A magazine for alumni & friends of Southwest Minnesota State University
GIVING BACK: Deeann Griebel ‘80 Spring 2021 Edition | Inside: Exercise Science Student Research
A Message from the SMSU President Dear Alumni and Friends, Greetings! The spring semester at SMSU was one to remember. We were able to celebrate our 2021 graduates as well as the work of our students, faculty, and staff as they ended the academic year on a high note. With COVID almost behind us, we are looking at strong growth in enrollment again this year thanks to our targeted recruitment and retention efforts. Progress continues in the academic and student success efforts. The Mustang Pathway Program is one example of opening doors for prospective students and to provide them with support from the very start. These students not only showed great potential, but also realized that potential through their hard work. Our Mustang Pathway 2020 Cohort posted impressive grade-point-averages with many being named to the Dean’s List. Another example is our peer-to-peer tutoring called Supplemental Instruction which began with three classes in the spring and a goal of ten classes in the Fall. We are moving forward together, with intention on being a welcoming and inclusive institution. The Equity 2030 conversations continue to advance diversity and inclusion on campus. We are taking intentional steps to create a more equitable campus and promote diversity as a core value. While the future of higher education is changing, we are meeting challenges by adapting to change in ways that provide resources, opportunities, and pathways for students to grow and achieve success at SMSU and beyond. Thank you for being a part of the success at SMSU. Best wishes,
Kumara Jayasuriya
A magazine for alumni & friends of Southwest Minnesota State University
TABLE OF CONTENTS
On the cover: Deeann Griebel ‘80
1
Deeann Griebel: Giving Back
3
Exercise Science Student Research
4
Around Campus
6 Athletics
7
Alumni Connections
8
Class Notes
Visit us online www.SMSU.edu and SMSUAlumni.com Follow the latest SMSU news at www.SMSU.edu/today
SPRING 2021 | VOL. 40, NO. 2
President Dr. Kumara Jayasuriya
Send correspondence and story ideas to: SMSU FOCUS, Founders Hall 108 1501 State Street, Marshall, MN 56258
Vice President of Government Relations, Communications and Marketing Bill Mulso ’93
Contact the Editor: Marcy.Olson@SMSU.edu or 507-537-7374
Interim Co-Executive Directors of the SMSU Foundation and Advancement Stacy Frost ’93 Nathan Polfliet ’00/MS ’11 Focus Editor and Designer Marcy D. Olson ’93/MBA ’05 Senior Writer and Photographer Jim Tate Contributors Kelly Loft ’97/MS ’11 Rebecca Wenisch Special Thanks Taylor Harvey, Location Photographer
Volume 40, Issue 2. Published June 2021. All cities and towns are located in Minnesota unless noted. Year(s) after names reference degrees awarded by SMSU. Year of undergraduate degree listed first. Year of advanced degree listed after MBA /MS. FOCUS (USPS 565-770) is published twice each year for alumni and friends of Southwest Minnesota State University by the Office of Communications & Marketing at SMSU. Opinions expressed in FOCUS do not necessarily reflect official University policy. To make name/address corrections. call 507-5376266 or email alumni@SMSU.edu. Feature stories may be reprinted with the written permission of SMSU. Other articles may be reprinted without permission provided that credit is given to SMSU. This document can be made available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities. Request by calling 507-537-6255, 800-260-0970, or via the Minnesota Relay Service at 800-627-3529. Southwest Minnesota State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action educator and employer. ADA Accessible. A member of the Minnesota State system.
Deeann Griebel with the same 1975 Chevy Caprice Classic that she loaded up with her belongings after graduation from Southwest. She drives it to work daily.
Deeann Griebel ‘80: Details Make the Difference Details. They’re important in every aspect of your life. That’s what Deeann Griebel, a 1980 alumna and the Managing Director of Investments for Moors & Cabot, Inc. in Mesa, Ariz., feels. A lifetime of experience reinforces that belief. Griebel recently committed $1.8 million for the Student Success and Advising Center at SMSU, paving the way for the creation of new tutoring and mentoring programs that will ensure all students have the support they need to become successful graduates. To honor her generous gift, the Center was renamed the Deeann Griebel Student Success Center. “The financial commitment really kills four birds with one stone,” she said. “Anyone who teaches a subject learns that subject better, and has a deeper understanding of it. Second, a student that is struggling to understand a subject might figure it out better if a peer teaches them — they speak the same language, and a 19-year-old won’t be afraid to ask another 19-year-old a question. Third, the person doing that teaching will also get paid, and that’s one of the big stumbling blocks today; things are so expensive and students can’t use their teaching talent because they have to earn a paycheck somewhere else. This will allow talented students to teach other students, and get paid. And fourth, the CEO of one of Marshall’s largest employers called me and said they love to hire anyone with any type of teaching experience, and those who have done that, their resume goes to the top of the pile. He said ‘We don’t care if they taught swimming lessons, or Sunday school. If they teach a subject to a peer, we have learned they are better students themselves, and they have more sympathy for the employer when they are asked to learn something new. They are more tolerant and attentive and respectful, because they know how hard teaching can be.’” Student success is a topic important to Griebel, who began her career as a teacher and understands the challenges facing that profession today. She feels students teaching students, also known as Supplemental Instruction, is a key component for success.
