Welcome reception and African art sale is Friday

A reception for SMU’s colleagues in Nairobi, Brother Paulos Mesmer, director of Christ the Teacher Institute for Education, and Father Michael Kirwen, director of the Maryknoll Institute for African Studies, will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. today, Friday, Dec. 14, in the Common Room. A short presentation will begin at 2:30 p.m., and African art will be for sale.

SMU invites audiences to 2nd performance by Trouble

Due to popular demand, vocalist Vanessa Trouble has added a second performance as part of the Saint Mary’s Off The Page series.

Now there are two opportunities for audiences to take in classic holiday tunes with a jazz twist.

As her original concert on Thursday, Dec. 20, sold out within weeks, a second concert is now planned for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21. Both events will be held at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, 800 Riverview Dr.

Saint Mary’s is proud to welcome this Winona native home for these special holiday shows. Trouble has been singing and producing shows with numerous artists for over a decade. The New York City artist has honed her vocal and performance skills all over the country and abroad, fronting various jazz ensembles in New York, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Atlanta, New Orleans, London, Paris, Ireland, Norway and Asia.

Tickets for the Dec. 21 show are $15 for adults or $12 for students and seniors. Call the Performance Center Box Office Monday through Friday at Ext. 1715 or order tickets online at www.pagetheatre.org.

It’s nearly a wrap for Gifts for Winona

The Saint Mary’s University Gifts for Winona program is “wrapping up.” Thanks go to everyone who shopped, wrapped, picked a tag, donated money, picked up gifts, did data entry and fielded phone calls. For 11 years, the SMU community has pulled together its talents to help make this communitywide gift-giving program a success. As the gift distribution is Monday, if you still have a present to bring in, please call Deb Nahrgang at Ext. 6966.

LaSalle Hall Living Learning Community highlights semester

The LaSalle Hall Living Learning Community took time this week to reflect on its semester together. Brother Larry Humphrey, director of Mission, led a reflection on the Lasallian Catholic mission of Saint Mary’s and invited members of the LLC to think about how they can be brothers and sisters to each other. In addition, a meal was shared with their faculty advisors and residence hall staff. Lastly, they created 100 holiday greeting cards to be added to the “Gifts for Winona” presents to be handed out this holiday season.

Residents of Gilmore Creek and Hillside halls volunteer

Resident assistants and residents of Hillside and Gilmore Creek halls volunteered their time Monday night to the Salvation Army by standing outside in front of Walmart and Hy-Vee ringing bells and asking for donations. Each semester resident assistants provide opportunities for community growth through their programming, based on foundations adopted from the Lasallian Core Principles. This program allowed students and staff to focus on service and a concern for the poor.

Jazz combos to give concert as final exam Sunday

Members of the Saint Mary’s Jazz Workshop and Jazz Combo I will take their “final exam” from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, at the Acoustic Café, located at 2nd and Lafayette streets.

Come relax and enjoy some jazz in this casual setting as the students perform jazz standards, along with a few holiday numbers.

Jazz Workshop Combo, directed by Dr. John Paulson, and Jazz Combo I, directed by A. Eric Heukeshoven, feature students in small group settings where improvisation is emphasized.

The finals jam is free and open to the public!

For more information, contact Heukeshoven at Ext. 7292 or eheukesh@smumn.edu.

Two ski races scheduled

Depending on weather conditions, Saint Mary’s will host two cross-country races this winter: Jan. 27 and Feb. 17. The fees will be $10 per race (includes entry and bib). Registration will be open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the 10K classic races will start at 11 a.m., and the skate-style races will begin at 1 p.m.

Christmas dinner is Dec. 18

The annual faculty and staff Christmas dinner will be Tuesday, Dec. 18. Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails will begin at 6 p.m. in the dining room, followed by dinner at 7 p.m.

