Contact: U of M Extension educator Bill Craig at 218-281-8692 or email craig030@umn.edu.

Contact: Brian Dingmann, associate professor, 218-281-8249 (dingm021@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 Tuesday, April 16, 2013, in Bede Ballroom at the University of Minnesota Crookston.

The spring 2013 inductees included the following students:

Last Name	First Name	Major	Year
Chin	Tiffany	accounting	senior
Hernandez	Alissa	double major in equine science and animal science	junior
Bendel	Cayla	natural resources	junior
Rasmusson	Haley	double major in early childhood education and elementary education	junior
Haugen	Samuel	agronomy	sophomore
Smith	Miah	health sciences	sophomore
Amundson	Sabra	animal science	junior
Berglin	Samantha	criminal justice	junior
Furry	Michael	natural resources	junior
Selvestra	Drew	criminal justice	sophomore
Barsness	Tiana	double major in health sciences and biology	senior
Jennings	Jesse	criminal justice	junior
Berg	Steffanie	communication	junior
McMahon	Michael	natural resources	junior
Vatthauer	Brooke	health sciences	sophomore
Hettver	Chelsey	animal science	junior
Maiga	Mariam	software engineering	senior
Borowicz	Matthew	health sciences	junior
Fennell	Danae	organizational psychology	senior
Guetter	Casey	natural resources	senior
Bellrichard	Kayla	double major in business management and marketing	sophomore
Johnson	Sarah	animal science	junior
Miller	Brooks	software engineering	sophomore
Mikutowski	Mary	health sciences	sophomore
Peterson	Katrina	double major in animal science and business management	senior
Schneider	Alyssa	double major in early childhood education and elementary education	junior
Romero	Amber	double major in animal science and equine science	sophomore
Maung	Myint	criminal justice	sophomore
Underdahl	Drew	agricultural business	senior
Schmidt	Braden	health sciences	sophomore
Pederson	Kole	quadruple major in aviation, agronomy, agricultural systems management, and agricultural business	junior
Mears	Erin	criminal justice	sophomore
Ostergren	Kaitlyn	accounting	senior
Looker	Brittany	double major in health sciences and biology	sophomore
Twaddle	Marcus	natural resources	senior
Rozell	Sean	business management	senior
Wood	Aliscia	early childhood education	senior
Skeeter	Alexandra	double major in health sciences and biology	junior
Perea	Josh	criminal justice	junior
Buscher	Alexandra	business management	senior
Prudhomme	Kurt	software engineering	junior

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

Contact: Brian Dingmann, associate professor, 218-281-8249 (dingm021@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Rachel Lundbohm, associate director, CRES, 218-281-8190 (rlundboh@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: Andrew Svec, director, communications, 218-281-8438 (asvec@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: George French, associate professor, 218-281-8266 (gfrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: John Loegering, associate professor, 218-281-8132 (jloegeri@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Dan Svedarsky, director, Center for Sustainability, 218-281-8129 (dsvedars@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Rachel McCoppin, associate professor, Liberal Arts and Education Dept., 218-281-8273 (mccoppin@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Lana Rakow; lana.rakow@und.edu; 701-777-2287

Contact: John Loegering, associate professor, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 218-281-8132 (jlogeri@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Andrew Svec, director, communications, 218-281-8438 (asvec@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Mike Vivion, chief pilot, 218- 281-8141 (mvivion@un.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Bill Tyrrell, director, athletic fundraising, 218-281-8436 (btyrrell@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

All proceeds to benefit the Carnegie Library Restoration Project Fund

Alpha Lambda Delta at the University of Minnesota Crookston is hosting the third annual Pi 

Run on Saturday, April 20, 2013. The run will include a new route along with a new distance for runners. A 10K has been added to the traditional children's Fun Run and the Pi Run, a race of 5 km (3.1 miles), a distance roughly equal to Pi. Registration is $20 for adults and $5 for students.  For a registration form, visit www.theirrationalrace.com or call 218-281-8432 with questions. All runners and walkers are encouraged to participate.

The schedule for the morning begins at 8:30 a.m. with registration in the Carnegie building at Ash Street and 2nd Avenue in Crookston followed by the Fun Run at 9:30 and the Pi Run and 10K at 10 a.m. Awards will be presented to the top three overall female and male finishers. All children participating in the Fun Run will receive a finisher's medal. Early registration guarantees 5K and 10K runners a shirt. 

The race route will follow a similar one to the 2012 Ox Cart Run hosted by the Crookston Running Club starting and ending at the Carnegie building. 

All proceeds from the race will benefit the Polk County Historical Society Carnegie Library Restoration Project Fund.  The goal of the Polk County Historical Society's library renovation is to possibly turn the Carnegie building into an arts and cultural center for the community and region. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in June 1984 and the Lake Agassiz Regional Library of Crookston, built that same year, stands adjacent to it. 

Major sponsors for the Pi Run include Herc-u-lift Inc. and HB Sound & Light. Anyone interested in contributing to the project should contact Brian Dingmann at 218-281-8249. 

Background

Alpha Lambda Delta (ALD) is an honor society at the University of Minnesota, Crookston for students who have maintained a 3.5 or higher grade point average and are in the top 20% of their class during their first year or term of higher education.

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.

In the photo: Chancellor Fred Wood hands in his registration forms for the 3rd Annual Pi Run to Alpha Lambda Delta President Alexandra Skeeter. 

Contact: Brian Dingmann, assistant professor, Math, Science and Technology Dept. 218-281-8249 dingm021@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Christo Robberts, advisor, Crookston Student Association, 218-281-8144 (crobbert@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Leah Stroot, Agriculture and Natural Resources Department, 218-281-8101 (stro0525@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: Janessa DeBoer, student personnel coordinator, Center for Adult Learning, 218-281- 8673 (deboe053@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281- 8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

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

Contact: George French, associate professor, Music and Theater, 218-218-8266 (gfrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: George French, associate professor, Music and Theater, 218-218-8266 (gfrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Panel discussion and special presentation by history of science expert Sally Gregory Kohlstedt, Ph.D.: "Uncovering the Past, Charting the Future: The Rise of Women in Science."

The University of Minnesota Crookston Women's Consortium will host a presentation by 

nationally recognized history of science expert Sally Gregory Kohlstedt, Ph.D. (at right), on the topic of "Uncovering the Past, Charting the Future: The Rise of Women in Science." The presentation, along with a panel discussion, will take place on Wednesday, March 27, 2013, at 7 p.m. in the Eagles Nest, Sahlstrom Conference Center. The event is free and open to the public and teachers and educators are especially invited to attend. Refreshments will follow and there will be an opportunity for networking, and Kohlstedt's book, The History of Women in the Sciences will be available for sale.

 

The panel will include regional women currently working in diverse math and science fields. They will share their personal stories of challenge and achievement. Panel participants include Candiss O. Williams, Ph.D., research social scientist at USDA-NRCS National Soil Survey Laboratory, Lincoln, Neb.; Susan Bornsen, Ph.D., assistant professor of mathematics at North Dakota State University, Fargo, N.D.; Rebekah Aakre, a registered nurse residing in East Grand Forks, Minn.; and Gloria Ayuck, a nurse practitioner at Altru Clinic in Roseau, Minn. 

Also participating in the panel discussion are several U of M, Crookston faculty including, Katy Smith, Ph.D., assistant professor of environmental sciences and biology, Pamela Elf, Ph.D., associate professor in biology and health sciences, and Vanessa Lane, Ph.D., lecturer in fisheries and wildlife management. 

Kohlstedt is an earth science professor and a professor of the history of science and technology within the University of Minnesota's College of Science and Engineering. At the national level, she has been president of her professional association, the History of Science Society, and served for five years on the board of directors of the largest scientific society in the country, the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Her book, Teaching Children Science: Hands-On Nature Study, 1890-1930, demonstrates that it was innovative women teachers who introduced science into the public schools in the early twentieth century. 

The theme for National Women's History Month 2013 is "Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics." 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. 

This program is sponsored by UMC concerts and lectures, Northwest Minnesota Women's Fund, UMC Office of Academic Affairs, UMC Ag and Natural Resources Department, UMC Office for Students with Disabilities, UMC Office of Diversity and Multicultural Programs. 

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, assistant education specialist, 218-281-8587, (lwilson2@umn.edu); Ruth Navarro, communications assistant, 218-281-8446, (nava0085@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: For more information, contact Deborah Zak, Regional Director, Northwest, Extension Regional Office, Crookston. Phone: 218-281-8684 or 1-888-241-0781. E-mail: dzak@umn.edu

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

Contact: Ken Bulie, instructor, accounting, 218-281-8194, (bulie001@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Lacole McPherson, assistant professor, Business Dept., 218-281-8267 (llhook@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: Rachel Lundbohm, associate director, CRES, 218-281-8190 rlunboh@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Terrill Bradford, instructor, Agriculture and Natural Resources Dept., 218-281-8108 (tbradfor@umn.edu); Brenda Miller, lecturer, Agriculture and Natural Resources Dept., 218-281-8140 (mill3707@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communicati

Contact: Courtney Bergman, lecturer, Business Department, 218-281-8188 (cbergman@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Kenneth Johnson, instructor, Business Department, 218-281-8178 (joh02053@umn.edu); Courtney Bergman, lecturer, Business Department, 218-2818188 (cbergman@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Corby Kemmer, director, development and alumni, 218-281-8434 (ckemmer@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: Terrill Bradford, instructor, Agriculture and Natural Resources Dept., 218-281-8108 (tbradfor@umn.edu); Brenda Miller, lecturer, Agriculture and Natural Resources Dept., 218-281-8140 (mill3707@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communicati

Contact: Linda Kingery, executive director, U of M Northwest Regional Sustainable Development Partnership, 218-281-8697 (kinge002@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: Bill Tyrrell, director, athletic fundraising, 218-281-8436, (btyrrell@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Laura Bell, lab services coordinator, 218-281-8131 (lbell@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Linda Kingery, executive director, U of M Northwest Regional Sustainable Development Partnership, 218-281-8697 (kinge002@umn.edu)

Contact: Phil Baird, associate professor, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 218-281-8130 (pbaird@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: George French, associate professor, Music and Theater, 218-218-8266 (gfrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Maureen Aubol, Northwest Research and Outreach Center, 218-281-8602 (aubo0002@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: John Loegering, associate professor, Agriculture and Natural Resources Dept., 218-281-8132 (jloegeri@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Leah Stroot, Agriculture and Natural Resources Dept., 218-281-8101(stro0525@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: 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: Mike Vivion, chief pilot, 218-281-8114 (mvivion@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Jack Geller, director, The EDA Center, 218-281-8248 or 507-381-0720; Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Lyle Westrom, professor, Agriculture and Natural Resources Dept., 218-2818110 (lwestrom@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: George French, associate professor, Liberal Arts and Education Dept. 218-281-8266 (gfrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Janessa DeBoer, student personnel coordinator, Center for Adult Learning, 218-281-8673 (deboe053@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Janessa DeBoer, student personnel coordinator, Center for Adult Learning, 218-281-8673 (deboe053@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Jaimee Meyer, associate director, NW MN Small Business Development Center (SBDC) (218) 755-4255; Rachel Lundbohm, associate director, Center for Rural Entrepreneurial Studies (CRES), 218-281-8190 (rlundboh@umn.edu)

Contact: Rose Ulseth, development and alumni relations, 218-281-8439 (rulseth@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Student clubs and organizations will host a Halloween Carnival for Kids on Saturday, October 27, from Noon to 4 p.m. in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center.  The event is free and intended for area children ages 2 to 12 years old. 

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

Contact: Jen Schoenecker, residential life, 218-281-8536 (schoe315@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Theresa Helgeson, lab services coordinator, 218281-8120 (helg0145@umn.edu; Sue Jacobson, instructor, Agriculture and Natural Resources Dept. 218-281-8118 (sjacobso@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@u

Contact: Catherine Dehdashti, U of M Extension, (612) 625-0237, ced@umn.edu

Contact: George French, associate professor, music, 218-281-8266 (gfrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

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

Contact: Corby Kemmer, director, development and alumni relations, 218-281-8434 (ckemmer@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: Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Mike Vivion, chief pilot, 218-281-8114 (mvivion@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Marlene LeBlanc, Extension Regional Center, 218-281-8696 (mleblanc@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Corby Kemmer, director, Development & Alumni Relations, 218-281-8432 (ckemmer@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: : Natasha Reierson, assistant director, athletics, 218-281-8423 (kuhle007@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: John Loegering, associate professor, Agriculture and Natural Resources Department, 218-281-8132 (jloegeri@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Natasha Reierson, assistant director, athletics, 218-281-8423 (kuhle007@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Corby Kemmer, director, development and alumni relations, 218-281-8434 9ckemmer@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: Bill Tyrrell, director, athletic fundraising, 218-281-8436 (btyrrell@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Contact: : Bill Tyrrell, director, athletic fundraising, 218-281-8436 (btyrrell@umn.edu); 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)

Contact: Margaret A. Kozak, Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) Event Programming Coordinator, 612-626-0555.

The Northwest School of Agriculture (NWSA) Alumni Association welcomed alumni back to the University of Minnesota, Crookston campus on Saturday, June 30, 2012, for their annual reunion. Three outstanding alumni were honored with the Top Aggie award, the highest honor awarded by Northwest School of Agriculture Alumni Association.

The award recognizes alumni who have displayed exemplary commitment and service to community, church, education, family, or in their occupational field. The Top Aggies for 2012 are Helen (Rasmussen) Tangen '41, Bemidji, Minn; Mark Chisholm '52, Gary, Minn; and Richard Olson '62, Grand Forks, N.D.

