SEASON’S GREETINGS!

Final exams are over and papers are handed in, and our students have returned home for rest and rejuvenation and to spend the joyous Christmas season with family. In this communication I want to show you some of the wonderful things our students have achieved recently, and give you a sense of the positive impact they make on campus life and on the larger community. Here are just a few snapshots from the fall semester.

Images from the Christmas season

Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Christmas season at Saint Mary’s, including the faculty pre-finals breakfast for students, the chapel candlelight service, the traditional Lessons and Carols concert, and other student and alumni gatherings. The choir concert—a Winona favorite—is performed each year at Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels on the Saint Teresa Campus.

Campus solar power project energizes student organizers

Developing ethical leaders is at the core of our mission and strategic plan. A group of Winona Campus students spent more than a year researching, presenting, and fundraising for a solar panel initiative, and on Nov. 25 a 3.8 kilowatt system was installed on the roof of Fitzgerald Library. The idea for installing solar panels began with Conner Ellinghuysen and a core group of student organizers including Reikel Beichler, Peter Hegland, Katie O’Leary, and Matt Faucett (shown above).

The students say the new system will immediately begin reducing the university’s carbon footprint, save money, and provide operating data and educational experiences for students in many academic areas. The system is expected to produce over 5,000 kilowatt-hours per year on average, or about 50 percent of the average household usage. It will also save four tons of carbon emissions each year.

Science students doing research and presenting results

Science students and advisers at the 7 Rivers Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Our undergraduate science students continue to demonstrate the university's excellence in science education. Seven biology and chemistry students presented their research projects at the 7 Rivers Undergraduate Research Symposium held in November at Viterbo University. Student presenters included Samantha Amatuzio, Jaci Bongard, Daniel Carroll, Cody Gill, Kelsey Haugh, Brandon Larsen, and Amy Zawacki. Sami Amatuzio received an award for best poster. Later in November, Amy Zawacki, Jaci Bongard, and Brandon Larsen presented research while attending the Autumn Immunology Conference in Chicago with Dr. Jeanne Minnerath.

Looking ahead on the research front, four biology students were recently awarded national biology honor society Beta Beta Beta Research Foundation scholarships. Students submitted a proposal for their senior research project outlining the objectives of the research and a budget. Receiving scholarships were Katie Stolz, Aleah Bingham, Jaci Bongard, and Madelyn Stiehl.

Ideas for new businesses pitched in 90-second contest

Aspiring young entrepreneurs were given a minute and a half to sell new business ventures to faculty judges during the annual Elevator Pitch Competition, sponsored by the Kabara Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at Saint Mary’s. Eleven enthusiastic competitors proposed a wide array of business concepts from gourmet hog dogs to support services for women suffering from infertility. The contest, which awarded cash prizes, was open to all students on campus, regardless of major. Students were allowed to submit a video of their pitch or make it live.

Three students tied for first place. Daniel Murphy, a marketing major from Woodbury, Minn., and Jakub Koziuk, a marketing and entrepreneurship major from Cary, Ill., pitched an emergency response app called “QuikClik.” Melissa Radermacher, a global studies major from Plymouth, Minn., pitched a nonprofit fitness club called “Fit For Life.”

Unique theatre program marks 20th anniversary in London

Our Stefannié Valéncia Kierlin Theatre Program in London is believed to be only one of its kind in nation. This fall, the study abroad program celebrated its 20th anniversary. Under the guidance of Saint Mary’s and British faculty, theatre majors take acting courses and attend performances at London’s West End, Off-West End and Fringe theatres.

What truly sets the Saint Mary’s program apart is the fact that participating students stage a full production in a London theatre each year — believed to be something no other U.S. college or university can boast. This year, theatre students presented the American comedy “How I Learned to Drive” at The New Wimbledon Studio. Dr. Gary Diomandes directs the play and leads the program.

Our London experience is also available to students from all majors, and courses are offered in global issues, art and culture, British politics, literature, theatre, and business. Read more about the program on the student blog, www.smumn-london.blogspot.com.

Entrepreneur Week activities celebrate the spirit of innovation

The Envision Club challenged students to test their knowledge of entrepreneurism.

