SMSUFOCUS A magazine for alumni & friends of Southwest Minnesota State University
Jon Vezner ’76 gets unplugged in Grand Marais pg. 6 Fall 2015 Edition | Inside: 2014-2015 Foundation Annual Report
SMSU’s Ranked for Lowest Outof-State Tuition
SMSUFOCUS A magazine for alumni & friends of Southwest Minnesota State University
FALL 2015 | VOL. 35, NO. 1
Southwest Minnesota State University has been ranked fourth in the country by U.S. News and World Report magazine for the lowest out-of-state tuition in 2015-16. SMSU tuition and fees for out-of-state students for 2015-16 are $8,094, placing it fourth in the top 10 rankings. In-state and out-of-state students pay the same tuition and fees at SMSU. The average out-of-state tuition and fees for all public colleges and universities that submitted data to U.S. News are $20,822 for the 2015-16 academic year. “We’re delighted to be recognized by U.S. News and World Report for our affordability,” said SMSU President Connie J. Gores. “By keeping our tuition costs down, we are an attractive college choice for students from neighboring states, and across the country,” she said. The designation is the latest in a series of accolades for the University, which has also been honored for its affordability by The Chicago Database, and for its return on investment by AffordableCollegesOnline. To see the complete top ten list, find a direct link at: www.SMSU.edu/focus The SMSU Foundation Board of Directors and President Connie J. Gores invite you to
The Annual
SCHOLARSHIP RECOGNITION
Luncheon
Saturday, February 6, 2016 11:30 a.m.—1:00 p.m. SMSU Conference Center Please join us as we recognize our scholarship recipients and the people and organizations that help make their scholarships possible. Select scholarship recipients will be featured speakers.
$15 per person. Please register by Feb. 1. www.SMSUFoundation.org, Toll-free 1-800-260-0970.
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Table of Contents
Around Campus: Provost Watson Joins SMSU Phil Dacey Returns Marshall Festival 2015: What Feeds Us Mustang Sculpture Installed Jon Vezner Gets Unplugged in Grand Marais Alumni Spotlight Exercise Science Student Changes Man’s Life Mustang Athletics 2015 Alumni Award Recipients Class Notes Foundation Annual Report 2014-15
President Dr. Connie J. Gores Vice President for Advancement/ Executive Director of Foundation Bill Mulso ’93 Director of Alumni Relations Michael VanDrehle ’08/MBA’10 Focus Editor and Designer Marcy D. Olson ’93/MBA’05 Senior Writer and Photographer Jim Tate
Contributors Stacy Frost ’93 Karen Kaas ’94 Kelly Loft ’97/MS’11 Mary Meaden Brittany Larson ’14 Erik Vogel Special Thanks on Jon Vezner Story Greg Wright, Executive Director, and the North House Folk School
Send correspondence and story ideas to: SMSU Communications & Marketing, Attn: FOCUS 1501 State Street, Marshall, MN 56258 Contact the Focus Editor: Marcy.Olson@SMSU.edu or 507-537-7374 All cities and towns are located in Minnesota unless otherwise noted. Year(s) after names reference degrees obtained at SMSU. Year of undergraduate degree is listed first. Year of graduate degree is listed after MBA or MS.
Feature stories may be reprinted with the written permission of the editor at Marcy.Olson@SMSU.edu. Other articles may be reprinted without permission provided that credit is given to SMSU.
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.
Southwest Minnesota State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action educator and employer. A member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. ADA Accessible. This document can be made available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities. Request by calling 507-537-6255, 1-800-260-0970, or through the Minnesota Relay Service at 1-800-627-3529.
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Visit us online www.SMSU.edu and SouthwestAlumni.com Follow the latest SMSU news at www.SMSU.edu/today
[ around campus ]
Dr. Dwight C. Watson Takes Provost Role at SMSU SMSU Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Dwight C. Watson has been an elementary classroom teacher and a college administrator, and brings with him a broad background to his new position at SMSU. He began his duties this past July. Provost Watson came to SMSU from the University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls), where he was Dean of the College of Education. Prior to that he spent four years at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire as Associate Dean of the Teacher Education program and department chair. He has past experience at Hamline University in St. Paul, where he was interim Director for the Center for Excellence in Urban Teaching, and chair of the Department of Education. Watson earned his doctorate in curriculum and instruction with a concentration in reading and writing literacy from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C. He earned his M.A. and B.A. in elementary education from the University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C., and his A.A. (general education) from the University of South Carolina, Sumter. He began his distinguished career as a teacher in his hometown of Sumter, S.C., first at the junior high school level, then elementary school. He’s had over 30 years of experience in education, and of that, 18 have been in the Midwest. He knows both the South, and the Midwest. Provost Watson grew up in segregated elementary schools in South Carolina. “And that was in the 1970s. Brown v Board of Education (in which the Supreme Court ruled “separate but equal” public schools for blacks and whites were unconstitutional) was in 1954. This was 20-some years later, and there was still segregation,” he said. This past summer, Provost Watson spoke to his high school classmates at Sumter, S.C., as part of a class reunion. During his talk, he reflected on segregation, and how his classmates were pioneers in many ways. “Our class moved from segregation to integration. We were a large class, and we had to find commonality. We all came from different neighborhoods, different walks of life, but we were also students being
given an opportunity, and we were all Gamecocks (the high school mascot). “My navigation through segregation enabled me to do the work I do today. Sometimes I am the only AfricanAmerican person (in a social/job situation), but I am comfortable with that through my experiences, I learned how to adapt, adopt, and recalibrate.” And while he considers himself an ambassador of the South, he also finds himself in the dual role of being an ambassador of the Midwest. He’s lived in both places, and understands. Those from the South, he said, might have preconceived notions about where he lives now. “Near the South Dakota border, the perception is it’s isolated. I am something of a cross-cultural ambassador for (the Midwest), too,” he said. “If I shape perceptions of Southerners, I also need to shape perceptions of Midwesterners about the South.” Diversity is a broad term, he feels, and can include “diversity of thought, of ideas, and people — race and ethnicity. But everyone coming from different backgrounds should still have the opportunity for transformational experiences. “ Watson talks about the importance of the job teachers have. “You are teaching other people’s children, our nation’s most precious resource,” he said. One of his favorite quotes is from Lisa Delpit, author of Other People’s Children: Cultural Conflict in the Classroom: “We need to teach learners the functional, navigational skills so that they can have access to opportunity. That is the work of every teacher and professor,” he said. He started in the classroom, and worked his way — progressively— up the ladder. ”I am an experiential learner. I didn’t want to skip any steps.” So he taught in the classroom, learning “all the facets there before I moved to all the facets of administration. I’ve moved from department chair to director to assistant dean to dean and now to provost. I always try to situate myself in the best place, at the best time, with best people. I am humbled and honored to be the Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at Southwest Minnesota State University and to call Marshall home.
SMSU Earns Reaccreditation from Higher Learning Commission “We are delighted to learn that our Southwest Minnesota State University was accreditation was re-affirmed by the Higher recently notified that it has been reaccredited by the Higher Learning Commission for a 10Learning Commission,” said SMSU President Dr. Connie J. Gores. year period. The reaccreditation process is a long one, President Gores serves as a site reviewer for said English Professor Dr. Lori Baker, who the HLC at other institutions. “It’s a lengthy Southwest Minnesota State University is seeking comments coordinated a 16-person steering committee which process which fromproduced the public about the University in preparation for includes taking a critical look at ourselves, at its periodicof evaluation by its regional accrediting agency. SMSU’s self-study document, which is the cornerstone the rewhat we do and how we do it,” she said. “The entire University SMSU will host a visit on October 20-22, 2014, with a team community played a part in the process, and I’d like to thank them accreditation process. representing the Higher Learning Commission of the North Association. Southwest Minnesota State University all for their meaningful work.” The self study “is a thorough examination of Central ourhasown practices been accredited by the Commission since 1972. The HLC is changing the reaccreditation process, said Baker. In and processes, everything about the institution, which specifically The team will review the institution’s ongoing ability to meet the future, the process will be more ongoing and done primarily looks at five criteria for accreditation,” said Baker. the Commission’s Criteria for Accreditation. The public is invited the online,regarding she said. “It will still be a lot of the same process as far as The criteria include university mission; integrity: ethical andto submit comments University. Comments may be submitted by mail: the internal review, and we still have to address the five criteria responsible conduct; teaching and learning: quality and Minnesota Publicresources Comment on Southwest State University The Higher Learning Commission support; teaching and learning: evaluation and improvement; and and the various components associated with that,” she said. “The 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500 Chicago, IL 60604-1411 new process is called the Pathway Process, and it’s more of an resources, planning and institutional effectiveness. The HLC visit team was on campus Oct. 20-22, 2014, for its site ongoing The public may also submit comments online. A process link to the over a 10-year period, instead of everything done on our website: visit, part of the process of re-accreditation. the HLC’s public comment page is published near the end of that 10-year period.” www.SMSU.edu/go/HLC
Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution or its academic programs. Comments must be in writing, either by mail or online. All comments must be received by September 20, 2014.
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[ around campus ]
Marshall Festival 2015
The Godfather Returns
Philip Dacey Celebrates His Homecoming
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The Godfather of Marshall Festivals. How else would you describe Phil Dacey? The poet, former SMSU English professor and originator of Marshall Festivals gave a rare public reading on Friday, Oct. 23, at the “Marshall Festival ’15: What Feeds Us” event. Dacey organized the first Marshall Festival back in 1986. The recently-concluded event was the eighth, and they are held every five years or so. “That first one was five days, and there were overlapping events,” he said. “And it was done without email,” he added, eyes widening, as if all that statement implies just hit him. “It took a couple of years to pull together. All we had was mail and the telephone.” He didn’t write poetry until in his 20s, after dropping out of graduate school at Stanford. “It was as if an angel came to me, tapped me on the shoulder and said ‘Philip, you need some help. Sit down and write.’” He’s written 13 books of poetry, co-edited a book about contemporary American poetry and has lived life fully, on his own terms, and in his own voice. He firmly believes there’s no such thing as writer’s block. “Write whatever comes to mind,” he said. “Write as regularly as you can. And don’t wait until you’re inspired,” he said.
[ around campus ]
Many people struggle with poetry — writing, and reading. “Some poetry uses language that’s not conventional,” he said. “It can lead one into areas of human nature that are uncomfortable. It’s an art.” And Dacey is an artist. He’s a self-effacing individual who has overcome so much recently. He has undergone treatment for leukemia in the last year, which is in remission. “I had chemotherapy, and then had an experimental treatment at the University of Minnesota, where they transplanted some of my son’s ‘killer cells’ in me. So far it’s proven to be a success, it’s in remission, though there’s a hint of leukemia lurking in the shadows. I feel terrific now though, I run or bike around Lake Calhoun, I take no meds, and take Chinese herbs.” A St. Louis native, he has come to love Marshall and Minnesota. Dacey taught at SMSU from 1970 until 2005, when he retired and moved to Manhattan’s Upper West Side. He returned to Minnesota in 2012, where he now lives with his partner, poet Alixa Doom, in Minneapolis. He is the father of three grown children: Austin, Emmett and Fay. He thoroughly enjoyed his time in New York, also. “My mother was born there, and we’d get on the Greyhound bus every year for about 10 years and visit family there. It’s a very livable city. And it may seem like a bit of a paradox, but I tell people it’s a good place to live, but not a good place to visit.” He loves the camaraderie and spirit of the Marshall Festivals, the feel-good atmosphere. “There’s no competition, and it has a community feel. It’s rare, too, to have these festivals in a rural setting.” What kept him at SMSU? “I had the opportunity to influence students in poetry and literature,” he said. “Everyone can’t be a professional writer, but I still hope the students’ time with me gave them an appreciation and openness to the arts, a new point of view toward language and what language can offer.” He’s humbled by the fact that Marshall Festival continues today. “Marianne (Zarzana) has done a great job with this one, and I’m grateful that the college has continued with Marshall Festival. “ He has many memoires of past Marshall Festivals. One of his favorites is of the late Eugene McCarthy, former Minnesota senator who three times sought the Democratic nomination for president. “He loved poetry, and called me and asked if I’d like for him to give a presentation on Yates,” said Dacey. “For an hour, he recited poem after poem. (The late SMSU English Professor) Bill Holm came walking down the aisle, tears in his eyes, and said ‘He could have been our president!’” Dacey, now 76, doesn’t think his poetry over time has matured, but it has changed. He came from a working-class background, and approaches his craft the same way. He sits down and writes. “Comic poems, free verse, formal, sonnets. I write them all,” he said. “I didn’t want to be known for just one type.” He doesn’t make it back to Marshall that often — the last time was in 2010, at Marshall Festival ’10. “But I still call the Midwest home. I may feel at home in New York, but the Midwest is my home.”
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[ around campus ]
Marshall Festival ’15: What Feeds Us proved to be a rousing success during its performance days of Oct. 22-24. “People loved it,” said event coordinator, Assistant Professor of English Marianne Zarzana. “We have received positive feedback from the community, the participants, faculty, staff and students. We were fed.” This was the eighth Marshall Festival and had a distinct Native American flavor. “I went to (Office of Diversity and Inclusion Director) Jefferson Lee early in the planning and asked if he might be willing to help us diversity the festival by making a connection with Native American writers we’ve published in Yellow Medicine Review,” explained Professor of English Dr. Judy Wilson, executive editor of the Yellow Medicine Review and the festival organizer in 2010. The Yellow Medicine Review is the University’s journal of indigenous voices. Its origin dates back to a Difficult Dialogues grant Wilson wrote in 2006. The biannual publication is an international journal of indigenous literature, art and thought and includes the work of renowned and emerging writers, artists and scholars. “The title Yellow Medicine Review is significant in that it incorporates the name of a river in southwest Minnesota. The Dakota came together at the river to dig the yellow root of a special plant that was used for medicinal purposes for healing. Such is the spirit of Yellow Medicine Review,” said Wilson. A total of nine Yellow Medicine Review contributors presented at Marshall Festival ’15 and joined a host of other talented writers, performers and artists who helped make the three-day festival one to remember. “I had someone ask me if we could do it every month,” said Zarzana. Familiar faces and emerging writers were featured. The festival opened at noon on Oct. 22. Thursday and Friday sessions had two tracks, and Saturday’s session had a single track.
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SMSU alumnus Bart Sutter, the only author to ever win a trio of Minnesota Book Awards in three separate categories, performed with his baritone-voiced brother Ross on Saturday evening. The two have appeared regularly at Marshall Festivals and are a regional favorite. English Professor Emeritus Phil Dacey gave a mesmerizing reading on Friday evening, reciting a number of humorous poems five years removed from his last Marshall Festival appearance. As one social media observer noted, “it wasn’t so much a reading as a performance.” There were several discussion panels also, including creating a market for locally-produced writing; promoting and preserving rural literature; The Power of Place; creative writing alumni discussing their craft; writing about the North Dakota oil boom; spoken word; and what poetry can do that free verse can’t. And fitting with the theme — What Feeds Us — there was a potluck supper Saturday evening at the Campus Religious Center. Several unusual events included the performance of “Ady” by Rhiana Yazie in the Black Box Theatre; a children’s book reading by Cheryl Minnema at the new children’s wing of the Marshall-Lyon County Library; and a Spoken Word Night at the Brau Brothers Tap Room featuring spoken word artists Trevino Brings Plenty, Sarah Agaton Howes and Nick White, followed by selected SMSU students and community members. “There was so much going on, and so much energy,” said Zarzana about Marshall Festival ’15. “We are so appreciative of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and the Access, Opportunity Success program for helping fund our Native American writers, and the SMSU Foundation for their financial support,” said Zarzana. “There were so many people who helped put this event together,” she continued. “It takes a lot to coordinate such an event, and everyone was so helpful. In the end, we all were fed.”
Above: Gordon Henry and LeeAnn Roripaugh share a laugh before their opening night reading. Left: Ross and Bart ’72 Sutter finished out the week in grand style.
Above: The Fall 2015 Yellow Medicine Review release party: (l-r) Natanya Ann Pulley, Pauline Danforth, Rhiana Yazzie, Carter Meland, and standing, Trevino Brings Plenty. Below: recent SMSU Alumni Gabrielle Cohrs ’15, Madeline Robertson ’14 and Daniel Kilkelly ’15 presented on a panel.
