Honors Newsletter Spring 2017

Explore. Create. Experience. Minnesota State University Moorhead Honors Program.

Honors

NEWSLETTER

SPRING 2017

The annual Honors Program Fall Picnic includes a guided nature walk with Biosciences Professor Brian Wisenden.

Letter from the Director pring is in the air! It’s time to recap a great year in the Honors Program and celebrate our students’ accomplishments with an eye to the future. More than a dozen students are expected to complete Honors and wear that Golden Stole at spring commencementCongratulations! Seniors will receive their stoles in a ceremony given by our own President Anne Blackhurst at the Senior Banquet on May 3rd. And a new class of freshmen in Honors is expected to be bigger than ever in the Fall 2017, with an especially significant number coming from local high schools right here in our own community.

We have a lot to offer our newest Honors students, including favorite signature events like the Rourke Night at the Museum, Fall Picnic, and studio art activities like the recent papermaking class. We are also excited to offer new Honors classes including our own Hon 372 Natural Disasters as well as access to NDSU Honors classes. And for students who want to include travel in their honors experience, how about Japan (Phys 385 Hiroshima Peace Studies tour), or Italy (Hon 307 Transformations of the Roman World)? See our anticipated class schedule for details. And to help with planning those often complex and ambitious course schedules, Honors Program continued on page 2...

Explore. Create. Experience.

An Interview with Professor Laura Fasick

By Olivia Droogsma

p

rofessor Laura Fasick started her career at MSUM in 1990. Since

Letter from Director continued... students now receive early registration!

Exclusive, small classes; signature events and activities; outstanding and dedicated faculty; and now priority registration… the MSUM Honors Program is focused relentlessly on student achievement!

Elizabeth Nawrot, Ph.D. Honors Program Director

then she has been a passionate

professor of English. She has a long time interest in reading and literature that she wanted to share with others, which eventually leading to a career in education. She first got involved with the Honors Program when asked to develop a course that analyzes the adaptations of books into other forms of media. The class, Tellings and Retellings, has been a favorite of hers and a section of it will be offered this fall. Outside of the Honors Program Professor Fasick is quite involved on campus. She is a professor in the new 18 Online Program that allows current teachers to take graduate credits online with a flexible schedule. The program is kicking off this semester and Fasick will teach one of its first courses starting after Spring Break. She has also taught classes for campus Learning Communities and First Year Programs.

Fasick is teaching several classes this semester including “Big City, Big Impact”, a class that one of her student’s has adapted for honors credit.

In the summer Professor Fasick will travel to England to present at a conference. Fasick and several other experts on author Charles Kingsley were invited to participate in the conference hosted at the Gladstone Library

A “Nutty Professor” in Dragon attire Dr. Konrad Czynski

“Professor” in Dragon attire? Dr.

Konrad Czynski always delights students- in and out of the classroom!

in England. She has put much effort into the project and looks forward to discussing and sharing with those in attendance. Fasick is also excited about her involvement in the 18 Online program. She is happy to jump in at the beginning to watch the program grow and be a part of its success.

Fasick believes the Honors Program is a great way to connect with students outside of one’s major and expand one’s knowledge. The relationships built amongst like-minded students from a variety of majors and interest areas enrich the lives of students greatly. The small class sizes, unique content, and mixture of perspectives create for an excellent learning opportunity and chance to expand each student’s knowledge. She advises that all students take advantage of all activities, performances, or lectures offered on campus.

The Honors Encounters class was designed to help students do this and has done a great job, but there are always more ways to be involved that any student can fit into their busy schedule!

Private Tour Rourke Art Museum

Honors program students enjoy a private tour of the Rourke by museum curator Jonathan Rutter.

Minnesota State University Moorhead Honors Program

Stefan’s Corner with Program Assistant Stefan Nelson, Math

Papermaking

he Honors Program will be starting recruitment for the Honors Executive Council soon for the Fall 2017 semester. Students who are a part of this council will mentor incoming freshmen, help set up program events, hold office hours, promote the Honors Program during Preview Days, talk with prospective students, and have an active role in committee meetings with faculty. Members can use this experience to satisfy their Honors 102 credit, and it is also a part of the Dragon Leadership Program. As a member for the past 2 years, I can say that the Honors Executive Council has been an excellent opportunity help make our Honors Program the best it can be. Any questions can be directed to honors@mnstate.edu. Otherwise, check your inboxes in the coming weeks for more information!

