Momentum THE MAGA ZINE OF THE UNIVERSIT Y OF MARY
SPRING 2018
BREAKING new ground
THE STEP of fait h A
familiar adage tells us that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. When the Benedictine Sisters arrived in Bismarck in 1878, they were taking a step of faith.
When Chick Swenson donated a portion of his land to the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery to build a place of higher education in this beautiful place, it was a step of faith. When Chick stepped on that shovel edge to take the first
bite from the earth for the foundations of Mary College, it was a step of faith. Every step of the way, from then to now, this courageous and faith-filled community of Sisters has persevered in their desire to serve God’s people. The existence and flourishing of this university is a joyful testament to the power of faith and the amazing journey that occurs when dreams and action move together into the future.
Observing this growth in amazement, we are moved to ask this question - when a single step is taken in faith, who knows where it can lead? Further, if we take those exact same words, remove the question mark and make it a proclamation, this is what we find: When a single step is taken in faith, Who — God, the eternal ‘Who’ — knows where it can lead. God is the author of our dreams and the endpoint of our efforts. We cannot see the end of things we strive to achieve – only God can do that – but we can follow Him in trust, taking every step in faith.
inside this issue 2
Letter From the President: A New Place in Our Hearts
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In Love with Jesus: Sister Elizabeth Novy
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Heart and Soul: Katie Oakland
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A Life ‘from God’: Jarad Wolf
11 A Hearth at the Crossroads of Campus 12 Meet Jillian Lagasse 14 Meeting Shakespeare: With a Side of Fish & Chips 16 Alumni News & Notes Front cover: From left, Sister Nicole Kunze, prioress of Annunciation Monastery; former prioresses Sister Nancy Miller and Sister Susan Lardy, and Sister Elizabeth Novy, 101, the last remaining founder of Annunciation Monastery.
Editor Karen Herzog Graphic Design Specialist Holly Schaeffer Graphic Design Specialist Laura Scott Photographer Jerry Anderson
Contact Momentum Editorial (701) 355-8013 Circulation (701) 355-8262 www.umary.edu
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a new place
in our hearts Let’s not be afraid to receive each day's surprise, whether it comes to us as sorrow or as joy. It will open a new place in our hearts, a place where we can welcome new friends and celebrate more fully our shared humanity. — Henri Nouwen, Dutch Catholic priest, professor, writer and theologian
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FRO M T H E PRESIDE NT
You don't climb mountains without a team, you don't climb mountains without being fit, you don't climb mountains without being prepared and you don't climb mountains without balancing the risks and rewards. And you never climb a mountain on accident - it has to be intentional. — Mark Udall, former U.S. Senator from Colorado and avid mountaineer
fearless woman, celebrated a milestone on our journey to bring Vision 2030 to realization — the dedication of the new Lumen Vitae University Center and the Warford Grotto. This was a day to bring together students, faculty, staff, friends, donors and the wider community to gaze in wonder and grateful joy at, as a student eloquently put it, our new ‘hearth’ — Lumen Vitae — and ‘heart,’ the Grotto.
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hen climbers reach a plateau, they inevitably pause for a celebratory moment to gaze back, with a feeling of wonder, at the distances they’ve come. These moments of satisfaction renew their spirits and strengthen their resolve as they look onward to the vistas ahead and the next leg of the journey. Some days the ultimate goal of that journey, their mountaintop, is high above and wreathed in mist, invisible, but dedicated climbers have faith that this summit is not only real, but achievable. On September 8, the Feast of the Nativity of Mary marks the very beginning of the humble and hidden life of a woman who accepted the path before her, an adventure of grace whose summit would be nothing less than to witness the saving of humanity. This past September 8, the University of Mary, named for that
This was a day to give thankful praise to God, who provided the strength and guidance to persevere in this vital project, and to appreciate our generous donors, who opened their hearts to the university’s dream, and of course, our students, for whom this great endeavor has been undertaken. The Lumen Vitae University Center is placed at the crossroads of campus, a place of gathering, of conversation, of meals and laughter, of study and friendship and growth. Tucked beneath of the brow of Lumen Vitae’s hill, the Grotto is a place of pause, of wonder, a sanctuary to refresh the spirit, renew one’s strength. The Grotto invites students to become pilgrims in a lifelong journey of faith. At this time and place in the Vision 2030 adventure of growth, which includes the new Roers Hall women’s residence and state-of-the-art fieldhouse, we look back with gratitude and thankfulness at where we were and where we have come to. And so we draw breath, look forward, and in confidence continue to dream big and think boldly. The next phase of Vision 2030 will continue this work to complete a School of Engineering, continue our strong focus on the growth of our students, and add to a healthy array of scholarships for their benefit. As we move forward, we will carefully consider the additional needs of this campus and the university’s satellite campuses, as we work on the campus master plan to take us into a bright and joyous future. And as people of faith, we journey at all times and places full of hope, praying for God’s hands to work through us to bring His good will to fruition. Monsignor James P. Shea, President
