Saint Benedict's Magazine Spring 2017

SPRING 2017 MAGAZINE

SHOUT

it out loud!

There are good things happening on campus.

INSIDE • Good News p. 10 • Off and Running p. 16 • Acting Up p. 24

IN THIS ISSUE

10

16

ACTING UP 20 FEATURES

10 Good News 16 Off and Running 20 Benedictine Without Borders 24 Acting Up

24 DEPARTMENTS

1 Message From the President 2 Worth 1,000 Words 4 News 26 I’m a Bennie 27 Class Notes 34 Bennie Connection 37 Generosity

College of Saint Benedict Magazine is published three times a year by the office of Institutional Advancement.

EDITOR Greg Skoog (SJU ’89) ASSISTANT EDITOR Courtney Sullivan CONTRIBUTORS Simone Haider Austing ’11 Mary Bednarowski Chelsey Guetter ’18 Kristin Sawyer Lyman ’00 Hope Mueller ’17 Tommy O’Laughlin (SJU ’13) Leah Rado CONTACT College of Saint Benedict Magazine Institutional Advancement 37 South College Avenue St. Joseph, MN 56374-2099 For address changes, please call 1-800-648-3468, ext. 1 or email csbalumnae@csbsju.edu Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer The mission of the College of Saint Benedict is to provide for women the very best residential liberal arts education in the Catholic and Benedictine traditions. The college fosters integrated learning, exceptional leadership for change and wisdom for a lifetime.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Thanks,

And Yes “For all that has been, thanks. For all that will be, yes.”

This simple expression of gratitude and engagement by Dag Hammarskjöld is perhaps my favorite prayer. Its universality has made it a faithful companion for many years. Every phase, every stage, every day of our lives is a new chance to simultaneously gaze with gratitude on the road behind us and open ourselves completely to the joy and the challenges that await us.

Not long ago, I had the opportunity to sit down and enjoy a quiet dinner at Renner House with three current Bennies – Mollee Girgen ’18, a communication/English major from Coon Rapids, Allana Holmberg ’18, a history major from Lakeville and Elleni Oberle ’18, a nursing major from Edina. We sat around the table with no program or agenda and no action items more pressing than polishing off a pizza together.

As we ate, I asked about the things for which they’re grateful.

I asked what brings them joy. I listened to their clear but profoundly positive answers. I smiled as they spoke of family and relationships and music and pets. And in those answers, I found tremendous energy.

“

Every day … is a new chance to simultaneously look with thanks on the road behind us and open ourselves completely to the joy and the challenges that wait ahead.”

Hammarskjöld knew that gratitude can be a springboard toward action – a jolt to help us seek and welcome opportunity. That’s my hope for this community. So in this issue we’ll be looking at some of the many things we have to feel hopeful about.

We’ll look with pride at the progress of our young alumnae from the class of 2013. We’ll explore the power that our Benedictine values have to ground and center and encourage us.

Then we’ll watch that power in action as some of our current students use it as a springboard to drive social change through interactive theater.

I want each of you to find gratitude. And then I want you to use that gratitude to say yes to the intentional engagement of the big questions of life. Blogger Maria Popova puts it this way: “There is nothing more difficult yet more gratifying in our society than living with sincere, active, constructive hope for the human spirit.”

As alumnae, your liberal arts education is no longer about a collection of classes or academic experiences. Rather, you can say yes to making it about the life of the mind and how you lead those around you. How you engage civically and how you think critically, lead courageously and advocate passionately.

Mary Dana Hinton College of Saint Benedict President

WORTH 1,000 WORDS

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NOT QUITE YET

Spring fever has certainly caught hold on campus now, and there’s no vaccine in sight. But a few weeks ago it looked like someone set some pretty ambitious travel plans. No matter the obstacles, our students dream big!

Spring 2017 | 3

NEWS

$10 Million Gift to CSB – Preparing Ethical Leaders

PHOTO COURTESY OF JULIA ECKART ’18 AND THE RECORD. Lucy Dornbach ’19, Padra Xiong ’18, Theng Yeng Xiong ’18, Lesly Gonzalez-Barragan ’20 and Nomin Angarag ’18 (not pictured) will be the first cohort to receive stipends through the Center for Ethical Leadership in Action to help fund summer internship experiences.

In November, an anonymous donor gifted the College of Saint Benedict $10 million to create the Center for Ethical Leadership in Action. This is the single largest philanthropic gift in Saint Ben’s history.

Hansen, vice president for institutional advancement. “It brings with it tremendous opportunities and responsibility. We are honored that these generous donors have entrusted this gift to Saint Ben’s.”

The gift will create an endowment used to permanently fund experiential learning opportunities, such as internships, that would otherwise be out of reach for students with limited financial means.

These experiences will be designed to form ethical leaders.

After an application process, five students were selected as the first cohort for the Center for Ethical Leadership in Action.

They will each be awarded a $5,000 stipend for their summer internship with a $1,000 stipend for living expenses.

“A gift of this magnitude is a mark of real confidence in Saint Ben’s,” said Kathy 4 | College of Saint Benedict Magazine

The first phase of the center is set to roll out in the summer of 2017.

The center’s programming will grow as the endowment fund grows. A kick-off speaker is planned for fall 2017.

The unique part of the gift is the focus on ethical leadership, according to Angie Schmidt Whitney ’97, executive director for experiential learning and community engagement. The gift also aligns with the college’s five-year Strategic Directions 2020 plan to increase financial support for experiential learning for students in need. “[This gift] positions us as a leader among liberal arts colleges nationally in developing women’s leadership capacity, ethical decision-making, selfconfidence and career readiness,” said CSB President Mary Hinton.

NEWS

Gift from Coborn Family Foundation Supports New Athletic Fields

The Coborn Family Foundation has committed $500,000 to CSB to support the construction and development of the College Avenue Athletic Fields. The foundation’s gift was made possible through the generosity of Dan (SJU ’52) and Mabel Coborn.

The new complex, with a total cost of approximately $12 million, will consist of two softball fields, two soccer/lacrosse fields, three intramural/multi-use fields and an athletic center featuring locker rooms, a training room, restrooms and concessions.

Excavation of the fields began in fall 2016, and work is continuing in spring 2017. The varsity soccer and softball

fields are expected to be completed for use during the 2017-18 academic year. The fields will be available for CSB varsity teams as well as club sports teams and intramurals. Eighty percent of CSB students participate in varsity, club and/or intramural sports.

“When our students participate in intercollegiate or intramural sports, they are building a critical foundation for their professional and personal futures. Our strategic plan calls us to focus on the transformational and holistic development of women and this generous gift enables us to do just that. We are extremely grateful to the Coborn family,” said President Mary Dana Hinton.

The Coborn family has been a longstanding supporter of CSB athletics

and CSB in general. More than 20 members of the extended Coborn and Bergner families have attended CSB or SJU or served on the Board of Trustees at either institution.

Coborn’s Vice President of Fresh Merchandising Emily Coborn ’08 is one of those alums, as are her mother Rebecca Bergner Coborn ’81 and father Chris Coborn ’81. As Emily Coborn sees it, “The lessons young women learn on the field extend far beyond game time. Trust, teamwork and accountability are just some of the traits we are helping instill through athletics…. This investment is about people – not just athletics. That is the most fulfilling type of investment one could make.”

Spring 2017 | 5

NEWS

Record Breaking Give CSB Day On Nov. 16, 1,078 donors swept the Saint Ben’s community away by giving $422,136.39 during Give CSB Day, surpassing the college’s goal of $400,000.

“We want this to be an inclusive place in which women excel, so it’s our job to make sure that finances aren’t an obstacle,” said Maggie Weber Utsch ’00, director of annual giving at CSB. On Give CSB Day (formerly known as $100K in a Day), the entire College of Saint Benedict community comes together to help out in the year’s biggest single day of giving.

With the help of a dollar-fordollar match, prearranged and made possible by a number of generous donors, gifts go twice as far on Give CSB Day. Over the years Saint Ben’s has acquired a loyal, compassionate donor base that believes in the mission of the college. “I really feel there is no better place to

make your donation than CSB if you’re a person who is for women leaders of character,” said Kathy Hansen, vice president for institutional advancement.

This year, the Office of Annual Giving partnered with the CSB Athletic Department to spread the importance of giving back.

This collaboration proved successful with an influx of donations to student scholarships and athletics.

An unexpected but beautiful benefit of that partnership was the way the additional social media reach and excitement from the Athletic Department helped engage and inspire our students. There were 154 current students who made gifts on Give CSB Day this year (up from eight last year).

Garrison Keillor Garrison Keillor will take the stage at the College of Saint Benedict on April 25 for his Gratitude Tour – his first project since retiring from A Prairie Home Companion.

The show sold out on the first day tickets were available to the public, reaching 1,000 people.

who was perhaps the most listened to person in the entire Midwest, who is a true cultural icon, who has also come from the soil of this place…would include us in this tour.”

Keillor’s journey back to St. Joseph started with a phone inquiry from his representatives, asking about the possibility of a tour stop on campus. The answer was a no brainer, said Executive Director of Fine Arts Programming Tanya Gertz.

According to Keillor, “I have now reached a certain age when you realize how lucky you are and you stop complaining. Complaint is a mainstay of comedy, so I am now experimenting with a comedy of gratitude, talking about parents, teachers, lucky breaks, dumb things that turned out smart.”

“This is an opportunity of great distinction,” said Gertz, “that someone

Keillor is touring five colleges throughout Minnesota, Saint Ben’s

6 | College of Saint Benedict Magazine

marking his third stop. Other stops include: The College of Saint Scholastica (Duluth), Bemidji State University, Gustavus Adolphus (St. Peter) and Concordia College (Moorhead).

