Saint Benedict's Magazine Summer 2015

SUMMER 2015 MAGAZINE

DEGREES of influence INSIDE

• Fulbright success stories p. 10 • Alums say thanks to great professors p. 18 • Tools for career prep p. 22

475 Bennies received their degrees at our 100th commencement ceremony

IN THIS ISSUE Dear Professor Send

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18 College of Saint Benedict Magazine is published three times a year by the office of Institutional Advancement.

EDITOR Tammy Moore CONTRIBUTORS George Dornbach (SJU ’18) Laura Fox ’15 Sara Mohs Tommy O’Laughlin (SJU ’13) Leah Rado Greg Skoog (SJU ’89) Emily Stamp Courtney Sullivan COVER PHOTO Paige Espelien ’15 and Racheal Yates ’15 share a joyful moment as new alumnae.

CONTACT College of Saint Benedict Magazine Institutional Advancement 37 South College Avenue St. Joseph, MN 56374-2099 For address changes, please call 1-800-648-3468, ext. 1 or email csbalumnae@csbsju.edu Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

22 FEATURES 10 18 22

Bright Spots Dear Professor Launching Careers

DEPARTMENTS 1 2 4 26 27 34 37

Message from the President Worth 1,000 Words News I’m a Bennie Class Notes Bennie Connection Generosity

The mission of the College of Saint Benedict is to provide for women the very best residential liberal arts education in the Catholic university tradition.

The college fosters integrated learning, exceptional leadership for change and wisdom for a lifetime.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

A Strong

Women’s College Much of this last academic year has focused on the development of Strategic Directions 2020 (SD2020) — our strategic plan to keep the College of Saint Benedict strong for the next five years.

In the development process, we engaged and sought feedback from more than 1,000 constituents. Not surprisingly, the overwhelming call we heard was, in the face of many challenges in higher education, we need to preserve our mission and the core of who we are.

Maintaining our core values may not seem innovative but, indeed, it is. Everyone in higher education seems to be trying to reinvent themselves. Over the next five years we will endeavor to secure and further a mission that we know has worked for 100 years and that maintains relevance and value in the marketplace today.

SD2020 addresses two key imperatives within the context of our residential liberal arts mission: defining our distinction in higher education and ensuring that our curricular and co-curricular experience and practice adapts to the needs, expectations and aspirations of a 21st century student body.

I believe we are uniquely poised to accomplish our goals.

In this issue you’ll find evidence of our academic excellence as you read about the noteworthy success of the competitive fellowship program at CSB/SJU and about the Bennies who are currently teaching English around the world as Fulbright Scholars.

Our distinctive partnership with SJU enables us to attract talented young women to a strong women’s college without sacrificing a co-educational academic experience. That balance helps us attract thoughtful students with great potential. Our brilliant faculty and rigorous academic programs help us educate those students. Our Benedictine values and Catholic intellectual tradition help us develop them into women of remarkable confidence, courage and character.

In this issue you’ll find evidence of our academic excellence as you read about the noteworthy success of the competitive fellowship program at CSB/SJU and about the Bennies who are currently teaching English around the world as Fulbright Scholars.

Saint John’s University President Michael Hemesath (SJU ’81) was on hand recently as we launched another 475 proud, ambitious, educated Bennies into the world.

Last year, eight CSB/SJU students were awarded Fulbright grants. With four of those winners, Saint Ben’s was ranked #29 in the nation as a Fulbright-producing institution. (Lizzy Baden ’12 earned her Fulbright grant as an “at large” applicant, or that ranking might have been even higher!) This spring another five CSB/SJU students followed in their footsteps and will soon be making their own marks on the world.

Both Saint Ben’s and the women we educate are strong. Our vision statement for SD2020 commits us to developing women who think critically, lead courageously and advocate passionately.

With hard work and thoughtful strategy, we can attain our vision and be even stronger in 2020.

Mary Dana Hinton College of Saint Benedict President

WORTH 1,000 WORDS WORTH 1,000 WORDS

THE FINAL STRETCH Caitlin Boran ’15 and Emily Gebhart ’15 and the rest of the CSB/SJU classes of 2015 got a chance to blow off a little celebratory steam at the Senior Farewell.

Congratulations on reaching that graduation milestone, Caitlin, Emily and all new grads — and welcome to the Alumnae Association!

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NEWS NEWS

CSB Graduates 100th Class

On Saturday, May 9, 475 women graduated from the College of Saint Benedict, comprising the 100th graduating class.

Valarie Kaur, a civil rights lawyer, documentary filmmaker and interfaith leader, gave the commencement address, and the President’s Medal was presented to CSB/SJU Provost Rita Knuesel. Bridget Cummings, a senior political science major from Chaska, Minn., was the student commencement speaker selected by this year’s senior class.

Where We’re Headed

37% applying to continue our education

22% considering full-time volunteer work

84% moving directly into the work force Students completing the survey could select more than one option.

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CSB Alumna Named Athletic Director Glennis Werner, class of 1993, has been named the new CSB athletic director, and will begin this position July 1. Glen will replace Carol Howe-Veenstra, who is retiring after 30 years in the Blazer athletic department.

For the past two years, Glen has been the assistant general manager at the VillaSport Athletic Club and Spa in Colorado Springs, Colo. In her position at the 12,000-member facility, she oversaw the management team, handled building repairs and developed strategic plans while overseeing a $10 million annual budget. Before that, she worked at

the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center. As the director, Glen oversaw facility operations and attended six Olympic and Paralympic games to help execute training and competition plans. She also helped raise $16 million for facility construction and renovation.

“I hope to find new and interesting ways to bring the campus community together and for Blazer student athletes to connect into larger circles of campus and community life,” explains Glen. “I cannot wait to see what lies ahead for the student athletes at Saint Ben’s.”

The entire CSB community is happy to welcome Glen home!

CSB Hires New Vice President of Institutional Advancement Kathy comes to CSB from Lutheran Social Services (LSS) of Minnesota, having served as the chief development officer and foundation president. Prior to joining LSS, Kathy served as a senior associate with Bentz Whaley Flessner, a national fundraising consulting firm. For 17 years, Kathy served as vice president for seminary relations for Luther Seminary and executive director of the Luther Seminary Foundation in St. Paul.

She led three successful comprehensive campaigns that collectively raised over $200 million to grow the seminary’s endowment, support innovative educational programming and build a strong, renewable base of annual support.

Kathy Hansen was hired as the vice president of Institutional Advancement (IA) at CSB and began the position on June 1.

She is responsible for creating long-term, sustainable fundraising growth for the college and broadening and deepening alumnae relations activities.

Throughout her career, Kathy has demonstrated the capacity to build a culture of philanthropy and the ability to create mutually beneficial relationships with alumnae, faculty, staff and donors. We are thrilled to have her join our community.

Students Offer Gratitude for Your Gifts

On March 24, a campus-wide celebration for Tomorrow Made Possible (TMP) honored the philanthropic gifts of alumnae, parents, friends, faculty, staff and students.

TMP marks the symbolic day when students’ tuition stops paying the bills and support from donors makes a Saint Ben’s education possible.

More than 1,000 students showed their appreciation by learning about philanthropy and completing hundreds of thank you notes to donors. The entire community joined the celebration with faculty and staff donors wearing special t-shirts and telling their giving stories on posters and social media.

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NEWS NEWS

Provost Rita Knuesel Will Retire After 37 years Since 2007, Rita Knuesel has been provost (chief academic officer) at CSB/SJU. Prior to that appointment, she served as interim provost for one year, joint CSB/SJU associate provost and academic dean for three years and CSB dean for eight years, beginning in 1994. Before moving to administration, Rita was a faculty member in the department of music for 17 years.

She is a 1975 alumna of CSB.

Rita Knuesel, provost at CSB/SJU, will retire June 30.

During her tenure as provost, Rita led the efforts to more closely link strategic planning at the colleges to the annual budgeting process, and worked to ensure faculty were represented at the decision-making table. She supported faculty governance by appointing a provost’s delegate to serve as an ex-officio member at all faculty governance committees.

She partnered with many faculty senate chairs and vice chairs over the years, as well as

the Faculty Compensation and Benefits Committee, and her work to enhance faculty development is a highlight of her career.

Rita views her role in administration as a vocational calling serving the common good, and she describes her work, especially as provost, as a “significant privilege of a lifetime to serve the students, faculty, staff, presidents and boards of Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s.”

“It has been a privilege to work alongside, and learn from, Provost Knuesel. She approaches each day with optimism and is a beacon of light on our campus,” says President Mary Dana Hinton. “Rita models our Benedictine heritage, love of the liberal arts and women’s leadership — the hallmarks of our mission — each and every day.”

CSB/SJU Partnerships Thrive in the Bahamas

CSB President Mary Dana Hinton and SJU President Michael Hemesath met with students and representatives from Aquinas College, a high school in the Bahamas.

Representing Aquinas College were June Hutcheson, guidance counselor, and Shona M. Knowles.

This past February, CSB President Mary Dana Hinton and SJU President Michael Hemesath traveled together to visit members of the CSB and SJU Bahamas Alumnae/i Chapters. They received a warm welcome from alums in the area, prospective students and even the Prime Minister of the Bahamas.

since the 1930s, and since those partnerships began, more than 1,000 Bahamian women have called themselves Bennies. When the partnership first began, there were no institutions of higher education in the Bahamas, and the only way for a student to get a baccalaureate degree was to go abroad. Today, there are Bennies in the Bahamas working in virtually every industry essential to the growth and development of the nation, including counselors, bankers, teachers and government officials.

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The goal of the visit was to reconnect with Saint Ben’s fifth-largest alumnae community and thank them for their continued support. The weekend celebrated past accomplishments, new relationships and our continued partnership with the Bahamian alumnae. The visit concluded with a gala celebration which included a presentation of the SJU Coleman Barry Award to Deacon Leviticus “Lou” Adderly and a welcome for President Hinton to the CSB community.

CSB and SJU have had a relationship with the monastic communities in the Bahamas

Institute for Women’s Leadership Celebrates 10 years The Institute for Women’s Leadership (IWL) celebrated their 10th anniversary in March with a community celebration at Renner House.

The IWL’s mission is to empower women to become local and global leaders by engaging in inclusive dialogue, reflective thinking and values-based leadership that celebrates and recognizes women as leaders in our world. The IWL hosts numerous speakers,

programs and events throughout the year to further this mission, and it has impacted countless Bennies along the way.

“The IWL enables women to have the dignity and courage to strive for leadership positions and not be afraid to speak out and empower themselves and other women,” says Natalie Kerber ’15, public relations coordinator for the institute.

President Mary Dana Hinton says, “Seeing hundreds of students, faculty, staff, sisters,

and both Bennies and Johnnies at this event speaks to the ongoing importance of the Institute for Women’s Leadership, and fuels our passion for developing women leaders.”

The Women’s Center at Saint Ben’s opened in 2004 and was dedicated to S. Nancy Hynes in 2007, because of her dedication to the women’s movement and her activism concerning women’s issues. In 2009, the name of the center was officially changed to the Sister Nancy Hynes Institute for Women’s Leadership.

