About St. Cloud State

University Distinctions

University Distinctions

Explore St. Cloud State Distinctions and Facts

The oak leaf has long been a symbol for life and learning at St. Cloud State, where change is as constant as the flowing waters of the Mississippi River. Here the oak leaf signifies distinctions and facts that set St. Cloud State apart and foster institutional pride.

How to use:

  • Use the fields and tabs below to search for distinctions and facts that set St. Cloud State apart. A distinction is a story about an award, accomplishment, agreement, unique offering or excellent program. Facts are data-centered statements about the University including enrollment, economic impact and general statistics.
  • Use the check boxes with each entry and the report-building tool to create a customized PDF, based on distinctions and facts you've selected.
  • Use the submission form to suggest additions and corrections to the University Distinctions website.

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Top University Distinctions

5 Under 40 alumni

Distinction


Named as a 2016 "5 Under 40" honoree is Kate Hanson '05, vice president of commercial brokerage and primary broker with Granite City Real Estate, Waite Park, Minnesota.

The Times Media Solutions/St. Cloud Times award recognizes innovation, leadership and community spirit.

Hanson holds a bachelor's degree in real estate.

Previous alumni winners

  • 2016 Kate Hanson '05
  • 2015 Eunice Adjei-Bosompem '06 '10, Christy Gilleland '00
  • 2014 Jamie Henkemeyer ’00, Kris Nelson ’98, Matt Nikodym ’03
  • 2013 John Swanson, former student
  • 2012 Katrina Pierson ’06, Melinda Tamm ’04
  • 2011 Justin Wampach ’95
  • 2010 Mike Meyer ’94
  • 2009 Sandy Hansen ’94, Jennifer Mrozek ’96, Jody Sayre ’98
  • 2007 Eric Brown ’12, Rob Weber ’08
  • 2006 Ryan Weber ’03
  • 2005 Shawn Petersen '99, Brian Schoenborn '92

http://today.stcloudstate.edu/kate-hanson-earns-5-under-40-award/

Organizational Units: St. Cloud State University,Herberger Business School

Learning Commitments: Community Engagement

1

Alcohol and other drug prevention

Distinction

10/2/2014 12:00:00 AM

St. Cloud State University's efforts to empower students to make informed choices about alcohol use has resulted in a dramatic decrease in high-risk drinking.

  • 53% DECLINE in high-risk drinking behavior from 2005-14
  • 17% DECLINE from 2008-14 in student alcohol use during the past 12 months
  • 44% DECREASE in average number of drinks consumed per week
  • 33% DECLINE in repeat violations (recidivism) of the minor-consumption law from 2010-14
  • 1% DECLINE in minor-consumption recidivism from 2011-14 for those who completed IMPACT training (2%-1%)

http://www.stcloudstate.edu/uchoose/

Organizational Units: St. Cloud State University,Student Life and Development

Learning Commitments:

alcohol, UChoose, civic responsiblity, think creatively, apply knowledge

1

Awards for global and student affairs innovation

Distinction

10/22/2016 12:00:00 AM

St. Cloud State University earned two awards for program innovation from the Minnesota State system office.

The First-Year Experience program won the honor of the Innovation in Global Education Award for enhancing the perspectives and global competencies of first-year students. The Case Management Program at St. Cloud State earned the Innovative Student Affairs Program Award for building a community of caring by expanding the capacity to respond to students with complex needs.

Organizational Units: St. Cloud State University

Learning Commitments: Global and Cultural Understanding/Accessibility

1

Best College in Central Minnesota

Distinction

9/15/2016 12:00:00 AM

Readers of Central Minnesota’s newspaper of record have spoken: St. Cloud State is their best college.

The 2016 St. Cloud Times' “Best of Central Minnesota” reader survey recorded a total of more than 15,500 votes and included nearly 90 community business winners.

Other finalists: St. Cloud Technical & Community College, St. Cloud; College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph.

Honorable mention: St. John’s University, Collegeville; College of St. Scholastica-St. Cloud campus.

http://today.stcloudstate.edu/university-earns-best-of-central-minnesota-nod/

Organizational Units: St. Cloud State University

Learning Commitments:

award

1

Best Schools for Education Majors By Salary Potential 2015-16

Distinction

8/26/2015 12:00:00 AM

St. Cloud State is 10th out of 21 “Best Schools for Education Majors By Salary Potential” 2015-16, according to the "PayScale College Salary Report 2015-16"

Seattle-based PayScale describes itself as the world's leading provider of on-demand compensation data and software.

The rankings measured early- and mid-career pay.

 

 

http://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report/best-schools-by-majors/education?page=2

Organizational Units: St. Cloud State University

Learning Commitments: Active and Applied Learning,Community Engagement

rating

1

Building Bridges: Arts, Culture and Identity program

Distinction

9/29/2016 12:00:00 AM

St. Cloud State University and the Paramount Center for the Arts have joined with a group of cultural organizations led by The Cedar Cultural Center in earning a $500,000 grant to fund a program that expands awareness of Muslim arts and culture.

The grant from the Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) will fund the Building Bridges: Arts, Culture and Identity program to build knowledge and appreciation for the arts and culture with roots in Muslim majority societies.

