BSUCalendar June 16, 2000
Pabst/Skaar Memorial Golf Tournament, Bemidji Town and Country Club July 14, 2000
Founder’s Walk Induction Ceremony, Alumni Arch, Bemidji State University campus
Vol. 15, No. 4, SUMMER 2000
A Publication for Alumni & Friends of Bemidji State University
BSUHorizons
July 21, 2000
Galen Nagle Memorial Golf Tournament, Castle Highlands Golf Course August 4, 2000
First National Bank - BSU Women’s Athletics Golf Classic, Bemidji Town and Country Club August 25-26, 2000
BSU Alumni Association Board Meeting, Bemidji October 6-7, 2000 BSU HOMECOMING CELEBRATION
BSU Athletic Hall of Fame, Oct. 6, 6 p.m., Induction Ceremony 40 Year Reunion of Class of 1960, Oct. 6-7 2000 Alumni Association Honors Luncheon, Oct. 7, 11:30 a.m. Homecoming Football Game, Oct. 7, 1:30 p.m. “Fifth” Quarter Alumni Celebration and Silent Auction, Oct. 7, 4 p.m
Alumni Utilize Secular Training Forging a New Musical Direction
Bemidji State University
BSUHorizons
Bemidji State University Alumni Association 1500 Birchmont Drive NE, #DPH Bemidji, MN 56601-2699 218-755-3989 1-877-BSU-ALUM alumni@vax1.bemidji.msus.edu http://info.bemidji.msus.edu/alumni
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Four Bemidji State University music graduates gather weekly in the basement of one of their homes in Bemidji to celebrate a shared love of Celtic music and a passion to expand their musical range and experience. Over the past four years they’ve bonded as Celtic sisters under the banner Caleigh, and all agree that a missed rehearsal is sorely regretted throughout the week. Caleigh (kay-lee) is an Americanized version of the Gaelic word Ceilidh, which refers to a musical celebration. Group members share their talents on a range of instruments that has roughly tripled in number and variety since the early days of Caleigh. Dee Furfaro provides the grounding percussion and bass as well as haunting lead vocals. Lenore Siems plays lilting fiddle, viola and mandolin while April Larson adds Celtic lap harp, guitar, mandolin and flute. Deb Steinbar rounds out the group with keyboard, tin whistle and vocal harmony. The group describes its music as Celtic and traditional folk, but Steinbar notes that they are at a turning point this spring as they’ve also begun to write and perform their own music. “Our vocalizations are unusual, because we all sing in different ranges,” said Steinbar. “The eclectic nature of the individual musical interests that we bring to our playing also transforms our music into something really unique.” While each of the four have fond childhood memories of listening to Celtic music at the knee of parents and grandparents, as adults their musical tastes range across folk and bluegrass to Latino beats, Medieval Baroque and classical violin. Siems, Larson and Furfaro first discovered their shared love of Celtic music when they met at a Minnesota Music Educators Association meeting in Minneapolis. Almost immediately after that initial meeting, they began playing together. Realizing they needed a keyboard player, they invited Steinbar to join the group. “Branching Out,” Caleigh’s first CD, was released in the winter of 1999. A second collection has been recorded and is sched-
Caleigh (left to right): Deb Steinbar, Dee Furfaro, Lenore Siems and April Larson.
uled for release this fall. Although the group’s live performances have always been staged around the Bemidji area, its music has reached across the country and the oceans via their Internet web page (www.northernnet.com/siems/ caleigh.htm). Siems said radio stations in Winnipeg, Texas and Australia have played their music. A sampling of e-mails to Caleigh reveals listeners as far away as Norway, New Zealand and Argentina. Paul Hellyer of Wellington, New Zealand, wrote of Caleigh’s recording of “Wild Mountain Thyme”, “Your arrangement was very beautiful, your singing superb and your musicality obvious … Each of you complimented each other. There was a feeling of everybody participating equally and an enjoyment of each other’s musicianship. I guess the word that describes this is synergy.” It’s this type of refreshing musical experience that keeps Caleigh together, drawing its members back week after week. “It starts with the need to do music and play with others who have a love for the same type of music,” said Larson. “For me, I really look forward to it because it’s a total change from everything else I do,” said Furfaro. “If I can’t make it to practice one week, I really do miss it.”
M “
y instructors were just very professional, excellent musicians and so supportive of me. I was extremely timid, and Dr. (Carl) Thompson insisted that I put that aside, step forward and perform. I believe that really changed my life.” April Larson
Larson wonders whether she’d ever have had the confidence to play with Caleigh if it weren’t for the guidance she received in the BSU Music Department. “My instructors were just very professional, excellent musicians and so supportive of me,” said Larson. “I was extremely timid, and Dr. (Carl) Thompson insisted that I put that aside, step forward and perform. I believe that really changed my life.” As of today, Steinbar is the only group member who has visited Ireland, the origin of Celtic musical influences. But a Caleigh trip, to tour and perform in Ireland sometime in 2002, is in the early planning phase. Scheduling time among four households and as many different careers could, however, prove a major challenge. Furfaro teaches kindergarten at Red Lake Elementary and lives in Pinewood. Larson commutes from
Bagley to BSU, where she teaches Spanish. Siems, Bemidji, teaches orchestra at the Bemidji Middle School and kindergarten music at Paul Bunyan Elementary. Steinbar, whose residence is on the Mississippi River near Cass Lake, runs a private music studio and also practices as a certified massage therapist. The women’s musical experiences and interest in all things Celtic have also resulted in an offshoot venture, Caleigh Capes. The woolen, lined capes are produced through an agreement with Bemidji Woolen Mills and feature handcrafted pewter clasps imprinted with traditional Celtic designs. Caleigh’s CD is available through its web site, at Fly By Night Art Space, Bemidji, Clearwater Cottage, Bemidji, and at Brewed Awakenings, Grand Rapids.
Horizons Page 2
Published Works
Published Works of Faculty
Traveling the Creative Path
Bemidji State is fortunate to claim among its faculty many talented writers who have published books in a variety of disciplines. This is the third article in a series to appear in HORIZONS on faculty authors. This installment focuses on the works of two of the university’s creative writers.
Will Weaver
CarolAnn Russell
Books by Will Weaver Red Earth, White Earth, Simon & Schuster, 1986. A Gravestone Made of Wheat, Simon & Schuster, 1989. Striking Out, HarperCollins, 1993. Farm Team, HarperCollins, 1995. Hard Ball, HarperCollins, 1998.
Books by CarolAnn Russell The Red Envelope, University Presses of Florida, 1985, 1991. The Tao of Woman, Loonfeather Press, 1992. Feast, Loonfeather Press, 1992. Without Reservation, Main-Traveled Roads, Texas, 1995. Silver Dollar, West End Press, New Mexico, 1995.
Poets and fiction writers must travel the strange lands that lie between reality and make believe. Fortunately for avid readers, they return to write about it. Much of Will Weaver’s inspiration can be traced directly back to his experiences growing up on a dairy farm near Park Rapids as well as to his changing attitudes and view of the world through the eyes of a father and teacher. Dr. CarolAnn Russell absorbs the color, history and personal interrelationships of people encountered in her travels, and meshes them with personal and mythological truths in her writing. Both have published several books, in addition to seeing their work appear in many anthologies, and have taught creative writing at BSU for 18 and 12 years respectively.
Dr. Nancy Erickson, dean of BSU’s College of Arts and Letters, said that while the university’s professors are encouraged to seek publication of their writing, it’s not required. Its importance lies, in part, with the peer recognition, peer review and discussion which publication brings. “It also ensures that faculty members continue to be lifelong learners,” said Erickson. “As a result, they are modeling lifelong learning for their students.” Weaver’s debut novel, Red Earth, White Earth, was published in 1986 and produced by CBS television in 1989. Since then, he’s also published a book of short stories, A Gravestone Made of Wheat, and three books for young adults based around his baseball-playing character, Billy Baggs. A new novel for young adults, Memory Boy, is scheduled for release later this year. Drawing at least half of his inspiration from his own family life, Weaver said that with writing, like farming, one has to “get up early and do the chores.” “I write every day in a routine manner, not waiting for fits of inspiration,” said Weaver of his approach to writing. A good day will produce four to five manuscript pages and, at the end of a
very good day of writing, he might have as many as eight to 10 pages. He tends to believe that giving in to the idea of writer’s block is an “indulgence” and teaches his students ways of avoiding that trap. “I have tricks I use on myself that I share with my students,” said Weaver. “For instance, I sometimes stop myself in the middle of something when I’m having fun and things are going well. That makes it easier to start writing when I come back to it.” Weaver teaches a wide range of writing at BSU, from first-year composition to advanced fiction writing. By the time students are enrolled in the advanced classes, he feels they should be writing at a publication level and are encouraged to try to get their work published as a way of expanding their audience. “Everyone is creative in some way, and most people just need to learn a recognizable form in which to display that creativity,” said Weaver of his teaching. Russell refers to this same latent student creativity when she speaks of working with her poetry students to identify their individual voice and stay true to it in their writings.
