Thursday, September 20, 2012

THE NEW YEAR BEGINS WITH A BURST OF ACTIVITY

The new academic year is only a few weeks old, and already our students are busy with service activities, academic excellence, and fun. Celebration of our Centennial year began over the summer, and there are more special events coming up soon that will engage students, parents and alums. I encourage you to watch for information about the Centennial and coming events at www.saintmarys100.com.

Let me tell you about a few of these activities and other developments on campus.

"A Transforming Heritage" . . .

Cornerstone event launches our Centennial


Brother William helped unveil a display of the 1912 cornerstone.
We officially launched our Centennial year at the Cornerstone Commemoration event on June 23 during our alumni Homecoming weekend. Hundreds of distinguished guests and friends were on hand to mark the occasion of the laying of the Saint Mary's Hall cornerstone a century ago. More than 50 Centennial Student Leaders helped make the day a success. We welcomed the public to a special ceremony and birthday cake reception at the steps of Saint Mary’s Hall, where the dreams for the university first began. Speakers reflected on the transformative impact Saint Mary’s continues to have on its students and many communities.

The Cornerstone Commemoration began a year-long Centennial celebration at Saint Mary’s, with events planned in Winona, the Twin Cities, Chicago and throughout the U.S., as well as in Nairobi and Jamaica.

Cornerstone Commemoration photos
Video of the weekend
Centennial website

All-University Centennial Convocation



Close to 1,000 faculty, staff and students from all locations and programs came together with special guests in Winona on Aug. 27 for the University Centennial Convocation and Mass of the Holy Spirit.

Brother William spoke to the university’s heritage and history that contributed to the vibrant institution of today. He observed that the milestone of 100 years is only significant in the context of history, and in appreciation of the great number of alumni who have gone on to serve society well. And he looked ahead to continued success in the next 100 years by introducing themes from our new strategic plan: Saint Mary’s 2017.

We recognized Saint Mary’s relationship to the Diocese of Winona in two special ways. We honored The Most Reverend John M. Quinn, Bishop of Winona, with a doctorate in Pastoral Ministry, honoris causa. And, we presented the Winona Diocese with the Centennial Award “in grateful recognition of our century-long shared heritage and for its continued ministry ... advancing God’s Kingdom of peace, justice and love.”

Convocation photos

A signature Centennial event in Chicago



This Saturday, a signature Centennial event will bring together the large community of alumni and friends in the Chicago area. All Saint Mary’s and College of Saint Teresa alumni, parents, benefactors and friends are invited to Millennium Park for an evening of food and festivities. So far, over 700 guests have already pre-registered.

Father Andrew Fabian, professor of philosophy, will be honored for dedicating more than 48 years of service to the university as he will be awarded the President’s Medal for Outstanding Merit. Dr. John Paulson, Eric Heukeshoven, and The Oldie Moldies are also scheduled to perform. Additional weekend activities include a Cubs game Friday, alumni boat cruises and a special Mass at St. Peter’s Church Saturday.

Chicago event information 

Commissioned Centennial works
debut at Family Weekend



To give creative and dramatic expression to the rich, 100-year history of the university, we called on resident artists to create original works on the occasion of the Centennial year. Family Weekend marks the debut of two works, and the first complete performance of a third.

Debuting at the Page Theatre on Thursday, Oct. 4 (and also presented on Friday and Saturday), “Let Us Remember ...” is a performed narrative written by Michael Charron ’79, dean of the School of the Arts. The historical drama includes many of the voices from Saint Mary’s history and incorporates theatre, music and dance into one inspiring program. The program features the first complete performance of commissioned scores by SMU music faculty Dr. Patrick O’Shea, director of choirs, and A. Eric Heukeshoven, director of jazz.

On Friday, Oct. 5, the university will unveil a permanent visual arts installation in the lobby of the Toner Student Center. A graphic Centennial timeline, by art professor Brother Roderick Robertson ’63, was commissioned to welcome visitors and tell the story of the transforming heritage of Saint Mary’s. The timeline will also be on display at our Twin Cities campus.

Family Weekend schedule
Ticket information or 507-457-1716

A vibrant campus filled with activity . . .

Students set fast pace for volunteering



Part of our mission is to prepare students for lives of leadership and service. Undergraduate students in Winona are wasting no time engaging with local communities and beyond with a variety of Campus Ministry service activities. The Volunteer Mentors mobilized 90 freshmen to volunteer in Winona after their first week on campus, another group performed a river cleanup, students volunteered at the Great Dakota Gathering and will help at St. Anne Hospice the next two weekends, and big plans are in the works for Winona’s “Make a Difference Day“ on Oct. 27. And, during October break, Campus Ministry SOUL trips to four cities will focus on sustainable food growth, inner city violence, poverty and eco-justice.

Students find their niche at Activities Fair



A real strength at Saint Mary's is the opportunity and ability for all students to participate. On a beautiful day in late August, hundreds of students gathered on the Plaza to browse the myriad student-run clubs, organizations, volunteer groups and club sports. There is something for everyone, and often enough, if an activity doesn't exist on campus, students will create it.

New residence hall is named for Brother Leopold



Our latest effort to meet the needs and expectations of today’s residential students opened this fall in Winona. Shown above, sophomores, juniors and seniors living in the new residence hall posed for a group photo during Welcome Week. Each student sported a t-shirt proclaiming “Proud First Resident of Brother Leopold Hall.” The 141-bed residence hall offers a variety of attractive living options including apartment-style suites.

The new hall honors the university's first Christian Brother president, Brother Leopold Julian Dodd, FSC, who was instrumental in negotiating with the Diocese of Winona to purchase the college — and in gaining accreditation for it. He served as president from 1933 to 1942.

