The Office of the Registrar at the University of Minnesota, Crookston recently announced its list of spring 2010 graduates. Students completed their degree requirements during spring semester 2010. 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 bachelor's degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture and natural resources; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,300 undergraduates, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Spring 2010 Graduates

Name	Major	Minor
Adamns, Andrew Edward	Manufacturing Management BMM
Adamski, Joseph Gerald	Natural Resources BS
Allen, Ashley Louise	Equine Science BS	Bus Mgmt
Anderson, Gretchen C	Natural Resources BS
Anderson, Jacob Alan	Natural Resources BS
Anderson, Kevin L	Natural Resources BS, & Agricultural Systems Mgmt BS	Music
Arne, Brett Ryan	Natural Resources BS
Balsiger, Cathy	Animal Science BS
Bawdon, David Jonathon Earl	Business Management BS
Beck, David W	Natural Resources BS
Biddle, Jessica Ann	Equine Science BS	Animal Science
Black, Shane, R	Agricultural Systems Mgmt BS
Bochow, Aaron Michael	Natural Resources BS
Bochow, Amanda Trish	Natural Resources BS
Carr, Jeffrey David	Sport & Recreation Mgmt BS	Coaching
Dank, Anthony James	Equine Science BS, & Animal Science BS
Dean, Bryan Daniel	Business Management BS
DeBoer, Jessica Lynn	Business Management BS
Dillon, Daniel J	Natural Resources BS
Dimmler, Cole Thomas	Agricultural Business BS	Agronomy
Ellenberg, Jada Kay	Horticulture BS
Erickson, Mathew Donald	Business Management BS
Fjosee, Kirstin Norby	Equine Science BS, & Agricultural Business BS
Freeman, Steven C	Golf & Turf Mgmt BS
Gerver, Jacob Arvin	Agricultural Business BS, & Agricultural Systems Mgmt BS
Grenell, Monica Lea	Hotel/Restrnt/Inst Mgmt BS	Bus Mgmt
Hannon, Megan Elizabeth	Equine Science BS
Harty, Paige N	Business Management BS
Harwell, Lee Eugene III	Natural Resources BS
Hassa, Justin Joseph	Accounting BS, & Business Management BS
Haugstad, Donavan Marvin	Sport & Recreation Mgmt BS	Coaching
Hendricks, Jared F	Business Management BS
Hepola, Danielle Marie	Health Management BS	Bus Mgmt
Herrig, Heather Renee	Natural Resources BS	Communication
Holland, Philip Wade	Golf & Turf Mgmt BS, & Horticulture BS
Hughes, Andrew Wesley	Business Management BS
Huttunen, Reid T	Sport & Recreation Mgmt BS	Coaching
Jensen, Alyssa Nicole	Business Management BS
Karras, Jacob George	Business Management BS
Kaschmitter, Brianna M	Agricultural Business BS	Bus Mgmt
Kern, Elizabeth Renee	Communication BS
Kim, Kyu Tae	Business Management BS
Kitchell, Michael Edward	Agricultural Systems Mgmt BS	Agricultural Bus
Knudsen, Kyle Sten	Early Childhood Education BS	Coaching
Knudson, Michael David	Natural Resources BS
Kooser, Wilfred B. Jr	Business Management BS
Koscielniak, Nicole Marie	Agricultural Business BS	Animal Science
Krebs, Paul	Golf & Turf Mgmt BS, & Horticulture BS
Krecklau, Joshua Lee	Natural Resources BS
Kreutner, Joshua Michael	Agricultural Systems Mgmt BS
Lamecker, Joshua John	Agricultural Business BS
Larson,Joshua Peder	Natural Resources BS
Larson, Scott Leonard	Business Management BS
Logelin, Michael Todd	Applied Studies BS
Lovly, David Ronald	Natural Resources BS
Luna, Tamara Olivia	Biology BS	Communication
Mackedanz, Melissa Kay	Natural Resources BS
McGee, Lorelei A	Hotel/Restrnt/Inst Mgmt BS
McNamee, Amanda Rose	Agricultural Business BS
Mills, Jamie Lee	Natural Resources BS
Munn, Nicole Marie	Dietetic Technician ASS
Mussenden, Athena Gabrielle	Business Management BS
Myers, Kyle	Sport & Recreation Mgmt BS
Nelson, Kimberly Susan	Early Childhood Education BS
Nelson, Krista Rose	Business Management BS, & Accounting BS
Nelson, Shena L	Manufacturing Management BMM
Norvitch, Philip S	Natural Resources BS
Nowacki, Sarah Kristen	Early Childhood Education BS
Nyhus, Tracy Lynn	Hlth Sciences Pre Prof Tr BS
Ogaard, Romuald Jay	Communication BS
Ohmacht, Thomas William	Information Technology Mgmt BS
Oliver, Travis Scott Irwin	Manufacturing Management BMM	Bus Mgmt
Olson, Ellen Michelle	Animal Science BS
Olson, Samantha Tara	Business Management BS
Onken, Stephanie Ann	Communication BS, & Business Management BS
Palmer, Kelsey Marie	Early Childhood Education BS
Pfingsten, Carla Johanna	Natural Resources BS
Plath, Daniel Edward	Manufacturing Management BMM
Rude, Stefanie Marie	Communication BS	Organizatnl Psych
Russell, Amanda Nicole	Early Childhood Education BS
Saari, Brett R.	Business Management BS
Saarinen, Max Peyton	Communication BS
Schein, Jessica JoAnn	Natural Resources BS
Schwab, Brandon James	Agronomy BS
Schwartz, Gary Allen	Manufacturing Management BMM
Seibel, Jessica Marie	Communication BS
Severance, Desiree' Anne	Animal Science BS, & Agricultural Education BS
Shaw, Nathan Allen	Agricultural Systems Mgmt BS, & Agricultural Business BS
Slepicka, Jaclyn F	Communication BS	Bus Mgmt
Solie, Brandin Lee	Agricultural Systems Mgmt BS, & Agronomy BS
Starr, Crystal Nicole	Animal Science BS
Ternes, Kathy Lillian	Hlth Sciences Pre Prof Tr BS
Thompson, Nikolas Clifford	Business Management BS
Tietje, Stepheni Teresa	Horticulture BS
Torkelson, Bobbie Jo	Early Childhood Education BS
Tosh, Abbie Kathleen	Business Management BS
Trestram, Jordan	Accounting BS	Info Tech Mgmt
Tyler, Stephanie Lynn	Bussiness Management BS
Valgren, Yvonne Nicole	Organizational Psychology BS
Veres, Nicole M	Equine Science BS	Animal Science
Vigness, Rose E	Accounting BS
Vikingson, Kevin	Manufacturing Management BMM
Wander, Weston J	Golf & Turf Mgmt BS, & Horticulture BS
Wilson, Jeffrey Alan	Natural Resources BS
Wolden, Tyler Wayne	Business Management BS
Wright, Brett Robert	Business Management BS
Zempel, Eric Dennis	Natural Resources BS