As an educator, you never know what the future holds for, say, a former typing student of hers in Butte, Neb., by the name of Tim Walz, who would years later be elected Minnesota’s governor. She earned an Education degree from St. Cloud State, and taught at three schools in three years. She decided, however, that she’d look in another direction. “I kept getting laid off,” she explained. “That’s when a huge amount of baby boomers were coming out of high school and many of those schools saw their graduating class of seniors go way down. Business education classes were electives, and the first teachers to get laid off were those teaching electives.” Reading the tea leaves, she began taking summer Accounting courses at SMSU while living with her late sister Deb. She earned her CPA certification in May of 1980, and graduated the next month with her Accounting degree. From there, it was off to Arizona, where she’s had a decorated career as a financial advisor, having been a six-time selection to the Barron’s Top 100 Women’s Financial Advisor list since 2007. After Commencement 1980, she was walking to her beloved 1975 Chevy Caprice Classic when it hit her. “I was walking by the library, and the thought came to mind that everything I own could fit in that car. I could go anyplace.” “I went to the library and grabbed an Atlas. I asked, first, what do I want? Then I asked, what don’t I want? I didn’t want snow, so that eliminated everything east of the Mississippi. Texas had a late blizzard in ’80 so that was eliminated. California was in a recession and there’s no place to go in New Mexico. That left Nevada, Utah and Arizona. I like small college towns like Marshall, so I turned the Atlas to Arizona, and there was a photo of the Gammage Auditorium, a massive performing arts center on the Arizona State University campus. I love the theatre and the performing arts so I said I want to live within five miles of the Gammage Auditorium.”
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Deeann Griebel at her Moors & Cabot, Inc. office in Mesa, Ariz.
Enter, serendipity. The bus driver who transported Griebel and her sister to school in Pipestone owned a trailer just four miles east of Gammage. “He decided he wasn’t coming to Arizona that year due to his age, so I bought it,” she said. Griebel has a strong work ethic and is detail-driven. She has a couple of examples. “I was in a class, Intro to Income Tax,” she said. “Emil Milacek, the professor, told us in order to get an ‘A,’ you must take the tests, do the homework and volunteer 40 hours assisting others with income tax preparation. I asked him how to do that, and he said walk the campus and look for the flyers. It was a three-hour class, and we were into it five minutes. He turned around, wrote on the board ‘Taxes are not logical’ and dismissed the class.” She remembered his instructions about volunteering 40 hours, and was the only one to receive an ‘A’ in the course, a fact that upset some of her classmates. “In the real world, no one reminds you,” she said. Fast forward to 2006. Again, details. ”We had a new regional director visiting our branch. At the time it was called Wacovia Securities and he was the new regional director. He told us all that there were five training modules he wanted us to watch, and each took about five hours. It was March, and he wanted us to go through them by the end of the year,” she said. Griebel was the only one to watch them all. He took her to lunch one day to congratulate her, and Griebel relayed her 40 hours of volunteer time story. “The lesson then, and now, is that no one is going to remind you. There are consequences and rewards. You can’t go through life thinking someone is going to hold your hand.”
She believes in herself. Always has. She recalls an Intermediate Accounting class where she got a test question wrong. “I spent all day Saturday trying to figure out what I did wrong on that question, and wrote a mini-term paper arguing I was right, and the professor was wrong,” she said. “He agreed, and changed all the scores. That taught me that just because a person is a professor doesn’t mean they can’t be wrong.” Griebel’s gift to the SMSU Foundation is the latest in a long line of philanthropic gifts to SMSU, and others. She gave a $200,000 match when funds were raised to construct the Alumni Plaza, and was a donor in the construction of the “Our Horse” entry sign to campus. She supports several scholarships at SMSU. She also gives to Minnesota State, Arizona State University, public radio and public television, and the Pipestone Performing Arts Center, to name a few. She urges others to remember SMSU in their planned giving strategy. “Do it sooner, than later, so you can see the impact of your gift,” she said. Griebel sponsors a journalism scholarship at Arizona State University each year and received a letter from a recipient. “He told me that when he found out he got it, he broke down crying. He had a huge wave of gratitude come over him, and that was a weird feeling for him. He said he took everything for granted, and realized what a jerk he’d been. I made up my mind then I’d be grateful every single day for something, and some day deliver something that makes someone else grateful.” She’s done exactly that with her gift, which will ensure SMSU students find success in the years to come.
The Deeann Griebel Student Success Center provides support programs to help students achieve success at SMSU and beyond. Pictured are: David Toliver III, assistant director of student success and advising, with Elizabeth Erwin, SMSU student.
