Contact: Sue Brorson, head, Business Department, 218-281-8186 (sbrorson@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Lisa Samuelson, director of Student Activities, 218-281-8507 (samue026@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Chunhui Wang, assistant director, international programs, 218-281-8551 (wang4854@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Kenneth Mendez, office support assistant, Post Office, 218-281-8329 (mende089@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Featuring Terri "Detroit" Hughes, Skid Row resident, whose story is part of recently released documentary "Lost Angels: Skid Row is My Home" 

Skid Row, the homeless capitol of the world, is home for Terri Hughes, an inspirational 

speaker and advocate for the homeless from Los Angeles, Calif. Hughes, whose story is featured in the documentary "Lost Angels: Skid Row is My Home," will be speaking on Thursday, April 4, 2013, in Kiehle Auditorium on the University of Minnesota Crookston campus. Her presentation, which begins at 7 p.m., will be a follow up to the showing of the documentary "Lost Angels" at 3:30 p.m. in Bede Ballroom that afternoon. Events are free and the public is invited to attend.

"Lost Angels," which was released on March 19, demonstrates how proactive approaches to homelessness-most specifically that of providing housing-are helping many to recover from mental illness and substance abuse and to find stability (www.skidrowismyhome.com). 

"The Soloist" will also be shown in Bede Ballroom on Thursday, March 28 at 6:30 p.m. Hughes was one of many Skid Row residents who were extras in the 2009 movie starring Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey, Jr., and Catherine Keener. 

In many ways, the story of Hughes is the story of Skid Row and a testament to the human spirit. She has been a part of the Skid Row community since 1981 and in and out of homelessness her entire life. In "The Soloist" she says "there was no screen manipulation, it wasn't acting; we were given the space to be ourselves."

"The Soloist" tells the story of Los Angeles journalist Steve Lopez, who befriends a homeless Juilliard-trained musician. He writes a series of stories on the homeless man in an effort to help him, but runs into trouble with the realities of the man's personal demons and the larger social injustices faced by the homeless. Those issues are also ones Hughes will address in her presentation Thursday evening. 

"There has been chaos on Skid Row even through the late 1990s when there were no services available," Hughes explains. "But places like the Midnight Mission, the L.A. Mission, and the Lamp community have provided support, and lives of Skid Row residents have been turned around. When the mentally ill, drug addicted, and those lacking housing have access to the assistance they need, they heal." 

Hughes story like so many others is important because at any time in life we could find ourselves or someone we care about facing homelessness. "I am you. We are your fathers and mothers, cousins, and grandkids," says Hughes. "If we don't unite on the issue of homelessness we won't be able to change anything. I want it to stop."

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 27 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 39 concentrations on campus--as well as 10 degrees online--in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,800 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Lorna Hollowell, director, Diversity and Multicultural Services, 218-281-8580 (lhollowe@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Rae French, coordinator, Study Abroad, 218-281-8339 (rfrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Lorna Hollowell, director, Diversity and Multicultural Services, 218-281-8580 (lhollowe@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Lorna Hollowell, director, diversity programming, 218-281-8580 (lhollowe@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Lorna Hollowell, director, diversity programming, 218-281-8580 (lhollowe@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Jingpeng Tang, associate professor, Math, Science, and Technology Dept., 218-281-8182 (jptang@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Laurie Wilson, coordinator, disability services, 218-281-8587 (lwilson2@umn.edu); Kenneth Johnson, instructor, Business Department, 218-281-8178 (joh02053@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Rae French, coordinator, study abroad, 218-281-8339 (rfrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Lorna Hollowell, director, diversity programming, 218-281-8580 (lhollowe@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: : Lorna Hollowell, director, diversity and multicultural programs, 218-281-8580 (lhollowe@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Lorna Hollowell, director, diversity and multicultural programs, 218-281-8580 (lhollowe@umn.edu) Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Sean Rozell, communications intern, 218-281-8446; Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu); Ruth Navarro, communications assistant, 218-281-8446 (nava0085@umn.edu)

The University of Minnesota, Crookston Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team traveled to the 2012 National Exposition held May 22, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo. The successful team of students is advised by Sam Walton Fellows Kenneth Johnson and Rachel Lundbohm, instructors in the Business Department and assisted by Courtney Bergman, lecturer in the Business Department. 

Dae "Danny" Yeul Lee (at right) received the SIFE Student Leader Scholarship in honor of the SIFE Alumni of the Year. A panel of at least three past recipients of the SIFE Alumni of the Year Award reviewed the applications and selected the recipients. Lee was selected one of the top five recipients of the year and will receive a $1000 scholarship for the 2012-2013 academic year. Applicants were required to submit an essay describing themselves, how the direction of their life has been positively impacted through their joining and participation in SIFE, and how they feel that this change will impact their future.

Lee appreciates what he has learned through involvement with the organization. "SIFE has given me the opportunity and experience to develop my leadership skills that will serve me well in the future, but more importantly, it helps me empower others to change the world for themselves," he said.

SIFE is an international non-profit organization that works with leaders in business and higher education to mobilize university students to make a difference in their communities while developing the skills to become socially responsible business leaders. Participating students form teams on their university campuses and apply business concepts to develop outreach projects that improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need. The mission of SIFE is to bring together the top leaders of today and tomorrow to create a better, more sustainable world through the positive power of business. To learn more about SIFE, visit www.sife.org.

To learn more about the business program at the U of M, Crookston, visit www.umcrookston.edu/academics/bus.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 36 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,600 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Kenneth Johnson, instructor, Business Dept., 218-281-8178, (joh02053@umn.edu); Ruth Navarro, communications assistant, 218-281-8446 (nava0085@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The annual Student Awards Program, a night celebrating student service and achievement, was held recently at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. Associate Professor Kevin Thompson, who teaches in the Liberal Arts and Education Department, was the 2011 Outstanding Educator and hosted this year's recognition.

Award recipients include the following students:
(Numbers correspond to the number of the photo in the online photo gallery.)

1.    Fall 2011 CSA Senators and Officers
Alisha Aasness, senior, horticulture, Fergus Falls, Minn.
Jackie Dullinger, senior, double major biology and health sciences, Hutchinson, Minn.
Dae Yeul "Danny" Lee, junior, accounting, Seoul, South Korea
Hannah Frey, junior, communication, La Crosse, Wis.
Kate Holmquist, senior, communication, Middleton, Wis.
Austin Czichotzki, senior, communication, Barnesville, Minn.
Angela Bartholomew, senior, double major business management and equine science, Maple Grove, Minn.
Jennifer Rasmussen, senior, health sciences, Dalton, Minn.
Anthonette Sims, sophomore, communication, Robbinsdale, Minn.
Michelle Boateng, junior, applied studies, Bloomington, Minn.
Adam Switzer, junior, sport and recreation management, Apple Valley, Minn.
Brooke Novak, junior, communication, Dahlen, N.D.
Hannah Reysen, sophomore, double major marketing and business management, Adell, Wis.
Abbey Wemimo, junior, business management, Lagos, Nigeria
Kayla Bellrichard, freshman, business management, Elk River, Minn.
Jordan Melbye, senior, communication, Crookston, Minn.
Emily Goff, sophomore, double major animal science and equine science, Danvers, Minn.
Alexmai Addo, sophomore, communication, Minneapolis, Minn.

2.    Spring 2012 CSA Senators and Officers
Alisha Aasness, senior, horticulture, Fergus Falls, Minn.
Jackie Dullinger, senior, double major biology and health sciences, Hutchinson, Minn.
Dae Yeul "Danny" Lee, junior, accounting, Seoul, South Korea
Kate Holmquist, senior, communication, Middleton, Wis.
Austin Czichotzki, senior, communication, Barnesville, Minn.
Angela Bartholomew, senior, double major business management and equine science, Maple Grove, Minn.
Anthonette Sims, sophomore, communication, Robbinsdale, Minn.
Michelle Boateng, junior, applied studies, Bloomington, Minn.
Adam Switzer, junior, sport and recreation management, Apple Valley, Minn.
Brooke Novak, junior, communication, Dahlen, N.D.
Hannah Reysen, sophomore, double major marketing and business management, Adell, Wis.
Abbey Wemimo, junior, business management, Lagos, Nigeria
Kayla Bellrichard, freshman, business management, Elk River, Minn.
Jordan Melbye, senior, communication, Crookston, Minn.
Emily Goff, sophomore, double major animal science and equine science, Danvers, Minn.
Alexmai Addo, sophomore, communication, Minneapolis, Minn.

3.    Student Ambassadors
Kourtney Brevik, sophomore, animal science, Erskine, Minn.
Jessica Stuber, senior, natural resources, Hill City, Minn.
Samantha Zuck, junior, animal science, Jamestown, N.D.
Rachel Keimig, senior, ag systems management, Princeton, Minn.
Alexandra Skeeter, sophomore, health sciences, Milwaukee, Wis.
Victoria Martin, sophomore, animal science, Worland, Wyo.
Tony Taylor, senior, business management, Sheridan, Wyo.
Amanda Pihlaja, junior, hotel, restaurant, and tourism management,  Duluth, Minn.
Erica Nelson, junior, double major animal science and equine science, Carols, Minn.
Whitney Lian, junior, agricultural education, Thief River Falls, Minn.
Bryce Gillie, junior, agronomy, Hallock, Minn.
Alisha Aasness, senior, horticulture, Fergus Falls, Minn.
Samantha Lahman, senior, animal science, Parkers Prairie, Minn.
Jackie Dullinger, senior, double major biology and health sciences, Hutchinson, Minn.
Jordan Melbye, senior, communication, Crookston, Minn.
Josh Lunak, advisor

4.    Ambassador of the Year
Alisha Aasness, senior, horticulture, Fergus Falls, Minn.

Campus Ministry Award (No photograph available)
Jenna Rasmussen, senior, health sciences, Dalton, Minn.
Alexandra Buscher, senior, business management, Merrifield, Minn.

5.    Outstanding Leadership in FCA Award
 Jensen Crots, junior, health management, Chesterton, Ind.

Outstanding Achievement in Math and Physics Award (No photograph available)
Tyler Brazier, senior, software engineering, Greenbush, Minn.
Tyler Berglund, junior, health sciences, Warren, Minn.

6.    Outstanding First Year Biology Award
Brittany Looker, freshman, health sciences, Rochester, Minn.
Ashley Martell, freshman, health sciences, Somerset, Wis.

7.    Excellence in Early Childhood Education Award
Megan Eul, senior, early childhood education, Rosemount, Minn.
Janie Bauer,  senior, early childhood education, Durand, Wis.

8.    Outstanding Academic Achievement Award - Business Department
Alexandra Buscher, senior, business management, Merrifield, Minn.
Sheila Lynch, senior, business management, Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
Alisha Hillstrom, senior, business management, Maple Grove, Minn.
Christopher Bargsten, senior, double major business management and quality management, New Brighton, Minn.
Michael Cloutier, senior, business management, Zimmerman, Minn.
Bryan Boutain, senior, marketing, Alexandria, Minn.
Adam Grahek, senior, marketing, Minneapolis, Minn.
Yangchen Gurung, senior, business management, Mustang, Nepal

9.    Outstanding Leadership Award -  Business Department
Abbey Wemimo, junior, business management, Lagos, Nigeria
Julie Trotter, senior, hotel, restaurant, and tourism management, Eagan, Minn.
Tony Taylor, senior, business management, Sheridan, Wyo.
Brittany Bergemann, senior, marketing, Good Thunder, Minn.

10.    Outstanding Accounting Student
Hwee Kim, junior, accounting, Seoul, South Korea
Dae Yeul "Danny" Lee, junior, accounting, Seoul, South Korea

11.    Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Hospitality Award
Amoy Carty, senior, hotel, restaurant, and tourism management; Sandy Point, Saint Kitts.
Lauren Ferrara, senior, hotel, restaurant and tourism management; Eden Prairie, Minn.

12.    Outstanding Communication Student Award
 Kristine Neu, senior, double major, horticulture and communication, Pelican Rapids, Minn.
Austin Czichotzki, senior, communication, Barnesville, Minn.

Outstanding Communication Student (Minor) Award
Yangchen Gurung, senior, business management, Mustang, Nepal

13.    Outstanding Sport and Recreation Management Student
Paul Adelman, junior, sport and recreation management, Bellingham, Minn.
Danielle Rueter, senior, sport and recreation management, Burlington, Wis.

14.    SOS Service Award
Austin Czichotzki, senior, communication, Barnesville, Minn.
Jackie Dullinger, senior, double major biology and health sciences, Hutchinson, Minn.
Alysia Osowski, senior, double major in agricultural business and agronomy, Grafton, N.D.

SOS Leadership Award
Katelyn Zins, senior, communication, Starbuck, Minn.

15.    Peer Connections Service Award
Kristine Neu, senior, double major in horticulture and communication, Pelican Rapids, Minn.
Brooke Novak,  junior, communication, Dahlen, N.D.

Peer Connections Peer Mentor of the Year (No photograph available)
Samantha Zuck, junior, animal science, Jamestown, N.D.

16.    Outstanding Turfgrass Student Award
Trenton Waters, senior, golf and turf management, Rush City, Minn.
 
Turf Bowl Team Members
Trenton Waters, senior, golf and turf management, Rush City, Minn.
Nick Walters, senior, golf and turf management, Plymouth, Minn.
Nick Harreld, senior, golf and turf management, New Brighton, Minn.
Kyle Rick, senior, double major golf and turf management and manufacturing management, Coon Rapids, Minn.

17.    Norman Pankratz Memorial Conservation Award
Ben Williams, senior, natural resources, Excelsior, Minn.

John Polley Soil and Water Conservation Award
Bob Guetter, sophomore, natural resources, Miltona, Minn.

18.    Minnesota Soil and Water Conservation
Kelsey Kaiser, junior, natural resources, Streeter, N.D.
Austin Link, senior, natural resources, Sebeka, Minn.

19.    June Shaver /The Wildlife Society Scholarship
Krista Kenyon, junior, natural resources, Sanford, Manitoba, Canada
Austin Link, , senior, natural resources, Sebeka, Minn.

20.    Outstanding Animal Science Student of the Year
 Kayla Klehr, senior, animal science, Richmond, Minn.

Outstanding Equine Science Student of the Year
 Angela Bartholomew, senior, double major business management and equine science, Maple Grove, Minn.

21.    Outstanding Dedication to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department
Sara Wells, senior, double major equine science and biology, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

22.    Outstanding Ag Business
Alysia Osowski, senior, double major agricultural business and agronomy, Grafton, N.D.

23.    Outstanding Ag Systems Management Student
 Matt Green, senior, triple major agricultural systems management, agronomy, and ag business, Greenbush, Minn.

24.    Hort Club Award and Exceptional Service to the Hort Club Award
Catlin Kersting, sophomore, horticulture, Cloquet, Minn. (Hort Club Award)
Kristine Neu, senior, double major horticulture and communication, Pelican Rapids, Minn. (Exceptional Service to the Hort Club

25.    Study Abroad Seniors
Emily Caillier, senior, double major biology and health sciences, Crookston, Minn.
Sheila Carleton, senior, double major agronomy and natural resources, Baxter, Minn.
Jackie Dullinger, senior, double major biology and health sciences, Hutchinson, Minn.
Austin Czichotzki, senior, communication, Barnesville, Minn.
Angela Bartholomew, senior, double major business management and equine science, Maple Grove, Minn.
Jennifer Rasmussen, senior, health sciences, Dalton, Minn.
Trista Halland, senior, business management, Crookston, Minn.

