Five honored at Founder’s Day

In honor of Founder’s Day March 2, Brother William, left, and Michael Gostomski, chairman of the SMU Board of Trustees, presented an honorary doctorate in educational leadership to Dr. Carmelita Quebengco for her work in the achievement of excellence in Lasallian higher education. Dr. Quebengco is currently executive vice president and chief operating officer of De La Salle Philippines, and chancellor emeritus of De La Salle University in Manila, Philippines.

At its Founder’s Day ceremony Tuesday, March 2, Saint Mary’s presented an honorary doctorate to Dr. Carmelita Quebengco, executive vice president and chief operating officer of De La Salle Philippines, and chancellor emeritus of De La Salle University in Manila, Philippines. Dr. Quebengco was presented an honorary doctorate in educational leadership for her work in the achievement of excellence in Lasallian higher education. She addressed the audience about developing effectiveness in a Lasallian university.

Also honored were a dedicated staff member, a Lasallian educator within Saint Mary’s, and two outstanding seniors. Founder’s Day is the annual celebration of the founding of Saint Mary’s in 1912 by Winona Bishop Patrick R. Heffron.

Brother William congratulates Mary Becker who received the Bishop Patrick Heffron Award.

Mary Becker received the university’s Bishop Patrick Heffron Award for Service. Becker has served in the Office of the President since 1993. As the administrative assistant to the president, she provides a daily example of service and commitment to the mission of Saint Mary’s University.

Brother Stephen Rusyn, FSC, Ph. D., receives the Distinguished Lasallian Educator Award.

Brother Stephen Rusyn, FSC, Ph.D., was chosen as this year’s Distinguished Lasallian Educator. Brother Stephen is a long-time professor of English who was chosen because of his attention and dedication to students. Distinguished Lasallian Educator Awards are given by many Lasallian institutions in the North American-Toronto Region of the De La Salle Christian Brothers; they honor contributions and commitment to the Lasallian mission of education.

Additionally, the Outstanding Male and Female Senior Awards were presented to students who have demonstrated the ideals of scholarship, character, leadership and service. The Outstanding Male Senior Award went to David Dahlstrom, son of William and Rosanne Dahlstrom of Rochester, Minn. The Outstanding Female Senior Award went to Mariana Sanchez, daughter of Jaime and Bernadette Sanchez, of Puebla, Mexico.

Dahlstrom is an accounting and human resource management major and university baseball player. During his college career, he has been involved with the Lasallian Honors Program, KSMR radio, Delta Mu Delta (the international honor society in business) and Delta Epsilon Sigma (the national scholastic honor society). He also has competed in intramural athletics and volunteered at the ITA Literacy Clinic.

Sanchez is majoring in graphic design. She was a member of the golf and soccer teams, and also played water polo and lacrosse club sports. She’s shared her passion for sports by serving as Big Red, and has helped to recruit other athletes. Sanchez also has worked with phonathon and completed internships with the Kabara Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies and with Saint Mary’s Press. For a creative outlet, she has exhibited in the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries, designed T-shirts and posters, and painted a mural in the Cardinal Club.

The following students were finalists for the 2010 Outstanding Senior Awards. Males: Gary Borash, son of Ron and Ann Borash of North Prairie, Minn.; Bill Duffert, son of Doug and Anne Duffert of Ramsey, Minn.; Zhe “Scott” Song, son of Shiqi Song and Haizhan Liu, of Xi’an, China; and Brian Smith, son of Brad and Sue Smith of Minneapolis, Minn. Females: Mary Gleich, daughter of Peter and Kathleen Gleich, of Hastings, Minn.; Vanessa Grams, daughter of Jean and Gregg Grams of Little Falls, Minn.; Molly Jewison, daughter of Dan and Marie Jewison of Janesville, Minn.; and Sarah Weir, daughter of Glenn and Veronica Weir of Oswego, Ill.

10th SMU benefit dance to help Griffin family

Saint Mary’s will present the 10th annual Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance from 8:30 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, March 20.

The beneficiaries of this year’s formal dance — open to the public — are Bob and Crystal Griffin and their family of Fremont. Crystal works in the Maintenance Department at Saint Mary’s, and the two co-own the Lewiston bowling alley, L.A. Lanes. They have three sons, ranging from age 5 to college-aged.

