‘SMU 10K’ citizens classic ski event is Jan. 25 at Saint Mary’s

Saint Mary’s is inviting the public to the annual “SMU 10K” classic ski event on Sunday, Jan. 25.

“We’re very fortunate to have an excellent trail system here that is both scenic as well as challenging,” said Chris Kendall, vice president for student development. “And this year we actually have snow, thanks to the weather and to our new snow-making capabilities as a result of a partnership with the Winona Ski Club.”

The event is open to all individuals, with a Mass start slated for 1 p.m. On-site registration will begin at 11 a.m. at the Toner Student Center. The cost is $10, which includes a souvenir race bib and a completion medal. Medals will be awarded for men and women in open and recreational classes.

For more information or to receive a registration form, call Davey Warner at Ext. 8740. Check out more information online at www.saintmaryssports.com.

Students can attend Frozen River Film Festival for free; some events to be held at SMU

SMU students can attend the upcoming Frozen River Film Festival for free.

The Frozen River Film Festival is an event that specializes in documentary films, workshops, and presentations oriented around the areas of world culture, the environment and extreme sports. Between Jan. 21-29 the festival will showcase more than 40 films from around the world. More details.

The festival speakers include horticulturist photographer David Cavagnaro, food activist Deborah Koons Garcia, and Dr. John Francis who was silent and on foot for 17 years.

Most events take place on the campus of Winona State University; some are at Saint Mary’s and other locations around town.

The Office of Student Development and the School of the Arts have contributed money to allow all students from Saint Mary’s to attend for free. (Only the Friday night concert is not included.) Students should bring an I.D. to Nikki Richmond at Campus Ministry or Student Activities to receive a pass.

For more information, contact John Kerr at jkerr@smumn.edu or Ext. 1673.

Nowakowski to speak on economic challenges and higher education

Matt Nowakowski, director of the MBA program at the university, will speak to faculty and staff on current economic challenges and their impact on higher education. The presentation, followed by questions and answers, will take place on Jan. 22, at 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Salvi Lecture Hall. Light refreshments will be served.

Russian National Ballet to stage ‘Sleeping Beauty’ Jan. 27

The classic fairytale “Sleeping Beauty,” a full-length ballet in three acts, will be performed by the Russian National Ballet Theatre Tuesday, Jan. 27, at Page Theatre.

“Sleeping Beauty,” a crowning jewel of choreographer Marius Petipa’s career, is often considered the finest achievement of classical ballet. Good will triumph over evil beginning at 7:30 p.m. Audiences will enjoy a lavish theatrical set, complete with magical effects and courtly splendor.

Pyotr IIyich Tchiakovsky was delighted with the invitation to write the music for a ballet based on Charles Perrault's well-known fairytale. A baby princess, condemned at her christening by an evil fairy to prick her finger and die on her 16th birthday, is saved by the gift of the good Lilac Fairy, who declares the princess will only sleep until awakened by the kiss of a prince. The fairytale, replete with a king and queen, fairies both good and evil, a beautiful princess and dream prince, lent itself perfectly to the full evening ballet that was Petipa's pride.

The Russian National Ballet Theatre, formerly known as the Soviet National Ballet, was founded in Moscow by graduates from the Russian Choreographic schools of Moscow, St. Petersburg and Perm in the transitional period of Perestroika in the late 1980s. This was a time when many of the great dancers and choreographers of the Soviet Union’s ballet institutions were exercising their new-found creative freedom by starting new, vibrant companies — dedicated not only to the timeless tradition of classical Russian Ballet but to invigorating this tradition as the Russians began to accept new developments in dance from around the world.

In 1994, the legendary Bolshoi principal dancer Sergei Radchenko was selected by Presidential decree to assume the first permanent artistic directorship of the company.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and students and are available at the Box Office Ext. 1715 or online at www.pagetheatre.org. Pre-show dinners are available at $20 for adults or $12 for youth.

Saint Mary’s to feature two unique realist artists

"Dogs of the Empire" by artist Jason Bronner

"A Brief History," featuring artist Larry Holmes

The unique work of two vastly different artists — Larry Holmes and Jason Bronner — will be displayed inside Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries through Feb. 6.

Holmes, a realist painter, uses an overhead perspective when creating his pieces, which highlight textural beauty by positioning inanimate objects like shells or statues beside flowers or animals. Holmes’ exhibit, “A Brief History,” features a number of oil paintings depicting mosaics. He is professor emeritus at the University of Delaware, Newark.

Through his exhibit, “Dogs of the Empire,” Bronner depicts scenes of dogs through charcoal drawings on paper, oil paintings on canvas, as well as digitally. In examining the dog’s competing roles as hunter, guardian and companion, Bronner’s work makes a political statement. He is associate professor of painting and drawing at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania.

Admission is free and open to the public, and gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. For more information, call Ext. 1652.

Chili cookoff is Jan. 30

The next SMU faculty/staff chili cookoff will be Friday, Jan. 30, as the next Let’s Do Lunch fundraiser for Nairobi. If you intend to compete, contact Deb Nahrgang at Ext. 6966 or dnahrgan@smumn.edu, so that we know there will be enough chili to feed the masses. Prizes will be awarded to the top three placers. SMU celebrity judges will be announced later.