That same day, Minnesota Public Radio’s top three streams (MPR News, Classical MPR and The Current) will broadcast live from Br. Willie’s Pub at Saint John’s between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., showcasing their regular shows from MPR’s original stomping grounds in celebration of their 50th anniversary.

Find more information about additional anniversary events at www.mpr50.org/.

NEWS

Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict Select a New Prioress

Catholics of the Year

In February, after a long and prayerful period of discernment, the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict selected a new prioress. S. Susan Rudolph, OSB was elected the 17th prioress of the community on Saturday, Feb. 25. Rudolph, who succeeds S. Michaela Hedican, OSB as prioress, will be installed on June 4.

Rudolph is a 1965 graduate of the College of Saint Benedict with a degree in elementary education.

Among other positions at the college, she served as housing director and staff resident for 14 years between 1979 and 1984. In 2016, she retired after 21 years as director of pastoral care at St. Benedict’s Senior Community in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

The Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, native has served the monastery as its formation director. Most recently, she assisted at the monastery’s Spirituality Center and was responsible for workplace safety.

The canonical election process, which began on Friday, Feb. 24, was the culmination of over a yearlong discernment process launched in November 2015.

The community of 213 women reached a consensus late in the afternoon of Feb. 25, according to The St. Cloud Visitor newspaper.

Hedican had been elected the 16th prioress of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict on Feb. 27, 2011.

She was installed on June 5, 2011.

PHOTO BY KAREN STREVELER, OSB

In December, Prioress Michaela Hedican, OSB was named Catholic of the Year by Our Sunday Visitor. St. Cloud Bishop Donald Kettler (SJU ’66) also received this honor.

Hedican became prioress of Saint Benedict’s Monastery in February 2011, starting her six-year term. This coming June she will pass on her prioress duties to a fellow sister – S. Susan Rudolph – after a careful period of discernment by the monastic community. “[S. Michaela] is my model of hospitality who empowers me to strive for the qualities that she consistently emulates,” said S. Stephanie Mongeon. “She is by far the most compassionate and gifted woman that I know.”

Our Sunday Visitor cited the stabbing of 10 people by a Somali man at Crossroads

Center in St. Cloud in September 2016 and the responses by both Hedican and Kettler as one of the main reasons they received this prestigious award.

With tensions high throughout the St. Cloud community, Hedican’s peaceful outreach and prayers modeled compassion and solidarity with the Somali community.

“The emphasis for me is on the community, and this was a community honor,” said Hedican. “I just happen to represent the community. I have great gratitude to the sisters who are so dedicated to being there for whoever is in need.”

Spring 2017 | 7

NEWS

New Rankings CSB/SJU rank high; just ask U.S. News & World Report and Open Doors.

Saint Ben’s tied for 87th in the 2016 U.S. News & World Report ratings of national liberal arts colleges – moving up three spots from last year’s report. Saint John’s tied for 77th – moving up two spots from last year.

The 2016 Open Doors report ranked CSB/SJU No. 3 with a total of 524 students who studied abroad during the 2014-15 academic year. CSB/SJU has continued to rank nationally in the top six schools for this award for the last 12 years.

U.S. News & World Report ranked 239 liberal arts colleges on graduation and retention rates, undergraduate academic reputation, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, graduation rate performance and alumnae/i giving.

CSB/SJU were also ranked No. 5 among baccalaureate schools with 307 students who studied abroad in semester-long study abroad programs during the 2014-15 academic year.

“We truly believe we promote and follow through on what our lived experiences and outcomes are,” said Karen Sieben Backes ’87, dean of admission.

The Institute of International Education (IEE) ranked CSB/SJU, along with 3,000 accredited U.S. colleges, for international studyabroad programs in their annual 2016 Open Doors report.

Fifty-six percent of CSB/SJU students will participate in a study abroad experience.

“Study abroad continues to be a great part of our identity here at Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s,” said Joy Ruis, assistant director of semester education abroad. “The fact that we have so many students go abroad is a testament to the community we have here but also to the community we have abroad. We are always striving to make that experience available to every student.”

CSB juniors Jess Davis, Steph Haeg, Precious Drew, Hannah Lendino, Dena Svensson and Bridget Davis explored the social side of Stonehenge last fall. CSB/SJU again rank near the top for international education.

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NEWS

BLAZER ATHLETICS

COURAGEOUS. STRONG. BOLD.

Voice of the Blazers BY | CHELSEY GUETTER ’18

As the crowd filed in for the College of Saint Benedict volleyball team’s season-opener, she situated her headset and plugged in the playlist she’d worked on for weeks. When the buzzer sounded and players lined the court waiting for starting lineups, she looked over the names one last time, took a deep breath and flipped on the headset.

On Sept. 14, 2016, Megan Toninato ’18 made her debut as the new voice of Blazer volleyball. “I was sweating like crazy and my voice sounded really shaky,” she said. “I was extra nervous because we were playing St. Thomas, so there was a big crowd.”

For more than 25 years, Bob Imholte served as the voice of CSB volleyball.

When he decided to retire the headset prior to the start of the 2016 season, the CSB Athletic Department started brainstorming for possible candidates to fill that role.

That’s when Toninato’s softball coach Rachael Click thought back to one of her players.

“Last spring, we needed an announcer for a non-conference game at our softball field, so I reached out to our team to see if anyone was interested,” Click said. “Megan announced and she did an awesome job engaging the crowd and had a ton of fun.”

Toninato has prior experience broadcasting CSB hockey games on KJNB radio, and Athletic Director Glen Werner knew what she could bring to the gym. “Once I got to know Megan and listened to her broadcast hockey, I didn’t want just anybody – I wanted her,” Werner said. “I love her personality and I want the gym to be loud and proud.”

Although she admits it took a few games to get used to announcing volleyball and the technicalities of her new position, by the end of the season Toninato was comfortable behind the

headset. “Every game is different – you have your set things to say, but sports are always crazy so it makes it interesting,” Toninato said.

Toninato admits that sometimes it felt as though the officials might not take her as seriously because she is a college student.

But Werner and Click strongly support Toninato and believe a college student is a perfect fit for the position.

“It just makes sense,” Werner said.

“If we are developing women’s skills through intercollegiate athletic sports, we should do it in every opportunity possible. We have student trainers, personal trainers, managers … everything. So of course we should have them doing this job.”

As volleyball season wound down and hockey season loomed on the horizon, the Athletic Department found itself

looking for a new announcer for hockey – and once again targeted Toninato. She agreed to step away from radio and once again entertain the crowd, and seamlessly made the transition from a warm gym to a cold arena in front of CSB hockey fans.

She isn’t sure what her future holds after college quite yet, but thinks that broadcasting and announcing is definitely something she wants to continue after graduation. In the meantime, there’s no doubt that Toninato is a role model for CSB students, and Click hopes that her voice inspires students for the position in the future.

“I hope that when she leaves there’s a student who has heard or seen her that approaches us because they want to do the same thing.”

Spring 2017 | 9

WE’VE GOT

BY | COURTNEY SULLIVAN

10 | College of Saint Benedict Magazine

GOO NEW

OD WS

As spring strengthens its grip on the campus, there’s good news in the air. Big news and small tidbits. We reached out all around campus and beyond to ask about what’s good, what’s encouraging, what’s positively inspiring. Some of it could mean life-changing opportunities; some of it might simply be the smile that opens you up to today’s possibilities.

Either way, enjoy some positivity and let it lead to action.

& GOOD NEWS

Unplug & play Pause the PlayStation. In a world where video

Students with limited board gaming

games are now as detailed as novels and

experience are encouraged to start with

most of us carry a de facto gaming system

Settlers of Catan, which Zierden said is

with us everywhere we go, tabletop games

commonly considered the “gateway drug”

continue to surge. In fact, the industry has

of board gaming. An empire-building and

seen double-digit annual growth for the past

resource trading game, Catan’s gameplay

five years.

is only slightly more advanced than

Bennies and Johnnies are doing their part to fuel this board game boom with the newly approved Tabletop Gaming Club (TTG)

“There’s been a huge difference in the attitudes toward tabletop gaming within the last 10 years.”

at CSB/SJU. “There’s been a huge difference in the attitudes toward tabletop gaming within the last 10 years,” says Jon Zierden (SJU ’17), president of TTG.

and Sorry and “opens up a whole new world of board gaming.” Members are also encouraged to bring their own games and teach others how to play.

TTG has also helped the CSB/SJU Libraries start a game collection by sharing a list of game suggestions. The collection is still growing, but will ultimately consist of over

The club meets once a week, offering

30 board games available for check out by

students a friendly environment in which

those in the CSB/SJU community.

they can play, talk about or simply be around tabletop board games. Now comprised of 87 active members – many of whom are Bennies – the club’s collection of games has grown from four to nearly 20. Of course, growth and expansion means these students probably aren’t playing Chutes and Ladders or Candyland.

12 | College of Saint Benedict Magazine

mainstream board games like Monopoly

When’s the last time you sat down with some good friends and a board game?

Try it soon with the family, the neighbors or some of your favorite Bennies.

Benedictine Friends

BY S. LOIS WEDL ’53, PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF BENEDICTINE FRIENDS Forty years ago this year, the program ‘Sisters Across Campus,’ which is now called ‘Benedictine Friends,’ started as a way for students and sisters to come to know one another. I wonder if that first group of students who met with S. Eunice Antony ’62 in 1977 could have imagined that in 2017, 40 years later, 172 new members would be asking to join? With only a few sisters actively engaged in administrative roles at the college, having a relationship between the students and sisters continues to be most life-giving — often long after the students graduate.