CSB Named One of 10 Best Roman Catholic Colleges USA Today recently reported on the best Catholic colleges and universities in the U.S., as rated

by College Factual. The College of Saint Benedict is listed at a very respectable #8.

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University of Notre Dame College of the Holy Cross Georgetown University Boston College Villanova University Santa Clara University Providence College College of Saint Benedict Fairfield University Gonzaga University

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NEWS NEWS

Swimming and Diving Outswims Competition

The CSB swimming and diving team’s roster was heavy on young athletes in 2014-15.

Eleven first-year students made up the bulk of the Blazers’ roster, and with five sophomores, the two early years outnumbered juniors and seniors. But what CSB lacked in experience this season, it made up for in talent.

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Led by second-year head coach Dan Eckberg, the Blazers recorded 14 times or marks in the top 10 in school history this season. First-year Kenzie Young led the way, finishing with four times in the top 10. She, along with senior diver Megan Lawson, earned All-MIAC honors by placing in the top three at the 2015 MIAC Championships.

Five relay teams made their way into the school’s all-time top 10 lists, and all five included at least one first-year swimmer. Kristina Rudin was a part of three relays that made it into the top

10, and fellow first-years Katie Heller and Emma Ridgeway were each on two of the relay teams. Laura Peterson, who holds the second-best time in the 100 and 200 butterfly in school history, was a part of four relays that made it into the top 10 during her senior season.

As well as having plenty of success in the pool, the Blazers also earned recognition in the classroom. In February, CSB was named one of the College Swimming Coaches Association of America 2014 Fall Scholar AllAmerica Teams with a 3.43 GPA.

Here’s a look at the highlights from the 2014-15 Blazer swimming and diving team: • 76 personal-best times or scores recorded as a team • Team GPA of 3.43 is tied for 26th in the NCAA Division III • 16 swimmers competed in the consolation finals at the MIAC Championships • 14 top-10 times or marks in school history recorded in 2014-15 • 7 individuals competed in the championship finals and finished in the top eight at the MIAC Championships • 5 dual or invite wins in 2014-15 • 2 All-MIAC athletes • 1 school record set by Megan Lawson in the one-meter dive

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BRIGHT SPOTS BY | GREG SKOOG (SJU ’89)

DR. PHIL KRONEBUSCH TURNED AWAY TO HIS COMPUTER SMOOTHLY, ALMOST UNCONSCIOUSLY. It was the third time he had refreshed his email since the beginning of our conversation. It’s easy to forgive Phil for a little distraction though. This was Fulbright acceptance season. And the far-flung nature of the program means the messages he was waiting for could have come in at any time.

Kronebusch, a professor of political science, is the coordinator of competitive fellowships at CSB/SJU. “We have three CSB/SJU students already accepted (for 2015-16 Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Grants),” he explains. “And there are two more out there that I’m really expecting to hear back on soon.” Those two were both approved, and CSB/SJU will have five Fulbrighters travel abroad

next year. That’s a very impressive total for these extremely competitive fellowships.

And in any other year it would have been a record-breaking performance for Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s.

“After last year though….”

Last year an astounding eight CSB/SJU students and alums earned Fulbright Grants: Lizzy Baden ’12, Heather Beckius ’14, Joe Berns (SJU ’13), Melissa DeOrio ’14, Rachel Mullin ’14, Sarah Reisdorf ’13, Dan Schmit (SJU ’14) and Alex Van Loh (SJU ’14). It was enough to rank the College of Saint Benedict 29th among baccalaureate institutions nationwide for having the most Fulbright students.

Alex Van Loh (SJU ’14), Dan Schmit (SJU ’14), Rachel Mullin ’14, Melissa DeOrio ’14 and Heather Beckius ’14

THE FULBRIGHT U.S. STUDENT PROGRAM In the wake of World War II, Senator J. William Fulbright proposed that the U.S. use surplus war property to fund the “promotion of international goodwill through the exchange of students in the fields of education, culture and science.” As a result, the Fulbright Program was created.

“It’s really the State Department’s primary academic exchange program,” explains Phil. “The larger goals are to send U.S. students abroad and bring students here and encourage cultural exchange — through research projects and language teaching.

The program includes a variety of different fellowship programs for students, research scholars and young professionals. For Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s students,

the most common application is for the English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program. According to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, “The ETA Programs place Fulbrighters in classrooms abroad to provide assistance to the local English teachers. ETAs help teach English language skills while serving as cultural ambassadors for the United States.”

“CSB/SJU, with our strong study-abroad program, is really a great environment for cultivating Fulbright students,” says Phil.

“They spend a semester abroad, they get that taste and they want more. A Fulbright lets you do that.”

Fulbright Program currently operates in 155 countries worldwide, that’s a lot of variety.) For some Fulbright ETAs, a day could be spent on a brick-and-ivy college campus, with evenings spent strolling

bustling city streets. Others might spend their days in a rural country classroom and their evenings soaking in the sounds of the wilderness that surrounds them.

The work that Fulbrighters do and the experiences they have will vary widely based on the host country. (And since the

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MAKING THE CUT The Fulbright committee at CSB/SJU includes faculty from the German, Hispanic studies, political science, peace studies, history, global business leadership and honors programs, with Phil serving as coordinator. In that role, Phil is part instructor, part mentor, part salesman and part cheerleader. Often, that means making sure students are aware and engaged in the process and that top students apply.

“I was interested in the Fulbright since I was a first-year,” says Heather Beckius ’14. “But by the time I was a junior, I already knew that I was going to spend two years in graduate school, so I wasn’t going to apply.

But then Phil sent out an email to students telling us about Brazil’s application pool expanding and he encouraged us to apply. I decided ‘Why not?’ and met with him. He was encouraging, helpful and worked with me to put together a strong application. I doubt I would be talking to you from my apartment in southern Brazil right now if it weren’t for his taking the initiative to connect with students personally about this amazing opportunity.”

In some cases, that outreach stretches far beyond Collegeville and St. Joseph. “I was living in Brussels, working with a nonprofit called Pax Christi International,” recalls Lizzy Baden ’12. “I knew I wanted to make a change to find something more handson, where I could see and feel the impact of the work I did. And I knew that as a Fulbright ETA I could get that. But I was busy and distracted and dangerously close to missing my application deadlines. Phil offered insight and advice and eventually

“Application deadline is in October. Then the U.S. Fulbright group* decides who they want to put forward to the host country. Applicants find out about that in January. Finally, the host country Fulbright group has to decide whom they will accept.

And that usually happens in April.”

suggested I apply as an ‘at large’ candidate rather than as a Bennie. That gave me the deadline relief I needed and it worked.”

become your home. As the year goes on, more and more of your friends get jobs, fellowships and graduate school acceptances, making the reality that you don’t know that much more intimidating.

I honestly hadn’t even applied to other jobs when I finally heard in the beginning of April last year.”

The application process for a Fulbright ETA is deceptively simple: the key components are two brief essays (each no more than a page) and an on-campus interview conducted by faculty.

That short format, however, makes every word precious. Sarah Reisdorf ’13 explains: “I don’t think it’s easy to pinpoint what exactly it is that makes one application stand out over another when you’re dealing with a competitive pool of highly qualified applicants from across the U.S. Phil helped me highlight what I thought were my most relevant experiences and articulately sum up my qualifications in two short essays.”

The hardest part of applying — according to many of our Fulbrighters — is the waiting.

“The application process for Fulbright is long,” Phil concedes.

“It was definitely excruciating,” confirms Melissa DeOrio ’14. “Especially when you are a senior in college, stressing about leaving all of your friends and what has

The impact of having a strong, active competitive fellowship program seems to be building success and a hunger for more — both in the student population as a whole and in the Fulbrighters themselves.

“Without Dr. Kronebusch, I likely would not be a Truman or a Fulbright scholar today,” says Rachel Mullin ’14. “Even now I’m continually bugging him. I’m planning on applying for three more fellowships (Rhodes, Marshall and Schwarzman) once I complete my Fulbright, and he has been helping me every step of the way.” *It’s worth noting that the director of that U.S. Student Program at the Institute of International Education in New York is one of our own — Dan Kramer (SJU ’89).

MALAYSIA Bandar Bera

FROM SIOUX FALLS, S.D., TO BANDAR BERA, MALAYSIA How are your language skills?

One of my goals while in Malaysia is to become relatively proficient in Bahasa Melayu. So far it’s been a mixed bag of results. Personally, I carry around a little notebook with me wherever I go and each new word I learn I write down in it. It’s been a fun way to learn and my students have really loved the chance to help me. Some of them come to school each day with a new word or phrase to teach me. It’s quite endearing.

What has your teaching experience been like so far?

I teach 21-26 classes a week, ranging from seventh grade to eleventh grade. My school has been great in letting me do that in some really out-of-the-box ways. I’ve had my students do everything from making music videos and rap battles to inventing their own superheroes and creating comic strips to address societal issues they see in Malaysia.

We put on a number of English camps throughout our time here, which are simply one- to three-day camps focused on making English as fun as possible. Some camps we’ve done thus far include a Harry Potter camp, cupcake wars, filmmaking, beach cleanup and Olympics.

My goal with my time here is to help students learn how to confidently use their English. Most of them know the vocabulary, the basic structures, etc. But they’ve never been given opportunities in which to use it.

A challenge I’ve encountered is that this area was strongly affected by the heavy flooding that hit Malaysia in December 2014. The water reached so high that two of the school buildings were completely submerged. One result of that is that all the school’s computers and technology were destroyed, so the students no longer have access to computers or the Internet.

Not being able to learn skills like typing, researching or even just how to write and send an email is a major hindrance for their success in the 21st century. It’s left these kids completely cut off from building their computer literacy skills or even just from knowing the latest news from around the world.

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BRAZIL Uberlândia Uberlândia

FROMST. ST.PAUL, PAUL,MINN., MINN., FROM TOUBERLÂNDIA, UBERLÂNDIA,BRAZIL BRAZIL TO Thereare aremany manydifferent different There typesof ofFulbright Fulbrightgrants. grants. types Whatinterested interestedyou youabout about What theETA? ETA? the

I’vealways alwaysbeen beenattracted attractedto to I’ve teaching.And Andtaking takingaaTeaching Teaching teaching.

ESLclass classatatSaint SaintBen’s, Ben’s,asaswell well ESL volunteeringfor foraayear yearwith with asasvolunteering CityYear, Year,has hasmotivated motivatedme meto to City lookfor forteaching teachingopportunities. opportunities. look Plus,the theETA ETAposition positionisisset set Plus, upso soyou youare areable ableto todedicate dedicateaa up significantamount amountofofyour yourtime timeto to significant sideproject. project.In Inmy mycase, case,that thatside side aaside projecthas hasinvolved involvedworking workingwith with project programthat thatteaches teachesEnglish Englishto to aaprogram seniorcitizens. citizens. senior reallylike likethe theprogram programbecause becauseitituses uses IIreally Englishand andlanguage languagelearning learningasasaatool toolfor for English socializationand andinteraction. interaction.One Oneofofthe thestudents students socialization myclass classisis86 86years yearsold. old.86!

