Saint Mary's Newsroom
Campus ConnectionAn update from the president to alumni and parents
New equipment expands research possibilities
Photo caption: Chemistry majors Allison Miller ’19 and David Kemper ’19 use the new Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer.
As senior chemistry majors at Saint Mary’s, David Kemper and Allison Miller spend quite a bit of time working in a lab.
But now, with a new ThermoFischer Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer, they will spend less valuable time waiting to analyze compounds. Answers are literally at their fingertips within a minute or two.
By using this new gas chromatograph (GC), coupled to a mass spectrometer (MS), Saint Mary’s students are now able to separate, identify, and quantify complex mixtures of chemicals at a whole new level.
Kemper will be using the equipment this fall in his quantitative analysis class. “We’ll be using the machine to run multiple samples at the same time to determine what their composition is,” he said. “This is a very important piece of equipment because it’s what students would be out using in the real world. Having a machine that they can practice on and get use to is an invaluable experience.”
Miller said she knows many of her classmates will benefit from the new technology; she may also be able to utilize the equipment to characterize ligands synthesized during her senior research project.
Far more advanced than the university’s previous GC-MS Capability, this new equipment will be highly utilized by students in the teaching labs for organic chemistry, quantitative chemical analysis, environmental toxicology, and instrumental analysis. It is also the main instrument of analysis for senior chemistry and biology research projects.
Dr. Nathan Lien, associate professor of chemistry, said he is overwhelmed with the possibilities that this new instrument — made possible by a generous gift from RTP Company of Winona — offers the university and its students.
“The new instrument has higher sensitivity, meaning that it can detect much smaller amounts of compounds than the older instrument,” he said. “This will greatly assist the students who are analyzing for trace quantities of compounds in water and biological samples.”
Only small amounts of material are required, the analysis is quick, and the wealth of molecular instruction available is astounding.
Kemper is amazed that the instrument can be used remotely. “The ability to collaborate on projects and share information with people over great distances is pretty great,” he said.
Another huge benefit, Dr. Lien added, is the robotic auto-sampler. “It has the ability to perform three types of sampling: liquid, headspace (the air above liquid in a vial), and solid phase microextraction (SPME), which is a method of concentrating small amounts of analyte onto a fiber),” he said.
“In addition to being able to run unassisted, day or night, the auto-sampler is able to seamlessly switch between sampling types,” he added. “For example, our organic chemistry lab students could place their liquid samples in a sampling tray and set the instrument to run. Shortly after, a research student could add their samples to another sampling tray to perform SPME analysis. The system will run unassisted during the evening (or overnight) and switch between liquid and SPME; both the lab and research students will have their data available to them in the morning.”
Additionally, Dr. Lien said, users can set the instrument to analyze a wide variety of samples using one of many published methods or devise a new one if there isn’t one.
“This equipment is way cool,” Miller said. “It has a really neat read-out monitor on the front of the column oven now! The software with it is also really great, it displays both sets of spectra (gas chromatograph and mass spec) in real time. The equipment is very beneficial.”
By using this new equipment, grateful students will have more precise measurements, in less time, leaving them with more time to do research — and less time waiting for results.
“RTP Company is grateful to have such an outstanding university as Saint Mary’s within our community,” said Steve Maki, vice president of technology at RTP. “We hope that the equipment will contribute to the critical research that is being carried out by the university and will enhance the educational experience of the students and professors that use it for years to come.”
Getting a tutorial on Saint Mary’s University’s new Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer are, from left: Father James Burns, left, president of Saint Mary’s; Steve Maki, vice president of Technology at RTP Co.; Todd Paulson, Chief Financial Officer at RTP Co.; and Hugh Miller, president and CEO of RTP Co. with Dr. Jaime Mueller, chair of the Saint Mary’s Chemistry Department.
Saint Mary’s honors current, former athletes during ‘M’ Club weekend
WINONA, Minn. — It was a weekend of celebrating athletics at Saint Mary’s University. During Cardinal ‘M’ Club Weekend Sept. 7-9, current and former athletes came together to reminisce about teammates, coaches, and competitions — and to congratulate current Cardinal athletes on their impressive accomplishments.