The program will bring five groups of world-renowned performers to St. Cloud over 30 months. Each group will hold a week-long residency to perform at the Paramount and work with students at St. Cloud State and community groups.

http://today.stcloudstate.edu/tag/building-bridges/

Organizational Units: St. Cloud State University,College of Liberal Arts,School of the Arts

Learning Commitments: Community Engagement,Global and Cultural Understanding/Accessibility

diversity

1

Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award

Distinction

9/4/2016 12:00:00 AM

For the fifth year in a row (2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012) St. Cloud State was recognized in INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education, as a recipient of its annual Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award. The HEED Award is the only national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.

The 83 honorees for 2016 are featured in the publication’s November issue.

http://today.stcloudstate.edu/five-straight-st-cloud-state-earns-2016-heed-award/

Organizational Units: St. Cloud State University,Center for International Studies

Learning Commitments: Global and Cultural Understanding/Accessibility

awards, diversity, CIS

1

Military Friendly Schools list, Victory Media

Distinction

9/14/2013 12:00:00 AM

St. Cloud State is again among the nation’s top schools that deliver the best college experience for student veterans, landing on Victory Media’s Military Friendly Schools list for 2019.

The Military Friendly Schools designation is awarded to the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace military students and to dedicate resources to ensure their success in the classroom and after graduation.

The University stands apart from others on the list as one of the Top 25 Public Universities and Colleges as well as having one of the Top Online Programs.

St. Cloud State has earned the military-friendly designation each year since from 2009-2016 and again in 2019.

 

http://today.stcloudstate.edu/st-cloud-state-again-earns-military-friendly-honor/

Organizational Units: St. Cloud State University

Learning Commitments:

diversity, civic responsibility, summary, military, veterans

1

Re-Imagining the First Year of College

Distinction

2/2/2016 12:00:00 AM

St. Cloud State University is part of a nationwide effort to re-imagine the first-year experience aimed at ensuring success for all students, particularly those who have historically been underserved by higher education.

The university is one of 44 institutions participating in the Re-Imagining the First Year of College initiative launched Feb. 1 by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU).

The 44 institutions will work together for three years to develop a comprehensive institutional transformation that redesigns the first year of college and creates sustainable change for student success. The initiative focuses on especially improving success rates for low income, first generation and students of color.

http://today.stcloudstate.edu/scsu-part-of-effort-to-re-design-first-year-college-experience/

Organizational Units: St. Cloud State University

Learning Commitments: Active and Applied Learning

aascu

1

St. Cloud ranked as a hockey town

Distinction

2/4/2016 12:00:00 AM

The City of St. Cloud is ranked eighth-best hockey town in the country according to SmartAsset, a personal finance and technology company based in New York. To be considered, a city must have either a college hockey team or professional teams in the ECHL, AHL or NHL.

St. Cloud is one of three Minnesota cities that made the list.

https://smartasset.com/mortgage/americas-best-hockey-towns-2016

Organizational Units: St. Cloud State University,Huskies Athletics,City of St. Cloud

Learning Commitments: Community Engagement

Huskies Hockey, hockey, athletics

1

Student Loan Report top 10

Distinction

11/2/2016 12:00:00 AM

St. Cloud State is ranked No. 9 in Minnesota for lowest student loan debt per graduate according to the Student Loan Report.

https://studentloans.net/debt-per-graduate-statistics/#tab-con-24

Organizational Units: St. Cloud State University

Learning Commitments:

value

1

Top 3 percent of Forbes' most affordable colleges, 2018

Distinction

8/22/2018 12:00:00 AM

A top national business magazine has named St. Cloud State among the nation’s 650 best colleges.

Forbes ranks St. Cloud State 554th among its “America’s Top Colleges.” The most recent federal data documents 3,011 four-year colleges in the U.S.

The America’s Top Colleges honor means St. Cloud State is . . .

  • Among the elite 18 percent of the nation’s colleges and universities
  • Among the top 3 percent most affordable of America’s Top Colleges


Previous most affordable college honors: Top 3% (2017), Top 1% (2016), Top 3% (2015), Top 3% (2014), Top 4% (2013), Top 5% (2012)

https://today.stcloudstate.edu/forbes-ranks-scsu-among-elite-schools/

Organizational Units: St. Cloud State University

Learning Commitments: Active and Applied Learning,Community Engagement,Global and Cultural Understanding/Accessibility

1

Emmer earns national sportscaster award

Fact

5/25/2018 12:00:00 AM

Katie Emmer ’18 is the recipient of the Jim Nantz Award as the college sportscaster of the year.

The mass communications graduate will receive hotel accommodations and admission to the National Sports Media Association convention June 23-25 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

The Jim Nantz Award is named for the veteran CBS sportscaster, who has worked national sporting events, including NFL Football and PGA Tour golf, for more than three decades.

Emmer was chosen by a panel of judges selected by the Sportscasters Talent Agency of America.

Meet the 19 college sportscasters — all men — who competed with Emmer for the award. Among her competitors were sportscasters from Arizona State, Syracuse University and Northwestern University.

https://today.stcloudstate.edu/katie-emmer-earns-sportscaster-of-the-year-award/

Organizational Units: St. Cloud State University,College of Liberal Arts,Huskies Athletics

Learning Commitments: Active and Applied Learning

1

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