Vol. 17, No. 2, Winter 2001-2002
A Publication for Alumni & Friends of Bemidji State University
BSUHorizons
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Feeling a New at Be Feeling a New Beat
December 8, 2001 BSU Alumni Association and Foundation Board Meetings January 26, 2002 BSU Snow Ball, BSU Hobson Memorial Union February 15, 2002 BSU Alumni Association Reception, Minnesota State Music Educators Annual Convention, Minneapolis Hilton and Towers March 10-11, 2002 BSU Winter Rendezvous, Flamingo Laughlin / Laughlin, NV April 27, 2002 BSU Alumni Association Board Meeting May 16-17, 2002 50-Year Reunion of the Class of 1952 May 17, 2002 BSU Commencement Exercises, John Glas Fieldhouse
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“ The thoughts that kept me awake were too much,” Jodi Mutnansky remembered about her first sleepless night after the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center near her home and office in Manhattan. “It was as if someone opened the gates of hell, and all the evil souls were marching into our safe, sweet, great homes.” The attack profoundly affected life in the United States with the impact rippling from the epicenter in New York across the globe. For Mutnansky, the change was immediate, real, and something she will live with every day. “After living in New York City for 10 years, these buildings and streets and smells and sounds are my home,” she said. “It would be like seeing Bangsberg Hall on the BSU campus blow up in front of your eyes, and hundreds of colleagues, friends, students and citizens dying.” Mutnansky was stepping off the elevator at WADO-AM radio when the first plane hit three miles away. She and everyone else wondered how such an unbelievable, unfortunate accident could happen. Then the second plane hit, the towers fell, and New York’s skyline as well as image was altered forever. Prior to September 11, Mutnansky described New Yorkers with adjectives which might be proudly displayed like merit badges earned in the Big Apple: strong-willed, strong-minded, opinionated, self-obsessed, hard. They had strong desires, and an equal will to keep moving forward. “It is true that in New York you can literally feel the beat of the street,” said the small-town girl from a farm near Goodridge. “It was one of the things I had to get used to living here.”
A “
Jodi Mutnansky
s a Midwesterner, there are very few layers and systems to work through before getting to the real heart of people. There are few guarded things; people live openly for the most part and everyone knows their neighbors. Perhaps that day brought a whole bunch of New Yorkers to that level.” Jodi Mutnansky
Understandably, she had never seen the streets like they were on September 11. Jaded New Yorkers were walking 12 abreast down the boulevards, quiet, focused, worried, scared and bewildered. “The city and its people were wounded,” she said, thinking of the services for the dead that have become part of life over the past two months. “I work right behind St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and every single day there are several funerals or memorials. They stop traffic, but we all take a deep breath and live with it knowing the suffering that all are feeling.” Mutnansky knew people who died in the towers, including some firemen. One planned Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation promotion this year was a calendar featuring Hispanic firefighters. It became a tribute calendar when two of those in the publication perished at the WTC. She tells this story about the changing attitude of people toward others in New York. “At
Penn Station, firefighters boarded the train and everyone stood up and cheered. Before the terrorist attacks, people didn’t even notice each other on the trains and subways.” She has a theory on how September 11 affected the people. “As a Midwesterner, there are very few layers and systems to work through before getting to the real heart of people. There are few guarded things; people live openly for the most part and everyone knows their neighbors. Perhaps that day brought a whole bunch of New Yorkers to that level.” A recovering city and populace are how Mutnansky looks at her home today as businesses, tourism, patterns and life try to find normalcy within their altered surroundings. “New Yorkers are a tough people,” she reflected. “It is great to see that we can all come to-
gether and be there for each other emotionally in a time like this; it is not good to see all of the destruction. We are in mourning, we are strong, we will persevere, and we will survive.” Raised in Goodridge, Jodi Mutnansky came to Bemidji State via Grygla High School. She graduated from Bemidji State in 1990 with a social studies teaching degree. Seeking a dramatic change and an opportunity to tap into the energy of a large city, she moved to New York a year later. She has been part of the New York radio scene for 10 years, working for the city’s top country station, the Radio Advertising Bureau, and the ABC radio flagship station WABC before joining the management team a year ago as the marketing director for the Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation in New York. She heads the department that ensures HBC stations are visible in the New York metro and tri-state areas.
Fall 2001
Horizons Page 2 ment. In individual competition Eric Carlson and Ben Stecher both earned places on the 2001 AllNSIC team.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Sports
Fans at a BSU football game display the American Flag following the September 11 tragedies.
Eight returning players will join a large number of recruits for coach Doreen Zierer’s women’s basketball squad that will try to overcome the 3-24 overall and 3-15 conference disappointments of last year. Senior Jodi Haugen headlines the veterans as the top scorer and rebounder back from a year ago while Amber Graf, a transfer from the Naval Academy, leads the newcomers.
MEN’S BASKETBALL The men’s basketball team will carry a new look into the 20012002 campaign with first-year coach Jeff Guiot revamping the BSU system. Only sophomore Sean O’Hare and senior John Szwaja are back from the 10-17 squad that finished 7-12 in conference action last year. Newcomers to watch include transfers Royce Bryan and Terrance Watkins.
BSU Sports Winter 2002
Eddie Acosta
Jodi Haugen and Jill Anundson
Travis Quam
FOOTBALL Coach Jeff Tesch led BSU football to a schoolrecord fourth consecutive season with six or more wins as the Beavers finished 7-4 and earned fourth place in the NSIC at 5-4. BSU broke school single-season records for scoring, total offense, passing yardage, rushing yardage, first downs and touchdowns scored. Eddie Acosta was named NSIC Offensive Player of the Year, setting school records for rushing yardage, rushing touchdowns, total TDs and points scored. Geoff Martinson earned first-team AllNSIC honors at quarterback after setting school single-season records for passing yardage, passing touchdowns, completion percentage, passer rating and completions. In total, 10 BSU players earned All-NSIC honors, including six more first-team selections: Jerry Dagel and Bryan Stoffel on the offensive line; Wallie Kuchinski, defensive end; Pat Engleright, linebacker; and Jason Leden, return specialist.
VOLLEYBALL Volleyball finished its 2001 season 8-23 overall, 4-14 in the NSIC. Nicole McDougall received Honorable-
Goalie Anik Cote
Mention All-NSIC honors after posting team highs in kills (330) and blocks (114). Jill Anundson (958 assists this year, 1,928 for her career), Jodi Haugen (team-high .186 attack percentage) and Kristen Peterson (team-best 44 service aces, 368 digs) topped Donna Palivec’s squad this season.
SOCCER
Soccer finished 412-1 overall and was ninth in the NSIC with a 1-7-1 league record. Junior Becky Elk earned firstteam All-NSIC honors after leading the Beavers in goals (11), assists (3), points (25), shot percentage (.139) and shots on goal (49). Niki Dalka earned honorablemention All-NSIC honors for Jeff Mitchell’s soccer squad after leading all NCAA Division II schools in saves per game (13.88).
CROSS COUNTRY The Bemidji State Women’s Cross Country team ended the 2001 season fifth in NSIC action with 129 total points and an average time
Becky Elk
of 25:09.46. Martha Miltich led the Beavers, finishing 18th in the conference meet with a time of 24:07.44
WOMEN’S GOLF The BSU Women’s golf team finished the 2001 season placing in the top five in all but one of their meets this fall. Their highest placement was second in their own invitational at the Bemidji Town and Country Club. The women closed out the season with a third place at the NSIC Tournament. In individual competition, Jeanne Larson and Casey Curb were named to the 2001 All-NSIC team.
MEN’S GOLF
The BSU Men’s golf team claimed one title this fall, earning top honors at the Irv Kaiser Invite. They were always in the thick of their matches and earned a second in the seasonending NSIC Conference Tourna-
WOMEN’S HOCKEY BSU women’s hockey ushered in the Jason Lesteberg era this fall as the runner-up for NCAA Division III Coach of the Year honors stepped in as the program’s second head coach. Through 10 games, Lesteberg had the Beavers off to the best start in their brief history at 5-2-3. After a season-opening loss, Lesteberg and the Beavers went on a school-record eightgame unbeaten streak which included the program’s first-ever WCHA point against Minnesota. Amber Fryklund, a participant on the 2001 WCHA All-Star Team, has been amongst the WCHA’s leading scorers all season. MEN’S HOCKEY
For the first time since 1966, a new head coach controls the bench at Bemidji State. Tom Serratore, the team’s associate head coach the last three seasons, takes the reigns from long-time head coach Bob Peters, who won 13 small-college national championships before the program’s elevation to Division I status in 1998. By mid-November, Serratore had BSU off to a 5-6-1 start; surpassed last season’s win total; and notched BSU’s first-ever win over a WCHA program (7-6 over MSU-Mankato). Freshmen Riley Riddell and Andrew Murray provided a big lift for the BSU program with Murray among the nation’s top five freshman scorers and Riddell in the top 20. Junior Marty Goulet led College Hockey America in scoring after the first 12 games.
