Paulson goes out on high note with 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. Alumni who are slated to perform include guitarists Justin Bell ’99 and Andrew Lund ’85; saxophonists Ryan Ballanger ’10 and Bob Fisher ’97; bassist Joey Mazzuca ‘11; and trombonist Brian Zirngible ’98.

The Jazz Ensemble will play 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 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.

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.

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.

Hendrickson Forum 2012 features director of Wikimedia

This year’s Hendrickson Forum keynote speaker is Sue Gardner, executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation, who will speak about “Why Wikipedia Matters.”

The event is planned for 3:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 19, in the SMU Event Center, 2540 Park Ave., Minneapolis. Registration begins at 3 p.m. Admission is $30 for the general public and $10 for students.

The moderator will be Fred de Sam Lazaro, director of the Under-Told Stories Project at Saint Mary’s University and a correspondent for PBS NewsHour.

With nearly a half billion readers, Wikipedia is the most popular encyclopedia in human history. Gardner will discuss how Wikipedia has changed global access to information and what the future might hold.

Pre-forum seminars will run from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. on “From Free to Fee and Other Info Age Challenges” and “InnovationLive: Can 3M’s Strategy Work for You?” For more information, go to www.smumn.edu/HendricksonForum.

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.

Women Who Step Forward Conference planned

On Saturday, April 21, the second Women Who Step Forward Conference will take place at the SMU 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, former president of Reebok Apparel and Retail Group, and former 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 information, e-mail Anna Riechers at ariecher@smumn.edu.

For more information, go to www.smumn.edu/wwsf.

Register 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 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.

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

Gathering for Peter

A Gathering for Peter is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 14, at the Winona Public Library. Meet the instruments that act as important characters in “Peter and the Wolf.” Area musicians will play selections of the Prokofiev score to be featured during the Page Series performance April 17. Musicians include: Janet Heukeshoven, flute; Kelsey Engesser, clarinet; Jen Welch, bassoon; and Tove Wiggs, violin. Participants can win tickets to the April 17 performance.

Student History Research Symposium is April 21

Seniors from five area universities will present the results of their historical research at the Student History Research Symposium on Saturday, April 21, at Saint Mary’s. The event — free and open to the public — is sponsored by the history departments of Winona State University, Saint Mary’s, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Viterbo University, and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. This year’s symposium will also feature a panel of seniors from Cotter High School.

In addition to the student presenters, Dr. J. Vincent Lowery, assistant professor of Humanistic Studies and History at the University of Wisconsin — Green Bay, will speak on “Looking for the Port City Prophet: A Historian’s Tale of Research and Revisionism.”

SMU and WSU have co-sponsored the research symposium for 10 years, with UW-La Crosse, Viterbo, and UW-Eau Claire joining in recent years. Each school asks senior history majors — and at Winona State, law and society majors — to write a senior thesis based on their original research of a historical question of their own choosing. In this way, the students actually do the work of historians, and in the process deepen their research, writing and speaking skills.

All symposium sessions will be held on the third and fourth floors of Saint Mary’s Hall. The symposium opens at 9 a.m. in Salvi Lecture Hall with a short welcoming ceremony and coffee. Students will present their research in concurrent panels of three or four students each. The first panel session starts at 9:15 a.m., the second at 10:45 a.m. Dr. Lowery’s talk will start around noon and will be accompanied by a complimentary lunch.

Gaslight celebrates 50 years

In spring 1963, a Saint Mary’s musical tradition was born as the melodies of Gaslight first delighted audiences. On April 21, the SMU alumni community will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Gaslight with a special alumni performance on Saturday, April 21, in the Toner Center Dining Room.

The alumni show will include performers of Gaslight from through several generations. Alumni performers will be from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and recent years. A special highlight will be a performance from the original Oldie Moldie All-Stars.

A reception is planned at 6 p.m., and the alumni Gaslight will begin at 7 p.m.

This year’s student Performances of Gaslight are 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, April 20, and 10:30 p.m. Saturday, April 21. Tickets are $6 in advance or $7 at the door. Faculty and staff can receive one free ticket by contacting Lance Thompson, Ext. 1686 or ljthom01@smumn.edu.