86!He Hehas hasdecided decidedto to ininmy learnaanew newlanguage languagefor forthe thefirst firsttime. time.On Onthe thefirst first learn dayofofclass classwe wewere wereconversing conversingininPortuguese Portugueseaa day bit,and andout outofofnowhere nowherehe hesays saysto tome, me,“My “Mymind mind bit, open!”He Hesaid saidititso soproudly, proudly,too. too.The Thestatement statement isisopen!” wasso sosimple, simple,yet yetso soprofound. profound.It’s It’sinteractions interactionslike like was thatone onethat thatmake makeme meso sohappy happyto toteach teachand andfeel feelso so that blessedto tohave havethe theopportunity opportunityto totravel traveland andinteract interact blessed withpeople peopleIImay maynever neverhave haveknown knownotherwise. otherwise.I’m I’mreally really with lookingforward forwardto toworking workingwith withthese thesestudents studentsand andfurther further looking developingthe thecurriculum curriculumofofthis thisclass. class. developing Yougraduated graduatedin in2013.

2013.What Whatwas wasititlike likenot notbeing being You oncampus campusthrough throughthe theapplication applicationprocess? process? on

Uberlândia Uberlândia

Thiswas wasactually actuallythe thesecond secondtime timeIIapplied appliedfor foraaFulbright Fulbrightscholarship. scholarship.Applying Applying This forthe thesecond secondtime timewas wassurprisingly surprisinglyaalot lotless lessstressful. stressful.When WhenIIdecided decidedto toreapply, reapply, for wasworking workingfor foran anAmeriCorps AmeriCorpsprogram programininMiami.

Miami.IIwas wasvery verybusy busyand, and, IIwas unfortunately,IIhad hadlittle littlefree freetime timeto todedicate dedicateto tothe theapplication. application.That Thatturned turned unfortunately, outto tobe beaagood goodthing thingthough, though,because becauseIIreally reallyhad hadto tofocus focusand andget getto tothe thepoint. point. out thinkIIwas wasbetter betterable ableto toarticulate articulatewhy whyIIwanted wantedaaFulbright Fulbrightscholarship scholarshipand and IIthink whyIIwould wouldbe beaagreat greatrepresentative representativeofofthe theUnited UnitedStates Statesabroad. abroad.Not Notbeing beingon on why campuswas wasnot notaaproblem, problem,asasIIdid didmy myinterview interviewvia viaSkype Skypeand andreceived receivedfeedback feedback campus onmy myapplication applicationessays essaysfrom fromPhil Philvia viaemail. email. on

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FROMHIGHLANDS HIGHLANDSRANCH, RANCH,COLO., COLO., FROM TOSAMSUN, SAMSUN,TURKEY TURKEY TO Howdid didyou youdecide decideon onyour your How hostcountry? country? host

onlyever everwanted wantedto togo goto toTurkey.

Turkey.IIbecame became IIonly interestedafter aftervisiting visitinginin2013 2013asaspart partofofaacourse course interested onIslam IslamIItook tookduring duringthe theCSB/SJU CSB/SJULondon London on studyabroad abroadprogram. program.IIwas wasimmediately immediately study enamoredwith withthe thecountry country(it (itisisnot notdifficult difficult enamored tofall fallininlove lovewith withIstanbul) Istanbul)and andended ended to upinterning interningfor foraaTurkish Turkishthink thinktank tankinin up Washington,D.C., D.C.,the thefollowing followingsummer. summer.In In Washington, way,Turkey Turkeychose choseme. me. aaway, Duringmy myinternship internshipIIbecame becamepretty pretty During knowledgeableabout aboutthe thecountry, country,but butII knowledgeable realizedthat thatIIwas wasnever nevergoing goingtotobe beable able realized trulyunderstand understandall allofofits itsnuances nuances tototruly throughresearch. research.IIneeded neededtotospend spend through timeininthe thecountry, country,so soIIsought soughtout out time opportunitiestotolive livethere. there. opportunities Whathas hasyour yourteaching teaching What experiencebeen beenlike likeso sofar? far? experience

haveto tobe behonest, honest,the thework workwas was IIhave muchmore moredifficult difficultthan thanIIexpected expected much tobe. be.IIstruggled struggledaagreat greatdeal dealininthe the ititto firsthalf halfofofthe theyear. year. first InTurkey, Turkey,Fulbrighters Fulbrightersare arespecifically specifically In placedatatuniversities universitieswith withunderdeveloped underdeveloped placed andnew newEnglish Englishprograms programs— —so sothere thereare areaa and fewkinks kinksto tobe beworked workedout. out.IIteach teachuniversity university few studentswho whoare arerequired requiredto totake takeone oneyear yearofof students Englishbefore beforemoving movingon onto totheir theirprograms programs English choice.However, However,their theirgrades gradesininthese these ofofchoice. coursesdon’t don’tmatter. matter.Therefore, Therefore,most mostofofmy my courses studentshave havean anextremely extremelyelementary elementarylevel level students language,and andno nomotivation motivationto tolearn learnor or ofoflanguage, succeed.While Whileall allofofour ourstudents studentshave havetaken, taken, succeed. minimum,six sixyears yearsofofEnglish Englishcourses, courses, atataaminimum, manyhave havenever neverspoken spokenaaword. word.So Sojumping jumping many

BRAZIL into intoan animmersive immersivecourse coursewith withaanative native speaker speakerisisaadifficult difficulttransition. transition.

Porto Porto Alegre Alegre

ItItisisnot noteasy easytototeach teachunmotivated unmotivated18 18year yearolds olds every everyday. day.Education, Education,and andmore morespecifically specificallyaa knowledge knowledgeofofEnglish, English,isisnot notasashighly highlyvalued valued here hereasasititisisininsome someparts partsofofthe theworld. world.That That being beingsaid, said,there therehave havebeen beendays daysthat thatare are rewarding. rewarding.IIhave havetwo twoclasses classesofofstudents studentsthis this semester semesterthat thatare arevery verymotivated motivatedand andmake make each eachday dayIIhave havewith withthem themsosomuch muchfun. fun.

This ThisFulbright Fulbrightgrant granthas hasbeen beenone oneofofthe themost most wonderful, wonderful,terrifying terrifyingand anddifficult difficultexperiences experiences ofofmy mylife lifethus thusfar. far.IIhave havelearned learnedsosomuch much about aboutTurkey, Turkey,but butalso alsomyself; myself;IIfeel feelconfident confident about aboutwhatever whatevercomes comesnext. next.IIhave haveproven proventoto myself myselfthat thatIIwill willfind findaaway waytotobe besuccessful successful and andhappy happyno nomatter matterwhat whatIIdecide decidetotodo dooror where whereIIam. am.IIcan’t can’tpredict predictthe thefuture, future,but butII am aminincontrol controlofofwhat whatIIdo dowith withit.it.

FROM FROMAVON, AVON,MINN., MINN., TO TOPORTO PORTOALEGRE, ALEGRE,BRAZIL BRAZIL Did Didyou youspeak speakPortuguese Portuguesebefore beforeyou youapplied appliedto toBrazil?

Brazil?

No, No,IIoriginally originallywas wasinterested interestedininaaSpanish-speaking Spanish-speakingcountry countrylike like Peru, Peru,since sinceIIwanted wantedtotostrengthen strengthenmy mySpanish Spanishskills skillsafter afterstudying studyingabroad abroadinin Guatemala.

Guatemala.However, However,IIalso alsowanted wantedtotoconnect connectmy myfuture futureprofession profession(I(Iplan planon on becoming becomingaaspeech-language speech-languagepathologist) pathologist)totomy myFulbright Fulbrightperiod, period,and andIIdidn’t didn’t think thinkthere therewere weremany manyresearch researchororacademic academicopportunities opportunitiesininthe thefield fieldininaalot lot ofofthe thecountries countriesininLatin LatinAmerica.

America.Brazil Brazilseemed seemedlike likeaagreat greatoption optionbecause becauseititisis one oneofofthe thefast-developing fast-developingBRIC BRICeconomies; economies;itithas hasaalot lotofofopportunities opportunitiesdue duetoto that thatrelatively relativelynew neweconomic economicgrowth. growth.ItItdidn’t didn’ttake takeme melong longtotoget getattached attachedtoto the theidea ideaofofliving livingininBrazil Brazildue duetotoits itsincredible incrediblediversity diversityininterms termsofofculture cultureand and environment, environment,its itsfascinating fascinatinghistory, history,and andits itsunique uniqueposition positionon onthe theworld worldstage stageinin terms termsofofpolitics politicsand andeconomy. economy.Plus, Plus,IIcould couldlearn learnanother anotherRomance Romancelanguage! language!

Did Didyou youfind findititdifficult difficultto tostructure structureyour yourlife lifeto toleave leavethe thecountry countryfor foraayear? year?

Not Notreally really— —IIjust justhad hadtotodefer defergraduate graduateschool, school,but butthey theywere werevery very accommodating accommodatingand andare areeven evenletting lettingme mematriculate matriculateininJanuary January2016 2016instead insteadofof September September2016 2016after afterIIreturn returnthis thisNovember!

November!In Inthe theend, end,IIhope hopetotoincorporate incorporate my myexperience experienceininBrazil Brazilwith withmy mymaster’s master’sdegree degreesomehow, somehow,whether whetherincorporating incorporating research researchcompleted completedhere hereinto intomy mymaster’s master’sthesis thesisororjust justworking workingwith withpatients patientswho who speak speakPortuguese.

Portuguese.

The TheBrazil BrazilFulbright Fulbrighttiming timingisisunusual unusual(it’s (it’sMarch MarchtotoNovember), November),sosoIIalso alsohad hadtoto find findsomething somethingtotodo dofor fornine ninemonths monthsbefore beforeIIleft. left.But Butthat thatactually actuallyturned turnedout outtoto be beaablessing blessinginindisguise disguisebecause becauseIIgot gottotomove moveout outeast eastwith withformer formerCSB CSBPresident President MaryAnn MaryAnnBaenninger Baenningertotowork workfor forher. her.ItItwas wasan anamazing amazingexperience, experience,and andIIgot gottoto know knowNew NewYork YorkCity Citypretty prettywell. well.

What Whathas hasyour yourteaching teachingexperience experiencebeen beenlike likeso sofar? far?

Samsun Samsun

TURKEY

IIco-teach co-teachthree threeclasses classesaasemester semesterwith withother otherBrazilian Brazilianstudents studentswho whoare arestudying studying English Englishtotobecome becomeEnglish Englishteachers. teachers.(Their (TheirEnglish Englishisisamazing!) amazing!)IIlesson lessonplan plan with withthem, them,help helpthe theuniversity universitycoordinators coordinatorswith withtheir theirclasses, classes,lead leadconversation conversation clubs, clubs,plan planevents eventswhere wherestudents studentscan cancome cometotospeak speakEnglish Englishininaafun funand andinformal informal environment, environment,and andplan planfilm filmclubs. clubs.