“I love to teach and find it very invigorating and inspiring,” said Russell, who has published five books of poetry. Like Weaver, she draws on her personal experiences, observations and phases of life as material for her poetry, and her books reflect a process of maturity and change. The Red Envelope is filled with Midwestern landscape imagery and childhood memories of growing-up in Fargo, ND, Montana and Detroit Lakes. The influence of her mentor of the time, Richard Hugo, a midwestern landscape poet, is evident, said Russell. Feast explores motherhood and draws upon mythological tales of women while Silver Dollar reflects a phase of Russell’s life during which she refers to herself as an “academic gypsy.” “When I’m in the process of collecting material, I make time every evening to note the inspirations of the day,” said Russell. “Since I’m a full-time mom, professor and wife as well as an artist, I have to make special time in my day to do that, so I am disciplined in that way.” Once she has a body of work that she’s identified as going into a book, Russell culls through her notes, gets them in order and works to create an “inner awareness of that experience,” into which the reader can enter. Her current project centers on poems that evolved from a twomonth stay in 1997 at the American Academy in Rome. Aspects of the project include translation of her works from English to Italian. She is also collaborating with Dr. Paul Brandvik, professor emeritus of vocal music, to set the work “Passeggiata” to music, and with Jauneth Skinner, associate professor of visual arts, to create the finished pieces as museum quality letterpress broadsides, featuring historical Italian lettering.
Horizons Page 3
Sports Sports1999-2000 WOMEN’S HOCKEY (15-18-2, 5-18-2 WCHA) The Beavers exceeded expectations this year by winning all 10 non-conference games and picking up 12 points in the WCHA. The Beavers set school records in all but three categories this season, including a team scoring total of 252 points. Six players topped the 20-point scoring mark, and the turnaround is the best improvement in one year by a BSU athletic team in school history, moving from a 2-20 record (.090 pct.) last season to a 15-17-2 record (.471 pct.) this year. The Beavers fell to the thirdseeded Wisconsin Badgers at the WCHA Tournament Championships. The Beavers return 21 letterwinners for the 2000-2001 season. MEN’S HOCKEY (13-20-1, 8-8-1 CHA) The Bemidji State men’s hockey team wrapped up its first season in the NCAA Division I College Hockey America conference with a third-place finish in both the regular season and in the inaugural CHA Tournament. The Beavers fell to rival Alabama-Huntsville in the semifinals 10-4, but bounced back with a thrilling 5-4 overtime victory over Air Force in the consolation game. The Beavers return 18 letterwinners and have signed several new recruits for 2000-2001. BSU opens the season October 14 with a home date against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Nine BSU hockey players earned CHA
Bemidji State University
honors for the 1999-2000 season, including defenseman Stefan Bjork (Stockholm, Sweden), who was named First Team All-CHA. WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (9-18, 7-11 NSIC) The Beaver women’s basketball team wrapped up sixth place in the conference last season. Erin Walker (Madison, WI) earned All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference First Team honors and finished her Bemidji State career at fifth on the Beaver all-time scoring list with 1,462 points. Jen Ohme (Bloomington, MN) was a second team GTE Academic All-Region selection and ended up as third on the all-time BSU assist list with 454 while Peggy Hammel-Moran (Stewartville, MN) finished her career as the fourth top rebounder in school history with 731. The squad returns six letterwinners and signed several new recruits, including four All-State selections. MEN’S BASKETBALL (10-17, 8-10 NSIC) The Beaver men’s basketball team highlighted the season with a victory over NCAA II playoff contender Wayne State en route to a sixth place finish in the conference. Mac Smith (Burnsville, MN) earned All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference First Team honors for the 1999-2000 season. A First Team All-NSIC selection and NSIC rebounding champion in 1998-99, Smith, finished the season as the second top scorer in the NSIC. As a team, BSU led the nation and set a single season
school record for free throw percentage with a 78.5 percent (386492), breaking the BSU mark of 72.4 set in 1983-84. The Beavers return five starters for the 20002001 season. TRACK The Bemidji State University men’s track team captured the school’s first NSIC Indoor Championship as BSU’s Andy Eggerth (Spring Lake Park, MN) garnered Athlete of the Meet honors and head coach Craig Hougen was named NSIC Men’s Indoor Coach of the Year. The Beavers totaled 142 points to 135 for second-place Northern State. Indoors, the women’s team notched 28 points in the conference meet, won for the seventh consecutive time by UMDuluth. The Bemidji State men placed fourth in the NSIC Outdoor Track Championships while the women finished sixth, led by Jenni Freie (Long Prairie, MN), who won the women’s high jump. SOFTBALL (14-25, 6-12 NSIC) The Bemidji State softball team used the conference championships to move from seventh to third in the standings. Junior Annie Block (Huson, MT) earned NSIC Pitcher of the Year honors and also earned NSIC All-Tournament honors after leading the Beavers to the semifinals with a .78 ERA and a .500 batting average. Freshman Megan Bray (Farmington, MN) garnered All-NSIC and All-Tournament designation this season as well.
Vol. 15, No. 4, Summer 2000
Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Al Nohner Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathy Berglund Photographer . . . . . . . . . . . John Swartz President . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Jim Bensen Alumni Director . . . . . . . . . Sue Kringen Writer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jody Grau Editorial Assistance . . . . . Peggy Nohner Editorial Board: Dr. Jim Bensen, BSU president; Al Nohner, director of news services and publications; Sue Kringen, director of alumni relations; Jeff Totten, assistant professor of business relations; Dr. Gerald Morine, professor of chemistry.
WOMEN’S TENNIS The Beaver women’s tennis team followed up its 1999 NSIC championship with a third place finish at the 2000 conference championships. Sarah Longtin (Crookston, MN) led BSU as the Beavers finished the season at 3-8 overall.
Beaver athletics honored three competitors during the annual Green and White banquet this year. Pictured at the event were (left to right): Dr. Jim Bensen, BSU president; Chris Meyer (football, East Grand Forks), Male Athlete of the Year co-winner; Peggy HammelMoran (volleyball and basketball, Stewartville), Female Athlete of the Year; Ben Morrie (football, Rohnert Park, CA), Male Athlete of the Year co-winner; and Doreen Zierer, athletic director for NSIC sports.
Where We Are ... What We’re Doing
BSUHorizons Produced by the News and Publications Office and the Alumni Office at Bemidji State University, HORIZONS is published quarterly and distributed without charge to BSU alumni, students, faculty, staff and other friends of the University. BSU is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
BASEBALL (15-22, 8-8 NSIC) The Beaver baseball team closed out the season at fifth in the NSIC standings. After a sluggish start, the Beavers finished strong with a 14-5 record in its last 19 games, including an eight-game win streak. Gunner Geller (Guthrie, MN) garnered First Team AllNSIC honors.
ALL CITIES ARE LOCATED IN MINNESOTA UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
1930s Edie Salvevold (’39) of Bemidji recently celebrated her 80th birthday at an open house sponsored by her friends and relatives ... Delirene Amundgaard (’39) is retired and living in Warren.
1940s Maurine (VanWinkle) Boyd (’49) of Kingwood, TX, writes that her daughter, Julie Golding, works as a wellsite geologist for Phillips Petroleum Company on an oil rig in the China Sea ... Conrad Mattson (’40) of Sleepy Eye is retired and enjoying life at age 83 ... Harold Shellum (’41) is enjoying retirement in Sunnyvale, CA.
1950s Bob Ness (’57) of Dassel is serving as a state representative. His district is south of St. Cloud and west of the Twin Cities and includes the cities of Hutchinson, Richfield and Dassel. He and his wife, Marianne, have four children and 10 grandchildren. His career background includes working as a teacher, counselor, school superintendent and in construction ... Norm
Reopelle (’58) of Rochester is enjoying retirement after teaching for 41 years ... Verna Smith (’50) of Murdock is a secretary for her church council, a grandmother and member of the Green Thumb Garden Club and Homemakers Club ... Robert Johnson (’52) of Moorhead is program officer for the Midwestern Higher Education Commission.
