Doug Simon Q&A
McLean Poetry Award
Sweetland Hall
Fall 2009
A magazine for alumni & friends of Southwest Minnesota State University
the secrets of
OFFTHE
hook To jumpstart recruitment for the class of 2014, SMSU admission publications received a major facelift. The SMSU Admission office unveiled its new publication package this summer. See for yourself at www.SMSU.edu/admisson
F R I D AY, O C T O B E R 9 , 2 0 0 9
Invited
You are
to attend Southwest Minnesota State University’s premiere fundraising event to support student scholarships...
2009 University Gala 6:00 pm
Social Hour Begin with cocktails, hors d’ oeuvres & Silent Auction
8:00 pm
Dinner is Served Enjoy a delectable dining experience
9:00 pm
Live Auction & Dance Dance the night away with our local favorite, All My Favorites
Call 800-260-0970 or visit www.smsufoundation.org/gala for tickets. Special rates until Sept. 1.
A magazine for alumni & friends of Southwest Minnesota State University
Fall 2009
volume 29 number 1 Keeping you connected to the events, news and accomplishments of faculty, staff, students and alumni is
2 5 6 8 9 11 12
Doug Sweetland & Sweetland Hall
an important function of the SMSU Alumni Association. The Focus Alumni Magazine
Q & A with Doug Simon
is one of our opportunities to reach out to nearly 17,000 alumni and friends and connect you to
Dr. Jay Brown
campus. I hope you enjoy our new features in this issue of Focus and we always welcome new story ideas about students, faculty, staff and
Campus Views
alumni. We also understand that alumni are connecting daily, sometimes on a minute-by-minute basis, through social networking sites like
Athletics
Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. The SMSU Alumni Association is actively participating in these networks to help connect and engage
Alumni Connections
alumni with other alumni and friends of SMSU. Don't miss your chance to return to Southwest and see what's new during Homecoming 2009-Mustang Mardi Gras the weekend of Oc-
Class Notes
tober 9-10! The University Gala will be held on Friday night of Homecoming and all alumni are invited to attend this great event that raises scholarship dollars for SMSU. Food Network featured Chef
President Dr. David C. Danahar Executive Director of Foundation Bill Mulso ʼ93 Director of Alumni Relations and Focus Editor Tyler Bowen ʼ95/MSʼ08 Senior Writer and Photographer Jim Tate
Designer Marcy D. Olson, ʼ93/MBAʼ05 Contributors Stacy Frost ʼ93 Kelly Loft ʼ97 Tim Gerszewski Mike Van Drehle ʻ08 Editorial Assistance Jessica Fokken ʼ05 Janice Robinson ʼ09
Emile Stieffel will be on hand throughout the weekend to give all of the events a New Orleans flavor! Bring the entire family and enjoy a great weekend of Mustang fun! On behalf of the Alumni Association and the entire campus community, I want to thank you for your continuing interest, loyalty and support. It is great to be a Mustang!
All hometowns are in Minnesota unless otherwise noted. Focus (USPS 565-770) is published twice each year for alumni and friends of Southwest Minnesota State University by the Alumni Office. Opinions expressed in Focus do not necessarily reflect official University policy. Send correspondence, name changes and address corrections to: Focus, Alumni Office, Southwest Minnesota State University, 1501 State Street, Marshall, MN 56258 or call (507) 537-6266.
Tyler Bowen’95/’08 Director of Alumni Relations
Focus is not copyrighted. Unless otherwise noted, articles may be reprinted without permission if credit is given to Southwest Minnesota State University. Southwest Minnesota State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action educator and employer. Southwest Minnesota State University is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. This document can be made available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities. Please make your request by calling 507-537-6266, 1-800-260-0970, or through the Minnesota Relay Service at 1-800-627-3529.
FOCUS is Going Green! The Spring 2010 edition of FOCUS will highlight the sustainability efforts undertaken by faculty, staff and students. Do you have a story to tell? Contact me at Tyler.Bowen@SMSU.edu. We want to include stories about the ways our alumni are making a difference.
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SMSU Mourns Doug Sweetland Douglas Patrick Sweetland was born on March 1, 1939, in Faulkton, SD, the 13th of 14 children born of Frederick and Rose (Anglin) Sweetland. He grew up in Orient, SD. From 1957–1961, Doug served in the U.S. Navy. In 1965, he married Karen Kjelden in Clear Lake, SD. Doug had a life-long passion for education. He received his B.S. from Northern State College in Aberdeen, SD, his M.S. and Ph.D. in Economics from Kansas State University. Doug taught economics and finance at several institutions including Northern State College, Kansas State University, UW-La Crosse, and Winona State University. After becoming Dean and Vice President at Winona State he ended his career as a Professor of Economics and President of Southwest State University in Marshall from 1994-2000. Though being in administration for much of his career, Doug always insisted on teaching at least one class so he could remain in contact with the students and their needs. Doug died on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at his home surrounded by his family after a two-year battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Karen, children Celine (and Jerrod) Nelson, Shane and Angela (and Matt) Bass, five grandchildren, one brother and four sisters, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Donations to the Doug Sweetland Memorial Scholarship would be greatly appreciated. Doug requested that this scholarship be set up for SMSU students majoring in education from the surrounding area. Donations can be sent to: SMSU Foundation Office c/o Bill Mulso, 1501 State Street, Marshall, MN 56258.