26.    International Student Scholars Awards
Dae Yeul "Danny" Lee, junior, accounting, Seoul, South Korea
Tashi Wongdi Gurung, junior, environmental sciences, Mustang, Nepal
Amoy Carty, senior, hotel, restaurant and tourism management, Sandy Point, Saint Kitts
Nana Sarkodie Boaten, senior, marketing, Accra, Ghana

Outstanding achievement by an International Student
Yangchen Gurung, senior, business management, Mustang, Nepal

27.    Outstanding ESL Student    
Han Gyu Kang, Busan, South Korea

Outstanding ESL Tutor
Tashi Gurung, junior, environmental sciences, Mustang, Nepal


28.    Together Everyone Achieves More
Yangchen Gurung, senior, business management, Mustang, Nepal
Shirley Osborne, Crooskton, Minn.

29.    Support of Diversity Award presented by the Black Student Association
Ashley Crowe, Circle of Nations Indigenous Association, senior, sport and recreation management, Long Prairie, Minn.
Rae French, coordinator of study abroad
Alvin Killough, assistant professor, Liberal Arts and Education Department
Gary Willhite, director of residential life
Peter Phaiah, associate vice chancellor for student affairs
Charles H. Casey, chancellor
Kristie Jerde, assistant director residential life and advisor for the Black Student Association

30.    Achievement in Music
Tyler Lowthian, freshman, business management, Richfield, Minn.
Bryce Gillie, junior, agronomy, Hallock, Minn.
Miah Smith, freshman, health sciences, Hutchinson, Minn.
Liz Massie, sophomore, communication, Eagan, Minn.
Nathan Anderson, freshman, agricultural education, Appleton, Minn.
Chelsea Swenson, senior, software engineering, Fertile, Minn.
Beth Motley, sophomore, equine science, Vadnais Heights, Minn.
Casey Paris, sophomore, agricultural business, Fairmont, Minn.
Mark Frenzel, sophomore, agricultural systems management, Blackduck, Minn.

31.    Computer Help Desk Award
Kelsey Kaiser, junior, natural resources, Streeter, N.D.

32.    Student Employee of the Year Award
Austin Czichotzki, senior, communication, Barnesville, Minn.

33.    Athletic Department All Academic Team
To be eligible for this honor, the student-athlete must be a member of the varsity traveling team and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or better.  Furthermore, the athlete must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at her/his institution (true freshmen, red-shirt freshmen and ineligible athletic transfers are not eligible) and must have completed at least one full academic year at that institution.

Janie Bauer, volleyball, senior, early childhood education, Durand, Wis.
Jonathon Blazek, men's golf, senior, business management, Owatonna, Minn.
Kari Bodine, women's golf, junior, sport and recreation management, Babbitt, Minn.
Carli Bunning, women's basketball, junior, natural resources, Boone, Iowa
Karen Carpendo, equestrian, senior, equine science, Bessemer, Mich.
Jessica Charles, equestrian, senior, animal science, Belgrade Lakes, Maine
Jensen Crots, soccer, junior, health management, Chesterton, Ind.
Megan Eul, women's basketball, senior, early childhood education, Rosemount, Minn.
Amanda Flint, equestrian, senior, double major equine science and agricultural business, Aberdeen, S.D.
Megan Flynn, soccer, senior, hotel, restaurant, and tourism management, Chanhassen, Minn.
Jessica Goodrich, soccer, sophomore, communication, Munster, Ind.
Kelly Gustofson, women's golf, junior, early childhood education, Hermantown, Minn.
Rachel Halligan, soccer, junior, early childhood education, Duluth, Minn.
Theresa Hamel, women's golf, senior, double major agronomy and agricultural business, Lakota, N.D.
Lauren Kessler, women's basketball, senior, early childhood education, Albertville, Minn.
Megan Kramer, equestrian, senior, equine science, Owatonna, Minn.
Almir Krdzalic, men's basketball, junior, biology, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Stacey Marcum, softball, junior, communication, Merrill, Wis.
Keith McBride, football, junior, double major business management and accounting, Lodi, Wis.
Addie O'Neil, equestrian, junior, agricultural education, Redwood Falls, Minn.
Amanda Overman, equestrian, junior, early childhood education, Lindenhurst, Ill
Casey Paris, tennis, sophomore, agricultural business, Fairmont, Minn.
Josh Perea, football, sophomore, criminal justice, Pico Rivera, Calif.
Angela Peterson, equestrian, senior, double major equine science and animal science, Detroit Lakes,  Minn.
Melanie Rodriguez, equestrian, senior, animal science, Minneapolis, Minn.
Danielle Rueter, volleyball senior, sport and recreation management, Burlington, Wis.
Alyssa Schneider, volleyball, senior, early childhood education, Racine, Wis.
Rachel Schoenborn, softball, sophomore, biology, Anchorage, Alaska
Christopher Secrest, football, junior, criminal justice, Hollywood, Fla.
Alexandra Skeeter, volleyball, sophomore, health sciences, Milwaukee, Wis.
Joseph Stearly, football, junior, health management, Hamlake, Minn.
Andrew Steinfeldt, football, sophomore, health sciences, Green Bay, Wis.
Annalee Sundin, equestrian, junior, double major equine science and animal science, Deer River, Minn.
Denise Thompson, equestrian, sophomore, equine science, Rochester, NY
Amy Van Treeck, equestrian, junior, early childhood education, Sheboygan Falls, Wis.
Kaytlin Weiger, equestrian, senior, equine science, Duluth, Minn.
Sara Wells, equestrian, senior, double major equine science and biology, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Chelsea Wiesner, volleyball, sophomore, double major health sciences and biology, Rochester, Minn.
Yahna Zastrow, equestrian, senior, equine science, Easton, Minn.


34.    Student Programmer of the Year
 Alexmai Addo, sophomore, communication, Minneapolis, Minn.

35.    Dale Knotek Community Service Award
Student  Athletic  Advisory Committee (SAAC)

36.    President's Volunteer Service Awards
Alexmai Addo, sophomore, communication, Minneapolis, Minn.
Sabra Amundson, sophomore, animal science, Crooks, S.D.
Chris Anderson, senior, natural resources, Missoula, Mont.
Angela Bartholomew, senior, double major business management and equine science, Maple Grove, Minn.
Gyungyoun "Ann" Baek, sophomore, health sciences,  Seoul, South Korea
Samm Blees, senior, criminal justice, North St. Paul, Minn.
Nana Boaten, senior, marketing, Accra, Ghana
Michelle Boateng, junior, applied studies, Bloomington, Minn.
Tiffany Breth, junior, animal science, Upsala, Minn.
Kourtney Brevik, sophomore, animal science, Erskine, Minn.
Alexandra Buscher, senior, business management, Merrifield, Minn.
Sophie Cross, freshman, animal science, Farmington, Minn.
Austin Czichotzki, senior, communication, Barnesville, Minn.
Jackie Dullinger, senior, double major biology and health sciences, Hutchinson, Minn.
Bryce Gillie, junior, agronomy, Hallock, Minn.
Katie Hagen, sophomore, agricultural business, Epping, N.D.
Alissa Hernandez, freshman, double major animal science and equine science, Savage, Minn.
Catlin Kersting, sophomore, horticulture, Cloquet, Minn.
Moysey Kutsev, sophomore, business management, Erskine, Minn.
Dae Yeul "Danny" Lee, junior, accounting, Seoul,  South Korea
Whitney Lian, junior, agricultural education, Thief River Falls, Minn.
Nongye Lo, senior, business management, St. Paul, Minn.
Jordan Melbye, senior, communication, Crookston, Minn.
May Nabirye, junior, software engineering, Eagan, Minn.
Erica Nelson, junior, double major equine science and animal science, Carlos, Minn.
Kasey Okke, junior, agricultural education, Hawley, Minn.
Isaac Osei, sophomore, software engineering, Cottage Grove, Minn.
Alysia Osowski, senior, double major agricultural business and agronomy, Grafton, N.D.
Jennifer Rasmussen, senior, health sciences, Dalton, Minn.
Amanda Reineke, senior, double major, equine science and agricultural business, Fisher, Minn.
Hannah Reysen, sophomore, double major marketing and business management, Adell, Wis.
Donovan Rupprecht, freshman, undeclared, Thief River Falls, Minn.
Allison Schumacher, senior, sport and recreation management, Crookston, Minn.
Anthonette Sims, sophomore, communication, Robbinsdale, Minn.
Karlie Sorrell, senior, animal science, Altona, N.Y.
Anthony Taylor, senior, business management, Sheridean, Wyo.
Abbey Wemimo, junior, business management, Lagos, Nigeria
Abbie Westby, senior, agricultural education, Erhard, Minn.
Anton Young, senior, senior, natural resources, St. Cloud, Minn.
Katelyn Zins, senior, communication, Starbuck, Minn.

37.    President's Student Leadership Award
Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) representing SIFE are
Tony Taylor, senior, business management, Sheridan, Wyo.
Abbey Wemimo, junior, business management, Lagos, Nigeria
Alexandra Buscher, senior, business management, Merrifield, Minn.
Dae Yuel "Danny" Lee, junior, accounting, Seoul, South Korea

38.    Outstanding CSA Senator
Adam Switzer, junior, sport and recreation management, Apple Valley, Minn.

Outstanding CSA Voting Delegate Award, in memory of Karolyn Joop (No photograph available)
Victoria Martin, sophomore, animal science, Worland, Wyo.

39.    Outstanding Educator
Dennis Maier, assistant professor, Business Department

Most Supportive of Students
Kim Cousins, student personnel coordinator, Academic Assistance Center

40.    Student Achievement Awards
Alisha Aasness, senior, horticulture, Fergus Falls, Minn.
Angela Bartholomew, senior, double major business management and equine science, Maple Grove, Minn.
Sheila Carleton, senior, double major natural resources and agronomy, Baxter, Minn.
Jackie Dullinger, senior, double major biology and health sciences, Hutchinson, Minn.
Megan Eul, senior, early childhood education, Rosemount, Minn.
Yangchen Gurung, senior, business management, Mustang, Nepal
Samantha Lahman, senior, animal science, Parkers Prairie, Minn.
Whitney Lian, junior, agricultural education, Thief River Falls, Minn.
Kristine Neu, senior, double major, horticulture and communication, Pelican Rapids, Minn.
Brooke Novak, junior, communication, Dahlen, N.D.
Samantha Zuck, senior, animal science, Jamestown, N.D.
Chris Anderson, senior, natural resources, Missoula, Mont.
Austin Czichotzki, senior, communication, Barnesville, Minn.
Matthew Green, senior, triple major agricultural systems management, agronomy, and agricultural business, Greenbush, Minn.
Dae Yeul Lee, junior, accounting, Seoul, South Korea
Abbey Wemimo, junior, business management, Lagos, Nigeria


41.    Man and Woman of the Year
Kristine Neu, senior, double major in horticulture and communication, Pelican Rapids, Minn.
Austin Czichotzki, senior, communication, Barnesville, Minn.

42.    Student Volunteer of the Year Award
Alissa Hernandez, freshman, double major animal science and equine science, Savage, Minn.

43. Outstanding Service to Students
Phil Baird, associate professor, Agriculture and Natural Resources Department

From the group of students received the Student Achievement Awards, two students were chosen as the "Man and Woman of the Year," the year's top academic, service and leadership award. Honors for 2012 go to (pictured l to r) UMC Man of the Year, Austin Czichotzki, a senior from Barnesville, Minn., majoring communication; and Woman of the Year Kristine Neu, a senior from Pelican Rapids, Minn., who is a double major in horticulture and communication. Czichotzki is the son of Terry and Sandi Czichotzki and Neu is the daughter of Mark and Karen Neu.

Special thanks to the Crookston Noon Day Lions Club for their continued support of the awards reception and program.

Members of the Student Awards committee are Lisa Samuelson, Sue Jacobson, Lynne Mullins, Patti Tiedemann, Terrill Bradford, Christiana Boadu, Kayla Bellrichard, and Emily Goff.

Visit the Student Awards Program photo gallery.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 36 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,600 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

In the photo: Student Achievement Award recipients
Back row: Brooke Novak, Abbey Wemimo, Chris Anderson, Megan Eul, Dae Yuel "Danny" Lee, Alisha Aasness, and Angie Bartholomew.

Front row: Whitney Lian, Matt Green, Austin Czichotzki, Kristine Neu, Jackie Dullinger, and Yangchen Gurung.

 

Contact: Lisa Sameulson, director, student activities, 218-281-8507(samue026@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The 3rd Annual Internationalizing Campus and Curriculum Conference at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC) provided an opportunity for students from the U of M, Crookston to represent the campus. A poster developed by Kenneth Johnson, instructor in the Business Department, and Dae Yeul "Danny" Lee, a junior majoring in accounting from Seoul, South Korea, both from the Crookston campus, designed a poster for the event held on Friday, March 23, 2012.

The poster titled, Greater Diversity, Greater Awareness, Greater Results, was part of a poster fair at the conference. Other U of M, Crookston students presenters were Donna Malarkey, who worked on the poster's design, a senior majoring in quality management from Crookston, Minn.; Fangjing Pan, a senior majoring in business management from Shaoxing, China; Abbey Wemimo a junior business management major from Lagos, Nigeria; Tony Taylor, a senior majoring in marketing from Sheridan, Wyo.; Chengyu "Coco" Mo, a senior business management major from Jiaxing, China; Yun "Ashely" Zhou, a senior majoring in agricultural business from Jiazing, China;  Chen Jin, a senior majoring in agricultural business from Shaoxing, China; and Tashi Gurung, a junior majoring in environmental studies from Mustang, Nepal.

Students had an opportunity to share their poster with U of M President Eric Kaler and received positive feedback from the conference organizers.

The conference was free and open to all University of Minnesota staff and faculty interested in internationalizing the curriculum and campuses. Organized by the GPS Alliance and co-sponsored by the Center for Teaching & Learning (UMTC), Instructional Development Service (UMD), International Education Office (UMD), Office of Information Technology, and the University Libraries. For more information, visit http://global.umn.edu/icc/conference.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 36 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,600 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

In the photos:
Top, right: Kenneth Johnson, instructor in the Business Department, with his students at the 3^rd Annual Internationalizing Campus and Curriculum Conference at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

At left: U of M President Eric Kaler and Kenneth Johnson with students at the Conference.

Contact: Kenneth Johnson, instructor, Business Department, 218-281-8178 (joh02053@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The University of Minnesota, Crookston Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team traveled to the 2012 Regional Competition on March 22, 2012, in Minneapolis, Minn., where they were named Regional Champions for a 13th consecutive time. The successful team of students is advised by Sam Walton Fellows Kenneth Johnson and Rachel Lundbohm, instructors in the Business Department and assisted by Courtney Bergman, Lecturer in the Business Department.  

Students on the Presentation Team include Tony Taylor, a senior majoring in marketing from Sheridan, Wyo.; Alex Buscher, a senior majoring in business management from Brainerd, Minn.; James Kriegh, a senior majoring in software engineering from Tucson, AZ.; Yun (Ashely) Zhou, a senior majoring in agricultural business with a minor in marketing from JiaXin, China; Xiaowei Zhou, a junior majoring in accounting from Chongqing, China; and Abbey Wemimo, a junior double majoring in business management and organizational psychology from Lagos, Nigeria.

