St. Cloud State University
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4/3/2006 Exploring the World and Our Place in it! What better time than the university years to experience study abroad and the profound impact it can have on perceptions of the world and the people in it? "Our minds were open and our spirits were filled with adventure," a study-abroad alumnus said in one of the stories in this issue - stories about the places and faces that forever reshaped attitudes and enhanced global awareness. University News At last, an affordable alternativeWith the help of an associate professor and an alumnus, SCSU last fall offered the public an affordable preparation course for the LSAT exam, required for application to law school. The program was developed in response to student requests for an affordable alternative to prep courses from for-profit companies. The cost typically runs more than $1,000; the fee for the four-day course developed by SCSU was just $50 for students and $150 for the community. Participants took actual LSAT exams, learned performance-enhancing strategies, received individual critiques of their personal statements, and were introduced to the law school application process and financial aid. They also received a CD-Rom advising tool created by the course instructor, Associate Professor Kathleen Uradnik, to answer prospective lawyers' questions about applying to law school. Uradnik, who chairs the SCSU Department of Political Science, has been advising pre-law students for more than 10 years. The program initiated by Uradnik was funded by a donation from William R. Sieben, a 1973 SCSU alumnus and personal injury attorney with the Minneapolis law firm of Schwebel, Goetz and Sieben. University leader honored by alma mater
Saigo earned a Ph.D. in botany and plant pathology at OSU in 1969 and, after a faculty career as an educator and researcher, turned to administrative leadership. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; received a Distinguished Alumni Award recognizing lifetime achievement from the University of California-Davis, where he received his bachelor's degree; received a leadership award from the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans; was inducted into the Hall of Fame of Alpha Gamma Rho, an agricultural fraternity; and has been honored for his contributions to biological education by the Botanical Society of America and the American Institute for Biological Sciences. Historical celebrities traveling to SCSUThe library at SCSU has been selected by the American Library Association to host two traveling exhibits: "Elizabeth I: Ruler and Legend" in fall 2006 and "Alexander Hamilton: The Man Who Made Modern America" in fall 2007. Preparations are well under way for the first exhibit, scheduled for Aug. 25 to Oct. 5, which focuses on the historical and cultural forces that shaped Elizabeth’s personality and time. The exhibit examines Queen Elizabeth’s life and career as a head of state, reveals the political workings of her court, examines the cultural and diplomatic worlds of England and Europe in the late 16th century, and explores the queen’s legacy from the time of her death to today. Learning Resources & Technology Services is planning a full semester of events to complement the free six-week exhibit on Queen Elizabeth, including speakers and an opening celebration with costumes and music. Faculty members are also making plans to integrate the subject and the exhibit itself into material they teach in the classroom. Microscopes provide closer look at science, engineeringA gift of $100,000 from an anonymous donor has given SCSU a scanning electron microscope (SEM), powerful equipment that will enhance students’ learning and research as well as research by faculty members. The gift prompted SCSU to purchase an equally powerful scanning probe microscope (SPM) that will complement that learning and research. An SEM offers 3-D images with higher magnification and greater depth of focus than optical microscopes, as well as chemical analysis. It can be used to determine the reasons for parts failures and to study biological tissues, integrated circuits, chemical compounds and geologic strata. An SPM, used to measure surface properties, can resolve features on the atomic scale. The technology has been used to image everything from electronic circuit components and mineral samples to cells and DNA. The equipment will be used in the university’s biology, chemistry, physics, earth science and mechanical, manufacturing and electrical engineering programs. The complementary systems will enhance students’ education, faculty research and university support of area industries’ product development efforts. Students, faculty fund education of students on other side of the worldA number of SCSU students and employees have organized drives to collect food, clothing and financial aid for victims of tragedies like Hurricane Katrina. But when the Pakistani Students Association, faculty of Pakistani descent and a professor from the hardest-hit area of Pakistan-held Kashmir took it upon themselves to initiate a fund raising drive for people hurt by a devastating earthquake in their home country, they decided to use the money for a different purpose. Organizers of the Pakistani drive focused on raising funds for the students who lost their parents and, thus, their financial support for education. Associate Professor of Chemistry Mohammad Mahroof-Tahir, who grew up and went to schools in Kashmir, then taught as a chemistry professor in university buildings that no longer exist, helped keep the drive’s administrative costs low by teaming up with a group of surviving students and educators in Kashmir to distribute the funds. According to Professor Ghulam Sarwar, chair of the SCSU Department of Finance, Insurance and Real Estate and adviser to the Pakistani Students Association, $11,000 was raised within the first few weeks of the drive. The campaign is ongoing. University speeds route to nursing degree
The program blends classroom instruction, online courses, simulated learning laboratory and clinical practice to build on previous knowledge and learning experiences. Nursing science faculty members point out that college graduates already know how to be successful students, making them good candidates for a "fast-track" program. "These students will be different from traditional college students," says Assistant Professor of Nursing Science Mary Hoenig. Many will say "I've always wanted to be in nursing" or "I've decided to change careers because I want to make a difference." Others will be interested because of an experience, such as the illness of a relative, which has shown them the value of a career in the healthcare profession. SCSU also continues to offer a traditional baccalaureate nursing program, which had its first cohort graduate in May 2004. The university's nursing program was developed in cooperation with the greater community, including St. Cloud Hospital, HealthPartners, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center and other regional healthcare industry partners. The first group in the accelerated program will graduate in December 2007 with a new class every other year. Endowment leads to SCSU annual conferenceA long-ago friendship made possible an interdisciplinary conference in honor of the contributions of Sinclair Lewis to American culture and letters. In 1947, Ida Kay Compton began a friendship with Lewis that lasted until his death. Upon her death, SCSU received an endowment to develop an annual conference honoring the Pulitzer Prize-winning author. The conference, “The American Village in a Global Setting,” brought to campus essayist and poet Bill Holm, whose books include “The Dead Get By with Everything”; Walter Kalaidjian, author of “The Cambridge Companion to American Modernism”; Sally Parry, who has edited two collections of short stories by Lewis; and Susan Shillinglaw, director of the Center for Steinbeck Studies at San José State University. SCSU to speed manufacture of stone working equipmentUniversity students and faculty members have initiated training that will help the entire workforce of Park Industries, the largest manufacturer of stone working equipment in North America, turn the company into a "lean speed manufacturer."
