Editor Greg Skoog (SJU ’89)
Contributors
Sarah Forystek
Dan Genzler
Michael Hemmesch (SJU ’97)
Tom Morris (SJU ’89)
Tommi O’Laughlin (SJU ’13)
Heather Pieper-Olson
Frank Rajkowski Cover Photo
A fresh new look
As I reflect on the incredible legacy of the College of Saint Benedict, one thing is abundantly clear: Who we are has never been more important. Our values, rooted in Benedictine wisdom and Catholic Intellectual Tradition; our commitment to academic excellence; and our belief in the transformative power of a liberal arts, residential education for women – these core principles are timeless. They are woven into the fabric of this institution and have shaped generations of women into leaders, innovators and changemakers.
That will never change.
“The new look doesn’t change who we are; it amplifies it. It projects the very best of Saint Ben’s – our sense of community, our tradition of excellence, our belief in the power of women’s leadership – in a way that will capture the imagination of the young women who will carry our mission forward in the years to come.”
However, we are facing what’s known in higher-ed circles as the “demographic cliff,” an impending decline in the number of graduating high school students (and, therefore, the number of college-bound students) in the coming years. It’s a reality that institutions across the country are grappling with, and we are no exception. This moment calls on us to be forward-thinking and bold – not in who we are, but in how we share that identity with the world.
This fall, we’ve rolled out a fresh new look for Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s, complete with updated fonts, a refreshed color palette and an overall brand evolution that reflects the Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s spirits in a way that will resonate with the next generation of Bennies and Johnnies. I want to say how proud I am of the incredible work our marketing team has done to bring this new vision to life.
Let me tell you, this wasn’t just a casual refresh or a trendy design update. It was a process grounded in extensive market research, with surveys and feedback from students, alumnae, prospective students and their parents. It was informed by data but brought to life by the heart of who we are. Our team took that information and skillfully threaded the needle – staying true to our mission and values while creating a brand identity that speaks to today’s students (who, let’s be honest, see the world a bit differently than many of us did at 18).
The new look doesn’t change who we are; it amplifies it. It projects the very best of Saint Ben’s – our sense of community, our tradition of excellence, our belief in the power of women’s leadership – in a way that will capture the imagination of the young women who will carry our mission forward in the years to come.
This moment is about growth and opportunity. We have an incredible chance to celebrate who we are in ways that inspire new generations. Our refreshed look and renewed energy reflect the bright future ahead of us, and I hope you’ll join me in embracing this exciting chapter. We are honoring our past while building a vibrant future – one that will continue to shape generations of Bennies for years to come.
Together, we’re ensuring that the College of Saint Benedict remains a place where our core values thrive, where women are empowered to become the innovators and changemakers our society so desperately needs, and where their dreams and ambitions are supported by a community that believes in them wholeheartedly. I’m grateful to each of you for your role in making that possible.
Brian J. Bruess, Ph.D. President, College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University
TEAM SPIRIT
Assistant coach Emily Willaert ’10 (left), head coach Steve Kimble (second left) and the Saint Ben’s soccer team joined a few hundred other Bennies, Johnnies, alums, faculty, staff and friends for Minnesota United’s 4-1 “decision day” win over St. Louis SC at Allianz Field in St. Paul. CSB and SJU are the official higher-ed partners of Minnesota United FC.
Campus-Wide Initiative Aimed to Calm Partisan Rancor
This fall, Disagreeing Better has been a dialogue-rich, relationship-building partnership between our entire CSB and SJU community and Minnesota’s Reduce the Rancor initiative, an offspring of the national nonpartisan, nonprofit Braver Angels dedicated to political depolarization.
Developed by caring citizens after the 2016 election, Braver Angels offers workshops, debates and events where participants across the political spectrum come together using tools of the Braver Angels way. The Disagreeing Better initiative this fall embraced that approach, including expectations of:
• Stating our views freely and fully, without fear .
• Treating people who disagree with us with honesty, dignity and respect .
• Welcoming opportunities to engage those with whom we disagree.
• Believing all of us have blind spots and none of us are not worth talking to.
• Seeking to disagree accurately , avoiding exaggeration and stereotypes.
• Looking for common ground where it exists and, if possible, finding ways to work together
• Believing that, in disagreements, both sides share and learn
• Learning to practice intense empathy and empathic listening in all encounters.
• Forging greater understanding of our neighbors, colleagues, peers and family members.
One key highlight was this fall’s 18th annual McCarthy Lecture, featuring author and professor John Inazu in collaboration with The Theater of Public Policy improvcomedy group. Inazu is the Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University in St. Louis. He was joined by Tane Danger of the Theatre of Public Policy to talk about his latest book “Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to Navigating
Differences with Empathy and Respect,” after which the TPP improv actors jumped in with their thoughts and reactions. The evening was described as “C-SPAN meets Saturday Night Live.”
Another highlight was the firstannual Bennie/Johnnie-Tommie Debate series. University of St. Thomas students came to Saint Ben’s in September to consider the question “Is cancel culture erasing free speech in America?” using the Braver Angels debate methodology. Bennies and Johnnies then traveled to St. Paul in October to engage in a lively debate with Tommies on the resolution, “Social media has ruined an entire generation.”
Two Members Join CSB and SJU Boards of Trustees
Two new voting members were named to the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University Boards of Trustees for three-year terms, effective on July 1:
Joy Plamann
Plamann is the executive vice president and chief operating officer for CentraCare and president for St. Cloud Hospital. Plamann started her career with CentraCare – St. Cloud Hospital in 1994. She has previously served in a variety of roles, including vice president of Acute Care/ St. Cloud Hospital chief nursing officer, Care Center director, core charge nurse and staff development nurse. She received her BSN from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, a health care MBA from the University of St. Thomas and a doctorate of nursing practice in health systems and executive leadership from the University of Pittsburgh. Plamann also serves as an advisor to the CSB graduate nursing program.
New Members Named to CSB Alumnae Board
On July 1, five Saint Ben’s alumnae joined the Alumnae Association Board of Directors.
Including these new additions, the 41-member CSB Alumnae Board now represents CSB alumnae from a 65-year age range The eldest member graduated in 1959 and the two youngest members are May graduates from the class of 2024.This group also spans 11 hours on the world clock . It’s a broad, dedicated group of volunteers who work hard to represent every generation of Bennies, wherever they are in the world. All Saint Ben’s alumnae (defined as having spent two semesters at Saint Ben’s) are members of the Alumnae Association.
Gen. Paul M. Nakasone ’86 Nakasone retired in February 2024 from his position as commander of U.S. Cyber Command, director of the National Security Agency and chief of the Central Security Service, a position he took in May 2018. He currently serves as the founding director and leader of the new Institute for National Defense and Global Security at Vanderbilt University. In June he joined the board of directors for OpenAI. A native of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, Nakasone graduated from Saint John’s, where he received his commission through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).
Nritya Sultana ’08
– co-CEO and cofounder of Agni Core Corporation, Dubai, UAE
“My goal is to market our passion for cultural exploration and commitment to academic excellence.”
Liz Hamak ’24 – volunteer coordinator, Sartell, Minnesota
“I feel as though serving on the Alumnae Board will be a great way to stay connected with the institution that has done so much for me.”
Clair Moonen ’24 – coordinated campaign field organizer, Delano, Minnesota
“I think that, as a first-gen grad, it is a great identity to bring to the table to let students know they can do it, too.”
Racheal Yates ’15 – program director, Sunnyvale, California
“I would like to plan events and develop deep relationships with the current students. To use my administrative skills to serve the Saint Ben’s community.”
Jill Kedrowski Witham ’94 – STEM specialist/ science teacher, Lino Lakes, Minnesota
“I hope to help others take their CSB experience beyond the four short years they are on campus, and to help make being a Bennie a lifelong experience.”
Where Do We Stand?
It’s always encouraging to see Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s consistently ranked highly among some of the most reputable annual lists and rankings!
U.S. News and World Report
National Liberal Arts Top Schools
CSB was ranked No. 71 and SJU No. 80 in this year’s U.S. News and World Report rankings of national liberal arts schools. CSB has moved up 25 spots in the last four years and SJU has moved up 25 spots in the last three years. CSB was ranked No. 39 and SJU No. 54 in the national liberal arts “Best Value Schools” category.
Washington Monthly’s Top 75 Liberal Arts Colleges
CSB was ranked No. 44 and SJU No. 72 among liberal arts schools by Washington Monthly. Schools are rated based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility, research and providing opportunities for public service. Both schools were ranked in Washington Monthly’s category, “Best Bang for the Buck Rankings: Midwest.” CSB was ranked No. 83 and SJU No. 132.
Alums Excel to Earn Entrepreneur of the Year Recognition
Money Magazine’s Best Colleges in America
CSB and SJU were included among America’s best colleges by Money Magazine this year, with a ranking of four-and-a-half out of five stars for each school. Money’s analysis showcases the country’s top 745 colleges based on graduation rates, cost of attendance, financial aid, alumni salaries and more. CSB and SJU were also included in the Best Colleges in the Midwest and Best Colleges with High Acceptance Rates categories.
In October, the Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship proudly presented the 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards to three successful CSB and SJU alums. Award winners are alums who have successfully launched and led ventures, seized opportunities and initiated changes that create value.
