Senior class gathering Dec. 4

The senior class gathering Thursday, Dec. 4, will be held 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Toner Student Center lounge. Beverages and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

This event is intended to honor all senior students, with special recognition for mid-year graduates of the College.

One event left for Global Entrepreneurship Week

In celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week, the Kabara Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies and the Business Department have hosted several activities throughout the week. Events are co-sponsored by the Biology and Business departments and Envision Club.

On Monday, Nov. 24, from noon to 2 p.m., students are invited to tour Knitcraft Corporation. Bernhard Brenner, president and CEO, will give a presentation and tour. Knitcraft has created the highest quality of men’s knitwear and outerwear in the world since 1960. Worn by Steve Jobs, Warren Buffet, and Mike Ditka, the St. Croix Collections line remains in the forefront of men’s exclusive fashion. Get a glimpse into its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. Register by email to kabarainstitute@smumn.edu by today, Friday, Nov. 21. A limited number of spots are available.

Giving trees go up this week for Gifts for Winona

Saint Mary’s University Gifts for Winona giving trees will be going up before Thanksgiving. This communitywide program is providing gifts to area children and seniors in need this holiday season.

Tags, each labeled with a different person’s holiday gift wishes, will be placed on area giving trees this week. Gifts for Winona’s main priority is to provide gifts to children 18 and younger and individuals 60 and older.

In addition to a tree in Saint Mary’s Hall, trees will be located at the three Severson-Sinclair locations, Walmart, and Security State Bank of Lewiston. Additionally, grocery cards can be purchased for families at both HyVee and Midtown Foods.

The Saint Mary’s community is invited to take a tag from the Saint Mary’s tree, shop for items on the gift list and return gifts by Dec. 10 to the Business Office. Gifts do not need to be wrapped. The recommended amount for holiday gifts is approximately $35 per person. Tags should be securely taped to the outside of the presents or the bag of presents.

As the gift distribution is early this year (mid- December), the community is asked to begin their season of giving early as well. The success of this program depends on the generosity of the Winona-area community.

For more information, call the Gifts for Winona line at Ext. 8719. Other community partners that join Saint Mary’s to help make this program possible are the Winona Post, Winona Radio, and Winona Volunteer Services.

Branding update

A great turnout of faculty and staff participated in the Nov. 5 Brand Training: Messages and Templates session. If you were unable to attend, you’re encouraged to view the videotaped session online at www.smumn.edu/brandmessagevideo. (You’ll need to log on to Blackboard first).

You may also access it this way:
1. Log on to Blackboard.
2. Under “My Organizations,” click on “Talks and Presentations — Faculty and Staff.”
3. Click on “Tegrity Classes.”
4. Click on “Brand Training Session, Winona Campus 11-05-14.”

The 50-minute session provides an overview of the recent university rebrand as well as practical tools to help implement the new brand messaging.

Watch for future brand training sessions. If you have any questions, please contact Stacia Vogel, assistant vice president for brand management at Ext. 5119 or svogel@smumn.edu.

Dance Repertory Company presents ‘The Nutcracker’

The Saint Mary’s University Department of Theatre and Dance and the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts (MCA) will present the Dance Repertory Company in “The Nutcracker” Wednesday through Sunday, Dec. 3-7, at the Saint Mary’s Page Theatre.

Heralding the message of peace on earth, “The Nutcracker” is performed around the globe during the holiday season. Producing this delightful ballet every other holiday season, the Dance Repertory Company once again brings this magical experience to the Winona area community for it’s eighth biennial production.

The 2014 cast includes over 80 members including students from Saint Mary’s, Winona State University, and children and community members from the Winona and surrounding areas.

