Thursday, June 21, 2012

LET THE CENTENNIAL BEGIN!


This is a year unlike any other. Normally there is a brief lull between May commencement and June homecoming. Not this summer! The university is preparing to launch our year-long Centennial celebration during the alumni Homecoming weekend. This Saturday at 2 p.m. we will commemorate the laying of the Saint Mary's Hall cornerstone in 1912 with a special program, open to the public, and a "birthday party." This event will be just the beginning and I encourage you to watch for information about all of the Centennial events in the year ahead.

During the past few months, the students finished the year with service activities, academic excellence, and fun. Let me tell you about a few of these activities.

PARTICIPATING IN SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY ...

Students join faculty and staff in Relay for Life to fight cancer


More than 300 students, faculty, and staff came together in the Relay for Life to celebrate and remember those who have defeated cancer, those currently battling cancer, and those who have lost their lives to this disease. The event raised more than $36,000 for the American Cancer Society. Team members spent the night walking around SMU’s indoor track from dusk to dawn to represent the 24-hour fight against cancer.



Volunteers dig in for ‘Spruce Up Winona Day’


In recognition of “Spruce Up Winona Day,” about 160 students helped out throughout the community this spring. Coordinated by our Volunteer Mentors group, the students assisted non-profit agencies including the Habitat ReStore, Winona Area Humane Society, Winona Public Library, Winona Health, as well as several area churches and senior residences.



Students connect with representatives at Day at the Capitol

SMU students with Senator Jeremy Miller of Winona (back right).
As part of the university's continuing efforts to foster a learning environment that prepares students for life, work and citizenship, 48 of our students participated in Day at the Capitol in March. Sponsored by the Minnesota Private College Council, the day afforded our students the opportunity to meet with representatives and senators and thank them for their support of the Minnesota State Grant program.  Students were also treated to an alumni panel including Patrick Connolly '95, Molly Murphy '97, Cullen Sheehan '97 and Justin Bell '99, who provided their perspectives on life and work in the public affairs realm.

EXCELLING IN ACADEMICS AND MORE ...

The College honors outstanding seniors

Regina Quandt and Michael Mockler
At our Founder's Day celebration, 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 Michael Mockler of Dubuque, Iowa and the Outstanding Female Senior Award went to Regina Quandt from Minneapolis, Minn. Finalists for the 2012 Outstanding Male Senior included Brian William Dillon, Arden Hills, Minn.; Luis Escobar, Madelia, Minn.; Kevin Halpin, Bartlett, Ill.; and Robert "Robby" McGuire, Rochester, Minn. Finalists for the Outstanding Female Senior were Lauren Baier, Mount Horeb, Wis.; Ellen Koneck, New Brighton, Minn.; Amy Kujak, River Falls, Wis.; and Jill Spitzmueller, New Brighton, Minn.



Mayo Scholars explore integration of science, medicine, business

Shown at Mayo Clinic are Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Donna Aronson, Biology Department faculty mentor Dr. Jeanne Minnerath, Business Department faculty mentor Dr. Shelly McCallum, Associate Dean of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Dr. Phil Cochran, team leader Jammie Henson (Augsburg College), and SMU students Adam Lueck, Robert McElherne, Thomas Healy and Luis Escobar. 
SMU is fortunate to be one of a select number of private Minnesota colleges to participate in the Mayo Innovation Scholarship Program. The program offers business and science students the opportunity to explore the interface of science, medicine, and business by working alongside an MBA student to perform an analysis of an invention or new medical product in the early stages of development. Our students presented their analysis and recommendations at the Mayo Clinic in March to an audience of university faculty members, inventors, and other Mayo Clinic professionals.



Science seniors present research at Biology Symposium

Biology major Valerie Ross in a Brother Charles Hall lab.
Senior students from the departments of biology, chemistry and mathematics, along with students from area universities, presented their research findings at our annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in Biology. The R.V. Kowles Lecture was presented by Dr. Dan Keyler, professor of experimental and clinical pharmacology at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Keyler later wrote to Saint Mary's to praise the work of faculty and evidence of "student motivation, academic challenge and learning . . . . Student presentations at the Saint Mary’s symposium were well above the quality of many professional student presentations I have heard over the years.”