Horizons Page 3
Student Volunteers: Volunteers Building Heart, Soul, and Experience The fainthearted were not among the 24 Bemidji State University students who crammed sleeping bags, pillows and duffel bags into a small trailer before piling into two vans for a 30-hour crosscountry trek to start spring break 2001. They drove straight through, fueled with hefty doses of caffeine and abundant enthusiasm. Anything for a week-long getaway to a hot, sandy beach, right? Not in this case. These students headed for a small town in an impoverished area of South Carolina, where lifestyles and culture bear testament to the shocking poverty that can be found in the United States. There they slept in a church basement by night and spent their days building homes for the homeless and tutoring children in a nearby school. Students involved were part of the BSU Chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Since it was formed in 1993, the BSU group has made eight spring break trips to build homes for the needy in Mississippi, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky. Participants raise all of the funding for the trips themselves and are required to invest at least 40 hours of volunteer work before qualifying to make the trip. Their efforts were recognized this year as the recipients of the 2001 Bemidji United Way Volunteer Group of the Year. In addition to their spring break trips, the group builds homes with the Bemidji chapter and others across the region. Habitat students are among a Bemidji State University
I “
see the role of the BSU group as setting a standard of humane concern for people in pain. They are role models for building caring relationships with hurting people. Their enthusiasm is contagious. It just rubs off on the rest of us whose enthusiasm might wane when working with the poor.” Walt Scott, past chair, Bemidji Chapter of Habitat
large group of BSU students who balance their studies, work and extracurricular activities with volunteerism. BSU students volunteer in numerous capacities in the community as individuals and as members of student clubs or athletic teams. Their efforts include community clean-up projects, mentoring youth, serv-
ing meals to the elderly, visiting nursing homes, serving at a community soup kitchen and raising funds for non-profit organizations, among many others. While student activism is nothing new, it is seeing a renewal. Bemidji State is a member of Campus Compact, a national coalition of 703 institutions commit-
Vol. 17, No. 2, Winter 2001-2002
Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Al Nohner Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathy Berglund Photographer . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Swartz President . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Jon Quistgaard Alumni Director . . . . . Marla Huss Patrias Contributing Writers . . . . . . . . Jody Grau, Cindy Serratore Editorial Assistance . . . . . . . . Peggy Nohner Editorial Board: Dr. Jon Quistgaard, BSU president; Al Nohner, director of news services and publications; Carl Baer, vice president for university advancement; Dr. Jeff Totten, assistant professor of business administration; Dr. Gerald Morine, professor of chemistry; Marla Huss Patrias, director of alumni relations.
this institution,” said Dr. Jon Quistgaard, BSU president. “Many majors now have servicelearning components built into their programs, and others are exploring ways to add this activity within their curriculum. The importance of contributing to community development is expected for university graduates today.” The University’s long-standing commitment to volunteerism has been recognized by the Making a Difference College Guide, a national publication that lists colleges and universities with programming and philosophies that can make a difference in a student’s life. Among considerations for being listed in the guide are a tradition of community service and a record of promoting responsible activities within the community and world. Bemidji State is the only state university in Minnesota that has been listed in every edition of the Making a Difference College Guide since it was first published over 10 years ago. The BSU Habitat chapter has experienced first-hand this increased interest. The organization, which typically averages about 25 members, nearly doubled its membership last year. Stacy Tuchek, a senior psychology major from Littlefork, MN, joined Habitat for Humanity in her freshman year and now serves as chapter president. She has made three spring trips to
Schools in the music program. He and his wife, Marilyn, have two sons, Ross and Kevin... Bev Jondahl (’61) retired at the end of the last school year after a 39-year teaching career, including 32 years at Brainerd High School. She plans to devote more time to her jewelry making and painting. She’d also taught at Blackduck and in the Wheaton School District... Don Kuusinen (’68) retired in June from teaching math, concluding a 33-year career at Grand Rapids High School. He’s married and now plans to spend more time riding bike and hunting... Sandy Granley James (’65) retired this summer from her elementary teaching career with the Clearbrook and Gonvick schools. She and her husband, Bob, have two children, Mike and Kay... Diana Heikkila (’67) and her husband, Duane, both retired from teaching in the Brainerd School District at the end of last school year. Diana had taught all 34 years of her career at Franklin Junior High School, teaching mathematics mostly to eighth- and ninth-graders. The couple has two grown children... Earl Mathison (’66) has retired from a 35-year career in education and his position as superintendent of Wadena-Deer Creek Schools. He is beginning a new career as a financial advisor for cities, counties and schools with FWW Financial of Minnetonka. He’s working out of an office at his home near Royalton... Joe Merseth (’66) has retired as superintendent of Frazee-Vergas Public Schools, ending a 35-year career in education.
He’d worked at Frazee since 1991 and plans to work part-time in education consulting or management as well as finally having some time to golf, fish, hunt and travel with his wife... Bob Schlichting (’69) is service manager with Southside Rental and Sales, a new business located south of Bemidji on Highway 71... Lloyd Allen (’66) is living in Bemidji and celebrated his 65th birthday this summer with friends and neighbors at an open house... Jerry Abbott (’60) has retired from his position as Bemidji School District personnel director, concluding a 41-year career in education. He estimated that he has hired around 1,500 employees and probably conducted as many as 5,000 interviews during the course of his career. He came to work in Bemidji in 1978, first as curriculum director and soon after became personnel director. He plans to travel with his wife and see more of his grown children during his retirement... Joe Mayer (’63) of Bemidji was inducted into the North Dakota Golf Hall of Fame during a state seniors tournament at Jamestown. He lived in Fargo for 30 years and played golf out of the Fargo Country Club. He won club tournaments, the North Dakota Open, the North Dakota Mid-Amateur, the KX Amateur, the Pine to Palm seniors and many other titles. He also served on the greens and grounds committee at Fargo Country Club for 17 years and on the club’s board of directors for three years. He lives in Bemidji with his wife, MaraLee (’63)... (Continued on page 4)
(Continued on page 5)
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.
ted to helping students develop citizenship through participation in community service. It conducts an annual survey measuring different facets of community service, and notes that the majority of schools perceive an upward trend in the number of students participating in service. With student schedules significantly more demanding today than 20 years ago, it may be difficult to understand the increase. Students continue to participate in such traditional activities as intramurals, student government, arts organizations and clubs. They have many more commitments outside of the classroom; family considerations are more prevalent and many hold down multiple jobs. Still, students find time to work service learning - the opportunity to develop social responsibility through volunteer experiences outside of the classroom - into their extracurricular life. In addition to realizing personal satisfaction, the students gain real-world experience to supplement academic studies. It is a mix that is more attractive in the workplace. “Volunteerism and service learning is something we value at
ALL CITIES ARE LOCATED IN MINNESOTA UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
1940s Celia Larson (’49) and her husband, Glenn, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this summer... Iris Furuseth (’42) was among three Thief River Falls women honored by the local branch of the American Association of University Women. They were named Women of Honor for 2001. The annual award was established to honor area women who have made significant contributions to their community. The AAUW promotes equity for women, education and selfdevelopment, and positive societal change.
recently a featured speaker at a presentation by the Beltrami County History Center in Bemidji. He talked about his new book, “Billy Remembers Fishbones, Crows and Other Woes.” He was born and raised in Bemidji and is a retired professor emeritus from Boise State University in Idaho... Bob Ness (’57), a Republican representative from Dassel, spoke at Blackduck’s centennial celebration this summer about the important impact his teachers had on his life. He is a graduate of Blackduck High School and owns Dunrovin Resort on Blackduck Lake.
