Saint Mary’s hosts national streetball tour April 27

The high-flying and mesmerizing “Hustle Up Street Ball Tour” 2008 — starring Hotsauce, Highrizer, Springs, Spyda, and Ghost — dribbles its way onto the Saint Mary’s University court on Sunday, April 27.

The streetball legends, which have been described as Generation-X Harlem Globetrotters, will be playing against the best basketball players that Winona has to offer inside the SMU gymnasium. The tour promises a “night of tenacious dunks, incredible passing and the most unbelievable tricks you have ever seen.” The best streetball players in the world promise “the most exciting basketball event ever to hit Winona.” Doors open at 6 p.m., and tip-off is at 7 p.m.

Hustle Up Streetball is dedicated to showcasing this unique and extraordinary playground-style basketball to the youth of various communities. Because streetball has been so far limited to the major cities, “Hustle Up” (sponsored in conjunction with JUMPUSA.COM and K1X) brings the hottest streetball players to the smaller markets. The Hustle Up Streetball tour began over three years ago with only 10 tour dates. The 2008 tour will hit 35 cities throughout the country. During visits, players not only show off their basketball skills but also speak to students about the importance of education and staying away from gangs.

The members of the team, including Hotsauce, Highrizer, Springs, Ghost, JFK, Big Swoal, Pat DS Rock, Spyda and A-Money, have participated in one or more of the following events, videos and movies: the Mountain Dew/AND1 Mixtape Tour; the Magic Johnson/MTV “Who’s Got Game” Reality TV show; Nike Dribbling Commercials (the Nike Freestyle Team); ESPN & ESPN2’s Street Ball Series; the movies “Above the Rim,” “On Hallowed Ground” and/or “Crossover” (2006); various EA Sports Street Ball Video Games (representing characters); and they’ve played on or captained a team in the legendary NY Rucker Park Basketball Games.

The half-time show will feature a slam-dunk exhibition and pre-expo warm-up. An autograph session will be held after the game.

Tickets are $13 in advance and are available by calling Katie LaPlant at 6936 or at both Midtown Foods locations in Winona.

For more information about The Hustle Up Street Ball Tour, visit www.hustleupstreetball.com.

Micklethwait to serve as first speaker for Hendrickson Institute Forum

Saint Mary’s University is hosting a forum on globalization and economics and honoring the first recipients of the Hendrickson Medal for Ethical Leadership during its first Hendrickson Institute for Ethical Leadership Forum.

The event — featuring John Micklethwait, editor-in-chief of “The Economist” — is planned for Wednesday, April 30, at the Nicollet Island Pavilion in Minneapolis. Events will run from 3 to 5 p.m., followed by a reception.

Micklethwait will speak on globalization, the economy of the future, social responsibility and ethics issues – issues that mirror the global outlook, mission and curriculum of Saint Mary’s.

Additionally, the Hendrickson Medal for Ethical Leadership will be awarded to Warren and Mary Lynn Staley. The Staleys employed ethical approaches that were innovative and creative through Cargill, Inc., the Greater Twin Cities United Way, Habitat for Humanity and Opportunity International. They’ve also served as role models for young and emerging ethical leaders and place a high value on education.

Tickets are $25; $10 for SMU students. A few complimentary faculty and staff tickets are available. E-mail Barb Hall at bhall@smumn.edu. For more information, visit www.smumn.edu/hendricksonforum.

SMU students to stage Greek tragedy ‘Iphigenia’ April 18-21

The Greek tragedy “Iphigenia at Aulis” will take on chilling contemporary significance during the Department of Theatre Arts production April 18-21.

“Iphigenia at Aulis,” by Euripides, centers on Iphigenia, the teenage daughter of Agamemnon, the commander in chief of the Coalition of Greek Forces. While waiting to attack the town of Troy, Agamemnon offends the goddess, Artemis, who denies the army the wind of modern warfare, technology, stranding the fleet in the bay of Aulis. The priest Calchas tells him that he must sacrifice his daughter, Iphigenia, to restore the wind and achieve ultimate victory.

SMU’s contemporary version of the tragedy — adapted and directed by Dr. Steven Bouler — explores the dark side of patriotism and war fever, and how far a politician-turned-warrior will go to secure a victory, even if it means sacrificing his own child.

Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Monday, April 18, 19 and 21. A matinee performance is planned for 3 p.m. Sunday, April 20.

Tickets for the show — to be held in Page Theatre — are $8, $6 for students and seniors 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.

Senior art show to run April 12-May 10 at SMU

These two pieces, on display through May 10 at the Saint Mary’s University senior art show, are by Bridgette Baggio (top) and Ashley Wendlandt (bottom).

