A Magazine for Alumni & Friends of the University of Minnesota Crookston
Volume 46, Number 2 SUMMER 2014
RICHARD MAGNUSSON, PAGE 18
Photo gallery link at www.umcrookston.edu/photogallery/commencement/2014
From the Chancellor “I can tell you without a doubt that you matter to us,” Fred E. Wood, Chancellor.
In April, we held the inaugural meeting of the Campus Advisory and Advancement Board (CAAB). This group is a reformulation of the former All College Advisory Committee and will have a stronger focus on philanthropic support of our campus. Some of the members of CAAB are alumni, and who better to serve as advisors than those who experienced life on campus firsthand as a student? They have a deep commitment to this place, and we take great pride in our alumni leadership. Alumni have the ability to influence the future. I would like to offer these three critically important ways alumni can make a big difference for the University of Minnesota Crookston. Volunteer your time. Consider offering to guest lecture, provide student internship opportunities, serve on the alumni or Teambacker board, assist with homecoming festivities, or find ways to volunteer your time that you enjoy. Interacting with students and other alumni today builds memories and strengthens ties for tomorrow. Attending plays, athletic events, and other activities on campus encourages students and lets them know you care about them. We know your time is precious, and we value the time you spend with us. Your presence matters to students and to the faculty and staff who work to provide the best possible student experience. I would like to encourage you to come back to campus whenever you can. We love to have alumni stop for a visit. We want our alumni to feel they are important to this campus because they really are. I can tell you without a doubt that you matter to us.
Talk about us. Tell other people about your experience on campus and what it meant to be an Aggie, a Trojan, or a Golden Eagle. We have always been a part of the University of Minnesota and your degree is a source of pride. Let others know what that degree means to you and how it changed your life. Wearing the colors is another way you can “talk” If you are interested in becoming a about us without even saying a word. It sends a monthly donor to the Crookston campus, message about what matters to you. Share your maroon and gold spirit whether you are on a family visit giving.umn.edu/monthlygifts to vacation or visiting across the fence with a neighbor learn more about how to schedule a in your own backyard.
monthly giving plan that is convenient and manageable for you.
Give annually. As alumni your gifts can align with some of the things on campus you care about most— your major, a research interest, a scholarship, the new Wellness Center, or the purchase of a piece of much-needed equipment. Even the smallest gift makes a difference because small gifts go together to benefit students in big ways. Your gifts have meaning and are a reflection of what is most important to you. This spring, you may remember an invitation in one of our letters about how to become a monthly donor. This method might be the right one for you. When you make
4
www.umcrookston.edu
At commencement in May, left to right, are Tyler Grove ’94; Barbara Keinath, vice chancellor for Academic Affairs; U of M Regent Clyde Allen; and Chancellor Fred Wood.
an ongoing monthly donation you send a steady vote of confidence to our students and to our campus. Consider a small monthly donation and you will be making a real investment in our future and the future of our students. Small things have great consequences. Your gifts of time and money, along with your willingness to share your experience with others, serve to strengthen our dedication to our mission and our resolve to continue our work and to carry on our alumni legacy. Best regards, Fred E. Wood Chancellor University of Minnesota Crookston
TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome New Alumni................. 6
20 Things..........................................14
Alumni News.................................. 25
Homecoming 2014..........................7
Richard Magnusson......................18
In Memory...................................... 29
Joel Lilliquist.................................... 8
Alumni Reunion............................20
Campus Calendar....................... 32
Donna (Babinski) Kuta................10
Emma (Pederson) Mostad........ 22
Brent Melsa..................................... 12
Campus News............................... 24
5
Welcome, New Alumni “The 2014 commencement exercises mark the 106th graduating class to be recognized on the Crookston campus.”
The Class of 2014 was honored during commencement exercises on Saturday, May 10. Nearly 250 students took part in the ceremony in Lysaker Gymnasium. Graduates represented 15 countries, 3 Native American Nations, 29 states, and included more than 35 online graduates, who set foot on the campus for the very first time. The ceremony recognized the 20-year anniversary of the Class of 1994, who were the first to earn baccalaureate degrees on the Crookston campus. Alumnus Tyler Grove ‘94 gave the commencement address. His major was plant industries management. While at the U of M Crookston, he participated in the Crops Team and in NACTA (North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture) competition. In 2007, he earned his master’s degree in agronomy from Iowa State University. Grove was employed with American Crystal Sugar Company in 1995 as an agriculturist for the East Grand Forks district, and in February 2013, he accepted a position as the ag strategy development manager at the corporate office in Moorhead, Minn. Graduating senior Alexmai Addo, Crookston Student Association (CSA) president, spoke on behalf of the Class of 2014 and passed the torch of education, a Crookston campus tradition, to Justin Goodroad, the incoming CSA president. Addo is from Monrovia, Liberia, and a communication major. The 2014 commencement exercises mark the 106th graduating class to be recognized on the Crookston campus. For more information, visit the commencement website at www.umcrookston.edu/commencement. Alumnus Tyler Grove ’94 with his wife, Rhea, following commencement exercises in May.
6
www.umcrookston.edu
Alexmai Addo ’14 (left) passes the torch of education to incoming student body president Justin Goodroad.
Homecoming 2014 - October 17, 18, 19 Visit www.umcrookston.edu/homecoming. All business alumni and former faculty are invited to a business alumni brunch. We will be celebrating with our Outstanding Alumni Theresa Helgeson ‘96 and Wayne Schertler ‘83 along with our inductees into the Athletic Hall of Fame: ‘97 Football Team, Bill Tyrrell, Scott Strohmeier ‘99, and Karla (Thormodson) Isley ‘98.
