Campus Connection

Season’s Greetings!

2011-12-20T12:20:00.003-08:00

The young women and men who call our Winona campus “home” for a few months out of the year are now heading back to your homes. As they do, I want you to know some of the wonderful things our students are capable of achieving, and of the positive impact they make on campus life and on the larger community.

I often have the chance to see them doing amazing things. Here are just a few snapshots from the fall semester.

Groundbreaking for our new residence hall

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Students joined in the October groundbreaking for our new residence hall. Board of Trustee officers — together with representatives from Saint Mary’s and Winona — turned the ceremonial first shovels of dirt to begin construction on the 141-bed hall. The hall should be complete for use in the 2012-13 year. As the university approaches its Centennial in 2012, the groundbreaking was an important moment that will help propel the university into its second century. To see more from the day's event, go to www.smumn.edu/photos.

Families welcomed for a weekend visit

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Family Weekend in late September brought many family members and friends to campus to see how their students were faring. Families could also choose from a variety of activities, arts and sporting events that showed our rich campus life. To see photos from the weekend, go to www.smumn.edu/photos.

“Playboy of the Western World” takes the stage

2011-12-20T12:19:00.001-08:00

Theatre and dance students performed John Millington Synge’s classic Irish comedy/tragedy, “The Playboy of the Western World” in October. They enjoyed working with renowned guest director Patrick Sutton, who has served as director of The Gaiety School of Acting — The National Theatre School of Ireland in Dublin for the past 18 years. The Gaiety School boasts such well-known graduates as Olivia Wilde, Colin Farrell and Stuart Townsend.

Students and alumni help their neighbors

2011-12-20T12:18:00.005-08:00

Almost 160 students spread out into the community for the local “Make a Difference Day’ organized by the Office of Campus Ministry. “Make a Difference Day” is a national event that celebrates neighbors helping neighbors. Students pitched in at a Habitat for Humanity site, painted and cleaned at area churches, lent a hand at the hospital, and volunteered with many other local organizations. That same day, Saint Mary’s alums in the Twin Cities, Chicago, Winona and all over the country organized volunteer sites in their local communities for our annual “Lasallian Day of Service.”

Campus hosts local children for Halloween

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Hundreds of Winona children were treated to our Halloween Fun Night, sponsored by the Office of Residence Life. Young ghosts and goblins enjoyed games and a greeting from the Cardinal mascot, and students led trick-or-treaters door-to-door through the residence halls. To see pictures from the event, go to www.smumn.edu/photos.

Veterans Day marked on campus

2011-12-20T12:18:00.001-08:00

The campus recognized Veterans Day with a November 11 ceremony at our Veterans Memorial. Dr. Bill Crozier, university archivist, presented a historical tribute for the occasion, and members of the choir and a trumpeter performed. A prayer remembrance was held for all those who have served and sacrificed in the U.S. armed forces, especially those from the Saint Mary’s community.

Etiquette dinner tones up social skills

2011-12-20T11:59:00.002-08:00

The annual etiquette dinner — hosted by the Office of Career Services and Internships — helped students prepare for success during social situations they might encounter after college. Dr. Mary Catherine Fox, professor of Interdisciplinary Studies, offered essential etiquette tips for luncheon interviews and dining, touching on table manners, silverware savvy, napkin etiquette and social graces.

Choirs present beautiful “Lessons and Carols”

2011-12-20T11:59:00.000-08:00

The joyous and uplifting Christmas service of “Lessons and Carols” was presented to the Winona community in the majestic Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels on the Saint Teresa campus. The service featured our Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, directed by Dr. Patrick O’Shea, and members of the Chamber Orchestra. “Lessons and Carols” reflects on the Christmas story through short readings, hymns and Christmas carols sung by the choirs and audience.

Concert Band plays “Sounds of the Season”

2011-12-20T11:58:00.001-08:00

The music of the Christmas season was celebrated by the Concert Band in the Page Theatre, conducted by Dr. Janet Heukeshoven and featuring four student guest conductors: Tyler Ringiesen, Ashley Buhr, Jessica Giers and Jessica Bouska. The audience was treated to a festive reception, with entertainment provided by a variety of smaller ensembles.

Business class presents research to restaurant

2011-12-20T11:57:00.001-08:00

Part of the Consumer Behavior class traveled down the hill to present their “Paco Project” research to the owners of Mango’s Mexican American Grill. Based on the book by Paco Underhill titled “Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping,” students worked with the managers of local businesses to observe and record information on the shopping behavior of customers. The data was analyzed and presented to Mugby Junction, Habitat ReStore, Grace Place, Fitzgerald Library and Mango’s.

Seniors gather to celebrate

2011-12-20T11:56:00.003-08:00

All seniors were invited to a December reception with the President, sponsored by the Offices of Student Life and Academic Affairs. Seniors were congratulated for their successes and four years of contributions to the campus community, with special recognition given to mid-year graduates of the college.

Students treated to light service and breakfast

2011-12-20T11:56:00.001-08:00

Our traditional Christmas Light Service — a retelling of the Christmas narrative through readings, carols and tableaus — was held in Saint Thomas More Chapel. Following the service, the Office of Academic Affairs and Chartwells Food Service sponsored the popular Pre-Finals Christmas Breakfast for hundreds of students. Faculty and staff served the late-night feast. Many Christmas carols were sung, and Santa made a rousing guest appearance.

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Students, faculty and staff at Saint Mary’s join me in wishing you and your families a blessed Christmas, and health and peace in the New Year. May the Gift of Christmas fill your hearts and lives with peace and joy.

— Brother William

The last freshman class of the first 100 years

2011-09-27T17:43:00.001-07:00

The freshman class of 2011 posed for a group photo on Move-In Weekend.

As the fall semester opened this year, I welcomed 373 new freshmen to campus at our opening convocation. They were special, I said, because they are the last freshman class of our first 100 years. Of course, that also means that the seniors this year will be the last graduating class before our Centennial, and that makes them special, too.

The students in our entering class represent a 7.5 percent increase from last year, and contribute to a total enrollment of 1,372. This positive trend is a welcome affirmation that Saint Mary's University is relevant and attractive, and that the undergraduate program is in strong shape heading into our second century. Please read on for more good news.

Planning for the celebration of the century

2011-09-27T17:42:00.003-07:00

A Centennial is a pivotal moment for a university. It's truly a once-in-a-lifetime event. Our Centennial will be celebrated in 2012-13, and all events during that year will share a special focus and theme. Planning is well underway to celebrate 100 years of Saint Mary's and "A Transforming Heritage."

Alums, current students, faculty and staff have given us wonderful ideas about how best to honor our past, celebrate the present and look to the future. Now teams are busy putting these ideas into action.

The dates of major events are being set:

June 23, 2012 – Cornerstone Commemoration at Homecoming
Sept. 22, 2012 – Chicago Event at Millennium Park
Oct. 5-7, 2012 – Debut of Arts Commissions at Family Weekend
TBA Nov., 2012 – SGPP Alumni Reunion (Twin Cities campus)
TBA April, 2013 – Student Celebration (Twin Cities campus)
TBA April, 2013 – Student Celebration (Winona campus)
June 21-23, 2013 – Centennial Celebration Event & All-Alumni Reunion

A special Centennial website offers news of events, historical information, and a way to purchase keepsakes and our Centennial book. There is also a wonderful opportunity to share your Saint Mary's stories and photos. Anyone with an affinity to our institution is invited to submit stories on the website at www.saintmarys100.com and keep checking back for updates.

Saint Mary's recognized nationally and regionally

2011-09-27T17:42:00.001-07:00

We continue to make strong showings in the various national rankings of universities, further evidence that we are providing a desirable, quality educational experience for our students.

"U.S. News & World Report" placed Saint Mary's at No. 177 in the first tier of the "National Universities" category, rising from No. 183 last year. We are one of only three Minnesota institutions in this group, which includes schools such as Harvard, Princeton, Yale and Columbia.

The Princeton Review ranks us as one of the "Best in the Midwest," selected for excellent academic programs and positive reports from students about their campus experiences.

Forbes.com ranked SMU #1 in the country last year for the success of minority students in STEM programs (Latino and black). Overall, Forbes also ranked SMU in the top 25% of 2,500 selected universities.

And we placed exceptionally well in the most recent NSSE (National Survey of Student Engagement), which measures student satisfaction with their education and interaction with classmates and teachers. In three of the five NSSE categories, SMU is in the top 10% nationally. In two categories, SMU is number one in Minnesota, and number two for a third category.

New residence hall will offer living optionsfor students

2011-09-27T17:41:00.003-07:00

In our ongoing commitment to provide outstanding residential experiences for students, we will start construction this fall on an innovative residence hall at the Winona campus which should be complete by August, 2012, in time for the next academic year.

Located between the high ropes course and the New Village apartments, the four-story facility will be used by sophomore, junior and senior students during the academic year and serve conferencing, camps and educational program needs in the summer. The structure will feature 141 beds in 45 units, with a private bath in each room. All rooms will be air-conditioned and wired for cable TV and Internet access.

This will be our first hall to offer a variety of housing options for students. It will feature single-occupancy suites, double-occupancy suites, and two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments. Study rooms, lounges and a kitchen will bring students together in community and encourage collaborative learning.

University community commemoratesand prays on 9/11

2011-09-27T17:41:00.001-07:00

Dennis Gallagher, dean of Campus Ministry, led a prayer service at the Peace Pole.

The Winona campus may seem far from New York, but on 9/11 the campus community’s heart and spirit were united with Americans across the country in remembering the victims of the 9/11/2001 tragedy and their families, and joined with millions in praying for peace. Dennis Gallagher, dean of Campus Ministry, led a prayer service on Sunday morning with the university community gathered around the Peace Pole. Whether in New York or in Winona on 9/11/2001, one could not help but be moved by the sight of the 3,000 American flags distributed around the Peace Pole, a flag for each victim of the 9/11 tragedy. "Let there be peace on earth."

Christian Brothers from around the worldenrich our community

2011-09-27T17:40:00.003-07:00

Dr. Rose Beal of the Theology Department discussed upcoming classes with Brother Christy Croos (Sri Lanka) and Brother Fredy Peredin (India).

Saint Mary's participation in the worldwide Lasallian family has become increasingly more evident as Christian Brothers from around the world come to the Winona campus to study. Three Brothers from Colombia, South America are here to study English at the De La Salle Language Institute and in the program for educational leadership; two Brothers from India and Sri Lanka will be here for the next two years in the Master of Arts in Human Development Program; and several Brothers from the Midwest District have recently moved into the Christian Brothers' Residence. Saint Mary's is greatly enriched with the presence of the Brothers on the campus and with their involvement in the life of the university.

University is highlighted for science programsby U.S. Representative

2011-09-27T17:40:00.001-07:00

Having a United States Representative talk about you in front of others is a great way to get known. Recently, Rep. John Kline of Minnesota's 2nd District did just that at a meeting of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce on the topic of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) research and education. Rep. Kline specifically mentioned Saint Mary's University as an educational leader in STEM education with minorities.