School of Visual Arts

Honors students get a first hand look at papermaking courtesy of Professor Kelli Sinner

Congratulations Graduates!

Brittany Swenson, Emily O’Meara, Mattingly Rezak, Alan Santillan, Rachel Soland, Nicole Olson, Olivia Droogsma, Haley Foster, Joseph Greening, Katie Gargulak, Grace Lunzer (Fall 2017), Eva Rude, Ashley Higgins, Chase Esslinger, Hayley Hilfer, Justine Sponder and Mackayla Swenson

My Study Abroad in Norway

by Rahil Pereira I spent fall semester studying abroad at the University of Oslo in Norway. I took classes in Norwegian, international relations and developmental economics.

Living in Oslo was a great opportunity to experience Norwegian socialist welfare systems firsthand. I also had the opportunity to travel to other European countries, and I spent the last three weeks backpacking through nine European countries. I have a personal goal of travelling to twenty countries before I turn twenty this July; I have been to eighteen so far and plan on travelling to Canada and Italy this summer to accomplish my goal. I would highly recommend studying abroad to anyone interested in getting out of their comfort zone and learning about different cultures.

Honors Program 1104 7th Avenue South Moorhead, Minnesota 56563

MSUM Honors at DECA!

Thank You Thank you to so many talented faculty who instructed classes or participated in Honors Program activities this year: Laura Fasick (English), Annette Morrow (History), Oscar Flores (Econ), Alex Fogarty (Graphic Com), Linda Winkler (Chemistry), Chang-Seong Hong (Philosophy), Sharon Scapple (English), Marilea Bramer (Philosophy), Nathan Clarke (History), Konrad Czynski (Humanities), Shireen Alemadi (Outreach), Kyja K-Nelson (Film Studies), Tony Adah (Film Studies), Kelli Sinner (School of Visual Arts), Brian Wisenden (Biosciences), and Lisa Nawrot (Psychology).

Congratulations to MSUM Honors Program members Michelle Bruer and Alan Santillan on placing 2nd and 3rd (respectively) in their events at the Collegiate DECA state competition with MSUM Alan Santillan (2nd row last one to the right) and Michelle Bruer in Minneapolis. Both (2nd row in the middle) at the DECA state competition were also finalists in their Accounting (Michelle) and Business Ethics (Alan) events. Good Luck at Nationals in Anaheim, California! Collegiate DECA’s Competitive Events Program allows students to put their experience, skills and knowledge to the test while representing their college or university. Students compete for top international honors in one of 24 different competitions. Collegiate DECA competitive events recognize student achievement, provide opportunities for traveling to conferences and networking with peers. The Collegiate DECA Competitive Events Program is recognized for helping to prepare students for their professional careers-in all events students are judged by business and industry professionals.

Honors Program 2015-16 Class Schedule

Send news and story ideas to:

FALL 2017 Hon 102 Encounters (multiple sections) FYE/ Honors

Section for freshmen

Hon 200 Colloquium in the Humanities (LASC 6/WI)

Website: mnstate.edu/honors Office: MacLean 374C Email: honors@mnstate.edu Phone: 218.477.4104 Director: Elizabeth Nawrot, nawrot@mnstate.edu

Assistant: Stefan Nelson, nelsonste@mnstate.edu Honors Executive Council: Stefan Nelson, Nicole Skwira, Olivia Droogsma Honors Learning Community Mentor: Akira Shastri, shastriak@mnstate.edu Find us on twitter/facebook

Hon 302 Tellings and Retellings (LASC 6) Hon 492 Capstone (LASC 9/WI)

SPRING & SUMMER 2018 (anticipated)

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Hon 102 Encounters (multiple sections)

▸ March 27 – registration for Fall 2017 classes begins

Hon 3xx/ PHYS 385 Hiroshima Peace Studies Tour, with spring break trip to Japan (LASC 8)

▸ April 3 – deadline for Honors Program scholarship applications

Hon 307 Transformations of the Roman World, with summer travel and archaeological dig (LASC 5)

▸ May 2 – last day of class- turn in final Hon102 Encounter reports and get Hon course contracts signed

Hon 492 Capstone (LASC 9/WI)

▸ May 3 – Spring Senior Banquet ▸ May 12 – Commencement Minnesota State University Moorhead is an equal opportunity educator and employer and is a member of the Minnesota State system.