Are you an alumna of the Benedictine Friends program? Do you stay in touch with your friend? Bet she’d love a call or an email!

CSB

is a top producer of Fulbright scholars...again For the third consecutive year, Saint Ben’s has been named one of the nation’s top producers of Fulbright grant recipients by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. CSB is tied for 25th among baccalaureate institutions with four women who earned Fulbright English Teaching Assistant awards for 2016-17. In those three years, we’ve sent 20 Bennies and Johnnies around the globe teaching, sharing, learning and building connections for a closer world.

While they’re out there representing the United States to all those different cultures, why not consider representing the United States to different cultures here at home? Think about volunteering to help refugee or immigrant communities near you.

Spring 2017 | 13

We re finding Voices

BY GLEN WERNER ’93, CSB ATHLETIC DIRECTOR fitness/wellness programs is as valuable

me. Finding your voice is not just a shopping

evaluation and assessment, there are so

to their development as leaders as our

spree where you pick out your style, volume

many things to find dissatisfaction in.

academic programs. Our graduates tell

and message. A clear and convincing voice

Measuring up is a tough game to play

us what they learned alongside their

comes with the right experiences, the right

because there’s rarely a finish line in sight.

teammates on the field, in the gym and

influences and many, many opportunities to

It’s hard to know when to tally a win.

on countless road trips was valuable

listen and learn.

In an age filled with constant critique,

In sport – and specifically women’s

and important.

I am beyond grateful (seriously, like

athletics, which is the niche of the world in

One of the most important aspects women

out-of-this-world appreciative) to work at

which I tend to dwell – there’s so much

report is that through athletics they have

an institution like the College of Saint

progress and, alternatively, so far to go. The

found their voice. As athletes, CSB women

Benedict. Giving women a voice is just who

Title IX legislation that leveled opportunities

learn how to become leaders on their teams

we are — as well as what we do. CSB gives

for participation by girls and women in sport

and then on campus. And they never stop

me and those around me this chance to be

across our country is now 45 years old.

leading when their college journeys come

more, build more, do more. Young women

Sport offerings for women at CSB are now

to an end.

are watching and learning and ready to

over 33 years old. Women in our midst have been on the journey for three decades and have demonstrated that with opportunity comes achievement. The student athletes at Saint Ben’s have proven over time that the investment in athletics, recreation and

14 | College of Saint Benedict Magazine

This one single trait is what I’m most thankful for. If I were to boil down all areas of my life to one aspect I am most thankful for, it is having learned to find my own voice as a leader and being able to offer that same gift to the women and men around

demonstrate their own views and values through their perspectives and their voices. I give thanks for leaders who listen and offer opportunity. I am thankful for the people around me who give voice.

Big data holds big possibilities

BY LOUIS JOHNSTON, PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS I’m encouraged to see the way that

from the period, entering the data into

English, an ongoing project that promotes

opportunities for economics majors continue

spreadsheets and applying data visualization

economic literacy in an educational,

to grow. Careers that employ the skills

software to analyze the resulting patterns.

inspirational and entertaining manner. I get

economics majors learn here at CSB/SJU

This is analysis that just wasn’t practical or

the chance to work with a team of students

(quantitative reasoning, data analysis, clear,

feasible only a few years ago.

to develop blog posts, podcasts, videos

precise writing and speaking) continue to multiply, especially as fields such as data analytics expand rapidly.

In addition, it’s exciting to note the way that these positions range from the private sector to the public sector, from large corporations

Data analytics and the development of “big

to small companies and from local

data” are revolutionizing our field. Big data

businesses to overseas businesses.

refers to very large data sets that today can be analyzed relatively easily using modern computers and computational techniques.

For example, since 2013, I’ve worked with students who use historical records on trade between the U.S. and China and the U.S. and Russia to look at imports and exports by commodity from 1865 to 1914. Modern data analytics techniques and tools allow students to study trade patterns on a detailed, annual basis by simply going to the scanned records

and public events to spread the word about economics, economic policy and economic history.

I’m also excited and grateful for the fact that CSB and SJU value connecting what we do in academia with what’s going on in the wider world. For the past three-and-a-half years, I’ve had the privilege of holding the Joseph P. Farry Professorship in the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Civic Engagement and Public Affairs. One of the most rewarding opportunities this has given me has been the chance to develop new programs like Econ in

Spring 2017 | 15

OFF BY | GREG SKOOG (SJU ’89)

and

UNN

It’s been just under four years since the CSB and SJU classes of 2013 left campus. According to the recently released Class of 2013 alumnae/i survey, they’ve been busy. What are they up to now? What lessons have they taken with them from their time on campus? Would they do it all over again? (Would you?)

NING Spring 2017 | 17

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

LIFELONG LEARNING Master’s Degrees

82%

9.7%

Already Completed

12%

In Progress

Employed

43% 16%

Graduate School

Currently Planning

Put another way, about two-thirds of this class expect to complete at least a master’s degree.

Doctoral Degrees 7.6%

2%

Other

In Progress

13%

Currently Planning

Professional Degrees (e.g., MBA or juris doctor)

WHAT KIND OF “EMPLOYED”?

Most alum respondents agree the work they’re doing draws on skills from their major as well as broader skills they learned here as students. In fact, 91 percent agree that their liberal arts education contributed significantly to personal and professional development.

My Current Job

Percent Responding “Quite a Bit” or “Very Much” 66%

Is related to my undergraduate major

72%

Uses skills I gained as an undergraduate student

78%

Is related to my desired career path

3.6%

Already Completed

9%

In Progress

16%

Currently Planning

SPIRITUAL CONNECTIONS College is a time of searching for many students as, for the first time, they’re taking full ownership of their own spirituality.

73%

Is work that I find meaningful

81%

Allows me to continue to grow and learn

75%

Provides me with opportunities to advance my career

59%

Pays enough to support my desired lifestyle

PREPARATION The Benedictine sense of community, the small student/faculty ratio and the fact that 100 percent of our courses are taught by professors help to create a culture of connection at Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s. National research data suggests that those connections are extremely significant. (See article on Gallup-Purdue Index on page 19.)

87%

92%

87%

Faculty and staff at CSB/SJU recognized and appreciated my talents and helped me to develop them.

At CSB/SJU, I developed an ability to distinguish unique perspectives others might not consider.

My experiences at CSB/SJU prepared me well for my career.

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My experiences at CSB/SJU contributed “Quite a bit” or “Very much” to the understanding and practice of my spirituality.

56%

The Catholic and Benedictine values at CSB/SJU contributed significantly to my personal development.

73%

I continue to significantly incorporate Benedictine traditions into my life*.

59%

* Simone Haider Austing ’11 takes a look at living our Benedictine values in the real world on page 20.

HIGH-VALUE EXPERIENCES

GALLUP-PURDUE INDEX

Student activities and experiential learning opportunities are where liberal arts come to life at CSB and SJU. National research data suggests that those chances to put learning into practice are extremely significant.

(See article on Gallup-Purdue Index at right.)

To what extent did these experiences at CSB/SJU contribute to your personal or professional development?

53% Intercollegiate Athletics

59% Student Clubs and Organizations

70% Student Employment

74% Internships

Study Abroad

92%

Percent responding “Very Much”

Do U.S. colleges/universities graduate students prepared to find good jobs, prosper financially and pursue their passions? Gallup and Purdue University sought answers to this and related questions in a 2015 email survey of more than 30,000 bachelor’s degree (or higher) holders from public and private colleges across the U.S. Among their most significant findings was that the size and type of school are less important than certain key experiences and the development of supportive and motivating relationships with professors and mentors.

According to their report, “If recent graduates strongly agree that they had any of three experiential learning opportunities — an internship related to their studies, active involvement in extracurricular activities or a project that took a semester or more to complete — their odds that they strongly agree that their education was worth the cost increase by 1.5 times.”

The report continues, “Recent graduates who strongly agree with any of three items (having at least one professor who cared about them as a person, made them excited about learning or encouraged them to pursue their goals/dreams) measuring supportive relationships with professors or mentors are almost twice as likely to strongly agree that their education was worth the cost.”

IN CASE YOU’RE WONDERING, 74 PERCENT OF THE CSB AND SJU CLASSES OF 2013 SAY THE VALUE OF THEIR EDUCATION JUSTIFIED WHAT THEY PAID.

It’s the quality of these relationships that has the impact. The Gallup-Purdue Report notes, “conducting a research project with a professor, for example, does not significantly relate to alumni perceptions that their education was worth the cost.

Simply participating in such a project says little about the benefits students are deriving from it; in many cases, they may be assigned to mundane tasks and receive little focused attention from the professor leading the project.”

On the other hand, as Dr. Daniel F. Chambliss, coauthor of How College Works, noted in a 2014 New York Times interview describing a 10-year study with students and alumni of Hamilton College, “Students who had a single dinner at a professor’s house were significantly more likely to say they would choose the college again. In learning to write, it made a lasting difference if students had at least one experience of sitting down with a professor to go over their work, paragraph by paragraph; for the students it was someone serious saying their writing was important.”

In short, the Gallup-Purdue Survey emphasizes the profound impact of experiential learning and a culture of faculty engagement. These have both been pillars of the Saint Ben’s experience for many students. The results of this class of 2013 alum survey seem to bear that out.

WOULD YOU DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN? Most of the CSB/SJU class of 2013 – 89 percent of them – say they would. In fact, 71 percent of them rated their overall CSB/SJU experience as “great.” And 78 percent say they would choose the same major.

How would you evaluate the quality of...