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

Area students named to the spring semester 2010 Dean's List at the University of Minnesota, Crookston were announced by the Office of the Registrar. The U of M, Crookston is one of the most respected career-oriented, technology-based universities in the nation.

To qualify for a place on the Dean's List, students must complete 12 or more letter-graded (A-F) credits while attaining a 3.50 grade point average. The Crookston campus is the online leader in the University of Minnesota system and the only campus providing every full-time student with a laptop computer.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 bachelor's degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture and natural resources; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,300 undergraduates, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

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

Area students named to the spring semester 2010 Chancellor's List at the University of Minnesota, Crookston were announced by the Office of the Registrar. The U of M, Crookston is one of the most respected career-oriented, technology-based universities in the nation.

To qualify for a place on the Chancellor's List, students must complete 12 or more letter-graded (A-F) credits while attaining a 4.00 grade point average. The Crookston campus is the online leader in the University of Minnesota system and the only campus providing every full-time student with a laptop computer.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 bachelor's degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture and natural resources; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,300 undergraduates, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

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

The theme for the 2010 Faculty and Staff Day at the University of Minnesota, Crookston was "Put a Spring in your Step." The event is a celebration of the completion of the academic year and a time to recognize years of service, retirements, and outstanding service. Emcees for the event were Bill Tyrrell, director of athletic fundraising and Jason Brantner, research fellow at the Northwest Research Center (NWROC).

Faculty and staff recognized with awards were:

Distinguished Faculty presented to Kevin Thompson, Ph.D., assistant professor in Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Department, by Thomas Baldwin, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs.

Distinguished Civil Service/Bargaining Unit Employee Award presented to Laura Bell, lab services coordinator in the Natural Resources Department, by Jason Brantner on behalf of Gary Willhite, director of residential life.

Distinguished P&A Employee Award presented to Bonni Buchmeier, teaching specialist, by Rand Rasmussen, director of the Academic Assistance Center.

Outstanding Community Service Award presented to Peter Phaiah, associate vice chancellor for student affairs, by Tom Feiro, environmental health and safety specialist.

Outstanding Service Learning Faculty Award was presented to Rachel Lundbohm, instructor in the Business Department, by Peter Phaiah.

Students with Disabilities Support Award presented to Chancellor Charles H. Casey by Laurie Wilson, from the Office of Students with Disabilities.

Builders of Diversity Award were presented by Thomas Williams, director of diversity programs, to Golden Eagle Athletics; Peter Phaiah, associate vice chancellor for student affairs; Don Cavalier, director of Career and Counseling Services; Alvin Killough, Ph.D., assistant professor in Arts Humanities and Social Sciences Department; Kristie Jacobson, assistant director of residential life; and Rae French, coordinator for study abroad.

Chancellor Charles H. Casey presented the awards for years of service, including recognition for 40 years of service to Linda Wilkens, copy center operator in University Relations and to Lynnette Mullins, assistant professor in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Department.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 bachelor's degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture and natural resources; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,300 undergraduates, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

In the photos (l to r):
Top left: Laura Bell, Kevin Thompson, and Bonni Buchmeier.
Top right: Peter Phaiah
Lower left: Don Cavalier, Alvin Killough, Stephanie Helgeson, Peter Phaiah, Rae French, Kristie Jacobson, and Thomas Williams.
Lower right: Lynnette Mullins and Linda Wilkens

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

Two faculty members at the University of Minnesota, Crookston participated in a project with their classes involving collaboration with the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) staff in Northwest Minnesota, including Polk County. Assistant Professor Kevin Thompson, Ph.D., and Nancy Shay, a teaching specialist, who both work in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Department, coordinated the service-learning project.  Students in the design and management class and visual communication and editing class worked together to develop the pamphlet titled, SHIP Shape, which focuses on healthy food choices. Sarah Reese, Polk County SHIP coordinator worked closely with the students on the project.

SHIP Shape features schools in the county and region, such as East Grand Forks, who are making healthy food the easy choice for their students and staff.  An integral part of Minnesota's nation-leading 2008 health reform law, SHIP strives to help Minnesotans lead longer, healthier lives by preventing the chronic disease risk factors of tobacco use and exposure, poor nutrition and physical inactivity. SHIP seeks to create sustainable, systemic changes in schools, worksites, communities and health care organizations that make it easier for Minnesotans to incorporate healthy behaviors into their daily lives.

For more information about SHIP, contact Reese at Polk County Public Health at 218-281-3385 (sreese@pcphealth.org). For more information about the statewide efforts, visit http://www.health.state.mn.us/healthreform/ship.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 bachelor's degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture and natural resources; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,300 undergraduates, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

In the photo (l to r):  University of Minnesota Crookston students, Tammy Wroblewski, senior, Milwaukee, Wis.; and Jess Seibel, senior, Crookston, Minn.; along with Sarah Reese, Polk County SHIP coordinator; and Stephanie Onken, senior, Round Lake, Minn.

