Saint Mary's Newsroom / Campus Notes
Winona Campus NewsletterEfficiency and student service at the center of academic changes
In alignment with the university’s strategic plan, particularly as it relates to stewarding resources (goal 5), while supporting excellence in Lasallian Catholic education, the Academic Affairs department has made the following organizational changes to better serve our students:
- University Library services across all campuses have been re-structured with a focus on enhanced technology to support student library services. The Libraries reconfigured several positions after a full organizational review and after recent resignations and retirements. The result is innovative librarian roles that will better support student needs and ensure that Saint Mary’s Libraries remain agile in support of the university. We are pleased to announce that Rachel McGee has accepted the position of Director of Libraries. In this role, Rachel will support academic success with a focus on student-centered services and faculty collaboration.
- The registrar’s office, under the direction of Chris Verch and his team in Winona and Alison Block and her team at SGPP, are moving to Academic Affairs from Enrollment Management. This strategic move will better support university-wide policies, student support, and allow Enrollment Management to concentrate fully on recruitment.
- We are pleased to announce that Emma Erdahl has been promoted to administrative director of academic affairs. In this role, Emma is responsible for the coordination of our university-wide Institutional Review Board, facilitation of SGPP adjunct contract administration, and project management of major initiatives from the office of the vice provost for faculties and academic affairs.
“These decisions were made with the students of Saint Mary’s University in mind,” said Dr. Matt J. Nowakowski, vice provost for faculties and academic affairs. “The goal for all of the units of Academic Affairs is outstanding student service in the new academic year and beyond.”
Administrative and academic changes support strategic initiatives
To further support and advance our strategic plan goals, with a particular and critical focus on enrollment growth, academic success, and stability, three senior members of the organization have agreed to take on new roles in vital positions.
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Tim Gossen, Ed.D.
Dr. Tim Gossen, will serve as the new senior director of admissions and dean of summer programs. Dr. Gossen has proven leadership skills in the areas of student life, including athletics, as well as a results-oriented approach and experience supporting enrollment strategies for the last year. He brought many ideas to light while serving on the Presidential Enrollment Commission and will guide and unify our admissions team and the efforts ahead as we continue to address the national headwinds impacting our enrollment. Dr. Gossen will also work on building and launching a robust summer program on the Winona Campus that will highlight our academic prowess and support revenue goals as an additional effort to drive future enrollment. His role began Aug. 1.“Tim’s vast institutional knowledge, his creative and energetic approach, and his demonstrated commitment to Saint Mary’s mission and every student is invaluable,” said Father James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D., president. “We need the best and brightest minds working together to impact enrollment and launch successful summer programs in this highly disruptive time for higher education. Dr. Gossen has the talents and gifts to contribute to these efforts from day one.”
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Marisa Naryka, Ed.D.
Dr. Marisa Naryka, has graciously agreed to add the areas of student affairs, athletics, food service, career services, the wellness center, and campus safety to her current responsibilities as vice president of mission and ministry. Her new title is vice president for mission and student Affairs. This move will more strategically and intentionally align our Lasallian Catholic mission with our student experience. Previous to her current role, Dr. Naryka served as assistant vice president of student affairs. “We consistently state two things that make this organizational change a strong and strategic one: our mission is our North Star and drives all of our collective work, and students are at the center of how we deliver on our mission each day,” said Father Burns. “Dr. Naryka’s deep student life experience is a great asset as we align student affairs and mission.”
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Darren Row, Ph.D.
Dr. Darren Row, who was appointed dean of the John C. Parmer School of the Sciences, as well as dean for Arts and Humanities in May, has been appointed dean of the College as well. As noted in the May announcement in the Cardinal Update, Dr. Row’s background and breadth of experiences at Saint Mary’s — as a student, faculty member, and academic leader — will be invaluable as he leads significant academic areas of the college. “Dr. Row stepped in at a critical time this summer to support the College as we work through implementing planning for our future academic portfolio,” said Dr. Matthew Gerlach, interim provost and dean of faculties. “I am grateful for his willingness to serve and his abiding commitment to our mission, faculty and students.”
An education within reach
As a staff accountant for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Abby (Zimmer) O’Brien B’08 sees herself as a problem solver. And she’s felt that way in the myriad of positions she’s held in her professional career since leaving Saint Mary’s.
For O’Brien, it’s the education she received at Saint Mary’s that set her up to fulfill that role.