In a unique workforce-development partnership, the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership awarded SCSU a $132,500 grant to provide entry-level and advanced training and retraining for 290 employees of Park Industries, St. Cloud. The company is contributing more than $212,200 to fund the two-year project, which will help cut new product development time, increase productivity and lead to 55 new jobs by 2007. Areas included in the training program are manufacturing engineering, processing engineering, enterprise resource planning and information technology, industrial engineering, engineering management, marketing and design skills, and the Spanish language. Reaching around the world
The more than 830 international students at SCSU include students from all three Asian countries, including 14 Korean students this semester from Yonsei University, which is considered to be among that country’s top-rated universities. Yonsei is planning to establish a global campus by the end of the decade where all classes will be taught in English. These partnerships will expand opportunities in SCSU’s acclaimed international studies program and help meet the exploding demand for higher education among young people in Asian countries. SCSU currently has overseas study programs at sites in 12 foreign countries, including Australia, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Japan, Poland, South Africa, and South Korea. Peers recognize administrator long appreciated by students
The SCSU administrator, who has been helping students with their financial needs for 39 years, heads the office that administers all student grants, loans, scholarships and work study employment programs. During fiscal year 2004-05, approximately 11,000 SCSU students received $75 million in federal, state and institutional funds. Loncorich has been honored by students with awards from the Minnesota State University Students Association, SCSU Student Government and SCSU Athletics, and earned the Outstanding Contributions to SCSU Minority Students Award and the Partnership Award for Students of Color for Promoting Cultural Diversity. While president of the Minnesota Association of Financial Aid Administrators Loncorich worked with legislators and the Minnesota Higher Education Coordinating Board to develop the Shared Responsibility Formula. The formula developed 22 years ago is still used today for awarding need-based grants to students attending Minnesota post-secondary institutions. In 1986 he developed and piloted the decentralized delivery system, now used statewide, for awarding grants to students. Co-teaching study significantly impacts 6,300 studentsResearch on a program SCSU piloted last year in five area school districts found that the initiative significantly and positively impacted more than 6,300 students. The study of co-teaching, which paired classroom teachers with SCSU student teachers to plan, organize, deliver and assess instruction in the classroom, was funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The results of the 149 teacher/teacher candidate pairings were evaluated with a combination of standard testing programs, attendance and disciplinary records, focus groups and surveys. Statistically significant findings from the study indicated that:
Find more information and research findings on the co-teaching initiative at www.stcloudstate.edu/coe/tqe. Students 'beat the clock' to raise trip funds creativelyThey raised just $67. But SCSU theatre and film majors who participated in a 24-hour fundraiser that tested their creativity and skills plan to make it a semi-annual event. About 15 students took it upon themselves to create a play – from scratch – and produce it for a live audience. According to senior Grant Merges, whose hometown is Hopkins, they decided to do the unusual fundraiser in lieu of other, less pertinent, money raisers: “We just thought it’d be more relevant than, say, cleaning the hockey rink.” The clock started at 8 on a Friday evening, from which point students determined the contents of their play, created writer/director/actor teams, chose a designer for props, lighting and sound, then worked all night and all of Saturday to create and rehearse a production they performed at 8 that evening. "We don't expect to get any sleep," students had said beforehand, though eventually a few sprawled out on sleeping bags they’d brought to the theatre in the Performing Arts Center on campus. SCSU theatre and film majors conducted the unique event, they said, for fun, experience and fundraising. They also invited the public to take in any or all of the creative process as well as the production, a comedy called “24 Hour Show,” that capped the students’ all-night, all-day adventure. Ticket sales from the performance were used to help send members of the SCSU Dramatic Action Club to the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in January. Percussionist wins international ear
The 2001 graduate of Eagan High School is a junior at SCSU, where he is earning a bachelor's degree in music education and studies percussion with Professor Terry Vermillion. In the past Anker has marched with the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps, the Minnesota Brass Drum & Bugle Corps, the Cadets and the Great Lakes Percussion Independent World Indoor Drum Line. Anker also earned an opportunity to perform solo with the SCSU Orchestra. He will perform "Concerto for Marimba and Strings" by Ney Rosauro at the SCSU Orchestra Concert on April 2. He had participated in a competition for vocal, woodwind, brass, percussion, string and keyboard students in the SCSU Department of Music. Partnership brings SCSU engineering management master's degree to Twin CitiesWeekend classes began in February in a master’s degree program now offered in the Twin Cities through a partnership between SCSU and the College of Management at Metropolitan State University. Twin Citians can earn an SCSU master’s in engineering management in 18 months without traveling to the SCSU campus. The program emphasizes economics and finance, focusing on the competencies required for managing projects and personnel in such disciplines as mechanical manufacturing and industrial, electrical, civil, computer and software engineering. Professor emeritus book on World War II veterans reissued“A Sense of Honor: Remembrances of World War II Veterans,” authored by SCSU Professor Emeritus Ron Perrier in early 2004, has been released in an expanded edition that now includes a commentary based on an interview with SCSU President Roy H. Saigo. The book focuses on 19 regional men and women who actively served or were otherwise directly affected by the war. Saigo is among the latter, as he was one of 110,000 Japanese Americans incarcerated shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack. During his interview Saigo recalled some emotionally painful experiences. “... Being constantly reminded that I was hated and being subjected to cruel treatment because of my ‘difference’ has strengthened my resolve to fight racism and injustice wherever I encounter it,” he told the book’s author. Perrier, St. Cloud, is a professor emeritus of film studies at SCSU, where he taught until 2002. He first published “A Sense of Honor” in January 2004, but has captured nearly twice as many life stories in the new edition. Quickly looking back in timeA collection of more than 6,000 photographs, postcards and stereographs of Minnesota, all taken before 1909, opened at the beginning of the school year for viewing at http://reflections.mndigital.org. Since then, thousands upon thousands of people have enjoyed the 800-plus St. Cloud-area photos that were gathered by SCSU. The Minnesota Reflections Web site allows for basic or advanced searches on the collection or one can browse the images by topics like “students” or “construction,” by contributing institution, or by region of the state. SCSU is among more than 55 organizations from across the state that contributed photographs. University staff worked with Minnesota Digital Library Coalition colleagues from the College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University, the University of Minnesota, Minnesota State University Mankato, the Minnesota Historical Society, the St. Paul Public Library, Winona State University, the MINITEX Library Information Network and Moorhead Public Schools to create the collection. Husky pride put to musicNo audition is required, according to the director of the new Husky Sports Band, which has begun playing at select sporting and campus events. Members only need a positive attitude, strong work ethic and good attendance, Professor Glen Tuomaala, music, told the University Chronicle as the band was being formed. “We can have five people or we can have 500.” The band is open to all SCSU and St. Cloud Technical College students, faculty members, staff and alumni, as well as students in grades 9-12. Weekly rehearsals began Feb. 7 in anticipation of the group’s premiere at the men’s and women’s basketball games March 1. The Husky Sports Band will promote school spirit, said Tuomaala, but also will offer challenge and excitement for its members. Alumnus Royce Nies ’71, Sartell, is back on the saxophone as a member of the new band. He’s happy to toot his horn for the Huskies: he’s a former president of the Huskies Booster Club, a community support group for all SCSU athletics, and a few years ago he and about 15 others formed a sports band that was disbanded after they decided it was too small to provide the oomph they desired. Nies pointed out that he’d be at the games anyway. “I’d either be in the band or in the stands,” he said, as he’s had hockey, football and basketball season tickets for at least 25 years. Employee honored as top state 'Big Sis'