Contact: Sarah Reese, Polk County Public Health, 218-281-3385 (sreese@pcphealth.org); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

"Celebration of Achievement" was the theme for the annual student awards program and reception held recently at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. Students were recognized for outstanding achievement and service by faculty and staff. Emcee for the evening was Pam Elf, associate professor in the Math, Science, and Technology Department.

Awards and award recipients are listed below:

Crookston Student Association Officers and Senators

Brandon Sachwitz, senior, St. Paul, Minn.; Anna Wagner, junior, Brandon, Minn.; Alisha Aasness,  sophomore, Fergus Falls, Minn.; Karl Syverson, senior, Minneapolis, Minn.; Alyssa Jensen, senior, Cameron, Wis.; Brittany Novak, junior, Dahlen, N.D.; Greg Summers, senior, Beatrice, Neb.; Eun Hye Kang, senior, Seoul, South Korea; Athena Mussendon, senior, Kenosha, Wis.; Lauren Snively, sophomore, Herndon, Virg.; Eric Morgan, junior, Crookston, Minn.; Zach Hennings, senior, East Grand Forks, Minn.; Thomas Haarstick, senior, Vergas, Minn.; Lincoln Messner, senior, Winthrop, Minn.; Shawn Friedland, junior, Viera, Fla. Advisors: Lisa Samuelson and Bill Peterson.

 

Outstanding Student Ambassadors

Alisha Aasness, sophomore, Fergus Falls, Minn.; Janie Bauer, junior, Durand, Wis.; Joe Harren, sophomore, Eagle Bend, Minn.; Jackie Dullinger, senior, Hutchinson, Minn.; Nik Jiran, senior, Hayden, Id.

Samantha Lahman , sophomore, Parkers Prairie, Minn.; Kristine Neu , junior, Pelican Rapids, Minn.; Danielle Rueter, sophomore,  Stratford, Wis.; Jessica Schein, senior, Cannon Falls, Minn.; Alvin Tong, senior, Singapore; Benjamin Williams, freshman, Excelsior, Minn.; Greg Summers, senior, Beatrice, Neb.

Heather Schroeder, senior, Nevis, Minn.; Yvonne Valgren , senior, Halstad, Minn.; Alyssa Aaland, junior, Hatton, N.D.; Steffane Prestidge, junior,  Buffalo, Minn.; Paige Eskelson, presenter

 

Ambassador of the Year

Greg Summers, Beatrice, Neb.; Paige Eskelson, presenter

 

Outstanding Tutor Awards

Benjamin Williams, freshman, Excelsior, Minn.; Kirstin (Fjosee) Mio, senior, Olympia, Wash.; Linnea Barton, presenter

 

Writing Center Tutor

Kristine Neu , junior, Pelican Rapids, Minn.; Linnea Barton, presenter

 

Academic Assistance Center Awards

Brittany Schlosser, senior, Frederick, S.D.; John Plass, sophomore, Tulelake, Calif.; Tammy Wroblewski, senior, Milwaukee, Wis.; Laurie Wilson, presenter

 

 

Outstanding Leadership in Campus Ministry

Jennifer Rasmussen, junior, Dalton, Minn.; Melinda Baszczynski, senior, Earlham, Iowa; Heather Fogelson, sophomore, West Lakeland, Minn.; Dale Knotek, presenter

 

 

Outstanding Leadership in Fellowship of Christian Athlete (FCA)

Mark Michalski, senior, Silver Bay, Minn.; Jason Tangquist, presenter

 

Oustanding Achievement in Math and Physics

Shawn Friedland, junior, Viera, Fla.; Bill Peterson, presenter

 

First Year Biology Award

Alyssa Krikke, junior, Grand Rapids, Mich.

 

Excellence in Early Childhood Education

Kimberly Nelson, senior, Cold Spring, Minn.; Amanda Russell, senior, Crookston, Minn.; Marsha Odom, presenter

           

Business Department Outstanding Academic Achievement Award

Keith Bakken, senior, Crookston, Minn.; Jessica DeBoer, senior, Crookston, Minn.; Rachel Lundbohm, presenter; Ken Johnson, presenter

 

Business Department Outstanding Leadership Award

Lincoln Messner, senior, Winthrop, Minn.; Alyssa Jensen, senior, Cameron, Wis.; Rachel Lundbohm, presenter; Ken Johnson, presenter

 

Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Exceptional Project Leader Awards

Heather Donati-Lewis, senior, Narcoossee, Fla.; Trista Kleinwachter, freshman, Mentor, Minn.; Jared Hendricks, senior, Owatonna, Minn.; Abbie Tosh, senior, Crookston, Minn.; Stephanie Onken, senior, Round Lake, Minn.; Rachel Lundbohm, presenter; Ken Johnson, presenter

 

Outstanding Accounting Student

Erin Shaw, senior, Lancaster, Minn.; Ken Johnson, persenter

 

Outstanding Sport and Recreation Management (SRM) Student

Derek Ricke, junior, Menahga, Minn.; David Rolling, presenter

 

Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Hospitality Award

Monica Grenell, senior, Maple Plain, Minn.; Amoy Carty, sophomore, Sandy Point, KNA; Ashley Williams, junior, Big Lake, Minn.; Holly Wrzos, sophomore, Big Lake, Minn.; Lauren Ferrara, sophomore, Eden Prairie, Minn.; Ryan Ellingson, sophomore, Wadena, Minn.; Ken Myers, presenter

 

Outstanding Student of Communication

Heather Herrig (minor), senior, Mountain Lake, Minn.;  Max Saaarinen (major), senior, Lakeville, Minn.