Inside Sweetland Hall · 3 floors · $11.5 million cost · 26 accessible rooms · 252 beds · 19th of August move-in On July 17, President Danahar announced that the new residence hall will be named after retired President Douglas Sweetland, who served at Southwest from 1994 to his retirement in 2000. During his administration he led an outstanding effort to stabilize the finances and enrollment of the University. Enrollment increased significantly, particularly at the graduate level, and his restructuring enhanced the number and quality of the teaching faculty. Sweetland Hall will be an enduring and fitting testimony to his service and commitment to this University and its students.
Susan McLean Wins Poetry Award English professor Dr. Susan McLean had an exciting 2008-2009 academic year. She was named the 2009 winner of the prestigious Richard Wilbur Poetry Award, and she completed her first full-length book of poetry, The Best Disguise (University of Evansville Press), which will be released this coming winter. The book includes her work of the past 19 years. “It’s all in rhyme and meter. I have a lot of sonnets and also a number of villanelles,” she said. She came to SMSU in 1988 and during a conversation with English professor Phil Dacey mentioned she had written poetry years ago. “He said that if I wanted to write poetry again, that he’d be willing to look at it,” she said.
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“Phil gave good advice about ways to improve my poems. It got me excited about it again, so I kept writing.” Dacey is a well-known poet who retired from the faculty several years ago and now lives and writes in New York City. McLean also had a chapbook of poetry published in 2006 entitled Holding Patterns. McLean received her undergraduate degree in English from Harvard University, and her master’s and Ph.D. in English from Rutgers University.
By the Numbers
Timely Research on Spanish Flu Amy Heiderscheidt of Redwood Falls didn’t know the paper she presented at the 44th annual Student History Conference April 23 at the University of South Dakota would be so timely. Heiderscheidt’s paper won in the category of regional history and was entitled, “The Spanish Influenza in Southwest Minnesota.” A day after winning the top honor, it was announced that the H1N1 virus had hit Mexico. “It was an especially timely paper due to that fact,” said Associate History Professor Tom Williford. “It just worked out that way. Amy started her research two years before.” She did exhaustive research in investigating the county death records in southwest Minnesota from 1917 to 1920 in an effort to determine the mortality rate of the region. Spanish influenze claimed nearly 40 million people worldwide, making it the second-worst pandemic in recorded history. Her research took her to county courthouses and small town newspaper offices and even a graveyard or two. Her findings showed that the influenza affected southwest Minnesota at a rate similar to that of major U.S. cities, disproving the assumption that rural areas suffered less than urban areas from the outbreak. “She is a history and biology double major, so her paper was presented in a different way, with more of a biological emphasis,” said Williford.
Students participating: 2006: 67 students 2007: 143 students 2008: 178 students Number of oral presentations: 2006: 21 2007: 27 2008: 40 Number of poster presentations: 2006: 27 2007: 56 2008: 73 Number of academic programs represented: 2006: 4 2007: 13 2008: 15 The inaugural conference included: Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics. Programs added in 2007: Art, Art History, Education, English, Philosophy, Psychology, Theater, Agribusiness, Accounting, Sociology. Programs added in 2008: Justice Administration, History, Creative Writing, Wellness & Human Performance. Lost: Philosophy.
629 Students Graduate in May Commencement Exercises Dr. Richard Jones, a 1973 alumnus and the principal at John Adams Middle School in Rochester, Minn., delivered the commencement address on Saturday, May 9 in the R/A Facility. A total of 629 seniors graduated during the 41st commencement exercises, bringing the community of SMSU alumni to over 15,000. Dr. Jan Loft, Professor of Speech Communication, was the 2009 recipient of the prestigious Cowan Award, named for the former psychology professor Cathy Cowan who was killed in a car accident in
Dec. 2001. Andrew Beilke, a Finance/Business Administration major from Mankato, Minn., accepted the Outstanding Senior Award from the Alumni Association. This award recognizes a distinguished student for their academic achievement, campus and community activities in addition to honors or awards. Proud parents, family and friends packed the R/A Facility for the two-hour ceremony which was followed by a reception in the Student Center.
