May 4, 2009

Inside this Issue

From the Chancellor
Featured Events & Activities
Around Campus

From the Chancellor

The Commencement Committee is making final arrangements for graduation on Saturday, May 9.  About 160 students will participate in the commencement ceremonies.  Congratulations to the graduates and their families.  We recognize the support faculty and staff have provided that has contributed to their success.  We wish our graduates all the best for their future and welcome them as alumni of the University of Minnesota, Crookston.

Many year-end celebrations of student, staff, and faculty achievement have taken place.  UMC Woman of the year is Tiffany Benning, and Man of the Year is Erick Elgin.  The Crookston Student Association recognized Dr. Pamela Elf as the Outstanding Educator for 2009 and Pam Sullivan for Outstanding Service to Students.  Dr. John Loegering received his Morse-Alumni Award at an event in the Twin Cities on April 27.  Dr. Lyle Westrom and Terrill Bradford received special FFA honors, also on April 27.  Several athletic award-winners were recognized on April 20, as were members of the UMC NACTA team for the awards they received at their national competition in Wooster, Ohio.

Crookston Mayor Dave Genereux was on campus on April 28 to express thanks to students, staff, and faculty for their contribution to sandbagging efforts in March.

Members of the All-College Advisory Committee met on campus April 21 to receive an update on Crookston Campus initiatives. The Committee also heard from four different student groups on activities they have been engaged in during the year.

The last week of the semester will be filled with students taking their final exams.  As mentioned previously, 160 students will participate in commencement, and others will be leaving to return home.  We wish all students well in their exams and encourage safe travel as they leave campus.

– Chuck

Charles H. Casey, Chancellor
University of Minnesota, Crookston

Featured Events & Activities

Annual Ice Cream Social and Study Break for Students, Monday, May 4 – 9 to 10:30 p.m., Brown Dining Room, Sahlstrom Conference Center

Final Exams, Tuesday, May 5, through Friday, May 8

Grad Dance, Friday, May 8 – 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Northland Inn, Crookston, Sponsored by the U of M, Crookston Alumni Association

Commencement, Saturday, May 9 – 11 a.m. reception in Sargeant Student Center, 2 p.m. ceremony in Lysaker Gym

May Session Classes Begin, Monday, May 11

Faculty and Staff Celebration and Awards Program, Monday, May 11 – 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center

Skywarn Training by Polk County Emergency Management, Monday, May 11 – Basic Class 6:30 to 7:45 p.m., Advanced Class 8:15 to 9:30 p.m., Kiehle Auditorium, free and open to the public

Northwest Minnesota Foundation Summit, Tuesday, May 12 – 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center

New Student Registration for Fall Semester 2009, May 14, 15, 22; June 1, 12, 22; July 10, 20

For details on these and a comprehensive listing of other events or to discover what’s happening this week, visit UMC Today at www.UMCrookston.edu/umcnews or review our news page at www.UMCrookston.edu/umcnews/stories.

Around Campus

Administrative Affairs –

The annual Faculty and Staff Celebration and Awards Program is set for Monday, May 11, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center.  All faculty and staff from the University of Minnesota, Crookston as well as the Northwest Research and Outreach Center, Regional Extension, and the Area Health Education Center are invited to attend. Lunch will be provided, followed by recognition of years of service and the presentation of distinguished service awards for 2009. 

Academic Affairs –

The U of M, Crookston’s criminal justice program has received certification from the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards & Training (POST). The certification means graduates are eligible to become licensed police officers in Minnesota.  Crookston’s criminal justice program, led by faculty member David Seyfried, is the only certified criminal justice program in the University of Minnesota system.  Learn more.

Over 160 students are expected to take part in 2009 Commencement Ceremonies Saturday, May 9, at 2 p.m. in Lysaker Gymnasium, Sports Center.  U of M Senior Vice President for System Academic Administration Robert J. Jones will serve as commencement speaker, and U of M Regent Clyde Allen, Jr., will confer degrees.   A unique tribute will mark the ceremony as Crookston Student Association (CSA) President-elect Thomas Haarstick is instated by graduating CSA President Marshall Johnson, who represents the 101st class to graduate from the Crookston campus.  The campus was formerly home to the Northwest School of Agriculture, a residential high school that graduated eight students in the Class of 1909.  Prior to ceremonies, a reception for graduates and their families is scheduled for 11 a.m. in Brown Dining Room, Sahlstrom Conference Center.

Student Affairs –

Student Affairs will sponsor the annual Ice Cream Social and Study Break for Students, Monday, May 4, from 9 to 10:30 p.m. in Brown Dining Room, Sahlstrom Conference Center.  Staff and faculty will serve the ice cream.  All students, faculty, and staff are welcome.

Individuals concerned about the potential H1N1 flu pandemic are encouraged to refer to the Minnesota Department of Health Web site at www.health.state.mn.us or the Web site www.bereadymn.com, sponsored by the Minnesota Management and Budget Agency.

Finance & University Services –

The Business Office in Selvig Hall will be closed Wednesday, May 27, to allow staff to attend Enterprise Financial System (EFS) training on the Morris Campus. 

