Crookston, Minn.  - Two alumni and a local radio personality will be inducted into the University of Minnesota, Crookston Athletic Hall of Fame during homecoming weekend. The 2009 inductees include Christina (Nettum) Cyr, '97, Al Strandberg, ex. '79, and Frank Fee, president and general manager of KROX AM radio in Crookston. A recognition event will be held on Friday, October 2, 2009, in Bede Ballroom. The evening begins with a social at 6 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. followed by a program recognizing the Athletic Hall of Fame inductees and the outstanding alumni for 2009.

Tickets are available by contacting Rose Ulseth in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at 218-281-8439 (rulseth@umn.edu). The event marks the tenth annual Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony for the Crookston campus.

The 2009 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees:

Al Strandberg, ex. '79, played football for the U of M, Crookston Trojans. Named most valuable player, Strandberg was also named All American, All Region, and All Conference while playing with the Trojans. His remaining two years of eligibility he played for Minnesota State University Moorhead and was All Conference both years. He signed as a free agent in 1981 with the Dallas Cowboys and played two pre-season games with them before being released due to an ankle injury. Strandberg was picked up by the Arizona Wranglers of the United States where he played for a year for them and briefly for the Chicago Blitz.

Christina "Chrissy" (Nettum) Cyr, '97, was an outstanding member of both the women's
basketball and volleyball teams. She was awarded student-athlete of the year in 1995 and again in 1997 for her outstanding athletic and academic performance. All Conference in the North Dakota College Athletic Conference (NDCAC) in 1996, Cyr was recognized as the most valuable player in both volleyball and women's basketball in 1995 and 1997 and a member of the all-academic team from 1995-97. In volleyball, Cyr holds the record for most solo blocks in a season and most career blocks.

Frank Fee has covered University of Minnesota athletics for many years traveling thousands of miles to cover athletic events for KROX AM radio in Crookston. He is the president and owner of the station, serving as sales manager and sports director as well. Fee is a loyal supporter of the Golden Eagles with a dedication that is unprecedented. He also has served on numerous advisory committees for the campus. In 1983, Fee was recognized with the Torch & Shield award, the highest honor an individual can receive from the Crookston campus.

The induction ceremony for the U of M, Crookston Athletic Hall of Fame will also include recognition of this year's outstanding alumni: Mary Jo (Melbye) Eastes, '79; David Genereux,'80; Troy Olson, '89; and Karissa (Dahl) Olson, '99.

For more information on all the homecoming week events, visit Homecoming 2009 on our Web site.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Bill Tyrrell, director of athletic fundraising, 218-281-8436 (btyrrell@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The Jim LeClair Practice Field was dedicated on Friday, August 28, 2009, at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. In the photo are (l to r) Shannon Stassen, head football coach; Chancellor Charles H. Casey; Stephanie Helgeson, athletic director, Jim LeClair, and Corby Kemmer, director of development and alumni relations.

 LeClair, ex. '70, was captain of the 1969 football team at the U of M, Crookston. He was named for two consecutive years to the Minnesota State Junior College All-Conference Team. In 1970 he transferred to the University of North Dakota (UND), where he played two more seasons of collegiate football. In 1972, LeClair was drafted by the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals where he played twelve seasons. He finished his fourteen-year career with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League. In 1999, Le Clair was inducted into the National College Football Hall of Fame, South Bend, Indiana.

For more photos, visit the photo gallery.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Corby Kemmer, director of development, 218-281-8432 (ckemmer@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn.  - Four outstanding alumni from the University of Minnesota, Crookston will be recognized on Friday, October 2, 2009, as part of homecoming on the campus. The outstanding alumni honorees include Mary Jo (Melbye) Eastes, '79; David Genereux,'80; Troy Olson, '89; and Karissa (Dahl) Olson, '99. A banquet and program will be held in Bede Ballroom in the Sargeant Student Center beginning with a social at 6 p.m. Tickets are available from the alumni relations office by calling Rose Ulseth at 218-281-8439 (rulseth@umn.edu).