Percent Responding “Good” or “Great” 94%

The academic experience in your undergrad major

96%

Your overall CSB/SJU Experience The career and professional advice you received at CSB/SJU

79% Spring 2017 | 19

Life at the College of Saint Benedict was like no place else: staying up late sharing an order of wings from Gary’s; huddling together on a frigid morning while waiting for The Link; watching yourself make cogent arguments about points that would have been pure gibberish only weeks earlier…. The memories are endless.

BY | SIMONE HAIDER AUSTING ’11

And woven through them all like a golden thread, are the Benedictine values – the foundational beliefs of our college and the driving principles of life at CSB. They were such a natural part of our daily life on campus. And Saint Ben’s did an amazing job incorporating them into academics, athletics, the arts and student life. So remaining mindful of them just became a part of who we were.

As I think back now, there are countless examples of how we lived the Benedictine values as students:

• Infinite conversations with strangers on The Link (Peace) • Elimination of trays in Gorecki Center (Stewardship) • Student employment that helped with college costs (Dignity of Work) • Group projects, campus club ventures and other team-oriented activities (Stability) • Dorm living, annual Christmas dinners and the Senior Mother-Daughter brunch (Community Living)

Post-graduation: Living Life as an Alumna Life after CSB lacks the structure and rhythm of life on campus. And, if you are like me, you notice the difference.

It’s not just because our friends aren’t right down the hall or because we have more bills to pay; it’s a foundational change which I believe is caused by an absence of the Benedictine values in our daily lives.

The responsibility of carrying on the Benedictine tradition is now on our shoulders. The good news is there are plenty of opportunities in our lives as alumnae to live out that link to our fond memories as students.

Spring 2017 | 21

TIPS

FOR LIVING THE BENEDICTINE VALUES

I wanted to become more intentional about bringing the Benedictine values into my daily life. So I sat down with Kate Ritger ’03. You could say Kate wrote the book on practical Benedictine living, because she did – Benedictine Living: Reflections for Prayer and Meditation. (You can find it online, at the Saint Ben’s bookstore or through Amazon, for less than $10.)

Since graduation, Kate has stayed closely connected to campus. She currently cares for the Common Ground Gardens for the sisters of Saint Benedict’s Monastery. In her book, Kate provides daily reflections, along with thoughtful

questions and actionable tips to bring the Benedictine values to life.

So I asked her to help get me started. Show me some simple steps to make me more connected to my Benedictine roots.

I knew it wouldn’t be as easy as it was on campus – I’m older and busier now. Plus, the folks I’m surrounded by in the “real world” aren’t necessarily as Benedictine as the community that once embraced us. But I wanted to know if she could make it achievable.

I think she did. Here’s what she came up with.

(You can get a lot more from her book!)

Awareness of God Tip: Slowly and mindfully eat a meal. Taste. Breathe. Do nothing but eat the meal.

Justice Tip: Remember you are God’s beloved, and so is the person who most irritates you.

Community Living Tip: Think about how you balance solitude and community in your daily routines.

Listening Tip: “Listen… with the ear of your heart,” with your whole heart, mind and body.

1

2

3

Dignity of Work Tip: Learn about the people who do work you might not consider dignified (like people who clean the toilets, take out the trash or work as day laborers).

Hospitality

Tip: Imagine Christ opening the door to you.

4

5

6

7

Moderation Tip: Do something life-giving that you’ve been putting off for another day.

Peace Tip: Compassionately learn about the lives of your neighbors.

8

9

Respect for Persons Tip: Read something you would typically pass off as “too liberal” or “too conservative.”

10

11

Stability Tip: Find stability like a tomato plant growing up a cage: firmly rooted in its purpose, accepting support to produce more abundant fruit.

Stewardship Tip: Learn about the path of an item in your life that is thrown away. For example, expired food pulled from grocery store shelves, clothes not purchased at the end of a season from a department store or old cell phones. Learn about the people who are part of that path.

A TRIAL RUN After my conversation with Kate, I decided to experiment.

I determined that, for one week, I was going to implement Kate’s tips into my life to see what would happen.

I sat down one Sunday evening to review the list of tips, and it seemed like the best approach would be to apply 2-3 tips per day. I am a planner by nature, so when Monday morning rolled around I wanted to be prepared to take action.

It turns out that life doesn’t work according to my schedule.

Some of the tips are easier to schedule than others. For example, I couldn’t schedule time to interact with someone who irritates me just to practice the Benedictine value of justice.

22 | College of Saint Benedict Magazine

This led me to print the list and carry it with me so when I had a few spare minutes – while waiting for a meeting to start, during commercials in a Timberwolves game, before I set off for a long commute – I could review and reflect. This kept the tips top of mind while I watched for opportunities to apply them.

In the end, it wasn’t the daily practices that made this exercise worth the time and effort, it was the insight I gained about myself and the impact it’s had on my life. It’s amazing what can happen in a week.

HERE ARE

MY FAVORITE MOMENTS 1. When I started slowly and mindfully eating my meal it was extremely uncomfortable. I had to fight my instincts to grab my phone or flip on the TV. After a few minutes the discomfort wore off and I found myself being thankful – for everything: the taste of the peppers in my dish, the brightness of the sun reflecting on the eight inches of snow that had recently fallen, the beauty of leftovers and so on.

It was funny to me how, with just a brief window of clear mental space, my sense of appreciation for the simplest of things went into overdrive. [Tip #1] 2. I was most looking forward to practicing Listening because I know I am horrible at remembering names of the people I meet for the first time. This is because I am in the habit of listening to respond, rather than listening to hear. I aimed to listen with my whole heart, mind and body in two specific instances: when I asked my co-workers about their weekends and my husband about his day. Doing so transformed these routine conversations into engaging moments of interaction where I learned a little more about the passions, interests and frustrations of those around me (though the same amount of words were spoken). I expect as I continue this practice I will develop deeper, more meaningful relationships – which will make life at work and at home more fulfilling. [Tip #6] 3.

One night I asked my husband, a Christmas tree salesman, what became of all the trees they cut that remained unsold at the end of the season. He’s been doing this for four years and up until this point I never once inquired about this. Four years.

For nearly 1,500 days I neglected to ask him this detail about the work he does every day! I found this unfortunate and strange, and I wonder: what else am I missing by simply not asking more questions? While my original intent was to put the Stewardship value into practice (which I did, because I did learn that the trees are chopped up and turned into mulch, which eventually turns into dirt), I think the bigger lesson learned was related to Peace. [Tips #11, #8]

In the beginning, I was taking the Hospitality tip too literally, so I loosened my interpretation of it and spent one day being very intentional about treating everyone as I would Jesus. In a nutshell, for me this meant: kill them with kindness, open my mind to their way of thinking, be compassionate, understanding and forgiving. I noticed that in my less-developed relationships (co-workers and strangers) this was relatively easy, and I didn’t feel it was a big change from my normal interactions. But I found it required more effort with those closest to me. I think this is because I don’t feel the need to put on my best face to impress them, because they already love me. But, how tragic is it that those I love most get less hospitality from me? As I go beyond my experiment, I will work to be more conscious of this value at play in those very important relationships. [Tip #4] 5.

As for Moderation, I got stuck on “life-giving.” Eventually though, I decided that, to me, it means doing something rejuvenating. I took that to mean doing something I didn’t feel I had to do – work, clean, cook – and not feeling bad about it. First, I took my dog Toby outside to play frisbee. Then, when he was tired (not when I decided it was time), we headed inside, made some hot chocolate and settled in for a movie. This three hours of fun and relaxation provided the rest and fresh perspective needed to tackle the responsibilities that remained with enthusiasm, rather than exhaustion. [Tip #7]

6. Reflecting on balancing solitude and community was yet another eye opener for me. I spend a lot of time on my own because of the nature of my work – and I enjoy it. But I realized I am not good at being alone; I always turn on music or the TV to fill the silence. And I think these are mental distractions I use to prevent myself from spending time in solitude and letting my mind wander freely. Where would my thoughts take me if I gave them the space to run wild? I don’t know today, but I hope to find out as I continue to improve the quality of my solitude. [Tip #2]

4. The reflection tips were more of a challenge for me in this experiment, specifically Hospitality and Moderation. Their open-ended nature left me questioning if I was doing them right. (Of course eventually I came to realize there isn’t a right or wrong way; as long as I am taking time to reflect on and contemplate the presence of Christ in my life, I am doing it right.)

Spring 2017 | 23

ACTING UP

BY | MARIA KNUDSEN ’17

SOMETIMES, IT TAKES DISTANCE TO SEE THINGS FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE. This was the case for a group of 16 students from Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s, who studied abroad in Guatemala during spring semester 2016.

While in Guatemala, students participated in a course centered around an interactive performance style known as Theatre of the Oppressed, that challenges participants 24 | College of Saint Benedict Magazine

to shape the outcome of the production through conversation and engagement.

Students were asked to choose a theme to explore with the performance. The students identified racial and cultural tensions at CSB and SJU, and through the production, students sought to explore those issues and create a forum for safe dialogue.

After performing in Guatemala, students were inspired to bring their work back for two performances in October at CSB and SJU. The lessons of their study abroad experience are now here on campus, with the potential to shape and impact our whole community.

THEATRE OF THE OPPRESSED “Forum theater consists of a short performance piece followed by a dialogue where the audience is invited to analyze the story that they have seen and try to come to an agreement on what the question is that is embedded in the story,” says Roy Ketchum, associate professor of Hispanic studies. Ketchum served as director to the Guatemala study abroad group.