Lynnette Mullins, presenter

 

Outstanding Turfgrass Student Award

Thomas Halver, junior, Chaska, Minn.; Kristie Walker, presenter

 

Turf Bowl Team Award

Thomas Halver, junior, Chaska, Minn.; Philip Holland, senior, New London, Minn.; Mark Michalski, senior, Silver Bay, Wis.; Weston Wander, senior, Sauk Centre, Minn.; Kristie Walker, presenter

 

Norman Pankratz Memorial Conservation Award

Tim Knudson, senior, Monticello, Minn.; Cory Oestreich, sophomore, Florence, Mont.; Dan Svedarsky, presenter

 

John Polley Soil and Water Conservation Award

Nick Sylvester, junior, Crookston, Minn.; Phil Norvitch, senior, Mountain Iron, Minn.; Josh Larson, senior, Park Rapids, Minn.; Amanda Bochow, senior, Wahlawa, Hawaii; Matt Thompson, senior, Karlstad, Minn.;

Dan Svedarsky, presenter

 

Outstanding Equine Science Student

Amanda Peterson, senior, Rochester, Minn.; Ron Del Vecchio, presenter

 

Outstanding Animal Science Student

Isaiah Ulmer, senior, Fullerton, N.D.; Ron Del Vecchio, presenter

 

Outstanding Service to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department

Tony Dank, senior, Sartell, Minn.; Ron Del Vecchio, presenter

 

Outstanding Ag Business Student

Cole Dimmler, senior, Crary, N.D.; Margot Rudstrom, presenter

 

Outstanding Ag Systems Management Students

Thomas Haarstick, senior, Vergas, Minn.; Kent Freberg, presenter

 

Outstanding Horticulture Student

Michael Field, senior, Spicer, Minn.

 

Horticulture Club Service Award

Jada Ellenberg, senior, Perham, Minn.; Eric Castle, presenter

 

MACHS Team Awards

Nate Peikert, freshman, Stillwater, Minn.; Theo Lennemen, sophomore, St. Michael, Minn. ; Kristine Neu, junior, Pelican Rapids, Minn.; Jada Ellenberg, senior, Perham, Minn.; Jennifer Zoch, senior, Remer, Minn.; Stepheni Tietje, senior, Hayfield, Minn. ; Michael Field, senior, Spicer, Minn.; Eric Castle, presenter

 

PLANET Team Awards

Theo Lenneman, sophomore, St. Michael, Minn.; Jada Ellenberg, senior, Perham, Minn.; Justin Erdmann, freshman, Hoarce, N.D.; Jordan Jacobson, senior, Thief River Falls, Minn.; Keunyung Kim, senior, Gwangju, South Korea; Michael Field, senior, Spicer, Minn.; Eric Castle, presenter

 

Certificate of Appreciation for International Student Programming

Keunsoo Kim, sophomore, Gwanju City, South Korea; Qian Liu, junior, Guangdong,  China; Taehee Yook, senior, Seoul, South Korea; Yangchen Gurung, sophomore, Kathmandu, Nepal ; Rae French, presenter

Kim Gillette, presenter

 

Outstanding Leadership for international Students

Eun Hye Kang, junior, Seoul, South  Korea; Lhakpa Gurung, junior, Kathmandu, Nepal; Rae French, presenter; Kim Gillette, presenter

 

Outstanding Music Awards

Matthew Green, sophomore, Greenbush, Minn.; Brooke Hamilton, freshman, Adams, Minn.; George French, presenter

 

Outstanding Theater Awards

Austin Czichotzki, sophomore, Barnesville, Minn.; Emily Nelsen, sophomore, Atwater, Minn.; George French, presenter

 

Outstanding Service to the Music and Theater Department

Kevin Anderson, senior, Spring Grove, Minn.; George French, presenter

 

Outstanding ESL Student Award

Xiaowei Zhou, ESL student, Chongquing, China

 

Outstanding ESL Recitation Tutor Award

Justin Hassa, senior, Wadena, Minn.

 

Outstanding  Help Desk Employee Award

Rory Held, junior, Cold Spring, Minn.; Thea Holen, presenter

 

Dale Knotek Community Service Award

Multicultural International Club

 

Outstanding Student Volunteer of the Year

Nik Jiran, senior, Hayden, Idaho

 

President's Volunteer Service Awards

Nik Jiran, senior, Hayden, Idaho; Tracy Nyhus, senior, Almena, Wis.; Brittany Novak, junior, Dahlen, N.D.; Jackie Dullinger, senior, Hutchinson, Minn.; Kate Bentley, senior, St. Paul, Minn.; Shawn E. Friedland, junior, Viera, Fla.; Karl Syverson, senior, Minneapolis, Minn.; Sarah Nowacki, senior, Argyle, Minn.; Katelyn Zins, sophomore, Starbuck, Minn.; Annie Kelly, sophomore, Jordan, Minn.; Jessica Fenlason, junior, Evansville, Minn.; Ramon Rory Held, junior, Cold Spring, Minn.; Joe Harren , sophomore, Eagle Bend, Minn.; Tony Dank, senior, Sartell, Minn.; Heather Donati-Lewis, senior, Narcoossee, Fla.; Austin Czichotzki, sophomore, Barnesville, Minn.; Kristine Neu, junior, Pelican Rapids, Minn.; Brittany Bergemann , sophomore, Good Thunder, Minn.; Lauren Ferrara, sophomore, Eden Prairie, Minn.; Kristie Johnson, senior, Pelican Rapids, Minn.; Eun Hye Kang, senior , Seoul, South Korea

QIan Liu, junior, Guangdong, China; Nongye Lo , sophomore, St. Paul, Minn.; Katie Manning, junior, Wrenshall, Minn.; Steffane Prestidge, junior, Buffalo, Minn. ; Tammy Wroblewski, senior, Milwaukee, Wis.; Jill Zelinsky, senior, Brooklyn Park, Minn.; Lisa Loegering, presenter

 

 

UMC Athletic Dept. All Academic Team (3.2 grade point average or higher)

Jaclyn Slepicka, volleyball, senior, Palatine, Ill.; Danielle Rueter, volleyball, sophomore, Burlington, Wis.;

Trent Graves,  mens basketball, sophomore, Hartford, S.D.; Jessica Biddle, equine, senior, Elburn Ill.; Katie Bowar, softball, senior, Moorhead, Minn.; Kayla Bowar, softball, junior, Moorhead, Minn.; Cody Brekken, football, Crookston, Minn.; Amy Carlson, softball, sophomore, Rush City, Minn.; Laura Critchett, equine, junior, Shoreview, Minn.; Sarena Diederichs,  softball, junior, St. Cloud, Minn.

