2003 Campus Scholarship Drive Completed With each spring comes the annual Campus Scholarship Drive, a time when Bemidji State University faculty and staff are asked to show their commitment to BSU and its students by making a gift to the BSU Foundation. Over the years, faculty and staff giving has grown and become very strong. Last year, BSU enjoyed one of the highest participation rates of faculty and staff among MnSCU institutions. This year was no different. All faculty and staff were asked to participate in the 2003 Campus Scholarship Drive through a donation, which would help to increase scholarship aid for bright and worthy students. While faculty and staff have the option of designating their support to other scholarships, the historical priority of the drive has been to support the Campus Honors Scholarship to attract freshmen year scholars to BSU. These one-time, $600 scholarships are awarded to all high school graduates in the top 15 percent of their class with an ACT composite of 23 or higher. This year faculty and staff helped raise $57,400 and 76 percent of all faculty and staff participated in the drive, an impressive affirmation of the commitment from the campus community to Bemidji State and it’s students. “The results of this year’s Campus Scholarship Drive are very exciting! By increasing their overall giving by six percent to over $57, 000, our faculty and staff have shown a strong commitment to Bemidji State University and to our students,” said Dr. Tom Richard, mathematics professor and co-chair of the 2003 Campus Scholarship Drive committee. “In these difficult economic times, it is nice to see the faculty and staff provide this positive commitment. Obviously, there is recognition that, as employees of BSU, we are dependent upon the success of our students and we recognize our students as our most valuable asset.”
New Board of Director Members Elected and Appointed Every two years, the 16-member Alumni Association board of directors holds an election for five seats. Members serve four-year terms and are eligible to serve two consecutive terms. This year 991 active alumni returned marked ballots and elected the following new members who will begin their terms at our August meeting: Randy Bowen ’73, Hermantown, MN Boyd Bradbury ’88, Callaway, MN Marion Christianson ’50 / ’71, Bemidji, MN Carol Richards ’81 / ’90, Bemidji, MN Jessica Ward ’96, Bemidji, MN
In addition, the board appoints three new members during each election cycle. Those members appointed to serve four-year terms are: Bob Fitzgerald ’85, Bemidji, MN Randy Fulton ’79, White Bear Lake, MN Rochelle Johnson ‘93 / ’98, Bemidji, MN
The additional eight members who are currently in the middle of their terms and will continue to serve for at least another two years are: Jeff Baumgartner ’77, Bemidji, MN Joann Gardner ’93, Bemidji, MN Don Gross ’81, Council Bluffs, IA Delphine Jacobsen ’63, Bemidji, MN Dave Ramsey ’78, Owatonna, MN Ranae Tenold ’95, Ostego, MN Austin Wallestad ’70, Madera, CA Jim Wheeler ’72, Bemidji, MN
The Alumni Association board of directors would like to thank all the alumni who put their name forwarded as candidates for election and appreciates the many highly qualified people expressing interest in serving their Alumni Association.
Kristin Dahlberg Brovold and Ryan Brovold Mark (’98), are building a new home in Big Lake. They have one child, Tylan, 2... Kristin Dahlberg Brovold (’95) and Ryan Brovold (’95) live in Minneapolis with their children. Erica, 4, and Emily, 3. Ryan teaches at St. Cloud Technical College and Kristin is a social worker at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Ryan’s hobby is piloting aircraft and Kristin plays trumpet in the Robbinsdale City Band... Jon Scherf (’94) and Jane (Johnson) Scherf (’94) of Britt announce the November birth of a son, Ryan Gabriel. Jon is in his 10th year as a social studies teacher, while Jane is in her ninth year as a learning disabilities teacher. They also have a daughter, Katherine, 2... Kathleen Nyberg (’93) of Cass Lake recently started a new Internet business, Bineshii, which sells Minnesota-made products at www.bineshiiwildrice.com. She and her husband, Tony, have two sons, Patrick, 33, and Chris, 22, and a grandson, Josh, 13... Darren Olson (’97) and his wife, Elizabeth, of Bemidji announce the February 2 birth of a daughter... Angela Pinsoneault (’98) of Anchorage, AK, attended newly elected Alaskan Governor Frank Murkowski’s inaugural ball... Karen Stish (’93) and her husband, Scott Stish (’92) of Solway announce the January 16 birth of a son... Tami Nendick (96) and her husband, Tony, of