Friday, October 17 6 p.m. Alumni Awards Celebration Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center 7 p.m. Golden Eagle Volleyball vs. Northern State 9 p.m. Alumni social at Drafts
Saturday, October 18 9 a.m. “Taking Care of Business” Alumni Brunch 9:30 a.m. UMCAA Photo Booth 10:30 a.m. Homecoming Parade
11 a.m. Photo booth resumes 11 a.m. Golden Eagle Soccer vs. MSU Moorhead 11 a.m. Tailgating 1 p.m. Golden Eagle Football vs. University of Mary 4 p.m. Post game social at I.C. Muggs 4 p.m. Golden Eagle Volleyball vs. MSU Moorhead
Sunday, October 19 1 p.m. Golden Eagle Soccer vs. Northern State
Living by Design “Attending the University of Minnesota Crookston was one of the best things I ever did,” Joel Lilliquist.
8
www.umcrookston.edu
The social photo sharing website, Pinterest®, is designed for collecting ideas and organizing them onto virtual “boards.” It comes as no surprise that gathering ideas for homes is an almost universal board on the popular social media website. The place we live is a reflection of our personal style. Alumnus Joel Lilliquist ’75 employs his keen eye for the aesthetic to create living spaces that are functional, beautiful, and make a statement about who inhabits them. An interior designer for LA-Z-BOY, Lilliquist has honed his skill throughout his career. Like the company he works for, it all began in a small town. LA-Z-BOY’s start was in Monroe, Mich., and for Lilliquist, it all began in Kennedy, Minn. Following high school, his long-time interest in retail led him to the University of Minnesota Crookston to earn associate’s degrees in both sales and marketing and retail management. He was encouraged by his advisor Rod Nelson to pursue his education. He completed a bachelor’s degree in marketing and distributive education at Joel Lilliquist ’75 received the Outstandthe University of North Dakota and went on to ing Alumni Award in 1987. teach at Minot High School. After two years, he returned to retail to work for Maurices, the specialty clothing retailer. When Lake Region State College in Devils Lake, N.D., asked him to teach, he returned to the classroom and revitalized their marketing program while also completing a master’s degree. At Devils Lake, he served as advisor to students in Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), something he had been a part of as at student at the U of M Crookston. While attending a national competition with his DECA students, he met people from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles, Calif. He was offered a job teaching salesmanship, marketing, and advertising for FIDM and taught there from 1984 through the end of 1989.
Lilliquist’s beautiful room design reflects the personal story of the person who lives there.
A desire to live and work in Arizona led Lilliquist to leave California and start his own freelance visual merchandising business and eventually to accept a position with LA-Z-BOY. “Attending the University of Minnesota Crookston was one of the best things I ever did,” Lilliquist says. “I believe strongly in vocational education and I received wonderful guidance by the faculty and staff like Rod Nelson, Ella Strand, Rob Smith, Dale Knotek, Betty Brecto, Adolph Beich, and others. I even recall Tom Feiro [’75 and ’96] was my residence hall advisor.” He still uses his teaching skills as he guides young designers at the company. “I am able to combine what I love to do in my work as an interior designer,” he explains. “I am able to bring my many years of experience in retail, teaching, and design together in this career and it makes for deeply enjoyable work.” In 2012, Lilliquist realized a lifelong dream when he took a safari through Kenya and Tanzania. That memorable trip has served as inspiration for some of his work at LA-Z-BOY as well as his own living space, which he says reflects his own personal story—something a good designer like Lilliquist knows how to do. 9
Always Ready to Help “Students at the NWSA were well-rounded and had been given a breadth of experience,” Donna (Babinski) Kuta.
When the Class of 1960 graduated from the Northwest School of Agriculture (NWSA), they were ready—not just prepared to graduate, but ready to take on the world. For Donna (Babinski) Kuta ’60, graduating meant she had completed every home economics class offered and taken classes that would prepare her for life’s next step. “Students at the NWSA were well-rounded and had been given a breadth of experience,” Kuta says. “We had classes in business, accounting, home economics, and whatever else we needed for the next stage of our lives.” Kuta was an engaged student and enjoyed choir, band, voice lessons, Newman Club, and the Girls Athletic Association. All this activity would foreshadow the busy life she would lead following her high school education. Growing up in Warsaw, N.D., Kuta attended a one-room school. As she got older, she would have to drive 10 ½ miles to high school or 57 miles to board at the Northwest School, which was located on what is now the University of Minnesota Crookston. Her parents decided to send her to the Northwest School and so did the parents of eight other families in the Warsaw area. The summers were spent in the field, cultivating, hauling sugar beets, and working alongside her dad. “My father was a patient man who never seemed to get upset with me when I made a mistake,” Kuta remembers. “I enjoyed being with him and spending summers at work together.”