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[ around campus ]
SMSU Exercise Science Students Conduct Research On Long-Distance Runners A group of SMSU Exercise Science students studied the arm and leg blood pressure in ultramarathon and distance runners as part of recent research projects. Their study began in 2019 when they tested ultramarathon runners at the Superior Fall Trail Race in September of that year and the Savage 100 one month later. They were collecting data about how blood pressures in the extremities and the nervous system responds to an ultramarathon. High achieving undergraduate students performed the study including Alli Miskowiec, Alyssa Cerullo, Erin Fischer and Jon Dicke with assistance from Exercise Science students at the trio of Twin Cities community colleges that offer the SMSU Exercise Science degree. Assistant Professor Dr. Morgan Betker, Coordinator of the Twin Cities Program for Exercise Science, has some expertise in nervous system function through a measurement called heart-rate variability and helped with testing of these runners at the ultramarathon races. An ultramarathon is any foot race longer than the standard marathon of 26.2 miles. The races in this research study were 50-100 miles long. The research was the brainchild of Professor of Exercise Science Dr. Jeffrey Bell. “I had been looking into student research projects with an idea of how does blood pressure index change after exercise,” he said. Bell, who was recently named the interim Dean of the College of Arts, Letters and Sciences, said he was talking with students two years ago about an experience he had after completing a 50-mile trail run. “I thought something was going on with my body’s ability to maintain blood pressure in my legs,” he said. “For two days after the race I was dizzy, and was
wondering if that was due to the body’s ability to maintain leg pressure. That’s when we came up with the ultramarathon study.” A second follow-up study analyzing the same data as it relates to a 5K run was also undertaken, said Bell. A different group of undergraduate students did the research, under Bell’s guidance. “We had outstanding students,” he said. Heading the 5K study were Emma Thomssen, who will pursue her master’s in Exercise Physiology at Northern Colorado in the fall; Nick Cayler, who is going to Physical Therapy school at St. Ambrose; and Trey Sachs, who will be attending a medical school this fall. Bell had hoped that data collection would have been completed earlier, but COVID-19 and a couple of unexpected blizzards delayed their research. A special piece of equipment — a Doppler Ultrasound Machine — was used in the study. “The research has the potential of filling a huge gap in understanding how arm and leg blood pressure might not get regulated by the central nervous system,” said Bell. “This student research could lead to new scientific information being put out.” It is his hope to get further data collected this summer and have a manuscript addressing their research published. Participants were tested before and after their runs using monitors to measure the Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV). The purpose was to investigate if arterial pressure in the legs and arms are affected by an ultramarathon and a 5K. The hypothesis — which so far is partially supported — was that a decrease in ABI would occur with the completion of the runs. Bell said the research is a real plus for Exercise Science students. “Every student participant knows what to expect if they (write) a master’s thesis; they know the hard work, what field research looks like in a grad program and what’s required for a master’s thesis,” he said. Exercise Science is one of the fastestgrowing majors at SMSU and all seniors who applied to master’s programs after the 2020-21 academic year were accepted, Top: Trey Sachs, Nick Cayler, Emma Thomssen headed up the 5K study. a program first, according to Dr. Kris Center: Data collection helped inform their research. Cleveland, Associate Professor of Exercise Bottom: Volunteers participated in the study Science.
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[ around campus ]
Glenn Bayerkohler Named 2021 Cowan Award Winner Accounting Professor Glenn Bayerkohler, who has been at Southwest Minnesota State University 34 years, was named the 2021 Cathy Cowan Award winner. Bayerkohler came to SMSU in 1988. Prior to that he worked one year for a law firm in Fairmont and for seven years as a professor at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. He earned Mathematics, Business Administration and Accounting degrees from Mankato State University; a Master’s in Professional Accountancy from the University of South Dakota; and his Juris Doctor degree from William Mitchell College of Law. Why the move from law to higher education? “I always wanted to be a teacher,” said Bayerkohler. “Originally I thought I was going to be a math teacher. I liked numbers. But I ended up in accounting.” After earning his law degree, “I thought I was going to be a business law professor, but there were more openings in accounting than business law, so I started teaching accounting.” He would receive several certifications, including Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant and Certified Financial Management. He earned the Johnson & Johnson Silver Medal Award for having the second-highest Certified Financial Management test score in the country. He also served in the Minnesota Army National Guard. Bayerkohler keeps a low profile on campus, where he’s a student favorite. “When the time came closer to look for employment after my time at the university, Professor Bayerkohler helped me do so. I’m grateful SMSU has faculty such as Professor Bayerkohler dedicated to the
success of his students beyond just that of the classroom,” wrote one of his students in his Cowan nomination form. A former non-traditional student cites his teaching skills and civicmindedness. “His goal is to provide students with a strong foundation in accounting so they can successfully apply their knowledge and skills in the workplace and volunteer opportunities,” she said. Bayerkohler tells his Accounting students that after graduation they should give serious consideration to serving on various community board and committees where they can use their talents and abilities to serve others. In the community, Bayerkohler most recently finished two terms on the Marshall City Council, where he was known for being well-prepared on the issues and a steward of the taxpayer dollars. He served from 20132020. Bayerkohler served on the Marshall School Board from 2002-2005 where he felt he could make use of his backgrounds in education, law, and accounting. He has served various terms on the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Council during the 1990s, and was the church’s Building Committee Chairman from 1993-95 when the church built its new sanctuary. “I could have retired already, but I really enjoy what I’m doing,” he said. “Working with students keeps you young at heart.” He grew up in Lakefield, a community of 1,700 along the Iowa border. “I knew I wanted to live and raise my family in southwest Minnesota,” he said. “I’m a small-town guy, and I like small-town living. I like a school like SMSU where you get to know the students. You get to know the students in smaller class sizes, and the staff, too.” He’s humbled by the Cathy Cowan Award. “I was reading about it, it’s an award for doing good for others — that’s honorable,” he said. “I look at the people who have won in the past, they are people that try to do good for others, not because it will get recognition, but because it’s the right thing to do, and they get satisfaction from helping others. It’s a big honor and I’m certainly surprised by being selected.” Glenn and his wife Carolyn are the parents of two grown sons, Aaron and Ryan, both SMSU Alumni.