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“Ever since I was 11, 12 years old, I felt this feeling for Jesus. I had a scrapbook, just a box of pictures cut from newspapers. If there was a picture of Jesus or a saint, I would cut it out and put it in my box. I just loved Jesus right from the start.�
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t age 101, Sister Elizabeth Novy has a motto — ‘keep moving.’ Sister Elizabeth is the last surviving founding member of Annunciation Monastery and was honored at the celebration dinner September 8 at the dedication of the new Lumen Vitae University Center on campus. A teacher for 62 years, Sister Elizabeth spent four decades of her career teaching first grade. She likes to say she was a first-grader for 40 years. Her journey to the monastery was completely natural to her. “I was just in love with Jesus,” she said, in a video interview conducted by University of Mary students. “What else could I do? Ever since I was 11, 12 years old, I felt this feeling for Jesus. I had a scrapbook, just a box of pictures cut from newspapers. If there was a picture of Jesus or a saint, I would cut it out and put it in my box. I just loved Jesus right from the start.” Sister Elizabeth had never seen a Sister before she entered St. Mary’s High School in Bismarck: “I fell in love with the Sisters, too. I wanted to be just like them. So I just made up my mind early I was going to be a Sister.” Her parents — she was one of nine children — were hesitant. She approached her mother about going to Saint Benedict’s in Minnesota after high school to become a Sister. Her mother’s reply: “I don’t think so. The Sisters have to work too hard. You’re not that great of a worker on the farm.” Sister Elizabeth smiled at the memories of her unsuccessful attempts at milking cows. Her sister once overheard her father say to her mother, “Well, what are we going to do with Elizabeth? She’ll never make a farmer’s wife. We’ll have to give her a college education.” So she decided, “I’ll go to college and earn a teaching certificate.” In that era, the 1930s in North Dakota, only one year of college was needed to teach country school. Sister Elizabeth had taught ‘farm’ or country schools for three years when she approached her father. “Would you be able to take me to Bismarck one of these days?” she asked. “Why do you want to go to Bismarck?” he said. “I want to go to Bismarck to take the bus to Saint Benedict’s [in Minnesota],” she said. “I want to be a Sister.” His answer surprised her: “That’s the best thing in the world you could do,” he said. At that time, the Minnesota Sisters from Saint Benedict’s were teaching in Mandan, Dickinson and Bismarck – there was no Annunciation Monastery when Sister Elizabeth entered the convent.
Sister Elizabeth, standing on the far left, had already been teaching ‘out west, west of the river’ in Dickinson, before she became one of the 141 St. Benedict Sisters who became members of Annunciation.
“The bishop of Bismarck thought we should have our own Sisters,” she said. “So he encouraged the Sisters from Saint Benedict’s, which had about 1,000 members at the time, to start a new monastery in Bismarck. This was in the 1940s.” Ultimately, a new monastery, Annunciation, received approval from Rome in 1947. Sister Elizabeth had already been teaching ‘out west, west of the river’ in Dickinson, so she was one of the 141 Saint Benedict Sisters who became members of Annunciation. “I’m the last one that got my training in Minnesota. I’m the last one of the first 141 [Sisters who came to the new monastery here]. “So I’m the only one left. My last classmate [just] died.” Sister Elizabeth’s first 25 years of teaching were at Saint Joseph’s in Dickinson, from where she went to Mott, and then back to Saint Patrick’s in Dickinson. In all, she was in the classroom for 62 years. “I think I would still be out working if I hadn’t fallen and broken my hip,” she said. After five weeks of hospitalization, her physical therapist gave her strict orders to stay at the monastery, indoors, out of treacherous ice and snow. But when it’s nice outside, she said, “I walk almost every day. I believe in moving. I don’t like to sit around. “My motto is, ‘keep moving.’”
Sister Elizabeth Novy
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— a compassionate connection
“Where else do you get to make a physical connection, an emotional connection? The bond between the horse, the rider, the volunteers … I don’t think there’s anything else that compares to it.” — Katie Oakland, owner, Therapeutic Riding 4 Heart and Soul
K
atie Oakland knows the bond between horse and rider well.
