Saint Mary's Newsroom
Campus ConnectionAn update from the president to alumni and parents
Meal plan change period reminder
Reminder: the meal plan change period ends Friday, Feb. 5, at 4 p.m.
If you wish to change your meal plan for the spring semester, please complete the residential meal plan change form.
Meal plans for new students who are entering their first semester at Saint Mary’s were defaulted to the 19-meal plan. If you would like to upgrade your meal plan to the All Access plan, please complete the new residential meal plan change form.
Commuter students who wish to have a meal plan for spring must complete the commuter meal plan request form.
For more information regarding the meal plan options, visit: residential plans or commuter plans.
Contact the Office of Student Affairs with any questions at studentlife@smumn.edu or 507-457-1640.
Student Senate meeting agenda for Jan. 26
Student Senate meeting agenda for Jan. 26:
- Call to order
- Prayer/reflection
- Roll call
- Student Senate expectations for spring semester
- Spring elections and membership update
- COVID-19 policy reminders
- E-board reports
- Class officer reports
- Senator concerns
- Adjournment
To get the Zoom link for joining the meeting, please reach out to Kendall Archer, Student Senate president, or Dr. Marisa Naryka, assistant vice president for Student Affairs and Student Senate adviser.
First Generation Initiative launches graphic design contest
The First Generation Initiative (FGI) announces the First Generation College Student Graphic Design Contest, open to all Saint Mary’s students. We are looking to establish a graphic design that highlights and showcases our first generation students and their supporters. The design is intended to be a source of pride and membership to our first generation community.
First generation college students are defined as those in which neither parent has completed a bachelor’s degree. FGI offers specialized support services for students who identify as first generation, such as guided study hall with peer mentors, individualized academic coaching, and community-building social activities.
We are seeking two different designs: one for Saint Mary’s first generation college students that should read “First Gen Proud,” and the other is for first generation college student supporters that should read “First Gen Supporter.” The two designs should be similar and/or complement each other.
Read contest guidelines and enter your submissions.
Prizes will be awarded to the top three submissions. $100 for first place; $75 for second place; and $50 for third place.
The contest is open until Monday, March 1. Winners will be announced on Thursday, April 1.
If you have any questions or would like to get involved with FGI, please contact Tammy Brians at tbrians@smumn.edu.
Spanish study abroad courses offered online
Spanish Studies is offering online courses this spring semester for students with a Spanish major, Spanish minor, or general interest in Spanish.
Courses will be delivered virtually from the Center for Cross-Cultural Study in Seville, Spain. They are designed for students who cannot travel for a study abroad program but still are looking to develop their Spanish language skills and cultural understanding of Spain.
Spring 2021 online programs (link)
Feb. 1-26
SPAN 207VP: Oral Survival in Spanish
SPAN 312VP: Foundations of Spanish Culture
March 1-26
SPAN 208VP: Spanish for the Health Professions
ARHI 333VP: Splendor by the Guadalquivir: Baroque Art in Seville
April 5-30
BSMG 335VP: International Business & the European Union
SPAN 379VP: Spain in the 21st Century: Nationalism, Populism & Social Movements
May 3-28
SPAN 202VP: Intensive Intermediate Spanish & Culture
SPAN 355VP: Reading Seville: A Literary Journey
About the courses:
- 3 credits, 45 contact hours each course
- All courses meet Monday through Friday for four weeks; courses have a required meeting time
- All courses are taught in Spanish by native professors from Spain
- Courses may be submitted for transfer consideration to Saint Mary’s by providing official transcript to the registrar
Cost includes:
- Tuition – $800 per course
- Spanish Studies transcript
- Virtual study visits and cultural activities
Additional information:
- There is no GPA requirement.
- An intermediate level of Spanish or higher is required. Language and content courses have different language prerequisites: please read the course descriptions carefully and consult your faculty adviser about how these courses may apply to your degree. Students with questions regarding language requirements may consult Dr. John Reed at jreed@smumn.edu or Kyle Black at kblack@smumn.edu.
- Students pay Spanish Studies directly.
Application process:
- Create an account and apply online through Spanish Studies.
- With a rolling admissions, enroll up to one week prior to the start of each course.