Global Entrepreneur Week at the Winona Campus celebrated the spirit of innovation and strategic risk-taking, and added to the many opportunities students have for learning outside of the classroom. The week is a cross-campus collaborative effort involving the Kabara Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, the Business and Biology departments, and the Envision Club for entrepreneurial business students. The Envision Club sponsored games and activities designed to test the entrepreneurial knowledge of other students. The week also featured talks by Mike Cichanowski, founder and owner of We-no-nah Canoe, and by David Kingland, founder of Kingland Systems, a services provider to financial companies.

Students and alumni make a difference in their communities

The women’s hockey team helped distribute smoke detectors in Winona.

Our students and alumni were out in their communities in late October, volunteering their helping hands for an annual day of service. Almost 110 Winona students spent the afternoon assisting 47 area residents and organizations with fall tasks during the Campus Ministry-sponsored Make a Difference Day. One of those efforts included the women’s hockey team working with the American Red Cross and Winona Fire Department to replace smoke detectors in local residences. Meanwhile, alumni in Winona, Twin Cities, Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Louis and Denver got together to pitch in at a variety of non-profit service organizations during for our sixth Lasallian Day of Service.

Halloween Fun Night provides safe fun for local kids

Hundreds of elementary and preschool children from the Winona area attended our 14th Halloween Fun Night, a tradition that is greatly appreciated by the community and enjoyed by our students. Pint-sized ghosts and goblins were treated to tattoos and stickers, a coloring station, other fun games, and visit by the Cardinal mascot. Of course the highlight was when Saint Mary’s students led groups of trick-or-treaters through the residence halls, where they could safely go door to door for candy and impress residents with their costumes.

Solidarity symposium examines social challenges and change

The university is committed to preparing students for success in today’s complex and multicultural world. The campus Solidarity Council sponsored a fall symposium on diverse social issues, titled “Moving Forward: Resistance and Agents of Change for the Future.” Faculty, staff, and students were invited to this opportunity to unlock ideas and thoughts that empower students to think in new ways, and to move forward in solidarity with open minds regarding topics of inclusion and diversity. The day featured faculty and staff panel discussions, workshops, and breakout sessions.

Biology Club helps with fall harvest

Members of the Biology Club joined Brother Arnold McMullen for the fall harvest of produce from his prosperous garden on campus. Brother Arnold and the students picked gourds from his garden as well as Brother John Grover’s garden. Brother Arnold appreciated the garden help, and the students enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with one of our favorite Christian Brother residents.

Community leaders exposed to our arts

Jazz singers Darvell Jones and Kelsey Thurston performed at the President's Roundtable.

The President’s Roundtable raises our visibility with Winona-area business and community leaders and allows us to present current topics and discuss issues that affect our communities, our economy and our workplaces. At the November Roundtable, the group was provided with an update on all things artistic, including the Page performance series, London theatre semester, student productions, the Valéncia Arts Center and Conservatory, student band, choir, orchestra, and jazz groups, the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries and more.

Brother William and Michael Charron, dean for the arts, demonstrated to the gathering how the variety and quality of these offerings enriches our students’ academic experience, enlivens the campus environment, and provides entertainment and economic benefit for our host city.

Class mug project helps connect students to alumni

More than 600 Winona Campus students made a connection to each other and to their school that just might last a lifetime. At the first “Mugsgiving” celebration, students raised their newly acquired mugs filled with hot cocoa in a warm toast to each other and to Saint Mary’s University. The Future Alumni Committee and Office of Alumni Relations invited all undergrad students to receive special commemorative mugs, as well as enjoy an evening of games, music, and giveaways.

Organizers hope the popular event will become an annual tradition, with alumni returning to campus with their mugs each year to socialize with students. The event also serves as a unique way to welcome the freshman class to the Saint Mary’s community. Thanks go to 1967 alum Roger Haydock, who generously donated mugs for every student.

PR/Business Club visits Twin Cities alums and companies

Lindsay Dickson ’08 gave students a tour of Minnesota Public Radio.

Saint Mary’s Twin Cities alumni hosted members of the Public Relations/Business Club in September at ShopHQ and Minnesota Public Radio. Katelyn Branstrom ’09, Erin Donnelly ’05, and Adam Beck ’07 gave a tour of ShopHQ’s studios and offices, and offered students insights to their jobs and career advice. Lindsay Dickson ’08 and Matt Perkins ’06 gave students a tour of MPR’s studios, newsroom, recording studio and other facilities, while sharing MPR’s philosophies and offering students additional career advice.