Another student residence, De La Salle Hall, underwent significant renovation this year and reopened this fall with refreshed living quarters.

Young Alumni Weekend gives a chance to reconnect



Nearly 150 recent graduates returned to the Winona campus for Young Alumni Weekend, Sept. 7–9. Alums reconnected at a welcome gathering with Brother William and faculty/staff, and enjoyed entertainment from current students as well as fellow alumni on the Plaza. They also challenged themselves on the ropes course and disc golf course, participated in the Cardinal Dash, attended Cardinal athletic events, and capped the weekend with a reception.

Young Alumni Weekend photos

All the world is a stage for theatre majors



Undergraduate theatre majors have an enriching, horizon-expanding academic and cultural experience when they travel to England each fall for the Stefannié Valéncia Kierlin London Theatre Program (part of the Semester in London program, which is open to all majors). The intensive semester of study, attending performances and travel is guided by Dr. Gary Diomandes, who also directs the students in an overseas production. This year 17 of our juniors are studying in London, and in late October the 14 theatre majors will stage "Almost, Maine" in the Tara Arts Studio Theatre of Earlsfield.

London Theatre Program photos and updates

Recognition for SMU, students and alums . . .

Saint Mary’s moves up in national rankings



It is gratifying to report that Saint Mary’s University continues to move up in the latest national rankings. U.S. News & World Report ranks us at No. 174 in their “National Universities” category, up three slots from last year. Saint Mary’s is nationally recognized for its excellent educational experience. We’re a top-tier university that is meeting the needs and exceeding the expectations of students at every level, from our undergraduate students to our doctoral students. The National Universities grouping includes schools that offer a wide range of undergraduate majors, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees. Taking top honors in this category are Harvard, Princeton, Yale and Columbia.

U.S. News ranking

Forbes.com’s 2012 list of “America’s Top Colleges” ranks Saint Mary’s as No. 306 of “The Best Public and Private Colleges and Universities — from the student's point of view.” The annual Forbes list ranks a select group of only 650 undergraduate institutions — the top 20% — based on the quality of the education they provide, the experience of the students, and how much they achieve. The Forbes listing is especially meaningful to us because it measures students’ satisfaction and opinion. It affirms that our students receive a quality education experience and are successful in their chosen careers. It also reflects that our students are able to graduate in four years and control their college tuition expenses.

Forbes.com ranking

Undergraduate student presents at Fermilab



Evan Shockley, a junior majoring in physics, gave a presentation last summer as part of the New Perspectives conference at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) in Aurora, Ill. This annual conference is part of the Fermilab Users’ Meeting, and all of the other talks were presented by graduate students. Evan’s work was done as part of the MicroBooNE collaboration, a group of about 95 scientists from 11 American universities, three U.S. national laboratories, and two European institutions. Evan and second-year Saint Mary’s physics student Morgan Fournier worked as summer interns at Fermilab, supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation.

Four other summer science internships funded by private donations offered undergraduate students opportunities to work with faculty and mentors both in and out of the classroom in areas such as ecology, pesticide research, fish and wildlife, and robotics.

Outstanding alums and student-athletes
are honored


Student athletes honored at the Cardinal ‘M’ Club ceremony: Regina Quandt, Jake Traxler, Kevin Gannon, Bailey Edwards.

Athletics plays an important role in shaping the hearts, minds and bodies of our student athletes. On Sept. 7, the Cardinal 'M' Club honored high-achieving athletes from last year and inducted three alums into the Sports Hall of Fame: Chris Kendall '79, Anne Erickson '89 and Alex Kugel '99. Last year's Outstanding Male and Female Athletes, Kevin Gannon '14 and Bailey Edwards '12 were recognized, as were the Outstanding Male and Female Scholar Athletes, Regina Quandt '12 and Jake Traxler '13. Congratulations to all for their accomplishments.

Working with the Alumni Office, Cardinal ‘M’ Club fosters and strengthens relationships between SMU and its alumni, families and friends.

Photos from the weekend

Alumni priests are honored with monsignor title


Current students at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary

Our Catholic heritage was in the spotlight as the Pope granted honors to several Winona Diocese priests with ties to Saint Mary's in recognition of their service. At the recent Mass of Elevation of the Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka, Winona Bishop John Quinn announced papal honors conferred on eight priests, granting them honorific titles including “monsignor.” Monsignor is a title granted by the Holy Father on priests who have done outstanding pastoral work or who hold important roles of leadership.

The Pope conferred the title of Chaplain to His Holiness to:
  • The Rev. Monsignor Thomas Melvin '96, rector of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary and vicar of clergy of the Diocese of Winona
  • The Rev. Monsignor R. Paul Heiting '78 vice-rector of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, and judicial vicar of the Diocese of Winona
  • The Rev. Monsignor Thomas Cook, '93; Moderator of the Curia of the Diocese of Winona, pastor of St. Felix Church, Wabasha, and St. Agnes Church, Kellogg
  • The Rev. Monsignor Gerald Kosse '72, pastor of St. Leo Church, Pipestone; St. Joseph Church, Jasper; and St. Martin Church, Woodstock.
The Pope conferred the title of Prelate of Honor to his Holiness to:
  • The Rev. Monsignor Thomas Hargesheimer '64, rector of the Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka
  • The Rev. Monsignor Richard Colletti '74, rector of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, and vicar general and chancellor of the Diocese of Winona
  • The Rev. Monsignor Robert Meyer, senior priest, former pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka
  • The Rev. Monsignor James McCauley '52, senior priest.
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