St. Cloud State University

Nine students from the Environmental Studies Student Research Group are awarded the Denise M. McGuire Award, the highest undergraduate research award in the College of Science and Engineering. This year’s recipients were Erin Bastyr, Pallav Bhattarai, Kushal Gurung, Zach Gutknecht, Mike Hayman, Suresh Niraula, Jamison Reginek, Jeffrey Reinhart and Joe Stafne. This is the second McGuire Award for Erin Bastyr, Joe Stafne and Mike Hayman. These students were sponsored by Mitch Bender and Chuck Rose.

Graduate student, Amit Pradhananga, won 1st place in the paper competition. His paper was entitled ‘E. Coli Loading of Water and Sediment in the Sauk River’ (Faculty sponsor: Mitch Bender).

Congratulations to all and thank you for representing your department so well!

(Posted April 24, 2009)

Pallav Bhattarai and Suresh Niraula, both Environmental Studies majors, presented their paper ‘Water Quality Analysis of the Sauk river and Mississippi River Confluence’ (Faculty sponsor: Mitch Bender).

Graduate student, Tara Borgerding, presented her paper ‘Restoration of Battle Point Park on Lake Osakis’ (Faculty sponsor: Mitch Bender).

Graduate student, Shu Hui Cheng, presented her paper ‘Sauk River Assessment’ (Faculty sponsor: Balsy Kasi).

Graduate student, Rebekah Criswell, presented her paper ‘Effect of a Lipid Depleted Food Source on Daphnia Magna Life Cycles’ (Faculty sponsor: Chuck Rose).

Kushal Gurung, an Environmental Studies major, presented his paper ‘Characterization of Algae Overgrowth Using Water Sampling and Geographic Information Systems’ (Faculty sponsor: Chuck Rose).

Zach Gutknecht and Mike Hayman, both Environmental Studies majors, presented their paper ‘Kinzer Creek Stream Quality Analysis’ (Faculty sponsor: Mitch Bender).

Dawn Hawkins, an Environmental Studies major, and David Ziegler, and Environmental Science major, presented their paper ‘Sediment Pond Sedimentation Analysis’ (Faculty sponsor: Mitch Bender).

Graduate student, Amit Pradhananga, presented his paper ‘E. coli Loading of Water and Sediment in the Sauk River, Minnesota’ (Faculty sponsor: Mitch Bender).

Goutham Ramdas, a Technology Management major, presented his paper ‘Defense & Combat Systems – An Insight into 21st Century Warfare’ (Faculty Sponsor: Jim Nicholson).

Jamison Reginek, an Environmental Studies major, presented his paper ‘Biochemical Oxygen Demand Analysis of the Sauk and Mississippi Rivers’ (Faculty sponsor: Mitch Bender). His partner in this research, Erin Bastyr, is studying abroad.

Jeff Reinhart, and Environmental Studies major, presented his paper ‘Trends in Water Quality in Minnesota and Quetico Lakes’ (Faculty sponsor: Chuck Rose).

Joe Stafne, an Environmental Studies major, presented his paper ‘Analysis of Nutrient Loading and Escherichia Coli Contamination of Johnson Creek (Faculty sponsors: Chuck Rose and Mitch Bender).

(Posted April 24, 2009)

Project Lead the Way Scholarship

The scholarship is for $10,000 ($2,500 per year for 4 years). Graduates of the program will be certified to teach 4 Project Lead the Way courses and be licensed to teach Technology Education in Minnesota.

Raymond Larson Leadership Award

The Raymond Larson Leadership Award honors those Environmental and Technological Studies majors who have shown strong evidence of leadership throughout their college experience.

Lewis R. Royer Award for Quality/Excellence

The 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.

Bauerly Brothers Scholarship

The Bauerly Brothers Scholarship in Construction Technology provides scholarships for Technology Management majors in the Department of Environmental and Technological Studies. The scholarship is to encourage students to pursue a career in highway heavy construction.

The deadline for the Project Lead the Way scholarship is April 30th and the deadline for the Larson Award, Royer Award and Bauerly Brother Scholarship is April 17th. For more information: http://www.stcloudstate.edu/ets/students.asp.

(Posted March 7, 2009)

Erin Bastyr, a senior majoring in environmental studies, has been named the recipient of a $5,000 scholarship from the IDP student mobility scholarship and Southern Cross University in Lismore, Australia. Erin learned of the scholarship opportunity by attending a study abroad orientation sponsored by SCSU's Center for International Studies.

Erin, who is also a co-leader of the Environmental Studies Student Research Group, was chosen among candidates from three Midwest universities. While in Australia, she will be studying outdoor education and photography.

The ETS Department has just received word that Erin is already in Australia, and we wish her well on her studies 'Down Under'!! (Posted February 15, 2009)

While discussing the many accomplishments of St. Cloud State University during the past semester, President Earl Potter shared with the university community that the ETS Department provided hundreds of hours to service projects, such as the Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity, bald eagle conservation and river cleanup.

The President also declared that he was blown away by the ETS Department’s collaboration with the Biology Department on a project that integrates 3-D printing technology with electron microscope technology. The Biology Department which scans biological materials, such as diatoms, using the electron microscope can now print larger 3-D versions. The President stated “the implications for teaching and research are enormous, and that work was done by our students and our faculty on this campus for the first time in the U.S.”  (Posted February 15, 2009)

3-D print of a diatom

Kirby Anderson and his residential construction class were named “Volunteer Group of the Year” by Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity during the organization's volunteer appreciation ceremony November 19, 2008.

