned from each other, from out of class experiences, and from hands on learning. Never forget your education from UNCG.
BS in PE Class of 1975
Because I love public schools. From what I see, public education does so much good in the community and I want to help continue to support it. Now that I’m in a position to give back, I try to do so continually.
2. Do you have any messages about “paying it forward”?
It sounds real sappy, but I think the future gets a little more dim if we don’t pay it forward. I was fortunate enough to get a teaching loan in college that covered enough to help my parents and me cover the cost. A teaching loan was set up so that every year I taught the loan was being paid back. So, for me, paying that forward helps our future become brighter. It may just be a few dollars to me, but to someone else, it could be everything.
3. What’s your favorite memory from your time at UNCG?
There were so many, but if I have to pick one, it was one of our class retreats out at Piney Lake. We had a cookout, and I was in charge of green beans. I knew they needed some salt and pepper, so I added it, but evidently someone had already added salt and pepper to those green beans! It’s just one of those memories that sticks with me and always makes me laugh. All of my favorite memories are of our class at Piney Lake canoeing, having outdoor classes, dancing, and having fun outside of class.
Dee Hall
BS in PE Class of 1975
My first job was at a private middle school teaching PE to kids aged fourth grade to high school. I left there and went to a middle school, which was only seventh and eighth grade and loved it! I coached volleyball and softball there for seven years. Then I stayed home for five years with my little ones. After that I went back to work at an elementary school that was K-6 and I loved that so much, I stayed there for 15 years. Eventually the first school I taught at, the private middle school, was turned into a sixth grade only school. I went back there to teach and I had only sixth graders. During that time, I got my master’s degree from Gardner Webb. I also got a National Board certification in physical education. Right after that I was named the North Carolina middle school teacher of the year. I retired in October of that year.
2. Why did you choose to become involved as a donor?
Because of the PE Class of 1975. I became a donor because when I didn’t have confidence in myself, the faculty and my classmates had confidence in me. They saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. I was not the “library girl.” You were not going to find me there studying many times at all. I wasn’t an all-star student, but that didn’t matter to them, I was still part of the class. There are people around you who have faith in you and who are confident in you, even when you can’t see it in yourself and that is something that pulls you in no matter what. I still remember where we were when we started talking about our class setting up a scholarship and bringing in donations. We were at Piney Lake at one of our five-year reunions. I didn’t do as much as some for a while, because I was raising two boys, but now that I can I want to support the University and honor Pat Hielscher (our class advisor) in whichever way I can.
3. What involvement do you have with UNCG?
For me, it’s easy to be involved with financial support, because you write a check and mail it to campus. If I lived closer, I would be more involved with visiting campus and attending events.
BS in PE Class of 1975
1. Why did you choose UNCG?
In my senior year in 1970-71, the UNCG freshman class (P.E. ’74) held a “Recruitment Weekend”. My best friend and I got invitations to go from a friend I had made at basketball camp. Our parents took us to UNCG on a Friday. We were each assigned a “buddy” who shared her dorm room with us and taught us how to use the cafeteria. We had numerous “get to know each other sessions” throughout Saturday, met some of our possible teachers, and tried new activities. We took a tour of campus on Sunday and I left that weekend knowing UNCG was where I was going to college.
Cathy Tamsberg
BS in PE Class of 1975
1. Why did you choose to become involved as a donor?
Because of the experiences I had at UNCG. The quality of the education that I received, and the relationships I made were so transformative for me that it wasn’t a question of if I would give back. I give back what I can, when I can, whether that’s time or monetary donations.
2. Do you have any advice for current students?
Take advantage of everything provided to you. Get to know the faculty and take your education as serious as you can. Do the best you can and know that the skills and education you receive at UNCG will benefit you no matter where you go.
3. What involvement do you have with UNCG?
I attend a lot of events on campus, and I try to stay engaged with the community. Our class does a newsletter every Christmas, so I’ve been coordinating that since our graduation. I get to collect all the news, put it together, then send it out to the class. I have a lot of fun with that because I get to know the news on the class first!
BS in PE Class of 1975
1. What’s your favorite memory from your time at UNCG?
It’s not just one memory but I think being a member of the P.E. Class of 75 and all the memories together. Having Pat Hielscher as our advisor from day one, going to piney lake and having picnics, all the things we did as a class. Everything we did competes to be my favorite memory from UNCG.
2. Why did you choose to become involved as a donor?
My experiences at UNCG were so important for the direction that my life took. The professors in our department were outstanding and they prepared us so well. Of course, having Pat Hielscher as a class advisor who helped develop the essence that was our Class of ’75, was so instrumental to our affinity for UNCG. For me, paying for college was difficult at times. I was able to get some academic scholarships and grants. As I’ve thought about it over the years, I’ve realized that someone along the way had to establish those scholarships so that students like me could get a college education. Now I want to give back. Having worked with students and athletes my entire career, I see the needs that are there financially and otherwise. I want to be able to provide the opportunity for other students to go to college.
3. Do you have any messages about “paying it forward”?
It is of tremendous importance. I felt like it was my responsibility as a citizen and as an Alumna to be able to pay it forward, so to speak. It’s kind of like saving for retirement. You start early and when you get to be my age you’ve got money to give back to UNCG.