1960s
1950s Chandler Bailey (’50) of Bemidji has selfpublished his third book, “Sharing Mirthful Junior/ Senior Moments,” a compilation of short stories about his life, many of which take place in Bemidji. He splits his time each year between a home in Bemidji and southern California... Max Hirt (’59) and his wife, Georgia, recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary... William Kirtland (’53) was
Dale Branstner
Gordon Olson (’67) and his wife, LaVerne, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in August... Dale Branstner (’69) was recently presented with a plaque recognizing his 30 years of service to Win-E-Mac
Horizons Page 4
Six Six ReceiveOutstanding Alumni Awards Six Bemidji State University
graduates received Outstanding Alumni Awards during a banquet in their honor at Homecoming festivities on campus this fall. The Outstanding Alumni Award was established to recognize the contributions BSU graduates have made to their professions communities and alma mater. Since 1972, 96 individuals have been named outstanding alumni. This year’s winners represent excellence within the disciplines of science, the arts, the military and business. Recipients were Dr. Gene Anderson, Midland, MI; Dr. Dan Dressen, St. Paul; Col. Douglas Hendricks, Brainerd; D. Patrick McCullough, Stillwater; Dr. Dorothy Moore, Statesboro, GA; and Dave Ramsey, Owatonna. DR. GENE ANDERSON, who graduated
in 1963 with a bachelor of science degree in science education, earned a doctorate in inorganic chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin. He spent the past 31 years of his professional career as a scientist and manager at the Dow Chemical Company with primary duties in new product development. His current position is as a global research and development change leader based at Dow’s corporate headquarters in Midland, MI. He is also a self-employed professional speaker, trainer, and magician, with presentations in 20 countries on six continents. DR. DAN DRESSEN graduated magna cum laude in 1973 and began his teaching career in the St. Cloud school system. He completed graduate work at the University of Minnesota, earning both master’s and doctorate degrees in vocal performance. In addition, he studied with the eminent baritone, Gerard Souzay at the Ravel International Academy of Music in St. Jean de Luz, France.
Dr. Gene Anderson
Dr. Dan Dressen
Dressen is currently a professor of music and department chair at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. A tenor, he has performed with the Washington Opera and the Cleveland Lyric Opera; served as soloist with the Plymouth Music Series of Minnesota for 23 years; and has appeared several times with Garrison Keillor on “A Prairie Home Companion.” COL. DOUGLAS HENDRICKS graduated in 1972 with bachelor of arts degrees in speech and drama as well as social studies. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Marines and spent 26 years in the service, rising to the rank of Colonel. The recipient of a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota, he also had advanced training at the Amphibious Warfare School, the Marine Corp Staff and Command College, Fort Leavenworth’s School of Advanced Military Studies, and from the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College. His personal decorations from the military include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Meritorious Service Medals and two Navy Commendation Medals. After retiring from the Marines, he returned to his hometown of Brainerd. D. PATRICK McCULLOUGH , a 1967
graduate with degrees in psychology and sociology, received a juris doctorate from William Mitchell College of
Col. Douglas Hendricks
Law. He is currently the senior partner in the firm McCullough, Smith Wright & Kempe, P.A., which specializes primarily in personal-injury litigation and family law. He is one of 100 attorneys nationwide, and the only one from Minnesota, to have been selected as a member of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers and has been named by his peers as a leading attorney, a designation attributed to five percent of practicing attorneys, in each of his fields of concentration. He has also been recognized professionally in several publications, on lists of outstanding lawyers, and by a variety of organizations. Intricately involved in the St. Paul Winter Carnival for many years, he served as King Boreas in 1999. DR. DOROTHY MOORE graduated from
BSU in 1949 with majors in English, instrumental music and vocal music. She received a master’s degree in 1953 from the University of Northern Colorado and a doctorate from Florida State University. After serving more than 20 years as a teacher and consultant in Minnesota high schools, she accepted a position in the College of Education at Georgia Southern University, where she retired from teaching in 1990. Outside of her professional duties, she has directed church choirs, organized a community band called the
Where We Are ... What We’re Doing (Continued from page 3)
Bernice Piechowski (’65) was hired this fall as media specialist, splitting her time between Beardsley, Clinton and Graceville schools as well as serving as a high school physical education instructor. She and her husband, Blair, live in Browns Valley and operate the Browns Valley School Bus service. They have 10 children, the youngest of whom is a high school junior... Joan Hard (’66) and her husband, Amos (’76), have retired and now live on 11th Crow Wing Lake in Akeley. They had previously lived in Northfield... Roger Hammitt (’61) and his wife, Barbara (’63), live in South St. Paul. They have three children, Koreen, Bryan and Erin... Halga Will (’62) of Deer River won second place in the Flight V Division of the Blueberry Women’s Golf League’s end-of-the-season tournament at Blueberry Hills in late August. She’s a retired teacher who loves playing the piano and a good card game. She volunteers her time to benefit the Deer River Food Shelf, Forest History Center and other community groups.
1970s Al Swedmark (’76) and his wife, Doris Swedmark (’76), of Bemidji celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this summer... Paul Lindseth (’77) was selected as the new director of financial aid at Bemidji State University, having served as acting director
since the July 2000 retirement of John Schullo. He is responsible for designing, developing, budgeting, reporting and providing oversight for the university’s financial aid operation that awards more than $17 million each year in scholarships, loans, grants and part-time employment. Lindseth joined the university’s accounting services staff in 1983 and moved to the financial aid office in 1988... Bill Russ (’70) recently retired from 31 years of teaching physical education and health, as well as coaching in Montgomery schools. He plans to spend more time hunting, fishing and playing golf... Gary Brower (’75) and his wife, Patty, recently celebrated their 25 th wedding anniversary... Trudy Trettel (’75) was selected as the Upsala Teacher of the Year. She’s taught business at Upsala for 26 years. In 1982 she married Mike Trettel and the couple has an 18-yearold son. She’s also an active member of Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Upsala... Mike Liapis (’74) of Bemidji has been named by the USA Curling Coaching Committee as USA Curling Coach of the Year for 2001. He coached two teams into the 2001 U.S. National Championships with one emerging as champion and the other reaching the semi-finals. He began curling at the Bemidji Curling Club in 1973 and entered the coaching field in 1988 when his daughters, Kari and Stacey, began showing promise in the junior ranks. He is currently the behavior modification principal in the Bemidji School District, where he
recently obtained a grant to build an industrial arts building for children who are housed by the Department of Corrections in Bemidji... Bonnie Gurno (’75) is the new superintenBonnie Gurno dent/principal at Pine Point School near Ponsford. She lives in Emmaville... Craig Haberman (’78) and his wife, Sharon (’77), are moving to Moorhead, where he will serve as pastor of Grace United Methodist Church. He is concluding a nine-year stint as a Methodist Mobile Ministry pastor in the Orr area at the Kabetogama United Methodist Church and Crane Lake NonDenominational Chapel and outlying areas. The couple has two grown sons... Mike Evert (“75) has retired from a 26-year coaching career in Hendricks schools where he also taught industrial arts. He’s employed with Sandro’s Wood Shed of rural Hendricks building timber frame homes throughout the Midwest... Forrest Novachek (’75), a Navy captain, retired in July after 27 years of service in the Navy Submarine Service. During retirement ceremonies, he was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal for his most recent duties at the National Forrest Novachek Imagery and Mapping Agency
D. Patrick McCullough
Dr. Dorothy Moore
Ogeechee Area Symphonic Instrumental Society, served as a member of the Statesboro-Georgia Southern Symphony Board, and coordinated an after school strings program for 13 years. In addition to ongoing contributions, in1994 she funded an endowed music scholarship both at BSU and at Georgia Southern University, providing scholarships to music majors with an emphasis in string instruments. DAVE RAMSEY earned a bachelor of science degree in social studies and history in 1978, and began a career with Federated Insurance in Owatonna, MN, following graduation. Starting out as a commercial lines underwriter, he quickly
Dave Ramsey
moved up the ranks at Federated, serving as a marketing representative, an account executive, district marketing manager, and general marketing manager. In 1992, he was named as a vice president and began a progression through a series of administrative promotions until he was named in 2000 to his current position of senior vice president and director of insurance alliances with Federated Insurance. In addition to personally contributing to BSU, he was instrumental in getting authorization for creation of the Federated Insurance Information Services Scholarship at BSU through the Federated Insurance Foundation.
Retirees Close out Careers at BSU The following faculty members retired from Bemidji State University during the 2001 year (name, title, year started at BSU): DR. JOHN ANNEXSTAD*, professor of geology, 1986; KEN BRANDT, director of Hobson Memorial Union, 1981; DAVE GUNTHER, associate professor of physical education, health and sport and head men’s basketball coach, 1995; DR. LEE HAWK, professor of broadcast, 1979; LELAND HAYES*, assistant professor of industrial technology, 1992; DR. JULIE JOCHUM, professor of professional education, 1982; ALICE LARKIN, coordinator of the Center for Career and Technical Education, 1994; MARY LOU MARCHAND, assistant director of campus recreation, 1980; and DR. CHARLES O’CONNOR, professor of sociology, 1971.