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Impact of Economy on Campus and Tuition Challenging economic times throughout the country have not spared higher education, and Southwest Minnesota State University is no exception. The University cut $3.2 million to balance its 2009-2010 fiscal year budget, a financial situation that affected, in one way or another, 68 positions. “How that affected people varies, from not filling vacant positions to actual layoffs. There were some reductions in percent time, early-retirement incentives, things like that,” said Doug Fraunfelder, Vice President for Finance and Administration. “We’re trying to find efficiencies where we can in our operations,” he said. That includes implementing utility savings such as occupancy sensors and keeping the lights off as much as possible during the cooling season. It also includes power management tools for computers, implementing travel restrictions and encouraging more meetings be conducted over the Web. “Every little bit helps,” he said. Tuition will go up 5 percent next
year, but 2 percent of that will be offset by one-time stimulus package dollars, which will keep the tuition increase impacting students at only 3 percent. And while legislative support of higher education has declined over the years, support of the SMSU Foundation continues to grow. The Foundation had its most successful year ever last year, raising a record $3.44 million, thanks to the generosity of 6,109 donors. That’s an indication of a growing alumni base, recognition of the importance of scholarships in these difficult economic times, and loyalty to the University, said Bill Mulso, Executive Director of the SMSU Foundation. “People realize the importance of a college education and that it’s more difficult for students today,” he said.
11th Curtler Book Published Retired philosophy professor Hugh Curtler’s 11th book, Provoking Thought, was published by the Florida Academic Press and made its debut this past spring. It started out, he said, as reflections to pass along to his children and grew from there. He describes it as an “intellectual biography,” and in it he shares reflections about the mundane (TV and sports), the arcane (aesthetics and ethics) and ventures into fields such as history, literature and anthropology. The book is available at Amazon.com and the publisher. For reviews and more information, visit www.hughcurtler.com
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Recent Retirees Recognized A number of familiar faces announced their retirement and were honored at the University Recognition Dinner on March 23, 2009. These recent retirees, their titles, their departments and years of service included: Robert Eliason, Professor, Chemistry, 40 Connie Evans, Professor, Humanities, 16 Eunice Herrick, Office & Administrative Specialist Senior, Business Administration, 38 Sharon Hulsizer, Customer Service Specialist Senior, Financial Aid, 36 Deb Johnson, Customer Service Specialist, Health Services, 23 Kathryn Jones, Assistant Professor, Mathematics, 17 Ginger Kaufman, Director, Career Services, 7 Marilyn Leach, Director, Academic & Diversity Resources, 35 Max Lord, Electrician, Physical Plant, 29 Robert Moyer, Associate Professor, Mathematics, 7 Jan Olson, Office & Administrative Specialist Intermediate, Wellness & Human Performance, 25 Loren Wood, Refrigeration Mechanic, Physical Plant, 20 We thank them for their service and dedication to SMSU. Connect with current and retired faculty and staff on the SMSU Alumni online directory at www.SouthwestAlumni.com
Q & A with Doug Simon ’94 Political Science professor Doug Simon returned in June from a tour of duty in Iraq with the Minnesota Army National Guard. Simon, who has a law degree, was a Brigade Judge Advocate who managed a legal team and acted as the general counsel for the brigade commander. It was the second tour of duty for the 20-year member of the National Guard. He also served in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Simon is engaged to Molly Wright, who he will wed on Oct. 17, 2009. He has a son, Isaac, 4 ½. How has your experience in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iraq changed you as a person? I treasure the classroom experience more now, and I am very much a mentor educator more than I ever have been before. Students need to realize they have an opportunity for a great education and should take advantage of it. I think it’s a great responsibility to deliver to the students the education they came here to receive. I appreciate simple things more, like green grass. How have your experiences made you a better professor? As a Brigade Judge Advocate, I practiced my art. It’s these types
of experiences I can take into the classroom, whether it is how to deal with Congress in an appropriations bill or the steps involved in a court martial—I can take those experiences and bring them down to a basic level. Every complex situation starts with a simple premise, and I can connect the dots. What are some things about military life you wish Americans knew more about? While service members and soldiers enjoy being in the military, it still requires great sacrifice, and that’s something we should not take for granted. The sacrifices are made every step of the way. It’s hard; it’s a challenging environment. Your entire life is frozen; you sacrifice your professional career, your personal life, and your friendships. What were the three things you missed most while serving in Iraq? My loved ones, wine, and a good steak. What do you miss about being in Iraq? Friendships — you have friendships etched in granite — the work, and the ability to see the world. What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about you? That I have over 5,000 comic books.