Job search experience and real connections made at career fair

Part of our mission is to prepare students for success in the workplace. To that end, we hosted this fall our first on-campus Career Fair in Winona, sponsored by the Career Services and Internships Office. About 175 students explored 40 local and regional businesses and organizations, networked with potential employers, and found out what they are looking for in potential interns and employees. To help students prepare for the event, Career Services and Internships offered workshops on résumés, communicating strengths and interests to employers, and interview techniques and strategies.

This was a great opportunity for students to practice job interview skills and potentially land a job or internship that could launch their careers. Attendees included some entire classes brought by their professors. Several employers sent positive feedback about the quality, preparedness, and professionalism of the students. And several students have already reported back about getting interviews for jobs and internships as a direct result of business connections they made at the career fair, including RTP, Mutual of Omaha, Enterprise, and IBM.

Dear Alumni and Parents,

A new school year is well-underway on our beautiful Winona campus. The warm sense of community is one of the first things students experience when they come to Saint Mary's. A few weeks ago we welcomed back returning students and helped the first-years move into their residence halls, with athletic teams, faculty and staff, and alumni all greeting families and pitching in.

The new academic year is only a few weeks old, and already our students are busy with service projects, academic challenges, and fun. Let me tell you about a few of these activities and other developments on campus.

— Brother William

Summer interns help their professor survey fish communities

Tessa Oberle and Sarah Fanning hold carp sampled in Spring Lake.

Summer biology interns helped Dr. Josh Lallaman, Biology Department, with two contracts to survey Minneapolis/greater metro area lakes. The students assisted with surveying the fish communities in Sand and Long Lakes (Washington County). More biology student volunteers will be assisting with surveying common carp populations in Spring, Arctic, and Cedar Lakes (Scott County) in September. These contracts are a result of collaboration with Saint Mary’s biology alum Mike Majeski ’02, who works for the environmental consulting firm Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc.

Saint Mary’s does well in the rankings

In an affirmation of the high-quality, impactful teaching and learning that occurs here, two recent national university ranking publications have placed Saint Mary's University in their upper tiers. Saint Mary’s is consistently recognized for the quality of its educational experience. We meet the needs and exceed the expectations of our students at every level, from undergraduate to master’s to doctoral.

Once again we are ranked in the top tier of best colleges and universities by U.S. News & World Report. Saint Mary’s is ranked No. 181 in the National Universities category of the U.S. News Best Colleges 2015 guidebook. We are one of only three public or private schools in Minnesota listed in this elite category. And, Saint Mary’s has again been named one of the “Best in Midwest” by The Princeton Review, a national college guide and ranking program. The guide profiles colleges and universities that stand out as academically excellent institutions of higher learning as rated by their own students.

Students gain international perspective in London study abroad program

This fall semester 15 undergraduate students will gain international experience and perspective as they attend our study abroad program in London, England. Dr. Gary Diomandes, professor of theatre and dance, serves as the director of the London program. As part of the Stefannié Valéncia Kierlin Theatre Program, theatre students will present “How I Learned to Drive” at The New Wimbledon Studio from Oct. 15-18. The London program is available to students from all majors and offers courses in theatre, business, global issues, art and culture, British politics, and literature.

Read more about student experiences in London on their blog, or follow our Study Abroad Office on Facebook and its blog for updates on all of our international study programs.

Internship with Disney an illuminating experience for theatre major

As Walt Disney once said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” Arielle Ems ’15 never dreamed she’d spend her summer interning at the happiest place on earth. The theatre major from Portland, Oregon, was hired as an entertainment tech intern, working in lighting at the four Walt Disney Florida theme parks. She returns to Saint Mary’s this fall with a whole new skill set to bring to the college stage.

Ems was hired by Disney while she attended the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) conference in Fort Worth, Texas, this past spring. Businesses from throughout the U.S. conducted interviews at the conference.

Psychology students present study at APA national conference

Maija Rannikko, Lauren Salonek, Ashley Walz, Christine Meeds, and Ellie Niedbala.

Dr. Elizabeth Seebach’s collaborative psychology lab presented a research poster at the American Psychological Association (APA) annual conference in early August in Washington, D.C. The study, “The Body as a Temple: Attachment to God and Health Behaviors” by Elizabeth Niedbala, Maija Rannikko, Ashley Walz, Christine Meeds, Lauren Salonek, and Elizabeth E. Seebach, was well received.

