"Writing Women Back into History" is the theme for March when the University of Minnesota, Crookston will recognize Women's History Month with a series of events. The National Women's History Project, originator of Women's History Month, recognizes that women have been missing from our history books and this year's theme will honor the legacy of women throughout history. Women's History Month events on the Crookston campus include a theatrical performance, a common read, and a guest speaker who will focus on women and leadership.

Monday, March 1 - Women's History Month will be recognized with a special cake honoring the 90th anniversary of the women's suffrage movement and the 30th anniversary of the National Women's History Project. Served in the Sargeant Student Center from 1-3 p.m.

Tuesday, March 2 - Screening of the movie "Iron Jawed Angels," which tells the story of several defiant young activists who put their lives at risk to help American women win the right to vote. The movie will be shown in the Evergreen Hall classroom at 4 p.m.

Thursday-Sunday, March 4, 5, 6, 7 - "Leader of the Pack," a theater production based on the life and music of Ellie Greenwich will be performed in Kiehle Auditorium. Performances are scheduled each evening at 7:30 p.m.

Monday, March 29 - Guest speaker Peg Lonnquist, Ph.D., director of the Women's Center at the University of Minnesota, will speak on the topic of women and leadership. Her presentation, which will begin at 4 p.m. in Bede Ballroom, is entitled "How to be Outrageous" will focus on the skills of women leaders.

Wednesday, March 31 - A book discussion on Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China, an autobiographical family history by Chinese writer Jung Chang, will be held in the Prairie Room in the Sargeant Student Center. The discussion will be held at 3:30 p.m. Copies of the book are available at the UMC Bookstore.

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UMC Faculty and Staff,
On behalf of the Awards committee I would like to enlist your assistance in recognizing the accomplishments of UMC's most deserving students for the Outstanding Student Service Awards. These prestigious campus awards are granted to deserving students who have demonstrated exemplary actions in academics, leadership, campus activity, community service and leadership to UMC. All nominated students will  be sent an application to complete and completed applications will be reviewed by the Awards Committee that consists of David Rolling, George French, Terrill Bradford and myself. Of the students selected for the Outstanding Student Service Awards the Man and Woman of the Year are chosen. All award recipients will be given their award at the annual ceremony which will take place on Thursday, April 22 at 6:00 p.m. in Kiehle Auditorium.

We ask that you please take a few minutes and nominate students who you feel demonstrate the above characteristics and are deserving of recognition.

You may nominate students either via e-mail to me or on the Outstanding Student Service Awards Nomination Form 10.doc. The nomination deadline is Friday, February 26.

Thank you!
Lisa Samuelson
Director of Student Activities/Sargeant Student Center

Jobs were on the minds of the University of Minnesota, Crookston College Students. More than 3,000 University of Minnesota students and recent alumni (including those from UMC's campus) spent time visiting with potential Employers at the Job and internship fair. The event was sponsored by Career Service Offices at the five University of Minnesota campuses.  The Job and Internship Fair was held at at the Minneapolis Convention Center Monday, February 22, 2010.  This is the eighth year of the U of M job fair. Job seekers appeared hopeful, in spite of the economy.

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Link to UMC Career and Counseling Services

A crowd of nearly 30 students, faculty, staff, and community members enjoyed a recital by concert pianist John McKay on Monday evening in Evergreen Hall. The performance was part of Residential Life's "Mentor in Residence" program. Additionally, the recital served to dedicate the grand piano located in the Evergreen Hall lounge. McKay also spoke to students in associate professor George French's music classes during the afternoon.

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Students in the Advanced Landscape Design course went on a site visit to Voyageurs National Park, January 29, 2010. The course is taught by Eric E. Castle, ASLA, Assistant Professor of Environmental Landscaping, Agriculture and Natural Resources Department.

During this visit students met with park personnel and collected field data related to a development project that the students are working on as a service learning project this semester. With the information gathered during this visit, students will develop landscape plans that will be used to explore the feasibility of future park projects. Students on the site visit included Matthew Anderson, Jada Ellenberg, Michael Field and Jordan Jacobson.

The popular International Dinner Series brings the wonderful flavors of food and culture from countries from across the world to the University of Minnesota, Crookston campus. The 2010 dinner series features Korea, Dubai (United Arab Emirates), and Panama. Students from each of these countries will share their favorite dishes and a special presentation related to their home country.