At the meeting, administrators and faculty from Saint Mary’s joined regional educational partners such as the chancellor of the University of Minnesota, WSU, Rochester public and private schools, and representatives from businesses like IBM.

Computer Science and Residence Life collaborateto create software and wireless app

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Jeff Thomas gave a presentation on the RADAR app
for Residence Life and Campus Safety.

Since the fall of 2010 the Department of Computer Science and the Office of Residence Life have been collaborating to create a more efficient way for resident assistants, Campus Safety officers, and hall directors to utilize student information and file reports. The insights and creativity of a student, Stephanie Valentine '11, made it happen. In her senior year, Valentine worked to create a wireless app that staff can utilize while working in the residence halls away from a desktop computer.

A class of computer software students developed a program, named RADAR (Resident Assistant Data Acquisition and Reports), which debuted with the start of this academic semester at move-in and has been performing beyond expectations ever since. Already, it has improved the response time of student concerns and issues by the Residence Life staff.

Young Alumni give back and come back

2011-09-27T17:39:00.001-07:00

Visiting members of the Class of 2006 posed by the results of their Senior Class Gift, renovation of a campus fountain.

Recently the Winona campus welcomed home 200 young alums for the Young Alumni Weekend of sharing, sports, reconnecting, and giving back. Four young alums came back early to speak to classes or to have lunch with academic departments. Kristen Kozlowski '01, an attorney in Chicago, had lunch with history faculty and majors; Matt Knutson '06, a software programmer, had lunch with computer science faculty and majors; Clayton Knoke '10, who works at Edward Jones Investments, spoke to an entrepreneurship class; and Sarah McDonough '11, intern with the Chicago Blackhawks, spoke to the PR/Business Club. These and many other alums returned and shared their spirit of leadership and service with the next generation of alums.

Cardinal ‘M’ Club celebrates excellencein student-athletes, alumni

2011-09-27T17:38:00.003-07:00

Outstanding student-athletes included:
David Feather, Sara Harstad, Sarah Gardner and Andrew Brueggen.

Every fall the Cardinal 'M' Club honors the previous year's student-athletes for their excellence as both athletes and students. This year there were so many who exceeded a 3.5 GPA and participated in a sport that the honorees had to be divided into seasons. Truly this is the type of excellence and sportsmanship that Saint Mary's seeks to foster in all of its students and particularly in its athlete-leaders. Four athletes went above and beyond: Outstanding Scholar Athletes David Feather and Sara Harstad completed a successful sports season and maintained a 3.9 GPA overall; and Andrew Brueggen and Sarah Gardner excelled in their sport and their major and were named Outstanding Athletes of the Year.

New Sports Hall of Fame members included:
Nate DeMars '98, Frank Savino '98 and John Redpath '80.

The weekend’s festivities also included the induction of three new members into the SMU Sports Hall of Fame, as the Cardinal 'M' Club, in association with the Saint Mary's Alumni Office, welcomed the Class of 2011 — outstanding hockey players Nate DeMars '98, Frank Savino '98 and John Redpath '80.

First MIAC Leadership Conference prepares athletes for leadership and success

2011-09-27T17:38:00.001-07:00

About 110 MIAC student-athletes came to Winona to participate in leadership activities.

Saint Mary's helped make history this past week when it hosted the first MIAC Student-Athlete Leadership Conference. The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference welcomed roughly 110 of its student-athletes to our campus to receive a three-day crash course on building and strengthening leadership skills. Participants appreciated the hospitality, setting, and opportunity to get to know other athletes. The athletes left Winona equipped with new skills and strategies to maximize their leadership efforts on their teams and campuses.

Athletic teams honored for excellence in academics

2011-09-27T17:37:00.000-07:00

Three teams — volleyball (shown), track and field, and swimming and diving — were honored for academic achievement.

Three of last year's athletic teams have received honors for matching dedication to their sports with excellence in the classroom. The teams each maintained a high cumulative GPA over the entire year. Teams honored by their respective coaching associations include women's volleyball, men's and women's track and field, and men's and women's swimming and diving. These players and their coaches are to be commended for modeling what it means to be a student-athlete: excellence in competition and in the classroom, leadership, and service.

The Celebration of Excellence

2011-06-21T11:31:00.003-07:00

The Winona campus is in summer mode, as we host a variety of camps and workshops and community events. Summer is also a time for renewal of our facilities so we can be most welcoming to students next fall. But even in the middle of this different sort of activity, I reflect back on the spring semester and why we are really here: to educate the mind, body and spirit of young people and to help them reach their potential. In this communication I will present to you some evidence of the excellence that is being attained by our students.

Excellence in Academics . . .

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History major David Spriegel was just beginning his summer internship at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Ill. when he discovered two original, previously unknown documents written in 1844 by an up-and-coming lawyer named Abraham Lincoln. The two documents join 1,580 other original Lincoln manuscripts at the library.

Read more about David's history adventure.

English and public relations major Lauren Rothering received first place in the Isabel Sparks President’s Awards of Sigma Tau Delta, the English Honor Society, for having the best presentation on world literature. Lauren presented the paper at the 2011 Sigma Tau Delta international convention in Pittsburgh. Her participation in the convention was made possible through support from the Student Senate travel fund, the Lasallian Honors Program, and the English Department.

Global studies and journalism major Karolina Ibarra received a Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs merit scholarship.  Karolina will be studying in Norway this fall on HECUA’s Scandinavian Urban Studies Term.

We recognized students, alumni and faculty at our Founder’s Day celebration on April 5. The Outstanding Male and Female Senior Awards were presented to students who have demonstrated the ideals of scholarship, character, leadership and service. The Outstanding Male Senior Award went to Sean Ohl, son of John and Lori Ohl of Bloomington, Minn., and the Outstanding Female Senior Award went to Hilary Ethen, daughter of Todd and Lucinda Ethen of White Bear Lake, Minn.

See more photos of the event.
See video of Founder's Day.
Read more about our Founder's Day awards.

Saint Mary’s recognized outstanding graduating senior students in late April at the annual Senior Academic Honors Banquet. Highlights of the evening included the announcement of graduate and professional school acceptances, grants and fellowships, and the awarding of special honors. Shown above are students from our Lasallian Honors Program.

See a list of the honors and announcements.

Excellence in Service . . .

2011-06-21T11:30:00.001-07:00

As part of a citywide effort to raise money for earthquake relief in Misato, Japan – Winona’s sister city – Saint Mary’s hosted “Celebrate Japan” in early May. This cultural showcase of Japan’s rich culture and traditions, combined with other student, faculty and staff fundraising efforts on campus, raised more than $2,000 for Misato. A Winona City Council member wrote to us: “A very sincere and huge thank you to all the folks at Saint Mary’s who most generously gave of your time, materials and facilities to assist Winona help our sister city, Misato, rebuild from the earthquake.”

See more photos of Celebrate Japan.

More than 300 students, faculty, and staff came together to celebrate and remember those who have defeated cancer, those currently battling cancer, and those who have lost their lives to this disease. Relay for Life team members spent a night walking around SMU’s indoor track from dusk to dawn to represent the 24-hour fight against cancer. The event raised more than $17,200 for the American Cancer Society.

See more photos of Relay for Life.

About 100 brave souls jumped into the icy waters of Lake Goodview in mid-March for the second annual Saint Mary’s Cardinal Plunge to raise money for a fund that aids students in need or in emergency situations. A portion of last year’s proceeds went to Michael Mockler, a student diagnosed with a brain tumor. This year’s event raised $1,455.

See more photos of the Cardinal Plunge.

Fifty Saint Mary’s students traveled to Saint Paul in late March for Minnesota Private College Day at the Capitol. This annual event provides an opportunity for Minnesota private college students to see first-hand how state government works. Our students met with their hometown legislators at the State Capitol to advocate for student financial aid, specifically the Minnesota State Grant Program.

More than 660 people attended our 11th annual Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance in March.   Proceeds from the dance – and a silent auction held on campus – raised more than $13,500 for this year’s beneficiary, Tony Grathen of Rollingstone, Minn., a 7-year-old boy who was diagnosed with rhabdomysarcoma cancer.

See more photos of the Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance.

The Mississippi River threatened historic flood levels in spring, and more than 70 students volunteered to help sandbagging efforts in Fountain City, Wis.  Mayor Jerry Kafer wrote a letter to us, saying he was gratified by the help of “energetic and spirited students” . . . who “worked with incredible intensity. . . . I want so very much for you to know the difference these students made in our little community. . . . I’m sure their contributions will be long remembered in these parts. They are indeed a testament to their university.”

See more photos of the flood relief.

Saint Mary’s recognized outstanding students, faculty and staff at the spring Student Life Awards Ceremony. Awards were presented to students who made a noticeable impact on student life at SMU, including student government, residence life, campus ministry and community service. Shown above are Nikki Richmond from Student Life, Dan Streefland (who was honored for volunteer service and as Outstanding Student Senator) and Alison Kremer, Student Senate president.

See a list of award winners.

Excellence in Athletics . . .

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Andrew Brueggen finished a remarkable career in track and field with an outstanding senior year. He won both the MIAC weight throw and hammer throw titles, qualified for both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor National Championships, and was named All-American for the second time. A youth ministry major, Andrew was also named to the Capital One Academic All-District 5 - 2nd Team.

Andrew’s teammate, senior Ryan Wockenfus, won the javelin event at the MIAC Outdoor Championships.

In women’s fastpitch softball, three Cardinals were named to the all-conference first team, including sophomore Paige Carter, junior Mallory Betzold and senior Katy Gannon.

Baseball infielder Luke Larson was named to the All-MIAC First Team. He was one of just three freshmen to make the honor squad.

Read more about our spring sports.

Anticipating excellence for the Class of 2015 . . .

2011-06-21T11:28:00.000-07:00

About 300 incoming freshmen attended New Student Orientation last week, many with their parents, to get a preview of the college experiences to come. They learned about academic expectations, the many opportunities to get involved on- and off-campus, and the resources available to help them succeed. More than 100 additional freshmen and transfer students are expected to attend orientation in August. We welcome them all, ready to help as they start an exciting chapter in their lives.

We welcome the arrival of spring!

2011-03-17T13:38:00.001-07:00

After what seemed like a long winter — certainly with more snow than I am used to — spring is finally making an appearance on campus. As we welcomed students back from their week-long break, the increasing daylight and warmer temperatures all brought a freshness and new energy to campus.

In the midst of the cold and wintry months since Christmas, our faculty, staff, and students have been engaged in many meaningful, productive, helpful and fun events. Let me tell you about a few . . .

Students gaining real-world experience . . .