Charles "Chuck" Holmquist '52 was honored at the reunion with the Distinguished Service Award. The award is given for exemplary service by the NWSA Alumni Association Board. Holmquist was only the 14th recipient of the Distinguished Service Award since it was established in 1991.

Holmquist was a member of the alumni board several times over the years and served as its president. He is passionate about the Crookston campus and the legacy of the Northwest School. He was instrumental in bringing the Alseth NWSA Boardroom to fruition.

Helen (Rasmussen) Tangen '41 enjoyed a busy life at the Northwest School of Agriculture learning valuable lessons that would influence her both personally and professionally. Her love of music blossomed as accompanist for the choir, percussionist in the band and orchestra, and as a singer in the Glee Club and Mixed Chorus.

Growing up as an only child, Tangen says she learned to share at the Northwest School while living in a crowded dormitory and sleeping on a pull-out trundle bed. She formed lifelong friendships and attests to the rewards gained from setting and working toward academic goals. Following graduation she earned degrees from Bemidji State Teachers College and the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks,  in elementary education.

For 31 years, Tangen taught school in Roseau, Thief River Falls, and Duluth, in Minnesota, and for many years, in Grand Forks, N.D. She worked with college students while teaching at the lab school at the University of Wisconsin, Superior and assisted fellow teachers in the Grand Forks Public Schools as a reading specialist.

Active in the church no matter where she was living, Tangen is currently engaged in activities with the First Lutheran Church in Bemidji, Minn. Her love for the arts has also led her to become an avid supporter of the Paul Bunyan Playhouse, a non-profit professional summer stock theater located in Bemidji. Her love of both education and the arts led her to encourage her children, grandchildren, and now, great grandchildren to develop their own educational and musical interests.

Mark Chisholm '52 gained a wealth of knowledge at the Northwest School of Agriculture to prepare him for his lifelong career in agriculture. Classes in crops, welding, and motors provided him with the expertise he needed to farm and to take on leadership roles in his community.

Chisholm's life has revolved around agriculture except for the two years he spent in the U.S. Army. He has grown certified seed for the Minnesota Crop Association for 45 years. A member of the original Red River Coop Sugar beet processing plant in Hillsboro, N.D., he was one of the first to raise sugar beets in the Gary, Minn., area.

For 46 years, Chisholm has served on the Strand Township Board in Norman County and is currently the chairman. He has been a member of the Knights of Columbus for 50 years. He has proven a dedicated leader in agriculture and in the Gary, Minn., area.

Richard Olson '62 was involved as a student at the Northwest School of Agriculture in a wide variety of activities. The opportunities in athletics, music, theater, participation and work as the co-editor of the yearbook, membership in the National Honor Society and on the Student Council, and others kept him busy and helped him develop life skills and leadership.

He earned a bachelor of science degree in math education from North Dakota State University in Fargo; a masters degree in educational administration from Montana State University in Bozeman, and his law degree from the University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks.
Olson taught math at Barnesville, Minn., high school and after the military, taught at UND as an adjunct professor in the School of Law, the College of Business and Professional Administration, and the Center for Teaching and Learning. The confidence and preparation so critical to successful teaching he credits to the many opportunities that shaped his life while a student at the Northwest School.

Practicing law in North Dakota and Minnesota over the past 38 years has allowed him to serve as a city and state prosecutor, public defender, interim judge, and defense attorney while involved in many facets of criminal justice, domestic affairs matters, and business and corporate work. Olson has also provided his services pro bono to organizations including Special Olympics and the North Dakota Association for the Disabled.

In the community, Olson has served as a deacon at his church and on its board of directors. Passionate about youth and adult recreation, he was instrumental in organizing and incorporating groups for amateur softball, youth basketball, and youth baseball.  He is particularly proud to have represented the Grand Forks Park District in the developing and supervising the development of an Arnold Palmer 18-hole golf course following the Grand Forks flood in 1997. Olson is currently working as the Park District's attorney in the construction and financing of the new Choice Health and Fitness Center in Grand Forks.

The NWSA was a residential high school located on the Crookston campus from 1906-68. The reunion weekend is planned by the Office of Development & Alumni Relations in cooperation with the NWSA Alumni Association board and is always held the last weekend in June.

The NWSA alumni reunion, first held in 1918, brings back alumni from the Northwest School of Agriculture, a residential high school located on what is now the University of Minnesota, Crookston campus. The NWSA graduated its first class of 8 students in 1909.

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, left to right, back row: Corby Kemmer, director of Development & Alumni Relations; Charles H. Casey, chancellor at the U of M, Crookston; and Richard Olson. Front row: Mark Chisholm; Charles "Chuck" Holmquist; and Helen (Rasmussen) Tangen.

Contact: Corby Kemmer, director, development and alumni relations, 218-281-8434, (ckemmer@umn.edu ); Ruth Navarro, communications assistant, 218-281-8446, (nava0085@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The Northwest School of Agriculture (NWSA) Alumni Association welcomes alumni back to the University of Minnesota, Crookston campus on Saturday, June 30, 2012, for their annual reunion. Theme for the weekend is "A Summer Place" and the day is filled with activities for alumni.

Three outstanding alumni will be honored with the Top Aggie award, the highest honor awarded by Northwest School of Agriculture Alumni Association. The award recognizes alumni who have displayed exemplary commitment and service to community, church, education, family, or in their occupational field. The Top Aggies for 2012 are Helen (Rasmussen) Tangen '41, Bemidji, Minn; Mark Chisholm '52, Gary, Minn; and Richard Olson '62, Grand Forks, N.D. These outstanding individuals will be recognized during a special luncheon on Saturday.

The NWSA was a residential high school located on the Crookston campus from 1906-68. The reunion weekend is planned by the Office of Development & Alumni Relations in cooperation with the NWSA Alumni Association board and is always held the last weekend in June.

The NWSA alumni reunion, first held in 1918, brings back alumni from the Northwest School of Agriculture, a residential high school located on what is now the University of Minnesota, Crookston campus. The NWSA graduated its first class of 8 students in 1909.

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: Corby Kemmer, director, development and alumni relations, 218-281-8434, (ckemmer@umn.edu ); Ruth Navarro, communications assistant, 218-281-8446, (nava0085@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Minnesota Campus Compact held their annual awards ceremony in early June 2012 at Macalester College in Minneapolis. University of Minnesota, Crookston Chancellor Charles H. Casey attended the awards ceremony along with Rachel Lundbohm, instructor in the Business Department and Alexandra Buscher, a senior from Merrifield, Minn., majoring in business management. Also joining them was Dave Bennet who represented the Rydell National Wildlife Refuge and Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge at the ceremony.  

Each year presidents and chancellors from the 40 college and university members are invited to give statewide recognition to effective civic engagement leaders in three categories including Presidents' Student Leadership Award, Presidents' Community Partner Award, and the Presidents' Civic Engagement Award.

The Presidents' Student Leadership Award was awarded to Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) and accepted by Alexandra Buscher. The award is for an individual student or a student organization that models 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.
SIFE students work with small businesses and organizations. Locally, they assisted an entrepreneur with his startup taxicab service and a jam and bagel maker expand her business. They also worked with local elementary and high school students. Globally, they have been focused on the need for clean water. They established a permanent water filtration at a boarding school in Nepal and are currently working on a similar project in Nigeria.

The Presidents' Community Partner Award was awarded to Rydell National Wildife Refuge/Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge and accepted by Dave Bennett. The award is for a community-based organization that has enhanced the quality of life in the community in meaningful and measurable ways and has engaged in the development of sustained, reciprocal partnerships with the college or university, thus enriching educational as well as community outcomes.

Rydell National Wildlife Refuge and Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge have both served as sites for students to learn about resource management, assist with research studies, and recreate. Students, staff, and refuge staff work together on bluebird house monitoring, photo point monitoring, wood duck box monitoring, buckthorn control, forest restoration, and vegetation inventories.

The Presidents' Civic Engagement Steward Award was awarded to Rachel Lundbohm. This award is for a member of the faculty, administration, or staff or for a group (e.g., advisory committee, task force, project team) 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.

As an instructor and associate director of the Center for Rural Entrepreneurial Studies, Lundbohm has assisted local farmers marketing their produce and improved local farmers' markets through service-learning projects. She was an early proponent of service-learning and partners with several different organizations. Lundbohm says that "marketing students need to be able to market anything," and she is always willing to take on new challenges with her enthusiasm and creative ideas.

Minnesota Campus Compact supports civic engagement and democratic renewal through its diverse network of colleges and universities. To learn more, visit http://www.mncampuscompact.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, left to right, are Chancellor Charles H. Casey, Dave Bennett, Rachel Lundbohm, and Alex Buscher.

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 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 University of Minnesota, Crookston campus will hold its third annual summer Robotics Camp from Monday through Wednesday, August 6-8, 2012. The three day camp is geared for students between the ages of 9-14 and runs from 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. The cost for the camp is $80, and it will take place in Evergreen Hall on the Crookston campus.

Students should bring a bag lunch for the first two days. Lunch will be provided for participants on the last day. The robotics camp is limited to 30 participants.

Learning about robotics is a fun and challenging way for students to experiment, learn the skills needed to program a robot and work as a team. Students will learn about the math, science, and technologies that go into making a robot. Each student will be issued a complete Lego MINDStorm Nxt 2.0 robotic kit and a laptop to be used during the camp. At the end of the session, participating students may purchase a Lego MINDStorm kit.

For more information go to camp Web site or download the registration form.

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: Mark Gill, lecturer, Math, Science, and Technology, 218-281-8193 (mgill@umn.edu); Ruth Navarro, communications assistant, 218-281-8446 (nava0085@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Summer is here and the markets across the northwest region of Minnesota will once again offer locally-grown, fresh produce and the hours of operation are now even more convenient for customers. The products are high quality and exceptionally fresh which appeals to many who are searching for a healthy option to feed themselves and their families.  Farmers markets are an integral part of the community/farm connection due to the increasing consumer interest in obtaining fresh products directly from the farm. Customers can expect to find farm-fresh produce, baked goods, poultry, meats, eggs, honey, and plants.

The day, locations, and times of the markets within the rivers and prairie region can be located in the Minnesota Grown Directory custom cover page which are available at a community extension office. The information for various markets is also available for viewing on the Minnesota Grown website by clicking on the "farmers market" link or liking us on Facebook under Northwest Minnesota Farmers Market.

The direct distribution of products through farmers markets continues to increase in popularity across the country. Food in the United States travels an average of 1,500 miles to get to the kitchen table. All this shipping uses large amounts of natural resources, especially fossil fuels, which contributes to pollution, and creates excess trash with extra packaging. Much of this pollution could be reduced just by buying locally-grown food.

Today, there are nearly 4,800 farmers markets operating throughout the nation. Marketing food directly from producers to consumers in the food supply chain has many benefits. For consumers, direct distribution initiatives are providing people with locally grown, fresh, healthy and, in many cases, organic food at affordable prices. Through buying locally grown produce, consumers are giving their support to local producers as well as helping to revitalize rural economies. Creating markets where people can buy produce from local farmers and growers reduces the distance that food travels between producers and consumers, which in turn decreases global environmental pollution.

There are many benefits for consumers to purchase from farmers market. First is the freshness of the product, people want to have produce that is crisp and fresh.  Another important attribute is consumers are able to identify the source of the product which boosts the credibility of the market. They have the ability to pinpoint which farm the produce comes from which in turn makes them feel good about their purchase and know that they are supporting local farmers. Finally, many people want to support their local economy and see it thrive. Purchasing products from a farmers market is a very positive and perceptible way to sustain the local economy and put money back into the community.

Useful information can also  be found on the USDA's site:"Know your Farmer, Know your Food," which provides viewers with information regarding local foods. In addition, tune into Crookston's KROX 1260, Mahnomen's KRJM 101.5 FM, Ada's KRJB 106.5 FM, Grand Forks' KNOX 1310 to acquire information about the markets and stay connected to what is going on in northwestern Minnesota.

Watch for the Minnesota Grown Rivers and Prairies logo and we hope to see you at the farmers markets in this region.

Contact: Linda Kingery, 2900 University Ave Crookston, MN (218-281-8697) kinge002@umn.edu

A reception in honor of University of Minnesota, Crookston Chancellor Charles H. Casey and First Lady Barbara Muesing will take place on Thursday, June 14, 2012. The reception, which is open to all, will take place in the Northern Lights Lounge, Sargeant Student Center from 2 - 4 p.m.  Crookston Mayor Dave Genereux will announce June 14 as Chancellor Charles H. Casey and Barbara J. Muesing Day at 3 p.m. the day of the reception.

Casey began his appointment as chancellor at the University of Minnesota, Crookston on September 12, 2005. Prior to his appointment he served as dean and director of the University of Minnesota Extension Service. From 1979 to 1991, he was a member of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents and from 1989-1991 served as chair. He was the vice chair of the North Central Extension Directors, as well as serving on the University of Minnesota Foundation Board, Hubert H. Humphrey Institute Advisory Board, and the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development Board.

Barbara J. Muesing began working for the U of M in 1965, serving as an extension educator, program leader, and district director. She also served ten years as the executive director and corporate secretary to the U of M Board of Regents. She has dedicated herself to a variety of pursuits including University outreach, continuing education, rural health, and vital aging.

Chancellor Casey and Barbara have worked diligently throughout the years on behalf of the University of Minnesota, Crookston. Their service, leadership, and dedication have benefited the campus in countless ways. We thank them for their support and wish them the best in the future.