Attendees were reminded Sept. 7, during the Cardinal ‘M’ Club awards ceremony, that the only place success comes before hard work is in the dictionary.
Angie Wright ’00 and Roger Pytlewski ’66, Saint Mary’s Sports Hall of Fame inductees.
A highlight of the weekend included honoring two alumni-athletes for their many accomplishments. This year’s Saint Mary’s Sports Hall of Fame inductees were: Roger Pytlewski ’66 and Angie Wright ’00.
ROGER PYTLEWSKI ’66 • MEN’S BASKETBALL
A four-year letterwinner, Pytlewski was a rebounding machine during his time at Saint Mary’s, ranking second all-time with 598 defensive rebounds, while his 825 career boards are No. 3 in program history. Pytlewski, who closed out his collegiate career at Saint Mary’s as a member of the program’s 1,000-point club — finishing with 1,003 career points — averaged 10.0 points-per-game and 8.3 rebounds-per-game in 100 games. Pytlewski put together his best season at Saint Mary’s as a senior, when he averaged a double-double of 12.0 ppg and 13.0 rpg. His 326 total rebounds during that campaign rank No. 2 in single-season program history. The team captain as a senior, Pytlewski also closed out his collegiate career ranking in the top 10 in program history with 100 games played (8th) and 227 offensive rebounds (9th).
ANGIE WRIGHT ’00 • FASTPITCH SOFTBALL
A four-year letterwinner, Wright was a key cog in the Cardinals’ run to the program’s (and the school’s) first-ever national championship in 2000. Wright — who played in a program-record 169 career games, including starts in all 135 contests during her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons — closed out her Cardinal career hitting .392, while ranking in the top five in program history in 13 career offensive categories. An honorable-mention All-MIAC pick in 1997, Wright enjoyed her most productive season as a Cardinal in 1998 — hitting .430, with career-highs in runs (43), hits (52), doubles (15), triples (5), home runs (5), and RBIs (34) — earning the then-sophomore outfielder First-Team All-MIAC and Second-Team NFCA All-Region accolades. Wright, who would go on to earn NFCA Third-Team All-Region honors in 1999, as well as being an honorable-mention All-MIAC pick in 2000 as well as a 2000 CoSIDA Second-Team Academic All-American — is making her second appearance as a Saint Mary’s Sports Hall of Famer, having also been recognized when the 2000 national championship team was inducted in 2005.
During the awards ceremony, Saint Mary’s also recognized its 2017-18 postseason award-winners, as well as unveiled the 2017-18 Outstanding Male and Female Athletes, Griffin Rades (Shawano, Wis.) and Becca Dup (Albert Lea, Minn.), and Outstanding Male and Female Scholar Athletes, Jay Heinle (York, Pa.) and Emily Loof (Colorado Springs, Colo.).
Dup, a standout on the Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota track and field team, hauled in her first collegiate All-American honor in her final meet of the season — placing ninth at the NCAA Division III Outdoor National Championships.
Rades, meanwhile, made his collegiate debut at the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Championships, breaking six school records and earning a pair of B Final titles.
Loof and Heinle were selected Saint Mary’s Outstanding Female and Male Scholar Athletes for the third year in a row.
SAINT MARY’S OUTSTANDING FEMALE ATHLETE: BECCA DUP
Dup put together one of the greatest track and field seasons in Cardinal program history, culminated by three 2018 NCAA Division III National Championship appearances — including a ninth-place, All-American performance in the triple jump at the outdoor national championships. Dup —the MIAC triple jump champion both indoors and out and the MIAC champion in the indoor long jump — earned the MIAC Outstanding Field Athlete of the MIAC title and Outstanding Performance of the Meet honors at the conference indoor championships. She also added All-Region honors in both jump events to her post-season résumé. On the soccer field, Dup led the team in both assists and points, while finishing second in goals.