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Biology students Sam Callisto, Alexander Thomas and Killian Gordon attended a talk by world-renowned neurosurgeon Garnette Sutherland, M.D. They had a chance to question Dr. Sutherland about his use of robotics in surgery, and later toured the advanced neurosurgery units at United Hospital in St. Paul.

Stephanie Valentine and Jennifer Koezly presented the results of their research projects at the State Capitol. Stephanie, a computer science major, presented “Just Truss Me: Geometric Recognizers,” while Jennifer’s research project was titled, “Iron Oxide/Nanoparticle Arrays as Multimodal Imaging Agents.”

Four Mayo Scholars from Saint Mary’s — Cree Kachelski and Brian Kasel, biology, along with business students Zachary Cizek and Billie Keilen (shown with their mentors and SMU advisors) — presented their joint project work to the Office of Intellectual Property at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. The students are this year’s Mayo Innovation Scholarship award winners.

Athletes in action on and off the courts . . .

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Will Wright, Chris Palmer, Jess Miller

Austin Balko, Dy-anna Stewart, Nicole Olson

Congratulations to Cardinal athletes who received post-season honors for their excellence during the winter sports season. In basketball, Will Wright and Chris Palmer were named 1st Team All-MIAC, while Jess Miller was named 1st Team on the women’s side. In hockey, Austin Balko was named to the MIAC All-Rookie Team. For the hockey women, Dy-anna Stewart and Nicole Olson were named 1st Team All-MIAC.

For the second time in three years, our student-athletes were honored for their community service. SMU is one of 19 schools to receive the National Association of Division III Athletics Administrators award. Among the many service projects and activities this year was the Hockey Night for Winona’s Big and Little Pals program (shown above), held in the Gostomski Fieldhouse. Other efforts included educational programs for youth, food and gift drives for charity, campus and community cleanups, and more. Almost all of our 300-plus student-athletes participated.

Sharing their special talents . . .

2011-03-17T13:36:00.001-07:00

The Chamber Singers have returned from Rome after their 2011 concert tour that included performances in the spectacular Basilica of St. Peter and at the Christian Brother’s Generalate. Two pieces debuted by the 25-voice select ensemble were written especially for the tour by faculty Dr. Patrick O’Shea and A. Eric Heukeshoven. Highlights of the tour can be seen on a blog posted by Bob Fisher '97 at smusingswithbob.blogspot.com.

Our international students shared some of their many talents and gave our campus community insight into their homeland cultures during the annual International Showcase of music and dance. One of the outstanding participants was Jasmine Wang, shown performing on a zither. The evening capped a week of international activities and speakers sponsored by the Office of Student Life.

Recognition for our programs . . .

2011-03-17T13:35:00.001-07:00

We were delighted to hear that Forbes ranked Saint Mary’s as the number one institution in the country for the percentage of minority graduates in STEM programs. The Forbes survey cited colleges and universities that statistically did the best job helping these students succeed in the important areas of science, technology, engineering and math.
Saint Mary's Press Release
Forbes.com Article

Our Bachelor of Arts program in business is accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education . . . which has just been granted recognition by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation. This is yet another validation of the high standards and quality teaching afforded to students in our business program.

One popular activity with our business students is the Cardinal Corner, a small business operated by the Entrepreneurship class in the Toner Student Center. Proceeds from sales benefit various campus clubs and organizations, as well as this spring’s target charity, an orphanage in Poland. See more about the store on its Facebook page.

Giving thanks for giving back . . .

2011-03-17T13:34:00.003-07:00

Students organized a “Celebrate. Give Back.” day to show their appreciation for the generous gifts around campus that enhance their SMU experience. This was a way to say “thank you” to alumni, family and friends of the university, and to spread awareness of the importance of philanthropy on campus and in the community. Hundreds of students signed a “Thank-You” banner, and the day concluded with a free concert and dance. Our Young Alumni Association and the Future Alumni Committee sponsored the event.

Best wishes to our seniors!

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I’m proud of all that our students have accomplished thus far this year and I look forward to witnessing their activities and accomplishments during these remaining weeks. Seniors, in particular, are gearing up for the final push toward commencement. During the weeks ahead we will be recognizing their accomplishments at various ceremonies and celebrations. We have been blessed with their presence over the past four years, and we wish each of them the best as they graduate and continue their lives of service and leadership.

- Brother William

Season’s Greetings!

2010-12-21T14:20:00.001-08:00

Soon the young women and men who call our Winona campus “home” for a few months out of the year, head home. As they do, I want you to know some of the wonderful things our students are capable of achieving, and of the positive impact they make on campus life and on the larger community.

I often have the chance to see them doing amazing things. Here are just a few snapshots of what I’ve seen.

Students studying and working hard . . .

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. . . Seniors Nicole Clammer and Sean Ohl presented a biology research poster at the 2010 Life Science Alley Conference and Expo at the Minneapolis Convention Center. They reported on work done last summer as student research fellows.

. . . The Concert Band and Wind Ensemble hosted Florida composer Dr. Paul Richards for our sixth Kaplan Foundation Commissioning Project. Dr. Richards worked with students for several days and conducted them in a world-premiere performance of his composition, “If You Could Only See the Frog,” based on a Bulgarian children’s song sung by exiled Jews.

. . . Chinese students in our international student body volunteered to act as tutors during a six-week class of a free, non-credit introduction to basic conversational Chinese (Mandarin). The class was taught by Lynn Chao, a Taiwan native who is a student in SMU’s Master of Arts in International Business.

. . . Theatre majors staged the challenging docu-drama “God’s Country” in October at TARA Studio in London, and in late November at Smock Alley Studio Theatre in Ireland.  The emotionally gripping play takes an unflinching look at the history of the white supremacist movement in the USA. (Check out our Theatre blog.)

Students reaching out to help others . . .

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. . . Marketing major Ania McNamara, who was adopted by SMU alums from an orphanage in Chotomow, Poland, organized a fundraiser to provide the orphanage with Christmas gifts and new clothes. Now in its second year, Ania’s project raised almost $5,000 and she has shipped 62 personalized gifts and about 30 candy bags for children and nuns at the orphanage. Read the Winona Daily News story about Ania's project.

. . . Students, faculty and staff fulfilled the wishes of more than 1,400 community members through the “Gifts for Winona” Christmas gift program. Along with the larger effort to raise funds, purchase and deliver presents, a First-Year Seminar class made more than 20 tie blankets, which will help make many children’s holidays warmer and happier.

. . . Approximately 285 Saint Mary’s students volunteered their time on October 23, national “Make a Difference Day,” in assisting various Winona organizations and three elementary schools. Saint Mary’s alumni also came together on October 23 and volunteered in the Twin Cities, Chicago and Winona. To see a recap of activities organized by the Alumni Association during Lasallian Day of Service, go to: www.smumn.edu/lasalliandayofservice.

. . . Fall sport athletes engaged in bringing awareness to and raising funds for helping others. The volleyball team hosted a “Dig Pink Night” to support research for breast cancer; the men’s soccer team hosted “Cardinals Kick Cancer” with proceeds going to the Children’s Hospital in honor of Shaymus Guinn — the son of former Cardinals coach Tony Guinn — who is currently battling cancer; and, the women’s soccer team sponsored a “Footin’ 4 Food” drive for the local food pantry.

Students realizing their dreams . . .

2010-12-21T14:18:00.001-08:00

. . . The men’s hockey team enjoyed a day at the United Center — home of the NHL’s Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks — thanks to SMU alum and Blackhawks President, John McDonough ’75. To see a video of the trip, go to: www.smumn.edu/blackhawksvid.

. . . The Entrepreneurship class encouraged campus athletic teams, clubs and organizations to sell “fun and funky” items through their new store, the Cardinal Corner, with all profits donated back to various university fund raising projects. This fall, the store returned $500 to the Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance, and $500 to other campus organizations. You can become a Facebook fan of the Cardinal Corner (and see the latest updates, sales and freebies) at: www.facebook.com/cardinalcorner.

. . . The Jazz Ensemble celebrated the release of its first CD, “Staycation.”  The project was a joint effort by SMU performance students, faculty, and students majoring in music technology. The CD is available at the SMU bookstore. A YouTube video at: www.smumn.edu/staycationvid captures a portion of the recording session. There is more information at: www.smumn.edu/staycation.

. . . Biology Department faculty and students seeded their first prairie restoration pilot project, assisted by Winona State faculty and students. Two plots located along Gilmore Creek on the north side of campus were prepared with the help of our Maintenance Department, and seed from native prairie plants was donated by Prairie Moon Nursery.

Students heading home for Christmas . . .

2010-12-21T14:16:00.001-08:00

. . . Last week, as students’ classes ended and they prepared for final exams, we paused to celebrate the annual Christmas Light Service — and enjoyed the traditional Pre-Finals Breakfast. (Santa even made a guest appearance.)

Students, faculty and staff at Saint Mary’s join me in wishing you and your families a blessed Christmas, and health and peace in the new year. May the Gift of Christmas fill your hearts and lives with peace and joy.

– Brother William

We welcome students back to the Winona campus

2010-09-22T12:15:00.002-07:00

Big Red Cardinal led a spontaneous student dance line during the Welcome Week club and activity fair on the plaza.

A new school year is well-underway on our beautiful Winona campus. We recently welcomed 1,370 undergraduates to the campus. On Saturday, Aug. 28, first-year students moved into their residence halls with athletic teams carrying clothes and furniture up the stairs. Faculty members passed out water bottles and greeted families. The students settled in after a welcome from me, and activities continued throughout the weekend with movies, socials, hikes, liturgies and tours.

Our total enrollment of 1,370 undergraduates includes 1,311 full-time Winona campus students and 59 part-time students. This fall’s 347 freshmen total is up five percent over last year and is one of the larger first-year classes within the past five years.

I know and appreciate the sacrifice that parents and families make to send their students to Saint Mary’s during these unpredictable financial times. We will do our best to provide students with the best education possible and use our resources wisely.

100 students volunteer in Winona over Labor Day

2010-09-22T12:15:00.000-07:00

Student volunteers took a break from working at Habitat Restore on Sept. 4.

After experiencing their first week of college classes, nearly 100 SMU students served 10 organizations on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. New Student Volunteer Day, with 78 first-year students and their upperclass mentors participating, provided new students with the opportunity to serve the Winona community and to be inspired by the Lasallian spirit early in their college careers. Students volunteered at the following organizations: Grace Place, Habitat Restore, Lake Winona Manor, Living Light Church, Winona Volunteer Services, Winona Area Humane Society, Winona Catholic Worker, Saint Anne of Winona, Sauer Memorial Home and Salvation Army Store. Students did cleaning, painting, hauling, played BINGO and tended to animals, among other activities.

SMU hosts John McDonough, president of Blackhawks

2010-09-22T12:14:00.000-07:00

John McDonough greeted John Nye, a Saint Mary’s student and Blackhawks fan.