The University of Mary alumna grew up in Calvin, ND. Caring for her first pony at age nine marked the beginning of her love for horses. Today, Katie cares for 20 horses at her nonprofit Therapeutic Riding 4 Heart and Soul (TR 4 Heart and Soul) southeast of Bismarck. These horses, in turn, care for their riders in a special way, offering unique therapy for children and adults with disabilities. 6
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Therapeutic riding seeks to improve the overall quality of life of riders with physical disabilities and challenges with learning, speech, and behavior. TR 4 Heart and Soul’s doors opened in June of 2016. In its inaugural week, TR 4 Heart and Soul introduced four riders to their horses. By the program’s one-year anniversary, TR 4 Heart and Soul had grown to 42 riders. Katie, her volunteers and her horses consistently help 30 to 40 individuals each week. More than half of Katie’s volunteers are University of Mary students, a result of Katie’s connections made at the university. A 2006 graduate with degrees in early childhood and elementary education, Katie taught kindergarten before beginning her therapeutic riding venture. Katie’s therapeutic riding serves a variety of needs. Individuals in need of improved sensory processing benefit from riding because it constantly engages all five senses and stimulates the brain to integrate that sensory information and respond to it accordingly.
Therapeutic riding stimulates cognitive processes such as attention, memory, and language, and strengthens physical deficits in muscles, bones, and nerves. Because horses have the same pelvic structure as humans, they provide an opportunity for individuals with gait problems to experience the physical sensation and action of walking in a gait very similar to a human’s, a sensation nearly impossible to duplicate in a clinical setting. Riding also requires balance, so it strengthens core muscles and improves overall posture. But the improvement that parents of riders notice most is emotional. “The horse is always present in the moment,” Katie said. “They don’t care what happened yesterday, they don’t look at what’s going to happen tomorrow, they don’t look at you in a different light if you come in a wheelchair or a walker. They’re always present.” Horses focus solely on the human being in front of them or riding them. The riders experience this compassionate
attention from an animal eight times his or her own weight, and they recognize and respond to it.
her weight and would stop until Brooke was in a safe and comfortable position again, protecting her young rider.
Parents can often be brought to tears by seeing their children’s ability to be calm, engaged, and focused.
Now, years later, Brooke shares a special relationship with her current horse, Rex. When she arrives at TR 4 Heart and Soul, Brooke immediately seeks Rex and confidently grasps his rope. While Brooke’s mother and most of the volunteers can’t differentiate Rex from the other brown horses, Brooke, who has nonverbal autism, can.
Camie Mosbrucker says that her daughter, Brooke — who was Katie’s first rider — has a strong bond with horses and undergoes a drastic change after she rides. “We can come out and put her on a horse and by the end of the session that child has done a total 180. There’s something about the calming effect of a horse that she is just a totally different child. Seeing how it calms Brooke and how she’s more present, she’s more willing to listen, she’s more willing to try new things, I really wish I could put her on a horse every day.” Brooke first started riding around age four when Katie, her respite care worker at the time, suggested, “Let’s get Brooke on a horse.” At first, Brooke had minimal core strength and struggled to stabilize herself on the horse. Brooke’s first horse, named Eva, would sense when Brooke would shift
Riding cultivates confidence and independence in a child, Katie said. In addition to the emotional stability that the horse exudes and the rider receives, riders experience an often-rare opportunity for physical freedom. Katie says that riding is a unique therapy because it allows children to leave their walkers and wheelchairs behind – they can ride without technological assistance, just like everyone else. This, too, touches the hearts of parents who see their children in a moment of independence. Macie Neva, a weekly volunteer at TR 4 Heart and Soul, loves to see the riders’ smiles and
witness the parents’ smiles and tears while watching their children. The relationship between horses and riders transcends speech and species. The ties that bind the riders to the horses, to the volunteers, to the parents, and to Katie are connections that the Benedictines would call community. This community fulfills the human need for physical presence and soulful understanding.
Camie Mosbrucker says of horses, “There’s just something about their demeanor. They’re calming; they’re caring. They make a connection with your child; they can almost read your child’s mood. They almost become one when they’re together.” — By Kayla Keller
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A LIFE ‘from God’ Jarad Wolf is ordained a deacon at St. Peter’s Basilica
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St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. One of the four major basilicas in Rome, this beautiful church was rebuilt over more than 30 years after a devastating fire in 1823. Among its beauties is a pair of side altars created from deep green malachite and lapis lazuli, a gift of Czar Nicholas I of Russia, and supporting alabaster pillars given by vice king of Egypt, Mohamed Ali. A high row of 266 mosaic medallions depicting each of the Church’s popes from Peter to Francis form a frieze above the 80 columns that stand in the cavernous hall.