The Tech Team accompanying the Presentation Team consisted of Sean Rozell, a junior majoring in business management from Eveleth, Minn.; Wei (Ivy) Guan, a senior majoring in hotel, restaurant, and tourism management from Lang Fang, China;  Yunze Shi, a senior majoring in business management from Zhuji, China and Chen Jin, a senior majoring in agricultural business from Hangzhou, China.

The team will now prepare for the National Exposition competition by making changes to their presentation and annual report based on feedback they received during the competition. Some 160 teams from around the nation will compete at the Exposition held on May 22-24.

After the presentation, the team was free to attend a job fair which was hosted by SIFE as well as a luncheon and round-table discussion. During the discussion team members met with representatives from various businesses.

SIFE is an international non-profit organization that works with leaders in business and higher education to mobilize university students to make a difference in their communities while developing the skills to become socially responsible business leaders. Participating students form teams on their university campuses and apply business concepts to develop outreach projects that improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need. The mission of SIFE is to bring together the top leaders of today and tomorrow to create a better, more sustainable world through the positive power of business. To learn more about SIFE, visit www.sifeusa.org.

To learn more about the business program at the U of M, Crookston, visit www.umcrookston.edu/academics/bus.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 36 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,600 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Rachel Lundbohm, 218-281-8190 (rlundboh@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

A cultural celebration with something for everyone, the Fourth Annual "Fiesta in the Spirit of Cinco de Mayo" will be held on Saturday, April 21, 2012, at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The day is filled with activities for the whole family and celebrates the rich tradition of the Mexican people. This year's fiesta also recognizes the Month of the Young Child with many activities focusing on children and families.

From 2-5 p.m., Children can choose from nearly a dozen arts and crafts activities in Bede Ballroom and the International Lounge in the Sargeant Student Center featuring more than 200 piñatas made by event volunteers this year. This important aspect of the Fiesta is led by Early Childhood Education (ECE) students, faculty, ECE program alumni, and Month of the Young Child volunteers. Games, music, and rhythm activities will take place in the International and Northern Lights lounges. Information booths, a scholarship table, and a mini marketplace will be located throughout the Sargeant Student Center and into the Eagle's Nest in the Sahlstrom Conference Center.

Music and a performance of an anti-bullying skit by True Players will also be part of the afternoon in the Prairie Room. Featured musical performers include both professional balladeers, Cathy and Abel Pineiro, and local talent Bryan Sanchez. Snacks for children will be available from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Folk dance classes, for those who have pre-registered, will be held in the Lysaker Gymnasium in the Sports Center on campus. The dance sessions will include age appropriate folk dance steps and begin at 2 p.m. for students in grades kindergarten through second grade; followed at 3 p.m. for students in third through sixth grades; and concluding with a session at 4 p.m. for students in grades seven through adult. For more information or to pre-register for a session, contact Anna Corona at 218-521-0245; Rosa Quiroz at 218-289-7479, or Rae French at 218-281-8339. News release on dance sessions.

Beginning at 4 p.m., there will be appetizers in the Eagles Nest and an authentic Mexican dinner will be served in Brown Dining Room from 4:30 until 7 p.m. featuring the talent of several area cooking experts including two all-time favorites: tamales and Mexican rice.

Following the dinner at 7 p.m., entertainment moves to Kiehle Auditorium for a performance by Los Alegres Bailadores, a dance troupe from St. Paul, Minn. Many of the dances will feature the younger members of the dance troupe to draw attention to the children who dance with Los Alegres Bailadores.

Another highlight of the evening will be the announcement regarding the progress of the Ramona Mendez Endowed Scholarship fund drive. The academic scholarship honors the memory of Ramona Mendez, a long time employee of UMC Facilities, whose son Kenneth is a graduate of the U of M, Crookston and a lead member of the planning committee. The scholarship was initiated during last year's "Fiesta in the Spirit of the Cinco de Mayo."

The evening concludes with a family dance from 8 to 12 p.m. in Bede Ballroom featuring Crookston's own VJ (video disc jockey) Nico from Z Martin Entertainment, playing Cumbia, Tejano, and Mexicano music and more.
The goal of the Cinco de Mayo celebration at the U of M, Crookston is to promote learning, understanding, and appreciation for the Mexican culture through traditional Mexican entertainment, crafts, and cuisine.

The event is sponsored in part by a grant from the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council, which serves the seven counties located in the northwest corner of the state.  The Arts Council receives funding from the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment from the Minnesota State Legislature. Other sponsors include the Crookston Convention and Visitors Bureau; Northwest Mental Health Center; Tri-Valley Opportunity Council; RiverView Health; Crookston Police Benefit Association; and Concerts and Lectures; Diversity and Multicultural Affairs; the Coca Cola Community Initiative Fund; and the Department of Liberal Arts and Education, all at the U of M, Crookston.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 36 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,600 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

In the photos: Children dancers from Los Alegres Bailadores, a dance troupe from St. Paul.

Contact: Kenneth Mendez, office support assistant, Post Office, 218-281-8329 (mende089@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The creation and destruction of a sand mandala will bring an ancient Tibetan Buddhist tradition to the University of Minnesota, Crookston in April. Wongdue Sangbo Gurung (at left), a Buddhist monk from Nepal, will spend several days in the creation of the mandala leading up to the final dinner in the International Dinner Series on Wednesday, April 11, 2012. The opening ceremony will be held on Wednesday, April 4 at 11 a.m. in the Prairie Room, Sargeant Student Center. This ceremony will also provide an opportunity for discussion with Gurung. The campus and the community are welcome to visit often to view the work in progress. The closing ceremony will follow the final International Dinner on Wednesday, April 11.

The sand mandala, involves the creation of an elaborate geometric design using colored sand and working from the design's center to the outer edges. The sand is applied until the desired pattern is achieved in intricate detail. When completed, the mandala is much more than a work of art and reflects the deeply held Buddhist belief in the fleeting nature of the material world. The destruction of the sand mandala is also ceremonial and materials used in its creation are released back into nature and never used more than once.

Sand Mandalas are part of the ancient Tibetan Buddhism tradition. Sand mandalas are always set up to look like a palace with four gates pointed in the four directions. In the center of the mandala is the greater being, making it a three dimensional picture. The message of the sand mandala is that all living beings want to be happy and for that they need inner peace. On April 4, 2012, Wongdu Sangbo Gurung invites people to rid themselves of all the negative feelings and to discover inner peace.

Wongdue Sangbo Gurung is an uncle to Yangchen Gurung, a senior business management major at the U of M, Crookston. He was the former principal of the monastic school in Lo-manthang, the capital of the small Tibet-buddhist kingdom of Mustang, which now belongs to Nepal. The school was built in 1994 to try to keep their identity and their Tibetan culture alive. There are some 70 young monks above the age of 8 attending the school. Gurung is currently pursuing education in Tibetan Buddhism in International Buddhist Academy (IBA) in Kathmandu, Nepal. He has traveled to Germany, Switzerland, and Thailand to demonstrate sand mandala paintings.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 36 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,600 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

In the photos:
Top, left: Wongdue Sangbo Gurung

Top, right: Completed sand mandala

Middle, right: Gurung works on a sand mandala.

Bottom, left: Gurung and his fellow teachers and the students at the monastic school in Mustang, Nepal.

Contact: Kim Gillette, director, International Programs, 218-281-8442 (gillette@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

CLIMB Theatre of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., will present "A Deeper Look," an original play about accepting differences, on Monday, April 9, at 7 p.m. in Kiehle Auditorium.  The performance is free and open to the public.  

The play asks its audience to both embrace and disengage from a shared American history of prejudice and religious intolerance and its power to repeat itself.   Personal stories, bravely told through monologues, scenes, music, dance, and slides, provide a journey of deeper understanding.

Creative Learning Ideas for Mind and Body (CLIMB) Theatre, is a nationally recognized non-profit company that has provided programming to K-12 schools for 38 years.  CLIMB's theatre artists write, produce and present plays and drama classes on topics like bullying, self-control, respect, friendship, acceptance of differences, methamphetamine-use prevention, and the environment. Their mission is to create and perform plays, classes, and other creative works that inspire and propel people - especially young people - toward actions that benefit themselves, each other, and the community.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 36 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,600 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Peter Phaiah, associate vice chancellor for student affairs, 218-281-8505 (phaiah@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The Crookston Chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) held its third annual induction ceremony on Thursday, March 1, 2012, in Bede Ballroom at the University of Minnesota, Crookston.  Twenty- eight members were inducted into the chapter along with three honorary members.

Students inducted were: Wade Wallace, a junior accounting major from Euclid, Minn.; Dae Yeul "Danny" Lee, a junior accounting major from Seoul, South Korea; Stephanie Overgaard, a senior business management major from Crookston, Minn.; Megan Ramsey, a sophomore animal science major from Park River, N.D.; Brant Moore, a sophomore health sciences major from Inver Grove Heights, Minn.; Jessica Walberg, a sophomore animal science major from Braham, Minn.; Kelly Gustofson, a junior early childhood major from Hermantown, Minn.; Hannah Reysen, a sophomore business management and marketing double major from Adell, Wis.; Maranda Miller, a senior natural resources major from St. Peter, Minn.; Erika Haug, asenior equine science major from Duluth, Minn.; Jenna Blace, ajunior natural resources major from Saginaw, Minn.; Ibitoru Afonya, a sophomore health sciences major from Crookston, Minn.; Erin Hoium, a senior animal science major from Little Canada, Minn.; Chelsea Swenson, a senior software engineering major from Fertile, Minn.; Andrew Fisher, a junior sport and recreation management major from Stewart, Minn.; Paul Adelman, a junior sport and recreation management major from Bellingham, Minn.; Mariah Melin, a junior animal science and equine science double major from Brookston, Minn.; Alexmai Addo, a sophomore communication major from Minneapolis, Minn.; Christopher Walton, a junior software engineering from Middle River, Minn.; Toynell Delaney, a sophomore health sciences major from Golden Valley, Minn.; Kurt Prudhomme, a sophomore software engineering major from Crookston, Minn.; May Nabirye, a junior software engineering major from Eagan, Minn.; Tiffany Chin, a sophomore accounting major from Hsinchu, Taiwan; Brendan Meissner, a senior agricultural business major from Evansville, Minn.; Allison Schumacher, a senior sport and recreation management major from Crookston, Minn.; Andrew Steinfeldt, a sophomore health sciences major from Green Bay, Wis.; Chelsea Wiesner, a sophomore health sciences and biology double major from Rochester, Minn.; and Tiffany Breth, a junior animal science major from Upsala, Minn.

Honorary members inducted were Ashley Hoffman, a junior majoring in agricultural business from Shevlin, Minn.; Brooke Hamilton, a junior business management major from Dubois, Wyo.; and Kim Cousins, Ph.D., who works in the Academic Assistance Center on the Crookston campus.

Ron Del Vecchio, Ph.D., head of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department was recognized with an award for excellence in teaching; and Tony Taylor received an award for excellence in service to students.

Along with inducting new members, the National Society of Leadership and Success announced its 2012-2013 Executive Board.  The elected Executive Board members for the coming year are President Michelle Boateng; Vice- President Tiffany Breth/ Hannah Reysen; Secretary/Recruitment Chair Alissa Hernandez; Treasurer/CSA Rep. Brant Moore; Public Relations Alexmai Addo; Event/Fundraising Ashley Hoffman; SNT Coordinator Chris Walton; IT Coordinator Kurt Prudhomme; Community Service Toynell Delaney and advisors Don Cavalier, Mary Feller, Brian Dingmann, Ph.D., and Peter Phaiah, Ph.D.

The National Society of Leadership and Success is an organization that helps people discover and achieve their goals. The Society offers life-changing lectures from the nation's leading presenters and a community where like-minded success oriented individuals come together and help one another succeed. The Society also serves as a powerful force of good in the greater community by encouraging and organizing action to better the world.

There are currently chapters of the National Society of Leadership and Success at 243 colleges with a total of 130,442 members across the country.  The University of Minnesota, Crookston chapter is currently in its second year of membership.  To become a member, students must attend an orientation, three videoconference speakers, three consecutive Success Networking Team (SNT) meetings, complete community service hours, and participate in a three-hour long Leadership Training Day.  For more information about the National Society of Leadership and Success, visit www.societyleadership.org.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 36 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,600 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

In the photos:

Top, right: NSLS inductees,from left to right: Wade Wallace, Dae Yeul Danny Lee, Stephanie Overgaard, Megan Ramsey, Brant Moore, Jessica Walberg, Kelly Gustofson, Hannah Reysen, Maranda Miller, Erika Haug, Jenna Blace,  Ibitoru Afonya, Erin Hoium, Chelsea Swenson, Andrew Fisher, Paul Adelman, Mariah Melin, Alexmai Addo, Christopher Walton, Toynell Delaney, Kurt Prudhomme, May Nabirye, Chancellor Charles H. Casey, Tiffany Chin, and Brendan Meissner.

Not Pictured:  Allison Schumacher, Andrew Steinfeldt, Chelsea Wiesner, and Tiffany Breth.

Top, left: Ashley Hoffman with Peter Phaiah.

Middle, right: Brooke Hamilton with Peter Phaiah.

Middle, left: Kim Cousins with Peter Phaiah.

Bottom, right: Ron Del Vecchio with Peter Phaiah.

Bottom, left: Tony Taylor with Peter Phaiah.

 

Contact: Mary Feller, financial aid officer, 218-281-8563 (mfeller@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Women's History Month, held annually in March, will include several events at the University of Minnesota, Crookston that spotlight the theme for 2012: Women's Education - Women's Empowerment. All area women are especially invited to attend the Women's History Month events on campus and they are free.

Friday, March 23 will feature a "Celebrating U Women's Expo" with a focus on Empowering Women in Business. There will be women's stories of entrepreneurship from 5-6 p.m., vendors, along with a fashion and prom show. The event will take place in the Sargeant Student Center from 4-7 p.m. There will be refreshments served as part of the evening and all area women are invited.

On Tuesday, March 27, women will take over the Sports Center from 7 - 9 p.m. with activities including Pilates and yoga.  "Women's Night in the Sports Center" recognizes the historic Title IX legislation. The equal opportunity to learn, taken for granted by most young women today, owes much to Title IX of the Education Codes of the Higher Education Act Amendments. Passed in 1972 and enacted in 1977, it prohibited gender discrimination by federally funded institutions. It has become the primary tool for women's fuller participation in all aspects of education from scholarships, to facilities, to classes formerly closed to women. For more, visit www.nwhp.org/whm.

On Thursday, March 29, Women's History Month will conclude with "Women taking the Lead" featuring Prairie Rose Seminole as the keynote speaker. Sponsored by the Circle of Nations Indigenous Association (CNIA) at the University of Minnesota, Crookston, this special event will be at 7 p.m. in the Prairie Room in the Sargeant Student Center.

Prairie Rose Seminole is an enrolled member of the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota. She served as the immediate past chair of the Fargo Human Relations Commission. She is a speaker and trainer with the White House Project, a nonpartisan women's leadership initiative and trainer for the Native American Leadership Program with Wellstone Action. Currently, she is the director for the Native American Center Project in Fargo, N.D. For more information, visit www.prairieroseseminole.com.