Donna Kuta (front row, at the far left) joined her classmates from 1960 and other alumni at the Arizona Social last February. 10
www.umcrookston.edu
After graduation, Kuta went to the Professional Business Institute in Minneapolis, Minn., and took a job afterward as a dental assistant. When she and her husband, LeRoy, married, she worked at the University of North Dakota Bookstore, and when he graduated and was offered a job, the couple moved to Connecticut. She would waitress and he would work testing jet engines. Eventually, life would take them back to Minnesota. When she was in her twenties, Kuta joined Homemakers and through that group, she would spend countless hours volunteering. “I was a young mother with four children under five, but I still made time to volunteer,” Kuta says. “You can always make time to help.” Homemakers wasn’t the only leadership role Kuta took on. She is a long-time member of the Jaycees and organized and executed countless projects for them. Her education didn’t stop either. She attended a vocational college where she became a travel agent and for a time she took college classes. For four years, she worked merchandising at Dayton’s Department Store in the men’s department. She says that work required her to draw on her education at the Alumna Donna (Babinski) Kuta graduNorthwest School and some of the things she learned there from Mrs. Peterson and ated in 1960 from the Northwest School others. of Agriculture. She continues to donate time to the funeral committee at her church, where she has helped countless families during the loss of a loved one. Kuta’s ability to organize is one of her greatest strengths, and more than once she has volunteered as the class leader for her class reunion. As the Class of 1960 gathers on June 27, 2015, Kuta will be looking forward to seeing classmates and friends. She knows that the memories they made as a class continue as they come together once more to celebrate all they shared at the Northwest School.
Campus Social Media Directory Enjoy social media with us! Use the hashtag #UMNC to search for news about the campus or to share what makes you #UMNproud! Facebook facebook.com/umcrookston facebook.com/umcrookston.homecoming Google+ plus.google.com/umcrookston
Instagram instagram.com/umncrookston
Twitter twitter.com/umncrookston
Linkedin z.umn.edu/umcrookston
YouTube youtube.com/uofmcrookston
Pinterest pinterest.com/umcrookston
Storify storify.com/UMNCrookston
11
“I always wanted to own my own sports bar; I just never thought it would be possible,” Brent Melsa.
Alumni Jasmine and Brent Melsa opened Drafts Sports Bar and Grill in August 2013.
Drafting a Dream Customers sliding up to the bar to order a drink are met with dozens of colorful coasters from bars and pubs all over the country. Some are favorite hangouts of the past, and others, places of employment. For Drafts Bar and Grill owners and alumni Brent and Jasmine Melsa, the coasters are symbolic of the aspiration this husband and wife team had of owning their own restaurant. Brent graduated in 1994 with his bachelor’s degree in hotel, restaurant, and institutional management—part the first graduating class ever to earn their baccalaureate degrees at the University of Minnesota Crookston. He says an early interest in cooking (and eating) culminated in his decision to earn a degree in the field. Following graduation, Brent went to work for Marriot Corporation Services. The very nature of the hospitality industry requires working long hours,
The Melsas shared a dream of owning their own sports bar. 12
www.umcrookston.edu
but Brent hoped some day those long hours would be spent in a place of his own. “I always wanted to own my own sports bar; I just never thought it would be possible,” Brent explains. “Since opening Drafts in the summer of 2013, Jasmine and I probably work harder than ever before, but we enjoy the satisfaction of owning and operating our own business.” Jasmine ’06, a dietetics major, started out in the same program as Brent, but left school after a year to work in Hawaii. When she returned to campus to pursue a degree in dietetics, Brent taught one of her classes and her future fatherin-law, Cleon, was her chemistry instructor. “UMC brought Brent and I together,” Jasmine smiles. “Our dads both worked on campus, we are graduates of Crookston High School, and we both chose to go to UMC.” When the idea for Drafts came together, the couple had been considering a move to Colorado, but the notion that there might be a niche for a sports bar in Crookston grew. Encouragement from family and a shared dream drove them forward. “We looked at spots in town to remodel, and we looked at other building sites, but when the city approached us with the idea to put the restaurant near the Sports Center on Fisher Avenue, things really took shape.” The two talked to banks and investors, and came up with a business plan. Over the years, they had developed ideas on how the restaurant they hoped to own should look and what they wanted to include. Today, Drafts is what its owners designed it to be—a sports bar with an off sale on one side and a dining room on the other. They opened in August 2013 with what they refer to as “test kitchens”—a few selections from their menu tested on a small group of about 50 customers. Eventually they tested Jasmine Melsa began collecting coasters to use for years from places she every item on the menu and were set for a worked and places she enjoyed hanging out. limited opening during Ox Cart Days. Over this first year, Drafts has welcomed crowds in town during hockey tournaments, home for reunions, and headed to and from the lakes. For the Melsas, it has been hectic, rewarding, exciting, and exhausting all at once, and they wouldn’t have it any other way. For Brent, his core classes in the HRI program were some of the most enjoyable of his college career. Cooking breakfasts, developing menus, and costing recipes were all a part of the classroom. Those lessons proved worthwhile as they laid a foundation for a career in the hospitality industry. Drafts has proven to be the hard work the Melsas expected and the very place they dreamed of creating together.
13
University of Minnesota Degree Graduates earn a University of Minnesota degree—one of the most highly recognized degrees in the world.
Some of the newest and nicest residence halls anywhere
No. 1
No. 2
Heritage Hall (2013), Evergreen Hall (2009), Centennial Hall (2006), Skyberg Hall (1971), McCall Hall (1946)
Laptops We were the first laptop university in the country and our technology integration in the classroom is based on twenty years of experience.
No. 3
Choices for the future Offering 29 majors, 20 minors, 36 concentrations, and 13 online degrees (www.umcrookston.edu/academics)
14
www.umcrookston.edu
No. 4
No. 5
Twenty Favorites
in Twenty Years
Commitment to sustainability
Faculty members are eager to work with students interested in research and creative works and students gain valuable experience.
Campus vegetable garden, the raingarden, recycling, and more demonstrate a commitment to wise use of resources.
No. 7
Beautiful campus grounds Prettiest place around with gardens that are the envy of many!
No. 6
Undergraduate research
No. 8
Experiential learning Hands-on learning gives students an edge because they are actively involved.
No. 9
Caring faculty and staff They know your name and care about their students. Faculty and staff create an atmosphere where students come first.