1960s Dan Somrock (’68) and Judy (Sorenson) Somrock (’68) live in Bemidji. Dan retired in December after teaching for 31 years in the Cass Lake-Bena School District and Judy continues to teach seventh- and eighthgrade science in Cass Lake. They have two sons who live in the Twin Cities area ... Wayne Hyland (’68) of Willmar has for 27 years worked as assistant executive director for the Minnesota Education Association. The organization is now known as Education Minnesota, since the merger of MEA and MFT ... Myrna (Swanberg) Heyboer (’69) of St. Clair, MI, enjoys giving piano lessons and volunteering at her church ... Betty Whaley (’67) of St. Francis teaches middle school physical education in Andover ... Lydia (Sirotiak)
Jackson (’65) lives in rural Bovey with her husband, William, where she enjoys walking, line dancing, reading, sewing and raising flowers. She’s retired from a career of teaching in a variety of northern Minnesota schools and continues to work with children in Sunday school and the Sonlight Girls at the Full Gospel Church, Grand Rapids. She and William have a daughter, Marsha, who just retired from teaching ... Loren Solberg (’65) divides his time between his hometown of Bovey and the State Capitol where he serves as a representative. During the school year, when the Legislature is not in session, Solberg spends his days teaching math at Greenway School in Coleraine, a teaching position which he’s held since 1965. He and his wife, Joan, have three sons and a daughter as well as five grandsons ... Florence Gustafson (’69) of Bella Vista, AR, moved to Arkansas in 1997 and is retired ... Regina Toscano Scott (’66) of Des Moines, IA, returned to the classroom this fall as a substitute teacher in the Des Moines Public Schools ... Janet Whaley Helland (’61) of Edinburg, TX, has retired after 34 years of teaching ... Sheryl (Martin) Osburn (’67) of Brooklyn Park participated in the 1999 Habitat for Humanity - Jimmy Carter Work Project Blitz Build in the Philippines ... Alan Klotzbach (’64) of Silver Bay retired in 1998 ... Tom Gulovich (’66) of Grafton, WI, is retiring in June. His son is married and his daughter is a police officer in Green Bay, WI ... John Jacobsen (’63) of Halifax, PA, is retired and writes that he’s enjoying golfing in Myrtle Beach, SC, and returning to Minnesota for summer vacations ... Bob Garramone (’69) of Westfield, IN, is working in Minnesota for the U.S. Customs Service
inspecting the ports of entry along the northern border ... Pat Hughes (’67) a teacher in Kelliher, has been named the Minnesota Middle Level Educator of the Year. She was selected from a field of candidates across the state who were nominated by their peers. Hughes has taught school at Kelliher for 32 years and today teaches sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade language arts, sixth-grade reading, and a high school German class ... Tom Mathews (’68) accepted the position of superintendent of schools in the Blackduck School District this winter. He had been Blackduck’s high school principal for the past 20 years ... Robert Yanish (’66) of Mahnomen is director of choirs at Crookston schools and his wife, Kathy (’83), has retired from 31 years of teaching high school science and math ...Arleen Boyd (’61) of Inver Grove Heights has retired from teaching and is enjoying working with her dog in agility training and competition ... Charlie Mahovlich (’68) of Inver Grove Heights retired in June 1999, after 31 years of teaching ... Ken Carlson (’68) has a new position as dean of students at Morgan Community College in Fort Morgan, CO ... Gerald Lusk (’69) of Tony, WI, retired from a teaching career in Alaska.
1970s James Howe (’76) has turned his hobby of collecting old movie cameras and projectors into a small business ... Gary Nagle (’72) of Kissimmee, FL, and his wife, Patty, have adopted two children and are in the process of adopting three more. They bought a home in Bemidji and plan to move into it as soon as possible ... (Continued on page 4)
Horizons Page 4 Author Jon Hassler Receives Distinguished Minnesotan Award
Deferred Gift Annuities Pay Dividends Did you know that you can make a gift to the BSU Foundation, save taxes twice, and get a lifetime income at a designated time in the future, no matter what your age? Well you can! Deferred gift annuities pay dividends. If you want to make a major gift to the BSU Foundation and you know you want additional retirement income in the future, then a deferred gift annuity is something to consider. By deferring income payments on a gift annuity until a future Comparison of Immediate and date, you receive the following benefits: Deferred Gift Annuity Payment Rates • Higher charitable deduction for gift value Age Immediate Deferred • Deferred higher fixed income for life to Age 65 • Reduction of capital gains tax 50 5.8% 15.3% • Increased retirement income 55 6.1% 11.6% For example, Joe, a 50 year-old banker and BSU alum, decides to increase his retirement income and make a major fu60 6.6% 8.8% ture gift to the BSU Foundation. He has reached the ceiling on contributions to his Keogh plan and learns that there is no ceiling on contributions to deferred charitable gift annuities. After conferring with a development officer at the BSU Foundation, Joe instructs his broker to transfer $50,000 of stock, which he originally purchased for $10,000, to the BSU Foundation in exchange for a deferred lifetime annuity starting at his retirement. He will qualify for a federal income tax deduction of approximately $32,155 in the year he makes the gift, and will receive fixed payments annually in the amount of $8,650.00, beginning at age 65. Joe will owe no capital gains tax at the time of his gift. Instead, a portion of the capital gains tax he would have owed will be spread throughout his lifetime, once annuity payments begin. In contrast, if he were to sell the stocks outright and reinvest them himself, he would owe capital gains tax on $40,000. For more information on making planned gifts to the BSU Foundation, call 218-755-4145 or toll free at 1-888-234-5718.
Gift
The first-ever Student Scholarship Conference held at BSU showcased the academic work of over 65 students. The event featured poster sessions (pictured above) as well as academic presentations on topics ranging from mathematics to space studies. The conference will be conducted annually in the spring.
(Continued from page 3)
Robert Kaiser Dennis Winskowski Robert Kaiser (’79) took over the position of superintendent of the Chisholm School District in January. Kaiser was previously business manager and technology coordinator with the Virginia School District and prior to that he was an instructor with the Buhl School District from 1974 to 1985 ... Dennis Winskowski (’72), publisher of the Detroit Lakes Tribune and Becker County Record, was elected Minnesota Newspaper Association president Jan. 29 at the association’s annual meeting. In addition to his publishing duties, he also serves as director of weekly newspapers for Forum Communications Co., Fargo, ND. MNA is a statewide organization representing 370 weekly and daily newspapers ... Michael O’Leary (’76) filed in the fall as a candidate to the Eden Prairie School Board. He is president of Farmers Insurance Agency and has a son in second grade ... Larry Hunt (’79) of Champlin has worked for Fingerhut Corp. for 19 years as
a senior art director and for the past three years has owned a sports bar in Monticello ... David Johnson (’75) lives in Eveleth ... Linda (Tomlinson) Whiteside (’74) lives in Hibbing ... Teresa Fisher (’79) of North Pole, AK, has been the athletic director at North Pole High School for 18 years. She has two daughters, Megan, 16, and Mallory, 15 ... Rick Kleinschmidt (’77) of Belgrade is a patrol supervisor with the Willmar Police Department. He’s been married since 1978 and has five children ... Kay Groff (’71) of Cordova, AK, has retired from teaching and now serves on the faculty senate of the Slingerland Insitutute For Literacy of Bellevue, WA ... Jim Meyer (’70) of Rosemount works as an ABE manager with emphasis on ESL and work plan English ... Susan Hoosier (’74), a Northern
Ric Dressen
Township business operator and consultant, entered the state House 4A race, seeking the DFL endorsement to run against Rep. Doug Fuller, Bemidji. Currently, Hoosier works with the Beltrami Area Service Collaborative, contracts as a business consultant and operates a seasonal business, The Sheltered Garden. She has served as interim executive director of Lady Slipper Design in Bemidji and helped women create their own businesses through the BiCounty Community Action Program’s business development programs. She has also worked as a teacher, paralegal and real estate relocation consultant ... Ric Dressen (’77) is the new superintendent of schools in District 206, Alexandria. Before moving to Alexandria, Dressen was superintendent of schools in Waconia for eight years, an elementary school principal for 11 years and an elementary teacher for four years. He lives with his wife, Kerry, daughter, Ann, a seventhgrader, and son, Jack, who is in fourth grade ... Henry Hempel (’79) has joined the Nor-son design/build team as director of commercial development and works for the company from his office in Bemidji ... Nancy Hagen Staiger (’76) of Moorhead is the
Author Jon Hassler received the 2000 Distinguished Minnesotan Award during Bemidji State commencement ceremonies this spring. Presented annually by BSU, the award recognizes the contributions of a current or former resident of the state who has performed exemplary service to the people of Minnesota or the United States. Recently retired after 42 years of Jon Hassler teaching in various Minnesota high schools and colleges, Hassler has published 11 novels, two story collections and a book of his journals. The Friends of American Writers chose his first novel, Staggerford, as the Novel of the Year in 1977 and the Society of Midland Authors selected Grand Opening for its 1987 Best Fiction Award. A screen version of his work A Green Journey was produced in 1990 as an NBC movie of the week. Works published within the past year are two story collections, Keepsakes and Other Stories and Rufus at the Door and Other Stories, as well as My Staggerford Journal, an account of the year during which he wrote his first novel. All of his books, including his latest novel The Dean’s List, are available through Ballantine paperbacks. Hassler is the recipient of the 2000 Flanagan Prize, an annual award presented by the Minnesota Humanities Commission for lifelong contributions to the arts in Minnesota. Since 1993, he has been awarded four honorary doctor of letters degrees, the most recent from the University of Notre Dame. Born in Minneapolis in 1933, he received degrees from St. John’s University in Minnesota, where he is now Regents’ Professor Emeritus. He taught at Bemidji State University from 1965-1968 after teaching high school English in Fosston and Park Rapids for nine years. He currently lives in Minneapolis with his wife Gretchen, who is collaborating with him on an anthology entitled Stories Teachers Tell. Hassler also just completed a book, Goodness: Sketches from a Novelist’s Life, for Loyola Press of Chicago and is composing another novel, Agatha at 80. He is the fourth author honored with the Distinguished Minnesotan Award since it was first presented to naturalist and author Sigurd Olson in 1981. The recipients include: 1981 Sigurd Olson, naturalist and author 1982 Karl Kassulke, athlete and handicap advocate 1983 Janet Dearholt Esty, businesswoman and entrepreneur 1984 Frederick F. Manfred, author 1985 Dr. John Najarian, transplant surgeon 1986 Dr. Harlan Cleveland, political scientist 1987 Muriel Buck Humphrey Brown, advocate for the disadvantaged 1988 Elmer L. Andersen, businessman and former governor 1989 Curtis L. Carlson, businessman and philanthropist 1990 William S. Marvin, businessman and community leader 1991 Meridel LeSueur, author and social activist 1992 Veda Ponikvar, newspaper publisher 1993 Nellie Stone Johnson, political and social activist 1994 Cheryl Dickson, leader in humanities programming 1995 William H. Kling, innovator in public radio 1996 Jerry Willet, businessman and former state senator 1997 Ann Bancroft, explorer of the North Pole and South Pole 1998 Bob Bergland, congressman and former U.S. secretary of agriculture 1999 Coya Knutson, congresswoman