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arad Wolf is built like the football player he was in college at University of Mary, has a laugh that engages his whole body, and a face that the word ‘merry’ was coined to describe. This coming June — on June 11, precisely — the newly titled Rev. Mr. Jarad Wolf will be ordained a priest of the Bismarck Diocese at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit.
an exploration beneath the surface of Scripture to find the telling story — the poise of a man who has found what God had planned for him.
In preparation for that day, Jarad received his new title when he was ordained Deacon Wolf on Thursday, Sept. 28, in Rome, in a ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica. Seated in the audience to witness this moment were his parents, Joe and Roslyn Wolf, his extended family and fellow North Dakotans.
As for searching Scripture, Jarad said, “that’s rewarding, which is why I love it. There’s layer after layer, always a deeper meaning.”
As the deacon candidates from the North American College in Rome processed into St. Peter’s two by two, Jarad’s face was wreathed in smiles. Following the pairs of young men walking in, priests, bishops, archbishops and cardinals paced through the echoing spaces of St. Peter’s, to the accompaniment of men’s choir, brass ensemble, and rumbling bass notes of the organ. Once a deacon, a man gains the privilege of delivering a homily at Mass. Jarad’s first homily following his ordination was at a place of his choosing, St. Stephen’s Chapel, named after the first Christian martyr, in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, a church with a Byzantine flavor of the East. For a young man – just 26 – in St. Paul’s magnificent setting, Jarad’s first homily was a mature reflection, simple and deep, unveiling a thoughtful mind and a love of Scripture. Jarad’s presence at the lectern was without pretension, solid and sensitive,
Jarad’s approach to developing a homily is inspired by some of the priests of the Bismarck Diocese, he said, “asking them questions and seeking to imitate them, and other influential people in my life, my family, and Jerome Richter.”
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arad was born in Bismarck, the oldest of Joe and Roslyn’s four children. He attended Saint Anne as an elementary student and moved with his parents to Glen Ullin, graduating from New Salem High School. He attended the University of Mary for two years, playing tight end on the football team. He recalled that his coaches, Mike Silbernagel and Myron Schulz, were very supportive. Then he decided to enter seminary. Asked if the rumor was true that his football coach wept when he left, he laughed, but said he gets asked all the time whether he misses football. Sometimes, maybe, but seminary has been a great joy, he said. His journey to seminary was a gradual process, he said, beginning right away at the University of Mary through his friendship with Michael Mortenson. “He was a graduate of Dickinson Trinity High School. He brought conviction when he talked about the Faith, and tried to live a virtuous life — very simple things like going to Mass and receiving the sacrament of confession, which was lacking in me.
“So becoming friends with him helped me to experience conversion, striving for those things. “In particular, I remember him saying that religion is really interesting. At that point, that was not my experience with religion,” Jarad said, laughing. “It showed the joy and zeal he had for it and he taught me that. That was influential.” The second key moment Jarad points to in realizing his vocation was a class he took, “Human Love and the Divine Plan,” with Monsignor James Shea and now-University of Mary Vice President of Mission Advancement and Public Affairs, Jerome Richter. “The way that Monsignor Shea talked about the priesthood, in particular, about celibacy being for the sake of the kingdom of heaven, that really grabbed me. “A man lays down his life for that, for the sake of the kingdom of heaven — that was really key.” Seminary has been a great joy, Jarad said. “I’ve received so much. I think the main thing is the fraternity that one experiences. The deepest friendships are those centered on the pursuit of virtue, living a truly good life, a truly virtuous, sacrificial life. “When your friendships are around that goal, searching after Jesus Christ, those are the deepest, most satisfying kinds of friendships. That happens at seminary, praise God.” To his mother, Roslyn, “this life of Jarad’s is from God. Because we as parents are only human, it has to come from God. He has such peace and serenity now.”
