Countdown to College to welcome 86 students

Countdown to College (C2C) students will be on campus July 5-Aug 2. The first two weeks (July 5-18), Saint Mary’s will welcome cohorts 3 and 4 on campus. A graduation ceremony will be July 18. Parents of the seniors are invited to join the celebration.

On July 19, C2C will welcome a new cohort of  incoming freshmen, and on July 20 returning sophomores will join them. These two cohorts will study on campus through Aug. 2.

This two-week program for students from under-resourced communities is offered each summer for four years, beginning just after they complete eighth grade and continuing until the summer before their senior year — helping to assure each student is prepared for a successful college experience.

The camp is free to student participants from San Miguel and Nativity middle schools and Cristo Rey and Lasallian high schools, their parents (who come the first weekend), and teachers from their schools, who co-teach with Saint Mary’s instructors, and help prepare Saint Mary’s instructors on how to effectively work with this growing population of students.

C2C is part of the First-Generation Initiative, which helps students prepare for and succeed at college.

Saint Mary's hosts regional science convention

Members of SMU Gamma Epsilon include, from left: Katie Stolz, Collin Niehaus, Kristen Thelen, Amy Spitzmueller, Dr. Debra Martin, Lisa Obasi, Kristen Gustafson, Amanda Ferstead and Anna Smaron.

On April 26, Saint Mary’s hosted the 81st Minnesota Academy of Science annual meeting and the 26th Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium in conjunction with the NC3 District Annual meeting of Beta Beta Beta, the National Biological Honor Society.

One hundred twenty-four students from 21 colleges and universities in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin presented their research in the fields of cellular and molecular biology, chemistry, earth science, ecology and environmental science, economics, engineering, math and computer science, physics, neuroscience, organismal and physiological sciences and social sciences.

The keynote speaker was Kevin Kenow, research wildlife biologist from the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center.  His presentation was on Minnesota loons. Dr. Debra Martin was chair of the planning committee; Dr. Moni Berg-Binder was judge coordinator; and Drs. Brett Bodsgard and Robyn Wangberg were planning committee members. A special “thank you” to all who served as judges that day and also the IT and athletic departments for their support.

Students recognized at Honors Convocation

Saint Mary’s recognized outstanding senior students Friday, April 11, at the annual Honors Convocation. Highlights of the evening included the announcement of graduate and professional school acceptances, grants and fellowships, and the awarding of the following special honors:

National Delta Epsilon Sigma Awards — National DES undergraduate scholarship, Melissa Radermacher, daughter of Tim and Amy Radermacher of Plymouth, Minn.; National DES graduate scholarship and National DES Student Award, Matthew Traxler, son of Timothy and Jeanne Traxler of Le Sueur, Minn.

Lasallian Honors Program Outstanding Senior Awards — Grace Hoffman, daughter of James and Julie Hoffman of St. Paul; and Evan Shockley, son of Steven and Lisa Shockley of Omaha, Neb.

Creative Spark Award (art and design award) — LeiLani Oas, daughter of John and Joan Oas of Minnesota City, Minn.

Kevin Martineau Award and Outstanding Accounting Major (business awards) — Gabriel Thiel, son of Brian and Debra Thiel of Berlin, Wis.

Outstanding Entrepreneurship Student (business award) — Brooke Bartelt, daughter of David and Connie Bartelt of New Prague, Minn.

Outstanding Human Resource Management Student and Outstanding Marketing Major (business awards) — Kaylee Bunne, daughter of Dominick and Kathi Bunne of Le Roy, Minn.

Outstanding International Business Student (business award) — Cassandra Kujawa, daughter of Chris and Judy Kujawa of South Milwaukee, Wis.

Outstanding Sport Management Student (business award) — Tyler Grabau, son of David and Jean Grabau of Wabasha, Minn.

American Institute of Chemists Award (chemistry award) — Erika Reith, daughter of Theresa Pirozzoli and Kelly Reith of Watertown, Wis.; and Jillian Martin, daughter of Michael and Jennifer Martin of Owatonna, Minn.

American Chemical Society Award (chemistry award) — Eric Amerling, son of Steve and Bobbijo Amerling of Fond du Lac, Wis.

De La Salle Outstanding Preservice Teaching Awards (education award) — Kaitlyn Keefe, daughter of Daniel and Suzanne Keefe of Chatfield, Minn.; and Katherine Wall, daughter of Michael and Michelle Wall of Aurora, Ill.

Outstanding English Paper — Katie Sonnek, daughter of Daniel and Kathleen Sonnek of Lake Crystal, Minn.

History Department Distinction Award and Brother J. Robert Lane Historical Essay Award (history awards) — John Soucheray, son of John and Kate Soucheray of Woodbury, Minn.

Brother Leo Northam Award (math award) — Grace Zachman, daughter of DonEva McPherson of Maple Grove, Minn.; and Evan Shockley, son of Steven and Lisa Shockley of Omaha, Neb.

Brother Laurence Walther Founder’s Award and Performance Award (music awards) — Augustine Esterhammer-Fic, son of Chris and Mary Esterhammer-Fic of Chicago.

Saint Thomas Aquinas Award for Excellence (philosophy award) — Andru O’Brien, son of Scott and Tera O’Brien of Bloomington, Ill.

Father Andrew Fabian Scholarship (philosophy award) — The Hoang, son of Thieu Hoang and Mai Nguyen of Owatonna, Minn.

Brother Jerome Rademacher Award (physics award) — Evan Shockley, son of Steven and Lisa Shockley of Omaha, Neb.