Outstanding alumni for 2009:

Mary Jo (Melbye) Eastes, '79

Mary Jo (Melbye) Eastes, '79, majored in fashion merchandising and minored in small business management at the U of M, Crookston. She went on to earn her bachelor of science in education from the University of North Dakota and following graduation was a distributive education teacher at Bismarck (N.D.) Century High School and Willmar (Minn.) High School. Today, she is a grant writer for Arts Visalia in Visalia, Calif., and is responsible for finding funding for operational expenses, children's art classes, and gallery exhibits. Eastes organized the Neighborhood Watch in her community; started the Monthly Birthday Party for the Visalia Rescue Mission in 2004, an ongoing event for the mission; has been involved with Banner of Hope, a fundraising effort to fight cancer; and partnered with a local newspaper and 18 non-profits to raise money in Newstands for Non-profits. She is a board member for Arts Visalia, and Events Visalia as well as a member of the Art Consortium. She and her husband, Rick, reside in Visalia.

Dave Genereux, '80

David Genereux,'80, graduated with a degree in crop production from the U of M, Crookston and went on to earn a degree from North Dakota State University, Fargo, N.D., in 1983. Genereux is currently the mayor of the City of Crookston and a member of the Community Vitality Committee, New Arena Advisory Committee, Northwest Minnesota Emergency Planning Committee, and the All-College Advisory Committee at the Crookston campus. He is a senior crop consultant with Centrol, Inc., of Twin Valley, Minn. He is responsible for crop monitoring, soil testing, crop planning and providing technical service for the Natural Resources Conservation Service and others.  In 2006, Genereux was chosen to attend the Minnesota Agricultural and Rural Leadership Program and he received the Pioneers Club Award for Centrol, Inc., in 1987, He and his wife, Linnea, are the parents of four children.

Troy Olson, '89

Troy Olson, '89, is a marketing and business teacher at Bismarck (N.D.) Century High School and has served as the head hockey coach since 2005. After graduating with his associate's degree in business, Olson, attended the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, earning his bachelor of science degree in vocational marketing education. Olson is the advisor for the association for marketing students, known as DECA. He is a past president of the North Dakota Marketing Education Association and his community service includes volunteering for the American Diabetes Association. He was named the North Dakota Young Marketing Educator of the year in 1995 and was named North Dakota Class A Baseball Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2003.Olson and his wife, Tara, have four children.

 

Karissa (Dahl) Olson, '99

Karissa (Dahl) Olson, '99, administrator of Heartland Care in Devils Lake, N.D., graduated from the U of M, Crookston with a bachelor of science in health management. After graduation, she worked in Cannon Falls and Long Lake in Minnesota before moving back to her hometown to become CEO/administrator of the long term care facility there. Olson is the treasurer of the Business and Professional Women (BPW) of Devils Lake and a member of the Kiwanis Club and ambassador for the Devils Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. She is involved in various community projects including the annual BPW Tour of Homes which raises money to provide college scholarships for young women. She is a member of the North Dakota Long-term Care Association and North Dakota Department of Health Business Process Re-engineering Committee. She and her husband, Rich, have two daughters.

Theme for this year's homecoming at the U of M, Crookston is "Flying Through Time in 2009." Saturday's highlights include a parade, featuring Grand Marshal JoAnn Westburg; Teambacker tailgate with the band Four Wheel Drive; and Golden Eagle football vs. Northern State at 1 p.m. on Ed Widseth Field. Visit www.umcrookston.edu/alumni/homecoming.htm to learn about all the activities taking place during homecoming.

The Outstanding Alumni award is the highest honor bestowed on U of M, Crookston Alumni Association. The award recognizes alumni who have displayed exemplary commitment and service to community, church, education, family or in their occupational field. This award is given annually at homecoming during a banquet and program that also honors inductees into the Athletic Hall of Fame.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Corby Kemmer, director, alumni relations, 218-281-8434 (ckemmer@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn. - With the new academic year underway, the University of Minnesota, Crookston is pleased to welcome several new faculty and staff members. In an effort to provide students with a quality education and the opportunity to earn a University of Minnesota degree, the seven new faculty and staff will help provide the education and applied learning that have become hallmarks of the Crookston campus.