Eckerman, database manager for the SCSU Foundation, launched this extraordinarily rich relationship eight years ago by signing up with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota. She was single and shy in 1997. So was 7-year-old Rachael, the Little Sister she was paired with. Years later, in her nomination of Eckerman for the volunteer award, Rachael wrote: "All the things I have she has helped me gain. Without Paula, I would still be the quiet, scared girl I was when I met her." Once Eckerman made the decision to reach out, she reached deep. Her bond with Rachael grew stronger each year, and so did the "Sisters'" self-confidence. Eckerman was there for Rachael as she met incredible challenges for one so young: the death of her father, moving from St. Cloud to the little Wisconsin border town of Sandstone with her mother and brother, and seeing her home destroyed by fire. Eckerman also was there to share the joys of sisterly activities: shopping for new school clothes, going for pizza and movies, enjoying family gatherings, reading her little sister's poetry. "When Paula became a Big Sister I'm sure she had no idea the kind of impact she would make on Rachael's life," said Troy Fritz, director of the area Big Brothers Big Sisters. "I remember Rachael's mom telling me that Paula was an 'angel sent from above' and that she has made such a tremendous impact in Rachael's life, helping her become a caring young lady with more self confidence." Eckerman has grown, too, in the relationship. "Rachael actually shows me how to look at things differently," she said. "She's had many challenges for such a young person, but when we're together having fun I can see her worries melt away. She can be a kid, stress-free for awhile." Through the years Eckerman has married, and she and her husband Tom are hoping to adopt a child of their own. They've posted their parent profile on their personal Web site as well as through the Children's and Home Society Family Services. In their parent profile letter, Tom wrote this tribute to Paula: "My wife is a very strong person with willpower that never stops. She is a very caring, protective and giving person." Now that Rachael is 16 and approaching adulthood, Eckerman looks forward to new dimensions in their relationship. Perhaps one day she'll see Rachael pass on the legacy of their sisterhood by reaching out to her own Little Sister. Mission Accomplished
The student-athlete has had major accomplishments in two sports, football and track and field, and has maintained a 4.0 GPA since his arrival on campus in fall 2001. People have taken notice of his success both in the classroom and on the playing field. Last fall, Koch was a semi-finalist for one of the most prestigious academic awards in all of college football, the "Draddy Trophy," considered the academic equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. The Draddy is one of college football's most sought-after awards as it recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership. Koch was among 16 Draddy Trophy finalists from all levels of college football, for which he earned an $18,000 scholarship from the National Football Foundation. "That was one of the best experiences of my life," said Koch in reference to the awards dinner held at New York City's famed Waldorf Astoria Hotel in December. "It was basically a who's who in college football. I'm at a table with 15 other athletes and seven or eight of them are playing in bowl games and a couple of them are in BCS (Bowl Championship Series) games." Koch has earned many other academic accolades, including 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American Football and Academic All-North Central Conference honors. In spring 2005 he was named the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American of the Year in Track and Field. This spring he will be nominated for an NCAA postgraduate scholarship. His football accomplishments include being named to the All-North Central Conference first team twice and second team once. In fall 2005 he was named to the D2Football.com All-Northwest Region Second Team and the CollegeSportsReports.com All-Division II Offensive Team. He also was the first junior in Division II to earn the player of the year honor, which usually goes to a senior athlete. As a track athlete, Koch is a two-time NCAA Division II All-American in the decathlon, ranking fourth in 2004 and sixth in 2005. Koch learned how to juggle academics, athletics and family long before he enrolled at SCSU. "In high school I had this same sort of schedule. I was trying to be an athlete, be a student, have a social life and have a family life." Once he got to college the family life changed but not a lot, as he followed an older brother to campus and his younger brother is in his second year at SCSU. When Koch arrived at SCSU he made the decision that if he was going to spend time at something, he was going to give it his whole mind and energy. "When I'm at practice I'm at practice, when I'm not, I'm studying, and my spare time is what I use for a social life." Koch's motivation for doing well in the classroom and on the field is simple. "I want to be the best at what I do," he said. "I don't know why I feel I should walk into a class and have to be the best student, but it's just the mentality that I have. What I think it boils down to is I want to be the best because I am spending time on it." Koch wants to be on the field. He wants to play and he wants to make a difference in the game. The same goes for academics. "Education is what's going to be my future – athletics are important, but I can't put education on the back burner." Koch is in the process of determining what he'll do next. He finds graduate school appealing, but he'd also like to be in the business world. He tested the business world last summer with an information technology internship at Securian Financial Group in St. Paul. "I used what I'd learned in the classroom. It proved that what I've been doing is useful." The result of the internship was a job offer, but he's made no decision. Another option is to continue his career in sports, possibly in the Arena Football League. "If I don't play, I definitely want to coach somewhere, even if it's as a volunteer," said Koch. "I like helping people. I love sports and I would love to share what I've learned." There is no doubt that wherever the future takes him, he will be the best. Once again, it will be "mission accomplished." Feature Story Exploring the world and your place in it!What better time than the university years to experience study abroad and the profound impact it can have on perceptions of the world and the people in it? “Our minds were open and our spirits were filled with adventure,” a study-abroad alumnus said in one of the stories in this issue – stories about the places and faces that forever reshaped attitudes and enhanced global awareness. Preparing students to succeed in a global community is an integral part of the University’s identity and mission. The presence of 850 international students from 85 countries and outstanding faculty from around the globe brings multiple layers of contrasting views to our classrooms. SCSU ranks 16th in the nation for the number of international students on its campus and 17th for the number of domestic students participating in study-abroad programs, according to a survey of U.S. universities of its type. SCSU’s semester-long programs in Australia, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Japan, Poland, South Africa and South Korea as well as many short-term study-abroad opportunities have enriched their lives immeasurably. In preparation for their reunion Aug. 11-12, alumni of the Alnwick, England, study-abroad program were invited to submit favorite memories and photos from their experience. This story reflects some of the comments included in the dozens of enthusiastic responses from participants eager to reminisce about their transcendent coming-of-age experience at “The Castle.” Although there is not room on these pages to include all of the stories and photos, all are published in their entirety at www.stcloudstate.edu/studyabroad/alumni. Once upon a time I lived in a castle and it changed my life forever
"Our minds were open and our spirits were filled with adventure," said Jean (Weber) Gentile '84, Grayslake, Ill., of her study-abroad experience at Alnwick. "These were some of the happiest days of my life and their memories will always fill a very special place in my heart." Thirty years ago 50 SCSU students made the first venture to northern England for what pioneering alumnus Neil Lageson, Savage, aptly termed "The Alnwick Experiment." Five years later the University signed a contract with the 10th Duke of Northumberland, establishing in 1981 an official study-abroad partnership with the duke's ancestral home, Alnwick Castle, and launching life-altering learning experiences, travels, friendships, romance and adventure. Lageson, who returned to finish his degree in 2002, still enjoys the decades-long friendships he made during that first trip to the centuries-old English castle. But another satisfying "Alnwick moment" came during the winter of 2004, when he returned with his wife to visit daughter Meghan during her own Alnwick study-abroad experience. Those who shared their memories expressed a deep appreciation for the people and places who touched them for a lifetime, and many have returned for another encounter with that magical place. "The British Studies program was a totally thrilling experience," said Mary Beth (Johnson) Wangwai '87, Round Rock, Texas. "It was being in another country while still feeling at home – and what a home it was. Alnwick Castle was enchanting from beginning to end." The castle, a massive stone edifice surrounded by lush grounds, is a site so quintessentially regal that it's been the backdrop for several movies, including "Elizabeth," "Robin Hood" and, most recently, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," shot in 2001 with Alnwick students on hand. When the movie was released, the storm of publicity included photos of the flying broom scene in Time Magazine and in a USA Today feature that included this description:
Those students have felt a tremendous impact from their time within the castle walls. Erica Dornfeld '05, Bloomington, said, "I learned to appreciate people who were completely unlike me and how to get along with them. … Alnwick introduced me to a new way of thinking and contributed to who I am today." Most students left Alnwick with an enhanced global perspective. "The most valuable learning I took away from this experience is truly how much more there is to the world, a true sense of self and enhanced confidence," said Ryan Fahrmann '00, North Branch. "The program immerses the students not only in a different country, but also a community. … Alnwick was a 24/7 classroom and an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life." "I am forever changed," said Stephanie Atkinson '01, Lake City. "This program, this experience, this opportunity helped to shape my life and, in the end, quite possibly helped to save it." Following a year when she lost her father, a friend, her boyfriend and a cousin to death, she went back to Alnwick to work with the program and a chance to rediscover herself as she guided others "along a path of experiencing new things, cultures, people, history and love," an adventure that was "utterly priceless." Susan Sworski Massmann "89, Kimball, agreed. "The memories are with me forever and, after 19 years, some things seem like they were just yesterday. … The setting, of course, is most spectacular. To live in a castle is far beyond some people's imaginations." Ellen Dosdall '79, Edina, said that while her group learned English traditions, they also enjoyed exposing their British colleagues to American rituals like a festival that culminated in the crowning of the king and queen of Groundhog Day. "I look back to this experience as the first and most significant turning point in my life, evolving into a life-long academic journey and a fulfilling career in public service," Dosdall said. "And one more great achievement – I married the Groundhog Day king." In preparation for their reunion Aug. 11-12, alumni of the Alnwick, England, study-abroad program were invited to submit favorite memories and photos from their experience. This story reflects some of the comments included in the dozens of enthusiastic responses from participants eager to reminisce about their transcendent coming-of-age experience at "The Castle." Although there is not room on these pages to include all of the stories and photos, all are published in their entirety at www.stcloudstate.edu/studyabroad/alumni. Romance blooms