Lacie Schroden Gerhardson ’00
CSB Entrepreneur of the Year Owner, Gerhardson Chiropractic, LLC
Dr. Lacie Gerhardson completed her undergraduate studies at Saint Ben’s with a degree in biology. She then pursued her doctor of chiropractic degree from Northwestern Health Sciences University. She holds a certification from the Academy of Chiropractic Family Practice and the Council on Chiropractic Pediatrics. In 2018 she founded Gerhardson Chiropractic, which now has offices in Waite Park, Foley and Cold Spring.
Anthony Schmidt ’09
SJU Entrepreneur of the Year Founder and CEO, Tarmac
Anthony Schmidt is the Founder and CEO of Tarmac – a nearshore software development company with over 300 engineers in the United States, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, The Netherlands and North Macedonia. The company designs, builds, scales and maintains custom software for companies like Caribou Coffee, Allina Health, and Boston Scientific. In addition to Tarmac, Schmidt owns and operates several other businesses in the software and hospitality space.
Katie Kalkman ’06
CSB+SJU Social Entrepreneur of the Year Executive Director of Impact Hub MSP
Katie Kalkman is the executive director of Impact Hub MSP, part of a global network fostering inclusive and sustainable innovation. A serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Fölk School Warroad, Kalkman graduated from Saint Ben’s with a focus on business ethics. As a member of the McNeely Center’s inaugural Entrepreneur Scholars cohort, she and her team launched the successful venture, Collegeville Carpet.
Nursing Students Play Key Role in New Community Outpost
A free clinic in east St. Cloud will be staffed by CSB and SJU nursing department faculty members and graduate students. Undergraduate students will also help at the facility, doing hands-on clinical work and engaging in preventative and educational health activities.
Construction began in October on the project, which will be housed in what was the education wing of the Salem Lutheran Church building.
The facility, run by the Greater St. Cloud Public Safety Foundation, will include space for the St. Cloud Police Department, emergency health services and a free medical clinic, which will be run under St. Cloud Hospital’s Project HEAL in partnership with the CSB graduate nursing program.
“Students will benefit from a comprehensive, real-world learning environment that encourages them to take active roles in community health initiatives,” said Jennifer Peterson ’98, chair of the graduate nursing program at CSB. “These experiences will prepare them to lead in their future careers by cultivating their abilities to address community-specific health issues,
promote social justice and advocate for equitable health care access.”
Salem Lutheran Church offered use of the space for the project, which is being coordinated by the Greater St. Cloud Public Safety Foundation. “(CSB Vice President of Institutional Advancement) Heather Pieper-Olson is very connected in the community and she got us in contact with the Greater St. Cloud Public Safety Foundation to discuss playing a role,” Peterson said. “It will be a free clinic. The graduate and undergraduate nursing faculty and students will be volunteering their time. CentraCare and other health care organizations in the community are supporting this initiative with assisting in the initial clinic set up and donation of supplies.
“We’re starting with one afternoon a week for our family nurse practitioner and graduate students
and 1-2 afternoons a week for our undergraduate nursing students, and we’ll grow from there. We’ll see how the community responds to having this resource, and if the need is there, hopefully we’ll be able to expand in the future.”
Graduate students in the department have already played a key role in getting the endeavor off the ground.
Becky Wensmann, who is now in her third year in the DNP-FNP program, worked with Peterson on a community assessment in the summer of 2023 to determine what the initial needs of the east-side community were.
“Being able to serve the community and learn at the same time is a huge opportunity,” Wensmann said. “It’s a chance to create a safe place for people to come and provides us the ability to promote preventative medicine to those who may not have access otherwise.
“This is really a win-win for the community and those in the East St. Cloud area and it’s also a chance for us to get real-time experience.”
Strong New Class Joins Athletics Hall of Fame
BY | DAN GENZLER
On Oct. 5, over Homecoming Weekend, the College of Saint Benedict honored nine individuals and two teams with induction into the CSB Athletics Hall of Fame. They joined a hall that now includes 49 individuals (athletes, coaches and staff) and six teams.
This year’s induction class was the largest ever, including sev en former student-athletes and two special contributors, as well as the 1998-1999 basketball team that rea ched the NCAA DIII championship game and the 2005 4x100 relay team that finished third in the nation
Lexi Alm Johnson ’14 was a twosport standout in volleyball and softball. Named a second-team NFCA All-American in softball in 2014, she was the 2014 MIAC Player of the Year in softball and a three-time All-MIAC selection. A two-time Honorable Mention All-American in volleyball, she earned AVCA All-Central Region honors and was twice All-MIAC.
Jenna Wendorff ’06 ranks as one of the best track and field performers in school history, earning All-American honors three times. A seven-time national qualifier and eight-time All-MIAC honoree, including winning five individual titles, Jenna won three MIAC indoor shot-put titles and two outdoor crowns from 2004-06. She set indoor and outdoor school records in the shot put and led CSB to four top-six MIAC finishes.
Tina Och Uphoff ’89 was a two-time national qualifier in 1988 and 1989 in tennis. Twice she was the doubles conference champion. Named firstteam All-American in doubles in 1988, she was a two-time doubles conference champ in earning AllMIAC honors in 1988 and 1989 and helped the 1988-89 team finish second in the conference.
Anna Heikenen Johnson ’06 was a two-time NCAA DIII All-American in basketball who led CSB to one of its most successful periods in school history with three MIAC titles, two NCAA DIII national tournament appearances and an overall 90-12 record. She was the 2005-06 MIAC Player of the Year and is ranked fifth all-time in career points with 1,518.
The 2005 CSB track and field team’s 4x100 meter relay , directed by head coach Robin Balder-Lanoue ’91 (left) and including Patti Clintsman Peichel ’06, Jen Dalhed Powell ’07, Bethany Keene Buus ’06 and (not pic tured) Sarah Nezworski Lexcen ’05, finished third at the NCAA DIII Cha mpionship – the highest finish ever by a CSB relay squad. It was a memora ble and historic performance for a relay squad that clocked a school re cord 47.55 at the DIII Championship.
Carol Howe-Veenstra (left), in her 30-year tenure at CSB as athletic director and volleyball coach, helped pave the way for the success of future student-athletes in the College of Saint Benedict Athletic Department, including establishing the hockey program and upgrading facilities. She coached 10 AllAmericans and guided CSB volleyball to 11 NCAA Tournaments, including a Final Four appearance in 1990. MIAC Coach and Region Coach of the Year twice, she led CSB to six MIAC volleyball titles. She received the Nell Jackson Administrator of the Year Award from Women Leaders in Sports in 2011.
Dr. LuAnn Reif (right) served as the faculty athletic representative for the CSB Athletic Department from 1985-2020. Named the recipient of the 27th MIAC Distinguished Service Award in 2020, Reif was a professor in the department of nursing at CSB and SJU. She was named vice president of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2003, and helped shape conference rules to ensure MIAC student-athletes receive the best academic and athletic experience possible.
The 1998-99 basketball team , which was coached by Mike Durbin, advanced to the NCAA DIII Final Four for the second time in six years. During a 28-2 season, CSB won the MIAC title at 21-2 for a seco nd straight conference crown. This team opened 11-0 and won 17 straight bef ore a loss in the NCAA DIII Championship. It is the only team in any sport in school history to finish as high as second nationally.
Courtney Remes Riach ’00 , a 10-time national qualifier (six individual and four relays) in swimming, ranks as one of the program’s best ever. She was a 17-time All-MIAC honoree who helped CSB win the MIAC title in 1997-98, was an All-American with the 200-medley relay in 1997-98 and earned Honorable Mention All-American honors in the 200-free relay as CSB finished 20th in NCAA DIII.
Toni St. Pierre ’77 , who passed away in 2013 at the age of 58, was a trailblazer in women’s athletics in the 1970s. She played a crucial role in advancing gender equity in sports and was a pioneer in earning rights to compete for girls and women. At CSB she competed with the Saint John’s men’s cross-country team because a varsity program did not yet exist at Saint Ben’s. St. Ben’s honors Toni’s legacy by hosting a crosscountry meet named in her honor.
Kathyrn Hauff Dehn ’12 ranks as one of the best golfers in CSB school history, earning All-MIAC honors three times and selection as the MIAC Senior of the Year in 2012. She was a second-team NCAA DIII AllAmerican in 2011, Honorable Mention NCAA DIII All-American in 2010, earned two NCAA Championship appearances and was the NCAA Elite 88 Award honoree in 2010.
Accepting on behalf of Toni are her daughters Alicia and Jess and her son Tim.
PROFILES
RISING
Refreshing the brand(s) at Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s
RISING
Talk for more than a few minutes about any organization’s strengths or struggles and someone is sure to bring up “their brand.” That usually results in some thoughtful head nods and murmurs of agreement … but not a lot of definition.
So what the heck is a brand? A strong brand is one of the most important assets any group has. And it’s much more than a logo and color palette.
It’s every experience and every touchpoint with every audience, every day. And caring for a healthy one is a little like those sourdough starters so many of us started fussing over a few years ago.
Pay attention, be mindful of conditions and make some timely additions and yours can be healthy, active and productive for years and years. Let things grow stagnant and it can get funky in a hurry.