The campus announces the hiring of the following new faculty and staff:  

Kara Bowen

Kara Bowen has been hired as a lecturer in accounting in the Business Department. She holds an M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix and has as an adjunct faculty member at Dickinson State University, Dickinson, N.D. She also served as a finance and administrative manager with Steffes Corporation in Dickinson.

Jamie Fagerholt

Jamie Fagerholt has been hired as a program advisor in Student Support Services. She holds an M.B.A. from St. Cloud State University and earned her bachelor of business administration from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. Most recently Fagerholt, who is originally from Williston, N.D., served as a project manager for the Donaldson Company in Minneapolis, Minn.  Her major responsibilities in Student Support Services on the Crookston campus include providing assistance and academic support to students in their quest for academic success.

Rachel Lundbohm

Rachel Lundbohm has been hired as an instructor in marketing and management in the Business Department.  She holds an M.B.A. from the University of North Dakota, where she most recently served as a marketing instructor in the Marketing Department as well as marketing coordinator for the Student Wellness Center there. Lundbohm also worked as a marketing and business consultant for Backes Construction in St. Joseph, Minn., and for Angle Outpost Resort, Angle Inlet, Minn.

Karen Miller

Karen Miller has been hired as a lecturer in communications in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Department. She holds a master of arts degree in English from the University of North Dakota (UND), Grand Forks. She is currently completing a doctorate in English also at UND. Miller has taught as an adjunct on the Crookston campus since 2005. From 2000 to 2006, she taught at UND in the English Department.

Rob Proulx

Rob Proulx has been hired as a lecturer in agronomy in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department. He holds a master of science degree in applied plant sciences with a specialization in agronomy/agroecology from the University of Minnesota. He earned his bachelor's degree in agronomy from the U of M, Crookston in 2006 and taught courses in crop and weed identification, grain and seed evaluation, and integrated crop management on the Crookston campus this past spring semester.

Heather Sperling

Heather Sperling has been hired as an online student support service coordinator in the Center for Adult Learning. The Center for Adult Learning is serving as the University's digital campus calling center serving all five campuses. The calling center maintains student support and referrals and to answer and respond to student inquiries concerning University of Minnesota for-credit and non-credit online programs. Sperling is a 2005 graduate of the University of Minnesota, Crookston.

Kristie Walker, Ph.D.

Kristie Walker, Ph.D., has been hired as a lecturer in golf and turf management in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department. She earned her doctorate and master of science, both in agronomy, from Purdue University. She has a strong background in soil science and has done research involving nitrogen applications on turfgrass species as well as management factors affecting putting green speed. She taught classes in the area of golf and turf management at the Crookston campus spring semester 2009 on an interim basis.

Oxana Wieland, Ph.D.

Oxana Wieland, Ph.D., has been hired as a lecturer in economics in the Business Department.  She holds a doctorate in economics from Baikal State University of Economics and Law, Irkutsk, Russia, as well as a master of education degree in teaching mathematics from the University of Minnesota. While at Baikal State University in Russia, she served as an assistant professor teaching economics, management, and statistics. She also served as a permanent trainer and advisor for Baikal State University's Center for Improvement of Qualification. Most recently she has taught mathematics at Brooklyn Center High School, Brooklyn Center, Minn.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

CROOKSTON, Minn.  - New and prospective students can connect with the University of Minnesota, Crookston to learn more during Campus Preview Day on September 19, 2009.  Families are also encouraged to attend Campus Preview Day at the U of M, Crookston along with their new student.

Preview Day provides time for new students to interact with faculty, current students and staff as well as learn more about the Crookston campus. Highlights include receiving detailed information about opportunities for students at the U of M, Crookston, lunch in Brown Dining Room, interacting during question and answer sessions and touring campus.

Students may go online to register for Campus Preview Day on September 19 by visiting www.umcrookston.edu/admissions or sign up by contacting the Office of Admissions at 218-281-8569.