Jeff Halberg '93, Winona, who met his wife Jennifer while the two were at Alnwick, has gone back seven times and plans another visit with Jennifer and their two sons this June. "... I wouldn't be surprised if we retired there one day," said Jeff, whose parents, SCSU emeriti Laurie and Delaine Halberg, were program directors in 1994-95 and whose sister Michele studied in Alnwick during 1982-83. "Tim and I found ourselves living in England again in 2003 – 10 years after we met on the program," said Tana (Jertson) Hellwig '94, Houston. They took a trip to Alnwick to show their daughter "the castle where mommy and daddy met. … Now we have two beautiful children and to think all this started in Alnwick Castle. It always will hold a special place in my heart." "Kacey Evans '03 and I met during our study-abroad trip … and became best friends throughout our journey," said Ashley David '05, Ramsey, of the Alnwick romance that led the couple to marry this past February and to plan to go on the reunion trip to the castle in July. "We sat together during class, hung out together during the field trips. We chased sheep together, went on pub crawls. We even had our first kiss under the stars in the castle courtyard. It was just like a fairy tale." Not all of the romances that emerged during study-abroad programs were between fellow students. Lisa (Virdin) Coleman '95, Woodbury, met her husband Martin in a pub in the picturesque village of Alnwick. "We had our first date on Easter Sunday – walking along the shores of the North Sea," she said. Months later he took her to the airport for their tearful goodbyes. "While I was waiting for the plane," Coleman said, "I opened the letter he gave me. Inside was a St. Christopher's pendant and note that read, 'What will the future hold? My tenet is that life is too short to give up easily on someone you really care for. They say distance makes the heart grow fonder.'" Martin moved to the United States and the two were married six years ago. In preparation for their reunion Aug. 11-12, alumni of the Alnwick, England, study-abroad program were invited to submit favorite memories and photos from their experience. This story reflects some of the comments included in the dozens of enthusiastic responses from participants eager to reminisce about their transcendent coming-of-age experience at "The Castle." Although there is not room on these pages to include all of the stories and photos, all are published in their entirety at www.stcloudstate.edu/studyabroad/alumni. Global awareness grows
John Fruth '94, St. Cloud, shared stories of his travels to far-flung parts of the world, from Russia to Australia, all "a direct result of my participation in the Alnwick program." The 12 months he spent circumnavigating the world following his study abroad left him with a lifetime of memories, he said. Tammy Ehlers Whitmarsh '87, Ladera Ranch, Calif., said she and her three roommates had a great time traveling around Europe, going to the Squash Club and mingling with the locals. "One of my favorite holidays was a ski trip to Innsbruck, Austria, and traveling to Rome to hear the Pope give New Year's Day Mass. While on a recent trip to Ireland, I was able to bring my husband back to Alnwick. It was wonderful walking around the town and seeing some of the old places. … The Alnwick program was a wonderful life experience that I will treasure forever." "I have made it a mission of mine to spread the word of the importance of international travel and study for other students, and hope that one day my children get to experience the incredible opportunities that I had," said Mark McCleary '95, Minneapolis. In preparation for their reunion Aug. 11-12, alumni of the Alnwick, England, study-abroad program were invited to submit favorite memories and photos from their experience. This story reflects some of the comments included in the dozens of enthusiastic responses from participants eager to reminisce about their transcendent coming-of-age experience at "The Castle." Although there is not room on these pages to include all of the stories and photos, all are published in their entirety at www.stcloudstate.edu/studyabroad/alumni. 'Celebrity' sightings
"I was one of the lucky ones who studied in Alnwick during the filming of the first Harry Potter movie," said Marisa (Adler) Vette '01, Sauk Rapids. "The Quiddich scene took place right outside my bedroom windows. Once I returned home … I saw the movie seven times because different people wanted me to go with them to point out in the theatre interesting tidbits in the film." When "Robin Hood" was shot at Alnwick some students were hired as extras. For the movie "Elizabeth," Joe Herzberg '00, Minneapolis, was an extra in a crowd scene. He spent eight hours in the field behind the castle, repeatedly cheering for two minutes, then sitting for 20, followed by screaming "You filthy swine!" and sitting for another 20 minutes. "When we were filming a scene at the gate they told us not to talk because our American accents were ruining the takes. After all of our hard work they cut both of the scenes we were in. The only good that came from it was some really good pictures of me in tights." And a memory worth sharing. Another memory was shared by Al Neff '86 '89, Denver, whose Alnwick adventure included a different sort of celebrity encounter. On one extremely rare sunny day, he settled into his "incredibly perfect view of the castle, being warmed by the rare English sun" and lost himself in writing to his girlfriend. Unfortunately, this perfect spot also was in the Duke's park, off-limit to students. "I heard something behind me and turned to see an older gentleman walking with a cane, smoking a pipe and coming toward me," Neff said. He knew he was where he wasn't supposed to be, but thought he could explain things to this man, likely a grounds keeper. "I smiled and said hello, following with 'it's okay that I'm here, isn't it?' He said, 'Well it looks like you're here now anyway, doesn't it?' He added, 'You must be one of the students from the castle' and asked me how I liked living there. My enthusiasm came naturally." After polite conversation about travels, experiences and rainfall, Neff asked if the gentleman lived in Alnwick. He answered, "Oh yes, I live over there" pointing with his cane to the castle. 'I'm your landlord.'" Neff wrote "your grace," the 10th Duke of Northumberland, a contrite letter of apology for trespassing and whatever lack of etiquette he might have displayed. Neff thanked him on behalf of the students and added that he was glad he hadn't let the fence stop him. Years later, when he received his SCSU master's degree, the keynote address at commencement was given by a representative of the Duke, who pulled out and read from Neff's letter. He ended with the part about the fence, pausing and saying with great gravity and conviction, "He didn't let the fence stop him." It's a message Neff now shares with his own students about climbing imaginary fences in their own lives. Some encounters at the castle were of a more ethereal kind. The "person" Wendy Lemke '87 '88, St. Cloud, remembers best wasn't a student or a faculty member, but a ghost. "Those who lived in … Diana, as well as the locals, have come to know her as the Grey Lady," said Lemke, who has revisited the castle and written a book that alludes to her experience with the spirit whose presence many other students have felt over the years. Stephanie (Haiden) Maresch '87 '89, Lock Haven, Penn., did not write about the spirit of the Grey Lady, but about the spirit of adventure she found within herself at Alnwick. She was 26 and had never lived on campus or interacted much with students. "Attending the Alnwick program was the first thing that I had done on my own," she said. "... I firmly believe that I would not be the confident, self-assured person that I am today without … the Alnwick program." Chelse Schmitt, St. Cloud, who will graduate in May, echoes the sentiments of so many other Alnwick alumni who are grateful for an experience that can never be matched. "How many people can actually say they lived in a castle?" she said. "Words can't explain how my life, personality and thoughts have been affected. … There isn't any other class in college that can prepare you, teach you and be as outstanding and enjoyable as studying abroad in Alnwick." In preparation for their reunion Aug. 11-12, alumni of the Alnwick, England, study-abroad program were invited to submit favorite memories and photos from their experience. This story reflects some of the comments included in the dozens of enthusiastic responses from participants eager to reminisce about their transcendent coming-of-age experience at "The Castle." Although there is not room on these pages to include all of the stories and photos, all are published in their entirety at www.stcloudstate.edu/studyabroad/alumni. Picture me studying abroad
Amanda Toppe, one of 17 students in the SCSU study-abroad program in Chile last fall, had reason to cry. Her camera was gone – apparently left behind during a bus stop in Puerto Montt on the first day of their field trip. Her classmates were aghast. Nothing would be worse, they agreed, than to lose their cameras after nearly four months of non-stop snapping: pictures of the families they'd lived with, new friends, shared adventures, love interests, and stunning scenes ranging from volcanoes in the snow-capped Andes Mountains to seals in the Pacific Ocean, from the world's driest desert in the north to the foggy island of Chiloé in the south. After the group returned to the earlier stop and retrieved the camera, junior social work and Spanish major Toppe, from Big Lake, happily smiled in the face of her friends' joshing. "You almost lost your boyfriends!" her classmates teased, referring to their earlier claims that Toppe was the troupe's chief man magnet. Truth be told, there were many handsome Chileans "in" the camera, but there were, as well, more than 750 other photos recording four months of once-in-a-lifetime experiences. "That camera went out with us at night," said junior history and Spanish major Erin Olson, from Willmar, afterwards as everyone laughed with Toppe about her scare. "So we all wanted it back."