Summer Summer2015 2015 | | 15 15

FROM GRAND FORKS, N.D., TO MANADO, INDONESIA What has a typical day been like?

My favorite place to eat breakfast is right in front of my dormitory along the beach. I go to school and then go for a run in my neighborhood that is mostly uphill. On the top of the hill, I have a beautiful view of Manado that overlooks the ocean. After my run, I often drink a young coconut near the beach and watch the sunset. It is one routine about which I am very nostalgic.

However, Manado is not peachy perfect. Trash is everywhere. The only real waste management is burning ALL waste, plastic and all. There are gaping holes in the sidewalk that lead to the sewer. It is really quite a travesty.

There is so much beauty surrounded by so much chaos.

Living here has made me more environmentally conscious than I have ever been in my life. (And that’s saying something! I was the kid in high school who brought her own reusable Tupperware container for school lunch just to avoid using Styrofoam plates.)

Have you had the chance to do any sightseeing?

In all honesty, I like to really get to know the place and the people where I am living. The majority of my travel has been in the general region of North Sulawesi. I like sleeping in my own bed, and I am afraid if I focused too much time on traveling that I would miss out on getting to know my community. I have managed to connect with a lot of people here. Relationships are more important to me than sightseeing.

Anyway, I live in a pretty awesome place. I can see Bunaken beach from my dormitory. It’s considered one of the most beautiful places in the world to dive, so my site-mates (fellow Fulbrighters) and I got PADI certified so we can dive. And in my backyard, I’ve got a national park that is home to the world’s smallest primate and an endangered monkey. I don’t have to travel far to be exposed to interesting discoveries.

INDONESIA

16 | College of Saint Benedict Magazine

Manado

CELEBRATING SCHOLARSHIP & CREATIVITY DAY THURSDAY, APRIL  Celebrating Scholarship & Creativity (CSC) Day is a day-long examination of what goes on all year long at CSB/SJU. “The goal is to highlight the students’ hard work and show what they’ve done,” explains Katie Vogel, the event’s organizer and office coordinator of Experiential Learning & Community Engagement. “That may be in the form of a capstone thesis, independent project or creative work.”

But the importance of the event goes even deeper than that. “Today is a celebration of the liberal arts,” declared CSB President Mary Dana Hinton in her opening remarks.

“Today we honor the innovative and integrated curriculum, experiential learning, global engagement and vocational, professional and career development that is the foundation of our mission.”

This year marked the 15th anniversary for CSC Day, which grows and evolves in format a bit each year. There were 441 presentations given by nearly 800 Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s students across both campuses.

“This research project turned into more than a class project to me; I soon became invested in finding solutions.

Experiencing the importance of education and a preventative approach to disease firsthand ignited in me a passion for public health. Along the way, this experience allowed me to integrate and apply the knowledge I had gained from several courses, it enhanced my organizational and time-management skills, and it improved my analytical thinking and ability to solve problems. My writing skills have improved significantly, and so have my public speaking skills. I consider this research experience a major component of my learning experience at CSB/SJU.”

KNOWLEDGE OF DIETARY IODINE AND KIO CONCENTRATION IN HOUSEHOLD IODIZED SALT IN RURAL AND URBAN JALISCO, MEXICO

Summer 2015 | 17

Dear Professor, H

ope this letter finds you well.

We’ve been meaning to send this note for quite some time, but life just gets so busy.

Since leaving Saint Ben’s we’ve gone on to become scientists, teachers, diplomats, mothers, entertainers and entrepreneurs. Much of it went just

like you said it would, though there were plenty of unexpected turns along the way.

We’re the alumnae of the College of Saint Benedict. We’re proud, strong, capable women. And we want to say thanks to you, the college’s faculty over the last 100 years.

To be sure, we came to you with ambition and intellect. But without

your mentorship, inspiration, caring, concern and occasional pushes, we never would have gone on to accomplish some of the extraordinary (and many of the ordinary) feats we achieve every day.

Thank you for making an imprint that’s stayed with us all our lives.

From: The 21,000 alumnae of the College of Saint Benedict Send

Subject: The strength of a woman To: Christina Marie Tourino Department: English My freshman year at CSB, I was very lost and confused about what sort of career I wanted to pursue. My parents had always wanted me to be a doctor, but I was never interested in the field.

My second semester, I enrolled in Professor [Christina Marie] Tourino’s literature class. In that class, I learned to think critically about literature, and I learned that I loved being in a classroom while discussing literature.

In addition, Professor Tourino lived the example that women can be smart, academic leaders who are involved in social issues. I had never experienced that before. At CSB, I was an English education major, and afterwards, I became a 7th grade teacher. While teaching, I earned a master’s in English from Saint Thomas, and now I am at the University of Iowa getting my Ph.D. in English and gender, women’s and sexuality studies. In Professor Tourino’s class, I was not an outstanding student, but I learned so much from her about how to study literature and also about how to be a woman academic. I am so thankful for the opportunity I had to work with her! It was certainly a formative experience.

From: Corey Hickner-Johnson ’07 Major: English Subject: No nonsense To: S. Dennis Frandrup Department: Art S. Dennis [Frandrup] taught the jewelry class I took as a senior. She did not take any nonsense and had tremendously high standards. She valued hard work and effort and taught me that showing up and putting in the time matters in life.

To this day, I think about S. Dennis when I put on the jewelry I made in her class. I think about making sure I show up that day and put my best effort into everything I do.

Subject: Pay it forward To: Jack & Barbara Farley Department: Management When I graduated, I was fortunate to have many career possibilities to consider. I can vividly remember sitting with Jack and Barbara (Farley) in Jack’s office in the Main Building, weighing the alternatives, and Jack picking up the telephone and connecting with a few of the individuals within his personal network to validate which alternatives were the best. Many years later when considering “retiring” from my banking career to return to CSB/ SJU to join the faculty, again it was Jack and Barbara that helped me work through the possibility to make the best decision. I will be forever grateful to Jack and Barbara — and hope in some small way I have been able to “pay it forward” to the next generation of Bennies and Johnnies during my tenure as they consider their career and life path possibilities.

From: Margrette Nemanich Newhouse ’88 Major: Management Subject: Finding our vocation To: Fr. Joel Kelly Faculty Resident Father Joel Kelly led a volunteer prison ministry group at St. Cloud State Penitentiary. His experience facilitating a spirituality group with men taught me what makes me feel fulfilled as a person and led me down my vocational path as a marriage and family therapist. His thoughtful, heartfelt and honest approach to the inmates and volunteers provided a foundation for my career centered around the values of social justice, healing, authenticity, cultural humility and being trauma sensitive. He truly changed my life in a positive and meaningful way!

From: Heather Carabajal ’02 Major: Liberal Studies

From: Hayley Berrisford Mueller ’10 Major: Communication & Media & Hispanic Studies Summer 2015 | 19

Dear Professor Subject: Staying awake To: Charles Villette Department: Languages & Cultures I was a mediocre student of French, but junior year abroad — now there was something that sounded worth staying awake for. French language, culture, literature, art, architecture, cuisine, French cigarettes — Monsieur, you shared your love of all of it.

Paris was the very first big city I had ever been to. And the first time I dipped my feet into a body of water other than the Mississippi, it was Le Grand Bleu. I drank my first glass of pastis with you, survived the cheese course with your guidance, and stood, overwhelmed, in front of my first Picasso because you took us there.

My semester in France could easily have been just another failure. It would have been sensible for me to conclude, at that point in my life, that I had no business in France, no reason to learn a foreign language, no hope at turning the tide against a slew of mediocrity and heartbreak.

But that’s not how it went. A teacher who loves what he teaches generates knowledge and passion and possibility. Je vous remercie de tout cœur, Monsieur Villette.

From: Denise MacDonald Clemen ‘74 Major: Humanities & Theater

Subject: A joyful heart To: S. Mara Faulkner Department: English

As a poet with my third book of poetry just hitting the shelves, I know in my heart that I owe some major portion of my joy to Mara’s [S. Mara Faulkner] endless hours of work reading those beginning poems, stories and essays and offering her generous feedback in her sloping script, gently shepherding me and shaping me into the teaching poet I am today.

From: Sandy Longhorn ’93 Major: English

Subject: My roots in faith To: Kari-Shane Davis Zimmerman Department: Theology

Subject: A springboard to life To: Katie Johnson Department: Communication

Kari-Shane Davis Zimmerman helped me find my roots in faith and piqued my curiosity in Catholic social teaching. Because of her creative and applicable lectures, my nowhusband, Sam, and I volunteered in Chimbote, Peru through ABE (Alternative Break Experience) while at CSB/SJU and are now in the process of moving to Guatemala with the Peace Corps. Thank you, Professor Zimmerman, for inspiring me to take hold of my passions.

We remember the first day of Comm.

103 class like it was yesterday — it certainly turned out to be an important day for both of us. The students sat in silence, taken aback by the list of rules professor Katie Johnson had just projected on the screen. Sharing our thoughts or ideas was not allowed unless specifically asked. All communication in class discussion must go through the professor; there would be no responding directly to a classmate’s comment. Questions were not encouraged. The rules seemed daunting and downright hindering to a communication class.

From: Amy Patnoe ’11 Major: Hispanic Studies & Peace Studies Subject: View from the top To: John Olson Department: Economics One of the first days of our economics research project (Econ 384) class, John Olson told us a story. He said think of this class as climbing a really steep mountain.

Some days you’ll slip on the rocks.

Some days you’ll make progress through the clouds. Just keep going — do the research, collect the data, do the work. And, he said, on the last day of class when your project is done, I’ll ask you what the view looks like from the top of the mountain. I drew a picture of this mountain after class and hung it up.

All these years later, that picture of a mountain is still with me. It’s moved with me to Ohio for grad school. It’s moved from cubicle to cubicle, as my career progressed.

And it hangs in my office today.

Dr. Olson’s analogy of climbing a mountain remains true. Some days the path is difficult to climb — you make a mistake or your research doesn’t work out the way you’d hoped. But every now and then you see how your work has made an impact. You see how you made a difference. And the view is great.

From: Rachel Hillman Vilsack ’98 Major: Economics

20 | College of Saint Benedict Magazine

Then Katie broke all her own rules and asked the class why we believed the bogus rules on the screen. She had demonstrated the class topic perfectly: we do not need to blindly follow and believe what we hear from the media. We should discuss, ask questions, learn from that dialogue, and form our own opinions once we have all the facts.

The class became an important one for us both, but more importantly, Katie became extremely important to us. She is important not only because of the role she played in our education and future career success, but also because her classroom discussions and her ability to draw the very best out of her students made it easy to get to know classmates. We met the first day of her class, and have been close friends ever since.

Katie’s class was the springboard for two young women to find their place both at CSB/SJU and in life. She is a one-of-a-kind person who has made a once-in-a-lifetime impact on us.

THANK YOU, from the bottom of our hearts.