The University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. Invent yourself at the University of Minnesota, Crookston - become a leader, innovate through technology and research and secure the career you want. To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Amber Evans-Dailey, director of admissions, 218-281-8568 (evan0331@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu); Stephanie Onken, communications assistant, 218-281-8446 (onken015@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn.  - The Office of the Registrar at the University of Minnesota, Crookston recently announced its list of summer 2009 graduates. Eighteen students completed their degree requirements during summer session 2009. Graduates are listed below with their degree(s) earned.

The University of Minnesota, Crookston enrolls approximately 1,200 full-time students and is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The U of M, Crookston is a four-year baccalaureate degree granting institution, dedicated to learning, discovery and engagement in northwest Minnesota.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Summer 2009 Graduates

Name	Degree	Minor
Ballweg-Stremick, Nadine Marie	Applied Studies B S
Barchenger, Maria Elaine	Business Management B S	Music
Bergstrom, Debra J	Dietetic Technician A A S
Brorson, Megan Leigh	Business Management B S	Info Tech Mgmt
Buckentin, Jeremy Charles	Natural Resources B S
Dormanen, Paula Faye	Dietetic Technician A A S
Dugan, Tyler Christopher	Applied Studies B S
Fallon, Monica Rae	Business Management B S
Foreman, Heather Rae	Hlth Sciences Pre Prof Tr B S
Hulst, Megan Marie	Communication B S
Keefe, Kenneth Allan	Manufacturing Management B M M
Langlois, Rebecca Grace	Communication B S
Nitsch, Christa Lynne	Communication B S
Rau, Matthew E	Applied Health B A H
Reiner, Tyler Thomas	Natural Resources B S
Stone, John G	Golf and Turf Mgmt B S
Visness, Kaarina Mae	Horticulture B S
Yates, Cassie Mae	Early Childhood Education B S	Coaching

Contact: Andrew Svec, director of communications, 218-281-8438 (asvec@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn.  - University of Minnesota, Crookston Assistant Professor Alvin Killough,Ph.D., received a scholarship to attend the 2009 National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta, Ga., in late August. He attended the conference on behalf of Strengthening Africans' Resilience and Excellence (S.A.R.X.), a Minneapolis-based community organization investing in the future of Africans in Minnesota.

Priority for the scholarship was given to individuals whose work in the local community would be enhanced and to those who would have opportunity to share the skills and knowledge gained during the conference. The sponsorship, funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, covered the airfare, hotel, meals, and the conference registration.

Earlier in the year, Dr. Killough was joined by Mrs. Eryn Killough, a teaching specialist at the U of M, Crookston, to present at Cultural Competency: Equity and The Future of Black Education, a conference held in mid-August at Normandale Community College. The conference was sponsored by the Minnesota Humanities Center. The Killoughs' presentation and subsequent workshop topic was: Does Culture Really Matter? The conference provided a cross-cultural forum for educators and examined how to effectively increase the quality of classroom instruction.

In July, the Killoughs spoke to the Community Cooperative Council on HIV/AIDS Prevention (CCCHAP). Their presentation and workshop topic was: Advocacy: A guide to active HIV outreach for underserved ethnic communities in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The CCCHAP is a community planning group that advises the Minnesota Department of Health on its work related to HIV prevention.

Alvin Killough, Ph.D., is a cultural-Ecological Community and Organization Psychologist.  He maintains an active consultancy and a demonstrated commitment to organization and community capacity building especially in terms of diversity training, cultural competency assessment, and evaluation of multi-cultural outreach practices. He teaches at the University of Minnesota, Crookston in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (AHSS) Department.

Eryn Killough is an experienced translational research specialist in re-conceptualizing social, economic and political pathologies, and organizational practices that can lead to health and education disparities. She is part of the Academic Advisement Center and Student Support Services at the University of Minnesota, Crookston, working with students in the English as a Second Language (ESL) program.  

