Friday, March 23, 2007

Kirk to give piano concert March 24-25*

Photo: Ned Kirk, Ph.D.

When the Page Series presents Dr. Ned Kirk in concert this weekend, audiences will be treated to a variety of piano music ranging from a little known “jewel” to one of the greatest works ever written for piano.
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Among the program selections are Ottorino Respighi’s “Notturno,” which Kirk called “a wonderful, small jewel of a piece that’s rarely played,” and three movements of Claude Debussy’s “Estampes” that evoke images depicted by their titles: Pagodas, Evenings in Grenada, and Gardens in the Rain.

Also on the program are “Alberto Ginastera’s “Argentinian Dances, Op. 2,” “El Puerto from Iberia, Book 1” by Isaac Albeniz, and Johannes Brahms’ “Variations and Fugue in B-flat major on a Theme by Handel, Op. 24.”

Kirk, a native of Redding, Calif., is an associate professor of piano at Saint Mary’s. He earned his B.A. in piano performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music and his D.M.A. in piano performance from the University of Washington. He has performed throughout the world, been a faculty member and/or musician with Colorado Music Festival and Marrowstone Music Festival, and will be performing this fall in Kenya.

The Page Series will present two concerts by Kirk — 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 24, and 3 p.m. Sunday, March 25 — both in Figliulo Recital Hall. Tickets cost $12, $9 for senior citizens and $8 for students and are available at the Performance Center box office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Faculty to host Friday lunches in March, April*

The Faculty Development Committee and the Office of the Center for the Advancement of Learning and Teaching are hosting a series of Friday lunches, during which members of our community will share their expertise and a snapshot of their professional lives. The speakers have recently returned from sabbatical experiences or have recently completed a terminal degree program.
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Lunches will be held Fridays in March and April in the faculty dining room. Go through the lunch line (at no cost to you). Presentations will run from 12:30 to 1 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer period. Come when you can; leave when you must. The schedule includes:

Today, March 23 — Joe Tadie: Should we call humility a virtue?

March 30 — Ann Smith: Reflective Computing Research to Service Learning Reflection.

April 13: Dan Bucknam —Age and Memory: Senior Moments for Remembering Emotions?

April 20 — Jane Anderson: Alternative to the course text + CD: Course CD + Reaction Notebook.

SMU Day at the Capitol is April 12*

Students are encouraged to join their peers as they meet legislators and lobby for the Minnesota State Grant Program on Thursday, April 12. A free breakfast and lunch will be served on the bus. The event is sponsored by Student Senate.

Faculty/staff group forming for Relay for Life

Winona State University and Saint Mary's University are co-sponsoring the fourth annual Relay for Life April 21-22 in the WSU Courtyard. This year's theme is "A Night with the Stars." Activities include: live bands, theme laps, prizes, a silent auction, games and salsa lessons.
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Last year, the two universities raised more than $50,000. Their goal is to raise more than $65,000 this year. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society to aid cancer research and help in the fight.

Several SMU student teams and one faculty/staff team have formed. If you are interested in joining the faculty/staff team, contact Jason Richter, Ext. 1648, or Laurie Erdmann, Ext. 1464.

Relay for Life is a fun-filled overnight event (though participants do not need to stay overnight) designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money to help the American Cancer Society save lives, help those who have been touched by cancer, and empower individuals to fight back against this disease. During the event, teams of people take turns walking or running laps. Each team keeps at least one team member on the track at all times. But Relay for Life is much more than a walk around a track. It is a time to remember those lost to cancer and celebrate those who have survived.

To raise money for this important cause, the faculty and staff team is planning a number of fundraisers this spring including a dinner and a movie, a Pampered Chef fundraiser and a silent auction.
A silent auction, planned for mid April, will feature homemade/handmade arts and crafts. Anyone who would like to donate items for the auction should contact Erdmann or Richter. Examples of current donations include jewelry, wood items, knit items and greeting cards.

During the Pampered Chef fundraiser, 20 percent of all sales will go to the American Cancer Society. Catalogs are in the mail. Please share these with others in your department and return orders with payment by April 3. Call Erdmann at 1464 or Janelle Ansell at Ext. 1464.

Read more about Relay for Life at www.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=19055.

M.Ed. conference is March 31-April 1*

“Shared Learning … Bringing Knowledge to Life” is the theme for the Master of Education in Teaching and Learning annual conference at Champlin Park High School March 31- April 1.
Approximately 900 learners in the M.Ed. program from across the state of Minnesota and Wisconsin will come together for two days of shared learning.

