Finalists announced for Outstanding Senior Awards

The following students have been named finalists for the 2009 Outstanding Senior Award: females — Emily Berg, Maria Borgerson, Kaitlin Depuydt, Teresa Gill and Julia Jergenson; males, — Gary Borash, Ryan Langr, Neil Leibundguth, John Nolte and Jakub Szymanski.

Congratulations go to these outstanding students. Final ballots will be e-mailed to faculty and staff next week. Seniors will have an opportunity to vote next week as well. The award for outstanding female and male senior will be presented at Founder’s Day on Feb. 24.

Kabara business plan competition for students

The Kabara Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies announces the second annual Student Business Plan Competition.

Participants must be full-time undergraduate students on the Winona campus, may participate as an individual or as a team of two students, and can have any major.

Students are asked to develop a business plan for a business that they would like to start. The business does not need to be an on-campus business. The projected start-up costs and initial capital required may not exceed $10,000.

The plan must include: a one-page executive summary, a concept statement, anticipated startup costs, a preliminary marketing plan, potential suppliers and/or manufacturing processes (as applicable), a discussion of operating considerations (staffing, operating hours, etc.), pro-forma financial statements for the first year of operation, references for the data sources used in the plan, and contact information for each of the individuals submitting the proposal.

Criteria for judging the plans include: feasibility of the proposed project, creativity, comprehensiveness of the business plan, and reasonableness of the assumptions used to create the plan.

Semi-finalists will receive a one-year membership in CEO, the Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization. Additionally, first place is $1,000; second place is $500, and third place is $250.

A hard copy and electronic copy of the business plans must be submitted to Teresa Speck by noon Monday, March 2. Semifinalists will present their plans to a panel of judges on Friday, March 13, and winners will be announced within a week.

For more information, go to www.smumn.edu/kabara or contact Speck at tspeck@smumn.edu or Ext. 1449.

Geherens to benefit from Taylor Richmond dance, auction

Organizers of the ninth annual Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance, coordinated through the Office of Activities, Leadership and Service, have chosen Bill and Mia Geheren as this year’s recipients. Both are 1990 graduates and have worked for both Saint Mary’s University and Saint Mary’s Press. Their family of six includes three adopted children, who were born addicted to cocaine; one child is addicted to heroin and meth as well. Money from the benefit dance and silent auction, planned for March 26-27, will help the family purchase a much-needed handicapped accessable van.

Faculty and staff are invited to donate items and services to help make this year’s silent auction a success. Call Katie LaPlant at Ext. 6936.

SMU invites community to events as part of ‘Our Drinking Fountains, Our Water’ project

Five local institutions are collaborating with the Minneapolis-based In the Heart of the Beast Puppet-Mask Theater to spearhead a community-wide program, “Our Drinking Fountains, Our Water.”

Theatre residency

As part of the theater’s residency activities, Saint Mary’s will attempt to raise community awareness about our drinking water through the creation of art and through performance around that art.

Accordingly, the public is invited to a daily mask-making activity from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Feb. 2-5, at Lake Park Lodge. The activity will celebrate our water commons through the collective creation of papier-mâché masks, bowls and a large water dragon. These creations will be used on Friday, Feb. 6, for the performance/celebration of an ancient English ritual known as well-dressing or, in this case, water-fountain-dressing.

The culminating celebration will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at Saint Mary’s University. The celebration will involve student-designed installations, the created masks and dragon, and “performances” that are to be centered around drinking fountains in the Toner Student Center, and Hoffman, Lasalle, and Saint Mary’s Halls. A map of all of the “dressed” fountains will be available at all of the installation sites and at http://water.southeastmn.edu/HOBT.html.

Both opportunities are free, and no experience is necessary. For more information, contact Dr. Joe Tadie, Ext. 6652 or e-mail jtadie@smumn.edu.

Winona State University, Saint Mary’s University, Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical, Southeast Minnesota Water Resources Board and the City of Winona are incorporating the water theme into classes, presentations and activities this year. The goal of the project is for the community to achieve a broader and deeper understanding of water quality and stewardship. This project is funded by the State of Minnesota through the Minnesota Campus Compact.

Adopt-a-fountain

The public is also invited to adopt a drinking fountain as part of the “Our Drinking Fountains, Our Water!” collaborative project.

Through the adopt-a-drinking fountain project, community members are invited to design and implement an artistic design around a drinking fountain. This project was designed to get the community involved in highlighting our drinking fountains and remind everyone how lucky we are to have clean, drinkable water right at our fingertips.

Fountains must be registered by Feb. 27. Decorating must be started and completed between March 2-18, and the design must remain in place until Earth Day celebrations on April 27.

