Honors Newsletter Spring 2016

Explore. Create. Experience. Minnesota State University Moorhead Honors Program.

Honors

NEWSLETTER

Spring 2016

Letter from the Director his year in Honors was all about celebrating past traditions and starting new ones. We began the year in style with our traditional Picnic in the Park, followed later in the fall by the President’s Reception for the Learning Community and Executive Council students. How many other students can boast a personal invitation to the home of their University President (#AnneFan #DragonPride)?

From here on out, it was a year of exciting new events.

For the first time, Honors Program students attended and presented work at the National Collegiate Honors Conference. Sam Szczesny (Graphic Com) and Stefan Nelson (Math) accompanied Director Lisa Nawrot to Chicago in November for the annual meeting. We

also introduced a number of new Encounters this year, bringing in events from a variety of disciplines.

There was a private Honors Program tour of the Rourke Art Museum, a free starship simulation at the Planetarium, and an exclusive Honors ceramics class activity. But perhaps the most exciting new tradition is the beginning of new Honors Program Scholarships. Starting in the Fall of 2016, the Honors Program will award the Henry and Carol RaffStevenson Scholarship, the John Chisholm Endowed Scholarship, and the Honors Alumni Scholarship.

Thank you to our generous donors and alumni.

Dr. Elizabeth Nawrot, Honors Program Director

Explore. Create. Experience.

An Interview with Dr. Stephen Hamrick

By Amanda Brandenburger, Business Administration

r. Stephen Hamrick has been teaching at Minnesota State University Moorhead since 2004. He served as the Director of the Honors Program from 2006-2009. Professor Hamrick currently teaches a wide variety of classes including Honors Masterpieces, various writing and literature courses, and even dabbles in some history courses.

Hamrick’s favorite part of being the Director was meeting new students and their parents. By keeping in constant contact with some of the students he really got to know his students and their families on a personal level. He feels that having students take Honors Colloquium really opens students’ eyes to more opportunities, which he finds really gratifying. With the Honors Contract implemented, he feels that students really have a wide variety of opportunities to get involved. Hamrick said, “Professors who love teaching and care about their students are the ones teaching Honors courses.” Dr. Hamrick himself provides a great example of a professor here who would go the extra mile to see his students succeed in school and in the world.

Artemis Bridge

By Brian Anderson, Honors Executive Council

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a crewmember on the Starship Enterprise, boldly going where no one has gone before? Well, last fall I was able to get a taste of the space life when our very own MSUM Planetarium was temporarily transformed into a functioning bridge of a starship with Artemis Bridge! Artemis Bridge is a simulation program that works by linking together several computers to form a bridge, with each computer serving as a different station, like engineering or weapons control. Visit artemis.eochu.com/ or the Planetarium for more info and… Engage!

Congratulations Graduates!

My Trip to Prague By Alison Barkhymer, Biosciences Last summer I had the opportunity to travel to Prague in the Czech Republic to present research I had done over the course of the year with Dr. Brian Wisenden.

The research was on the effect chemical alarm cues have on the behavior and stress levels of zebrafish. While there, I gave a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the Society for Experimental Biology and had the chance to meet biologists from all over the world to discuss future projects. I also had many opportunities to explore the city. I spent a lot of time wandering the labyrinthine streets of Old Town and walking along the Vltava River. On the last day I got to tour Prague Castle, the St. Vitus Cathedral, and the Basilica of St. George, which dates back to the tenth century. The whole experience was amazing and I am so thankful to everybody who made it possible.

Kate Aarness (Peforming Arts), Brian Anderson (Spanish), Aubrey Borgen (Psychology), Joseph Cervenka (Advertising), Nell Dobesh (Film Production), Janna Gilbertson (Biology), McKayla Glasser (Business), Kendra Harpstead (Biology), Emily Mammenga (Biology), Kevin Schwab (Graphic Com), Sam Szczesny (Graphic Com), Katy Tellinghuisen (Paralegal), Katelyn Vickers (Com Arts/Ed), Jess Wierzchowski (English).

Minnesota State University Moorhead Honors Program SAM’S CORNER

By Sam Szcsesny

It’s hard to believe that my four years here at MSUM, and in the Honors Program, is coming to an end this May. To quote myself from two years ago, “I’ve met a lot of really interesting, creative, [and] intelligent people through our Honors Program.” I am so thankful that I was given the opportunity to be the assistant to the director for all four years, because it definitely strengthened my love for the program.