Tickets are $15 for the alumni event. To register, go to www.mysmumn.org/50thGaslight.

DRC presents ‘Le Corsaire’ April 27, 28

The Saint Mary’s 2011-2012 performance season concludes with the Dance Repertory Company in “Le Corsaire,” April 27-28 at SMU’s Page Theatre.

For close to four decades, the Dance Repertory Company has delighted the Winona community with quality dance productions featuring local dancers in classical and contemporary works.

“Le Corsaire,” loosely based on a poem by Lord Byron, follows Medora, a beautiful slave girl, and Conrad, a dashing pirate, as they journey through a tapestry of captive maidens, rich sultans, swashbuckling abductions, and dramatic rescues, all culminating in a happy ending. Originally choreographed by Marius Petipa to music by Adolfe Adam, the ballet continues to delight audiences more than 150 years after its premiere.

Under the artistic direction of Tammy Schmidt, the DRC’s production features dancers who currently train at the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts and Saint Mary’s, as well as community members. Gary Diomandes, Department of Theatre and Dance, is one of the performers.

Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 27, and 3 p.m. Saturday, April 28.

Tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. Tickets are available on line at www.pagetheatre.org or by calling the SMU Performance Center at Ext. 1715.

The Dance Repertory Company is the pre-professional performance group of the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts. Company members participate in rehearsals, technique classes and stage performances.

For more information, visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, e-mail mca@smumn.edu or call Ext. 5500. The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s.

Biology symposium is April 20

The Biology Department will host the 39th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in Biology on Friday, April 20, in the Adducci Science Center.

Students from Saint Mary’s Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics departments and students from 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.

The symposium presents all attendees the opportunity to experience the process of open collegial assessment of experimental findings, the opportunity to encounter discoveries from a variety of scientific disciplines, and an excellent environment to develop personal contacts and acquaintances.

Dan Keyler, professor of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy and Graduate School, will present the R.V. Kowles Lecture at 1:45 p.m. in Figliulo Recital Hall. Professor Keyler is a noted expert in the field of envenomations, actively publishing and presenting lectures on venomous snake bites. He serves as the director of Research for Animal Venom Research International and as a consultant to several groups including the Minnesota Poison Control System and the U.S. Armed Forces. The title of his presentation is “Toxicology & Snakes: Passion and a Career.”

The public is invited to attend the lecture, as well as the student presentations, free of charge. Morning refreshments will be provided.

Athletics to host last ‘Let’s Do Lunch’

The final “Let’s Do Lunch” of the school year is planned for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, April 26, in the hockey arena lobby. The event, hosted by Athletics and sponsored by the Volunteer Committee, will include grilled burgers and brats. Bring your appetites. A freewill offering will be taken, with funds benefiting CTIE in Nairobi.

Stay tuned for information about “Let’s Do Ice Creams” in July and August!

CLIMB Theater to present ‘A Deeper Look’

CLIMB Theater will present the play, “A Deeper Look,” at 5 p.m. Monday, April 16, in Figliulo Recital Hall.

The event, co-sponsored by the First-Generation Initiative and the  Office of Campus Ministry, is open to the SMU community.

CLIMB is an acronym for Creative Learning Ideas for Mind and Body. The goal of the group is to make audiences aware of attitudes towards others. Words used to describe this play have been “awesome, powerful, amazing, surprising, subversive, poignant, thought-provoking, fabulous and moving.”

CLIMB’s website states, “We enter the stage as African Americans, Asians, Native Americans, Latinos and Caucasians. Because you see us, you naturally think you know us. Our personal stories, bravely told through monologues, scenes, music, dance and slides will take you on a journey of deeper understanding — not just of us, but of yourself.”

A discussion will follow the performance.

Senior Academic Honors Banquet is April 26

The annual Senior Academic Honors Banquet will be held on Thursday, April 26, beginning with a reception in the President’s Room at 6:30 p.m. Dinner and the awards program will follow at 7 p.m. in the Toner Center Dining Room.