Students focused their performance on themes underlying events surrounding the 2014 iteration of a series of student parties that have become a campus tradition each spring. That year, several off-campus parties carried racially charged and culturally insensitive themes that sparked protests and, ultimately, discussions about discrimination and cultural appropriation at CSB and SJU. “We are all very different people from different places and different backgrounds, but we all just agreed that the events from (spring 2014) were the most important to us,” says Jacob Shawback (SJU ’17).

RAD RETURNS TO CAMPUS The group now calls itself RAD: Reflection. Action. Dialogue. – terms which exemplify three critical functions of Theatre of the Oppressed.

Their performances in October began with a live portrayal of events from 2014.

A discussion between the performers and audience followed with all trying to find ways the situations could have been handled differently. This opened up improv opportunities for spectators to participate in rewriting – and performing in – the story.

on ways in which CSB/SJU and its administration could improve cultural inclusivity on campus. These recommendations were collected and discussed within a pre-selected group of campus leaders, professors and administrators. This group then chose a handful of top recommendations and presented them to the larger audience who then voted on whether to endorse each idea or not.

Ideas that were endorsed at the events include things like required cultural training for faculty and administration, making RAD part of the orientation schedule and expanding ally groups on campus.

WHAT’S NEXT? Among the recommendations supported by audiences were more programs and events from the RAD group. The group is working to establish itself as an official campus organization under the Center for Global Education, which would allow it to function as a recurring program and give it the flexibility to continue to integrate RAD into the campus community.

“Among the students who brought RAD to campus, on their own terms, they’re working on articulating what it means for RAD to continue to have a presence on campus,” Ketchum says.

In the near future, the group hopes that integration will take the form of faculty development workshops, additional performances and campus conversations.

An important aspect of Theatre of the Oppressed is that discussions of how situations could be handled differently focused on the “oppressed” and the spectators rather than on those acting badly. The intent is to help students learn to react and make change when the opportunity presents itself.

As performances continued, audience members wrote down recommendations

Spring 2017 | 25

I’M A BENNIE

’13 HUDDA IBRAHIM

Photo by Jason Wachter, courtesy of the St. Cloud Times.

A voice for peace Hudda Ibrahim is determined to make a difference – in St. Cloud, Minnesota, and beyond. “I think the world is desperately in need of peace builders,” she says. “Especially right now.”

Major at CSB

Hudda currently serves on the faculty at St. Cloud Technical & Community College. She sits on boards and committees for the United Way, Chamber of Commerce, Forum of Executive Women, Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation, St. Cloud Area School District 742, Central Minnesota Community Empowerment Organization and more. In addition, she operates a consulting business offering guidance to the Somali business community in interacting with customers from other cultures.

Favorite course/professor

Recently, the St. Cloud Times named her in their 2016 cohort of 5 Under 40 for her influential leadership in the local economy and involvement in the community. On April 5, she presented at our annual REDTalks event, asking the challenging question, “Where are the women?”

When I graduated in 2013, I went to Somalia for the first time since 1991. While I was in Somalia, I conducted mediation and conflict resolution training at Hope University, Mogadishu. I also did a workshop about youth and peacebuilding.

26 | College of Saint Benedict Magazine

I majored in peace studies and English

First-year residence hall Lottie Hall My favorite course was conflict resolution, and my favorite professors were Ron Pagnucco and Kelly Kraemer.

Favorite Bennie memory Late-night studying and cheering at Johnnie football games

Little-known talent I am good at cooking, singing and storytelling.

Latest great adventure

What are the greatest challenges in your career?

What advice would you give to emerging women leaders?

Although I have some great mentors who provide me with constant advice and guidance, a lack of diversity in the workplace can still be challenging. I think it’s very important to see yourself represented in the workplace. I’d love to see companies recruit people of color into positions of leadership.

Once they recruit them, they need to retain them by giving them the right resources and opportunities to stay and be part of their community.

When I am coaching and mentoring young women leaders, I always encourage them not to doubt themselves. Make mistakes and learn from them. Build your self-confidence and self-advocacy, but at the same time, support one another. Don’t hold yourself back and don’t let others hold you back. The world is desperate for global peace and one way to achieve a holistic peace is to include women in the decision-making process.

How has your Saint Ben’s education influenced your career?

The rigorous education I received from the College of Saint Benedict has had a huge influence on my career.

It motivated me to seek a graduate school and pursue a master’s degree at the University of Notre Dame. My peace studies classes, in particular, helped me tremendously. All the education I gained landed me in Washington, D.C., to intern with an organization that brings Jews and Palestinians together.

CLASS NOTES

Mary Dick Blaylock is president and 1991

MILESTONES 1974

osemary Benassi Schwartz is an R intermediate developer II at Land O’ Lakes Corporation, St. Paul, Minn.

Theresa Blazicevich is the owner of 1976 Log Cabin Environmental Consulting, Missoula, Mont.

Sandra Morisette Brand is a member 1979

of the nursing faculty at St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn.

Mary Bowar Bobertz is a managing 1981

principal at Caldwell Butler & Associates in St. Augustine, Fla., and a principal at Birchwood Consulting, LLC in Chanhassen, Minn.

Rebecca Borrell is an administrative manager at Edina Chorale in Edina, Minn., and a customer service representative at RIG Metro LLC in Golden Valley, Minn.

Amy Ward Brimmer is the owner and director of Way Opens Center in Philadelphia.

Anne Wehlage Groetsch is an 1982

Kathleen Murphy Boland is a rental market manager at Pinnacle Climate Technologies in Bloomington, Minn.

Christine Busby is a content director at OgilvyOne Worldwide in Chicago.

imee Steck Bush is a director of advocacy A and corporate partnerships for Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Horse Shoe, N.C.

Rebecca Brown Medvec is the assistant director of intercultural and international student services at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University.

Marjorie O’Neill Meleton is a child support officer at the Office of the Attorney General, State of Texas.

nn Morley Myers is a senior human capital A partner at Optum in Eden Prairie, Minn.

Cari Benson Dahlager is a senior 1992

compliance analyst at UnitedHealth Group (Optum) in Eden Prairie, Minn.

instructional design consultant at Wells Fargo in Bloomington, Minn.

’92

at Land O’ Lakes Foundation in Minneapolis.

1986 Jacqueline Gerri Blenkush is an English

PAULETTE MOUDRY KRAWCZYK

Mary Blumhoefer is a business analyst in IT knowledge management at Delta Air Lines in Minneapolis.

received the Teacher of the Year Award from The Arc Minnesota in Sept. ’16. The award honors an outstanding teacher who has demonstrated excellence in educating and including students with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Paulette teaches all-day kindergarten at St. Jerome School in Maplewood, Minn.

language learner paraprofessional at St. Michael-Albertville School District #885 in St. Michael, Minn.

Annette Franta is the chief financial 1987

officer at Mountain Family Health Center in Glenwood Springs, Colo.

1988

MARGRETTE NEMANICH NEWHOUSE

’88 BC

is the director of the CSB/SJU Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship, beginning Jan. ’17.

aria Plonski Bliley is a senior M business systems analyst at Thrivent Financial in Minneapolis.

Lori Zahrbock Bowman is the executive director at Benjamin’s House Emergency Center in Rice Lake, Wis.

Paula Brinkman is a clinical trial leader at Medtronic’s CRDM Clinical in Minneapolis.

Lindsey McHugh Scott is a preschool teacher/supervisor at the Richfield Fun Club in Richfield, Minn.

Abigail Head Schaefer is a PHHS contract 1998 services representative at St. Louis County in Duluth, Minn.

Soon-Young (Kim) Therres Oh is a 2000

Martha Atkins-Sakry is a grants manager 1985

Mary Devine Mayers is a consultant at Defining Images in Duluth, Minn.

1996

Dakota state legislature in Oct. ’15.

CDs include “Special Days and Holidays” (2013) and “Jump Jump Everyone” (2015).

She is also an EFL/ESL teacher-trainer in Japan specializing in dance and music for young learners.

Laurel Braun is a business process consultant at Wells Fargo in Minneapolis.

’95

co-authored the novel CUP (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, Sept. ’16).

1999 Shannon Roers Jones ran for the North

Kathy Kampa is a musical artist whose 1983

Mary Boutain is a Life Style 360 program coordinator at Meadowood Five-Star Senior Living in Bloomington, Ind.

RACHAEL KASPER

chief executive officer at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties in San Diego.

Petra Noble is the director of institutional enterprise excellence at Ecolab Inc. in St. Paul, Minn.

1994

L isa Finley is a nurse practitioner at Center for Specialty Care in Fairmont, Minn.

Jennifer Rexroat Lavin is the owner and principal attorney at Jennifer L. Lavin, P.C., a divorce and family law firm in Chicago.

1995

Joan Conway coached the Waseca High School girls’ basketball team to the Section 2, Class 3A championship and their first state tournament appearance in March.

Joan, a former Blazer basketball player, is also a Waseca alumna.

Jennifer Goering Tonder is a senior portfolio manager (International M&A) at Land O’ Lakes Corporation in St. Paul, Minn.

business advisor and marketing assistant at Neighborhood Development Center in St. Paul, Minn.

Brandi Senn Stavlo is a planning analyst at Hennepin County Human Services & Public Health.

Cynthia Parlin Bleskachek is a 2001 workshop instructor at Blue Sky Galleries in Minneapolis.

Kate Glanzer Boom is a corporate accounting analyst at TURCK Inc. in Plymouth, Minn.

Angela Busse Boylan is a senior financial analyst at General Mills in Minneapolis.

Anna Polzin Brett is a marketer for UrbanHalo in Prior Lake, Minn.

Kelly Lauzon Lloyd works at Land O’ Lakes Corporation in St. Paul, Minn.