Career Services Available to Alumni SMSU alumni are increasingly taking advantage of the benefits offered through the University’s Career Services office. “We’re getting more inquiries all the time from our alumni,” said interim director of Career Services Sheila Risacher. “We offer career coaching, career counseling, interview preparation, help with job searches, résumé critiques and graduate school assistance,” she said. Risacher said she has seen an increase in the number of alumni contacting Career Services during the recent downturn in the economy. “Most of what we do for alumni, for obvious geographic reasons, is over the phone — distance coaching,” she said. “It’s a free service, something that’s not typical throughout the country.” Most college graduates change careers up to seven times before
they retire, she said. And while some areas of the economy are stagnant or shrinking, others are showing growth. “Right now, there is growth in agriculture, agronomy, information technology and health care,” she said. “There is also an emphasis on the green economy. Minnesota has been a leader there, so it is well-positioned for growth in that area.” According to Risacher there are more people looking for work than there are jobs. That’s why it’s important for those seeking employment to distinguish themselves on the résumé and during the interview process, she said. Alumni can view all of the areas in which Career Services offers assistance at www.MustangJobs.com. The phone number is 507537-6221. Risacher can be reached via e-mail at
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Chemistry Professor Jay Brown worked with a trio of students on research to unlock the electromagnetic properties of atrazine
There was that one moment that SMSU Chemistry Professor Jay Brown will never forget. After five years and 71 failed attempts, he was able to extract a pure sample of the electrochemical reduction product of atrazine, a popular herbicide used for corn production on many agricultural fields in the Midwest to control weeds. The results were published in the Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, a leading publication in its field. The work brought clarity to a scientific question that had surrounded atrazine for over a decade: what are the electrochemical properties of atrazine that make it effective on select weeds? “I was alone in the laboratory, and although I’m not a religious man, I looked to the sky and said, ‘Thank you!’ At that moment, I was the only person in the world who knew it had been done.” Brown had finally cracked the electrochemical reduction pathway of atrazine, a research breakthrough that has drawn much attention to his findings ever since. Brown was helped in his groundbreaking research by a trio of SMSU students, including Darlene Guse, Janesville, Minn.; Matthew Bruzek, Loretto, Minn.; and Paul DeVos, Marshall, Minn. Brown is a Queens, N.Y. native who grew up within walking distance of Shea Stadium. He received an A.A.S. degree in chemistry from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Cobleskill. His B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemistry are from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and
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Forestry. His Ph.D. in analytical chemistry is from the University of Vermont. He took a temporary position at St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont before coming to SMSU in 1997. It had been known for some time that atrazine was electrochemically active and takes up four electrons per molecule in an electrochemical process called reduction, said Brown. But the structure of the reduction product had not been unequivocally determined using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy. NMR Spectroscopy is a powerful technique for structure determination, but the low solubility of atrazine in water made this determination difficult. As a result, there were three competing theories in scientific literature for the atrazine reduction process. Brown wanted to settle the controversy. “We developed our own methods based upon earlier work found in the scientific literature and eventually extracted enough pure material to perform the NMR analyses,” said Brown. What does it mean in the big picture? “The atrazine binding site in target weeds was recently identified by another group in the literature. An important point of their research was that atrazine displaces an electrochemically active group in the photosynthetic machinery of target weeds. Our work demonstrated how atrazine takes up electrons. This adds to our understanding of how atrazine works on an electrochemical level,” said Brown.
The eventual goal is to produce customized herbicides that target specific weeds. But the first step is to fully understand the mode of action for atrazine. Brown was able to receive funds for the electrochemistry equipment through a grant he wrote to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities’ Center for Teaching and Learning. The NMR Spectrometer was purchased years earlier from a National Science Foundation grant written by retired SMSU Chemistry Professor Robert Eliason. “I was talking with [former SMSU professor] Doug Spieles. I mentioned that I wanted to conduct an electrochemical study on a pesticide of regional significance. He immediately suggested atrazine. We didn’t have the equipment to conduct the research at the time, so I applied for the grant. After approval, we purchased the necessary equipment and started the project the following year.” Guse was the first student to conduct research on the project. She was referred to Brown by Eliason. “He saw the potential in her and asked me to put her on a project,” said Brown. “She was an unusual student, majoring in both chemistry and business administration and finance. Robert saw her potential.” A big challenge for the group was developing an extraction procedure to obtain a pure sample of the reduction product. This involved mixing the sample with the appropriate extraction solvents to remove the product and then evaporating the solvents without decomposing the product. “We had to
avoid excessive heat during the evaporation step because that would decompose the product. Atrazine is not very soluble in water, so we had to work with miniscule quantities. You only got one shot at an extraction. You had to start the two-day process all over again each time the extraction didn’t work.” After 71 tries, Brown struck gold. “Conducting undergraduate research has become popular nationwide. It’s an excellent teaching tool for students willing to put in the time. You can’t get a better learning experience at the undergraduate level. The time is well-spent and worth the effort.” Research has now become the required capstone course in the chemistry program, he said. “The journey has really helped me,” said Brown, who put in plenty of extra time over the years on the project. “For me, the focus was always teaching. [Now] I can use examples of the research in the classroom. When I say, ‘Darlene did this, or Matt and Paul did that,’ the students tend to pay more attention because those are their peers. I make that connection as often as I can.” Brown has expanded his research to include the herbicides simazine, propazine and cyanazine. “We want to find out if these analogs of atrazine have similar reduction pathways” he said. “This question is for the next generation of students in the group to determine.” Brown works with several top students each year on the project and is quick to pass on the credit. “It was very much a collaborative effort,” he said.