A map of the decorated fountains (along with designer credit) will appear on the project’s website, http://water.southeastmn.edu. Prizes will be awarded in a number of categories including: most educational, most inspirational, best use of water theme, most creative, and most eye catching.

Designs cannot interfere with accessibility to the fountain and must be respectful and appropriate. Permission must be obtained from the owner/management of the building, and only indoor drinking fountains may be decorated. All costs must be borne by the company, organization or participant.

Refer to the project’s website for rules of the contest, as well as details about how to register a fountain, or call Katie LaPlant at Ext. 6936 or kalaplan@smumn.edu.

May is finalist in fountain design contest

Monta May, Communication and Marketing, is one of three finalists in the Lake Park fountain designing competition.

Voting will continue through Tuesday online at water.southeastmn.edu.

Page Series offers ‘If You Give a Pig a Pancake’ and other stories Feb. 6

It’s no ordinary pig tale. Audience members will learn why it’s probably poor judgment to give a pig a pancake Friday, Feb. 6, at Saint Mary’s. The Page Series presentation, which begins at 6:30 p.m., features Theatreworks USA in this familiar children’s story where offering a pig syrup leads to baths, baths lead to bubbles, bubbles lead to rubber ducks, and rubber ducks lead to wanting a trip to the farm. This, along with many other favorite kids’ storybooks will come to life on the Page Theatre stage. Stories may include “Diary of a Worm,” “Fluffy the Classroom Guinea Pig,” “Horace & Morris but Mostly Dolores,” “How I Became a Pirate,” “Lilly’s Big Day,” “The Paper Bag Princess” and “Ruby Mae Has Something to Say.”

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.

Tickets sold out for Acrobats of China

Tickets are sold out for the Acrobats of China presentation Tuesday, Feb. 3. The Page Series event, which begins at 7:30 p.m. will be a night of wonder for the whole family. The Acrobats of China will combine martial arts, spectacular costumes and breathtaking acrobatics.

Although the show is sold out at this time, a few seats may become available the evening of the performance. Patrons still wanting to attend are asked to arrive early to be put on a waiting list. The box office opens at 6:30 p.m. the evening of the show. If any seats do become available, they will be available first come, first served. A waiting list will not be created until the box office opens the evening of the show.

Saint Mary’s to feature two unique realist artists

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

The highly competitive SMU faculty/staff chili cookoff will be Friday, Jan. 30, as the next Let’s Do Lunch fundraiser for Nairobi. So far 17 people have signed up to compete, and a variety of tasty chilis are on the menu. Prizes — as determined by a panel of celebrity judges — will be awarded to the top three placers.

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.

Dance Repertory Company auditions are Feb. 6

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will host auditions for the Dance Repertory Company’s annual spring concert, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at the Valéncia Arts Center, 1164 West 10th St.

The company is seeking intermediate and advanced dancers with modern, jazz, or pointe training. Roles are available for male and female dancers, ages 13 and older.

Interested candidates are asked to bring a photo of themselves, planning calendars, and proper shoes/attire to the audition.

The DRC will present its annual spring concert, featuring the classical ballet “La Bayadère” as well as contemporary jazz and modern works, May 14-16 at Page Theatre.

The Dance Repertory Company is the performing troupe of the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts at Saint Mary’s University. Company members participate in rehearsals, technique classes and stage performances. Past productions of the company include: “The Firebird,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “The Nutcracker,” “Paquita,” “Excerpts from Swan Lake,” “Cinderella,” “The Goodman Suite,” “Youth In Motion,” “Tappin' to Connick,” and “Pure Entertainment,” among others.

For more information, visit www.smumn.edu/mca or call Ext. 5501.

Deadline for study abroad extended to Feb. 23

The deadline for submitting applications for the fall semester London Study Abroad program has been extended to Monday, Feb. 23.
Applications are no longer due the Friday before break. The extended deadline will allow students additional time over break to complete the application materials.

If students need an application packet or would like additional information about studying abroad in London fall semester, they should stop by the Study Abroad Office located in Saint Mary’s Hall Room 136.

Knowledge Acknowledged with Wangberg is Feb. 3

Dr. Robyn Wangberg, physics, an Ironman triathlete, will share her passion for triathlon and her recent adventures — competing in the world championship of the Ironman Triathlon in Kona, Hawaii, and the Ironman Canada Triathlon — from 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, in the McEnery Center Main Lounge. These events include a 2.4-mile swim in the ocean, a 112-mile bike ride, and a marathon run (26.2 miles). Dr. Wangberg’s presentation is part of the Knowledge Acknowledged series.

Used book sale is next week at Fitzgerald Library

The library is planning a used book sale Feb. 2-6. The books are donations from staff, faculty, alumni, and Saint Mary’s Press. Hardbound books are 50 cents, and paperbacks are 25 cents.