biological mother of three children and foster mother to three special needs children ... Alan Johnston (’70) is living in Warroad ... Harlan Highberg (’70) of Bagley has worked 29 years with the USDA Farm Service Agency and also does some farming, raising beef cattle and hay ... Kimberly Wolken (’72) of Minneapolis left a job with the Minnesota Supreme Court to return to school at the University of Minnesota with the intent of completing a master’s degree in public health ... Michael Peterson (’77) of Fulda has been teaching band in Fulda schools for 22 years. He and his wife, Lisa, have two daughters, Alicia, 13, and Tammy, 10, and a five-year-old son, Todd. Hobbies include camping, boating, golf and being at the lake ... Dory (Larson) Sjoblom (’72) of Duluth is a Title I teacher at Al Brook School. She’s been married 20 years to Will. They have two daughters, 19 and 17, and are grandparents to nine-month-old Austin ... Russ Bull (’73) of Flagstaff, AZ, has earned his doctorate in educational psychology and plans to teach college. He and Mary (Hardwig) Kimbery are planning a June wedding ... Bob Brimer (’73) of Onalaska, WI, semiretired from engineering management in December and is “substitute teaching to get younger” ... Debra Kellerman (’72) was recently inducted into the BSU Education Hall of Fame. She is a faculty member in the College of Business at St. Cloud State University. She has 25 years of teaching and administration experience at the collegiate and secondary levels of education. In 1995, she received the Distinguished Service Award from Minnesota Business Educators and, in 1994, the Outstanding Post Secondary Business Educator, MBEI,
Award ... Adele Munsterman (’74) was recently inducted into the BSU Hall of Fame. She is a world language teacher in the Fridley schools, having taught there for 22 years. Munsterman received the 1996 AATSP Minnesota Outstanding Spanish Teacher award. In 1998, she was named a winner of the Target Teacher Scholarship Award ... Vicki Olsen-Rowe (’78) was recently inducted into the BSU Education Hall of Fame. She is a former language arts, theater and speech teacher in Bemidji, having taught there for 17 years. She currently works in Texas and received the Ashland Oil Teacher Achievement Award for Excellence in 1992. She has been an editor, publisher, guest speaker, trainer and evaluator ... Elwyn Ruud (’78) was recently inducted into the BSU Education Hall of Fame. She is a third-grade teacher in Roseau and in 1992 was named Roseau Teacher of the Year. In 1990, she was the local coordinator for the Artists in Minnesota Schools and Communities Project with COMPAS ... Robert Gillson (’70) filed in the fall as an incumbent candidate to the Pillager School Board. He and his wife, Angie, have been married for 30 years and have three grown daughters ... Al Thomas (’77) was elected last fall to his second four-year term on the Minnetonka City Council ... John Haugen (’73) is a training specialist with the Northeast Minnesota Office of Job Training and has 18 years of experience in teaching job searches and career exploration. He also spent seven years teaching elementary, special education and English as a second language.
Horizons Page 5
Five Federal Grants Awarded to BSU Five federal grants totaling more than $155,000 have been awarded to Bemidji State University for programs supporting the professional development of science and mathematics teachers. The grants represent the largest federal initiative to improve teaching and learning, particularly in science and mathematics. In outstate Minnesota, BSU received the largest grant allocation among Minnesota recipients. The five BSU programs awarded grants are: ♦ $34,200, Summer Science Institute Program; director Dr. John Truedson, assistant professor of physics; for 30 northern Minnesota science teachers grades 4-9. ♦ $37,195, Summer Mathematics Institute Program II on geometry and data investigation; director Dr. Glen Richgels, associate professor of mathematics; for northern Minnesota elementary and middle school teachers. ♦ $37,195, Summer Mathematics Institute Program I focusing on discrete math; director Richgels; for elementary or middle school math teachers. ♦ $29,808, Metro Summer Science Institute Program, director Dr. Duane Sea, professor emeritus of physics; for teachers in grades K-8. ♦ $18,000, Pilot project to provide paraprofessionals with training in elementary mathematics; director Dr. Tom Richard, professor of mathematics.
Bemidji State Receives Job Skills Training Grants The Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Board has provided the University separate grants to conduct training for Havenwood Care Center and North Central Door Company in Bemidji. Training will be coordinated by the Center for Research and Innovation, an off-campus facility developed by BSU to serve as a conduit between the university, business, industry, non-profits and other external constituents. The grants included: ♦ $100,385 to work with 180 employees of Havenwood Care Center in the areas of organizational efficiency, employee productivity and facility management. The training will help address the survivability of long-term care services for the elderly and employment opportunities for health care technicians and professionals in the region. ♦ $95,000 for use in training 57 employees at North Central Door in identifying ways to increase plant efficiency, introduce process control, and develop a shop control system that includes production scheduling, controlling and job costing. The Minnesota Job Skills Partnership, housed within Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development, is responsible for offering technical, financial and job training assistance to thousands of businesses, communities, educational institutions and workers each year. The Job Skills Partnership Board brings businesses with specific education needs together with educational institutions to design training programs to meet those needs.
1980s Tracey (Rhen) John (’87) and her husband, Duane, have been living in Stacy for about five years. They have three sons, Spencer, 10, and twins, Zachary and Fletcher, 5. Tracey has been a stay-at-home mom and Duane has had a chiropractic clinic in Little Canada for eight years ... Todd Brown (’87) and Sherry Haugejorden-Brown (’86) have been married for 10 years and live in Santa Clara, CA, with their daughter, Samantha, 7. Todd works as an electrical engineering manager for an aerospace electronics firm and Sherry works for the Palo Alto Veteran’s Administration Health Care System as a clinical research coordinator ... Rita Rabe (’82) is living in Bemidji ... Lisa Box (’88) of Deer River is teaching first grade at King School in Deer River ... Lester Liljedahl (’88) of Bagley was hired as a loan officer this winter by Bagley First National Bank. His background includes working for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and working in a local firm which handled waste from large dairy operations around the region ... Kelly Skime (’86) is a firefighter for the Bemidji Fire Department ... Jim Anderson (’85) retired this winter from his industrial arts teaching Lester Liljedahl
position at Grand Rapids High School. He’d been teaching in the school district for nearly 32 years ... Ann Marie Gross (’86) of St. Paul and her husband, Pete Keely, were expecting their first child this spring ... Lisa Carlson (’89) lives in Roseville ... Teresa Dunn (’84) is teaching first grade at Bagley Elementary School ... Connie Brickell (’87) was recognized as one of Georgia’s 1999 Teachers of the Year. She teaches fifth grade at Palmer Stone Elementary School in Conyers, GA. In 1994, Connie was named Livingston Elementary Teacher of the Year, also in Connors ... Kim Seath (’81) graduated this winter from the U.S. Air Force Noncommissioned Officer Academy at Keesler Air Force Base, Biloxi, MS. Tech. Sgt. Seath is a logistics plans supervisor assigned to the 90th Space Wing at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Cheyenne, WY, ... Jane Merschman (’82) recently changed positions and now teaches eighth-grade English. She previously taught sixth grade, first grade and Chapter I in the same school district ... Doug Paulson (’83) is a second tenor for the Arrowhead Chorale and has been a member of the group since 1992. He is the Lutheran campus pastor for the University of Minnesota-Duluth and is married to Deborah Adele ... Karn Carlson (’88) has graduated from the 13-month Advanced Study of Air Mobility Program at the Air Mobility Warfare Center, Fort Dix, Trenton, NJ. The program provides a select group of Air Force officers with an in-depth education in transportation logistics. Students are selected based upon their record of accomplishments, academic skills and leadership potential by a board of senior Air Force
1920s Scholarship Recipient Remembers BSU in Her Will
Scholarship
M. Fern (Ramsey) Birnstihl still has a copy of the Northern Student from 1929 when she was a student at Bemidji State Teachers College. She saved it to remember her years as a student. There’s a picture of Birnstihl with a caption noting that she received an alumni scholarship. She remembers how much that scholarship helped her in achieving her dream of becoming a teacher, so she wanted to “give something back.” Birnstihl is an annual contributor to the BSU Foundation and recently notified the Foundation that she has included it in her will. She hopes her gift will help students the way her scholarship helped her all those years ago. Birnstihl recalls paying tuition of $9 per quarter or $27 per year during her first year on campus, 1928-1929. The scholarship she received during her second year paid the entire cost of tuition. She’s not sure if she would have been able to afford a second year of college without the scholarship.
