Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Saint Mary’s receives $418,000 from U.S. Department of Education

With $418,000 in grants from the U.S. Department of Education, Saint Mary’s University plans to assist and mentor K-12 educators in targeted Minnesota school districts.

The “Teachers Teaching Teachers” program received a $228,000 grant for professional development for teachers from the DOE’s Fund for the Improvement of Education Programs of National Significance, and a grant of $190,000 for technology upgrades from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education. Sponsors of the grants included Rep. Tim Walz (D-Minn.), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.).

The “Teachers Teaching Teachers” project will enhance educators’ professional development through technology, and enable K-12 teachers from high-need Minnesota school districts to engage in meaningful collaboration with each other and with content specialists from Saint Mary’s University, especially in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

The DOE funds support nationally significant programs to improve the quality of elementary and secondary education at the state and local levels, which will help students meet challenging state academic content standards and achievement standards. STEM projects such as Saint Mary’s are considered critical to meeting the demands of the science labor force in the state and the nation.

Doctor of Education in Leadership Program to begin Winona cohort in May

The Doctor of Education in Leadership program will be starting a Winona cohort this May, 2009. Classes will be offered on Friday evenings and Saturdays every other weekend.

To view the summer schedule and view course descriptions on the program website, go to www.smumn.edu/EDD.aspx.

The Ed.D. is a practitioner-oriented program with a curriculum and schedule designed around the needs of adult learners. This 67 credit program incorporates coursework in leadership, education, and research followed by a comprehensive exam and dissertation. The program is $505 per credit with possible tuition reduction for SMU faculty and staff.

This program provides relevant education to students who have an interest in leadership, however, a background or interest in education is not necessary. Students may choose to follow one of three curricular paths: K-12 Educational Leadership, Higher Education Leadership, or Organizational Leadership. The program typically takes about three years to complete the coursework and an additional 2-5 years to complete the comprehensive exam and dissertation.

For more information, call Sarah Fisher at (612) 728-5122.

Kowles is guest speaker at biology research symposium

The Saint Mary’s University Biology Department will host the 36th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in Biology on Friday, March 27, in the Adducci Science Center.

Students from Saint Mary’s and other colleges and universities in the tri-state region will present the results of their undergraduate research projects. Registration is free and begins at 8 a.m. Presentations begin at 8:20 a.m. and continue until the 11:45 a.m. lunch break; presentations will then continue from 2 to 4 p.m.

The symposium’s featured presentation has been named the “R.V. Kowles Lecture” in honor of SMU Professor Emeritus Dr. Richard Kowles, longtime biology educator, author, and nationally known geneticist. Dr. Kowles is a driving force in support of undergraduate research and a founder of the symposium.

Dr. Kowles is also serving as the inaugural “R.V. Kowles Lecture” presenter. He will discuss “Can photosynthesis efficiency be increased in crops with biotechnology?: The merging of scientific disciplines to find answers” from 12:45 to 2 p.m. in Page Theatre, located in the SMU Performance Center.

The public is invited to attend the lecture, as well as the student presentations, free of charge.

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

The third Saint Mary’s University Heart & SOUL “Row, Ride, Run Triathlon” will take place on Saturday, April 25, 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.

Serving Others United in Love (SOUL) is a program of the Office of Campus Ministry at SMU, and offers opportunities to members of the SMU community to serve and be served through both national and international mission trips.

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.

Each racer is responsible for bringing their own bike, and is 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. For information on reservations, call Ext. 1643.

Saint Mary’s students to stage ‘A Chorus Line’ March 27-30

The Department of Theatre and Dance, under the direction of Judy Myers, will stage the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical “A Chorus Line” March 27-30.

The show is set in an empty theatre, on a bare stage, during casting for a new Broadway musical. For 17 dancers, this audition is the chance of a lifetime. It’s what they’ve worked for every day of their lives. It’s the one opportunity to do what they’ve always dreamed — to have the chance to dance. The storyline delves into the personalities of the performers as they describe events that have shaped their lives and their decisions to become dancers.

