Alumni Hall of Fame

MCTC’s Alumni Hall of Fame 2012 inductees

MCTC is pleased to announce this year’s MCTC Hall of Fame Inductees. MCTC alumni are our most treasured asset, so it is a privilege to have the opportunity to recognize their many accomplishments. This year MCTC is honoring three well deserving alumni. They have all made significant contributions throughout their careers and in their communities. Congratulations to Nangah Tabah, Robert Hyde and Susan Allen.

Nangah Tabah

Nangah Tabah came to MCTC all the way from Cameroon, fully embracing the excitement, challenges and learning opportunities of college life. During her time at MCTC, she tutored at-risk youth through High School Upward Bound and volunteered for the Minnesota AIDS Project. She was also an active member of Phi Theta Kappa, a national honor society for two-year college students.

Nangah earned her associate of arts degree from MCTC in 2001, and transferred to the University of Minnesota in 2003, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering. After working for Dow Chemical in Minnesota and Texas, she felt restless—engineering was a rewarding line of work, but it didn’t fulfill her.

Subsequently, she decided to attend the University of Iowa Law School. Today, she is a successful patent attorney at a leading national law firm in Chicago. She was a member of the trial team that successfully obtained a $61.7 million victory for a major chemical company in Delaware. Additionally, she achieved reversal on a pro bono matter for which she argued an appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals. 

Robert Hyde

Minnesota native and successful lawyer Robert Hyde has dedicated his life to defending consumers who have little or no financial resources. After financially supporting himself through college, he understands the challenges people face when they lack appropriate funds.

Immediately after attending school at the California Western School of Law, Hyde and his friend—who also had a passion for helping people with limited resources—started their own law practice in San Diego called Hyde & Swigart. They now have offices throughout California and one in Phoenix. The firm plans to expand into Oregon and Washington by the end of 2012, as well as into Las Vegas and Hawaii in 2013.

In addition to its day-to-day responsibilities, Hyde & Swigart dedicates 300 hours each year to pro bono work. They are also active in teaching young attorneys who are interested in the consumer rights law specialty.

Hyde has practiced law in both state and federal courts throughout California, as well as in front of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He is also licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court.

Susan Allen

Working toward social justice for American Indians has been a long-time passion for Susan Allen, who is of Lakota, Dakota and Anishinabe decent and an enrolled member of the Rosebud tribe. Growing up during the American Indian Movement and observing her parents’ dedication to maintaining an active voice in society inspired this heartfelt desire that drove her to pursue a career as an attorney.

As a partner at Frederick’s Peebles & Morgan LLP, Allen now provides legal council to tribal governments, gaming enterprises, tribal business entities and regulatory agencies. She is the first American Indian woman to be elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives. In her role as representative, Allen authored 47 bills and continues to be a voice on behalf of the American Indian community.

Allen demonstrates dedication to her community by her considerable nonprofit and pro bono work. Client service and public service go hand-in-hand for Allen. In addition to serving on numerous nonprofit boards, she has donated more than 2,000 hours to pro bono clients since 1997. 

Alumni Hall of Fame nominations

The Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC) Alumni Hall of Fame was established in 1998 to honor exceptional MCTC alumni. Alumni Hall of Fame awards are extended to alumni in recognition of their professional achievements, personal accomplishments as well as their service to their communities and society.

Each year the Alumni Advisory Committee considers nominees and will select up to four new inductees. The inductees will receive a plaque with their photo and biography. A second, identical plaque will be permanently placed in the MCTC's T Building.

Alumni Hall of Fame Nomination Form

Past Alumni Hall of Fame inductees

2011

David Brumbaugh
Daniel Pierce
Susan Niz

2010

Lee Roper-Batker
Farhan Hussein
Tien Le
Muath Asamarai

2009

Leigh Combs
Nick Dang
Rozenia Hood Fuller

2007

Monte Bute
Melissa Parker

2006

Rosina Bhimani
Kim Norlien

2005

Darrell Bolduc
Brian Farrell

2004

Sharon Henry-Blythe
Teresa Largaespada
Gary Prickett

2003

Lea Bergin-Olson
Siobahn Morgan
Brad Rynerson

2002

Kevin C. Whitlock

1998

Margaret Dexheimer Pharris
Shirley Sanders
Juanita Fleury Seck