Saint Mary's Newsroom

The City of Winona, home to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and its Winona Campus, again received accolades as a top place to live.

The well-known Expedia online travel service recently named Winona the most beautiful town in Minnesota, and an earlier ranking by Safewise called Winona the safest college town in the United States.

Expedia was on a mission to uncover “the most beautiful places to travel in every state that may not be on your radar,” taking into account “all kinds of aesthetically pleasing characteristics, from historical attractions to natural landscapes.” Expedia called out Winona’s scenic natural setting in the bluffs along the Mississippi River, easy ways to enjoy the great outdoors, arts and culture, and historic downtown architecture.

Students coming to Saint Mary’s in Winona find plenty to see and do.

Nathan Young, a Saint Mary’s sophomore from Northern Minnesota, said he loves Winona “for the beautiful landscape and activities it has to offer. It has both the river and the bluffs, and it’s all within reach. You can do anything from rock climbing, to mountain biking, to canoeing.”

Echoing those comments was Amanda Baker, a Saint Mary’s senior from Western Minnesota. Baker loves to walk the paths and admire the reflection of the bluffs in Lake Winona. “Coming to school in Winona—even though it’s not large and urban—there are lots of things to do because of the beauty and natural setting.”

The city is a year-round travel destination, and as the Visit Winona website points out, “There is a lot to love about Winona. From its sculpted bluffs to its mighty river and all the places in between, Winona has unparalleled beauty mixed with a cool urbanity and (historic) old-world charm that proves that yes, you really can have it all in one enchanting place.”

Visit Winona also says Winona is a paradise suited for “outdoor lovers, whatever your version of relaxing is—whether it’s swinging on a bench by the lake or tackling a wicked mountain bike trail; whether it’s a tranquil hike in the woods or doing whirlybirds on a wakeboard.”

But Winona offers much to do indoors, too. According to Visit Winona, “the arts scene here is as cosmopolitan as you’ll find anywhere. Together with music and film festivals, art shows, and museums for every interest, this extraordinary array of arts and culture leaves no doubt that Winona is not just another pretty face.”

View photos and video of why students, full-time residents, and visitors love Winona.

Visit the Saint Mary’s University Winona Campus—home to undergraduate, residential college students and graduate students as well—and see Winona for yourself. Find more information about campus visits and the state’s most beautiful town.

Photo captions: Winona’s scenic natural setting, arts and culture, and outstanding recreational resources combine to make it Minnesota’s most beautiful town.

Adventure in the great outdoors is easy to find right in the Winona city limits. Saint Mary’s students enjoy the challenge of climbing the Sugarloaf landmark.

Quirky and funny, with a penchant for the dark side, Jack Walterman ’17 dreams of being the next Tim Burton.

After graduating from Saint Mary’s this spring with a theatre degree, Walterman is ready for his academic sequel at one of the top film schools in the nation, the University of Southern California’s Division of Film and Television Production MFA program.

Burton once said, “Anybody with artistic ambitions is always trying to reconnect with the way they saw things as a child.”

Looking back at his life, Walterman may have always been pre-destined for a career in the film industry because his love for video production started as a kid.

“My parents had a camcorder with those little compact tapes,” he said. “My friends and I would write scripts and make videos.”

By high school, Walterman took classes that taught him some videography basics and by his senior year of high school, his parents bought him a camera of his own.

Self-defined as “quirky and funny,” Walterman likes to combine his humor with the horror genre. His first true stint behind the camera was when he convinced his friends back home to star in a two-part horror comedy called Jitters.

Then Walterman tucked his camera away for a bit, focusing on his college career, acting and directing in several theatre productions, performing in the Oldie Moldie All-Stars through Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, serving as president of Alpha Psi Omega, and coordinating the 50th anniversary of the Blue Angel musical variety show on campus.

Walterman again got the film production bug, after connecting with fellow student musician Darvell Jones ’17 (who uses the stage name Sain Levrad). The two combined talents to complete several YouTube music videos, with Walterman behind the scenes (sometimes playing backup on piano), and Jones as the star. “Over senior week, we filmed 13 music videos in four days. We’d be up until 3 a.m., take a nap, and then go again,” Walterman said. “We had a $200 camera and no budget.”

What they lacked in budget, they made up for in creativity. Each video is unique. The two lit a fire atop a piano, set a piano on a flatbed trailer and performed while moving, and filmed in the Mississippi River, in the bluffs, and even in a building under construction. Sometimes they filmed in the dark.