The timeless classic about passion, despair and joy is the longest-running musical in Broadway history. Audiences will find themselves singing along to familiar favorites by Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban like “One (Singular Sensation),” “What I Did for Love,” and “I Hope I Get It.”

“A Chorus Line,” is the musical for everyone who’s ever had a dream and put it all on the line — a powerful metaphor for all human aspiration.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 27; Saturday, March 28; and Monday, March 30; with a 3 p.m. showing on Sunday, March 29 — all at Page Theatre, in the Performance Center.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors and are available at the Box Office, Ext. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays or online at www.pagetheatre.org. Because of adult content, this play is suitable for mature audiences only.

Saint Mary’s art students to display work March 29-May 9

Saint Mary’s University senior art students will display their work March 29 through May 9 in “Squaring the Circle: Constructing the Impossible.”

The show — free and open to the public — will be held in the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries.

Displaying work will be: Michael DeGidio, Mary Margaret Gill, Ann Therese Kolaczkowski, Natalie Nemetz, Samantha Oreskovich, Andrew Rath and Cassie Ward.

An opening reception is scheduled for 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 18. The Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries are open daily between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. For more information, call Ext. 1652.

Annual benefit dance to help Geheren family

Saint Mary’s will present the ninth annual Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance from 8:30 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, March 28.

The beneficiaries of this year’s formal dance — open to the public — are 1990 SMU alumni Bill and Mia Geheren of Huntley, Ill., and their four children. Their three adopted children were born addicted to cocaine; one child is addicted to heroin and meth as well. Money from the benefit dance and silent auction will help the family purchase a handicapped accessible van.

This 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 Disneyworld. 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.

Bids for the silent auction can be made from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today in the Toner Student Center game room. A variety of homemade goods, gift baskets and specialty items are on display.

Famous Dave’s founder to speak April 27

Dave Anderson, founder of the popular barbecue franchise Famous Dave’s of America, will speak at Saint Mary’s on Monday, April 27.

The event, hosted by the Kabara Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at SMU, is free and open to the public. Anderson’s presentation, “Me, Inc. — The Spirit of Entrepreneurship,” will run from 6 to 7 p.m. in Page Theatre.

A highly sought-after keynote speaker, Anderson shares his heartfelt optimism using his life’s story to share insight and life lessons in dealing with today’s fast-changing world. He is an enthusiastic advocate of the American dream and stresses that no matter how tough things may seem today, if you never give up your dream and work hard, tomorrow’s rewards will always come.

Anderson founded Famous Dave’s of America, which has more than 120 restaurants and growing. He is also known for helping found the Rainforest Café, another successful nationwide restaurant company. Throughout his career, he has helped found three publicly traded companies on Wall Street and created more than 20,000 new jobs.

In his own life, Anderson has experienced adversity, frustration and bankruptcy, as well as tremendous success. His life story is featured in two New York Times bestsellers. He has served two presidents and three governors in advisory positions. Anderson has also provided key testimony before Congress and the U.S. Senate. Always tackling the impossible, this bottom-half-of-the-class high school student earned his master’s degree from Harvard University without an undergraduate degree. He has appeared on all major networks including “Regis and Kathy Lee,” “Oprah Winfrey,” “The Discovery Channel,” “The Food Network,” “National Public Radio,” and more than 200 radio shows.

Anderson, a Native American, devotes his life to making a difference in his community and in the lives of others less fortunate. Oprah Winfrey’s Angel Network recently recognized his leadership development work with at-risk youth.

Anderson will be available following the presentation to sign his books, “LifeSkills for Success” and “Backroads and Sidestreets Cookbook” in the Performance Center lobby. Copies of the books will be available for purchase, with proceeds going to the Lifeskills Center for Leadership in Minneapolis.