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Alvin Killough, assistant professor, 218-281-8028 (killo010@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn.  - Two alumni from the University of Minnesota, Crookston were recentlyhired by the State of North Dakota. Amy Brown, '08, and Cory Detloff, '09, recently graduated from the State of North Dakota's 106th Law Enforcement Training Academy in Bismark, N.D.

In the photo, Amy Brown is standing in the center row on the far right and Cory Detloff is seated in the front row, third from left.

Brown, a graduate in natural resources and agricultural aviation, has assumed her duties as a game warden/pilot with the North Dakota Department of Game and Fish.  

Detloff, an agricultural education and natural resources graduate, has assumed his duties as a game warden for North Dakota Department of Game and Fish.  

The Law Enforcement Training Academy ran for eight weeks, covering North Dakota statutes, law enforcement skills, investigative techniques, and more.  Prospective sheriff's deputies, highway patrol personnel, corrections officers, and game wardens, attend the same academy.

For more information on agriculture and natural resources opportunities at the Crookston campus, visit www.umcrookston.edu/academics/agri.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Mike Vivion, chief pilot, 218-281-8114 (mvivion@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn.  - A gift from an alumnus from the Northwest School of Agriculture (NWSA), now the University of Minnesota, Crookston, will provide scholarships for upper division students beginning in the fall semester 2010. Harris Peterson, '42, recently made a gift to the University of Minnesota Crookston that establishes a new scholarship fund of more than $141,000.

From the fund, six scholarships of $1,000 will be awarded annually to students majoring in agriculture who are residents of North Dakota or Minnesota. Peterson who has generously supported the campus over the years, made this most recent gift in an effort to encourage students in their pursuit of a baccalaureate degree with a focus on juniors and seniors.

"Our sincere appreciation to Harris for his act of philanthropic generosity in support of student scholarships on the Crookston campus," states Corby Kemmer, director of development and alumni relations. "It was a pleasure to work with Harris and his associates on this gift and we thank him for his continued investment in the U of M, Crookston."

Peterson is the founder, president, and general manager of Minn-Dak Growers, Ltd., a worldwide supplier of mustard, buckwheat, safflower, and confection sunflower ingredients to the food industry. He has generously supported the Northwest Research and Outreach Center's research on buckwheat and contributed significantly to the building of a gazebo on the Campus Mall, a project that commemorates the NWSA and its legacy to the region. The Harris A. Peterson Gazebo is the focal point of the mall and is the location of many campus events.

The Top Aggie was awarded to Peterson in 1987. The Top Aggie is the highest award given to alumni of the Northwest School, a residential high school that operated on the site of what is now the U of M, Crookston from 1906 - 1968. For more information on supporting student scholarships, visit www.umcrookston.edu/alumni/giving.html.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Corby Kemmer, director of development and alumni relations, 218-281-8434 (ckemmer@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn.- For twelve consecutive years, the University of Minnesota, Crookston has been recognized by U.S.News and World Report as a one of the top four public baccalaureate colleges in its category in the Midwest.

"The recognition by U.S.News and World Report affirms our continued efforts to offer students an exceptional educational experience on our campus," says Dr. Charles H. Casey, chancellor at the U of M, Crookston. "We have a strong commitment to students, and we recognize that the quality of our programs depends on our faculty and the critical ways that staff contribute to our success.  

"Students have the opportunity to earn a degree from University of Minnesota, a degree recognized nationally and internationally, in a campus setting that is smaller and more personal," Casey states. "We also strive to help students gain both global perspectives and important leadership skills in order to prepare them for the workplace or graduate school, and as citizens of the world community."

This fall, the U of M, Crookston will dedicate a new residence hall that has been certified through Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), an internationally recognized green building certification system. As the first LEED certified residence hall in the University of Minnesota system, Evergreen Hall offers apartment-style living designed with consideration for sustainability and less environmental impact.

Another unique feature of the building is an innovative "lecture-less" classroom that showcases another technological advantage offered at the U of M, Crookston, the campus that has provided students and faculty with laptop computers since 1993. The campus also was selected to serve as the University of Minnesota Digital Campus Calling Center. The calling center serves all five campuses and maintains student support and a referral call center to answer and respond to student inquiries concerning University of Minnesota for-credit and non-credit online programs.

