Communities

‘Leadership, integrity, a commitment to excellence’

NUACS honors three with Hall of Fame inductions

NEW ULM - Three new members of the New Ulm Area Cathedral Schools (NUACS) community were inducted into the NUACS Hall of Fame Saturday at the New Ulm Country Club.

NUACS have recognized over 200 members of their community since beginning the honors in 1985.

For the 2026 Hall of Fame class, Shannon Hillesheim, Paul Hazuka and Denny Lux were honored.

President of NUACS Sister Julie Brandt opened the ceremony with a welcome and prayer before introducing the three recipients.

"Each of them have exemplified the best qualities of the respective awards they are receiving, and we are proud to call them a part of our school community," Brandt said.

Shannon Hillesheim, the recipient of the Distinguished Achievement Award was recognized first.

This award looks for individuals who have achieved success in their career fields while showcasing leadership and community participation.

Hillesheim graduated from Cathedral in 1990, where both of her parents worked as teachers. In Mr. Brand's accounting class, Hillesheim discovered her love for the field.

She spent roughly 10 years working as an accountant for Biebl Ranweiler and CliftonLarsonAllen before moving into the banking field. Graduating from the Graduate School of Banking in Colorado in 2010, Hillesheim has achieved numerous accolades in the banking field.

Hillesheim led the expansion of Bank Midwest into the New Ulm and Mankato area as Market President. Hillesheim was then promoted to Chief Banking Officer. "Twin Cities Business Magazine" named Hillesheim one of its Notable Women in Commercial Banking.

Although Hillesheim was selected to serve on a national committee for American Bankers Association, she has still dedicated time to New Ulm. Hillesheim has been active with New Ulm Public Utilities Commission, the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Junior Achievement and is currently President of New Ulm Area Foundation.

At Cathedral, Hillesheim coached softball and currently serves on the NUACS Capital Campaign Steering Committee.

"Shannon exemplifies the values we hope to instill in every Cathedral graduate: leadership, integrity, a commitment to excellence and a heart for service," Brandt said.

Hillesheim reflected on her childhood, much of which was spent at the school helping her parents and playing in the empty classrooms.

"My first jobs were babysitting for all the teachers' kids," Hillesheim said.

She thanked members of the NUCAS family for helping her get to where she is today.

"Bob Ranweiler and Andrew Biebl gave me my first professional opportunity," Hillesheim said. "Mary Ellen Domeier, another member of our NUACS family, stepped in to see me (during Hillesheim's first week at Bank Midwest) and tell me how proud she was."

Hillesheim closed by saying that it takes a village to raise a child.

Next, Paul Hazuka received the Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes those who make substantial contributions to NUACS.

Over his time involved with NUCAS, Hazuka taught social studies and religion courses, coached and served as principal. Despite retiring, Hazuka's involvement with NUACS has continued through substitute teaching, volunteering and coaching.

"Whenever there is a need, Paul seems to find a way to help whether it's painting strips in the parking lots or painting a locker room," Brandt said. "One might wonder if Paul understands what retirement actually means."

Brandt said that Hazuka leads by example.

"Isn't that what Catholic education is all about? Not simply teaching our young people about Christ, but showing them what it looks like to live as His disciples," she said.

Hazuka thanked his family and the NUACS community.

"I'm especially grateful to my parents and other adults and people in this room who taught and influenced me to have concern for others and to reach out into service," he said. "By helping others, my perspective of various organizations and activities are enhanced and true blessings are revealed."

Lastly, NUACS Athletic Director Alan Woitas introduced Denny Lux for the Distinguished Athletic Award for those who make outstanding contributions to Cathedral athletics.

Lux has been Head Coach of the Cathedral Greyhounds football program since 1995. During his time coaching, the Greyhounds have seven conference championships, six section championships and a Class A State Championship in 2010.

During his decades of coaching, Lux has reached 200 wins and helped introduce the tradition of daily mass attendance for the football team and spaghetti suppers.

Lux's wife Kathy Jo Lux said that she had the joy of witnessing Lux's growth from a "short, skinny farm kid with huge black-framed athletic glasses" to the leader on the field that the community knows him as now.

Denny Lux thanked his family and all of the coaches and administrators.

"Coaching consumes you, that's really a perfect analogy of what coaching involves," Lux said.

He said that organizations with success have shared outlooks.

The coaches see the lasting significance of player-coach relationships, parents understand the value their children receive learning from other ways of life and players want to be part of something bigger than themselves.