Saint Mary's Newsroom / Campus Notes
Winona Campus Newsletter
Saint Mary’s Celebration of Scholarship includes 157 student presentations
WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Celebration of Scholarship — the sixth annual celebration highlighting the accomplishments of undergraduate students across all academic disciplines — will be held Friday, April 27. More than 157 presentations by more than 150 students are planned. The community is invited to view the research and talents of our students.
The event will take place at various buildings and times on campus. Attendees are asked to register in Saint Mary’s Hall, on the first floor, before attending presentations. A full schedule will be available at registration. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information and a list of presentations, visit smumn.edu/studentscholars.
Gaslight shows happening this weekend
The annual Gaslight variety show is happening this weekend in the Toner Student Center Cafeteria. The 2018 show is presented by the Saint Mary’s University senior class.
Showtimes are:
- Friday, April 13, at 8 p.m.
- Saturday, April 14, at 7 and 10 p.m.
Tickets cost $6 if purchased before the show and $7 at the door. They will be on sale during lunch and dinner and can also be purchased online. All faculty and staff get one free ticket to the show and should email Abram Whitebird at atwhit14@smumn.edu to get it.
Dorothy Day’s granddaughter Kate Hennessy visits Saint Mary’s April 16
WINONA, Minn. — Kate Hennessy, granddaughter of Dorothy Day, will visit Saint Mary’s Winona Campus on Monday, April 16, for a presentation and book signing. Her book, titled “Dorothy Day: The World Will Be Saved by Beauty,” is about the life of her grandmother, a prominent writer, social activist, advocate for the poor, and co-founder of the Catholic Worker movement.
The presentation and book signing will be at 7 p.m. in the Science and Learning Center Room 200 on the Winona Campus. It’s sponsored by the Saint Mary’s Lasallian Honors Program, Theology Department, and Campus Ministry. There will also be a presentation and book signing on the university’s Twin Cities Campus earlier that day.
Learn more about Hennessy’s book at simonandschuster.com. Contact Colleen Dunne, director of Campus Ministry, or Dr. Chris Michener, director of the Lasallian Honors Program, for more information.
Student Life Awards to be presented April 17
The 11th annual Student Life Awards will be presented on Tuesday, April 17, in the Science and Learning Center, Room 200, at 7 p.m.
Celebrate with us as we recognize individuals who have exhibited outstanding leadership and service through co-curricular activities at Saint Mary’s.
Kabara hosts alumna who is social entrepreneur and lawyer
This event has been rescheduled to April 30. Please check back soon for more details.
Saint Mary’s will host guest speaker and Saint Mary’s alumna Ellen Schreder on Monday, April 30. Schreder is a lawyer who started a business to help women in Haiti. She’ll speak about her passions of social justice, female empowerment, and social entrepreneurship. The event is sponsored by the Kabara Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies.
Student attends Pre-Synod gathering with Pope Francis
Sister Marie Faustina, RSM, who is currently majoring in elementary education K-6 at Saint Mary’s University, was one of only eight individuals selected to attend a Pre-Synod gathering March 19-24 in Rome with Pope Francis. Sister Marie was one of 300 young people from throughout the world who shared their voices with Pope Francis. Read her reflection of this amazing experience.
PR/B Club visits Hormel
The Saint Mary’s Public Relations/Business Club interacted with a panel of business professionals at Hormel in Austin, Minn., on Friday, April 6. They discussed mergers/acquisitions, investor relations, and certifications. Club members, seen above with Saint Mary’s alumnus and Hormel Financial Analyst David Dahlstrom, also toured the Hormel plant and the SPAM Museum. The club’s faculty adviser is Department of Communication Chair Dean Beckman.
PR senior student is finalist in PRSA awards
Saint Mary’s senior Public Relations major Maria Missurelli is one of three finalists in the Campaigns category of the 2018 Minnesota Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Student Classics Awards. Missurelli’s entry is from a series of pole vault clinics she conducted for the Public Relations Case Studies and Campaigns class last spring. Missurelli and Department of Communication Chair Dean Beckman will attend the PRSA Classics Awards Banquet April 19 in Minneapolis.
Senior students receive Irene Ryan acting nominations
Seniors Darren Cajipo and Courtney Govan each received Irene Ryan acting nominations. Cajipo and Govan were nominated by our KCACTF respondent and Judy Myers, Theatre and Dance department chair, for their performances in “A Grand Night for Singing.” Both are now eligible to audition for the Irene Ryan Scholarship at the regional festival in January 2019.
