Do you still have your “Together as One” shirt from freshman year? Do you know who printed and made those shirts? Well, it’s Patti Haugen! Since 2017, the “Together as One” shirt was a gift to Rocky from a graduating class and has been made by Patti Haugen.
For seventeen years, Patti has been working for Rocky as an Alternative Cooperative Education (ACE) job coach and para. This year she’s retiring and stepping into a new chapter. Haugen shares her work experience before and during her time at Rocky. .
“I love the community,” Haugen said regarding Rocky. “People want to make sure everyone feels welcome and belongs.”
Before working as a job coach and para, Patti worked for the Pepsi company and was in charge of checking Pepsi machines on college and university campuses.
“Pepsi was the longest that I worked and I was very, very busy.”
After working for a big business, she wanted to offer more and changed work positions.
Patti had originally wanted to be a teacher as a career and her career at Rocky has helped her follow that dream.
“I’d been working outside of a school in the working world for 30 years,” she says. “I felt like I had something to give.”
Eventually when Patti’s son became a freshman at Rocky, she started working here too. She watched Rocky’s sporting events like baseball, football, and her own daughter’s softball games.
‘It was fun because I knew all the people she played with too,” she said.
She also loved getting to know people and students here. Patti chose to work the ACE position because of her background in business and helping people to learn.
Patti has been enjoying her the last few moments at Rocky and plans to come back to sub for Mr. Rozzaza as needed.
Her last moments of Make-A-Wish, homecoming, convocation, and other events she is appreciating to experience.
“I’ve just kind of gone through all those things going ‘oh that was my last,’” Patti said.
After she retires, Patti plans on trying new hobbies, like golf, and spending time with her grandchildren. She also plans to move into a new place and travel more outside of the country to Italy, Germany, and Bavaria with her husband.
“We’re going to see this big huge castle in Germany,” Patti says. “We’re gonna do a little more traveling.”
Patti Haugen has dedicated a lot to Rocky and worked hard by making shirts for Adopt a Family and Make-A-Wish. She’s also worked to be a role model for students and to help them be the best they can be–by teaching them skills and helping them grow.
Patti’s dedication to Rocky is appreciated, and she will be missed!