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a hearth at the crossroads of campus
From antiquity, major cities have grown up at crossroads, because crossroads are places of opportunity. Where paths cross, people encounter each other, and often find themselves traveling in new and unexpected directions. Fortunate intersections create exciting interactions. People reach a more expansive understanding of others. Their worlds grow deeper, wider, more wonderful. Today, the University of Mary has created a crossroads on campus, the Lumen Vitae University Center, to be a place of encounter and conversation, of friendship and study, of sharing of meals and sharing of ideas, of intellectual and spiritual growth. The dedication of the Lumen Vitae University Center on September 8 was the celebration of efforts that can literally be traced back to time immemorial — From launching the university’s strategic plan for growth, Vision 2030, in 2014, — to the founding of Mary College in 1959, — to the creation of Annunciation Monastery in 1947, — to the arrival of the Benedictine Sisters in Bismarck in 1878, — to the arrival in America of Benedictine Sisters from Germany in 1852, — to the medieval monasteries from which descended the great universities of Europe, — to the monasticism of St. Benedict in the 6th century, — to the founding of the Church in the time of the Apostles, — to the life of Christ, — to God revealing Himself to Abraham,
Members of the community are cordially invited to experience our new Crow’s Nest campus restaurant. The Crow’s Nest offers dining 24/7 with a delicious array of specialized food stations, as well as a Caribou coffee bar. You can find the Crow’s Nest in the new Lumen Vitae University Center. — to the Old Testament prophesies of the Messiah to come, — truly, the university today can trace its lineage back to creation itself. The university is here by God’s plan, and this community is confident that God will use this crossroads to bless the future. In the short time Lumen Vitae has been open, students have already made it their own. Singly, in pairs, in groups, they study and converse at tables, in booths, or the cozy ‘living rooms’ on both levels of the center. Lively discussions and lots of laughter take place in the Crow’s Nest campus restaurant with its nautically-named food stations. Bookstore, convenience store and coffee shop offer a one-stop option for students’ needs. Meeting spaces, conference rooms and student organizations have found a home there as well. And Founders Hall, a magnificent 600seat event space named for the university’s founders and sponsors, the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery, is already in use for university and public gatherings. The great hearth of this campus is now open and welcoming to all to meet at the crossroads of this university’s life. www.umary.edu 11
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MEET JILLIAN LAGASSE Director of Alumni Relat ions
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s the University of Mary’s new Director of Alumni Relations, I am looking forward to keeping in contact with University of Mary Alumni, continuing to cultivate those relationships, and keeping alumni engaged in the university. I am a proud University of Mary alum myself, graduating in 2007. My husband Ryan is also an alum (2006). We moved to Bottineau and Rugby, ND, after college, and we have been back in Bismarck-Mandan for five years. I owe much of my life to my time at the University of Mary — and not just my husband and three children. I still recall when then-president Sister Thomas Welder first said my name: “Hi, Jillian! How are you today?” I remember wondering how she knew my name, and true to “Sister Thomas style,” she never once forgot my name after that. She truly served as a beacon of inspiration and motivation as I moved through college and spread my wings in the real world. People have described me in terms such as energetic, bubbly, funny, and always up for a challenge. I am the kind of person who goes “all in.” My professional background is in marketing, first as a marketing director at the hospitals in Bottineau and Rugby, then as the marketing manager at Investment Centers of America in Bismarck.
What I love about marketing is the relationship building and the creativity it takes to tell your story to different audiences with different needs. It is an ever-evolving industry that has lent itself to my skills. I knew this alumni relations position would fit this skill set. And it helped that my sister, Sister Hannah Vanorny of Annunciation Monastery, encouraged me to apply. Now I work just steps away from her and we can meet for lunch once a week at the Crow’s Nest campus restaurant. I literally owe my career to the opportunities I had at the University of Mary, starting with an internship I secured through my advisor in the Harold Schafer Leadership Academy. I wanted to be an attorney, so she set me up with an internship with a local lawyer. I soon realized I did not want to go to law school. I owe Mary for helping me realize what I did NOT want to do professionally. I owe my servant leadership mentality to my experiences at Mary. “Leading by example” is something I have never forgotten in my career. It’s a mentality I hope to instill in my own three young daughters. In the first few months in this job, I plan to work toward many goals as Director of Alumni Relations: •
Cultivating relationships with University of Mary alumni, especially those who have fallen off our radar or our younger alumni in their first 15 years out of college;
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Developing a marketing plan to effectively communicate our mission to alumni across the country;
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Continuing successful events (such as our Larks Game event) while working to establish new event traditions such as our Pub Crawl during 2017 UMary Homecoming.
Most of all, I want to get out into the community, meet with alumni and help keep them up to date on the growth we are experiencing here. There is no better community than the Mary community, and I intend to build upon what we’ve already established with the 7,000 University of Mary alumni in the Bismarck-Mandan area, in addition to the thousands around the country. I am proud to be one of the 20,000 alumni who represent the mission, vision and values of the University of Mary and our founders and sponsors, the Sisters of Annunciation Monastery.
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Shakesp
meeting
In the spring of 2017, University of Mary faculty members Marek Dojs, communications program director, and Daniel Bielinski, theater director, traveled to England with five University of Mary students for a three-week educational trip. One of those students, Haylie Flesness, interviewed Marek Dojs about the trip. Momentum: What experiences did you want students to have on the trip? Dojs: The purpose of this trip was to have an immersive cultural and academic experience. For this particular trip I wanted students to experience British culture through film and theater.