The following staff have retired since January 1, 2001: DARLENE BITZER, account clerk senior, 1973; ARDYTHE BROOKS, laundry worker, 1972; WENDELL BUSHONG, general maintenance worker, 1974; MARLYS HANSON, office and administrative specialist intermediate, 1975; DAN MOEN, graphics art camera operator, 1971; KATHLEEN PAULSON, account clerk, 1971; EDNA SANDBERG, general maintenance worker, 1981; MARIE THUNDER, office and administrative specialist intermediate, 1971; and AL WILTSE, building services supervisor, 1974.
*Will retire in December of 2001. as well as numerous mementos and certificates of recognition of his many years of exemplary service. He and his wife, Linda, live in Woodbridge, VA, and have two sons, Matthew, 22, and Michael, 20... Jeff Lindstrom (’74) is the new superintendent of WalkerHackensack-Akeley Schools. He had been employed as an assistant principal at Park Rapids Area High School since 1998 and prior to that was a Jeff Lindstrom faculty member at WHA for 21 years. He was a member of the Akeley School board from 1985 to 1989, during the period when the Walker-Hackensack and Akeley school districts consolidated. He lives near Akeley with his wife, Peggy (’80), and their son, Jarad, who Stephen Collins is an eighth-grader at WHA. Peggy teaches first grade in Park Rapids... Stephen Collins (’73) of New Prague has been named assistant principal at New Prague High School. He’d been dean of students and athletic director for the past three years
at New Prague Middle School. He’s been employed with the same school district for 29 years and has taught physical education/health at the middle school and coached varsity football, hockey and girls’ golf at the high school... Nancy Houg McGuire (’78) and Noel Benson (’73) were married June 9 in Bemidji. Both are teachers in the Cass Lake School District... Vicki (Lykins) Rowe (’78) lives in Austin, TX, and teaches English at Taylor High School in Taylor, TX. She and her husband, Jeff, recently went to New York City, NY, where she competed on the game show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”... Anne Josefson Kibbee (’74) lives in Lakeside, CA, and has been working as a music specialist in the Santee School District for 12 years ...Col. Tom Waldhauser ('76) is the commander of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), an elite force trained in all aspects of warfare, from anti-terrorism and amphibious assault operations to airport seizures and civilian evacuations. Staged from vessels off the coast of Pakistan, the 15th MEU was the Col. Tom Waldhauser largest known contingent of
Horizons Page 5
Student Volunteers
(Continued from page 3)
build homes. She learned about framing, roofing and painting as well as gained an understanding about compassion and service. “It’s a great feeling knowing that you’re building a home that will go to someone who really needs it,” Tuchek said. “You see what other people go through and how some people have it pretty tough.” Erin Crowley couldn’t agree more. The senior elementary education major from Buffalo, MN, has found her volunteer work to be an education. In South Carolina, she spent a week tutoring fifth graders in a school where she keenly felt a cultural gap from her own childhood experiences and the challenges of education in an impoverished area. Volunteerism has helped Crowley develop empathy for the needy, as well as skills that she figures will help her be a better teacher once she starts her career. BSU students who volunteer with Habitat and elsewhere are an asset to the community and the people they serve, according to Walt Scott, past chair of the Bemidji Chapter of Habitat for Humanity and current volunteer coordinator. Scott nominated the BSU chapter for the United Way award. “I see the role of the BSU group as setting a standard of humane concern for people in pain,” Scott said. “They are role models for building caring relationships with hurting people. Their enthusiasm is contagious. It just rubs off on the rest of us whose enthusiasm might wane when working with the poor.”
ground troops in the Afghan region in early November... Marie Hvidsten (’77) was among three Thief River Falls women honored by the local branch of the American Association of University Marie Hvidsten Women. They were named Women of Honor for 2001. The annual award was established to honor area women who have made significant contributions to their community. The AAUW promotes equity for women, education and self-development, and positive societal change... Dorothy Gross (’71) and her husband, Donald, recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary... Joe Vene (’74) retired this summer from a 25-year career as teacher and superintendent of the Northwestern Minnesota Juvenile Center in Bemidji. Vene is also a singer and performs often in the Bemidji area... Les Arndt (’73) has joined Lake City Federal as vice president. He comes to the position with 28 years of commercial banking experience with American Bank-Lake City. He lives in Lake City... Bill Choiniere (’77) and Barb (Tobkin) Choiniere (’75) of Stillwater will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary in December. Bill works as an engineer with Andersen Windows and Barb volunteers many hours with Christian ministries. They have two children, Tim, 19, and Mark, 15... Tim Clark (’75)
Satisfaction Student Satisfaction on the Rise Today’s students are significantly
more satisfied with university services and facilities than were their classmates when last surveyed four years ago, according to results of a standardized survey of Bemidji State University students conducted last spring. In addition, their expectations are higher and they tend to be more satisfied with their university experience than were their counterparts at other four-year institutions. The results come from the NoelLevitz Student Satisfaction Inventory administered by BSU’s Office of Research and Assessment. The survey was completed by 625 students, representing freshmen through seniors across all colleges at BSU. The instrument contains 114 questions, of which 73 ask students to indicate importance and satisfaction with academic advising, campus climate, campus life, campus support services, concern for the individual, instructional effectiveness, recruitment and financial aid, registration effectiveness, safety and security, service excellence, student centeredness and responsiveness to diverse populations. Bemidji State last administered the survey to a similar group of students in 1997 and the results of this year’s inventory were compared to those and to a sample of four-year public universities with similar characteristics nation-wide. The survey results, along with a battery of information collected annually within the university’s indi-
and Lori (Elhardt) Clark (’76) live in Ellensburg, WA, and have two children, Patrick 17, and Josie, 10. Tim is teaching and coaching track at Kittitas High School and Lori coaches a USA swimming team in Ellensburg... Donna (Bleau) Knoth (’74) lives in Holland, MI, and has retired from her career as a divisional specialty manager for Bristol-Meyers Squibb in Princeton, NJ. She enjoys cooking, baking and going to the athletic club... Fran Roux (’70) was hired this fall to teach sixth grade at Holy Trinity School in Winsted. She and her husband, Charlie (’70) , have three sons, two daughters-in-law and a 17-month-old granddaughter. She’s taught for 18 years in a variety of classes from first to eighth grade... Marcia Miller (’71) of Cherry was named Minnesota Forest Educator of the year for 2001 by Minnesota Forest Industries and received $1,000 and a plaque in recognition of the honor. She teaches fourth grade at Merritt Elementary School in Mt. Iron... Pat Fideldy (’74) was honored this fall as an outstanding teacher at the Duluth Diocesan Bishop’s Dinner for Catholic Schools held in Hibbing. She teaches sixth grade at St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Grand Rapids where she’s been a teacher for 26 years.