Bob underwent emergency surgery in May because of an infection in his back. Doctors removed two vertebrae and replaced them with titanium, leaving Bob with only a 1 or 2 percent chance of ever walking again. Determined, Bob is undergoing aggressive physical therapy in La Crosse, Wis. Money raised from the benefit dance and silent auction will help the family pay for medical bills and help the family make renovations to their home for handicap accessibility. The family also hopes to purchase a handicap accessible van.

The benefit dance has become an annual tradition since its start in 2001 by students 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 Disney World. 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. Dance tickets will also be available at the door.

To make a donation, send checks — payable to the Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance — to Richter at Box 45.

In combination with the dance, a silent auction will be held on campus from 9 a.m. to 3 pm. March 18-19. A variety of homemade goods, gift baskets and specialty items will be on display in the game room.

Lots of items have already been donated, but more are needed. If you have something you would like to donate (handmade gifts, gift baskets, services, etc.) get them to Richter or Richmond by Monday, March 15.

In addition to the dance and silent auction, the student committee is selling a special 10th annual Taylor Richmond benefit dance T-shirt for $10.

Page Series presents Irish band Danú March 10

Just in time to gear up for Saint Patrick’s Day, Danú will present a spirited musical and cultural journey through Celtic history on Wednesday, March 10, as part of the Page Series. This event will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Page Theatre.

Hailing from County Waterford, Ireland, Danú has received worldwide acclaim. Named the Best Traditional Live Act by Irish Music Magazine and praised for their “precise, spirited musicianship” by the Washington Post, this septet gets raves for its fresh, dynamic take on Irish traditional music. A lively group on stage, Danú — named for the mother of all ancient Irish gods — features gorgeous vocals paired with accordion, fiddle, bouzouki, bodhran, guitar, uilleann pipes, flute and whistles.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 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.

Make your evening an event and enjoy a pre-show Irish-themed dinner catered by Chartwells in the nearby President’s Room of the Toner Student Center. Tickets are $22 for adults and $14 for children and seating begins at 6 p.m.

Support for the performance by Danu is provided in part by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on Nov. 4, 2008, and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

‘Talking With …’ runs through Monday

A collection of 11 quirky female characters will take the stage today through Monday, March 8, as the Department of Theatre and Dance presents “Talking With …” The production, under the direction of Dr. Gary Diomandes, begins at 7:30 p.m. today, Saturday and Monday, and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Valéncia Academy Theatre, located at 10th and Vila streets.

Written by Jane Martin, “Talking With …” features 11 very different women including: a young woman who tests her Christian faith by handling poisonous snakes; a baton twirler who sees the face of Jesus 30 feet in the air; a destitute woman who wants to live in McDonald’s, where the sick are cured by Big Macs and no one ever dies; and a housewife who escapes to Oz every day.

They make us laugh and they make us think. And even when their challenges and crises appear larger than life, the characters embody universal issues: unbearable loneliness, crises of confidence, bereavement, loss of hope and struggles with faith. Their idiosyncratic characters amuse, move and frighten audiences while always speaking from the depths of their souls.

Tickets for adults are $10 and $5 for students and seniors and are available at the box office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or online at www.pagetheatre.org. SMU faculty and staff are eligible to receive two free tickets.

Cardinal Plunge is Saturday

Brave souls and warm hearts are invited to join Saint Mary’s in the first “Cardinal Plunge” Saturday, March 6. This freezing fundraiser begins at 1 p.m. at Lake Goodview, located at Michael LaCanne Park.

This year, “Cardinal Plunge” proceeds will be split between Haiti relief efforts and a fund in honor of Michael Mockler, a current sophomore at Saint Mary’s who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor.

The cost for this event is $10, and all participants will receive a “Cardinal Plunge” T-shirt. This event is sponsored by several organizations at Saint Mary’s including Campus Ministry, Residence Life, Chartwells and the Student Activities Committee.

Registration begins at noon on site or participants can pre-register online at www.smumn.edu/cardinalplunge and pay the day of the plunge. Donations can be made to the Michael Mockler Fund, Box 288, Winona, MN 55987.

Refreshments will be available at no charge to participants and a small fee for onlookers.

For more information, contact Izzy Kobs at (608) 547-3868 or iskobs06@smumn.edu.

Hope for Haiti results announced

Ethan Thompson throws a pie at Lance Thompson.

The Hope for Haiti carnival Feb. 25 raised nearly $500. Students enjoyed a variety of games including Plinko, root beer flip cup, and a cake walk. Additionally, Lance Thompson, Student Activities, agreed to be repeatedly "pied" to raise funds.