With the success of these videos, the two again collaborated on a Thriller video this past fall, starring Saint Mary’s students as Jones’ zombie backup dancers.

Not surprisingly, Walterman’s adviser Judy Myers encouraged him to consider pursuing film school.

Walterman already thought his career path was in the can. He had directed St. Charles High School students in one-act competition, coached Cotter High School speech students, and taught at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis.

But the possibility intrigued him enough to apply to the top film schools in America, including the University of Southern California’s Division of Film and Television Production MFA program. Knowing he was competing against students from across the nation and beyond, he sent in a personal statement and résumé, a graduation film project proposal (Jitters), and Thriller.

In January, he received a phone interview with a film-editing professor who asked him why he wanted to attend USC. “I conquered Guthrie as a sophomore undergrad,” Walterman said. “I told him, ‘What can I do if I take a chance and face a fear and chase a dream?’ ”

In his subsequent admittance letter, Walterman was told, “The Cinematic Arts faculty identified you as one of the more talented applicants in this year’s applicant pool.” He will begin in spring of 2018, potentially earlier.

Designing his own happy ending, Walterman would love one day to direct in the comedy/horror genre. He specifies that when Jones becomes famous, Walterman will film his music documentary.

“Saint Mary’s helped me find my artistic voice, be a leader on campus, and provide me the space to make these videos,” Walterman said. “And I formed close relationships with faculty who helped me get internships and jobs. I’ve grown so much. I wanted to be an individual, not a number. I wanted to be known. It definitely happened here.”

As a Cardinal hockey player, Andrew Ketterer ’14 scored some game-winning goals and made some amazing assists.

Now that he’s netted a position with USA Hockey, Ketterer’s goal hasn’t changed all that much. As coordinator of social media and digital content, Ketterer is still assisting with promoting the sport of hockey.

Only now, it’s on a national scale.

Ketterer double-majored in marketing and sport management and minored in public relations at Saint Mary’s. He’d always known marketing was a route he wanted to take. Adding sport management seemed natural to the four-year varsity hockey player.

Ketterer during his days playing for the Cardinal Men’s Hockey Team.

While in college, he started his own hockey blog, Ketts’ Corner, covering a variety of topics, mostly revolving around the National Hockey League. The blog’s success led him to approach Jeff Hefel from the Business Department and Dean Beckman from the Communication Department about adding a public relations minor. Ketterer could foresee that these skills would help further his career.

After graduation, Ketterer worked for Simantel, a global marketing and communications firm in Peoria, Ill., but he never lost sight of his dream to work in sports.

“I knew that I wanted to work in hockey,” he said. “It was just a matter of how I was going to get there.” When he was alerted to the USA Hockey position, he recognized immediately it was a dream job.

In December 2015, two weeks after interviewing, Ketterer moved to Colorado Springs, Colo.

USA Hockey’s focus is on the support and development of grassroots hockey programs. It connects the game at every level while promoting a lifelong love of the sport.

In his position, Ketterer handles the day-to-day responsibilities of all of the social media platforms, which can mean some crazy hours.

“If we have international games or tournaments, it can mean an early morning or late night,” he said. “We always have things going on like youth hockey clinics or adult league tournaments. Our team is constantly on call.

“Another large part of my job is more strategic; we don’t want to just pump out content. Instead, we want to take a look at what goals we are trying to achieve, explore new channels, create new accounts under our channels—all of that falls into my daily responsibilities. A typical day is anything but typical.”

Ketterer said his job also includes opportunities to travel. Most recently he covered the 2017 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship, which was held in Zlin, Czech Republic. “I was doing everything from live tweeting to cutting up post-game comments, doing some side interviews on camera, basically everything we had on the web and on social, I had a hand in,” he said.

“Our goal is to grow the game at the grassroots level, whether that’s youth hockey, disabled hockey, or adult league hockey,” Ketterer said. “The other side, which is more known, includes the international tournaments. Those are a big deal to us because of the exposure they give the game of hockey in the U.S., which helps us grow at the youth level.”

Ketterer said he will play a role in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games but doesn’t know if he’ll be covering the U.S. men’s and women’s teams from home base or from Pyeongchang, South Korea.

“It’s crazy to think that it’s just a year out; there’s a heck of a lot to do, but I’m excited for the opportunity it presents” he said.