Regal Eagle He is handsome and he is proud—Regal is one formidably fun mascot!
No. 10 15
Twenty Favorites
in Twenty Years
No. 12
No. 11
Legacy of visionary leadership Over our twenty year history offering bachelor’s degrees, we have been guided by some greats.
NCAA Division II competition in eleven sports Football, baseball, golf, and basketball for men and volleyball, basketball, golf, soccer, equestrian, softball and tennis for women. We are the Golden Eagles!
No. 14 Innovator in online education Our online learning opportunities transcend geography, utilize technology, and empower personal and professional growth.
Campus with a great history Historical buildings that tell the story of our campus as it grew and transformed to meet the needs of the students.
No. 13
No. 15
16
www.umcrookston.edu
Growing and enthusiastic alumni base Proud alumni from the three institutions marking our history: Northwest School of Agriculture (1906-1968); University of Minnesota Technical College (1966-1993); and today, the University of Minnesota Crookston.
Twenty Favorites
in Twenty Years
No. 17
Sixteen years ranked in U.S.News Best Colleges in the category Midwest Top Public Regional Colleges.
No. 18
Maroon and gold pride and a tradition of excellence
No. 16
Passionate about maroon and gold and sharing our campus tradition of excellence.
No. 19
Global and cultural perspective Welcoming students from 20 countries and more than 40 states and offering a multitude of learning abroad opportunities.
No. 20
Technological edge Includes the immersive visualization and informatics lab – one of only two in the Upper Midwest. The lab features technology to create 3-D simulations with applications across many disciplines.
Celebrating twenty years of growth, evolution, and success as a baccalaureatedegree granting institution with an eye on the future!
17
In 2000, Magnusson and other interested producers organized the RL Growers Cooperative to produce and market grass-seed products across the United States and Europe.
18
www.umcrookston.edu
Richard Magnusson ’81 a 2014 Siehl Prize Laureate The people who feed the world deserve to be recognized. Minnesota businessman and philanthropist Eldon Siehl believed that, and today the prize that bears his name honors those who have made extraordinary contributions toward producing food and ending hunger. Before his death in 1982, Siehl had searched for a unique way to draw attention to professional, humanitarian, and academic accomplishments in agriculture. Through his estate’s generous gift, the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences has found a way to honor his wish. U of M Crookston Alumnus Richard Magnusson ‘81 was one of three awarded the 2014 Siehl Prize. Magnusson was recognized for Excellence in Production Agriculture at a ceremony held in May. Magnusson and his family have been instrumental in the success of the Minnesota grass-seed industry, both as a premier producer of grass and by donating 40 acres of land to establish the Magnusson Research Farm near Roseau. The northern Minnesota turf grass and legume seed production and processing industry currently contributes more than $100 million annually to the region’s economy. Magnusson, a native of Roseau, graduated from the University of Minnesota Crookston in 1981 and North Dakota State University in 1983. While in college, Magnusson began working an 80-acre parcel of land, exchanging his labor for use of his father’s machinery. After earning his degree in agronomy, he returned to the family farm and began working with his father and two brothers. After his father left farming in 1986, Magnusson continued farming with his two brothers. Upon the passing of one his brothers in 2004, the partnership was reorganized to become a partnership of Richard Magnusson and his two nephews. The farm continued to grow to more than 10,000 acres and research has always been a vital part of the operations. Grass seed produced in Minnesota is known for its consistent high quality and for being free of annual bluegrass, a noxious weed in the turf and sod industry. The Magnussons experiment with many varieties and species, using what happens on the research plots to help make decisions about what to plant on the farm. More than 30 different species have been planted, to varying degrees of success.
Photos of Richard Magnusson by Patrick O’Leary, University of Minnesota.
Richard Magnusson holds his Siehl Prize for Excellence in Production Agriculture.
In 2000, Magnusson and other interested producers organized the RL Growers Cooperative to produce and market grass-seed products across the United States and Europe. Today the 60-member co-op has exclusively licensed six perennial ryegrass varieties released by the University of Minnesota and produces 10,000 to 15,000 acres of ryegrass annually. Magnusson also played a
significant role in the formation of Northern Excellence, a grower owned seed cooperative processing plant in Williams, Minn. To learn more about the Siehl Prize, visit cfans.umn.edu/ siehlprize.
Read the Torch Online You can read the Torch, the alumni magazine for the Northwest School of Agriculture and the University of Minnesota Crookston online by visiting: http://issuu.com/umcrookston or on the U of M Crookston Web site at www.umcrookston.edu/alumni/torch If you would prefer to receive your Torch online only, contact Elizabeth Tollefson at 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu) 19
“More than 140 alumni and friends were present during the day enjoying reuniting with classmates and friends.”
NWSA Reunion Brings Back Memories and Friends The Northwest School of Agriculture (NWSA) Alumni Association welcomed alumni to the University of Minnesota Crookston campus for their annual reunion on Saturday, June 28. Two alumni received the Top Aggie award and another was recognized with the Distinguished Service Award. Marlys (Sargent) Engelstad ‘49 Adv from Florence, Ala., and Richard Widseth ‘49 Adv from Crookston, Minn., were named the 2014 Top Aggies. The award is the highest honor bestowed by the Northwest School of Agriculture Alumni Association, which recognizes alumni who have displayed excellent commitment and service to community, church, education, family, or their occupational field. Allan Dragseth ‘57, Eldred, Minn., was also honored during the reunion with the Distinguished Service Award. The award is given for exemplary service by the NWSA Alumni Association Board. Since it was established in 1991, Dragseth is only the 15th recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. More than 140 alumni and friends were Distinguished Service Award recipient Allan Dragseth (left) with Corby Kemmer, director, Development & Alumni Relations.