This year was filled with awesome new Encounters options, travel opportunities, and social events. From the awesome ceramics class that was hosted by Professor Kelli Sinner, to traveling to Chicago for the NCHC conference, I can definitely say I’ve had a blast.

This was a creativity-filled year for our program, both in and out of the classroom.

As I close out my last Sam’s Corner, I’d like to thank every one of our professors, council members, and students. Without every one of you, our program wouldn’t be flourishing like it is today. Thank you for the wonderful semester, and Go Dragons!

Night at the Museum

By Alexandria Fogarty, Assistant Professor, School of Media Arts & Design

ust before Thanksgiving break, MSUM Honors Students were treated to “A Night at the Museum” - Moorhead’s renowned Rourke Art Museum, that is. And what a night it was. Over thirty students attended the event, as well as Honor’s faculty, and some administrators.

Gallery Development Coordinator, Peter Schultz, gave an engaging tour of the gallery, providing the history and stories behind the Rourke’s permanent collection, as well as its current exhibits.

The Rourke is a local treasure that has world class art within its walls.

Many people don’t know that works by Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein are just a few blocks away. The Rourke Art Museum’s permanent collection is primarily built around works from three sources: art from the Midwest; 20th Century art; and global art, including both fine and folk art, from ancient times to present day.

The trip had a big impact on some students. “It made me realize all the talent that our community possesses,” one student remarked. “The Rourke gives people a different and new perspective on art, history and culture. And it added to my appreciation I have for people who major in art. ” The Night at the Museum will be a yearly event for Honor’s students.

Honors Program 1104 7th Avenue South Moorhead, Minnesota 56563

Honors Encounters

Thank You Thank you to so many talented faculty who instructed classes or participated in Honors Program activities this year: Laura Fasick (English), Stephen Hamrick (English), Annette Morrow (History), Oscar Flores (Econ), Alex Fogarty (Graphic Com), Linda Winkler (Chemistry), Sharon Scapple (English), Marilea Bramer (Philosophy), Nathan Clarke (History), Kevin Zepper (English), Konrad Czynski (Humanities), Juan Cabanela (Physics), Kyja K-Nelson (Film Studies), Ananda Shastri (Physics), Lori Johnson (Business), Keri DeSutter (STL), Tony Adah (Film Studies), Kelli Sinner (School of Visual Arts), Brian Wisenden (Biosciences), Thomas Hanson (Finance), Lisa Nawrot (Psychology), and Stacy Voeller (Library).

SUM offers a variety of excellent events and Honors Program students benefit from these through their Hon102 Encounters. Regular events this year included the Visiting Artist Colloquium series, Religious Studies speakers, BFA art exhibits, Performing Arts shows, and more. Students’ written reflections are often thoughtful and moving, for example: “The whole event was out of my comfort zone, but those are the events that you learn the most about yourself and about new information” “Going to gallery exhibitions is one of my favorite types of Honors Encounters events to attend because I love being able to support and see fellow Dragons artwork displayed” “After hearing the faculty talk, I am beginning to think differently” “It’s one thing to read about these issues in a textbook… but to actually see them physically, acted out in front of you… that’s the issues and experiences come alive as you empathize and understand the problems” Students, please turn in your written reflections as soon as possible so that your instructor has time to provide thoughtful feedback. The deadline for submitting all three assignments is the last day of class- Tuesday May 3.

Honors Program 2016 Schedule of Classes Fall 2016 HON 102 Encounters (multiple sections)

FYE/Honors section for freshmen

HON 200 Colloquium in the Humanities (LASC 6/WI) HON 300 American Society: Censorship in American Literature (LASC 5)

Send news and story ideas to: Website: mnstate.edu/honors Office: MacLean 374C Email: honors@mnstate.edu Phone: 218.477.4104 Director: Elizabeth Nawrot, nawrot@mnstate.edu

HON 492 Capstone (LASC 9/WI)

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Assistant: Samantha Szczesny, szczesnysa@mnstate.edu Graduate Assistant: Carly Drew, drewca@mnstate.edu

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▸ March 21– deadline for Honors Program scholarship applications

▸ May 3– last day of class- turn in final Hon102 Encounter reports and get Hon course contracts signed

▸March 29–registration for Fall 2016 classes begins

▸ May 4– Spring Senior Banquet

▸ April 21– deadline for Upper Class Honors Apprentice scholarship applications

▸ May 13– Commencement

Minnesota State University Moorhead is an equal opportunity educator and employer and is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.