Dr. Jeffrey Bell Named Interim Dean at SMSU SMSU Provost Dr. Ross Wastvedt announced that Dr. Jeffrey Bell has been named SMSU Interim Dean of the College of Arts, Letters and Sciences. He begins his new duties on July 6. “Jeff has provided outstanding leadership in several areas of importance to SMSU,” Wastvedt said. “He is well-respected among his colleagues, and his depth of knowledge will be especially valuable as SMSU implements a new strategic plan and builds capacity for addressing equity and inclusion.” Bell has served in a faculty role at SMSU since 2010 and is currently Professor of Exercise Science. He earned his B.A. and M.A. from Austin College (Texas) and his Ph.D. from Purdue University.
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An active scholar, Bell is also deeply invested in mentoring undergraduate student research as part of the growing Exercise Science major at SMSU. He has served as the SMSU Assessment and Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Coordinator since 2017, guiding the institution through a successful reaccreditation review in 2019 and providing leadership for SMSU strategic planning. He also serves as a member of the SMSU Equity 2030 leadership group responsible for advancing diversity, equity and inclusion. Bell replaces Dr. Aimee Shouse, who served SMSU for four years before accepting an administrative position at Tarleton State (Texas). “I am very excited to serve SMSU in this capacity,” Bell said. “I am also humbled by the opportunities and challenges of the work ahead and the very big shoes I have to fill as Dean Shouse moves into the next phase of her career. There are many great things happening in the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences, in large part due to her tireless work with our excellent academic and support programs. I sincerely hope my passion for SMSU and all of our students’ success shines through in these new duties. Finally, I want to thank my family, the Exercise Science program, and the Science Department, for their support.”
[ around campus ]
TONY NUBILE AT THE HELM
Facilities Play Key Role in SMSU Mission For the SMSU Physical Plant, the past 15 months have been a whirlwind. It was March of 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions began at SMSU and across the country, and between state and federal guidelines — which changed frequently — the university went into overdrive in an effort to protect its faculty, staff and students from the spread of the coronavirus. Now that restrictions have been rolled back, Tony Nubile, Physical Plant director, looks forward to “a return to normal.” This summer, that includes overnight sports camps — wrestling, girls and boys basketball, volleyball, soccer and football. “The (state) Department of Health and the CDC tell us we can go back to our standard cleaning methods, which will help us tremendously,” said Nubile. He was at SMSU just eight months when the COVID-related restrictions began, and his staff had to pivot immediately. Nubile’s staff worked tirelessly to construct and install plexiglass barriers in classrooms and offices where there was face-to-face contact with students. Those barriers will remain in classrooms this coming fall, he said, “just in case. We are going to err on the side of caution.” “President (Kumara) Jayasuriya has said it’s his desire to get everyone back. We are all excited to have our students return to campus. One thing we heard from them consistently through feedback was their desire to return, to have that full college experience — going to classes, club meetings, speakers, theatre performances, athletics, and just being around their friends. Those are all things they missed.” COVID-related signage has come down, “and our classrooms will be at full capacity,” he said. “It was a real odd time,” he said. “An entire year that was just sort of gone.” Moving forward, Nubile and his staff are working on several projects this summer, the largest being renovations to the GM Complex, which includes the residence halls Ocean Boulevard, Shenandoah, Armstrong Hall and Homestead “It’s a replication of last summer’s GW Complex project,” he explained, and includes air conditioning in the four lounge areas of the individual houses; remodeling the kitchens with new
SUPPORT SMSU’S MISSION
SMSU students, faculty and staff continue to benefit from the support that YOU provide through the SMSU Foundation. You can start with something as tangible as funding the updates of old equipment with options in any giving range. Maybe your passion lies with an academic program, a supportive student service, or special space on campus? There are endless opportunities for you to enrich the lives of students at SMSU now and in the future. Remember what had an impact on you during your time at Southwest? Help us make the same impact on the lives of students today: SMSUfoundation.org/waystogive
appliances, cabinets and flooring; installing energy-efficient LED lighting; new furniture for the lounges; replacing the sliding glass doors with solid windows; and installing water-fill stations. “President Jayasuriya and the Foundation have done a tremendous job of raising funds for these residence hall renovations,” said Nubile. “The students are very appreciative of the improvements to the GW complex a year ago, and we continue to make similar improvements to the GM Complex this summer.” Other projects this summer include: • Preparing for a longanticipated pool deck replacement. The $1.4 million project is funded through Minnesota State system HEAPR dollars and will include some piping underneath the pool, which has eroded over time. New starting blocks will also be installed in the swimming area. Due to the heavy usage of the pool, the renovation must go smoothly and have no delays, said Nubile. “We hope to have it out for bids in September or October and break ground in March of 2022. We hope to have it completed by the end of August, and we are working with (SMSU swimming and diving coach) Marty Wahle and other groups who use the pool, like the high school and the local swim club, to come up with alternatives next summer.” • A new glass entry to Academic Commons, site of the Deeann Griebel Student Success Center • Replacing a section of Mustang Drive leading to the R/A Facility, which ”was in real rough shape,” said Nubile • Normal carpet cleaning and floor stripping and waxing to the floors in the academic buildings • Replacing an air conditioning unit for the room which houses the computer servers in Information Technology Services “Our staff has done a phenomenal job, they are here every day, in the trenches, working hard to provide a safe environment for faculty, staff, students and guests. We are all excited to see life getting back to normal,” he said.