Since class began in late August, 19 students and Anderson contributed 850 hours building new homes at three sites. Anderson said the experience was mutually beneficial. “The students have seen some really cool technology,” he added, listing some of the specifics of a “green-build” located on 8th Avenue Southeast, just over the University Bridge from the campus. Anderson called it “a prototype for sustainable living.

“The Habitat people are pretty progressive,” he said, describing the installation of a geothermal heating system, the use of building materials made of recycled items and the bamboo flooring.

Along with the education about construction technologies employed by Habitat, the students also received “a little education about humanity,” Anderson said.

The ETS Department congratulates Kirby Anderson and his dedicated students on a job well done! (Posted February 15, 2009)

Students working of Habitat for Humanity house

On November 2, 2008, students from the ETS Department held their first annual post Halloween cleanup. The cleverly named ‘Trick or Trash’ Cleanup was organized by Numnum Choden, Greg Huber, Patrick Linehan and Daisuke Matsumoto, all students from the department’s capstone course (Senior Project).

Working with the Neighborhood University Community Council (NUCC), the students want to bring attention to littering issues near student rental housing and show how it affects communities surrounding the university. Littering is especially a problem after events such as Halloween, homecoming and move-in day.

The students also organized two other cleanups during the semester. In all, over 50 people participated in the cleanups and over 800 pounds of trash was collected.

The ETS Department wants to recognize our students and their community spirit. Great job! (Posted February 15, 2009)

Sara Broderick, a senior majoring in technology education, has been named recipient of a $2,000 scholarship from the Minnesota High Tech Foundation (MHTF). Broderick's adviser is Professor Kurt Helgeson, interim associate dean for the College of Science and Engineering.

The Minnesota High Tech Foundation received more than70 applications for the 2008 scholarships that will be awarded at the Tekne Awards www.tekneawards.org on Thursday, October 30. Six students will receive scholarships during the Tekne program and the recipients include two students from the University of Minnesota, two from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, and two from Minnesota private colleges.

More than 1,000 technology executives are expected to be present at the gala honoring companies, innovations and individuals that positively impact Minnesota's technology-based economy.

MHTF is a nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation founded in 1985 to promote and support excellence in science, math and technology education (STEM). The foundation educates Minnesotans about the importance of a strong technology-based economy through outreach.

The ETS Department congratulates Sara on her outstanding achievement! (Posted September 28, 2008)

During his inaugural speech, President Potter highlighted the ETS Department’s service learning efforts. In the past three years, students in the ETS Department have dedicated over 4500 hours to service learning. These projects have included working with Habitat for Humanity and the Sauk River clean up. (Posted September 27, 2008)

On September 25, 2008, approximately 20 members of the ETS Club spent an afternoon playing Frisbee golf and picking up trash at Riverside Park near campus. After the clean up, members had a cook out. If you are interested in joining the ETS Club, look for information on the Headley Hall bulletin board or contact club advisors, John Holmen or Kirby Anderson. Great job ETS Club! Keep up the good work!

On September 27, 2008, 9 ETS students and friends cleaned up the neighborhood west of Halenbeck Hall. In just an hour, the crew picked up nearly 250 pounds of trash. It was a great effort that made a noticeable difference.

The fall clean up projects are being organized by the ETS Club and the ETS Senior Project class. Future clean ups involve participation in the Homecoming Clean Up and Mississippi River Clean Up. On November 1st there will also be a ‘Trick or Trash’ clean up organized by the Senior Project class.

(Posted September 27, 2008)

Denise M. McGuire Award recipients Erin Bastyr, Andrew Dotseth, Joe Stafne, Dan Nadeau, Kala Halverson and Mike Hayman presented their papers in the poster sessions.

Lindsey Conboy, a double major in Environmental Studies and Hydrology, presented her hydrology capstone paper ‘Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analysis of the Upper Rum River System, from the Mouth of the Lake Mille Lacs to the Mouth of Lake Ogechie, Kathio State Park, Minnesota (Faculty sponsor: Juan Fedele).

Jon Frikken, a Technology Management major, presented his paper ‘Bifold Window Doors to Increase R-Value’ (Faculty sponsor: John Holmen).

Environmental Science major, Rhonda Leonard, presented her paper ‘Dying Green’ with co-authors Kelly O’Toole and Andrew Lund (Faculty sponsor: Mitch Bender).

Amit Pradhananga, a graduate student, presented his paper ‘E. Coli Loading of Water and Sediment in the Sauk River’ (Faculty sponsor: Mitch Bender). Fellow graduate student, Joe Storlien, presented two papers ‘Manure Storage Basin Abandonment Alternatives and Water Quality Improvement’ and ‘Comparative Risk Analysis of Abandoned Manure Basins’ (Faculty sponsor: Mitch Bender). Joe received an Honorable Mention in the poster contest.

Jon Frikken (Technology Management). Left to right: Andrew Lund, Rhonda Leonard (Environmental Science) and Kelly O'Toole. Left to right: Travis Wojciechowski and Lindsey Conboy (Environmental Studies/Hydrology).

The Environmental Studies Student Research Group. Left to right: Amit Pradhananga, Joe Storlien, Andrew Dotseth, Mike Hayman, Joe Stafne, Mitch Bender, Kala Halverson, Erin Bastyr (not pictured: Dan Nadeau).

(Posted September 26, 2008)

Erin Bastyr and Andrew Dotseth

Kala Halverson and Michael Hayman II

Joseph Stafne and Dan Nadeau