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: First Lady Barbara J. Muesing and Chancellor Charles H. Casey

Contact: Andrews Svec, director of communications, 218-281-8438, (asvec@umn.edu); Ruth Navarro, communications assistant, 218-281-8446 (nava0085@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Mark your calendars and practice your swing to get ready for a series of summer golf tournaments sponsored by Teambackers at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The tournaments take place at a number of the area's beautiful golf courses and all proceeds go to support scholarships for student-athletes on the Crookston campus.

Anyone interested in playing in the golf tournaments should contact Bill Tyrrell, director of athletic fundraising, at 218-281-8436 for details.

The Teambacker Summer Golf Tournament Series for 2012 includes the following locations:

Mark Olsonawski Scholarship Tourney, Thursday, June 28, Hallock, Minn., 10 a.m., $40, four-person teams

Heart of the Valley/Teambacker Golf Tournament, Thursday, July 12, Heart of the Valley Golf Course, Ada, Minn., $40, 1 p.m., five-person teams

U of M, Crookston Teambacker Golf Classic Golf Tournament, Saturday,  July 21, Minakwa Golf Course,  Crookston, Minn., 10 a.m., $95, five-person teams

Highway 2 Classic Golf Tournament, Saturday, July 28, Oak Lake (Erskine) and Fosston Golf Courses, starting in Fosston at 10 a.m., $40, five-person teams

The Teambackers Club is an athletic promotion and fundraising organization for the U of M, Crookston. It operates in conjunction with the development office, athletic department, and the University of Minnesota Foundation.

Memberships in the Teambackers Club help support athletic scholarships for student-athletes in 11 sports on the Crookston campus. To learn more about athletics at the U of M, Crookston, visit www.goldeneaglesports.com.

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: Bill Tyrrell, director, athletic fundraising, 218-281-8436 (btyrrell@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The annual Faculty and Staff Day Program was held Tuesday, May 8, in Bede Ballroom.  Faculty and staff from all units across campus attended the luncheon and program that followed.  The theme for the day was "We're from Everywhere," and faculty and staff commemorated their heritage by donning clothing representing some part of their heritage. Hosting the event were Rachel Lundbohm, instructor in the Business Department, and Kristie Jerde, assistant director of residential life.

Kenneth Johnson, MBA, instructor, Business Department, was presented with the Distinguished Teaching Award.  Donna Larson, accountant, Business Affairs Office, received the Distinguished Civil Service/Bargaining Unit Award.  Two individuals received the Distinguished Professional & Administrative Award: Melissa Dingmann, MEd, director, Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, and Kenneth Bulie, JD, CPA, lecturer, Business Department.  

The Outstanding Service Learning Faculty Award was presented to ADawn Melbye, MEd, instructor, Agriculture and Natural Resources Department, and the Outstanding Community Service Award went to Jamie Fagerholt, MBA, tutor and testing coordinator, Academic Assistance Center.  Rachel Lundbohm, MBA, instructor, Business Department, was recognized for her Presidents Civic Engagement Stewardship Award from the Minnesota Campus Compact.  

Jim Schaar, MDiv, lecturer, Liberal Arts and Education Department, was recognized with the Support Award for Students with Disabilities.  And Tom Feiro, environmental health & safety specialist, presented the campus with a special award of recognition from the Crookston Fire Department.

Chancellor Charles H. Casey and Albert Sims, director of operations  at the Northwest Research and Outreach Center recognized faculty and staff for their years of service. Dale Kopecky, farm foreman at the Northwest Research and Outreach Center was recognized for 40 years of service. Paul Aakre, assistant professor in the Agricultural and Natural Resources Department; Susan Brorson, professor and head of the Business Department; Tom Feiro, environmental health and safety specialist; Krista Proulx, library assistant; John Schleicher, building and grounds worker; and Deb Zak, campus regional director for Extension were all honored for their 35 years of service. Recognition was also given for 25, 20, 15, and 10 years of service.

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)

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)

A ground breaking ceremony will be held for the construction of a new $9,800,000 residence hall at the University of Minnesota, Crookston on Wednesday, May 2, 2012. The ceremony, which takes place at noon, will be held on the construction site located west of Evergreen Hall and adjacent to Parking Lot E. The public is invited to attend.

Among those speaking will be Chancellor Charles H. Casey, Crookston Student Association President Alisha Aasness, and Gary Willhite, director, Residential Life and Security Services.  Representatives from the University, Michael J. Burns Architects, and Community Contractors will also be on hand. 

The 43,043 square foot, two-story building will house 145 students in  35 two-bedroom suites furnished with a study room and bathroom facilities--approximately 700 square feet per suite. Public areas will include kitchenettes, study rooms, game room, fitness/exercise areas, and laundry rooms.

An academic classroom adjacent to the north side of the building will seat 100 some in approximately 5,000 square feet with a lounge and additional study areas.  The classroom will also serve as a multipurpose facility for students, faculty, and the public. The residence hall will be built using Minnesota B3 Benchmarking. B3 Benchmarking is a building energy management system for public buildings in Minnesota including state, local government, and public school buildings.

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: Architectural rendering of new residence hall.

Contact: Andrew Svec, director, communication, 218-281-8438 (asvec@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Time does not stand still when RSVP Volunteers are on the job! In fact, for 41 years, Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), part of the Minnesota Senior Corps, has worked to improve lives and strengthen communities through the skills and experience of men and women age 55 and above. In celebration of National Senior Corps Week, May 7-11, 2012, RSVP of the Red River Valley, sponsored by the University of Minnesota, Crookston, tallied the time donated by RSVP volunteers last year in the counties it serves.

Within the seven-county region last year, 728 volunteers were active, contributing a whopping 82,862 hours of service. In 2011 Polk County volunteers contributed 36,015 hours, Marshall County 12,471 hours, Norman County 9,543 hours, Kittson County 9,082 hours, Red Lake County 6,076 hours, Roseau County 7,452 hours and Pennington County 2,223 hours.

RSVP Director Jan Aamoth and Program Coordinator Tammy Sykes work with volunteers to match interests of volunteers with community needs. Aamoth states, "RSVP is changing as the Baby Boom generation retires and as community needs change. In the past year RSVP has added the Handyman and Groceries to Go Programs in several communities. These programs are focused on keeping people living independently in their own homes longer."

Another new priority area is placing volunteers in schools to assist with literacy programs. Sykes states, "RSVP recently piloted a Reading Buddies Program matching volunteers with early readers. Many of our volunteers really enjoy working with children and connecting the generations is a positive for the children and the volunteers."

In addition to RSVP, Senior Corps includes the Senior Companion Program as well as the Foster Grandparent Program. The three programs work together to meet community challenges. If you are interested in finding out what volunteer opportunities are available in your community contact the RSVP office at 218-281-8289.

The benefits of volunteering are many: People who volunteer live longer and healthier lives, experience less depression, and have lower incidence of heart disease. Communities become unified and strengthened and states and communities reap monetary benefits through donated time and service. To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu/rsvp.

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:
Front row, left to right: Marion Bjorgan, Red Lake Falls, Tammy Sykes, RSVP Program Coordinator, Glenice Johnson, Thief River Falls.
Back row left to right, Chuck Larson, Crookston, Donna Rae Heiraas, Twin Valley, Jan Aamoth, RSVP Director, Aase Hamnes, Stephen and Elden Johnson, Hallock. 

Contact: Jan Aamoth, director, RSVP, 218-281-8288 (aamot021@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The Class of 2012 will be honored during commencement exercises at the University of Minnesota, Crookston on Saturday, May 5. The ceremony begins at 2 p.m. in Lysaker Gymnasium when some 200 students, including some 34 international students  representing 14 countries and more than 20 (of the 94) online graduates, will participate in the largest commencement exercises in campus history.  A reception in the Northern Lights Lounge, Sargeant Student Center, will precede the commencement ceremony from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The public is welcome to attend both events; no tickets are required.

At 2 p.m., the formal procession of faculty, candidates for degrees, and platform guests will begin from the Sargeant Student Center to the gymnasium led by Mace Bearer William Peterson, professor in the Math, Science, and Technology Department. The procession also includes Faculty Marshal W. Daniel Svedarsky, professor and director of the Center for Sustainability on the Crookston campus.

Bringing greetings from the University of Minnesota Board of Regents is the Honorable David McMillan, from Duluth, Minn., who will also assist with the conferring of the degrees. Joining McMillan on the platform and bringing greetings from the U of M will be Robert Jones, Senior Vice President, Academic Administration, University of Minnesota System.

U of M, Crookston Alumna Jean (Fischer) Whalen (at left) will give the commencement address. Whalen, who graduated from the U of M, Crookston with an associate degree in court reporting in 1980 and a baccalaureate degree in applied studies in 2009, currently works as an official court reporter in the Second Judicial District in St. Paul, Minn. News release.

University of Minnesota, Crookston Alumni Association (UMCAA) Board President Juanita Lopez (at right), will bring greetings from the UMCAA and welcome the new graduates to the alumni association.

Graduating senior Alisha Aasness (at left, below), Crookston Student Association (CSA) president, will speak on behalf of the Class of 2012 and pass the torch of education, a Crookston campus tradition, to Adam Switzer (at right, below), the incoming CSA president. Aasness, from Fergus Falls, Minn., is graduating with a degree in horticulture. Switzer is a sport and recreation management major from Apple Valley, Minn.

The U of M, Crookston choir, under the direction of Associate Professor George French, will sing two selections, and the string ensemble, A Touch of Brass will perform as part of the graduation ceremony.

The 2012 commencement exercises mark the 104th graduating class to be recognized on the Crookston campus. A live audio stream of the commencement exercises will be available at www.umcrookston.edu/people/services/MediaServ/Stream.htm.  

For more information, visit the commencement Web site at www.umcrookston.edu/commencement.

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: Andrew Svec, director, communications, 218-281-8438 (asvec@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Entrepreneur Experience Camp has been cancelled.

Experience the excitement of sharing ideas and competing with other future entrepreneurs during a camp designed for high school students interested in starting their own business. Entrepreneur Experience Camp will be held from Sunday, June 17 through Thursday, June 21, 2012, at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The camp, hosted by the Center for Rural Entrepreneurial Studies, includes meals, accommodations, and activities for the $100 registration fee. To reserve a spot, visit www.entrepreneur-experience.com or contact Rachel Lundbohm at 218-281-8190.

The Entrepreneur Experience Camp offers 5 days of excitement, competition and an opportunity to meet future business leaders.  The mission is to introduce young entrepreneurs to business concepts, basic fundamentals of entrepreneurship, and stimulate innovation. High-School students will learn about finance, credit, business contracts and marketing.  This unique program is designed to foster creativity, innovation, and teamwork.

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

Get  in the swing this spring during the 10th Annual Carl Spackler Open to be held on Friday, April 20, 2012, at Minakwa Golf Course, at 3 p.m. Registration for the 9-hole, 4-person scramble is $20 per person or $80 per team and includes golf, food, and prizes. For more information about the tournament, contact Kristie Walker at 218-281-8116. Golf carts may be reserved through Minakwa Golf Course for $11 per cart if needed.

This event will be open to students, faculty, staff, and the community. All proceeds will be used to assist funding trips for the University of Minnesota, Crookston Turf Club students to regional and national educational conferences.  Send registration and payment to UMC Turf Club, 237 Student Center, 2900 University Ave., Crookston, Minn. 56716 or drop off your registration with Walker in Hill Hall 205. Registration will also be available on site.

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 Walker, lecturer, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 218-281-8116 (kwalker@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The University of Minnesota, Crookston Choir will present a spring concert on Sunday, April 22, at 4:00 p.m. in Kiehle Auditorium on the UMC campus. Featured will be American folk songs, several classical selections, and a medley from the Broadway musical "Les Miserables." Several vocal and instrumental solos will also be on the program.

Admission is free, and a light supper will be served by the choir students immediately following the program for a free-will donation.

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: George French, director, music and theater department, 218-281-8266 (gfrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The upcoming UMC Teambacker Fun Nite promises to be the best one yet in the event's 17-year history. It all takes place on Friday, April 27, 2012, at the Crookston Eagles Club, and all proceeds are used to support athletic scholarships at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. Tickets for Fun Nite are $50 per person and available by contacting Bill Tyrrell, director of athletic fundraising at 218-281-8436.

Fun Nite is taking on a whole new look this year. The evening begins with a social at 5:30 p.m. featuring hors d'oeuvres along with two drink tickets per person. Following the social at 7 p.m. are games, drawings for prizes, raffles, and both live and silent auctions with the final drawing for $1,000 taking place at 10:30 p.m.

Prizes include a 50-inch high definition television; a 43-inch high definition television; an Apple iPad; and a trip for four to the Wisconsin Dells including a two-night stay along with park passes. Other auction items include Coach purse and umbrella, wine baskets, sports memorabilia, and a steak and shrimp dinner for eight. Dancing with Tommy Helgeson will follow the games.

To see all the prizes and learn more about Fun Nite activities, visit www.goldeneaglesports.com/funnite.

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: Bill Tyrrell, director, athletic fundraising, 218-281-8436 (btyrrell@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Working under a short-term contract for the United Nations as an official court reporter at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda changed the life of University of Minnesota, Crookston Alumna Jean Fischer Whalen (at right). The Class of 2012 will learn how taking advantage of this opportunity influenced her life during her address at commencement on Saturday, May 5. Commencement exercises will take place at 2 p.m. in Lysaker Gymnasium and will also mark the final graduation celebration for Charles H. Casey as the University's chancellor.