Above: David Allan Evans reads. Right: Sarah Agaton Howes at the final Spoken Word event.
[ alumni spotlight ]
Sterner’s Vision Becomes Reality ADDED John steel panels are back lit to give the impression of a herd of running A sculpture by 1991 SMSU alumnus and adjunct art instructor Mustangs, and the bronze Mustang, leading the herd, is lit with Sterner which completes the major portion of the University’s entrance spotlights. The entire display is especially impressive at night. project was unveiled on Sept. 23, 2015. “This isn’t the work of one guy,” said Sterner. “This is the work of a The project is almost complete. Landscaping will be added in the whole community.” spring, and a formal dedication of the project will take place sometime in the spring semester. The sculpture, on the north side of the retention pond near the Sterner is art teacher and head football coach at Lakeview High School intersection of Highways 19 and 68, is entitled “Šúŋkawakhaŋ in Cottonwood. He is also an adjunct art instructor at SMSU. He got wičhúŋhduhapi” and is a nine-and-a-half-foot long, six-foot tall bronze The Mustang apphelp provides Mustang.The MUSTANG App is a geo-location some from hisfeatures Lakeviewthat art students, who were excited to see the allow you to keep track of events, share app that rewards you for supporting “Translated (from the Dakota language), the sculpture is named ‘Our project progress. Most of the initial work was done in the art studio at your photosLakeview, on the Fan see the Southwest Minnesota State University thenCam, transported to the Anurag Art Foundry in Stillwater, Horse,’” said Sterner. “It’s a community horse. We’re this huge community latest from the Mustangs on social media, Check-in Minn., for the Mustang’s bronze casting. of peopleathletics. who are Mustangs. ” to this app when you take advantage of special offers from our to focus and stay on target on their arrive at events and accrue points to The sculpture is at the apex of the entire project, which also includes “We hope this will remind students sponsors, and unlock prizes. pathmore! to success,” said Sterner. large, rectangular steel panels, with cut-outs of running Mustangs. The
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[ alumni spotlight ]
Jon Vezner Gets Unplugged in Grand Marais
Photos courtesy of North House Folk School Grand Marais, Minnesota is not a place you stumble into. It lies on the northern shore of Lake Superior just 40 miles down Highway 61 from the Canadian border. If you’re visiting this place, you’re here for a reason. And you’ll very likely be back. Something about Grand Marais speaks to people. There’s something about the lake, the harbor, the arts, the outdoors, and the people of this community of 1,300 that make a lasting impression. Jon Vezner has been coming to Grand Marais since he was a child. His parents and grandparents parked trailers at the municipal campground right on the harbor. He’s seen the community evolve and has made annual treks there his entire life. He knows Grand Marais well. Or so he thought. ABOUT JON VEZNER Vezner grew up in Brooklyn Center, Minn. He’s a 1976 Music Education alumnus and a 2011 Alumni Achievement Award winner. The Grammy® Award-winning songwriter came to SMSU for two reasons: to study music, and to get away from the city. “I received an AA degree from North Hennepin Community College and got out for a while,” he explained. “I decided to go back to school. I had friends in Minneapolis, some had graduated, some were in school. I knew I had to get as far away as I could,” he said, laughing. “I knew about Southwest from a couple of friends I went to school with, Fred and Deb (Lindblad) Almer,” he said. “What sold me were the people in the program. John Rezatto, he was a character and I loved him to death; True Sackrison in orchestra, I knew she graduated from the Curtis Institute; and Bob Whitcomb, he and I were kindred spirits,” he said. HIS SONGWRITING CAREER After graduating Vezner worked on the computers at his father’s business. “Dad finally said, ‘If you’re going to do this, then do this,’” he said of his dream of becoming a songwriter. “Within five years, he saw me win all these awards,” he said.
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In 1983, Vezner made his first trip to Nashville, Tenn., where he attended the Nashville Songwriters Association spring symposium. Soon, he had established a working relationship with Rees Guyer of Wrensong Music, a music publishing company with offices in St. Paul and Nashville. In 1986, he moved permanently to Nashville, and within a year had songs recorded by Reba McEntire and Ronnie Milsap, as well as Lorrie Morgan’s first single, “Train Wreck of Emotion,” which he co-wrote with Alan Rhody. Vezner is married to country/folk music star Kathy Mattea, who he met when she lived upstairs at a publishing house in Nashville. “I would come in to write, and we’d run into each other in the hall,” said Vezner. Vezner has written songs for many country music legends, but his most acclaimed piece is perhaps the poignant, “Where’ve You Been?” which he wrote with Don Henry. That song—performed by Mattea— won Song of the Year honors by the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM) in 1990. It was honored with a Grammy® Award for Best Country Song, and Vezner was named Songwriter of the Year by the Nashville Songwriters Association. “Where’ve You Been?” is based on the true story of Vezner’s grandparents. Married over 60 years, they found themselves both hospitalized at the same location, but in different rooms. Vezner discovered they had not had the opportunity to see each other, so he wheeled his grandfather up to see his grandmother. When they entered her room, she asked, “Where’ve you been?” It was a searing moment for Vezner. He knew he had a song. He wrote it, and those he played it for sang its praises. ABOUT THE NORTH HOUSE North House Folk School is a community of learners and teachers who share traditional crafts of the northern hemisphere inspired by Scandinavian folkeshoskoles developed in Denmark in the mid-1800s to share skills and traditions with the next generation. The North House was founded in January 1997 by a volunteer board of directors following the success of a number of hand-craft course offerings
in 1995 and 1996. Working with the City of Grand Marais, North House secured grant funding to restore two waterfront buildings and the campus was born. PATHS COLLIDE One trip to Grand Marais made an impact on Vezner and changed the course for the small folk school in the process. In 2002, Vezner and his father were heading to Canada fishing when the elder Vezner became gravely ill. Staying in the family’s old RV at the campground while his father was hospitalized, Vezner became acquainted with his father’s physician, Dr. Woods, who was a member of the North House Folk School board of directors. “I was staying in the campground next door. Walking around one day I saw that the school was teaching how to build canoes. I love to work with wood and make things with my hands. “The North House just had a fire in one of the buildings and they were reroofing it. The school was small but I liked what I saw,” said Vezner. “So I talked to Dr. Woods, he said they had $25 in the bank and didn’t know what was going to happen. I told him we should do a benefit, even though I didn’t know what that meant.” UNPLUGGED FESTIVAL IS BORN “I got in contact with Greg Wright over the course of the next year to put something together,” said Vezner. “The first year I got local musician, Michael Monroe; Eagles member Bernie Leadon; Michael McDonald from the Doobie Brothers; and my wife, Kathy. “We did two shows at the school that first year. The first one was sold out, the second one wasn’t—which was amazing considering who we had joining us—but you have to remember Grand Marais is kind of in the middle of nowhere. Over time, they got a tent because it’s just grown so much over the years.” The name Unplugged came from the desire to bring the music to its roots, about the craft of song and acoustic performance, in much the same way that the North House preserves and celebrates traditional hand-crafts. The first “Unplugged” performance in 2002 helped the North House raise the funds to establish an educational endowment fund and soon became an annual event. Musical performances by well-known songwriters and a thoughtful auction played a major role in building momentum for this effort. The auction continues to be a major part of the fundraising effort. One of the surprise events this year was a “Home Concert” featuring Vezner. THE UNPLUGGED IMPACT “Jon’s gift of Unplugged and his steady nurturing of it has been a real gift to us,” said Greg Wright, executive director of North House Folk School for the past 14 years. “When he found us, he saw something he loves: people working with their hands, people building community, people creating and rediscovering the power in their hands,” Wright explained. “The idea [of a benefit] was pretty simple but it’s become one of our three anchor events that programmatically define North House Folk School. North House has become a worldwide community of artisans, craftspeople, and learners. Students have come from 36 states and five foreign countries. That wide-reaching recognition is due in large part to the success of Unplugged and the five-year partnership with Mountain Stage Radio. “The bigger thing that I think that Jon has given us is a sense and fundamental belief that we are here to touch the world. Unplugged’s evolution has highlighted that,” Wright said. “What’s so incredible about Jon is the seeds of purpose and sense of connection that he plants in all the people he brings to North House. And for him to believe in North House when he’s here and when he leaves, it’s inspiring.”
Vezner, left, performs with Don Henry at the North House Folk School featured fundraising performance on Sept. 19.
TEACHING THE CRAFT “Music kind of saved my life,” said Vezner. “I had some physical problems as a kid so I spent a lot of time alone and music was the one thing that really spoke to me. It spoke to me on a visceral level so I started writing songs. I remember thinking I’d like to do that for someone else. But I didn’t know what that meant, that you could write songs for other people to sing.” In addition to his songwriting and performing, Vezner has conducted residencies including one at North Hennepin Community College that was published on YouTube as the “Trust Yourself ” Educational Project. He also teaches songwriting workshops at the North House. “I really think that creativity comes from that child side of us; that’s where that spark comes from. And it’s really a spiritual thing for me,” Vezner explained. “I like speaking to kids and I still feel like a kid at heart. “I think it’s important to give kids experience with music and songwriting. It gives them permission when the world is constantly telling them ‘no.’” THE UNPLUGGED LEGACY September’s event marked the 14th Annual Unplugged Festival which has become the North House Folk School’s signature fall event. Performers and collaborators over the years have included: Charlie Parr, Trampled by Turtles, Haley Bonar, Don Henry, and NPR’s Mountain Stage Radio, to name a few. Next year’s event is already scheduled for September 15-18, 2016. “What it’s really done is raised awareness and helped the North House become a self-sustaining entity. Executive director, Greg Wright, he’s a great facilitator. Greg is a joy to work with. It’s easy for me to have the sexy part of founding it, but I don’t forget that none of this would happen if it wasn’t for Greg Wright. “I don’t how long we’ll continue to do it (Unplugged). I’m not going to be here forever. I also know that I don’t want it to be about me,” said Vezner. “I want to let it become what it can be going into the future. I can’t believe it’s going on 15 years.” Regardless of what the future may bring, Vezner knows the North House will be sustained long into the future, supporting the community of learners and preserving traditional crafts through hands-on learning and personal connections. Connections that keep Vezner coming back to unplug and recharge both the North House and himself.
For more information about the North House Folk School: www.northhouse.org and Jon Vezner: www.jonvezner.com FOCUS | 7
[ alumni spotlight ]
SMSU Radio-TV Grads Shine at Regional Emmys Trevor Fleck, coordinating producer of Fox Sports North and Fox Sports Wisconsin, recalls the hands-on experiences he had at SMSU as being instrumental to his professional success. “When I went there I learned not just in the classroom but also hands-on through the daily newscasts. I learned all the different positions and aspects,” said Fleck, a 1991 alumnus who recently won six Emmy Awards at the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Upper Midwest banquet Oct. 3 in Minneapolis. Six SMSU TV-Radio alumni were nominated in 24 categories, and four were presented a total of 11 Emmy Awards. They winners and their respective categories included: • Trevor Fleck, ’91, coordinating producer of Fox Sports North and Fox Sports Wisconsin, earned six Emmy Awards for being coordinating producer in the categories of Sports Program Story, One Time Sports Special, Sports Documentary, Sports Interview/Discussion, Sporting Event/Game-Live Unedited-Program/
Fleck
Clark
Special, and Sporting Event/Game-Live Unedited Series; • Christy (Batien) Clark, ’97, content producer, KTIV-TV, Sioux City, Iowa, won three Emmy Awards as content producer for Daytime Newscast, Evening Newscast and Weekend Newscast (she has since taken a position as the executive director of the Ronald McDonald
Vasgaard
Petersen
House Charities of Siouxland); • Eric Vasgaard, ’98, Midco Sports Network, Sioux Falls, S.D., earned an Emmy for Sports Programs Series (Outside of News); • Lynn Petersen, ’93, KARE-TV, earned her Emmy in the category Director ACP Operator for the May 16, 2015 newscast.
Isiah Whitlock, Jr. ‘76 Immortalized in Bobblehead A drawn-out expletive has spawned a cottage industry for SMSU alumnus Isiah Whitlock, Jr. The 1976 Speech Communication: Theatre Arts alumnus lives in New York City, where he is living every actor’s dream — he’s working. Currently, he’s shooting a big-screen movie of the popular television series CHIPS, which ran from 1977-83. “I’ve done a lot of TV lately, and have guest starred on a number of shows. There’s been a couple of independent features in New York, too. ‘Law and Order: Special Victims Unit’ has kept me busy lately, too, and I have a couple of other irons in the fire.” Yet it’s his character, politician Clay Davis from the HBO series ‘The Wire,’ and, more specifically, that long, drawnout baritone expletive, that he’s best known for. And now, Whitlock fans can purchase a bobblehead of the SMSU alumnus. The replica uses Whitlock’s famous phrase — sheeeeeeeee-it — three different ways. And yes, Whitlock said one of the keys to pronouncing it is using nine e’s. He’s had the idea for the bobblehead for several years. “I walk down the street and 10 times a day, I swear, I get hit up with that word,” he said. “So I thought, OK, if I’ve got to live with it, I’ll have fun with it.” Working with the firm Levity Department, which handles his social media, the project was funded through Kickstart in less than a day. They not only made his bobblehead idea become reality, but also started something called the Whitlock Academy, a fictitious place you can attend to learn the proper way to say “sheeeeeeeee-it.” “You go there for four years, learn to say it properly, and along with an SMSU degree, you should be set,” he said with a chuckle. Almost 5,000 of the bobbleheads have been sold, and 2,500 of a second edition are being made just in time for the holidays. “I’ll be the first to
8 | FOCUS
tell you I’m a bit mystified by the legs this whole thing has had,” he said. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be something that took on a life of its own.” President Barack Obama was given the prototype of the bobblehead by ‘The Wire’ creator David Simon after a White House meeting between the two. “He told David it would save his voice about five times a day,” said Whitlock. For clarification, said Whitlock, he first used the expletive, in that way, in two Spike Lee movies, “25th Hour” and “She Hate Me.” “Then I got on ‘The Wire’ and they started writing it into the script. That’s when it took off.” The bobblehead can be ordered at: sheeeeeeeeeit.com. Make sure you include 9 e’s.
[ southwest stories ]
SOUTHWEST STORIES NEA-Student Program Chair, Chelsey Herrig
National Education Association Student Program chair Chelsey Herrig, a Southwest Minnesota State University senior, gave a talk to the SMSU community on Sept. 22. Herrig is in her second year as the NEA-Student Program chair. She was elected in June 2014 for a two-year term. As the Student Program chair, she works full time from the NEA headquarters in Washington, D.C. to provide visibility on campuses and organize future educators. She leads the 60,000 student members, which represents 1,100 college and university chapters in 50 states. She has traveled the country, but perhaps her biggest thrill was on Oct. 7, when she traveled across town to participate in the Millennial Worker Voices panel at the White House. Herrig is a Jackson, Minn., native. She has just her student teaching requirement remaining before she receives her degree. She plans on returning to SMSU in the fall semester 2016 for her student teaching experience. In addition, she spoke to a number of education classes during her three days at SMSU. The daughter of Kristi Herrig and Chuck Paine, she picked SMSU “because when I was growing up, everyone told me the best educators come from SMSU. I knew the program would challenge me
to be the best I can be. I visited and I liked the atmosphere — I knew I belonged there.” She travels extensively as part of her NEA-Student Program position, and has been collecting souvenirs for her future classroom. “I am certified K-8 in special education and math, but I think my heart lies with kindergartners,” she said. Herrig has become an advocate for public service student loan forgiveness, and is a supporter of the teaching profession in general. “Why wouldn’t you want to be a teacher?” she asked. “It’s rewarding, you change the lives of students. As a member of the NEA, you will never be alone and face your challenges alone,” she said. What’s your Southwest Story? We’d love for you to share it with us today at www.SMSU.edu/go/SouthwestStories.