Ketterer said he is grateful for many of his Saint Mary’s professors, including Hefel and Beckman, who helped him hone the critical-thinking skills necessary in his position. “They made me work through real-world situations and really think outside the box,” he said.

He advises students to be patient, and to stay aggressive in finding the right position. He said there are a lot of opportunities to get experience. “My blog made me realize there was a possibility of working in hockey,” he said. “Some pieces were linked to by Yahoo Sports, or people would link to something in one my articles. The blog was free, but it eventually helped me because I included it during my interview process. You may not get paid, but the payoff will be worth it,” he said. “I found my dream job.”

Guided by the beams of their headlamps, Colin Norris ’13 led a dozen hardy students on a night hike through the bluffs surrounding Saint Mary’s University. Carefully, they made their way along the snowy wooded trails, across a stream, and to a clearing far behind the campus lights and activity. The group’s excited chatter quieted as they turned their heads to the sky, getting a crisp and clear view of the stars shining above.

Now coordinating the Outdoor Leadership program, it is Norris’s goal to create a robust program of educational outdoor recreation activities utilizing the vast natural surroundings with which Saint Mary’s University is blessed. The night hike was among the first of many planned events.

In between pointing out the stars and constellations, Norris reminded his winter hikers of the many opportunities available to them including 18K of trails perfect for walking, jogging, and skiing; a high and low ropes course; and a disc golf course.

Additionally, the campus is located near the Mississippi River. Saint Mary’s has easy access to the river via its field station, Norris pointed out. “This is a perfect place to get involved in outdoor recreation,” Norris said. “We have a launch point for boats, canoes, and kayaks for easy access to the backwaters.”

So that more students can experience these activities, the university also has available for checkout a fleet of canoes and kayaks, cross country skis, and camping equipment.

“Students are searching for a vibrant residential experience,” said Charissa Jakusz, dean of students. “We are thrilled to revive Outdoor Leadership because through these activities, students will gain knowledge about their identity, leadership skills, fellowship, and stewardship of nature and with the people around them—and hopefully have some fun within the beauty of our location. ”

Beyond campus, Winona is quickly gaining a reputation as “heaven” for outdoor recreation facilities and winter resources such as fat tire biking, a public ice skating rink, ice fishing, and even an ice climbing wall. In warmer months, the possibilities are endless.

Norris is familiar with Saint Mary’s and the surrounding community. After receiving his undergraduate degree, he is back on campus serving as a graduate assistant hall director, and studying in the Human Development master’s program.

“I’ve discovered this type of work is my calling,” Norris said. “I’ve been on some truly amazing trips, acquiring skills and meeting people who taught me the meaning of environmental stewardship. Now, on this campus, I can make a difference by showing students how to enjoy and respect the great outdoors.”

Kelsey Stenzel, a senior elementary education major, said she finds being outside therapeutic. “I love the outdoor activities because I get to enjoy God’s beauty that surrounds me, and it helps to clear my mind when things get busy,” she said. Stenzel plans to take advantage of further Outdoor Leadership events.

“Students build confidence through these activities,” she said. “They can also learn from each other and build community. These skills are important in life.”

Events this spring could include camping at Devil’s Lake, Wis.; a visit to the International Crane Foundation; kayaking; climbing Sugar Loaf bluff; and a campus cleanup and restoration of fire pits. Next fall could see more ambitious treks to the Boundary Waters or to a western national park, and snow camping could be in the cards for next winter.

As part of the Office of Student Life, Outdoor Leadership contributes to the vibrant campus and residence life experience, and helps Saint Mary’s realize its mission to develop students for ethical lives of service and leadership. Student leaders will be trained to help Norris plan and execute outdoor activities and educational programming.

When Nadia Effendi ’09 was little, she watched Little Mermaid so many times she could recite every line and lyric. Her babysitters back then still like to remind her how they were forced to endure the timeless love story over and over again.

Now in a dream job as assistant manager of licensing for Disney and Pixar Animation properties at Disney Consumer Products, Effendi is helping to bring that same Disney magic into other children’s (and adults’) homes.

Effendi said her job responsibilities can be broken into three categories.

“One, I manage the licensee relationship, so I work with outside companies and vendors to build relationships that we can utilize in expanding our intellectual property on a variety of products,” she said. “I also manage the product development process through partnering with both internal and licensee product development teams.

“And I’m also a brand manager, so I understand the nuances of the properties that we work with,” she added. “I work directly with Disney•Pixar Films as well as Disney Animation films that are more recent, from 1984 to now, including all new theatricals and make sure—from a product and marketing standpoint—the brand elements are consistent and true to each property.”