Saint Mary’s alum John McDonough ’75, president of the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks, shared his triumphant and inspiring story with his alma mater on Sept. 2. McDonough served as the guest speaker during SMU’s annual convocation ceremony, where he was presented with the Presidential Medal for Outstanding Merit. McDonough also spoke to business students and faculty about the Chicago Blackhawks ‘One Goal’ business plan, and he held a Q&A session at a gathering for the SMU community and Winona business leaders.

McDonough was named president of the Chicago Blackhawks in November of 2007, and under McDonough’s leadership, the Blackhawks became one of professional sports’ biggest success stories, in what Forbes Magazine called the “The Greatest Sports-Business Turnaround Ever.”

Young alumni come back to campus for a fall reunion

2010-09-22T12:13:00.001-07:00

Molly Jewison ’10, Brittney Stefonowicz ’09, Tony Hynes ’10 and Britney Nielson ’10 (far right) enjoyed reuniting with Education faculty Karen and Scott Sorvaag.

Graduates from the last decade were invited back to campus for Young Alumni Weekend, Sept. 10-12. Over 200 alums, friends and family returned to campus to reconnect, reminisce, and remember. The weekend included a welcome reception with faculty and staff, a ropes course challenge, a “Hike for Hunger” community outreach opportunity, a medallion hunt, and a gathering with live music at Jefferson Pub & Grill in downtown Winona. Two classes marked their milestone reunions, the Class of 2000 and Class of 2005. Each held special anniversary events on and off campus during the weekend. The weekend coincided with Cardinal ‘M’ Club Weekend, giving SMU alumni opportunities to cheer on Cardinal athletics.

Weekend information and follow up comments and photos are on a special Facebook page. Sign in at facebook.com and search for “SMU Young Alumni” or visit www.smumn.edu/youngalumni for additional photos and information.

A successful Cardinal 'M' Club Weekend

2010-09-22T12:12:00.001-07:00

Sports Hall of Fame: John Tschida ’90, Teisha (Smith ’00) Devine and George Hoder ’67.

Congratulations to three alums who were welcomed into the Sports Hall of Fame at an awards ceremony during the annual Cardinal M-Club Weekend, Sept. 10-12. Hundreds of current student-athletes, alumni, parents and staff enjoyed reuniting with friends and teammates, golfing, honoring award recipients, and competing in alumni events.

New Hall of Fame members include: George Hoder ’67 of Seattle, basketball; Teisha (Smith ’00) Devine of Chicago, fastpitch softball; and John Tschida ’90 of Saint Paul, softball coach. The many other awards announced during the Saturday night ceremony included recognition of 2009-10 scholar-athletes of the year Stephanie Marnocha ’10 (soccer) and David Dahlstrom ’10 (baseball); and outstanding student-athletes Sarah Gardner ’11 (volleyball) and Andrew Brueggen ’11 (track and field).

More on the awards, event photos and video:

Science internships reward students and society

2010-09-22T12:11:00.003-07:00

Nate Peterson is one of many SMU undergraduates who performed research last summer.
He's shown working with Dr. Ray Faber.

Whether our undergraduate students were working at Mayo, the Fermilab, Gundersen, or the Mississippi River, important learning occurred in summer internships that enabled Saint Mary’s students to use their knowledge to contribute to the solution of significant regional and national problems.

Timothy McDonald, a double major in chemistry and engineering physics, and Thomas Briese, a biochemistry major, both worked with Father Paul Nienaber, SJ, Ph.D., chair of SMU's Physics Department, as part of the MicroBooNE neutrino experiment at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. Funding for these students was provided by a Research at Undergraduate Institutions grant from the National Science Foundation.

Luke Baertlein, a biophysics major, worked at the Mayo Clinic in the Department of Health Sciences Research - Epidemiology Division. Jennifer Koezly, a double major in chemistry and engineering physics, worked in the Lando/NSF Summer Research Program in the chemical sciences at the University of Minnesota. Brian Kasel, a biophysics major, was in the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center Summer Fellowship Program.

A different type of internship found Nate Peterson, an environmental biology major (and a member of the Saint Mary’s hockey team), participating in projects that included: a study of the smooth soft shell turtle; research on the trout streams of southeastern Minnesota with a graduate student at the U of M; working with Dr. Phil Cochran ’77 to collect planktivorous fishes in Square Lake, Minnesota; assisting Dr. Ray Faber to band gull chicks in their nests in Green Bay of Lake Michigan; collection of brook lampreys in Iowa; and processing of nuisance rattlesnakes from the Winona area.

At the Research Laboratory at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, Biology major Lukas Wallerich studied aspects of Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. He collected deer ticks in Southeast Minnesota and analyzed them for the prevalence of pathogens. Paige Jensen worked with La Crosse County’s Vector Control Department, studying mosquitoes known to transmit La Crosse encephalitis and West Nile diseases. She trapped mosquitoes and worked on mosquito eradication and public education about mosquito habitat. Chris Engesser, a computer science student, worked with Dr. Mingrui Zhang to understand, run, and test computational gene clustering algorithms on genetic microarray lung cancer data provided by the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Stephanie Valentine, a senior computer science major, did research with Dr. Tracy Hammond of Texas A&M University, funded by the CDC/CRA-W Distributed Research Experiences for Undergraduates (DREU).

A renewed partnership with the Mississippi River

2010-09-22T12:11:00.001-07:00

The former Polish Heritage Lodge on Prairie Island will become a river field station for SMU science students and teachers.

Situated on the banks of the scenic Mississippi River, Saint Mary's University has both the opportunity and the responsibility to promote the ongoing vitality of the river and its surrounding communities. The university has, once again, found a new way to positively contribute to the river and its environs, with the just-completed purchase of the Polish Heritage Lodge on Winona’s Prairie Island. Saint Mary's has a long and rich legacy of engaging with the river, and this purchase is another sign of the university’s commitment to enhancing and growing the science programs in Winona.

The new SMU “river field station” will give us direct access to the Mississippi and close proximity to the natural aspects and human activity defined by the waterway. The facility will allow for expanded environmental sciences programming for faculty, staff and students, and for regular river-related programs that will benefit the larger community. The new field station is situated in an area blessed with natural resources and nearby land and water management projects. Current plans are for the building to house the natural resource-focused staff of GeoSpatial Services, as well as provide space for research and activities of SMU environmental sciences faculty and both undergraduate and graduate students.

Saint Mary's fares well in national rankings

2010-09-22T12:10:00.001-07:00

We have a good thing going at Saint Mary’s University and others have noticed.

Forbes.com’s 2010 list of “America’s Best Colleges” recently ranked Saint Mary’s University as No. 457 out of a group of 610 undergraduate institutions (selected from 2500 national undergraduate institutions) listed as “the best public and private colleges and universities – from the student’s point of view.” Dr. Marilyn Frost, vice president for academic affairs, said she is pleased that Saint Mary’s is on the Forbes list. “It shows that our students feel enriched by the experiences they have here, and that they graduate and go on to have successful careers and be productive members of their communities. The Forbes listing reinforces positive reports from other student satisfaction surveys, such as the National Survey of Student Engagement (see the following story) and the Princeton Review.” The list can be found at www.forbes.com/lists/2010/94/best-colleges-10_Americas-Best-Colleges_Rank.html.

In the Princeton Review, Saint Mary’s is one of 152 schools receiving the “Best in the Midwest” designation for 2011. 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 to answer questions about themselves, their fellow students, and their campus life. For more information, go to www.princetonreview.com/best-regional-colleges.aspx.

U.S. News & World Report has ranked Saint Mary’s in its “Best National Universities” survey for 2011. The annual listing of more than 1,400 schools is available online at www.usnews.com. Saint Mary’s is ranked 183rd in the first tier of the U.S. News “National Universities” category, which includes 262 schools overall. Saint Mary’s competes with other National Universities because of our doctoral granting status. Taking top honors in the “National Universities” category are Harvard University, Princeton University and Yale University. Saint Mary’s, St. Thomas and the University of Minnesota are the only Minnesota schools represented in this category.

Survey shows Saint Mary’s excels in engaging students

2010-09-22T12:09:00.003-07:00

Dr. Janet Heukeshoven of the Music Department, shown working with a flute student.

Preparing students for success and for a quality life after college is as important as helping students succeed in college. The 2010 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is one instrument that measures post-graduation success based on five summary indicators from surveys of our own students. On three of the five summary indicators, the most recent NSSE data points to particular strengths of the undergraduate College experience at Saint Mary’s University: active and collaborative learning; student-faculty interaction; and supportive campus environment. Indeed, SMU approaches the top 10% nationally in these areas, especially for the results from SMU seniors.

Although campuses are not required to make their NSSE results public, many campuses (including Saint Mary’s) voluntarily post their scores in a database sponsored by USA Today (www.usatoday.com/news/education/nsse.htm). Sixteen Minnesota colleges and universities have disclosed their NSSE data there. Saint Mary’s University’s 2010 scores are the highest in the state for active and collaborative learning and faculty-student interaction among seniors, and second-highest for faculty-student interaction among first-year students and supportive campus environment among seniors.

Spring and summer projects improve campus

2010-09-22T12:09:00.001-07:00

Chartwells food service remodeled dramatically the dining facilities in the Toner Student Center, and installed a new Mugby Junction coffee shop outside the Cardinal Club.

The university made a number of improvements last summer to the living and learning environments at the Winona campus. The late-spring and summer projects – funded from within the 2009-10 and 2010-11 budgets – include some significant and popular additions, as well as less noticeable but equally important renovations of facilities, residence hall roofs, and the resurfacing of the roadway.

Faculty member Dr. Ned Kirk checked the acoustics of the new Page Theatre shell.

One exciting project was the late-May installation of an acoustic shell system for the Page Theatre. The steel shell, specifically designed and engineered for the SMU theatre, blends with the architecture, and is surrounded by oak laminate. It stands 25 feet high by 44 feet wide and features two flying “clouds” with built-in lighting. The professional shell will benefit our own performers, and enhance our ability to host a larger variety of outside musical performances. The purchase of the shell was made possible by a gift from the estate of Joseph C. Page.

Major improvements were made to the aerobic fitness and weight areas of the Gostomski Fieldhouse. The weight room is newly painted, three new flat screen TVs have been mounted in the aerobic area, and new equipment was secured for both areas.

There are many ways to follow Cardinal sports!

2010-09-22T12:08:00.001-07:00

The athletics website is redesigned and offers new features.

The fall sports at Saint Mary’s University are in full swing, and there are more ways than ever to keep up with the action. The sports website is completely redesigned and improved. The new site has the usual rosters, game schedules, results and statistics pages, as well as new features. Go to the FanZone section and you can sign up to receive weekly newsletters, listen to — or watch — live webcasts of home games, follow the statistical play-by-play of home events, and browse photo galleries. You can sign up for RSS news feeds, the athletics Twitter account and Facebook, check out video interviews and game action clips, and receive Cardinal athletic scores, news and more, sent straight to your cell phone.