Grant Will ’08 Joins Ag Program in Marketing Role Grant Will has been named the Director of Marketing, Recruitment and Outreach for agricultural programs at Southwest Minnesota State University. As director, Will will promote and recruit for the agriculture-related degrees being offered at SMSU. Will grew up on a dairy farm near Underwood, Minn. He attended Ridgewater College for two years and transferred to SMSU, where he earned degrees in Sociology and Speech Communication: Radio-TV. As the director of Marketing, Recruitment and Outreach, he’ll recruit specifically for the six ag programs at SMSU: Agribusiness Management, Agriculture, Ag Solutions, Agronomy, Agricultural Education and Agricultural Communications and Leadership. “We’re in the heart of ag country here in southwest Minnesota, and there is a real demand for the students that come out of our programs,” said Will. “There is a huge demand right now for agricultural education instructors. All of our students who graduate with an ag degree start out in well-paying jobs.” Will said SMSU has solid relationships with agribusinesses in the area. “SMSU students can participate in internships with these businesses, which often lead to full-time jobs,” he said. “Internships are a critical component to our degrees, except for ag education, which has a student teaching component,” he said. “Through these internships the students receive real-life experiences.” Prior to coming to SMSU, Will was the Lyon County 4-H program coordinator and before that, a social studies teacher and coach in the Lakeview school system in Cottonwood.
“I was interested in this position because I’ve always had a passion for agriculture,” he said. “I enjoy working at a learning institution and I have a lot of friends and acquaintances at SMSU. I look forward to helping our agriculture programs expand.” He attended the national FFA convention Oct. 28-31 in Louisville, Ky., where he had the opportunity to connect with the 60,000 FFA members in attendance there and to talk to them about the opportunities at SMSU. Will is the father of two children, Hudson, 12, and Cooper, 9.
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[ athletics ]
Exercise Science Major Helps Change Man’s Life a couple of years — the ice version of Last February, Mike Berg hadn’t “Rudy.” He’s also an avid bass and walleye even met Kristy Leopold. Today, he fisherman, and had been active all his life. considers the SMSU senior a part of His progress was immediate, said Berg. his family. So much so that he didn’t want to end Berg works with the Schwan their program together at the end of the Food Company and Leopold is an spring semester. “She very easily could exercise science major from Fox have handed me off to someone else,” he Point, Wis. The two were paired as said. “I asked her to continue during the part of a wellness program between summer, and she agreed.” the Schwan Food Company and the Such an extended arrangement is exercise science program at SMSU. unusual, said Cleveland. But then again, Each semester, approximately 60 Berg’s situation is usual. “We worked clients work with SMSU exercise out every day of the week this summer, science students, said Dr. Kris Mike Berg, left, with his daughter, Grace; wife, Kate; and Kristy Leopold, right. and every day we can now that school Cleveland, assistant professor of has started,” he said. “She always tried exercise science. Exercise science is to find a new and different ways to work with me, to break it down to one of the fastest growing majors at SMSU, and there are 162 majors this the fundamentals. We are both competitive, and I wanted to do better; I semester. didn’t want to let Kristy down.” The client and student meet and discuss wellness goals, how to reach When they began, he walked a mile — 7 ½ laps around the PE Gym those goals and agree to a wellness plan. Each client’s goals are different. walkway — in 25 minutes. That time is now below 14 minutes. “Then she In Berg’s case, the challenges were many. Twenty years ago he was in a threw out the idea that I have got to do the 5K,” he recalled. car accident that left him a paraplegic. Fast forwards to Aug. 22 when he Back in February, he had trouble going up and down stairs without completed the Tiger 5000 Run. assistance. They worked on that, to the point “that I was running up and With the support of family and friends, and a very special SMSU down the stairs of the Regional Event Center three of four times just to friend, Berg was able to do what was unthinkable several years ago. “She warm up. In the past, you would have to put me on a cot and take me to has changed my life,” he said of Leopold. the hospital after that, and that was just a warm-up,” said Berg. His is an amazing story. “I fell asleep at the wheel,” he said of the crash. Leopold is a goalie on the SMSU soccer team and understands physical “I went into the ditch, hit an embankment and flew 60 feet in the air. My limitations. Since enrolling at SMSU, “I have had four procedures to L1 vertebrae exploded, and I fractured my 2-up and 3-down vertebrae. I correct a collapsed vein in my chest. It has limited me in my ability to had a severed spinal cord.” play soccer. I was out of school for a while my sophomore and junior He was in a wheelchair for about three years, and received his years, and the people in exercise science were accommodating. What I occupational and physical therapy through the Sister Kenny Institute in have experienced has helped me empathize with Mike.” Minneapolis. For the first six months, he could feel nothing. As the Tiger 5000 approached, Leopold went to head coach Erin “Then I had some sensation in my big toe. And then in the muscles on Kasmarik-Mallett and explained she would be late for practice on race the top of my kneecaps. Two physical therapists helped me off hours to day. “Then I got to thinking how important it is to Mike and how he’s build my muscles and get my brain to work with my muscles,” he said. helped the soccer team. I approached the captains and the rest of the Berg moved to Marshall nine years ago to work for the Schwan Food senior class and asked if they would be willing to meet Mike at the finish Company. Walking, even sitting in a chair for a long time, were not easy line. Through this all he’s met my teammates, my friends, and I know tasks for him. He had no stamina. they’re tired of listening to me talk about Mike’s progress.” “But after he learned how to walk, his physical therapy was over due So with a quarter mile to go before the finish line, with Berg struggling to insurance regulations, but he wasn’t happy where he was at,” said — “he was on his fifth wind,” said Leopold — she told him to look up. Cleveland. “That’s where a personal trainer was a perfect fit for him.” Walking with him were his wife Kate, daughter Grace and a nephew. Berg saw the notice about the Schwan-SMSU wellness initiative, and Ahead, he saw his parents, Don and Jadynne Berg, along with the SMSU called right away. He hit it off immediately with Leopold. “There’s a soccer team cheering him on with every step. reason certain people cross your path,” he said. “Kristy has become a “There wasn’t a dry eye after that,” she said. daughter to us, and a close friend.” Leopold will graduate this month and enter an accelerated nursing Berg calls himself a “walking paraplegic” and his progress is nothing program at South Dakota State. “I’ll finish in a year,” she said. “I want to short of amazing. Since starting his program with Leopold, he has lost 20 have a wellness career. I prefer a job where I am able to work with people pounds, and has dropped his body fat to 12 percent. “Walking for him like Mike. I want to change someone’s life, like I have Mike’s.” wasn’t easy, he was at risk of falling when he climbed stairs, and sitting in And she won’t forget Berg when she leaves. “Being paired with Mike a chair was a process,” said Leopold. changed my life. He has changed mine more than I have changed his. He She convinced Berg to follow a healthier diet — gone was the has given me confidence in myself and confidence to apply what I have Mountain Dew — and her individual work with him resulted in steady learned in the classroom to a client.” progress. He cut 10 minutes off of his walking mile time, and “he’s no “Kristy is a first class young lady. If there is anything I can do for her, longer in pain after a long duration of activity,” said Leopold. I will do it. She has given a lot back to me and my family, and she is a Berg, an Annandale native, attended college the University of second daughter,” said Berg. “She has given me a second chance.” Minnesota-Duluth, where he was on the hockey practice squad for
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[ athletics ]
Mustang Football Captures Sledge SMSU rushed for 317 yards— including 217 in the second half—to earn a hard-fought 33-28 victory over Winona State in the inaugural “Battle for the Sledge” trophy game on Nov. 14 at the Schwan Regional Event Center. SMSU finished the regular season 8-3 in the NSIC, good for fourth place tie in the 16-team Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The eight victories ties the 1990 team for the second most wins in program history and is a new school record for wins at the NCAA Division II level (since 1995). SMSU senior running back Davontay Stevens rushed for a career-high 184 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries to pace the Mustang offense. Stevens finished the regular season with 1,066 yards—ranking as the third-highest in team history. He is just the sixth player in team history to reach 1,000 yards in a single season. The game was the first “trophy” game in SMSU history. The “Battle for the Sledge” game was sponsored by BIG Athletics/Adidas. Both SMSU and WSU are contracted programs with BIG Athletics. HISTORY OF THE SLEDGE During the 2008 season, Winona State would name a defensive player of the game from the previous week’s contest and award that player a sledgehammer for the next week. During warm-ups of the WSU/ SMSU game on Oct. 4 2008, a WSU player brought the sledgehammer
to mid-field prior to the game while SMSU players looked on. SMSU went on to earn a 35-28 victory over WSU, snapping the Warriors’ seven-game winning streak in the series. Following the game, SMSU players ran over to the WSU sideline and grabbed the sledgehammer, celebrating the victory at midfield. With emotions running high for both teams following a hard-fought game, a WSU player went over to the SMSU sideline to get their sledgehammer back. SMSU gave the sledgehammer back and a rivalry was born. WSU leads the
series 4-3 since the 2008 game. The trophy is a 7-foot tall Sledgehammer with the team logos of both WSU and SMSU on each side of the trophy. In addition to the sledge trophy, two smaller sledgehammer MVP trophies were awarded to the most valuable player on each team. Stevens was presented with the MVP Award for SMSU. SMSU sophomore quarterback Blake Gimbel finished the season completing 273 of 411 pass attempts for a school record 66.4 completion percentage. He closed the season passing for 3,053 yards and 26 touchdowns, which are both school records by a sophomore quarterback, breaking the 1990 records held by Jeff Loots. SMSU senior defensive end AJ Page finished the season first on the team in tackles for loss with 17.5 and also first in sacks with 7.5. He closed his career ranking third in school history in tackles for loss (52), fourth in sacks (20.5) and ninth in total tackles (276).
Volleyball Makes 12th Consecutive NCAA Appearance The SMSU volleyball team will be making its 12th consecutive NCAA tournament appearance—and 13th all-time—as the team was selected as the No. 3 seed in the Central Region tournament announced on Nov. 23. SMSU (25-5) faced No. 6 seed Washburn in the first round on
Thursday, Dec. 3, in St. Paul, Minn. Concordia-St. Paul, the No. 1 seed, hosted the eight-team tournament. The semifinals were set for Dec. 4, with the championship match on Dec. 5. For results from the tournament, visit www.SMSUMustangs.com.
SMSU’s Palmeter Named NSIC Newcomer of the Year SMSU junior cross country runner Hannah Palmeter placed fourth overall to lead the Mustangs to a 10th place finish at the 15-team Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Championships. Palmeter finished the 6k (3.73 miles) race in 22 minutes, 37 seconds and for her efforts earned All-NSIC honors and was named the NSIC Newcomer of the Year. She is the first SMSU runner at the Division II level to earn All-NSIC accolades. Palmeter placed 18th of 208 runners with a time of 21:46.10 at the NCAA Central Region Championships on Nov. 7 in
Joplin, Mo. She also earned All-Region honors from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) for her performance. She is the first SMSU female cross country athlete to earn all-region honors at the Division II level. A total of 395 student-athletes (198 men and 197 women) from 142 schools earned the distinction by finishing among the top 25 individual finishers at one of the eight regional sites across the country. Palmeter is a native of Bessemer, Mich., in her first season at SMSU after transferring from North Iowa Area Community College. She twice earned NSIC Athlete of the Week honors this season.
Complete Fall Recaps: Cross Country / Football / Golf / Soccer / Volleyball For the latest headlines, winter sports news and more, visit SMSUMustangs.com
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[ alumni connections ]
2015 Alumni Award Recipients Five alumni and one retired faculty member received Alumni Association awards at during SMSU Homecoming on Sept. 25. GRADUATE OF LAST DECADE (GOLD) AWARD Marri Carrow As 2008 alumna Marri Carrow will tell you, you can take the girl out of the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the girl. Carrow is the Regional Director for the Western Hemisphere at the U.S. Grains Council, a position she has held since 2014. Before that, she was the Director of Communications for the Grains Council from 2008 to 2014. She has also been communications assistant with the Minnesota Corn Growers. While studying Literature at SMSU, she took advantage of study abroad opportunities in England, France and Belgium, which “got my feet wet and whetted my taste buds for the international lifestyle,” she said. That has helped her acclimate to her new home in Panama City, Panama. She grew up on a farm near Marshall and the work ethic she learned there is a big part of her success. She appreciates professors like Dave Pichaske and Jim Zarzana, and is an international advocate for SMSU. “I feel really connected to Marshall and the rural community,” she said. “What I do all comes back to family roots in agriculture.” HONORARY LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP Mike McHugh Former Speech Communication: Radio-TV Professor Mike McHugh has helped launch many a successful television career over the years. Mike, who retired following the 2013-14 academic year, taught at SMSU for 24 years. His National Broadcasting Society (NBS) chapter at the University was twice honored with National Chapter of the Year honors. He was regional Advisor of the Year eight times and National Advisor of the Year two times. He estimates he was the executive producer for 2,200 news shows and 720 sporting events while at SMSU. “I liked the opportunity to work oneon-one with the students. It gave them the opportunity to be on the air, producing, writing, all of it. It’s definitely hands-on at SMSU.” Mike and his wife — the parents of two grown children — recently celebrated 40 years of marriage. He’s humbled by his Alumni Association award. “SMSU is a very special place, and to be recognized is very touching,” he said ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS Steve Baumann Steve Baumann has taken his 1974 Mechanical Engineering degree to the top of the ice fishing world. Steve is the president and owner of Vexilar, a marine electronics company known as the “Cadillac” of the ice-fishing world. Vexilar is simply the best. He first heard of the company while working part-time at BH Electronics while he was a student at Southwest. He began with Vexilar in 1977, and has been with them 38 years. He and a partner — who has since passed — had the opportunity to purchase Vexilar when it was going through bankruptcy. Today, ice fishing is 85 percent of Vexilar’s business. He grew up on a farm near Lamberton and chose SMSU because “it was close to home; I was the youngest and SMSU offered an opportunity to help out on the farm when needed in the fall.” His sister, Kathy Johnson, is a 1971 Charter Class member. Baumann met his wife Robin (Carlson) while at SMSU, and was married after his sophomore year. They recently celebrated 43 years of marriage.
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From left: front row: Mike McHugh, President Connie J. Gores, Gene Tokheim, Lucy Tokheim; back row: Steve Baumann, Marri Carrow, Mark Diekmann.
Gene and Lucy Tokheim It’s not often that artists have branded their work as successfully as Gene and Lucy Tokheim. Say the words “Tokheim pottery” today, and you automatically think of the Scandinavian-inspired work that comes from their studio and gallery located in rural Dawson, Minnesota. Gene is a Charter Class 1971 member, while Lucy (O’Laughlin) graduated in 1975. Together they own Tokheim Stoneware. Gene began creating their wheel-thrown pottery in 1973, yet it wasn’t until they started creating Scandinavian folk art pieces that their business took flight. They had found their artistic niche. Gene creates each piece on a potter’s wheel, and Lucy does the design work. Their individual talents mesh beautifully during the creative process. Gene also makes traditional Scandinavian knives, silver spoons and silver jewelry, while Lucy is a talented print maker and painter. Artists have many influences during their lives, and the Tokheims are no different. Joseph Pizzat, Miriam Murphy, Ed Evans, Ralph Peotter and Gordon Dingman are mentioned as influences during their SMSU days. The two create Tokheim Stoneware together, and find time individually for other artistic pursuits. It’s an arrangement that works for the couple, who are the parents of three grown children: Sam, Luke and Ben. Mark Diekmann Mark Diekmann has led an interesting life since graduating in 1983. Mark works for Paragon Dental Practice Transitions, based in Mississippi, a company that helps young dentists find an appropriate practice, or retiring dentists find potential practice buyers. He oversees all of the consultants in the northern United States. And he does so from his home in the Dominican Republic. Most recently, his energies have gone into creating a non-profit group called Dogs and Cats of the Dominican Republic. The organization is dedicated to the health of animals on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, where he lives. “We have a bus that has been converted into a mobile spay and neuter clinic,” he said. “We have volunteer veterinarians come down here and drive it into poor neighborhoods, and the Dominicans bring their animals to us. We spay and neuter them to keep the animal population under control. “We also pick up and rescue needy street animals and help them find new homes. About every month we are sending 35 to 45 dogs and cats to either Canada or the U.S. to new forever homes.” Mark graduated with Chemistry and Math degrees from SMSU. He went on to dental school at the University of Minnesota, where he met his wife, Deborah. For the complete biographies of this year’s award recipients or to nominate someone for next year’s awards, visit us online at
www.SouthwestAlumni.com/Awards
[ alumni connections ]
We Are Mustangs: Homecoming 2015
Clockwise from top left: Ryan Stanley, Laura Johnson ’13, Justin Knakmuhs ’13, Elise Kazmerzak ’13, Jenna View ‘13. Alumni award winners, Alumni and Foundation board members, and SMSU administration enjoyed the game from the University Suite. President Gores greeted her presidential colleague, Thomas Jackson ‘85, who is president of Black Hills State University. Jason Swenson ‘01 stole the show at Dueling Pianos. Bill ’94 and Tracy Toulouse were all smiles at the University Gala. A show of hands at the Alumni Awards Luncheon revealed the number of alumni in attendance.