NEED SOME IDEAS?
Groups across campus can coordinate concentrated giving efforts utilizing our crowdfunding platform. Active projects include the Mustang Market Food Pantry, Student Success Grants, Kyle Hahn Memorial Football Scholarship, Fine Arts Entrance Garden, and Forensics Team Scholarships. Learn more about these projects at: give.smsu.edu
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[ athletics ]
Bruce Saugstad ‘89 Named Interim Director SMSU President Dr. Kumara Jayasuriya announced Bruce Saugstad, a 1989 graduate of the University, will serve as SMSU’s interim Director of Athletics. Saugstad, who begins his duties on June 7, has spent the past 32 years in various administrative roles at Schwan’s Company, most recently serving as senior Vice President of International Business, Schwan’s Consumer Brands. “Bruce has had a distinguished career in the private sector and has remained an avid supporter and fan of the Mustangs throughout his career with Schwan’s,” Jayasuriya said. “His passion for SMSU, coupled with his business experiences and respected standing in the local and alumni communities, make him an excellent choice to step in and lead during this time of transition. I have no doubt he will provide great leadership until such time that the position is filled on a permanent basis.” “I’m very excited to join the SMSU team and would like to thank President Jayasuriya for this opportunity,” Saugstad said. “My wife Linda and I are former student-athletes and graduates of SMSU, so to have the opportunity to join the Mustang Athletic Department is an honor and privilege.” Saugstad was a four-year letter winner as a defensive back for the SMSU football team from 1985-88. A 1988 first-team CoSIDA Academic All-America, he was twice named an NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete and, following his senior year, was named the Glen Galligan Award winner, which honors the top senior football student-athlete in the Northern Intercollegiate Conference. He capped off his senior year by being named the NIC Dr. William Britton Award winner, an honor that goes to the top male scholar-athlete in the conference. “I would like to thank Chris Hmielewski for his many years of dedication to Mustang Athletics and look forward to continuing to build on the foundation that he and his team have built,” Saugstad said. “I look forward to working with the coaches, sports medicine staff, and entire athletic department as we move forward into a new season of Mustang athletics. I have a passion for SMSU, our community and Mustang athletics, and hope to make a positive impact in all areas.”
Saugstad made his first official appearance at the Gold Rush Raffle on June 5, 2021.
On the field, Saugstad was a member of the 1987 SMSU football team that qualified for the program’s first-ever playoff appearance and was a two-time honorable mention allconference honoree. A team captain in 1988, Saugstad played in 43 games and finished his career amassing 255 tackles, including 17 for loss, and also registered three interceptions and recovered nine fumbles. Saugstad, who earned his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Mathematics, received his MBA from St. Cloud State University in 2009, and was inducted into the SMSU Athletics Hall of Honor in 2009. Bruce and his wife, Linda, have four children: Austin, Morgan, Lexi and Emily. Linda (Seid) is a 1990 alumna and four-year letter winner on the Mustang women’s basketball team. Saugstad takes over for Chris Hmielewski, who resigned in May following 15 years in the position.
Rebecca Manteuffel Closes Career at Nationals Senior Rebecca Manteuffel earned All-American honors by placing eighth in the discus at the NCAA Division II Championships hosted by Grand Valley State University. She also placed ninth in the shot put. Manteuffel, competing in her third NCAA Outdoor Championship in the discus, finished with a mark of 46.91m. Manteuffle closed her four-year career at SMSU as a three-time NCAA Outdoor All-American (discus, 2019 and 2021 & shot put, 2021) and was a two-time NCAA Indoor All-American (weight throws, 2020 and 2021).