To see all the new ways you can follow Cardinal athletics, check out the new website at: www.saintmaryssports.com.

College observes anniversary of 9-11 attacks

2010-09-22T12:07:00.003-07:00

A student placed hundreds of small American flags in the grass near the Chapel.

A prayer service for students, faculty and staff was held Sept. 11 at the Peace Pole in front of the Saint Thomas More Chapel. Led by Brother Larry Humphrey, the service was in memory of the 2,977 victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City and the Pentagon.

Students learn of Lasallian mission work in Guatemala

2010-06-24T12:59:00.002-07:00

Diana Lundeen with children of the Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos school and orphanage.

John Delwich, Steve Schmidt, Adam Runge and Cullen Gibbons in Guatemala.
  

Two groups of Saint Mary’s students traveled to Guatemala in May to learn about Lasallian mission work. Chris McClead, director of SMU’s Campus Ministry, led a Serving Others United in Love (SOUL) trip with students Abby Voigt, Allison Stephens, Shannon Nelson, Rachel Elbert, John Speedling, Kelly Holt, Diana Lundeen, Ellen Bina and Emily DeWitt. Students John Delwich, Steve Schmidt, Adam Runge and Cullen Gibbons also traveled to Guatemala with Brother Pat Conway, director of vocations for the Lasallian Teacher Immersion Program.

The trips were intended to spark interest on the Winona campus for the life and work of Brother James Miller, a 1966 Saint Mary’s alum who was killed while serving in Guatemala in 1982. The Church has designated Brother James as a “Servant of God” and he is being considered for sainthood. On the two trips, these students experienced firsthand their connection to the broader Lasallian mission.

‘Summer vacation’ in the research lab

2010-06-24T12:58:00.002-07:00

SMU students are spending their summers doing research at laboratories.   From left: front, Thomas Briese, Jennifer Koezly; back, Brian Kasel, Timothy McDonald and Luke Baertlein.

Five SMU science students are spending their summer doing research at laboratories in Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois. Jennifer Koezly, a double major in chemistry and engineering physics, was accepted into the Lando/NSF Summer Research Program in the chemical sciences at the University of Minnesota. Brian Kasel, a biophysics major, landed a position in the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center Summer Fellowship Program. Luke Baertlein, a biophysics major, is working at the Mayo Clinic in the Department of Health Sciences Research - Epidemiology Division. Timothy McDonald, a double major in chemistry and engineering physics, and Thomas Briese, a biochemistry major, are both working with Father Paul Nienaber, SJ, Ph.D, chair of SMU's Physics Department, as part of the MicroBooNE neutrino experiment at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.

Funding for these students is provided by a Research at Undergraduate Institutions grant from the National Science Foundation.  “This is a singular contribution to undergraduate research in the sciences at Saint Mary’s,” noted Father Nienaber. “These students are talented and motivated, and they’ve worked hard to get where they are. Placing this many students in these sorts of research projects at major universities and laboratories speaks volumes about the quality of the science program at Saint Mary’s University.”

UN Convocation advocates for rights of children

2010-06-24T12:58:00.000-07:00

Danielle Strebel, Shannon Nelson, Tim Gossen

Saint Mary’s students and a staff member attended the Lasallian Convocation on the Rights of the Child in April at the United Nations (UN). Tim Gossen, dean of students, and students Shannon Nelson and Danielle Strebel joined with other representatives of Lasallian schools and colleges in the United States and Toronto, Canada, in their call for universal ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The CRC emphasizes the rights of children to survival; to develop to their full potential; to protection from abuse, neglect, discrimination, and exploitation; and to participate in family, cultural, and social life. After the conference, the students said they are inspired to work locally and challenge other Saint Mary's students to assist volunteer services that help children in Winona.

Learn more about the Lasallian Convocation at the UN

Students organize cancer fundraiser

2010-06-24T12:57:00.002-07:00

The Saint Mary’s Colleges Against Cancer student group helped raised $20,000 during the 2010 Relay for Life in April.  Teams of friends, families and coworkers joined together in a fundraising effort for the American Cancer Society.  SMU and Winona community team members walked around SMU’s indoor track from dusk to dawn to represent the 24-hour fight against cancer. Activities throughout the night included a silent auction, bingo, games, and a performance by an alumni musical group, Koo Koo Kangaroo. Laurie Haase, Relay for Life team leader, said it was "moving and amazing to see our young people organize and run an event that raised $20,000 for cancer research."

Watch video footage of this event.

Week of activities celebrate entrepreneurial spirit

2010-06-24T12:57:00.000-07:00

Staff and students pose with Dave Anderson of Famous Dave's BBQ
following his presentation during Entrepreneurship Week.

The mid-April Entrepreneurship Week on campus was hosted by the Kabara Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies to recognize and celebrate entrepreneurial spirit both at the university and in the community. Noted speakers and events included a roundtable breakfast on business ethics featuring Justin Paperny, a former UBS stockbroker and author of “Lessons from Prison”; a "Dress to Impress" demonstration; a symposium on women's challenges and opportunities in business; a session on social entrepreneurship with keynote speaker Lisa Nigro, founder of Inspiration Café;  an inspirational talk by Dave Anderson, founder of Famous Dave’s Barbecue; and a special luncheon and celebration of Winona’s entrepreneurial spirit.

Saint Teresa Institute hosts women’s symposium

2010-06-24T12:56:00.001-07:00

The Saint Teresa Leadership and Service Institute for Women hosted the 2010 Women’s Symposium, “Cracks in the Ceiling,” in April. The symposium offered the SMU community a look at women’s accomplishments and progress in the United States as they move toward gender equality.  Events began with an address by Catherine Gray, Midwest Director of Strategy and Engagement, the White House Project. Other activities included breakout sessions on women leaders in religion, women in the sciences, and women in politics. The day was capped by dinner and a keynote talk on entrepreneurship by Martha Rossini Olson, owner of Sweet Martha’s Cookie Jar.

Saint Mary's University has an App for that

2010-06-24T12:55:00.003-07:00

Two students in Saint Mary’s iPhone programming class created an SMU application (or "App") for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Christopher Engesser and Stephanie Valentine designed a working "iSMU" application that allows students, parents, alums and others easy access to SMU news and information on Apple mobile devices.  The iSMU App is available for free download from the Apple iTunes App Store, and includes:   campus news and blogs; live sports updates; activities calendar; performance calendar and ticket information; daily Chartwells menu options; campus YouTube videos; and an opportunity to donate to SMU.  The iSMU App will be continually tweaked and its information updated.  “Mobile devices give our students the opportunity to develop interesting, useful and educational applications that are accessed via their cell phones,” said Ann Smith, chair of the Computer Science Department. “The beauty of this programming class is that students can build applications for their peers from the perspective of what is important to students."

Winona commencement celebrates new beginnings

2010-06-24T12:55:00.001-07:00

On May 8, the Winona campus of Saint Mary’s University hosted two commencement ceremonies to mark the end of the academic year.  The undergraduate ceremony featured student perspectives by this year’s Outstanding Male and Female Seniors, David Dahlstrom of Rochester and Mariana Sanchez of Puebla, Mexico. A Presidential Award for Outstanding Merit was given to long-time SMU supporter and 1977 alum Dr. John Domanico.  At the Winona Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs commencement, a Presidential Award for Outstanding Merit was given to Sister Una O’Connor, president of Catholic College of Mandeville, Jamaica, Saint Mary’s partnering institution in our Master of Education - Jamaica initiative. 

Watch video footage of this event.

SMU noted for its growth in lecture capture technology

2010-06-24T12:51:00.000-07:00

Jason Spartz accepted a Tegrity Award on behalf of Saint Mary's.

Tegrity, a leading class capture web service provider for higher education, acknowledged Saint Mary’s for its use of instructional technology at its annual user conference in Louisville, Ky. During a Tegrity Innovation Awards Ceremony, Saint Mary’s was awarded a Certificate of Achievement for its growth in the number and duration of new recordings during the past year. Jason Spartz, SMU's multimedia support manager, was also invited to make a presentation on “Supporting Tegrity with Limited Resources.”

Watch Tegrity in action at SMU

Spring sport athletes receive honors

2010-06-24T12:50:00.000-07:00

Andrew Brueggen, Ryan Wockenfus, Teri Heinze, Kellie Simons, Erin Stenseth, Katy Gannon
(Not pictured: Sara Harstad)

Mike Lunka, Robert Steingraeber, Rebecca Snyder, Bailey Edwards, Coach Jeff Halberg

Saint Mary's athletes in spring sports received multiple honors at the end of the season. In men's track and field, Andrew Brueggen was an NCAA qualifier and All-MIAC in hammer throw; Ryan Wockenfus was All-MIAC in javelin. On the women's side, Sara Harstad was All-MIAC in the hammer throw; Teri Heinzen was All-MIAC in the 100m and 200m dashes. In fastpitch softball, Kellie Simons and Katy Gannon were named first-team All-MIAC; Simons and Erin Stenseth were also named third-team All-Midwest Region. In men's tennis, Mike Lunka and Robert Steingraeber were named All-MIAC in doubles. For the women's team, Rebecca Snyder and Bailey Edwards were named All-MIAC in both singles and doubles. Tennis coach Jeff Halberg was honored as co-Coach of the Year in the MIAC.

Go to the Cardinal Athletics website

Professor Emeritus speaks at U of M symposium

2010-06-24T12:02:00.000-07:00

Dr. Dick Kowles, professor emeritus in biology, was an invited speaker at a University of Minnesota symposium in May. The symposium was held in honor of the retiring Regent’s Professor and National Academy of Sciences member R. L. Phillips, a long-time colleague of Dr. Kowles’.  “Fortuitous Events in Researching Amazing Maize” was the subject of his presentation that was a review of 25 years of research collaboration with Phillips. The talk acknowledged the undergraduate research work of 72 Saint Mary’s students who worked with Dr. Kowles on these projects. In addition, the abstract of the talk will be published in an upcoming issue of the "Crop Science" journal.

Students recognized at Senior Honors Banquet

2010-06-24T12:01:00.000-07:00

Saint Mary’s recognized outstanding senior students at the annual Senior Academic Honors Banquet. Highlights of the evening included the announcement of graduate and professional school acceptances, grants and fellowships, and the awarding of the following special honors:  American Institute of Chemists Award — Aaron Clark and Thomas Briese;  American Chemical Society Award — Sarah Murphy; Kevin Martineau Award (business) — Agnieszka Kadej and David Dahlstrom; Outstanding Accounting Student — Katherine Drazkowski; Outstanding International Business Student — Pawel Jan Szczpkowski; Outstanding Entrepreneurship Student — Matthew Wilgenbusch; Outstanding Human Resource Management Student — David Dahlstrom.