Saint Mary’s University senior art students will present the next art show, “zero hour,” April 12 through May 10 at the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries. Artists displaying will include: Bridgette Baggio, Kimberly Koecheler, Joseph Manley, Katie Mathews, Sarah O’Brien, Madeline Pieper, Ashley Wendlandt, Josh Barrett, Hilary Oas, Emerald Hulsing, Satoshi Hayashi, Mary Moses, Jeffrey Paul and Seth Weeks.

An opening reception will be held 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 12. The galleries — free and open to the public — are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily in the Toner Student Center.

Student History Research Symposium is April 19 at SMU

Seniors from five area universities will present the results of their historical research at the Student History Research Symposium on Saturday, April 19, at SMU. The event — free and open to the public — is sponsored by the history departments of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Saint Mary’s University, Viterbo University and Winona State University.

In addition to the student presenters, Dr. Kirsten Fischer, associate professor of history at the University of Minnesota, will make a presentation on “Religion and the Founders: A Conversation about Original Intent.”

Saint Mary’s and Winona State have co-sponsored a student research symposium for eight years, with UW-La Crosse and Viterbo University joining last year. This year they welcome UW-Eau Claire to the event. Each school asks senior history majors — and at Winona State, law and society majors — to write a senior thesis based on their original research of a historical question of their own choosing. In this way, the students actually do the work of historians, and in the process, deepen their research, writing and speaking skills.

All symposium sessions will be held on the third and fourth floors of Saint Mary’s Hall. The symposium opens at 9 a.m. in Salvi Lecture Hall (Room 332) with a short welcoming ceremony and coffee. At 9:15 a.m., students will present their research in concurrent sessions of three students each. At 10:30 a.m., a complimentary brunch will be served in the Common Room, followed by a second session of concurrent panels at 10:45 a.m. and Dr. Fischer’s talk at noon. The last round of student presentations run from 1:15 to 2:30 p.m. For further information, contact Dr. Tycho de Boer at Ext. 6995 or tdeboer@smumn.edu.

Saint Mary’s to host second Row, Ride, Run Triathlon

The second Saint Mary’s University Heart & SOUL “Row, Ride, Run” Triathlon will take place on Saturday, April 26, at 9 a.m.; check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. on the west end of Lake Winona. The public is encouraged to take part in the triathlon.

Participants will canoe or kayak a 2.5-mile loop around Lake Winona, then bike 14 miles from Lake Winona to the SMU campus. Once on campus, racers will run 3.1 miles through the bluffs surrounding the university.

Participants may begin registering now, either as an individual or as a team. Teams may consist of two, three or four members. The registration period ends April 14. The fees are $35 per individual or $60 per team; registration spots are limited.

Racers are responsible for bringing their own bikes, and are required to wear helmets for the bicycling leg of the event. Canoeists and kayakers are required to wear life jackets; a limited number of canoes and kayaks are available to rent for $20. SMU students and employees can use canoes and kayaks at no charge.

For more information, or to register online, visit www.smumn.edu/heartandsoul.

Senior Academic Honors Banquet is April 16

Brother Chancellor Louis DeThomasis and Provost Jeffrey Highland will honor the class of 2008 during the Senior Academic Honors Banquet Wednesday, April 16, beginning with a reception in the President's Room of the Toner Center at 6:30 p.m. A dinner and awards program will follow at 7 p.m. in the Toner Center Dining Room.

Complimentary tickets can be reserved by calling Ext. 6678.

Saint Teresa Leadership and Service Institute for Women upcoming events

The end-of-year ceremony for the first official graduating class of the Saint Teresa Institute is Friday, April 18, at 4:30 p.m. at the Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels, followed by the Mary A. Malloy Tea and Tour, at the CST Tea House, both located on the Saint Teresa campus.

Saint Mary’s hosts first Relay for Life

Saint Mary’s University is hosting its first Relay for Life April 19-20. The theme is “Rockin’ All Night Long for a Cure.”

People are welcome to put a team together and walk. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society to aid cancer research and help in the fight. 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 “moving” 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. Watch for more details.

Annual SMU benefit dance to help alumnus Leukemia patient

Saint Mary’s University will present the eighth annual Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance from 8 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, April 12.

The beneficiary of this year’s formal dance — open to the public — is SMU alumnus Steve Groby. Steve, a resident of Shakopee and formerly of Wabasha, was diagnosed two years ago with Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia, which resulted in a bone marrow transplant last May.

The benefit dance has become an annual tradition since it was started by students in 2001 in honor of Taylor Richmond, son of Saint Mary’s Campus Ministry and Student Activities staff member Nikki Richmond. Taylor has a genetic terminal illness called Ataxia Telangiectasia (A-T) and the money from his benefit was used to fulfill Taylor’s dream of going to Disney World. Each year this event benefits someone in the SMU community in need.

The dance, featuring music by the Johnny Holm Band, will be held in the Toner Student Center dining room. Ticket prices are $15 per person or $25 per couple. To purchase tickets or receive more information, contact Jason Richter at Ext. 1648 or Katie LaPlant at Ext. 6936. Dance tickets will also be available at the door.