From: Sydney Klinker Andringa ‘13 Major: Communication & Media & Management From: Emily Gasperlin ‘13 Major: English

Subject: A safe space To: Jean Keller & Madhu Mitra Department: Philosophy & English Professor Jean Keller not only opened my mind to feminist theory and social justice issues, but she provided a safe space for me as I was coming out of the closet in a not always safe environment.

She truly inspired me in my learning and my living, and I still think of her often even though we are not in frequent contact. Her arrival at CSB/SJU fundamentally changed my experience at the institutions for the better.

Like Professor Keller, Professor Madhu Mitra provided a safe space for me as I struggled to find my way in a space that didn’t always feel LGBT friendly or inclusive. Professor Mitra also exposed me to social justice issues and diversity issues, and to this date, some of my favorite books are from her class on women writers from around the world. Professor Mitra is also just so wonderfully global (in terms of mindset, not just her national origin), and as a kid from the suburbs who had traveled infrequently, I really appreciated her perspective on things.

These two women made an indelible impression on me, and I’m better for having met them.

From: Lisa Schmid ’99 Major: Political Science Subject: Seasons of life To: S. Jacqulyn Dubay Department: Art Through high school and the time I was at Saint Ben’s, [S. Jacquelyn Dubay] knew when to push, when to challenge and when to let me cry. She saw so much in me I didn’t know was there. Jackie walked with me through all the storms of adolescence, young motherhood and my outrageous idea to become ordained. In all the seasons of my life she was there as teacher, mother, friend, critic and grandmother to my children. I was able to fulfill my dream of being an artist, an Old Testament theologian, a mom and a grandmother myself.

Subject: The “tough” teacher To: Kristen Vonnegut Department: Communications Dr. Kristin Vonnegut was my advisor while I completed my communication major. I didn’t know her when I selected her, but I had heard she was “tough” and I liked the idea of the challenge via her version of tough. She lived up to it. It was evident not only in the numerous speaking and rhetorical criticism classes I took from her but also in the new ideas, ways of thinking and concepts to explore. For example, she empowered me to submit and later present my writing at a national communication conference. She encouraged me to go to grad school and get a master’s degree and secure a teaching assistantship.

It was all of these things over the short course of two years while Dr. Vonnegut was my prof, advisor and friend that continue to make a permanent impression on me personally and professionally.

Every year, I participate in a few CSB events with prospective students and Dr. Vonnegut’s profound influence is part of my “CSB story!”

I’m glad I took the challenge with the “tough” prof and advisor as it has yielded rewards ever since!

From: Molly Berg ’96 Major: Communication & Media

Your many letters made us proud and nostalgic.

Some even made us laugh. One thing is certain: They prove that the heart of our community is really in the heart of each person who embraces learning, and teaching, as a vocation.

That goes for students and faculty alike.

Many of the stories and quotes here have been adapted due to limited space. All entries, unabridged, can be found at http://www.csbsju. edu/csb-alumnae/ publications/ dear-professor.

From: Pat Pickett ’63 Summer 2015 | 21

BY | | COURTNEY COURTNEYSULLIVAN SULLIVAN BY

ENTRY-LEVEL JOB JOB OPENING: OPENING: ENTRY-LEVEL Minimum three three years years experience experience required. required.

Minimum Thistype typeofofposting postingisisallalltoo toofamiliar familiarfor foraawhole wholegeneration generationofofjob jobhunters. hunters.Both Bothnew new This collegegraduates graduatesand andseasoned seasonedprofessionals professionalslooking lookingtotomake makeaacareer careerchange changeoften often college findthemselves themselvesasking, asking,“How “Howdo doyou youget getexperience experienceififno noone onewill willhire hireyou youwithout without find alreadyhaving havingexperience? experience?Where Wheredo doyou youstart?” start?” already

ANSWER: The The College College ofof Saint Saint Benedict Benedict ANSWER:

22 | | College CollegeofofSaint SaintBenedict BenedictMagazine Magazine 22

IT IT BEGINS BEGINS ON ON CAMPUS CAMPUS

Jessica JessicaRaboin, Raboin,aa 2015 2015grad gradmajoring majoring ininsociology sociologyand and German Germanstudies, studies, was wasone oneofofthose those students studentswho whowas was uncertain uncertainofofher hernext next step stepafter afterrealizing realizingher her “The “Theability abilitytotothink thinkcritically criticallyand andcreatively, creatively, longtime longtimeplan plantotowork workinin totosolve solvecomplex complexproblems, problems,tototranscend transcend healthcare healthcarewas wasno nolonger longerthe the the theboundaries boundariesofofyour yourown ownculture cultureoror right rightplan. plan.“After “AfterI Iwas wasreferred referred experience experienceare areimperatives imperativesfor forparticipation participation totoCareer CareerServices, Services,two twoofofthe thefirst first and andleadership leadershipininaamodern modernand andrapidly rapidly tools toolsthey theygave gaveme mewere werethe theMyers-Briggs Myers-Briggs changing changingworld,” world,”says saysJon JonMcGee McGee(SJU (SJU Type TypeIndicator Indicator(MBTI) (MBTI)and andthe theStrong StrongInterest Interest ’84), ’84),vice vicepresident presidentfor forplanning planningand andpublic public Inventory Inventoryassessment,” assessment,”recalls recallsJessica.

Jessica.“That “That affairs affairsatatCSB/SJU. CSB/SJU.“The “Theskills skillsdeveloped developed first firststep stepwas wasso sohelpful helpfulininhoming homingininon onwhat what and andhoned honedby byaaliberal liberalarts artseducation educationare arenot not classes, classes,clubs clubsand andcareers careersbest bestfitfitmy myinterests interests transient transientbut buttransferable transferableand anddurable durableacross across and andtalents. talents.From Fromthere, there,Career CareerServices Servicestook took aalifetime. lifetime.They Theynever neverbecome becomeobsolete, obsolete,unlike unlike the thetime timetotogo gothrough throughthe thenitty-gritty nitty-grittyprocess process specialized specializedknowledge knowledgeand andskills, skills,all allofofwhich which ofofhelping helpingme mearticulate articulateand andbe bespecific specificabout about have havean anexpiration expirationdate, date,sometimes sometimessooner sooner what whatI Iwanted wantedout outofofaacareer. career.When Whenititwas was rather ratherthan thanlater.” later.” over, over,I Iknew knewwith withcertainty certaintythat thatI Iwanted wantedtotowork work as a university administrator — and I knew as a university administrator — and I knew Turning Turningthat thatintellectual intellectualenlightenment enlightenmentinto into how howaasociology sociologymajor majorwould wouldget getme methere.” there.” aapaycheck paycheck— —and andaarewarding rewardingcareer career— — isisaaprocess processthat thatquickly quicklyspills spillsout outofofthe the “There “Thereisisgreat greatcollaboration collaborationbetween betweenour our classroom, classroom,all allover overcampus campusand andbeyond. beyond. department, department,Academic AcademicAdvising, Advising,Experiential Experiential Learningand andCommunity CommunityEngagement Engagement(ELCE), (ELCE), “The “Thecareer-development career-developmentprocess processstarts startsfrom from Learning the thefaculty, faculty,staff staffand andmany manyothers otherstotohelp help the thefirst firstday dayaaBennie Benniearrives arriveson oncampus, campus,all all students studentssecure securevaluable valuableinternships, internships, the theway waythrough throughher hersenior senioryear,” year,”says saysMary Mary on-campus jobs or research on-campus jobs or research Harlander-Locke, Harlander-Locke,associate associatedirector directorofofCareer Career opportunities,” opportunities,”says saysMary.

Mary.“Getting “Getting Services.

Services.“It’s “It’snot notuncommon uncommonfor forstudents studentstoto experience in their field beyond experience in their field beyond begin begintheir theircollege collegeyears yearsunsure unsureofofwhat whattoto theclassroom classroomisisinstrumental instrumental study studyororconvinced convincedonly onlycertain certainmajors majorswill willput put the ininhelping helpingstudents studentsbecome become them themon onthe thepath pathtototheir theirdesired desiredcareer. career.We We informed, informed,high-quality high-qualityjob, job, give givethem themthe thetools toolstotoidentify identifytheir theirpassions passions volunteer or grad school volunteer or grad school and andstrengths, strengths,and andthen thenshow showthem themhow howit’s it’s candidatesdown downthe theroad.” road.” possible possibletotostudy studywhat whatthey theylove, love,gain gainrelated related candidates experience experienceand andget getthe thejobs jobsand andresearch research Another Anotherimportant importantpreparatory preparatory opportunities opportunitiesthey theywant. want.One Oneofofour ourmajor major step stepisisskill skilldevelopment development— — objectives objectivesisisalso alsototohelp helpstudents studentsarticulate articulate from fromhow howtotowrite writeaaresume, resume,toto the theskills skillsthey theyare aredeveloping developingwith withtheir theirliberal liberal practice practiceinterviews, interviews,tototips tipson onhow howtoto arts artseducation.” education.” job jobhunt huntand andnetwork. network.This Thiscan caninclude includean an introduction introductiontotothe theCANE CANEfiles, files,aadatabase databaseofof CSB CSBalumnae alumnaeand andSJU SJUalumni alumniwilling willingtotoshare share Did Didyou youknow knowan anEnglish Englishdegree degreecan canlead leadtotoaa job jobwith withthe theDepartment DepartmentofofHomeland HomelandSecurity?

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IfIfyou youwant wantaacareer careerininpublic publicpolicy, policy,did didyou you know knowhistory historyisisaagreat greatfield fieldofofstudy? study?ItItmay maynot not sound soundobvious obviousbut butit’s it’strue. true.And Andititallallstarts startswith with the theeducation educationSaint SaintBen’s Ben’soffers offers— —proudly proudlyand and unabashedly unabashedlysoaked soakedininthe theliberal liberalarts. arts.

information informationwith withcurrent currentstudents. students.Students Students can canreach reachout outtotoprofessionals professionalsinintheir theirfield fieldofof interest interestwith withquestions questionson onhow howtotoeffectively effectively prepare preparefor foraacareer careerthey’re they’reconsidering, considering,orortoto ask askfor forinformation informationon onspecific specificemployers employersoror graduate graduateschools. schools.IfIfaastudent studentknows knowsthey theywill willbe be relocating relocatingtotoaanew newcity cityorormoving movingabroad abroadafter after graduation, graduation,CANE CANEisisalso alsoaaresource resourcefor forreaching reaching out outtotoBennies Benniesand andJohnnies Johnniesininthat thatarea. area.

Summer Summer2015 2015 | | 23 23

DEVELOPING CONNECTIONS CONNECTIONS DEVELOPING “It’snot notwhat whatyou youknow, know,it’s it’swho whoyou youknow.” know.”