Atrazine, 2-chloro-4-(ethylamine)-6-(isopropylamine)-s-triazine, an organic compound consisting of an striazine-ring is a widely used herbicide. Its use is controversial due to its effects on nontarget species, such as on amphibians. It is banned in the European Union.
Darlene Guse ’05 Janesville, Minn. A Chemistry and Business Administration/ Finance major at SMSU, Darlene is entering her fourth year at Mayo Medical School, Rochester, Minn. “(Undergraduate research) provides students the opportunity to really think through problems and apply their knowledge. Rather than just follow a recipe, students are challenged to create new methods and protocols.”
Matt Bruzek ’08 Loretto, Minn. A Chemistry major at SMSU, Matt is pursuing a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at the University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky. “The whole reason one goes to college is to gain the knowledge and experience that will prepare him or her for a job. Classroom courses give students the basic knowledge required, but they do not necessarily make the students apply this knowledge to a real-life problem. Undergraduate research does that.”
Paul DeVos ’08 Marshall, Minn. A Chemistry major at SMSU, Paul will be teaching math at Newman Smith High School, Carrollton, Texas, this fall. “I believe the research project, more than anything, helped give me a taste for what research really is and gave me a vision of the endless possibilities that it could lead to.”
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THE CHANGING VIEWS AT SMSU
2008-09: A Big Year for Mustang Athletics Chalk it up as one of the most successful years in Southwest Minnesota State University athletics history. The 2008-09 season saw the Mustangs land seven of their 11 programs in national postseason play—highlighted by an Elite Eight appearance by the men’s basketball team— and grab 11 different All-America honors. While the men’s hoopsters advanced the deepest into postseason play, they weren’t the only squad to get a taste of the NCAA tournament. SMSU volleyball charted a 28-6 campaign and advanced to its fifth straight NCAA tournament. The Mustang women golfers drove their way into the national tournament for the first time since 2006. The SMSU softball team won its fourth straight NSIC crown and earned its spot in the NCAA tournament—also for the fourth straight year. And Paul Blanchard’s baseball team made the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. Hard work on the gridiron turned into SMSU football’s first winning season since 1999. The Mustangs’ 6-5 record tied them for sixth place in the newly expanded, nationally renowned NSIC. It was a successful season in SMSU’s brand new, $16 million Regional Event Center. Equally hard work from Jesse Nelson and his wrestlers gained SMSU its first dual win since the 2006-07 season. Mustang wrestling hosted the NCAA Regional Tournament
SMSU baseball made its first NCAA tournament appearance in school history, after posting a 28-15 season. Senior Derek West received a pair of All-America honorable mention nods from Daktronics and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). Junior Andrew Kinney was named All-America honorable mention by the NCBWA. For the fourth straight season, the Mustang softball team was crowned NSIC champions. They finished the season 3223 and received a bid to the NCAA tournament before falling to Minnesota State, Mankato. Senior Amanda Burkhart dis-
and sent two to the NCAA Championships. A flurry of all-America accolades found their way to Marshall, too. Tyler Reed received a nod for the D2football.com All-America honorable mention team. Kasey Loeslie was also named All-America honorable mention by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Ross Senior forward Ross DeDeMasi garnered a pair of AllMasi (Swanton, Vt.) America honors for men’s basketball earned a pair of AllAmerica selections as he from Daktronics and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. was named to both the Daktronics and National Softball saw its first All-American at Association of Basketball the Division II level when Amanda Coaches squads. Burkhart earned the honor from a duo of organizations, her first-team selection coming from Daktronics. Derek West and Andrew Kinney represented the baseball with honorable mention recognition. The athletics venues at SMSU weren’t the only places the Mustangs excelled in 2008-09. The classroom was an equally successful place as 55 student-athletes were named to the Academic All-NSIC team throughout the year. Senior baseball player Greg Laughlin was also named Academic All-America in the spring.
tinguished herself as the NSIC and Region Player of the Year. Senior pitcher Amanda Johnson did the same with her NSIC and Region Pitcher of the Year honors. Burkhart was also named to a pair of AllAmerica squads, becoming the first SMSU softball player to earn such honors at the NCAA Division II level. The SMSU tennis squad finished the season 8-14 and fourth in the NSIC. Ananda Ferrari claimed NSIC Senior Athlete of the Year honors and led her team to a fourth-place finish at the NSIC tournament. The Mustangs also collected four top-three finishes at the NSIC individual championships. The Mustang golf team participated in the regional tournament for the sixth time in school history. Senior Abby Oakland was the highest placer for SMSU, checking in at No. 12 spot.