From March 19-30, a display highlighting "Women in Math and Science" will be available for viewing in the large display case near the UMC Bookstore.

Members of the Women's History Month committee at the U of M, Crookston are Lisa Samuelson, chair; Alysa Tulibaski; Vicki Svedarsky; Lisa Loegering; Stacey Grunewald; Laurie Wilson; Ashley Crowe; Kristie Jacobsen; and Elizabeth Tollefson. President Carter issued a presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8, 1980, as the first National Women's History Week. Later, in 1987, Congress expanded the week to a month, and March is now National Women's History Month. For more information, visit www.nwhp.org.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 36 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,600 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Lisa Samuelson, director, student activities, 218-281-8507 (samue026@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER:

Following a series of events celebrating Black History Month at the University of Minnesota, Crookston, the month of February will close with a "Celebration of Black History and Culture." On Tuesday, February 28, 2012, at 6 p.m., the Black Student Association will host an evening in Kiehle Auditorium filled with a variety of performances followed by a dessert reception. The event is free and everyone is welcome.

Highlighting the evening will be the following performances:

Angel Anderson (at left) will bring her talent as a spoken word artist to the Crookston campus. She has been featured several times at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. She is an inspiration to many young women and continues to create a powerful name for herself.

African Drumming and Dance, a part of the WISE Charter School since it first opened, will bring rhythm and excitement to the evening. Led by Brother Ghana MBaye from Dakaar Sengal and Brother Fatawu Sayibu from Ghana the students learn the culture, dances and different rhythms and sound from the coast of West Africa.

The Robbinsdale Cooper High School Step Team, known for their outstanding step performances, will demonstrate their skill. Step team routines are a form of dance with a history steeped in African-American culture. From New Hope, Minn., the Cooper High School Step Team is composed of students in grades 9-12 and they are widely known throughout Minnesota for their championship performances.

Jamar Esaw and Triad: 4Christ (at right) is a 33 member voice choir on a mission to promote the Word of God through song. They have shared the stage with several other major gospel acts and have caught the attention of the gospel industry with their undeniable sound and performances.
 
Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 36 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,600 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.
 

Contact: Kristie Jacobsen, assistant director, residential life, 218-281-Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The annual International Dinner Series will feature the culture and taste of three countries during Mondays in March 2012 along with the final international dinner on Wednesday, April 11 at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The three international dinners will be held in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center highlight the countries of Cameroon, Taiwan, and Germany. The final dinner is hosted by the Multicultural International Club.

Tickets for the dinner series are available by contacting Rae French at 218-281-8339 (rfrench@umn.edu). Adult and senior tickets are $15 per evening or $50 for the entire series. Children under 10 years of age are $10 per evening or $35 for the entire four dinner series. Tickets are limited.

All dinners begin at 6 p.m. and are scheduled for Monday, March 5, 19, and 26. The series finale will be held on Wednesday, April 11 starting at 4:30 with an international display prior to the meal.

The dinner on Monday, March 5 features Cameroon and the evening's theme is "L'Afrique en Miniature" Christian Yimgnia, a senior majoring in accounting will serve as the student host for the evening.

On Monday, March 19, guests will enjoy the tastes of Taiwan with Li-Yuan Chiang, a junior majoring in business management. The evening's theme will be "Taiwan will touch your heart."

On Monday, March 26, the focus will be on Germany and students Ronny Jaeckel, a sophomore agronomy major and Nicolai Wilkins, a senior majoring in health sciences will serve as hosts for the evening. The theme is "Germany-the East and the West."

The final event in the series on Wednesday, April 11, is an international dinner hosted by the Multicultural International Club and includes a talent showcase, along with demonstrations, table displays, and entertainment from countries all over the world. At 4:30 p.m. students will present displays representing a variety of countries  in the International Lounge, Sargeant Student Center followed by the dinner in Bede Ballroom at 6 p.m.

The International Dinner Series is a longstanding tradition at the U of M, Crookston and highlights the culture and cuisine of selected countries annually. To learn more about international programs, visit www.umcrookston.edu/international.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 36 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,600 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

In the photo: Nicolai Wilkins (left) and Ronny Jaeckel.

Contact: Rae French, coordinator of study abroad at 218-281-8339 (rfrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

A $10,000 grant awarded by the Northwest Minnesota Regional Arts Council will support the fourth annual "Fiesta in the Spirit of Cinco de Mayo" at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The event is slated for Saturday, April 21, 2012. The grant, offered through the Arts and Cultural Heritage fund, helps support access and exposure to the arts in all corners of the region.

Area clubs or organizations interested in helping to support the "Fourth Annual Fiesta in the Spirit of Cinco de Mayo" are encouraged to contact Kenneth Mendez at 218-281-8329. Since the first celebration in 2009, the event was designed to honor the rich heritage of the Mexican people.

The goal of the Cinco de Mayo celebration at the U of M, Crookston is to promote learning, understanding and appreciation for the Mexican culture through traditional Mexican entertainment, crafts, and cuisine. It is held in honor of Cinco de Mayo, a day that historically, represents the victory of Mexico over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 and culturally, represents Mexican heritage and pride.  

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council serves the seven counties located in the northwest corner of the state.  The Arts Council receives funding from the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment from the Minnesota State Legislature.  This allows the Arts Council to develop services and grant programs for arts access, arts learning, and folk and traditional arts.  More information is available at www.NorthwestMinnesotaArtsCouncil.org   

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 36 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,600 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

In the photo at top, left to right:  Peter Phaiah, UMC, Rosa Quiroz, CHS, Anissa Moore, TVOC Head-Start, Ken Mendez, UMC, Laurie Wilson, UMC, Dale Knotek, NW Arts Council, Eryn Killough, NW Arts Council, Marsha Odom, UMC, Chuck Casey, UMC Chancellor, Patti Tiedemann, UMC, Tony Taylor, UMC.  NOT PICTURED: Leticia Sanchez and Anna Corona, Migrant Health Services.

Contact: Kenneth Mendez, UMC Post Office, 218-281-8329, (Mende089@umn.edu) or Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

A dinner and program will celebrate the work of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) at the University of Minnesota, Crookston and raise awareness of the desperate need for clean water around the world. The Clean Water for Everyone Benefit Dinner will be held on Monday, February 20, 2012, in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center. The dinner will celebrate the first permanent water filtration site established by SIFE at a boarding school in the country of Nepal and educate guests on how they can become involved. The evening begins at 6 p.m. and tickets for the dinner are $20 per person. Tickets may be purchased by contacting Anthony Taylor at 218-275-3287.

The Clean Water for Everyone initiative was established to help provide access to clean water in third world countries. In Nepal, SIFE is funding a water pump station for a boarding school. The system pumps water out of a river, filters it, and then supplies the clean water to the school.

During the program, guests will have an opportunity to learn about a second clean water project planned for Nigeria to help supply a community with water. Both projects are the result of connections by students from Nigeria and Nepal who attend the U of M, Crookston.

Musical selections by Brooke Hamilton, a junior majoring in business from Adams, Minn., Kim "Blair" Na Young, a sophomore from Seoul, South Korea, along with the UMC Choir under the direction of Associate Professor George French will also highlight the evening program. The dinner is being sponsored in part by Sodexo Dining Services and if a business is interested in helping with sponsorship, they can contact Anthony Taylor or Kenneth Johnson at 218-281-8190.

Spearheading SIFE's clean water effort are Anthony Taylor, a junior majoring in management from Sheridan, Wyo.; Abbey Wemimo, a junior majoring in business from Lagos, Nigeria; and Tashi Gurung, a sophomore majoring in environmental sciences from Mustang, Nepal; and Alex Buscher, a sophomore majoring in business from Brainerd, Minn., who serves as the president of SIFE. The organization is advised by business instructors Kenneth Johnson, Courtney Bergman and Rachel Lundbohm.

"After the Earthquake in Haiti, our SIFE team recognized what a huge problem a lack of clean water for people was all over the world," explains Taylor. "It is our mission with this project to help as many areas as possible by providing them with a clean water source."

For more information on the business program at the U of M, Crookston, visit www.umcrookston.edu/academics/bus.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 36 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,600 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Kenneth Johnson, instructor, Business Department, 218-281-8178 (joh02053@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

To commemorate Black History Month in February the University of Minnesota, Crookston will host the theatrical performance, "Daughter of Africa" presented by the Mixed Blood Theatre Company. The performance on Tuesday, February 7, 2012, begins at 7:30 p.m. in Kiehle Auditorium. The event is free and everyone is invited to attend.

"Daughters of Africa" is a commemoration of the triumph of pride, determination, and courage. Fueled by the songs of Lena Horne, Aretha Franklin, Queen Latifah, and many others, this exuberant, music-driven celebration of African American women's triumphs and accomplishments features a striking collection of profiles of the famous and the forgotten.

This event is one of several taking place at the U of M, Crookston as part of Black History Month.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 36 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,600 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Kristie Jerde, assistant director, residential life, 218-281-8533 (jacobsen@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The first new moon of the New Year heralds the start of the Lunar New Year and for many countries and people across the world it is a time to celebrate new beginnings. Second graders at Highland Elementary joined members of the Multicultural International Club (MIC) at the University of Minnesota, Crookston in a celebration of 2012 as the Year of the Dragon.

On Tuesday, January 24, MIC students engaged the second grade classes in a variety of activities. Four different classrooms featured four different activities for students including games, languages, stories, and costumes. In the game room, students had a chopstick competition, played a Nepali game with rubber bands, as well as other games. In the language room, students learned to write their names and say "Happy New Year" in five different languages. Stories about the New Year were told in the story room and featured the traditions of China and Korea, and in the costume room, children had the opportunity to try on clothes from different countries.

On Thursday, January 26, MIC students performed the Dragon Dance in celebration of the Year of the Dragon and also as a preview of the program that will be performed on Saturday, January 28, by the Chinese Dance Theater from St. Paul, Minn. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in Kiehle Auditorium. Tickets will be available at the door at $5 for adults and $1 for children/students. Following the program, everyone is invited to participate in a ribbon dance workshop.

For MIC member, Yangchen Gurung, a junior business management major from Mustang, Nepal, being involved with the elementary school students is a pleasure. "Members of MIC love to interact with the elementary students because of their enthusiasm," she explains. "Schools are a place to learn and the students there are as excited to learn from us as we are to share with them. Our club really enjoys being able to go out into the community."

Rae French, coordinator of study abroad, serves as advisor to MIC. The New Year celebration activities are a part of the club's community service activities. For more information about international programs at the U of M, Crookston, visit www.umcrookston.edu/international.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 36 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,600 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Top right: Afi Delali Degbey (back table), an English as a Second Language (ESL) student from Lome, Togo, and Tashi Gurung, a junior environmental sciences major from Mustang, Nepal, help students write their names and practice saying "Happy New Year" in different languages.

In the photos:
Top, right: Afi Delali Degbey (back table), an English as a Second Language (ESL) student from Lome, Togo, and Tashi Gurung, a junior environmental sciences major from Mustang, Nepal, help students write their names and practice saying "Happy New Year" in different languages.

Center, left: Dabitna Chung, a sophomore majoring in early childhood education from Seoul, South Korea, and Yun "Ashley" Zhou a senior agricultural business major  from Haiyan, China, share stories of the New Year from their countries.

Bottom, right: Xiaowei Zhou, a junior majoring in accounting from ChongQing, China, helps students in the costume room.

Contact: Rae French, coordinator of study abroad, 218-281-8339 (rfrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Dave Anderson, better known as "Famous Dave" and founder of Famous Dave's Legendary Real Pit Barbecue, will be at the University of Minnesota, Crookson on Thursday, February 2, 2012. Sponsored by the Center for Rural Entrepreneurial Studies, Anderson will speak at 12 p.m. in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center. The public is invited to attend; there is no admission charge.

Anderson, a highly sought after keynote speaker, has shared his business success secrets and leadership insights with millions throughout the United States and Canada. His incredible real life story of overcoming tremendous odds, adversity, and failure create one of America's best-loved restaurant companies.  With passion, energy, and enthusiasm Anderson shares how he overcame his own personal challenges. As a Native American, he is devoted to making a difference in the community and in the lives of others less fortunate.

With over 180 restaurants and growing, Famous Dave's has received unprecedented recognition as one of the "Hottest Concepts in America" by Nation's Restaurant News reaching over $480 million in sales.  Anderson has helped found several publicly traded companies on Wall Street creating over 20,000 new jobs and billions in sales.

Anderson is part of the speakers series sponsored by the Center for Rural Entrepreneurial Studies (CRES). Funded through a grant from the Department of Education, CRES assists entrepreneurs in Northwestern Minnesota with the development and creation of their entrepreneurial enterprise. CRES, located on the Crookston campus, serves eleven counties including Beltrami, Clearwater, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake and Roseau. The services offered are based on the client's needs.

The mission of the Center for Rural Entrepreneurial Studies (CRES) is to encourage entrepreneurship through educational leadership, applied research, and insightful consulting.  The CRES will engage the students, faculty, and research facilities of the University of Minnesota in Crookston in order to stimulate the entrepreneurial culture and strengthen the economic vitality of northwest Minnesota.

The CRES is housed in Dowell Hall 117. For information, call 218-281-8595 (cres@tc.umn.edu), or visit www.umccres.org.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 36 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,600 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Rachel Lundbohm, associate director, CRES, 218-281-8190 rlunboh@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The beautiful and vibrant culture of China will be brought to the University of Minnesota, Crookston by the Chinese American Association of Minnesota (CAAM) Chinese Dance Theater in late January. The dance theater will perform on January 28, 2012, in Kiehle Auditorium. Doors open at 7 p.m. with the performance starting at 7:30 p.m.  

Preceding the dance performance, there will be a Lunar New Year Dinner served at 6 p.m. in Bede Ballroom; limited seating available. Tickets for the dinner and show combined are $15 for adults and $5 for children/students. Tickets for the performance only, available at the door, are $5 for adults and $1 for children/students.

Advanced tickets are available for the dinner and performance together through the International Programs Office by contacting Rae French at 218-281-8339 (daytime) or at 218-289-0444 (evening). Families are encouraged to attend all evening activities.
Included in the evening are a dragon dance performed by U of M, Crookston students. Following the CAAM Chinese Dance Theater performance, the evening will conclude with a ribbon dance workshop beginning at 9 p.m.

Background

Chinese dance incorporates a variety of forms and styles of movement derived from 53 diverse ethnic groups' traditions. It involves not just unique Chinese dance sequences and movements but also the cultural and historical basis of the dances. The CAAM Chinese Dance Theater is dedicated to preserving and celebrating Chinese cultural heritage and enriching a diverse community through the universal language of dance.

Since 1992, CDT has served families and delighted audiences with some of the best locally-produced Chinese dance concerts in the country. We are a community-based organization under the artistic direction of a world-renowned choreographer and teacher. A division of the Chinese American Association of Minnesota, the oldest, largest Chinese American community organization in Minnesota, CDT performs before 17,000 live audience members every year. With a dance school, annual concerts, and outreach performances, CDT is the largest Chinese dance organization in the Midwest. To learn more, visit www.caamcdt.org.

The performance is made possible by the University of Minnesota's Confucius Institute; U of M, Crookston Concerts & Lectures; and in part, by a grant provided by the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council through funding from the Minnesota State Legislature.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 36 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,600 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Photos from Chinese Dance Theater Web site located at www.caamcdt.org.