Although stationed in Los Angeles, Effendi frequently travels to several licensees’ headquarters, like Hasbro and Mattel. “I work specifically in toys and toyetic items like outdoor seasonal, novelties, and games,” she said.

From an insider’s standpoint, Effendi said Cars 3 will be a huge upcoming opportunity, and consumers will start seeing related products on shelves next year.

For Effendi, it’s most exciting to see the end result of her work.

“You know Disney is universal and everybody has a connection, like Mickey Mouse, who is 100 percent universally recognized,” she said. “But you don’t realize how much it touches people until you work for the company. When I see kids playing with the toys I’ve been working on or wearing a backpack with our characters, it’s pretty special.

“Pixar really connects with people from my generation,” she said. “We grew up with Toy Story. The story elements are so relevant and speak to so many different people.

“When we finally finish developing our products that share in the storytelling, we just feel such a sense of ownership. It’s very magical because you get to see the work you do almost instantaneously and on so many different levels.”

The Electronic Publishing and Public Relations double major said the industry is very fast-paced and positions like hers require great communication skills, creativity, the ability to ask questions, and a willingness to try new things.

She credits many of her professors for helping her build these skills. “Dean Beckman was a rock for me,” she said. “He always encouraged me to expand my horizons, try new things, and gave me great feedback,” she said. Beckman encouraged her to apply for a public relations and community interaction internship with The Washington Center, which opened many doors for Effendi.

“That was such a milestone for me,” she said. “It introduced me to the city and got me used to the idea of living outside of Minnesota. I was doing public relations work but also community service work, and fell in love with the area and ended up moving there for my first job.

“Dr. Joe Tadie was another professor who encouraged me to think outside the box, be creative, and challenge what I thought I knew,” she said. “Also, being a part of the soccer team was a wonderful experience. I remember having so much support from teammates and coaches.”

An active college student, Effendi also learned how to balance her schedule and gained time management skills—all valuable traits that transfer to her current hectic career.

“It takes hard work and requires flexibility, but the end result is very gratifying—the ability to be so close to such magical and influential pieces of entertainment is so rewarding,” she said.

Students interested in geographic information science at Saint Mary’s don’t need a global positioning system to direct them to valuable, hands-on experiences in their field.

For years, the university’s GeoSpatial Services has been providing professionally mentored field experiences to students. The organization—which provides natural resource assessment, geographic analysis, and high-tech digital mapping services—works with both the public and private sector across a broad assortment of markets and disciplines across the U.S.

For example, pre-med major Christine Neumann is one of 15 undergraduate and graduate students currently classifying Minnesota wetlands in the state’s Northwest region on an $880,000 project for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The two-year wetland inventory project, which began in October, is the largest single project awarded to GeoSpatial Services (GSS) thus far.

Although Neumann plans to become a family practitioner, the sophomore from Cloquet, Minn., has been interested in geographic information science since a high school science fair project first piqued her interest.

“I did a project on Great Lakes invasive species using Esri’s GIS distribution mapping software—which Saint Mary’s is also using,” she said. Neumann added that the wetlands inventory project will give her good overall skills that will be valuable in her profession.

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has long been a leader in providing students with the educational foundation and practical experience necessary for successful careers and leadership positions in geographic information science, offering a master’s degree, graduate certificate, and undergraduate minor in the growing and in-demand field.

Under professional supervision, and working at the university’s Prairie Island Field Station in Winona, Saint Mary’s students in these programs—and others—will review digital aerial photos and LiDAR aerial laser measurements, interpret features on the ground, and delineate and classify current wetlands. The data will be used to update the Northwest Minnesota National Wetlands Inventory (NWI).

Hundreds of students have worked at the center during his 13-year tenure, observed David Rokus, NWI project manager for GeoSpatial Services. “They require a meticulous eye for detail, an understanding of the natural environment, and a willingness to learn advanced technology software. Most are in biology, geographic information science (GIS) programs, and the natural resources fields,” Rokus said. “But we’ve had students in business, criminal justice, the arts, information technology, education, and so on, who have done quite well.”

Graduate student Eric Lindquist of Winona, now in his second semester in Saint Mary’s Master of Science in GIS program, is also working on the wetlands project. Lindquist, who worked for 16 years as Saint Mary’s swim coach and facilities manager, is in a career transition. An avid hunter, he said: “I was looking for a big career change, and I have always loved maps and natural resources.” Lindquist said he enjoys “the blend of outdoor and indoor work.”