Nominations Accepted for 2016 Alumni Achievement Awards Each year SMSU 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. The SMSU Alumni Association is seeking nominations for next year’s award recipients. If you know of anyone who fits the criteria, please nominate them for one of the following awards: ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD This award is presented to a graduate in recognition of their remarkable professional success and the positive reflection made on the reputation of all graduates of SMSU. HONORARY LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP AWARD This award is presented to an individual or couple who are not alumni, but give their time, talents, and enthusiasm as if they were.
GOLD (Graduate of Last Decade) AWARD This award is presented to an individual who has graduated from SMSU within the last ten years. The GOLD Award is to recognize recent graduates with exceptional achievement and significant contribution to their profession, community, or the University. JOHN & KATHY PAXTON ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD This award is presented to recipients who demonstrates outstanding service to Southwest Minnesota State University. For more information on these awards, to view past recipients, or to nominate someone for one of these awards, please call the Alumni Office at 507-537-6266 or visit our website for the nomination form:
www.SouthwestAlumni.com/Awards
Linda (Fluegge) Manyara ‘11 and her husband Ralph (’12) shared their Mustang Pride at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Linda and Ralph are the winners of this issue’s Mustang Pride in Amazing Places. They receive a $50 gift card to Barnes & Noble Campus Store so they can get even more brown and gold gear. Congratulations, Linda and Ralph! You can show your Mustang Pride in Amazing
Places! Submit online at www.SouthwestAlumni. com/AmazingPlaces. Winners will see their photo published in FOCUS and receive a $50 gift card to the SMSU Barnes & Noble Campus Store. To be considered, photos must be high resolution, clear, with “SMSU” or a Mustang logo clearly visible. *Digitally manipulated photos will not be eligible.
FOCUS | 13
[ class notes ]
Gavin ’81
Fogarty ‘82
Bornus ’86
Dingmann ’04
Lanners ’03
1985 Kenergy, an energy cooperative in Kentucky, recently named Jeff Hohn as its new CEO. Jeff has worked in the electric utility business for 29 years, acting as the general manager for High Plains Power, Inc., in Riverton, Bart Sutter is retired from his Wyo., for the past nine years. job as a professor at UWSuperior and is as busy as ever, 1986 writing and reading poetry, David Bornus graduated and appearing with his brother from the State of Minnesota’s Ross throughout the Upper Emerging Leaders Institute on Midwest. He participated in a March 27, 2015. He works for panel on poetic form and gave the Minnesota Department a performance with Ross at of Human Services as Policy the Marshall Festival ’15. and Compliance Director of the Minnesota Sex Offender 1979 Program. Neil Kruse is the boys and girls cross country coach at 1991 Centennial High School. He Artist Debra Evans-Paige, was inducted to the Minnesota rural Le Sueur, uses her cozy State High School Coaches two-level home to create Association Hall of Fame and fire ceramic jewelry. She on August 3 at the coaches’ uses ceramic beads and other fall clinic and luncheon in small items to create jewelry, Eastview, Minn. mostly necklaces. Her jewelry received several awards, 1981 including third place in the Larry Gavin’s poem “Priming handmade beads category at the Pump” appears in the the Bead Dreams international November/December issue of competition in Milwaukee, The Minnesota Conservation Wis. Volunteer. Gavin is the John Sterner (MS ’02) was author of four volumes of inducted into the NSIC Hall poetry: Necessities; Least of Fame on July 14, 2015. He Resistance; Stone and Sky; is the SMSU’s first national and The Initiation of Praise. champion, in wrestling, and He is an avid fly fishermen later coached the Mustangs. who finds inspiration in He is an art teacher at outdoor activities. He lives in Faribault, Minn. He gave a Lakeview High School in poetry reading with Michael Cottonwood and an adjunct art teacher at SMSU. His latest Catherwood at the Marshall sculpture was installed at the Festival ’15. University Entrance sign this September. (See pg. 5) 1982 Incredibly detailed and ultrarealistic paintings by Terrence 1992 Fogarty were featured in the Shawn Mueske is the chair of the Willmar Charter William Whipple Gallery Commission and is a on the campus of SMSU commissioner on the Midfrom Aug. 20 through Sept. Minnesota Development 21. Fogarty concentrates on sports-related artwork, a genre Commission. He is currently working on a doctorate he has been perfecting since degree in Higher Education high school. Administration. 1972 John Harley retired after 43 years as a high school math instructor. He will continue part-time teaching as an adjunct instructor of mathematics at Concordia University-St. Paul.
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Eisenbeis ’06
1994 Kristin (Kompelien) Dolan is the new CEO of the Runestone Electric Association in Alexandria, Minn. Her duties began on July 1, 2015. For the previous 11½ years, she had served as the manager of finance and membership services for Meeker Cooperative Light and Power Association in Litchfield. 1996 Kari (Nelson) Loft (MS ’07) earned her English as a Second Language licensure at SMSU in the spring of 2015. She is now in her fourth year teaching English language learners at Marshall High School. 2000 Thayne Johnson began his new duties as activities director of the Hutchinson School District in August 2015. Pete Wilson (MS) joined the staff at Sturgis Brown High School, Sturgis, S.D., as the new principal.
Engebretson ’06
Rowell ’07
Angela (Gackstetter) Larson, her husband Tom, and their five children have returned to make their home in Marshall after living for the last few years in Estherville, Iowa. Angela is the Community and Family Support Director for Western Community Action in Marshall.
Peterson ’09
Jennifer Mayer is teaching fifth grade at Sturgis (S.D.) Elementary School.
Andy Schlichting (MS ’08), who has served as the sports information director at Metro State University in Denver, Colo., since 2009, has been named an assistant SID at the University of Colorado. He was also recently honored as 2003 the Rocky Mountain Athletic Nicholas Lanners and his Conference SID of the Year for wife, Amanda, welcome a son, his work at Metro State. Henry Patrick, on Jan. 6, 2015. 2004 Angela (Reiser) Dingmann and her husband, Steven, welcomed Sawyer Michael on Aug. 11, 2014. The family resides in Monticello. Lorrie (Garder) Grems, a former SMSU athlete, has been coaching the Independence High School girls’ basketball team in Glendale, Ariz., for 10 years. Julie (Sellner) Wilson has joined the lending team at United Prairie Bank in New Ulm. She and her husband also operate a dairy farm.
2007 Michele (Tomschin) Rowell and her husband, Chris (’05), welcomed Nathaniel Shawn on March 21, 2015. Jason Vercruysse and his wife, Kelsey, welcomed Charlie Joseph on Sept. 29, 2015. Kristin Walerius opened Rising Hope Ministries in the Armory Business Center in Worthington, Minn. She offers support groups for children and teens dealing with grief, divorce or pregnancy. 2008 Stephanie (Huso) Bragg and her husband, Jeff, welcomed Alden Merritt on Sept. 16, 2015.
2005 Bill Kehoe (MS) is the new principal at Morris Area High Justin Brown became the new School in Morris. He lives there with his wife, Amy, and activities director and assistant principal at Litchfield High three children. School in June of 2015. Jon Thorson accepted a math 2002 Annette Kremer has accepted Brad Bigler (MS ’09) is in his teaching position at Pequot seventh season as head coach Lakes High School in Pequot the position of activities director at Maple Lawn Senior Lakes. of the Southwest Minnesota Care in Fulda. State University men’s Kristin (MBA ’08) and basketball team. He continues Brandon Tilus (’07), with Heidi (Demuth) and Kyle to be an advocate against son Lincoln, welcomed Alette Nickles welcomed Beau drinking and driving and Randall on May 7, 2015. Roslyn on Sept. 12, 2015. provides several presentations Nick and Mariam (Warner) for high-school students about 2006 Schultz welcomed Nathan his experiences. He lost his Jennifer Eisenbeis and her James on Sept. 15, 2015. son Drake to a drunk driver husband, Ross, welcomed on July 28, 2012. Angie (Siegfried) Steinbach Annie Irene on Oct. 9, 2015. is the assistant city manager They live in Garland, Texas. in Montevideo. Prior to Lori (Meyer) Engebretson that she was the community and her husband, Michael development director (‘07), welcomed a second there. She is pursuing a child, Simon, on June 5, 2015. master’s degree in public administration. 2001 Ryan Sims recently accepted the position of athletic director at Reed High School in Sparks, Nev.
All cities are in Minnesota unless noted.
[ class notes ] Mark VanMeveren and his wife, Kari, welcomed Maddie Lynn on July 20, 2015.
2011 Megan (Lewis) Bonstetter is a teacher in the WestbrookWalnut Grove school system.
Haley Jacobsen is a program assistant at the Hutchinson Center for the Arts located in Hutchinson.
Dana Yost is an author living in Forest City, Iowa. He’s published two books and is working on a third, about life in southwest Minnesota. He gave a reading at the Marshall Festival ’15 called “Power to the Prairie: Ed Gits and Minneota Go Electric.”
Kasha Fuerstenan married Jared Fritsch on Sept. 12, 2015.
Steven Kremer married Courtney Meir on Sept. 5 in Wilmont.
Linda Fluegge married Ralph Manyara (’12) on Sept. 6, 2015 in Mankato.
Jeremy Labat and Maria Gilland were married on June 15, 2015.
Dr. Allison Zollner joined Complete Health in Marshall as an associate doctor of chiropractic in the fall of 2015.
Luke Nelson and Ashley Sandbulte are both teaching in the Westbrook-Walnut Grove school district.
2009 Emmanuel Blimie is running for Florida State Senate, District 33. He is CEO and founder of ROLTE (Reach Out Locally Together and Educate). Cat Abbott and Mike Meier (’98) welcome a baby girl, Lana Luella, on May 19, 2015. Allison (Krause) and Alex (’07) Peterson welcomed Adilyn Marie on June 18, 2015. She joins sister Brylee at home. Alex recently became Marshall’s Studio One cable access TV manager. Allison is a kindergarten teacher at St. Edward’s Catholic School in Minneota. Angela Rohne married Steven Falck on October 3, 2015 in Austin, Minn. They live in Coon Rapids. Emily Schroder married Shawn Krzmarzick on June 13, 2015. 2010 Bethany Breakus (MBA) married Mark Hartung on Sept. 1, 2015. Bethany (Nigon) Cargill, her husband, Jeff, and their daughter, Ellie, welcomed Tate Matthew on July 22, 2015. Trina (Dammann) and Logan McAlpin (’11) welcomed Maddox Everett on July 1, 2015. Jacob Richter (MS) is a teacher at WalkerHackensack-Akeley High School. Trisha Schilling married Tylor Fenske on Sept. 12, 2015.
2012 Michael Dokkebakken (MS) married Elizabeth Honebrink on July 18 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Benson. Derek Klinkner (MS ’14) and Audra Ross were married on Sept. 5, 2015. Amanda Meine married Greg Lang on Aug. 8, 2015. Amanda works at Christensen Farms & Feedlots, Inc. as a business development/agronomy administrative assistant.
Madeline Robertson writes a column for the Independent, Marshall’s daily newspaper, and lives in Marshall. She was on a discussion panel as part of the Marshall Festival ’15 event. 2015 Gabrielle Cohrs works for both Running’s and Borch’s Sporting Goods in Marshall and continues to follow her passion of writing. She was a discussion panel contributor at the recent Marshall Festival ’15.
Emily Schoephoerster is a teacher in the WestbrookWalnut Grove school district.
Daniel Kilkelly participated in a panel discussion at the Marshall Festival ’15 featuring SMSU Creative Writing Alumni called “Don’t Quit Your Day Job… Yet: How to Make Your Creativity Marketable.”
2013 Michael Hagen (MS) is a teacher at Sturgis Elementary School in Sturgis, South Dakota.
Jayme Wiertzema is teaching at the Prairie Elementary School, Worthington, as an art instructor to all third- and fourth-grade students.
Nick White participated in Marshall Festival ’15 appearing on a panel discussing spoken word poetry and was a featured performer in the closing event at the Brau Brothers Tap Room.
Haley Zacharias is the new 7th and 8th grade language arts teacher in the ColmanEgan school district (S.D.). She will also be working with K-12 students in the library and helping with the speech team.
2014 Kassi Hague and Lucas Tietz (’13)and were married on Aug. 29, 2015.
MEMORIUM Terry Cunningham (’76) passed away peacefully with loved ones at his side on March 19 ath the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City.
Laura (Kramer) and Blair Miller welcomed Colby Allen on June 1, 2015.
Following an outstanding playing career at Southwest Minnesota State University, Autumn Hayes has been named an assistant soccer coach at Towson University, Towson, Md.
A group of Alumni from the mid 1970’s pose with the new Bronze Mustang statue during Homecoming 2015.
Thomas Bernard Rignell (’76) passed away on May 18 at the age of 62 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester.
Garrett Conn ’15 took part in the “World’s Toughest Mudder” 24-hour-Obstacle/Endurance race in Las Vegas and represented SMSU Exercise Science! He was a part of the Pit Crew for a team of four men who ran the race and ended up taking 6th place in the world! Garrett was recruited to be part of race strategy, training programs, nutrition intake, and overall support of the team which he credits to his Exercise Science degree from SMSU.
Philip J. Wohlhuter (’79), sibling to Rex Wohlhuter, Gerald Wohlhuter and Jan (Wohlhuter) Snell, passed away on Aug. 10, 2015. Richard Nisleit (’84) passed away on October 4, 2015. Lynelle Peterson Spain (‘85) passed away on June 5. She graduated from SMSU with a B.A. in Sociology. Pam (Bot) Haukom (’85) passed away on October 12 following a long battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband Jeffery (’84) and children Nick, Kristen, Nathan, Craig and Brent. Laurel L. Molen (’89) passed away on April 6, 2015 from cancer. Michael Branco (’03) passed away on July 26 from cancer. Thomas Worden (‘07) passed away on August 11, 2015.
Frederick Bursack (’08) passed away on September 23, 2015. Debra “Debbie” Carrow, (’94) former Director of the Upward Bound program at SMSU, died August 10 at the age of 59. Weldon “Bill” Garrison passed away Aug. 15, 2015. He tought in the Hotel Restaurant Program from 1972-79. Mary V. Smith, former Secretary to the head of the Physical Education department, passed away on August 22, 2015 at the age of 96. WHAT’S YOUR STORY? Share news with other alumni: email alumni@SMSU.edu call 800-260-0970 click SouthwestAlumni.com mail SMSU Alumni Office 1501 State St. Marshall, MN 56258
All cities are in Minnesota unless noted.