Jody Barrett Zylstra, a registered nurse at CentraCare Health, was named the director of Hospital Medicine Section at CentraCare Health in St. Cloud, Minn.

2002

L iz Deziel’s article, “Opening New Doors with a Career Change,” was featured in LinkedIn’s “Pulse” in Oct. ’16. The article discusses her decision to change from the non-profit world to the corporate sector.

Stephanie Burgess Breckenridge is a 2005 National Health Services Corps scholar.

Beverly Hommerding earned her master’s degree in education from St. Cloud State University in May ’16.

For complete news and notes from classmates and to post your notes, go to BenniesConnect: www.csbalum.csbsju.edu or email us at csbalumnae@csbsju.edu.

Spring 2017 | 27

CLASS NOTES

Lindsay Krieg Block is a fourth-grade 2006 teacher at St. Helena Catholic School in Minneapolis.

2006 Claire Hoolihan Philippe graduated from Hinsdale Family Medicine Residency in June ’16. She is currently practicing as a full spectrum family medicine physician at Westfield’s Hospital and Clinic in New Richmond, Wis.

Bridget Spaniol Brackin is a real estate controller at CB Richard Ellis in Minneapolis.

Joanna McCauley Brown earned her MBA in entrepreneurship/entrepreneurial studies from the University of Colorado at Boulder-Leeds School of Business in 2015.

She is now an operations consultant and registered nurse at Baby+Co, a national network of birth centers that help provide women and their families an additional choice in their prenatal, labor and postnatal care.

Marissa Browne is an insurance producer at State Farm Insurance in Eden Prairie, Minn.

Suzanne Gerjets Burke is a school nurse at Independent School District 196 in Saint Paul, Minn.

Katherine Cahill is a wellness specialist at Wellness Resources in Minneapolis.

Linnea Calderon is a manager for marketing business risk at Discover Financial Services in Riverwoods, Ill. Ann Bowman Goodrich is a market manager at Solo Cup Company in Seattle.

Andrea Carlson Mayeux is a video contributor at MileSplit at FloSports and a multimedia sports reporter at School Space Media in Minneapolis.

Lindsay Peters Sexton is a human capital consultant at UnitedHealth Group in Minnetonka, Minn.

2008 Jessica Bauer Franta is an academic advisor at South Central College in Mankato, Minn.

Jessica Handwerk Wildes is a senior account executive at Trefoil Group, a strategic marketing and communications firm in Milwaukee.

Kristina Nesse is a transit oriented 2009

development planner and project manager at Metro Transit in Minneapolis.

Annie Vaught Arnold is a second2007

grade teacher at Orono Public Schools in Long Lake, Minn.

Erin Saupe Finley is a professor of earth science at the University of Oxford, in Oxford, England.

Amanda Kack Flannery is a pediatric nurse practitioner at All About Children Pediatrics in Eden Prairie, Minn.

Heather Johnson is section coordinator in charge of scholarship management and graduate program admissions/advising at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing in Lubbock, Texas.

hannon Scully is the program associate at S the Vera Institute of Justice in Washington, D.C.

Sarah Weinberger Volzing is a transportation financial manager at General Mills in Golden Valley, Minn.

2008

Emily Coborn was named one of this year’s 5 Under 40 by the St. Cloud Times.

Mary DeMars served as an alumna delegate representing the College of Saint Benedict at Robert Morris University’s inauguration on Friday, Oct. 7, in Moon, Pa.

Lisa Wagner was featured in the Mille Lacs County Times-Online for her work as a librarian in Sept. ’16.

Heather Denike is a senior interactive 2010

producer at Colle+McVoy in Minneapolis.

Brittany Fabry Kubovec is a college relations coordinator at Land O’ Lakes Corporation in St. Paul, Minn.

Elise Bohm graduated from the University 2011

of Minnesota’s College of Pharmacy with a doctor of pharmacy degree in May ’15.

Courtney Bona is a sixth and seventh grade English language arts teacher at New Millennium Academy in Brooklyn Center, Minn.

Kaitlin Becker Bornhoft is a preschool teacher at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School in Hastings, Minn.

Caitlin Borys is a special education teaching assistant at Roseville Area High School in Roseville, Minn.

Who’s your

BENNIE

FICIARY?

When you make a gift through your estate, you leave a lasting impact that goes on and on.

With your support and our Benedictine values and academic excellence, we can continue changing the lives of young women for generations.

28 | College of Saint Benedict Magazine

Contact Gigi Fourré Schumacher, senior planned/ principal gifts officer, at gschumach001@csbsju.edu or 320-363-5480 for more information.

CLASS NOTES

2011 Lauren Brandes graduated in 2014 from

The Art Institutes International-Minnesota in Minneapolis with a bachelor of science degree in fashion and retail management.

Colleen Caffrey is a senior accounting consultant at UnitedHealth Group in Minnetonka, Minn.

Sara Freed Clear is a tax consultant at Deloitte in Minneapolis.

L indsey Krause graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School, May ’16.

Abigail Spaniol Lano is a communications associate in public health at Ramsey County.

Alexa Redfield Mayerhofer is a registered nurse at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, Minn.

Molly McCabe is a senior auditor at Medtronic in Saint Paul, Minn.

atherine Bloom O’Connell is the manager K of social strategy at Go Media in Minneapolis.

Jill Kerrigan is an environmental 2012

engineer research assistant at the University of Minnesota.

Second Lieutenant Rachel Stobb is a geospatial support assistant at the Polar Geospatial Center.

Kayla Blevins is an attorney at 2013

Willenbring, Dahl, Wocken & Zimmerman in Cold Spring, Minn.

Lindsey Gideon is the senior associate product manager (IOS International) at NuVasive in San Diego.

Hudda Ibrahim was named one of this year’s 5 Under 40 by the St. Cloud Times.

Shannon Lane is a lifecycle marketing specialist at Simple Finance.

Kia Lor earned her master’s degree in intercultural communication and linguistics from the University of Pennsylvania in May ’16. She is now the assistant director of language and intercultural learning at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn.

Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem American Spiritual Saturday, March 25 @ 7:30pm Stephen B. Humphrey Theater, SJU

Amy Ranweiler is the assistant director of recruiting and outreach at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

United States Navy Concert Band Monday, March 27 @ 7:00pm Escher Auditorium, CSB

Hannah Vanderheyden is a senior research analyst and healthcare consultant at UnitedHealth Group.

Kellie Siembieda received the Bronze Aster 2014 Award: Excellence in Medical Marketing from Optum Telehealth in Aug. ’16.

Katie Verchota is a research consultant at the Lewing Group.

Katie Beumer and brother, John 2015

Beumer ’12, hosted their sibling illustration and painting mashup show, Brosis Art Show, at the GT Artistry Studio in Minneapolis in Oct. ’16.

Keep the connections alive at facebook.com/SaintBensAlums

Stop Kiss March 30 - April 2 & April 6 - 8 Gorecki Family Theater, CSB Liz Vice Trio Saturday, April 8 @ 7:30pm Stephen B. Humphrey Theater, SJU

WWW.CSBSJU.EDU/WOW

Spring 2017 | 29

CLASS NOTES

Christine Quinones is studying for a 2015

master’s of science in public health at the University of Notre Dame.

Addie Carlson is the assistant manager 2016

in charge of buying and operations at The Minnesota Street Market in St. Joseph, Minn.

Vanessa Hird is an account associate at Marketing Architects in Minneapolis.

Sierra Kaptain is volunteering with Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos in Miacatlán, Mexico.

Ariel Lusty is a graduate teaching assistant at Montana State University in Bozeman, Mont. and is working on her Ph.D. in mechanical engineering.

Bethany Purkapile is in the Benedictine Women’s Service Corps and is a volunteer at both BEACON and the Transitional Housing BARN for the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia in Bristow.

Mackenzie Smith is an operations administrator at Allianz Insurance, Golden Valley, Minn.

Mone’Kai “Mo” Shannon-Thornton is in the Benedictine Women’s Service Corps and is a volunteer at both BEACON and the Transitional Housing BARN for the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia in Bristow.

2009 Jade DeRocher to Dusty Miller, July ’16.

Sarah Larson to Colin Marnach, May ’16.

Molly Maxbauer to John Kennedy, June ’16.

Katie Rowan to Lucas Matzke, May ’14.

’11

Andrea Eberhard to Ryan 2014

Wojciechowski ’14, Nov. ’16.

Paula Kearns to Steven Steichen ’13, Aug. ’15.

Bree Auringer to Tom Allen ’09, Oct. ’16.

2010 Katie Krois to Adam Quade ’10, Nov. ’15.

MARRIAGES 1991

JANE THEOBALD TO ALAN ALBERT ’15, AUG. ’16.

my Brockman to Thomas Thoemke ’92, A Aug. ’16.

Heather Gillund to Drew Bredeson, Oct. ’16.

1995

Stephanie Lahr to Peder Jacobson ’10, Aug. ’16.

Iphigenie Nshutinyayo to Sergiy Pysarenko, June ’16.

Jamie Welle to Eric Yuen, July ’16.

2011 Katherine Bloom to JD O’Connell ’11, Sept. ’16.

Brenna Finley to Tim Erdmann, Oct. ’15.

Sara Freed to Drew Clear ’11, March ’16.

’14

Heather Gillund to Drew Bredeson, Oct. ’16.

Katya Karaz to Andrew Enzler ’11, June ’16.

Amanda Koehler to Steve Banick, Aug. ’16.

KAYLA PARKER TO KEVIN JENNISSEN ’14, OCT. ’16.

Tamara Krueger to Ryan Wimmer ’10, April ’16.