To make a donation, send checks — payable to the Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance — to Katie LaPlant, Box 1471.

In combination with the dance, a silent auction will be held on campus from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., today. A variety of homemade goods, gift baskets and specialty items will be on display in the game room of the Toner Student Center.

Other auction items include:

-- Weber propane grill
-- Ledebuhr's gift basket
-- One-week stay at a cabin in Ely
-- One-week stay at a condo in Florida
-- Weekend stay in the Dells
-- Timberwolves tickets
-- Wild tickets with signed jersey
-- Twins tickets
-- Themed baskets
-- Pillows
-- Lots of gift certificates
-- Much, much more!

MCA auditions planned for summer intensive

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will hold auditions for acceptance to the MCA Summer Intensive 2008 throughout the Midwest.

Interested dance students can audition in Rockford, Ill., on April 12; or locally at Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts at the Valéncia Arts Center, 1164 West 10th St., Winona, Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to noon.

The application deadline for the MCA Summer Intensive is May 1. For a brochure and application, or for more general information about the MCA Summer Intensive, visit www.smumn.edu/mca, e-mail dance@smumn.edu or call Ext. 5501.

Annual ‘Spruce Up Winona Day’ scheduled for April 18

Saint Mary’s, Winona State and Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical will conduct the third annual “Spruce Up Winona Day,”on Friday, April 18, from 1 to 5 p.m.

“Spruce Up Winona Day” is a community-wide clean up project. This year’s event includes a flood relief component, in addition to working with Adopt-a-Block, downtown clean-up, the Elder Network and local residents.

Volunteers are needed to help with light cleanup or maintenance such as cleaning, raking, painting and picking up trash.

The event features three shifts: 1 to 3 p.m., 3 to 5 p.m., or both shifts, from 1-5 p.m.

For more information, call Katie LaPlant, Ext. 6936.

Diomandes and Fox headline Las Vegas alumni event

Drs. Gary Diomandes and Mary Catherine Fox “headlined” the Las Vegas alumni event, held April 3, at the home of Jim ‘61 (former trustee) and Lynn Casimir in Henderson, Nev. Diomandes updated alumni on theater events and initiatives, while Fox addressed Lasallian initiatives at SMU. Meg Richtman, director of alumni relations, hosted the event and Jennifer Butson, leadership gift officer, also attended.

Las Vegas is home to a diverse group of technical and performance theater alumni, as well as alumni who have retired to Las Vegas.

Kowles and Minnerath research accepted for publication

Drs. Dick Kowles and Jeanne Minnerath have collaborated with the University of Minnesota over several years on a large research project. Recently the resultant research article has been accepted for publication in the journal “Maydica.” The article describes the expression of maize genes and enzyme activity for efficient photosynthesis in oat plants. Matt Walch, a Saint Mary’s alumnus, is also a co-author on the paper.

Shields to speak at next ‘Brown Bag’ seminar

The next speaker for the Math and Science Brown Bag seminar series is Dr. Joe Shields from the Department of Mathematics. His presentation on Friday, April 11, is titled “Combining your Vocation with your Avocation” and will detail some simple mathematical models which are useful in the presenter’s hobby of SCUBA diving. The presentation will be from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in Hoffman Hall, Room 301. Guests are welcome to bring a lunch, and beverages will be provided.

Study day radiothon to raise money for Habitat

Joe Dulak and Jeff Hefel will continue the traditional “study day” radiothon to raise money for Habitat for Humanity. This year’s show is Thursday, May 1, on KSMR 92.5/94.3 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. As with last year, auction items are needed as well as guest hosts to sit with the DJs for one-hour blocks. Please contact Joe, Jeff or Matt Klosky at mklosky@smumn.edu if you care to donate time or an auction item.

Over the past three years this event has raised over $5,000 for Habitat. A website at www.jeffandjoe.wetpaint.com is now under construction to promote the event.

Kabara Institute speaker on family-owned businesses

On Thursday, April 10, the Kabara Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies hosted Maria Kreidermacher to speak to current students on the topic of becoming involved in a family-owned business after graduation. The Kreidermacher family owns “Pork and Plants” in Altura. Maria graduated from Saint Mary’s in 1991 with an undergraduate degree in accounting.

Concert Band performs with W-K high school band

The SMU Concert Band, directed by Dr. Janet Heukeshoven, brought its spring concert to the Wabasha-Kellogg High School on Monday, April 7. The highlight of the performance was a combined band selection to close the performance. The selection performed together was titled “Thunderscapes,” composed by Erik Morales.

The bands both prepared the work individually, then rehearsed together shortly before the 8 p.m. concert, and the 90-member massed band was indeed thunderous. The W-K high school band is directed by Jenny Partin, and SMU student Dulcinia Basile is currently student teaching in the W-K music department.