Hines announce the January 16 birth of twin sons... Jim Marken (’91) and his wife, Terri (’89), of Baudette announce the January 16 birth of a daughter... Torrey Westrom (’98), an Elbow Lake Republican representative, was selected in January to serve as chairman of the Regulated Industries Committee... Norma Knapp (’97) was recognized at the 2003 Spiritual Speakout for Violence-Free Families “Walk the Talk” banquet. The Spiritual Speakout is a sermon competition that encourages clergy and lay leaders to speak out against family violence. Knapp’s sermon, “Children Living in Hell” received first place in the layperson category. She is a retired registered nurse, educator and bereavement facilitator. She’s active in her church and enjoys writing, doing calligraphy and playing with her three grandchildren... Michael Paslawski (’99) of White Bear Lake, announces that two plays, on which he collaborated with Roy Booth, are soon to be published by New Theatre Publications of Croydon (London), England. The first play, “Fresh Fruit,” is a one-act comedy about the plight of two bums trying to sell expired produce in front of a grocery store. The second play, “Do You Have Gas?” is a full-length comedy set in a convenience store late
Horizons Page 7
Legacy Builders
In 2001 Janet Erickson was faced with living out her life without her husband, LeRoy, who died suddenly from complications as a result of a genetic disease. “It was overwhelming and I had to figure out how to move forward alone,” said Erickson. “Soon after losing LeRoy I came to the realization that I couldn’t keep up with the maintenance of our home on my own. It had been our dream home in the country and we built it together. Eventually I made the difficult decision to sell. But, I continued to miss LeRoy and I felt terribly alone.
“After reading an article in HORIZONS about Bemidji State University’s Legacy Society, I called Sue Kringen, the director of development at Janet Erickson the BSU Foundation, and shared with her that, though I didn’t have much money, I did include a small bequest in my will to the BSU Foundation. After visiting with Sue, I decided to begin funding a named endowment in honor of LeRoy. LeRoy loved BSU and particularly the physics and science departments. The endowment will provide scholarships to future students attending BSU who are majoring in science education. The endowment will provide scholarships in Leroy’s and my name into perpetuity. It will be our legacy. “After making the decision to establish this endowment, my spirits and enthusiasm went way up and I feel like I have some purpose again. It feels good to feel good again!” LeRoy Erickson was originally from Pelican Rapids. He graduated from NDSU with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering and later earned a second bachlor’s degree from Minnesota State University-Moorhead in physics and math. In 1982 he came to Bemidji State University and had completed the required coursework toward earning a master of science degree in science education. Erickson was an instructor in physical science at BSU up until the time of his death. Janet Erickson continues her career at Bemidji State University as a senior office and administrative specialist in the College of Social and Natural Sciences.
The Lake The Learning The Life
For information on establishing a named endowment or the Legacy Society, contact the Bemidji State University Foundation by calling 755-2762 or (888-234-5718, toll free) or e-mail Sue Kringen at skringen@bemidjistate.edu.
TheLegacySociety
at night. The plays are the first and second to be published in Paslawskie’s career. . . Ron Burns (’95) is president of Northwoods DNA, an automated DNA sequencing and genotyping company in Becida that has been noted as a success in a story by the National Institutes of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership. The success story is featured on the Minnesota Technology Inc. web site and is included on the NIST/MEP site as an example for other MEP centers to use in their work with companies... Patricia Zea (’91) and her husband, Larry, of Pennington began raising registered Scottish Highland cattle 17 years ago and this year accompanied some of their livestock to a ranch in southern Chile. The Zeas settled on Pimushe Lake in 1970 and their children graduated from school in Blackduck where Pat taught for 28 years... Caara Holmstrom (’93) and her husband, Roger, own Paul Bunyan Animal Land, located about three miles east of Bemidji on U.S. Highway 2. Filmmakers from Australia recently featured the Holmstroms and their animals in an international film that has now been presented at the Cannes Film Festival in France. “The Beast Within” was produced by Grainger Television Australia... Shelby Dowty (’96), her husband, Kevin, and their children, Geoff, born in 1981, and Derek in 1983, are the subject of a multi-part series of sports stories appearing in the Daily Journal, International Falls. Natives of Pequot Lakes, Kevin and Shelby arrived in International Falls in 1978, after a two-year stint in Badger... Heidi (LaBarre) Schumacher (’90) is in her 10th year with the Scheels All Sports’Advertising office. She lives in Fargo with her husband, Ken, and their son, Joseph, 1... Greg Bernard (’92) won the 2002 Minnesota Monthly magazine Tamarack Fiction Award for his narrative entitled “Fish Story”... Seth Knudson (’95) and his wife, Kari, of Bemidji announce the April 25 birth of a daughter... Aaron Lundblad (’94) and Julie Lundblad (’92) of Bemidji announce the birth of triplets, Raegan, Xander and Cade. They also have a two-year-old daughter, Skyler... Buni Slinkman (’96) and her husband, Bruce (’87), received the 2003 Johnson Jarvi Snowjourn Award for their long-term commitment and support of cross country skiing.
