Also, the waters seem to provide the environment for a thoughtful transition. Kusiak is the first to admit that his career plans are still evolving, and that, at 33, he’s not sure what lies ahead. He states with conviction that he always wants to be growing, and “to be present” in his own life in order to experience much and maintain great relationships. Oddly enough, a few years ago, he wondered if he would live to be 27.

Very active as a youngster, Kusiak had earned a black belt by age 9 and had placed first at nationals. In high school he played football, basketball, and lacrosse. He pushed himself to excel. But at the end of his senior year and on the eve of a big recruiting summer for lacrosse, a high school party became the proverbial “fly in the ointment.” Racing through the woods in the dark with a friend, Kusiak ran into a fire-road steel gate, resulting in a double-compound fracture of his leg and the shattering of his elbow.

Kusiak became addicted to painkillers, and it was a struggle not only to discontinue use of opioids but to obtain help from insurance companies to do so.

He eventually sought help and treatment at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. Shortly thereafter, he learned about the , Augsburg’s residential collegiate recovery community, and he began his studies in 2006. “That fellowship of walking through this together” (in the same residence hall as other students dealing with substance abuse) made academic success much more likely, and Kusiak felt as if the “whole school bought into it and that’s why Augsburg is unique.” He is especially grateful to StepUP’s director Patrice Salmeri and former director Dave Hadden and to professors John and Peggy Cerrito for the “great impact” of their entrepreneurial class, particularly the focus on learning through experience and connections.

As he looks to the future, Kusiak “can’t wait for what’s ahead.” He reflects on his immense gratitude for family and friends who have stood with him. He is pleased that fishing has allowed him to save up some money and even invest for the future. He is also pleased that, today, there is much more education and understanding about substance use and abuse, and he believes this will lead to access of treatments that really work. This is one of the primary reasons he has chosen to be open about his experiences.

Most of all, he is passionate about wanting to connect more with people in ways that allow him to give back, particularly in giving hope to individuals and families who struggle with substance use. From someone who once thought going a half-day being sober seemed like “mission impossible,” he says that living now—in the way he has chosen to live—is “nothing short of a miracle.”

—Cheryl Crockett ‘89

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Before Anne Thompson Heller ’08 began her studies at Augsburg, she hadn’t even visited the College. But she knew Augsburg was where she needed to be, because of the on campus. Honestly, she says, she’s not sure she would have been able to go to college when she did without the support of StepUP, Augsburg’s residential recovery program.

Now, while completing a doctoral program at the University of Connecticut, Thompson Heller helps other young people in recovery to achieve academically and thrive. With two master’s degrees (one in educational leadership, higher education, and student affairs; the other in marriage and family therapy), she works tirelessly to support youth recovery. Though she hadn’t intended to pursue multiple advanced degrees, she did so when she discovered an undeniable passion for helping others facing addiction issues, just as she had been helped in her StepUP experience.

When she moved back to Connecticut, she served CTYF (Connecticut Turning to Youth and Families) as a board member, and eventually as its vice president, advocating for youth services with several state and other influential agencies, and attempting to raise awareness of the problem. Her involvement with CTYF led to her current work on the board of directors for Connecticut Community of Addiction Recovery (CCAR).

In 2010, after speaking at the National Education Recovery Summit, Thompson Heller was invited to join the board of the Association of Recovery Schools (a “phenomenal” organization, she says), where she led the advocacy committee and worked to enhance youth leadership in recovery schools. In that role, she was able to support the development of YPR (Young People in Recovery), a national advocacy organization, as one of the organization’s founding members. YPR now has chapters across the country, which emanated from several national conferences that sought to address addiction recovery and related issues such as leadership training and organizational development.

Perhaps the source of greatest pride in her work, however, is the URC (UConn Recovery Community)—a collegiate recovery program for which she began advocating and researching in 2009, and which was eventually established in 2013. URC supports students in recovery on the UConn, Storrs campus.

In addition to her doctoral work and board involvement, Thompson Heller manages to find time to provide marriage and family therapy, mostly in the evenings—clinical work that she hopes to continue upon completion of her degree. When that time comes, she would love to be director of a collegiate recovery program, serve students in recovery, and conduct research to support collegiate recovery efforts and recovering student development—perhaps combining that with teaching in higher education.

A recipient of an Augsburg College Leadership Award in 2008, Thompson Heller will speak at the October 24 annual StepUP Gala on the theme of gratitude. If you attend this event, you may hear her quote her mentor, Patrice Salmeri, director of the StepUP program, who has said, “Nobody should have to choose between recovery and a college degree.” Thompson Heller also may mention a gift to Salmeri from another student—a plaque on her office wall that says, “Because you believed in me, I believed in me.” Thompson Heller says of Salmeri, that could not be more true. She is also grateful to former advisor Nancy Fischer in the sociology department, who has been particularly influential in her life.

Though Thompson Heller knows that her struggle with addiction and alcoholism strained and hurt her family tremendously, she is overwhelmed with gratitude that she and her family have healed and are incredibly close. She and her husband Chris just celebrated their first anniversary in September—another source of immense gratitude for her.

By Cheryl Crockett ’89

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Generous attendees brought in $290,000 in donations for the occasion, which is the primary fundraiser for  all StepUP activities. This year, StepUP serves more students than ever before as it helps students navigate their way toward a bachelor’s degree while maintaining a 93% sobriety rate.

Kevin and Polly Hart of White Bear Lake, Minn., received the Toby Piper LaBelle Award for their commitment and generosity to Augsburg College’s StepUP program and to the entire addiction recovery community.

“Kevin and Polly have brought so much value to the StepUP program, the students in recovery we serve, and the recovery community as a whole,” said Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow. “We are blessed to call this dedicated couple our friends and are proud to honor them with this award.”

Kevin serves on the advisory board for the StepUP Program, where he helps guide and shape the program. He also is a board member of The Retreat, a recovery program in Wayzata, Minn. The Harts volunteer countless hours for these programs and also mentor youth in recovery.

Advisory Board Chair Mike Sime shared the strategic focus for StepUP going forward. It will focus on enhancing the program’s quality, growing the number of students in the program, and inspiring people across the country to develop collegiate recovery programs.

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