Working at GeoSpatial Services on the wetland inventory greatly enhances Lindquist’s academic learning. “The opportunity to actually do work in the field related to the degree I’m pursuing is huge,” he said. The other appeal for Lindquist is “the natural resource aspect of the project, and the potential for use of the data generated for conservation efforts.”

Reed Fry is in his first semester of the M.S. in Geographic Information Science program.

The Des Moines, Iowa native earned a degree in economics in 2014 and worked in the banking field.

“I’ve always had an interest in maps,” Fry said. “Now I’m exploring what I can I do to combine my background in economics with training in map-making and data interpretation.” A bonus, he said, is the opportunity to learn about wetlands and our local geography, as well as to meet professionals in the GIS field. “I’m hoping I can take these skills and either serve private enterprises or continue work in projects such as the NWI.”

The paid student interns—selected through a competitive application process—will gain experiential and hands-on learning outside of the classroom and deeper understanding of the NWI and its benefits. They will also benefit from the wetland ecology expertise of Saint Mary’s environmental scientists, and utilize state of the art geographic information system (GIS) technology.

Students will be fully trained and supported by GeoSpatial Services staff to meet the accuracy requirements of the federal wetland mapping standards. Part of that training in wetland hydrology, hydric soil characterization, and vegetation identification will take place at Saint Mary’s Cascade Meadow Wetlands and Environmental Science Center in Rochester.

More on the National Wetlands Inventory:

With the implementation of the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) in 1991, state and federal agencies have been working toward a no-net-loss initiative in wetland quantity and quality, with the ultimate goal a net gain in wetland resources throughout Minnesota.

A large component of this no-net-loss initiative is establishing and updating wetland mapping, also known as the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI). This information can be used by federal, state, and local governments, private industry, and non-profit organizations as baseline data for wetland regulation and management decisions, land use and conservation planning, environmental impact assessments, and natural resource inventories.

The existing wetland mapping for Minnesota is roughly 25 to 30 years old, and the Minnesota DNR has taken the lead to coordinate an update throughout the state. Saint Mary’s GeoSpatial Services has previously collaborated with the Minnesota DNR in creating, classifying, and ultimately updating the Minnesota NWI. From 2012 to 2015, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota completed wetland updates in the Southern Minnesota region.

More information on the National Wetlands Inventory for Minnesota is available online.

PHOTO CAPTION: David Rokus, GeoSpatial Services project manager for the Northwest Minnesota National Wetlands Inventory, works with graduate student Reed Fry.

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has signed an $880,000 agreement with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to help inventory wetlands in the state’s Northwest region.

This is the largest single project awarded to the university’s GeoSpatial Services (GSS), a project center that integrates professional services and academic apprenticeships in the areas of natural resource assessment, geographic analysis, and digital mapping.

The two-year wetland project, which began in October, involves professional GSS staff working with Saint Mary’s undergraduate and graduate students interested in the fields of geographic information science and environmental science.

Saint Mary’s students under professional supervision will be generating the majority of the data for updating the Northwest Minnesota National Wetlands Inventory. Working at the university’s Prairie Island Field Station in Winona, up to 15 students will review digital aerial photos and LiDAR aerial laser measurements, interpret features on the ground, and delineate and classify current wetlands.

The paid student interns—selected through a competitive application process—will gain experiential and hands-on learning outside of the classroom and deeper understanding of the NWI and its benefits. They will also benefit from the wetland ecology expertise of Saint Mary’s environmental scientists, and utilize state of the art geographic information system (GIS) technology.

Students will be fully trained and supported by GeoSpatial Services staff to meet the accuracy requirements of the federal wetland mapping standards. Part of that training in wetland hydrology, hydric soil characterization, and vegetation identification will take place at Saint Mary’s Cascade Meadow Wetlands and Environmental Science Center in Rochester.

More about the National Wetlands Inventory project:

With the implementation of the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) in 1991, state and federal agencies have been working toward a no-net-loss initiative in wetland quantity and quality, with the ultimate goal a net gain in wetland resources throughout Minnesota.

A large component of this no-net-loss initiative is establishing and updating wetland mapping, also known as the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI). This information can be used by federal, state and local governments, private industry, and non-profit organizations as baseline data for wetland regulation and management decisions, land use and conservation planning, environmental impact assessments, and natural resource inventories.