Whalen, who graduated from the U of M, Crookston with an associate degree in court reporting in 1980 and a baccalaureate degree in applied studies in 2009, currently works as an official court reporter in the Second Judicial District in St. Paul, Minn. The degree Whalen earned in 2009, she completed entirely online, making her the first online graduate to be a part of the platform guests at commencement. She values both her on-campus and online experiences at the U of M, Crookston and believes they provided her with the background she needed to take advantage of the opportunities life has given to her. She believes graduates need to be ready to take a chance.   

Working at the genocide trials in Rwanda, Whalen was on a team of English court reporters. English and French were the two official languages of the trials which took place in Tanzania. She worked with a group of 16 court reporters from all over the world including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the Gambia, Zimbabwe, and Zambia in the fast paced environment. Her experience working for the United Nations changed the way Whalen views global citizenship and heightened her recognition that we all share similar dreams and desires for happiness, peace, and dignity.

In 2008, Whalen received the Minnesota Association of Verbatim Reporters and Captioners Distinguished Service Award. She is a Registered Diplomate Reporter and Certified Realtime Reporter.

For commencement details, visit www.umcrookston.edu/commencement.

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: Svec, director of communications, 218-281-8438 (asvec@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Jim Farrell, Ph.D. (at left), a professor of history at St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., will highlight Earth Week at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. On Thursday, April 19, 2012, he will speak on "The Nature of Our Lives: How College Culture Degrades Nature and How it Might be Different" beginning at 12:15 p.m. in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center. The event is free and the public is invited to attend.

His presentation explores the intersections of college culture, consumer culture and the environment by looking at the social construction of common sense and at the emerging uncommon sense of sustainability that's increasingly a part of campus cultures.

As background for his presentation, Farrell includes these important considerations: College students study cultures all the time, in history and the Humanities, sociology and anthropology, languages and literature.  But students don't often study their own culture, which just seems "natural" to them.  Waking up to an alarm, going to the bathroom, sorting through the clothes in their closets, eating in the cafeteria, watching TV and playing video games, using computers and iPods, driving cars and hooking up and hanging out, having fun and partying, practicing religion and politics (or not), students teach each other the cultural scripts of college culture, few of which are good for the planet we inhabit.

Farrell, a professor of history, American studies, environmental studies and American conversations, is an innovative teacher and St. Olaf's first Boldt Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Humanities. As a member of the college's Sustainability Task Force, he's had a hand in the greening of St. Olaf. With colleagues at Carleton College, he's facilitated a series of sustainability workshops on "Cows, Colleges and Curriculum."  Most recently, he served as a member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education's Summit on Sustainability in the Curriculum, held February 2010 in San Diego, CA. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Loyola University in Chicago (1971), and both an M.A. in History (1972) and a Ph.D. in American Culture from the University of Illinois (1980). For more information, visit http://www.stolaf.edu.  

The program is co-sponsored by U of M, Crookston Concerts and Lectures, Crookston Students for Sustainable Development (CSSD), Institute on Environment - U of MN, and UMC Center for Sustainability.

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: Dan Svedarsky, director, Center for Sustainability, 218-281-8129 (dsvedars@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 annual spring Fly-In/Drive-In Pancake Breakfast, will take place on Sunday, April 15, 2012, at the Crookston Municipal Airport. The breakfast, scheduled from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., is sponsored by , hosted by Alpha Eta Rho, the aviation fraternity at the University of Minnesota, Crookston, and Crookston Aviation. Tickets for the breakfast for adults are $6 in advance and $8 at the door; children 4 to 12 are $3 and children 3 and under are free. Tickets may be purchased from Alpha Eta Rho members or by contacting Chris Anderson at 612-715-2483.

The University of North Dakota (UND) Student Chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association will be offering FREE airplane rides for those 8 to 17 years of age from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A legal guardian must be present to sign permission forms for the airplane rides. To learn more about these Young Eagle Flights, visit http://www.youngeagles.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: Mike Vivion, chief pilot, 218- 281-8141 (mvivion@un.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)

Alpha Lambda Delta at the University of Minnesota, Crookston is planning its second annual Pi Run this spring. The Pi Run, meaning 5 km (3.1 miles), roughly equal to Pi, is a road race to benefit after school programs in the Crookston Public Schools and will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Children under the age of ten are invited to participate in the event's 1.05 mile fun run at 9:30 a.m. Walkers and runners are invited to participate including walkers and runners with strollers. Additional events for the family include a pie eating contest and a children's petting zoo.

Early registration participants are guaranteed a long-sleeved technical running shirt. Registration the day of the race begins at 8 a.m. in the Kiehle Rotunda Registration is $20 before April 6 and $25 through of the race. Registration for children under 10 competing in the fun run is $5. Visit the ALD Pi Run Web site at www.umcrookston.edu/pi for details and registration forms.

All proceeds from this run will support the Crookston School District in a collaborative effort to promote extracurricular activities and leadership development.

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: Runners take off in the first annual Pi Run in 2011 on a snowy April Saturday morning.

Contact: Brian Dingmann, assistant professor, Math, Science and Technology Dept. 218-281-8249 dingm021@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

A spring Aviation Safety Seminar will be held on Tuesday, April 3, 2012, at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The seminar, which begins at 7 p.m., features Chuck Adams, a Grand Forks Air Traffic Control Tower supervisor, and Jim Neihoff, who is a maintenance inspector for the Minneapolis Flight Standards office. The Aviation Safety Seminar is open to all, pilot or non pilot, and everyone is welcome to attend.

Adams will address the "Top Ten Pilot/Controller Mistakes" with his entertaining style while conveying important information about the business of pilots interacting with air traffic controllers. Neihoff will host a session entitled "Ask the FAA," a question and answer session for pilots.

For more information regarding the Aviation Safety Seminar, contact Mike Vivion, chief pilot on the Crookston campus, at 218-281-8114.

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: Mike Vivion, chief pilot, 218-281-8114 (mvivion@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Students in kindergarten through adulthood will have an opportunity to learn Mexican folk dancing techniques during a series of one-hour dance sessions at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The dance sessions are part of the fourth annual "Fiesta in the Spirit of Cinco de Mayo" taking place on Saturday, April 21, 2012, and will be taught by dancers from Los Alegres Bailadores, a professional dance troupe from St. Paul, Minn. Students must be pre-registered by Wed., April 18, and the sessions, which are free, will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. All dance sessions take place in Lysaker Gymnasium in the Sports Center on the Crookston 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. Each session will begin promptly at the designated time in order to accommodate all interested students. Both boys and girls are encouraged to participate.

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.
Becky Cusick serves as the director as well as a dance instructor for Los Alegres. The dance troupe's mission is to genuinely bring and preserve Mexican culture through the art of dance for all sorts of occasions and education.  For more information, visit http://losalegresbailadores.com

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. Other activities during "Fiesta in the Spirit of Cinco de Mayo" are available online.

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.

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

Former NBA player Chris Herren, subject of the Emmy-nominated ESPN documentary, "Unguarded," will share his story on Wed., October 17, 2012, at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. Herren will speak at 7 p.m. in Lysaker Gymnasium about his basketball career, his struggle with addiction, and his life off the court.

A highly sought-after motivational speaker, Herren is also the subject of a book, Basketball Junkie: A Memoir, a chronicle of his life he co-authored with Providence Journal columnist Bill Reynolds. He played for both the Denver Nuggets and the Boston Celtics during his career in the NBA and played on international teams from 2001- 2006.  He has been sober and drug free since 2008. He launched his own nonprofit to help others receive treatment in 2011 known as the Herren Project.

Bill Tyrrell, director of athletic fund raising, is more than pleased about Herren's visit to the Crookston campus. "ESPN's documentary about Chris Herren has a powerful message, and to have him bring his story to our campus is both an honor and an opportunity. Students of all ages along with the community and region can hear Chris share not just his story but his incredible message. We hope everyone will save this date and plan to come to hear what Chris has to say."

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: Bill Tyrrell, director, athletic fundraising, 218-281-8436 (btyrrell@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)

Children ages 3 and up can explore the world of agriculture and farm animals during the University of Minnesota, Crookston Tours for Tots program to be held Wednesday through Friday, April 11-20, 2012. The tours, recommended for children ages 4 -7 years old, will take children to visit the beef and sheep barn, horse stable and arena, and the greenhouse. Groups of 5 or more with adult supervision are best suited to the tours. To set up a tour time, contact Leah Stroot in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department at 218-281-8101.

Children will have the chance to see and interact with animals and hear about projects and activities from students on the Crookston campus. In the greenhouse, children will see the wide variety of plants that are grown and view research areas along the way. Tours for Tots is sponsored by the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department 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: Leah Stroot, Agriculture and Natural Resources Department, 218-281-8101 (stro0525@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)

Music and theater students at the University of Minnesota, Crookston will be performing the musical Oklahoma! under the direction of Associate Professor George French. The production is scheduled to take place on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, March 29-31, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. along with a special matinee performance on Sunday, April 1 at 3:30 p.m. Tickets for the performances are $6 for adults and $3 for children. Students at the U of M, Crookston are free with their U-card.

Oklahoma!, the first musical written by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, is set in Oklahoma Territory in 1906 around the town of Claremore. It focuses on the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance with farm girl Laurey Williams along with another romance between cowboy Will Parker and his fiancée, Ado Annie. The performance of Oklahoma! at the U of M, Crookston features an all-student cast and crew.

The musical is based on the play "Green Grow the Lilacs" by Lynn Riggs and choreography based on the original dances by Agnes de Mille. Oklahoma! is presented through special arrangement with R&H Theatricals: www.rnh.com.

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: George French, associate professor, Music and Theater Dept., 218-281-8266 (gfrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The 74th Annual Honor Banquet sponsored by the Red River Valley Development Association will be held on Saturday, March 17, 2012, beginning at 12 noon in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center, University of Minnesota, Crookston.  Tickets for the noon banquet are available for $15.00 from the Extension Regional Office, Crookston and can be reserved by calling 1-888-241-0781.  Payment can be made at the door.

Individuals from northwest Minnesota will be honored as Valley Farmers and Homemakers for the good example they have set with their family life, community service, farming or agribusiness operations and their efforts to conserve natural resources.  Funding for the Red River Valley Development Association is provided by the 14 counties in northwest Minnesota.

The Northwest Minnesota Youth Leadership Awards will be presented to several outstanding young adults from the area.

The Red River Valley Development Association includes directors from 14 northwest Minnesota counties.  The 2012 Directors and Honored Couples are:

County	Director	Honored Couple	Town
Becker	Bruce Hein	Don and Pam Skarie	Detroit Lakes
Clay	Clarice Schmidt	Mark and Judy Anderson	Hawley
Clearwater	Allen Paulson	Dale and Lois Miller	Leonard
Kittson	Gary Johnson	Justin and Donna Dagen	Karlstad
Lake of the Woods	Ken Horntvedt	Lyle and Millie Wiskow	Baudette
Mahnomen	Jean Nelson	Robert and Kathleen McNamee	Mahnomen
Marshall	Gary Satre	Mike Baird	Warren
Norman	Burton Rockstad	Paul and Carol Houglum	Perley
E Otter Tail	Roger Fremming	Vince and Becky Crary	New York Mills
W Otter Tail	Daniel Roehl	Greg and Dawn Johnson	Pelican Rapids
Pennington	Gladys Hallstrom	Michael and Linda Hanson	Goodridge
E Polk	Jerry Erickson	Chuck and Barbara Schulstad	Erskine
W Polk	Curt Knutson	Greg and Marlene LeBlanc	Crookston
Red Lake	Larry Johnson	Roger and Janel Walter	Plummer
Roseau	Buddy Erickson	Gene and Eunice Millner	Roseau
Wilkin	Milan Drewlow	Lowell and Connie Seidler	Rothsay

For more information, contact Deborah Zak, Regional Director, Northwest, Extension Regional Office, Crookston.  Phone:  218-281-8684 or 1-888-241-0781.  E-mail:  dzak@umn.edu

Contact: Deborah Zak, Regional Director, Northwest, Extension Regional Office, Crookston. Phone: 218-281-8684 or 1-888-241-0781. E-mail: dzak@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)

The third annual Horse Judging Open Invitational at the University of Minnesota, Crookston has been set for Friday, March 30, 2012, at the University Teaching and Outreach Center (UTOC). Both youth and collegiate teams are eligible to participate. Individuals and four-member teams will compete in 4 halter classes and 4 performance classes with reasons given on 2 classes. The entry fee is $80 per team and $20 for an individual entry. Pre-registration is required by March 16, or late fees will apply. Payment is due by Friday, March 30 and should be made payable to UMC Equine Science. Concessions will be provided.

The Youth Division welcomes teams from 4-H clubs and FFA, as well as high school teams. The day begins with registration at 8 a.m. with competition beginning at 9 a.m. sharp. The four halter classes will run from 9-11 a.m. with a break at 11:15 a.m. for lunch. From 12-1:30 p.m., the four performance classes will be held followed from 2-4 p.m. by reasons. All competitions will take place in UTOC except students will be escorted to Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center for reasons. The day concludes at 4:30 p.m. with the awards ceremony in the arena in UTOC.

Awards will be given for each team division in halter, performance, and reasons, as well as the top overall teams. The top ten individuals will be awarded in each division along with overall individual awards. Entry fees cover the cost of the awards and official judges' fees.

Visit www.umcrookston.edu/academics/agri and choose Department Activities for more information and to access the registration forms, or contact ADawn Melbye at 218-281-8125 (amelbye@umn.edu).