A favorite made its way into Medina's book early in the trip, when everyone was still having a bit of trouble with the language and relied heavily on a word that works as "excuse me." After one student said "Permiso" for the thousandth time, another snapped back, "You're permised!" Studying abroad is one fascinating experience after another. While on a catamaran trip across Chile's largest lake, junior Dan Asquith, St. Cloud, spent an hour or more with a Chilean of Germanic background chatting, in Spanish, about the man's heritage. Nearby, students were teaching a non-English-speaking crew member a card game that he didn't know is called bull*"*", all of them roaring with laughter. A group of five sat near Boyer – who never missed a teachable moment – as he shared intriguing bits of history on the 18th century Jesuit churches the group would see later in the trip. Others were glued to the views: snow-capped volcanoes edging the icy lake, neat-as-a-pin farmsteads dotting green hillsides, sheets of mist covering, then unveiling still more wonderful sights just ahead. On weekends, students' adventures might include a holiday celebration with their host families, a visit to Argentina, Bolivia or Peru, the Museo Galeria de la Historia, maybe the San Francisco-like Chilean city of Valparaiso, or even the formal Escuela de Grumetes Naval Ball that Toppe and sophomore Candace Leyk, from Sauk Rapids, attended as guests of new acquaintances serving in the Chilean military. Mondays the group reunited in the classroom. "Monday's our favorite day," said Leyk. "That's when we share everyone else's adventures – you don't have time to do it all yourself!" The students also extended their studies with field trips Boyer organized. To kill time on a long bus trip to a more southerly area of Chile, some slept, others told stories about their home-stay families, the boys compared their home-stay mothers' cooking skills, and up and down the aisle were students conjugating Spanish verbs in a wild, impromptu face-off. When they stopped in a little town on the island of Chiloé (chi-low-AY), Boyer made note of some of the historical sites they might visit. But when students jumped off the bus, they headed straight downtown for food, where they spotted a "fruteria." Soon they were carrying bags and backpacks stuffed with green peppers, carrots, unfamiliar varieties of pears and apples, and "six kiwi and a Sprite for just a thousand pesos," about $2, all the healthy foods they'd learned to prefer. In addition to good eating habits, the students learned to pay close attention to politics, always of interest in Latin American countries, and the news. "My family watches the news all of the time," said one. "And it's real news," chimed in sophomore Quinn Scarborough, Alexandria, who explained that it was not the frivolous coverage they were accustomed to in the States. At the Universidad de Concepción, students carried a heavy load of 18 credits, all taught in Spanish. Coursework covered Hispanic literature, contemporary Latin American issues and more, as well as an independent study project, which gave students a chance to work on majors ranging from philosophy and music to business and social work. As important as the classroom, said Leyk, was what the students discovered outside its doors. "I've learned a lot ... patience, coping, how to make friends out of strangers, getting along with people you didn't know before. Like I told my mom: 'This is a psychology class!'" Taken together, the students' experiences in Chile – now delightfully documented in their photo albums – delivered on the promise made by the SCSU study-abroad program: "Enrich your life by discovering the world." This story reflects some of the comments included in the dozens of enthusiastic responses from participants eager to reminisce about their transcendent coming-of-age experience at "The Castle." Although there is not room on these pages to include all of the stories and photos, all are published in their entirety at www.stcloudstate.edu/studyabroad/alumni. Study-Abroad Experience Drives Alumnus AbroadBusinessman Jeffry Paul was raised in St. Cloud, attended the local university, SCSU, and returns to St. Cloud regularly to see his parents, other family and friends. But since 1980, when he spent a year studying abroad, his life and his outlook have been global rather than local.
"It was the best year of my life," Paul said of his first global experience. He challenges anyone to ask his mother what her son was like before he headed to Denmark and what he was like when he returned. "She'll say I was two different people." After he earned his SCSU marketing degree in 1982, Paul returned to California as national sales manager for BearCom. By 1999 he was in Guatemala, where he opened a distribution center, then partnered with his two key managers, businessmen from Guatemala and Spain, to buy out BearCom's name and distribution rights for Central America. When Paul first went into the wireless technology business in Guatemala, he said, "I was a Gringo, I knew no Spanish, and I'd never managed all aspects of a full distributor." He didn't lack for self-confidence, however. When he and his partners opened their business in 1999, with four employees and no sales, he heard "can't do, can't do" over and over again. Says Paul: "But you can." The Central America BearCom operation, which has as its tagline, "Communicación Global," now distributes from offices in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, El Salvador and Brazil. By the end of last year the company had 55 employees and sales of $18 million, which Paul expects will double again in the next two years. Paul, who is president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Guatemala, said business is conducted very differently there. "It's a little bit of the Wild West. It isn't Third World. But it's about 2 1/2." The country has been an ideal location, as the growth opportunities are unlimited and because the country allowed BearCom to establish itself as a private duty-free zone, he said. "Our office looks like the U.N.," Paul said of headquarters, with employees from Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Spain and the United States. Add to that daily interaction with customs officials and conversations with staff in the company's five offices throughout Central and South America, and it's a very international environment. Paul attributes his wanderlust, his self-confidence and his willingness to take on challenges to his study-abroad experience. "I wouldn't be where I am if I hadn't gone to Denmark." Paul and his wife Carolina, a native of El Salvador, have two children, Jesika and Renee. The family visits St. Cloud regularly, but last fall Paul made an extra trip in order to join 75 alumni of the Denmark study-abroad program for a reunion. Because of the experiences they'd shared 25 years earlier, the Denmark study-abroad alumni came together as lifetime friends. "We were a little older, a little grayer, a little fatter," Paul said, but everyone sat down and began talking like they'd been students in Denmark only yesterday. In preparation for their reunion Aug. 11-12, alumni of the Alnwick, England, study-abroad program were invited to submit favorite memories and photos from their experience. This story reflects some of the comments included in the dozens of enthusiastic responses from participants eager to reminisce about their transcendent coming-of-age experience at "The Castle." Although there is not room on these pages to include all of the stories and photos, all are published in their entirety at www.stcloudstate.edu/studyabroad/alumni. Business graduate thrives at prestigious Norwegian economics schoolTyler Gehrmann ended his dizzying first week as a graduate student in Norway celebrating with old and new friends – first catching up on news from home over dinner with his SCSU adviser, Elaine Davis, then meeting fellow students for a concert in the picturesque North Sea-coast city that's his home for two years. Gehrmann's exhilaration was evident as he described for Professor Davis life as a student in the prestigious Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration in Bergen. He's one of 30 non-Norwegian students in his master of science program. His colleagues are a global mix from Lebanon, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia, France, Germany, China, India, Ghana, Peru, Belarus, Finland, Thailand and four other U.S. states.