“It’s somepoint pointininthe thecareer careerplanning planningprocess, process, AtAtsome everyonebegins beginstotounderstand understandthe thetruth truth everyone behindthose thosewords. words.The Theimportance importanceofof behind networkingcannot cannotbe beoverstated, overstated,but butininan an networking ageofofrobust robustsocial socialmedia, media,when wheneveryone everyone age hasthe theability abilitytotoconnect connectwith withthousands thousands has globally,Saint SaintBen’s Ben’sbelieves believesinindoing doingmore more globally, thanjust justbuilding buildingaanetwork. network. than “Weencourage encourageour ouralumnae alumnaeand andstudents students “We buildrelationships, relationships,not notjust justnetworks,” networks,” totobuild saysValerie ValerieJones, Jones,executive executivedirector directorofof says CSBalumnae alumnaerelations. relations.“Having “Havinghundreds hundreds CSB connectionson onLinkedIn LinkedInwill willnever neverbe beas as ofofconnections valuableas asaarelationship relationshipwith withone oneperson personinin valuable yourcareer careerfield fieldwho whohas hastaken takenan aninterest interestinin your helpingyou.” you.” helping Thatline lineofofthinking thinkingisiswhy whysome someofofthe themost most That importantcareer careerresources resourcesavailable availableare are important theannual annualevents eventsthat thatconnect connectalums alumsand and the employersdirectly directlywith withstudents. students.The TheCareer Career employers EXPO,aafull-day full-dayevent eventopen opentotostudents studentsfrom from EXPO, allclasses, classes,majors majorsand andcareer careerinterests, interests,isisan an all excellentopportunity opportunityfor forstudents studentstotomake make excellent face-to-faceconnections connectionsregardless regardlessofofwhere where face-to-face theyare areininthe thecareer careerpreparation preparationprocess. process. they

andskills skillsshe shegained gainedfrom fromon-campus on-campus and departments.“I“Icontacted contactedalums alumsthrough through departments.

CANEand anddid didinformational informationalinterviews interviewswith with CANE them;I Isecured securedinternships internshipsand andon oncampus campus them; jobsthanks thankstotoCareer CareerServices Servicesand andELCE; ELCE; jobs becameso sopassionate passionateabout aboutexposing exposing I Ibecame otherstudents studentstotothese theseresources resourcesthat thatI Ieven even other worked/volunteeredas asaacareer careerassistant assistant worked/volunteered fortwo twoyears,” years,”says saysJessica.

Jessica.“Through “Througheach each for experience,I Ilearned learnedmore moreand andmore moreabout about experience, thefield fieldofofhigher highereducation. education.I’m I’mexcited excitedfor for the thenext nextsteps stepsafter aftergraduation graduationand, and,perhaps perhaps the mostimportantly, importantly,I Iknow knowI’m I’mready.” ready.” most And,as asaarecently recentlycompleted completedsurvey surveyofofyoung young And, alumnae(2009-2012) (2009-2012)shows, shows,she’s she’snot notalone. alone. alumnae Benniesgraduate graduateready readytotoget gettotowork. work.And And Bennies they’regraduating graduatingready readytotofind findthe thework work they’re theywant. want. they 87%ofofCSB CSBalumnae alumnaeindicated indicatedthat thattheir their •• 87% experienceshere hereprepared preparedthem themwell wellfor for experiences theircareers. careers. their 88%said saidthat thatthe theliberal liberalarts artseducation education •• 88% theyreceived receivedhas hascontributed contributed they significantlytotoboth boththeir theirpersonal personaland and significantly professionaldevelopment. development. professional 84%describe describetheir theircurrent currentoccupation occupation •• 84% asmeaningful meaningful— —with with88inin10 10describing describing as theircurrent currentoccupation occupationas asrelated relatedtoto their theirdesired desiredcareer careerpath. path. their

TheEXPO EXPOincludes includescareer careerseminars, seminars,aacareer career The fairand andaanetworking networkingreception receptionwhere wherealums alums fair areavailable availabletotoanswer answerquestions, questions,offer offeradvice advice are andprovide providefeedback. feedback.The The2014 2014Career CareerEXPO EXPO and Novemberbrought broughtmore morethan than150 150alums alums ininNovember andemployers employerstotothe theSaint SaintBen’s Ben’scampus. campus. and

BOOST YOUR YOUR CAREER CAREER BOOST

“Whilethe theCareer CareerEXPO EXPOisisan anexcellent excellent “While opportunityfor forstudents studentstotoexplore explorecareers careers opportunity andpractice practiceskills, skills,it’s it’salso alsoaagreat greatevent eventfor for and alumstotomake makeconnections connectionsthat thatcould couldlead leadtoto alums talentednew newhire hirefor fortheir theircompany companyonce once aatalented thestudent studenthas hasgraduated,” graduated,”says saysValerie.

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24 | | College CollegeofofSaint SaintBenedict BenedictMagazine Magazine 24

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Summer Summer2015 2015 | | 25 25

I’M A BENNIE I’M A BENNIE

ANTHONIQUE HANNA Being a woman is a beautiful thing

’13

Anthonique (second from right), Taneisha Dean ’12 and Cassie Knowles ’12 met with President Mary Dana Hinton on her recent visit to the Bahamas. (See page 6 to learn more.)

As a Senior Statistical Assistant in the Research Department at the Central Bank of the Bahamas, Anthonique Hanna has firsthand exposure to all that happens in the Bahamian economy.

The Central Bank, like many others in the region, is relied on to provide accurate and timely economic data to the Bahamian government and public.

“My work is very interesting and it’s motivating to have a bird’s eye view of what’s happening in the economy,” says Anthonique. In addition to working at the Central Bank, she is also a teacher’s assistant for economics courses at the local Banking Institute.

26 | College of Saint Benedict Magazine

Major at CSB:

Little-known talent:

Economics

I love to dance. I participate in a local festival known as Junkanoo, often-times showing off my dance skills on the main downtown strip.

First-year residence hall: I transferred to Saint Ben’s at the beginning of my sophomore year. The first dorm I stayed in was Brian.

Favorite course/professor: I had three professors that really impacted my college life and beyond.

They are: Parker Wheatley, Economics; Daniel Finn, Economics; and Paul Marsnik, Global Business Leadership.

I learned a great deal from these men and find myself reflecting on their teachings and words of wisdom often.

Latest great adventure: I currently serve as the Vice President of the College of Saint Benedict Alumnae Association’s Bahamas chapter. This past year, we embarked on a journey to organize a gala in order to raise funds for Bahamian students attending CSB/SJU. We were able to pull off a fantastic event this past February where both presidents and other school officials came down for the occasion.

Favorite Bennie memory:

My hero:

During my senior trip to China for the E-scholars program, I became sick on New Year’s Eve. Shanghai was buzzing with loads of activities but four Bennies came to my room and spent the entire night with me so I wouldn’t bring in the new year alone. It was the most thoughtful thing they could have done; it was that night I experienced the power of our Bennie sisterhood.

The late E. Daphnie Hanna. She was a beloved wife, mother, friend, teacher and epitome of what I aspire to be. Growing up, I always admired my mother. She was a successful business woman, a loving mother, a care-taker for all who were in need, a devout steward and a woman of God. Every morning I wake up knowing that I stand on the shoulders of a strong woman that went before me and her spirit lives in me.

What are the greatest challenges in your career?

There is disconnect between what is the more economically sound thing for the government to do versus what will push forth political agendas or reelection initiatives. The expectations of the citizens versus the reality of what the government can truly provide on a limited budget is also difficult to balance.

What advice would you give emerging women leaders?

Being a woman is a beautiful thing.

Being a strong, confident woman who knows her worth is even more beautiful.

As you become the woman you want to be, you should look at every experience as a learning opportunity to mold you.

In life, difficult things will happen, but it’s your outlook that will make those things a mountain or a minor bump in the road. In all that you do, continue to put God first.

CLASS NOTES CLASS NOTES

MILESTONES 1960

Oregon Catholic Press published 14 musical arrangements by S. Christine Manderfeld, along with two original compositions, “Come Paraclete” and “Christ Is Born to Us This Day.”

1977

Ann Ruff was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award by Benilde-St. Margaret (BSM) High School’s Hall of Honor in Jan. ’15 for her dedication and service in the volunteer community, as well as her significant contribution to the greater BSM community.

1978

Barb Torborg Melsen was honored with the Red Knight Leadership Award by Benilde-St. Margaret High School’s Hall of Honor in Jan. ’15 for her dedication and service in the volunteer community.

1980

Kathleen Soltis Waletzko was featured in the St. Cloud Times for her work as a vocal teacher at Holdingford High School.

1983

Kathleen Kampa completed her MA TESOL degree from St. Cloud State University in summer 2014.

Kathy Lantry is the public works director for the city of St. Paul, Minn.

1984

Anne Nicolai is a writer and book editor living in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

1985

Barb Houle, Ph.D. was featured in the March issue of Austin Living Magazine, highlighting her experiences in Africa.

1987

Kathryn Hutchinson Majsak was named to the Board of Trustees at Niagara University, N.Y. She is also vice president for the division of student affairs at St. John’s University, N.Y., where she has been appointed to serve on the University Personnel Committee, as well as co-chair the President’s Multicultural Advisory Committee, the University’s Executive Planning Committee and the Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees.

1989

Carla Noack teaches acting for the M.F.A. professional actor training program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. In 2014, she directed UMKC’s production of “Miss Julie.”

1992

Deborah Heinzmann was promoted to assistant director of guest relations for the Milwaukee Public Museum, Sept. ’14.

1993

Lynn Nielsen Dahlin was inducted into the Rosemount High School Hall of Fame, Jan. ’15.

ANNE SUMANGIL

appeared on Fox Channel 9 in the Twin Cities to talk about her Woman of the Year fundraising campaign for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

2002

Anna Selmecki published an article in Nature: International Weekly Journal of Science in March.

2003

2008

Alyssa Malecek Toft is an associate at Lewis P.C., in Minneapolis, Minn.

Nritya Ramani is working with the Baltimore Resettlement Center and is a regular columnist for Thirty Something magazine.

Kenzie Kraemer is a master of public health candidate at Emory University, Atlanta, Ga. She is also an intern at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Ga.

2009

Stephanie Majka-Nava is a licensed therapist at Community Crisis Connections, Denver, Colo.

Jolene Brink is enrolled in the M.F.A. program at the University of Montana.

GRACE BROGAN & JOHN KAMMAN (SJU ’05)

’05

were featured on MPR News in Dec. ’14 for their adventures living in a yurt located north of Bemidji, Minn.

Heather Laflin Stoven is an extension horticulturalist at Oregon State University, Corvallis, Ore. Bridget Nuhring Faber became partner of Mahowald Insurance Agency in February.

Emily Mages Rath is the assistant medical director at CSB Student Health Services.

Jen Scheffler Schrader was featured on the cover of the Jan./Feb. ’15 Minnetonka Magazine for her jewelry line, Realia.

Rev. Dorothy Hageman Duquette gave the homily during mass at Saint John’s Abbey in Collegeville, in honor of Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Jan. ’15.

1998

’99

BC

For complete news and notes from classmates and to post your notes, go to BenniesConnect: www.csbalum.csbsju.edu or email us at csbalumnae@csbsju.edu.