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: ADawn Melbye instructor, Agriculture and Natural Resources Department, 218-281-8125 (amelbye@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Mild temperatures and a light breeze greeted participants in the Justin Knebel Memorial Ice Fishing Tournament on Saturday, February 4, 2012. The daylong fishing tournament, which supports scholarships at the University of Minnesota, Crookston, was held at Zippel Bay Resort on Lake of the Woods, Williams, Minn. To date, nearly $6,000 has been raised for the Justin Knebel Scholarship and this marks the successful ice fishing tournament's second year. Next year's tournament date has been set for February 2, 2013.

Results of the Justin Knebel Memorial Ice Fishing Tournament included first fish caught, Emil Belin, Fertile, Minn.; largest walleye, Dan Quaife, Baudette,Minn.; largest northern, Marc Ulseth, Crookston, Minn.; largest sauger, Mike Lindholm, Thief River Falls, Minn. Prizes were sponsored in part by Streiff Sporting Goods  in Warroad, Minn.

The top winners in the raffle included Polly Dehnert, Grygla, Minn., who won the 19" television donated by Dakota TV & Appliance of Grand Forks, N.D., and Kevin Dammahn, Stephen, Minn., who won the U of M, Crookston jacket donated by the UMC Bookstore.

Bill Tyrrell, director of athletic fund raising was grateful to those who assisted with this year's tournament. "We are thankful for help from a number of students from the UMC Natural Resources Club," Tyrrell said. "They assisted with weighing fish and a number of other aspects of the tournament. Zippel Bay Resort was a great place for fishing, and we really appreciate what they did for us along with the leadership we received from the tournament committee especially Alysa Tulibaski and Amber Bailey. It was an all around great day."

If someone is interested in donating a prize or sponsoring the 2013 tournament, contact Tyrrell at 218-281-8436 or Alysa Tulibaski at 701-215-4300. Video highlights of this year's tournament are available at http://youtu.be/qUUqidaLh6E.

Justin Knebel, who played basketball for the U of M, Crookston Golden Eagles, grew up in Warroad, Minn., graduating from Warroad High School in 2001. A talented athlete, he lettered in basketball, cross country, and track. After graduation, he attended the University of Minnesota, Crookston where he played basketball as a point guard for the Golden Eagles. Besides his passion for playing basketball, Knebel loved the Warroad area and outdoor sports in Minnesota, making the ice fishing tournament an apt tribute to the memory of this outstanding student-athlete. For more information on the tournament, visit www.umcrookston.edu/justinknebel.

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: Emil Belin, Fertile, Minn., receives his prize for the first fish caught from Alysa Tulibaski, one of the members of the tournament committee.

Bottom, left: Marc Ulseth, Amber Bailey, Alysa Tulibaski, and Bill Tyrrell with members of the U of M, Crookston Natural Resources Club for a photo on Lake of the Woods at the Justin Knebel Memorial Ice Fishing Tournament. The club helped weigh fish and other aspects of the tournament.

Contact: Bill Tyrrell, director, athletic fundraising, 218-281-8436, (btyrrell@umn.edu); 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)

Bigger than ever, the 37th Annual Ag Arama brought some 350 people to the University Teaching and Outreach Center (UTOC) at the University of Minnesota, Crookston on Saturday, January 29, 2012. Highlights of the day included the crowning of the Ag Arama Royalty and announcing the True Grit Award recipient.

The 2012 royalty included Prince Justin Goodroad, a freshman from Lindstrom, Minnesota, majoring in animal science and agricultural education; Princess Victoria Martin, a sophomore from Worland, Wyoming, majoring in animal science pre-vet; Queen Kayla Klehr, a senior from Richmond, Minnesota, majoring in animal science pre-vet; and King Matthew Green, a senior from Greenbush, Minnesota, triple majoring in agricultural systems management, agronomy, and agricultural business. 

Candidates are nominated by the faculty for Ag Arama royalty. The students must write an essay and turn in their resume, as well as go through an interview process. Students also vote for their choices and each of these criteria helps determine the winners.

Samantha Lahman, a senior from Parker's Prairie, Minnesota, majoring in animal science, won the True Grit Award -- the highest honor given out at Ag-Arama. The True Grit Award is dedicated to the memory of Todd Opsahl a UMC student in 1973-74. Opsahl was extremely active in campus activities especially in the Ag Division where he studied animal science. Todd's life was cut short by leukemia. In his remembrance, the True Grit award is presented to the student who best demonstrates Todd Opsahl's active participation and encouragement of others.

Matthew Green also won Overall Crops Show and Crops and Soils Sweepstakes, finished first in the Dairy  Showing - experienced level, and finished first in the Ag Arama Photography Contest's Animal and Livestock division.

Contests included agronomy, animal science, horticulture, and natural resources. These contests serve as an opportunity for students in agriculture and natural resources degree programs to showcase their knowledge and skills and have a chance to interact with alumni and faculty members. Ag-Arama is hosted by students in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department.

This year's Ag Arama was dedicated to the memory of Sheri Lyn Landers, who taught light horse management  at the U of M, Crookston from 1986 - 1991. Each year, students and faculty in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department dedicate Ag Arama to someone who has been influential in agriculture 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:
Top, right: Ag Arama royalty: Prince Justin Goodroad,and Princess Victoria Martin, Queen Kayla Klehr, and King Matthew Green.

Center, left: Senior Samantha Lahman won the True Grit Award.

Bottom, right: Matthew Green shows a dairy cow  during the competition.

Contact: Terrill Bradford, instructor, Agriculture and Natural Resources Dept., 218-281-8108 (tbradfor@umn.edu); Brenda Miller, lecturer, Agriculture and Natural Resources Dept., 218-281-8140 (mill3707@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)

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)

Students will have the opportunity to showcase their science projects and compete at the 63rd Annual Western Minnesota Regional Science Fair to be hosted at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The science fair slated for February 11, 2012, in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center is for students in the Western Minnesota Region which includes the counties of Big Stone, Becker, Clay, Grant, Mahnomen, Norman, Otter Tail, Polk, Traverse and Wilkins.

Entries and required forms for projects must be postmarked by Monday, January 30, 2012. Papers must be postmarked absolutely no later than Friday, January 27, 2012. Mail forms/papers to Western MN Regional Science Fair, c/o Katy Smith, University of Minnesota, Crookston, 2900 University Ave., Crookston, Minn.,  56716. All forms, fee information, and additional details about the science fair are available at www.umcrookston.edu/sciencefair.

Registration and project set-up begin at 8 a.m. the day of the competition with judging at 10 a.m. The public is invited to view the projects from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. The event culminates with an awards ceremony at 2 p.m.

The regional science fairs are a learning opportunity for students in middle school or high school interested in science, technology, engineering and math. They also provide selected students the chance to compete for prizes at the State Science & Engineering Fair in March. Besides competing, the science fairs are a chance for participants to present and to engage in dialogue about their research. Evaluation is based on four criteria: the process of science; effectiveness of communication; context of the project and their scope of understanding (www.fair.mnmas.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: Katy Smith, assistant professor, Math, Science, and Technology Dept., 218-281-8262, (katys@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)

Fish for prizes and support scholarships at the same time during the 2nd Annual Justin Knebel Memorial Ice Fishing Tournament to be held Saturday, February, 4, 2012. The tournament, which supports scholarships at the University of Minnesota, Crookston, will be held at Zippel Bay Resort on Lake of the Woods, Williams, Minn. Tickets are available for $25 ($30 at the gate) by contacting Alysa Tulibaski at 701-215-4300 or Bill Tyrrell at 218-281-8436. Tickets are also available at Zippel Bay Resort, 6080 39th St. NW, Williams, Minn., 800-222-2537.

Registration, limited to the first 150, begins at 10 a.m. on the ice at the tournament site with fishing from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Prizes will be awarded to the first person to catch a fish, along with prizes for the largest walleye, northern, sauger, and perch caught during the tournament. The registration fee also includes a $5 raffle ticket and road access fee. Additional raffle tickets will be available at the gate. All proceeds from the tournament support the Justin Knebel Memorial Scholarship Fund at the U of M, Crookston.

Background

Justin Knebel, who played basketball for the U of M, Crookston Golden Eagles, grew up in Warroad, Minn., graduating from Warroad High School in 2001. A talented athlete, he lettered in basketball, cross country, and track. After graduation, he attended the University of Minnesota, Crookston where he played basketball as a point guard for the Golden Eagles. Head Basketball Coach Jeff Oseth describes him as the ultimate team player working hard on the court and in the classroom.  

Besides his passion for playing basketball, Knebel loved the Warroad area and outdoor sports in Minnesota, making the ice fishing tournament an apt tribute to the memory of this outstanding student-athlete. For more information on the tournament, visit www.umcrookston.edu/justinknebel.

Members of the planning committee for the event include Corby Kemmer, Bill Tyrrell, Stephanie Helgeson, Amber Bailey, Rose Ulseth, and Alysa Tulibaski.

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: Bill Tyrrell, director, athletic fundraising, 218-281-8436, (btyrrell@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

A retirement reception was held on Tuesday, January 10, to recognize the dedication of ten individuals during their many years of service at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The reception, held in Bede Ballroom in the Sargeant Student Center, was filled with families, friends, and coworkers.

Honorees in attendance at the reception were Dennis Magsam, audiovisual operations manager in Media Services, 43 years of service; John Rodseth, senior office assistant in the Business Department, 37 years of service; Sonia Spaeth, assistant professor in Liberal Arts and Education Department, 36 years of service; Jacquie Normandin, administrative aide in Human Resources, 26 years of service; Bob Nelson, registrar and director of Institutional Research, 24 years of service; and Karen Murphy, executive operations/student services specialist in the Business Department, 24 years of service.  

Other individuals retiring who were unable to attend the reception but are recognized for their years of dedication were Trish Ramstad, executive administrative specialist in Liberal Arts and Education Department, 45 years of service; Arlene Tahran, executive administrative specialist in Business Department, 42 years of service; Cleon Melsa, assistant professor in the Math, Science, and Technology Department, 38 years of service; and Deanna Patenaude, community program specialist in Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), 20 years of service.

In the photo (l to r) are Dennis Magsam, John Rodseth, Robert Nelson, Karen Murphy, Sonia Spaeth, and Jacquie Normandin.

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

A legacy continues at the University of Minnesota, Crookston with hosting of the 37th annual Ag Arama. The weekend of events, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, January 27-28, 2012, is hosted by the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department and includes fun and excitement for the entire family. Most of the activities take place on Saturday, Jan. 28, in the University Teaching and Outreach Center (UTOC) located on the north edge of the campus.

Contests in agronomy, animal science, horticulture, and natural resources highlight Ag Arama weekend. They serve as an opportunity for students to showcase their knowledge and skills and have a chance to interact with alumni and faculty members. Ag Arama is planned and operated by a committee of students advised by Terrill Bradford and Brenda Miller, who both teach in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department.

On Friday evening, the Animal Science Association will sponsor a chili feed from 5 to 7 p.m. in UTOC for $5 per person.

On Saturday morning from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., the animal showmanship contests begin and the public is welcome to watch the competition as it unfolds in both novice and experienced categories. Students compete in western and English horse showmanship, lamb lead, and dairy, beef, sheep, and swine showing.  The novices are paired with experienced students prior to the contests to prepare for the day. Alumni showmanship will take place at 12:30 p.m.

From 9 a.m. to noon, an agricultural industries show features some of the latest in agricultural equipment. At noon, the Round Robin Showmanship will begin. Coronation of the Ag Arama royalty takes place at 1 p.m. followed by the presentation of specialty awards and the sweepstakes presentation. Several games and competitions, including men's and women's crosscut saw contests and log splitting, begin at 2:30 p.m.

In the evening, a walleye or rib dinner will be served at the Crookston Eagles Club from 6 to 7 p.m., along with an alumni social from 6 to 8 p.m. also at the Eagles. Cost of the dinner will be $11 for the walleye and $10 for the ribs.

Capping off the weekend will be dancing to "Pick Six" from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Eagles.

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: Terrill Bradford, instructor, Agriculture and Natural Resources Dept., 218-281-8108 (tbradfor@umn.edu); Brenda Miller, lecturer, Agriculture and Natural Resources Dept., 218-281-8140 (mill3707@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communicati

If you are interested in growing more of your own food or scaling up production to market garden scale, the upcoming Local Foods College is designed for you. The series, which begins on January 24, 2012, will offer an overview of the basics, from planning to soils, fruit and vegetable production and business planning. The series, available via interactive television (ITV) at several locations across northwestern Minnesota, continues on Tuesday evenings through mid-March. Registration is $10 per session or $50 for the entire series.

Participants will learn from practitioners and educators and share personal experiences with others who are part of the growing movement to build resilient local food systems. Registration can be completed online by visiting www.rsdp.umn.edu/Northwest and payment sent to the Regional Extension Office Crookston, 2900 University Ave, Crookston, Minn., 56716.

Participants will choose the location as well as select the sessions they wish to attend and may bring a family member or partner along for no additional cost. Host sites include the University of Minnesota Crookston; Bemidji State University; Minnesota State University Moorhead; Northland Technical College in Thief River Falls; Central Lakes College in Staples;
Clearwater County Courthouse in Bagley; Lake of the Woods High School in Baudette; and
Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Fergus Falls. Check the locations for the Local Foods College sites.

Session topics will include: Whole farm planning, nutrient cycles and interactions; soils and composting; vegetable production and planning a market garden; starting and managing an apple orchard; small fruit production; backyard poultry; and farm business management. For more detailed information or questions, visit www.rsdp.umn.edu/Northwest or call 888-241-0781.