The University of Minnesota, Crookston's category in the U.S.News rankings, Top Public Baccalaureate Colleges, is comprised of institutions that focus on undergraduate education and offer a range of degree programs but grant fewer than 50 percent of their degrees in the liberal arts.  Highlights of the college rankings will be published in the September 2009 issue of U.S.News & World Report, available for newsstand purchase on Monday, August 24. The 2010 America's Best Colleges guidebook will be available as of Tuesday, August 25.

U.S.News ranks colleges and universities in three basic steps. First each school is sorted by mission, and in some cases, region. Data is gathered from each institution for up to 15 indicators of academic excellence, including peer assessment; graduation and retention rates; faculty resources; student selectivity; financial resources and alumni giving. Each factor is assigned a weight reflecting the judgment of U.S.News about how much a measure matters. Finally, the colleges in each category are ranked against their peers, based on their composite weighted score.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.  

Contact: Andrew Svec, director of communications, 218-281-8438 (asvec@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn.  - College students from around the area are invited to attend College Outdoor Skills Day taking place on Thursday, September 10, 2009, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the Crookston Gun Club, located north of the campus. This free event is designed to help students experience new outdoor activities or sharpen the outdoor skills they already have.

Programs will be offered throughout the evening, including fly-fish casting, target archery, slingshots/wrist rockets, outdoor survival, outdoor first aid, rifle shooting, trap shooting, and tree stand safety. These events are free, but students interested must pre-register. For more information or to register, contact Laura Bell, lab coordinator and naturalist at the U of M, Crookston, at 218-281-8131 (lbell@umn.edu).

This event is sponsored by the University of Minnesota, Crookston, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, West Polk Deer Hunters, Crookston Gun Club, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Federal Cartridge, and the U of M, Crookston's Natural Resources Club and Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Laura Bell, lab services coordinator, 218-281-8131 (lbell@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn.  - The football practice field at the University of Minnesota, Crookston will be named in honor of Alumnus James "Jim" LeClair on Friday, August 28, 2009. The dedication will begin at noon on the field and the public is invited to attend. The Jim LeClair Practice Field is located just east of Evergreen Hall, the new residence hall on the Crookston campus.

LeClair, ex. '70, enrolled at the U of M, Crookston in the fall of 1968, and as a student-athlete, he excelled in football. He was captain of the 1969 football team that finished second in the conference and was named for a second consecutive year to the Minnesota State Junior College All-Conference Team. In 1970 he transferred to the University of North Dakota (UND), where he played two more seasons of collegiate football.

In 1972, LeClair was drafted by the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals where he played twelve seasons. He finished his fourteen-year career with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League.  Following his professional football career LeClair has been a successful coach, businessman, entrepreneur, and civic leader.  In 1999, Le Clair was inducted into the National College Football Hall of Fame, South Bend, Indiana.  He was inducted into the UND Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985 and into the U of M, Crookston Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Corby Kemmer, director of development, 218-281-8432 (ckemmer@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn.  - Support from businesses in the region has provided new athletic scoreboards at the University of Minnesota, Crookston, home of the Golden Eagles. The athletic department is pleased to announce that sponsors have helped secure the necessary funding to install new scoreboards at Ed Widseth Field, in Lysaker Gymnasium, and at the softball and baseball fields on the Crookston campus.

Northwest Manufacturing, Inc. of Red Lake Falls, Minn., is being recognized for their signature sponsorship of the scoreboard project. Chuck Gagner is president of Northwest Manufacturing, the company responsible for manufacturing and distribution of WoodMaster furnaces.

Joining Northwest Manufacturing are premier sponsors of the project: Bremer Bank in Crookston, Rob Jacobson, president; Hugo's, Kristi Magnusson, president; RiverView Health, Deb Boardman, CEO; and Crookston McDonald's, Mike and Cindy O'Keefe, owners.

"More than $100,000 was raised for the scoreboards, and we are grateful to everyone who contributed to the project," states Stephanie Helgeson, athletic director at the U of M, Crookston. "The support we have received for the scoreboards will enhance the experience for both student-athletes and fans, and it would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors."