SAINT MARY’S OUTSTANDING MALE ATHLETE: GRIFFIN RADES
Rades made the most of his first MIAC Championships as a member of the Cardinal men’s swimming and diving team, breaking six school records —including the 19-year-old 200 freestyle mark. Rades earned a spot in the A Final in the 400 IM, whittling more than 8 seconds off the previous school mark, to place fourth overall. Rades also won the B Final in the 200 breaststroke, while also finishing first in the 200 IM B Final. Leading off the Cardinals’ 800 freestyle relay, Rades posted yet another school record, swimming the first 200 yards in 1:46.96 — besting the 19-year-old record held by Saint Mary’s Hall of Famer Rick Loeffelholz.
SAINT MARY’S OUTSTANDING FEMALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE: EMILY LOOF
A Literature/Public Relations major with a 3.97 grade-point-average, Loof has been a mainstay on the Saint Mary’s women’s soccer team. She appeared in 18 games for the Cardinals in 2017, leading the team lead in goals with seven, while finishing second on the team with 16 points. Loof, a three-time Academic All-MIAC selection, has now been named the Outstanding Female Scholar Athlete each of the past three years.
SAINT MARY’S OUTSTANDING MALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE: JAY HEINLE
A Biology major with a 3.91 GPA, Heinle enjoyed a stellar senior campaign as a member of the Saint Mary’s men’s hockey team in 2017-18, recording five goals and adding nine assists for 14 points. The two-time team captain also earned Academic All-MIAC accolades for the third straight season, while also earning his second AHCA All-American Scholar honor.
Check out the photo gallery from the ‘M’ Club ceremony.
Photo caption: From left, Father James Burns, Saint Mary’s president; Jay Heinle, Outstanding Male Scholar Athlete; Griffin Rades, Outstanding Male Athlete; and Becca Dup, Outstanding Female Athlete. Not pictured: Emily Loof, Outstanding Female Scholar Athlete.
Students invited to attend Business Mixer
Saint Mary’s to host Business Mixer Sept. 24
WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s Business Department, in conjunction with several local businesses, will hold a Business Mixer on Monday, Sept. 24, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Saint Mary’s Science and Learning Center.
The event is designed to connect students from a variety of majors with local business leaders to increase students’ awareness of career opportunities. Additionally, a short presentation from the university’s Data Analytics students will be offered to help employers understand what Saint Mary’s students are learning in the discipline and how that knowledge can be valuable to area companies and organizations.
Refreshments will be served at the event which is co-sponsored by Miller Ingenuity, WinCraft, and RTP Company. Questions and requests for more information can directed to Christine Beech at cbeech@smumn.edu or 507-457-6978.
Saint Mary’s again ranked in Best Regional Universities by U.S. News & World Report
WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is once again ranked in the annual U.S. News & World Report ratings of best colleges and universities in the nation.
Saint Mary’s is ranked 50th in the Best Regional Universities of the Midwest category of the U.S. News Best Colleges 2019 guidebook. Saint Mary’s is among a list of 165 schools ranked in this category. The annual rankings were released today, Sept. 10, and are available at usnews.com/best-colleges.
Saint Mary’s is also ranked 49th in the U.S. News category of Best Value Schools Regional Universities of the Midwest. Saint Mary’s is among a list of 75 schools ranked in this category.
“We appreciate these rankings because we know that U.S. News & World Report is a source that many students and families look to when comparing higher education institutions,” said Father James P. Burns, president of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. “The report includes such areas as retention and graduation rates, strength of faculty, and employment outcomes, all of which are topics important to students, their families, and all of us at Saint Mary’s. It’s imperative for us to be constantly improving in order to provide the best possible formative and educational experience.”
The Best Regional Universities category includes 644 schools in four regions (Midwest, North, South, and West) that are recognized for offering a wide range of undergraduate majors as well as master’s programs.
U.S. News ranks institutions according to The Carnegie Classification system.
Page Series presents marimba-infused music group Río Mira Sept. 20
WINONA, Minn. — The Pages Series at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota will present Río Mira, an ensemble that specializes in blending contemporary music and traditional sound, on Thursday, Sept. 20, at 7:30 p.m. in the Page Theatre.