Psychology Symposium shows high-level work by students


The SMU Psychology Symposium in April was a forum for students to present research data collected in the context of their collaborative labs or experimental psychology courses. In addition, formal research presentations were made by graduating students in fulfillment of their senior thesis requirement.



PR/Business Club visits professionals in St. Paul

Public Relations/Business Club students at 3M.
Students in the Public Relations/Business Club visited professionals in the field at Peterson Milla Hooks Advertising (PMH) in Minneapolis and the 3M Corporation in St. Paul. At PMH, students toured the agency and heard account executives, planners, creative directors and graphic designers discuss their roles on major ad campaigns. The visit to 3M was highlighted by a tour of the Innovation Center along with speakers from the areas of brand management, communications and marketing. Alum Nikki Jung ’07, a channel marketer for 3M’s Occupational Health and Environmental Safety division, hosted the 3M visit.



Kudos to student-athletes for their successes


As part of our efforts to celebrate individual successes and as part of NCAA Division III week, Saint Mary's hosted a luncheon with the President for student-athletes who have been honored as First-Team All-MIAC, Honorable Mention All-MIAC, First-Year Team All-MIAC, All-MIAC Defensive Team, and MIAC Athlete of the Week. Members of the President's Cabinet joined in celebrating the accomplishments of these student-athletes. Over 25 SMU student-athletes have been so recognized since the spring of 2011.

OTHER EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS ...

RAs get inside look at new residence hall


Student resident assistants had the opportunity to tour the "under-construction" 141-bed Winona campus residence hall, in preparation for welcoming new residents this fall. The tour was led by Jim Bedtke, vice president for the College, who showed the RAs an inside perspective on how a residence hall is built. Students have registered for the residence hall and excitement is building.



First-Generation Initiative receives support in many ways


The First-Generation program in Winona was recently visited by representatives from the Mexican Consulate in Saint Paul. Shown above are Ana Luisa Fajer, Mexican consul, and Alan Torres Tovar, external affairs, who met with students Cynthia Garcia and Nixcie Mazon (left and right), and program director Brother Ed Siderewicz. The university is fortunate to have generous benefactors who support our mission in many ways. The First-Generation Initiative and its students will benefit from a $100,000 matching gift from Jack and Mary Ann Remick of Rochester. Their match helped Saint Mary's raise $250,000 for First-Generation scholarships in 2012. The FGI program provides full scholarships — and continuous support — to low-income, high-potential, qualified students, with preference given to Saint Mary’s Lasallian partner schools.

CELEBRATING OUR HERITAGE ...

Join us for a year of Centennial celebration

This photo, taken in May 1912, shows the cornerstone being laid for Saint Mary's Hall, the first building of what would become Saint Mary's University.
Several major events are planned to celebrate our Centennial, embrace our history, and springboard us into our second century of "A Transforming Heritage." Many other activities will expand on that theme during the year.

Major events include:
  • Cornerstone Commemoration (June 23)
  • All-University Convocation & Mass of the Holy Spirit (Aug. 27)
  • Centennial Celebration - Chicago (Sept. 22)
  • Arts Commissions Debut (Oct. 4-6)
    & Family Weekend (Oct. 5-7)
  • SGPP All-Alumni Reunion (March 9, 2013)
  • All-School Reunion (June 21-23, 2013)
    & Centennial Gala (June 22, 2013)
Please visit our Centennial website for a history timeline, stories from alumni, event information and photos, and special commemorative items.



Alums return for Gaslight, a 50-year musical tradition

The original Oldie Moldie All-Stars posed with Brother William at Gaslight.
In spring 1963, a true Saint Mary's musical tradition was born. This past spring, the SMU alumni community gathered to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Gaslight, our annual student musical showcase. The two-day event featured an alumni show with numerous alums representing the 60s, 70s, 90s and recent decades returning to perform once again on campus. A highlight of the evening was a performance by the original Oldie Moldie All-Stars.