Student Life staff share H.D. program research

Several Student Life staff members are also full-time graduate students within the Human Development program at SMU. This week two individuals presented findings from their position papers, completing the requirements of their master’s program. Graduate assistant hall director Stephen Craig presented “Three Principles of Leadership that Institutions of Higher Education Cannot Ignore,” and head baseball coach Nick Winecke presented “Successful vs. Significant.” Both colloquiums focused on leadership strategies and practices within the context of Saint Mary’s University and the application of their findings to our institution. Congratulations to both of these individuals for the successful completion of their master’s degrees.

Management students vie for Golden Stapler honor

Section A – Ferocious Pelicans
Luke Buehler, Ben Johnson, Rayce Wadsworth, Mike Tabar, Collin Kaczorowski, Cassie Masberg, Kristin Wilkes, Laura Ramboldt, Haolin Lei, Jordan Gnatowsky, Scott Zengri

 Section B Yellow Toucans
 Preston Black, Dan Volturo, Joe Budin, Tyler Ridgedell, Alex Bakke, Chris Hall, Nicole Johnson, Mary Flynn, Keotta House, Jennifer Daniel Hernandez, Samantha Kleese

On Thursday, Dec. 6, Jana Craft’s Principles of Management students competed for the honor of signing their name to the Golden Stapler – a handmade trophy that “has seen better days.” A tradition in the SMU Business Department since 2008, Leadership Challenge Day provides an opportunity for students to experience topics covered in the course: teamwork, leadership, communication, strategy, motivation and problem solving in a fun and competitive environment.

Events test both brain and brawn with academic and physical events; while the academic event is a fun way for students to review for their final exam. However, future bragging rights are probably the best motivator in the competition. To see the famous Golden Stapler, stop by Craft’s office (Saint Mary’s Hall, Room 429B).

MAFA program to celebrate 10th year with free concert, reception

Eric Heukeshoven and John Paulson

The Music Access for All program will celebrate 10 years of service with a free concert of jazz and Christmas selections Saturday, Dec. 15, from 11 a.m. to noon at the Maplewood Townhomes Community Center, 1756 Kraemer Dr.

The John Paulson-Eric Heukeshoven Jazz Duo will perform, and light refreshments will be served. This public event is being held in gratitude to the Winona community for all of the support MAFA has received.

In December of 2002, Saint Mary’s professor Dr. John Paulson founded the MAFA (Music Access For All) program at the Maplewood Townhomes with the goal of getting instruments, music and lessons to students in need of assistance. On Christmas Eve that year, he obtained instruments for three girls in the same family and experienced the joy of watching their faces as they opened their instrument cases for the first time. Shortly after the program began, Heukeshoven, also from the SMU Music Department, expressed an interest in helping with the program.  For several years, the two men taught lessons Saturday mornings at the Maplewood Townhomes Community Center and hosted winter and spring concerts to show off what their students had accomplished.  Their goal was to ultimately get the students into public school music programs to continue and expand on what they had learned.

Currently, they work through area music teachers like Paula Bratten of the Winona Middle School and place instruments with students in need of assistance. Donated instruments are checked over by Bob Ogren of Leithold Music in La Crosse, and they are stored there until they find a new home. The program depends completely on cash contributions and instruments from the community, and many people have come forward to help.  If you’d like to donate an instrument, or you know of a student in need of assistance getting one, contact Paulson at jpaulson@smumn.edu or Ext. 4948.  Checks can be made out to Saint Mary’s University/ MAFA and sent to Eric Heukeshoven at Campus Box 1473, Saint Mary’s University, Winona, MN 55987.  

MCA announces winter semester open house

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will host its winter registration open house from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9, at the Valéncia Arts Center, 1164 W. 10th St.

Here are five reasons to stop by:

• Visit the facility, tour the studios and classrooms, and meet our talented instructors and staff.
• Check out the dance attire boutique, where students can be fitted.
• Learn more about the new visual art and theatre division programming.
• Speak with members of the Friends of MCA and learn more about hands-on volunteer opportunities.
• Visit with members of the Winona and MCA community and meet new people who love the arts as much as you.

The MCA offers programming in dance, music, visual art, and theatre year-round. Classes, lessons, workshops and camps are offered to children age 3 and older through adults.