Miller chosen for cancer research fellowship at Gundersen

Katie Miller ’15 had never heard of hairy cell leukemia before this summer. But after several weeks working at Gundersen Medical Foundation’s Kabara Cancer Research Institute in La Crosse, Wis., Miller is not only familiar with the rare form of cancer, she is hoping her research will help to create a new therapeutic target for the disease.

The biology major from Rochester, Minn., is the second Saint Mary’s University Fellow at Gundersen. The academic collaboration was brought about through 1958 alumnus Dr. Jon Kabara and his wife Betty, founders of the Kabara Cancer Research Institute. Katie is continuing a project started in the early 2000s by noted Gundersen cancer researcher Dr. Carl Simon Shelley that involves hairy cell leukemia (HCL), a rare, slow-growing cancer of the blood.

Biology students present research posters at national conference

Four biology students and Dr. Debra Martin attended the National Beta Beta Beta convention hosted by Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania in June. The students were district winners for their research projects.

Amy Spitzmueller ’14 presented a poster on “Heavy Metal Analysis of Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) from East Lake Winona”; Kristen Thelen ’14 presented a paper on “The effects of in utero atrazine exposure on the hematopoietic system and body mass in Mus musculus”; Katie Smith ’13 presented a poster on “The effects of in utero exposure to atrazine on the hematopoietic system in Mus musculus”; and Bridget Richardson ’13 presented a paper on “The antibacterial effect of the Goggle Sanitizer.”

A whirlwind literary tour of England

In a whirlwind tour of England over the summer, 11 Saint Mary’s students were able to walk in the footsteps of authors whose works they’ve read in class. Their tour guides were Dr. Carolyn Ayers and Dr. Brooke Lenz of the English Department. Highlights from the trip included going to Lyme-Regis to visit the home of John Fowles; the Jane Austen Center in Bath; the Sherlock Holmes Museum in London; a Shakespeare play in Stratford-upon-Avon; and poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s cottage in Nether Stowey. On a free day, several students also visited Highclere Castle (shown above), where Downton Abbey is filmed.

The England trip is one of a series of faculty-led short-term study abroad programs that pair academic areas of study with memorable international experiences for undergraduate students. Students study a specific disciplinary focus and country/region during spring semester within a three-credit course, and then travel with faculty members for roughly two weeks shortly after commencement.

Urban Scholars internship inspires career goal as civil rights attorney

Manire Vaughn, center, with Minnesota State Senator Bobby Joe Champion and Tina Smith, Governor Mark Dayton's chief of staff.

As an African-American student, Manire Vaughn ’15 has worked hard to make other students of color feel more comfortable in their academic surroundings, and as a volunteer through Campus Ministry, he worked to serve underprivileged communities. His experiences—coupled with an internship with the Minneapolis Civil Rights Department—have strengthened his desire to eventually become a civil rights attorney.

The Human Services and Criminal Justice major from Chicago worked this summer as a community outreach engagement intern through the Minneapolis Urban Scholars Program, which provides students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds with a distinctive professional experience, focused on gaining essential leadership skills and creating career pathways to positions of influence.

LaSalle Summer Program 2014, Barcelona

This summer sophomore Ena Moats from Roland, Iowa, along with 25 other students from six different countries, gathered in Barcelona, Spain to renew the Lasallian spirit and discover new ways to bring that spirit back to their universities. Their experiences in Spain included workshops that discussed ethics and values as it relates to everyday life. Students also had the opportunity to enjoy Barcelona together, visiting places like Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia; world-renowned production company, Mediapro; and even Camp Nou, Barcelona’s fútbol stadium.

Campus solar panels are on their way

The student-organized solar panel initiative was successful in raising approximately $14,000, enough to order a 3.8 kilowatt system for campus. In order to take advantage of a Made in Minnesota Solar Panel Rebate, the scale of the project was downsized, but student organizers are excited for the project to begin. The solar panels will be installed in October. A location is yet to be determined.

“I think it’s a good start to decreasing our carbon footprint, and classes will be able to understand the value of solar panels and other green initiatives,” says senior Conner Ellinghuysen, one of the initiative’s organizers. “One of the great things about this project is that it has the potential to connect many disciplines of the university, from business to science classes."

College career starts with volunteering

One group of volunteers helped fix up a local playground.