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FOUNDATION Annual Report
Dear Fellow Alumni and Friends, It is my pleasure to share with you our Annual Report and Honor Roll of Donors for 201415. The Southwest Minnesota State University Foundation Board of Directors and staff are very thankful for the generosity and support of our many alumni and friends who make our work possible. Raising scholarship dollars to ensure access and opportunity for all students, providing program support to enrich learning opportunities, and promoting the work of our students, faculty and alumni are efforts that we can all take great pride in advancing. The year was highlighted with the culmination of two major efforts. The first was the completion of the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system “Access to Excellence” campaign, a two-year campaign to collectively raise $20 million in scholarship support across the entire MnSCU system through our respective foundations. Together the systemwide foundations within the MnSCU raised $39.5 million in new scholarship money. This allowed our campuses to award over 28,000 scholarships to students across the state. The second major project that was led by our alumni and Foundation was the creation of a beautiful new entrance sign welcoming visitors to SMSU and the community of Marshall. There is no doubt now when you come to campus that this is Mustang Territory! A beautiful bronze Mustang created by alumnus John Sterner proudly adorns the entrance to campus leading the stampede of Mustangs. The project was made possible entirely with private contributions from alumni and friends led by a generous challenge grant from alumna Deeann Griebel. Every gift to SMSU, no matter the size, is important and appreciated. There are many worthy projects that have been and will be made possible through the generosity of our alumni and friends. While this report lists the many individuals and businesses that have supported SMSU this past year with a gift of $100 or more, please be sure to visit our website at www.SMSUFoundation.org to see a complete listing of everyone who made a contribution this past year Many of you may have already received that phone call from our students or a mailing asking for your support again this year. If you haven’t made a contribution I would encourage you to consider the SMSU Foundation in your year-end giving plans. Your gift today will ensure additional opportunities and support for our students in the years ahead. On behalf of the SMSU Foundation Board of Directors and the students, faculty and staff at SMSU, thank you for all that you do to make Southwest Minnesota State University a great university! Sincerely,
Bill Mulso Vice President for Advancement Foundation Executive Director
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FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT
2014-15
$6,682,038
Total Net Assets
$3,087,727 FY 2010 $6,839,030 FY 2011
$2,578,221 $8,600,180
FY 2012
$2,704,687 $9,757,887
FY 2013
$3,068,921 $11,035,097
FY 2014
$3,394,660 $12,646,210
FY 2015
$2,993,367 $13,337,874
Foundation Support for FY 2015 $2,993,367 Academic and Program Support $545,457
2014-2015 Foundation
Fundraising $477,018
Board of Directors President Dorene Kronke-McCourt ’73 1st Vice President Brian Knochenmus ’00
Scholarships $817,309
2nd Vice President Bruce Saugstad ’89
University Development $1,153,583
Secretary/Treasurer Kristi Mukomela 80 Past President Diane Taylor ’75
Total Net Assets and Foundation Support FY 2009–FY 2015
Robert Aufenthie Julie Bleyhl ’84 Jerry Bly ’71 Deb Boulton ’93
FY 2009
$5,338,918 $6,682,038
$3,087,727 FY 2010 $6,839,030 FY 2011
$2,578,221 $8,600,180
$2,704,687 FY 2012 $9,757,887 FY 2013
FY 2014
FY 2015
$3,068,921 $11,035,097 $3,394,660 $12,646,210 $2,993,367 $13,337,874
Foundation Support Total Net Assets
Timothy Burns ’72 Vicki Brockman ’82 Bill DeLay ’85 Lee French ’72 Robert Gunther ’77 Jim Kontz Dan Koster ’85 Jefferson Lee ’96/MS’11 Roger Madison Marilyn McLaughlin Mary Meaden Charles Myrbach Rachael Posusta ’15 Mike Rich Karen Sweetland Bill Toulouse ’94 Brad Winkelman ’91
FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT
2014-15
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Honor Roll of Donors 2014-2015 Presidential Benefactors Society $1,000,000 + cumulative Presidential Patrons Society $500,000 - $999,999 cum. Presidential Fellows Society $250,000 - $499,999 cum. Presidential Benefactors Society Business Aramark Corporation Schwan’s Corporate Giving Foundation Schwan’s Shared Services, LLC The Schwan Food Company Presidential Patrons Society Alumni & Friends Deeann Griebel ‘80 Business Oscar and Cora Sather Presidential Fellows Society Alumni & Friends Karen LeShufy Business Archer Daniels Midland Company Bremer Bank CHS Foundation Minnesota Corn Growers Association Minnesota Soybean Growers Association Otto Bremer Foundation Ralph Manwarren Charitable Trust US Bancorp Cornerstone Society Alumni & Friends **David & Cecelia Danahar Mark Edelmann ‘75 Brian & Kristin Gruhot ‘93 Robert Lockwood Thomas McCourt & Dorene Kronke-McCourt ‘73 Dorothy McGuiggan Orian Muecke ‘75 & Sue Muecke Business Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center Bremer Financial Corporation Buuck Family Foundation Ecolab Inc Hy-Vee Food Store LeAnn Tolk Charitable Fund Marshall Radio R & G Construction Ralco Nutrition, Inc. Southwest Initiative Foundation UniPro Foodservice, Inc.
Cornerstone Society $100,000 - $249,999 cum. Landmark Society $50,000 - $99,999 cum. Benefactors Society $25,000 - $49,999 cum.
Upper Midwest Employers Association Landmark Society Alumni & Friends **Doug & JoAnne Fraunfelder Sheldon & Margery Haaland **William Hezlep Marilyn Kontz ‘71 **Robert & Premjit Larsen **Kenneth & Gwen Mukomela Thomas & Linda Sanders **Dan & Mary Snobl ‘88 Michael & Jennifer Thomas ‘95 **Joseph & **Eileen VanWie Beth Weatherby & Steve Kramer Darrel Wiener ‘75 & Karen Wiener ‘74 Business AgStar Financial Services Annexstad Family Foundation Bank of the West - Marshall Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, LLC Carr Properties D & G Excavating East River Electric Power Cooperative Edelmann Management Company First USA Bank, N.A. Great Plains Natural Gas Co Hardees Hormel Food Corporation KHC Construction, Inc. Lockwood Motors, Inc. Lyon-Lincoln Electric Cooperative Marshall Public School District 413 McLaughlin & Schulz, Inc. Midwest United Insurance Services, Inc. Minnesota Pork Board Schwan Food Company Fund of the Bank of America Slumberland of Marshall Southwest Tour & Travel/ Southwest Coaches, Inc. Southwest Marketing Advisory Council
University Society $10,000 - $24,999 cum. President’s Society $5,000 - $9,999 cum.
The McFarland Company US Bancorp Foundation Wells Fargo Foundation Minneapolis Wells Fargo Foundation Educational Matching Gift Benefactors Society Alumni & Friends Frederick & Debra Almer ‘76 **Joseph & Cathy Amato Bradley Baune Michael Bjerkesett ‘71 Diane Cohen ‘72 & Jerrold Cohen *Connie Gores David Grong ‘76 & Linda Grong Barbara Habstritt **Jack & **Mary Hickerson * Chris Hmielewski ‘98 & Mary Jo Hmielewski ‘04 Robert Jacobson & Jill Vroman Dave & *Sharon Kabes Dennis Larson ‘71 & **Maren Larson ‘89 Chet & Nicole Lockwood ‘10 John (Jack) McLaughlin Tom & Liz McLaughlin * Bill Mulso ‘93 & *Stacie Mulso ‘94 *David Pichaske & Michelle Payne Pichaske ‘88 Doug Pilgrim & *Jan Loft Lenny & Judy Pippin **Lloyd & Linnea Raymond *Michael & Arlene Rich Kim & Carolyn Runholt Thomas Sand Bruce Saugstad ‘89 & Linda Saugstad ‘90 **David & Marlys Simpson **Michael & **Karen Sterner **Mary Jane Striegel Dan & Kathy Sussner Karen Sweetland Jim & Teah Swenson David & Diane Taylor ‘75 Ronald & Sandra Wood **James & *Marianne Zarzana Business Affiliated Community Medical Center Ameriprise Financial - Tom VanderHagen
Bellows Club $1,000 - $4,999 annual Founders Club $500 - $999 annual Century Club $100 - $499 annual
Basin Electric Power Cooperative Bisbee Plumbing & Heating Borch’s Sporting Goods, Inc. Bremer Trust Company of MN Buffalo Ridge Concrete, Inc. Burger King of Marshall Cattoor Oil Company, Inc. CHS Inc. CHS Inc. - Marshall Davisco Foods International, Inc. Great River Energy Heartland Consumers Power District Helena Chemical Company Marshall Henle Printing Company Hoffman & Brobst, PLLP ING ReliaStar Life Insurance Company K.T.’s Kitchens, Inc. Land O’Lakes Foundation Mardag Foundation Marshall Independent Material Distributors, Inc. Merck Foundation Midwest Ag Enterprises, Inc. Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation Minnwest Bank, M.V. North Star Mutual Insurance Company Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation, Inc. Pepsi Cola Bottling Company PPG Industries Foundation Quarnstrom & Doering, P.A. Rock-Tenn Company Runnings Farm and Fleet Schott Foundation Shooters Sporting Clays State Farm Companies Foundation Subway The Farm Credit System Foundation, Inc. United FCS US Bancorp Foundation Viking Coca Cola Walter L. Mann Estate Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, NA Western Printing Company
University Society Alumni & Friends **Randy Abbott & Jill Buitendyk ‘92 * Timothy Alcorn ‘89 & Bobbie Alcorn Michelle Anderson ‘88 Harvey Angel ‘73 Kevin Anundson ‘82 & Karla Anundson Robert Archbold Robert Aufenthie & Ramona Nagel Bonnie Babcock * Daniel Baun ‘83 & *Linda Baun ‘85 Thomas & Gayle Birath * Paul & Nancy Blanchard Greg & Paula Boerboom ‘91 Charles & Katherine Bonifas Tyler Bowen ‘95 & Susan Bowen ‘95 Carol Bragg Brian & Kathy Brandt Leland Bush ‘73 & Pamela Bush ‘72 **Edward & Linda Carberry Duane & **Deb Carrow ‘94 Jim Checkel Jim & Kim Christianson * Scott & *Laura Crowell * Terrence Culhane ‘78 & Sandra Culhane ‘78 Donald & Phyllis Danielson Debbie Denbeck Rick & Linda Dennis John & Stephanie DeVos ‘12 David & Carol Drown Eric & Neenah Eben ‘04 Terry & Roxanne Eberle **Conrad & Marcia Eckstrom Bradley Engebretson ‘76 & *Jill Engebretson James & Michele Engels Dave & Pam Epperly **Ed & **Connie Evans Robert & Sandra Fenske *Sara Fier ‘93 & Bryan Fier Daniel Fischer & Jan NordinFischer Terrence Fogarty ‘82 & Karen Fogarty * Mark Fokken Joann Fredrickson ‘84
2012-2013 July 1, 2012-June 30, 2013
* Denotes SMSU employee **Denotes Retired SMSU Employee This Honor Roll of Donors lists annual contributors of gifts of $100 or more for the period between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015, and cumulative gifts and pledges of $5,000 or more. While gifts of any amount are very much appreciated, this report contains only those in the Century Club or higher. Great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of this report. If you see any discrepancies, please contact the SMSU Foundation. A complete listing of donors is available at www.SMSUFoundation.org.
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Neil Frost ‘93 & *Stacy Frost ‘93 Darrell & Marilyn Fuhr Jim & Jan Fuhrmann *Vaughn Gehle ‘82 Mitch Glover ‘85 & Jane Glover ‘84 Mabel Grong Robert Gunther ‘77 & Jill McCartney Tom & Sue Handeland Lois Henkel ‘72 Mike & Jean Henle Patrick & Sharon Hennen James & Deb Hey Tom & Fran Hill **Keigh & Arlene Hubel James Hubley ‘74 & Barbara Hubley ‘75 * Brent & Mary Jeffers ‘02 Randy & **Deb Johnson Violet Johnson Richard Jorgensen ‘72 & Barbara Jorgensen **Charles Kauffman James & *Debra Kerkaert ‘88 John Kern ‘75 & Lynda Kern ‘77 *Jeff Kolnick & Rosa Tock **Michael Kopp & *Vicky Brockman ‘82 Michael Kramer ‘94 & Alecia Kramer ‘94 Vincent & Anne LaPorte Therese Larsen Gregory & Rebecca Lecy Rena Lockwood John & Kathy Loe * Kelly Loft ‘97 & Kari Loft ‘96 Sandy & Peggy Ludeman Joe & Kim Ludowese Susan Madsen Irene Maertens Sally A. and Burton M. Magnuson ‘04 C. Paul & Carole Martin Bill & Roz McCormack Marilyn McLaughlin **George & Rise Mitchell Bruce & Debra Mitlyng ‘85 **Roger & Constance Mohr James Moline Gordon & Jenice Molitor Ruth Mortier Doug & **Sandy Mosch ‘79 Kristi Mukomela ‘80 Charles & *Rosalie Muller ‘85 **Charles Myrbach James Ness & Carole ToftNess ‘80 Kenneth & Janice Noyes *William & Pam Pavot John Paxton ‘71 & Kathy Paxton ‘69 Vincent & Marcy Pellegrino Nathan Polfliet ‘00 & Angel Polfliet
Karl Porisch ‘03 & Shirley Anderson-Porisch Warren & Ardella Quarnstrom **Thaddeus Radzilowski Leland & Norma Raske Dennis & Adele Reed David & Bette Reeder Thomas Roberts & Deanna Getschel Roberts *Don Robertson ‘84 & Marci Robertson Anthony & Michelle Rossman **Alvin & **Joan Rusk ‘82 Steve & Juli Sanders Matt Schnoor Brandon & Lauri Skewes Michael Springman ‘73 & Tracey Springman * Tim & Christy Steinbach Mark & Claudia Stenson Mark Sunwall ‘74 & Deborah Sunwall **Eileen Thomas *William & Candace Thomas ‘08 *Gerald & Mary Toland ‘96 William Toulouse ‘94 & Traci Toulouse Doug & Carole Treadway Pat & Karen VanKeulen ‘87 Ronald VanLerberghe Robert Walker ‘98 & Nancy Walker ‘02 Patrick Wands ‘85 Mike & **Lorraine Weverka Daniel & Carleen Wiersma Scott & Terri Williams Chad & Sandy Wyffels Dale W. Youngern Business 212 Strategies, LLC 3M Foundation Action Manufacturing, Inc AgriBank AgStar Financial Services Alden Merritt Enterprises LLC Alltel Corporation American Insurance Administrators, Inc. American Legion Post #113 Breyfogle Auto Sales Burger King Corporation Carlson & Stewart Refrigeration Cars Limited Coca Cola Bottlers’ Foundation Cottonwood Co-op Oil Company Credit Bureau of Marshall, Inc. Domino’s Pizza Duane Anderson Chartered DuPont Hi-Bred International