Learn more about LTIP today

Lasallian Teacher Immersion Program students

Current Lasallian Teacher Immersion Program students, including five SMU students, are on campus today, accompanied by program director Brother Pat Conway.

They will give a presentation to faculty and staff during lunch today, Friday, March 27. From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. go through the lunch line and indicate to the cashier that you are with the LTIP luncheon.

Faculty, staff, and students are also invited to a reception and presentation from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. today in the President’s Room. Refreshments will be served.

The Lasallian Teacher Immersion Program (LTIP) is designed to attract young men to a career teaching in the tradition of Saint John Baptist de La Salle.

LTIP students earn 16 SMU credits (6 Theology and 10 Education). Students live, study, and serve in four immersion sites: a homeless shelter in Kansas City, an inner-city elementary school in Memphis, a Miguel middle school in Minneapolis, and a St. Louis suburban secondary school.

Dance Repertory Company bowling fundraiser is Saturday

Dance Repertory Company cast members are selling tickets to a bowling fundraiser, to be held Saturday, March 28, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Westgate Bowl, located in the Westgate Shopping Center. The proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward the DRC Spring Concert (May 15-16 at the Page Theatre) and the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts, a member of the SMU School of the Arts. Families and students of all ages are welcome.

Tickets are $15 each and this includes pizza, bowling, and shoe rental. Find a DRC member or stop in the MCA office (located at the Valéncia Arts Center on the Saint Teresa Campus) to purchase your tickets.

For more information or to reserve your tickets, call Christine Martin at Ext. 5501.

Alumni and friends arts event scheduled for March 28

The SMU Department of Theatre and Dance, the Friends of the School of the Arts, and the the Alumni Association will host an alumni and friends event on Saturday, March 28, featuring a performance of “A Chorus Line.” Faculty and staff are invited and welcome to attend this gathering.z

From 2 to 3:30 p.m., a panel of theater majors will meet with current theatre students in the President’s Room, Toner Student Center.

At 5 p.m. a social hour and dinner will be offered in the Toner Student Center lounge, and “A Chorus Line” begins at 7:30 p.m. in Page Theatre. At 9:30 p.m., a dessert reception — with cash bar — will be held in the Presidents Room.

The cost is $35 for the dinner, performance and reception or $15 for the performance and reception.

To register for this event, contact the alumni office at Ext. 1499 or register online at www.smumn.edu/sitepages/pid819.php.

BUGSS month to raise funds, awareness

The Bethlehem University Gaza Student Scholarship (BUGSS) month kicked off on Monday, March 27. A variety of activities are planned. Today, check out the television in the dining hall over lunch to learn more about Bethlehem University.

Next week see “Palestine through the Media.” On Monday, a loose change kick-off day is planned. Help send a student from Gaza to Bethlehem University. Put your loose change to work by dropping it off in one of the collection jars across campus.

On Tuesday, March 31, Dr. Dorothy Diehl, Modern/Classical Languages, will present on her fall sabbatical at 3 p.m. in the Common Room. Snacks and drinks will be provided.

Dr. Diehl’s sabbatical had a double focus, to gather information for a Global Issues course on refugees, which she will teach next fall, and to investigate the possibility of arranging a three-week immersion program at Bethlehem University for interested students the following spring. She spent seven weeks in the West Bank last fall. Although the majority of her time was spent in Bethlehem, she also spent two days in Tuwani, a small village near Hebron, staying with a Christian Peacemaker Team. She also traveled briefly through the Galilee and Jordan. Her presentation is open to all students, faculty, and staff and will include a PowerPoint presentation with pictures.

On Wednesday, April 1, loose change jars will be put around the Winona community at various businesses.

And on Thursday, April 2, Ben Scott will lead a poetry reading of Middle Eastern literature at 7 p.m. in the President’s Room.

Additional activities are planned, including IronChef SMU on April 19. Additionally, SMU students will be receiving information from students at Bethlehem University, and a video conference with BU students and Brothers is planned. Watch for more information. Contact Amira Sadek, student coordinator, at amsade06@smumn.edu with questions.