1980s Dave Nevanen (’81) is the new sports editor of the Duluth News Tribune. He’s been employed with the newspaper since 1990 and previously served as
vidual colleges and departments, are used by administrators in developing long-range plans and are incorporated into BSU’s recruitment and development campaigns. Students surveyed showed the largest increase in satisfaction in the area of campus support services, making it the category in which they were the most satisfied. Four years ago, the new library was in the planning phase and this year’s students recorded their largest gain in satisfaction in relation to the new library and its services. Satisfaction with computer labs and services has also increased in response to projects undertaken during the past four years to improve hardware and software. Students were also more satisfied with the bookstore, tutoring services, academic support and career services than they were when last surveyed. Results also reflect a statistically significant gain in satisfaction with services provided for under-represented groups, although more modest positive changes were registered for such diverse groups as students with disabilities, commuters and older than average students. When compared to national student perceptions, BSU students were more satisfied in general with the university’s responsiveness to diverse populations. Although the survey results were positive across most areas of university life, safety and security issues and a lack of parking were areas students feel need attention. Their expectations for lighting in parking lots, availability of space
sports editor of The Daily Journal, International Falls... Marty Stage (’89) was hired this summer as the new DNR conservation officer in the Babbitt area. He and his wife, Virginia, a speech therapist, Marty Stage live in Embarrass and have two daughters, Elsie, 8, and Loreena, 6... Scott Doss (’85) was hired this year as the new principal of Pillager High School. He comes to his new job after spending six years with the Warren-AlvaradoScott Doss Oslo School District located north of the Grand Forks area. Prior to that he’d taught and coached for eight years in Atlanta, GA. Doss and his wife, Betty, have been married 15 years and have three children, Emily, 8, Matt, 7, and Josh, 13-months... Lance Chambers (’83) is the new principal of Jordan High School. For the past seven years he had served as principal of GibbonFairfax-Winthrop Middle School in Fairfax. He has three daughters, Brittany, 10, Kelsey. 7, and Lexi, 2... Scott Hinners (’89) and his Lance Chambers wife, Christine, of Bemidji
and quickness of response during emergencies still exceed their satisfaction. “The Noel-Levitz survey is important because it gives a broader institutional view of student attitudes and concerns,” said Jon Blessing, BSU director of student life and counseling. “This provides additional information to use in assessing how well student needs are being served and what areas need to be addressed in the future.” The survey results are also broadly cited in the campaign to recruit students, according to Kevin Drexel, the University’s director of enrollment management. He feels the results strongly support BSU’s positioning as a smaller university emphasizing more individualized treatment of students
and opportunities for direct contact with teaching staff. “We received the highest scores in what I believe to be the most important areas, and I work that in whenever I have the opportunity to do any public speaking about the University,” said Drexel noting that while the largest increase in student satisfaction was related to campus support services the next largest increase was satisfaction with student centeredness. The survey is conducted every four years, and once BSU’s Office of Research and Assessment compile the results, the information is turned over to Noel-Levitz, an independent for-profit consulting firm, which then evaluates the results and makes comparisons with other four-year institutions.
During a trip to Hong Kong and Malaysia last summer, president Jon Quistgaard and vice president Carl Baer attended alumni receptions hosted by the BSU Alumni Association. Many thanks to Grace Kung who coordinated the Hong Kong event(photo above) and Jayanthy Maniam who coordinated the event in Kuala Lumpur (photo below). Both receptions were very successful and the Alumni Association intends to host future events in these cities.
announce the July 3 birth of a son... Brenda Kosmerl (’89) and Donald Hazeman were married June 4 at Guardian Angel Cathedral in Las Vegas, NV. They both teach at Red Lake High School and live in Bemidji... Tracey Wensloff (’86) and Bonnie (Dehlin) Wensloff (’91) of Roseau announce the July 28 birth of a son, Daniel John. In the spring of this year Tracey became head coach of the Roseau Rams baseball team after serving as assistant baseball coach for six years... Mike Holub (’81) is teaching high school math in Waseca. He’d previously taught in New Town, ND... Lori Klettenberg (’82) was recently named teacher of the year at Mike Holub Menahga Public Schools. She’s taught kindergarten in Menahga for 13 years... Susan (Price) Sack (’81) lives in Maple Grove with her husband and two teenage sons. She’s a bookkeeper at St. Joseph the Worker Church and recently added IT coordinator to her job title... John Deden (’89) and Kristin Brommenschenkel (’95) were married May 26 at the Monte Carlo Wedding Chapel, Las Vegas, NV. John teaches at Bemidji High School and Kristin teaches at Cass
Lake-Bena Elementary... Arden Solheim (’87) is the new administrator at Valley Home in Thief River Falls. For the past four years she’d worked as an administrator at Karlstad Healthcare Center in Karlstad and prior to that was employed as an administrator in Minneapolis... David Lane (’85), Arden Solheim an environmental coordinator for the Water Reclamation Plant in Rochester, was elected as president of the Central States Environment Association. He lives in Rochester with his wife, Nancy, and two sons, Eric and Connor. Prior work experience includes positions with David Lane the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the St. Cloud Wastewater Treatment Plant... Mike Bohnenstingl (’84) is course superintendent of the Preserve Golf Course at Grand View Lodge, Pequot Lakes, assisted by his brother, Chad. He is also overseeing work being done on the new nine at Grand View’s Pines course... James Johnson (’89) has joined the Lincoln Journal Star newspaper as its news editor. He previously worked (Continued on page 6)
Horizons Page 6
Communiques from the alumni director
Communiques
Marla Huss Patrias
Sixth Annual BSU Winter Rendezvous March 10-11, 2002
The fifth annual BSU Winter Rendezvous will take place on March 10-11, 2002, in Laughlin, NV. Changes to this year’s event include a move to the Hilton Flamingo Laughlin Hotel. The opening reception on Sunday night will be held aboard the riverboat Celebration. The annual golf tournament will again be held at the Desert Lakes Golf Course beginning at 12:30 a.m. Arizona time. This year a barbecue at the golf course will precede the tournament. It will begin at 11 a.m. Arizona time. The annual banquet will be held Monday evening at the hotel. We have also negotiated a group rate at the hotel for Saturday night for those folks who want to spend the whole weekend in Laughlin. Alumni and current, or former, Bemidji residents are invited to participate. Look for registration information in the mail after the first of the year, or for further information, contact the BSU Alumni Office at 1-877-BSU-ALUM (toll-free) or 218-7553989 (local).
Aloha Beavers! BSU Homecoming 2001 Homecoming Hawaiian Style brought the warmth of the Islands to Bemidji, if only in our minds and hearts. In spite of weather forecasts calling for snow and cold, Homecoming 2001 turned out to be perfect fall weather for football and related festivities. With blue skies and relatively mild temperatures several hundred alumni celebrated the annual fall return to campus with a pre-game tailgate party, an exciting football game, a Fifth Quarter Reception featuring traditional island fare complete with a roasted pig, and a wonderful Alumni Honors Banquet Saturday evening featuring our 2001 outstanding alumni. With each year Homecoming continues to grow and become more successful. Next year’s dates are October 4-6, 2002. Mark your calendars now and plan to attend.
New Alumni Board
The Alumni Association held elections last spring for new board members. In a year of great transition, we filled five seats of retiring board members, re-elected a member for a second term and appointed three new members. The current BSU alumni board of directors is pictured below.
Members of the Class of 1961 enjoy traditional island fare and the camaraderie of fellow classmates as they continue the celebration of their 40-Year Reunion during Homecoming 2001.
40 Year-Reunion of the Class of 1961 The class of 1961 held their 40-year reunion during Homecoming 2001. The celebration included a reception at the David Park House followed by a banquet in the Hobson Memorial Union. A BSU jazz quintet provided a wonderful performance during the banquet, moving some to get up and dance. Classmates got together again the next day for the pre-game tailgate party, the football game and the Fifth Quarter Reception. Reports indicate that all had a good time!
2001-2003 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Front Row: Nathan Voss, Student Representative; Tresa King ’97, Lakeville, MN - Secretary Treasurer; Don Gross ’81, Council Bluffs, IA - President; Marion Christianson ’50, Bemidji, MN - Vice President; Marla Huss Patrias - Director of Alumni Relations. Back Row: Roger Aitken ’73, Walker, MN; Debra Kellerman ’72 & ’75, Oak Island, MN; Ranae Tenold ’95, Minnetonka, MN; Dave Ramsey ’78, Owatonna, MN; Caroline Andrican ’53 & ’62, Hibbing, MN; Bruce Falk ’71, Salol, MN; Joann Gardner ’93, Bemidji, MN; Delphine Jacobsen ’63, Bemidji, MN; Adele Munsterman ’74, Brooklyn Park, MN; Jim Wheeler ’72, Bemidji, MN; and Austin Wallestad ’70, Madera, CA.
