WBLAHS to Honor Distinguished Alumni Brigadier General (Ret.) Bryan John Hult and Dr. Paul Anthony Iaizzo on Sept. 26

White Bear Lake Area High School is proud to announce that Brigadier General (Ret.) Bryan John Hult, Class of 1974 Mariner Campus, and Dr. Paul Anthony Iaizzo, Class of 1974 (Mariner Campus), have been selected as a 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients. They will be formally recognized before the Homecoming football game on Friday, September 26, 2025.

Brigadier General (Ret.) Bryan John Hult, Class of 1974, Mariner Campus
Hult’s remarkable career began when he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1978. Within a year, he graduated from Officer Candidate School, Airborne School, and Helicopter Flight School. After serving at Fort Hood, Texas, he pursued theological studies at Western Seminary, graduating Summa Cum Laude with both a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theology.

His call to ministry and military service ran in parallel. After pastoring in Minnesota and Indiana, he transferred into the Army Chaplain Corps. His career culminated with his promotion to Brigadier General, where he served as the Assistant Chief of Chaplains for the National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C., the highest chaplaincy position in the Army National Guard. In recognition of his service, he was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels.

Alongside his military service, Hult pursued advanced theological studies, earning his Doctor of Ministry degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 2002. After retiring from the National Guard in 2010 and from Grace Evangelical Church in 2014, he and his wife Barbara moved to Sandpoint, Idaho. There he served for more than eight years as the Veteran Service Officer for Bonner County, where he supported countless veterans and their families.

Today, Bryan continues to teach Biblical Greek and Hebrew, counsel individuals and couples, and speak at veteran and community events. On November 9, 2025, he will be inducted into the Indiana Military Veterans Hall of Fame in Indianapolis.

Rooted in the White Bear Lake community where he grew up swimming, sailing, and working summer jobs, Bryan remembers fondly his Plymouth Duster and the music of the Beach Boys and Chicago echoing on summer nights. He credits his wife Barbara, his siblings Gary and Connie, and countless mentors, friends, and teachers for shaping his path.

“Bryan’s life of service to faith, family, community, and country reflects the highest values of White Bear Lake Area High School,” said WBLAHS Principal Russ Reetz. “We are honored to recognize him as a Distinguished Alumnus.

Dr. Paul Anthony Iaizzo, Class of 1974, Mariner Campus
Dr. Iaizzo is a Professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School, where he has served for over 35 years. He is widely respected for his leadership as Director of the Visible Heart Laboratories and the Institute for Engineering in Medicine, where his pioneering research continues to make a lasting impact in medicine and engineering.

A lifelong learner, Dr. Iaizzo earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Minnesota Duluth, followed by a Ph.D. in Neurophysiology at the University of Minnesota. His thesis research was completed at the Mayo Clinic, where he later trained as an NIH Fellow. He was also honored as an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow in Germany.

Throughout his career, Dr. Iaizzo has trained more than 140 graduate students and has provided White Bear Lake Area High School students with the unique opportunity to tour and learn within the Visible Heart Laboratories for over 20 years. His efforts have inspired countless young people to pursue careers in science and medicine.

Beyond academia, Paul has given back to his community in many ways. He and his wife Marge—married for 42 years—raised three daughters, all White Bear graduates. He coached youth basketball and soccer for over a decade and enjoys spending time with his five grandchildren. His personal passions include beekeeping, foraging, and black bear research, which he has pursued for nearly three decades.

Dr. Iaizzo will be honored at a 5:30 p.m. reception at White Bear Lake Area High School in room 1020, followed by recognition on the field around 6:40 p.m. during pregame of the Homecoming football game on September 26, 2025. 

“Dr. Iaizzo’s outstanding professional achievements and lifelong commitment to learning and mentorship embody what it means to be a Distinguished Alumnus,” said White Bear Lake Area High School Principal Russ Reetz. “We are proud to honor him as an example for our students and community.”

Celebratory Event
The inductees will be honored at a 5:30 p.m. reception at White Bear Lake Area High School in room 1020, followed by recognition on the field around 6:40 p.m. during pregame of the Homecoming football game on September 26, 2025. 

For more information about the Distinguished Alumni Award, visit https://wblalumni.com/wall-of-fame.