Also: Outstanding Sport Management Student — Zhe Song; Outstanding Marketing Student — Agnieszka Kadej; Wall Street Journal Award — Zhe Song; Thomas Aquinas Award for Excellence (philosophy) — Thomas Howes; Grove Bree Holman Award for Musical Theatre — Peter Snell; Michael G. Flanagan Ghost Light Award (theatre) — William Ronchak; Gerald Sullivan Outstanding Theatre Major Award — Timothy Schmall; Brother Leo Northam Awards (math) — Stephanie Marnocha and Changyu Yang; Distinction in Studies/Academic Work Award (social sciences) — Mary Gleich; Distinction in Studies/Academic Work - Social Activism (social sciences) — Sarah Weir; Lasallian Honors Program Outstanding Senior Award — Thomas Briese and Sarah Weir.

See photos from this event.

SMU community members receive student life awards

2010-06-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

Zhe “Scott” Song of Xi’an, China received the Student Service Award from Chris Kendall,
vice president for Student Life.

Outstanding students, faculty and staff were honored at the annual Student Life Awards Ceremony. Awards were given to those who made a positive impact on student life at SMU, including: Brother Finbar McMullen Award (for unselfishly meeting the needs of undergraduate students) — Brendan Dolan, Student Life graduate assistant and residence hall director; Charlene “Char” Tjaden Outstanding Resident Assistant — Stephanie Valentine; Club and Organization Advisor of the Year — Dr. Jeanne Minnerath; Organization of the Year — International Students Club;   Intramural Official of the Year — Amanda Mueller; Volunteer of the Year — Beth Leister; Outstanding Student Senator — Vanessa Grams; Winona Community Service — Emily Merchlewitz; Brother James Miller Award (for a student who has spread the compassion of God and served the community) — Betsy Baertlein; Student Service Award — Zhe “Scott” Song; Outdoor Leadership Recognition Award — Gary Borash and Betsy Baertlein; Brother Charlie Burke Award (for a faculty or staff member who has made significant contributions to the Student Life office and promoted the growth of the whole student) — Jason Richter.

See photos from this event.

Fundraisers benefit Haitians and a fellow student

2010-03-19T09:54:00.002-07:00

Students were "freezin' for a reason" at the Cardinal Plunge.

The Saint Mary’s community found creative ways to raise over $5,000 to benefit earthquake victims in Haiti and a fellow student in need.

Proceeds from the first “Cardinal Plunge” were split between Haiti relief and the family of Michael Mockler, a sophomore undergoing treatment for a brain tumor. More than 120 brave souls and warm hearts jumped into Lake Goodview, while 300 of the less-brave offered moral support. (See video of the event.)

Sales of the “Red Card,” a Winona business discount program devised and executed by students in our Entrepreneurship class, will benefit the Haiti Medical Mission of Wisconsin.

Other Haiti benefit efforts included: a faculty/staff chili cookoff; “Hope for Haiti” student carnival hosted by volunteer mentors; “Dance for Haiti” sponsored by Campus Ministry; “Open Mic Night” in the Cardinal Club; a jewelry sale; and the “International Showcase” of student musical talent sponsored by the Inter-Cultural Awareness Association and the International Students Club. (See video of the event.)

Mayo program a great experience for students

2010-03-19T09:54:00.001-07:00

Nine Saint Mary’s students received the educational opportunity of a lifetime through the Mayo Innovation Scholars Program (MISP). For the past five months, these students contributed to innovative medical research, associated with the world’s most prestigious health care system.

Saint Mary’s participants included: business majors Boya Hu, Agnieszka Kadej, Brittany Peterson and Matt Wilgenbusch; computer science major Emily Friedl; and biological sciences majors Melissa Wolf, Caitlin O’Conner, Thomas Briese and Phil Thomas.

The Mayo Innovation Scholars Program, now in its fourth year, is an opportunity for selected MBA students and undergraduate science and business students to research projects submitted by Mayo Clinic professionals through the Mayo Clinic Office of Intellectual Property. The Minnesota Private College Council helps to coordinate the program. MISP connects students from biology, chemistry, math, physics, pre-med and business and helps prepare them for careers in hospitals, medical research institutions and health care agencies.

Report shows Saint Mary’s athletes excel in classroom

2010-03-19T09:54:00.000-07:00

For any student-athlete, statistics help tell the story of their individual or team successes. For members of the 21 varsity intercollegiate sports at Saint Mary’s, one statistic stands out above all the rest — 3.11. That’s the overall SMU student-athlete grade point average for fall semester, as calculated by Saint Mary’s institutional research.

The university is proud of the accomplishments of our student-athletes on and off the field of competition. Of the 21 varsity teams, 16 boasted a team GPA of 3.00 or higher, with the women’s track and field (3.53) and the men’s cross country (3.43) leading the charge.

Of the 325 current student-athletes — who make up 25 percent of SMU’s full-time undergraduate population — 15 had perfect 4.0 GPAs, while 73 were named to the dean’s list with GPAs of 3.60 or above, and 182 finished the fall semester at 3.00 or higher. In addition, the men’s and women’s cross country teams earned U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team honors.

Valentine selected for prestigious research program

2010-03-19T09:53:00.003-07:00

Stephanie Valentine

Stephanie Valentine, a junior computer science major, has been selected to receive a fully funded summer research opportunity. Stephanie will participate in the CDC/CRA-W Distributed Research Experiences for Undergraduates (DREU). One of 80 students selected from 500 applicants, she will do research with Prof. Tracy Hammond of Texas A&M University.

DREU is a highly selective program that matches promising undergraduates with a faculty mentor for a summer research experience at the faculty member's home institution. DREU’s objective is to increase the number of women and students from underrepresented groups entering graduate studies in the fields of computer science and engineering.

Athletes receive post-season honors

2010-03-19T09:53:00.002-07:00

From left to right: Andrew Brueggen, Lukas Holland, Will Wright & Chris Palmer.

Several fall and winter athletes have received post-season accolades. Andrew Brueggen became Saint Mary's first-ever male All-American in track and field, placing fourth in the weight throw at the NCAA Division III Indoor National Championships. (See video of the event.) Junior men’s basketball players Lukas Holland and Will Wright were named first-team All-MIAC. Freshman Chris Palmer was named honorable mention and selected to the All-First Year Team. Chris was also named D3hoops.com West Region Rookie of the Year.

From left to right: Jess Miller, Jessica Thone, Dy-anna Stewart, Stevie Fiek & Kaye Collier.

In women’s basketball, junior Jess Miller was named first-team All-MIAC, and freshman Jessica Thone was selected to the All-First Year Team. Junior Dy-anna Stewart, sophomore Stevie Fiek and freshman Kaye Collier were named first-team All-MIAC for women’s hockey; Kaye was also named to the All-Rookie Team.

Student researchers display results at the Capitol

2010-03-19T09:53:00.001-07:00

Ryan Soukoup discussed his research with Minnesota Lt. Governor Carol Molnau.

Three SMU students, along with their faculty advisors, went to the Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda on February 25 to present the results of their independent research and creative scholarship at the annual Minnesota Private College “Scholars at the Capitol” event.

Keith Fahrforth & Michelle Hermes displayed their research findings.

The event showcased current research projects completed by 34 undergraduate scholars from Minnesota private colleges and universities. Saint Mary’s students attending this year’s event included: Ryan Soukoup, presenting on “Cultural Change and the Dakota Uprising”; and Keith Fahrforth and Michelle Hermes, presenting on “The Effects of Atrazine on Pack Cell Volume, Gender and Development of Gallus Gallus.”

The MPCC hosted the event to publicize and celebrate the achievements of just a few of the many thousands of students who attend private schools of higher learning in Minnesota, and to share research that may have long-term implications for Minnesotans.

Heritage celebrated during De La Salle Week

2010-03-19T09:53:00.000-07:00

Brother William with the Outstanding Senior finalists, from left to right: (front) Zhe “Scott” Song, Sarah Weir, Molly Jewison, Mariana Sanchez, Mary Gleich & Vanessa Grams; (back) David Dahlstrom, Bill Duffert, Brian Smith & Gary Borash.

The university celebrated its Lasallian heritage with a variety of special events during De La Salle Week — February 7 through March 6 — designed to engage students and deepen understanding. A highlight of the week was the Founder’s Day ceremony, the annual celebration of the founding of Saint Mary’s by Bishop Patrick Heffron in 1912, and of the university’s ongoing Lasallian heritage.

Dr. Carmelita Quebengco, executive vice president and chief operating officer of De La Salle Philippines, was presented an honorary doctorate for her work in the achievement of excellence in Lasallian higher education. She addressed the audience about developing effectiveness in a Lasallian university.

Mary Becker received the university’s Bishop Patrick Heffron Award for Service. As the administrative assistant to the president since 1993, she has provided a daily example of service and commitment to our mission.

Brother Stephen Rusyn, FSC, Ph.D., was named this year’s Distinguished Lasallian Educator. Brother Stephen is a long-time professor of English who was chosen because of his attention and dedication to students.

The Outstanding Male and Female Senior Awards were presented to students who have demonstrated the ideals of scholarship, character, leadership and service. The Outstanding Male Senior Award went to David Dahlstrom, son of William and Rosanne Dahlstrom of Rochester, Minn. David is an accounting and human resource management major who also plays varsity baseball. The Outstanding Female Senior Award went to Mariana Sanchez, daughter of Jaime and Bernadette Sanchez, of Puebla, Mexico. Mariana is a graphic design major and a member of the varsity golf and soccer teams. (See video of the event.)

The following students were finalists for the 2010 Outstanding Senior Awards. Males: Gary Borash, son of Ron and Ann Borash of North Prairie, Minn.; Bill Duffert, son of Doug and Anne Duffert of Ramsey, Minn.; Zhe “Scott” Song, son of Shiqi Song and Haizhan Liu of Xi’an, China; and Brian Smith, son of Brad and Sue Smith of Minneapolis, Minn. Females: Mary Gleich, daughter of Peter '83 and Kathleen (Marek '83) Gleich, of Hastings, Minn.; Vanessa Grams, daughter of Jean and Gregg Grams of Little Falls, Minn.; Molly Jewison, daughter of Dan and Marie Jewison of Janesville, Minn.; and Sarah Weir, daughter of Glenn and Veronica Weir of Oswego, Ill.

Connect with Saint Mary's via online social media

2010-03-19T09:52:00.000-07:00

The undergraduate College features student life videos on its YouTube channel.