Where We Are ... What We’re Doing (Continued from page 5)
as North Suncoast news editor at the St. Petersburg Times in Florida. He’s also worked in the newsrooms of the NewsPress in Fort Myers, FL, the SpokesmanReview in Spokane, WA, and at the Grand Forks Herald in North Dakota. He’s married to Barbara Johnson (’91)... Gary Hazelton (’82), a Bemidji attorney, was elected to the board of governors of the Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association at the organization’s convention. He’s a partner in the firm of Hazelton and Rogers P.C., specializing in the areas of personal injury and worker’s compensation. In addition of his involvement with the MTLA, he is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and a member of the board of directors and past chair of Anishinabe Legal Services. He’s married to Diane (Christopherson) Hazelton (’80), has four children and is active in the community, having coached youth hockey for 12 years and served as a high school mock trial coach for seven years... Lisa Milne (’89) recently became Bemidji’s first fully qualified female volunteer firefighter, having completed a year as a probationary trainee. She also volunteers with the Bagley Ambulance Service as an EMT and is employed as an administrative assistant at Greater Northwest EMS, a business that provides training, resource materials and education in relation to
emergency medical services. Milne had served as a volunteer with the Solway Volunteer Fire Department for a year. She’s married and has two daughters, Larissa, 9, and Erin, 7... Paul Parthun (’87) plays bagpipes with the First City Pipe Band of Bemidji and has been playing pipes for about 15 months... Vicki Wangberg (’86) of Bemidji is involved with the Special Olympics program... Jeffrey Wade (’87) and his wife, Christine, of Lake George announce the September 25 birth of a daughter... Tim Johnson (’83) has been hired as manager of Fleet Supply in Roseau. When the store first opened in 1985, Johnson was hired as manager, a position he held for eight years. He then switched to selling insurance and later worked as a group leader at Polaris before returning to Fleet. He and his wife, Sandy, have three children ranging in age from eight to 15 Tim Johnson and have lived in Roseau since 1984... Bob Bangtson (’86) accepted the position this fall as superintendent of schools in Goodhue. He’d been the elementary principal at Goodhue for the past nine years and prior to that had taught upper elementary for 15 years in Wadena and three years in Nebraska. He has three grown children... Philip Carlson (’87) was hired this fall to teach algebra and math I and II at Paynesville Area High School.
He lives with his wife, Amy, and their three sons in Sauk Rapids and comes to his new position with 14 years of teaching experiBack row, L-R: Bob Fox, Livingston, TX; Dale Hartje, Anoka, MN; Dale Makey, Frazee, MN; Terry Maciej, Pengilly, MN; Ron McKechney, East St. Paul, MB; Roger Hammitt, South St. Paul, MN; Bob Nelson, Anoka, MN. Middle row, L-R: Rochelle Hartje, Anoka, MN; George ence... David Batty (’81) plays the bagWelte, Bemidji, MN; Carol ( Savolainen) Maciej, Pengilly, MN; Mark Paulson, Bemidji, MN; Dick Haugo, Bemidji, MN; Tom Wrolstad, pipes and recently performed for children at Bemidji, MN; Front row, L-R: Kathryn (Clementson) Mertz, Austin, MN; Vernamaree (Peik) Nelson, Richfield, MN; Carol (Hurst) Anfinson, BSU... Darrell Carter (’82), a Bemidji attorney, recently announced his Republican Austin, MN; Susan (McCollister) Zielin, Eau Claire, WI; Chuck Zielin, Eau Claire, WI; Owen Hall, Bemidji, MN bid for Minnesota Senate in 2002. He and his wife, Mona (’82), have six children, the oldest spring in the restored 1912 Great Northern Depot in improving women’s adherence to the American of which is 12... Lenee Ross (’83) of Cass Lake was downtown Bemidji... Pam Samson (’92) has joined Cancer Society’s recommendations for annual recently appointed as president of the Leech Lake MeritCare, Fargo, as a psychologist. She diagnoses mammography screening. She will continue her Tribal College following a two-year national search. and treats general mental health concerns and research in cancer prevention He’s an enrolled member of the Leech Lake Band of provides client assessment and legal testimony. and control as a fellow in the Ojibwe and comes to the position with experience She’d worked as a staff psychologist at Lakeland National Cancer Institute’s working at BSU, the University of MinnesotaMental Health, Moorhead, where she gained Cancer Prevention Fellowship Duluth and the University of Wisconsin-Superior... forensics and anger management experience... Program and will be pursuing a Kristil McDonald (’88) became principal this fall Marty Torgerson (’95) is employed with the master’s in public health at of grades 5-8 in the Pine River-Backus School Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Harvard University... Marge District. She and her husband, John, who is a this summer became manager of Split Rock Creek Espe (’93) has retired from Marty Torgerson principal at Pequot Lakes, have three children. She’s State Park. He’d spent the last year as assistant teaching in the Greenbushtaught all areas of special education along with manager at Cascade River State Park near Grand Middle River School District. She began her secondary language, secondary reading, elementary Marais. He’s earned POST certification in law teaching career in 1962 and since 1975 has taught at and music. She’s been a special education enforcement and has also worked at Hutchinson Middle River and served as a career coordinator... coordinator and taught at the Regional Detention Technology... Lila Finney (’95) received her Krisann Berglund (’94) was chosen by her Center at Brainerd. doctorate in psychology from Miami University in colleagues as Warroad’s Teacher of the Year. She May. Her dissertation research, “Health Beliefs, began her teaching career as a chemistry and physics 1990s Message Framing and Mammography Screening teacher at the Warroad High school in 1994... Dana Wanda Hoyum (’96) is executive director of the Compliance: Measurement Development and Flint (’99) has joined the staff of District 547 Beltrami County History Center which opened this Theory Testing,” focused on understanding and
Teacher of Year Hall of Fame Nominations Nominations will be accepted until December 14 for individuals to be inducted into the Teacher of the Year Hall of Fame sponsored biannually by the Professional Education Department. The Hall of FameAward is presented to teacher education graduates of the University who have been selected as a teacher of the year or an administrator of the year at a public or private school district, college or university. The recipients will be recognized during an April 19 ceremony. Teachers, administrators, or school board members of a district may submit nominations, which must include two letters of support - one from a fellow teacher and one from an administrator or school board member (past or present). In addition, a copy of the news release or the newspaper article that announced the candidate’s selection as teacher or administrator of the year should be submitted. All finalists will be asked to provide a resume. Recipients will also be asked to submit an 8-inch by 10-inch color photograph for framing and display in the Education-Art Building. Nominees not selected as part of the fifth group of inductees into the Hall of Fame will be carried over and included in the next selection process. Past recipients of the Professional Education Department Hall of Fame Award include: Marge Engebretson, Rex Kingsbury, Bob Michalicek, Dennis Peterson, Elaine Ruud, Roger Schmidt, Mike Wichmann, Yvonne Wilson, Michael Hanlon, Cheryl Hoversten, Robert Hurst, James Jenner, John McClellan, Marcy Mickelson, Mary Snorek, Lloyd Styrwoll, David Thompson, Patricia Hughes, Delphine Jacobsen, Kathy Pearson, Laura Jo Pieper, Jim Wheeler, Neil Witikko, Virgil Boehland, Mark Fodness, Debra Kellerman, Marcia Liapis, Adele Munsterman, Vicki Olsen-Rowe and Elwyn Ruud. Nominations may be forwarded to the Professional Education Department, Bemidji State University, Box 35, Education-Art Building, 1500 Birchmont Drive NE, Bemidji, MN 56601-2699.
teaching 7-12 grade choir and music appreciation. She last taught at Discovery Middle School in Alexandria and Thief River Falls... Mary Vatnsdal (’93) is teaching eighth- and ninth-grade art in Roseau. She and her husband, Cory (’92) , lived in Memphis, TN, for four years where Mary worked in architectural drafting and home design. They then returned to the Burnsville area and Mary later returned to school, earning a master’s of education degree from the Dana Flint University of Minnesota. The couple has three children, Emma, 5, Stella, 3, and Gus, two-months... Ryan Anderson (’96) recently purchased a Wadena dental practice and began seeing Mary Vatnsdal patients there in September. Anderson had previously been an associate in a group practice in Bemidji. He and his wife, Brandi, who is an elementary teacher, are originally from Bagley... Kate Funk (’96) and her sister Amy Funk (’99) worked together in Faribault area state parks this summer for the regional state park naturalist program and both are pursuing master’s degrees at BSU; Kate in environmental ecology and Amy in
BSU Young Alumni Evergreen Club Launches Website The Evergreen Club for young alumni living in the Twin Cities metro area has launched a website to serve members. Alumni who have graduated from BSU during the past 10 years living in the Twin Cities region are members of the Evergreen Club, which was formed to host social activities, provide opportunities for interaction with recent alumni, and to explore career options. The website is available by selecting the alumni site off the BSU homepage (www.bemidjistate.edu) and clicking on the clubs and chapters link. The Evergreen Club website is a great place to catch up on alumni news and events, as well as an opportunity to learn more about the Evergreen Club, ask questions, provide feedback, and explore ways to get involved.