Nearly 100 new undergraduate students received early exposure to the Winona Campus culture of community and service only a week after the start of classes. Our students spent an afternoon working at numerous sites throughout the Winona area as part of New Student Volunteer Day. Organizations served included Winona County, the Catholic Worker House, the Winona Area Humane Society, and Kinstone Academy of Applied Permaculture.

New Student Volunteer Day—organized by Campus Ministry and Volunteer Mentors—gives students a chance to engage with the Winona community, and to be inspired by the Lasallian spirit of service early in their college careers.

Twins internship a home run

Tyler Grabau ’14 scored big last spring, landing an internship with the Minnesota Twins that had him traveling to Target Field in the Twin Cities two, sometimes three days per week during the spring semester. His internship will continue throughout the season, until the end of September.

As a ticket office intern, the accounting and sports management major from Wabasha, Minnesota says he learned a lot about the operations of a major league baseball organization and “the amount of work that takes place months before the team takes the field in early April.” He’s helped people over the phone, as well as face to face. He says every ticket sale is like sharing a piece of the excitement. Besides the many aspects of ticket sales and distribution, Tyler assisted with the All-Star Game, Home Run Derby, TwinsFest and other events at Target Field.

Student-athlete leaders gather in Winona

Student-athletes from around the state showed sportsmanship and teamwork on the campus low-ropes course.

Our Athletic Department hosted 112 undergraduates from around the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference for the semi-annual Student-Athlete Leadership Conference. This is the second time Saint Mary's has hosted the conference event. Several of our athletics alums were involved in the presentations, and Athletic Department staff helped coordinate the weekend's activities.

These exceptional student-athletes were nominated by their institutions as leaders — or potential leaders — on their campuses. Activities made the most of our Winona Campus facilities and natural setting, with workshops stressing topics such as sportsmanship, team chemistry and team building, goal setting, life after athletics, and wise use of social media. Participants gained leadership and communication skills, and each formed a plan on how they can be effective leaders and work with others at their home institutions.

Athletes honored for top performances and academic excellence

Katie Stolz, Aaron Haley, Courtney Euerle and Ben Buerkle.

Last year, senior Courtney Euerle (Litchfield, Minn.) capped an illustrious career by leading the women's basketball team to an MIAC regular-season title and NCAA tournament berth, while freshman Ben Buerkle (Roseville, Minn.) took the college baseball world by storm in helping guide the Cardinal baseball team to its third straight MIAC tournament berth. The two were named our Outstanding Female and Male Athletes during the recent Cardinal ‘M’ Club Sports Hall of Fame and Awards Ceremony.

Cross country and track runners Aaron Haley (Plainview, Minn.) and Katie Stolz (Forest Lake, Minn.), meanwhile, were named SMU's Outstanding Male and Female Scholar Athletes. Aaron is an accounting and finance major, while Katie is a biology major.

The ‘M’ Club festivities also included the induction of three new members into the Sports Hall of Fame, welcoming Kelly (King '97) Stinson (fastpitch softball), Jennifer (Meyer '01) Fisher (fastpitch softball), and Chris Gogolewski '94 (baseball).

We celebrate excellence in many forms

Summer at the Winona campus is filled with a different sort of activity than during the academic year. We host a variety of camps and workshops, community events, and our alumni reunion. Summer is also a time to freshen the campus and facilities before we welcome students in fall. But still I reflect back on the spring semester and why we are really here: to prepare graduates with the advanced knowledge, skills and critical thinking abilities necessary to be lifelong learners, successful workers, good neighbors and ethical citizens. Please enjoy the stories below as they truly represent the excellence our students are attaining as they strive to be such people.

Student research and talents on display

In April we hosted our second annual Celebration of Scholarship to highlight and celebrate the diverse talents and skills of our undergraduate students, across a broad spectrum of academic disciplines. More than 130 students presented their research results and artistic performances at locations around the campus to packed rooms of students, faculty and parents. View photos.

Academic achievements are recognized

Saint Mary’s recognized outstanding senior students on April 11 at the annual academic honors convocation. Highlights of the evening included the announcement of graduate and professional school acceptances, grants and fellowships, and the awarding of special honors from the various departments. Read more and view photos.

Celebration of Excellence in Chicago advances science initiative

Scientific achievements and aspirations were on display May 17 at the first Brother Charles Severin Celebration of Excellence held at the Union League Club in Chicago. The gala event was an opportunity for Chicagoland alumni and friends to learn about the major strategic goal of advancing the sciences at Saint Mary’s. Science faculty members, students, retired professors, trustees and university administrators attended to share examples of scientific research and plans for new programs and facilities at Saint Mary’s. View photos.