Megan Eul , womens basketball, sophomore, Rosemount, Minn.; Megan Hannon, soccer, senior, Green Bay, Wis.; Justine Jones, soccer, senior, Richland, Wash. ; Lauren Kessler,  womens basketball, sophomore, Albertville, Minn.; Stephanie Lee, soccer, junior, Santa Fe, NM; Paul Myers, baseball, sophomore, Arden Hills, Minn.; Anna Ogaard, soccer, junior, Maple Grove, Minn.; Justin Overby,  football, sophomore, Langdon, N.D.; Nicole Veres, equine, senior, Random Lake, Wis.

Stephen Woods,  baseball, Naples, Fla.; Tammy Wroblewski, womens golf, senior, Milwaukee, Wis.

Bri Zabel , womens basketball, junior, Northfield, Minn.; Jason Tangquist, presenter

 

Outstanding Student Programmer Award

Austin Czichotzki, sophomore, Barnesville, Minn.; Brittany Novak, presenter

 

Outstanding Crookston Student Association (CSA) Senator

Eun Hye Kang, senior, Seoul, South Korea; Thomas Haarstick, presenter; Alyssa Jensen, presenter;

 

Outstanding Club Representative

Leonard Will, sophomore, Tulelake, Calif.; Alyssa Jensen, presenter; Thomas Haarstick, presenter

 

Faculty Recognized by UMC Students for Service and Achievement

 

Most Creative Use of Technology

Bill Peterson, professor, Math, Science, and Technology Department

Most Supportive of Students

Ken Johnson, instructor, Business Department

Outstanding Educator

Rachel McCoppin, - associate professor, Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Department

Outstanding Service to Students

Rae French, coordinator of study abroad

 

Student Achievement Awards

Anthony Dank, senior, Sartell, Minn.; Shawn Friedland, junior, Viera, Fla.; Thomas Haarstick, senior, Vergas, Minn.; Nikolas Jiran, senior, Hayden, Idaho; Brandon Sachwitz, senior, St. Paul, Minn.; Karl Syverson, senior, Minneapolis, Minn.; Alvin Tong, senior, Singapore; Lhakpa Gurung, junior, Kathmandu, Nepal; Eun Hye Kang, senior, Seoul, South Korea; Kimberly S. Nelson, senior, Cold Spring, Minn.; Kristine Neu, junior, Pelican Rapids, Minn.; Mindy Nieuwboer, senior, Kenneth, Minn.; Brittany Novak, junior, Dahlen, N.D.

 

Honored as "Man and Woman of the Year" from the students who received the Student Achievement Award were Man of the Year Anthony Dank, a senior animal science and equine science pre-vet major; and Woman of the Year Eun Hye Kang, a senior communication major. Dank is the son of Jim and Mary Dank from Sartell, Minn., and Kang is the daughter of Syung Hyun Kang and Soon Rye Seo from Seoul, South Korea. The awards were presented by emcee for the awards program Associate Professor Pam Elf and Daniel Wilson, president of the Crookston Noon Day Lions Club.

Visit the 2010 Student Awards Photo Album.

Coordination and arrangements for the awards program and reception is the responsibility of the Awards Committee including: Lisa Samuelson, director of student activities; Terrill Bradford, instructor in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department; George French, associate professor in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Department; David Rolling, assistant professor in the Business Department; and Patti Tiedemann, graphic designer in University Relations.

Special thanks to the Northwest Educational Improvement Association and the Crookston Noon Day Lions Club for their continued support of the awards reception and program.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 bachelor's degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture and natural resources; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,300 undergraduates, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Lisa Samuelson, director, student activities, 218-281- 8507 (samue026@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Ten essays by noted scholars address the significant topics in education including educational policy, methods, and ideology in the recently published book Humanistic Critique of Education: Teaching and Learning as Symbolic Action. Associate professors Mark Huglen, Ph.D., and Rachel McCoppin, Ph.D., are the co-authors of a chapter, entitled "Extending Kenneth Burke and Multicultural Education: Being Actively Revised by the Other," included in the work. Both teach communication courses in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Department at the University of Minnesota, Crookston.

The essay chapters in the book draw upon insights produced by renouned scholar Kenneth Burke's famous essay "Linguistic Approach to Problems of Education" to address the design, practice, and outcomes of educational programs in the new millennium. This particular group of essays, published by Parlor Press and edited by Peter M. Smudde, is the first sustained attempt to apply Burke's profound insights to the problems of educational reform and policy. Burke (1897-1993) is an American literary theorist and philosopher whose work has been influential in study where symbols and symbolic action are a central focus.

In the compilation, Huglen and McCoppin discuss active revision. One way to approach a situation is to argue, but another way is to listen, learn, and choose to change as a result of the encounter. Listening, learning, and changing are part of self-revision. The chapter articulates that too often people defend their own positions at the expense of missing a greater truth. Sometimes the other side is right.