The Local Foods College is sponsored by the University of Minnesota; Statewide Health Improvement Program; Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation; Minnesota State Colleges and Universities; and North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education.

The Local Foods College is one aspect of a movement to strengthen local and regional food systems. It encompasses healthy foods for healthy people, stronger demand for healthy local foods, available accessible and affordable healthy local foods, and marketing and policy support for farmers and food producers. To learn more, visit www.localfoods.umn.edu.

The Northwest Minnesota Sustainable Development Partnership serves the people in northwestern Minnesota as they experiment with innovative ideas, build and strengthen relationships and take practical steps into a hopeful future. They connect university resources and citizen leaders in support of regional aspirations for natural resources, clean energy, agriculture and food systems, and resilient communities. The Northwest region encompasses Kittson, Roseau, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Pennington, Red Lake, Polk, Norman, Mahnomen, Clay and Wilkin counties.

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: : Linda Kingery, executive director, NWRSDP, 218-281-8697 (kinge002@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

As university and college campuses work toward goals of climate neutrality and improved sustainability, the University of Minnesota, Crookston and the University of North Dakota (UND) staged a unique evening of sharing and discussion around this vital topic. A "sustainability supper" was held on Wednesday, December 14, 2011, at the UND Memorial Union in Grand Forks. Participants from Crookston included students, Jen Rasmussen, Jeanne Collins, and Beth Walter; Rich Connell, director of facilities and operations; Peter Phaiah, associate vice chancellor of student affairs; Kent Freberg, assistant professor in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department; Linda Kingery, executive director of the Northwest Regional Sustainable Development Partnership; Vicki Svedarsky, UMC counselor; and Dan Svedarsky, director of UMC's Center for Sustainability.

The supper began with a welcome by UND President Robert Kelley who noted that he was, "delighted that both campuses are making very good progress in addressing the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and exploring novel, innovative new energy sources in the process." Larry Zitzow, director of facility management at UND, provided an overview of sustainability initiatives at UND with special emphasis on implementation strategies for their Climate Action Plan and improvements in energy efficiency. A couple of years ago, a UND campus input session generated over 90 possible sustainability and energy efficiency projects. Three selection criteria have been applied to choose which to do; 1) return on investment, 2) greenhouse gas reduction, and 3) in line with UND's sustainability efforts.

A similar overview for the Crookston campus was provided by Svedarsky, Connell, Phaiah, and Kingery. The session provided an opportunity for networking between the two campuses as far as student groups, curriculum initiatives, research possibilities, and facilities management.  Kylie Oversen, UND's student body president noted that she was excited with the possibilities of more interdisciplinary student involvement in sustainability and with the themes of landscaping and faith-based approaches to land stewardship. Juan Pedraza, UND University Relations, reflected back on growing up near Lisbon, Spain, where, "I didn't know what garbage was. Everything was used and re-used." The evening concluded with a discussion around maintaining synergy between the two campuses as they work toward a sustainable future, figure out ways to improve energy efficiency and save money, and collaborate.

Background

In June 2010, U of M, Crookston Chancellor Charles Casey approved an Action Plan for Climate Neutrality and Sustainability which outlines somewhat of a strategic plan for campus sustainability action. The plan sets a target date of 2030 to achieve a balance between carbon released (primarily in the form of carbon dioxide) and the amount trapped or not produced; primarily by conserving energy and shifting to renewable sources. The plan is far reaching and extends not only to energy conservation and efficiency issues directly, but also to transportation, communication, local foods, recycling, and interdisciplinary education approaches. These climate action plans are part of the requirements of campuses signing on to the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), which the University of Minnesota agreed to in 2008. Colleges and universities have a special responsibility to provide a leadership role in this regard according to Michael Crow, president of Arizona State University and one of the founders of ACUPCC.  "While college and university campuses across the country are, in aggregate, responsible for only about three percent of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions emitted by the U.S., we are educating 100 percent of our future political, business, and social leaders. This fact alone places significant accountability on higher education and its leaders to take action."

The Sustainability Supper initiative is sponsored by the University of Minnesota's Institute on Environment, Mini-Grant Program. Past themes have included international dimensions of sustainability, faith-based approaches to sustainability, and defining what the sustainability means. The system dynamics approach to complex decision making is the theme of the next meeting scheduled for UMC on January 31. One of the over-arching goals of the sustainability supper seminar series has been to better connect campuses to their community by creating a more functional, "Communiversity."  In this way, participants will reach a deeper understanding of collaborative problem solving, sustainability and its many applications, strive toward a more functional "learning community," and seek ways for better synergy in the use of common resources. For more information about sustainability and communiversity initiatives, contact Dan Svedarsky, dsvedars@crk.umn.edu or 218-281-8129.

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:
Bottom, left: Peter Phaiah, Rich Connell, and Kent Freberg listen to UND student body president Kylie Oversen, outline her hopes for more student engagement in sustainability initiatives.

Contact: Dan Svedarsky, director, Center for Sustainability, 218-281-8129 (dsvedars@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Russ Severson, Extension educator in crops, will be retiring on December 29, after 38 years with the University of Minnesota. A retirement reception, celebrating Severson's career will take place on Tuesday, December 20, 2011, from 3 - 5 p.m. in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center.  

Severson began his career in 1973 as a Research Scientist at the Northwest Research and Outreach Center in Crookston, Minn. In 1986, he joined University of Minnesota Extension where he served as a county educator in Polk County, eventually serving both Polk and Red Lake counties. Since 2008, Severson has served as Extension educator for crops programs in the Extension Regional Office in Crookston.

Over the past 38 years, Severson has planned and participated in numerous educational programs and coordinated and conducted applied research in crops vital to the economic and environmental sustainability of the people in Northwest Minnesota.  He has been active in the West Polk County Crop Improvement Association and Soil and Water Conservation District and the Minnesota & National Association of County Ag Agents. He was the recipient of several awards including:  USDA Award for Superior Service from the Farm Credit Mediation Program; NACAA Achievement Award and the Distinguished Service Award; West Polk County SWCD Friend in Conservation Award and Minnesota Crop Improvement Association Honorary Premier Seedsman.

The Severson retirement reception is taking place at the conclusion of the Soybean College Workshop held the same day at the U of M, Crookston. For more information on the Soybean College, visit www.extension.umn.edu. The brochure and registration form can be downloaded.

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: Deb Zak, director, Extension Regional Office, Crookston, 218-281-8684 (dzak@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)

Early registration deadline for Soybean College Monday, December 12.

Soybean producers and agriculture professionals interested in practical and in-depth management information to help maximize profits in soybean production are encouraged to participate in the Soybean College at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The interactive combination of hands-on lab experiences and lectures will be held on Tuesday, December 20, 2011, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. Registration is $40 before December 12 or $50 at the door the day of the event. Lunch will be provided for participants.

The Soybean College is a joint collaboration between University of Minnesota Extension, College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences; Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council; University of Minnesota Crookston; and the Northwest Research and Outreach Center. Payment must accompany registration $40 registration before December 12. Checks should be made payable to University of Minnesota Extension. Registration with payment can be mailed to UMN Extension RO - Moorhead, Amanda LeGare, 715 11th Street No., Ste. 107C Moorhead, Minn., 56560-2083.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center, with a welcome at 8:30 followed by a general session on the Soybean Trade Mission to China and MSGA: Facing Policy Issues Together with Kurt Krueger, farmer and President of Minnesota Soybean Growers Association.

The opening session will be followed by a series of lectures and laboratories to be repeated during the day at least once. The concurrent sessions begin at 10:05 a.m. and run until 3:10 p.m. with a break for lunch at noon.

Lecture session topics include: Soybean Fertility Program for Northwest Minnesota with Dan Kaiser from the University of Minnesota; Soybean Agronomics with Seth Naeve, University of Minnesota; Addressing Soil Compaction with Jodi DeJong-Hughes, University of Minnesota; Developing Weed Management Plans with Jeff Gunsolus, University of Minnesota; and Soybean Cost of Production and Market Considerations for 2012 with Bill Craig and Bret Oelke, both from the University of Minnesota.

Laboratory sessions are designed to provide participants with hands on experiences and exposure to a variety of current production issues. Topics of the labs include: Soybean Disease Recognition and Challenges with Dean Malvick, University of Minnesota; Insect Issues in Soybeans with Phil Glogoza, University of Minnesota; Matching Soybean Growth Stages with Crop Management with Doug Holen, University of Minnesota; Beyond the Soil Survey Book with Kristina Walker, University of Minnesota; and Soybean Cyst Nematode Lab: How to Determine Egg Counts from Soil Tests with Kasia Kinzer, North Dakota State University

The brochure and registration form can be downloaded. Sponsors of the 2011 Soybean College are Pioneer Hi-Bred, Farm Business Management - Northland Community and Technical College, REA Hybrids, Hyland Seeds, Triangle Ag. LLC, AgCountry Farm Credit Services, SunOpta Grains and Foods Group, Thunder Seeds Inc., Dairyland Seeds / Heartland Seeds.

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: Deb Zak, director, Extension Regional Office, Crookston, 218-281-8684 (dzak@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Kick off the the holiday season with a concert of the holiday's best music performed by the University of Minnesota, Crookston choir under the direction of Associate Professor George French. The concert will be held on Sunday, December 4, 2011, at 3 p.m. in the Hafslo Chapel located on the grounds of the Polk County Museum. The concert is free and all are welcome.

The Hafslo chapel, once a Norwegian country church built in 1888, closed in 1978. It was moved in 1983 to the Crookston campus where it was located for almost twenty years before it was moved to the Polk County Museum grounds located at 719 East Robert St., Crookston, Minn.

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: George French, associate professor, Music and Theater, 218-218-8266 (gfrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

She keeps students dancing, in fact, Senior Allison Noll has been keeping the campus dancing for three years. An agricultural business and agricultural education double major, Noll's passion for dance began as a high school student growing up in Mahnomen, Minn., dancing for her high school dance line, the Sparklers.

To date, Noll has choreographed three musicals at the U of M, Crookston including "Leader of the Pack" in 2010, "Dracula, the Musical?" in spring 2011, and now, "Zombie Prom." Her work begins by listening to the music and lyrics and putting together ideas. She may check other sources, but as Noll explains, "I like to try and keep the dances my own so I don't rely on outside sources much at all."

She is given the score for the musical from George French, who heads up the music and theater department on the campus. She writes down the steps on the score as the dance moves develop. "I try not to repeat dance steps to keep the choreography from getting boring," Noll says. "I keep the cast busy learning almost until they are ready to perform in order to refine the steps as they memorize each move."

Working with the students is something Noll enjoys particularly the freshman who are excited to be performing for the first time. Dance is not offered as part of the curriculum at the U of M, Crookston so Noll treasures the opportunities she has had to choreograph. "I find it a wonderful way to be involved in a hobby I have loved since high school," she says. "And, I have the privilege of working with so many people."

Noll has choreographed two of the Mr. UMC pageants along with her work on the musicals. She is gratified by the experience particularly when she is part the audience watching the stage, but also, listening and looking for a reaction from the rest of the audience. "I really like to see the them enjoy the performance and watch it all come together," she reflects. "I am nervous before the curtain goes up because I have spent a lot of time with the cast, and I really want it to go well."

For one season, Noll was the coach of the Crookston High School Treasurettes dance line. She also is involved in Collegiate FFA and has worked for four years in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations. When the opportunity became available, Noll studied abroad in Australia and will be back for one final year at the U of M, Crookston to finish up her double major. Her advisor is Associate Professor Lyle Westrom, who teaches in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department. Noll is the daughter of Dale and Linda Noll of Mahnomen.
 
Noll doesn't tire of dance and her enjoyment of choreography is unwavering even when she considers the countless hours she has invested in each of the performances. "I get a deep sense of gratification from it," Noll says.

And, it's a good thing she doesn't tire of designing dance steps because Noll is responsible for keeping the campus dancing, and her work makes us all feel good.

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: Joe Harren (Jonny), Eagle Bend, Minn., a senior majoring in agronomy; Melissa Graf (Toffee), Hokah, Minn., a sophomore majoring in animal science; Brooke Hamilton (Miss Delilah Strict), Adams, Minn., a junior majoring in business; Allison Noll, (choreographer) Mahnomen, Minn., a senior double majoring in agricultural business and agricultural Education; and Austin Czichotzki (Eddie), Barnesville, Minn., a senior majoring in communication. 

Contact: George French, director of music and theater, 218-281-8266 (gfrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Rotaract, a Rotary-sponsored service club at the University of Minnesota, Crookston, announces a fundraiser to fight polio. This effort will raise money for and create awareness of the need for children to be immunized against polio. The club will sponsor "Pinky for Polio" on Monday through Wednesday, November 28-30, 2011, in the Sahlstrom Conference Center near the entrance to the Eagle's Nest.

A $1 donation is equivalent to one vaccination for a child, and participants will be recognized by the purple dye on their little finger. The fundraiser is driven by a desire to end polio by protecting children through the vaccine, and the "Pinky for Polio" campaign is named for the purple dye painted on a child's little finger to signify immunization against polio. The campaign has been going on for more than two decades.

To learn more about the effort to eradicate polio, visit www.rotaract.org.

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 1,400 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: Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

New and prospective students are invited to visit the University of Minnesota, Crookston on Saturday, December 3, 2011, to learn more about the campus during Preview Day.  Students are encouraged to bring their families along for the in depth look at campus.  

Students may go online to register for the Preview Day on Saturday, December 3 by visiting  www.umcrookston.edu/admissions or by contacting the Admissions Office at 218-281-8569. The welcome and admissions presentations begin at 10 a.m.