Film and theater are doorways to history and culture. So we learned about Shakespeare’s life and times by traveling to his hometown, Stratford-upon-Avon. Students learned acting techniques and attended several plays, Shakespearian as well as modern. I wanted students to watch British films, but also experience the locations and the people. For example, we watched “A Man for All Seasons” about St. Thomas More, and then the next day we spent time at Hampton Court Palace, the court of Henry VIII. To help students grasp the British understanding of World War II, we watched “Their Finest” in a London Cinema. Study abroad is a wonderful way to broaden a student’s horizons. Actually having walked the streets, engaged in conversation, and lived for a period of time in foreign land provides a deeper understanding. Momentum: What were the highlights of the trip? Dojs: We lived and studied in a house in West London, very close to the Tube (the subway). We did have to take trains to Hampton Court Palace and the Warner Brothers Studios in Leavesden [where “Harry Potter” was filmed - a very popular day trip with our students]. We took three trips outside of the city. First was Stratford-uponAvon. We spent the day touring museums dedicated to Shakespeare and his times. Students also had an opportunity to attend a private acting workshop with a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. That evening we watched a brilliant performance of “Julius Caesar.” The next day we visited Warwick Castle, a medieval castle in the region. They also took a trip to Yorkshire in the northern part of the country. The next day we took the scenic route back to London, stopping at the ruined Fountains Abbey and the city of York. The third trip was to Devon in the southwest of the country. On the way we stopped at Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral. We stayed in Buckfast and visited faculty of the School of the Annunciation, a Benedictine college. The next day I took students to the small coastal town of Dartmouth where we had a wonderful pub meal. I particularly enjoyed introducing students to foods that I grew up with — Cornish pasties, fish and chips [doused with malt vinegar], scotch eggs, meat pies, and so much more. Momentum: What’s next? Dojs: I’m already in talks with other faculty members to do another study abroad in England. Mary students will be back in England soon! 14
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peare
[with a side of fish & chips]
By Haylie Flesness
“Oh spite, oh hell!” is from the monologue I had to recite for my theater class. Coincidentally, it was also my first thought when I heard that we needed to recite a Shakespearian monologue. When a teacher would say ‘we are learning Shakespeare,’ I would be excited. And then I would remember I didn’t understand how to read Shakespeare. I never really understood what made Shakespeare that great until I was able to see his works performed in the Globe Theater in London. It is an entirely new experience when you are able to see his work in the proper environment. I learned that Shakespeare would purposefully mess with the standing audience on the main floor [he called them the Great Unwashed]. Actors would often pop out of nowhere in the crowd, or paddle their boats through seas of people. Actors would often acknowledge audience members during monologues, which is exactly how it was intended. I was so used to reading Shakespeare’s sonnets and monologues that I never got the chance to soak in the actual hilarity of his comedic plays. Shakespeare was a funny dude. During our class time, we focused on how, by pronouncing the words of Shakespeare, you can find the meaning behind it. It was quite a sight to see the six of us, [professor] Dan Bielinski included, moving our bodies to the sound of each letter of a word. While weird, it helped to understand what a wordsmith Shakespeare was, to be understood even when his audience was mostly illiterate. The shows at the Globe Theater in London were less traditional, more modern interpretations. This opened up a conversation about authenticity. Should strange interpretations of the works should be allowed in the traditional Globe — was it almost blasphemous to change Shakespeare’s works in his home theater? On one hand, Shakespeare himself would probably have adapted his plays to modern audiences in order to get similar reactions. The other argument was, how far can you go before the play starts to become something other than Shakespeare? Either way, it was an excellent show.
By Emme Hulm I can’t imagine how many English classes I’ve had to sit through reading Shakespeare’s works, which is well and good, but at some point we become immune to their beauty. There’s everything to be said for studying it in its native culture, in the place that first found it beautiful. We spent our days studying acting and working on our Shakespearean monologues, watching and discussing British films, and exploring London and the English countryside. One of my favorite parts was attending plays all across London. It’s such an experience to be in the theater hearing plays performed that you’ve only ever read. It was amazing to see the amount of history that is packed into such a small land mass. There are unbelievably ornate cathedrals that no picture will ever match their beauty. There’s a town that looks like it should be in a storybook (and technically is because Stratford-upon-Avon is Shakespeare’s home). A day at the “Harry Potter” studios was basically the culmination of my childhood dreams. I have so much more appreciation for the films after finding out the work and heart [and blood, sweat, and tears] that countless artists put into it. But the things I want to remember most are sitting around the table, talking with my classmates and teachers, learning how to drink tea the British way, with milk and honey. I’ll have to carry malt vinegar in my purse now that I know how it tastes doused over deep fried fish and chips [fries to us]. I’ll remember climbing 275 stairs to the top of Yorkshire Cathedral [and upon arrival finding out there’s an employee who climbs those every day]. I might forget my eighth grade English class, but I will never forget this.