Warner senior recital scheduled for April 12

Davey Warner, outdoor leadership coordinator, will conduct his senior recital on Saturday, April 12, at 3 p.m. in Figliulo Recital Hall. The recital will feature original compositions by Warner and will last about an hour. A reception will follow.

Faculty, staff reception is April 17

A special ceremony is planned for 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17, in the Common Room. The university will recognize the anniversaries of employees, as well as this year’s retirees.

WSU, SMU present Hop-a-Concert jazz performances April 25

Winona State University and Saint Mary's University jazz ensembles will present a Hop-a-Concert – five jazz performances featuring Winona’s talented college students — at both schools (and the Acoustic Café) on the same day, Friday, April 25.

This event is the first-ever collaboration between students of the two jazz programs. John Paulson and Rich MacDonald, directors of jazz studies at SMU and WSU, decided to plan this evening of jazz after collaborating on live monthly jazz jam sessions at the Acoustic Café in Winona.

• From 6 to 7 p.m., two SMU Workshop Jazz Combos, directed by Paulson and Eric Heukeshoven, will perform a casual pre-concert set in the SMU Performance Center lobby.
• From 7 to 7:45 p.m., the SMU Jazz Ensemble, directed by Paulson, performs in Page Theatre, also in the SMU Performance Center.
• From 7:45 to 8:30 p.m., WSU Jazz Combos perform, directed by Richard Hammergren, perform in the WSU Performing Arts Center lobby.
• From 8:30 to 9:15 p.m. the WSU Jazz Ensemble, directed by MacDonald, performs on WSU’s PAC mainstage.
• And from 9:30 to 10:30 p.m. SMU and WSU select Jazz Combos close the jam at the Acoustic Café.

This event brings the students together in a unique production, which will feature both large jazz ensembles and small group combos.

Admission to both events is $10 for adults and $6 for students and senior citizens. Tickets are available at either WSU or SMU. At SMU, call Ext. 1715 or visit www.pagetheatre.org. Individual concert tickets may also be purchased at the two venues.

News from Nairobi

Father Michael Kirwen, Maryknoll Institute of African Studies in Nairobi, Kenya, reports on how the institute’s educational method emphasizes and encourages students to use the knowledge gained so that they are able to discuss issues of African religion fluently and freely. The following is a verbatim account (from a student) illustrating this.

“In a recent journey I met a man much older than myself and we struck up a conversation on religions. He said that Christianity was superior to African religion and had come to bring ‘light’ to Africans who were in darkness. I probed further for an elaboration, and he said that Christianity preached one supreme God while African religion had many gods and therefore Africans did not know of one supreme God.

“Using the training I got from MIASMU I asked him if his ethnic community had a name for God. He answered in the affirmative, saying God is referred to as Nyasaye, which means ‘the one whom we beseech.’ I then asked him about his community’s myth of origin and he responded that it attributed the existence of the first man and woman to creation by God. Then I said, ‘If your ethnic group has a name for God and attributes that you have just outlined, then there is evidence that your community knew and still knows that there is one God, unlike what you had earlier stated.’

“Africans therefore were not in darkness before the arrival of Christianity, rather Christianity only came to affirm what they already knew and believed, and this is why so many Africans found Christianity compatible.”

Cotter honors Gostomski as outstanding alumnus

Cotter High School honored Michael Gostomski with its annual Cotter Alumni Achievement Award on Thursday, Jan. 31. Gostomski is the fourth recipient award, given to him for his devotion to his family, faith, and profession; his community and heritage; and to Cotter and Catholic education. Gostomski is a 1962 Saint Mary’s alumnus, and a member of the board of trustees.

McCullough participates in honoring ceremony

On March 29, Ken McCullough, assistant director of Academic Advising and director of the PASS program, represented the Winona-Dakota Unity Alliance at an honoring ceremony on the Sisseton-Wahpeton reservation (South Dakota) for Woodrow Wilson Keeble, who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for actions in the Korean War. Keeble also served in the Pacific during World War II, and was wounded a total of 13 times. Keeble was nominated twice during the 1950s but the paperwork was lost on both occasions. The persistence of his family and state legislators helped bring this process to fruition 60 years after the fact and 26 years after Keeble’s death. Keeble is only the third Native American to receive the Medal of Honor.

Employee changes

New employees:
Vanessa Bugman, April 7,
Rochester, Administrative Assistant
Teresa Nye, April 4,
Twin Cities, Administrative Assistant to Chancellor/Hendrickson Institute/
External Affairs

Leaving:
Scott Deml, April 18,
Winona, Assistant Professor - Business
Rick Mischka, April 7,
Assistant Volleyball Coach,
Assistant Director of Intramurals
Tyler Pongratz, April 4,
M.Ed. Technology
Development Specialist