Co-author of several books on communication, Huglen's research interests include rhetoric, organizational communication, theories of communication, argument and political communication. Huglen earned his doctorate in communication from Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich., and his master's and bachelor's degrees from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.
McCoppin has published works in a number of journals and has research interests in the areas of American transcendentalism, modernism, existentialism and the pedagogy of literature and ethics. She earned her doctorate from Indiana University in Pennsylvania, Ind., and her master's degree from Northern Michigan University in Marquette. Her bachelor's degree is from the University of Michigan - Flint.

To learn more about the communication program at the U of M, Crookston, visit www.umcrookston.edu/academics.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 bachelor's degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture and natural resources; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,300 undergraduates, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

In the photo ( l to r): Rachel McCoppin and Mark Huglen

Contact: Mark Huglen, associate professor, 218-281-8275 (mhuglen@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

The University of Minnesota, Crookston, home to the Economic Development Administration (EDA) University Center, is a partner on a $4.7 million federal grant awarded to the Blandin Foundation and 19 coalition partners to enhance broadband access in Minnesota's rural areas. Through the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program grant, the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities coalition will bring a network of resources and support to rural Minnesota individuals and communities--especially those unemployed and seeking employment, small businesses, coalitions of government entities, and local leaders. The Blandin Foundation will administer the grant on behalf of the initiative's partners.

The EDA Center, under the leadership of Center Director Jack Geller, will serve a vital role as project evaluator for the grant. Designed to bring together partners from across a wide spectrum, the grant will provide funding to carry out an array of projects. As evaluator, the EDA Center will design and conduct research on the projects, collect data, and measure the impact and effectiveness of the grant's activities. Some $459,900 is set aside for the evaluation aspect of the grant. Faculty and staff from across the University will have an opportunity to be engaged in research on projects related to the grant's objectives.

Geller is keenly aware of the significant impact improving technology access would have for those who live and work in rural Minnesota. "This grant is a very significant and comprehensive approach to targeting rural communities and those who lack access to technologies that could prove to be critically important to them," Geller states. "We will broaden awareness, provide essential technical assistance, and help those who may not even be online yet. We want to maximize this opportunity to assist rural businesses and help them adopt new technologies, increase their market share, reach new customers, and improve their bottom line."

Total cost of the coalition's proposed projects is estimated at more than $6 million. Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities coalition members will contribute $1.3 million in resources as matching funds toward the effort. The Blandin Foundation submitted the application for federal broadband stimulus funding on behalf of University of Minnesota Extension Center for Community Vitality, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, University of Minnesota Crookston, Association of Minnesota Counties and their national counterpart, Network of Care Mental Health, Intelligent Community Forum, Minnesota Renewable Energy Marketplace, Minnesota Department of Economic Development Workforce Centers, PCs for People and Minnesota's nine Regional Development Commissions.

The mission of the EDA Center, located on the Crookston Campus, is to engage university faculty, staff and students with local, county and regional economic development agencies in support of the rural economy. For more information, contact Geller at 218-281-8248 or visit the EDA Center's Web site at www.edacenter.org.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 bachelor's degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture and natural resources; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,300 undergraduates, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Jack Geller, director, EDA Center, 218-281-8248 (gelle045@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

As a backdrop to the upcoming concert by the University of Minnesota, Crookston Choir will be a cross built by Crookston resident and retired highway department employee Bill Matzke. The lighted cross, constructed in 1955, was a fixture at the annual concert by Civic Music League when they were singing the cantata, The Seven Last Words of Christ. The same cantata will be performed by the U of M, Crookston choir under the direction of George French on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, in Kiehle Auditorium beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The cross was used every year until sometime in the 1970s when it ended up in Glen Torkelson's shop. When Torkelson mentioned the cross to George French, he had already chosen the cantata for the choir's spring concert. With the help of Allan Dragseth, the cross was moved to Dragseth's farm shop, and eventually, a project to re-wire and restore the cross was undertaken by staff in Facilities Management at the U of M, Crookston.

Everyone is welcome to attend the concert. There is no admission charge, and the cross built by Matzke some 55 years ago will once again grace the stage. George French would like to thank everyone who helped restore the cross and make its return possible.The concert is co-sponsored by Campus Ministry and refreshments will follow.

In the photo (l to r): Baritone soloist Kevin Anderson, a senior from Spring Grove, Minn., and tenor soloist Won Man Lee, a freshman from Seoul, South Korea, with Choir Director George French.

Contact: George French, director, music and theater, 218-281-8266 (gfrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

A concert of sacred music will be performed by the University of Minnesota, Crookston choir under the direction of George French on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, in Kiehle Auditorium. The hour-long concert, which begins at 7:30 p.m., will feature the Seven Last Words of Christ, a sacred choral cantata. The public is welcome to attend and there is no admission charge.

The choir concert is sponsored by the Music and Theater Department along with Campus Ministries at the U of M, Crookston. For more information, contact French at 218-281-8266.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 bachelor's degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture and natural resources; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,300 undergraduates, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: George French, director, music and theater, 218-281-8266 (gfrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Second guest in the Mentor in Residence series at the University of Minnesota, Crookston is concert pianist John McKay. While visiting campus, McKay will perform a special recital on February 22, 2010, dedicating the grand piano in Evergreen Hall, located on the south side of campus. The recital will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Evergreen and refreshments will be served following his performance. The concert is free and everyone is invited to attend.  

McKay's performance will include Sonata in C Major, Hob. XVI/48 Haydn (1732-1809); Sonata in E flat major, op. 31, no. 3 Beethoven (1770-1827); Barcarolle in F sharp major, op. 60 Chopin (1810-1849); and Le Tombeau de Couperin Ravel (1875-1937).