Saint Mary’s hosts special science event

Saint Mary’s hosted the Minnesota Academy of Science annual meeting and the 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. See a list of Saint Mary’s students winning awards at the conference.

College hosts interdisciplinary conference

This year Saint Mary’s hosted the annual Undergraduates, Inc. Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Conference Program that brought students from North Dakota State, Iowa State, Winona 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, Iowa State and Saint Mary’s campuses. Highlights were two keynote presentations by faculty scholars and research presentations by students from several disciplines, including English, history, women’s and gender studies, and communication.

Students attend national theatre tech conference in Fort Worth

Saint Mary’s was represented by six students and staff at the U.S. Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) conference in Fort Worth, Texas, at the end of March. The participants took full advantage of workshops and sessions, learned about the newest technology from vendors, experienced the Sound Lab, met with potential graduate schools, and interviewed for jobs across the U.S. 

The students also met up with Saint Mary’s alum and Fellow of the institute, Dr. Randall Davidson ’53, who has founded several risk management corporations and has authored books on product liability and theatre safety. Attendees included John Goblirsch ’14, Jason Underferth ’00 (Performance Center technical director), Kathleen Bryant ’15, Arielle Ems ’15; front, Karina Kim ’16, Charlotte Deranek ’14 and Dovie Hughes ’16.

Work of private college scholars on display at the Minnesota State Capitol

Five students traveled to the Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda to present the results of their independent research and creative scholarship at the 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 our state.

This event showcased current research projects completed by more than 40 undergraduate scholars from Minnesota private colleges and universities. Saint Mary’s students presenting at this year’s event included Amy Spitzmueller, Ryan Diak, Amanda Lindholm, Danielle Pues and Rim Woldeslassie.

Kabara Institute speaker addresses entrepreneurship and data analysis

As part of the spring Kabara Institute speaker series, Stephen Woessner, founder of Predictive ROI, spoke to students at an event sponsored by our Kabara Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, the Envision Club and the School of Business. Woessner is a digital marketing authority, entrepreneur, speaker, educator, and bestselling author of two books. His presentation focused on entrepreneurship and data analysis.

The Kabara Institute aims to incite a passion for entrepreneurial spirit in students across the university, regardless of their major field of study. It also strives to enhance the entrepreneurship program offerings here by providing opportunities for students to interact with entrepreneurs and experience entrepreneurship first-hand. 

More about the Kabara Institute.

Student Life Awards recognize outstanding leadership and service

In April, we stepped back from a busy year to recognize some Winona campus students, faculty and staff who have exhibited outstanding leadership and service through co-curricular activities. The Student Life Awards Ceremony honored those who have contributed so much to a vibrant campus culture and a transformational residential life experience for our students, including residence life, intramural sports, outdoor recreation, campus ministry activities, clubs and organizations, student government, and community service. Also recognized were students who have completed our Leadership Certificate program.

The overall Student Service Award was presented to Abi Osborne (shown above with Chris Kendall, vice president for student life). Elizabeth Arnold received the Brother James Miller Award (presented to a student who has dedicated his/her college experience to promoting the legacy of Brother James Miller, spreading the compassion of God and continually serving the community).

Here is the complete list of awards and event photos.

Vaughn receives leadership award from Minnesota Campus Compact

Manire Vaughn, a junior Human Services major, was recognized by the Minnesota Campus Compact with a Presidents' Student Leadership Award. Manire is shown above with Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie. The award is presented to an individual who models a deep commitment to civic responsibility and leadership. Manire was recognized for his commitment to social justice as evidenced by his leadership of S.O.U.L. mission trips where he worked with the underprivileged, and by his work as a resident assistant and as a member of the Solidarity Council, where he has developed and presented programs on social mobility and diversity for our students.

Reflections on SOUL mission trips

Not everyone went home or to Florida over spring break. Instead, many students took the opportunity to travel out of state and help others during SOUL mission trips to Montana and St. Louis. Read student perspectives of these valuable campus ministry experiences.

Baseball team lands spot in conference postseason tournament

The Cardinal baseball team capped another exciting year with a third-straight berth in the conference tournament and several individual honors. Saint Mary's won six straight games at the end of the season to earn the third seed in the tournament, where they beat St. John's but lost twice to Bethel. The Cardinals ended the season 13-7 in conference, 18-23 overall. 