For SMSU athletics updates, visit SMSUMustangs.com OR
Athletics Hall of Honor Scheduled for Early 2022 The 2021 SMSU Athletics Hall of Honor induction, which was scheduled for January 23, has been postponed due to COVID-19. The plan is to induct the next Hall of Honor class in early 2022. The SMSU Athletics Hall of Honor, presented by US Bank, celebrates the achievements of student-athletes, coaches, teams and community members who have contributed in various ways to strengthening the athletic tradition at SMSU. To view the SMSU Athletics Hall of Honor members or to nominate an individual or team, go to SMSUmustangs.com/HallofHonor
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[ alumni connections ]
Isabella Erickson Named 2021 Outstanding Senior Isabella Erickson was named the SMSU Class of 2021 Outstanding Senior. President Kumara Jayasuriya, along with Alumni Association Board President Neil Kruse and Provost Ross Wastvedt, surprised her with the award just prior to Commencement on May 8. Erickson graduated with degrees in History and Political Science. She was an Honors Program participant and carried a 4.0 grade-pointaverage during her academic career. The Salem, S.D. native was one of two Campus Election Engagement Project Student Fellows last fall during the election season, where she engaged students in federal, state and local elections. She helped students register to vote, volunteer for campaigns and educated others on candidates and issues. It was a nonpartisan position, with a goal of engaging SMSU students in the election process. She received no less than six nominations for the award, and was highly recommended to the selection committee for her academic accomplishments, her sense of civic responsibility, and her intellectual curiosity. Many adjectives were used to describe Erickson, including focused, mature, friendly, self-motivated, reliable, timely, analytical, wellread, and enthusiastic. One of her nominators said, “I have taught over 2,100 different
students in my time at SMSU. Academically, I would put her in the top .5 percent of all the students I have taught.” She has a real passion for learning and helping Alumni Association Board President Neil Kruse, President others, and Kumara Jayasuriya, Isabella Erickson, and Provost Ross Wastvedt. will pursue her law degree at the University of South Dakota this fall. She was active with extracurricular activities within her majors, and really enjoyed her Drama Club experiences.
View the announcement video: bit.ly/outstandingsenior2021
Homecoming Weekend of Oct. 8-10
Each year the SMSU Alumni Association recognizes alumni and friends who have made significant contributions of time, talent or financial resources to help advance and bring positive recognition to Southwest Minnesota State University. This year’s award recipients will be honored during Homecoming at the awards luncheon on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021. Recipients of this year’s Alumni Achievement, Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) awards as well as the Honorary Lifetime Membership recipients will be announced this summer. To celebrate, join us for the 2021 Alumni Awards Luncheon on Friday, Oct. 8 at noon in the SMSU Conference Center. Tickets will be available online later this summer. Reservations are required to attend. To read about past award winners or reserve tickets, visit www.SMSUAlumni.com/AlumniAwards.
A reunion for the Charter Class will be held on Saturday, October 9, 2021. Visit www.SMSUAlumni.com for more details.
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[ class notes ]
1984
Bill Fenske successfully completed the certification process with the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts to earn the certified valuation credential in Jan. 2021. Bill lives in Willmar.
1988
Lori Dahlhoff, Director of the Diocese of Portland’s Office of Lifelong Faith Formation, has been named to the board of directors of the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership in Portland, Maine.
1989
Bruce Saugstad was named SMSU’s interim Director of Athletics. Saugstad began his duties on June 7, 2021.
1990
Jay Kyle Peterson published a new book A Comprehensive Guide To Intersex in December 2020.
1994
Heidi (Gerrits) Hanson is a Case Aide for Chippewa County, Minnesota. Tonia (Rodman) Warzecha accepted the position of superintendent at Dakota Valley Schools in North Sioux City, S.D. She begins her new position on July 1.
1998
Angie (Schneiderman) Nesselhuf is a lawyer with Moore, Heffernan, Moeller, and Meis, LLP in Sioux City, Iowa since 2002, and currently focusing on property tax assessments and valuations.
2003
Clint Meyer announced his retirement from coaching after 14 seasons with the Worthington High School boys’ basketball team in Worthington. Meyer served as an assistant for 7 years, and head coach for 7 years. Amanda (Schultz) Romaine was promoted to Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Partner Management of Geo Comm in St. Cloud.
2006
Bryce Rausch is the Head of Sales for Fitbit Health Solutions in Cleveland, Ohio. Lindsey (Nelsen) Rausch is a DNA analyst for the state of Ohio.
2007
Tobias Hoskins is the Director of Technology and Automation for Parqa, a digital marketing agency specializing in staffing and recruiting in St. Louis Park.
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Jillian (Wallace) Voss started a new job as an editor at Bell Bank in Fargo, N. D.
2008
Jennifer (Schefers) Andries is the executive director of the Lyon County Historical Museum and has been busy getting displays open for the 150 anniversary of Lyon County. A picture book related to that anniversary is available in the museum and due to the pandemic, many of the events were delayed until 2021.