Sherri Moe Named to Development Position Sherri Moe has been named the director of the BSU Foundation and annual giving within the Advancement Division at Bemidji State. Moe, who began her duties November 9, was selected to fill a vacancy that occurred when Tricia Bunten accepted a fund raising position at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Moe has been the executive director of the United Way of the Bemidji Area since June of 2000. She is familiar with the University, having served as the interim assistant director of alumni Sherri Moe relations prior to joining the United Way. “Sherri is completely familiar with the University,” said Carl Baer, vice president for university advancement. “She knows our donor software and other fundraising specific technology, and has been in contact with most members of our community through her work with United Way. We are fortunate to have her experience and abilities in this important position.” Prior to working at Bemidji State, Moe was the special events and development coordinator for Chrysalis, a center for women’s health care, as well as a development officer for Planned Parenthood of Minnesota and South Dakota She received a bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf College and has completed advanced course work in philanthropy and development at St. Mary’s University and the University of St. Thomas. A member of the Bemidji Rotary Club as well as the Minnesota Council of Non-Profits, she is certified in donor prospect research and in developing annual fund raising strategies. Her office will be located on the second floor of the David Park House adjacent to the BSU campus with her phone connection 218-755-4145 and email smoe@bemidjistate.edu.
hydrogeology. The sisters have both previously worked as intern naturalists at River Bend Nature Center... Mark Motherway (’99) was hired this fall as an industrial technology teacher at Deer Mark Motherway River High School, filling a position previously held for many years by his father, Marty. He will also serve as assistant wrestling coach. He’d previously taught at Hutchinson and Remer schools... Jon Cole (’91) is the Jon Cole new general manager of Marvin Retail in Warroad. Cole is a Warroad native, and beginning in 1985 he spent his high school and college summers in the lumberyard. In 1992 he accepted a fulltime position with Marvin Retail and for the past four years has been a manager there. He and his wife, Angie (’94), a sixth grade teacher in the Warroad Middle School, have two children, Jade, 4, and Cooper, three-months ...Scott Gengler (’94) is the new high school principal at Watertown-Mayer. He was previously associate administrator at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis and also taught for three years at Pequot Lakes. His wife,
Lori (’94) , is employed with the information team of Kraft Foods in Eden Prairie... Christine Hinners (’92) and her husband, Scott (’89) , of Bemidji announce the July 3 birth of a son... Tari Hannigan (’94) and Daron Yates were married in Blackduck on December 29. The couple is employed at Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America in Minneapolis and resides in Andover... Travis Kaste (’95) and his wife, Lisa, have four children and live in Apple Valley. Travis works as a sales training supervisor at the 3M Company... Donald Hazeman (’91) and Brenda Kosmerl (’89) were married June 4 at Guardian Angel Cathedral in Las Vegas, NV. They both teach at Red Lake High School and live in Bemidji... Jennifer Meyer (’98) and her husband, Jason, of Bemidji announce the June 24 birth of a son... Dean Piekarski (’94) and his wife, Dawn, of Littlefork announce the June 28 birth of a daughter... Tammy (Anderson) Englund (’96) of Columbia Heights married Chris Englund in January. She works for Behavioral Healthcare Providers as an inpatient mental health case manager... Darren Yerama (’93) and Jessie Yerama (’93) of Burnsville announce the July 4 birth of a son, Noah. Darren teaches elementary physical education in St. Paul and Jessie works as a video editor... Tricia Leintz (’97) and Michael Jessen were married in Bagley on May 26... Rob
Horizons Page 7 Nominations Sought for Athletic Hall of Fame The Alumni Association and the Athletic Department are seeking nominations for the 2002 Athletic Hall of Fame. Up to eight former athletes and BSU coaches are inducted every other year into this prestigious group. Nominations for the Athletic Hall of Fame must be in writing and will be accepted until January 1, 2002. Nominees must have earned an athletic letter at BSU, must have attended BSU for at least two years, and not have graduated from another university. They also must have attended BSU at least 20 years ago. Previous coaches and / or administrators who made significant contributions to the development and success of BSU athletics may also be considered. Selection will be based on merit in four categories: athletic accomplishments while at BSU; post-collegiate professional accomplishments; service and contributions to community, state and nation; and service to BSU. Further information is available by contacting the BSU Alumni Association at 1-877-BSU-ALUM (1-877-278-2586, toll free) or 218-755-3989; or by calling Rick Goeb, BSU Athletic Director at 218-755-4022.
Now Accepting Nominations for 2002 Outstanding Alumni Awards Nominations are now being accepted for candidates to be considered for the Bemidji State University Outstanding Alumni Award. The award is presented annually during Homecoming and is the highest honor presented by the Bemidji State University Alumni Association. The recipients of the award bring much recognition to their alma mater through distinguished and professional achievements. They are honored for exceptional service and contributions to Bemidji State University and to their community, state and nation. All nominees must have graduated no less that 10 years ago from Bemidji State University. Nominations will be accepted until February 1, 2002, and can be made by Robert S. Lemire (’50), Aitkin, MN anyone except an immeGladys Gustafson (’62), Jackson, TN diate family member. Mildred Hedger (’29), Simi Valley, CA Current faculty, staff Mary L. Frankfurth (’52), Bemidji, MN and members of the board Ethel M. Benson (’55), Blackduck, MN of directors of the Bemidji Edwin Lundmark (’52), Bemidji, MN State University Alumni Helen (Coffin) Dietrich (’30), Blackduck, MN Association are not eliCleveland Stillwell (’63), Laporte, MN gible for consideration. Judith Rust (’85), Circle Pines, MN A nomination form can Charles Bednar (’88), Cass Lake, MN be obtained by calling the Florence Caughey (’44), Bemidji, MN Alumni Office at 1-877Bernice Steenerson (’68), Clearbrook, MN 278-2586 (toll free) or Harold Hagg, Emeritus, Bemidji, MN 218-755-3989 (local), or Margaret Thorbeck, Emerita, Bemidji, MN by going to our website at John “Jack” Vinje (’50), Bemidji, MN info.bemidjistate.edu/ Gordon Hannah (’61), Red Wing, MN Alumni/Awards. Bertha Christianson (’39), Emerita, Bemidji, MN
In Memoriam
Burgess (’90) and Lorena Hurtado were married June 23 at Real Del Mar, Mexico. He is an instructor and she is a counselor at South El Monte High School, CA... Tyler Kondos (’99) and his wife Jennifer Kondos (’00) , announce the July 27 birth of a daughter... Bonnie Dehlin Wensloff (’91) and Tracey Wensloff (’86) of Roseau announce the July 28 birth of a son, Daniel John. In the spring of this year Tracey became head coach of the Roseau Rams baseball team after serving as assistant baseball coach for six years... Heather (Flannery) Giese (’95) of Appleton married Jason Giese on July 15. She is working for Lac qui Parle County Family Services in Madison as a social worker and Jason is employed with the Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council and is coadministrator of the Appleton Ambulance Service... Craig Gaasvig (’91) and his wife, Karen, of Bemidji announce the Aug. 22 birth of a son... Brad Swearingen (’91) received two individual awards at the Minnesota Jaycees’ Spring All-state Convention in Alexandria, one for ambassadorship and the other a second-place district director award... Lisa Carlson (’93) and Dennis Carlson (’92) of Lake George announce the June 13 birth of a son... Michele Strand (’98) is a disability teacher in the Cass Lake High School, moving into the position after having worked for
several years as a social worker. Prior to that she’d taught special education at Blackduck for two years... Shane Zutz (’98), a teacher at Franklin Middle School, was selected to fill the position of assistant principal at Franklin Middle School in Thief River Falls. He and his wife, Mya, and two sons, Tayong and Gunner, live in Thief River Falls... Lana Schultz (’91) of Bemidji began a new job as school social worker for Perham-Dent Public Schools this fall and is working on a master’s in social work... Chad Schmidt (’92) and Leanne (Palmer) Schmidt (’90) live in South St. Paul and have two children, Ian and Patrick. Chad teaches high school math in South St. Paul Public Schools and previously taught for eight years in Edina Public Schools... Mark Okey (’97) and his wife, Janet, live in St. Louis Park... Andrew Bradshaw (’98) works as a civil engineer and lives in Fargo, ND... Ross Engelstad (’98) is teaching second grade in Paynesville this year, having spent the previous two years teaching in Willmar. He lives in Paynesville with his wife, Kirsten... Nicole Gaertner (’97) joined the staff this year at the Cannon Falls Elementary School as a sixth-grade LD teacher... Lisa Murphy (’98) was hired this fall to teach instrumental music in Tower-Soudan (Continued on page 8)
Horizons Page 8
The Beaver Bunch Amateur Radio Club Deadline for Alumni Relative Scholarships
WRESTING REUNION (left to right, front row): Ken Jordan, Kevin Kish, Dick Green, Pete Saxe, Mike Niemczyk, Jim Young, Irv Kallstrom, Steve Techam. Middle row: Jim Gilmore, Tom Ritchie, Bob Dettmer, Wayne Hamilton, Larry Grow, Chet Anderson, Noel Bailey, Gerry Gingles, Howie Schultz. Back row: Bob Whelan, Herb Day, Bob Eckert, Roger Rowbotham, John Grunzke, Corky Hanson, Roger DeMarais, Wayne Gysland, Al Toriseva. Not pictured: Charles Knott.