After graduating with an AA degree in 1930, she began teaching immediately in Fosston. It was not until 1948 that Birnstihl met and married her husband, George Birnstihl. With her husband’s encouragement and support, she returned to college to obtain her bachelor’s degree, taking summer classes so she could continue teaching. She graduated a second time in 1950. After only 14 years of marriage, George died. Birnstihl recalls, “After my husband’s death, I started to travel, first to Hawaii … By the time I quit, (I’d) visited all the continents except Antarctica. Today I would call going to Cass Lake quite a journey.” Like so many BSU alumni, Birnstihl is a remarkable woman. She
Fern Birnstihl
taught for 32 years before retiring in 1977. She is an artist, with many of her own paintings decorating the walls of her home. She’s been active in many organizations and was a founding member of Delta Kappa Gamma. She now resides in Bemidji with her dog, Topper. Birnstihl’s wish that her estate gift should help students will come true, thanks to her generosity and careful planning. More information on making a gift through a will or estate is available by contacting the BSU Foundation at 218-755-2762 or toll-free 1-888-234-5718.
Dr. Dale Dreyer (left), CEO of BioTome, and Dr. Jim Bensen (right), Bemidji State president, cut the ribbon officially opening the Entrepreneur Center operated by the BSU Center for Research and Innovation. The first start-up business in the center, BioTome is a new company that will supply instrumentation, equipment and supplies for the life sciences. It expects to pioneer new marketing techniques, relying heavily on the Internet for everything from sales to customer support. BioTome will occupy one of six spaces available in the Entrepreneur Center.
officers. Carlson is a captain ... Karen (Larson) Halver (’85) and her husband, Jim, have three sons, Brander, 7, Drake, 5, and Korgen, 3. Karen recently started running again “after 12 years of rest” and her husband joined the volunteer fire department in 1999 ... Erich Campbell (’88) has been promoted to the rank of major in the U.S. Army. He is an executive officer assigned to the School of Cadet Command, Fort Monroe, Hampton, VA ... Ronald Nelson (’80) of Bemidji has been general manager of the Lakeland Farmers Insurance Company in Bemidji since 1980 ... Rockford Lhotka (’87) of Eden Prairie has written three books on computer programming. He and his wife of 12 years have two sons, ages two and six ... Greta Perlich Cooper (’81) of Tallahassee, FL, works for Delta Airlines, is married and has two daughters .... Mark Fodness (’82) was one of seven teachers inducted into the BSU Professional Education Hall of Fame in April. He teaches seventh-grade social studies at the Bemidji Middle School ... Lois Ball (’86) and her husband, Robert, were honored as the Mahnomen County recipients of the Valley Farmer and Homemaker Award for 2000. The couple has remained very active in community activities while raising a family and running a successful dairy operation over the past 46 years. Award recipients are selected by a county Lois Ball
committee of agricultural leaders for the good examples they have set with their family life, their community service, their farming or agribusiness operations and their efforts to conserve natural resources ... Cindy Ulshafer (’85) of Centerville is working as a family practice physician assistant and was planning to serve short-term missions in Guatemala this spring ... David Kleppe (’83) of Bismarck, ND, continues to enjoy working as a captain with the State Patrol. His wife, Kathy, works with Aetna HMO and their daughter, Kelli, is in kindergarten ... Jim Hoffman (’88) is living in Brooklyn Center ... Jeff Ryan (’85) of Byron recently accepted a job at Imation’s new software development lab, following 11 years of employment with IBM. His wife, Terri, is a senior stylist at a Rochester salon and the couple has two children, 14 and 11 ... Rachel Stewart (’81) of Iowa City, IA, and her husband, Duncan, announce the Feb. 9 birth of a son, Andrew Mark Stewart. Rachel is employed in the Office of Student Financial Aid at the University of Iowa as their web administrator and Duncan works with the State
Richard Sprouse
Mark Storhaug
Historical Society of Iowa. The couple also has a daughter, Mara ... James Hubers (’85) of Sioux Falls, SD, was recently promoted to a fraud investigator position with Specialized Card Services ... Tom Bulduc (’88) filed this winter as a candidate for the post of supervisor of Baldwin Township. He’s in his sixth year as a paramedic for North Ambulance and is also a member of the Princeton Fire and Rescue Department, as well as a teacher for North Memorial Medical Center on subjects ranging from basic life support to advanced life support and a substitute teacher in Princeton schools ... Richard Sprouse (1983), a DNR public information officer, recently received two Awards of Excellence and an Award of Merit from the Minnesota Association of Government Communicators, the oldest and largest nonprofit association for government communicators in Minnesota. He is also the owner of Keystone Communications, which specializes in keynote addresses, media training, strategic planning, and public relations. Sprouse and his wife Kristine (1983) live in Sauk Rapids with their two children ... Mark Storhaug (’82) was voted this year’s Class AA Boys Swimming Coach of the Year by members of the Minnesota Swim Coaches Association for the second year in a row. He has coached boys and girls high school swimming for 20 years, the last 16 of which he’s spent at Alexandria. This year, Alexandria’s boys team was State AA champion for the second year in a row. He and his wife, Cindy (Burggraf) Storhaug (’82) have two children, Brian, 9, and Lindsey, 12 ... Jerry Peltier (’80) and his wife, Ruth Peltier (’80), were named Nisswa Citizens of the Year in December. They own and operate Camelot North, a (Continued on page 6)
Horizons Page 6
Hall of Fame
Seven Inducted into BSU Teachers’ Hall of Fame
Bemidji State University inducted seven educators into its Professional Education Hall of Fame during a special ceremony in April. The Hall of Fame Award honors teachers and administrators who demonstrate excellence in teaching students or managing schools. The award is presented biannually to teacher education graduates of BSU. All award winners are featured in the Hall of Fame display located in the BSU Education Department. The year 2000 honorees are: VIRGIL BOCHLAND is a junior high teacher from Proctor who earned his bachelor’s degree from BSU and master’s from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. Bochland, who has taught for 25 years, has received the Proctor Education Teacher of the Year award and was an Honor Roll Teacher in the Minnesota Teacher of the Year search. He also received the Proctor school district-wide appreciation award and the Minnesota Private Pilots Association Award in 1997.