During Preview Days, students have the opportunity to interact with current students, faculty, and staff as they learn about the U of M, Crookston. Throughout the day the students will be able to receive detailed information about the various opportunities available on the Crookston campus, participate in a question and answer session, tour the beautiful campus, and enjoy lunch in Brown Dining Hall.   Preview Day is designed to help students and their families as they make decisions about college.

For more information, visit www.umcrookston.edu/admissions.

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 1,400 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: Amber Schultz, director, admissions, 218-281-8568, (evan0331@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)

Agriculture and Natural Resources Activities Day brings high school students from some 40 high schools to the University of Minnesota, Crookston on Friday, December 2, 2011. The annual event, which involves the students competing in more than 20 contests, has been held on the campus since 1969.

Ranging from horticulture and forestry to ag mechanics, livestock and sales, the day is fraught with excitement and culminates in an awards ceremony. The contests are overseen by U of M, Crookston Agriculture and Natural Resources Department faculty. The day begins early with registration for the equine contests beginning at 7:15 a.m. All activities conclude with the awards ceremony at 1:15 p.m.in Lysaker Gymnasium.

Scholarships, plaques and certificates are awarded to school teams and individuals for each contest. Over $32,000 in scholarships are available to award-winning students.  Last year, $750 UMC scholarships were awarded for the high individual in each contest, $600 UMC scholarships were awarded for the second place individual, and $450 UMC scholarships were awarded for the third place individual.

More information regarding Ag and Natural Resources Activities Day is available by contacting Leah Stroot at 218-281-8101 or visit www.umcrookston.edu/agnatrday.

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: : Leah Stroot, Agriculture and Natural Resources Department, 218-281-8101 (stro0525@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The Veterans Club will be hosting a Color Guard and Ceremony at the University of Minnesota, Crookston flag pole November 11, 2011, in commemoration of the men and women who died serving our country. The event will begin at 11:11 a.m. on the Campus Mall and everyone is welcome to attend.

The Veterans Club chose the time 11:11 a.m. because it ties into the origin of Veterans Day.  Veterans Day was originally called "Armistice Day" and mainly recognized WWI veterans. Armistice Day celebrated the armistice which ended WWI. That armistice was signed at 11:11 a.m. on the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. After WWII, Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day to honor all war veterans.

The commemoration of Veterans Day is a long standing tradition on the Crookston campus dating back to the earliest days of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial. The memorial was constructed in 1920 in honor of the young men and women who attended the Northwest School of Agriculture, predecessor of the U of M, Crookston, who died serving our country. Since then, more plates have been added commemorating not only those in the military who attended Northwest School of Agriculture but the University of Minnesota Technical Institute in Crookston and the University of Minnesota, Crookston as well.

In addition to the color guard and flag ceremony on Friday, the Veterans Club at the U of M, Crookston will be hosting a Veterans Day presentation in Kiehle Auditorium at 1 p.m.. Featured guest speaker Stewart Bass, a naval aviator who flew in WWII and was awarded the Navy Cross for valor in action, will be discussing the carrier war, operations in the Pacific, and flying the TBM. The public is invited.

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: In 2007, members of the Vets Club placed a wreath at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial located near entrance at the U of M, Crookston. It is a longstanding tradition on the campus.

Bottom, left: In 1966, Bruce Stromstad, student body president at the Northwest School of Agriculture laid a wreath at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial.

Contact: Michael Vivion, chief pilot, 218-281-8114 (mvivion@umn.edu); Katelyn Zins, communications assistant, 218-281-8446 (zinsx029@crk.umn.edu)

The musical-comedy "Zombie Prom" will be performed by music and theater students at the University of Minnesota, Crookston on November 16-20, 2011. Performed in the historic Kiehle Auditorium, the play is nightly at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, Nov. 16-19 with a special matinee performance on Sunday, November 20 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $6 for adults; $3 for students and children; and U of M, Crookston students are free with their U-Card. Anyone donating an non-perishable food item for the North Country Food Shelf in Crookston will receive a $1 discount on admission.

The musical is set in the atomic 1950s at Enrico Fermi High, where the law is laid down by a zany, tyrannical principal, Miss Delilah Strict, played by Brooke Hamilton. Pretty senior Toffee, played by Melissa Graf, has fallen for the class bad boy, played by Joe Harren. Family pressure forces her to end the romance, and he charges off on his motorcycle to the nuclear waste dump. He returns glowing and determined to reclaim Toffee's heart. A tuneful selection of original songs in the style of 50s keeps the action rocking across the stage. It is produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

Cast members of "Zombie Prom" are (cast names included in parentheses): Nathan Anderson (Jake), Appleton, Minn., a freshman majoring in agricultural education; Austin Czichotzki (Eddie), Barnesville, Minn., a senior majoring in communication; Mark Frenzel (Josh), Blackduck, Minn., a freshman majoring in agricultural systems management; Jessica Girgen (Candy), Madien Rock, Wis., a freshman majoring in health sciences; Melissa Graf (Toffee), Hokah, Minn., a sophomore majoring in animal science; Brooke Hamilton (Miss Delilah Strict), Adams, Minn., a junior majoring in animal science; Joe Harren (Jonny), Eagle Bend, Minn., a senior majoring in agronomy; Alissa Hermandez (Coco), Savage, Minn., a freshman majoring in equine science; Tyler Lowthian (Joey), Richfield, Minn., a freshman majoring in organizational psychology; Liz Massie (Ramona), Eagan, Minnesota, a freshman majoring in communication; Joanie Melichar (Sheila), Bloomington, Minn., a freshman majoring in animal science; Miah Smith (Ginger), Hutchinson, Minn., a freshman majoring n health sciences; and Amanda Wagner (Announcer), Fisher, Minn., a senior majoring in communication.

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: George French, associate professor, Liberal Arts and Education, 218-281-8266 (fgrench@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)

New and prospective students are invited to visit the University of Minnesota, Crookston on Saturday, November 19, 2011, to learn more about the campus during Preview Day.  Students are encouraged to bring their families along for the in depth look at campus.  

Students may go online to register for the Preview Day on Saturday, November 19 by visiting  www.umcrookston.edu/admissions or by contacting the Admissions Office at 218-281-8569. The welcome and admissions presentations begin at 10 a.m.

During Preview Days, students have the opportunity to interact with current students, faculty, and staff as they learn about the U of M, Crookston. Throughout the day the students will be able to receive detailed information about the various opportunities available on the Crookston campus, participate in a question and answer session, tour the beautiful campus, and enjoy lunch in Brown Dining Hall.   Preview Day is designed to help students and their families as they make decisions about college.

For more information, visit www.umcrookston.edu/admissions.

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: Amber Schultz, director, admissions, 218-281-8568, (evan0331@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The Veterans Club at the University of Minnesota, Crookston will host a special presentation on Friday, November 11, 2011, at 1 p.m. in Kiehle Auditorium. Stewart Bass will be the featured guest speaker during a program commemorating Veterans Day on the campus.

Bass, a naval aviator who flew a TBM Avenger torpedo bomber in World War II, fought in the Pacific and was awarded the Navy Cross for valor in action.  The honor is the second highest combat decoration our nation awards. Bass will discuss the carrier war, operations in the Pacific, and flying the TBM.

After the war, Bass returned to his home near Missoula, Montana, and attended the University of Montana.  He worked for American Crystal Sugar Company for many years, and from 1974 until his retirement in 1986, he was vice president for the company.

In 1919, President Wilson first proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. In 1938, November 11 was set aside as a legal holiday--a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day primarily recognized veterans of World War I, but in 1954, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." It continues as a day of celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. To learn more, visit www.va.gov/opa/vetsday.

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: Mike Vivion, chief pilot, 218-281-8114 (mvivion@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Songs of Temperance and Temptation is the theme of a concert to be performed on Tuesday, November 1, 2011, in the Kiehle Auditorium at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The Rose Ensemble will bring the flavor and the music of the prohibition period to life beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets for the concert are $12 for adults and $9 for students with an ID. With the purchase of two or more regular priced tickets an additional ticket is free.

Prohibition leaps onto the musical stage in this delightful look at the history and humor behind Minnesota's long-standing love/hate relationship with the saloon. Semi-staged and fully costumed, this research-rich yet light-hearted performance features the songs and stories of Carrie Nation and 19th-century Temperance Union meetings, balanced by a full cup of good ol' anti-Prohibition songs. Projections of historical photos and narration from F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby complement the show, as the performers skip and prance to Victorian waltzes, croon 1920s jazz, launch into Irish reels, ragtime, and gospel, and belt out some of Irving Berlin's best show-stoppers!

Founded in 1996 by Artistic Director Jordan Sramek, The Rose Ensemble reawakens the ancient with vocal music that stirs the emotions, challenges the mind, and lifts the spirit. The Saint Paul, Minnesota group tours internationally with repertoire spanning 1,000 years and 25 languages, including new research in Middle Eastern, European and American vocal traditions. The Ensemble has released 9 recordings. For more information, visit www.roseensemble.org.

The concert is sponsored in part by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board through appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

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: George French, director of music and theater, 218-281-8266 (gfrench@umn.edu); 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 legend has passed. On September 25, 2011, Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and sustainable development activist died in Nairobi, Kenya, after a prolonged battle with cancer. In her memory and as a tribute to her legacy, the University of Minnesota, Crookston will plant a memorial apple tree on campus. In coordination with the hosting of the Mid-America Collegiate Horticultural Society (MACHS) conference, a Honeycrisp apple tree will be planted at 4 p.m. on Friday, October 21, 2011, in the Nature Nook, near the west entrance to Bergland Laboratory on the campus. The public is invited to attend.

The family of Maathai and the Green Belt Movement asks well-wishers to plant a tree to provide a living symbol of Wangari and her tireless work to make the world a better and more peaceful place. U of M, Crookston Chancellor Charles H. Casey will make comments during the tree planting along with Harouna Maiga, Ph.D., associate professor of animal science and a native of Mali, Africa.

The recipient of numerous awards commemorating her activities with sustainability, international conservation, women's rights, health, Maathai is perhaps best known for founding the Green Belt Movement in 1977. The movement was launched in Kenya primarily to inspire women to improve their livelihoods by planting trees for firewood, clean water, and soil protection. It has become a world-wide movement, particularly in third-world countries.

Dan Svedarsky, director of the Center for Sustainability had the pleasure of meeting Maathai at the U.N. Conference on Global Climate Change held in Copenhagen in December of 2009. "A group of us met with her at the Danish Film Institute to view the premier showing of, 'Taking Root,' a film featuring her life story. That film and discussions with her which followed, were an incredibly moving experience," according to Svedarsky.

Background

Wangari Maathai was born in Nyeri, Kenya (Africa) in 1940. The first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a doctorate degree, Professor Maathai obtained a degree in Biological Sciences from Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison, Kansas (1964).(Her studies in American were supported by a Kennedy Foundation scholarship for Kenyans which also included President Obama's father.)  She subsequently earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh (1966). Professor Maathai pursued doctoral studies in Germany and later obtained a Ph.D. (1971) from the University of Nairobi where she also taught veterinary anatomy. She became chair of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy in 1976.

Professor Maathai is internationally recognized for her persistent struggle for democracy, human rights and environmental conservation. She has addressed the UN on several occasions and spoke on behalf of women at special sessions of the General Assembly during the five-year review of the Earth Summit. She and the Green Belt Movement have received numerous awards, most notably the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize. In 2005, Professor Maathai was honored by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, and by Forbes Magazine as one of 100 most powerful women in the world.

Apple experts at the University of Minnesota were responsible for the development of the Honeycrisp apple making it an apt tribute to Maathai on the Crookston campus. The event is sponsored by the Crookston Students for Sustainable Development (CSSD) and the Center for Sustainability. It commences an initiative to develop an "Edible Campus Landscape" where fruit-producing trees and shrubs will be planted along with possibly campus gardening. "Wangari would have liked that," according to Svedarsky.

To learn more, visit www.greenbeltmovement.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: Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and sustainable development activist, from www.greenbeltmovement.org.

Contact: Dan Svedarsky, director, Center for Sustainability, 218-281-8129 (dsvedars@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, communications, University Relations, 218-281-8342 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

To celebrate the 200th anniversary of pianist and composer Franz Liszt's birth, the University of Minnesota, Crookston will host a concert by Stephen Carlson, professor of piano at Bemidji State University. The concert will be held on Tuesday, October 25, 2011, at 7:30 p.m. The concert will be performed on the new grand piano located in the Evergreen Residence Hall lobby.  Evergreen Hall is located directly north of the UMC athletic fields on the south side of the campus. The performance, sponsored by Concerts & Lectures, is free and the public is invited.

The evening will begin with Liszt's St. Francis of Paola Walking on the Water followed by Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111 by Ludwig van Beethoven. Following a program intermission will be Ballade No. 4 in Fminor, Op. 52 by Frederic Chopin and conclude with Three Movements from Petrushka by Igor Stravinsky.