Senior right fielder Amanda Burkhart (Omaha, Neb.) landed on two All-America teams. She is the first SMSU softball player to be named an AllAmerican at the NCAA Division II level.
Senior second baseman Greg Laughlin (Eden Prairie, Minn.) became just the second SMSU baseball player to earn Academic All-America honors when he was named to the 2009 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America third team.
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Cause for celebration During the SMSU Homecoming weekend on October 9-10, the SMSU Alumni Association will present Alumni Achievement and Honorary Lifetime Membership Awards to distinguished alumni and friends of Southwest Minnesota State University.
Alumni Achievement This award is presented to a graduate in recognition of their remarkable professional success and the positive reflection made on the reputation of all graduates of SMSU. Dene Thomas ’78 Literature President Lewis and Clark University Lewiston, Idaho Steven Binder ’79 Business Administration Group Vice President, Refrigerated Products Hormel Foods Corporation Austin, Minn.
Honorary Lifetime Membership This award is presented to an individual who is not a graduate of SMSU, but gives their time, talents, and enthusiasm as if they were. Gerald Toland Professor of Business Administration Marshall, Minn. Laurie Maeyaert Retired ARAMARK Balaton, Minn. Eric Luther Owner, Burger King Marshall, Minn.
To nominate someone The Alumni Association is now accepting nominations for both alumni achievement and honorary membership awards to be given in 2010. If you know of an outstanding alumnus, a faculty, staff or community member who deserves recognition, please contact us. Email alumni@SMSU.edu or call 1-800-260-0970.
Alumni Plaza Update The Alumni Plaza project fundraising is in full swing. To date 410 individuals and/or couples have contributed nearly $69,000 of the $200,000 challenge gift by Deeann Griebel ’80 to finish the project. All gifts to this project go toward supporting the construction and future maintenance of the Alumni Plaza. Construction on the Alumni Plaza is expected to begin in May 2010. To help support this important campus project please contact Tyler Bowen, Director of Alumni Relations at Tyler.Bowen@SMSU.edu. You can make a gift online at www.SouthwestAlumni.com/plaza. Your support will leave a lasting legacy on the campus of SMSU.
A l u m n i Tr a v e l O p p o r t u n i t y i n 2 0 1 0 :
JEWELS OF THE Athens, Kusadasi, Rhodes, Santorini, Katakolon, Sicily, Amalfi/Positano, Sardinia, Corsica, Florence, and Rome
YOU ARE INVITED
SMSU Alumni Association 2009 Awards Luncheon Friday, October 9, 2009 SMSU Conference Center Ballroom Cost: $10.00
· ROUND-TRIP AIRFARE FROM SELECT OCEANIA CRUISES’ CITIES · 10 nights accommodations and cruising onboard Oceania Cruises’ “Regatta” to historic and scenic ports of call · All meals, entertainment & use of the ship’s facilities onboard the cruise
Lunch will be followed by a short program highlighting the 2009 Alumni Award Recipients.
For more information email alumni@SMSU.edu or visit www.SouthwestAlumni.com/travel
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
RSVP by calling 507-537-6266 prior to Tuesday, Oct. 6
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SMSU Alumni Reconnect at Top-Notch Events
Twins vs Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago: [Top left photo] Back row: Dan Reitsma ‘01, Ben Butzke ‘02, Michael Brown ‘00, Tim Neu ‘00. Front row: Clare Reitsma ‘01, Marie Brown, Jen Neu, Jessica Arndt. [Top right photo] Kari Xiong ‘03 and Keri VanOverschelde ‘ 04. Alumni Night at Canterbury Park: [Middle left photo] Jess McGaughey, Tracey Mork ‘06, Sarah Wagoner ‘06, Jamie Enger ‘07. Alumni at LA production of “Farragut North” starring Isiah Whitlock Jr. ‘76: (Middle right photo) Kathleen Martin (attd. 71-73), Bill Hezlep (retired faculty emeritus), Isiah Whitlock Jr. ’76, Tyler Bowen ’95, Dave Schmalz ‘72 Twins v. Yankees at the Metrodome: [Bottom left photo] Tom Moldenhauer ‘90 and Richard Crumb ‘81. (Bottom right photo) Julie May ‘00 and Dan Wise with TC at the alumni tent.