“My experience at Saint Mary’s helped me be able to critically think and be able to handle and troubleshoot any problems that came up throughout my entire career,” she said.
The ability to access such an education, according to O’Brien, was made easy by Saint Mary’s in a variety of ways, from the assistance that made seeking a higher education affordable to faculty who are available to students and prioritize their success.
When looking at colleges, O’Brien was unaware of Saint Mary’s and had planned to apply to other schools. However, during a visit to Winona with a high school friend, she was instantly drawn to the city. Thinking Winona State was the only college in town, she was pleased to find Saint Mary’s tucked away in the bluffs. After a tour of campus and a taste of student life that included Gaslight, an on-campus variety show, O’Brien knew where she wanted to spend her next four years.
“A lot of little things added up that made me say, ‘Yeah, this is the right place for me,’ ” she said.
One aspect that made Saint Mary’s the right place: the cost of tuition. Compared to the other schools O’Brien had been considering at the time, Saint Mary’s was the most affordable. O’Brien also was awarded a number of merit-based scholarships through the university.
“It really allowed me to focus on school instead of focusing on how burdened I could have been by student loans,” O’Brien said. “So it was also great that my hard work in high school paid off and then continued to pay off in college.”
Another cost-savings option made readily available to O’Brien was the opportunity to hold work-study positions throughout her college career, which included checking student IDs at the Recreation and Athletic Center and helping the Sports Information Department with basketball statistics. O’Brien says she benefited from the two work-study opportunities in multiple ways.
“My work-study helped further engage me with the school because I was attending athletic events,” she said. “It also made it so I didn’t have to find a job off-campus.”
The idea of having an education within reach did not stop at the affordability of the school for O’Brien. As is echoed by many students and graduates of Saint Mary’s, she valued the small class sizes and the availability of her professors.
“I had friends who attended larger schools and would have their gen ed classes in a lecture hall with 300 other students,” she said. “But that was never the case at Saint Mary’s. Whether it was a gen ed class or something for your major, the classes were always small and personable. And that definitely made education accessible. And the professors were always able and willing to connect with you, whether it be during office hours or over email.”
One door Saint Mary’s opened for O’Brien, a highlight of her college experience, was the opportunity to study abroad in London. For her, this was an opportunity to experience England and other parts of Europe, all while earning credits toward her business minor and needed general education courses.
“That was an experience I wouldn’t change for the world,” she said. “It was amazing to experience life outside of this country while not falling behind.”
Access to extracurriculars was also an essential part of O’Brien’s college experience. An active high school student, she continued that trend at Saint Mary’s, getting involved in numerous organizations including the student newspaper, Habitat for Humanity, choir, and band.
“There was a lot I was involved in,” she said. “And it was great to be able to connect with my classmates and cohorts outside of the classroom.”
To O’Brien, her time at Saint Mary’s seemed like “the best of both worlds.”
“I was able to enjoy small class sizes, develop amazing friends, and have all these clubs and extracurriculars I could be a part of,” she said. “I truly enjoyed it.”
Alumni help keeps college accessible
A first-generation college student, Chuck Joseph B’66 knows firsthand about Saint Mary’s University’s goal to make education accessible to every student. And it’s the accessibility to the breadth of education Saint Mary’s has to offer that has kept him close to his alma mater for so long.
Growing up during the Great Depression, neither of Joseph’s parents had the opportunity to finish their education and pursue college.
“My mother started working as a secretary at 16, and my dad ran away from home and joined a carnival at 16,” Joseph said. “Neither finished high school, so a good education was kind of a goal they set for their kids.”
Joseph became acquainted with Saint Mary’s after a De La Salle Christian Brother visited the Catholic high school he attended in the Chicago area. Besides being an affordable option for education, (According to Joseph, tuition was only $1,000 at the time.) it was an opportunity to learn from the Brothers on campus, and Joseph decided to pursue a physics degree at Saint Mary’s.
Joseph found himself on campus during a momentous time. During his junior year, the first group of female students from the College of Saint Teresa, a majority of whom were math and physics majors, began taking courses at Saint Mary’s. Joseph was also a classmate of Blessed James Miller, the beatified De La Salle Christian Brother and Saint Mary’s alumnus who died serving and protecting youth in Guatemala.
“My class produced a number of Ph.D.s, a pro hockey player, and a number of successful people,” Joseph said. “But as one classmate said, Brother James’ beatification trumps them all.”