Through this ballet the beauty of the pure, young heart shines bright in a world of dancing dolls, angels, and of course, the wonderful magical Nutcracker Prince.  In the dreams of a child named Clara, a battle wages between a band of mice and company of toy soldiers. With Clara’s assistance, the toy soldiers are victorious and grateful. A Nutcracker Prince welcomes her to the Land of Snow, where they dance with the angels, and to the Kingdom of the Sweets hosted by the Sugar Plum Fairy where she sees a beautiful array of ethnic dances such as Spanish Coffee, Chinese Tea, and Russian Baba.

“The Nutcracker” will be presented at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, through Saturday, Dec. 6, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and senior citizens.

A special abridged version, ideal for young audience members who may not be able to sit through the full-length ballet, will be presented at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3. The cost for this afternoon matinee is $4 for everyone.

For tickets, call the Saint Mary’s University Box Office at 507-457-1715 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit www.pagetheatre.org.

Saint Mary’s Red Bird Club opens for one night, tonight

On Friday, Nov. 21, at 7:30 p.m. the Valéncia Studio Theatre (10th and Vila streets) will be transformed into the Red Bird Club Jazz Cabaret, showcasing the talents of Saint Mary’s student jazz musicians.

The Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo I will salute the classic American jazz cabarets of the 1940s and ’50s. Joining forces with the jazz groups will be sultry torch singer Kelsey Thurston, and talented young crooner Darvell Jones. The emcee for the evening will be Sean Vaske, and music will be led by “Professor Jazz” himself, Eric Heukeshoven.

Great arrangements of classic big band favorites such as “String of Pearls,” “Woodchopper’s Ball,” “Tico Tico,” and many others will keep toes tapping. Table seating and cash bar service will add to the ambience of the evening.

Reserve your spot at the Red Bird Club soon. Seating is limited, and you won’t want to miss this one-night-only event!

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors. For tickets or more information, contact the Performance Center box office 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at Ext. 1715 or go online to www.smumn.edu/tickets.

Saint Mary’s Chamber Orchestra concert is Sunday

The Saint Mary’s University Chamber Orchestra will perform “The Magical French Horn” 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, in Figliulo Recital Hall of the Performance Center.

Under the direction of Dr. David Leung, the orchestra will perform works by Felix Mendelssohn and contemporary Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. The event features Saint Mary’s faculty member Tammy Bartz on French horn playing Joseph Haydn’s beautiful “Concerto No. 1 in D.”  Dr. Leung will play Antonio Vivaldi's “Autumn” concerto from the Four Seasons, with Dr. Kyle Black of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages narrating the Italian and English sonnets.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors and are available online at www.pagetheatre.org or at the Saint Mary’s Box Office, 507-457-1715 Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The orchestra will also perform for the residents of Callista Court at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Funds from bake sale today are for Jamaica students

A “Sweets for Jamaica” bake sale will be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, Friday, Nov. 21, on the first floor of Saint Mary’s Hall. Buy a single treat for yourself, treat your roommate or officemates, or take some home to your family. The event is sponsored by the Friends of M.Ed. Jamaica employee group.

Future alumni begins tradition with ‘Mugsgiving’ Sunday

The Future Alumni Committee and Office of Alumni Relations are offering all current undergrad students special commemorative mugs on Sunday, Nov. 23, as part of “Mugsgiving.” Organizers hope the event will become an annual tradition, with alumni returning to campus with their mugs to socialize with students.

In addition to receiving their mugs, students are invited to a social (with hot cocoa and whipped cream) between 7 and 9 p.m. in the cafeteria. Providing music will be Ryan Weis, Lucas Sansovich, Destiny Dux, Aiden Goodman, and Michael Flicek. Door prizes  include a 32” TV, Beats headphones, a wireless Bluetooth speaker, and Kindle Fire HD.

Women’s basketball hosts toy drive for Gifts for Winona

The Saint Mary’s women’s basketball team is inviting the public to bring an unwrapped, new toy for a boy or girl to the Dec. 6 home game against Augsburg. The game will begin at 1 p.m. in Saint Mary’s gym. Toys will be distributed through Saint Mary’s University’s Gifts for Winona to a local child in time for Christmas.