The existing wetland mapping for Minnesota is roughly 25 to 30 years old, and the Minnesota DNR has taken the lead to coordinate an update throughout the state. Saint Mary’s GeoSpatial Services has previously collaborated with the Minnesota DNR in creating, classifying, and ultimately updating the Minnesota NWI. From 2012 to 2015, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota completed wetland updates in the Southern Minnesota region.

More information on the National Wetlands Inventory for Minnesota is available online:

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/wetlands/nwi_proj.html

Graphic design major Jeff Paul ’08 made the decision early in his career to work on projects he believes in, rather than simply for a paycheck.

As co-founder of Ligature Creative Group of Denver, Colo., Paul and his business partner Matt Meier made the conscious decision that they wouldn’t work for just anyone with a checkbook. The two made it their mission to “work with people who do good work.”

Their current client list includes nonprofits and organizations involved in arts, health and recreation, education, social change, and technology—work often geared toward social justice that Paul and Meier can be proud of supporting.

One of their challenges comes from the fact that their clients often are people who don’t have big budgets. Yet, he said, they are committed to their mission.

Today, the duo employ four others, and their firm has designed work for clients such as the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra, the Williamstown Theatre Festival, and the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts.

Paul said the values they had in starting their business closely align with the Lasallian values instilled in him as a student at Saint Mary’s University. “I’m proud of where I went to school and to know that I’ve had some alignment with that way of thinking all along,” he said.

Paul became interested in graphic design when he was creating layouts for his high school newspaper. While at Saint Mary’s, he fell in love with photography and started his post-graduation career in that creative field. However, Paul found that his relationship with the art form changed when he was being paid for it and producing someone else’s vision, rather than his own.

He began focusing more on design and connected with Meier, a high school friend, who shared his dream of starting a business. Both were frustrated in positions they had had in the past and shared a vision about how they would do things differently.

Paul returned to the Winona Campus in September to speak to design students about what to expect after graduation.

“There is so much learning to do after you graduate,” Paul told them. “How do you prepare contracts, sell your work, manage client expectations … things you don’t consider that much in school, but they’re really important.”

Paul has kept in contact with his art professor, Preston Lawing, since graduating. “All professors at Saint Mary’s were very encouraging,” he said. “They were accommodating to my learning needs beyond what was offered in class as I took on extra credits in order to graduate one year early.”

And he is thankful for the liberal arts education he received at Saint Mary’s. “The benefit of a liberal arts college is you can take classes outside of design, such as psychology and science,” he said. “I came out of Saint Mary’s as a well-rounded individual and potential employee.”

As long as the Cubs keep winning, John Fitzgerald ’07 is on base to keep inserting his favorite ball team into some familiar vintage video games. Fitzgerald, who heads Coach Marketing firm in Chicago, has hit a home run with other Cubs fans by creating short videos that prominently feature his favorite players and their opponents as video game characters.

The first video he created about a year ago features the game “Duck Hunt,” with St. Louis Cardinals instead of ducks and a dog wearing a Cubs cap. He called it “Card Hunt.” Fitzgerald, who majored in marketing while at Saint Mary’s, posted the video on Reddit and received an extremely positive response.

“I just made it to see if I could,” Fitzgerald said. “People loved the video and I knew I had to keep making them.”

In his Super Mario version, the overall-wearing wonder now sports a Cubs uniform. He lowers a Giants flag, flies the “W,” and jumps his way onto Wrigley Field.

Fitzgerald’s videos have more than 145,000 collective views and have been featured on major news outlets, including USA Today, Yahoo Sports, and MSN, as well as several sports publications and local news.

“John is a creative with a business marketing mind,” said Thomas Marpe, Ed.D., dean of business and technology. “I’m not surprised that he’s found success, as he was always a ‘super fan’ of the Cubs and had the attitude and skill set to do something exceptional.”

Fitzgerald remembers bonding with other Cubs fans at Saint Mary’s. “When I was a freshman in 2003, I remember all the Chicago kids crowded into a dorm room for the Cubs versus Marlins game and everybody was yelling and so excited,” Fitzgerald said. “It was great to see the Chicago side of Saint Mary’s band together.”

As long as the Cubs are in the series, Fitzgerald plans to keep rooting for the team the best way he knows how—8 bits at a time. Watch a local news feature about Fitzgerald, who goes by Johnny Fitz on his YouTube channel.