Class begins selling ‘The Red Card’ mid March

The Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship class will be selling special discount cards benefiting the Haiti Medical Mission of Wisconsin, beginning mid March.

The “red card,” which will be sold for $10, includes reduced prices on merchandise from 19 local businesses including: Westgate Bowl, Mugby Junction, Fantastic Sams, Tres Compadres, Electric Beach, Golden China, Spa Panache, Chula Vista, Jefferson’s, Warpzone, Perkins, Jimmy John’s, Ground Round, Sammy’s Pizza, GQ Hairstyling, Country Kitchen, Timber’s, Papa Murphy’s and Blooming Grounds.

The card can be used until March 1, 2011, and its value is not limited. If the card is used at each business one time per month, the approximate annual savings to cardholders is $800. For a family of four, the estimated annual savings are doubled.

The fundraiser benefits Haiti Medical Mission of Wisconsin, a team of volunteer medical staff that travels to Haiti several times each year to provide free medical care. A student in the class is from Haiti and has served as a medical translator for doctors and nurses in this organization.

The red card will be sold during the following events:

• SMU baseball — home games — April 5, 7, 9 and 17.
• SMU softball — home games — March 25, and April 8 and 14.
• Relay for Life — SMU Fieldhouse — April 9.
• Page Theatre — March 14 and 15.
• Earth Day — Unity Park, SMU table — April 17 from 2:30-7 p.m.

The red card will be sold at the following locations:

• Blooming Grounds, 50 E. 3rd St.
• Jimmy Johns, 155 E. 3rd St.
• Warpzone Video Games, 521 Huff St.
• Toner Center during the week of March 15-19 from 11:30-1 p.m. and 4:30-7 p.m.
• SMU Information Desk, Ext. 1600
• SMU Business Office, Ext. 6655.

De La Salle Week activities continue

Students joining Brother Finbar McMullen in making cardboard bookshelves during De La Salle Week were, from left: front, Julie Swiderek, Kristina Scherber; middle, Amira Sadek, Samantha Herbst, Mary Glenski, Cullen Gibbons; back, Luis Escobar, Samuel Callisto and Peter Tornquist.

Today, Friday, March 5

• 7:45 a.m. — Free Donuts, first floor Saint Mary’s Hall
• Noon — Presentation by Brother Christopher Soosai, Common Room
• 12:10 p.m. — Liturgy, Saint Thomas More Chapel
• 3 p.m. — Free Cake, first floor Saint Mary’s Hall
• 6:00 p.m. — Volunteer event; sign-up in the Office of Campus Ministry
• 7:30 p.m. — SMU Theatre & Dance: “Talking With…,” Valéncia Academy Theatre
• 9 p.m. — Dance for Haiti, West End Historical Theatre (off-campus)

Saturday, March 6

• 9 a.m. — Volunteer event; sign-up in the Office of Campus Ministry
• 1 p.m. — Cardinal Plunge, Goodview Beach
• 6 p.m. — Meal and a Movie at the Christian Brothers’ House (open to the first 25 students). R.S.V.P. in Campus Ministry by March 4.
• 7:30 p.m. — SMU Theatre & Dance: “Talking With…,” Valéncia Academy Theatre

In celebration of 40 years of women

All members of the SMU community are invited to celebrate 40 years of women students at Saint Mary’s at the annual Women’s History Month reception from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, March 11 in the Toner Student Center Lounge.

Each March, Saint Mary’s joins groups from across the Untied States in honoring women through Women’s History Month activities and celebrations. The national theme in 2010 is a reprise of the first national theme “Write Women Back into History” and, as such, it fits well in honoring the women students at SMU since 1969-1970, the year that SMU became a coeducational college.

Good food, good music, good conversation, historical displays and door prizes will enhance the opportunity to honor the first women students at Saint Mary’s and to remember their contributions as well as the contributions of all women to the vitality of SMU.

Women alumnae from 1969-70 until the present have been invited to submit their written recollections and reflections on their college experience. SMU photographs and other memorabilia from 1970-2010 will also be on display at the reception.

This event is part of a series of spring events that are being held to commemorate and celebrate the 40th anniversary of women at Saint Mary’s.

Concert Band to feature student soloist, conductor

The Saint Mary’s Concert Band will present its annual early spring concert, on Sunday, March 21. This performance will begin at 3 p.m. in Page Theatre. The concert will feature two senior band members, Ryan Ballanger as guest conductor, leading the band in Hazo’s “Solas Ane,” and Kate Dullard, piccolo soloist, performing “The Bird in the Wood” by Thiere.