From the KCACTF website:
The Irene Ryan Scholarships provide recognition, honor, and financial assistance to outstanding student performers wishing to pursue further education. The Irene Ryan Foundation awards 19 regional awards and two fellowships annually. Sixteen (16) of the awards consist of a $500 scholarship for each regional representative of KCACTF. There are two scholarships of $2,500 each for the winners at the national festival in Washington, D.C. In addition, the student who is judged the Kingsley Colton Award-winner for Best Partner in the national auditions is awarded a cash prize of $250. The Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships are, indeed, scholarships; so the Foundation disburses the award through a school designated by the winner, to pay tuition and fees for further education, not necessarily limited to theatre arts.
Brother Javier Hansen to lead conversation on young people, faith, and vocation
Brother Javier Hansen from El Paso, Texas, will lead Saint Mary’s students in a roundtable discussion Monday, April 23, at 7 p.m. in the Toner Student Center Lounge. Brother Javier was one of three delegates selected by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to attend the Pre-Synod Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment in Rome last month with Pope Francis.
Students will have the opportunity to hear about Brother Javier’s experience attending the Synod and to discuss other topics such as social media, vocational discernment, leadership, the call to be authentic witnesses, diversity, and the empowerment of young people in the life of the Church.
Read an interview with Brother Javier from the District of San Francisco New Orleans.
Read a story about Brother Javier from Catholic News Service.
Photo courtesy of Catholic News Service/Cathedral High School.
Country artist to perform, raise mental health awareness
Update: Jason DeShaw concert rescheduled for fall
Due to personal reasons, Jason DeShaw will not be able to perform Friday, April 27, at Saint Mary’s. DeShaw, a national award-winning mental health speaker and country singer from Montana, hopes to reschedule his performance at Saint Mary’s in the fall.
In 2010, doctors diagnosed DeShaw as having bipolar disorder and alcoholism. As he began to recover, DeShaw became an advocate for mental health by combining his story and songs into a presentation titled “Serenity in the Storm.” Since 2013, he has presented in theatres, schools, and psychiatric hospitals across the nation. He’s released five albums and shared the stage with national country music acts including The Oakridge Boys and Little Big Town.
DeShaw received the 2014 Champions Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), an award that recognizes an individual with a mental illness who reduces stigma by “exhibiting courage, leadership and service on behalf of people with mental illness.” In 2017, DeShaw presented his program to clinicians and researchers at Harvard’s McLean Hospital.
Saint Mary’s and Winona State present joint choir concert April 28
WINONA, Minn. — The choirs of Saint Mary’s University and Winona State University will present a joint concert on Saturday, April 28, at 7:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels, 1155 W. Wabasha St.
The two universities have previously performed together. As in prior collaborations, each will present a substantial portion of the program separately and then combine on several pieces. Each university has been preparing for several months and the choirs will combine for rehearsals before the concert.
“Winona is really blessed to have so much musical talent based here, both at the universities and in the community,” said Dr. Patrick O’Shea, Saint Mary’s director of choirs. “It’s great for students to see what their peers are doing across town, and there are few things that promote a sense of community as well as sharing great music.”
Under the direction of Dr. Harry Mechell, the Winona State Concert Choir will perform works by Gerald Finzi, Edvard Grieg, Ola Gjielo, Eric Whitacre, Dan Davison, and more. The Saint Mary’s Chamber Singers and Concert Choir, under the direction of Dr. Patrick O’Shea, will present works by C.V. Stanford, Knut Nystedt, Eleanor Daley, and Moses Hogan, with the U.S. premiere of Newfoundland Songs, Set II by Dr. O’Shea.
The choirs will combine for performances of “Heilig” by Felix Mendelssohn, “Domine ad adjuvandum me” by G.B. Martini, “O Sing Unto The Lord” by Henry Purcell, and “Omnia sol” by Z. Randall Stroope. Featured guest artists will be The Meadowlark String Quartet, Dr. Alan Dunbar (baritone), and Dr. Janet Heukeshoven (flute).
Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors. Call the Saint Mary’s Page Theatre box office for tickets at 507-457-1715 or purchase online at pagetheatre.smumn.edu.
Saint Mary’s Chamber Ensembles present annual spring concert
Saint Mary’s Chamber Ensembles will present their annual spring concert Saturday, April 28, at 3 p.m. in the Figliulo Recital Hall.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors. Call the Saint Mary’s Page Theatre Box Office for tickets at 507-457-1715 or purchase online at pagetheatre.smumn.edu.