Summer 2015 | 27

CLASS NOTES CLASS NOTES

2010

MARRIAGES

BETH HAUTH

’10

was featured in the Peace Corps news alert, Feb. ’15, when CSB made the annual list of the top 25 volunteer-producing small colleges and universities across the country. She taught middle school math as a Peace Corps volunteer in Burkina Faso, from June 2011-13.

Hadley McIntosh is studying at Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Her work was published in the Limnology and Oceanography Journal in March.

2011

Megan Buermann was featured in the CSB/SJU alumnae/i profiles for her work in cardiac rehabilitation. She is a registered clinical exercise physiologist in cardiac rehabilitation at Meeker Memorial Hospital in Litchfield, Minn.

Anna Burgason Dirksen is a project manager at Bentz Whaley Flessner in Minneapolis, Minn.

2012

Shannon McEvoy has been working on a report for mosaic workshops with high school students in Valparaiso, Chile since June ’14.

In 2014, she participated in two international urban art interventions for mosaic in Santiago, Chile and in Cali, Colombia.

2013

Kayla Olson is working with the Transportation Security Administration at SeaTac Airport, Seattle, Wash.

Alisha Ayers is a registered nurse at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview in Minneapolis.

Mei Lam Kwok is a senior digital designer at ISOBAR, Hong Kong, China.

2014

Katie Kenfield teaches theater classes at Jersey City Children’s Theater in N.J. and also serves as managing director of the company with Kathy Hendrickson ’87.

Gretchen Sitzer is the first CSB alumna to participate in Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE). ACE allows participants to earn a master of education degree while teaching at under-resourced Catholic elementary schools. Gretchen is currently teaching English language arts to grades six through eight at St. Mary of Carmel Catholic School in Dallas, Texas.

AMANDA TAYLOR TO JONATHAN BOROFKA-WEBB, NOV. ’14 1991 2001 2002 2003

Suzanne Bettendorf to James Weyer, Dec. ’14 Sarah Gottfried to Kaylynn Brown, June ’14

’03

Amy Schwarz to Tyler Teggatz ’04, May ’14 Melea Reifenrath to John Hargis, Aug. ’14

Amanda Patton to Ben Koubsky, Oct. ’14

AMANDA SCHMITZ TO WETTEYA SAINTIL, SEPT. ’11 28 | College of Saint Benedict Magazine

2004

’07

2008

’08

NICOLE KESSLER TO ZACH SCHMITT ’08, MAY ’14

2008

Kate Waage to Christian McPherson ’07, June ’10 Natalia Calderon to Brad Hofman, Sept. ’14

2009 2010

Hillary Scherweit to Brad Ogle, June ’14 Katherine Hanson to Kevin Davis, May ’14

’10

BETSY VAN CLEVE TO KEIR STIEGLER ’09, OCT. ’14 2011 2012

Melanie Miesen to Troy Griffith, Aug. ’13

THE WAILERS Saturday, Sept. 12 @ 7:30PM Escher Auditorium, CSB NATURE FOR THE NATION Friday, Sept. 18 @ 5:30PM Saturday, Sept. 19 @ 1:30PM Saturday, Sept. 19 @ 5:30PM Sunday, Sept. 20 @ 1:30PM Saint John’s Abbey Arboretum

’12

LAUREN HERZOG TO ANTHONY SCARDIGLI ’12, JUNE ’14

SEAN JONES QUARTET Saturday, Sept. 26 @ 7:30PM Gorecki Family Theater, CSB

Katie Atkinson to Justin Stangler ’12, Sept. ’13

THE PIGEONING Saturday, Oct. 3 @ 7:30PM Gorecki Family Theater, CSB

Laura Monahan to Michael Williams ’11, Oct. ’14

CIRQUE ALFONSE

Molly Eisenschenk to Jack Daggett ’12, June ’14

2013

TIMBER! Friday, Oct. 16 @ 7:30PM Escher Auditorium, CSB

Joan Van Grinsven to Robert Doss ’13, Oct. ’14 Bridget Hooley to Mark Kuhl ’12, Aug. ’14

BELA FLECK & ABIGAIL WASHBURN Saturday, Oct. 24 @ 7:30PM Escher Auditorium, CSB

Cari Chock to Tommy O’Laughlin ’13, June ’14 Jenny Keller to Mark Levin, Mar. ’15

2014

Kayley Van Gelder to Jesse Dykhoff ’14, June ’14

Keep the connections alive at facebook.com/SaintBensAlums

WWW.CSBSJU.EDU/WOW

Summer 2015 | 29

?

CLASS NOTES CLASS NOTES

BIRTHS

DID YOU KNOW?

’04

1

In what year did CSB have the largest number of graduates?

2

How many CSB/SJU students participated in spring 2015 intramural sports at CSB?

3

Where did CSB hold graduation ceremonies before the Haehn Campus Center Fieldhouse was built?

4

Every spring, Adirondack chairs appear on the lawn throughout campus. How many chairs are there?

KENNA CAUGHEY DOOLEY & ADAM DOOLEY, BOY, CAMERON, NOV. ’14 1993

Kelly Schmitt & Patrick Cousans, girl, Nora, Mar. ’14

2001

1997

Sarah Jost Sutton & Jeremy Sutton ’01, boy, Jack, Nov. ’14 Angela Laveen Pokharel & Gaurav Pokharel ’02, girl, Priya, June ’14 Melissa Hemmelgarn Fox & Michael Fox ’01, boy, Myles, Mar. ’15

2002

Megan Morrison Bisek & Zachary Bisek, boy, Cameron, Aug. ’14 Michelle Kelash Hemmesch & Michael Hemmesch ’97, girl, Elena, Jan. ’15

Megan Casey Shakow & Peter Shakow, boy, Matthew, Feb. ’15

1998

Stacy Schmitz-Jansky & Benjamin Jansky ’97, girl, Jessica, Dec. ’14

1999

Carol Rueckert Hill & Richard Hill, girl, Rosie, Nov. ’14

30 | College of Saint Benedict Magazine

Linda Studer & David Stein, boy, Robert, Feb. ’15 Kelly Schroepfer Christenson & Eric Christenson, girl, Elin, Feb. ’14 Melinda Schumer Hoefer & Shane Hoefer ’02, girl, Cecilia, Nov. ’14 Emily Mages Rath & Brennen Rath ’03, girl, Brynlee, Apr. ’13 Jodi Dahlberg Fiskness & Carl Fiskness, girl, Greta, Feb. ’15

Answers 1. 2013 (There were 514 graduates.)

2. 433 3. The Benedicta Arts Center 4. 45 chairs

’97

HEATHER ROGERS YIN & DARA YIN, GIRL, HARPER, JAN. ’15

Sadie Vagher LaFrance & Joel LaFrance ’03, girl, Ruby, Nov. ’14

2003

Amanda Schmitz Saintil & Wetteya Saintil, boy, Liam, Dec. ’14

2004

Amy Anderson Johnson & Nate Johnson, boy, Eli, July ’14 Anna Richardson Hedrix & Jason Hedrix, girl, Grace, Feb. ’15 Sue Schulzetenberg Gully & Mike Gully ’00, girl, Mackenzie, Jan. ’15 Kerry Schoenecker Geis & Brandon Geis ’04, girl, Hadley, Oct. ’14

2005

’05

KATHRYN ENGER ENKE & JOSH ENKE ’06, BOY, CALEB, MAR. ’15 Maria Salo Jurgens & B.P. Jurgens, girl, Elsie, Sept. ’14 Nicole Pagliaccetti Phillipich & Jeff Phillipich, girl, Sarah, July ’14 Katie Wilcox Jahnke & Brady Jahnke ’03, girl, Claire, Feb. ’15 Jackie Pelgrin Henry & Joseph Henry ’05, girl, Bonnie, Nov. ’14 Meghan McMurray Currens & Ryan Currens, boy, Jerald, Mar. ’15

2006

Jessica Rasmusson Bruns & Jonathan Bruns ’08, boy, Guthrie, Dec. ’14

2007

Kellie McQuade Perry & Todd Perry ’07, girl, Eliana, Jan. ’14

next

Bringing home the

ALUM CAMPUS VISIT DAY FRIDAY, JULY 24 This spring we held our first ever Refer a Bennie/Johnnie Day and the response was fantastic. Alums like you introduced us to 362 prospective new students!

Now it’s time to step up and step onto campus. You and your high school aged children, neighbors, nieces, nephews, etc., are all invited to spend the day with us for Alum Campus Visit Day. Let’s show and tell them what makes Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s such an ideal place to live and learn!

Jessica Taragos Pasek & Jon Pasek ’07, girl, Macy, July ’14 Kaitlin Korkowski Haug & Ryan Haug, boy, Connor, Oct. ’14

2008

Natalie Ulrich Petersen & Dan Petersen ’08, boy, Landon, Dec. ’14 Kimberly Murphy Ellingboe & Erik Ellingboe ’08, boy, Carter, Dec. ’14 Megan Duppler Appelwick & Scott Appelwick ’08, boy, Keegan, Nov. ’14

2009

Heather Laudenbach Kociemba & Dustin Kociemba ’07, boy, Hunter, Jan. ’15

For more information and to register, visit: https://admissions.csbsju.edu/register/alumvisitday2015 Or, log onto our website at www.csbsju.edu and search for Alum Visit Day.

Summer 2015 | 31

CLASS NOTES CLASS NOTES

2011

FRIENDLY FACES & PLACES ARE ONLY

A CLICK AWAY

’11

ASHLEY STUDNISKI KIBUTHA & JAMES KIMEU ’09, BOY, AMANI, APR. ’15 Julie Heinen Keane & Paul Keane ’10, boy, Evan, Jan. ’15

Like our page and find the latest news, information and photos from Saint Ben’s.

FACEBOOK.COM/SAINTBENSALUMS

2012

Molly Eisenschenk Daggett & Jack Daggett ’12, boy, Elliot, June ’13

DEATHS 1937 1939 1940

Dolores Pumper Roberts, Dec. ’14 Rose Marie Ebnet Hartman, Mar. ’15 Elizabeth Jude Nelson, Apr. ’14 Marguerite Petters Fogarty, mother of Anne Oberman ’82, John Fogarty ’69 & William Fogarty ’68, Mar. ’15

1942 1944 1945

Alice Hanratty, Feb. ’15 Betty Stundebeck Lochner, Dec. ’14 Phyllis Edelbrock Prem, Jan. ’15 Jeanette Thielman Welle, mother of Karen Welle Belmont ’66, Paul Welle SJU ’71, Robert Welle SJU ’73, Dr. John Patrick Welle SJU ’74, Margaret Welle Sitzer ’76, Patrick Welle SJU ’78 & Peter Timothy Welle SJU ’84

WE’RE HERE FOR YOU!

1947 1948 1949

Marion E. Linnemann, Jan. ’15 Rosemary Boyle Petters, Jan. ’15 Audrey Mettel Fixmer, Jan. ’15 Ruth Nystrom, Feb. ’15

1950

Avis Robinson Hartley, Mar. ’15 Rosemary Fleming Clarke, Mar. ’15

Who’s got more than 21,000 friends willing to offer advice, lend a helping hand and keep them up-to-date on their beloved college home? You! That’s who. Your Saint Ben’s connections never have to fade away — keep them growing strong and find us online today!