Anyone interested in more information about the conference or who may wish to attend can contact Suzanne Peterson, program director, at Ext. 6615 or at speterso@smumn.edu.

Stupca to speak at next biology seminar*

The next biology seminar at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 29, will feature Peggy Stupca, program director of the Mayo Clinic Cytogenetic Technology Program, on “Cytogenetics — Is it in my future?” The event will be held in Room 112, Hoffman Hall.

Holmen, La Crosse Logan challenge competition

On La Crosse’s Fox 25/48 last Sunday, La Crosse Aquinas defeated Eau Claire Regis 145-105 in the second quarter-final game of High School Challenge, a tournament of knowledge sponsored by and held at Saint Mary’s University. This win matches Aquinas against Winona Senior High School in the semi-finals.

Airing this Sunday, Holmen will take on La Crosse Logan in the third quarter-final game of High School Challenge. Tune in at 10 a.m. on Fox 25/48 to see which team will advance to the semi-finals!

An update from Nairobi*

From Father Michael Kirwen, director of the Maryknoll Institute for African Studies in Nairobi, Kenya:
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“MIASMU has scheduled its one credit course, AFST 512-Introduction to African Cultures and Religions, to run from April 2-4. The course is designed for both old and new personnel, African and foreign. Its purpose is to introduce students in a face-to-face manner to some of the foundational themes underpinning African cultural life, and to expose them to MIASMU’s educational methodology. Hopefully it will wet their appetites to sign up for a semester or immersion course afterwards.

“The course is structured as follows: lectures are given each morning, the first day on African culture, the second day on African religion and the third day on Kenyan political and economic realities. In the afternoons, students do field research, the tasks being directed by the lecturer of the day and facilitated by Kenyan university graduates trained by MIASMU as field assistants. In the late afternoon, there is a debriefing session on the fieldwork. In the evenings, students fill out a report on their field research, write a two-page paper interrelating the field experiences with the day’s lecture, and read the assigned bibliographical materials. The students are graded on the papers, field research reports and class participation."

Volunteer Committee events

A tentative schedule for future “Let’s Do Lunches” includes:

April 19 — “Let’s Do Lunch,” hosted by the Education Department
May 18 — “Let’s Do Ice Cream”
June 22 — “Let’s Do Ice Cream”
July 20 — “Let’s Do Ice Cream”
The Gilmore Creek cleanup has tentatively been scheduled for April 24.

Saint Mary's spellers defend their title

The Saint Mary's University spelling team of Paul Nienaber, Jenny Shanahan and Paul Weiner won their second straight spelling title at the Winona ORC Corporate Spelling Challenge. They managed to correctly spell words throughout the 15-round event, including: vanadium, sonobuoy, illimitable, and the winning word quinquevir. The word that eliminated the last remaining team was holobenthic.

Jazz events*

The John Paulson Trio will perform 5:30 to 9 p.m. Fridays, March 23, April 13 and April 28, at Michael’s Restaurant in Rochester.

John Paulson with the Miles Johnston Quartet performs 7 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, March 24, at the Canadian Honker in Rochester.

The Paulson/Price Quintet will be featured in the Twin Cities Jazz Society J-Z concert series 7 p.m. Monday, March 26, at the St. Paul Central High School Jazz Ensemble.

Two Jazz Workshop Combos, directed by Paulson and Heukeshoven perform 8 to 10 p.m. Thursday, March 29, at the Great River Room; $3 donation (for the MAFA music program).

Mathews to discuss sexual trauma

A workshop titled, “Sexual Trauma: Impact and Treatment” will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 28, at Figliulo Recital Hall.

Dr. Ruth Mathews, staff psychologist in Counseling Services, will discuss the range of psychological consequences experienced in the aftermath of sexual abuse and treatment strategies designed to address these impacts.

This workshop, cosponsored by the Wellness Center, Psychology Club and Project COMPASS, is free to the Saint Mary’s community with SMU ID.

Prayer Service for Comfort, Consolation

A Prayer Service for Comfort and Consolation will be held 4:30 p.m. on Monday, March 26, in the Common Room. The purpose of this ecumenical service is to pray for those who are in need of healing physically, mentally, spiritually or emotionally. Please take this opportunity to reflect upon all the changes that have taken place in the lives of individuals, in the university community and in the world during this past academic year, and to pray as a community for strength as we support those around us and find comfort and consolation in God.

Heart and SOUL Row, Ride and Run Triathlon

The first Saint Mary's Heart and SOUL Row, Ride and Run Triathlon will be held Sunday, April 29. The race will start at Lake Lodge, on East Lake in Winona, and will finish on the SMU campus.