Dupont Pioneer-Northern Business Unit F & M Bank Minnesota Clarkfield First Independent Bank General Mills Granite Falls Bank Great Plains Sports, LLC Gregory G. Lecy, D.D.S. Harvest Land Cooperative Heartland Corn Products Hitching Post of Marshall, Inc. Hubbard Foundation Jennie-O Turkey Store Jim’s Clothing & Sporting Goods John V. or Esther McLaughlin Foundation Kyle B. Petersen Farms Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce Marshall Convention and Visitors Bureau McNeely Foundation MDU Resources Foundation Meier Electric, Inc. Midwest Aviation Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative Minnesota Pork Producers Association Minnesota Turkey Research & Promotion Council Minnwest Bank, M.V. National Collegiate Athletic Association National Endowment For The Humanities Nationwide Foundation NB Golf Cars, Inc. Papa John’s Pizza Perkin’s Family Restaurant Prairie Pride Cooperative Preferred One Prudential Foundation Ramada Marshall Red Rock Rural Water System Reinhart Food Service, LLC Research Chefs Association Skewes Jewelry Smile Designers Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative Southwest Ophthalmology Associates, P.A. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company Strategic Marketing Services, Inc. Titan Machinery Traveler’s Lodge Motel Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #742 Wachovia Foundation
President’s Society Alumni & Friends Bruce & Mary Ahrendt * John Alcorn ‘89 & Susan Alcorn Tony Alcorn ‘90 & Patricia Alcorn ‘91 David Anastasi ‘82 & Joyce Anastasi Adrian & Claudia Anderson ‘81 Brad & Monica Anderson Douglas Anderson Joseph & Helen Andries Wilfredo & Alice Apostol Shirlee Bailey Lee Barrett ‘83 Gregory & Mary Bartz Gary & Marjory Becker Greta Berry Frank Belmont ‘76 & Rebecca Belmont Dale Berkner ‘78 & Dianne Berkner Eli & Mary Berry James Beyer ‘97 & *Noelle Beyer ‘97 Steven Binder ‘79 & Debbie Binder Brian & Krista Bjella ‘96 Michael Blum ‘77 & Louise Blum Eric Bly ‘02 & Erica Bly ‘02 Jerald Bly ‘71 & Ricke Bly ‘73 Todd & Jane Bock Jeff & *Rhonda Bonnstetter ‘96 John & Margaret Bornhoft Greg & *Carol Bossuyt ‘15 Mark Bosveld Mark & Deborah Boulton ‘93 *Patricia Brace Cal & Deb Brink **Glen Bruns ‘85 & Mary Bruns ‘75 Thomas Brutscher ‘85 Don & Susan Buhl Julie Caron David Caslavka ‘91 Greg & Sue Cattoor John Chute ‘77 & Debbie Chute Stanley & Katherine Claussen Edmond & Nina Conway **Verna Cornish Bruce Cox & Constance Smith-Cox Chad Crow ‘72 & Marilyn Crow **Hugh & Linda Curtler Jeremy Daberkow Kevin & Nancy Dahlman Fran & Syl DeBaere **Carmen DeKoster Tim & Jennifer Deutz ‘84 Betsy & Martin Draper
Harlan & Teri Dreessen John & Patricia Drown ‘71 Scott Dubbelde ‘84 & Diane Dubbelde ‘87 Tim & Marlene Dufault Faye Eckternacht Eric & Brandy Eidsness Joe & Sarah Ektanitphong **Robert & **Maryann Eliason Michael & Pamela Ellingson Curtis Enestvedt ‘71 & Debra Enestvedt Cameron & Joanne Fanfulik William Fenske ‘84 & Anne Fenske Oliver & Mary Ford Shawn Foy **Gary & Mary Frandson ‘71 James & *B.C. Franson Charles Freiss & Catherine Schlagel ‘76 Steve & Linda Fruechte Randy & Pamela Galbraith ‘80 * Stuart Galstad ‘72 Everett Garlisch ‘72 Julia Gaskell ‘83 & Pete Gaskell **Pat & LaVern Gawarecki David & Linnea Genereux *John & Leanna Ginocchio Jeffery Gladis ‘87 & *Pam Gladis ‘95 George & Jenifer Goblish ‘99 **John & *Denise Gochenouer ‘02 Thomas Good ‘73 & Annette Good Forrest Gorter ‘73 & Mary Ferron Curtis & Kristy Griffin Joanne Groenewold ‘76 Randy Groff ‘84 & Patty Groff Jason Gruhot ‘88 & Danielle Gruhot Sharon Gruhot William Hanson ‘77 & Jan Hanson ‘75 Jonathan Harley ‘72 & Donna Harley Shane Hastings ‘92 & Penny Hastings Darin & Nancy Hegland **Don & **Julie Hein ‘71 Marvin & Jan Hey Michael Hickman ‘74 & Sharon Hickman Mark Hodder ‘87 & Xunyu Qian **Sandy Hoffbeck ‘74 Brian & Sandi Hoffman Daniel & Ronaele Hoffman Ken & *Cyndi Holm ‘79 * Diana Holmes ‘12 Michael Holmes ‘85
* Denotes SMSU employee **Denotes Retired SMSU Employee
FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT
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Bryon Hotzler ‘72 & Laura Hotzler ‘72 **Marcia & Jerry Hubner Owen Jensen ‘71 & Darlene Jensen James & **Ann John ‘77 David Johnson ‘72 & Lourdes Vasquez De Johnson Richard & Margaret Jolstad Lyn Kaczmarek Kienholz & Mike Kaczmarek Ralph & Mena Kaehler Randy & Susan Kamrath Marc & Melissa Klaith Karen & Don Klinkner Carlos & Jean Knakmuhs Todd Konietzko ‘85 & Kelly Konietzko ‘84 Brian & Nancy Kor ‘83 George & Jane Korver * Charles Kost & *Elizabeth Desy David & *Brittany Krull ‘04 Robert & Donna Kruse Russ & *Debra Labat **Marilyn Leach Daniel & Kim Lippert **Max & Mary Lord Jon Maker ‘78 & Rhonda Maker David & Julie Marquardt Joel Mathiowetz Darlene Mattke ‘74 Patrick McCoy David Meier ‘84 & **Nancy Gerber-Meier Thomas Meulebroeck ‘73 & Veronica Meulebroeck Perry & Lou Ann Meyer Keith & Cheryl Miller ‘89 Tim Moberg ‘71 & Judy Moberg Dwight & Dawn Mork Larry & Michelle Muff David Musser ‘81 & Tammy Musser ‘81 Diane Nagel ‘73 & Gregory Posch **David & Judith Nass Jan Nelson ‘73 Paula Nelson ‘72 & Stephen Krumpe Daniel Nesdahl ‘97 Ron & Karen Obermoller Thomas Odland ‘72 & Pamela Odland Steven Otto ‘79 & Teresa Otto **Girard Parnell ‘71 & Diane Parnell **David & Marica Patterson Mary & George Peichel Craig Pellerin **Lloyd & Rennae Petersen ‘86 Les & Mary Jo Plumley ‘81 Lynn & Kelly Plumley Duke Pogatchnik
MaJa Pogatchnik Don & Mary Polfliet John & Kathy Pollock David Potter ‘77 Anne Pryor ‘82 Thomas Quarnstrom ‘75 Brian & Lisa Rademacher ‘93 Daniel Reed ‘76 Dawn Reed ‘74 & Doug Thiesen **Roger & Karen Reede Robert Reinhart ‘75 **Jean Replinger Michael & Rosemary Rizzo Joe Roers ‘05 & **Betty Roers ‘05 Marsha Rose ‘94 **James & Aileen Rowe Dolores Rysdahl ‘71 Larry & Dawn Schiavo Mike Schneider Matt Schnoor Steven & Loronda Schuler * Robert Schwoch ‘02 **George & Peggy Seldat Randy Serreyn ‘82 & Roxanne Serreyn ‘82 **Lew & Judith Shaver ‘95 Richard & Mary Shearer **Sherwin Skar & Kathy Jones James Smalley & Sara Runchey * Connie & Paul Smisek Alan Smith ‘71 & Evelyn Smith Cynthia Sorenson ‘80 **Richard & Carol Spencer ‘97 Greg Stemen ‘01 David Strom ‘75 & Vicki Strom ‘75 Mike & *Elizabeth Struve John Suedbeck Jerry & Linda Svoboda Lonnie & Jeannie Swenson Randy & Leann Tatge Alison & John Tauer Jeff Tetrick ‘72 & Chris Tetrick Doug Theis David Thomas Jeff & Colleen Thompson Eric & Tamara Thorn Bruce & Ann Tiffany Kathy Tjosaas Paul & Cindy Torkelson Thomas Vandendriessche ‘77 & Janet Vandendriessche Gary & *Debbie VanOverbeke ‘89 Joseph & Shirley VanOverbeke David Verkinderen ‘90 & Krista Verkinderen **Gene & Brenda Verschelde
Timothy & Mary Jean Waibel * Ross Webskowski ‘02 & Heather Webskowski ‘98 Mark & Michelle Wilcox Joe & Jane Willett Harmon Wilts & Gina KellyWilts Bradley Winkelman ‘91 & Alison Winkelman ‘91 Michael & Susan Wudel Terry Wynia ‘87 & *Lori Wynia Hans & Shana Zahrbock Thomas & DeVonna Zeug John & Kara Zimmerman James & Emily Zwach Business 509 Design A&W Action Sports, Inc All My Favorites Alliance Pipeline L.P. American Hotel Foundation, Inc. AmericInn Motel & Suites Ameriprise Financial Randy Groff Awards Plus of Southwest Minnesota, Inc. BENCO Electric Cooperative Beverage Wholesalers, Inc. Big Stone Therapies Marshall, LLC Bladholm Construction, Inc. Bot Appliance & Electronics Brownlee & Hayes, Inc. Buysse Roofing Systems & Sheet Metal Co. Charter Communications Company Chase Manhattan Foundation Chemical Bank Chevron Humankind Matching Gift Program City Looks Comfort Inn Communicating for Agriculture Complete Health Center Daley Farm of Lewiston, LLP Dental Health Center Doom & Cuypers, Inc. Eickhoff Enterprises, Inc. The Equitable Foundation Farmland Foundation First Independent Bank Floor to Ceiling Store Fran’s Communications Gene’s Sporting Goods, Inc. of Marshall Gene’s Sporting Goods, Inc. of Minneota Helena Chemical Company Hennen Seeds Home Federal Savings Bank
Hormel Foods Charitable Trust Horty Elving & Associates, Inc. IBM Matching Grants Program J. R. Farms, Inc. Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches Johnson Family Dental Care Kruse Auto Sales Larson’s Home Furnishings - Marshall H. W. Linder Lockheed Martin Corporation Ludowese, A E Inc. Lyon County Farm Service JV Marco Marcotte Jewelry LTD Marshall Area YMCA Marshall Pizza Partners, LLC McDonald’s of Redwood Falls Medtronic Foundation Mike’s Cafe Minnesota FFA Foundation Minnesota Turkey Growers Association Minnesota Valley Communications, Inc. Mister Cool’s Clothing Monsanto Company Moving Forward Advisory Council, Inc NE Foods, Inc. New Life Farms, LLLP Northrop Grumman Foundation Northwestern Farm Management Olson & Johnson International, Inc. On Campus Marketing, LLC. Pine Lake Wild Rice Farm Prairie’s Edge Casino Preferred Health Chiropractic Prinsco, Inc. R & R Imdieke Farms Randall W. Johnson, D.D.S. Renville County Farm Bureau Sandra L. Fuhr Family Trust Sanford Health Senspire LLC Sherman Chiropractic & Rehabilitation Silvercrest Charolais SMSU Accounting Club SMSU Alumni Association SMSU HRS/Culinology SMSU President’s Office SMSU Theatre Department Southwest Cattlemen’s Association
* Denotes SMSU employee **Denotes Retired SMSU Employee
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Southwest MN Arts & Humanities Council Southwest Pallets Southwest Sanitation State Farm Insurance Charlie Aufenthie State Farm Insurance Company - Kevin Anundson Stearns County Soil & Water Conservation District Stoneberg, Giles & Stroup, P.A. Sussner Construction, Inc. Tanner Systems, Inc. Thalmann Seeds, Inc. The Rosen Family Foundation Torgerson Properties True Value Home Center TRW Foundation TSP Twin Oak Acres United Southwest Bank US Bank Varsity Pub Wherley Moving & Storage Wilson O’Brien Realtors Yellow Medicine East Independent School Dist. 2190 Bellows Club Alumni & Friends Susan Anderson David & Pam Bednar Adam Bergren ‘01 & Suzanne Bergren Homer Chan ‘77 & Betty Chan Nathan Dahlager ‘98 & *Cori Ann Dahlager ‘98 Kevin DeBoer ‘87 & Nicole Johnson-DeBoer ‘90 Mark Diekmann ‘83 & Deborah Diekmann Al & Mary Eggermont Marc Fritz ‘03 & Amanda Fritz ‘02 Kory & Amy Grant Benjamin Kirby Jan & J.E. Leffler David & Marlyce Logan Eric & Karla Luther Thomas Sahlstrom ‘83 & Cindy Sahlstrom Tim & Donna Swenson Jennifer Thatcher Timothy Wands Dan Wellik Business Affiliated Community Medical Center PA AL-CORN CLEAN FUEL Edward Jones - Neil Frost Edward Jones - Mike Leary Edward Jones - Mike Snodgrass Fellowship of Christian Athletes
InFaith Community Foundation Lyon County Corn and Soybean Growers Assocation Midwest Dairy Association MN Driver License Department Nova-Tech Engineering Schwab Charitable Fund Silver Spring Foods, Inc. South Dakota Soybean Processors Staples Enterprises, Inc Wands Family Trust Founders Club Alumni & Friends Bruce Aamot ‘76 & Lori Aamot * Barb Berkenpas ‘08 Mark Bigler Thomas Boerboom ‘74 & Susan Boerboom Cindy Bohler Troy Bouman Thomas & Candace Buchholz Tina Cartwright ‘97 & Chad Cartwright Tom Ellingson * Lee French ‘72 & Joann French ‘75 Craig Gifford ‘71 & Ann Marie Gifford ‘71 Gary & Sarah Gimbel * Vinay Gonela Joy Hellie ‘88 & Peter Hellie ‘84 Larry & Barbara Henle Lucas & Jessica Hilgemann Gary Johnson ‘75 & Susan Johnson Paula Kelly ‘89 & John Kelly Anthony & Ami Kerr Stephenice & Michael Kilroy Gary & Joleen Koch Carlton Lance ‘94 & Angela Lance ‘92 Thomas & Sherri Landmark Nicholas & Kasey Linde ‘11 James Louwagie ‘86 & Julie Louwagie Myrnalee Mania * Jessica Mensink ‘04 & Tony Mensink David Meulebroeck ‘76 & Karen Meulebroeck Beth & Brent Nelson * Linda Nelson ‘92 & Jon Nelson Mark Overgaard Matt & Melanie Pedersen ‘98 Sigmund Peterson ‘78 & Karen Peterson
Sue Peterson ‘89 & Bradley Peterson Scott & Staci Saugstad Andrew Schlichting ‘06 John Smith ‘74 & Becky Smith Gary St Aubin ‘82 & Wendy St Aubin Wayne & Mary Thompson Dustin Vierstraete ‘14 & *Sonya Vierstraete ‘01 * Allan & Becky Vogel John Warnert ‘86 Angela Wenning David Wolter ‘78 & Dianna Wolter ‘80 Business Al’s Enterprises, Inc. AURI Baytex Energy USA Inc. Bladholm Properties Extra Innings Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Minnesota Beef Council Minnesota Cooperative Education Foundation Prinsco Rabo AgriFinance The Baxter International Foundation The Benevity Community Impact Fund Century Club Alumni & Friends Brett Aasen ‘89 Tim Aberson Darcy Acher Carl Acker Susan Acker Chad Adams ‘96 & Ann Adams ‘97 Jason Adams ‘94 & Kami Adams ‘95 Mary Adkins ‘74 & Buddie Adkins * Jorun & Alan Ahmann Sonya Alexander ‘89 & Robert Alexander Linda Allen ‘84 & Jeffrey Allen Jeff & Bonnie Allen Brian Anderson ‘74 & Lea Anderson Court Anderson ‘00 Dennis Anderson ‘92 & Marjorie Anderson Diana & John Anderson Paul Anderson ‘93 & Julie Anderson Trevor Anderson ‘04 * Jessica Anderson ‘07 Joyce Arends ‘98 & Paul Arends * Bridget Arkell ‘00 & Richard Arkell ‘06 Julie Arvold ‘89 & Bruce Arvold
