Alumni Update

2006 Kilian Community College
Distinguished Alumnae

Kara Duncan, '92

Kara Duncan grew up on a farm near Jasper, MN.  The second of four children, Duncan became a student at Kilian in 1989.  Within three years, she graduated with honors and a new job in her chosen field. 

Kara was the first paralegal hired by the Minnehaha County Defender’s Office, a position created after she impressed the staff through her hard work as an intern.  Today, the office employs four paralegals, including Kara.

“If you were going to build an ideal public defender paralegal from the ground up,” one of her nominators wrote, “Kara Duncan is what you would end up with.”

Duncan has been involved with some high profile cases, including the recent murder trial of Jeremy Simmons. Duncan’s employers credit her fearless and thorough work on the case for helping Simmons gain his freedom after a year in custody. 

In addition to her work with the Minnehaha County Public Defender’s Office, Duncan has worked for the South Dakota US Attorney's Office and received commendations from the US Attorney’s Office in Washington DC for her work with child support and terrorism projects.  Duncan, her husband, Grant, and two children live near Sioux Falls.  She is involved with her children’s school, the youth board at her church, and 4-H.

“Lawyers get all the credit,” one of Kara’s nominators writes.  “The hardworking paralegals that make us look good deserve to be recognized too.” 

2006 Kilian Community College
Spirit of the College Award

Theresa Kashale

While her degree may not be from Kilian, Theresa Kashale credits the community college for giving her the start she needed that would someday lead her to give back to the needy in her home country.

Kashale is being honored for her work to begin an orphanage in Congo for girls ages 7 to 13 living on the streets of the capital city, Kinshasa.  These children have been orphaned by civil war or disease and are often the target of exploitation.   

The Kashale Orphanage, which is run by Theresa’s family members, will offer shelter, education, counseling, and food.  It is funded through donations from the Sioux Falls community.  Kashale says she is also doing this to honor her father, Moses, who grew up an orphan.

Kashale graduated from high school in Kinshasha, Congo and found her way to Kilian in 1998.  She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Sioux Falls and works as an English Language Learner teacher at Roosevelt High School. Kashale is also active with Lutheran Social Services refugee and immigration programs.