Coach Nick Winecke ’07 was honored as MIAC coach of the year and seven of his players collected individual awards. Freshman Ben Buerkle was conference Rookie of the Year and he earned a spot on the All-Midwest Region Third Team. More about MIAC honors.

Aspiring police officer interns in Washington with INTERPOL

Junior Colin Hennessy, a criminal justice and law enforcement major from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was one of two students spending spring semester interning in Washington, D.C. through a partnership with the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars. Colin, who has aspirations to become a police officer battling narcotics, worked with the INTERPOL cooperative international crime-fighting agency. Read more about his internship.

1st students graduate as FGI Scholars; generous gift will support the program

A milestone was marked at the May commencement ceremony, when the first nine FGI Scholars received their undergraduate diplomas. These graduates represent the success of a program that began four years ago to assist students from underserved populations with achieving their educational goals. Our First Generation Initiative (FGI) was created to break down barriers to higher education by providing high-potential students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds with financial and academic support.

Earlier in spring at a special donor recognition dinner, Saint Mary’s presented the Heritage Award for Transformational Philanthropy to Jack and Mary Ann (Wera CST '64) Remick of Rochester. The Remicks are long-time supporters of FGI and the Countdown to College program (which prepares first generation high-schoolers for college). At the dinner it was announced that a new $8 million gift from the Remicks will be directed to support the First Generation Initiative. Mary Ann Remick currently serves as chair of the FGI advisory board. More about the award and gift.

Spring is time to look back and forward

March at Saint Mary’s University is a time to take stock of the academic year; reflect on the great number of achievements the year has brought and prepare for its fast-approaching close. Indeed April, dissected this year by a late Easter, is nearly all that remains of what has been another extraordinary year at Saint Mary’s. I am pleased share with you some of the stories of achievement and honor that I have observed this spring.

Outstanding Seniors are honored at Founders’ Day ceremony

Outstanding Seniors Amy Spitzmueller and Miles Dunna.

Saint Mary’s presented awards to two outstanding seniors at the Founders’ Day celebration today at the Winona campus. Outstanding Seniors are recognized for demonstrating the ideals of scholarship, character, leadership and service. Above all, these men and women show genuine concern for meeting the needs of others. Founders’ Day is a highpoint of the annual De La Salle Week activities. Each day’s events illustrate one of the themes of Lasallian education and they invite the community to learn, reflect, discuss and connect with others.

The Outstanding Female and Male Senior awards were presented to Amy Spitzmueller and Miles Dunna. Miles, the son of Wokie Dunna of Saint Paul, Minn., is a psychology major, and Amy, daughter of Kathy and Bill Spitzmueller of New Brighton, Minn., is a biology major. The other eight Outstanding Senior finalists included: Dylan Ethen, son of Todd and Lucinda Ethen of White Bear Lake, Minn.; Evan Shockley, son of Steve and Lisa Shockley of Omaha, Neb.; John Soucheray, son of John and Kate Soucheray of Woodbury, Minn.; Matthew Traxler, son of Tim and Jeanne Traxler of LeCenter, Minn.; Lisa Obasi, daughter of Queen and Cyprian Obasi of Woodbury, Minn.; Abigail Osborne, daughter of Roger and Pam Osborne of Winthrop, Minn.; Marilyn Yennie, daughter of Tom and Kim Yennie of Grand Meadow, Minn.; and Katherine Zuzek, daughter of Mark and Janet Zuzek of Hastings, Minn.

Celebration of Scholarship puts student research and talents on display

Saint Mary’s University will host the second annual Celebration of Scholarship on Friday, April 11 to highlight and celebrate the diverse talents and skills of SMU students across a broad spectrum of academic disciplines. The event is organized into four sessions; the first three will consist of various presentations or performances, followed by a poster presentation session. 

More than 130 students will present their work at locations around the Winona campus. Sessions run from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., with a break from 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. for lunch and Mass. A reception at 4 p.m. will be followed by the Honors Convocation at 4:45 p.m. in Page Theatre. Parents are welcome to attend.

History and current issues come alive on pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Brendan Dolan, director of student life, with Saint Mary’s and Lewis students in Nazareth.