In Memoriam Fred Schmit (’78) of Bemidji Jennie Delich (’32) of Bovey Randall Barnes (’52) of Cedar Falls, IA George M. Wagner (’57) of Sioux Falls, SD Noble Hall (’65) of Grand Rapids Andalena Rhodes (’67) of Palisade Leslie Beach (’76) of Cohasset Arlene Erickson (’64) of Staples
Teacher Hall of Fame Inductees, front row, (left to right): Adele Munsterman, Debra Kellerman, Vicki Olsen-Rowe. Back row: Mark Fodness, Marcia Liapis, Elwyn Ruud, and Virgil Bochland. MARK FODNESS is a social studies teacher in the Bemidji Middle School who earned a bachelor’s and master’s degrees from BSU. Fodness has taught in the Bemidji Public Schools for 16 years. In 1998, he was Minnesota’s Middle Level Teacher of the Year and also received the Ashland Oil Golden Apple Achievement Award. He has been recognized by the National Youth Leadership Council for the Community Service Project Star Program. DEBRA KELLERMAN is a faculty member in the College of Business at St. Cloud State University who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at BSU as well as a doctorate from the University of Iowa. Kellerman has 25 years of teaching and administration experience at the collegiate and secondary levels of education. In 1996, she was awarded the Collegiate Teacher of the Year and Distinguished Service Award from the NCBEA. In 1995, she received the Distinguished Service Award from Minnesota Business
Educators and, in 1994, the Outstanding Post Secondary Business Educator, MBEI, award. MARCIA LIAPIS is a junior high teacher of math, the gifted and special education in Worthington who holds a bachelor’s degree from BSU. Liapis has taught in Worthington for 22 years and was Worthington Education Association Teacher of the Year in 1999. She has received the National History Day Teacher of Merit, as well as two Above and Beyond Awards from her school district. ADELE MUNSTERMAN is a world language teacher in the Fridley schools who earned her bachelor’s degree from BSU and a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota. Munsterman, who has taught in Fridley for 22 years, received the 1996 AATSP Minnesota Outstanding Spanish Teacher award. In 1998, she was named a winner of the Target Teacher Scholarship Award. VICKI OLSEN-ROWE is a former language arts, theater and speech teacher in Bemidji who earned a bachelor’s
degree from BSU. Olsen-Rowe taught in Bemidji for 17 years and currently works in Texas. She received the Ashland Oil Teacher Achievement Award for Excellence in 1992. She has been an editor, publisher, guest speaker, trainer and evaluator. ELWYN RUUD is a third-grade teacher in Roseau who earned her bachelor’s degree from BSU and has done extensive graduate work. Ruud was named Roseau Teacher of the Year in 1992. In 1990, she was the local coordinator for the Artists in Minnesota Schools and Communities Project with COMPAS. This is the fourth group of educators to be presented with the Hall of Fame Award. Past recipients were: 1995, Marge Engebretson, Rex Kingsbury, Bob Michalicek, Dennis Peterson, Elaine Ruud, Roger Schmidt, Mike Wichmann and Yvonne Wilson; 1996, Michael Hanlon, Cheryl Hoversten, Robert Hurst, James Jenner, John McClellan, Marcy Mickelson, Mary Snorek, Lloyd Styrwoll and David Thompson; 1998, Pat Hughes, Delphine Jacobsen, Kathy L. Pearson, Laura Jo Pieper, Jim Wheeler and Neil Witikko.
Calling All Alumni Beginning in June, representatives of Bernard C. Harris Publishing Company Inc., will start telephoning alumni for the verification phase of the Bemidji State University Alumni Directory project. Much of the information to be verified will be published in the directory, including name, academic data, home address and phone number. Individual listings will be organized alphabetically by name and also by class year and geographical location in separate sections of the directory. Photos and information about the university will also be included. Alumni may order a directory when contacted by a Harris representative. Only pre-publication orders placed at that time will be guaranteed delivery.
The 50 year reunion of the class of 1950 was held in conjunction with BSU’s Commencement in mid-May. Pictured are the 1950 participants who served as the honor guard during the event, front row (left to right): Ray Green, Bernard Welinski, Don Barron, Marion Christianson, Darrell Stave, Caroline Czarnecki, Donna Gregoire. Back row: Bruce Atwater, Don Schmeckpepper, John Liapis, Daniel Moore, John Schultz, Ken Christianson, Charles Patterson. Participants not pictured: M. Fern Birnstihl, Don Peterson.
Where We Are ... What We’re Doing announce the Feb.16 birth of a daughter ... Kristin Weidlein (’92) teaches English as a second language at Rancho High School in North Las Vegas, NV, and is working on a master’s in education administration at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas ... Susie Brovold (’94) teaches 7-12 special education at Bagley. She had previously taught kindergarten in Mora and also second and third grade in the BELL program ... Cindy (Zuspann) Quist (’93) of Andover has been teaching sixth grade in Coon Rapids for the past four and a half years and plans to complete her master’s degree this summer. She’s been married for six years and has a 10month-old daughter ... Ann (Murphy) Gorden (’98) of Lake Crystal married Eric Gorden (’99) and now works as regional coordinator for ITV in southern Minnesota at South Central Technical College ... Dawn Bernecker (’97) of Shell Lake, WI, recently became the assistant hatchery foreman at the Gov.Thompson Hatchery, Spooner, WI, which raises walleye, muskies and northern pike for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources ... Kathy Smeby (’96) of St. Paul plans to graduate this summer with a doctorate of pharmacy from the University of Minnesota and will work at Methodist Hospital at St. Louis Park. She is planning a July wedding with Greg Broder, a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force ... Jennifer Sanford (’94) is director of the Bemidji United Way ... Karl Myers (’99) teaches first grade at Floodwood ... Rick Holbeck (’93) works in the music department in Biwabik schools where he is in charge of the high school choir, the seventh- and eighthgrade choir and seventh grade music classes ... Karl Myers photo by Emily Chapinski, Floodwood Forum
(Continued from page 5) 1990s nursery on Highway 29 north of Nisswa and have three grown adopted children. The nomination letter states that Amy (McLaughlin) Birch (’90) is the art director at the Teton Valley News in Driggs, ID, where she also resides. Jerry and Ruth have volunteered their time and energy since 1993 to establish the Nisswa Caboose Society, which She won first place in last year’s Idaho Newspaper Association competition in the page design category ... is now the Nisswa Historical Society. They were instrumental in getting the property for the depot complex Bradley Nepsund (’96) of Buffalo is in his third year of from the Department of Natural Resources and continue to teaching physical education and health in Rockford ... Angie Jorgensen (’97) of St. Cloud teaches English at volunteer their time to maintain and landscape the depot and caboose area, which serves as a community focal point Cathedral High School in St. Cloud. She also serves as and attraction for visitors ... Todd Sorensen (’86) recently assistant coach of the volleyball and speech teams ... Karen Wicklund (’94) of Battle Lake has been joined the staff at Deerwood Bank’s Brainerd office. He has 13 years of lending and finance experience and will be employed as a child support officer for the Otter Tail County Social Services since 1994 ... Robin Reed (’95) involved in consumer lending and business development ... Peri Jo (Kringen) McKay (’86) of Shoreview plans to recently bought a house in Minneapolis and is working for Wells Fargo in its retirement plan services department return to teaching physical education. She married her high-school sweetheart, Mike McKay, on Feb. 5 and now ... Ginger Stoehr-Fealy (’97) of Alexandria is a school has two stepsons, Chad, 13, and Eric, 9, in addition to her social worker at Minnewaska Area High School and is 10-year-old daughter, Bailey ... Melody Tenhoff (’83) has currently working on completing her master’s of science been principal at Luverne Elementary School since 1997. in education degree at Southwest State University ... Prior to that she’d been the elementary and middle school Brett John Short (’93) and Susan Rozner of Hackensack principal at Fillmore Central, Rushford, and a librarian in the Cloquet School District. She married Steven Leite in December ... Bob Fitzgerald (’85) has accepted a job with Kraus Anderson Construction - Northern Division in the marketing department and resigned from his position as Cass Lake city administrator. He’d been with the city for five and a half years. Bradley Nepsund Angie Jorgensen Karl Myers
Lana Schultz (’91) bought a house in Bemidji in 1998 and has worked at the Arch Deacon Gilfillan Center since 1991 ... Ed Bahr (’92) of Jackson, AL, works as a team leader at the Boise Cascade Converting Facility in Jackson and has a five-year-old son ... Amy Gall (’98) of St. Cloud is a kindergarten and preschool teacher in the Sartell-St. Joseph School District ... Lezlie Grubich (’93) of Bemidji is employed as financial manager of the Bemidji Senior Center and Paul Bunyan Transit ... Annie (Johnson) McCann (’90) of Westminster, CO, was married in June of 1999 and is expecting her first child in October ... David Lampi (’93) of Billings, MT, works for Sysco Foodservices of Montana and recently accepted the new position of healthcare/government marketing specialist ... Rick Berndt (’91) of Bemidji owns the Pet Zone in Bemidji and, along with his wife, Patti, has three children ... Blake Fisher (’96) of Coon Rapids bought a home in January, and he and his wife are expecting their first child in March. He’s employed at Professional Technologies as a model maker ... Guy Hagen (’98) of Mountain Iron has been promoted to senior graphic designer with JPG Communications Inc. of Virginia. He’s been with the company for one and a half years, and in his new position he will work closely with regional and national clients to create a variety of custom design projects, including publications and collateral material ... Vicki Palmer (’95) of Pequot Lakes has been teaching high school English there for four years. She is also a certified Pathwise assessor and cognitive coach ... Ian Mackenzie (’99) and his wife live in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, and were expecting their first child this spring ... Lori Kay Mattison (’99) lives in Birmingham, AL ... Karen
Kraemer (’95) of Willmar received the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for Minnesota from the National Association of Biology Teachers at the organization’s convention this year ... Paul Tarutis (’92) of Benedict works as a teacher coordinator for District 118 in Remer ... Delles Solie (’91) of Owatonna teaches pre-calculus at Owatonna High School. He and his wife, Diane, an elementary school teacher, have two sons ... Paige Lindberg (’96) of Worthington teaches high school German and plans to take her students on a trip to Germany ... Bobbie (Wilkerling) Greiner (’90) and her husband moved to Bemidji in 1997. She currently works as lifestyle editor and staff writer at The Pioneer newspaper, Bemidji ... Melissa Reichstadt (’95) of Oshkosh, WI, has been working as a residence hall director at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh for the past three years. She also belongs to a community outdoors club and volunteers as a big sister through Big Brothers-Big Sisters ... Julie Hendrickson (’91) of Bemidji graduated from the University of Minnesota in May 1999 with a master’s of science in software engineering. She’s worked with SAGA Software for nine years, was recently promoted to senior consultant and plans to move to Bemidji this summer ... Melissa (Baker) Warren (’91) of Bloomington, IL, and her husband, Michael, are expecting their second child in November. Their Julie Hendrickson
Horizons Page 7
Communiques
from alumni AND SUE KRINGEN, DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS
It’s time to honor Jolly Erickson Many alumni believe the contributions of H.J. Jolly Erickson to the growth of BSU athletics should receive formal recognition. Erickson served as football coach and BSU faculty member from 1938 to 1952. Please contact: JACK LUOMA at 16306 Irvine Ave. NW, Bemidji, MN 56601 (phone, 218-2432116; john988@webtv.net) BILL HOWE at 1725 Birchmont Beach Rd, Bemidji, MN 56601 (phone, 218-444-2403; mecca@paulbunyan.net) AL WESTERLUND at 8237 Freemont Ave. S, Bloomington, MN 55420 (phone, 612-881-8581).