Nominate a Classmate or Friend! Do you know an outstanding alumnus or alumna who is deserving of an award for exemplary commitment, achievement, or service? Consider nominating them for Outstanding Alumni, Top Aggie, or for induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame. Nominations can be made by visiting www.umcrookston.edu/alumni, choose either UMC Alumni Association or Northwest School of Agriculture Alumni Association, and select the appropriate award for your nominee. For nominations for Athletic Hall of Fame go to www. goldeneaglesports.com and choose Athletic Hall of Fame to make your nomination.
20
www.umcrookston.edu
Nominations can also be made by sending the name to Rose Ulseth in the Office of Development & Alumni Relations at rulseth@umn.edu or call 218-281-8439.
Top Aggies with Chancellor Wood and Corby Kemmer, director of Development & Alumni; Left to right are Chancellor Fred Wood, Dick Widseth, Marlys Engelstad, and Corby Kemmer.
present during the day enjoying reuniting View more photos from the reunion at with classmates and friends. The Class of www.umcrookston.edu/photogallery/nwsaclassreunions/2014 1964 celebrated their golden anniversary and on the back page of this issue of the Torch. reunion and the classes of 1934, 1939, 1944, 1949, 1954, and 1959 were also honored. One of the highlights was a time of reminiscing held following the evening meal when a number of alumni shared memories of their time on campus. The annual reunion is hosted by the Office of Development & Alumni Relations. Upcoming alumni events include the Arizona Social to be held on Friday, February 20, at the ViewPoint Resort in Mesa and next summer’s reunion on Saturday, June 27, 2015.
Torch Volume 46, Number 2, Summer 2014 Annual Report Torch is a publication of the University of Minnesota Crookston. Director of Development & Alumni Relations Corby Kemmer 218-281-8434 ckemmer@umn.edu Development Officer Garret Kollin 218-281-8436 koll0131@umn.edu Support Staff Rose Ulseth ‘87 218-281-8439 rulseth@umn.edu Sue Dwyer ‘74 218-281-8401 sdwyer@umn.edu
UMCAA Board Alisha Aasness ‘12 Chris Awender ‘11 Rory Held ‘11 Amy Loomer-Longtin ‘99 Juanita Lopez ‘08 Carl Melbye ‘77 Linda (Knutson) Morgan ’85 & ‘09 Greg Nathan ‘98 Brooke Novak ‘13 Karl Syverson ‘11 Bill Thielke ‘94 Lauralee (Nicholas) Tupa ‘05 NWSA Alumni Association Board Brian Bohnsack ’66 Jim Chandler ‘67 Don Diedrich ‘56 Jeannette (Love) Filipi ‘57 David Haugo ‘52 Willie Huot ’63 Bob Kliner ‘68 Berneil Nelson ’42, ex officio LeRoy Sondrol ’55 Clarice (Olson) Stolaas ‘56 Bruce Stromstad ‘66 Beulah (Stolaas) Vad ‘58
Contact information: Torch Elizabeth A. Tollefson ’02, editor University of Minnesota Crookston 2900 University Avenue Crookston, Minnesota 56716 Phone: 218-281-8432 Fax: 218-281-8440 E-mail: umctorch@umn.edu The University of Minnesota Crookston is a public, baccalaureate, coeducational institution and a coordinate campus of the University of Minnesota. The Northwest School of Agriculture (NWSA) was a residential high school serving students from 1906-68 and the predecessor of the Crookston campus. The Torch is named for the historical passing of the educational torch between the NWSA and the U of M Crookston in 1968. The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status or sexual orientation. Layout and design by Amy Chandler Design of Grand Forks, N.D., and printed at Forum Communications Printing in Fargo, N.D.
FSC LOGO Printed on recycled and recyclable paper with at least 10 percent post-consumer material using agribased inks. On the front cover: Richard Magnusson ’81 was awarded the Siehl Prize for Excellence in Production Agriculture at a ceremony held in May 2014 in the McNamara Alumni Center at the University of Minnesota. Photo by Patrick O’Leary, University Relations, University of Minnesota. On the back cover: The Illumination feature focuses on the study of plants to clean the soil and ongoing research by assistant professors Katy Nannenga and Kristie Walker. Note: In the Torch, logos from campus history appear in stories corresponding to the era in which they were in official use according to the years indicated below. Golden Eagle logo (1994 to present) Trojan logo (1966-1995) Aggie “A” logo (1906-1968)
21
Legacy of Learning and Living Seward and Emma loved music, and their children became musicians.
In many ways, the early life of Alumna Emma (Pederson) Mostad ‘18 was marred by loss. Growing up, she lost seven siblings to typhoid fever leaving her an only child. Her father died suddenly from a lung infection contracted while putting up hay, and her mother, who was not well, would not live much longer and passed away when Emma was only two years old. A court-appointed guardian would watch over Emma and her inheritance, but caring for the toddler fell to her grandparents and two aunts who moved from Mona, N.D., to take over the responsibilities. When it was time, Emma would walk the two miles to country school on days when the weather permitted. It was her guardian who encouraged the family to send Emma to the Northwest School of Agriculture (NWSA), a residential, agricultural high school and forerunner of the Emma (Pederson) Mostad ’18 grew up near University of Minnesota Crookston. And, in East Grand Forks, Minn. many ways, Emma’s three years as a high school student at the NWSA stand out as some of her happiest. She loved her teachers and flourished in campus life as a member of the Y.W.C.A. and the Home Economics Club. Friendships developed and filled the void of a lonely childhood, and the yearbook describes her as “an ambitious student who toils, rejoices, and accomplishes great things.” She sang in the chorus and enjoyed playing basketball. Her love for baking and cooking made home economics a favorite at the NWSA. Learning to make Norwegian pastries and lefse became part of family memories in the years to come. A year after she graduated, she married Seward Mostad who attended the NWSA in 1918. They would move back to the farm that Emma was left by her parents. An industrious woman, Emma took a loan and invested in cows and chickens. She
Seward Mostad attended the Northwest School of Agriculture in 1918.