Jazz notes

Swing Inc. (featuring Eric Heukeshoven) performs 8 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 27-28 at the Waterfront in La Crosse, Wis.

A Saint Mary’s University Jazz Workshop Combo, directed by Dr. John Paulson, will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, March 27, at the Winona Arts Center, 228 5th St., for a special slide lecture and jazz presentation on painter Robert Ryman, given by Dr. Vittorio Colaizzi, WSU assistant professor of art history. The combo includes John Kamp, guitar; Zach Hansmann, drums; Ryan Ballanger, alto sax; and Neil Leibundguth, bass. Admission is based on individual donations. For more information, call 453-9959 or visit www.winonaarts.org/events.html.

The John Paulson Jazz Quartet will also perform a concert of jazz standards and original works Friday, March 27, at 7:30 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre, Austin, Minn. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for students and senior citizens. For information on tickets, go to www.paramounttheatre.org or call 434-0934.

SMU in the news

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

• The Winona Daily News ran an article titled, “SMU scales back tuition, housing increase” in its March 24 edition.

• The Rochester Post Bulletin’s March 24 issue included an article about Dr. John Paulson titled, “Musician tries to break the mold.”

Mayo Innovation Scholarship winners announced

The SMU Business and Biology Departments congratulate the 2008/09 Mayo Innovation Scholarship award winners upon completion of their outstanding project work. Biology students Nicole Haese and James Mazzuca, along with business students Leah Hoglin and Joseph Weinmann, presented their product and market assessment report on the “New Use of Generic Drug to Treat Psoriasis” to the Mayo Clinic Office of Intellectual Property on March 13.

SMU is fortunate to be one of a select number of private Minnesota Colleges eligible for participation in the Mayo Innovation Scholarship program. The program offers undergraduate students the opportunity to work alongside a selected MBA student addressing research project submitted by Mayo Clinic researchers for development consideration. The Mayo Innovation Scholarships are available to junior and senior business and science students with applications requested in the fall semester.

Employee changes

New Employees:
• Philip Hull, April 1, director Study Abroad and Career Services associate
• Travis Bare, April 1, interim director Campus Safety

Hendrickson Institute hosts John Howard April 21

The Hendrickson Institute for Ethical Leadership will host the 2009 Forum on Leadership on Tuesday, April 21. John Howard, former Prime Minister of Australia, will speak about “Leadership in a Global Economy,” and the Hendrickson Institute Medal for Ethical Leadership will be awarded to Charles M. Denny.

As the Prime Minister of Australia from March 1996 until December 2007, the Honorable John Winston Howard served a distinctively Western role in the Asian-Pacific Rim. Howard approached his responsibilities from a global viewpoint, providing economic vision and security strategies that raised Australia’s profile and impact around the world as well as improving economic stability at home.

Howard will discuss the role of world leaders in a new century, addressing the growing concerns of globalization and global economics, the environment, and threats to international security. He will explain in what ways, and to what degrees, China, India and the Pacific Rim may participate. Finally, he will respond to questions submitted by Forum participants.

Denny will be honored for his years of ethical leadership as chairman and CEO of ADC Telecommunications Inc; his commitment to equity and justice. (For example, by providing jobs through Project for Pride in Living Industries); and his decades of volunteer work in the nonprofit sector. He is also recognized for his legacy of written ethical guidelines for corporations, from the Minnesota Principles to his research and writing as a recipient of the Louis W. Hill Jr. Fellowship.

Registration begins at 3 p.m., the forum runs from 3:30 to 5 p.m., and a reception will follow at the Nicollet Island Pavilion, 40 Power St., in Minneapolis.

Tickets are $50 for the public, with a special student rate of $10, and a faculty and alumni rate of $40. For more information, contact Barb Hall at bhall@smumn.edu or (612) 238-4517. More details can be found online at hendricksonforum.smumn.edu.