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ALUMNI NE WS & NOTES
JOHN BAUMGARTNER, ’88, of Holyoke, CO, is employed at Holyoke RE-1J School District as a third and fourth grade math and reading teacher, junior high football coach, high school girls’ basketball coach and assistant high school baseball coach. His is married to Jill Baumgartner, ’87. His teams have won more than 250 games and a number of championships over his 29 years with Holyoke.
MARK LABERE, ’89, ’91, of Scottsdale, AZ, is the vice president of finance with Discovery Builders/Discovery Land Company in Scottsdale. The company develops and operates private residential communities and clubs in North America. JENELL (PAUL) ROBINSON, ’94, of Los Angeles, CA, is vice president of Clinical Value and Provider Relations at MedTech Innovator as of February 2017. In her role, she vets global innovation applicants for improved value to patients, healthcare organizations and industry sponsors. Previously, she was value analysis coordinator for the UCLA Health System. She is also the author of a chapter in the book, “Medical Innovation: Concept to Commercialization,” released fall 2017. Jenell earned a BSN from the University of Mary in 1994 and a MS in nursing administration from UCLA in 2011.
RACHEL (DIETRICH) RAMSEY, ’00, is the market sales director for Brookdale Senior Living, Houston, TX. She is married to Jason Ramsey; the couple lives in Tomball, TX.
JUSTIN DECOTEAU, ’00, of Bismarck, ND, was elected to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Wrestling Rules Committee, where he will help write and interpret new wrestling rules. He has been a wrestling official for 19 years. Justin is a business analyst with the North Dakota Department of Human Services and is married to Vanessa (Bullinger), class of 2000.
CAITLIN (COGHLAN) BROSSEAU, ’04, of Arlington, VA, is director of public policy and government relations for Pandora Media’s office in Washington, DC. She is married to Alex Brosseau. 16
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JOSH HENGEMUHLE, ‘05, of Maplewood, MN, Assistant Dean of Students at the University of St. Thomas, published a chapter in the edited work, “Student Life in Catholic Higher Education: Advancing Good Practice.” His chapter is titled “Developing a Catholic Culture: Catholic Cultural Competency as a Critical Skill.” His wife, Tricia (Helt), graduated from the University of Mary in 2004.
MELISSA (COLLI) MORTVEDT, ’07, of Bismarck, joined Legacy High School as a math teacher in January 2017.
TROY SCHULZ, ’08, of Bismarck, completed a Warden’s Exchange program through Prison Fellowship in September 2017. Schulz is deputy warden with the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The nine-month program focuses on transformational leadership through increasing humanity in prison systems. It included webinars with leading experts and conferences in California, Texas and Colorado. Prison Fellowship was started by Charles Colson and is the world’s largest Christian ministry to prisoners.
KAYLA EMTER, ‘10, graduated from foot and ankle surgical residency in June 2017 in Waterloo, IA, and has relocated back to Bismarck after seven years in Iowa. She currently practices at Dakota Foot & Ankle as a podiatrist. DAVID LEINGANG, ‘10, of Mandan, ND, is now the owner of Exploring Leadership Solutions.
JESSICA (MEYER) FEIST, ‘10, of Linton, is the Senior Gas Systems Coordinator at Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. in Bismarck. She is married to Todd Feist and was promoted to her position in December 2016. She has been at MDU for 11 years.
KADY MARIE (APPELT) OLSON, ’14, is a Doctor of Chiropractic at Rochester Chiropractic and Wellness in Rochester, MN. She graduated from Mayo School of Health Science Medical Laboratory Science Program and Northwestern School of Health Science as a Doctor of Chiropractic. She is married to Ryan Olson.
BLAKE CLIFFORD, ’14, of Lowell, IN, is a doctoral candidate at the University of New England. DOUG ZINKE, business banking officer vice president at Starion Bank in Bismarck, recently graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado (GSBC). Zinke graduated with honors, a special designation for students in the top 10 percent of their class. Zinke joined Starion Bank in 2011, bringing with him five years of banking experience. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an MBA from the University of Mary. Locally, Zinke serves on the board of directors at the Gateway to Science Center.
SHARON KAY (BUCKANAGA) WALKER, ’95, Cass Lake, MN, is a Family Nurse Practitioner in her community. She has worked for a number of tribal health services and has a NP urgent care position. She is certified in CPR, PALS, ATLS and other training.