Ambria Pfarr to Michael Crusan, Oct. ’16.

Kaitlin Keller to Joe Caron, June ’16.

2012 Catherine Luckemeyer to Jonathan Holmers ’12, Oct. ’16.

’95

SARA BURNETT TO ROSS DREVER ’93, JULY ’16.

L auren Marston to Jonathan Neitzke ’11, Jan. ’16.

Olivia Plaine to Jared Sherlock ’11, Sept. ’16.

Megan Solheid to Zach Karels, July ’16.

2013

Nicole Behne to Nick Elfering ’13, Sept. ’16.

2006 Melissa Horning to Steven Dehmer ’03,

Feiran Chen to Benjamin Gilles ’12, July ’16.

Elizabeth Luke to Ryan Johnston, Aug. ’15.

2007

Sam Kessler to Ed McGinty ’13, Sept. ’16.

Megan Mastrian to Andrew Young, June ’16.

avannah Kuester to Matthew Horning ’13, S Oct. ’16.

July ’16.

Melissa Stangler to Broc Torfin, March ’15.

2008

30 | College of Saint Benedict Magazine

Beth Peichel to Wade Kohls ’14, Aug. ’16.

Kendra Peyton to Ethan Reinert ’15, Oct. ’16.

Katie Zuroski to Tommy Koehler ’14, Nov. ’16.

2015

Rebecca Bokinskie to Jesse Wild ’15, Aug. ’15.

Danielle Ostertag to Nick Gabriel, Sept. ’16.

Katy Smith to Justin Markon ’15, Oct. ’16.

Brianna Thomas to Kyle Nelson, Oct. ’16.

2016

Kathryn Cleary to John Kelly ’16, Oct. ’16.

Savannah Hilback to Josiah Aultman, Dec. ’15.

Lauren Rupp to Peter Valois ’16, Sept. ’16.

Olivia Zajac to Preston Weber, Aug. ’16.

CLASS NOTES

BIRTHS 1997

Anne Olson Kilzer & Tim Kilzer ’97, girl, Audrey, Oct. ’16.

2002 Kimberly Olson Beyer & Brad Beyer ’02, boy, Nolan, Dec. ’15.

Heidi Anderson Reuter & Ryan Reuter ’02, boy, Kellan, Sept. ’16.

2003 Marsha Miller Edel & Brian Edel ’03, boy, Reid, April ’15.

Melinda Schumer Hoefer & Shane Hoefer ’03, girl, Sofia, Feb. ’16.

J ennifer Myers Kutter & Ryan Kutter ’03, boy, Cisco, Sept. ’16.

2004 Ashley Agerter Raitor & Matthew Raitor ’04, boy, Max, Aug. ’15.

Susan Schulzetenberg Gully & Michael Gully ’00, girl, Abigail, Nov. ’16.

Amy Pauling Shay & Patrick Shay, boy, Henry, May ’16.

’04

AMBER STREFF WALLING & AARON WALLING, GIRL, MARGARET, OCT. ’16

Rachael Lundby Webb & Coy Webb, boy, James “Carter,” April ’15.

Shannon Verly Wiger & Nicholas Wiger, girl, Anne, Oct. ’16.

2005 Lisa Wolff Wittig & Jonathan Wittig, boy, Benjamin, April ’16.

’06

KATIE KALKMAN & GABRIEL HARREN ’10, BOY, JACKSON, SEPT. ’16.

2006 Rebecca Kastner Holden &

Nicole Larson Fogt & Jason Fogt ’09, 2009

Karla Schaefer Wocken & Philip Wocken, boy, Rowan, July ’16.

2007 Heidi Abfalter DeMarais & Adam

Emily Renner Heitner & Andrew Heitner ’09, boy, Benjamin, Aug. ’16.

Angela Sigl Janson & Michael Janson ’08, girl, Elise, Sept. ’16.

Jennifer Mike Rhein & Jacob Rhein, boy, Liam, Aug. ’16.

Holly Breeggemann McMahon & Luke McMahon ’07, boy, Connor, Nov. ’15.

Emily Persichetti Schuster & Nick Schuster ’10, boy, Lawrence, Oct. ’16.

Jennifer Fasnacht Pope & Joshua Pope ’06, boy, Isaiah, July ’16.

Heather Ley Trettel & Tyler Trettel ’09, boy, Kade, Sept. ’16.

2008 Sara Murphy Bierwerth & Scott

Dana Scheppmann Wieme & Alex Wieme ’09, boy, Samuel, March ’16.

Melissa Ulrich Murtaugh & Robert Murtaugh ’08, boy, Jack, Sept. ’16.

2010

Natalie Ulrich Petersen & Dan Petersen ’08, boy, Theo, Sept. ’16.

Halyce Jackson Johnson & Kirby Johnson ’10, boy, Crosby, Aug. ’16.

Jessica Handwerk Wildes & Tanner Wildes, boy, Mitchell, June ’16.

Courtney Christenson Opsahl & 2011

James Holden ’06, boy, Kellan, Aug. ’16.

DeMarais ’07, girl, Lynley, June ’16.

Bierwerth, girl, Cecilia, Nov. ’16.

’05

JACLYN PELGRIN HENRY & JOSEPH HENRY ’05, GIRL, WINONA, APRIL ’16.

boy, Hunter, Nov. ’16.

Audrey Gabe & Kyle Boyd, boy, Axel, June ’16.

T aylor Kannawin Backes & Tim Backes ’10, boy, Waylon, Aug. ’16.

Luke Opsahl ’11, boy, Cael, July ’16.

Spring 2017 | 31

CLASS NOTES

2011

aria Willkom Machemehl & Benjamin M Machemehl ’11, girl, Magdalena, Oct. ’16.

2013 Kristen Juettner Bricko & Jerry Bricko, girl, Claire, Nov. ’16.

Kathleen Jameson Payne & Logan Payne, girl, Charlotte, Aug. ’16.

Katelyn Tiffany Santos & Joshua Santos ’14, boy, Julian, Oct. ’16.

2014 Cindy Gonzales Peterson & Jake

Peterson ’11, boy, Franco, Aug. ’16.

DEATHS

’10

BREE AURINGER ALLEN & TOM ALLEN ’09, BOY, DAWSON, OCT. ’16.

WE WANT TO KNOW

1940 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1950 1951 1953

32 | College of Saint Benedict Magazine

Joan Bauer O’Hara, Dec. ’16.

Rita Schneider Wilz, Sept. ’12.

S. Mary Helene Juettner, OSB, Aug. ’16.

Ann Kinney Pattison, Nov. ’16.

Georgia Schmid Diedrich, Oct. ’16.

RoseAnn Matthews Bohlig, Aug. ’16.

Eileen Westrup Northup, Sept. ’16.

Joan Gardner Minette, Oct. ’16.

S. Shaun O’Meara, OSB, Oct. ’16.

S. Evin Rademacher, OSB, Nov. ’16.

1955 Cletus Tauer ’53, spouse of Ramona Maguire Tauer, Nov. ’16.

WHO YOU KNOW. spreadred.com

Evelyn Ochs Claiborne, Nov. ’16.

Rita Stock Casey, Aug. ’15.

CLASS NOTES

Donald Brever, spouse of Rosemary 1956

Boehm Brever & step-father of Mary Beth Kessler Kjolhaug ’81, Sept. ’16.

illiam Heisler, spouse of Helen Cernhous W Heisler & father of Patricia Heisler Azman ’85, Sept. ’16.

Seeking

1957 Mildred “Milly” Foley O’Brien, Nov. ’16.

1959 Jerome “Jerry” Grow ’59, spouse of Mary Jane Kotsmith Grow, Sept. ’16.

Mary Ann Molly Gillespie, mother of 1962

Catherine Gillespie Dooley, Oct. ’16.

1963 1964 1965 1967

Anne Rutchland, July ’16.

V eronica Davidson, mother of Joyce Davidson, Dec. ’16.

Longing

Helen Hall Fisher, Aug. ’16.

Anne Miesen Grimm, July ’16.

Lorraine Korte, mother of Gladys Korte Bottema & Donna Wellenstein ’83, Oct. ’16.

1968 1974

Ann Terwey Orth, Oct. ’16. ordon Goetemann, spouse of Judith G Steele Goetemann & father of Elisabeth Goetemann Scholes ’82, Sept. ’16.

agdalen Maggie Hovanec, mother of Carol M Hovanec Lovett, Jane Hovanec-Brown ’78 & Kathleen Hovanec Warner ’81, Oct. ’16.

1976

yril Popelka, father of Rita Popelka Juul C & Judith Popelka Corrigan ’79, Nov. ’16.

1977

onald Maloney, father of Joan Maloney D Paulson & Nancy Maloney Williams ’82, Sept. ’16.

Kathleen Christenson Nemmers, Oct. ’16.

1978 Karen Malicki Mazzacano, Sept. ’16.

ahn Beaudoin, father of Denise D Beaudoin, Oct. ’16.

Evelyn Bedard, mother of Cynthia 1979 Bedard Owens, Dec. ’15.

Dan Wermerskirchen, spouse of Laura Pritchard Wermerskirchen, Nov. ’16.

Elaine Imholte, mother of Joelle Imholte, 1980 Oct. ’16.

J oan Welsh, mother of Mary Welsh & Patricia Welsh Nesheim ’87, Nov. ’16.

JoAnn Wisdorf, mother of Lisa Wisdorf, 1982 Jan. ’16.

Rita Blaine, mother of Therese Blaine 1985 & Christine Blaine ’88, Aug. ’16.

