Saint Mary's honors outstanding faculty, students

Regina Quandt and Michael Mockler

Drs. Roger Peckover and Mary Catherine Fox

Saint Mary’s presented awards to a faculty member, a Lasallian educator and two outstanding seniors at its Founder’s Day celebration Tuesday, March 27. Founder’s Day is the annual celebration of the founding of Saint Mary’s in 1912 by Winona Bishop Patrick R. Heffron.

Roger Peckover, Ph.D., professor of education and associate director of the Master of Education in Teaching and Learning, received this year’s Bishop Patrick Heffron Award for Service. This award is presented to an employee who has contributed positively to the life of the university, demonstrated a long-term commitment to the values of the university, and been a model of the Lasallian spirit in interactions with colleagues and students.

Mary Catherine Fox ’75, M’89, Ph.D., professor of interdisciplinary studies, was chosen as this year’s Distinguished Lasallian Educator. These awards are given by Lasallian institutions in the North America-Toronto Region of the De La Salle Christian Brothers to honor contributions and commitment to the Lasallian mission of education. Dr. Fox’s nomination noted her exceptional service to and involvement in local, regional, national and international Lasallian efforts, and her dedication to excellence in teaching at the undergraduate level. Dr. Fox is highly regarded in the Lasallian community and has written and presented on numerous aspects of the Lasallian heritage and charism.

Additionally, the Outstanding Male and Female Senior awards were presented to students who have demonstrated the ideals of scholarship, character, leadership and service. Above all, these men and women have shown genuine concern for meeting the needs of others. The Outstanding Male Senior Award went to Michael Mockler, son of John and Caroline Mockler of Dubuque, Iowa. The Outstanding Female Senior Award went to Regina Quandt, daughter of Dan and Cathy Quandt from Minneapolis, Minn.

The following students were finalists for the 2012 Outstanding Senior awards — Males: Brian William Dillon, son of Bill and Lisa Dillon, of Arden Hills, Minn.; Luis Escobar, son of Francia Acevedo and Santiago Escobar Sr., of Madelia, Minn.; Kevin Halpin, son of James and Marie Halpin, of Bartlett, Ill.; and Robert "Robby" McGuire, son of Ann and John McGuire, of Rochester, Minn. Females: Lauren Baier, daughter of Patrick and Ruth Baier, of Mount Horeb, Wis.; Ellen Koneck, daughter of Mark and Nancy Bina, of New Brighton, Minn.; Amy Kujak, daughter of Paul and Barb Kujak, of River Falls, Wis.; and Jill Spitzmueller, daughter of Kathy and Bill Spitzmueller, of New Brighton, Minn.

Annual SMU benefit raises $16,000 for alumnus, veteran

Josh Misiewicz and Taylor Richmond

More than 610 people attended Saint Mary’s University’s 12th annual Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance on March 24.

Proceeds from the dance — and a silent auction held on campus — raised more than $16,000 for this year’s beneficiary, Josh Misiewicz, a Marine veteran and 2006-2008 alumnus who was severely injured this past summer while serving in Afghanistan.

In July, a land mine exploded and he suffered the loss of both legs and two shattered eardrums. He is recovering at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland, where his positive attitude and enduring spirit served as an example to others.

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 Life staff member Nikki Richmond and her husband Nick Richmond. Each year this event benefits someone in the SMU community in need.

Donations are still being accepted. To help, send checks — payable to the Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance — to Lance Thompson, Campus Box 1528.

Paulson to direct final jazz concert April 13

Dr. John Paulson, directing his final SMU jazz ensemble and jazz combo concert, will go out on a high note 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 13, in Page Theatre. Alumni and friends will join Paulson and SMU jazz students on stage for a special evening of jazz, camaraderie, and celebration.

Paulson has been the music industry program director and director of jazz studies at the university for the past 30 years. Several area alumni will appear with the 18-piece jazz ensemble and Jazz Combo I, which has just returned from a successful tour of Germany. Noted alumni who are slated to perform include guitarists Justin Bell ’99 and Andrew Lund ’85, saxophonist Bob Fisher ’97, and trombonist Brian Zirngible ’98.

The Jazz Ensemble will be playing a wide range of jazz including Chick Corea’s “La Fiesta,” arranged by Michael Philip Mossman; Sammy Nestico’s “Basie Straight Ahead” from Count Basie’s book; the famous ballad “ ’Round Midnight," arranged by Mike Tomaro and featuring Markeise Russell of Chicagoland on alto sax; and Gordon Goodwin's rowdy tune “The Jazz Police.” Tenor saxophonist Ben Scott of Rochester and trumpeter Tyler Ringeisen will team up as soloists on Duke Jordon’s “Jordu” and Eric Richard’s arrangement of Joe Henderson’s “Recorda Me.”