The construction of the new campus residence hall apartment complex is progressing on schedule and on budget.  Sheet rock installation and painting have begun in the north wing, and furniture and fixtures have been ordered.  A photo gallery showing the various phases of construction is available online at www.umcrookston.edu/events/newaptcomplex.  New photos will be added on a regular basis.

Development & Alumni Relations –

Bill Tyrrell, director of athletic fundraising, completed a five-mile walk Thursday, April 23, at the Third Annual Golden Eagle Student-Athlete Walk with Bill.  The event raised over $8,000 for scholarships.  Special thanks to Crookston National Bank for sponsoring the lunch and to all who made pledges and took time to come out and support Bill.

More than 200 people attended the 14th Annual Teambacker Fun Nite Friday, April 24, at the Crookston Eagles Club.  The event generated over $17,500 for student-athlete scholarships.  Congratulations to Bob Johnson, who was presented the Teambacker of the Year Award. Special thanks to the Eagles Club, to the U of M, Crookston student-athletes who assisted with the event, and to the many others who dedicated their time and energy in support of this successful fundraiser.

Athletics –

The annual Athletics Awards Program was held Monday, April 20, in Kiehle Auditorium.  Earning Male and Female Student-Athlete of the Year honors were Cody Brekken, a sophomore from Crookston, and Nicole Veres, a junior from Random Lake, Wis.  Paul Krebs a senior from Little Falls, Minn., and Amanda Peterson, a junior from Rochester, Minn., were named Outstanding Athletes of the Year.  Learn more.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has awarded the U of M, Crookston a $30,000 CHOICES grant.  The grant funding will establish the Golden Eagle Positive CHOICES program on the Crookston campus.  NCAA CHOICES projects bring athletics together with other campus partners.  The goal is to encourage and engage students in positive decision making that results in better performance academically and athletically while educating and integrating athletics into campus-wide efforts to reduce alcohol use and help all students make choices that are legal, healthy, appropriate, and safe.  The grant writing team consisted of Don Cavalier, David DeMuth, Jr., Ph.D, Stephanie Helgeson, Natasha Kuhle, and Elizabeth Tollefson.

Natasha Kuhle, assistant director, athletics, was one of 36 college professionals chosen by NCAA Division II to attend the 2009 Game Environment Conference, held April 14-17 in Philadelphia, Penn.  The purpose of the conference was to offer new ideas and information to assist colleges in community engagement and the creation of a positive game environment for Division II intercollegiate athletics events.

Visit www.goldeneaglesports.com for schedules and cheer on the Golden Eagles.

Campus, Community, & Region –

Polk County Emergency Management will offer two sessions of SkyWarn spotter training Monday evening, May 11, in Kiehle Auditorium. The Basic Class will be offered from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.; the Advanced Class from 8:15 to 9:30 p.m.  These sessions provide information about the formation of severe weather and spotting severe weather in the clouds.  They are free and open to the public.

Rich Karlgaard, publisher of Forbes Magazine, will be the featured speaker for the Northwest Minnesota Foundation Summit, Tuesday, May 12, in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center.  The focus of the summit is centered on entrepreneurship and business financing.  Other speakers scheduled for the day include Bill Payne, an “angel investor” who has funded dozens of business startups in the past 20 years, and Jeffrey Stamp, chair of entrepreneurship and innovation at the University of North Dakota.  Announcement of the award winners for the first IDEA (Ingenuity Drives Entrepreneur Acceleration) Competition will be made during the day’s noon luncheon. Learn more.

Around Campus

U of M, Crookston students earned many top awards including first place in the overall four-year college division at the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Judging Conference, held April 16-18 at the Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster, Ohio.  Thirty-one students competed in contests including Ag Quiz Bowl, Computer Applications, Dairy Judging, Horticulture, Ag Business Management, General Livestock, Horse Judging, and Horse Care and Management.  NACTA is a professional society that focuses on the scholarship of teaching and learning agriculture and related disciplines.

The prestigious Man and Woman of the Year Awards, the top academic, service, and leadership awards for U of M, Crookston students, was presented Thursday, April 23, at the annual Student Awards Program.  Honors for 2009 went to Man of the Year Erick Elgin, a senior majoring in natural resources management and water resources management, and Woman of the Year Tiffany Benning, a senior majoring in animal science with a minor in communication.  Learn more.

Kerry Fredrich, a senior golf and turf management and horticulture major from New Holstein, Wis., has been selected to attend the prestigious Jacobsen’s Future Turf Managers Seminar May 18-21, at Jacobsen's Headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina.  The Jacobsen company selects one student per college or university from across the nation and provides for travel, food, and lodging expenses.

Two U of M, Crookston faculty members were honored at the 80th Annual Minnesota State FFA Convention, Monday, April 27.  Lyle Westrom, Ph.D., associate professor, agricultural education and dairy science, was inducted into the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame, and Terrill Bradford, instructor, animal science, received the Minnesota Honorary FFA Degree.  Learn more.

John Loegering, Ph.D., associate professor, wildlife ecology, was presented with the prestigious Horace T. Morse - University of Minnesota Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education, at an award ceremony held Monday, April 27, at the McNamara Alumni Center on the Minneapolis campus.  Learn more.

Publication notes: The E-Update is published twice each month August thru April and once each month in the summer, May thru July. Issues are posted online.

If you have any questions regarding the information in this news update, please send them to urumc@umn.edu.