Blue Devil Alumni Spotlight: Linda (Brink) Armas

Name – Linda (Brink) Armas
UW-Stout graduation year – 1978
Major – Early Childhood Education
Sport – Women's Swim Team
Years Played – 1976, 1977
Hometown (High School) – Racine, WI (Wm Horlick High)
Currently Reside – Middleton, WI
 

Why did you choose to be a collegiate student-athlete at UW-Stout? I wanted to have a Coaching Minor. The athletic director told me that I needed to compete at the college level in order to be admitted into the coaching program. I have always been grateful for that requirement!

What did you like most about competing in collegiate athletics? Relationships with my teammates and coach!

What is the greatest lesson you learned from being a collegiate student-athlete? Time management. I worked in the food service (dish room) during my four years at Stout. With demanding siwim team practices added to my class, coursework, and work responsibilities, I had to organize my time to fulfill my personal commitment to do it all WELL! (I think that I only skipped one class… Friday afternoon zoology!)

Who was the most influential person in your athletic career? Charlotte Fritsche. Charlotte and I swam the same events…. Some freestyle, but mostly breast stroke. Charlotte was the best of the best! (both swimming and otherwise.)  I was certainly no competition for her, but was constantly challenged to be MY best!

What is your most memorable swim moment at UW-Stout? We swam a "Garbage Relay" at an invitational. My "leg" of the relay was to swim the dog paddle, while singing the school song. I really didn't know the song, so I kept singing/repeating, "Stand for our team. For Stout we'll fight forever more, U Rah, Rah..!" Hilarious!!!

How did your teammates describe you as a person and a student-athlete? They'd say that I was hard-working and supportive. Of the two seasons that I swam, I was honored with one of three annual awards. My teammates voted me "Most Improved" the first year, and "Most Inspirational" the second year. (No matter how many years I competed, I would never have received "MVP"!)

 

Are you in contact with any former Blue Devil student-athletes? (If so, who?) I went to Charlotte's induction in the Blue Devil Hall of Fame in 1988. (She was the first female athlete ever inducted!) I visited Coach Rita (McKinley) Slinden last year. Since she keeps in contact with some of my teammates, Rita shared lots of their "scoop" with me! I need another visit….

Outside of athletics, what other activities were you involved in at UW-Stout? I was a member of the Stout Symphonic Singers for my freshman and sophomore years. Ironically, I had to quit SSS to join the swim team because of conflicting choir rehearsals/swim practice.

How have you stayed involved with UW-Stout since graduating? I am a member of the Stout Symphonic Singers Alumni Choir. In 2006, we debuted Dr. Patrick Liebergen's works on the Carnegie Hall stage in NYC. In 2009, we began our Italy/Austria tour by singing in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Three years later, we sang our way through the United Kingdom. Pat has since retired from UW Stout, but I keep hoping that I will hear of a future tour. It seems logical to me that an alumni choral director should continue to lead the Alumni Choir! (Hint, hint….)

Give us a brief synopsis of your life since graduating from UW-Stout, include job and family? I taught kindergarten in a small MN school 1978-1987. I began teaching fourth grade there after earning my Elementary Education Masters degree. In 1992, I took a unique job in Middleton, WI, where I was known as the "Camper Classroom Teacher." I taught at-risk four-year-olds and their parent(s) in a mobile classroom (RV). Funding was cut after 11 yrs, so I went back into the elementary classroom. Since then, I have been teaching fourth and third grades an am currently teaching third grade in Middleton. I just completed my 36th year of teaching! I plan to "retire into my next career" in a year or two.

Two decades ago, I started as one of a handful of their parent educators, but soon became the sole Family Talk instructor. The grant also enabled me to conduct numerous on-site workshops for area preschool and childcare centers' staff and parents. I presented at some UW-Platteville Early Childhood Education Conferences, and taught a few satellite classes for Viterbo College too. My specialty is Behavioral Management,  as well as helping parents and teachers understand ADHD/learn strategies to help youngsters with ADHD . Unfortunately, grant funding was severely reduced three years ago, and the MCPASD's Family Talk Program was eliminated. I continue to conduct a limited number of workshops for preschools and child care centers in the Madison area.

I am married to the love of my life, Ray Armas. I have two wonderful and talented sons, Nick and Andy. Ray has two sons, and we have identical twin grandsons.

Life is great!