Time for a refresh
The College of Saint Benedict has been educating, empowering and elevating talented, ambitious women for over 110 years. That identity, that history and those connections are priceless. In this moment though, it’s critical that we raise our visibility and profile with the next generation of students.
The “demographic cliff,” when numbers of graduating high school students plummet and competition for those students gets even more intense, is expected to begin in 2025.
Prospective college students today are applying on average to 6-8 institutions. There’s real danger of our message getting lost in the crowd.
Keep it simple
One of the most powerful advantages Saint Ben’s has to offer prospective students – the synergy of our unique relationship with Saint John’s University – also happens to be one of the most confusing elements of our identity for prospective students.
Enrolled students embrace the nuances of the integrated institutions. Alumnae celebrate the power of a women’s college experience. But to reach prospective students, we need visual and stylistic ways to simplify who the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University are.
That’s why new type treatments for our name are bigger, bolder and more legible. Use of our initials is simpler and clearer, minimizing distracting elements.
Ready to thrive with the hive
The interconnectedness of the honeycomb and the unifying architectural detail of the hexagonal pattern in the glass windows of our two most sacred spaces – our Sacred Heart Chapel and the Saint John’s Abbey and University Church – is a beautiful metaphor for what we, together as two colleges and monastic communities, are and can be.
Our own Sister Pat Kennedy described those patterns in her dissertation, noting that the windows “facilitate a sense of the divine in communion with the space …”. She went on to describe how “the honeycomb reflects the work of bees [and symbolizes] the interconnectedness of monastic work.”
According to Sister Pat, Frank Kacmarcik, who served as the liturgical design consultant for Sacred Heart Chapel and as design consultant for the Abbey and University Church, “saw the interplay of light and the chapel’s monastic lines as a means to illuminate the jewels in the space.” And what were those jewels? “The faces of the people in it.”
But beyond an appealing design and architectural element, the hexagonal honeycomb pattern speaks to our community specifically – and the Benedictine traditions that bind us. Saint Benedict’s call to monastic communities (and to us today) to practice stability and growth is echoed in the natural elements of honeycomb and bees. In stable hives they grow and each lives out their own role. Likewise, we each have our own vital role in community, working together to build a home in this place.
CSB and SJU President Brian Bruess noted in his inaugural address that, “Each time I gaze at that glorious expanse of hexagons, that honeycomb, and each time I sit in Sacred Heart Chapel, I experience a moment of pure awe. Awe that is, in the words of psychologist Dasher Keltner, ‘the feeling of being in the presence of something vast that transcends your understanding of the world.’”
Shield icons like the one with which we’ve identified for the last few decades are great. Unfortunately, that’s a conclusion that a LOT of colleges and universities have reached. Building around a shield puts us in a very cluttered and crowded field. By embracing the hexagon and honeycomb patterns, we’re excited to explore a design and identity space that is both intricately tied to our histories and identities and much more uniquely identifiable as our own.
“ Each time I gaze at that glorious expanse of hexagons, that honeycomb, and each time I sit in Sacred Heart Chapel, I experience a moment of pure awe.’”
Brian Bruess • CSB and SJU President
Saint Benedict’s call to monastic communities (and to us today) to practice stability and growth is echoed in the natural elements of honeycomb and bees. In stable hives they grow and each lives out their own role.
Likewise, we each have our own vital role in community, working together to build a home in this place.
Contemporary colors
In refreshing and updating our color palette, of course our traditional red was going to remain front and center. You see it here with its exciting new name, “Action Red” – but trust us, that’s the same red you’ve always seen. And you’ll still be seeing a lot of it.
Accenting that now is our new “Power Blue.” And we stumbled on it through the most informal of focus groups: it’s been a best-selling sweatshirt in the bookstores for the last few years. Red lettering on that blue background was getting such good response in the bookstore, we had to pay attention.
That strong, red foundation, supported with the blue, gives us a color combination we can lean into and truly call our own in higher education. Then the Ruby Red, Heritage Blue and Navy Nights will make occasional appearances as needed.
One step at a time
Last winter we began rolling out updated and coordinated changes to athletic branding both at Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s. Our varsity teams remain distinctly and proudly separate, but now feel consistent and related. Responses from studentathletes have generally been excited and proud. Responses from students, supporters and fans have been just as impressive, as athletic-branded clothing and gear sales have taken off and those looks are showing up more and more in the stands and all across campus.
This spring new campus signage rolled out across both campuses, along with an interim style guide identifying new type, fonts, colors and designs.
Over the summer the Admission
marketing materials in place, since this year’s recruiting cycle will be crucially important. The message to prospective Bennies and Johnnies is clear. When it comes to your education, you shouldn’t settle for an average experience. In fact, you should come to expect more. More academics, more experiences, more opportunities, more attention, more perspective, more athletics, activities and events, more ways to worship, more spaces, more nature, more ways to belong. … With the integrated strengths of CSB and SJU, that’s exactly what you’ll get: More to Explore.
Finally, this fall, after extensive research, exploration and effort, we introduced the last elements in this round of updates to our brand image: Our new “formal” logo mark and finalized style guide.
Formal vs. informal?
Which one will you see? When? Think of it this way: The formal logo, featuring the full names of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University with the hexagonal logo and cross, is for official uses like signage, letterhead, legal documents and formal communications. It ensures full representation of both institutions in formal settings. It’s sort of our official handshake and “nice to meet you” greeting.
The informal logo, on the other hand, displaying “CSB SJU” in a hexagon, is for casual and modern applications such as digital media, internal communications and merchandise. It offers a streamlined representation while maintaining brand recognition. It’s a fresh, familiar way for us to say “hi” to good friends.
Get yourself in gear
Like the look of our new CSB athletics gear? Don’t just sit on the sidelines! (Actually, we’d love to have you come out and join any of our teams to watch a game, where you can sit, stand or jump up and down on the sidelines.) Get in the game! You can use the QR code here to find an all-star lineup of amazing new Bennie fanwear.
Meanwhile, there are exciting new options beginning to roll out at our bookstore. Check it out using the QR code at left and find some new ways to show off your Bennie pride!
Full Formal Logo Lock-up
CSB Informal Hexagons
CSB Formal Logo Lock-up
Joint Informal Hexagons
OF SUCCESS
Bennies are out in the world using skill and savvy to communicate and bring brands to life.
I actually think the only thing standing between CSB+SJU and being famous is having a brand,” laughs Heidi Hovland ’88. “A brand is a way of telling the world who you are. And I think Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s have so much to say, and a brand gives you something to wrap your arms around. And that's what’s been missing.”
We’ll excuse Heidi for getting right to the point, since she’s busy. She has a PR agency to run. But the point she gets right to is a good one. And her insights are sharpened by an extremely successful career in public relations and branding – a career that got its start at the College of Saint Benedict.
CHOOSE A LANE YOU CAN TURN INTO A FAST TRACK
Hovland was an English major who found herself drawn to her writing classes. “One of the most galvanizing moments of my college career happened when I handed in my first paper for my expository writing class,” she recalls. “The professor handed it back to me and said, ‘You’re not gonna get away with this anymore.’
“I felt so seen, because he was right. I had kind of written it in my sleep and it was fine, and that had always worked. But it wasn’t going to work here. And that was so energizing and exciting.”
Hovland graduated in 1988, but wasn’t exactly sure what to do next. There’s a piece of paper from that following winter that still hangs on the corkboard in her home office, where she had written down: “publishing, magazine editorial,
advertising, PR.” Those were the lanes that most interested her and felt the most open to her.
Even those “open” lanes weren’t landing her any jobs in Minnesota though. So she sent her resume to some PR firms in New York, lined up a few interviews, “hopped on a bus and took the 25-hour trip and came back with a couple job offers and plans to move in six weeks,” she says. “I cried and cried on the flight, but I thought if this doesn’t work out I can always go home. And I never did.”
That first job was with Ketchum Inc., one of the nation’s largest public relations firms, where she got the chance to start out working with true blue-chip brands – a trend she’s been fortunate enough to have follow her throughout her career. “I launched the first Hershey’s Kiss
that wasn’t just plain – it was the Hershey’s Kiss with Almonds,” she says. “And in Times Square, where they do the ball drop on New Year’s Eve, we dropped a gigantic Hershey’s Kiss. It was the first time anything other than that ball had been dropped in Times Square.”
She eventually left Ketchum for FleishmanHillard, another global PR agency. Her career grew and progressed brilliantly at FleishmanHillard for years. Eventually though, the call came to serve as CEO for Devries, a relatively small but highly respected subsidiary of Interpublic Group (IPG).
“I got to explore the world with my team there,” she says. “In addition to the HQ in New York, we had an office in London, two in China, Singapore, Taipei. … I got to lead these incredible people who were so much fun and so irreverent and talented. It was an awesome experience.”
In 2018 though, her husband, Jim Pickett, died suddenly. Soon after, Hovland stepped away from Devries and did some consulting work. “And the thing that happens when there is that level of tragedy and trauma is that you have such clear vision of what really matters,” she says confidently. “Definitely, I needed to be there for my kids. But I also realized I have been working in these big agencies for most of my life. And I have had nearly every job there is to have. What do I want to do now? And it really kind of brought me back to the writing.”
