Saint Mary’s named one of ‘Best in Midwest’ by Princeton Review

Saint Mary’s University is one of 159 schools receiving the “Best in the Midwest” designation for 2015 from the Princeton Review, a national college guide and ranking program. Results were announced this week.

Each year, the Princeton Review profiles colleges and universities that “stand out as academically excellent institutions of higher learning.” The Princeton Review survey asks students to rate their own schools on a variety of issues — from the accessibility of their professors to quality of the campus food — and answer questions about themselves, their fellow students, and their campus life.

The 648 colleges named regional bests (226 in the Northeast, 139 in the Southeast, 159 in the Midwest, and 124 in the West) represent only about 25 percent of the nation's 2,500 four-year colleges.

The Princeton Review is a New York City-based company known for test-preparation courses, education services and books.

For more information, go to www.princetonreview.com/best-regional-colleges.aspx. The website gives a profile of Saint Mary’s, along with useful college selection features.

100 students to volunteer in Winona community Sunday

Nearly 100 new students from Saint Mary’s  will serve four organizations at numerous sites throughout the Winona area on Sunday, Aug. 31, from 1 to 4 p.m. as part of New Student Volunteer Day.

Students will be assisting a number of organizations including Winona County, the Catholic Worker House, the Winona Area Humane Society, and Kinstone Academy of Applied Permaculture.

New Student Volunteer Day—organized through the Office of Campus Ministry—is dedicated to providing new Saint Mary’s students with the opportunity to engage with the Winona community, and to be inspired by the Lasallian spirit of service early in their college careers.

Internet marketing author to speak Sept. 8

Stephen Woessner, a nationally recognized internet marketing author, speaker and consultant, will speak on campus Monday, Sept. 8, from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. in the Common Room.

Woessner is a two-time international best-selling author; has been published in Forbes, the Washington Post, and others; is an educator and business consultant for the University of Wisconsin System; is the CEO of Predictive ROI; is a consultant with more than 15 years of experience; and developed a patent pending ROI process.

The Public Relations/Business Club is hosting his presentation.

Jolly to speak at College Convocation Sept. 2

Dr. Eric Jolly, president of the Science Museum of Minnesota, will speak at College Convocation Tuesday, Sept. 2. Dr. Jolly will speak on the topic of leadership, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the gymnasium.

Waiting list for Rosanne Cash tickets

Although tickets are no longer available for the Page Series performance by Rosanne Cash, a few will become available the evening of the performance. A waiting list starts at 6:30 p.m.

Cash will perform Wednesday, Sept. 3. Tickets: $30 for adults, $27 for seniors and students.

Daughter of American icon Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash has blazed a path of her own with thoughtful, heartfelt songs of love, loss, and country living. Her most recent recording The River & The Thread has been critically acclaimed by NPR as a masterpiece and “a timeless work of comfort and quiet joy.”

Cash has recorded 15 albums, including 1981’s Seven Year Ache and 1987’s King’s Record Shop – which both certified Gold. She has charted 21 Top 40 country singles, 11 of which climbed to No. 1. She has received 12 Grammy nominations, winning in 1985.

An intimate evening featuring Rosanne Cash and guitarist-husband John Leventhal will surely attract both loyal fans and those finding her for the first time.

Conservatory registration open house planned for Sept. 3

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will hold its winter 2014 registration open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, at the Valéncia Arts enter, 1164 West 10th St.

Here are five reasons to attend:

• It’s a great opportunity to visit the facility, tour the studios and classrooms, and meet the talented instructors and staff.
• The dance attire boutique will be open and staff will assist with fittings and take orders for all of the dance classes.
• You can learn more about programming including some great new opportunities.
• Members of the Friends of MCA will be on hand to tell you more about hands-on volunteer opportunities.
• You will be able to visit with members of the Winona and MCA community and meet new people who love the arts as much as you.

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts offers programming in dance, music, visual art, and theatre, year-round. Classes, lessons, workshops and camps are offered for youth ages 3 and older through adults at the Valéncia Arts Center, located at 1164 West 10th St.

Class days, times and tuition vary. Financial need-based scholarships are available. For a brochure and a complete listing, visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, e-mail mca@smumn.edu, “like” them on Facebook, or call (507) 453-5500. Interested students may register online, by mail, or in person at MCA’s Valéncia Arts Center.

Page Series offering brings graphic novel to life

Science-fiction, radio play drama, and a graphic novel combine to bring Robot Planet’s Intergalactic Nemesis to the Page stage Friday, Sept. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Using the sound effects of radio drama, super-sized projections of a graphic novel, a live keyboard player, and live actors playing various parts, the premise is simple: a period adventure story (with no small share of laughs) featuring Pulitzer-winning reporter Molly Sloan, her intrepid assistant Timmy Mendez, and a mysterious librarian named Ben Wilcott face the most serious threat Earth has ever known: an impending invasion of sludge monsters from the planet Zygon.

Appropriate for all ages this show will have gamers, science fiction fans, radio drama fans, and people just looking for an entertaining evening of adventure and fun, on the edge of their seats, shouting for more.

Tickets are $27 for adults, $24 for seniors and students and are available at the box office 10 a.m. to 6 p.m Monday through Friday at (507) 457-1715 or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

T-shirts are prizes in contest about Saint Mary’s

This is your time to express why you love Saint Mary’s University ... and potentially win a ‘This Is Your Time’ Saint Mary’s University T-shirt for your submission!

From now until Sept. 1, Saint Mary’s is holding a Twitter contest. All alumni and students are invited to Tweet about their memorable, life-changing times at Saint Mary’s! One T-shirt will be awarded each day.

Follow this link for contest rules: www.smumn.edu/newsblog/5995/this-is-your-time-tiyt-contest/

Participants can enter every day for more chances to win!

Chicago artist displays work at Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries

Chicago artist Cherith Lundin is displaying her work in “An excess of ground,” through Oct. 10 at the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries, located in the Toner Student Center. The exhibit is free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Lundin is a visual artist whose work ranges in media from drawing and painting to photography and installation. Her work examines the architectural contours of everyday life and extracts moments of fluidity within familiar spaces, where apparent dichotomies such as inside and outside, figure and ground, proximity and distance mingle.

Lundin grew up in Germany and received an M.F.A. from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and she has taught painting and drawing at colleges and universities throughout the United States.

Minivans now available

In an effort to support the educational experience, community engagement and co-curricular programs, the university has replaced several minivans on campus. For easier access, the motor pool has also been moved to the day lot across from the theater. To use these vehicles, the reservation system remains the same.

Move-in day a success

Thanks go to all students, faculty, staff, alumni board members and administration who helped students move in Saturday morning. Parents expressed much appreciation for the assistance.

Saint Mary’s in the news

The Winona Daily News ran an article Friday, Aug. 22, titled “What it’s really all about,” which features Meggie O’Keefe, a Saint Mary’s alumna teaching at Cotter High School: http://bit.ly/Z08CKN
 
The Winona Post ran an article Wednesday, Aug. 20 titled “Madison Spanish Ready for Fall” that details the Spanish immersion program for kindergarten and first-grade students at Madison Elementary School. The article mentions 2014 graduate Darlene Centeno  who will teach Spanish immersion for kindergarten: http://bit.ly/1lyzdZR.

Sympathy to Watkins family

Cynthia Withey, mother-in-law to Pete Watkins (men’s soccer coach) recently passed away at the age of 66. The Saint Mary’s community expresses its sympathy to the Watkins family.