The band, directed by Dr. Janet Heukeshoven, will also present composer Carl Schroeder’s “Minnesota Portraits,” a three-movement suite recently composed for the Calhoun-Isles Community Band in Minneapolis. The movements are inspired by the composer’s impressions of three Minnesota landmarks: Historic Fort Snelling, Lake Calhoun Sunrise and the Mississippi River. John Zdechlik’s famous “Chorale and Shaker Dance” is also on the program, along with works by Grainger, Creston, Shostakovich, and Surinach.

This performance is part of a year-long exploration of Minnesota-based composers. Earlier concerts this season have included the works of Frank Bencriscutto and Dan Kallman. The SMU Concert band is comprised of 60 student and Winona-area community musicians and rehearses twice weekly throughout the academic year.

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. weekdays or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

If you are interested in performing with the SMU Band next season contact the director at jheukesh@smumn.edu.

Poet Laureate hosts poetry reading March 11

Winona’s Poet Laureate Ken McCullough will be hosting a poetry reading at Saint Mary’s on Thursday, March 11. This reading — free and open to the public — is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the President’s Room.

McCullough will be reading some of his recent poems, along with some of his favorites. Refreshments will be provided. Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society, is sponsoring this event.

Ken McCullough’s most recent books of poetry are Obsidian Point, and Walking Backwards, as well as a book of stories, Left Hand. He has received numerous awards for his poetry including the Academy of American Poets Award, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, a Pablo Neruda Award, a Galway Kinnell Poetry Prize, the New Millennium Poetry Award, the Blue Light Book Award and the Capricorn Book Award. He was also awarded an Iowa Individual Artist’s grant and two Jerome Fellowships. McCullough has collaborated with Cambodian writer U Sam Oeur on a bi-lingual edition of his poetry, Sacred Vows, and a memoir, Crossing Three Wildernesses. McCullough lives in Winona with his wife, playwright Lynn Nankivil, and son Orion.

For more information, contact Dr. Carolyn Ayers at Ext. 1523 or cayers@smumn.edu.

Saint Mary’s displays sculpture from Missouri artist

A unique exhibit of sculptures, some using found objects, that “exhume, analyze and challenge past and present issues,” will be on display through Friday, March 26, at Saint Mary’s.
Chris Wubbena, assistant professor in the Department of Art at Southeast Missouri State University, will display “the de minimis series” (a term often used to reference trivial or unworthy matters) in the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries.

Wubbena’s show will feature a group of three large-scale floor pieces, each constructed out of materials such as wood, steel, concrete, paper, clothing and found objects, as well as six slide-projection pieces, each projecting images onto masking tape adhered to bricks. “The de minimis series” also features thunderous sound projection sculptures and wall-mounted sculptures consisting of manipulated books.

Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, and the exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Sister Margaret Mear at mmear@smumn.edu.

SMU Green Team presents 5-part series on sustainability

The Saint Mary’s Green Team is presenting a five-part series on sustainability.

On Wednesday, March 17, the topic will be “Food.” Mary Gleich, Curt Coshenet, Chris Kendall and Chris McClead will lead a discussion on how food affects and is affected by climate change, including locally grown foods, composting, gardening, farming, Fair Trade, starvation, and other topics.

On Monday, April 23, Dr. Tom Marpe, Chris Kendall and Andy Robertson will lead a discussion on “Green Economy” — how climate change impacts the way we do business including green purchasing, marketing strategies, and new careers related to sustainability.

Everyone is invited. All events begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Toner Student Center lounge.

Jazz notes

Dr. John Paulson performs today, March 5, at Eagle Bluff Elementary School and Monday, March 8, at Onalaska High School with the Onalaska High School Jazz Band, directed by James Knutson. On Saturday, March 6, he performs with the Miles Johston Jazz Quartet at the Oaks Center General Store at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, March 11, he will be at the Starlite Lounge in La Crosse with Dave Kies and Kompany 5-8 p.m.

Page Series presents Ned Kirk March 13-14

Pianist Ned Kirk will interpret Beethoven and others Saturday and Sunday, March 13-14, at Saint Mary’s, concluding the 2009-2010 Page Series. The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 13, and 3 p.m. Sunday, March 14, in Figliulo Recital Hall.

Kirk, known locally as the artistic and managing director of the Minnesota Beethoven Festival and as the chair of Saint Mary’s Department of Music, is an electrifying and sensitive interpreter of Beethoven. His technique is “impeccable” and his musicianship has been described as “marvelous.”