For additional information, contact Tracy Lehnertz, associate dean of International Programs, at tlehnert@smumn.edu.
Beta Beta Beta members awarded grants
- Cole Van Houten — The geographic variation of southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) vocalizations in southeastern Minnesota; research adviser Benjamin Pauli
- MacKenzie Waters — Bioaccumulation of 17ɑ-ethinylestradiol in pool 6 of the Mississippi River; research adviser Debra Martin
- McKenna Gaalswyk — Detection of atrazine metabolites in blood serum and liver of mice exposed via their waters to 0, 3 and 30 ppb atrazine; research adviser Debra Martin
- Mariah Bell — Research external exposure to chlorine-treated water does not enhance an inflammatory response in an animal model; research adviser Jeanne Minnerath
- Graham Lorsung — Over expression of TBX2 and Epiregulin’s effect on EGR Family in MCF10A cells; research advisor Matt Rowley
Moving from one career stage to another comes naturally for Celeste Russell
When Celeste Russell came to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in 2016, she was fairly certain she would finish her studies with acting as her major. However, with the support of a couple of professors and an influential internship, she now has a degree that reflects more of her passion and her talent.
Celeste graduated in May 2020 with a degree in Acting and Communication for the Arts and she is presently the social media coordinator for The National Institute for Social Media (NISM). But the journey to her life after Saint Mary’s was anything but direct.
“Professors Dean Beckman and Steve Schild are really wonderful people, and I received so much support from them,” Celeste said. “In fact, Professor Beckman helped me to map out an individualized curriculum after I realized my love of communications was becoming as strong as my love of acting.”
Her affinity for both came very naturally. She is a proud native of Las Vegas and cultivated her passion for theater while attending high school there, where she also enjoyed speech and debate. Celeste’s mother is a journalist and took her to countless live theater productions as she was growing up. “Going to the theater was something we always enjoyed doing together,” she said. “And my mother excelled in communication and I always looked up to her for her storytelling ability.”
The theater connection is what brought her to Saint Mary’s. She attended a national thespian festival where high school students audition for colleges across the country. She applied and was accepted at 15 colleges, but it was the extras she noticed even before enrolling that sold her on Saint Mary’s. “The school really worked with me to put together an attractive scholarship package,” Celeste said. “But it was the personal touches that really impressed me – hand-written notes, even driving my mom and I to the airport after our tour. Plus, studying abroad is built into the program, and that was important to me.”
It’s while studying abroad as part of the university’s London theater production that she put some of her communication skills to work and solidified her interest in that aspect of her degree. She realized there wasn’t much going on promotion-wise for the show and spearheaded an effort to change that. She created a poster which was hung throughout London, a promotional video, and social media posts.
“The effort resulted in two sold-out performances, a huge increase in attendance from previous years,” Celeste said. “The groundwork was laid, a successful template created, and the class after had someone do much of the same as I did with equal success.”
About six months later, Celeste learned the two women leading the NISM were looking for a freelance content creator to help promote programs and she was looking for a job that worked well around school. She was hired and after completing the freelance project, she accepted the internship offer.
“It was very powerful to work alongside Amy Jauman and Jenifer Radke, two accomplished women in the field,” Celeste said. “They are caring and kind individuals who pushed me and I learned a lot. They are mentors, but also friends.”
Following the internship, she was hired by the company as their social media coordinator. She credits much of her success with NISM to her studies at Saint Mary’s. Celeste explained that Professor Beckman and Professor Schild had complementary strengths, with Schild focusing on the nitty gritty details and editing, while Beckman explored how communications impacted the real world. “They greatly prepared me for the real world, challenging me, and pushing me to do my best,” she said. “I never once turned in a sub-par assignment because I knew better.”
Celeste mentioned that one of the most valuable classes she took was the Lasallian honors track. She said she enjoyed the Socratic nature of the classes and learned so much from reading the classics – Homer, Aristotle – and the follow-up discussions. “The track deepened my confidence as a speaker, made me a better listener, and really shaped me as a person.”
If she could do one thing over again, she mentioned taking better advantage of the diverse opportunities college life offers. “During my senior year, my boyfriend and I decided to say yes to almost anything and the experiences were so enjoyable,” Celeste said. “I wish we had been a little less focused on the school work and had decided to say yes to more things sooner. It allows you to experience a broader Saint Mary’s experience.”