Advance adult tickets are available for $12 for an individual evening or $40 for the entire series. Children's tickets are $10 for an evening and $35 for the series. UMC Student tickets are $7 for an individual evening or $28 for the series. Contact Rae French, coordinator of study abroad at 218-281-8339 (rfrench@umn.edu) for tickets or more details.

March 1 - Halie Kang presents"The Women's Role in Korea" while guests enjoy Korean food
March 8 - Learn about Dubai, the United Arab Emirates and taste delicacies from Pakistan
March 22 - Dancing and great food will highlight an evening featuring the country of Panama
March 31 - This dinner concludes the international dinner series for 2010

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UMC International Programs

Want to get involved on campus? Enjoying making new friends? Consider being a SOS (Student Orientation Staff) Leader! SOS Leaders are volunteer students who help welcome new students to campus during orientation weekend.

Applications and a complete job description/requirements can be picked up at the Sargeant Student Center Information Desk or from Sara Kaiser 145G Sargeant Student Center

SOS Leader Applications are due Wednesday, February 17. Completed applications can be returned to Sara Kaiser 145G Sargeant Student Center.

Have additional questions? Contact Sara Kaiser at kais0067@umn.edu or contact one of the SOS Team Leaders:
> Katelyn Zins at zinsx029@umn.edu
> Joe Harren at harre050@umn.edu
> Heather Donati-Lewis at donat035@umn.edu

The University of Minnesota, Crookston Turf Bowl Team placed 7th in the National Turf Bowl Competition held recently. Members of the team included Junior Tom Halver, Chaska, Minn.; Senior Philip Holland, New London, Minn.; Senior Mark Michalski, Silver Bay, Minn.; and Senior Weston Wander, Sauk Centre, Minn. They competed against 67 turf bowl teams from universities all across the United States.  The competition was held during the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Education and Trade Show on February 11, 2010, in San Diego, Calif.

Photo (l to r): Philip Holland, Mark Michalski, Weston Wander, and Tom Halver

Of the 67 teams represented by the 31 universities who competed, the U of M, Crookston Turf Bowl Team ranked 5th behind some major turfgrass programs including Iowa State University located in Ames; University of Massachusetts in Amherst; Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.; and Penn State located in State College.

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Going to college this fall?  College Goal Sunday will be held this coming Sunday, February 21 at 1:00 p.m. in the new Evergreen Hall Classroom on the University of Minnesota, Crookston campus.

Get free, on-site professional assistance completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). 

Talk to financial aid professionals about financial aid resources and how to apply. Remember to bring copies of your 2009 tax information.  Refreshments and door prizes will be available.  For questions, call 218-281-8569.

Link to UMC campus maps 

Alumni and community friends of the Northwest School of Agriculture (NWSA) and the University of Minnesota, Crookston will gather for a social on Friday, February, 19, 2010, at Terrace Green at ViewPoint Resort, 640 North Hawes Road, Mesa, Arizona. The annual alumni social begins at 11:30 a.m. and will run until 3 p.m. Lunch will be served at noon for $15 per person; pre-registration required.

Corby Kemmer, director of Development & Alumni Relations will host this year's social and Chancellor Charles H. Casey will bring greetings from the Crookston campus.

Link to Development & Alumni Relations

Designed for employees to network and share best practices, the annual, systemwide University of Minnesota Quality Fair is all about driving excellence. Included in this year's top finishers during a poster session was a poster by Melissa Dingmann, financial aid director and Emily Knutson, a financial aid counselor and workstudy coordinator at the University of Minnesota, Crookston.  Their poster, entitled "Tracking Workstudy Study Funds Effectively Across Campus," was awarded third place overall of the 35 posters entered in the Quality Fair. Each year the top six entries in the poster session are recognized with a $500 prize for the department responsible for the poster's creation.

(Photo l to r): Melissa Dingmann and Emily Knutson with their winning poster

"It gives a lot of people access to information that is important to them," Dingmann says. "Before we had this tool, the whole process of keeping everyone informed was extremely time consuming." Knutson, who works with the information daily, is especially pleased with the way they can track important information and how it gives easy access to those who need it. "We are looking at next steps to improve the database," Knutson explains. "We will be adding new things as time goes on and are currently considering the creation of a paperless timecard submission process."

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Please visit the scholarships link to see the different scholarships offered at UMC. Students who wish to be considered for specialty scholarships must complete an application. To complete the scholarship application form online, visit the UMC Financial Aid website.