40-year reunion scheduled October 6-7 The 40-year reunion of the Class of 1960 is scheduled for October 6-7 during BSU’s Homecoming celebration. Volunteers are still needed to help plan the reunion. Contact the BSU Alumni Association office at 755-3989 (local calls) or 1-877-BSUALUM (toll free).
BSU Winter Rendezvous draws 150 participants In March, 150 alumni and friends of BSU participated in the fourth annual BSU Winter Rendezvous at Laughlin, NV, featuring the BSU Winter Golf Classic, coordinated by Bill Howe (’52). Presenters and speakers at the awards banquet included Dr. Jim Bensen (’59), president of BSU, and Jeff Wallin, president of the BSU Alumni Association. Noreen Mee (’52) won the halibut-fishing trip in Alaska, donated as a door prize by Lani and Donald Kassube (’59). The 2001 Rendezvous is scheduled for March 11-12, again at the Colorado Belle in Laughlin, NV. For further information, contact the BSU Alumni Office at 7553989 (local calls) or 1-877-BSUALUM (toll free).
daughter, Samantha, is three ... William Peterson (’95) of Stillwater married Holly Schowalter Feb. 19 and joined Allina Health Systems, Minneapolis, as a software developer following four years of employment at Prudential Insurance in a variety of system support capacities. He recently completed Microsoft Corporation’s series of examinations for the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer professional program ... Nick Neeb (’95) of Easthampton, MA, was married last year and started a new job as systems engineer at General Dynamics in western Massachusetts ... Angela Pinsonneault
Nick Neeb
Those who captured first place honors during the fourth annual BSU Winter Golf Classic were (above, left to right): Jack Luoma (’49), Nola Scherer, Dave Melby, Dorothy Soland and Tournament Director, Bill Howe, (’52). Second place finishers were (below, left to right) Harriett Mooney, Ron Lillesve (’61), Doug Kirkeby (’58) and Jeff Wallin (’70).
(’98) of Anchorage, AK, has traveled much of the state of Alaska including the northern coast on the Arctic ocean ... Danae (Johannsen) Bruning (’94) of Woodbury married Jon Bruning in 1998 and recently relocated to the Minneapolis area. She was recently promoted to program manager of Affinity Marketing at ATX Telecommunications, with corporate offices in Philadelphia, PA. She writes, “I am fortunate to work out of my home for ATX sweatpants instead of dress pants” ... Shannon Overn (’95) of Shakopee is self-employed and sells promotional products. She married Alex Grundhoffer in August and they are expecting their first child in July. Alex is a real estate closer with Title Protection, Inc. ... Cynthia Benson (’98) of Rochester graduated from Mercy School of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Technology in the summer of 1998 and, since then, has been working in the molecular microbiology laboratory at Mayo Clinic in Rochester ... Debra Brant (’93) of St. Paul works as a graphic designer for Metro Transit ... Sarah Staley (’99) has been named as development associate with KAXE Northern Community Radio in Grand Rapids. She will oversee all of the business underwriting ... Cristin Braesch (’92) of Brooklyn Center received a master’s degree in sociology from Mankato State University in 1996, has been an instructor of sociology for five years at AnokaRamsey, Normandale and Inver Hills community colleges and in 1999 married Jamie Coller ... Jarrod Midboe (’97) of Fargo, ND, works as a phase 1 clinical study monitor/team leader at PRACS
Roger Pogorelc Sandy Fynboh Institute Ltd. of Fargo. He also plays lead guitar for The Package which will perform at Rockin’ the Hills this summer ... Christine Olds (’97) of Grand Rapids was named manager of strategic sourcing at National Steel Pellet Company, Keewatin, in January ... Jenna L’Allier (’99) recently joined the graphic design staff at Mediawerks, Winona. L’Allier comes to the new position from the Minneapolis office of the Campbell-Mithun advertising agency ... Roger Pogorelc (’98) is teaching business at Floodwood High School ... Eric Villeneuve (’99) passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountants Examination this winter. He’s employed with Glorvigen Berg Theis Lind and Co. PLLP, Grand Rapids, and lives with his wife Christina in Deer River ... Sandy Fynboh (’99) works as a home visitor with the Cass County-Leech Lake Reservation Children’s Initiative’s Healthy Beginnings program. The Minnesota Department of Health made money available for this and three other pilot projects to offer
VP
Baer Named Vice President for University Advancement Carl Baer has been named as the vice president for university advancement at Bemidji State University. From Bemidji, Baer will officially begin his duties July 1. As the vice president, he will provide leadership, vision and supervision for an area that is responsible for advancing the university in fund raising, partnerships, and collaborative activities. University Advancement includes staff in alumni relations, the BSU Carl Baer Foundation, news services, publications and sports information. Recently retired as a managing partner in a Bemidji law firm, Baer was hired in December as a consultant by Bemidji State to lead a capital campaign raising funds for the American Indian Resource Center, provide governmental relations for the MnSCU supplemental appropriation at the Minnesota Legislature, and work with Northwest Technical College as well as the MnSCU system office on the 2000 bonding request. During the recently completed session, the Legislature passed and Governor Ventura signed capital improvement projects that included $2 million for an American Indian center and $5 million for a technology center at BSU. “We are excited to have Carl as part of the advancement team,” said Dr. Jim Bensen, BSU president. “He brings an intense passion for Bemidji State to the job as well as a high level of energy that will be immediately required to address some challenges in the next few months.” Bensen noted that immediate attention needs to be given to raising funds for programming and services at the American Indian Center as well as to the development of academic and construction plans at the technology center that will house co-located programs between the university and NTC-Bemidji. He also indicated that advancing phase II and phase III of the co-location effort will be a high priority. A graduate of Bemidji State University, Baer received a juris doctorate from the University of Minnesota School of Law. Baer fills a position in the BSU administration that was previously held by Dr. Dave Tiffany, who left in December to take a similar post at California University of Pennsylvania.