Job and internship fair scheduled for Feb. 4

“Making the most of the Minnesota’s Private Colleges Job & Internship Fair” will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, in Saint Mary’s Hall, Room 132.

Fireside musical variety show is this weekend

Tickets for Fireside, the coffeehouse style variety show hosted by the sisters of Sigma Alpha Iota, are now available. Tickets for the show, to be held 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 30-31, in the Common Room, are $7 and include pie, a beverage and the show. Tickets are being sold in Toner during lunch and dinner hours, as well as at the door.

Fox receives National Catholic Education Association award

Dr. Mary Catherine Fox, professor of interdisciplinary studies, was presented with the National Catholic Education Association’s Distinguished Graduate Award Sunday, Jan. 25, at Holy Angels School in Aurora, Ill.

Dr. Fox was honored for “exemplifying the highest qualities of Catholic Education” and for “rendering distinguished service to the Catholic Church and the United States of America.” The award is not presented every year, and encompasses the Aurora Deanery of the Rockford, Ill., diocese.

Her nomination for the award came from a fellow classmate and current teacher at Holy Angels, Nancy Nardone.

After graduating from Holy Angels School in 1967, Fox attended Rosary High School in Aurora and then went on to Saint Mary’s College where she received her bachelor’s degree and then master of science in telecommunications.

Fox has worked at Saint Mary’s for 19 years, serving as the dean of business, vice president for university relations and as professor of interdisciplinary studies.

To read a local news article about the award, go to www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1394930,2_1_AU24_HOL.YANGELS_S1.article.

Jazz notes

John Paulson and Eric Heukeshoven with Swing Inc. will perform 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at Jefferson Pub & Grill in Winona.

Paulson performs with Cliff Jack from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, at the Redwood Room in Rochester.

SMU hosts state high school one-act play competition

The Minnesota State High School League sectional one-act play competition will be held at Saint Mary’s on Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m. and running most of the day at Page Theatre. The winners from this event advance to state competition.

Heukeshoven serves as honor band guest conductor

On Saturday, Jan. 24, Dr. Janet Heukeshoven (music) was featured as the Minnesota Band Directors’ Association 9th- and 10th-grade Honor Band guest conductor for the Southeast Minnesota region. She led an ensemble of 78 students from 22 different public and private schools from St. Paul Central High School to Caledonia, including nine Winona area musicians. The rehearsals and performance took place at the Century High School Auditorium in Rochester.

O’Shea completes work for Chamber Singers

Dr. Patrick O'Shea (music) has just completed two new musical settings of sonnets by Petrarch in Italian for the Saint Mary’s Chamber Singers, “Pace non trovo” (Canzone CXXXIV) and “Benedetto sia ’lgiorno” (Canzone LXI). The works will be premiered, appropriately, in Provence, France, where Petrarch spent a considerable portion of his life.

Employee changes

New employees:

• Samuel Taylor, Jan. 26, Twin Cities — security guard.
• Julie Galaty, Jan. 20, Twin Cities — site coordinator Rochester Center.
• Linda Gfrerer, Jan. 12, Twin Cities — director, B.S. in Nursing.

Annual Twin Cities reception a success

On Sunday, Jan. 25, the admission office hosted a reception at the Minneapolis Airport Mariott Hotel in Bloomington. The event drew 84 students, plus parents.

This successful event could not have happened without the generous support of many faculty, staff, current students and alumni who shared their Sunday to assist in bringing a taste of Saint Mary’s to prospective students. The Department of Admission would like to thank the following individuals for their efforts:

Winona campus faculty, staff and coaches —Katie LaPlant, Shelly McCallum, Karen Hemker, Peg Winters, Deb Martin, Jayne Wobig, Tammy Vondrasek, Gary Diomondes, Ken Stenstrup, Bill Moore, Chandu Valluri, Maria Garza Cienfuegus, Maria Gabriela Guerra Trevino, Sister Margaret Mear, Jim Vogel, Jay Mutter, John Paulson, Dean Beckman, Melissa Luedtke, Aaron Haupert, Paul Weiner, Terry Mannor, Nick Winecke, Jeff Stangl, Tony Piscitiello, Karen Sullivan, Joy Rockwell, Adam Stasica, Katie Trnka, Ken Pelligrini, Sarah Kay, Megan Radke;

Current undergraduate students — Andy Weigman, Dan Spiess, Alex Lam, Megan Mollison;

Undergraduate alumni — Yena Phillip ’07, Emily Babcock ’07, Nick Fritzen ’93, Lindsay Johnson ’08, Sara Sloneker ’06, Val Rodriguez ’08, Dave Karsnia ’00, Jessalyn Karsnia ’02;

Parents of current SMU students — Dave Weiman and Mr. and Mrs. Doug Mollison.