Saint Mary’s University announces December 2020 graduation list
WINONA, Minn. — The following Winona Campus Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota students completed requirements for bachelor of arts degrees in December 2020.
Lexi Albert, Cresco, Iowa, daughter of Matt and Kari Albert
Darre Anes Dy Quiangco, Rochester, Minn., son of Dorothy Anes Dy Quiangco
Joshua Anes Dy Quiangco, Rochester, Minn., son of Dorothy Anes Dy Quiangco
Mariah Bell, Chatfield, Minn., daughter of Rick and Ann Bell
Debra Blissenbach, Hastings, Minn., daughter of Peter and Renee Blissenbach
Amalia Brownell, La Crosse, Wis., daughter of Kris and Susan Brownell
Daniel Buchal, Wilson, Wis., son of Greg and Laura Buchal
Erin Budin, Le Center, Minn., daughter of Bruce and Colleen Budin
Kristin Burke, Byron, Minn., daughter of Jim and Christine Burke
Abbey Callahan, North Branch, Minn., daughter of Doug Callahan and Kathy Kittelson
Erica Camarato, De Forest, Wis., daughter of Steve and Pamela Camarato
Kyleigh Chandler, Firestone, Colo., daughter of Sandra Sorbara
Theresa Cheever, Chicago, Ill., daughter of Patricia Kleinhubert
Hannah Crowe, Baraboo, Wis., daughter of Heather Crowe
Casey Hanson, Hill City, Minn., son of Jeremy and Christina Hanson
Alyssa Haram, Maple Grove, Minn., daughter of Sandi Haram
Benjamin Harpenau, La Crescent, Minn., son of Doug Harpenau
Jake Hartke, Minneapolis, Minn.
Izamar Leon, Chicago, Ill., daughter of Hector Leon
Nathan Levy, Byron, Minn., son of Bruce Levy
Lauren Meyers, Stoddard, Wis., daughter of Michael and Deb Meyers
Elias Morison, Minneapolis, Minn., son of Bradley and Janet Morison
Courtney, Moser, Minneapolis, Minn.
William Murray, Lake Geneva, Wis., son of Kathleen Murray
Colby Peterson, Menomonie, Wis., daughter of David and Jeannine Peterson
Corey Piper, Winona, Minn., son of Gerald Piper and Kerryl Greenwood-Quaintance
Amanda Pohlman, Omaha, Neb., daughter of Brent and Michele Pohlman
Thomas Row, Winona, Minn., son of Darren and Jill Row
Alec Rudh, Hastings, Minn, son of Tim and Jody Rudh
Alec Schillinger, Katy, Texas, son of William and Dina Schillinger
Spencer Srnec, Minneapolis, Minn., son of Midge Srnec
Phillip Tafolla, Baraboo, Wis., son of Ramone Tafolla and Marlene Tafolla
Riku Watanabe, Tokyo
Mackenzie Waters, Olathe, Kan., daughter of Jeffrey and Marci Waters
Bryttany Wener, Pepin, Wis., daughter of Joel and Jolayne Wener
William White, Winona, Minn, son of Neil and Joan White
Grace Wilson, Portage, Wis., daughter of Paul and Karen Wilson
Start off on the right foot with Student Success
Start your semester off on the right foot. After the first week of attending classes, you may discover you could use some additional assistance in some areas. Sign up for a tutor or peer learning assistant at smumn.joinknack.com.
Peer learning assistants can help you set up a routine so studying becomes second nature for you. Peer tutors can assist you with understanding and practicing the new material in your courses. Your instructors are always the best resource, so consider setting up a meeting with them as well.
If you need help with writing papers, contact the Saint Mary’s Writing Center.
Want to try things on your own first? The Academic Success Workshop site has a variety of helpful resources on subjects like time management and online learning. Check it out!
Masses to be live streamed for those unable to attend
Our Saint Thomas More Chapel has recently been equipped with new streaming technology for Masses and events! Tune in every Sunday for Mass at 10:30 a.m. or 8 p.m. by clicking here, or by following us on Facebook at Campus Ministry – Saint Mary’s University of MN.
The Rev. James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D.
President
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
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