home visiting to all parents experiencing the birth or adoption of an infant. She has also coordinated an after school program in Akeley and is the mother of two young children ... Rick Hart (’93) is a Ph.D biologist employed with the Minnesota Department of Resources. His doctoral dissertation involved research in Lake Pepin, where he conducted a fouryear study under contract to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the DNR. He was awarded four research grants worth $11,000 from 1994-98, becoming a recognized conservation biologist in his area of emphasis - freshwater mussels. His research has involved 49 species of native mussels in waterways throughout Minnesota. Hart and fellow DNR workers survey rivers mostly, gathering data on what are commonly known as clams. They are developing a distribution map that can be a helpful tool for those planning land use or any alteration of existing waterways, such as for pipelines or agriculture. Hart likens the invertebrates he studies to “the canary in the mineshaft” in that, as biological indicators, their condition can bring attention to environmental problems which might later affect human quality of life ... Jeff Ostrom (’98) is teaching third-grade reading and math at Clearbrook-Gonvick Elementary School. He also coaches eighth-grade boys basketball ... Jeff Ostrom
Scott Gengler (’94) filed in the fall as a candidate to the Eden Prairie School Board. He teaches physical/ health education at Minnehaha Academy Upper School and is married to Lori ... Tina (Steinemann) Gronseth (’95) of Bloomington works at Seagate Technology as a wellness/fitness specialist and plans to return to school for a nursing degree in the fall. In October she married Mike Gronseth from Byron ... Ann (Janquart) Schuldt (’92) of Duluth has two daughters, ages 5 and 2, and is expecting a baby in July. She teaches fourth grade at Kenwood-Edison School in Duluth ... Paula Steffes (’94) and Jay DeClusin plan to be married July 1 in Bemidji ... Tom Nelson (’97) recently accepted a position as guidance counselor for grades K-12 at Verndale School. He’d worked for the past three years at the Neighborhood Counseling Center in Sebeka ... Bradley Surina (’93) of Stacy is employed as a quality control technician at Anderson/Dahlen, Coon Rapids. He and his wife, Lori, announce the April 8 birth of their second son, Dylan Thomas ... Roxane Pagnac (’98) was hired in January to be a violence prevention and chemical health specialist in Fertile schools ... Shannon Culliton (’96) of Bemidji is employed with Peterson Sheet Metal, Inc. and is planning an early summer wedding with John Schmitt. Roxane Pagnac
Horizons Page 8
Horizons Page 8
Homecoming HomecomingOctober 6-7 “Catch Beaver Fever” is the theme for BSU’s 2000 Homecoming Celebration scheduled for October 6-7. All alumni events will be held at the David Park House or on the campus, including the 40-year reunion of the class of 1960, the Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony, the Outstanding Alumni Awards cere-
mony and the fifth quarter alumni celebration and silent auction. The BSU Beavers play host to Southwest State Mustangs during the homecoming football game scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Chet Anderson Stadium. More information about Homecoming 2000 will be included in the
fall issue of HORIZONS. Homecoming brochures and registration information will be mailed in July to all active members of the alumni association. Contact the BSU Alumni Association office by calling 218751-3989 or 1-877-BSU-ALUM (toll free).
Top Women Athletes Bemidji State celebrated its 30th Anniversary for women’s athletics in March by naming 60 athletes to honor teams, including half picked for the Top 30 Anniversary Team. The athletes were nominated by coaches and players from the competitors over the past 30 years. Selection was completed by the 30year anniversary committee. “I think, woman for woman, we had the best athletes anywhere,” said Dr. Pat Rosenbrock, former BSU coach and women’s athletic director. “As a result, we were very successful within the conference, the state and the region.” In their first three decades, the Beaver women’s programs captured a combined 42 conference titles, 12 regional/district crowns, and nine state titles in 11 sports.
BEMIDJI STATE 60 OUTSTANDING WOMEN ATHLETES *athletes indicate membership on the Top 30 Anniversary Team name (maiden name), year of graduation, sports played
Queen Amy Hansen (sophomore, St Louis Park) and Bucky Beaver helped celebrate Homecoming 1999 at Bemidji State University.
BEAVER PRIDE Exceeds Goal Beaver Pride completed its annual fund drive by raising over $101,000, exceeding its goal of $70,000 by 44 percent. Sherry Hill, a 1983 graduate, was the top individual fundraiser with $13,850 in dollars or pledges. She received two round-trip airline tickets, donated by Mesaba Airlines, as a prize. Joe Dunn, who also chairs Beaver Pride, headlined the top ranking team of fundraisers. Beaver Pride is an organization of volunteers committed to raising money for scholarships for student athletes as well as support for BSU intercollegiate sports. More information on the fund raising effort and Beaver Pride is available by contacting Denise Golden, director of athletic giving, at 218-755-2827 or 1-888234-5718.
Bemidji State Receives Endorsement for NCA Re-Accreditation Bemidji State University has received a positive endorsement for re-accreditation through 2009-2010 following a comprehensive selfstudy visit by a team of evaluators from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). The team of consultant evaluators was on the BSU campus conducting interviews, open meetings, and focused sessions to verify information contained in the University’s self study. They completed their review on campus in mid-April. Following the visitation, the team indicated that the recommendation for re-accreditation being forwarded to the NCA board will be for the maximum time period allowed, 10 years. The NCA can re-accredit an institution or require a focused visit at some point in time, typically within five years, that would address specific concerns prior to re-accreditation. The full re-accreditation recommendation by the current team represents the University’s first 10-year NCA review in several decades that does not require a focused site visit. In two or three years, the University will be providing a report directly to the NCA updating progress pertaining to the experimental planning initiative and learning outcome assessments. “The North Central Association’s self-study visit has reaffirmed the confidence in the direction of this institution and the quality of the Bemidji State experience,” said Dr. Jim Bensen, president of the University. “The entire campus community is to be complimented for the success of the university in providing an accessible and high quality educational opportunity.”
*Adelsman, Margaret A. (Borchers),1989, Cross Country Skiing Alstrom, Carol M., 1970, Basketball, Volleyball, Field Hockey *Alstrom, Susan A., 1976, Basketball, Field Hockey Angileno, Lora A. (Weiers), 1988, Basketball Asp, Kelly M. (Spierings), 1992, Volleyball, Basketball *Atkins, Sue (Ross), 1980, Basketball, Tennis Baalke, Beth A. (Buckingham), 1989, Basketball Bendt, Nichole M., 1993, Softball, Basketball Berkeland, Patricia, 1988, Cross Country, Track Bienfang, Susan T., 1984, Field Hockey, Track *Bowen “Chum”, Mary J., 1975, Basketball, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Tennis Braun, Ramona A. (Upens), 1990, Volleyball Bydlon, Marcia (Ringquist), 1981, Field Hockey, Track, Basketball *Cashman, Diane E. (Glampe), 1990, Volleyball, Softball Dorn, Lynn L., 1972, Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis, Field Hockey *Dusich, Jayne M., 1991, Track, Cross Country Ehrhardt-Clark, Lori, 1976, Swimming *Enright, Kathryn, 1995, Swimming Fayville, Melissa, 1981, Basketball, Field Hockey Frandrup, Cheri L., 1982, Field Hockey, Basketball, Softball Glassmann, Jeanne L. (Larson), 1976, Track *Gray, Stephanie L., 1997, Softball, Basketball Hance, Joan M., 1971, Volleyball *Hegquist, Debra K. (Limond), 1976, Gymnastics, Track *Hill, Sherry, 1983, Basketball, Track, Volleyball *Hilliard, Mary E. (Gergen), 1991, Volleyball, Softball *Hughes, Elizabeth A., 1980, Volleyball, Basketball Hull, Martha M., 1973, Basketball, Tennis, Field Hockey *Hutchins, Lori K., 1979, Basketball, Volleyball Kealy, Patricia K. (Reimer), 1981, Track *Kelly, Laurie (Bottem), 1978, Field Hockey *Kirchner, Cheryl A. (Reed), 1983, Swimming *Lindow, Carol L., 1976, Tennis *Logghe, Holly J., 1997, Basketball, Softball McNallan, Wanda R. (Devescovi), 1987, Volleyball *Morrissey, Karen A., 1998, Basketball *Mulvihill, Elizabeth A., 1988, Basketball, Track *Musgjerd, Jean, 1985, Basketball, Volleyball *Olson, Lorna, 1978, Basketball, Field Hockey Pauna, Deborah A., 1985, Track, Field Hockey *Perry, Renee, 1999, Tennis Peterson, Cathy J. (Stehr), 1994, Cross Country, Track, Basketball Pettis, Diane G. (Shofner), 1976, Basketball, Volleyball, Track *Porter, Pamela J. (Gildersleeve), 1985, Softball, Field Hockey Randall, Audrey E., 1980, Basketball, Track, Volleyball *Risberg, Cristy L., 1997, Track Roysland, Kimberly J. (Carlin), 1980, Volleyball Ruud, Sharon M. (Mahoney), 1984, Gymnastics *Sartell, Patricia J., 1978, Basketballl, Volleyball, Softball Schmitz, Shelly R., 1981, Field Hockey Singewald, Jean (Spelbrink), 1981, Gymnastics *Smith, Judith (Stoker), 1982, Basketball, Tennis, Track, Volleyball Sorenson, Bonnie J., 1970, Field Hockey, Volleyball *Starr, Milika F. (Lila Veenkner), 1975, Basketball, Field Hockey *Stomberg, Carol J., 1974, Basketball, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Tennis Svenningsen, Sarah R. (Moon), 1994, Basketball, Track, Cross Country Swanson, Donette C., 1971, Basketball, Volleyball *Vanwilgen, Kristina K. (Hammitt), 1996, Cross Country Skiing Wegscheid, Brenda K. (Wittiko), 1979, Field Hockey, Basketball *Zwiers, Patti J. (Fitzgerald), 1990, Track