Tickets are not required for faculty and staff but RSVPs should be made to Barb Schmidtknecht at Ext. 6678 or to bschmidt@smumn.edu by April 19.

Benefactor Recognition Dinner to honor philanthropic partners

On Saturday, April 14, the university will honor its philanthropic partners at the annual Benefactor Recognition reception and dinner to be held on the Winona campus. The event, by invitation only, celebrates the generosity shown to Saint Mary’s and provides an opportunity for student and benefactor interaction. This year’s theme, “Celebrating a Century of Philanthropy,” was chosen in commemoration of the launch of Saint Mary’s yearlong Centennial celebration.

Betty Kabara and the late Jon Kabara ’48 will be honored with the first SMU Heritage Award for their transformational giving to the university.

The ever-popular Oldie Moldies will provide the evening’s entertainment. For more information, contact Vickie Cada, Ext. 7000, or vcada@smumn.edu.

SMU hosts sustainability forums

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.

Saint Mary’s to participate in ‘Spruce Up Winona Day’

In recognition of “Spruce Up Winona Day,” the Volunteer Mentors group has invited Winona nonprofit agencies to submit requests for service.

Saint Mary’s University student volunteers will be available from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 21, to help local individuals, groups, churches and organizations.

For more information, contact Chris McClead at Ext. 7268 or cmcclead@smumn.edu.

APO induction ceremony held March 25

The APO (national theatre honors fraternity) induction was held Sunday, March 25. New inductees include Allie Kriz, Julie Frederickson, Lydia Munroe, Katie Sapper, Darrell Fair and Greg Freeman.

Theatre students were joined by faculty for a photo.

Common Threads Clothing Drive continues

The annual Common Threads Clothing Drive will continue 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, April 13, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow, April 14, in the Toner Student Center game room. The event is hosted by the Peace & Justice group.

Next ‘Chat and Chow’ provides hands-on learning

The next “Chat & Chow 2.0” at the Fitzgerald Library will discuss “It’s all Happening at the Zoo.” The event, scheduled for noon to 1 p.m. Friday, April 20, will include a trip to the petting zoo. Participants will get an opportunity to “pet” some of the latest technologies — the Kindle Fire and Kindle Touch, the Nook, iPads, iPods, etc., as well as a variety of new apps. Stop in for some real hands-on learning and lots of discussion about these technologies can be used in the classroom.

The event is hosted by the Fitzgerald Library, iT and Instructional Technology and will be held in the main lounge of the McEnery Center. Lunch is provided and an RSVP is appreciated but not necessary to Jason Spartz at jspartz@smumn.edu. Everyone is welcome.

Other upcoming April events

• Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts Music Division Spring Concert, 7 p.m. Monday, April 23, at the Valéncia Arts Center Recital Hall; $10 for adults, free to youth and students (at the door). The concert features MCA’s Winona Area Youth Singers (WAYS), the MCA Flute Choir and instrumental music division students.

• Spring Choirs Concert, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 28, Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels; tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students.

Psi Chi inducts new members, elects officers

The SMU Chapter of Psi Chi (International Honor Society in Psychology) inducted new members on April 3. New members include Julie Pierce, Jackie Jones, Ellie Niedbala, Jena Rice, Dr. Mario Casa de Calvo, Lexi Assimos, Bridget Ryan, Kelsey Brekke, Sophie Harrison, and Nora Gilson (not pictured). Congratulations to the new and returning members.
New officers will be Cathie Rennie (president), Megan Leisen (vice president), and Katie Smith (secretary). Current officers who will graduate in May include Bethany Hastings (president), Cassie Berning (vice president), and Kelsi Addabbo (secretary).

Employee Giving Campaign a success

Getting together at the Home Run celebration

“Thank you to everyone for making this year’s Employee Giving Campaign a success. We achieved 57 percent participation within our community, raising $74,700. This is a great testament to the dedication of our colleagues here at Saint Mary’s! In addition, we experienced an 84 percent increase in the number of colleagues enrolling in payroll deduction with 24 percent of those already enrolled, increasing their payroll deduction. To top it off, 66 colleagues were encouraged to become new donors over last year.

