For Tedd and Dawn Kruse, family is everything. But in 2015, their world came to a halt when they lost their 16-year-old daughter, Maddie, to a drunk driver. Faced with unimaginable grief, the couple decided to fight back. With the support of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), they have dedicated themselves to making a difference.

Recently, Tedd and Dawn were honored as Osage Education Foundation Distinguished Alumni for their advocacy and contributions.

“We were both pretty surprised,” Tedd said. “It was outstanding and unexpected.”

Dawn is currently in Washington, D.C., working with MADD to push for legislative change.

Sweethearts

Tedd and Dawn both grew up on farms in Mitchell County. Life on the farm was not much different than it is today, save for the advancement of technology

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