Contact: Rae French, coordinator, Study Abroad, 218-281-8339 (rfrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

A breakfast of German Toast, pancakes, scrambled eggs and sausage will be served by the Study Abroad Club from the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The breakfast will be held on Sunday, December 11, 2011, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the American Legion, 102 South Ash Street, Crookston, Minn. Homemade holiday baked goods also will be available for purchase. Tickets are $5 in advance and $6 at the door for adults and $3 for children under 10 years old.

For more information, contact Rae French, advisor to the Study Abroad Club at 218-281-8339.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 36 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,600 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: : Rae French, coordinator, study abroad, 218-281-8339 (rfrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The documentary "Invisible Children" will be shown at the University of Minnesota, Crookston on Wednesday, November 30, 2011. The documentary on plight of child soldiers of Central Africa will begin at 8 p.m. in Kiehle Auditorium. The presentation is free and the public is invited.

This powerful film documents a trip to Uganda in 2003 by Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey, and Laren Poole, and the story of young, innocent children desperate for help.  As child after child related their heartbreaking stories, the men--only college students at the time--recorded everything turning it into the haunting documentary "Invisible Children." For more information, visit www.invisiblechildren.com.

The event is sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Programs at the U of M, Crookston.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 36 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,600 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Kristie Jacobsen-Jerde, program associate, residential life, 218-281-8533 (jacobsen@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

A junior business management major at the University of Minnesota, Crookston has been awarded the Scholarly Excellence in Equity and Diversity (SEED) award. Yangchen Gurung, Mustang, Nepal, received the President's SEED Award for Outstanding Scholar- Activism. Gurung will be recognized on Wednesday, November 16, 2011, at the University of Minnesota Equity and Diversity Breakfast held at the McNamara Alumni Center on the Minneapolis campus.

The Office for Equity and Diversity's SEED awards program honors and acknowledges diverse students who are doing outstanding work at the University of Minnesota, both in and out of the classroom. When she graduates from the U of M, Crookston, Gurung will be the second woman from her remote village high in the Himalayan Mountains to do so.  She hopes to return to her village and work to improve the lives of the villagers, especially the women and girls who continue to grow up in the shadow of inequality and oppression.  

"My lifelong dream is to help lift the poor out of poverty by giving them education and skills necessary to sustain themselves, their families, and their communities," Gurung states.

Her involvement on campus includes tutoring students in mathematics and economics. Coordinator of Disability Services Laurie Wilson is quick to tout Gurung's skills. "Her gentleness and respectful, nurturing demeanor are hallmarks of her presence in every environment," explains Wilson.  "During the past summer, she was able to return home to her village and she used that opportunity to bring enrichment materials from her business program at the University to the children in her village. She plants 'seeds' of hope wherever she goes." Gurung is noted for her academic work as well as her service. Her grade point average is a stellar 3.94.

Gurung is in her second year of working as a community advisor in Residential Life on the Crookston campus, where she is charged with creating a positive living and learning environment for her residents and for upholding the expectations of the University for those environments. She also is involved with Students in Free Enterprise and a part of the highly successful SIFE Presentation Team. She has been involved with the Multicultural and International Club on the Crookston campus since she was a freshman.

Kenneth Johnson, instructor in the Business Department and an advisor for SIFE recognizes Gurung for her work in the classroom. "Yangchen is extremely bright," Johnson says. "Although this may be reflected in her grade point average, it is better reflected in her ability to think critically, see multiple sides of an issue, and learn new concepts with ease."
She follows in the footsteps of her cousin Lhakpa Gurung, a 2010 graduate and a recipient of last year's SEED award.

Undergraduate SEED Award recipients are diverse students who demonstrate outstanding achievement and leadership in the area(s) of academic performance and/or community outreach/activism. In addition, SEED Award recipients must demonstrate a deep understanding of and commitment to issues of equity, diversity, and social justice through their academic work and/or service to the community. For more information, visit http://academic.umn.edu/equity/awards/seed_awards.html.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 36 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,600 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: : Laurie Wilson, coordinator, disability services, 218-281-8587 (lwilson2@umn.edu); Kenneth Johnson, instructor, Business Department, 218-281-8178 (joh02053@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The Circle of Nations Indigenous Association (CNIA) at the University of Minnesota, Crookston is hosting a Native American Game Night on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 in recognition of Native American Heritage Month (November). The activities begin at 6 p.m. in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center. There will be activities for all ages and the event is free and all are welcome.

The evening of games will include arts and crafts, traditional Ojibwe games, healthy snacks and refreshments, music and more. For more information on the evening's activities, contact Dana Trickey, advisor to the CNIA, at 218-281-8677.
The CNIA is a club dedicated to enhancing the knowledge and understanding of Native people in our region and Native students attending our campus; to increasing enrollment of Native students at the U of m, Crookston; and promote a culturally connected environment for Native students on the campus.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 36 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,600 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Dana Trickey, Center for Adult Learning, 218-281-8677 (tric0014@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

A week of events is slated at the University of Minnesota, Crookston during International Week, Monday, November 14 through Friday, November 18, 2011. From culinary creations to an international market, International Week will include adventures from around the world.

The community is invited to attend several events on campus during the week in celebration of International Week:
Enjoy international cuisine during a lunch from the four corners of the world on Monday, November 14 in Brown Dining Room. The public is welcome to join the campus for lunch at a cost of $8.15 per person served from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, November 15 from 12 -2 p.m., everyone is invited to "Learn a Language" in the Northern Lights Lounge, Sargeant Student Center. There also will be an international photography contest in the Prairie Room, Sargeant Student Center. From 2-4 p.m., everyone is invited to view the artwork and photographs of students as well as vote for their personal favorites. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to wear traditional clothing celebrating their heritage during the day.

An International Market will be held on Wednesday, November 16 in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center. There will be items for sale from 2 - 6 p.m. including handcrafts, art, food, and more. Everyone is encouraged to visit the market and shop. Earlier in the day, students will be participating in an English as a Second Language (ESL) Poster Board Contest in the Northern Lights Lounge, Sargeant Student Center. These events are all open to the public.
 
On Thursday, November 17, there will be a special interactive display on human trafficking entitled "The Dark Truth" in the Northern Lights Lounge from 2 - 6 p.m. Recycled cards, known as "Card-Again," will be for sale and money collected will be used for shelters for trafficked victims in the region.

On Friday, November 18, things really heat up on campus with the "How Hot is Hot? Hot Sauce Contest" which will be held at noon in the Northern Lights Lounge.  Later that afternoon, Student Programming and Activities for Campus Entertainment (SPACE) and International Programs will team up to host the popular International Kids Carnival from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. in Bede Ballroom and International Lounge, Sargeant Student Center. There will be barnyard animals, button making, origami, face painting, games, tattoos, and items for sale all designed for children and families. The International Kids Carnival is free and children and families are especially invited to participate.

International Education Week, scheduled November 12-16, 2011, is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of our efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States. To learn more, visit http://iew.state.gov.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 36 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,600 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.
 

Contact: Rae French, coordinator, learning abroad/international student programming, 218-281-8339 (rfrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Call it a drive to excel, her competitive nature, or an intense form of stress relief, it doesn't matter to Sophomore Karen Celmer because she takes her ice hockey seriously. The equine science major finds herself on the ice in Minnesota after growing up on hockey in North Liberty, Ind., a small town located along the northern border of the state near South Bend.

She started skating when she was two years old graduating to hockey skates by the time she was three or four. "When I was learning to skate, you could not find small enough hockey skates," Celmer explains. "Now you can, but I had no choice but to start skating on figure skates."

Playing hockey meant regular trips to South Bend where she would play with and against players from Michigan and as far away as Valparaiso, Ind. She grew up playing in a wide variety of venues from an old munitions warehouse to the Joyce Center at Notre Dame, but most important, Celmer grew up playing on teams with rosters that were primarily boys.

As she made her way through hockey programs, Celmer played for the Irish Youth Hockey League, Riley High School, and John Adams High School, all located in South Bend. She was one of three girls playing hockey until around her sophomore year of high school when the other girls left the team, and she was advised against continuing. In fact, she was told she could be a "liability to the team."

 "I switched teams at that point," Celmer says. "I wanted to play hockey, and I wanted to play for a team that believed in me enough to give me a chance."

When she was a high school senior, she helped to start a traveling girls' hockey team known as the Indianapolis Racers. She is proud of what the young team has accomplished in such a short while. Last March, the U19 team won the Mid-American District Championship to earn a berth in the national tournament in only their second year of existence.
As a college student, Celmer continues to play hockey with the Hockey Club at the U of M, Crookston. It took special permission from the league's commissioner, but she takes to the ice with the rest of the guys three nights a week for practice and twice during the weekend for games.

What she loves most about playing is when she knows she is playing well and outskates a competitor or manages to take the puck from them. "When I find myself playing well, I have a very deep sense of gratification," she smiles. "It makes it all worthwhile."

Outside of classes and hockey, Celmer represents the Hockey Club at full board meetings of the Crookston Student Association and plans to coach mites as part of the Crookston Youth Hockey Program this winter. She is also a member of the Collegiate FFA at the U of M, Crookston.

Celmer loves hockey; that goes without saying, but it isn't her only passion. Her horse, Bleu, is the other. She has been involved with horses since she was in grade school, and they are the reason this one time nursing major transferred to Crookston to earn her degree in equine science.

"I grew up in a small town, and I wanted to go to smaller college," she reflects. "Finding a place that had the degree program I wanted along with the chance to play hockey helped me decide."

While Celmer isn't certain of what is next in her future, she is considering her options. "I know I want to work in the equine industry or maybe go to veterinary school," she states. "I will have to see."

Right now though, it really doesn't matter, Celmer is too busy with hockey and horses to contemplate very far into her future. Whatever tomorrow holds, she will bring to it all the intensity she can muster because that's who she is.

Contact: Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Mixed Blood Theatre of Minneapolis, Minn., will present the play "According to Coyote," an energetic collection of lightning-paced legends, on Monday evening, October 24, 2011, at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The performance begins at 7 p.m. in Kiehle Auditorium and is free and open to the public.  

This collection of legends gives life to Coyote, the trickster, teacher, magician, and hero in American Indian traditions.  Playwright John Kauffman employs age-old techniques of music, dance, magic and narrative to bring to life this character in all his guises: Coyote the Creator, the namer of animals and bringer of fire; Coyote the Trickster, conniving for an advantage that usually backfires on him; and Coyote the Teacher, from whom lessons of humility, wisdom, and humanity are learned.  

The event is sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Programs. Learn more at http://www.mixedblood.com/regional-tour.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 36 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,600 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

A scholarship assisting "non-traditional" women in completing their education at the University of Minnesota has been awarded to three students from the Crookston campus. Recipients of the Carol E. Macpherson Memorial Scholarship include: Senior Beth Debeltz, a health management major from Embarrass, Minn.; Junior Donna Malarkey, a quality management major from Crookston, Minn.; and Sophomore Nan Wright, an organizational psychology major also from Crookston.

"It is an honor for our campus to have three women awarded the Carol E. Macpherson Memorial Scholarship," says Melissa Dingmann, director of financial aid at Crookston. "We know that sometimes students can feel daunted by the thought of re-entering the academic world, but help exists in the form of scholarships designed to assist them in the transition. These three award recipients are most deserving, and they are dedicated, hard-working students who are committed to their educational goals."

"I hope to develop and capitalize on my experience at UMC," says Malarkey.  "My mother was a 1945 graduate of the Northwest School of Agriculture, and I hope to be able to follow her example and call myself a U of M, Crookston alumni in 2012. As a non-traditional student, self-supporting, with limited resources, the scholarship assistance is deeply appreciated."

Recipients of the scholarship are chosen by a selection committee including University staff and faculty with particular interest and expertise in assisting non-traditional women students. In order to be considered for the scholarship, a student must be 28 years or older, been out of school for at least five years, be in good academic standing with the U of M, and meet half-time enrollment status. A weighted list of selection criteria includes the strength of the student's written personal statement, reference letters, and other special circumstances.  

Wright appreciates her scholarship. "I am grateful to the foundation and family for their belief in and support of me, and I assure you, I will do all I can to be worthy of the honor," she says.

It is much the same for Debeltz, an online student, "First of all I would like to say thank you to the family of Carol E. Macpherson. It is an honor to be selected and I am very grateful. I also would like to thank the staff and faculty at the University who selected me as well. This scholarship will help me attain my career goals as a wife and a mother, and I look forward to paying it forward to others in the future."

The scholarship was created in the late 1970s and is sustained through the generosity of Macpherson's family. To learn more about the scholarship, visit www.umn.edu/women/macphersonHistory.html.

The three recipients have been invited to attend an awards and recognition event on October 21, 2011, in Memorial Hall in the McNamara Alumni Center on the Twin Cities campus. The Celebrating University Women Awards & Recognition event, which takes place from 3 -5 p.m., is designed to honor outstanding U of M women students, staff, and faculty. It is free and the public is welcome. RSVP online at z.umn.edu/2011wmcawards.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 29 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and more than 40 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,450 undergraduates from more than 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Melissa Dingmann, director, financial aid, 218-281-8576 (Dingmann@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The Black-Jew Dialogues will be performed at the University of Minnesota, Crookston Kiehle Auditorium on Wednesday, October 5, 2011, at 8 p.m. The energetic and captivating two-actor play examines prejudice and racism with the goal of reuniting cultures and makes the audience think while being entertained. Cost for the event will be $2 for non-UMC Students and $5 for the public. UMC students should present their student ID at the door for free admission.

In The Black-Jew Dialogues, Larry Jay Tish and Ron Jones take the audience on a hysterical and poignant ride through three days they spent together in a cheap hotel room discussing their own experiences, the history of their people, and why there has been a growing rift between the two groups since the early 70's. Tish and Jones find humor in everything from the Jewish involvement in the Dutch slave trade to two rednecks on a joy ride of hate.

The show premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland in August of 2006. In September 2007 it was the only American play invited to perform at the Leeds Jewish Performing Arts Festival in England. In the time between The Black-Jew Dialogues has been touring to universities, high schools, synagogues, and theatres throughout the US with great success.

The Black-Jew Dialogues combines fast-paced sketches, improvisations, and multi-media to create a show that has gained praise across the U.S. and the U.K. This performance is an exhilarating and insightful look at the state of race and cultural relations in America. You will learn as much as you laugh.

For more information visit www.theblackjewdialogues.com. The Black-Jew Dialogues are part of the weekly What's on Wednesday series which is hosted by Student Programming and Campus Entertainment (SPACE). Concerts & Lectures is co-sponsoring this event.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 29 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and more than 40 concentrations, including several online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,400 undergraduates from more than 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Lisa Samuelson, director, student activities 218-281-8507 (samue026@umn.edu) ; Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Joseph Duhamel, a student from outside of Rouen in the region of Normandy, France, completed his agriculture internship by conducting research on soybean aphids at the Northwest Research and Outreach Center (NWROC). He worked under the supervision of Extension Entomologist Ian MacRae. Duhamel is a fourth year student from École d'Ingénieurs en Agriculture (Esitpa), the school of engineering in agriculture in Rouen.

Duhamel was one of two students from Esitpa who spent the summer months completing research internships in Minnesota. A fellow student worked with the West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris, Minn. Both students arrived in early June as part of an emerging exchange program between the University of Minnesota, Crookston and Esitpa; they will return to France at the beginning of September.