Gehrmann's opportunity to pursue his graduate degree in Norway came about because of the commitment of faculty members in the G.R. Herberger College of Business to give students international experiences. "There's a core of faculty really emotionally invested in this," Davis said of their encouragement of international education. "We were all really gratified by Tyler's news. The day he was accepted the e-mails were flying. Tyler's our first one to really … do it," she said. By the time Gehrmann finished his bachelor's degree in spring 2005, he already had several months of international experience – first in the SCSU study-abroad program in Ingolstadt, Germany, then as an intern at Siemens, a Berlin and Munich-based electrical engineering and electronics conglomerate. He knew further overseas study would help him achieve his goals in international business. But until Davis gave him a pamphlet about a top-rated European master's program with free tuition, he wasn't sure how or where he should take his next step – or how he'd pay for it. Three months later he was filling one of the coveted international slots in Norway's leading business school. He was on his way. Known internationally as NHH, Gehrmann's school is in what's often been called "the city between seven mountains." Norway's stunningly beautiful second-largest city is on the west coast and is home to more than 225,000 people. He notes a different environment at the Bergen graduate school, with required papers graded as satisfactory or not, and for each course a single three-hour essay exam at the end of the semester. "You're not babysat here," he said. "You're competing with a much higher caliber student, and you're expected to do your work." Getting accepted at a state-supported school like NHH requires stellar academic credentials. Most members of the top management team at Statoil, the largest company on the Oslo Stock Exchange with 24,000 employees, have an NHH background. "Clearly, a degree from there (NHH) is a strong recommendation in someone's job search," said Einar Bergh, senior adviser for Statoil's Group Communications Department. "I'm learning about different styles of management and how businesses are different all around the world," Gehrmann said. He's looking forward to his optional semester abroad. "I'm thinking about China." But in the meantime, he's relishing his opportunity in Bergen and enjoying the breathtaking mountains and fjords that surround him and his new friends from around the world. In preparation for their reunion Aug. 11-12, alumni of the Alnwick, England, study-abroad program were invited to submit favorite memories and photos from their experience. This story reflects some of the comments included in the dozens of enthusiastic responses from participants eager to reminisce about their transcendent coming-of-age experience at "The Castle." Although there is not room on these pages to include all of the stories and photos, all are published in their entirety at www.stcloudstate.edu/studyabroad/alumni. Law and Order - Scandinavian StyleIn a Copenhagen conference room, they enjoyed sumptuous pastries as Denmark's deputy chief prosecutor shared an insider's overview of emerging challenges to their criminal justice system. In Stockholm they went inside one of Scandinavia's notoriously posh prisons. In Oslo top police administrators led them on a tour of Norway's National Criminal Investigation Service headquarters and laboratories – complete with up-close demonstrations of the latest technology in crime scene investigation.
"It was great to see how other criminal justice systems work, and it was nice being over there to see it first-hand instead of learning about it in a classroom," said Aimee Fink, Coon Rapids, a 2005 graduate who will apply her four-plus years of experience as a student public safety officer on campus and her degree in elective studies with a criminal justice emphasis to law school. The course was designed to give students, while earning six credits, a glimpse into the inner workings of foreign criminal justice systems and to help them analyze how they differ from those back home. Classroom time was a mix of student-produced research, expert presentations and Campbell's interactive lectures. Students learned that throughout Scandinavia, police and the courts cooperate regularly with each other. The volume of crime and level of violence, they learned, are significantly lower than in the United States and many other parts of the world. Alessandra Giraldi, Denmark's deputy chief prosecutor, and her counterparts in Sweden and Norway offered statistics about the relative safety of Scandinavia's streets. "We have about 50 murders a year," Ole Hermansen, head of Norway's Tactical Investigation Division, told the students. "We have a 95 percent solution rate for homicides." Campbell added that the figure compares with a 67 percent solution rate for murders in the United States. Throughout their tour, his students became well aware how Campbell's reputation as a 27-year veteran of the FBI precedes him. "Without his background, we would never have met half of the people who gave us presentations," said Bryan Canfield, a junior history major from Rochester, who appreciated this comparative glimpse into the cultures and criminal justice systems of Scandinavian countries. During his distinguished career, Campbell headed the FBI's behavioral unit when it pioneered the techniques of criminal profiling and was dean of the FBI Academy. At SCSU, Campbell's anecdotes, insights and associations with international criminal justice leaders heighten the quality and effectiveness of his teaching. In his classroom Campbell also draws from the rich material in the books he's worked on. He co-wrote "Into the Minds of Madmen: How the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit Revolutionized Crime Investigation" and co-edited "Profilers: Leading Investigators Take You Inside the Criminal Mind." In addition to their exposure to legal experts and criminal justice facilities in Scandinavia, students broadened their knowledge of history and culture in the land of the midnight sun. They toured the Swedish Parliament, learned about American diplomatic corps careers at the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen, and visited art and history museums as well as famed tourist attractions. They slept in hostels and police academy dorms and rode scenic rail routes through some of the most spectacular mountain and sea vistas in the world. "The experience was excellent," Canfield said. "I'm a history major, and I benefited greatly from the trips to museums, and our meetings helped me understand a lot more about how their society operates. It influenced the way I see other cultures – and how America does things in comparison." After their first night in downtown Copenhagen, students gathered in the lounge of their hostel to share experiences. One group talked about how their restaurant server conversed easily in English and was fluent in five other languages as well, a stark reminder of Americans' limited language skills. Campbell's three-week study tour was one of nine short-term international programs SCSU students participated in last spring and summer. The opportunity to earn credits while exploring a new part of the world for a few weeks gives many more students their only option for study abroad. For many, leaving families, jobs and other responsibilities behind for an entire semester is not feasible or affordable. "If it hadn't been a summer short trip, I wouldn't have been able to do it," Fink said. Criminal justice graduate student Jennifer Lampert, a native of Pierz and a corrections officer at the St. Cloud Correctional Facility, agreed that while it was advantageous to see how foreign prison systems work, the lasting friendships formed during student travel are invaluable. "Everyone should do this," said Lampert, who also participated in a criminal justice short-term course in Croatia under the leadership of Professor Dick Andzenge. "You never get these times and these opportunities back." Short-term study-abroad opportunities include winter and spring break, intersession and summer term courses in Australia, Canada, China, Croatia, England, France, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Mexico, Poland, South Africa and Tanzania. For details go to www.stcloudstate.edu/studyabroad. In preparation for their reunion Aug. 11-12, alumni of the Alnwick, England, study-abroad program were invited to submit favorite memories and photos from their experience. This story reflects some of the comments included in the dozens of enthusiastic responses from participants eager to reminisce about their transcendent coming-of-age experience at "The Castle." Although there is not room on these pages to include all of the stories and photos, all are published in their entirety at www.stcloudstate.edu/studyabroad/alumni. Alnwick Reunion CelebrationRenew memories of Alnwick with a trip back to the castle and an on-campus celebration with Alnwick alumni, faculty and home-stay families. Back-to-the-Castle Tour Stay in the castle or at one of Alnwick’s lovely community hotels and bed and breakfasts. Activities include a banquet, reception, picnic, home-stay tea, field trip to Edinburgh, fireworks display and tours of the wonderful Alnwick Garden. If you haven’t seen this major British tourist attraction on the castle grounds, you’re in for a treat with exquisite gardens and water displays and the unique Treehouse Restaurant. Alnwick Anniversary Alumni
Reunion Return to the SCSU campus for a reunion with Alnwick alumni, faculty and home-stay families. A dinner of fish and chips and other casual fare will be held on campus Friday evening, Aug. 11, followed by a social hour downtown. On Saturday, Aug. 12, the festivities begin with campus tours, followed by a visit to Munsinger Gardens and an afternoon tea. The main event will be the Saturday night banquet reception and program, preceded by a cocktail hour. Please join us! For more information visit the SCSU Center for International Studies Web site: www.stcloudstate.edu/studyabroad/alumni/alnwick.asp In preparation for their reunion Aug. 11-12, alumni of the Alnwick, England, study-abroad program were invited to submit favorite memories and photos from their experience. This story reflects some of the comments included in the dozens of enthusiastic responses from participants eager to reminisce about their transcendent coming-of-age experience at “The Castle.” Although there is not room on these pages to include all of the stories and photos, all are published in their entirety at www.stcloudstate.edu/studyabroad/alumni. Marjorie inspired with warmth and witFor 25 years Marjorie Deakin’s kindness, humor,
hospitality and dedication to international education endeared her to
students in the SCSU British Studies Program. Beginning in 1981, she
enlightened students about English literature and contemporary Britain,
connected them to local families through her work with home-stays and
arranged field trips that enhanced the British Studies experience. She
infused all the activities with her wry Scottish wit and her enthusiasm
for making each learning experience special. Many former students
responded to the news that she had passed away on Oct. 27 with
donations to the Marjorie Deakin Memorial Scholarship and by sharing
fond memories of their former teacher. “My time in Alnwick changed my life and opened my
eyes to the world. Marjorie was a big part of that. Her contemporary
Britain class made reading the newspaper interesting and taught me so
much. Thanks, Marjorie, SCSU has lost a great friend.”