While there were many memorable moments during his time on campus, Joseph says what he holds most dear is the time he spent learning from the De La Salle Christian Brothers.
“I owe so much to the Brothers who were at Saint Mary’s at the time,” Joseph said. “They really gave us a good education and taught me how to think and be flexible about where I was going to go after Saint Mary’s.”
The lesson in flexibility was key for Joseph as he navigated his professional life. After leaving Saint Mary’s, he first began a master’s degree in physics prior to entering the business world in 1969 building market research models for Quaker Oats.
“Business majors had no clue what to do with the computer in those days,” Joseph joked.
After a stint at Quaker Oats, Joseph continued building a career in market research, eventually landing a job at Ecolab in Saint Paul, Minn. It was in the Twin Cities where Joseph took the talents he built at Saint Mary’s and through his career and began using them to serve others, first by serving on a finance committee for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. After retiring in Racine, Wis., he continued his volunteer work, writing a monthly column for the newspaper about how to avoid senior fraud and serving on the local traffic safety commission.
It was his time volunteering with the archdiocese, however, that made him reflect on his time in Winona and want to continue to make Saint Mary’s an accessible place to those seeking an education.
Joseph has given to the university through a number of funds, as well as an irrevocable charitable trust he created. However, now he primarily gives to the First Generation Initiative (FGI), a program at Saint Mary’s focused on providing academic success for first-generation college students.
“I wish something like that had been there for me when I started college,” Joseph said. “I probably would have avoided some of the hardships I had in my first year.”
He added, “It’s a phenomenal program, and the hope of keeping Catholic education going through programs like this goes back to the whole original concept of why the De La Salle Christian Brothers were founded.”
Another major gift Joseph gave to the school was a donation to the renovation of Aquinas Hall, formerly known as the Adducci Science Center’s Hoffman and Brother Charles Halls and the Science and Learning Center. The building now houses the business, science, and psychology departments, as well as the new B.S. in Nursing program. Joseph was gratified to be able to return to campus for a recent reunion to see the new building and gain an understanding of the benefits the facility and programming inside will have on students.
“I’m pleased there is a bigger space for the sciences,” Joseph said. “Especially as the science programs continue to grow bigger and stronger.”
For Joseph, giving to help keep education at Saint Mary’s accessible — be it donating to scholarship funds or capital improvements — helps keep him connected to his alma mater. He says he regularly sees a return on investment. That especially rings true when he receives communications from FGI Scholars.
“It’s always fun to receive a handwritten note from the kids and get an idea of what’s going on at campus,” he said. “And those communications do make you feel like there is a return or reward for your giving.”
Student gains experience working in public defenders’ office
WINONA, Minn. — Nick Vanden Heuvel, an assistant public defender for the 3rd Judicial District in Winona, can tell you from experience that internships, no matter how valuable, never truly prepare someone for a career in law. The learning curve is far too steep.
“Internships are good because they help you realize, mostly, what you want to do when you get out of college,” he said. “I used to want to work for Congress in the Capitol, and that internship taught me I didn’t like that culture. I also realized I didn’t care for family law. (But, when I interned in the public defender’s office), I was hooked, and I loved the work.”
Vanden Heuvel is looking for interns who share that passion. “We’re looking for someone who believes in the mission of public defense, which is that everyone deserves fair counsel and a fair legal process,” he said, adding that someone who is a go-getter, eager to learn and to work, is also an asset.
This summer, Seth Gonring, a Saint Mary’s University junior who met that criteria, is one of two interns with Vanden Heuvel’s office. As Gonring’s dad is an attorney manager in the Madison, Wis., public defender’s office, he is familiar with their mission, And as a pitcher on the Cardinal baseball team, he knows the meaning of hustle.
Immersing himself in the internship has helped solidify Gonring’s desire to work in the criminal justice system after law school. “It solidified my plans after seeing what an attorney does day to day,” he said. “It’s not always glamorous. Attorneys aren’t arguing every day in court; there’s a lot of research and paperwork. But I think it’s incredible to watch them advocate for and help their clients, and that’s something I would love to do in the future.”
Vanden Heuvel agrees. “I have had a pretty good life … After I talked to people who didn’t have the same opportunities I had, I decided I wanted to give back,” he said. “When I started in the public defender’s office, I realized this is the greatest thing you can do with a good education to give back.