The 12-piece “Little Big Band,” aka Jazz Combo I, will pull tunes from the repertoire of pieces they performed on their week-long trip to Germany over spring break. Various alumni will sit in on their set, as well as with the jazz ensemble.

Dr. Paulson’s retirement plans include teaching saxophone, jazz improvisation and various other courses as an adjunct instructor, as well as focusing on his own groups and compositions. The year 2012-13 will mark the debut of the John Paulson Big Band with a concert, funded by a $5,000 grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council, Nov. 17, 2012 at the Winona Art Center. The John Paulson Big Band will also be featured with the Twin Cities-based Hornheads as part of the Page Series on Feb. 14, 2013. More information can be found at www.paulsonjazz.com and www.pagetheatre.org.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students and are available at the Box Office, Ext. 1715 Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Saint Mary’s senior art show runs through May 12

Saint Mary’s seniors will display their artwork in the show “Boundaries Fade” through May 12 in the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries.

The first group of artists, displaying through April 18, includes: Sean Coleman, Sarah Grundhoefer, Laura Larson, Joel Reinhart, Stephen Ronchak, Chris Speltz and Cory Wessels.

The second group of artists, displaying April 21 to May 12, includes: Michael Blanda, Ashley Blum, Keisha Harcey, Maria Ann Harris, Mary Karnick, Sarah Marie Kennedy, Laura Polzin, Morgan Stock, Jim Tandberg and Margaret Villaume.

The galleries — free and open to the public — will be open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Students to produce three plays through ‘SPLaSH’

The Theatre and Dance Department invites the public to the spring “SPLaSH” series — three one-act plays produced by students — now through April 1. The plays will be held at the Valéncia Arts Center’s Academy Theatre, 1164 West Howard St.

SPLaSH, which stands for “short play showcase,” will feature three one-act plays:

• “The Swing Set,” written by senior Tom Conry of Waunakee, Wis., and directed by theatre faculty Judy Myers, is a play about two intertwined people who just missed each other. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be.
• “So, I Wrote This Play…!” is a zany comedy about a man trying to write a play that doesn’t want to be written. This piece is written and directed by senior Rick Baustian of Dell Rapids, S.D.

• “Blackout” by Davey Anderson is adapted and directed by junior Mary Doctor of Aurora, Ill., and is a portrayal inspired by a true story of what happens when young minds are exposed to dangerous ideas.

Shows are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 30 through 31, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 1.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors and are available at the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Saint Teresa Institute plans women’s forum

In 2010, 36 million women (29.3%) dedicated 4.7 billion hours of service to communities across the country.

This year’s public “For the Common Good” Women’s Symposium, hosted by Saint Mary’s University’s Saint Teresa Institute, delves into the question of why women choose to give so generously of their time and the impact that has on the quality of life and the security of citizens in the United States and around the world.

The event will be held from 3:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 12, in SMU’s Toner Student Center.

Beth Forkner Moe, executive director of the United Way of the Greater Winona Area, will set the stage in her opening address. The keynote by Sister Tierney Trueman, OSF, will provide an inside look at the work of faith-based organizations. She will highlight one of the Sisters of Saint Francis ministries, which provides education for approximately 1,000 girls at Colegio Santa Francisca Romana in Bogotá, Colombia.

Participants can select from three breakout sessions:

• Does it Matter? Does volunteering really make a difference in securing, retaining or being promoted to a position in the workplace?
• In Community: Why do businesses actively encourage employee volunteerism?
• Still Serving: Why emerging leaders, mothers and senior members of our communities volunteer.

Register at www.smumn.edu/womensymposium by April 5. SMU students will be admitted for free; other student tickets are $10, and adult tickets are $30.

Women Who Step Forward Conference planned

On Saturday, April 21, the second Women Who Step Forward Conference will take place at the Saint Mary’s University Event Center on the Minneapolis campus. This is a unique opportunity for women who are aspiring leaders who wish to learn the skills and mindsets that are essential to leadership.

Women Who Step Forward is a full-day leadership conference with international leaders who are sharing their time and talents with women who need it the most. This conference is funded by grants and sponsorships so that students may attend all sessions and meals for only $45. For those that cannot afford this rate, scholarships are available.