For the past 25 years, Kirk has performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician, and the 2009-2010 concert season has included performances on four continents. In the United States he is appearing on concert series from coast to coast, with recital performances in California, Nevada, Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois, North Carolina and Florida. Other highlights include concerto engagements with the Minnesota Orchestra and music director Osmo Vänskä at both Sommerfest and the Minnesota Beethoven Festival, as well as a concerto performance with the Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra in Wisconsin. Overseas performances include 10 recitals in Kenya, Denmark, France, Hong Kong, and China. For the 2010-2011 season, Kirk will be performing in Germany, Singapore and China, as well as the United States.

Since 2007, Kirk has served as artistic and managing director for the Minnesota Beethoven Festival. Now in its fourth season, the festival is dedicated to showcasing the tremendous talent found in the region, as well as featuring some of the most important international concert artists of our time.

Kirk studied at the Peabody Conservatory of Music, the University of Massachusetts - Amhearst, and the University of Washington. He is also an associate professor of piano and chair of the music department at Saint Mary’s. Visit his website at www.nedkirk.com.

Tickets are $22 for adults, $18 for students and seniors and are available at the Box Office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Iron Cardinal Fitness Competition April 17

The first ever Iron Cardinal Strongman/ Strongwoman Fitness Competition will be held on Saturday, April 17.

The competition is open to all Saint Mary's students, faculty, and staff.

Possible events include: a log press, stone carry, golf cart pull, tire flip and sprint, sheaf toss and farmer's walk.

The participants will be split into male and female divisions. If the number of participants is great, then the competition will also be split into weight divisions.

To register, sign up in the Student Activities office. The cost is $10 and all participants will receive an Iron Cardinal T-shirt.

If you have any questions contact Jamie Herrick, Ext. 6968; Jason Flanders, Ext. 6692; or Jason Richter, Ext.1648.

‘A Taste of Africa’ a success

The menu included a large variety of African food.

Adjovi Amouzou dances as part of the evening's festivities.

“A Taste of Africa“ — an evening of food and entertainment from Africa — was held Saturday, Feb. 27, in honor of Black History Month. The event was sponsored by ICAA and Chartwells.

Kabara Institute announces Business Plan Competition

Full-time undergraduate students at Saint Mary’s are invited to submit business plans for a chance to win $1,500 in cash through the Kabara Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies. Participants may enter as individuals or as a team of two students. All majors are encouraged to take part.

New this year, there are separate divisions for business majors and non-business majors

Students are invited to develop a business plan for a business that they would like to start. Contents of the plan should include:

• a one-page executive summary
• a concept statement
• a preliminary marketing plan
• a discussion of operating considerations (suppliers, manufacturing processes, staffing, operating hours, etc.)
• anticipated startup costs and pro-forma financial statements for the first year of operation
• and references for the sources used in the plan and contact information for each of the entrants.

Criteria for judging the plans includes: creativity, feasibility of the proposed project and comprehensiveness of the business plan.

A hard copy and electronic copy of the business plan must be submitted to Teresa Speck by Monday, March 15.

For more information, contact Speck at tspeck@smumn.edu or Ext. 1449. Questions about developing business plans can be directed to Jana Schrenkler at jschrenk@smumn.edu or Ext. 1491 or Sharon O’Reilly at soreilly@smumn.edu or Ext. 1576.

Gaslight planned for March 12-13

The annual variety show, Gaslight, will be presented 8 p.m. Friday, March 12; and 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday, March 13, in the dining room.

Flanagan to discuss book about Irish dance March 16

Dr. Kathleen Flanagan, associate professor of theatre and dance at Saint Mary’s will present, discuss and sign her new book, “Steps in Time: The History of Irish Dance in Chicago” Tuesday, March 16.

The public is welcome to enjoy Irish music and a display of the Mary Clare Karnick Irish History & Culture Collection beginning at 3:30 p.m. in the McEnery Center Lounge. Flanagan’s book will be available for purchase.

Refreshments will be served, and the event is free. For more information, call Dr. Bill Crozier at Ext. 1563.

Faculty, staff present at Collaboration Conference

Nine SMU faculty, staff members, and one student presented at the Collaboration Winter 2010 Conference, “Assessment for the Changing Learning Environment” in February. SMU had the largest number of presentations accepted to this competitive regional conference and tied Bethel University for the most attendees. Dr. Patrick Barlow, director of assessment said, “This is one illustration of SMU’s ongoing commitment to a campus culture dedicated to the scholarship of learning and teaching.”