LAETITIA MIZERO HELLERUD has become a published author of the book “Being at Home in the World.” In 2015 she started UBUNTU Consulting specializing in Intercultural Competence Development. She is also involved in social justice/human rights initiatives in her community and beyond.
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD PATRICIA (GRIMM) BECKER, ’12, and Craig Becker, Bismarck.
LINDSEY (GRUIS) LEE, ’08, to CHARLES LEE, ’09, April 20, 2013. She is employed at CHI St. Alexius Bismarck as a registered nurse. The couple lives in Bismarck.
TARA MILLER, ’04, ’11, was married to Kurt Wharton, M.D., on July 7, 2015, in Bellinzona, Switzerland. The couple lives in Scottsdale, AZ. Tara is a medical optometrist in Peoria, AZ, and Kurt is a radiation oncologist. Tara earned her BS in 2004 and her MBA in 2011.
KRISTEN (DURAND) BRUNELLE, ’16, to Sheldon Brunelle, Billings, MT. She is employed at the Billings Clinic in Billings.
ALEXIS (BAKKE) TIBOR, ’16, and KELLEN TIBOR, ’17, Dec. 31, 2016. Alexis is an undergraduate admissions representative for the University of Mary in Bismarck.
SMALL BLESSINGS TO TARA MILLER [WHARTON], ’04, ’11, and Dr. Kurt Wharton, Scottsdale, AZ, a son, Lennan Miller Wharton, on Nov. 10, 2015, and a daughter, Ellion Belle Wharton, Jan. 15, 2017.
TO RENAE (REICHERT) WADDELL, ’06, ’08, and Jared Waddell, Jayden, born in 2013 and Cameron in 2016. The family lives in Greybull, WY, where Renae is a science teacher at Big Horn County School District #3.
TO MELISSA (MARSHALL) ROBERTUS, ’06, ’08, and Benjamin Robertus, of Park City, MT, Abigail Carsyn Robertus, Oct. 25, 2009; Winston Garrett Robertus, July 21, 2012, and Raymond Robertus, May 31, 2017.
TO MELISSA (COLLI) MORTVEDT, ’07,
‘A man of great character’ is how
and David Mortvedt, of Bismarck, a son, Gavin Michael Joseph Mortvedt, Aug. 7, 2017.
Gary Tharaldson’s business peers describe him.
TO ERICA (TANG) HOUN, ’08, and Joe Houn, of Bismarck, a son, Beckett Timothy, April 17, 2017. Erica is an administrative officer with the State of North Dakota.
TO JENNA (HELVIK) ETZOLD, ‘08, and
Tharaldson, a native of Dazey, ND, has achieved tremendous success in the hospitality industry nationwide, and is listed as North Dakota’s wealthiest man. The University of Mary’s Tharaldson School of Business promotes the same ethical values that its namesake lives by.
BJ Etzold, of Richfield, MN, a son, Ingram Jerold Etzold, June 1, 2017. He joins big brother, Boden.
TO LINDSEY (GRUIS) LEE, ’08, and Charles Lee, ’09, of Bismarck, Emerald Clover Lee, born July 13, 2016.
KEEP IN TOUCH! HERE’S HOW. As alumni, you are very important to us. We at the Office of Alumni want to keep our relationship with our Marauders’ family strong and vital, forging that lifelong connection that blesses us both. We would be so appreciative if you would fill out the brief form at the link below to help us stay connected with you. www.umary.edu/updateinfo
In “Open Secrets of Success,” a new release from the University of Mary Press, author Patrick J. McCloskey and art director/photographer Jerry Anderson give readers insights into Tharaldson’s story of innovation, enterprise and passion for hard work.
McCloskey is Director of Research and Publications at the University of Mary. Anderson is the university’s art director. “Open Secrets of Success” is available at Amazon.com or the University of Mary Bookstore.
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alumni@umary.edu
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Alumni Office University of Mary 7500 University Dr. Bismarck, ND 58504
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The history of the Catholic Church came alive through the eyes of Monsignor Shea and Jerome Richter. We made wonderful friends and the impact of the experience has changed my life forever. — Dick Gulmon, 2017 pilgrim
Experience the journey of a
lifetime. Join the University of Mary’s pilgrimage to Italy, and you’ll see some of Europe’s most sacred and splendorous places. From the majesty of St. Peter’s Basilica to the charming simplicity of St. Francis’s Assisi, from the ancient monasteries of St. Benedict to the unbelievable Italian cuisine, you’ll experience the trip of a lifetime.
Space is limited!
For more information, contact Fr. Anthony Baker at atbaker@umary.edu.
for Life.