Saint Mary’s ‘Lessons and Carols’ service is Dec. 6

The joyous and uplifting Christmas service of “Lessons and Carols” will be presented by the Department of Music at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6.

The beautiful service, held in the majestic Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels, features the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, directed by Dr. Patrick O’Shea.

“Lessons and Carols” reflects on the Christmas story through several short readings, hymns and Christmas carols sung by the choirs and audience. Music includes familiar carols and selections by composers from the Renaissance to the present.

The Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels is located at Wabasha and Vila streets in Winona.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors and are available by calling the box office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.pagetheatre.org. Tickets at the door are available by cash or check only.

­John Paulson Big Band reunites for Nov. 23 event

John Paulson’s 17-piece contemporary jazz big band returns to Winona Sunday, Nov. 23, at 6:30 p.m. They will perform two sets of all-original music at Wellington’s Pub & Grill.

The concert will feature exciting contemporary big band music composed and arranged by Paulson, who taught jazz and woodwinds at Saint Mary’s University for over 30 years. He is now professor emeritus at Saint Mary’s and an adjunct jazz instructor at Winona State University.

In addition to Dr. Paulson on saxes and flute, the ensemble  is comprised of 17 of the best jazz players and teachers in the region including trumpeter Scott Jensen of La Crosse, Wis.; Winona’s own Ray Dretske on tenor sax; alto saxophonist Brian Koser of Austin, Minn.; and an amazing rhythm section comprised of Dr. Rich MacDonald, drums; Larry Price, piano; bassist Eric Graham; and Twin Cities guitarist Scott Gerry. The program will highlight their exceptional soloing skills.

You may have heard this great band at their premiere concert at the Winona Arts Center in 2012 or at their celebrated appearance opening for the Hornheads as part of the Saint Mary’s Page Series in 2013. Their CD and DVD “The John Paulson Big Band Project” was funded by a grant from the McKnight Foundation and it is currently available on iTunes, CDbaby.com and numerous digital download sites. CDs and DVDs will be available at the concert.  Paulson’s music is published worldwide by eJazzLines.com and walrusmusic.com

There is no cover charge for the concert. Arrive early because seating will be limited. Wellingtons is located at 1429 W. Service Dr.

Conservatory presents Music Division Concert Nov. 24

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts Music Division invites the community to a fall music concert 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24, in Figliulo Recital Hall.

The concert will showcase the MCA Jazz Combos (directed by Dave Gudmastad) and a variety of students who are taking private lessons at MCA. Students ranging from youth age 5 and older through adults will perform classical and contemporary works.

Admission is a freewill donation. All donations will support future programming and the MCA scholarship fund. MCA is committed to making the arts accessible to all community members.

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts, an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University, is a nonprofit organization that offers programming in dance, music, visual art, and theatre. Classes, lessons, workshops, and camps are offered for youth ages 3 and older through adults at the Valéncia Arts Center, located at 10th and Vila streets. For more information, go online to www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, email mca@smumn.edu, or call 453-5500.

125 attend special movie preview, discussion

About 125 students attended Wednesday’s special showing of the movie “When the Game Stands Tall,” which features the true and remarkable story of the De La Salle High School from Concord, Calif.

This recently released movie features the journey of legendary football coach Bob Ladouceur, who took the De La Salle High School Spartans from obscurity to a 151-game winning streak that shattered all records for any American sport.

A panel discussion (including faculty members Dean Beckman and Joe Tadie and coaches Jen Miller, Jenna Sullivan, and David Barry) revolved around relationships that make a difference in our lives, the parallels between the concept of being on team and in a community, and that “We Lasallians” are successfully competitive.

This event was a team collaboration of the Student Activity Committee, the Living Learning Community Wide World and Sports, and the Athletic Department.

Reminder: No ‘Campus Notes’ next week

Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no ‘Campus Notes’ Nov. 28. Look ahead on your calendars. After break, the first edition will be Dec. 5.