2009
Christina (Parsley) Boike and her husband, Justin, welcomed their fourth baby, a boy, Griffin Christian, on April 19, 2020. Nicole (Gilitiuk) Burnett and her husband, Chip, welcomed a baby boy, Joseph William Burnett, on Sept. 2, 2020. Amy Heiderscheidt graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a master’s degree in history in Dec. 2020. Jeff Mimick was promoted to Vice President of Agricultural and Commercial Lending for Bank of the Valley in Jan. 2021. Jeff works in Fremont, Neb. Megan Seppmann was a Milwaukee Woman of the Year candidate. She is the VP of Sales at the Wisconsin Center District. Derek West was entered into the South Dakota High School Baseball Association’s first Hall of Fame class in June 2020. He lives in Sioux Falls, S.D.
2010
Kyle Pagel graduated from the University of Minnesota with a master’s degree in Music Education in the fall of 2020. Shane Ladage (MBA ’13) was named the new head football coach at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa on Jan. 4, 2021.
2011
Joseph Koktan and his wife, Samantha (O’Neill) ’08, welcomed a baby boy, Simon, on Jan. 24, 2020
2012
Kelly (Fitzgerald) Andrews and husband, Kevin ’10, welcomed a baby girl, Kollyn Margaret, on Jan. 5, 2021. Katie (Vermeer) Bobbin and husband, Jason ’12, welcomed a baby girl, Kollyns, on Jan. 26, 2021. Kady (Telschow) Magnuson and her husband, Adam ’11, welcomed a baby girl, Melanee Adele, on May 6, 2021.
2013
Tramel Barnes (MBA ’15) was hired as the director of player personnel for the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Kellie (Rohlfing) Wendland is the Director of Employee Engagement, Development, and Well-being for the University of MinnesotaRochester.
2014
Scott Kummrow was selected at a semifinalist for the 2021 Minnesota Teacher of the Year award. He teaches grades 5-12 music in Fergus Falls Public Schools. Gregory Pavek and wife, Erika, welcomed their second boy, Lincoln, in June 2020.
2015
Prajula Shrestha started a new job as a system analyst for Anthem, Inc., in Norfolk, Va. Cassandra (Schreckenghaust) Weiss and her husband, Michael, welcomed a baby boy, Walter Floyd, on Feb. 10, 2021.
2017
Miranda (Krause) Weber and her husband, Mitch, welcomed baby girl, Olivia, on July 9, 2020.
2018
Caitlin Lang had her artwork featured at The Grand Center for Arts and Culture in New Ulm, Minn. on April 3, 2021. Her artwork was part of a joint exhibit called “Intentionally Accidental.”
2019
Ryan Bruggeman is in his second year with Catalyst Training, a leading athletic training firm in the southwest and northwest areas of Minneapolis, and the Mankato area. He leads team workouts for a number of schools and individuals. Emily Vogel married Eric Goblirsch ’18 on Sept. 5, 2020. Brooke Sorensen opened her own business, Embrace Nutrition, in Pipestone. selling healthy tea, coffee, and juice. Due to the business’ success, she opened a second location in Luverne called Cardinal Fuel.
2020
Ashley Anderson will teach at Nevis Public School starting in the fall of 2021. Ty Dennis (MBA) is the Athletic Events and Marketing Coordinator at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. Nichole (Iverson) Johnson and husband, Trent, welcomed a baby girl on Jan. 2, 2021.
All cities are in Minnesota unless noted. Events are in the current year unless noted.
Michaela Laudenbach is the new head volleyball coach at St. Cloud Apollo High School. Maureen Ndubuisi started a new job for Opus Partners as a Project Coordinator and Research Associate in Charlottesville, Va. Lana Warning is a lead teacher at the Children’s Learning Adventure in Scottsdale, Ariz.
IN MEMORIAM
Brett Aasen ’89, age 55 following a battle with cancer, Nov. 30, 2020. Marvin Bahn ’75, Nov. 12, 2020. Linda Breyfogle ’80, age 73, due to a short battle with cancer, Sept. 10, 2020. Lyn (Brodersen) Cochran, Jan. 12, 2021. Former Dean of Arts, Letters, and Sciences, 2009-2011. Dexter Cooley ’78, Mustang AllAmerican basketball player, age 63, Dec. 2019. Married to Nancy Byrne Cooley ’82. Sean-David “SD” Bryon Doyle (’92) age 53, May 18, 2021. Bonnie Dretsch, December 3, 2020. SMSU Library staff, 19742001. Dale Honeck, July 20, 2020. Head men’s basketball coach, 1974-1981. Patrick Haggerty ’96, Jan. 20, 2021. Married to Marcie (Pinske) Haggerty ’95. Roy Jorgensen ’74, April 15, 2020. Bettie Karlstad, age 94, Feb. 5, 2020. Former SMSU employee. Tim “Duffy” Moberg ’71, April 7, 2021. Jerry Mueller ’73, Dec. 5, 2020. Spencer Otteson MS ’18, May 25, 2021, after a courageous battle with colon cancer. Melba (Brass) Pack ’71, age 93, Jan. 6, 2021. Michael D. Peterson ’74, Oct. 31, 2020. Betty Lou (Leese) Prellwitz ’94 passed away on April 5, 2021. Carolyn (Hoppe) Schenck ’71, Dec. 11, 2020, after a six-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Janet Thompson, Nov. 23, 2020. SMSU Human Resources office staff, 1973-1989. Robert Tusa ’72, Jan. 31, 2021. Organized the first state wheelchair basketball tournament at SMSU. Laura Wancenried (’72), April 16, 2021. Deborah (Briggs) Wright ’74, age 71, Feb. 7, 2021.