Chili will be served between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Common Room. Be sure to bring your appetite and a freewill offering. Judging starts at 11:15 a.m.

The Chili Cook-off will be sponsored by Student Development (cornbread, cheese, crackers, etc.). Bottled water and desserts will be provided by the volunteer committee as well.

Author Ron Hansen to speak Jan. 27

Ron Hansen, author of “Mariette in Ecstasy” and a book of essays called “A Stay Against Confusion: Essays on Faith and Fiction” will read from his books at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, in the Toner Student Center Lounge.

Hansen also has authored “Isn’t it Romantic,” “Desperadoes,” “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,” “Nebraska,” “Atticus,” and a children’s book, “The Shadowmaker.” He is Gerard Manley Hopkins SJ Professor of the Arts and Humanities at Santa Clara University. His novel “Atticus” was a finalist for the National Book Award in 1996.

His presentation, free and open to the public, is sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta, the national English honor society. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, call Dr. David Sokolowski at Ext. 1538.

Knowledge Acknowledged series begins Jan. 20

A series of presentations celebrating knowledge and passion will be held Tuesdays in the McEnery Center main lounge.

The first presentation, from 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, will feature Dr. Robyn Wangberg, physics, who is an Ironman triathlete. Dr. Wangberg will share her passion for triathlons and her recent adventures competing in the world championship of the Ironman Triathlon in Kona, Hawaii, and the Ironman Canada Triathlon. These events include a 2.4-mile swim in the ocean, a 112-mile bike ride, and a marathon run (26.2 miles).

Other upcoming presenters include Eric Heukeshoven, music; Monta May, communication and marketing; and Chris Kendall, student development, Gary LeMasters (husband of Ruth Ann Torstenson LeMasters at the library), and Dr. Wes Miller, social science. Light refreshments will be served.

MLK interfaith prayer service is Jan. 19

A Martin Luther King Jr. Interfaith Prayer Service is scheduled for 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19, at Saint Thomas More Chapel. The event, free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Inter Cultural Awareness Association, Lasallian Collegians, the Office of Campus Ministry, Power Hour and Co-exist. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call Campus Ministry at Ext. 1643.

Klosky named state POST coordinator for Saint Mary’s

Dr. Tricia Klosky, criminal justice coordinator, was named the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) coordinator for Saint Mary’s. This position entails keeping current on new laws impacting students who wish to become law enforcement officers, monitoring curriculum to make sure that we are meeting POST educational requirements, and signing off on students applications to take the POST licensing exams.

Heukeshoven serves as guest conductor

Dr. Janet Heukeshoven served as guest conductor of the Maple Grove/Osseo District 270 Junior High Honor Band on Thursday, Jan. 15. Eighty select 8th- and 9th-grade instrumentalists from four schools met for a day of music making and a concert at Maple Grove Junior High.

Jazz notes

The John Paulson Trio will perform 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at Michael’s Restaurant in Rochester, Minn.

SMU in the news

Here are some recent mentions of SMU “making the news” — in the Winona area and beyond.

• A story titled, “It’s too much work,” about a community ski day, hosted by SMU’s Environmental Awareness Center, appeared in the Jan. 4 edition of the Winona Daily News.

• The Jan. 15 edition of The Winona Daily News features a photo of a family touring Saint Mary’s and December admission statistics in a story titled, “Economy dragging local college applications.”

Help more students complete college

Minnesota's policymakers should act now to make college more affordable and accessible for low- and middle-income students. It's more important than ever, if we are going to have the educated workforce we need for future jobs and economic growth. Our state can't compete globally if only one out of three low-income high school students in Minnesota go on to college (that's compared to two out of three when income is not considered).

There are steps the state can take right now: one, put more money into need-based aid, increasing awards and eligibility for thousands of students, and two, fund proven support programs that help those least likely to go to college.

Become an advocate for expanding college opportunity for Minnesota students. Join the Minnesota Private Colleges’ Legislative Action Network to find out more about this issue and keep up with what’s happening at the Capitol. Get the tools and resources you need to make your voice heard. Join today.

Artist reception for Solberg is Jan. 22

A reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, for local artist Mary Solberg whose mixed-media paintings are featured in the Ben Miller Lobby of the Performance Center through Feb. 9.

“Everyday icons are images of people or animals living or dead, contemporary or historic whom I wish to venerate on a personal level,” Solberg said. “No less an icon for their familiarity, the mixed media paintings incorporate metal leaf, beeswax and oil to create a portrait, which celebrates the sacred in all of us.”

Sympathy to Strickland family

Helen Strickland mother-in-law, mother and grandmother to Donny Nadeau '85 (SMU Sports Information director), Deedee (Strickland) Nadeau ’85, Bob Strickland ’72, Ann (Strickland) Stark ’83, Tom Stark ’82, Corey Strickland ’02, Andy Nadeau ’07, current students Joey Nadeau ’12 and Danny Stark ’12, died Jan. 12.

Cards of sympathy can be sent to Donny and Deedee Nadeau and family at Campus Box 62. The Saint Mary’s community extends its sympathy to the Strickland family.