This summer was Duhamel's first experience in the United States. He chose the University of Minnesota for the completion of his required internship because he wanted the opportunity to study in an English speaking country. Working at the NWROC fulfilled a required component of his internship to develop and perform research. He has previous research experience working with agro forestry for five weeks in India, but that process was more about theory and did not include anything practical. At the U of M, Crookston, he is engaged in hands-on research, something he enjoys.

Under the direction of MacRae, Duhamel designed an experiment to test the effectiveness of various insecticides on controlling soybean aphids. He was responsible for carrying out the experiment through sampling and coordinating the collection of data. The final process was analysis of results. MacRae explained that a chemical trial was a great project for Duhamel as it served as a relatively simple model on which to learn about research. MacRae also commented on how Duhamel's past experiences were evident during his time with NWROC, "Joe came with a lot of knowledge and was able to hit the ground running." MacRae was pleased with Duhamel's contributions this summer adding that he was a great addition to the crew.

Working with the effects of insecticides on soybean aphids was not the only project that kept Duhamel busy this summer. He also assisted with a project examining the management of the pesticide-resistant potato beetle. While at NWROC he expanded his research knowledge base and will be returning to France with a greater understanding of the agricultural processes in the United States.

During his time in fields, Duhamel noticed both differences and similarities between France and the United States. He grew up in a small village half an hour from Rouen in the deep countryside of the hills of Normandy. He considers himself "almost a farm kid," since he lived right next to a farm where cows grazing in the pasture was an everyday occurrence. This past experience helped Duhamel understand farming in Minnesota, "All that is going on around Crookston makes sense to me," explains Duhamel.

Something different for Duhamel was the scale of agriculture in the area. He was impressed by the tractors, fields, and crop planes, noting that everything here is big compared to his home country. In Europe, farming is very intensive because of the small amount of agricultural land available to support the population. For this reason, soil nutrient management and chemical laws that are a hot topic in the United States now were being addressed by Europe several years earlier.

Once he overcame the initial culture shock, living in rural Minnesota for the summer allowed Duhamel the opportunity to experience the true "Minnesota nice." He noted that there were always people waving at the research crew when they were out on the road.  During trips to research plots across the state, he was able to experience long drives on straight roads. He described this experience as really American compared to travel on the winding roads through France.

Upon his arrival in Minneapolis, Minn., his first experience in an American city, Duhamel admitted he was surprised the city was laid out with the roads and buildings in perfectly straight lines. In Duhamel's opinion, it was something that looked like it was straight out of a Hollywood movie, "I kept thinking to myself where are the cameras?" commented Duhamel with a laugh.

While Crookston is a farming community he can relate to, there were items from home he occasionally missed aside from family and friends. French bread was something he could not find a replacement for in rural Minnesota. He also found himself missing the traditional French cheese, which most people describe as "smelly cheese," but Duhamel contests its name should be "tasty cheese" instead.

Surrounded by the flat prairie of the Red River Valley, Duhamel also found himself longing for the traditional Normandy picture of cows grazing on the hillsides. Occasionally traveling south to Morris to visit his fellow French student allowed Duhamel some opportunities to see rolling hills dotted with livestock. Other excursions around Minnesota included two different canoe trips. One of the things he noted from his time on the river was the amount of wildlife, something he does not see as much of in his home country.

Duhamel was grateful for his time in Crookston and reflects that while he was not used to the American way of life, it was a nice change of pace for the summer months. As he returns home to France, he will be completing his final year of studies. His future plans include another internship, this time working with organic farming. Afterwards he would like to work with extension services in France as he affirms, "I want to work with the farmers." Looking into the future, there is also the potential for Duhamel to start a farm of his own.

Educational and career goals aside, Duhamel will continue to travel. With India, Poland, and now the United States under his belt, next on his list of destinations is Russia. Duhamel shared that he really enjoyed how he was able to feel the spirit of the world while in the United States, and it is a spirit he will continue to encounter beyond the fields of the Red River Valley.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 29 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and more than 40 concentrations, including 10 online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,450 undergraduates from more than 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

In the photos:

Top, left: Joseph Duhamel (left) from Rouen, France served as a research assistant at the Northwest Research and Outreach Center under the supervision of research entomologist Ian MacRae.

Center, right: Associate Professor Ian MacRae (left) and research assistant Joseph Duhamel search for aphids on a soybean plant in the research plot located west of the U of M, Crookston.

Lower, left: Duhamel examines a soybean leaf for aphids.

Bottom, right: Duhamel, from Rouen, France, designed and conducted an experiment to test the effectiveness of various insecticides on controlling soybean aphids, the number one insect pest of soybeans.

Contact: Neu, communications assistant, (neuxx019@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

University of Minnesota, Crookston Chancellor Charles H. Casey joined other college and university presidents who belong to Minnesota Campus Compact in nominating recipients of three statewide awards.  Recipients were honored June 14, 2011, at St. Catherine's University in St. Paul, Minn. Minnesota Campus Compact award recipients included Rae French and Nana Boaten from the U of M, Crookston and North Country Food Bank, a community partner of the Crookston campus.

The Presidents' Student Leadership Award recognized an individual student or a student organization that modeled a deep commitment to civic responsibility and leadership, evidenced by initiative, innovative and collaborative approaches to addressing public issues, effective community building, and integration of civic engagement into the college experience.

Nana Boaten (at left), a senior majoring in marketing, earned the Student Leadership Award.  Originally from Ghana, Boaten served as senator of international relations for the Crookston Student Association, president of the Soccer Club, treasurer for the National Society of Leadership and Success, and secretary of the Study Abroad Club this past year.  Additionally, he has been a member of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), UMC Rotary Club, Students Today Leaders Forever, and the Residential Housing Jury Board for Student Conduct.  He also served on six campus committees.  When asked to represent his country, Boaten steps up by giving presentations and cooking ethnic food for special events.  His service is not restricted to the Crookston campus community though.  He has delivered meals, coached Crookston Youth Soccer Association, assisted on the Habitat for Humanity house, served Thanksgiving meals at Villa St. Vincent, hosted high school students overnight for the Multicultural Excellence Program, raised funds for the Salvation Army, helped organize "Winter Wonderland," and helped sandbag the city of Crookston.  

The Presidents' Civic Engagement Steward Award recognized the faculty, administration, or staff or a group that has significantly advanced their campus' distinctive civic mission by forming strong partnerships, supporting others' civic engagement, and working to institutionalize a culture and practice of engagement.

Rae French (at right) was the recipient of the Steward Award.  French coordinates the Learning Abroad Program and works closely with international students to provide opportunities that are mutually beneficial to them and to our domestic students and local community.  In an effort to nurture relationships between new Chinese students and community, provide teaching opportunities for Chinese students, and provide enrichment opportunities for Crookston youth, French initiated a highly successful Chinese Language and Culture program this fall for students of all ages.  Additionally, she coordinates and brings groups of students to local classrooms to give presentations about their countries.  She also organizes the International Dinner Series, International Week, and passport drives for the campus and community.  She facilitates host families and does an amazing job making sure we all have many opportunities to learn a bit more about each other's culture.

The Presidents' Community Partner Award recognized a community-based organization that has enhanced the quality of life in the community in meaningful and measurable ways and has developed a sustained, reciprocal partnership with the college or university, thus enriching educational as well as community outcomes.

The North Country Food Bank (NCFB) received this award based on its ongoing partnership with the U of M, Crookston.  In August, NCFB hosted two orientation groups during Meet Crookston Through Service, UMC's service day during New Student Orientation.  Student excitement from that event spurred additional collaborations by a variety of student groups.  In September NCFB agreed to host an AmeriCorps member through UMC, who completed 300 hours and helped organize additional volunteers.  In addition to supervising her, they provided her with a life-changing education on the extent of the services and the need.  The Crookston campus and NCFB collaborated on a Mobile Food Drop in December, where over 27,000 pounds of food was distributed within two hours.  Students returned with a new perspective on hunger.  NCFB has accommodated the students' schedules and opened the warehouse during evening hours so that student clubs could pack boxes and backpacks.  Additionally, they have assisted with awareness events such as a Hunger Banquet and an Empty Bowls Project by providing local hunger statistics.  

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 29 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and more than 40 concentrations, including several online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,400 undergraduates from more than 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Lisa Loegering, assistant director, service learning, 218-281-8526 (loege005@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The lives of a Hispanic family in Minnesota are the basis of "Minnecanos," a story to be told in a performance by the Mixed Blood Theatre at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The Minneapolis-based theater company will be on stage in Kiehle Auditorium on Tuesday, April 19, 2011, at 7 p.m. The event, sponsored by the Office of Diversity Programs on the Crookston campus, has free admission and everyone is welcome to attend.

"Minnecanos," a term created to describe Minnesotans of Mexican descent, is also the name given by Mexican immigrants to the topping knife, the tool used to harvest and clean sugar beets. The performance is the story of an old man awakening his great-granddaughter's interest in their shared Chicano history in a touching and invigorating renewal of family and culture.
 
The play's author, Joe Minjares, turns his personal experiences growing up on Minneapolis' north side into the 45-minute performance that also addresses major milestones in Hispanic history.  For almost a decade, "Minnecanos" has been performed throughout the upper Midwest.

The mission of Mixed Blood Theatre promotes cultural pluralism and individual equality through artistic excellence, using theater to address artificial barriers that keep people from succeeding in American society. To learn more, visit www.mixedblood.com.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 29 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and more than 40 concentrations, including several online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,400 undergraduates from more than 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.
 

Contact: Thomas Williams director , diversity programs, 218-281-8580 (will3140@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The University of Minnesota, Crookston Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team traveled to the 2011 Regional Competition on March 30, in Minneapolis, Minn., where they were named Regional Champions for a 12th consecutive time. They will be competing against teams from around the United States at the National Competition in Minneapolis, Minn., on May 10-12. They are coached by business instructors Kenneth Johnson and Rachel Lundbohm.

Along with being named a Regional Champion, the team was also recognized with a 4.0 Club award which recognizes quality educational programs, success in SIFE, and long-term sustainability to improve the quality of life and standard of living for others, and a Club 44 award, recognizing a SIFE membership of 44 or more active members.

The SIFE Presentation Team, made up of six students from four different countries included: Alexandra Buscher, a senior from Merrifield, Minn.; Chan Liew, a junior from Seoul, South Korea; Dae Yeul Lee, a sophomore from Seoul, South Korea; Abbey Wemimo, a sophomore from Lagos, Nigeria; Yangchen Gurung, a junior from Kathmandu, Nepal; Klint Mahne, a junior from Lake Bronson, Minn. The team also included a Video Tech Team whose members were James Kriegh, a junior from Crookston, Minn.; and Xi Zhou, a senior from Chong Sing, China; presented a 24-minute video presentation that showcased a majority of the projects the SIFE team has done through the year, followed by a five-minute question and answer session.

There were 20 teams from 10 different states in attendance, and the team competed against five other teams in their league including teams from Wisconsin, North Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, and Minnesota. Of the five teams in the league in which Crookston's team competed, two were selected to go on to nationals. Along with the U of M, Crookston, the other team selected was North Central University in Minneapolis, Minn.

After the presentation, the team was free to attend a job fair which was hosted by SIFE as well as a luncheon and round-table discussion. During the discussion team members met with representatives from various businesses.

The team will now prepare for nationals by making changes to their presentation and annual report based on feedback they received during the competition. Some 400 teams will compete at nationals in May.

SIFE is an international non-profit organization that works with leaders in business and higher education to mobilize university students to make a difference in their communities while developing the skills to become socially responsible business leaders. Participating students form teams on their university campuses and apply business concepts to develop outreach projects that improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need. The mission of SIFE is to bring together the top leaders of today and tomorrow to create a better, more sustainable world through the positive power of business. To learn more about SIFE, visit www.sife.org.

To learn more about the business program at the U of M, Crookston, visit www.umcrookston.edu/academics/bus.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 bachelor's degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture and natural resources; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,300 undergraduates, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Rachel Lundbohm, business instructor and SIFE co-advisor, 218-281-8190 (rlundboh@umn.edu); Kenneth Johnson, business instructor and SIFE co-advisor, 218-281-8178 (joh02053@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (lt

Associate Professor Harouna Maiga, Ph.D., was named a recipient of the Award for Global Engagement for 2010, by the University of Minnesota. Maiga teaches in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department at the U of M, Crookston. An award ceremony was held on March 24, 2011, at the West Wing in the Campus Club in the Twin Cities.

The all-University Award for Global Engagement is given to faculty and staff members--active or retired--in recognition of outstanding contributions to global education and international programs in their field, discipline, or the University. In addition to honoring individual faculty and staff members, the award--by identifying excellence in global engagement and by recognizing outstanding work--serves as a resource to other faculty and staff.

Maiga joined the faculty at the U of M, Crookston in January 2001. He teaches courses in animal science, livestock facilities and environmental systems, applied animal nutrition, dairy production, reproduction, forages, and animal systems management. Prior to coming to the Crookston campus, Maiga worked for the University of Minnesota Extension Service, Becker County, and the Pine to Prairie Cluster, Detroit Lakes, Minn. He earned a bachelor of science in animal sciences from Polytechnic Rural Institute of Mali (West Africa); a master's in animal science from University of Maine, Orono; a master's in agriculture economics from South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D.; and his doctorate in animal science from South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D.

"I am truly honored by this award, the 2010 Award for Global Engagement," Maiga says. "I would like to thank the Office of International Programs for making this award an opportunity for faculty to be engaged in international programming. The award will certainly help me do what I always want to do for my students; that is giving them the opportunity to learn abroad and to increase their international experience."

Maiga's experience includes serving on the University of Minnesota System wide - Global Spotlight Committee since 2009. He was a key organizer of the Mali Symposium on Applied Sciences (MSAS), Bamako, Mali (West Africa) in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010. He has presented scientific papers in 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010. In 2010, Maiga invited Dr. Lyle Westrom and his wife, Susan, to MSAS to present a workshop on how to start an Agricultural Education program in Malian High schools.  He has served as president of Maliwatch (Mali Scientific Diaspora) since 2009.

From 2002-06 he taught Agriculture Production classes and Extension Service Programming in 2002, 2002, 2006 at the Agricultural School of Mali (IPR). He was involved with France Agriculture Schools ESITPA of Rouen, and VetAgroSup of Clermont Ferrand, France in arranging collaborative agreements for academic programming. Memorandum of Understanding signed between UMC and these two schools. U of M, Crookston students (16) attended 10 days short course in France in spring 2010.

Other recipients of the award included James D. Neaton, professor in the School of Public Health and Claudia Parliament, professor in the College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources, both on the Twin Cities campus. Nominees must have been instrumental in promoting significant international education, institution building, or academic and global outreach programs. The award is sponsored by the Office of the Senior Vice President for System Academic Administration and administered by the Office of International Programs.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 29 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and more than 40 concentrations, including several online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,400 undergraduates from more than 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

In the photo: Award for Global Engagement recipients: James D. Neaton, Harouna Maiga, and Claudia Parliament. Photo by Jennifer Schulz, Global Programs and Strategy Alliance, University of Minnesota.

Contact: Harouna Maiga, associate professor, 218-281-8107 (hmaiga@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

It's a celebration Ramona Mendez would have loved, and one her son, Ken, is proud to have brought to the University of Minnesota, Crookston. Music, dance, and authentic Mexican cuisine highlight the "Fiesta in the Spirit of Cinco de Mayo" taking place on the Crookston campus on April 15, 2011. With new activities, this year's event promises to be the best one yet and the evening will also mark the kick off of the Ramona Mendez Endowed Scholarship fund drive.