SHARE YOUR NEWS!
Share your news with us: email alumni@SMSU.edu call 800-260-0970 click SMSUAlumni.com mail SMSU Alumni Office 1501 State St. Marshall, MN 56258
What is
Mustang Pathway is a summer residential program for prospective students who don’t meet the typical standards for admission to SMSU. These students are given the opportunity to participate in a five-week intensive instruction and mentoring program to prepare them for success at SMSU. Many students in this program include first-generation, low-income families, and students of color. Students who successfully complete the program receive five academic credits at SMSU and are admitted as freshmen. There is no charge to students for the program. The goal is to admit 40 students to the program in 2021.
The Mustang Pathway Program is an important part of our Equity 2030 strategy to meet the Minnesota State system goal to eliminate the equity gap in higher education by 2030. To support the Mustang Pathway Program, visit: www.SMSUFoundation.org
FOCUS Reader Survey Help us improve FOCUS magazine! The survey takes 5-10 minutes and individual responses are recorded anonymously. At the end of the survey, you will have the ability to opt-in to our drawing for a special SMSU gift package valued at $50. Complete the survey online at: http://bit.ly/smsufocussurvey or scan the QR code.
ONLINE DEGREES S M S U O F F E R S F U L LY
AT T E N D C L A S S F R O M A N Y W H E R E !
Southwest Minnesota State University now offers 14 degrees totally online. Complete online delivery started in Fall Semester 2020 with additional degrees being added to the lineup in 2021. To ensure the full programs can be offered online (0-120 credits), SMSU offers online options to meet the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (general education goal areas) for the following undergraduate programs: • Accounting • Community Psychology and Health Promotion • Early Childhood Education (MN Licensure Preparation) • Early Childhood, Special Education (MN Licensure Preparation) • Elementary Education (MN Licensure Preparation)
• History • Management: Emphasis areas — General Management; Supply Chain Management; Human Resources; Entrepreneurship • Marketing • Nursing: RN to BSN • Psychology • Social Work • Sociology • Special Education (MN Licensure Preparation) • Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL Licensure Preparation) To learn more about online options, visit: www.SMSU.edu/ online; or email OnlineLearning@smsu.edu.
Learn more at www.SMSU.edu/online
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UPCOMING ALUMNI EVENTS JULY 14 Painted Prairie Vineyard, 5:30-7:30 pm, Currie MN* 16 Rochester Honkers Alumni Social, 6:35 pm, Rochester, MN* 19 Mustang Monday Mixer, 5-7 pm, Wooden Nickel, Marshall * 22 Service Event: Feed My Starving Children, 11 am-1 pm, Chanhassen, MN AUGUST 3 Lord Fletcher’s Alumni Social, 5-7pm, Spring Park MN* 5 Zorbaz on Green Lake, 5-7pm, Spicer, MN* 31 Grandview Lodge: On the Rocks, 6-8pm, Nisswa MN* SEPTEMBER TBA More events added regularly at: www.SMSUAlumni.com OCTOBER 8-10 HOMECOMING WEEKEND 8 Alumni Awards Luncheon, Noon, SMSU University Gala, 6pm, SMSU (Online Component) 9 Homecoming Parade & Game Day, SMSU/Marshall Charter Class 50th Anniversary Reunion, 1pm, SMSU
Register for events online at:
WWW.SMSUALUMNI.COM Follow @SMSUAlumni on Facebook for news and updates. *Appetizers and a beverage are included in registrations for these events.
Invite a student to visit and apply! Do you know a high schooler who would thrive at SMSU? Maybe a college student who just doesn’t feel like they get the support they need on another, larger campus. Everything you loved about SMSU continues to make it a great place to learn and grow. The small classes, hands-on learning, and opportunities for leadership are what made your time special, and still make our campus unique. Help us showcase the amazing opportunities at SMSU by inviting a prospective student to visit campus!
Referred students receive: • A personal tour of campus • Application fee waived • A chance to win a $250 scholarship • A free SMSU T-shirt
www.SMSUAlumni.com/MustangReferral
Did you know about the SMSU Alumni Heritage Scholarship? Funded by SMSU Alumni and Friends, this scholarship is awarded to the children and grandchildren of SMSU alumni! Through its scholarship program, the SMSU Alumni Association recognizes high school seniors and transfer students for their academic and leadership achievements. The evaluation criterion focuses on well-roundedness. The evaluation committee holds all of the following elements in equal value: GPA, ACT or
SAT scores, extra-curricular activities, community and volunteer activities, honors and achievements, and a letter of recommendation. The SMSU Alumni Association will award up to 10 scholarships for each academic year. These scholarships are worth $500 for the first year at SMSU. This scholarship program celebrates the Mustangs who truly run in the family! Visit: bit.ly/smsualumniheritage