Taking its name from the river that runs from Ecuador into Colombia, Río Mira brings together marimba masters Esteban Copete and Larry Preciado, Ecuadorian singer Karla Kanora, and an all-star ensemble of Afro-Latino folkloric musicians. Bridging borders to reaffirm traditions, the Esmeraldas, an Ecuador-based group, celebrate their shared musical heritage through socially conscious music.
With a cultural identity rooted in the East African diaspora traditions, Río Mira produces both folk sound and electro-cumbia remixes that are founded on the mastery and artistry of great musicians and producers from both countries. Their debut album, released on a ZZK’s sub label AYA Records is produced by Iván Benavides (involved in Latin Grammy-winning groups like Choq Quib Town and Gaiteros de San Jacinto) and Ivis Flies (producer of Latin Grammy-winning social heritage project De Taitas y Mamas).
The story of marimba is closely intertwined with rebel slaves, known as maroons, who made the region their home from the early 16th century onward, and in 2015, UNESCO declared the marimba music of South Pacific Colombia and Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador to be Intangible Cultural Heritage.
To emphasize the history behind this performance, on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at 12:05 p.m., Winona State University professor Juandrea Bates will offer a free Page in History talk at the Winona County History Center, located at 160 Johnson Street. The presentation will provide a historical context for the development of Afro-Latino music, including the different experiences of Afro-Latinos in slavery, plantation work, gold mining, and maroon communities. Dr. Bates will also trace how people of African descent used music and musical traditions to resist the dehumanizing experiences of slavery and, in the process, created a number of fascinating musical traditions like those audiences will hear when attending the Río Mira performance.
Tickets to the Río Mira performance are $27 for adults, $24 for senior citizens and students 18 and older, and $18 for youth ages 17 and younger. All Page in History programs are offered free of charge. For more information or to order tickets, visit pagetheatre.org, or call 507-457-1715 (from noon to 6 p.m. on weekdays).
This engagement of Río Mira is made possible through Southern Exposure: Performing Arts of Latin America, a program of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
A Page in History programs are made possible, in part, through a grant from the Xcel Energy Foundation and in partnership with the Winona County Historical Society.
About the Page Series
Now in our 32nd annual season, the Page Series connects professional performing artists from around the globe with thousands of Winonans each year. With events at the Joseph Page Theatre on the Winona Campus of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, as well as at locations across the Winona community, the Page Series offers dance, music, and theatre performances, workshops, classes, and more that inspire, uplift, educate, and invite community members to discover the relevance of the arts in their daily lives.
Exciting events happening on campus this weekend
The Office of Student Activities, Student Activities Committee, and Alumni Relations are hosting a number of fun events this weekend which are open to all students, faculty, staff, and their families. All of these events are free!
Comedian: Preacher Lawson
Friday, Sept. 7, at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7:30 p.m.) in the Page Theatre
Preacher Lawson (pictured) was a finalist on the 12th season of America’s Got Talent. Preacher is visiting Saint Mary’s University as part of his Big Sounds and Loud Faces 2018 tour. Watch his America’s Got Talent audition.
Singles Disc Golf Tournament hosted by Outdoor Leadership
Saturday, Sept. 8, at noon, meet in the overflow parking lot
Register onsite at 11 a.m. in the overflow parking lot or preregister by emailing outdoorleadership@smumn.edu or completing this form. There will be prizes for first, second, and third place. Bring your own discs to play.
Concert: Tonic Sol-Fa
Saturday, Sept. 8, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Plaza
Tonic Sol-fa is an a cappella quartet from the Minneapolis-Saint Paul region. With a largely pop-music-oriented repertoire, their CDs have sold more than 1 million copies, and the group has toured throughout the U.S. and abroad. Tonic Sol-fa began at St. John’s University in central Minnesota. Together the group reached national prominence with appearances on NBC’s Today Show and in Newsweek magazine. Along the way, they shared the stage with performers including Jay Leno, Jeff Foxworthy, and Lonestar and were part of Garrison Keillor’s 30th-anniversary celebration of A Prairie Home Companion. They have won an Emmy Award and two Independent Grammy Awards. Watch a video of their cover of Somebody Like You by Keith Urban.