That’s where the idea for Altitude started taking shape. “(Working as a consultant) I was developing client relationships where I knew if I had more capacity, if I had more people, I could get more work done. So it was sort of that fork in the road.”
She began building the agency she’d always wanted to work at. “There are some new relationships, but in lots of cases I’ve pulled in people who I’ve worked with in
Heidi Hovland ’88
the past – very trusting, enduring friendships where there’s a shorthand where you know what you’re getting. Which is great.”
Altitude officially launched this fall, with Minneapolis-based Madison Air (and their director of brand and communications Christine Carey ’88) as a key early client.
Hovland is making her own way in an industry that she
was smart enough to recognize years ago might be open to women in leadership. And she wasn’t wrong. But she wasn’t necessarily right either.
“It’s a very female-centric industry,” she confirms. “Except at the seniormost levels.
“When I was at IPG, I was one of three women around the table for the quarterly meetings we would have with the holding company CEO
and the CFO. And it advertised to me, ‘This is how the world works. And it even works that way here.’”
She’s confident that’s changing. “Since I left Devries in 2019, I think there have been three other women elevated to CEO jobs of agencies bigger than Devries,” she says.
But continued change is going to take a steady stream of strong, competent women, ready to lead. They’re going to come from places like Saint Ben’s.
MAKE THE WORDS AND ACTIONS MATCH
One of those strong, competent women who’s already leading in the industry is Emily Frager ’96. Frager currently holds dual roles with FleishmanHillard, serving as the general manager of their Southern California operations (Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego) and as co-lead for client experience across the 80-office global network.
In her time at Saint Ben’s, she knew she liked writing, and knew she wanted to be in “business” but wasn’t sure what shape that would take. “It wasn’t until I graduated and I was networking and trying to find a job that I met with a woman who had her own small PR shop” she recalls. “And it was pretty clear –this was exactly what I’d been gearing up to do.”
Emily Leuthner Frager ’96
So Frager started out in a tiny, basement PR firm before moving to Miller Meester in Minneapolis and eventually moving to Chicago and finding FleishmanHillard about two years after graduation.
“It’s one of the largest firms in the world,” she explains. “We represent Fortune 500 companies, both in terms of corporate communications and in brand marketing.”
(And, she confirms, she met Heidi Hovland soon after arriving – though the two never worked in the same office.)
Frager still carries a great deal of love and respect for Saint Ben’s. (Check out page 36, where she talks about the Sky’s the Limit Scholarship she’s funded!) So when it comes to spreading the word and reaching prospective students, she’s excited to see updates and emphasis on our brand.
“A brand essentially represents your values and what you stand for,” she says. “It’s not necessarily the name itself, but what’s behind that name. I think Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s
I think Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s have realized that they need to stand for the traditional foundations they’ve always represented – but also recommit to what they stand for in the future. It’s time to translate those values for a modern audience...”
Emily Leuthner Frager
have realized that they need to stand for the traditional foundations they’ve always represented – but also recommit to what they stand for in the future. It’s time to translate those values for a modern audience and demonstrate how the college and university stand behind those values.
“The brand name and the icon are representations, but it’s what’s behind those that matters the most. A brand is as much (if not more) how it behaves as anything else. It’s putting a stake in the ground. ‘This is what we believe.’ Then how it comes to life and behaves out in the world is what makes it a truly operating brand. The words and actions have to match.”
Bea Lund ’13
FIND YOUR OPPORTUNITIES AND MAKE THE MOST OF THEM
Bea Lund ’13 also has an interest in the CSB and SJU brand – in part because she spent much of her time at Saint Ben’s impacting our brand expression, working on projects including this magazine.
Lund found student employment as a graphic designer with the communications team in the Saint Ben’s Institutional Advancement department – the home of the magazine at the time.
“I was there for three years,” she says, “including working over the summers. It was like my first intro into design and I really enjoyed it.”
After graduation, Lund turned a Skype interview into a job offer from Tory Burch and was able to move to New York with a job in hand and start her graphic design career. She spent four years with Tory Burch before moving on to J. Crew for
another four years and two years as director of digital design for SPF retailer Supergoop!. This fall, she took on a new challenge as senior art director at fashion brand KULE.
“It’s been interesting,” she reflects, “being here in New York, working in fashion and in the beauty world –pretty much everyone I work with has gone to either an art or design school. Having a Saint Ben’s liberal arts background makes me different … in a really nice way. I was able to develop more of the soft skills and communication skills and all the things that have served me well in my career outside of just the creative execution.”
She notes that part of what made her college-to-career transition successful was her determination to grab hold of the opportunities Saint Ben’s offered her outside
I think that’s the real strength of Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s: it’s what you make of it and there’s so much at the disposal of students.
the classroom. “My art major was wonderful, but it was very fineart focused,” she says. “The chance to grow my portfolio through programs outside the traditional – like my student work in Institutional Advancement – was really invaluable. I think that’s the real strength of Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s: it’s what you make of it and there’s so much at the disposal of students. There are so many people there who are willing to help you find what your next passion is or what makes sense for your career prospects.”
It's important to Lund that future Bennies and Johnnies get those same opportunities. So she’s excited to see our brand voice updated to reach tomorrow’s prospective students. “When it comes to higher education, students have a lot of choices out there. So it is important to differentiate yourself in the marketplace while people are shopping around. Because that’s exactly what students are doing when they’re looking for schools.”
Graduates of quality liberal arts schools like Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s are supposed to be able to communicate effectively. It’s one of the liberal arts advantages that employers point toward.
CSB and SJU Communication Department is now “Strategic Communication Studies.”
BY | FRANK RAJKOWSKI
And, as you just read on page 16, we’ve produced some alumnae who do it very well.
But, with the help of some extensive restructuring in what was our Communication Department, future graduates will have an even clearer path toward careers built on persuasion and advocacy.
The department has been renamed Strategic Communication Studies, and with that switch will come changes to the curriculum that create targeted pathways for students to gain experience and expertise in particular fields.
Courses in the Strategic Communication Studies major will be grouped into two distinct concentrations – public relations, advertising and marketing (PRAM) and public advocacy and leadership (PAL).
“Before, students could find their own way through the major with the guidance of an advisor,” department chair Kelly Berg says. “They can still do that now. But they also will have more clearly defined paths available to them.
“Communication is great because you can do so many things. But it’s also nebulous and that can be hard for some students today who are spending a lot of money on their education. Sometimes they want to see more clearly what the possibilities are. If they want to find their own path through, they can still do that. But if they want a more specific path defined and laid out, they now have that, too.”
Indeed, Berg says students can choose to complete one of the concentrations, both (which will require taking two additional courses of four credits each) or neither.
The changes also include several new courses, including a required communication ethics course (Communicating Ethically) –something Berg says is even more vital with continued misinformation circulating online and the rise of new technologies like artificial intelligence.
“We have a generation now, and I think that will continue, made up of students who truly want to make a difference in the world,” she says. “While we’ve always focused on that in our classes, we wanted to find a way to be more intentional about how we create arguments and become the leaders we need to be. Our students will still be learning the critical thinking skills you get at a liberal arts school, they will still be learning how to write and communicate and how to analyze information.
“And while we’ve always included ethics in many of our courses, now we have a separate class. That will help students learn how they can be effective through crafting ethical communication.”
“And while we’ve always included ethics in many of our courses, now we have a separate class. That will help students learn how they can be effective through crafting ethical communication.”
KELLY BERG
Department Chair
In addition, Berg says the enhancements will mean even stronger cooperation with other majors on the two campuses – including Global Business Leadership.
“This really is a way of sharpening things up and making sure the courses we offer work more in synchronicity with one another,” Berg says.
Da’sha Gray ’26 is currently pursuing the major and welcomes the increased clarity of purpose.
“It helps close the door to confusion,” she says. “In the past, when you’d tell people you were majoring in communication, they’d ask what that was. Is it marketing? Media? Journalism? But when you say Strategic Communication Studies, it becomes a conversation starter.”
Gray also recognizes the streamlined concentrations as an advantage for future students.
“It’s like having a well-structured roadmap to your future career, which is a huge relief,” she says. “Without a clear path, creating your own track can be overwhelming, especially when balancing other academic and personal responsibilities.”
The new curriculum for the major took effect this fall, with some remaining new courses expected to roll out in fall 2025. But Berg says the changes have been discussed for more than a year.
“Our faculty members did background research into all the careers that are out there now, as well as the careers that are projected to be there in the future,” she says. “We talked to alums who are already in their chosen fields, and to our current students. We wanted to find out the ways in which we were meeting their needs and the ways in which we weren’t.
“And we had discussions with other departments – including the Admissions department – to find ways we can work together in the best interest of our students. We want to make sure the curriculum we offer is keeping up with the needs of not only today’s employees and employers, but those of tomorrow as well. Getting our students prepared for the future is our primary mission.”
Gray is pleased with the preparation and looks forward to a career built on advocacy.
“In a time where misinformation can spread quickly, strong communicators are needed to ensure that important issues, such as social justice and mental health, are understood and addressed responsibly,” she says.
“When we communicate well, we create spaces for empathy and unity, paving the way for meaningful, collective action.”
Public Advocacy and Leadership (PAL)
“We're finding that a lot of our students today want to make a difference in the world. They want to do that as their job –as their passion. And so public advocacy is about being an active proponent for change that you want to see in the world.
“Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s are looking to create leaders. So we felt what we are teaching our students about public advocacy as it relates to environmental law … as it relates to politics … even as it relates to media – it could all come together to demonstrate for them how to create their own path forward.
“In the past, and even more so now, we have students who will combine strategic communication studies with
“ When we communicate well, we create spaces for empathy and unity, paving the way for meaningful, collective action.”
DA’SHA GRAY ’26 Strategic Communication Studies Major
things like political science or with environmental studies. And that creates an interesting niche that meets what students are looking for.”
- Kelly Berg , associate professor and department chair, Strategic Communication Studies
Courses in this concentration include...
• COMM 251
Communication & Conflict
• COMM 277A
Listening for Justice
• COMM 278A
Rhetoric for Social Change
• COMM 305
Gender, Voice & Power
Public Relations, Advertising and Marketing (PRAM)
“We’ve made changes to some of our courses that were more broadly ‘communication’ focused. We’ve gone in and enhanced the connection to the fields of advertising, marketing and public relations.
“Whereas we had some specific courses that addressed those things, now we’ve broadened which courses might address them. And we’ve really made some specific connections there that can help people going into those fields. As a result of that, we’ve seen the Global Business Leadership department add many of our courses to the list of electives for their major.
“We’re still maintaining very student-centered, actionbased learning. That might be discussions, projects, connections with campus and external partners to apply things – multiple approaches to experiential learning. And so
I think we are being more mindful, making more direct connections for our students and reshaping our curriculum to really be more focused in the areas that an employer will want to see.”
- Kelly Berg , associate professor and department chair, Strategic Communication Studies
Courses in this concentration include...
• COMM 338
Strategic Social Media Marketing & Analysis
• COMM 346
Strategic Communication Campaigns Design Experience
• COMM 379B
Rhetoric of Advertising
• COMM 330
Apology & Crisis Communication
Sarah Welshons Bennett ’89
PRESERVING THE IMPORTANT THINGS IN PRINT
Sarah Welshons Bennett nearly double-majored in English and French. It took a semester in France to convince her to drop the French major.
“It wasn’t because I wasn’t interested in French,” she insists. “I was just seeing all these museums and all these artworks and falling in love with that and deciding I really wanted to spend the few remaining free classes I had taking art classes.” So she did. And it ended up serving her well. “I didn’t have a ‘plan’ after graduation, but I was interested in writing and I was interested in art. My father (John Welshons, SJU ’58), who was in publishing, suggested I might enjoy graphic design.”
She was hired by West Publishing in their college textbook division to write and design brochures. “After three years,” she says, “I decided I didn’t want to work on advertising for the products, I wanted to work on the products themselves.”
She moved on to AGS Publishing where she served on staff for several years, and then as a freelancer for ten years after. In 2010 she was hired by Capstone Publishing, where she remains today, serving as a senior designer working on educational children’s books.
“Each year I have anywhere from 40 to 60 books I’m designing,” she explains. “We create a lot of books. And for most, we publish hardcover, paperback and electronic formats.”
That’s a lot of experience in creating books. And recently she and her family put it to good use. Sarah’s mother Lois Schrantz Welshons ’61 had been an English teacher and an editor In her early fifties though, she went back to school to earn her master’s degree. Along the way, she discovered a love of poetry.
“This would have been 35 years ago,” recalls Sarah, “and she’s been writing poetry ever since. She still goes to Monday-morning poetry group peer review, and she just turned 85.”
Lois has had her work published in the past through a number of publishers and her poetry collective. But Sarah noticed the work was still piling up.
“She is not a technical person,” Sarah notes. “She worked on a laptop, but still had files and printouts of poems everywhere. As she was getting older, I was starting to feel anxious about gathering her body of work and making sure we could preserve it.
“I suggested we pull everything together and make a volume … which turned into two volumes.”
After scouring Lois’s office and computer, they came up with around 300 poems. Lois and her poetry mentor weeded that down and curated it into two separate volumes. And Sarah was able to lay it all out and work with a self-publishing firm to print (and reprint) all the copies Lois needs for friends, family and, of course, Clemens Library.
First-year residence hall Aurora 3
Favorite professor
One teacher I remember really well is Mike Opitz. I just really enjoyed the style that he taught in. It was almost like you were just having a nice conversation with a group of friends. It just had a more intimate feel to it, which I really liked.
Favorite Bennie memory
I think what stood out to me was the closeness of our first-year floor. The times of hanging out in the lounge with these young women who I was just starting this college journey with.
Milestones
1962 Telzena Coakley was honored at Colina Insurance Limited’s 125th anniversary celebration for her decades-long career in the public service and insurance sector in The Bahamas. Aug. ’24
1977
ANN COFELL
was honored with “Ann Cofell Day” on Aug. 9, by the City of St. Cloud (Minnesota) through proclamation of Mayor Dave Kleis in recognition of her 44 years of dedication to equal justice as deputy director of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid and as a practicing attorney. Aug. ’24
1988 Jane Kuebelbeck Williams was nominated for the Denver Business Journal’s Nonprofit CFO of the Year Award. Jane is the chief financial and administrative officer for the Denver Center for Performing Arts. July ’24
1990 Katherine Brown Holmen was selected as one of America’s Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys for 2024. This exclusive honor is reserved to identify the nation’s most exceptional litigators. Aug. ’24
Angie Untiedt Jerabek, founder and executive director of The BARR Center, was awarded the 2024 James Bryant Conant Award by the Education Commission of the States (ECS) in recognition of her decadeslong commitment to evidencebased success for students across the country. June ’24
Terri Giyan Kallsen was elected as the 2025 board chair-elect for the Board of Directors of CFP (Certified Financial Planner®) Board, and is to become the chair of the board in 2026. July ’24
1993 Laurie Huotari became a partner at Lathrop GPM LLP and was highlighted in the June issue of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. June ’24
2000 Stacy Deery Stennes was appointed by Governor Walz as a district court judge in Minnesota’s Second Judicial District. Aug. ’24
2002 Kathleen Penkala Massmann completed her Ph.D. in advanced studies in human behavior with a concentration in stillbirth and posttraumatic growth. Sept. ’23
2004 Tricia Loehr was appointed by Governor Walz as a district court judge in Minnesota’s Tenth Judicial District. Sept. ’24
Amy Schwarz was promoted to general counsel at the Minnesota Land Trust. This is a nonprofit conservation and environmental organization that protects and restores Minnesota’s most vital natural lands. Sept. ’24
2012 Jocelyn Sullivan Wright was promoted to the rank of major in the United States Air Force, March ’24. She also received the Outstanding Appellate Government Advocacy Award from the American Bar Judge Advocates Association. May ’24
2014
GRACI GORMAN
was promoted to program director of the medical education fellowships at Regions Hospital (St. Paul). This is a new program and Graci is the very first leader. March ’24
Taylor Reaves accepted a position as a government and regulatory affairs attorney, specializing in public policy analysis and strategic advocacy with Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP. July ’24
2015 Katie Beumer is exhibiting her artwork with the SASS art group at the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport Terminal 2 throughout the year. Feb. ’24
Nicole Cornell Plutino completed her post-professional doctorate degree in occupational therapy at Indiana University. Aug. ’24
2016 Mary “Margo” Franz was the recipient of the Rising Star Award from the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association at their national conference in Washington, D.C. This award is presented each year to an early career individual who demonstrates exemplary leadership and potential while affecting programmatic changes for the benefit of their organization, patients and community. Margo received this award for her work as a public health nurse with the Sexual and Reproductive Health Program at the Washington State Department of Health. May ’24
2017
DOBESH HERSHEY
accepted a position as executive assistant to the CEO with Youth Frontiers, Inc. in Minneapolis. July ’24
Molly Lax accepted a position as senior public relations specialist with Life Time Fitness. March ’24
Erin Stocker Niehaus accepted a position as a family medicine clinician at Cold Spring and Richmond CentraCare Clinics (Minnesota). Aug. ’24
2019 Heidi Koenig started a position as an organic synthetic chemist at Los Alamos National Laboratory (New Mexico). Heidi earned her Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Montana State University, Bozeman. May ’24
2020 Dr. Maya Chuppe accepted her first position as a dentist at Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center (Iowa). June ’24
2021 Leandria Albury was accepted into the University of Calfornia-Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine’s class of 2029, May ’24. This exciting news was shared in an article titled “Continuing to defy the odds,” published by The Nassau Guardian. Aug. ’24.
Share your key moments and milestones with your classmates and friends. Email us at csbalumnae@csbsju.edu. KEEP US UP TO DATE!