Erwin Zimmer, father of Theresa Zimmer 1986 Lydon & Christine Zimmer ’88, Nov. ’16.

Ann Zalewski Mayer, Sept. ’16.

1987

K eith Bartlett, father of Mary Bartlett Nemanich, Nov. ’16.

Roger Krause, father of Sharon Krause Puchalski, Apr. ’16.

1989 DePaul Willette ’51, father of Brenda Willette Anderson, Sept. ’16.

1990

A nnella Seiberlich, mother of Angela Seiberlich, Aug. ’16.

Judith Hoofnagle, mother of Cindi 1991

2000

2007 David Harmeyer ’74, father of

Hoofnagle Gilmore, Aug. ’16.

J ames Hadden, father of Sally Rhude Pernat & Kate Hadden Severson ’95, Nov. ’16.

J ane Erickson, mother of Angela Erickson Gjerning, Aug. ’16.

Kate Harmeyer, Nov. ’16.

Lorraine Arnold, mother of Sharon Arnold Wenner, Nov. ’16.

Michael Richter, father of Jennifer 2010

Stephen Gerlach, father of Stacey 1994

Gerlach Moe, Sept. ’16.

Richter Bibeau, Sept. ’16.

oug Vetsch, father of Rebecca Vetsch, D Nov. ’16.

Connie Johnson, mother of Janelle 1996 Johnson Marotzke, Aug. ’16.

1997

enedict Lapos, father of Julie Lapos B Kuchar & Kerry Lapos Atwood ’98, Nov. ’16.

Spring 2017 | 33

BENNIE CONNECTION

4 1 1. Bennies at Ecolab in St. Paul, Minn. celebrated Bennie Day 2016 at the American Burger Bar. Front: Rhonda Prasnicki Gaulke ’87, Alexa Brom Hoekstra ’03, Mary Gazich ’07, Jane Lissick Heider ’85. Back: Shannon Pettitt ’93, Jessica Odenthal Hammerberg ’00, Alison Gunter ’16.

2.

Class of 2012 roommates Mai See Xiong, Maizoua Moua, Marbella Moreno and Xai Vang submitted this fun photo in celebration of Bennie Day 2016.

3. S ixteen of the many Bennies and Johnnies working at Thomson Reuters gathered for some fun and to celebrate Bennie Day in Sept. ’16.

2

4.

Ten alumnae and one prospective student gathered in Hong Kong to reconnect and learn more about what’s happening at CSB with President Mary Dana Hinton and Alumnae Relations Director Anne Sumangil ’99. Our Bennies in Hong Kong are doing wonderful things and are spreading Bennie pride internationally! Front: Amy Zheng ’15, Simona Wong ’91, YeeMei Zheng ’14, Crystal Pang ’15, Anne Sumangil ’99. Back: Lisa Tsang ’10, Jasmine Tang ’12, Kenie Kwok ’13, Mary Dana Hinton, Christy Chan ’10, Elizabeth Lee ’09 and prospective student, Viviana Gomes.

5. Over 35 St. Cloud-area alumnae and friends gathered at La Casita in Waite Park, Minn., for some great food, conversation and trivia on Bennie Day, Sept. ’16.

34 | College of Saint Benedict Magazine

3

5

BENNIE CONNECTION

6

7 6. More than 20 of the many Bennies working at Securian in St. Paul took time out of their day to celebrate Bennie Day 2016 together.

7.

Reaching Back Moving Forward 2016 was an event sponsored by the offices of Intercultural and International Student Services, Academic Advising, Career Services, College Possible, Experiential Learning & Community Engagement and the CSB and SJU alum offices. Young alums came back to campus on Nov. 1 to illuminate the path to success after graduation. An alum dinner and welcome by Provost Richard Ice was followed by a student/alum networking reception.

Pictured here are Academic Adviser Theresa Anderson, Bernice David ’11 and student Bianca Cooper.

8

9

10

8. Friends Michelle Hansmann ’16, Charmagne Tessmer Derichs ’08 and Anna Schumacher ’09 celebrated Bennie Day in Portland, Ore., Sept. ’16.

9.

Bennies & The Jets is a Bennie Fantasy Football league formed in 2013 by a group of 12 Bennies from the classes of 2008 to 2013. Current members are Abbey Brau ’10 (League Commissioner), Maureen Noel Alderman ’09, Brooke Johnson ’09, Katie Kjos Clare ’09, Catherine Desalvo Miller ’09, Sara Baker ’10, Ali Galkzi ’10, Brittany Boegel ’08, Kelly Trom ’09, Nikki Reza ’13. As Alderman describes, “We have strict requirements about face-toface gatherings for both our draft and end-of-season banquet....We not only focus on the football but obviously keep that Bennie network strong. This league is no joke and embodies exactly what the Bennie network is all about. And we couldn’t be more proud to be Bennies!”

10. Yvette Lebrun Krech ’67 and Ruth Krech Degen ’67 celebrated Bennie Day together in Barcelona, Spain, Sept. ’16.

Spring 2017 | 35

Making a recurring gift shouldn’t have to be.

KEEPING OUR ANNUAL GIVING PROGRAM STRONG IS A BIG DEAL. This critical program supports scholarships, which make it possible for the next generation of Bennies to change the world. No one knows that better than our Saint Ben’s Sustainers.

OUR SUSTAINERS UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR STEADY STREAMS OF INCOME THAT KEEP OUR ANNUAL GIVING PROGRAM STRONG. They provide the security of reliable support through recurring gifts. This allows us to plan more effectively, administer the fund more efficiently and, ultimately, impact the lives of more students.

BECOMING A SAINT BEN’S SUSTAINER AND MAKING A RECURRING GIFT IS MORE CONVENIENT THAN EVER. Simply choose the frequency (monthly, quarterly or annually) and the vehicle (electronic funds transfer or credit card).

When you do, you’ll join an elite group of stewards that give us a stronger foundation to build tomorrow’s dreams on. That’s certainly a big deal.

BECOME A SAINT BEN’S SUSTAINER. Learn more and enroll at givecsb.com.

36 | College of Saint Benedict Magazine

GENEROSITY

LEAD), but I have found two other places to get at the heart of what this program means – to all of us, to Saint Ben’s and to the world beyond St. Joseph.

First, for Keith and me, there have been the moving letters students write to thank us for the scholarships. It never occurred to us that we’d get letters. It was such a surprise to receive that first letter from Elizabeth Rojas (class of 2017, current Two Irenes Scholarship recipient). I still get a lump in my throat remembering it.

Two Irenes Scholarship winner Elizabeth Rojas ’17 chats with scholarship donors Keith and Mary Bednarowski.

A Tribute to Irene(s) BY | MARY BEDNAROWSKI

Former College of Saint Benedict Trustee Mary Bednarowski and her husband Keith fund the delightfully named Bednarowski Two Irenes endowed scholarship at Saint Ben’s.

The scholarship goes to support first-generation college students in our Intercultural LEAD program. But how did it get its name?

My mother, Irene Westphal Farrell, and Keith’s mother, Irene Smith Bednarowski, were born in 1910 and 1915, just a couple of years on either side of the founding of the College of Saint Benedict. They were second-to-youngest and youngest in large families who grew up in northeastern Wisconsin, one in a German Lutheran farming village, the other in a small city – both of them the daughters of mothers named Anna. They excelled in school.

They were good at the sports girls were permitted to engage in – swimming and baseball and running. At another moment

in history, they would, of course, have gone to college. By some means or another, they and their families would have found a way, just as our parents were able to do for Keith and me. But, when they were young, this possibility was simply beyond imagining.

Do we think they lived unhappy lives because they didn’t go to college? Believe me, neither of them would be happy to hear me say anything like that.

Nonetheless, Keith and I feel a kind of wistfulness that they had so many gifts I suspect even they themselves didn’t recognize and that they did not have the opportunity to fulfill. The Two Irenes Scholarship is a way for us both to honor the lives of our mothers and to encourage the lives of young women for whom the world holds more possibilities.

The Intercultural LEAD program came into existence while I was on the board, and the first students in that group graduated before my last term ended. If you’re not already familiar, you can read about the program at csbsju.edu (just search for Intercultural

She told us about her family in Los Angeles, who missed her but were glad for her. She told us about how much courage it took, first to imagine the possibility of life in central Minnesota and then to actually live that life. She was eloquent about what it means to women students in a diverse and dynamic community to prepare together for a future of service in so many different arenas.

There have been many letters since Elizabeth’s; testimonies to what is possible when strong young women come to Saint Ben’s and contribute the wisdom of their own families and their own cultures to a school that is grateful to receive and support and enhance what they bring.

Every letter we’ve received has a version of the following: “I promise you I will work very hard and eventually give something back to others, both as a teacher and possibly a giver of scholarships to future students like myself.”

The second source is my favorite link on the Saint Ben’s webpage – the Bennie Creed. There are many words on that page, all of them moving, but I’ll conclude with just these few: “We believe in sharing our spirit; that personal strength is a prerequisite for helping others; that there is joy in giving back to those who have given to us; that leadership is in service to the greater good…”

I can hear our Two Irenes, Irene Emily and Irene Mabel, saying, “Well done, dear Bennies. Well and truly done.”

Your contributions – at any level – can impact today’s Bennies.

Please consider a gift today. givecsb.com Spring 2017 | 37

NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES, MN PERMIT NO. 93723

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT 37 South College Avenue St. Joseph, MN 56374 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Classes ending in 2 and 7

Your class reunion is approaching fast!

We look forward to seeing you

JUNE 23-25

Mark your calendar and plan to reconnect with classmates and enjoy the campuses in the summer.

Learn more and register today at csbsjureunion.com.