Applications & all supporting documentation are due in the Financial Aid Office NO LATER than 4:00 p.m., Monday, February 15, 2010.

Please contact Mary Feller at mfeller@umn.edu if you have any questions regarding the specialty scholarships.

The University of Minnesota, Crookston is participating in the 2010 College Student Health Survey February 8 - March 9, 2010.

Check your University email account and U.S. mailbox to see if you are one of the chosen few!!! A random sample of students will be asked to participate in the survey. Emails and postcards with unique usernames and passwords have been sent to selected students this week.

Just for completing the survey, students will be entered into a grand prize drawing. Three lucky students will win gift cards--$3,000, $1,000, and $500--to any combination of the following stores: Target, Best Buy, Macy's, Home Depot, IKEA, The Apple Store, Tiffany & Co., Sports Authority, Scheel's, and Cabela's.

PLUS, every week, students who completed the survey will have a chance to win an iPod Touch(tm). The sooner you fill out their survey, the more chances you have to win! A student's odds of winning are 1 in 1,000 or better!

UMC and the University of Minnesota are working together to sponsor this survey. For more information about our participation, contact Stacey Grunewald, RN, UMC Student Health, 145F Sargeant Student Center.

Get ready for your spring break trip! Getting your passport is quick and easy!

You will need:

- Original Copy of your birth certificate
- Parent(s) date of birth and where they were born
- Three checks
   > Polk County Recorder's Office - $25.00
   > US Department of State - $75.00
   > UMC for passport photos - $10.00 for students, $10.00 for faculty/staff/community
- Proof of identity
- Two passport photos - can be taken at passport drive

You can also renew your passport or get a passport card. This is open to EVERYONE including the great community of Crookston.  If people do not have a birth certificate, but were born in the state of Minnesota, we can still process your passport application.  For another small fee you can order your birth certificate on the spot.

Thirteen U of M, Crookston Alumni were among those representing more than 27 employers attending the annual Winter Job and Internship Fair. The event was held in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center, on Wednesday, February 3, 2010.

Front row (l to r): Stanley Schrupp, '92; Shane Mendez, ex. '07; Alison Stone, '06; Becky Langlois, '09; Phil Seibel, '05; Draper Lundquist, '03; and Becky Clow, '69.
Back row: Jake Darsow, '08; Jean Ann Bieniek, '90; Dustin Hollerman, '03; James Davis, '08; Teal Plaine, '08; and Jerry Robinson, '78 and '96.

The annual job fair gives students an opportunity to visit with employers face-to-face, and it also allows the employer the ability to meet the students and get to know them.

The Annual Winter Job and Internship Fair was hosted by UMC Career and Counseling Services and Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE).

Click link to Career and Counseling Department

In a special fund raising effort to fight breast cancer, U of M, Crookston Club Hockey players faced off wearing brand new pink jerseys in their first ever "Pink the Rink" game in the new Crookston Sports Center.

UMC Club Hockey took on the Lumberjacks from Dakota College at Bottineau, a team that has won the last three National Junior College Athletic Association national hockey titles. UMC tied Botttineau 3-3.

The pink jerseys become part of a silent auction to raise money for Susan G. Komen Foundation over the final 8 home games left in the team's season. Senior Brent Swanson, Mason City, Iowa, is president of Club Hockey, captain of the team, and helped organize the event. They are coached by Senior Brett Saari, Green Bay, Wisconsin.

"The combination of the first "Pink the Rink" night and the first ever game played by UMC players in the new hockey arena is going to make this game one to remember, says Swanson, "We are looking forward to playing hockey in this outstanding venue in support of a great cause, and we encourage our fans to come out and support us."

After "Pink the Rink," the Club Hockey team will face Minnesota State University Mankato on Friday and Saturday, February 5-6.

Photo by Bill Sullivan

A group of U of M, Crookston students and staff, organized by Laurie Wilson, enjoyed night-time skiing at Rydell National Wildlife Refuge on January 29.  Each year on the eve of a full moon, Rydell hosts a luminary ski event that is open to the public. Skill levels in the group ranged from first time skiers to members of racing teams.

A special thank you to Ardell Knudsvig who assisted students with equipment fittings, and to Rydell staff and volunteers who welcomed the group and warmed us up with soup, hot chocolate and their hospitality.