SARAH
2022 Maran Wagner received the 2024 Middle School Art Educator of the Year award and was also named Rookie Art Educator of the Year by Art Educators of Minnesota. Aug. ’24
2024
LIZ HAMAK
wrote an article for The Central Minnesota Catholic magazine, published by the Diocese of St. Cloud, on her experience as an intern with the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Sept. ’24
Marriages
1991 Patricia “PK” Kriha to Stuart Harris, June ’24
1995
2013 Leah Wiczek to Ryan Dainty, Aug. ’23
Kailyn Wilcox to Robert Stiller ’12, Oct. ’23
2014 Jessica Biser to Christopher Kelly, Sept. ’23
Kristina Burk to Jeff Mitchell, June ’24
Megan Flaherty to Daniel Schliesman, Aug. ’23
Lindsey Graske to Joseph North, July ’24
Rachel Kelzenberg to Thomas August, Aug. ’24
Nicole Noyes to Aaron Moore, Oct. ’23
Miah Winterfeldt to Ben Welk, July ’24
2015 Maren Iverson to Gabriel Amon ’15, Aug. ’24
Kaitlyn LaVoie to Eric Taylor, June ’24
Ann Schaenzer to Adam Hey ’17, July ’24
2016 Amara Blake to Miles Larson, Sept. ’24
Jacqueline Liska to Jacob Creamer, April ’23
2006 Michele Wallerius to Kyle Optiz, Oct. ’23
2011 Elle Kern to Taylor Jenkins, Sept. ’24
2012 Taylor Hamilton to Jordan Stanek ’13, June ’24
2013 Nicola Franta to Nicholas Goeden ’12, Sept. ’24
Natalie Lanners to Luke Merickel ’13, Dec. ’23
Mary Weber to Scott Syverson, May ’24
Judith Wick to Cody Hotchkin, Sept. ’23
Julia Slivnik to Michael Pesta, Oct. ’23
2017 Madison Mack to Daniel Clemens, June ’23
Amy Nemanich to Daniel Grew, Nov. ’23
Kayla Zeltinger to Christopher Tri, July ’23
2018 Sydney Bramer to Patrick Reagan ’17, Sept. ’23
Elsa Fering to Ryan Meany ’19, June ’23
Alanna Holmberg to Kyle Novacek, Aug. ’23
Hannah Holst to Joshua Gavin ’19, Oct. ’23
2018 Shayna Lahr to Gaven Sand, Sept. ’24
Kendra Sukke to Easton Peaper, June ’24
Margaret Sullivan to Kyle Jacket, Sept. ’24
Casey Zins to Brian DeGrote, June ’24
2019 Bailey Alter to Matthew Tschida ’19, June ’23
Natalie Amundson to Brett Meger, June ’24
Grace Arrington to John Kirsch ’19, Sept. ’23
Claire Baker to Tyler Bladow, April ’24
Emily Baker to Matthew Johnson ’19, Aug. ’23
Emma Becker to Joshua Romero, June ’23
Rachel Gagliardi to Bo Bauman, Sept. ’24
Sarah Griffin to Spencer Vogel ’19, July ’23
Nicole Guevremont to Conner Muenkel, Oct. ’23
Claire Hasselman to Chris Lecy ’19, July ’24
Kelly Holmin to Justin Bennett, July ’24
Elizabeth Hoppe to Turner Storm, Jan. ’24
Sarah Lommel to Connor Thury ’19, July ’24
Lauren Redmond to Nicholas Hegstrand, Aug. ’23
Jessica Stanslaski to Zachary Gerlach ’19, Sept. ’23
Emily Ulschmid to Jacob Klein, Sept. ’23
2020 Julia Black to Alex Pickhinke, July ’24
Taylor Borgerding to Jeremiah Jacobson, June ’24
Kaitlyn Crowe to Kyle Borgeson ’20, June ’24
Heidi Geislinger to Calvin Dollerschell, Oct. ’23
Regan Haegele to Jesse Mendel, Nov. ’23
Kendall Koenen to Cullen Chisholm ’20, June ’24
Cecilia Lovinger to Dominic Schleif ’19, Aug. ’23
Jessica Marolt to Logan Cunningham ’20, Oct. ’23
Alexis Marthaler to Jacob Steinhofer, Aug. ’23
Paige Mazal to Karl Huther, Sept. ’23
Elise Miller to Marcus McKeever, May ’24
Olivia Minsker to Noah Simpson, Oct. ’23
DEMERIE EDINGTON NORTHROP TO JOEL HYDOCK, OCT. ’23
2020 Nicole Nye to Levi Waldhauser, June ’24
Teresa Pezán to Henry Foreman, Oct. ’23
Michaela Reardon to Austin Hingtgen ’20, April ’24
Sarah Rhodes to Brent Burg ’20, Nov. ’23
Yulissa Salazar to Tarxan Flores, Aug. ’24
Kayla Thorsten to Justin Voigt, Sept. ’23
Brooke Vandermyde to Spencer Specht, Sept. ’23
Raeley Walz to Marqus McGlothan, Aug. ’23
2021 Carley Anderson to Holden Baker ’21, Sept. ’23
Melissa Bautch to Griffin Fesenmaier, June ’23
Breanna Bovia to Robert Mesenburg, Sept. ’23
Hailey Carlson to Jacob Wilson, Sept. ’23
Laura Leonard to Logan Salner ’20, Aug. ’24
Haven Licht to Riley Novak, Sept. ’24
Karley Lieser to Calvin Burg ’23, Nov. ’23
Johanna Merten to Ryan Houseman ’21, June ’24
OLIVIA “LIVVY” SIMONS TO THEODORE PAULSON ’20, JULY ’24
ROLL CALL
You raised your hand then to serve your country. Will you raise it again now to help us celebrate your service and honor the sacrifices of Bennies through the years? Visit the Saint Ben’s Military Honor Roll today at apps.csbsju.edu/csb-military-honor-roll or use the QR code. Add your name if you’ve served, then spread the word to other Bennies in the military.
Thanks for your service!
2021 Hannah Prokosch to Alexi Johnson ’17, Aug. ’23
Heidi Rassatt to Matthew Utsch, June ’24
Kristen Rezac to Luke Zweber ’21, June ’24
Sydney Straka to Dominic Sopkowiak, June ’24
Sarah Thommes to Eric Kieser ’21, June ’23
Maria Van Hove to Kyle Kipka ’20, July ’24
Emily Winkels to Grant Theiler, Aug. ’24
2022 Lauren Bergmann to Joseph Linders ’22, July ’23
Marissa Bernal to Taylor Bekken ’20, July ’24
Nicole Butterfield to Andrew Barrett, Aug. ’23
Brianna Larson to Hunter Petersen, Oct. ’23
Olivia McCabe to Ryan Conlon, May ’24
Emily Sheehan to Evan Peppel, Aug. ’23
Madison Verhelst to Carter Howell ’22, July ’24
Morgan Wagner to Samuel Gerdts ’19, Aug. ’24
2023 Lauren Boyer to Riley Chapman ’22, April ’24
2023 Miranda Lijewski to Luke Voorhies ’23, June ’24
Josephine Nemanich to Dillon Pionk, Aug. ’23
Kaitlyn Sanstead to Mason Nibbe ’23, Oct. ’23
2024 Colette Harrold to Riley McGurran ’24, Aug. ’24
Keturena “Rena” Henrich to Jacob Omtvedt ’24, July ’24
Births / Adoptions
2010 Katherine Ellis Selewski & Karl Selewski, girl, Ilse, March ’24
ELLEN DEHMER TSAI & MAX TSAI, TWIN GIRLS, MABEL & MAEVE, JULY ’24 ’11
2011 Molly Noel Madson & Zachary Madson ’11, boy, Jack, Feb. ’24
Emily Masters & Daniel Bier, boy, Graham, March ’24
2012 Katee Rotty Apelgren & Jayce Apelgren, girl, Madelyn, May ’24
Michelle Peltz Hoffmann & Jason Hoffmann ’08, boy, Anthony, Feb. ’24
Olivia Plaine Sherlock & Jared Sherlock ’11, girl, Marlo, June ’24
2013 Kaeley Whiting Allen & Andrew Allen, boy, Griffin, March ’24
Kyra Knoff Ischer & Keith Ischer, girl, Audrey, Oct. ’23
SOPHIA NOLAN SUNDSMO & ADAM MCMONIGALSUNDSMO ’10, BOY, MURPHY, MAY ’24 ’13
Let’s start the conversation now, so your voice can carry on through generations. A legacy gift of any size pays exponential returns. It’s an investment in ambitious, promising women – women who will honor your legacy with transformative, worldchanging impact. Make a bequest through your will or trust, name CSB as a beneficiary, or establish a charitable gift annuity.
more.