“Thank you to the following Employee Giving Campaign volunteers on the Winona campus: Sarah Bearbower (IT), Erin Mae Clark (Humanities), Jessica de La Rosa (Admissions), Gary Diomandes (Theater), Brendan Dolan (Residence Life), Barry Drazkowski (GIS), Paul Fox (Maintenance), Melissa Gordon (Academic Services), Tim Gossen (Student Life), Laurie Haase (Business Office), Todd Iverson (Mathematics and the Faculty Scholarship Committee), Derek Jackson (Business), David Jackson (Education), Jackie Killian (Business Office), Josh Lallaman (Sciences), Neil Leibundguth (Admissions), Bill Moore (Athletics), Laura Oanes (Library), Roger Peckover (M.A. Education), Joy Rockwell (Admissions), Lance Thompson (Student Activities), Lisa Truax (Art and Design) and Ryan Wockenfus (Admissions). Without the help of these volunteers, the campaign would not have been as successful!

“In addition to thanking the volunteers and community members, Development would like to thank Chartwells for sponsoring food and beverages, as well as the “Give a Little, Get a Latte” promotion. Those who gave a gift during the fiscal year will be receiving a voucher to enjoy a latte at Saint Mary’s Mugby Junction in the coming week.

“As a reminder, if you were unable to participate in this year’s Employee Giving Campaign, it’s not too late. The fiscal year runs until May 31, 2012. If you would like to give a gift or sign up for payroll deduction, please do so at www.smumn.edu/employeegiftform.” — Jennifer Teske, associate director, Saint Mary’s Fund

Luedtke and Sorvaags present at conference

Drs. Melissa Luedtke, Karen Sorvaag, and Scott Sorvaag presented on authentic assessment in standardized environments at the 2012 ASCD Annual Conference in Philadelphia on March 24. Educators from K12 and higher education from Central America, Canada, and across the U.S. attended the session. Research, best practices, and highlights from K12 educators in the area were highlighted in the presentation. This year’s conference was attended by more than 8,000 educators from 35 countries.  

ASCD, formerly the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, is an educational leadership organization dedicated to advancing the best practices and policies for the success of every learner. ASCD has 160,000 members in 148 countries who are professional educators from all levels and subject areas.

Fox presents paper

Mary Catherine Fox, Ph.D., professor of interdisciplinary studies, recently presented a paper at the 18th annual conference of The Association for Core Texts and Courses on Friday, March 30, in Milwaukee. The theme of this year’s conference was “Liberal Arts Education and the World: Inquiring into, Preparing for, and Living in the Real World through Core Texts.”

Fox’s paper, “Occupy Tocqueville: A Primer for Our Time” both proposed a pedagogy for teaching Tocqueville, as well as citing the work of seniors enrolled in the Capstone course of the Lasallian Core Traditions curriculum to address the conference theme.

May to display mosaics in Ben Miller Lobby

“Recent Mosaics — Explorations in Glass & Stone" by Monta May (Marketing and Communication) will be on display through May 11 in the Ben Miller Lobby of the Performance Center.

For more information about May’s art and practice, visit www.montagaelmay.com.

An artist reception is scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 26. For more information, call Ext. 1715.

Kowles to give presentation at Winona State University

Dr. Dick Kowles, professor emeritus in Biology, will give a presentation at Winona State University today, 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.”

Congratulations to Wangberg family

Aaron and Robyn (Physics Department) Wangberg had a daughter, Cora Louise, on Wednesday, March 28. The Saint Mary’s community congratulates the Wangberg family.

Sympathy to Bouler family

Robert William Hayes, father-in-law of Steven Bouler (Theatre & Dance Department) died Tuesday, April 3. A note of condolence can be sent to Steve and Liz Bouler at Campus Box 1433. The Saint Mary’s community extends its sympathy to the Bouler family.

‘Campus Notes’ countdown

There are only three editions of “Campus Notes” left this academic year: April 20, April 27 and May 4. Submissions are due the Wednesday before each Friday’s edition. “Campus Notes” will return in mid-June and come out every other week to update the SMU community on all the news and events that occur on campus during the summer.