Ta i l g a t i n g a t E v e r y H o m e F o o t b a l l G a m e ! S t o p i n t h e A l u m n i Te n t o u t s i d e M a t t k e F i e l d . FOCUS
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1983 Tim Jones has been a job training specialist at the Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council since 1983 and was honored in June for Outstanding Customer Service for his work with former Bayliner employees in Pipestone. He also assisted more than 60 Schwan employees who were laid off at the same time. His wife Nancy ’82 teaches sixth grade at Tracy Area Elementary School. Tom Sahlstrom was recently named a principal with Edward D. Jones in LaCrosse, Wis. 1991 In March of 2009, Jay Petersen had his painting “St. Ignatia Whale Sanctuary, Baja” shown at the prestigious de Young Museum in San Francisco, Calif. He lives in Tucson, Ariz. 1992 Marlin and Lisa (Beaner) ’93 Wendland live in Orrville, Ohio. Lisa is the Home CEO and Marlin is in management for The J. M. Smucker Company at corporate HQ. They have 2 sons, Mason 11, and Jack, 8, and enjoy coaching and attending their boys’ sporting activities, golfing and camping. 1993 Loren Toussaint has been granted tenure as a psychology professor at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa. He is also a consulting editor for the Journal of General Psychology and is the assistant editor for the International Journal of Healing and Caring. After graduating from SMSU, he earned master’s and doctorate degrees in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. 1995 Greg Wymer (’05 MBA) became the Director of International Student Affairs at Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2007. His wife Amy works at Scheel’s Sporting Goods. They have four children: Jacob, 11; MacKenzie, 9; Leah, 6; and Benjamin, 3. Doug Zwach currently lives in Lakeville and is a Training Manager for Progressive Insurance Company. 1996 Chad Young is a mortgage loan officer with USBank and lives in Mankato. 1998 Becky (Evers) Gerdes and husband, Scott, both work for the Rochester School District. They welcomed home twin boys on April 3, 2009. 2000 Kevin Forde was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Operations at the University of Mary in Bismarck ND in July. He began his coaching career at SMSU as an assistant coach to Tim
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Miles and to Greg Stemen. He and his wife Laura ’01 have two daughters Isabelle and Addison. 2001 Kim Sanow is the Family Counselor at House of Hope Minnesota in Marshall and also is a writer and speaker on relational aggression in teenage girls. She and her husband Jerry have 4 daughters and live on an acreage near Amiret. 2003 Michael Branco recently moved from his position as transit manager in Ketchikan AK to accept a new position as transit manager for Eau Claire, Wis. He and wife Michele have three children: twins Madelynn and Mitchell, 5; and son Marshall is 2. Dr. Melisa Engelson is a chiropractic kinesiologist in Prior Lake. She received her doctor of chiropractic degree from Northwestern Health Sciences University in ’07. 2004 Zeb Prairie was promoted to Claims Representative for the Auto Claims Department of North Star Mutual Insurance of Cottonwood. He has worked there since June 2005. 2005 Heather (Smith) Bigler (’08 MS) is the school social worker at Marshall Middle School, Marshall. She is married to Brad Bigler ’02. Brad is the associate head coach of the SMSU Mustang’s men’s basketball team. Heather and Brad live in Marshall and have a daughter, Taleigha, 1½. Tim Schulz lives in Chaska and is working in Motorcycle Sales at Delano Sports Center in Delano. 2006 Jason Szczawinski is the owner of Dakota Direct Furniture and lives in Brandon, SD. 2007 Mindy Rayman married Benjmanin Dold on Aug. 16, 2008. She is pursuing a master’s in business administration and lives in Maple Grove. Robert Sandquist married Laura Mollema on June 7, 2008. He is employed at Reinhart Foods in Marshall. Michele Tomschin and Christopher Rowell were married on Aug. 30, 2008. Michele is employed by Clark Printing Co. of Tyler. Chris is employed by Explore Information Services of Marshall. Lisa Peterson married David Christianson on May 17, 2008. They live in rural Spicer. 2008 Mathew Davis married Sarah Larson on May 23, 2009. Ryan Jaeger and Emily Dyste (’09) married on May 30, 2009.
A group of alumni and friends in Malaysia gathered for a reunion. Front row (seated) left to right: Hui Ning Yap ‘01, Stephanie Choong, Wei Wei, Nicole Leng, Jodie Yan ‘01, Chin's Friend, Chin Yoon Hiung. Second row (standing) left to right: Albert Lau, Albert Lau's Wife, Eric, Thomas Soo, Jeff Ho, Ng Kem Yong, Pang, Daniel's Friend, Clarice (Ralph Wong's wife). Back row (standing) left to right: Shane, Teck Yew, Hiew, Franky Goh ‘01, Amos Tan, Daniel Goh, Ralph Wong ‘01. Submitted photo. Julie Pohlman and Jeff Kelly (’09) were married on June 6, 2009. Julie is an elementary teacher in Vaxjo, Sweden, where they will live for 1-2 years. Samantha O’Neill and Joseph Koktan (’11) were married on Aug. 7, 2009. The two reside in Marshall while Joseph finishes his degree in public relations at SMSU. Samantha graduated with a degree in social work. Gene Wyttenback is the Community Development Advocate for Tri-County Action Program in Waite Park. Gene lives in Sauk Rapids with his daughter Hayley, 5, and Sienna the golden retriever, age unknown.
