“If you come away from Arrowhead and didn’t get anything out of it, you didn’t put anything into it,” explained Steve Preisler, a graduate from Arrowhead’s class of 1959. Preisler served as the chairman of the 16-member reunion committee that organized a handful of activities for alumnae to participate in over the course of the Homecoming weekend.

The classes of ’57-’60 kicked off the festivities on Friday October 6th by walking or riding a float in the Homecoming parade, tailgating at Hartland softball park, attending the football game, and getting together at Hartbrook Lanes after the game. The reunion continued on Saturday with a tour of Arrowhead led by Al Zietlow, a former AHS staff member who began teaching in 1957. Later that evening a reunion dinner and reception was held at the Olympia Resort in Oconomowoc. Overall, the weekend was a complete success in bringing back memories, seeing former classmates, and most importantly passing down Arrowhead’s story to current students.

One story seemed to stand out from the rest. In addition to many alumnae, also featured in the parade was Professor Doctor Helmut Johannes Vollmer, Arrowhead’s very first foreign exchange student. Professor Doctor Vollmer now teaches at the University of Osnabruek in Germany, a feat he says may not have been accomplished without his time spent at Arrowhead High School.

He expressed his joy to see his American classmates again and his appreciation for the organization and hospitality of Preisler and others with the reunion. Vollmer described how his parents were pretty liberal and allowed him to travel all over Germany at a young age. So when presented with a scholarship opportunity to travel abroad, he found his way to Arrowhead High School through the AFS Intercultural Student Exchange Program.

Despite the fact that Vollmer was not extremely comfortable with English, he had no trouble getting acclimated and making friends. He remembered the day the teacher sat him between two trombone players and he was to mimic what they did, which eventually led to learning to play the instrument. This became the start of Vollmer’s active participation in band. He also has fond memories of his membership in the school choir and the drama group, performing the play “Ladies of the Jury” on stage. Vollmer’s drive to learn English led him to joining Forensics. In addition, as a senior exchange student, he told of his option to take sophomore and junior classes so he voluntarily took tenth grade speech class. He was impressed with the variety of extra-curricular pursuits available compared to those back in his home country. Unfortunately, at the time Arrowhead didn’t have a soccer team yet so Vollmer was unable to play. But instead, Vollmer expressed his enjoyment of attending several sporting events per week. “Surprisingly, I was not very familiar with the concept of cheering. We didn’t have cheerleaders at my previous school, so I really enjoyed attending all of the games and taking part in the cheers.”

“There were several differences between American schools and those in Germany,” Professor Doctor Vollmer explained. “The thing I remember most about high school in Hartland was the American dating process,” he said with a chuckle. “I was not used to having to find a young woman, get permission from her parents, and make sure she returned home safely at a time specified by her father.” However, Vollmer proved to be a quick learner due to his presence on the Homecoming court that year. He then expressed his excitement when AHS classmates first taught him the Jitterbug, which has stayed with him to this day.

He reminisced about simple events such as sitting at a stand selling cookies to raise money for a dance. He told of his inspiration from Arrowhead students’ involvement in achieving their own goals. If the goal was to put on a dance, students would put in the work and raise the money themselves. It was as if the “American Dream” philosophy was being applied by someone as young as a high school freshman. High school students possessed political responsibility. Vollmer also explained his fascination with the relationship between sports and academic achievement. At Arrowhead, if students put in the time, anyone could excel at several different activities at once.

According to Professor Doctor Vollmer, his stay abroad greatly influenced his further education, career, and future life. “My year at Arrowhead improved my confidence with the language to a great extent. But most of all, my experience with the AFS program helped me experience myself first hand; I was able to master my own interests. This intercultural journey taught me to not judge people too quickly and prevented myself from generalizing people. I was able to mature at a young age and it was fantastic coming back and seeing people who helped to shape who I have become. I truly believe that I wouldn’t be who I am today without my stay in Hartland.”

After returning to Germany in 1959, Vollmer majored in English and American Studies in college at the Free University of Berlin. “One particular positive experience was the self-organization of academic courses (called Critical University) where we as students would design and teach our own topics according to what we thought was necessary and worthwhile for our future lives and careers,” he stated. He later was hired as a research assistant at a prominent institute in Berlin, but currently teaches English and Applied Linguistics as a member of many professional organizations in Germany, Europe, and North America, he explained.

Professor Doctor Vollmer expressed his want to retire soon, but he will continue to work as a member on a board consisting of individuals from several countries working for one common goal: expanding the language skills of students throughout Europe. Because English is becoming such a widespread language and common way of communicating in the professional and business world, he explained his goal as establishing a tri-lingual Europe. If all students were able to speak their native language, English, and the language of their neighboring country, possibly educational or professional opportunities would be more available.

He married a woman from Montreal, Canada named Micheline, and she taught French at Hamburg University until recently. They live partly in Hamburg and party in Osnabruck, where he is a professor, he said. Additionally, they have five children who live in Germany, Canada, and Hawaii. Vollmer stated that his hobbies include sailing, hiking, and traveling with family and professionally.

Hopefully the success story of this extraordinary man can encourage others to participate in foreign exchange programs or simply just increase cultural awareness among students. The next time you see a foreign exchange student in the hall, introduce yourself, because you never know if these kind gestures may influence his or her chance of touching many lives, similar to what Professor Doctor Vollmer has done successfully.