Enhancing Academics

Academic Program Equipment Supported by the Foundation

The SMSU Foundation—with the generous support of donors—makes a significant impact the academic opportunities for students. In addition to the theatre lighting transportation and installation outlined in the story on the next page, funding from the SMSU Foundation made contributions to the academic experience in other programs during the past year.

The Music Program was able to purchase a 7-foot Yamaha grand piano. All but one piano in the existing inventory of grand pianos is more than 55 years old. With leveraged equipment funding, which pairs department dollars with donor support—including from the Southwest Minnesota Orchestra and Marshall resident, Lois Henkel—the program went from funding a six-foot grand and making the leap to a seven-foot grand piano.

“The piano is an incredible gift to the program,” said Dr. Daniel Rieppel, music professor and director of keyboard studies at SMSU. “This seven-foot piano is suitable for concertos with orchestra, chamber music, and serious solo recitals. The opportunity for us, for students, to play on a seven-foot piano is a game changer.”

This new piano made its debut on Monday, February 12, 2024 in a recital by Dr. Daniel Rieppel of concert-worthy pieces by Bach, Brahms, Chopin, Scriabin, and Rachmaninov. The new Yamaha grand piano not only enhances student learning but also concert-goer experiences.

Exercise Science was able to purchase two Theia markerless, motion capture systems that will allow students to analyze human movement using a combination of cameras and optical data processing software.

Residence Life focused on the Clapper Hall, Culinology Living and Learning Community and upgraded, state-of-the-art kitchen equipment for students in the academic-focused residence hall community. This summer additional improvements will be made to the common areas of one more residence hall complex, including air conditioning. The total of this four-year effort approaches $1 million in residence hall improvements.

Additional equipment purchased this fiscal year includes:

• Biology: Spectramax ABS microplate reader.

• Art: Easels, kilns, and potter’s wheel.

• Communication Studies: SL3 cameras, light kits, microphones for digital media production.

• Environmental Science: Streamflow meter system and water quality meters & probes.

• Chemistry: Hot plates, melting point apparatus, and polarimeter.

• Museum of Natural History: 55” Hands-on Touch Table.

• School of Business: COLAB (Collaboration Lab) furniture, 3-D printer.

Theatre Lighting Donation

The SMSU Theatre Program received a donation of stage lights, including 56 moving lights, also called intelligent lights, and a variety of Source Four LED spotlights providing beautiful lighting with less heat for a cooler performance space. The entire set of stage lights has a total value of approximately $120,000. In terms of lighting, this donation will make us the most well-equipped Theatre program in the Minnesota State System—and possibly the entire Upper Midwest region.

The SMSU community has a way of making things happen. One conversation leads to another, and another, which can lead to something quite amazing. For this project to come together, ideas were shared publicly. This one at a University Town Hall meeting when the needs of the SMSU Theatre were brought to the open forum.

After the Town Hall, Dr. Heather Rickgarn, a management professor, shared her personal connection in the Twin Cities theatre community. That connection suggested reaching out to private theatres, such as those that might be closing.

Theatre Professor Tetta Askeland connected with Cory Sprinkles of the New World Symphony of Miami, Florida. New World was in the process of upgrading their lighting

system and no longer needed these instruments. New World donated their ‘old’ lights, new to SMSU, and will provide many years of excellent use for the SMSU Theatre Program to enjoy.

Securing the donation and getting the lights to Marshall was a team effort across campus. Askeland and Rickgarn approached the administration for guidance. President Kumara Jayasuriya; Provost Ross Wastvedt; and Dean of Arts, Letters, and Sciences

Lori Baker provided key support and advocacy to ensure that the donation could move forward.

Askeland worked with the SMSU Foundation, including Director of Development Rustin Buysse, and Executive Director for Advancement and Foundation Nathan Polfliet. Buysse spearheaded the effort to arrange and fund the transportation of the lights from Miami to Marshall. The Foundation worked with local businesses and financial support from local donors to coordinate the necessary electrical work, lead by SMSU master electrician Tory Schreurs, to make the new equipment and technology compatible with SMSU’s 55-year-old facility.

SMSU Facilities staff including Joe Krogman, Daren Van Keulen, and Jackie Van Overbeke helped unload the delivery truck and move crates to the backstage area in Fine Arts. Theatre students in the Lighting and Sound class assisted with moving and adjusting lights that were installed for spring semester use. Thanks to generous donors, the SMSU Foundation purchased the new brains of the lighting system, allowing for fully-programmed lighting of a staged production.

“The lighting donation from the New World Symphony is going to essentially bring us into the 21st century. We will be completely on par with equipment currently used in theatres everywhere,” said Askeland. “Keep in mind, the newest equipment that we have now is from the 1980s. That’s 40 years old.”

This is an incredibly exciting upgrade that will enable SMSU students to learn with state-of-the-art equipment as they prepare for the professional world. Theatre audiences will also enjoy the visual and artistic enhancements these lights will provide for SMSU’s mainstage performances.

“The feedback that we were consistently receiving from our Theatre alumni was that some of their knowledge was outdated. We will be able to teach our students how to use modern equipment, which will make our students even more employable,” Askeland continued. “The installation of this new equipment will make our program the largest and best technical theatre program in the region because we will have the nicest and newest equipment. We could not be more excited about the opportunities this creates for our students.”

Individuals who are interested in supporting on-going improvements to the SMSU academic areas and campus experience are invited to contact the SMSU Foundation at 507-537-6266 or email rustin.buysse@SMSU.edu.

• 26 Fulfilled Equipment Requests

• $725,813 Academic and Program Support