IN MEMORIAM Gwen Marie Beebout Gwen passed away on Nov. 16, 2008 after a five-year battle with cancer. She worked in several SMSU offices from 1988-2005. Morgan Cline Morgan was a Post Secondary Enrollment Option student and passed away on Nov. 12, 2008 in an auto accident. Sylvan F. Gaul ’71 Sylvan passed away on Nov. 16, 2008. Duane Herrick ’71 Duane was the Director of Computer Services at SMSU from 1967-97 and passed away on May 26, 2009. Jory L. Isakson ’71 Jory passed away in July 2008. He was the executive director of the Minnesota Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling contractors. Ronald J. Jones ’72 Ronald passed away in January 2008. Jack Kelley Jack passed away on Jan. 17, 2009. He was a general maintenance worker for 31 years and retired in 2000. Gleva A. Kronlokken ’71 Gleva passed away on May 19, 2008. Frances McCormick ’87 Frances passed away in December 2008.
Sylvia J. Moline ’70 Sylvia passed away on Aug. 11, 2007. She taught fifth grade at West Elementary in Slayton for 22 years. Martha Pieske ’71 Martha passed away on Jan. 10, 2009. Dee Reisdorfer Dee passed away on June 20, 2009. She was an employee of SMSU for 26 years before retiring in 1997. Douglas Sweetland Doug was the seventh president of the University, 1994-2000. He passed away on July 21 at his home in Lynd. Loren Tesdell Loren worked as a political science professor for 20 years and passed away on Nov. 19, 2008. Bruce Wilcox Bruce, an Education Department faculty member from 1970-85, passed away on March 21, 2009. Eugene Vandeputte Eugene was a Physical Plant employee for 27 years and passed away on March 20, 2009. He retired in 1996.
Send us a note The class notes section of Focus is one of the most important vehicles by which alumni stay connected with one another. If you have news that you would like to share with classmates, please let us know. You may submit your updates to the Alumni Office by email: alumni@SMSU.edu or by visiting us online at www.SouthwestAlumni.com. by mail: SMSU Alumni Office, 1501 State St, , Marshall, MN 56258 or call 800-260-0970.
Leaving a Legacy Kelsey E berle ’08 The Kelsey Eberle Memorial Scholarship was established by her parents, Roxanne and Terry Eberle of Maple Grove, Minn. The scholarship will be awarded annually to an outstanding junior or senior Education major at Southwest Minnesota State University based upon their academic and leadership performance. Kelsey graduated from Maple Grove High School and SMSU. She was killed by a drunk driver in an auto accident on June 29, 2008. “The four years Kelsey spent as an Education major at SMSU could not have benefitted anyone more than our daughter,” said Terry Eberle. “In her time at SMSU Kelsey grew into a mature, prepared young woman who could not wait to get a classroom of her own. Kelsey’s goal was not to just become a teacher; she wanted to be that special teacher that you think of when you think back on fourth grade and say, ‘That Ms. Eberle was the best,’” he said.
Creating an Endowed Scholarship at SMSU You can establish a named, endowed scholarship at SMSU by making a gift of $10,000 or more. A scholarship can be in your name or in honor of someone dear to your heart. An endowed scholarship can be funded over one, five or 10 years, depending on your wishes. You may designate your endowment to academic scholarships, a specific collegiate unit, or students in need of financial assistance. In some cases, donors prefer including a scholarship gift in their will. To find out more, contact Bill Mulso, SMSU Foundation Executive Director, at 1-800-260-0970.
Consider These Advantages: • Tax deduction for charitable contribution • Membership in the Heritage Society • Helping SMSU students earn their degree in today’s challenging economic environment • Leaving a lasting legacy at Southwest
Contact the SMSU Foundation at 1-800-260-0970 or E-mail foundation@SMSU.edu for details.
Making a difference for future generations of Mustangs
Published by SMSU Alumni Office 1501 State Street • Marshall, MN 56258
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Events Calendar The SMSU Alumni Association plans a variety of exciting events to connect and engage alumni. We hope to see you at a future event!
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AgBowl: Celebrating Minnesota Agriculture SMSU Football vs Black Hills State Mattke Field, SMSU, September 05 Step in Time with “Mary Poppins” Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis September 20 Homecoming 2009: Mustang Mardi Gras SMSU, Marshall. October 4-11 Bert and Ernie Goodnight, World Premier Minneapolis Children’s Theatre, October 25 Tour the Louvre Masterpieces Minneapolis Art Institute, November 14
For the most up-to-date Alumni Association Calendar of Events and event details visit:
www.SouthwestAlumni.com Contact the Alumni Relations Office at 1-800-260-0970 or alumni@SMSU.edu for more information.
Minnesota Wild Alumni Event St. Paul, February 14, 2010 An enchanted evening at “South Pacific” Ordway Center, St. Paul, May 15, 2010