Kelly Ambrosius

That is such a long time ago.

After graduation I attended Huron University until 1992 and was so lost pondering career options I enlisted in the Navy.

I spent my first year and a half in San Diego becoming a medic and advanced school and the next four and a half years on a Marine Corps base in the middle of the desert in 29 Palms, California.

In September 1995 I went on a deployment to McMurdo Station, Antarctica and stayed there for five and a half months. We were providing medical support for the international research teams that were in the area and were able to see alot of interesting things like penguins, killer whales, huge seals, etc. I even got to do a Polar Plunge which if I had the chance to do it over again, I would politely decline. I also experienced my first and last time being on a ship while in Antarctica. The Coast Guard ice breaker was clearing out a lane so the winter supply shipment could be dropped off and they had a Starbucks machine on board. I went on the ship to get a hot chocolate. Coast Guard has it pretty rough, huh?

Afterwards, I went back to 29 Palms and the Marine Corps base for another two years. I got off active duty and went into the reserves in San Diego and ended up being the medic for a security force that deployed to Korea.

I got out of the reserves in Great Lakes, Il, took a job being in charge of an orthopedic surgical service and went back to school. I actually live in a suburb north of Chicago but when people want pinpoint directions it's easier to tell them Chicago.

I graduated as a surgical first assistant in 2001 and have been self employed since. As for what I do, I help surgeons perform different surgeries, everything except open heart and transplant surgery but mainly ortho-sports medicine.

So, now, I'm a student again. I attend DePaul University College of Commerce in downtown Chicago. I am majoring in Finance, Economics and minoring in Islamic World Studies.

As for what I do with my spare time, that is usually reserved for my wife son, and daughter. We are involved in our church and I teach a class from time to time helping fathers communicate with their families. In the winter months, I volunteer at a homeless shelter which usually gets pretty busy up here.

I did alot of rock (technical) climbing in the military and that carried over as a civilian. In 2005 I was fortunate to be able to go to Nepal and do a little climbing in the Himalayas. I got to see Mt. Everest from what seemed to be up close but also got to spend a few days at Everest base camp.

In 2006, I climbed Mt. Kenya and Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise money for St. Jude Children's hospital. That was fun but exhausting. We reached both summits within 6 days of each other.

Just a few months ago, I was climbing Mt. Elbrus in Russia (right at the Georgian border) and we got stuck in a blizzard less than 1000 feet from the summit and had to turn around. Small price to pay for coming home alive.

There are so many! I never thought I would admit that to myself.

First, and these are in no specific order, Mike Breyer walking the hallway between Mr. Pearson's science room and Mrs. Valer's algebra room singing "Welcome to the Jungle" a capella.

Second, Scott Klich being kicked out of Mr. Penning's government class for what I don't even remember. It was one of those situations where you start laughing and try to stifle the laughs but every time you breathe you laugh harder.

Third, another Penning "incident." I was in study hall sitting at the back with Troy Styer and one of the Bankston's. I can't remember which one it was because they both looked so much alike. Anyway, we were making paper airplanes and complimenting each other on our mastery of the universe when Vinny Penning let out a one of his famous war cries, "Hey you kids! Be quiet back there." Bankston#1 immediately threw his paper airplane in the direction of Mr. Penning. The suspense was mind boggling as we watched the paper airplane plot its own course for disaster. It was flying itself right at Mr. Penning's face. What took only a few seconds seemed to take 10 minutes as I'm sure we all pondered what was going to happen when Mr. Stotz got ahold of us. Then at the last minute the airplane caught what must have been an updraft from The Almighty Himself and veered up and right over Vinny's left shoulder. Poor Mr. Penning was looking at us the entire time and apparently never saw the paper airplane attack. I can't remember laughing so hard in study hall.

Last but not least, Mr. Swisher and his elbow drops outside his classroom with the cry, "Hulkamania's running wild!!!"