* Kathleen Ashe & John Bunge Adenuga & Murielle Atewologun Annette Atkins ‘72 & Tom Joyce Wallace Axelson Bradley Bacon ‘92 & Renee Bacon Marvin Bahn ‘75 & Janet Bahn Scott & Brenda Baker Debra Banks ‘75 & Richard Banks Calvin Barnett J. Rodney & Linda Barstad Jeffrey Bartz ‘85 & Jill Bartz Jean Baun William Bechtol Jr. ‘76 & Sharon Bechtol Emily Bell Richard Bendt ‘90 & Shawna Bendt Dale & Marlene Berg Michael & Donnietta Bernard * Marcia & Scott Beukelman Cynthia Bighley ‘83 & Milton Bighley * Brad Bigler ‘02 & Heather Bigler ‘05 Michael Bird ‘95 & Jodi Bird ‘95 Nancy & Kevin Bitterman John Blake ‘83 & Mary Monnet-Blake Dean Bloemke ‘73 & JoAnn Bloemke John Blomme ‘90 & Kristin Blomme ‘89 Adam Blume ‘06 Noah Bly Dean & Jeanette Boerboom Wade Boerboom ‘94 & Joy Boerboom ‘96 Todd Bonlander Gerald & Bernadette Bonlander Eric Born ‘93 & Danita Born Mark & Elizabeth Bostwick Marshall & Susan Bosworth John Bot ‘95 & Becky Bot ‘02 Jon Bot ‘80 & Susan Bot Todd Bouman Nathan & Terese Bourne * David Braaten Dale Bradtke ‘85 Patrick Brady ‘71 Gerry & Jodie Bredlow Ronald Brinkman ‘80 & Jayne Brisbois * Melissa Bromen ‘74 & Brian Bromen ‘72 * Jay & Judy Brown
Christina Brusven ‘02 & Daniel Brusven James Buchanon ‘85 & Lois Buchanon Robert Bueltel ‘84 & Sue Bueltel Alana Bunkers ‘77 & William Bunkers Jeffrey Burch ‘92 & Brenda Burch ‘93 Hal Burstein ‘87 & Gail Burstein John Buseth ‘86 & Vicki Buseth Steve Bush ‘76 & Sonya Bush Charles Buysse ‘82 & Sharon Buysse Larry & Valerie Buysse Tracy & Thomas Buzzell Timothy & Deborah Callahan Rodney Cardinal ‘71 & Mary Cardinal ‘71 Brett Carlson ‘92 & Loretta Carlson Mary Alice Carlson Sean Carmody ‘81 & *Patricia Carmody ‘80 James & Katherine Carochi Alan Carpenter ‘72 & Anne Carpenter ‘75 Elizabeth Carstens ‘74 Steven Casavant ‘03 & Catherine Casavant Charles Chalberg ‘73 Alice & Ray Chavez Paul Choudek ‘82 & Julie Choudek ‘84 Amy Christensen ‘00 & Carmen Christensen David Christensen & Julie Anne Solberg Christensen Ray Christensen Gary Christianson ‘84 & Jean Christianson Mark & Tina Christianson Matthew Claeys ‘84 & Sue Claeys Nancy Clark ‘00 * Wendy Claussen Schoolmeester ‘87 & Dean Schoolmeester ‘94 * Kris Cleveland Margaret Cline John & Charlene Clouse Katherine Coleman ‘71 & Wayne Coleman Neil & Connie Colwell John Compton ‘80 & Renee Compton Wendy Compton Robert & Kathy Condon Alan Connell David & Kimberly Connell Diane & Jim Cook Gregory & Stacie Cook Zachery Corbin
Christy Coudron ‘92 & Steven Coudron Darrell Courneya ‘73 & Celeste Courneya Michael Cox ‘73 & Cheryl Cox * Sandra Craner Matthew Crellin ‘76 & Joan Cochran Judy Crooker Richard Crumb ‘81 & Helen Crumb * Sean Culhane ‘05 **Philip Dacey * Michelle Dahl Rassoul Dastmozd ‘83 Satyajit Dattagupta ‘04 & Priyanka Dattagupta ‘08 * Stephen & Carrie Davis * Stewart & Rebecca Day ‘11 Jane DeAustin ‘73 & Bob DeAustin * Emily Deaver Roger & Deb DeBaere Gayle & Lois Degler Dave Deines ‘93 & Kimberly Deines ‘95 Alan DeLeeuw ‘76 & Jane DeLeeuw Mark Derby ‘97 Richard & Mary Deslauriers Barbara Desnoyers Scott & Melanie Dethlefsen Roxanne & Michael Dettmer Mark & Brenda Deutz Allen Deutz ‘07 & Kathleen Deutz ‘06 Brian & Dorothy DeVos Mary Jo Dierickx ‘84 Carolyn Dindorf ‘83 Richard Dinello ‘78 Bradley Dirckx ‘76 & Margaret Dirckx Todd & Brenda Dirckx Mary Dise Joe Dittrich ‘81 Donald Doheny Tracy Doherty ‘80 & Lisa Doherty Lon Dopp ‘93 & *Jill Dopp ‘93 Harold & June Duebbert Thomas Dunham Sharon Dunne Greg & Jody Duske Norman & Joel Duske Khalid Effendi ‘83 & Faezeh Oskooi Effendi ‘81 Carol Egan ‘74 & Peter Egan ‘74 Bruce Egeland Gale Ehle ‘78 & Michael Ehle Brian Ehlenbach ‘01 & Shawna Ehlenbach
* Denotes SMSU employee **Denotes Retired SMSU Employee
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Charles & Kari Ehlers ‘99 Margaret Eichenlaub ‘89 & Robert Eichenlaub Patrick Eichten ‘93 & Jenny Eichten Gary Eickhoff ‘73 & Joyce Eickhoff Dorothy Eischens Karen & Michael Eischens Gary & Carolyn Eliason Ronald & Cathy Elkins Christopher Ellingson ‘01 & Andrea Ellingson ‘98 Mark & Sandy Enemark David Engel ‘72 * Bonnie & Gordon Engesmoe Tyler Engquist ‘02 & Jill Engquist ‘02 Sarah Ericksen ‘97 Christine Erickson ‘73 & James Erickson Evelyn Ernst ‘71 & Carl Ernst James Evans Angela Fahl ‘04 & Jacob Fahl ‘03 Wendy & Kenneth Fast Stacey Feldman ‘98 & Craig Feldman ‘99 Maureen & Brian Fennerty Molly Feterl ‘90 Mark & Wren Feyereisen Thomas Fick Gerald & Marylynne Fields John Fischer ‘89 & Mary Fischer Jeffrey Fisher Quentin & Carla Fixen ‘11 James & Barbara Fjordbak Steve Fleck ‘90 & Cindy Fleck ‘92 Kevin Floyd Michael Foutch ‘82 & Shelley Foutch Tom & Karen Francis Douglas Franzen ‘82 Michele Freye Scott Fuller Shane & Janelle Funk Ronald & Patricia Galles Lisa Gaquin David Garman ‘76 & Nancy Garman Jon Garrow ‘96 & Julie Garrow J & Shelley Gauer * Brett Gaul ‘00 & Anita Gaul Larry Gavin ‘81 & Patricia Gavin Loretta Gehl ‘71 & William Gehl Richard & Kathryn Geist Thomas Gelhar ‘78 & Lynn Gelhar Richard & Myrlette Giddings Scott Gilbertson ‘90 & DeAnn Gilbertson ‘90
Rachelle Gilbertson ‘98 & Chris Gilbertson * Gary & Patricia Gillin Robin Gillispie ‘74 & Carol Heselton Daryl Gillund ‘96 William Gimmestad ‘07 & Paula Gimmestad ‘86 Gerald Gingles Jerome Girton ‘73 Brent Gish ‘73 & Gayle Gish Shirley Gladitsch ‘75 & Miles Gladitsch Thomas Goblirsch ‘75 & Lisa Goblirsch Diane & Terry Gonnerman Kay Gonzales ‘73 & Jamie Gonzales Sara Granheim ‘02 Paulette Grausam ‘76 & Greg Grausam * Jennifer Graven ‘03 & Kyle Graven Allen Grayson Donald & Annette Grebinoski Virginia Gregg ‘72 Leah Grobove ‘87 & Marvin Grobove Richard Groothuis ‘78 & Jane Groothuis Jan Grote ‘79 Scott Groth Sanford Gruhn ‘76 & Joyce Gruhn Gwenda Gullickson Cameron Guthrie ‘78 & Cathy Guthrie ‘79 Steve & Lisa Haas David & Carrie Haas Richard Haberman ‘94 Mark Hacker ‘74 & Marilyn Hacker ‘77 Bruce Hagen ‘71 & Lelia Hagen Steven Hagen Michael Haig ‘76 Dorothy Hamman ‘93 Kurt & Judy Hanson Toni Harms ‘12 Jean Hartman ‘76 & James Hartman Jerry Hauck Jeanette Hauschild Josh & Michelle Hawkinson ‘03 Nathan Hay Carlos & Criquet Hazim Larry Hebrink ‘72 & Linda Hebrink Steven Hedberg ‘71 David Hedlund * Shawn Hedman ‘86 & Nancy Jo Hedman ‘87 Lisa Hedrick ‘87 & Mark Hedrick Richard Hegge ‘83 & Kari Hegge ‘83 Kyle Hegre Lowell & Gladys Hellie
Thomas Hellmann ‘81 & Diana Hellmann Christopher Helvig ‘83 & Lisa Helvig Stephanie Hemsworth Keven & Jodi Hendrickson Pepper Henkel ‘91 Roberta Henrich ‘74 & John Henrich ‘76 Karen Henry * Kristine Henspeter ‘74 & Kim Henspeter Shaun Herring ‘81 & Paula Herring Dan & Deb Herrmann Greg Higdem ‘77 David Hilbrands ‘86 & Dori Hilbrands ‘85 Scott & Robbin Hilgert Jeffrey Hill ‘77 & Amy Hill Jane Hill Max Hinneberg ‘78 & Michele Hinneberg Lisa Hochhalter ‘89 & Barry Hochhalter Thomas Hoff ‘87 & Cheryl Hoff ‘87 Jason Hoffman ‘99 & Pam Hoffman Gary Hoffmann ‘72 & Marie Hoffmann Corinne Hohenwald Kristin Holicky Sharon Hollatz ‘01 & Tom Hollatz Karen Holmes Ronald & Susan Honken ‘79 Brenda Hoogeveen ‘88 & Dennis Hoogeveen ‘85 David Horn ‘78 Linda Horsager ‘71 & Les Horsager Mark Hotzler ‘80 & Jane Hotzler Todd Howatt ‘07 Carol & Mark Hruby Ronald Huddleston Jason Huss ‘97 & Dongi Huss Lauri Hutchinson Roger & Judy Imdieke Lee Isenberg Claire Jamal ‘73 & Ashraf Jamal James & Jean Jansen Myron Janssen ‘78 Mark Jennings ‘77 & Dorothy Tischer * Jeffrey & Nicolle Jennings Kevin Jensen ‘01 Mark & Mary Joy Jensen ‘84 Neil Jensen ‘71 & Karen Jensen Robert & Sharron Jensen Dennis Jensen ‘71 * Denise Jesse ‘98 & Paul Jesse ‘98 Philip Jessen ‘84 & Gayleen Jessen ‘85 Steve & Mary Johnson
Thomas Johnson ‘80 & Kristen Johnson Thomas Johnson ‘75 Steve Johnson Nancy Johnson ‘73 Mary-Louise Johnson Thomas Johnson Marcia Johnson ‘72 & Van Johnson Kim Johnson ‘76 Brad Johnson ‘73 & Deborah Johnson Matthew Johnson ‘94 & Joleen Johnson ‘94 Brian Jones ‘82 & *Susan Jones ‘82 Richard Jones ‘73 & Jeanne Jones ‘86 Brad Jones Thomas Jorgensen ‘72 & Kathy Jorgensen Mary Jorgensen-Haynes ‘80 & Tom Haynes Richard & Pam Jueneman * Sangnyeol Jung * Karen Kaas ‘94 * Daniel & Sheryl Kaiser ‘06 Merlyn Karjala ‘80 & Linda Karjala ‘82 Dean & Kendra Kattelmann Gary & Candy Kellen Michael Kellen ‘88 & Rhonda Kellen Bowen & Amy Keller Robert Kern Laurie Kesteloot ‘11 Richard Kidrowski ‘94 Mark & Carol Kiemele Arbutus Kjentvet Marc & Melissa Klaith Paulette Klingler Judith Koch Paul & Laurie Konrad Gary Koosmann ‘73 * Jim & Janet Kor Charissa & Dustin Koski Roger Koster ‘84 & Joan Koster ‘86 Curt & Luci Kovash Emily Kram ‘06 Mark & Gwen Kranz Robb Krause Tom Kremer ‘72 Tom Krenik Steve & Carol Kruger Craig & Rita Kruger Brian & Bonnie Kruse Jonathan Kubat ‘07 & Sarah Kubat ‘10 Andrew Kubat ‘76 & Dona Kubat ‘76 David Kuhlman ‘78 & Judy Ann Kuhlman ‘84 Brooks & Carol Kummer Douglas Kunde ‘83 & Marissa Kunde Shane Kussatz ‘96 & Heather Kussatz Gregorie Kvilhaug ‘76 & Diana Kvilhaug
* Denotes SMSU employee **Denotes Retired SMSU Employee
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Daniel Labat ‘82 Duane & Gerri Labat Diane Ladner ‘93 Ahren & Lynn LaFollette Bruce & Vicki Lamprecht Steven & Peg Lange **Cletus & Lorraine Lanners Kenneth & Cheryl Lanoue Allen Larson ‘78 & Ramona Larson ‘80 Danny & Tracy Larson Deborah Launer ‘77 & Russell Launer LeAnn Laycock-Ross ‘93 Steven Leaf ‘76 Rita Lear ‘89 Daniel Lee ‘83 & Karolee Knudson-Lee Robert & Betty Lee Darwin Leek ‘79 & Virgean Leek David Legnani ‘14 James Leichtnam Sandi & Kevin Leighton Michael Leischner ‘09 **Diane Leslie ‘91 & Bill Leslie Ronald Levtzow Melissa Lies ‘92 & Jeff Lies * Jim & Jeanette Lilleberg Peter Linder ‘94 & Rhonda Linder Steven Lindstrom Dan Little David Lobb Daniel & Michelle Lodahl Debanjan Lodh ‘97 & Mengjie Hou ‘97 David Loe ‘94 & Melissa Loe ‘94 Paul & Jacqueline Loose Pat Louwagie ‘83 & Laurie Louwagie * Janice Louwagie ‘79 & Jerry Louwagie ‘77 Margaret Louwagie ‘94 & Brad Louwagie Dale & Deb Louwagie David & Chris Louwagie **Jo & Joe Louwagie Brian Lucker ‘77 & Janeen Lucker Doug Luepke ‘73 Richard & Becky Luft Brian Luke ‘75 & Jane Luke ‘75 Adam Lund ‘05 & Chelsea Lund ‘07 Jerry Lupkes ‘84 & Jean Lupkes Barbara Lynch ‘75 Roger & Donna Madison Jolayne Madson ‘87 John & Cynthia Mages Mark Maiers ‘88 & Cindy Maiers * Karen & Jim Malmberg Sujeeta Maskey ‘13
Sandra Mathison ‘71 & Robert Mathison Bruce Mattson ‘73 & Susan Mattson Rick Mattson ‘81 & Sharon Mattson ‘81 Jeffrey Mauland ‘78 & Lynn Mauland David Mbonu ‘80 & Emilia Mbonu Tom McCoy Ronald McDaniel Susan McIntosh Marion McLaughlin * Susan McLean Kathryn McNally-Bova ‘93 & Gregory Bova * Mary & Tim Meaden Carol Meagher ‘73 & Patrick Meagher Donna Meeks Michael Meier ‘98 & Cat Abbott ‘09 Shane Meier LeAnn Melberg ‘97 & Brad Melberg Gunner (Jeffery) Mensink David Meyer ‘93 & Becky Meyer Greg & DeeAnne Miller David & Ann Miller Allen Miller ‘74 & Christine Miller Alan Miner ‘84 Karen Minge ‘88 & David Minge Laurie Minsk E.J. Moberg ‘98 & Shannon Moberg Jeffrey & Regina Modica Chris & Mindy Moede Steven Mohwinkel ‘76 & Jacki Knigge Tim Moline ‘01 & Erin Moline Joyce Monck G. Arne Monson ‘73 Lon & Robin Moon Bruce Morgan ‘73 & Anne Morgan Debra Morgan ‘79 & Dennis Gittinger Scott Morin ‘76 Terry Morrison Angela Moseley Sara Moseley Esmail Mostaghimi ‘87 & Barbara Mostaghimi ‘88 Melissa Moulton ‘98 Paul Muecke ‘09 Richard Mukomela Kristi Muller ‘89 Rodney Mulvaney Dale & Lisa Mulvaney * Michael Munford ‘05 & Cinara Munford Rebecca Munns ‘93 & Thomas Munns Dale & Cornelia Murphy
* Ken Murphy ‘88 & Sandra Murphy * Patricia Myrvik ‘00 & Matt Myrvik Michael Nash ‘75 & Elizabeth Nash Keith Nelsen ‘71 & Jane Nelsen ‘88 * Jesse & Julie Nelson Garry Nelson ‘79 & Bonnie Nelson ‘80 Joel & Denise Nerem Keith Newman ‘88 & Tamara Newman ‘90 Aaron Nielsen ‘96 & Kirsten Nielsen ‘96 C & D Nissen Richard Noer ‘73 & Nancy Noer Mark Nordrum ‘78 & Barbara Nordrum Russell & Kathryn O’ Leary * Abby Oakland ‘09 Chuck Obler & Lori Vikesland Obler Arlene Ochocki ‘71 & Donald Ochocki ‘74 Lynn O’Connor Denise Odegaard Brooke & Nathan Odem Robbie Oden-Wakely Erling & Charlotte Oie Doug & Leanna Olsem * Christine Olson * Julia & Dean Olson * Marcy Olson ‘93 & Ryan Wendland ‘02 * Raphael & Lillian Onyeaghala Jeffrey Orthaus ‘87 & Paula Orthaus ‘87 Lynne & Doug Osing Loren Overgaard Todd Pack ‘77 & Debi Pack ‘89 Bryce Pack ‘75 & Debra Prins Chris Pack David & Carla Palmer Ruth Partain Allison Payne Douglas Peppers ‘83 Andrew Peschong ‘10 Frederick Peters ‘84 Svend & Maren Petersen Gary Peterson ‘77 & Patricia Peterson James Peterson ‘87 * Scott & Peggy Peterson **Lynn & James Peterson Scott Petrich ‘87 & Connie Petrich ‘87 James & Vivian Pietrick Michael & Karen Pirozzoli ‘80 Phillip & Alonna Pointon James Polejewski ‘87 & Gail Polejewski ‘93 Dean Polkow ‘82