The "Fiesta in the Spirit of Cinco de Mayo" is the kind of event Ken feels his mother would have loved and planned herself. "The celebration would have been the perfect night with music and dancing and all the things she loved," Mendez says. "And, I know the scholarship announcement would have truly humbled my mother who was a very unassuming woman."

The scholarship was the idea of Leticia Sanchez who works for Migrant Health Services in Crookston Mendez explains. Sanchez shared the idea with some other women and it caught on. Corby Kemmer, director of development and alumni relations on the Crookston campus is encouraged to see the creation of the scholarship fund. "We are here to support students as they pursue their dreams of an education," he says. "The scholarship fund created to honor the memory of Ramona Mendez is a tribute to Ken as he completes his bachelor's degree and an encouragement to others to do the same."

The scholarship is something Ken says he could not have imagined a few years ago. A senior majoring in communication, Ken will graduate in May and his only regret is that his mother cannot see him graduate. "I know how happy my graduation would have made her, and it is bittersweet that she cannot be here to share the day with me and my family."

The "Fiesta in the Spirit of Cinco de Mayo" begins at 4 p.m. and runs through midnight with a host of activities for all ages. From 4 to 7 p.m. there will be a marketplace and children's activities in the Sargeant Student Center. Authentic Mexican cuisine will be featured at a dinner beginning at 4:30 p.m. in Brown dining room and running concurrently will be a social with appetizers and music in the Eagles Nest. From 7 to 9 p.m. a program in Kiehle Auditorium will feature the dance troupe, Los Alegres Bailadores from Cottage Grove, Minn. The evening concludes with a family dance with the music of Sonora Café in Lysaker Gymnasium from 9 p.m. to midnight. All events are free and everyone is welcome.

The evening is made possible by a grant from the State of Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Foundation Legacy Amendment, University of Minnesota Crookston Concerts and Lectures fund and the Coke Community Initiative fund, a grant for cultural projects from the Crookston High School, and a donation from RiverView Health in Crookston.

For more information on the Legacy Destination weekend, visit www.exploreminnesota.com/travel-ideas/legacy/crookston/index.aspx.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 29 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and more than 40 concentrations, including several online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,400 undergraduates from more than 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Thomas Williams, director of diversity programs, 218-281-8580 (will3140@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

With International Women's Day on Tuesday, March 8, 2011, the University of Minnesota, Crookston has set aside the day to recognize Women's History Month on the campus. A reception and panel discussion featuring women in leadership from the region will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the Prairie Room, Sargeant Student Center. The community and campus are invited to the reception and panel discussion.

The members of the panel are women who have inspired us all with their leadership, passion, and daring including: Barb Erdman, Polk County sheriff; Jeannine Windels, former executive director of the Crookston Chamber of Commerce; Racha Khodr, a teaching specialist in the Liberal Arts and Education Department; Senior Halie Kang, a communication major from Seoul, South Korea, and Senior Lhakpa Gurung, an early childhood education major from Mustang, Nepal, among others.

The theme for International Women's Day is "The Rising of the Women is the Rising of Us All" and recognizes the contribution of women across the globe and throughout history. International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies. 2011 marks the global centenary year for International Women's Day - 100 years since the first International Women's Day event. More than one million women and men attended rallies in 1911.

President Carter issued a presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8, 1980, as the first National Women's History Week. Later, in 1987, Congress expanded the week into a month recognizing March as officially National Women's History Month. For more information, visit www.nwhp.org.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 29 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and more than 40 concentrations, including several online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,400 undergraduates from more than 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Lisa Samuelson, director, student activities, 218-281-8507, (samue026@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The Black Student Association (BSA) at the University of Minnesota, Crookston is holding a special tribute to recognize the meritorious service of African Americans in the military. The program, slated for Monday, February 28, 2011, will be held at 6 p.m. in Kiehle Auditorium. The program, entitled HONOR, will feature a presentation by Master Sargeant Tamika Morales-Long from the Grand Forks Air Force Base. The program is free and everyone is welcome.

HONOR will recognize the efforts of African Americans who have played a role in our nation's past and present military conflicts. The program also will touch on "Civil War and the Struggle for Black Self-Determination," the 2011 national theme for Black History Month, held annually in February.

Students will pay tribute to a number of individuals they feel exemplify honor. Included in that list are: 54 Massachusetts Regiment; Tuskegee Airmen; 555th, better known as the "Triple Nickel"; along with veterans Comedian Bill Cosby; NBA star David Robinson, who played basketball for the San Antonio Spurs; Actor James Earl Jones, the voice of Star Wars, and others.

For more information about BSA or HONOR, contact Jamal Jihad, vice president of BSA, at jihad001@umn.edu.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 29 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and more than 40 concentrations, including several online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,400 undergraduates from more than 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Jamal Jihad, vice president, Black Student Association, 478-213-6492, jihad001@umn.edu ; Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The wonderful flavors and unique cultures of countries across the world are the center of the popular International Dinner Series at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. Dinners in the 2011 series, featuring China, Ghana, and Nepal, are scheduled for March 7, 21, 28, and April 6, and begin each evening at 6 p.m. in the Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center. Tickets for the dinner series are available by contacting Rae French at 218-281-8339 (rfrench@umn.edu). Adult and senior tickets are $15 per evening or $50 for the entire series. Children under 10 years of age are $10 per evening or $35 for the entire series. Tickets are limited.

Students representing each of the featured countries will share their favorite dishes and a special presentation related to their home country. The series concludes with an international dinner and showcase.

The evening of Monday, March 7, features the country of China.  Join Senior Qian Liu, a business management major from Guangdong, China, as she presents "So you think you know China?" Traditional dance along with special selections from the U of M, Crookston choir will highlight the evening.

On Monday, March 21, Ghana is the featured country for the evening. Senior Nana Boaten, a marketing major from Accura, Ghana, will present with Senior Shawn Friedland, a biology major from New Bern, N.C., who worked at a health clinic in a village in Ghana in the summer of 2010. Music from the U of M, Crookston choir will be a part of the evening.
 
For guests on the evening of Monday, March 28, the country of Nepal will be the focus. Senior Lhakpa Gurung, an early childhood education major from Mustang, Nepal, will share information on educational systems of Nepal. The evening will include traditional dancing and  music from the music department on the Crookston campus.

The final event in the series on Wednesday, April 6, is a dinner hosted by the International and Multicultural Club and includes talent showcase, along with demonstrations, table displays, and entertainment from countries all over the world. At 4:30 p.m. students will present a showcase of talent followed by the dinner at 6 p.m.

The International Dinner Series is a longstanding tradition at the U of M, Crookston and highlights the culture and cuisine of selected countries annually. To learn more about international programs, visit www.umcrookston.edu/international.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 29 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and more than 40 concentrations, including several online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,400 undergraduates from more than 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Rae French, coordinator of study abroad at 218-281-8339 (rfrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Mixed Blood Theatre will present the play "African America" on Tuesday, February 8, 2011, at 7 p.m. in Kiehle Auditorium. The event, sponsored by the UMC Office of Diversity Programs, is free and open to the public.

The plot of the production deals with the appearance of an African man which leads a modern interracial couple to a better understanding and appreciation of the experience of immigrants to Minnesota from Liberia, Ethiopia, and Somalia and helps them consider how to connect with and celebrate one's cultural heritage.

Mixed Blood Theatre is a professional, multi-racial performance company based in Minneapolis that promotes cultural pluralism and individual equality through artistic excellence.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 29 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and more than 40 concentrations, including several online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,400 undergraduates from more than 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: :Thomas Williams, director, diversity services, diversity and multicultural services, 218-281-8580 (willi3140@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The University of Minnesota, Crookston will welcome back to campus Mixed Blood Theatre for a performance of "Dr. King's Dream" on Wednesday, January 26, 2011. The performance, which will be held in Bede Ballroom at 7 p.m., is the acclaimed celebration of the life and career of Dr. Martin Luther King. The event is free and the public is invited.

Warren C. Bowles, the talented actor featured in the performance, has toured for Mixed Blood since 1981. His stirring solo performance movingly chronicles King's career from the beginning during the Montgomery bus strike, to his death in Memphis. The performance captures all of the dignity, courage, devotion and humanity of a unique American leader and is drawn from King's own writings including the timeless "I Have a Dream."

The event is sponsored by the Office of Diversity Programs and the Office of Student Affairs on the Crookston campus. For more information, contact Thomas Williams, director of diversity programs at 218-281-8580.

The performance is held in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, officially recognized on January 17. The holiday marks the birth date of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., observed on the third Monday of January each year, around the time of King's birthday, January 15.

Mixed Blood Theatre, a professional, multi-racial company, promotes cultural pluralism and individual equality through artistic excellence, using theater to address artificial barriers that keep people from succeeding in American society. To learn more, visit www.mixedblood.com

This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the MN State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the MN State Legislature from the MN arts and cultural heritage fund with money from the vote of the people of MN on November 4, 2008.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 29 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and more than 40 concentrations, including several online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,400 undergraduates from more than 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Thomas Williams, director, diversity programs, 218-281-8580 (will3140@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

A $10,000 grant awarded by the Northwest Minnesota Regional Arts Council will support this year's Cinco de Mayo celebration at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The event is slated for Friday, April 15, 2011. The grant, offered through the Arts and Cultural Heritage fund, helps support access and exposure to the arts in all corners of the region. The goal of the Cinco de Mayo Celebration at the U of M, Crookston is to promote learning, understanding and appreciation for the Mexican culture through traditional Mexican entertainment, crafts, and cuisine.

As director for the Northwest Minnesota Regional Arts Council, Mara Wittman is pleased to award the grant to help bring a cultural event of this caliber to the Crookston campus. "We are excited to be able to support a cultural event that highlights the Mexican culture and celebrates their arts, music, and customs," Wittman says. "This kind of event is what our funding is designed to support, and we are proud to be a part of helping bring this exciting opportunity to the Crookston campus and community, as well as the region."

Over the past two years, hundreds of people have attended the celebration at the U of M, Crookston. The event is held in honor of Cinco de Mayo, a day that historically, represents the victory of Mexico over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 and culturally, represents Mexican heritage and pride.  

The year's events include the dance troupe, Los Alegres Bailadores, who will perform in Kiehle Auditorium, a children's arts area that will include homemade piñata making, and the Latin Groove Band.

Melissa Dingmann, director of financial aid and Laurie Wilson, coordinator of disability services worked closely with Kenneth Mendez, a senior communication major, on the grant proposal. Mendez, who has been involved since the first celebration three years ago, wants to see the tradition continue on the campus. ""The collaborative effort among the University, Crookston Public Schools through the VOICES program, Northwest Minnesota Regional Arts Council, and the potential for new partners joining us is evidence that when we work together across boundaries of all kinds, we can enrich the quality of life for everyone in our region," Mendez says. "It is exciting to see this come together, and I would like to thank Chancellor Casey and the campus community for embracing the celebration."

Mendez's desire to see the Cinco de Mayo celebration continue after he graduates are being encouraged by having Janelle Encinia, a junior at the Crookston High School, shadow the preparations for this year's event. Encinia is also a post-secondary enrollment option student at the U of M, Crookston and has been observing firsthand the event planning process to prepare her to take over the work Mendez started. "To know that the celebration will continue after I graduate is both gratifying and rewarding," Mendez says.

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council serves the seven counties located in the northwest corner of the state. This activity is funded, in part, by a grant from the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council and the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008. To learn more about the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council, visit www.nwrdc.org/arts.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 29 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and more than 40 concentrations, including several online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,400 undergraduates from more than 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

In the photo at top right, ( l to r):  Front row: Thomas Williams, director of diversity programs; Janelle Encinia, a junior at the Crookston High School; Chuck Casey, chancellor; Ken Mendez, a senior communication major; Mara Wittman, director of the Northwest Minnesota Regional Arts Council. Back row: Peter Phaiah, associate vice chancellor for student affairs; Melissa Dingmann, director of financial aid; and  Laurie Wilson, coordinator for disability services.

Contact: Melissa Dingmann, director, financial aid, 218-281-8576 (dingmann@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The University of Minnesota undergraduate Scholarly Excellence in Equity and Diversity (SEED) Awards program honors outstanding diverse undergraduate students.  The Crookston campus is pleased to announce Senior Lhakpa Gurung, Mustang, Nepal, as a 2010 SEED Award recipient. The awards are presented annually at the University of Minnesota Equity and Diversity Breakfast, held November 18.
 
Lhakpa Gurung has been a leader on the Crookston campus in advocating and supporting the campus diversity program. She has reached out to members of the campus and the Crookston community to share her story and to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of being a role model for women of color in teaching, research and entrepreneurship. She also recently received the 2010 Tapestry Award from the University's University Women of Color.

As an early childhood education major, Gurung aspires to work with children and families of diverse backgrounds and needs, and international issues regarding equity for children and their families. She has been very involved as a student on the campus serving as a community advisor for residential life and integrating diversity activities to spur discussion on issues relating to diversity and women's issues. She has also presented at various women's groups in the community, on campus, anf through Minnesota Extension in order to encourage dialogue on the importance of having women of color as role models in teaching, research, and business.

Gurung was involved in two undergraduate research projects and presented at an Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) showcase at both Crookston and Twin Cities campuses.  In the summer of 2010, she went back to Nepal to her village to teach young children about the economic and societal importance of agriculture, the basics of capitalism, and how entrepreneurs add value to the marketplace. Students in Free Enterprise advisor Kenneth Johnson is proud of Gurung and her accomplishments. "Her work ethic, enthusiasm, and performance in completing this project was phenomenal," Johnson says. "She has been an integral part of the success of our eleven-time regional championship SIFE team."

Undergraduate SEED Award recipients are diverse students who demonstrate impressive achievement and leadership in the area(s) of academic performance and/or community outreach/activism.  In addition, SEED Award recipients must demonstrate a deep understanding of and commitment to issues of equity, diversity, and social justice through their academic work and/or service to the community. For more information, visit www.academic.umn.edu/equity/awards/seed_awards.html.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 29 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and more than 40 concentrations, including several online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,400 undergraduates from more than 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.
 

Contact: Soo-Yin Lim-Thompson, associate professor, Liberal Arts and Education Dept., 218-281-8185 (slimthom@umn.edu); Laurie Wilson, coordinator, disability services, 218-281-8587 (lwilson2@umn.edu); Rae French, coordinator, study abroad, 218-281-8339 (rfrench@um

The sights and sounds of an international market come to life once again during a week filled with events focusing on International Education Week at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The market, slated for Wednesday, November 17 from 3- 7 p.m., takes place in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center and features items from around the world for purchase. The public is welcome to stop by the market to shop.

If you are interested in international cuisine, you are invited to dine on food from the four corners of the world on Monday, November 15. Featured countries include:  Korea, China, Nepal, and Kenya.  The public is welcome to eat lunch at a cost of $8.15  per person being served from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Brown Dining Room 

On Tuesday, November 16 there will be an international art show and photography contest in the Prairie Lounge, Sargeant Student Center. From 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Everyone is invited to view the artwork and photographs of students as well as vote for their personal favorites.

