If you plan to register for Preparatory Chemistry next year, please be aware that the course number has changed.

Preparatory Chemistry is now CHEM 160. (Posted March 21, 2008)

Joe Storlien received the University Award for Excellence in Leadership on April 20, 2008. This award identifies and honors students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership while at St. Cloud State University. Joe also received the Dennis M. Thayer Leadership Award. The Thayer award is given in recognition of the student receiving the highest score in the Excellence in Leadership Award process. The award is in memory of a man who, in his brief lifetime, demonstrated the highest level of regard for leadership by all and for all.

Joe completed his Bachelors of Science in Environmental Studies at St. Cloud State University in 2006, and he plans to finish his Masters of Science in Environmental and Technological Studies in May 2008. Some of Joe’s leadership activities at St. Cloud State University include being group leader and later mentor of the Environmental Studies Student Research Group, being elected to the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Sauk River and receiving the Raymond Larson Leadership Award. After graduation, Joe plans to pursue a Ph.D. at Texas A&M University where he has already been awarded a graduate assistantship position. The ETS Department congratulates Joe on his award and wishes him well on his future endeavors. (Posted April 21, 2008)

Mr. and Mrs. Thayer, Joe Storlien and his mother, Mrs. Jill Storlien

Kurt Helgeson has been named Interim Associate Dean for the College of Science and Engineering. The position is expected to last through the spring 2009 semester. Mitch Bender has been named Interim Department Chairperson of the ETS Department during Kurt’s service in the Dean’s office. The ETS Department congratulates Kurt on his new position. (Posted April 2, 2008)

There are several courses and workshops offered during the summer terms.

• ETS 182. Modern Technology and Civilization online (6/9/08 - 8/14/08)
• ETS 183. Technology and Third World Development (6/9/08 - 7/10/08)
• ETS 260. Introduction to Environmental Studies online (6/9/08 - 8/14/08)
• ETS 413/513. Workshop: CAD Practices (7/7/08 - 7/17/08)
• ETS 435/535. Concrete and Masonry Academy (7/21/08 - 7/31/08)
• ETS 444/544. Internship see Dr. Akubue for more details
• ETS 485/585. Transportation Academy (6/16/08 - 6/26/08)
• ETS 495/595. Technology 2008: 3D Technology (7/8/08 - 7/10/08)
• ETS 495/595. Technology 2008: Production Activities (7/15/08 - 7/17/08)
• ETS 495/595. Technology 2008: Student Comp. (7/29/08 - 7/31/08)
• ETS 650. Contemporary Instructional Strategies online (6/9/08 - 8/14/08)
• ETS 673. Foundations of Technology Education online (6/9/08 - 8/14/08)

(Posted March 21, 2008)

The Department of Environmental and Technological Studies has a graduate assistant position open for the 2008-2009 academic year. The assistantship stipend is for $10,300 for 20 hours of work per week during the academic year. In-state tuition rates and tuition assistance remain in effect, however, up to 8 credits of tuition will be paid per semester for a total of 16 for the academic year.

To apply, send a completed graduate assistantship application to Mitch Bender, Graduate Coordinator, Department of Environmental and Technological Studies, 740 Fourth Avenue South, Saint Cloud, MN 56301 no later than June 1, 2008. (Posted March 5, 2008)

Robb Berscheid started his own business, Everything Signs, just three months after graduating from St. Cloud State University with a degree in Technology Assessment and Management. His Holdingford, MN business creates signs, decals and banners for nearly any application.

Very notably, his business recently designed a wrap for a vegetable oil-powered RV owned by Matt and Sara Janssen (Picture of RV wrap). The Jenssen’s are traveling the country educating people on simple living and alternative energy in their “Living Lightly Tour” and Robb’s hard work is along for the ride. More information. (Posted March 1, 2008)

After 30 years at St. Cloud State University, Matt Mattick has decided to retire. The retirement party for Matt was held December 14th at Michael's Restaurant. Current and former colleagues, as well as other people that have had the pleasure of knowing Matt over the years, gathered to wish him well in his retirement. All in the ETS Department wish him well! Special thanks to Marlene Stangl for organizing the event.