Steven Polkow ‘71 & Linda Polkow Michael Pominville ‘84 Robert Porter ‘80 & Helen Porter Duane Possail ‘87 & Jeanna Possail ‘89 Timothy & Pamela Powell Prudence Precourt Daniel & Doretta Prochaska Peter Quinlan Melissa Radel ‘90 & Warren Radel ‘89 Daniel Radel ‘08 & Kelli Radel ‘93 Lorna Rafness ‘94 & John Rezmerski Dale Raschke ‘75 Chris Rasmussen ‘75 & Sharon Rasmussen Kendra Rechtenbaugh ‘91 & Mark Rechtenbaugh Marcia & Paul Rehkamp Patrick Remick ‘87 & Mary Remick ‘88 Bruce Remme ‘01 & Carie Remme Carol Reuvers Roger Reuvers ‘81 & Linda Reuvers ‘82 Mark Riebel ‘85 & Kathy Riebel Timothy Rignell ‘76 & Kristine Rignell Gary & Sylvia Roberts Lisa Roden Brian & Tiffany Rodning Kent Roers ‘98 & Susan Roers Richard Roesler Amanda Romaine ‘03 & Tony Romaine Valerie Romberg ‘78 Ruben Romero James & Ronda Rosch Brian & Mary Rosene Laurence Rosene Jason & Janet Rossow Brian Rowell ‘77 & Susan Rowell Traci Rubin Scott & Ivy Ruiter Eric & Anna Runestad Chelsea & Dustin Russell Peter & Jackie Sames Elaine Sandager ‘74 David Sanderson ‘78 Russell Sanow ‘76 & Deidre Sanow ‘77 Rita Saugstad * Cory & Amy Sauter Kevin Schaefer ‘94 & Linda Schaefer ‘96 * Kathy J Schaefer ‘84 & Jerry Schaefer ‘12 Alan Schafer ‘73 & Juliane Schafer Rodney Schaffran ‘74 & Debra Schaffran Daniel & Cindy Scheller
Amy & Gary Schimmelpfennig Terry Schleif ‘76 & Robin Schleif James Schlenner ‘79 & Joan Schlenner Corey Schmid ‘89 & Julie Schmid Karl & *Nadine Schmidt Kent Schmidt ‘85 & Shaneen Schmidt Mark Schmitt ‘88 Robert & Robin Schoeneck Joshua Scholten ‘05 & Melissa Scholten ‘07 Joe Schomacker ‘08 Tawny Schotzko ‘05 Tracy Schramm ‘01 Jamie Schreurs ‘99 & Ryan Schreurs Alex Schuh ‘08 Mark Schwanebeck ‘78 Willard & Doris Schwartz Vernon & Patricia Seeman Martin Seifert ‘95 & Traci Seifert Nancy Seifert ‘76 Marie Setnes ‘02 & Kristopher Setnes Krishna Shah ‘97 Laurie Shaw ‘82 & Michael Qualls Craig Shea ‘80 & Barb Shea Andrea Shearer Kevin & Amy Shearrow Sarah & Rick Shively Chris & Barbara Short Pratik Shrestha Colleen Shupe ‘86 & Dean Shupe Thomas Silverberg ‘75 * Douglas Simon ‘94 & Molly Simon ‘07 Ann Simpson & Aju Fenn Brian Skalbeck ‘73 & Dee Skalbeck Jeff & Rachel Skie Jeff & Mary Skogen John Skogstoe ‘73 & Susan Skogstoe Phil & Sue Skramstad Gregg Slaathaug ‘05 & Tina Slaathaug Alvin Smith Kirk Smith ‘79 & LouAnn Smith ‘77 Selmer & Sandra Smith Timothy & Sharon Smith * Anthony Smith Matt Smude ‘06 Darin & Beth Snaza Daniel Snaza ‘88 & Robin Snaza Bradly Snaza Scott Snobl ‘94 & Saundra Snobl Mike & Susan Snodgrass John & Pam Soderholm Maureen Sorensen ‘80 & Grant Sorensen
Jean Sorenson ‘89 & Bradley Sorenson Darlene Sparkman ‘05 & Brian Sparkman Lyle Sparrowgrove ‘74 & Bobbi Jordan Tanya Sponholz ‘02 Chad & Joy Springborg Sharon Springer ‘71 & Ron Springer Steven Squibb ‘92 & Kelly Squibb Daniel Stanley ‘82 A.G. Stapleton Jerry Stark ‘72 & Kathryn Stark * Paulette Stefanick ‘86 & Joseph Stefanick Kathy Steffen ‘83 & Robert Steffen Stephon Steinke * Bonnie & Byron Stelton Betty Ann Stensgaard ‘70 * Conni & Stan Stensrud Allen Stewart ‘74 & Diane Stewart ‘79 Christine Stout ‘00 & Keith Stout Steven Strasko ‘10 Norma Streich ‘80 Daniel Struthers ‘92 & Sharon Struthers Mary Stubbs Mark Stumm ‘82 * David & Gwen Sturrock * Matthew Suby ‘13 & Deanna Suby ‘09 Becky Suedbeck Harbarth ‘97 & Jon Suedbeck Neil Sussenguth & Valerie Swanson ‘76 Jeffrey & Shannon Sward **James Swartz Shane Sweetland ‘94 Andrew Swenson ‘01 Leslee Swenson William Swope Michael Syverson ‘71 & Jane Syverson * Sheila & James Tabaka * James & Mary Tate * Jacqueline Tauer ‘00 & Jim Tauer Loren Tauer ‘73 & Janelle Tauer Gilbert & Jacqueline Tavarez Jo Ann Taylor Kristina Taylor ‘87 Rodney Tebben ‘86 & Jeanine Tebben Andrew Thangasamy ‘98 Todd & Julie Thedens Andrew Theisen ‘80 & Carol Theisen Christopher Theobald ‘86 & Elisa Theobald Roger Thiede Lyle Thies ‘77 & Joyce Thies Kathryn & James Thissen Jon & Michelle Thissen
* Denotes SMSU employee **Denotes Retired SMSU Employee
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Ralph & Kari Thissen Alan Thom ‘71 & Sharon Peterson-Thom ‘73 Randy Thomas ‘78 & Rita Thomas Shirley & Wallace Thompson Jennifer Thompson * Gloria Thompson Quinn Tierney ‘73 & Gerald Huerth Dawn Tietz Gary Tigges ‘78 Delmar Timm ‘73 & Pat Timm Terry Timm ‘71 & Rebecca Timm Constance TinklenbergHays ‘71 Steven Titus ‘87 & Sara Titus ‘87 Richard Toews ‘75 & Jeanne Toews ‘74 Victoria Torres-Vandeman Steven Trebesch ‘82 & Lora Trebesch ‘81 * Joan & Steve Tutt Paul & Lola Twedt Sandra Umholtz Bruce Vaala Maren Van Moer ‘91 & Scott VanMoer Mark & Rita Vandeputte * Michael VanDrehle ‘08 Daniel VanRider ‘97 & Sara VanRider ‘98 Glenn Variath ‘05 Debrah Veeder ‘76 & David Spenny Diane Viehauser ‘73 & Michael Viehauser Stanley Vogel Karen & Brian VonWahlde Michael Voss ‘72 * Scott Voss ‘08 & Kaitlyn Voss ‘13 David & Sandra Wagner Malcolm Wahlman ‘75 & Debra Johnson-Wahlman Kathy Waletzko ‘81 & Gerald Waletzko Harry Walsh David Walters * John Ward Jack Warnemunde ‘73 & Jodi Warnemunde Greg Wasberg Brady Webb ‘01 & Jennifer Webb
William Weber Kim & Kristin Wegner Ronald & Donna Weidauer Harry & Jaen Weilage Michael Weinand ‘94 & Rachelle Weinand ‘93 John & Pat Weir David Welk Amy Wellik & Anne Gorde Pamela Wendland ‘90 & Bradley Wendland ‘89 Daniel Westby ‘89 & Debra Westby ‘83 Laurie Westerbur ‘75 & John Westerbur Amy Westermeyer Beth Westra ‘74 & Dwayne Westra Sylvester & Anne Weyker Pamela & John Wharton Gary Whitney ‘96 & Jodi Whitney * Mara & John Wiggins Sandy Wilcox ‘82 & Timothy Wilcox Margaret Wiley Jason Wilhelm ‘02 Rich & Beth Wilkie Adam Willert ‘05 & Heather Willert James Williams ‘78 & Pamela Williams ‘03 Jill Williams Robert Wilson ‘76 & Mary Kay Wilson ‘76 Marlin & Beverly Winkelman Ken & Cindy Winn Bruce Winter ‘79 Ronald Woldengen ‘72 & Karol Woldengen Nathan & Lori Wolf David & Kay Wolf Otis & Tammy Woods Teresa Woodworth ‘79 & Mark Woodworth Greg Wymer ‘95 & Amy Wymer Gary Wynia ‘75 & Joan Wynia Kevin Wynia ‘84 & Sara Lee Wynia ‘89 Brian Yost ‘93 & Nicole Yost Thomas & Cheryl Zager Donald Zierke ‘77 & Barbara Zierke Larry & Marlys Zimmerman Larry Zwach
Business ACCOUNT-ability Plus, LLC AgVenture Feed & Seed, Inc. Alumacovers of California, Inc. Anez Consulting Inc AVERA Health - Sioux Falls B & A Sundance Barnes and Noble BH Electronics, Inc. Bill & Sandra Weyer Family Trust BlueGreen Flower Shop Bob Pehrson Seeds Boerboom Seed & Consulting LLC Bremer Trust Brownstown Command Officers Association BST Marshall Inc. LLC Capital Equipment & Handling Inc. Carl Acker Construction Carver County Farm Bureau Citizens Alliance Bank Coco Avenue Computer Man, Inc. Connell Car Care, Inc. Crop Insurance Specialists Dakota County Farm Bureau Federation Daniel Snaza Farm Account Diamond Lake Tool, Inc. Donovan’s Office Building Dow Corning Matching Gifts Program Duraiappa Dental Services PC Dust Bunny Cleaning Service Eye Time Optical Fernholz Crop Insurance Agency LLC Gambler Gislason, Inc. Gold College at SMSU Goods Eavespouting Grassmann Maintenance Grays Bay Builders Inc Guthrie Theater Harley-Davidson Motor Company Hiller Commercial Floors Illinois Tool Works Foundation Insurance Service Agency
Investment Rarities Investors Choice Financial Services, Inc. Jeseritz Electric Jim Brust, Inc Joan Bullard Realty, Inc. Karen Leonard Family Charitable Fund Ken Sather Construction LLC Lac Qui Parle Valley ISD #2853 Levy Restaurants Headwaters Bar & Restaurant Listul Seeds M & B Farms, Inc. Madden & Madden Marshall Aquatic Center Marshall Area Safe Community Coalition Marshall Area Stage Company Marshall Municipal Utilities Marvin L. Zylstra Trustee Maurices, Inc. Maxwell Food Equipment Metric Tool And Stamping, Inc. Midwest Country Feed LLC Milbank School District No. 25-4 Minnesota Community Foundation Moline Products, Inc. Nestle Northern Plains Construction, Inc. Osterberg Funeral Home Patzer’s Hardware Hank Pipestone Livestock Auction Market, Inc. Promark Randy Dyrdahl Rentals Red Rock Central School District No. 2884 Reinsma Ag Services, Inc. Rice Lake Dental, P.A. RLDJ Inc. Schurman Farms & Grain Inc. Shell Oil Company Foundation Shelli’s Clip & Curl Sleep Inn and Suites SMSU English Department SMSU Faculty Association SMSU Music Program Southwest Pro Painting LLC
Specialized Health And Safety Management, LLC State Farm Insurance State Farm Insurance Companies - Jack Warnemunde Steve Alm Trucking Studio B Tersteeg’s Holiday Market The 5968 Company, A Partnership The Escape Spa Thirty-One - Amy Kerr Tufto Equipment Leasing Tyler Golf Club VanderHagen Skogrand & Associates VanderZiel Tax & Accounting Service Voya Foundation Witzel’s Pronto Auto Parts & Service Wooden Nickel Xcaliber Gunsmithing Yellow Medicine County Farm Bureau Heritage Society ‡ Michelle Anderson ’88 Michael Bjerkesett ’71 John & Jean Brobst Timothy Burns ’72 & Julie Burns Marylee Dallman ’94 & Dennis Dallmann David & Cecelia Danahar Donald & Phyllis Danielson Mitch Glover ’85 & Jane Glover ’84 Deeann Griebel ’80 Chris Grosz ’82 Sheldon & Margery Haaland Jason Hoffman ’99 & Pam Hoffman Richard Jorgensen ’72 & Barbara Jorgensen Grant & Nancy Joy Marilyn Kontz ’71 Sally A. Magnuson & Burton M. Magnuson ‘04 Marilyn McLaughlin **Charles Myrbach Doris Olson
‡ Heritage Society was established to recognize and honor, during their lifetime, those persons whose vision and generosity move them to support SMSU through an estate plan gift. * Denotes SMSU employee **Denotes Retired SMSU Employee
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Submitted photo. L-R: Jeff Bell; Aaron Bible, a freshman exercise science major and Linde Scholarship reciptient; Kasey (Uran ’11) and Nick Linde; and Brent Jeffers.
Kasey (Uran ’11) and Nick Linde know, at an early age, how important scholarships are to students. That’s why, in their 20’s, they established the Linde Scholarship through the SMSU Foundation. Kasey is the Director of the Gustavus Annual Fund, a position within the Advancement Office at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. “Right now I’m in the process of raising $4.2 million for the college,” she explained. Nick is the Director of Development for the College of Business at Minnesota State University, Mankato. His work is “raising private support for programs, scholarships and new initiatives,” he explained. “I was able to go to SMSU, with a combination of athletic and academic scholarships and family help, debtfree,” she said. “That’s a hot topic now.
I had a great experience in my major with Professors (Jeff) Bell and (Brent) Jeffers, in particular. They made my experience what it was, and it’s why I believe Southwest is special. You get a public school price and a private school experience.” The two met while pursuing master’s degrees in higher education administration at Upper Iowa University. Nick is a Carroll, Iowa, native who earned his undergraduate degree at Northern Iowa University, where a second Linde Scholarship has been established. The Linde Scholarship is awarded to freshmen who have an exercise science major or minor and who have demonstrated leadership performance and merit. “Professor Jeffers was talking to me about the importance of recruiting top students, that once we get them to
campus, it’s a no-brainer,” said Kasey. “Someone who is intelligent, articulate and a great leader, those are students I know will thrive at SMSU,” she said. Nick has been in college development for 10 years and is an adjunct instructor at Minnesota State. “In our class we talk about philanthropy. We both know what it means to be invested in a place. Once you attend an institution, if you become better due to those years, you are part of the family, and you should re-invest in the next generation. If you never put anything back into the pot, you do nothing to help the university advance.” “I encourage other young alumni to give back,” Kasey said. “Every gift counts, it doesn’t matter whether it’s $50 or $50,000, it is going to help someone and that little bit could be the change in their life.”
To learn more about how you can make a difference in the life of a student at SMSU, contact the SMSU Foundation at 800-260-0970 or 507-537-6266.
No aqueous coating on top portion
NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 97 Marshall, MN
SMSU Alumni Office 1501 State Street • Marshall, MN 56258 Change Service Requested
If FOCUS is addressed to a son or daughter who has graduated or no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please email alumni@SMSU.edu to provide the current address or call toll-free 1-800-260-0970 to notify us of the change.
UPCOMING EVENTS 2016 January 7 – Minnesota Wild (Xcel Energy Center) February 6 – Hawaiian Night (SMSU campus) February 22 – GOLD on the ROAD (Palm Springs, CA) February 23 – GOLD on the ROAD (Mesa, AZ) April - Mustang Speakers (St. Louis Park, MN) May 7 – Commencement (SMSU Campus) October 1 – Homecoming 2016 (SMSU Campus)
For information and tickets, visit: WWW.SOUTHWESTALUMNI.COM
GOLD on the
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