2013 Hannah Dolan Schilling & Eric Schilling ’13, boy, Nolan, April ’24
2014 Margaret “Maggie” Holm-Wachholz & Jordan Wachholz ’14, boy, Derek, July ’24
Amanda Linn Roles & Tyler Roles ’14, girl, Aspen, Oct. ’23
2015 Christine Gunderson & Joseph Risinger ’16, girl, Tatum, Dec. ’23
2016 Micayla Westendorf Berg & Colin Berg ’16, girl, Olivia, March ’24
Sarah Roehl Schueller & Alex Schueller ’15, boy, Camden, May ’24
2017 Maggie Eli Maxwell & Harrison Maxwell, twin girls, Lovisa & Rosella, Sept. ’24
Cassandra Miedema Schumer & John Schumer ’15, girl, Nellie, April ’24
2018 Emily Goerdt Hagen & Parker Hagen ’17, boy, Baker, Aug. ’24
Madelynne Lacy Okeley & Robert Okeley ’19, girl, Fiona, Aug. ’24
2019 Bree Gibis Busta & Kyle Busta ’19, boy, Breyer, Aug. ’24
2020 Leeah Ruf Hennen & Anthony Hennen ’20, girl, Skylar, Sept. ’22 & girl, Scarlett, Aug. ’24
Deaths
1942 Edith Lagundo Messerich, May ’24
1944 Alice Kovarik Slattum, June ’24
1946 Donna Coyne Rajkowski, mother of Ellen Rajkowski ’69, Mary Rajkowski Kiefer ’74 & Kathleen Rajkowski Kampa ’75, Aug. ’24
1951 Lawrence Finnegan, spouse of Corrine Schmidt Finnegan, May ’24
Rita Johnson, Aug. ’24
1952 Ardeth Harth Duthoy, June ’24
Ermalinda Fiereck, June ’24
Mary “Pat” Sloan Lamb, Sept. ’24
1953 Mary Kuchera Chaffee, Sept. ’24
1954 LaVerne Yogerst Barrett, Dec. ’23
1957 Geraldine Miller Maloney, July ’24
1958 Jacqueline Herriges Hughes, mother of Judith Hughes ’89, June ’24
1959 Robert Hennen ’57, spouse of Mary Jane Sowada Hennen, father of Michelle Hennen Sauer ’81, June ’24
Julie Janzen Hughes, mother of Mary Hughes Coulter ’83, Katherine Hughes Cashman ’85 & Rachel Hughes Bonin ’92, May ’24
Marilyn Hartman Tisserand, July ’24
1960 Agnes Miller Flynn, Sept. ’24
1961 Mary Jane Brown Laufenberg, June ’24
Mary Jo Dinneen Powers, Aug. ’22
Mary Koop Schaak, mother of Elizabeth “Lisa” Schaak Plessel ’86, Sept. ’24
1962 Francis Roehl ’53, spouse of Rosemary Lang Roehl, May ’24
Joseph Tembrock ’62, spouse of Judith Brandl Tembrock, July ’24
1965 Roys Willenbring, spouse of Elaine Faulkner Willenbring, father of Mary “Colleen” Willenbring ’97, June ’24
James Younk, spouse of Judith Kaczmarek Younk, June ’24
1966 Douglas Logeland, spouse of Mary Garrity Logeland, May ’24
1967 Georganne (Dolores) Burr, OSB, Aug. ’24
Jerome Loftus, spouse of Suanne Justen Loftus, June ’24
1968 S. Margaret Mandernach, OSB, July ’24
1969 Jacqueline Richter Krenik, Sept. ’24
Imelda Stang, Sept. ’24
1970 Jean Miller Kiddie, mother of Megan Kiddie ’06, May ’24
1972 Helen Zutter, mother of Mary “Kaye” Zutter Fox, July ’24
William Blazar, spouse of Mary Hunstiger, May ’24
Deanna (Sister M. Jeanette) Pullis, July ’24
1973 Richard Carlson, spouse of Janice Vandeberg Carlson, Aug. ’24
1974 Sarah Swendsen, mother of Catherine Swendsen Laubach, Aug. ’24
James Myott ’75, spouse of Ramona Schleper Myott, Sept. ’24
1976 Pauline “Poppi” March, June ’24
1977 Peter Herges ’52, father of Julie Herges Gapstur, Sept. ’24
Diane Dolence Stephany, Aug. ’24
1978 Patricia Berendt, mother of Marie Berendt Speltz, Ann Berendt Deasey ’81 & Jane Berendt Kozlak ’82, July ’24
1979 Phyllis Schelske, mother of Kristin Schelske-Moening, Aug. ’24
John Spooner, father of Elizabeth Spooner-Falde, July ’24
1980 Keith Kerfeld ’78, spouse of Elizabeth Higgins Kerfeld, June ’24
1981 Gail Anderson Bradford, Aug. ’24
Richard Koch, father of Susan Koch Goettl, Cindy Koch Erickson ’82 & Therese Koch ’84, Aug. ’24
Mary Lou Fink, mother of Terese Fink Peterson, July ’24
ANNE RUELLE HNATH & ZACHARY HNATH ’16, BOY, BROOKS, JULY ’24
1981 Richard Wasko ’51, father of Susan Wasko Salinas, Elizabeth Wasko Schweich ’82 & Jane Wasko LinnWeisbrod ’84, Aug. ’24
1982 Barbara Foley, mother of Melissa Foley Collins, July ’24
Marian Kremer, mother of Jane Kremer Imholte & Linda Kremer Libert ’82, June ’24
Robert Schiefelbein, father of Catherine Schiefelbein Layne & Ellen Schiefelbein Lanners ’83, Aug. ’24
Miriam Turner, mother of Lisa Turner Roddy, June ’24
Jeanne Rose, mother of Lisa Rose, OSB & Amy Rose Techam ’92, June ’24
1983 Thomas Block, father of Janet Block, Aug. ’24
Dianne Spoden, mother of Lisa Spoden, Aug. ’24
Carl Zabinski, spouse of Nadine Zylla Zabinski, Aug. ’24
1984 Kathleen Johnson, mother of Leslie Johnson Byrne, June ’24
John Hueg, spouse of Amy Schindler Hueg, father of Anna Hueg Dehn ’17, July ’24
Rose Uphus, mother of Margaret “Peggy” Uphus Raitor, Katheryn “Katie” Uphus ’89 & Andrea Uphus ’91, July ’24
1985 Robert Weinzierl, father of Suzanne Weinzierl Raddohl, Barbara Weinzierl Sorensen ’86 & Gerilynn Weinzierl Reardon ’88, July ’24
Dianna Houska, mother of Susan Morrow Rouse & Pamela Morrow Zender ’87, June ’24
1986 Sharon Iverne Deal, June ’24
Sidney Lang, father of Jennifer Lang Duvall, Sept. ’24
1987 Mildred Toenyan, Aug. ’24
1988 John Conzemius, father of Jennifer Conzemius Langdon, Jan. ’24
Donna Feldstein, mother of Laura Feldstein Moore, Aug. ’24
Cletus Ahler, father of Ruth Ahler Neu, March ’24
Margaret Davis, mother of Julie Gettelfinger Schauer, Aug. ’24
1989 Mary Elaine Jost, mother of Diane Jost Daniels, July ’24
Judith Gabrielson, mother of Jill Gabrielson, July ’24
Alois Kremers, father of Amy Kremers Hennen, June ’24
Karen Bendzick Kleinschmidt, Aug. ’24
Frances Lamm, mother of Elizabeth Lamm Marin, July ’24
Eugene Hess, father of Teresa Hess Seifert, July ’24
1989 Michael Truman, spouse of Jennifer Comer Truman, father of Cassandra Truman Owens ’11, July ’24
1990 John Ives, father of Michelle Ives Carlson, Sept. ’24
Philip Murphy, father of Margaret Murphy, July ’24
1991 Margaret Hoben, mother of Susan Hoben Bastian, June ’24
Mary Johnstone Corrigan, mother of Melissa Corrigan Storms ’18, April ’24
Joyce Quinn, mother of Kelly Quinn Kirsch, Aug. ’24
Judith Regnier, mother of Kimberly Regnier Schneider, Kathleen Regnier Mortenson ’92 & Michelle Regnier Anderson ’98, Sept. ’24
1992 Suzanna Meland, mother of Julie Meland Ruelle, June ’24
Marcella Weiman, mother of Nancy Weiman Schmelzle, Aug. ’24
1994 Donald Bins, father of Susan Bins Derks, July ’24
Carol Rupp, mother of Tracy Rupp, May ’24
Jean Peleske, mother of Melanie Peleske Zierden, June ’24
1995 Bonnie Grussing, mother of Ginna Grussing, Aug. ’24
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1996 Mary Terwey, mother of Kathryn Terwey Brothers, Aug. ’24
Marlene Derdzinski, mother of Rebecca Derdzinski, July ’24
Gordon Ekberg, father of Kris Ann Ekberg Erickson, Jan. ’24
Judith Murphy, mother of Megan Murphy Thul & Molly Murphy Setnicker ’98, Sept. ’24
Kathryn Meyer, mother of Laura Meyer Tye, July ’24
1997 Mark Opatz, father of Stacy Opatz Ensweiler, July ’24
Dennis Sack, father of Stephanie Sack Roder, May ’24
MaryAnn Stommes, mother of Patricia Becker Sandstrom, Sept. ’24
1998 Donald Roeder, father of Sarah Roeder Amelotte, June ’24
Jacqueline Sovick Lonne, July ’24
Donald Beissel, father of Ann Beissel Sinon, Aug. ’24
1999 Bruce Branch, father of Angela Branch Cizadlo & Jenna Branch Nielsen ’01, May ’24
Mary Ann Renner, mother of Mary “Molly” Renner Hansen, May ’24
Augusto Sumangil, father of Anne Sumangil, Sept. ’24
2000 Rose Newman, mother of Kimberly Newman Pasco, March ’24
Herbert Tripple, father of Sarah Tripple, July ’24
2001 John Kaufman, father of Katie Kaufman Kirschbaum, June ’24
2002 Gary Lidke, father of Julia Lidke Jarnot, May ’24
2003 Marilyn Creed, mother of Amanda Creed-Schnack, Aug. ’24
Dolores Niehaus, mother of Angela Niehaus Mareck, May ’24
Thomas Cummings ’77, father of Melissa Cummings Sorenson, May ’24
2004 Mary Truska Swenson, mother of Sarah Swenson Tornow, Aug. ’24
2005 James Honer, father of Katherin Honer Baker, Sept. ’24
James Nachtsheim, father of Jennifer Nachtsheim Garcia, Aug. ’24
Rodger Coauette, father of Kelsie Coauette Knecht, June ’24
2007 Martha Dodge, mother of Jenna Dodge Janicki, Feb. ’24
Michael McGuiggan, father of Kelly McGuiggan, Aug. ’24
Donald Salzer, father of Katie Salzer Okerstrom, June ’24
Young Alumnae President’s Circle
The Young Alumnae President’s Circle is a collaborative community of women who show their impact by sharing consistently.