The presentations were all received very positively by people attending this conference. Feedback from this conference is always very constructive and this was certainly the case this time. Dr. Chad Kjorlien explained that “the other side benefit to attending this conference is the chance to reconnect and introduce some of our Twin Cities colleagues [Elizabeth Childs and Jake Hanauer] to people from our Winona campus.”

The presenters and their projects were:

•“Utilization of National Surveys and Standardized Tests for Program-Level Assessment” with Patrick J. Barlow, director, Office of College Assessment; Kevin Dennis, assistant professor and chair, Department of Mathematics and Statistics; and Tom Marpe, associate professor and dean, School of Business.

• “Using Class Capturing Software to Assess Communication Skills” with Chad Kjorlien, director, Office of Instructional Technology and the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching; and Brooke Lenz, assistant professor, Department of English.

• “An Introduction to Clickers and E-Portfolios as Assessment Tools” with Dean Beckman, associate professor, Department of Mass Communication; Carol Daul-Elhindi, instructional services librarian, Fitzgerald Library; and Travis Fick, fourth-year student, Departments of Journalism and Public Relations.

• “Assessing Mission Alignment: An Integrative Approach” with Richard Tristano, professor, Department of History.

Next Chat, Chow & Web 2.0 is March 17

The next Chat, Chow & Web 2.0 will be held Wednesday, March 17, in the main lounge of the McEnery Center. The event will examine “E-portfolios: Ere Their Story Die” between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. A portfolio has been described as a “collection of a student’s work specifically selected to tell a particular story about the student.” Do your students have the technological tools to create portfolios for the 21st century? Discover what your colleagues are doing to meet this challenge. The event is sponsored by the Fitz, IT and Instructional Technology. Lunch will be provided, and RSVPs can be made to ckjorlie@smumn.edu.

McCullough to judge Poetry Out Loud competition

Ken McCullough, Academic Advising and the PASS program, will be one of this year’s judges for the state finals of the Poetry Out Loud competition, on Monday, March 8, at the Fitzgerald Theatre in St. Paul. McCullough has also written the introduction for the recently-published Thousand-Cricket Song, poems by Catherine Strisik, set in Cambodia.

The National Champion will receives a $20,000 award; the second place winner, $10,000; third place, $5,000; and each of the other top 12 finalists, $1,000. The high school of each finalist will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books.

Let’s Do Lunch planned for March 19

The volunteer committee has tentatively scheduled the next “Let's Do Lunch” for Friday, March 19, in the President's Room.

SMU to host High School Challenge tournaments

Area schools will compete in the final round of High School Challenge — a tournament of knowledge held at and sponsored by Saint Mary’s — Saturday, March 6. The 2009-10 season marks the 39th year of the longest running academic competition for high school students in the area.

Thirty-two area teams from Eastern Minnesota, Western Wisconsin and Northeast Iowa started competing in High School Challenge in the fall for a chance to participate in the “Consolation” and “Super Challenge” tournaments. Participating teams earn scholarships for their schools.

The public is welcome to watch the consolation championship between Cotter White and Decorah Red, beginning at 8:30 a.m. in Figliulo Recital Hall. After this competition, the final run for the “Super Challenge” begins, with brackets featuring teams from Decorah, La Crosse Logan, West Salem Black, Cotter Blue, Lewiston, Holmen Maroon, Riceville, and Eau Claire Regis Green.

The games will be taped by Fox 25/Fox 48 and aired Sundays, March 21 through May 9, from 10 to 10:30 a.m.

For more information, call Nicole Gerdes, High School Challenge coordinator, at Ext. 1761 or ngerdes@smumn.edu.

Myers, Minnerath team up for next faculty presentations

Two faculty reports will be presented at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 23, in Salvi Lecture Hall. Judy Myers, Department of Theatre and Dance, will present “All Aboard for Broadway via Alaska” and Jeanne Minnerath, Biology Department, will present “Case Studies in the Classroom.” Refreshments will be provided. The event is sponsored by the Faculty Development Committee, in conjunction with the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

Sympathy to Wollan family

Dave Moses, father of Karin Wollan (ITA Literacy Clinic coordinator) died Monday, March 1, in Lake City, Minn.

Notes of condolence can be sent to box 23.

The Saint Mary’s community extends its sympathy to the Wollan family.