We thought you would like to see some of the ways that Saint Mary's has a "social media" presence on the Internet. Recently, we have developed YouTube "channels" as a place to collect videos about SMU students and activities. There is a Winona campus channel, a sports channel, and a graduate programs channel. Saint Mary's has many Facebook groups and profiles, but listed below are the main, official pages. There are also Twitter accounts maintained by Sports Information and the SGPP, as well as an alumni group on LinkedIn. These features can be accessed directly; many are also linked from our main website and the sports website.
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YOUTUBE:
SMU Winona channel: www.youtube.com/smuWinona
Sports channel: www.youtube.com/smusid
SGPP channel: www.youtube.com/smusgpp
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FACEBOOK:
Main Saint Mary's public profile: www.facebook.com/smumn
Sports public profile: www.facebook.com/saintmaryssports
Alumni public profile: www.facebook.com/smumnalumni
Office of Activities group
Big Red Cardinal profile
Class of 2014 group
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TWITTER:
Sports: http://twitter.com/SMUSID
TC Campus SGPP: http://twitter.com/smugradprograms
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LINKEDIN:
Saint Mary's University Alumni group
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Christmas greetings from Brother William

2009-12-21T08:00:00.010-08:00

“Because we know that Jesus Christ is going to come to us today and we recognize him for who he is, let us prepare for him a dwelling place worthy of him.”

With these words, our founder, John Baptist de La Salle, reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas. My Christmas wish for each of you is that you may find the gift of Christmas in your own hearts and homes during this holiday season.

A blessed Christmas to you and your families, and health and peace in the New Year.

– Brother William

Candles light the way to Christmas ceremonies

2009-12-21T08:00:00.009-08:00

Students carried candles out into the cold night after the December 10 Christmas light service in the Saint Thomas More Chapel. Shown are Kelly Holt and Peter Snell. Many students attended a tree-lighting ceremony on the plaza, which included the blessing of a new life-sized nativity scene.

Faculty treat students to Pre-Finals Breakfast

2009-12-21T08:00:00.008-08:00

Following the December 10 tree-lighting and chapel service, the Office of Academic Affairs and Chartwells Food Service sponsored the traditional Pre-Finals Christmas Breakfast for students. The late-night breakfast treat was served by about 25 faculty in the Toner Student Center dining hall, including (above) Tycho de Boer, Jana Schrenkler and Daniel Olsen. This popular event was attended by over 800 students.

During the Pre-Finals Breakfast, everyone was invited to join students in singing Christmas carols, and Santa made an appearance. The breakfast provided students a welcomed break from studying for final exams.

Seniors honored at December reception

2009-12-21T08:00:00.007-08:00

The Offices of Student Development and Academic Affairs sponsored a Senior Class Gathering on December 3 in the Toner Student Center lounge. Guests enjoyed beverages and hors d'oeuvres and mingled with faculty, staff and administrators. The event is held to honor all senior students, with special recognition for seniors completing their academic work this December. Brother William, President, is shown congratulating Ye Zhang.

Biology students receive TriBeta research grants

2009-12-21T08:00:00.006-08:00

Five Saint Mary’s University biology students were awarded the National Biology Honor society Beta Beta Beta Research Foundation research scholarships including, from left: Brianna Braun, Angela Lager, John Fox, Ashley Loos and Hilary Framke.  

Each student submitted a proposal for his or her senior research project outlining the objectives of the research and a budget. The students, their projects and their research advisors are: Hilary Framke, “Physiological responses to crude extract of Noturus gyrinus pectoral spine toxin,” Dr. Randy Krainock, advisor;  Ashley Loos, “The response of Micropterus salmides to venom produced by Noturus gyrinus,” Dr. Krainock, advisor;  John Fox, “The effects of tissue isolation from the fins of Noturus gyrinus on Leponis gibbosus and Mus musculus,” Dr. Jeanne Minnerath, advisor;  Brianna Braun, “Determining the paternity of Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuaria) in the bluffs around Winona,” Dr. Phil Cochran and Dr. Debra Martin, advisors;  Angela Lager, “Genetic variation between and within local populations of timber rattlesnakes, Crotalus horridus,” Dr. Martin and Dr. Cochran, advisors.

Students and alums pitch in for service day

2009-12-21T08:00:00.005-08:00

Close to 200 SMU students — joined by five staff members — participated in "Make a Difference Day" on October 24. These volunteers shoveled dirt, moved bricks, hung sheetrock, painted, sorted clothes and assisted with a variety of other work at 35 locations throughout the Winona area. "Make a Difference Day" is a national day for helping others, a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. Saint Mary’s Volunteer Services group invited Winona nonprofit agencies to submit requests for service.   Students teamed up and spent their Saturday lending helping hands to local groups and organizations.

That same day, the Saint Mary’s University Alumni Association and its board of directors sponsored a volunteer service day called “Lasallian Day of Service." Numerous groups of alumni came together in the spirit of the Lasallian mission of service to others while participating in service projects in their hometowns and neighborhoods, including Chicago, the Twin Cities and Winona.

Parents and students enjoy Family Weekend

2009-12-21T08:00:00.004-08:00

Parents and family members joined students in a brisk run (or walk) during the Family Weekend Fall Frolic on September 26. Open to the public, the annual 5K scamper through campus and in the bluffs typically attracts close to 500 participants. Family Weekend was a time for families to visit campus, have some fun, reconnect with students, and be treated to a variety of student musical, theatrical and athletic performances.

Class project raises money for Humane Society

2009-12-21T08:00:00.003-08:00

Students from the Saint Mary’s University entrepreneurship class sold specially designed T-shirts this fall to raise money for the Winona Area Humane Society. Students pictured include, from left, Jake Lechner, Kathleen Pawlowski, Dave Dahlstrom, Lindsey Quinn and Emily Merchlewitz. Their professor, Jana Schrenkler, fourth from left, presented WAHS volunteers Karen Kryzsko, fourth from right, and Tammy Vondrasek, right, with a $600 gift card for office supplies. Also pictured is Trixie.

The first annual Cardinal Pride T-shirt was designed by students Tom Walsh and Caroline Stringer. This project — a lesson in social entrepreneurship — is part of the business department’s focus on promoting and supporting the university’s new entrepreneurship major. Each semester, students choose a local non-profit organization to support with funds from their class-run business.

Reviewers affirm quality of teacher education

2009-12-21T08:00:00.002-08:00

Zuber Ali, a graduate of the Master of Arts in Instruction program, was interviewed by the Board of Teaching site visitation team.

Saint Mary’s teacher education programs recently received external confirmation of our efforts toward excellence in teaching and student engagement in learning. A Minnesota Board of Teaching site visitation team came to the Winona campus November 15 to review our undergraduate and graduate teacher licensure programs. The team indicated that it will recommend to the Board of Teaching that the accreditation of our programs be extended to 2017.

The team noted: "The Lasallian mission of Saint Mary's is transparent and threaded through the education programs here. The students recognized the faculty's commitment to social justice in education and indicated how they model that in their constructivist approach to teaching. Students were able to emulate that philosophy in their student teaching experiences, as they differentiated instruction based on the unique need of each learner."

Women's volleyball advances to NCAA tournament

2009-12-21T08:00:00.001-08:00

The women’s volleyball team capped a great season with an invitation to the NCAA Division III Central Region tournament in St. Louis. The Cardinals won their first match against Thomas More College, then dropped a hard-fought match to eventual national champion Washington University. SMU finished the year at 22-10 overall.

Sarah Gardner, shown above, was named to the Central Region All-Tournament Team. She was honored by the American Volleyball Coaches Association as first-team All-Central Region, and was named honorable-mention AVCA All-American. Gardner and Jessica Mate were also selected as first-team all-conference.

Alumni and parents are invited to suggest a student

2009-12-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

As the holidays provide us opportunities to gather with our family, friends, neighbors and co-workers, we invite you to keep Saint Mary’s University in mind.

Because high school and community college students often look to friends or family members when it is time to make a college decision, we are looking for your help to connect them to SMU. Please consider your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, neighbor, babysitter, friend from church etc. and picture them as a potential student at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

An initiative of the SMU Alumni Association, the Suggest a Student referral campaign allows you to send the Admission Office names of current high school and college transfer students. All we need are names and contact information from you, and our staff will do the rest. Our goal is to contact friends and family members of our alumni and parents to continue the SMU legacy.

You are invited to complete the brief online information form at: www.smumn.edu/suggestastudent.

College is prepared for the flu season

2009-09-18T12:33:00.001-07:00

There has been much talk in the media about a potential widespread outbreak of H1N1 (swine flu) this fall in the general population and at college campuses. As of this writing, there are no reported cases of H1N1 flu at the Winona campus. However, I want to assure you that Saint Mary's is planning, strategizing and taking action to prepare for this possibility.

Messages and updates on prevention, vaccinations and treatment have gone out to students, faculty and staff. On September 17, open forums were held for the campus community. The university has distributed hand sanitizer to students, and germicidal wipes have been placed at key spots around campus. In the event of a large-scale outbreak, faculty have been advised to work with students so that they have the opportunity to complete coursework in spite of the flu. We will use conferencing and other technologies to help capture classes for students. Contingency plans for necessary isolation or travel home are being prepared.

To see Saint Mary's flu information and links to government resources, go online to http://www.smumn.edu/flu.

Saint Mary’s reports 1,404 undergrads

2009-09-18T12:32:00.001-07:00

The 2009-2010 freshman class

Official 10th-day-of-class statistics at our Winona campus showed a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,404 — just down from last year’s record enrollment of 1,413. The third-highest enrollment was in 2002, when Saint Mary’s reported a total Winona undergraduate enrollment of 1,376.

This year’s total of 1,404 includes 1,343 full-time Winona-campus undergraduates and 61 part-time students. A total of 330 freshmen are enrolled. Numbers for the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs will be released later this fall.

Dr. Tom Mans, Vice President for Academic Affairs, notes that event though the uncertain economy might have impacted the freshman class, retention from the upper class years was good. One way the university adjusted to economic conditions was to increase the maximum number of credit hours students could take paying standard tuition, bumping it from 17 to 18 hours. Many students have taken advantage, leading in part to students taking the largest-ever total number of credits.

‘M’ Club Weekend fun for alums and athletes

2009-09-18T12:31:00.003-07:00

Tom Pepper, Sue Otto, Chad Doerre

The Cardinal ‘M’ Club weekend has grown tremendously in the last seven years. The weekend offers alumni the opportunity to reconnect, reminisce and socialize with old friends and teammates, and to connect with current athletes. Faculty and staff were also invited to join in the festivities.

This year’s events, held on September 11-13, provided something for everyone: Hall of Fame inductions, athletic awards, golf, alumni games, a social and a picnic.

The men's hockey "alumni game" kicked off the weekend on Friday evening, with a social following. Saturday brought the golf outing, buffet dinner and alumni reception. I had the opportunity to speak to a large gathering of alumni and students at the awards reception. I congratulated the award winners, and reminded current athletes of both their special roles on campus and of the legacy left by their predecessors.

On Sunday, it was time to take the field, court, pool or ice as we held the rest of our alumni games. In addition to men's hockey, eight sports (men's soccer, tennis, women's soccer, swimming and diving, baseball, softball, women's hockey, and volleyball) held competitions. The campus was alive as over 150 athletes participated in the games. The weekend ended with a community picnic and pig roast. It was a great way to relax together, and rest up from all the weekend activities.