“I count her among the few instructors who truly
left a lasting impression on me. …I last returned to the
castle in March 2005 with a dear friend from my program. Marjorie
learned of our visit, tracked us down and insisted we come directly to
her home for a visit. … Since learning of
Marjorie’s death, I am even more thankful that we took the
time for a visit. It was a precious gift. Long live the memory of this
great woman.” "Marjorie was an inspiring and amazing teacher and person who will be greatly missed!” “My fondest memories … include her
amazing British wit and the magic of how she brought British culture
alive with her stories, humor, grace and intelligence. She was my
favorite. She was an asset to the program at Alnwick and truly enhanced
my personal and academic experience. I remember students and myself
feeling at ease just talking with her. She is going to be truly missed,
but her spirit will remain alive in all those she has
touched.” “She was a great teacher and a great person. We have
a special part of Marjorie in our home. She had my aunt and uncle and
myself over for tea once and shared with us her Scottish shortbread
recipe. Ever since it’s been our family’s secret
and absolute favorite!” “Before I went on the Alnwick excursion, my parents
bought me an SCSU study-abroad sweatshirt which I treasured. About a
month into the Alnwick program, I was in Marjorie Deakin’s
class sitting in the most coveted seat, the one near the radiator,
squeezing a mug of hot chocolate to keep warm. Not long after class
began, my roommate Melissa Lenk said she smelled something burning. I
don’t recall smelling the odor of burning fabric but maybe
that’s because I was in shock from discovering the smell was
my coveted sweatshirt burning from sitting too close to the radiator! I
have fond memories of Marjorie’s class and a few burn holes
in my sweatshirt which I still treasure to this day. I never cared
about history and politics until I met Marjorie. She was a
gem.” Contributions to the Marjorie Deakin Scholarship can be sent to the SCSU Foundation, 720 Fourth Ave. So., St. Cloud MN 56301. In preparation for their reunion Aug. 11-12, alumni of the Alnwick, England, study-abroad program were invited to submit favorite memories and photos from their experience. This story reflects some of the comments included in the dozens of enthusiastic responses from participants eager to reminisce about their transcendent coming-of-age experience at “The Castle.” Although there is not room on these pages to include all of the stories and photos, all are published in their entirety at www.stcloudstate.edu/studyabroad/alumni. What does it take?University committed to preparing students for global future seeks full-time leaders for study abroad programs. Program Director Qualifications
Join in now! www.stcloudstate.edu/studyabroad In preparation for their reunion Aug. 11-12, alumni of the Alnwick, England, study-abroad program were invited to submit favorite memories and photos from their experience. This story reflects some of the comments included in the dozens of enthusiastic responses from participants eager to reminisce about their transcendent coming-of-age experience at “The Castle.” Although there is not room on these pages to include all of the stories and photos, all are published in their entirety at www.stcloudstate.edu/studyabroad/alumni. Stories of Campus Life Through two world wars, charismatic 'Miss Hill' made impact on students
"She had real charisma," said Miller, who as a student frequently had the honor of being invited for tea at the home Hill shared with fellow faculty members and a succession of Boston terriers – all named Bunker. "She had this deep smoky contralto, and when she was writing on the board the costume jewelry she loved jangled. It was almost mesmerizing." According to Edwin Cates Centennial History of St. Cloud State College, Hill was "tall, erect, energetic, athletic" and "outspoken when irritated as the time she pulled a young man out of a car by his coat tails, saying, Havent you heard of Emily Post? A lady precedes a gentleman into an automobile." Yet, Cates continued, "Miss Hill could be extremely patient and sympathetic with a student for whom literature was difficult. … Students often grumbled over the long assignments, but she always replied, Are you in here to play tiddly winks, or to learn about literature?" Miller went on to pursue careers as a teacher, a textbook salesman for McGraw Hill and an antiques dealer before retiring in his hometown of New London. While Hill taught at St. Cloud State, from 1915-52, she launched the College Chronicle newspaper and led the campaign to rebuild the Talahi Lodge student recreation center. In 1962 an SCSU student residence hall was named for Hill, and in 1967 she received the St. Cloud State College Distinguished Alumni Award. Her friend Jerome Miller was there for each occasion. She died in 1971 at the age of 87. Alumni News Dedicated to matching funds with needsWhen I was growing up, "new" meant "new to me." A new car could be five – or 10 – years old, and a new house just meant somewhere I had never lived before. Now I think of the handsome wooden banisters and trim in those "new" houses, and I wouldn't trade their history and traditions for anything! With the SCSU fundraising program, we're going somewhere new, somewhere we've never lived before. Our model is new to us, but it has a rich and successful history at many colleges and universities across the nation.