A group of seven Saint Mary’s students did something different with their holiday break — they joined two staff members to visit the Holy Land on a pilgrimage in collaboration with Lewis University. The two Lasallian universities organized the journey so that students could engage in spiritual development, academic discourse and interfaith dialogue in the home of the three Abrahamic religions.

This “place-based learning” involved visiting the historic cities of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron, Nazareth, Caesarea Maritima and sites along the Sea of Galilee. In the evenings, the students were joined by speakers from various political and religious organizations to discuss the present-day conflicts in the region of the West Bank, Gaza and Israel.

SOUL mission takes students to India

Eight of our students and Dr. Jeanne Minnerath gained new global perspective and insights into the international Lasallian world on a SOUL mission to India over the holiday break. SOUL – Serving Others United in Love – is a campus ministry program that offers students opportunities to learn, serve, reflect and get to know new places and diverse communities. One of the underlying goals of the India trip was to ignite a call for service leadership in participants as they begin to understand the experience of the poor and transform compassion into appropriate social action.

Past international SOUL trips have ventured to Guatemala and the Philippines. On this first trip to Southern India, the group did service work and interacted with students at the Christian Brothers-sponsored St. Pius X Boys Town trades school in Madurai. The Saint Mary’s group visited other schools and a farm administered by the Christian Brothers.

Christmas made brighter for local family by Living Learning Community

The freshman ArtsAlive! Living and Learning Community (LLC) made Christmas brighter for a local family of five girls and their mother. The ArtsAlive! students decided to use their class fund ($200) to support SMU’s Gifts for Winona program. They were paired as a sponsoring organization with a family of girls ranging in age from 3 to 18, and their mother.  The students divided themselves into groups and each shopped for their child, and the class enjoyed a wrapping session on study day before final exams.

The Saint Mary’s Gifts for Winona program accepts donations of money to purchase Christmas presents and food for more than 1,550 area individuals and families.

Living Learning Communities are groups of freshmen with shared interests, living together and participating in themed programs that combine outside-the-classroom academics with residence life activities. The other three LLCs at Saint Mary’s include Well Inc., Global Faith, and Wide World and Sports.

Chamber Singers premiere composition by music professor

Our Chamber Singers performed with the Twin Cities-based critically acclaimed choral ensemble “The Singers” on two pieces this winter, including the world premiere of a new work, “Nocte fletuum angelis” by music faculty member Dr. Patrick O’Shea. His choral composition commemorates the lives lost in the tragic school shooting in Connecticut.

Social justice conference delegates speak to national politicians

Sen. Michael Johanns, Ena Moats, Emily Weber and Chris McClead in Washington, D.C.

Our Lasallian Catholic heritage and mission is to prepare students for lives of service and leadership. Two undergraduates attended the Young Leaders Initiative at the 2014 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering in Washington D.C. Ena Moats and Emily Weber, along with Chris McClead, director of campus ministry, learned methods to bring social justice advocacy back to campus settings. The conference was focused on Pope Francis’s message of “A Church that is Poor and for the Poor.”

Catholics from across the country brought Catholic social principles to life as they went to meet with their political representatives. Our delegation met with Saint Mary’s alum, Sen. Michael Johanns ’71, Rep. Tim Walz, and the offices of Sen. Al Franken and Sen. Amy Klobuchar. They spoke about the need to increase minimum wage, a desire for comprehensive immigration reform, an increase in foreign aid especially in Syria, peace talks in Iran, and the establishment of a two-state system between Israel and Palestine. The trip to Washington was supported by Student Senate, the Peace and Justice Club and the Office of Campus Ministry.

Students and business owner benefit from analysis class exercise

The “winning” team of Scott Zengri, Marissa Jacobs, Cody Sprague and Elizabeth Rodriguez with the salon owner and class instructor Michael Ratajczyk.

Students in the Information Systems for Business Intelligence class got some hands-on experience with small-business consulting, and in the process gave a local Winona business owner information and a tool she can use to grow her business. The “client” for the class project was the co-owner of the Hair Gallery salon in downtown Winona.

Four groups of students were given hand-written raw data about customer names, frequency of appointments, and services and products purchased at the salon. Their task was to customize a customer relationship management (CRM) tool for the business, and perform a business analysis to identify trends and opportunities for business growth. The salon owner was pleased to receive executive summaries of each report, and she will incorporate one of the CRM spreadsheets directly into her business management.