This year’s Hall of Fame inductees were Tom Pepper '74 of Chicago, a three-year letterwinner and an NAIA All-District basketball player; Sue Otto '90 of Santa Monica, Calif., a four-year letterwinner in soccer; and Chad Doerre '96 of Joliet, Ill., a four-year letterwinner in baseball.

Visit our website for more information on the Hall of Fame inductees.

SMU’s 2008-09 postseason award-winners, as well as last year’s outstanding male and female athletes and outstanding scholar athletes were also recognized during Saturday night’s ceremony. For information on last year's outstanding athletes, go to the SMU Athletics website.

Young Alumni Weekend attracts recent grads

2009-09-18T12:31:00.001-07:00

Reconnecting at the first Young Alumni Weekend: Dr. Jenny Shanahan,
Mel Drake, Jeff David '08 M'09 and Lance Thompson '05

We invited graduates from the last decade back to campus for the inaugural Young Alumni Reunion Weekend, September 11-13. As part of the weekend, a Faculty/Staff & Young Alumni Social was held Friday evening in the Toner Student Center Lounge.

The special weekend of events continued with a bonfire, a community outreach project, ropes course activities, disc golfing and a pig roast picnic. The weekend coincided with Cardinal ‘M’ Club Weekend, giving SMU alumni opportunities to cheer on Cardinal athletics. A special barbecue was hosted for the 5-year anniversary class of 2004.

Young Alumni Weekend 2009 was full of fun opportunities to catch up with classmates, connect with current students, socialize with faculty and staff, and explore the newest spaces on the Winona campus.

Weekend information and followup comments and photos are on a special Facebook page. Sign in at Facebook.com and search for "SMU Young Alumni Weekend." Feel free to post your favorite moments or stories from the weekend, or make suggestions for next year's event.

Speaker adds Lasallian context to college

2009-09-18T12:30:00.002-07:00

Brother Charles Kitson and Brother William

All faculty, staff, and students were invited to attend the College Convocation and Mass of the Holy Spirit on September 1. These events marked the official opening of the academic year at the undergraduate College.

Remarks at the convocation were especially aimed at freshmen. Brother Charles Kitson, FSC, engaged students with an informative presentation about “GOOGLING GOD: A Lasallian Search.” Brother Charles used the Gospel challenge to follow Christ by getting out of our “boats” — within a Lasallian context.

Brother Charles serves as the De La Salle Christian Brothers' Secretary for the Lasallian Family and Association. This position finds him traveling around the Lasallian world fostering and animating lay partners to greater participation in the charism of Saint John Baptist De La Salle. He helps coordinate the many Lasallian Volunteer movements around the world as well as mentor the newly formed group known as “Young Lasallians.”

Students host Mexican celebration

2009-09-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

Students enjoyed food and late-night fun at El Grito

Members of our student Intercultural Awareness Association hosted “El Grito” on September 15 and invited the entire college community. This was a fun and social event in the plaza celebrating Mexico’s independence from Spain. Students enjoyed authentic Mexican food catered by a local restaurant, and danced to music by a live Mexican mariachi band.

Spring commencement ceremonies show the growth and impact of Saint Mary’s mission

2009-06-19T11:03:00.000-07:00

Graduation is a great time of year on university campuses. Students rejoice, families look on with pride. Faculty and staff join in the celebrations as the culmination of years of hard work come to fruition. Saint Mary’s University is happy to share with you some good news. During these past six weeks we’ve had six graduations in three cities and on two continents.

On May 2, the 13th commencement exercise at our Christ the Teacher Institute for Education was held in Nairobi, Kenya. This affiliated program of Saint Mary’s provides coursework in teacher education to East Africans. Thirty of our students received a bachelor of education degree in Education and five received a master’s in African Studies.

A short week later, on May 9, we held two graduation ceremonies in Winona. The first occasion was commencement for the undergraduate and residential College, where about 220 graduates were encouraged to live the mission of the university: “On this most significant day – a day of discovery and new beginnings – as you walk through our doors, through the portal between yesterday and tomorrow, know that Saint Mary’s University has confidence in you. We believe that it is ordinary people – just like you – who have the capacity to make our world a better place. We know what you are capable of, and we have great confidence in your determination and your ability to make a difference in our world by sharing lavishly and joyfully the abilities and abundant talent you have, for the common good of all.”

Later that same day in Winona, more than 400 adults in our Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs received master’s degrees. Their ages and life situations are different from College graduates, but they are no less determined to make a positive difference in the world.

A month later, on June 7, three more ceremonies for the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs were conducted on our Twin Cities campus. The varied backgrounds of these adult learners, their passion for education, and their gratitude to a university that is helping them advance their careers, their lives, their communities was joyfully obvious for all to see.

The graduates were encouraged during the ceremony to own and to share the mission of Saint Mary’s: “This is…what Saint Mary’s University is about. We strive to unleash the creative capacity of minds and to enkindle a passion in hearts. We strive to run good schools where students – both young and old – can be confident that they will be known and valued while receiving an excellent education. They know they will be treated as individuals and with respect while being formed to ethical lives of service and leadership. They will be welcomed into a community of belonging and belief while being prepared for civic responsibility and being formed to provide the kind of ethical and entrepreneurial leadership in the professional sphere for which the peoples of the nations dream.”

As many of you well know, in 1984, Saint Mary’s was a liberal arts college and the campus was in Winona. More than 25 years later, Saint Mary’s has become a true university. The undergraduate College remains vital and relevant, while there has been tremendous growth in our Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs (SGPP).

The mission of the university remains a constant: “Enriched by the Catholic, Lasallian heritage, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota awakens, nurtures, and empowers learners to ethical lives of service and leadership.”

What has changed over the years is the scope and reach of Saint Mary’s. About 1,400 traditional undergraduates study each year in Winona. At the same time, close to 4,300 adult learners are enrolled – for the most part, part-time – in graduate and professional programs in education, business, counseling, nurse anesthesiology and in an undergraduate completion program.

The Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs locations have expanded to include a Twin Cities campus; Rochester, Apply Valley and Minnetonka centers; more than 100 course delivery sites around Minnesota and Wisconsin; and affiliated programs in Nairobi, Kenya and Jamaica.

Blessings to you and your loved ones

2008-12-19T07:32:00.003-08:00

Students, faculty and staff here at Saint Mary’s join me in prayer for your special intentions during this holiest of seasons in which is celebrated the mystery that, in the words of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, “God has come to earth and wishes to come into our hearts to give us a share in God’s nature, and help us become altogether heavenly persons.”

Remembering the less fortunate in our community

2008-12-19T07:32:00.001-08:00

As the temperatures dip to the single digits, and a blanket of white covers the campus, it looks — and feels — like Christmas is nearing at Saint Mary’s. Students hung Christmas lights in their dorm windows as they counted down the days until the semester was completed.

As we give thanks for our countless blessings, we must also remember those less fortunate. The holidays can be an especially difficult time for those who are facing economic hardship.

In this traditional time of giving, our students, faculty and staff have been busy with a number of community efforts including the 10 Days of Giving, which benefits the Winona Food Shelf; the “Toys for Teens” drive, run by our Cardinal Athletic Council; numerous volunteer efforts; and the Saint Mary’s-sponsored Gifts for Winona, which is helping a record number of 1,800 community members enjoy Christmas this year.

Through Gifts for Winona, a community-wide gift-giving program in its seventh year, many families in need are having a happier holiday season. It’s truly heartwarming to see the generosity that shines through in our SMU community, and beyond.

Take time out this year, as you rush about with shopping, baking and decorating, to give thanks to God for his abundant love, and to remember your neighbors in need. I pray that God continue to bless you and your family this holiday season and throughout the approaching New Year.

An introduction to Minnesota’s governor

2008-12-19T07:31:00.002-08:00

Brother William, Governor Pawlenty, Bernie Wagnild and Michael Dougherty

I met with Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty on December 10 at the Capitol in St. Paul. The visit was arranged by Bernie Wagnild, trustee emeritus, and Michael Dougherty ’76, trustee. The meeting served as a useful introduction, and the conversation was wide-ranging.

Saint Mary’s response to the economic situation

2008-12-19T07:31:00.001-08:00

We want you to know that Saint Mary’s is keenly aware of the challenging financial situation that unsettled the global economy this fall. We are concerned but confident about the University’s continued financial health. We are more concerned about the impact of economic developments on the families of our students. We’ll have a better sense of this after January, 2009.

Saint Mary’s financial status is stable. We budget conservatively, we invest conservatively, and we live within our means. We are less impacted by the stock market than some other schools because we are tuition-driven and don’t rely on endowment income. Enrollment the past few years has been excellent.

In general, our students still seem to be able to find loans if they need them. We are concerned about individual family situations, and we will work with families who are trying to cover college cost. If your financial situation changes during the school year, you are welcome to contact us to see if you qualify for additional aid.

In the longer-term, higher education is often considered a good investment in difficult financial times, and Saint Mary’s is positioned on the lower end of pricing for Minnesota private universities. We provide an excellent private education at relatively low cost, and we will continue to be as accessible as possible to as many students as possible. More than three-quarters of our students attend here with the benefit of financial assistance.

Meetings with friends in Chicago

2008-12-19T07:30:00.000-08:00

At the Vie Restaurant: John Domanico ’77 (president of the alumni board of
directors), Brother William, Joan (Fallon CST ’78) Domanico, Bo Rettig ’77.

The Office of Development and Alumni Relations staff and I spent a couple of days last month in Chicago to meet and connect with our alumni, parents and friends. It was a very busy three days meeting with benefactors and friends of Saint Mary’s.

We hosted a breakfast with 10 members from the class of 1959 who will be celebrating their 50th anniversary this summer at homecoming. Michael ’87 and Peggy (Drennan ’87) Meagher hosted a wonderful gathering for alumni, friends and current parents at the Vie Restaurant in Western Springs. Thanks also to Patrick ’75 and Lindy Salvi for hosting at their home in the Chicago area a gathering of current parents and alumni.

An SMU/CST luncheon at the Chicago Cultural Center was held on November 13, where I spoke to this group of alums of both institutions about the awesome and privileged opportunity we all have as educators and as parents to be “visible angels” of love and compassion in the lives of those entrusted to our care.

Seven forums provide feedback on our priorities

2008-12-19T07:29:00.002-08:00

A Winona campus student offered his opinion during a
November 20 town hall forum on university priorities.

As I promised during my inauguration address, roundtable sessions were held on the Winona and Twin Cities campuses for faculty, staff and students on November 17 and 18. A special invitation was extended to alumni and parents to attend an evening roundtable session in Minneapolis. I invited input as we attempt to finalize a set of priorities which will be used to guide operational planning for the university over the next several years. After the roundtable sessions, two Town Hall meetings were held to which the entire faculty, staff and student bodies were invited. More information will be forthcoming with regard to the outcomes of these significant university gatherings