John McKay retired as a professor of piano from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn., in 2004, and now performs frequently throughout the Midwest and beyond. He is often heard as a soloist with the Mankato Symphony Orchestra. A native of Montreal, Canada, Dr. McKay earned his Bachelor's degree in Music from McGill University, and his graduate degrees at the Eastman School of Music.
From 1962 to 1969, McKay lived in Europe and gave recitals in Brussels, London, Vienna, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Munich, Berlin and Cologne. During the 1971-72 concert season, while teaching at the University of Toronto, McKay presented the complete works for solo piano by Johannes Brahms in a series of four recitals at Toronto's Town Hall. As a result of a sabbatical leave granted him in 1985-86, he performed Beethoven's 32 Piano Sonatas in a series of eight concerts.

In July 2000, McKay and his wife, Sara, were honored by the Minnesota State Arts Board for their service to music in their community. This recital is the second time McKay has been in concert on the Crookston Campus; he presented a recital in 2008 in Kiehle Auditorium.  

For more information on the concert, contact George French, director of music and theater, at 218-281-8266 (gfrench@umn.edu).

The Mentor in Residence program, under the direction of Gary Willhite, director of residential life, is built around the idea of living and learning. The primary objective is to enhance academic learning by providing an opportunity for students to develop and to participate in a relationship and dialogue that provides for a more intimate learning experience. The concert is sponsored in conjunction with the University of Minnesota, Crookston Music Department and the Concerts and Lectures Committee.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 bachelor's degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture and natural resources; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,300 undergraduates, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: George French, director, music and theater, 218-281-8266 (gfrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Author Dennis Weidemann is the first in a series of guests who are part of a new Mentor in Residence program at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. Weidemann's presentation will be Wednesday, February 10, 2010. Author of the book This Water Goes North, Weidemann's presentation will include a slide show beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Evergreen Hall followed by a book signing. The event is free and the public is invited to attend. Refreshments will be served and copies of This Water Goes North will be available for purchase.

Weidemann's book, published by Manitenahk Books, chronicles the real-life adventure of four young men in two canoes who set out in 1979 to paddle 1,400 miles north to Hudson Bay. The foursome spent the first three weeks snaking north on the Minnesota's Otter Tail River and Red River to Canada, camping at farms along the way. Following old fur trading routes, they passed through another 400 miles of untamed backcountry to the remote York Factory outpost on Hudson Bay.

"The spirit of adventure is universal," says Weidemann, who hopes that the book will help others appreciate the value of an adventure of youth. "Everyone dreams of going somewhere, but often life gets in the way. I hope that for at least a moment, This Water Goes North will take readers to wherever they wanted to go. Maybe one day, they too will be worlds away."

The Mentor in Residence program, under the direction of Gary Willhite, director of residential life, is built around the idea of living and learning. The primary objective is to enhance academic learning by providing an opportunity for students to develop and to participate in a relationship and dialogue that provides for a more intimate learning experience.

An efficiency apartment located in Evergreen Hall, which opened in fall 2009, will house the guests and the hall's classroom and lounges will serve as gathering spaces for some of the Mentor in Residence events. There also will be opportunities for the guests to interact with students in their classrooms and add value to the learning experience.

"The Mentor in Residence program is designed as an opportunity for students to develop interests in tandem with their core curricular degrees. These interests may work in harmony or be completely different than their degree program," Willhite says. "We will work with academic departments to bring in mentors who will augment learning and enhance the student experience on our campus."

Future guests include John McKay, a musician/concert pianist; Andrew Miller, a sports recreation administrator; and Natalie McGuire, professional photographer. For more information on Weidemann and his book, This Water Goes North, visit http://thiswatergoesnorth.com.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 bachelor's degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture and natural resources; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of about 1,300 undergraduates, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Gary Willhite, director, residential life, 218-281-8530 (gwilhit@umn,.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Alvin Killough, Ph.D., has agreed to serve as co-investigator for a grant application submitted to the U.S. Department of Education by the Minnesota Minority Education Partnership (MMEP). The proposal, the result of collaboration, seeks to examine the links between instructional strategies and the academic proficiency to student of color enrolled as English Language Learners (ELL).

The 5-year $2.6 million grant proposal includes a research center located in Minnesota specifically designed to provide a focused plan of research to document both the academic needs of and successful practices used for engaging recent immigrant students in the K-8 learning process.  The goal of the research is to effect changes in instructional practices to reflect scientific findings, and thereby, serve as science - practitioner advocate for policy change.

Killough explains, "We find this grant submission a tremendous opportunity to address, as a research collaborative, not only the overrepresentation of recent immigrant students in ELL and their disproportionately failure to achieve proficiency on standardized tests, but to establish the significance of examining the entire context surrounding ELL instruction delivery as well.  We believe the findings from this exploratory research will be invaluable for teachers and other practitioners, and policy makers."

The primary partners in the collaboration include Minneapolis Public Schools, Saint Paul Public Schools, Strengthening Africans Toward Excellence, and an allied host of national consultants.

Killough is an assistant professor in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Department at the U of M, Crookston. He teaches as a cultural ecological psychologist and has long advocated for underserved and understudied populations through his scholarly research and public speaking engagements.
 
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,218-281-8208 (killo010@umn.edu) ;Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn.  -  With a focus on modern rhetorical theory, a colloquium scheduled for late October will feature a presentation by University of Minnesota, Crookston Associate Professor Mark Huglen. The colloquium will be held Thursday, October 22 through Saturday, October 24, 2009, at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) at the University of Minnesota's Minneapolis campus. Huglen's presentation on persuasion in communication will take place at 11:30 a.m. at 125 Nolte Center during a break out session that will spotlight aspects of 20th Century rhetoric.

The colloquium follows the work of the original Reconfiguring Rhetorical Studies Collaborative that took place in fall 2007 and developed around an interest in interdisciplinarity.

The  presentation by Huglen is based on a chapter in his upcoming book, Persuasion: Strategy and Critique in Language and Human Relations. The chapter explores seven approaches to persuasion.  These approaches include Aristotelian, language and human relations, media, political communication, psychological, rhetoric of science, and social science. While these approaches may seem separate or singular, they merge and interrelate and can be used to discern understanding. Language is the thread that runs through the seven approaches and holds them together.  
 