Keynote speaker Marilyn Tam, former CEO of Aveda, president of Reebok and Apparel Group, and vice president of Nike, believes in this mission of helping women further their careers and will be available to sign her books, “How to Use What You’ve Got to Get What You Want” as well as “Living the Life of Your Dreams.”

Julie Gilbert, former senior vice president of Best Buy and founder of WOLF Means Business, will open the day with inspiring remarks about her personal journey through the ranks of leadership and how she founded her own successful company here in Minnesota.

Participants will choose from the following breakout sessions:

• Networking
• Career Search Strategies
• Women in Entrepreneurship
• The Self Esteem & Confidence of a Leader
• The Power of Your Personal Brand
• Stress Management Through Yoga & Meditation
• Personal & Professional Finance
• Self Management

Please share this information with students, friends, faculty, and colleagues. For scholarship entry information, e-mail Anna Riechers at ariecher@smumn.edu.

Register early for Row, Ride, Run Triathlon

The annual Saint Mary’s “Row, Ride, Run Triathlon” will take place on Saturday, April 28, beginning at 9 a.m. at Lake Lodge in Winona and finishing on SMU’s Winona campus.

About 100 athletes from throughout the Midwest are expected to register for the race.

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.

Proceeds assist Serving Others United in Love (SOUL), a program of SMU’s Office of Campus Ministry. Through SOUL, students are able to connect with diverse communities by participating in national and international service trips.

Registration is $30 per individual or $60 per team. Teams can be made up of two, three or four members.

Participants must be 10 or older to row or run and 15 or older to bike. Awards will be presented to the top three fastest individuals and the top finishing team.

For more information, visit www.smumn.edu/rowriderun or call Ext. 7268.

Next Page Series production a retelling of ‘Peter & the Wolf’

For the final Saint Mary’s University Page Series production of the season, the Pushcart Players will bring the classic tale of “Peter & The Wolf” to life Tuesday, April 17.

The show, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in Page Theatre, is an adaption of the traditional Russian folktale set to music by Sergei Prokofiev. While providing a charming introduction to the world of music and musical instruments, this enchanting tale is all about the adventure of growing up. Danger becomes reality and creative innovation becomes essential as young Peter meets the challenge of survival in the outside world.

This captivating tale, enriched by glorious music and visual effects, will win the hearts of all who view it, while offering a special moment in time for family audiences to share.

Pushcart Players is a dynamic ensemble of professional theatre artists, based in Verona, N.J., well known for tackling difficult issues and bringing them to life in an innovative, lively and accessible way. Recent credits include highly successful performance tours of the former Soviet Union and the Czech Republic, several performances at The White House, and both public and peer recognition through numerous awards for outstanding work in children's theatre. Pushcart is now in its 38th season of producing theatre and arts-in-education programming for young viewers. All productions are accompanied by comprehensive study guides for parents and group leaders; and meet and greet opportunities with the cast follow performances.

Gathering for Peter

A Gathering for Peter is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 14, at the Winona Public Library. Area musicians will play bits of the Prokofiev score to be featured during the Page performance April 17, and participants can win tickets for the Pushcart Players performance.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $5 for seniors and students and are available at the Box Office, Ext. 1715, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Other upcoming April events

• Employee service awards ceremony, Thursday, April 12
• Student Life Awards, Thursday, April 12
• Spruce-Up Winona, Saturday, April 21
• Senior Academic Awards banquet, Thursday, April 26
• Gaslight, Friday and Saturday, April 20-21 (with 50th anniversary alumni show April 21)
• Benefactor Recognition Dinner, Saturday, April 14.
• Dance Repertory Company performance of “Le Corsaire,” Friday and Saturday, April 27-28
• Choirs Concert, Saturday, April 28

Senior Gift Campaign kicks off

Thursday, March 22, marked the beginning of the Class of 2012 Senior Gift Campaign. This year’s committee — led by co-chairs Emily Munns and Rachel Gates-Vickery — centered on raising awareness about the importance of giving back to their alma mater. With a theme of “Birds of a Feather Give Back Together,” the committee held an evening event in the Cardinal Club celebrating Cardinal pride. Seniors were encouraged to make a one-year pledge to be fulfilled June 1, 2012-May 31, 2013. In just the first week of the one-month campaign, 32 percent of the senior class has pledged $2,761.