BSU Wrestling Reunion As part of homecoming festivities last fall, members of the Bemidji State wrestling teams from 1953 to 1982 held a reunion. Coach Chet Anderson emceed the event for his teams that posted a 201-136-9 record over the 30 years. Those squads won three conference championships, produced 27 All-American placewinners, and had four national champions. Nine of the reunionites, including Anderson, are members of the BSU Athletic Hall of Fame.
The Legacy Society Have You Remembered Bemidji State University in Your Will? It’s as easy as attaching a codicil to your existing will, using the following language:
“I give and bequeath to Bemidji State University Foundation, Bemidji, Minnesota,_____ percent of my residuary estate (or the sum of $ _____, or specific property, describing same).” Please let the University know about your decision so that we might thank you and offer you the opportunity to be recognized as a member of The Legacy Society. For more information, contact Sue Kringen, Director of Development 218-755-3991 (local); (888) 234-5718 smkringen@bemidjistate.edu (218) 755-4146 (fax)
As one of the benefits of active membership, BSU alumni are eligible to sponsor a relative for the Alumni Relative Scholarship. This $600 scholarship is awarded annually to approximately 27 incoming freshman and 27 returning or transfer students to BSU. Active members are those who have contributed $30 or more to the BSU Foundation since July 1 of the preceding fiscal year (July 1, 2000). To become an eligible member for this application period, contributions will be accepted through the deadline date of December 31, 2001.
An amateur radio club has been established for any and all hams who have an association with Bemidji State University. The name of the club is The Beaver Bunch. Club members are required to have a connection with BSU, either as students, alumni, emeriti or active faculty and staff. Domestic or foreign members are all welcome. Alumnus Gurnee Bridgman, ’98, has been instrumental in getting the club started. The club holds the amateur radio call of WØBSU. The Beaver Bunch is in the process of getting established with Bridgman and several other Bemidji area residents as initial members. No special frequencies or net time schedules have been set as of yet. The purpose of the club is to provide an opportunity for ham radio operators with a relationship to BSU to stay updated on what’s happening at the University. For more information, or to become a member of the Beaver Bunch, contact Gurnee Bridgman via ham radio at W9NT or by email at Gurnee@bemidjistate.edu.
Eligible relatives of the alum include: child, grandchild, spouse, niece, nephew, parent, sister, brother, aunt or uncle. Applications for the 2002-2003 academic year are now available. The new deadline for application is December 31, 2001. Applications are no longer being mailed to all active alums. Instead, they are now available through the following sources: ♦ BSU Alumni Association website at http:// www.bemidjistate.edu/ alumni.html; ♦ By calling the Alumni office at 218-755-3989 or 1-877-BSUALUM toll free; and ♦ By stopping by the Alumni Office at the David Park House.
Where We Are ... What We’re Doing (Continued from page 7)
schools. She’d been teaching in the Title I program at the Babbitt-Embarrass School. She is an accomplished pianist and clarinetist with a strong background in woodwinds... Amy Tobey (’90) and her husband, Gary, of Bemidji announce the September 27 birth of a daughter... Daniel Hecht (’94) and his wife, Jennifer, of Bagley announce the September 17 birth of a daughter, Sarah Kathryn... Kari Nordli (’95) was hired this year as an early education/special education Kari Nordli teacher in the Eden ValleyWatkins School District... Vondria Winter (’97) is teaching ninth-grade English, American Literature, English/ world literature, advanced placement English and applied communications at Win-E-Mac schools. She’d Vondria Winter previously worked in Mahnomen schools as a special education paraprofessional and in the elementary library and during the past year had worked as a substitute teacher in Win-E-Mac and other area schools. She
lives in Mahnomen with her husband, Greg, who works for the Winter Truck Line... John Kallis (’96) of New York Mills is teaching ninth- through 10thgrade math in Verndale this year... Jill Daniels (’94) was hired this fall to teach social studies at the Detroit Lakes Middle School . She’d taught social studies in the Brainerd School District during the previous school year... Shane Steinmetz (’91) was recently named vice president of Cook Sign Company in Fargo and co-trustee of the Employee Stock Ownership Trust. He lives in Fargo with his wife, Jill, and their son... Jeff Taylor (’90) is teaching industrial arts/shop at Big Fork schools. He’d previously taught for one year in Forest Lake and then for six years in Two Harbors. He and his wife, Staci, have one daughter, Nicole. Jeff Taylor
2000s Ann Schnortz (’00), a member of the Range Artists Association, was the featured artist at Security State Bank of Hibbing where her artwork was on display in May... Danny Halland (’00) is teaching mathematics for fifth through 11th grades in the Oklee School District this year... Trisha Berg (’00) is teaching junior high math at Willmar Public Schools. She’d previously worked as substitute
teacher for the Brainerd and Crosby-Ironton school districts... Leah Polzine (’00) is teaching in a third and fourth grade split classroom in the Lanesboro Public Schools. She’d most recently been teaching third grade in the Alexandria Public School System... Ryan Bartosiewski (’01) is teaching secondary health and physical education this year at the Montgomery-Lonsdale schools... Susan Diffley (’01) teaches high school English and coaches cheerleading in Montgomery-Lonsdale Susan Diffley schools... Katie Grothen (’01) teaches ninth-grade American history at BOLD, (Olivia campus). She’s engaged to Nate Bahl and they are planning a July 6, 2002 wedding... Dawn Paurus-Foss (’00) is a first-year high school science teacher at Wadena-Deer Creek schools where she had also done her student teaching, mostly in seventh- and eighth-grade science... Megan Kaiser (’01) is teaching second grade in the Ely school district... Gregg Kapsner (’01) is in his first year of teaching at Paynesville Area High School. He teaches drafting and woodworking classes in the high school and industrial arts for seventh graders at the middle school. He’s single and lives in St. Cloud... Chad Larson (’01) is
Monte Draper (’80), a staff photographer for The Pioneer newspaper in Bemidji, recently had this photograph selected by the MSNBC Web site as the top photo of the week taken by newspaper and freelance photographers nationwide. Draper photographed the bald eagle snagging a fish from the water on the north shore of Lake Bemidji.
teaching high school mathematics at the Moose Lake High School... Andrea Horken (’01) began teaching third grade this year at McGregor schools. Last year she participated in an internship program at the Cass Lake-Bena Elementary School where she taught third grade... Tanner Hovda (’01) is teaching fourth grade in Wheaton... Jill Thompson (’01) is teaching seventh-grade life science and 10thgrade biology, environmental science, human anatomy/physiology at Wheaton schools... Cindy Grothmann (’00) is teaching special education at Wadena-Deer Creek Elementary this year. She and her husband, Wayne, have three children... Tonja Johnson (’00) is teaching eighth-grade English at Twin Bluff Middle School in Red Wing... Jens Rhoades (’00) is teaching English in CambridgeIsanti District 911 at the Oak Land Area Learning Center’s Princeton site. He’d previously taught for one year at Thomas Eaton Middle School in Hampton, VA... Angie Smedsmo (’00) is teaching kindergarten part time at the Wannaska Elementary School in Roseau. She and her husband, Darrin, live
in Roseau... Shaun Karson (’00) is teaching middle school social studies at the Crossroads Learning Center in Sandstone. This is his first teaching position and he now resides in Finlayson... Vicky Nipp (’00) was hired this year as the EBD teacher at the elementary school in Cass Lake. She’d worked last year as a long-term substitute at the Alternative Learning Center in Cass Lake. She has a four-year-old son, Dylan... Jaime Jo Femrite (’00) is teaching half-time kindergarten at Annandale’s Bendix Elementary this year. She lives in St. Cloud and has experience teaching second grade and kindergarten in the Thief River Falls School Jamie Femrite District... Rachel Sorensen (’00) began teaching fifth and sixth grades this year at St. Joseph’s Catholic School, Red Lake Falls. She’d previously done long-term substitute teaching at Challenger, Thief River Falls, for about five months.