Join the first Fastenal/Saint Mary’s Cooperative Education Program info night
Who: Freshmen and sophomores, undecided majors, and students majoring in business, communication, accounting, computer data science, and more!
What: Enjoy ice cream and learn more about the paid Cooperative Education Program.
Where: Toner Student Center Lounge
When: Wednesday, Sept. 12, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
RSVP: Walk-ins are welcome, but signing up in advance helps with food planning. Sign up here.
Fastenal is specifically seeking undecided, business, communication, and computer data science students who will be fully immersed in the company’s operations and culture by rotating through multiple departments, all before college graduation. By getting students immersed in organizations while they’re still in college, there is a good chance they’ll have an opportunity to matriculate into full-time employees post graduation, bringing passion, energy, and vibrancy to the Winona community.
What is the Cooperative Education Program?
The co-op program incorporates professional career experiences into your undergraduate degree. Students complement classroom experiences with placement in a work setting and, in turn, help the organization advance its goals and objectives. Students receive academic credit when they successfully complete the co-op program, and in some cases even get paid from their cooperative employer.
The co-op program gives students experience and a competitive advantage when they begin the job search. The program links classroom theory with extended practice solving real-world problems. Students learn practical skills and how to work as professionals, develop relationships and contacts within a profession, and discover their career strengths and interests.
Page Series presents free picnic operetta in the park
WINONA, Minn. — The 32nd annual season of the Page Series will kick off Sept. 16 at 3 p.m. with a performance of Mixed Precipitation’s “Dr. Falstaff and the Working Wives of Lake County: A Picnic Operetta” in Unity Park, located on East Lake Winona at 860 Parks Ave.
This picnic operetta, an outing designed for the whole family to enjoy, is a new adaptation of Otto Nicolai’s German opera, “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” with a bit of Minnesota history and the music of Bruce Springsteen.
“Dr. Falstaff and the Working Wives of Lake County: A Picnic Operetta” takes place on the shores of Lake Superior where a small town is in trouble. The taconite plant has gone bust and jobs are leaving town fast. Meanwhile, the sleazy Doctor Falstaff has washed up on shore. He’s looking to sell a boat, eat some herring, and seduce married women. Luckily, a trio of tough working gals has teamed up to chase the rat out of town. These working wives (a nurse, a park ranger, and a librarian) show the men in town who’s the boss.
Scotty Reynolds, producing artistic director and a native of Silver Bay, Minn., adapted the story following his research on Minnesota’s ecological and economic history and the landmark legal battle, United States vs. Reserve Mining.
“Our show places the silly characters of Shakespeare’s comedy alongside contemporary questions about industry, job creation, and the environmental impact of capitalism,” Reynolds said.
The Page Series first presented The Picnic Operetta in September 2017. The free event brought more than 275 Winonans together in an end-of-summer celebration of music, food, and community. This year’s performance is again open to all community members, although free-will donations will be accepted at the door. While tickets are not required, advanced registration is strongly encouraged to help anticipate crowd size. Learn more about the performance and register at pagetheatre.org or by calling 507-457-1715 (weekdays from noon to 6 p.m.).
About Mixed Precipitation and A Picnic Operetta
Mixed Precipitation’s mission is to create unexpected theatrical experiences through unique partnerships and festive events that inspire social engagement. Each summer they present their signature event, A Picnic Operetta, a lively theater experience includes touring community gardens, urban farms, parks, orchards, and vineyards throughout the Twin Cities metro area and beyond. A five-course tasting menu of locally grown, performance-inspired delicacies is served during the show. They bring together classical music, horticulture, food, and storytelling into a celebration of harvest and our local food system.
About the Page Series
Now entering our 32nd annual season, the Page Series connects professional performing artists from around the globe with thousands of Winonans each year. With events at the Joseph Page Theatre on the campus of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, as well as at locations across the Winona community, the Page Series offers dance, music, and theatre performances, workshops, classes, and more that inspire, uplift, educate, and invite community members to discover the relevance of the arts in their daily lives.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. Page Series community programs are made possible, in part, through a grant from the Xcel Energy Foundation.
The Rev. James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D.
President
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
© Copyright 2016. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy | Site Feedback/Changes | Accreditation