Participants will row 2 miles, bike 14 miles and run 3.2 miles. The cost is $25 for individuals or $50 for teams of three or four, if you register before March 30. A drawing for prizes will take place at the finish. For kayak and canoe rental information, contact the Office of Campus Ministry at Ext. 1643. Registration forms are available in the Office of Campus Ministry or online at smumn.edu/campusministry. All proceeds from the race will be used to fund future SOUL trips.

Students to present Living Stations of the Cross

On Tuesday, March 27, at 5:15 p.m., Saint Mary's students will be presenting the Living Stations of the Cross in the Plaza. (The Common Room will be used in case of inclement weather.) Those attending will have the chance to meditate and reflect on Christ's passion. Everyone is invited.

Lenten Reconciliation Service is March 28

There will be a Reconciliation Service at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28, in Saint Thomas More Chapel. The service will include Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, as well as the opportunity for individual reconciliation. This is a great opportunity to receive the Sacrament of reconciliation before Easter.

Tenquist named executive director of SGPP

Clay Tenquist has been appointed to the recently created position of Executive Director of External Affairs, School of Graduate and Professional Programs. Tenquist will oversee the marketing and communications, development and alumni relations activities of the School. He will be located on the Twin Cities’ campus.
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Tenquist was most recently vice president of the Hendrickson Institute for Ethical Leadership. He brings 18 years of institutional advancement experience to the position, having served in related capacities with the American Cancer Society, Fairview Foundation, University of Minnesota, Lake Forest College and the Sigma Chi Foundation.

A resident of Edina, he received his B.A. degree in Journalism from Drake University, and a M.L.S. from the University of Minnesota.

Director of Hendrickson Institute named

Lindsay E. McCabe has been named executive director of the Hendrickson Institute for Ethical Leadership. The institute is an educational enterprise of Saint Mary's that promotes ethical leadership through special events and corporate training for business leaders, and a regional high school scholarship program.
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McCabe will administer the Hendrickson Institute from the Twin Cities campus.

McCabe, an Edina resident, is the former business ethics manager for H.B. Fuller Company of St. Paul. He also worked as a senior legal assistant at H.B. Fuller, Graco Inc., Pillsbury Co., and Faegre and Benson.

He holds a B.A. in History from Winona State University, an M.A. in Teaching from University of St. Thomas, an M.A. in Management from Saint Mary's, and is a doctoral candidate in the Ed.D. in Leadership program at Saint Mary's.

Heukeshoven as music judge, clinician*

Dr. Janet Heukeshoven, Music Department, recently worked with the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Music Contests in Rochester and Rushford. On March 17, she served as a woodwind solo/small ensemble judge, working with student musicians from Rochester public schools and Winona high school.

On Monday evening, March 19, Heukeshoven served as a band clinician, working with five high school bands after their contest performance.

Heukeshoven's photos at Mugby Junction

Floral photographs by Dr. Janet Heukeshoven (Music Department) are currently on display at Mugby Junction Coffeehouse on Huff Street. Stop in during regular business hours and view prints of flowers while you enjoy a cup of coffee. Heukeshoven’s work includes wildflowers photographed in Switzerland, and flowers and plants grown here in Winona including lisianthus, coneflowers, a variety of irises, amaryllis, lupine, and many others.

WSU International Club hosts Spring Dinner

Winona State University’s International Club hosts its annual Spring Dinner Saturday, March 31, at 5:30 p.m. in East Hall, Kryzsko Commons.
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The theme of the dinner is “Here's Our Story: Understanding Other Cultures at WSU.” International students and volunteer students from both the Winona and Rochester campuses organize the annual dinner event.

A silent auction and artifact display begins at 4:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets cost $10 for students, $15 for adults and free for children ages 5 and younger.

Tickets are available by calling the International Student Service Office at 457-5303. For more information, e-mail the International Club at: Internationaldinner@winona.edu.

Sympathy to Piscitiello family

Mary Luzar Piscitiello, mother of Tony Piscitiello, vice president for admission, and grandmother of Joe (Debi M ’06) Piscitiello ‘97 of Chartwells and Juliana ’06 of the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts, died Tuesday, March 20, in Downers Grove, Ill.

The wake will and Mass will be held today, March 23, in Darien, Ill. The family requests no flowers. Memorials can be given to the Carmelite Carefree Village.

The Saint Mary’s community extends its sympathy to the Piscitiello family.