Class days, times and tuition vary. Financial need-based scholarships are available. For a brochure and a complete listing, go to www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, e-mail mca@smumn.edu, “like” the MCA on Facebook, or call 453-5500.  Interested students may register online, by mail, or in person at MCA’s Valéncia Arts Center.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s.

Auditions approach for Fireside

Auditions for the Fireside student music show are Jan. 25-26. Shows are Feb. 8-9. Sign up outside the Phi Mu Alpha Room in the basement of Toner.

Record numbers attend Open Mic Night and Build a Creature

In the tradition of Open Mic Night’s founding purpose (to provide alternative programming on the night before study day), something special happened when 200+ students came to perform their talents. Stand-up comedy, poetry, holiday duets, and musical interludes brought the campus to life as many students choose to remain on-campus and enjoy each others’ company. SAC also sponsored the “Build-a-Creature” program before the event. Students made their own stuffed animals to help as stress relievers during this busy finals season.

Environmental Biology majors publish work

Several current or former Environmental Biology majors are authors or co-authors of papers to appear in scientific publications.  Clinton Nienhaus ’13 and Collin Neinhaus ’15 are the authors of “A Pack of Wild ‘Dogfish’: Aggregation by Adult Amia Calva,” which will appear in American Currents, the bulletin of the North American Native Fishes Association.

“Fin Anomalies in Blacknose Dace (Rhinichthys atratulus) from Southern Minnesota” by Melissa Markert ’10 will appear in a later issue of the same publication.  Jacob Zanon ’09 is a co-author of “The Horsehair Worm Gordionus violaceus (Nematomorpha: Gordiida) in Minnesota,” to appear in the Great Lakes Entomologist. Markert and Zanon are both currently graduate students in SMU’s Resource Analysis program. Mark Ross ’13 and Tom Walker ’13 are co-authors of “Early Spawning by the American Brook Lamprey (Lethenteron appendix) in Southeastern Minnesota,” which will be published in the Canadian Field-Naturalist.  Twenty-five percent of SMU graduates in Environmental Biology since 2000 have been the author or co-author of at least one published article.

Last ‘Campus Notes’ of the year

After break, the first issue of “Campus Notes” will come out Jan. 18. The deadline for this issue will be Wednesday, Jan. 16. Have a wonderful break, a Merry Christmas and a joyous New  Year!

SMU business students raise money for fellow student

Saint Mary’s business students and the SMU College of Business donated $525 to the medical fund established for SMU student Sabrina Bushlack-Larson, 21, of Mapleton, Minn. Sabrina was critically injured in a car accident on July 16, 2012, after the taxi she was riding in was struck by a car that police said ran a red light. A biochemistry major and three-year regular for the Cardinal volleyball team, Bushlack-Larson suffered a brain injury that initially impacted her speech, balance and mobility.

Each semester, undergraduate entrepreneurship students manage a not-for-profit retail store located in a small corner of the basement of Toner Student Center. Aptly named the “Cardinal Corner,” students choose products to sell in the store, garner donations from around campus, and sell items for on-campus organizations as part of a course within the entrepreneurship major. Each semester the members of the class choose a different beneficiary to receive the store’s profits. Students chose Bushlack-Larson’s medical fund because they felt it was important to support a fellow student.

SMU’s entrepreneurship students continue to choose charities that are near and dear to the heart of a fellow classmate, or charities that benefit the SMU community. Profits from previous semesters have been donated to the Winona Area Humane Society; Haiti Medical Mission of Wisconsin; Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance recipients; Dom Dziecka, a children’s orphanage in Chotomów, Poland; and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Minnesota.

Individuals who would like to donate Bushlack-Larson should contact the Goodview branch of Wells Fargo Bank. For more information on the Cardinal Corner or to present your request to the class to be considered as the charity of choice for the semester, contact Jana Craft, at Ext. 1491 or jcraft@smumn.edu. Become a fan and receive the latest updates at www.facebook.com/cardinalcorner.