22
www.umcrookston.edu
Newell Mostad played the violin and was part of the campus orchestra in the late 1930s and 1940.
sold cream, eggs, and churned butter to supplement the family’s income on the farm. Seward and Emma loved music, and their children became musicians. Newell, the oldest, followed in his mother’s footsteps, graduating from the Northwest School in 1940. He played violin in the school orchestra and was the recipient of the O. W. Peterson Memorial Scholarship. The two younger children, Roma and Dewey, used their musical talents playing the piano and the saxophone respectively. Around the time, Newell was
graduating from the NWSA, Emma set up a second route to sell her cream, eggs, and butter. Along with Newell, she and her husband operated a successful small grain and sugarbeet farm. Newell retired from farming in 1963. He worked at the Sacramento Army Depot as a heavy equipment mechanic from 1966 until his retirement in 1986. He passed away in 2010. Emma passed away in 1989, but she is remembered for her industriousness and drive. Even though she grew up in difficult circumstances, she treasured her family and grew to love the farm
that was the legacy left to her by her parents. In many ways, Emma’s story is similar to that of so many Northwest School of Agriculture alumni. Living and learning on campus became part of what many of them describe as their school family and they recall it fondly. The teaching was practical and prepared them for life after high school. They were children when they came to live on campus some as young as 13, and together, they shared their lives and laid the foundation for all the students who would follow them.
Support undergraduate students by giving to the Charles and Bonnie Holmquist Family Scholarship. The scholarship named in memory of Charles “Chuck” and Bonnie Holmquist , both 1952 graduates of the Northwest School of Agriculture, will create a legacy in their memory and support students at the University of Minnesota Crookston.
Give today by calling 218-281-8434 or visiting give.umn.edu.
23
CAMPUS HEADLINES $10 million in Funding Secured for Wellness Center
“The addition of the Wellness Center at the University of Minnesota Crookston will be nothing short of transformational,” UMC Chancellor Fred Wood.
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton signed the 2014 Legislative Bonding Bill which included state funding for several projects for the University of Minnesota system, one of which was a $10 million allocation for a Wellness Center on the Crookston campus. Initial site studies suggest the best plan of action would be to construct the building adjacent to and west of the existing UMC Sports Center. An added bonus, this location would provide a significant “wow factor” for people entering the campus via the main entrance drive on the west side just off U.S. Highway 2. Chancellor Fred Wood sees the facility as vital to the future of UMC. He said, “The addition of the Wellness Center at the University of Minnesota Crookston will be nothing short of transformational. Not only will the facility be an important recruiting tool, but it also will improve the overall student experience by building community among our students and serving as a gathering place that promotes healthy activities indoors when it’s impossible to exercise outdoors.” In addition to finalizing the plans, staff members in UMC’s Office of Development & Alumni Relations will continue to build on the initial work they have done to identify organizations and individual donors who may be interested in contributing to the additional $5 million in funding for the entire project.
In the photo, left to right, are Pete Wasberg, Dave Ekman ‘81, Chancellor Wood, Dave Genereux ‘80, Roger Moe, Mary Jo (Melbye) Eastes ‘79, Pete Kappes ’77, Deb Zak, Jon Evert, Betty Youngren, and Director of Development & Alumni Relations Corby Kemmer.
CAAB Meets on Campus for the First Time
The University of Minnesota Crookston College Advisory and Advancement Board (CAAB) serves UMC in seeking ways to improve student and alumni success, provide excellent high priority programs and initiatives, actively support advancement, and enhance UMC partnerships and service to the community, region and beyond. The group gathered on April 4 for their first meeting as a group. Chancellor Wood serves as the board chair. To learn more, visit umcrookston.edu/ alumni/caab.
24
www.umcrookston.edu
New Banners on the Campus Mall New maroon and gold banners were installed on the Campus Mall in time for the commencement of the Class of 2014 in May. In the photo, Andrew Svec (left), director of communications, public relations, and marketing holds up the banners with Amber Bailey, the e-communications manager on campus, who designed the new banners.
ALUMNI NEWS
A reunion of the 1996 UMC volleyball team was had at the 2014 Winterfest women’s volleyball tournament held in Fargo, N.D. last February. Everyone had a great time catching up and playing together. Pictured are (l to r): Melissa (Lund) Lindquist ’98, Perham, Minn.; Katie (Habsritt) Hedlund, ex. ’96, Roseau, Minn.; Meredith Wagner, ex. ’96, Fargo, N.D.; Sara “Sunny” (Haglund) Bowman ’98, Crookston, Minn.; Amy (Loomer) Longtin ’99, West Fargo, N.D., Heidi (Engel) Hawkins, ex. ’00, Fargo, N.D., Landi (Lewis) Larson ’00, Hawley, Minn.
25
ALUMNI NEWS
1950s
We Want to Hear From You! To submit an item for the Alumni News Section, send information to: UMC Alumni Relations 115 Kiehle Building 2900 University Avenue Crookston, MN 56716 e-mail: rulseth@umn.edu or complete the form on line at: www.umcrookston.edu/alumni/ keepintouch.html. Please include your name, address, phone number, e-mail, year of graduation/ attendance and information or news you wish to share (new job, career, family, or achievements, etc.)