Huglen has been at the U of M, Crookston since 1996. He teaches communication courses in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Department and is the author of several books, including Poetic Healing: A Vietnam Veteran's Journey from a Communication Perspective.

Along with Huglen, conveners for the colloquium include: David Beard (Writing Studies, UM-Duluth), David Gore (Communication Studies, UM-Duluth), Richard Graff (Writing Studies, UM- Twin Cities), Alan Gross (Communications Studies, UM- Twin Cities), Kenneth Marunowski (Writing Studies, UM-Duluth), Elizabeth Nelson (Communication Studies, UM-Duluth), Michael Pfau (Communication Studies, UM-Duluth), Arthur Walzer (Communications Studies, UM - Twin Cities).

The Institute for Advanced Study provides workspace in Nolte Hall and modest sums of money each year to groups of colleagues engaging in interdisciplinary projects. The funds and the space are designed to facilitate conversations within collaboratives, across collaboratives, and to the larger public that might not otherwise occur. For more information, visit http://ias.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: Mark Huglen, associate professor, communication, 218-281-8275 (mhuglen@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn.  - George French, associate professor and director of music and theater at the University of Minnesota, Crookston, will present a faculty organ recital at Trinity Lutheran Church, 205 South Broadway, Crookston on Saturday, October 24, 2009, at 7:30.  The concert is free, but a free-will offering may be taken.

The program will feature light classics and popular musical selections played on the 38-rank Schlicker pipe organ.  Included will be organ arrangements by Ethel Smith who was one of the leading popular organists during the 1940's and 1950's, along with a variety of Broadway show tunes.

French has served as organist at Trinity Lutheran since 1982 and also currently directs the Greater Crookston Community Men's Chorus.  This concert is sponsored by the University of Minnesota, Crookston, Trinity Lutheran Church of Crookston, and also the Northern Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.  

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: George French, associate professor, 218-281-8266 (gfrench@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director of communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

CROOKSTON, Minn. (October 8, 2009) - The University of Minnesota, Crookston continues on a growth trajectory.  The 2009-2010 academic year marks the second consecutive year the campus has seen record undergraduate enrollment.  As a reflection of that enrollment growth, campus residence halls, including a new apartment-style complex, are at capacity.

According to official enrollment data, the number of degree-seeking students attending the Crookston campus is reported at 1,310 for fall semester 2009.  That number bests last year's historic high mark for undergraduate enrollment and signifies an increase of 8.5% over fall 2008.  It also marks the third consecutive year the Crookston campus has recorded an undergraduate enrollment increase.  The number of degree-seeking students was 1,207 for fall semester 2008 and 1,142 for fall semester 2007.  Total enrollment for the Crookston campus has seen an increase of 3.6 percent, from 2,199 last year to 2,279 this year.

The number of students taking online courses continues to grow as more degree programs are offered entirely online and as more students--the majority of whom are already in the workforce--discover the benefits of online study and the prestige of a University of Minnesota degree.  The number of new online-only students, 107 this fall, has more than doubled as compared to fall of 2008, and online credit hours have increased by 30% percent for fall semester 2009 compared to fall 2008.

Again this year the profile of incoming students reflects improved academic preparation.  For the incoming freshman class, average ACT composite scores increased to 21.8 this year from 21.5 in 2008

This year's student body is also the most diverse in the history of the campus.  Of the 1,310 undergraduates, 99 international students representing 25 countries of origin account for 7.6% of the total, and 149 students of color represent 11% of the total.  

The number of students living on campus is also at a record high.  According to the Office of Residential Life, 563 students currently live in campus residence halls and apartments.  The newly-opened 128-bed apartment-style residence hall, Evergreen Hall, has helped address the demand for campus housing, and it is full, as are three other campus residence halls.  Gary Willhite, director of residential life and security services, said, "There has been increasing demand for campus housing over the past few years.  The fact that return rates for students choosing campus housing are higher than ever not only tells me students are satisfied with their experience here but also reinforces the concept that campus living directly helps retention."

In addition to improved facilities and expanded recruitment efforts, the U of M, Crookston has made strategic choices in widening its academic offerings.  This fall, the first students in a new criminal justice program arrived on campus, and the U of M Board of Regents recently approved two new bachelor's degree programs: marketing and quality management.  Coursework for those two programs--available both on campus as well as entirely online--is set to begin in January 2010.

Growth and change are nothing new to the Crookston campus, as it has seen a significant transformation over the past 16 years since becoming a baccalaureate-level university in the fall of 1993.  At the helm since 2005, Chancellor Charles H. Casey credits the dedication and hard work of the faculty and staff for where the campus is today.  "Students who choose the U of M, Crookston recognize the value of the friendly, personalized atmosphere and of the leadership opportunities provided by our exceptional faculty and staff," Casey said.  "More and more often we hear from students how they recognize the brand name value of a University of Minnesota degree and the quality it represents.  They also seem to understand how the day-to-day use of technology can help them achieve their career goals."  

The U of M, Crookston uses the phrase "Small Campus. Big Degree." when marketing the campus.  That phrase seems to resonate with students.  In a survey of this fall's incoming class, over 72% of those responding cited the size of the campus as the primary reason they chose to attend.  In the survey, which allowed respondents to select numerous reasons, 64% listed the type of academic programs offered as a top reason, 41% cited the U of M, Crookston's use of laptop computers and related technology for all students, and 35% acknowledged academic reputation.  Cost, availability of scholarships and financial aid, and the prestige and recognition of attending the University of Minnesota rounded out the list of top reasons student gave for choosing the Crookston campus.

The University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs, and welcomes students from more than 20 countries and 35 states.  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Andrew Svec, director of communications, 218-281-8438 (asvec@umn.edu) Robert Nelson, registrar, 218-281-8560 (nelson@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.  - 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.  - 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)