1952

S. Margaret Schweiss, Dec. ’14

1953 1955

www.facebook.com/SaintBensAlums

1956

Search “CSB/SJU Alums” group

1958

www.csbalum.csbsju.edu or email csbalumnae@csbsju.edu

32 | College of Saint Benedict Magazine

Donna Baker Harmeling, Dec. ’14 Daisy Tsui Wu, Jan. ’15 Robert Lee Corless, spouse of Ann Monteski Corless, Nov. ’14 Christine Gruenes Maul, Mar. ’15 Lorraine Jagielski Picard, Jan. ’15 Donna Laudenbach Vollmer, Apr. ’14

1967

1969 1979

Lucille Schulte, mother of Marlyce Schulte Bursch, Jacquelyn Schulte Klaphake ’67, Laurel Schulte Knettel ’71, Kathleen Schulte Fish ’73, Mary Schulte Hoffman ’79, Jonelle Schulte Marty ’84, Julie Schulte Kenny ’87, Bill Schulte ’65, David Schulte ’70, & John P. Schulte ’81, Jan. ’15 William and Agnes Haag, father and mother of Nancy Jo Haag, Jan. ’13 and Aug. ’13

Elizabeth Overman, mother of Joyce Overman Dube, Dec. ’14

Daniel Murphy, father of Sharon Murphy Burns, Feb. ’15

1985 1987

Elaine Hulick Carlson, May ’14

Mary Gapstur, mother of Marlys Gapstur Sand, Mar. ’15

1988

Yvonne Schwalbe Prince, Dec. ’14

James Mock ’54, father of Kathy Mock & Jeanne Mock ’82, Mar. ’15

1982

Emma Eskelson, Mar. ’15

Chester Angulski, father of Gail Angulski Michaletz & Kate Angulski Stifter ’88, Feb. ’15

1979

1980

Melvin Spanier, father of Denise Spanier McRae & Pam Spanier Bremseth ’84, Feb. ’15 Catherine Florance Karels, Jan. ’15

1983

James Cashman, father of Maggie Cashman & Kerry Cashman ’86, Feb. ’15

1984

J. Paul Sutherland, father of Suzette Sutherland, Jan. ’15

SHINE

TIME TO

KATHY LANGE ’64

’64

When Kathy Lange got the phone call last year asking her to be on the CSB Alumnae Board, she responded the way she always does when it comes to Saint Ben’s. She said yes. “I never thought I’d be updating my resume at 73,” she laughs.

“But when an invitation to be of service comes your way, you feel the need to respond.”

Upon her acceptance, Kathy became the oldest member to serve on the board, which requires a two-year commitment of 15 hours a month. As part of the board, Kathy also serves on the Resource Development Committee.

Kathy also volunteered as a Reunion Class Ambassador for her 50-year reunion last summer.

Besides helping to organize the

Kerry Lafferty, father of Meg Lafferty Schuller, Jan. ’15 Linda Goodwin Ilstrup, Mar. ’15

1991 1992

Jacki Puskarich McNeal, Dec. ’14 Christopher Buermann, son of Karen Svihel-Buermann, Mar. ’15

1993

Donna Peterson, mother of Rene Peterson Davis, Jan. ’14

1993

George Zirnhelt, father of Sarah Zirnhelt Alt, Feb. ’15

2004

Allison Holewa Bahar, Mar. ’15

event, she made phone calls and wrote letters encouraging classmates to attend. Her work paid off. Of 81 graduates from the class of 1964, 50 alums attended and 18 were honored in a memorial service. “You might think that after 50 years, you’ve made all of the connections possible,” says Kathy, “but I’m still meeting new people from our graduating class and forming new and deep friendships.”

Her latest volunteer work involves encouraging donors to become Sustainers (donors who give monthly, automatic gifts).

“Saint Ben’s gave me a first-rate education taught by brilliant

“I never thought I’d be updating my resume at 73,” she laughs. “But when an invitation to be of service comes your way, you feel the need to respond.” women. It’s up to us to take the torch from the Sisters and pass it forward. This is our time to give so others may receive.”

Summer 2015 | 33

BENNIE CONNECTION BENNIE CONNECTION

1

2 1. CSB President Mary Dana Hinton was the commencement speaker last month at her high school alma mater, St. Mary’s School in Raleigh, N.C. While in town, she had the chance to get together with some area Bennies! Pictured are: Karen Kartheiser Schaaf ’80, Jolene Strait Smith ’77, Mary, Gini Todd ’17 and Maria Borash Lund ’88.

2. In January, a group of young alums gathered at the Fogerty Arena in Blaine, Minn. for curling lessons, and then got down to business pushing chunks of granite across the ice.

3. Bocce and beer were the order of the evening in May when the Young Alum Community got together at Republic in Uptown Minneapolis.

Pictured are: Ricky Kirchner (SJU ’13), Brandon Hildreth (SJU ’13), Alexa LaPatka ’12 and Michelle McFarlane ’12.

3 34 | College of Saint Benedict Magazine

4. A group of Bennie alums went on the adventure of a lifetime this past February, to dogsled several miles along the borders of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, with Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge, founded by Paul Schurke SJU ’77. Featured here (back-front, left-right): Sara Scott Garry ’03, Justine Engle-Polk South ’93, Kate Ritger ’03, Bridget Sitzer Nordlund ’08, Katie DesLauriers Sullivan ’03, Joan DesLauriers Donner ’80, Kristin Donner ’12, Margi Welle Sitzer ’76, Heidi Wolak-Faber ’97, Emily Stamp and Sarah Bennett Keller ’96.

5. CSB President Mary Dana Hinton has been traveling around the country to meet with Bennie alumnae. One of her stops this spring was sunny southern California. Alumnae and even a few prospective students met at the Los Angeles Cathedral to learn about the college and to meet our new president.

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6. Each year, Bennies represent their alma mater at various inaugurations around the country serving as delegates on behalf of CSB. Kimberly Mielke ’94, and her sister, Kristin Mielke Beckers ’94, attended the inauguration of Furman University’s (Greenville, S.C.) twelfth president, Elizabeth Davis, Ph.D., in March ’15.

7. The 3rd Annual REDTalks, hosted by the CSB/SJU Young Alum Committee, was a big success this year. The event took place at the Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis. Bennies and Johnnies of all classes listened to presentations ranging from circus performance to traveling the country to magic tricks. This year’s presenters were (from left-to-right): Paul-Vincent Niebauer, OSB ’74, Jared Sherlock ’11, Katie Stern ’08, Kristin Sweetman ’08, Kari-Shane Davis Zimmerman, Ian Scherber ’16, Sally Koering Zimney ’99, Ana Nugent ’15, Paul Schurke ’77, Bob Bell ’94 and Krista Cleary Carroll ’00.

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Making a recurring gift shouldn’t have to be.

Keeping our annual giving program strong is a big deal.

This critical program supports scholarships, which make it possible for the next generation of Bennies to change the world.

No one knows that better than our Saint Ben’s Sustainers.

Our Sustainers understand the need for steady streams of income that keep our annual giving program strong.

They provide the security of reliable support through recurring gifts. This allows us to plan more effectively, administer the fund more efficiently and, ultimately, impact the lives of more students.

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Becoming a Saint Ben’s Sustainer and making a recurring gift is more convenient than ever.

Simply choose the frequency (monthly, quarterly or annually) and the vehicle (electronic funds transfer or credit card). When you do, you’ll join an elite group of stewards that give us a stronger foundation to build tomorrow’s dreams on. That’s certainly a big deal.

BECOME A SAINT BEN’S SUSTAINER. Learn more and enroll at givecsb.com.

GENEROSITY GENEROSITY

Commited to giving back

BY | SARA MOHS

When Molly Reger ’14 talks about her experiences at Saint Ben’s, you can hear the affection in her voice and feel the enduring gratitude in her words. As Molly puts it, “I could talk about Saint Ben’s until I’m blue in the face.”

I want to give back to the school and the students and the experience that I love. I want to help someone else have the education of their dreams.”

So when Molly had an opportunity to become part of the Young Alumnae President’s Circle (YAPC), she wasted no time making the commitment.

“She’s giving more than the minimum despite the fact that her career is going through a transition. That speaks to Molly as a person and her priorities,” adds Joy.

While still a senior at Saint Ben’s, Molly committed to giving $5 a month through automated giving. Later that same year, she increased her monthly gift to $10.

Molly says giving back financially is the least she can do for the life-changing experiences and connections she acquired at Saint Bens.

“Ten dollars a month isn’t a huge gift,” Molly admits. “But it’s something that I felt called to do because a lot of people have contributed to my education and the scholarship that I received.”

Joy Pohland Janssen ’10, assistant director of annual giving, says ten dollars is a significant amount for someone just graduating from college. “Molly is one of only 150 young alumnae leadership donors. But that wasn’t the only reason Molly’s gift stood out. It’s what Molly committed to do when life threw her a curve that gives you a true snapshot of her character,” says Joy. When Target announced its layoffs earlier this year, Molly’s position as a business analyst was eliminated. Undaunted, Molly committed to continue her monthly giving regardless of what life changes were in store.

While at Saint Ben’s, Molly studied abroad in Cork, Ireland, was an orientation leader and the captain of the dance team.

“The relationships I’ve made at Saint Ben’s are going to be lifelong friendships. The opportunities and experiences in those four years really prepared me for what’s next in life. It created a desire in me to be a lifelong learner,” Molly explains.

She also cites the Bennie/Johnnie connection as an invaluable resource as she searched out new career opportunities.

“People were so willing to talk about their careers and give me a lead to a possible opportunity. They were willing to go out of their way to help a Bennie. There’s this deep-seated connection that goes beyond description,” she says.

Though Molly considers her monthly gift just a small reflection of what Saint Ben’s has given her, Joy disagrees.

“Every gift really matters. Those five, 10 and 30 dollar gifts help sustain us year after year. They bridge the gap between someone not attending Saint Ben’s and someone attending,” explains Joy. Armed with solid values, a premier liberal arts education and the support of Bennies past and present, Molly accepted a position as Marketing Specialist at Securian Financial Group in downtown St. Paul in April.

And no matter what’s in store, she’ll give.

“I want to give back to the school and the students and the experience that I love. I want to help someone else have the education of their dreams.”

Through the Young Alumnae President’s Circle, Bennies give at leadership levels by making a onetime gift or simple, automated monthly gifts that correspond to their class year and their stage in life.

For more information, contact Joy Pohland Janssen, assistant director of annual giving, at 320-363-5913.

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memories

Illuminated

2015

Reunion

Class years ending in 0 or 5 • June 26-28 Shine your light on the good times!

There’s still time to register for reunion! Don’t miss this opportunity that comes only once every five years.

There will be plenty of fun with friends, updates on the college and back-to-class sessions. Come back and join us as we light up the campus the way only Bennies can!

www.csbreunion.com