Psychology Distinction Awards — Heidi Martin, daughter of Mark and Sallie Martin of Ankeny, Iowa; Ellie Niedbala, daughter of Richard and Barbara Niedbala of Geneva, Ill.; Amanda Weber, daughter of Lawrence and Anne Weber of White Bear Lake, Minn.; and Shelby DeWall, daughter of Jerry and Sue DeWall of Caledonia, Minn.

Mille Harrison Spirit Award (theatre award) — seniors Alexander Akers, Anthony Balamut, Charlotte Deranek, Julie Frederickson, Timothy Gleason, Alexander Green, John Goblirsch, Alyson Kriz, Taylor Marshall-Miernicki, Elyssa Mattson, Lydia Munroe, Natasha Nelson, Brian Pipal, Katherine Sapper, and Matthew Schneider.

Grove Bree Holman Award (theatre award) — Katy Kosiek, daughter of James and Judith Kosiek of Hanover Park, Ill.; Hans Heukeshoven, son of Eric and Janet Heukeshoven of Winona; and Mary Klinghagen, daughter of Charles and Carla Hansen of Crystal, Minn.

Michael G. Flanagan Ghost Light Award (theatre award) — John Goblirsch, son of Michael Goblirsch and Mariana Ginder, Minneapolis; and Charlotte Deranek, daughter of Suzanne Zablocki Deranek of Winona.

Gerald Sullivan Outstanding Theatre Major Award (theatre award) — Katie Sapper, daughter of Steven and Cynthia Sapper of El Cajon, Calif.

Celebration of Scholarship presentations are all day today

The Celebration of Scholarship — Saint Mary’s annual celebration highlighting the accomplishments of undergraduate students across all academic disciplines — will be held today, Friday, April 11. More than 100 presentations by more than 130 students are planned. The SMU community is invited to view the research and talents of our students.

The event will take place at various locations  and times on campus. Attendees are asked to register in Saint Mary’s Hall, on the first floor, before attending presentations. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. For more information, visit www.smumn.edu/studentscholars.

The day will culminate at 4:45 p.m. with the Honors Convocation in Page Theatre. Students will be recognized for outstanding activity as shown by membership in honor societies, completion of the honors program, and departmental awards. A reception precedes the event at 4 p.m. in the lobby. Everyone is welcome.

SMU hosts interdisciplinary undergraduate conference

On April 25-26, Saint Mary’s will host an interdisciplinary undergraduate conference titled Undergraduates, Inc., that will bring students from North Dakota State, Iowa State, and other regional universities to present their work in academic panels along with Saint Mary’s students. The conference rotates among the North Dakota State campus, Iowa State, and Saint Mary’s.

Students from several disciplines, including English, history, women’s and gender studies, and communication will present at the conference, which will include a plenary speaker presentation that is free and open to the public, Friday, April 25. Dr. Dometa Brothers, assistant professor of English at Iowa State University, will present “Romantic Math and Science: How Literature Influenced Nineteenth Century Thought.”

The event continues Saturday, April 26, with student presentations in interdisciplinary panels, and a lunch buffet with a keynote presentation at noon by Dr. Hiromi Mizuno, associate professor of history at the University of Minnesota. Her talk is titled “The Divine Emperor’s Children and Popular Science Culture in Wartime Japan.”

The cost of attending the Saturday conference (panels and/or keynote/lunch buffet) is $30, and those who intend to attend may contact Dr. Erin Mae Clark (eclark@smumn.edu or Ext. 6643) or Dr. Tycho de Boer (tdeboer@smumn.edu or  Ext. 6995).

Saint Mary's students present at the Capitol

Five students headed to the Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda on Tuesday, April 8, to present the results of their independent research and creative scholarship at the annual Minnesota Private College Scholars at the Capitol event.

The Minnesota Private College Council hosts this event to publicize and celebrate the achievements of just a few of the thousands of students who attend 15 private schools of higher learning in Minnesota, and to share research that may have long-term implications for Minnesotans.

This event showcased current research projects completed by more than 40 undergraduate scholars from Minnesota private colleges and universities. Saint Mary’s students attending this year’s event included:

• Amy Spitzmueller — “Heavy Metal Analysis of Bluegill (Lepomis macrochius) from East Lake Winona”
• Ryan Diak, Amanda Lindholm, Danielle Pues and Rim Woldeslassie — “From Cradle to Grave: Does Mortality Salience Facilitate a Preference for Our Own Attachment Styles?”

100 presentations planned for Celebration of Scholarship

The Celebration of Scholarship — Saint Mary’s annual celebration highlighting the accomplishments of undergraduate students across all academic disciplines — will be held Friday, April 11. More than 100 presentations by more than 130 students are planned. The SMU community is invited to view the research and talents of our students.

The event will take place at various locations  and times on campus. Attendees are asked to register in Saint Mary’s Hall, on the first floor, before attending presentations. The event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. For more information, visit www.smumn.edu/studentscholars.

The day will culminate at 4:45 p.m. with the Honors Convocation in Page Theatre. At the convocation students will be recognized for outstanding activity by membership in honor societies, completion of the honors program, and departmental awards. A reception will precede the event at 4 p.m. in the lobby. Everyone is welcome.

SMU hosts interdisciplinary undergraduate conference

This April 25-26, Saint Mary’s will host an interdisciplinary undergraduate conference titled Undergraduates, Inc., that will bring students from North Dakota State, Iowa State, and other regional universities to present their work in academic panels along with Saint Mary’s students. The conference is orchestrated by Dr. Erin Mae Clark, English, and Dr. Tycho de Boer, history, and rotates among the North Dakota State campus, Iowa State, and Saint Mary’s. Watch for more details next week.