A member of the Bemidji State University Music Department since 2006, Stephen Carlson is a versatile soloist and chamber musician who has performed at many colleges, universities, and festivals throughout much of the U.S. and Eastern Canada.  
In 2005, Dr. Carlson made his New York debut as a solo recitalist in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall with a program that included Schumann's Symphonic Etudes, Stravinsky's Three Movements from Petrushka, and various works by Beethoven, Debussy and Scriabin.  From 1995 to 2003, he appeared at Minnesota Valley Sommarfest in St. Peter, Minn., where he performed an array of solo and collaborative works.  Appointed to the Performing Artist Roster of the South Carolina Arts Commission, he has also performed chamber music with members of the South Carolina Philharmonic as well as the Charleston and Greenville [S.C.] Symphonies.  He has appeared with the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra three times: last season in which he played Beethoven's Emperor Concerto, in 2009 when he played Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 and in 2007 when he played Beethoven's Triple Concerto along with Michelle Laliberte and Patrick Riley.  He also performed the Tchaikovsky with the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony, Mozart's Concerto in A major, K. 414 with the Gustavus Adolphus Chamber Orchestra, and Saint-Saëns's Carnival of the Animals with the Mississippi Valley Chamber Orchestra.

He completed the doctor of musical arts degree in piano performance and pedagogy at the University of Iowa where he studied with Uriel Tsachor.  He is also a graduate of the University of Illinois and Gustavus Adolphus College where he studied with Ian Hobson and John McKay, respectively.

This season, Carlson has recitals scheduled in Arizona, Minnesota, North and South Carolina, North Dakota, and Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Also an innovative clinician with wide-ranging interests, he is frequently called upon to give master classes, piano teacher workshops, and to adjudicate contests. Most recently, he instituted "Piano Day" with the support of the Bemidji State University Foundation and Department of Music.  Prior to coming to Bemidji State where he is associate professor of music, Carlson was a tenured faculty member at Coker College in Hartsville, S.C.  He has also taught piano at the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, Gustavus Adolphus College and St. Joseph's School of Music in St. Paul, Minn.

For more information, contact Associate Professor George French at 218-281-8266.

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: George French, associate professor, Liberal Arts and Education, 218-281-8266 (fgrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Fall Convocation is scheduled for Thursday, October 20, 2011, at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The convocation will be held in Kiehle Auditorium at 12:30 p.m., and celebrates student accomplishment including recognizing those earning a perfect 4.0 grade point average during spring semester 2011 and the contributions of student-athletes and student leaders. The public is welcome to attend.

The fall convocation guest speaker will be Linda Kingery, at right, executive director of the Northwest Regional Sustainable Development Partnership (NWRSDP), where she has served since 2000. Under Kingery's leadership the NWRSDP functions with the University to further research, education, and outreach consistent with sustainable development principles. Kingery is a 2006 Torch & Shield Award recipient.

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 more than 1,500 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: Tom Baldwin, senior vice chancellor, academic and student affairs, 218-281-8340 (tbaldwin@umn.edu): Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The University of Minnesota, Crookston Horticulture Club is hosting the Mid-America Collegiate Horticultural Society (MACHS) 39th annual conference. This event will be from Thursday, October 20 to Sunday, October 23, 2011, and the theme is "Little Campus on the Prairie." The MACHS conference is expected to bring more than 40 horticultural students from across the Midwest to the U of M, Crookston campus. This is the first time that the U of M, Crookston Horticulture Club has hosted this event. 

MACHS is comprised of horticulture clubs from universities  and two-year colleges in the Midwest Region including Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. MACHS is a branch of the Association of Collegiate Branches (ACB) within the American Society for Horticultural Sciences (ASHS). ACB is a national forum comprised of undergraduate horticulture clubs within ASHS.

The objective of MACHS is to promote an awareness of the profession of horticulture, furnish a medium of communication for horticulture students, and exchange club and professional ideas. These objectives are met through a variety of activities taking place throughout the weekend conference.

 Thursday night students will gather in the U of M, Crookston greenhouse classroom for registration, refreshments, and a campus welcome by Ron DelVechio, U of M, Crookston professor and head of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department. Friday morning begins with a contest which includes a general knowledge exam, plant identification, and plant judging. Each school has a team of four students whose individual scores contribute to the team total. This contest is designed to challenge the horticulture students and allow them to see where they stand in relation to other universities.

Friday afternoon will include three guest speakers. Linda Kingery of the Northwest Regional and Sustainable Development Partnership will be talking to students about local foods. Kathleen Brokke, historian and horticulturalist, will be performing her interpretation of Fannie Manhood Heath, a pioneer horticulturalist in this region. Minnesota Nursery and Landscaping Association president Bert Swanson will also be sharing his industry perspective with the up and coming industry leaders. Friday evening will include a banquet meal with keynote speaker Rusty Schmidt, natural resource specialist with the Washing Conservation District. Schmidt is one of three authors of the Bluethumb Guide to Raingardens which has changed the way people think about using water in the Twin Cities area and beyond.

Saturday is a day of regional tours. Students will begin the day with naturalist Rhett Johnson leading the group through the Agassiz Dunes Scientific and Natural Area in Fertile, Minn. Traveling south to Detroit Lakes, Minn. the group will see the poinsettia growing operation of Bergen's Greenhouse, Inc. In Park Rapids, Minn. students will visit the wholesale perennial growing operation of Bergen's Nursery. The final stop for the group will be Itasca State Park where the group will take a tour of Minnesota's conifers. Students will also have an opportunity to cross the headwaters of the Mississippi River which will be a first-time experience for many students who come from much farther downriver.

Sunday marks the end of the weekend conference as the MACHS students hold their annual business meeting. Awards from Friday's team contest also will be presented. It will be a weekend of learning, networking, and growing as a horticulturalist for all students involved.

The entire event is being planned by the U of M, Crookston Horticulture Club students with support from U of M, Crookston staff and faculty. The MACHS annual conference is the largest undertaking in the history of the Horticulture Club, and they are excited to showcase their program, the campus, and the community to many other universities and technical colleges.

U of M, Crookston senior Kristine Neu currently serves as the chair of MACHS, and she works with a team of four other officers from South Dakota State University; the University of Wisconsin, River Falls; and Iowa State University. For more information about MACHS visit, www.umcrookston.edu/machs.
 
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: Kristine Neu, communications assistant, (neuxx019@umn.ed) ; Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Alumni from the University of Minnesota, Crookston are invited to attend an alumni social on Thursday, November 10, 2011. The social will take place from 5 -7 p.m. at the Ramada Plaza Suites located at 1635 42nd Street South in Fargo, N.D. Refreshments will be served.

This marks the second time the University of Minnesota, Crookston Alumni Association has hosted an alumni social in Fargo, and all alumni are encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Rose Ulseth in the alumni office at 218-281-8439.

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: Corby Kemmer, director, development and alumni relations, 218-281-8434 (ckemmer@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED.  The University of Minnesota, Crookston will host a horse owner education program on Saturday, November 12, 2011, from 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the University Teaching and Outreach Center (UTOC) on the campus. The cooperative program between the U of M, Crookston and U of M, Saint Paul is designed to assist current horse owners as well as those interested in owning a horse in the future.
 
The program is recommended for ages 13 and up but is open for everyone. Registration is required for this program and the deadline is Wednesday, November 9 at 11:59 p.m. The program registration fee is $25. In case of cancellation due to inclement weather, an e-mail will be sent to all participants. Mail registration(s) and check(s) made out to the U of M to: Registration Coordinator, University of Minnesota, 405 Coffey Hall, 1420 Eckles Avenue, St Paul. Minn., 55108. Online registration is also available at www.regonline.com/FallRegionalHorse. Registration questions can be directed to 1-800-876-8636.

The doors will open at 8:30 a.m. and light refreshments will be served throughout the day. There will be three sets of hour-long sessions. Participants are invited to select the program of their choice.

Programs running concurrently at 9 a.m. include Winter Care led by Marcia Hathaway, Ph.D., from the U of M; and Equine First Aid Away from Home led by Gemma Drees, D.V.M., from the Red Lake Falls Vet Clinic. 

At 10 a.m. the concurrent programs are Selecting and Extending Your Hay Supply led by Krishona  Martinson, Ph.D., from the U of M; and Body Condition Scoring and Weight Estimation with Jennifer Earing, Ph.D., and Beth Allen, both from the U of M.

The last two sessions for the day begin at 11 a.m. and include Feeding the Problem Horse led by Hathway, and Conformation: Form to Function led by ADawn Melbye instructor  from the U of M, Crookston. The day concludes with an optional question and answer session with program speakers from noon to 12:30 p.m.

For more information about this event, visit www.extension.umn.edu/horse.

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 more than 1,500 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: ADawn Melbye, instructor, Agriculture and Natural Resources Department, 218-281-8125 (amelbye@umn.edu); 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 Minnesota Rural Health Association (MRHA) will join the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) and other state/national rural stakeholders in celebrating the first-ever National Rural Health Day on Thursday, November 17, 2011. Events recognizing National Rural Health Day and "Celebrating the Power of Rural" are being planned throughout the nation. 

The MRHA is planning to mark the occasion by offering at no charge a cyber conference titled the "Status of Rural Health in Minnesota" presented by Paul Jansen, program manager for Trauma System and the Rural Health Advisory Committee, MN Dept of Health Office of Rural Health and Primary Care.  The conference begins at noon. Those interested in registering should visit the association's website at www.mnruralhealth.org to register. 

NOSORH created National Rural Health Day as a way to showcase rural America; increase awareness of rural health-related issues; and promote the efforts of NOSORH, State Offices of Rural Health and others in addressing those issues.  Plans call for National Rural Health Day to become an annual celebration on the third Thursday of each November.

Approximately 62 million people - nearly one in five Americans - live in rural and frontier communities throughout the United States. "These small towns, farming communities and frontier areas are wonderful places to live and work; they are places where neighbors know each other and work together," notes Teryl Eisinger, NOSORH director. "The hospitals and providers serving these rural communities not only provide quality patient care, but they also help keep good jobs in rural America."

These communities also face unique healthcare needs. "Today more than ever, rural communities must tackle accessibility issues, a lack of healthcare providers, the needs of an aging population suffering from a greater number of chronic conditions, and larger percentages of un- and underinsured citizens," Eisinger says. "Meanwhile, rural hospitals are threatened with declining reimbursement rates and disproportionate funding levels that makes it challenging to serve their residents."

State Offices of Rural Health play a key role in addressing those needs. All 50 states maintain a State Office of Rural Health, each of which shares a similar mission: to foster relationships, disseminate information and provide technical assistance that improves access to and the quality of, health care for its rural citizens. In the past year alone, State Offices of Rural Health collectively provided technical assistance to more than 28,000 rural communities.

In Minnesota, for example, the Minnesota Rural Health Association supports rural citizens by executing their mission which is to bring together diverse interests to address rural health issues and advocate for and with rural Minnesotans.  Their vision is to strengthen the rural voice on health care issues through dialogue, education and advocacy, with a focus on enhancing the accessibility, affordability, and quality of healthcare in rural Minnesota.

Additional information about National Rural Health Day can be found on the Web at www.celebratepowerofrural.org.  To learn more about NOSORH, visit www.nosorh.org; to learn more about the MN Rural Health Association, visit www.mnuralhealth.org

The MRHA contact is Judith Neppel, executive director, Minnesota Rural Health Association, at the University of Minnesota Crookston, 2900 University Ave., Selvig Hall 217, Crookston, Minn.  56716 or send an email to jneppel@umn.edu

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: Judith Neppel, executive director, MRHA, 218-281-8323 (jneppel@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The University of Minnesota, Crookston honored six exceptional individuals during homecoming. Recognition for three Outstanding Alumni and three Athletic Hall of Fame inductees was held on Friday evening, September 30, 2011, in Bede Ballroom in the Sargeant Student Center.

Named Outstanding Alumni for 2011 were Ann Bailey '79, Larimore, N.D.; Kevin Fee '80, Grand Forks, N.D.; and Eric Klindt ex. '99, Campbell, Minn.  Athletic Hall of Fame inductees included: Nathan Pitt '97, Morden, Manitoba, Canada; Luther Huggins ex. '84, Frisco, Texas; and Ed Odland, Crookston, Minn. Odland was honored for his long time support of Golden Eagle Athletics and his leadership to the Teambacker organization, the athletic promotion and fundraising organization on the Crookston campus.

The evening began with a social, followed by a banquet and program. U of M, Crookston Chancellor Charles H. Casey brought greetings from the campus. The choir, under the direction of George French, performed a musical number and led the singing of "Hail! Minnesota" and the "Minnesota Rouser."   A presenter, selected by the honoree, introduced each award recipient. Outstanding Alumni received their "Alummy," the award designed specifically for outstanding alumni recipients, and a commemorative plaque was presented to the Athletic Hall of Fame inductees. An additional plaque with the inductee's photograph will be placed in the Sports Center on the Hall of Fame wall outside of Lysaker Gymnasium.

The Outstanding Alumni Award is the highest honor bestowed on alumni by the University of Minnesota, Crookston Alumni Association. The award recognizes alumni who have displayed exemplary commitment and service to community, church, education, family or in their occupational field. More than 125 alumni have been honored with the Outstanding Alumni Award since its inception in 1980.

The Athletic Hall of Fame recognizes achievement by a former athlete or team, or extraordinary support of student-athletes by an individual or organization.  There have been seven teams and more than 40 individuals inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame since 1999 when the award was presented for the first time in campus history.

The Crookston campus opened its doors in 1906 as the Northwest School of Agriculture educating high-school students for 60 years until 1968. During its last two years of operation, the campus transitioned to a two-year technical college, known as the University of Minnesota Crookston Technical Institute. In 1993, the campus transitioned again to offer baccalaureate degrees and became the first-ever laptop university in the nation.

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 photo, seated, left to right: Ann Bailey, Ed Odland, and Kevin Fee. Standing: Chancellor Casey, Eric Klindt, Luther Huggins, Nathan Pitt, Athletic Director Steph Helgeson, and Director of Development & Alumni Relations Corby Kemmer.