SMU hosts sustainability forum

The last sustainability forum, hosted by Student Life, is Tuesday, April 24. The forums are intended to provide interested students, staff and faculty with the opportunity to learn more about the broad concepts of sustainability, discuss these issues as they relate to our daily lives both on and off campus, and then identify actions to contribute toward a more sustainable future.

• “Water” — Tuesday, April 24, 7:30 p.m., Toner Student Center Lounge

If today the issue is oil, then tomorrow the issue will be water. Whether gathered in your reusable container, flowing down the Mississippi River, pumped from the ground, or falling from the sky, water is at the core of all life on earth and we can’t take it for granted.

PR and Business Club visits professionals in St. Paul

SMU Public Relations and Business Club students at 3M

Saint Mary’s Public Relations and Business Club visited professionals at Peterson Milla Hooks Advertising (PMH) in Minneapolis and the 3M Corporation in St. Paul on Monday, March 26.

At PMH, students were given a tour of the agency and heard account executives, planners, creative directors and graphic designers discuss their roles on campaigns for JC Penney, Target, K-mart, Gap, Mattel and others. The visit to 3M was highlighted by a tour of the Innovation Center along with speakers from the areas of brand management, communications, and marketing. Saint Mary’s alumna Nikki Jung (’07) is a channel marketer for 3M’s Occupational Health and Environmental Safety division and hosted the 3M visit.

SMU students inducted into Delta Mu Delta honor society

Thirty-one Saint Mary’s students were inducted into Delta Mu Delta at a luncheon reception on March 21. Delta Mu Delta is an international honor society in business established to recognize and reward outstanding academic achievement of students in business administration.

SMU’s Delta Mu Delta chapter, Eta Beta, was established in 1994 to promote the national organization’s goals of promoting higher scholarship in business education and recognizing and rewarding academic attainment in business subjects.

Congratulations to the newest members of Delta Mu Delta for 2012: Andrew Anger, Josh Bennett, Steve Carlevato, Paige Carter, Yue Chang, Echo M Christian, Cody Cuhel, Brad Denney, Anne Drazkowski, Brittany Geerdes, Scott Graphenteen, Sheree Haslemore, Andrea Hoglin, Cameron Koziarz, Jun Li, Emily Munns, Samantha Otto, Sean Pavelich, Agnieszka Prusak, Marty Purintun, Beth Rajdl, Matthew Rebernick, Erin Regan, Kyle Romanchuk, Evan Paul Saunders, Jennifer Schrankler, Anna Sonday, Erin Stenseth, Ryan Wagner, Jasmine Wang and Sam Wilczyk. The following members inducted in 2011, were also present: Brian Dillon, Justin Loeffler, Joseph Rysavy, Kelsey Schneider and Emily Vierling.

Saint Mary’s spelling team wins seven in a row

The Saint Mary’s spelling team of Lauren Leighton (Fitzgerald Library), Paul Nienaber (Physics), and Paul Weiner (Math) competed in the Winona ORC Community Spelling Bee on Thursday March 22. The team, successfully spelling words such as annulet, edentulous, cerberean, and schipperke, emerged victorious in the field of 10 teams. This marked Saint Mary’s seventh consecutive annual community spelling title.

Brother William visits ESL students

Brother William came to the Center for International Students to visit the ESL students on Friday, March 23.

Kowles to give presentation at Winona State University

Dr. Dick Kowles, professor emeritus in Biology, will give a presentation at Winona State University on Friday, April 13. The topic of his talk is “The Fountain of Youth — Possible or Not.” Kowles will discuss the possibilities, which is a segment of his book, “The Wonder of Genetics.”

Vote now for study abroad photo contest

Stop by Room 132 of Saint Mary’s Hall to cast your vote for this year’s study abroad contest. Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners.

Congratulations to O’Shea family

Lindsy and Patrick O’Shea, Music Department, had a daughter, Eleanor Louise on Sunday, March 25. The Saint Mary’s community extends its congratulations to the O’Sheas.

Sympathy to Sobolewski family

Therese Lattrell, mother-in-law of Greg Sobolewski (Theology), died Thursday, March 22, in Michigan.

Notes of condolence can be sent to Greg and his family at 333 Knopp Valley Dr., Winona. The Saint Mary’s community extends its sympathy to the Sobolewski family.

No ‘Campus Notes’ next week

Because of Easter break, there will be no ‘Campus Notes’ next week. Look ahead on your calendars. The next issue will be Friday, April 13. The deadline for that issue is Wednesday, April 11.