2018 Alumnus of the Year – Mr. Adrian Eichhorn

Adrian Eichhorn graduated from Frankenmuth High School in 1974. Not only did Adrian go on to college at Michigan Tech to earn a degree in Civil Engineering, he served our country with distinction for 20 years in the Army Core of Engineers, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.

For four years (1996-2000) Adrian was assigned to the Joints Chiefs of Staff as the Strategic Nuclear Operational Plan advisor to President Clinton. His other senior staff assignments were also essential to our national defense and in those roles, Adrian had the high-stakes experience of testifying before Congress and other legislative committees.

Adrian is one of our highest-flying Eagle grads without a doubt.

So there’s no wonder why he is our 2018 Hall of Fame Alumnus of the Year.

He is an accomplished professional aviator, with thousands of hours of service as a pilot (for NASA, the Washington Redskins, the FAA, JetBlue and others) and he is highly respected for his work as an aviation pioneer and researcher, flight instructor, and aviation educator and trainer.

When it came to realizing some of his dreams, Adrian admits he was a late bloomer.

“I was in the bottom 25% of my graduating class grade-wise,” he notes. “I was hardly what you’d call a great student.”

“But I loved tinkering with machines, from go-carts to bicycles, so I always spent time on those interests. I began working at the Bavarian Inn at age 14, and that was a life-impacting experience for me too. I learned the value of a solid work ethic, high standards, and positive relationships.”

“In looking back, I see how Frankenmuth’s small size provided us a big network of support. My classmates at Frankenmuth High knew each other and all knew our brothers and sisters as well. I’m grateful for that caring environment and I’m sure it’s still going on today.

“It’s funny. I’ve had to speak in several high-profile, pressure-cooker situations over the years, but nothing has made me as nervous as speaking to the high school students at Homecoming. When your audience is comprised of bright young people – all with their own hopes, dreams, and potential talents, you want to have the right words to say.”

“I reminded students to embrace the wonderful support and encouragement our community and school district provides. Their future dreams matter – and there are lots of people here willing to help them achieve them.”

2019 Champion for the Children – Mrs. Mary Weiss

While growing up, Mary’s passion was classical ballet and she trained and danced from age 3-21.

It was her love of ballet that spurred her to share the fun and discipline of dance with others. And for more than 20 years, Mary has devoted herself to inspiring students and adults with special needs and their families.

Mary first began giving of herself through movement and dance in Saginaw with the ARC program in the 1990s.

Since 2007, Mary has been a leader with the Special Kids in Action group in the Frankenmuth area. This group is dedicated to providing a wide range of activities (including dance) to people with special needs and offering support for their families. The keystone event for one and all is the annual recital each spring at the Bronner Performing Arts Center.

It was more than 30 years ago that Mary graduated from Bridgeport Spaulding High School and went on to earn a business degree from Delta College.

Although she then went on to work at Peerless Steel Company for 21 years, Mary never let go of her dream to become a teacher.

She left Peerless to become a paraprofessional for eight years with us here in Frankenmuth while also going back to college (while in her 40’s no less!) to earn her teaching degree.

Today, Mary teaches for the Bridgeport Spaulding School District, currently at the high school as a special education teacher.

Mary is married to Phillip Weiss of Frankenmuth and has four children: Matthew, Janelle, Lexus, and I’Leianna.  

She and her husband have been foster parents to seven children and have had two exchange students who attended Frankenmuth High School, Magnus from Norway and Malin from Germany.

Mary never let the “ups and downs” of life keep her from eventually reaching her dream.

“It’s a blessing,” said Mary. “I’m now serving in the way I always wanted to since I was a young girl – as a teacher – and every morning I have to pinch myself just to make sure I’m still living my dream.”