(Posted December 14, 2007)

Environmental studies students, Kala Fisher and Mike Hayman, were featured in this fall’s The Nature Conservancy’s Minnesota Update publication. Through a grant provided by The Nature Conservancy, Kala and Mike developed a conservation action plan for the Avon Hills area. This unique area in central Minnesota is home to tamarack bogs, wild lakes and oak-basswood forests and is threatened by expanding development. (Posted December 4, 2007)

Mark Schroll, St. Cloud State University and ETS alumnus, has been named Program Coordinator for engineering and innovation programs at the Kern Family Foundation.

Mr. Schroll received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology Education from St. Cloud State University and a Master of Arts degree in Education and Human Development with a specialization in Educational Technology Leadership from the George Washington University (Washington, D.C.).  Mr. Schroll has worked extensively with Project Lead the Way and has published engineering and systems curriculum guides.

Kern Family Foundation is a prominent, strategic foundation that invests in the future through values, education and innovation. The Foundation supports Project Lead the Way at 217 middle and high schools in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois. Click for more details (Posted October 30, 2007)

Mitch Bender (with co-author Wes Wood of Auburn University) has had a scientific manuscript titled “Above- and below-ground measurements of greenhouse gases from swine effluent amended soil” published in Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis. Illustrations in the manuscript were drawn by Daniel Dinsmore, a Technology Education major.

Mitch (with co-author Jake Galzki) also has had a technical report titled "Water monitoring report: Sauk River at St. Cloud, 2005-2006" published by the Sauk River Watershed District. The technical report summarizes Mr. Galzki's undergraduate research at St. Cloud State University. (Posted October 30, 2007)

Kirby Anderson’s Residential Construction (ETS 336) class is working with Habitat for Humanity building a house. Students spent one day a week in the classroom and two days a week on the job site. There are 24 students in the class who bring a variety of construction experiences to the site, but all have a tremendous willingness to help. This is the third year that the Residential Construction class has partnered with Habitat for Humanity.

On April 9, 2007 Chief Architect, Inc. together with Haldeman-Homme, Inc. kindly agreed to become members of the St. Cloud State University’s Educational / Industry Partnership Program.

These companies graciously awarded the ETS department with a $5,000 grant to equip 25 workstations with Chief Architect Professional Design and Drafting Software. This grant will make available to St. Cloud State University the latest tools and technology to provide design technology software and training to St. Cloud State University students, instructors, and professionals in the Architecture/Building/Design Industry.

Chief Architect, Inc. is a leading developer of 3D Architectural home design software for Builders, Designers, Architects, and Home Enthusiasts. Their Grants Program has been supporting science, math and technology education since 1991.

Founded in 1924, Haldeman-Homme, Inc. is a leading distributor of educational, industrial, and institutional equipment in the Midwest. ETS department alumnus Nathan Theisfeld is employed with Haldeman –Homme as a Tech Products Manager.

Dave Schlueter of Haldeman-Homme is shown presenting the new design software to ETS department chair, Kurt Helgeson. (Posted April 12, 2007)

Jake Galzki received a grant to study E. coli contamination in the Sauk River. Matt Lenz received a grant to study nutrient loading in Augusta Creek. Joe Storlien received a grant to study the risk assessment of a manure basin abandonment alternative. Congratulations to each for their dedication to research.

The 2006 Lewis R. Royer Award for Quality and Excellence was awarded to Susan Otremba-Pekarek, Jacob Galzki and Kanako Miura in June. The Department of Environmental and Technological Studies congratulates these students!

This Lewis R. Royer Award honors those Environmental and Technological Studies majors and minors who have best exemplified the traits of quality and excellence in their work. (Posted August 29, 2006)

Technological and Socioeconomic Development: A Third World Challenge by Anthony I. Akubue
$34.99, 196 pages, ISBN 0-9760534-7-0

Third World development is an area that has commanded intense research interest since the end of World War II. Much has been written about the Third World and its development challenges. I started thinking of writing this book after some years of searching in vain for a textbook that would address the focus of an undergraduate course I teach at St. Cloud State University. Many of the books I reviewed had a few chapters that were relevant but nothing more. I was looking for a book for the uninitiated that explained the challenges of Third World development in simple every day terms, without much professional jargon. I was looking for a book that addressed the realities of the Third World with less rhetoric and political ideology. In my frustration I began to consider the idea of writing a book myself. This idea became reality when Technological and Socioeconomic Development: A Third World Challenge materialized. (Posted May 3, 2006)

St. Cloud Times editorial 'New Ideas'. (Posted May 24, 2006)

Honorable mentions went to:

• Ashley Hansen
• Kate Maxwell
• Amit Pradhananga
• Nick Schumacher