Terri Mische is the first to be hired in this new model. As director of development for the Herberger College of Business, she'll be responsible for building relationships with the college's donors and alumni and will raise funds for college priorities. Terri came to SCSU in February from the University of Minnesota (U of M) Law School, where she had worked in development and alumni relations since 1996. Prior to that, she worked for the U of M Alumni Association after earning her J.D. at the school. Stephanie Rudningen joined us as the director of development for athletics. She has been on staff handling the President's Club since August and will continue with that function in addition to her new responsibilities. A graduate of the University of North Dakota, she has a master's degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead and worked in development at the technical colleges in St. Cloud and Alexandria before joining us. Stephanie and Terri join me and Associate Vice President Eric Kautzman in this new model for raising funds to make this university – your university – even better for today's students. I hope you'll welcome them to our team and be sure to tell them what makes SCSU so special to our alumni, friends and donors. Gift blooms to keep on givingFrom 1949 to 1979 Max Partch taught biology to SCSU students. More than 25 years have passed since this beloved professor retired, but he is still helping to educate students through the Partch Endowment Fund he and his wife Betty established in 1989 to support scholarships for deserving biology students. The Partch Endowment Fund was created to benefit both the recipients of the scholarship it sustains and to provide a secure and comfortable retirement for the donors. With a donation of $28,000, Max and Betty established a charitable gift annuity, which minimized their capital gain, created a significant tax deduction and produced a lifetime annual annuity payment of $2,044. Max passed away in 2003, and Betty continues to receive the annual payments. She enjoys giving back $1,000 of her payment each year directly to the scholarship fund that she loves to see grow and help students succeed. Max is no longer with us, but his legacy lives on in the many lives he and Betty continue to enhance with their generous gift. A gift annuity is an excellent way to prepare for retirement while supporting SCSU. Below are payment rates for gift annuities at selected ages:
*Rates recommended by the American Council on Gift Annuities,
effective February 2006. For more information on supporting SCSU through a gift annuity, charitable remainder trust or by making a bequest, please contact Eric Kautzman, associate vice president for development, at 866-464-8759, etkautzman@stcloudstate.edu A Trio of former Husky Hockey Players took part in the 2006 Winter Olympics
New SCSU Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees
Classnotes Alumni We Remember
Faculty and Staff We Remember
The University’s 14th president, Robert Wick, died March 8, 2006, at age 93. He served as SCSU president from 1965-71, during a challenging era of rapid enrollment growth and social change. Dr. Wick started as an instructor at St. Cloud State and later served as dean of the school of literature and arts, then as academic dean and vice president. Full story about President Wick, fall 2005 Outlook, in the archives at www.stcloudstate.edu/news/outlook. Marriages
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SCSU President Roy H. Saigo was one of three Oregon State University (OSU) graduates to receive 2005 OSU Alumni Fellows Awards. The award recognizes alumni who have brought great honor and distinction to themselves, their families, their careers and their alma mater. 
Classes begin in August for the 16 students who will be chosen for the charter class of a new nursing program that makes it possible for anyone with a bachelor's degree – in any field – to earn a baccalaureate degree in nursing in 16 months. The program prepares graduates to take the exam for licensure as registered nurses (RNs) in the state of Minnesota.
Expanding partnership agreements with universities in Japan, South Korea and China are a big factor in the enrollment growth of Asian students attending SCSU. New agreements with universities in South Korea and Japan were signed when SCSU President Roy H. Saigo met recently with educational leaders in those countries, and he is scheduled to travel to China in May to establish new relationships with normal universities in Shanghai, Xi’an and Beijing.
Frank E. Loncorich, director of scholarships and financial aid at SCSU, has received the highest award made by the nine-state Midwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, the Allan W. Purdy Distinguished Service Award. The award is bestowed on one person annually for significant contributions over time to the financial aid profession and the association's goals.
An SCSU student who plans a career in music education tied for second place in the college tenor drum category at the 30th Annual Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Columbus, Ohio. Andy Anker was one of nine students from around the world chosen from 125 entries to compete at the convention.
Like many sisters, Paula and Rachael relish their good times together and offer comfort in adversity. They share personality traits. And each can't imagine what life would be without the other. They weren't born to this sisterhood, but that doesn't diminish the quality and significance that led the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Minnesota organization to honor Big Sister Paula Eckerman with its top volunteer award this past year.
Ryan Koch had a mission: graduate from SCSU with a degree in computer science, minors in Spanish and math, and a 4.0 grade point average. Mission accomplished.
The British Studies Program housed in Alnwick Castle has had a profound influence on nearly 2,000 students transformed by new adventures and friendships, rich learning experiences and the grandeur and history of their surroundings.
"Many of the scenes of students riding brooms and playing Quidditch, the airborne game played on broomsticks, were filmed at the Duke of Northumberland's ancestral home in Alnwick (pronounced 'annick'), a charming stone village not far from the Scottish border. The perfectly preserved site is every child's fantasy of what a castle should be."
Many British studies alumni met their future spouses while studying in England. SCSU mass communications major Brittney Buttweiler from St. Cloud tells how her parents met and became friends during the University's British Studies Program in London in 1978-79. John '80 and Michelle (Kot) Buttweiler '83 were engaged two months after they returned home, "and the rest is history," said Brittney, whose name is homage to the place where her parents fell in love. The couple plans a trip back this fall while their daughter will be enjoying her own Alnwick experience.
Nancy (Hebert) Horn '79, Grand Rapids, was one of three future brides in the 1976-77 "experimental" SCSU study-abroad group at Alnwick. But the impact of her year in northern England and side trips to the Netherlands and Denmark went far beyond her romance with future husband Tom Horn '78. "I can honestly say it gave me the world," she said of her Alnwick stay. "Our family has taken in four foreign students and hosted them in exchange programs. We have traveled back to Europe several times. I discovered people are people wherever you go – different but the same."
For many students, the Alnwick experience has included a face-to-face encounter with Prince Charles or the Duke of Northumberland's family. Others have been at the castle during filming of one of the many movies shot there.
The tears streamed down her cheeks.
Freshman and mass communications major Rachel Medina, from Forest Lake, jotted the "you almost lost" remark in her "book of quotes," a log of the fascinating as well as the hilarious comments made by her classmates – many now her closest friends – since the group had first set off for Universidad de Concepción, Chile, with program director Professor Augustin Boyer. "That's another one for your book, Rachel," others would yell when a student said something quotable.
In the late '70s, while Paul was a business student at SCSU, two of his sisters participated in the University's study-abroad program in Alnwick, England. After listening to the stories they told on their return, Paul packed his bags and flew off to spend a year in the study-abroad program SCSU then offered in Denmark.
The graduate student wants to someday work for a large international business, which will require being open to overseas assignments and feeling comfortable stepping out with colleagues and clients from far-flung places, he said.
The eight students in SCSU Professor John Campbell's Scandinavia study-abroad program this past August were treated as honored guests by highly placed hosts in Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo. Wherever the students went, the FBI resumé of their instructor opened doors to Scandinavia's most prestigious legal minds and crime fighters. 
Throughout most of the first half of the 20th century, Helen Hill was a dramatic and influential presence on campus. Jerome Miller, now 80, recalls vividly the stately teacher, mentor and friend he first met his first day on campus in 1946.
This spring, we're hiring development directors who will work with each of the academic deans, as well as a development director for athletics. Rather than being all-purpose fundraising staff, each director will work directly with one college. This will allow them to become familiar with the strengths of particular departments and what opportunities exist to make each stronger and better able to offer a quality education to our students. They'll be closer to the faculty and students, the heart and soul of SCSU.
Olympic games in Torino, Italy: defender Bret Hedican (1988-91), forward Matt Cullen (1995-97) and forward Mark Parrish (1995-97). Hedican and Cullen play NHL hockey with the Carolina Hurricanes, Parrish with the New York Islanders. Hedican also participated in the 1992 Olympics in Albertville, France. Photo courtesy of Dave Fischer and USA Hockey.
New SCSU Athletic Hall of Fame inductees are (seated) women's athletics pioneer in volleyball, basketball and softball Rosie Silbaugh Stallman '81, Indianapolis, and track and field star Becky Anderson Enebak '92, Prior Lake; (standing) football, basketball and baseball standout Gary Frericks '78, St. Joseph, and former men's basketball coach Butch Raymond and All-American basketball player Reggie Perkins '91, Apple Valley.Site Map | Map & Directions | Contact SCSU | Accreditations
St. Cloud State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity educator and employer.
St. Cloud State University is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.