1930s Inez (Anderson) Mostue 39 Adv., Thief River Falls, Minn., is a sculptor of Scandinavian character dolls. She has collaborated with Gretchen Beito, author of Coya Come Home: A Congresswoman’s Journey and others, on a series of books with Scandinavian backgrounds. The books feature photos of character dolls sculpted in clay and placed in natural settings.
Rodney Mosher ’52, Fertile, Minn., served as wrestling coach for the Northwest School of Agriculture and University of Minnesota Crookston from 19601980. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Minnesota Chapter on March 24, 2014, at a special event held in Crookston, Minn. Rod and his wife, Judy, are pictured with their sons, Bradley Mosher ’84, Bruce Mosher ex. ‘84, Kory Mosher, and their families following the induction ceremony.
Rodney Mosher family
Join us on Saturday, June 27, 2015, for the Northwest School of Agriculture Alumni Reunion. Celebrating the classes of 1930, 1935, 1940, 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960, and the 50th anniversary of the Class of 1965! 26
www.umcrookston.edu
It’s your summer place!
1970s
1980s
Jim LeClair ’70, Mayville, Minn., along with Glenn Hansen and Mike Podolak, received the Cliff Cushman Award and were recently inducted into the North Dakota Sports Hall of Fame. LeClair attended and played football for the University of Minnesota Crookston and the University of North Dakota. He was selected in the third round of the 1972 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, played in Super Bowl XVI, and was named to the NFL Pro Bowl in 1976.
Herman Roerick ‘84, Saint Augusta, Minn., president of Central Landscape Supply, Inc., St. Cloud, Minn., was recently elected vice president for the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA). Roerick is an active volunteer in MNLA, the state’s largest green industry trade association, as well as in St. Cloud area business and outdoors groups.
2000s
Alumni Brad Eaton ’75, Odessa, Tex., and Rick Beuning ’75, Cleveland, Miss., reconnected recently at the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) annual conference. Eaton works for ALON 7-Eleven and Beuning works for Double Quick, Inc., a convenience store chain in Indianola, Miss. Both were Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management (HRI) majors and hadn’t seen one another since graduation. Bob Larson ’78, Verndale, Minn., works part-time at a Wadena, Minn., radio station after retiring from the farm service business. He has one daughter who lives in Florida and two grandchildren.
Nadine Raddatz ’00, Grafton, N.D., is the frozen department manager at Hugo’s grocery store in Grafton. She has a threeyear old son, Jacob.
Eric Borstad ’01, Hutchinson, Minn. is an associate ingredient merchant with The Andersons Inc. of Maumee, Ohio. Jennifer (Johnson) Holle ’03 of Northern Lights Dairy in Mandan, N.D., was recently named the 2014 Northwest Region “Farm Mom of the Year” by Monsanto and American AgriWomen. She’s a mother of four and partner in a 600 cow dairy with her husband, Andrew Holle ’02, and his parents. As calf operations manager, Holle’s research and skills has prompted new protocols attributing to healthier calves and a zero mortality rate. Besides office duties, she manages hiring, work visas, worker training, and actively promotes the dairy and milk consumption in local, state, and international communities. Thea (Holen) Oertwich ’03, Red Lake Falls, Minn., has been hired as a business analyst for the Office of Admissions and Enrollment Management at the University of Minnesota Crookston. Oertwich had worked at the U of M Crookston as an information technology professional managing the Computer Help Desk since 2007.
Sheila Roux ’00, Bloomington, Ill., was recently promoted to associate head coach of the women’s basketball program at Columbia University, New York, N.Y. Her first season with the Columbia Lions was as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Prior to joining the coaching staff at Columbia, Roux was the top assistant for a very successful Illinois State team for three seasons. She has been coaching since 2000. 27
E-mail forwarding: If you are interested in reconnecting with a former classmate or acquaintance, the alumni office can help! Although we cannot release e-mail addresses due to privacy issues, we will be happy to forward a message to the person if he or she can be located in our database.
Martin Tubby ’06 is an English native and director of international sales for AgriDry LLC of Edon, Ohio, which markets stored crop protection equipment and products. Tubby was in Kiev, Ukraine, during the February 2014 riots and will be returning to support his friends and clients, despite political unrest. He’s been in the Ukraine 12 times since February 2012. He and his wife, Juli Tubby ’05, live in rural Climax, Minn. Khaldoon Almandalawi ’09, Stamford, Conn., recently joined the Digital Workflow IV Team of NBC Sports Group as a post-production engineer. Prior to NBC Sports Groups, he had a successful four years with beIN Sports.
2010s John Normandin ’11, Crookston, Minn., has been hired as a telephone services technician and media services support person at the University of Minnesota Crookston. Since August of 2011 he had worked as a video conference technician/applications programmer for the Northwest Educational Technology System (NETS) based on campus. Cassandra Skrabut ’13, Tarzana, Calif., recently published a second edition of a children’s book she wrote while attending the University of Minnesota Crookston along with the first edition of another book. She plans to continue writing and publishing children’s books. More information about the books can be found online.
28
www.umcrookston.edu
Former University of Minnesota Crookston football players Tevin Kellum ’13, Grand Rapids, Mich., and Ricky Jacobs expected Fall ’14, Junction City, Kan., participated in the 20th annual USA Football Bowl at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Ala., January 20. Both players made the most of their opportunity as they showed their skill set against players from NCAA Division I, II, III, and NAIA. They were offered intern positions by Bowl Director Dennis Wilson.