Becoming a member has never been easier or more inviting for young alumnae! It’s a clear and affordable path to leadership giving. Take the next step and visit givecsb.com to discover how easy it is to empower the women who follow in your footsteps. Your gifts make a big impact!
2007 Maura Roby, mother of Catherine “Katie” Roby, June ’24
Richard Borrell, father of Barbara Borrell Wegner, June ’24
2008 Kimball Devoy ’63, father of Patricia Devoy Beck, Aug. ’24
Joanne Wallen, mother of Kaitlin Wallen Buckingham, June ’24
Tambra Dahlheimer, mother of Jessica Dahlheimer Cichocki, Sept. ’24
2009 Randall Rieland, father of Stacy Rieland Meyer, July ’24
2010 Barbara Peltz, mother of Kelly Peltz Korn & Michelle Peltz Hoffmann ’12, Sept. ’24
2015 Robert Bach, father of Casey Bach Wagman, June ’24
2019 Michele Schroeder, mother of Megan Schroeder Fink, Sept. ’24
Charles Wollmering, father of Kathryn Mary “Katie” Wollmering, June ’24
2020 Michael Zniewski, father of Megan Zniewski, Aug. ’24
2021 Byron Cigelske, father of Amber Cigelske & Natalie Cigelske ’23, June ’24
2023 Robert Dressel, father of Amanda Dressel, June ’24
1 This group of seven from the class of ’89 gathered in New Hampshire to hold their own 35th mini-Reunion, Aug. ’24. L to R: Julie Biebl BowersBall, Deb Forsberg Ubben, Paulette Stark, Beth Gartner Sweeley, Michelle Lasswell, Geri-Anne Zubich and Brigid Murphy.
2 Bennie Day at Ridgeview Medical Center (Minnesota), Oct. ’24. Through a collaborative process of opening a pediatric limited-stay unit, this group discovered they are all Bennie alumnae! L to R: Kari Dreger Sorenson ’94, Meridith Hagen Wulf ’01, Sarah Burkhartzmeyer Hromatka ’99 and Kelly Swearingen Lemieux ’88.
3 Bennie Day at Riverside Bar & Kitchen in Northfield, Minnesota, Oct. ’24. Front row: Julie Nikolai Sullivan ’88, Margaret Murray Ernste ’66, Diane Reveland Clapp ’77, Jean Skluzacek Noack ’90, Michelle Martinez ’20 and Mary Koupal Schmelzer ’89. Back row: Becky Schleif Gainey ’86, Michelle Lasswell ’89, Yailyn Moran Nieves ’23, Janet Hance Tritch ’90 and Ellen Connolly Eckhoff ’83.
4 Study Abroad Reunion at Bavarian Hunter Gasthaus in Stillwater, Minnesota, Aug. ’24. Thirteen of 27 classmates attended, as well as a friend who flew all the way from Germany. First row: Mike Finley ’78, Tara Williams Fortune ’77, Cynthia Drews Johnson ’80, Theresa McDermott O’Kane ’77 and Jane Cagle-Kemp ’80. Second row: John Jeffrey ’80, Nancy Trobec White ’80, Mary Hammerlind Jaffray ’79 and Barb Diekman Hartmann ’78. Back row: Kevin O’Kane ’79, Randy Krzmarzick ’79, Jim Mayer ’79, Andrea Marx Weyersbach (German friend), Jane Regenscheid Erickson ’78 and Theresa Ditter ’81.
5 Bennie Day at Winchester & Rye Restaurant in Victoria, Minnesota, Oct. ’24. L to R: Emily Whittaker ’21, Kalista Jager ’21, Abbey Schwob ’21, Liz Walsh ’18, Katie Bomersine ’18, Tina Valentine Arend ’93, Bonnie Triplet Ellingson ’18, Jackie Hess Jager ’93, Paula Swanson Jones ’89, Mary Leopold ’79, Tara Maas Tessmer ’14 and Katelin Fernholz Huot ’14.
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6 Bennie Day coffee gathering in Hutchinson, Minnesota, Oct. ’24. L to R: Tammy Hoese Retka ’06, Marie DeMars Zimmerman ’09, Cate McGinnis ’79 and Christie Rock Hantge ’92.
7 Katie Hellman Stone ’11 and Bre Kluck Butts ’13 met at an academic coaching conference at the American Medical Association in Chicago, Aug. ’24. Katie is currently at the University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine and Bre is at University of Cincinnati School of Medicine/Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
8 Maria Stanek Burnham ’01 started a new job teaching at Cathedral High School (St. Cloud, Minnesota) in August and quickly found her core of Bennie sisters. L to R: Jenny Buboltz O’Fallon ’06, Kiara Frederick ’24, Sam Koeck Leintz ’11, Maria, Julie Tellinghuisen Murphy ’02 and Bridget Moen Hamak ’96.
9 Bennie Day for class of ’68 at the Sunshine Factory in Plymouth, Minnesota, Oct. ’24. Front row: Liz Hayden, Gayle Hinkemeyer Smoley, Sue Ford Clausen, Mary Ann Kennedy Sullivan and Vicki Siegmund Amundson. Back row: Barb Molacek Werlinger, Rose Mary Kuyava Meyer, Margaret Hinton and Berni Heinen Couillard.
10 Bennie Day for class of ’83, volunteering at Feed My Starving Children in Eagan, Minnesota, Oct. ’24. Front row: Margaret Brand Wall, Marie Brand Humbert and Jill Braun Gibson. Back row: Beth Votca Hersman, Laura Torborg Kakach and Julie Schaus Hansen.
7 9 10
The Alum Referral Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship (renewable for four years, totaling $4,000) available to deserving prospective Bennies and Johnnies. And all it takes to qualify is your recommendation.
When you’re ready to
the sky’s the limit
start giving,
Emily Leuthner Frager ’96 has really taken off in her years since leaving Saint Ben’s. The communication major has risen to serve as global client experience lead and Southern California general manager for FleishmanHillard, one of the world’s largest public relations firms. (Learn more about Emily and her story in our article on page 10.)
Today, giving back is important to her and she consistently focuses her philanthropy on education. “I believe that’s where our dollars work the hardest in paying it forward and giving forward to the next generation,” she says.
And Saint Ben’s has been a big part of that. So a few years ago she decided to channel her efforts into creating the Sky’s the Limit annual scholarship. “Saint Ben’s was really good to me,” she says, “and I wanted to give back. But I also wanted to be able to specify the parts of my college experience that were really meaningful and hopefully give in support of somebody who shared that same ambition.”
For Emily, that meant studying abroad. “Education through travel is life-changing,” she says. “I chose Saint Ben’s for the Greco-Roman program. Beforehand, it was my motivation to do well in school and earn extra money. The travels demystified geography, culture and perspectives in ways no classroom, website or textbooks can. I found art, history and philosophy were tangled in religion – and opted to minor in theology, which I cherish to this day. I built self-confidence as well as meaningful friendships based on the trials of being away from home.”
She decided to fund a named annual scholarship. The name “Sky’s the Limit” is both an aspirational
nudge to recipients and a running hashtag within her family.
(“My daughter’s name is Sky.”) Criteria for Bennies receiving the scholarship include financial need and participation in a study abroad program. Preference goes toward strategic communication studies majors. (Check out our story on the updated major on page 22.)
The scholarship agreement is for five years, supporting five students. This current academic year is the third.
Why a named annual scholarship, though? “I believe in giving back,” Emily explains. “I believe in making it a sustained, ongoing effort. And I want it to be built into our financial planning. I don’t want it to be an afterthought. I want it to be an integrated part of our financial planning.”
Creating a named annual scholarship at Saint Ben’s is a bold statement – but not as much of a financial stretch as you might imagine. You can establish a scholarship at any gift level above $2,500 annually, with at least a three-year commitment.
And establishing the Sky’s the Limit scholarship was easy. Emily volunteers on the Saint Ben’s Leadership Advisory Council and remembers the subject coming up with some of the other council members. “It was a conversation where I mentioned that I’d like to be a regular donor, but I would like to give it some specificity,” she recalls. “And I was a recipient of several of these scholarships, so I just started asking how those get set up. Once I started actually talking with the folks from Saint Ben’s, it felt like a five-minute conversation.”
You can learn more about establishing a named annual scholarship at Saint Ben’s by contacting Tara Maas Tessmer ’14, interim executive director of major and planned gifts, at tmaas@csbsju.edu or 320-363-5078