Following the international market on Wednesday, there will be two presentations on Thursday, November 18 by internationally-renowned speaker, author, and explorer Broughton Coburn in Kiehle Auditorium. The first presentation begins at noon and is entitled "Secrets of the Shangri La" and the second, at 7 p.m., will be "Aama's Journey," the story of a woman who has virtually no exposure to Western civilization and her pilgrimage to the United States. Both presentations are free and the public is invited to attend.

Closing out the week on Friday, November 19 is a Kid Fair from 5 - 7 p.m. in Bede Ballroom and the International Lounge, both located in the Sargeant Student Center. There will be barnyard animals, button making, origami, face painting, games, tattoos, and items for sale all designed for children and families. The Kid Fair is free and children and families are especially invited to participate.
 
International Education Week, scheduled November 15-19, 2010, is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of our efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States. To learn more, visit http://iew.state.gov.
 
Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 29 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and more than 40 concentrations, including several online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,400 undergraduates from more than 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.
 

Contact: Rae French, coordinator, study abroad, 218-281-8339 (rfrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Minneapolis' Mixed Blood Theatre's production of Theory of Mind will be performed at the University of Minnesota Crookston Kiehle Auditorium on Tuesday, October 26, 2010, from 7 to 8 p.m. This sensitive yet unsentimental story presents a portrait of a young man with Asperger's Syndrome.

Bill is a college-bound seventeen year-old, equipped with scholastic brilliance but low emotional intelligence; a keen self-awareness yet, an inability to read social cues, and a charming directness yet prone to taking everything he hears literally.  His outing with a young woman becomes a memorable, insightful look at the tugs, shifts, and about-faces found on the autism spectrum.

Theory of Mind is written by Ken LaZebnik, a veteran Mixed Blood company member whose other writing credits include Touched by an Angel and the Mixed Blood-produced plays Calvinisms, League of Nations and Vestibular Sense.  His yet untitled play about the online autism community is planned to debut in Mixed Blood's 2011-2012 season.

First toured by Mixed Blood in 2009, Theory of Mind again features Skyler Nowinski as Bill in a cast that also includes Brittany Bradford and Warren C. Bowles.  The production is again staged by Mixed Blood Artistic Director Jack Reuler.

The show is one of five culturally-specific productions toured this season by Mixed Blood, a professional, multi-racial theatre company based in Minneapolis that promotes cultural pluralism and individual equality through artistic excellence.  The other touring productions include the Chicano cultural history Minnecanos; the Martin Luther King biography Dr. King's Dream; Daughters of Africa, a music-driven history of African American women; and African America, a look at the modern African diaspora in Minnesota.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 29 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and more than 40 concentrations, including several online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,400 undergraduates from more than 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Thomas Williams, director , diversity programs, 218-281-8580 (will3140@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

In honor of Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month, the University of Minnesota, Crookston will host a performance of "Help Wanted" by Teatro del Pueblo. One of their most popular performances, Teatro del Pueblo will perform the one-act play on Wed., October 20, at 6 p.m. in the Kiehle Auditorium. The play is free and open to the public. Following the performance there will be a time for questions and discussion.

The play, written and directed by Virginia McFerran, focuses on the lives of impoverished immigrants who came to Minnesota to seek a better life and to help their family in Mexico.  Three actors playing multiple roles present scenes depicting life in Mexico, a dangerous border crossing, unionizing efforts, detention by the INS, and demonstrations in support of the hotel workers.  This satirical piece demonstrates the plight of workers whose labor is needed in Minnesota, but who risk harsh treatment and inequities when trying to fill this need. 

The original production is loosely based upon real events that took place in Minnesota surrounding the Albino sisters and their experiences. The stories of the sisters were transcribed through interviews with Dennis Valdez and other members of Teatro Latino of Minneapolis, Minn. The script has recently been updated to reflect the ever-changing immigrant experiences in the United States.

Teatro del Pueblo is a small, non-profit Latino theater located in St. Paul, MN. Fostered by the Latino community on the West Side, it has grown since its inception in 1992 to serve St. Paul, Minneapolis, the metro area and greater Minnesota.Based in the West Side's Latino community, Teatro del Pueblo promotes Latino culture through the creation and presentation of performing arts. Teatro develops and supports Latino artists, provides educational opportunities for all to experience Latino culture and promotes cross-cultural dialogue.For more information about Teatro del Pueblo, visit www.teatrodelpueblo.org.
 
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. More information is available at www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.
 
Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 29 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and more than 40 concentrations, including several online degrees, in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,400 undergraduates from more than 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: : Thomas Williams, director, diversity and multicultural services, 218-281-8580 (will3140@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Mixed Blood Theatre of Minneapolis, Minn., will bring Hijab Tube to the stage in Kiehle Auditorium at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. Hijab Tube explores the American-Muslim identity as Rubiya, a 20 year-old second-generation, American Muslim college student, tries to figure out what makes her Muslim. The performance will take place on Tuesday, April 27, 2010, at 7 p.m. The public is invited and there is no admission charge.

A young Muslim woman takes her questions about wearing a hijab (a traditional covering of Islamic women) to YouTube, drawing an illuminating range of responses from other American Muslims - despite the antics of her younger brother. Mixed Blood's newest program offers a unique perspective on Islam in 21st Century America.

Mixed Blood Theatre, a professional, multi-racial company, promotes cultural pluralism and individual equality through artistic excellence, using theater to address artificial barriers that keep people from succeeding in American society. Their vision is to be the definitive destination where theater artists and audiences representing the global village can create and share work that spawns a ripple effect of social change and revolutionizes access to theater.

The performance of Hijab Tube is sponsored by Thomas Williams, director of the Office of Diversity and Mulitcultural Services on the Crookston Campus. For more information, contact Williams at 218-218-8580 (will3140@umn.edu).

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 bachelor's degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture and natural resources; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,300 undergraduates, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Thomas Williams, director, diversity and multicultural services, 218-218-8580 (will3140@umn.edu). Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Katya Zepeda, Crookston, Minn., was one of two college students recently selected to receive a $1,000 Carter Academic Service Entrepreneur (CASE) grant supporting innovative service-learning projects.  Zepeda, a first-year student at the University of Minnesota, Crookston, will use her CASE grant to raise funds for the Crookston food shelf by hosting an Empty Bowls Dinner.

Zepeda will partner with students from a local high school to plan and implement the project, while at the same time increasing students' exposure to the University of Minnesota and higher education.

Lisa Loegering, assistant director of service learning at the Crookston campus, guided Zepeda through the grant proposal process and will serve as her advisor for the project.  Zepeda, an organizational psychology major, also will work closely with her academic advisor, Alvin Killough, Ph.D., on developing parts of the project into an independent study within her academic program.

Throughout the project's development, community and campus partners will play an integral role in the planning and execution of the many aspects of Empty Bowls Dinner, which will be held in fall 2010.
Zepeda was among several students from Campus Compact institutions to propose inventive projects serving their communities. The other CASE grant recipient was Christin Tomy, a senior at the College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, Minn. Tomy and Zepeda are the fifth and sixth students to receive CASE grants from Minnesota Campus Compact.

Minnesota Campus Compact is proud to support the work of students in their community. More information about Zepeda's project is available at www.emptybowls.net.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Lisa Loegering, assistant director of service learning, 218-281-8526 (loege005@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Mixed Blood Theatre will perform "Dr. King's Dream" on Wednesday, January 27, 2010, at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The performance, which will be held in the Kiehle Auditorium at 7 p.m., is the acclaimed celebration of the life and career of Dr. Martin Luther King. The event is free and the public is welcome.

Warren C. Bowles, the talented actor featured in 'Dr. King's Dream,' has toured for Mixed Blood since 1981. His stirring solo performance movingly chronicles King's career from the beginning during the Montgomery bus strike, to his death in Memphis. The performance captures all of the dignity, courage, devotion and humanity of a unique American leader.

Both the external events in King's career (the marches in Selma and Birmingham and winning the Nobel Peace Prize) and his thoughts on topics ranging from Malcolm X, to the police, to President Kennedy are included, as is his soaring "I Have a Dream" speech.

Mixed Blood Theatre, a professional, multi-racial company, promotes cultural pluralism and individual equality through artistic excellence, using theater to address artificial barriers that keep people from succeeding in American society.

For more information, contact Thomas Williams, director of diversity and multicultural services at 218-281-8580.

The performance is held in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, officially recognized on January 18. The holiday marks the birthdate of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., observed on the third Monday of January each year, around the time of King's birthday, January 15.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Thomas Williams, director of diversity and multicultural services, 218-281-8580 (will3140@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Alvin Killough, Ph.D., has agreed to serve as co-investigator for a grant application submitted to the U.S. Department of Education by the Minnesota Minority Education Partnership (MMEP). The proposal, the result of collaboration, seeks to examine the links between instructional strategies and the academic proficiency to student of color enrolled as English Language Learners (ELL).

The 5-year $2.6 million grant proposal includes a research center located in Minnesota specifically designed to provide a focused plan of research to document both the academic needs of and successful practices used for engaging recent immigrant students in the K-8 learning process.  The goal of the research is to effect changes in instructional practices to reflect scientific findings, and thereby, serve as science - practitioner advocate for policy change.

Killough explains, "We find this grant submission a tremendous opportunity to address, as a research collaborative, not only the overrepresentation of recent immigrant students in ELL and their disproportionately failure to achieve proficiency on standardized tests, but to establish the significance of examining the entire context surrounding ELL instruction delivery as well.  We believe the findings from this exploratory research will be invaluable for teachers and other practitioners, and policy makers."

The primary partners in the collaboration include Minneapolis Public Schools, Saint Paul Public Schools, Strengthening Africans Toward Excellence, and an allied host of national consultants.

Killough is an assistant professor in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Department at the U of M, Crookston. He teaches as a cultural ecological psychologist and has long advocated for underserved and understudied populations through his scholarly research and public speaking engagements.
 
Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.
 

Contact: Alvin Killough, assistant professor,218-281-8208 (killo010@umn.edu) ;Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The sights and sounds of an open-air market will fill Bede Ballroom on the University of Minnesota, Crookston campus on Wednesday, November 18, 2009, when it is transformed into an international marketplace. The second annual International Market, open from 2-7 p.m., is part of a week of activities scheduled during International Education Week, November 16-20. The public is invited to visit the market and shop the many booths available.

International students from the Crookston campus will be selling treats and items from their home countries along with a number of campus clubs who also will have items for sale. Visitors can taste treats from all over the world and purchase many things that are not available locally during this second annual international market. The market is sponsored by the Learning Abroad office and Student Programming and Activities for Campus Entertainment (SPACE).

Learning Abroad Advisor Rae French encourages the campus and community to participate in the market. "The International Market is so unique," French says. "Visitors will have an opportunity to share with our students the experience and excitement of the marketplace. We want to welcome everyone to campus for the International Market and for the many events taking place during the week."

The public is invited to the Global Experiences Panel Discussion on Thursday, November 19. The discussion, also in Bede Ballroom, will feature faculty and students who have gone abroad for study or research. Beginning at 12:25 p.m., the Global Experiences Panel Discussion is part of the Thursday Commons series on the Crookston campus.

Also on Thursday everyone is invited to attend the Study Abroad Club (SAC) Norwegian Dinner Fundraiser at the American Legion in Crookston. The dinner will take place from 4:30 - 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased from Study Abroad Club members in advance for $5 or they will be available at the door for $7. The menu includes meatballs, potatoes, klub, lefse and more.

On Friday, November 20, members of the Multicultural and International Club will host an International Kids Fair. Games and activities will take place form 5-7:30 p,n. in the International Lounge, Sargeant Student Center. Children and their families are encouraged to attend and enjoy the fun during this event designed just for them.

Other events taking place during the week for students and the community include a world lunch on Monday, November 16, from 10:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Brown dining room and a cultural showcase taking place on Tuesday, November 17, from 12-2 p.m. in the International Lounge. Students and guests can learn more about studying in another country during the showcase.

For more information on International Week events, contact French at 218-281-8339.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Rae French, study abroad coordinator, 218-281-8339 (rfrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn.  -  A special performance of Rosita's Jalapeno Kitchen at the University of Minnesota, Crookston will be held on Thursday, October 29, 2009, in Kiehle Auditorium. The performance, which takes place from 12:15 to 1:45 p.m., stars Joy Chavarria as Rosita. Chavarria is a member of Teatro del Pueblo, a Latino theater based on the West Side of St. Paul , Minn. The performance is free, and everyone is welcome.

"Doña Rosita's Jalapeno Kitchen" tells the story of restaurant owner Doña Rosita who is considering selling her business to make room for a shopping mall.  While contemplating her decision, Doña Rosita, surrounded by piles of chile peppers, shares her food and humor with the audience.   "Doña Rosita's Jalapeno Kitchen" has received exceptional recognition from both critics and audiences.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu. 

Contact: Thomas Williams, director, Diversity and Multicultural Services, 218-281-8580 (will3140@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn.  - The University of Minnesota, Crookston will celebrate the GLBTA Community Awards and Recognition on Friday, October 23, 2009, from 1 to 3 p.m. in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center.  During the program, staff from the U of M, Twin Cities GLBTA office will present the Breaking the Silence Award to Yvonne Valgren, a senior majoring in organizational psychology. The award recognizes individuals and organizations that improve campus climate by addressing issues based on gender and sexuality across University of Minnesota system.  

After the award presentation, the U of M, Crookston GLBTA Programs Office will present several other awards and recognitions for UMC community members who have dedicated many service hours and other resources in the name of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender people, and their allies.  Light refreshments will be served. 

Following the program, all are welcome to attend an open meeting where they learn more about GLBTA programs at Crookston and contribute to planning the future of GLBTA services system-wide.  Questions or concerns can be directed to Kim Jorgensen, UMC GLBTA Programs Coordinator.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu. 

Contact: Kim Jorgensen, coordinator, GLBTA program, 218-281-8347 (jorge382@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Event Canceled Due to Illness

In honor of Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month, the University of Minnesota, Crookston will host a performance of "Help Wanted" by Teatro del Pueblo. One of their most popular performances, Teatro del Pueblo will perform the one-act play on Thurs., Oct. 29, 2009, from 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. in the Kiehle Auditorium. The play is free and open to the public. Following the performance there will be a time for questions and discussion.

The play focuses on the lives of impoverished immigrants who came to Minnesota to seek a better life and to help their family in Mexico.  Three actors playing multiple roles present scenes depicting life in Mexico, a dangerous border crossing, unionizing efforts, detention by the INS, and demonstrations in support of the hotel workers.  This satirical piece demonstrates the plight of workers whose labor is needed in Minnesota, but who risk harsh treatment and inequities when trying to fill this need.  

The original production is loosely based upon real events that took place in Minnesota surrounding the Albino sisters and their experiences. The stories of the sisters were transcribed through interviews with Dennis Valdez and other members of Teatro Latino of Minneapolis, Minn. The script has recently been updated to reflect the ever-changing immigrant experiences in the United States.

Based in the St. Paul's West Side's Latino community, Teatro del Pueblo's mission as a non-profit theater company is to promote cultural pride in the Latino community, to develop and support Latino talent, to educate the community at large about Latino culture and to promote cultural diversity in the arts.

For more information about Teatro del Pueblo, visit www.teatrodelpueblo.org.
 
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. More information is available at www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.
 

Contact: Thomas Williams, director, diversity and multicultural services, 218-281-8580 (will3140@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)