Abbey Wemimo’13 had an opportunity to meet and visit with President Bill Clinton recently. Wemimo, who is in graduate school at New York University, is an intern at the Clinton Global Initiative and had the chance to converse with President Clinton about the nonprofit Clean Water for Everyone.
In Memory Alumni
James Thibodo ’48 Adv Stephen, Minn. March 1, 2014
Dennis Lessard ‘63 Detroit Lakes, Minn. March 22, 2014
Joyce (Flatten) Lunke ‘51 Bloomington, Minn. March 5, 2014
Gerald Erickson ’76 McDonough, Ga. April 15, 2014
Grace (Johnson) Hodik ’38 Mott, N.D. (formerly of Thief River Falls, Minn.) October 14, 2013
Janet (Schaefer) Melgard ‘51 Janesville, Wis. January 27, 2012
Natalie Ostgaard ’91 Crookston, Minn. March 3, 2014
Alta (Swenson) Loy ’38 Adv South St. Paul, Minn. April 4, 2014
Ronald Ricard ‘54 Duluth, Minn. May 26, 2014
James Erikson ’42 Fertile, Minn. January 23, 2014
Ronald Guttormson, ex. ‘55 Borup, Minn. December 26, 2013
Steven Josephson ’68 & ‘04 Fertile, Minn. (formerly of Thief River Falls and Warroad, Minn.) May 28, 2014
Faculty/Staff
Donald Boutain ’44 Adv Red Lake Falls, Minn. June 14, 2014
Henry R C Pinta, Sr., ex. ‘55 Grafton, N.D. April 13, 2014
Shirley (Evans) Larson / McWaters Baxter, Minn. April 20, 2014
Norman A. Torkelson ’46 Adv Cumberland, Wis. June 6, 2014
Charles Omlid ’58 San Antonio, Tex. December 29, 2013
Orpha (Johnson) Anderson ’32 Pelican Rapids, Minn. (formerly of Rollag, Minn.) October 4, 2011
A member of the food service staff for 23 years, beginning in 1973, at the University of Minnesota Crookston
Leroy “Andy” Guttormson ’60 Fargo, N.D. December 4, 2013
REMEMBER THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CROOKSTON A will or living trust is a statement about what matters most in your life. It ensures that your intentions are clearly understood and will be followed by those administering your estate. If you value your experience at the University of Minnesota Crookston or the Northwest School of Agriculture, you can leave a legacy through a gift to the campus in your will. Your generosity will help further the mission of the University of Minnesota Crookston to provide education, research and outreach. The following language can be used by you and your attorney in your will: “I give, devise and bequeath to the University of Minnesota Foundation (percentage, sum or description of property) for the benefit of the University of Minnesota Crookston.” If you would like more information, contact Corby Kemmer, director of development & alumni relations toll free at 1-800-862-6466, ext. 8434 or 218-281-8434 (ckemmer@umn.edu). For more information about giving or to give a gift online, visit www.umcrookston.edu/alumni/giving.html Excerpted from The Importance of a Will published by the University of Minnesota Foundation.
29
Front row from left: Arlene (Pokrzywinski) Johnson, Diane (Swenson) Arnold, Marvlyn (Vesledahl) Stromstad, Richard Widseth, Marlys (Sargent) Engelstad, and Manvel Green Back row from left: Elizabeth Lapp, Floyd Blawat, Dorothy (Finkenbinder) Bergh, James Holm, and Willard Brunelle
CLASS OF 1949
Front row from left: Gabriel Brisbois, Lorraine (Zipoy) Love, Mary (Benson) Wagar, Evelyn (Holy) Bancroft, Mary Lou (Baird) Dostal Middle row from left: Lester Vad, Robert Hoekstra, Don Roberts, Grant Satre, Neal Bjornson Back row from left: Gordon Syverson, Floyd Horgen, Neal Wogsland, Jim Fischer, Marshal Guntzburger, and Dave Viker
CLASS OF 1954 Front row from left: Art Schroeder, Art Brandli, and Philip Grage Back row from left: Pepper Eisenhart, David Jensen, Curtis Carlson, and Terry Dahl
CLASS OF 1959 Photo gallery link at www.umcrookston.edu/photogallery/nwsaclassreunions/2014
CLASS OF 1964 Front row from left: Chuck Steer, Duane Erickson, Roger Asplin, Judy (Rivard) Schuster, John Drees, Claudia (Hanson) Cleveland, Vern Cleveland, and Marvin Schneider; Middle row from left: Francis Obowa, Dean Slininger, Lloyd Jirava, LeRoy Opdahl, Ron Philipp, Gary Hangsleben, John Schreiner, and Gary Pedersen; Back row from left: William Pahan, Michael Donahue, Roger Fischer, Richard Sheldon, Bill Gatheridge, Sid Stivland, Francis Bellamy, Wayne Odegaard and Butch Bergeron
Office of Development & Alumni Relations 2900 University Avenue Crookston, MN 56716-5001 Change Service Requested Find us on Facebook™ facebook.com/umcrookston Follow us on Twitter™ twitter.com/umncrookston watch us on youTube™ youtube.com/uofmcrookston
UPCOMING EvENTS
September 9 ...........................Alumni Social, TCF Bank Stadium, University of Minnesota October 17, 18, 19 ..................................................................................................................Homecoming October 29 ................................................................................................ Torch & Shield Recognition February 20, 2015 ...........................................................Arizona Social, ViewPoint Resort, Mesa May 9, 2015 ................................................................................................Commencement Exercises