Under the leadership of Bill Tyrrell, director of athletic fundraising, the Crookston campus supports student-athletes through scholarships and projects that enhance the student experience. To learn more about how you can support student-athletes at the U of M, Crookston, contact Tyrrell at 281-281-8436 (btyrrell@umn.edu)

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Bill Tyrrell, director of athletic fundraising, 218-281-8436 (btyrrell@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn.  - The University of Minnesota, Crookston Senior Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs Thomas Baldwin has announced that the University of Minnesota Board of Regents has approved the following U of M, Crookston faculty member for tenure.

Rachel McCoppin, Ph.D., who teaches in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Department at the U of M, Crookston, was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor with tenure effective August 17, 2009.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Andrew Svec, director of communications, 218-281-8438 (asvec@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The first Healthy Foods, Healthy Lives Symposium sponsored by the University of Minnesota Healthy Foods, Healthy Lives Institute, and co-sponsored by the Minnesota Obesity Center, will take place on the university campus at Cowles Auditorium (Hubert H Humphrey Center) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on September 21, 2009.  

Nationally and internationally renowned speakers will present state-of-the art science on four highly controversial topics related to the effects of food consumption on human health: food processing, consumption of organic foods, high fructose corn syrup, and antibiotic use in animals. Each talk will be followed by an interactive discussion involving local academic and industry experts and the audience. 

A lunchtime panel will debate the issue of diet versus drugs for obesity prevention and treatment. The purpose of the symposium is to generate exciting discussions that may lead to consensus on the controversial topics and/or recommendations for research needed for their resolution.

Register by visiting this link.  Early registration (until September 11) is $10 for students, $50 for University of Minnesota faculty and staff members, and $100 for non-university attendees. After September 11, registration will increase by $10 for all groups.  Online registration ends on September 14, unless space remains, in which case online registration will continue until the conference is fully booked.  Registration includes a continental breakfast, lunch, and snacks.

Visit www.hfhl.umn.edu for the symposium information. 

Contact: Becky Beyers, associate director of public relations, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, 612-626-5754 (bbeyers@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn. - With Ox Cart Days right around the corner, it can only mean one thing - the University of Minnesota, Crookston will be hosting the annual Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social! Join us for free ice cream, music, prizes and family fun on Friday, Aug. 14, 2009, from 3 to 5 p.m. near the Peterson Gazebo on the Campus Mall.

Music will be provided from 3 p.m. until 4 p.m. by the Valley Fiddlers under the direction of Val Buchmeier, orchestra director at the Crookston High School. Along with the Valley Fiddlers will be a musical performance by The WoodPicks from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. Members of this Bluegrass, Gospel, and Americana musical group include Greg Dally; on vocals and mandolin, Dustin "Boy" Keller; on vocals and playing the bass fiddle, Gene Lundsetter; on vocals and flat top guitar, Milo Ballingrud; on vocals and banjo, and JD Kezar; fiddle, harmonica, jaw harp and vocals.

The U of M, Crookston Bookstore will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be a special t-shirt on sale for $6.99 and tickets for the Minnesota State Fair will be offered at a reduced price. The Minnesota State Fair is held August 27 through September 7. Visitors can browse a wide array of books and other apparel available at the store. Free balloons will also be available at the Bookstore for children.

The campus gardens are in full bloom and displays by a number of campus departments will be available on the mall as well and prizes will be given away during the afternoon. Weather accommodations have been made to hold the ice cream social in the Northern Lights Lounge in the Sargeant Student Center.

Ox Cart Days is an annual Crookston community festival celebrating the heritage and history of the region. The theme for this year's event is "Home is Where the Heart Is." To learn more about the events taking place during Ox Cart Days, visit www.visitcrookston.com.

The University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. Invent yourself at the University of Minnesota, Crookston - become a leader, innovate through technology and research and secure the career you want. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Contact: Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu); Stefanie Rude, University Relations intern, 218-281-8432 (rudex053@umn.edu)