The Slinkmans have groomed and helped develop the trail system at Three Island County Park, promoted the sport for children and serve on many sports boards... Joan Najbar (’92) recently opened a new therapy and counseling business, Small Circle, in Ely. She offers traditional therapy but also incorporates the arts into much of her work. The business name is reflective of a holistic model of healing. She has two teenage sons... Steve Wymore (’98) and his wife, Carolyn, live in Warroad and have two children, Seth, 19, and Katy, 17... Gretchen (Stark) Cundiff (’91) and Dan Cundiff (’94) live in Richfield. They were married in Trout Creek, MT, on September 7, 2002.
2000s Trish Ritchie (’00) and her husband, Troy, of Bemidji announce the March 21 birth of a daughter... Sara Ann Salonek (’01) and Keith Prevost were married in Springfield, MO, on April 5. Sara is a news reporter and Keith is a sports anchor. Both work with KSPR Springfield 33, the ABC affiliate in Springfield... Scott Wherley (’01) has been hired as a Beltrami County deputy responsible for patrolling the cities of Blackduck and Kelliher and the rural areas north of Blackduck. He previously had worked in Nebraska and also spent some time working with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources fisheries division. He and his wife have a two-year-old son... Katie Furlong (’01) was recently hired as a graphic designer with H.T. Klatzky & Associates, Duluth’s largest advertising and public relations agency. She comes to her new position from Out There Advertising, where she was an art director... Travis Guida (’02) was recently hired as a psychology teacher with the Blackduck School District. He and his wife live on the east side of Lake Bemidji... Bruce Manske (’00) competed in the March 1 Snowjourn Ski Race at Buena Vista... Gregory Ueland (’02) of Thief River Falls teaches sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade social studies in the school district there. He also serves as head boys and girls cross county coach and as assistant boys basketball and track coach... Darcy Faul (’02) married Jeffrey Fjosne on April 26 in Bemidji... Gary Krueger (’01) and his wife, Nancy, of Puposky announce the March 12 birth of a
daughter... Tiffany Peterson (’00) and Brad Olson, both of Bemidji, were married recently in a private ceremony at Kohl’s Resort near Bemidji... Joe Friedrichs (’00) and Angela Haider (’00) were married on October 18, 2002. Joe works for US Bancorp in St. Paul as a network technician and Angela is employed as a special events coordinator for Lynblomsten in St. Paul …William Tysver (’01) and Lace Suckut were married March 15 in Bowden, ND. Will is employed at Horace May Elementary in Bemidji and Lace is a nurse at North Country Regional Hospital... Linda Butler (’02) is living in Eagan... Elise Souders (’01) of Rosemount recently was hired as a community development coordinator for the City of Minnetonka and is working on finishing her master’s degree in urban studies at Minnesota State University-Mankato... Candi Walz (’02) is employed as a writer with a newspaper in Kimball... Jason Stanoch (’02) of Columbia, MO, is a history teacher at West junior High School in Columbia. His wife, Deborah (’99), is currently the fitness manager at Salisbury Rehab and Fitness in Salisbury, MO... Craig Boyer (’02) has been accepted into the prestigious University of Iowa M.F.A. in Writing program …Korey Koets (’00) of Boulder, CO, is employed as a sample maker with Tuscarora in Longmont, CO... Todd Djonne (’02) and his wife, Jenny, of Blackduck announce the April 9 birth of a son... Jana LeClaire (’00) and her husband, Chris, live in Rockford... Karen LaVine (’02) lives in Shevlin with her husband, Joseph, and their 3-month-old daughter, Gabriel... Rebecca Peterson (’02) was hired this fall as an LEP with the Plummer and Oklee schools. She also serves as the girls C-Team coach for volleyball and as assistant girls basketball... Erich Knapp (’01) performed a series of mini-recitals in April in celebration of having spent 10 years as organist at First English Lutheran Church in Menahga. He teaches vocal and classroom music at Sebeka Public School and is the director of the Park Rapids Classic Chorale... Tony Wittmann (’01) of Inver Grove Heights is employed as an Excel teacher in the St. Paul Public Schools... Brian Amundson (’01) and his wife, Jessica, of Bemidji announce the April 26 birth of a daughter.