“I think a lot of people believe my job is defending bad people,” he added. “Many of us have done something that’s illegal but have been just lucky enough to not have been caught. In reality, I’m defending people who have made one mistake or a series of mistakes that they now regret, or they have an addiction they are trying to get over. I am trying to make sure their mistake doesn’t follow them for the rest of their lives. A lot of people (we represent) never come back again.”
Gonring, who is majoring in criminal justice and minoring in psychology, has found this combination of academic disciplines valuable and applicable to his internship and his future career. For example, learning in his abnormal psychology course about competency and insanity and how an individual is assessed has helped him understand better what occurs when a client’s competency is called into question.
His American constitutional law course has given him a good understanding of the amendments, which are foundational to addressing client’s freedoms. “To have the base and background knowledge of famous cases, statutes, and precedents that have been set has been valuable,” Gonring added. “I’m seeing the things I’ve learned play out in life.”
Admittedly, a lot of Gonring’s job as an intern has been what Vanden Heuvel describes as “legal Google.” Research is crucial in the day-to-day job. He’s also been helping with clerical work.
“I’ve been printing and sending out court dates to clients, closing old files, scanning information, and sending it to a database,” Gonring said, adding that his research has involved topics like evicting a tenant at will, particularity and staleness of warrants, evidence, probable cause, and when character evidence is allowed in a trial. “I also helped write a brief for a motion to suppress evidence, which I had never done before,” he said. “Each day is different.”
Vanden Heuvel said he believes Gonring will do well in law school. “He’s more than helpful. He’s also a lot of fun, and he fits in really well. Based on how he’s doing so far, I know he can hack it,” he said.
“One of the attorneys told me that if I wanted to come back in the fall, they’d be more than happy to have me help out. I’m so happy to have the opportunity to continue once the school year starts,” Gonring said. “It’s been a phenomenal opportunity to get real-world experience. Everyone there is a great person and works for a great cause. This is a great summer to learn more about what’s to come.”
Honoring Saint Mary’s retirees: Joe Dulak
Current/former title(s)
Assistant director of the Academic Skills Center and Reading Lab supervisor; director of the Academic Skills Center; director of Learning Services; director of Learning Services and First Generation Initiative
How many years have you worked at Saint Mary’s and what brought you here?
31 years. I just graduated from my master’s program in counseling: college student development in Mankato. I was newly married. I was in Mankato and my new wife (Karen) was living in Minneapolis. I had a new job, new living arrangements — a new start to life.
What have you enjoyed most about teaching/your job?
I started as a teacher, teaching college reading and study skills and variations on that theme. I was able to teach technology to the honors students; computer, speech, and reading to the international students; and technology to the faculty. (I was faculty development for a semester.)
I took on more administrative roles, overseeing tutoring, assisting with access services (disability services back then), advising, and became the case manager for Early Alert eventually.
I enjoyed working with the De La Salle Christian Brothers, students, faculty, and staff the most. We felt like family for much of my time here. I got to work with those students who struggled, and those that stood out above the rest (my tutors and peer learning assistants). In my roles, I was able to interact with most of the faculty and much of the staff. It was an honor to be connected to so many individuals who were here to help students at the college.
How do you hope you’re remembered/what will you most be remembered for?
My laugh. I once interrupted a class on the fourth floor of Saint Mary’s Hall as I was laughing and coming out of the Toner Student Center.
What are you most proud of from your career?
The opportunity to have my children attend Saint Mary’s, and now my daughter is working and recently advanced in admissions.
What are your retirement plans?
Lifelong learning, just like our mission has stated all these years. I’m going to improve my guitar playing, learn how to draw, and read a lot. I’m also going to focus on my health and well-being.
What will you miss the most?
The people (the Brothers, students, staff, faculty, and administration).
Honoring Saint Mary’s retirees: David Jackson
Current/former title(s)
Dr. David Jackson, associate professor, School of Education, and former chair and dean of the School of Education.
Dr. David Jackson, associate professor, School of Education, and former chair and dean of the School of Education.
How many years have you worked at Saint Mary’s and what brought you here?
I have been working at Saint Mary’s for the past 27 years. What brought me here was the opportunity to be a part of a university/program that was innovative and committed to preparing outstanding teachers.
What have you enjoyed most about teaching?
What I have most enjoyed about teaching has been the opportunity to get to know and work with so many wonderful students who have been passionate about teaching and learning, and their desires to make a difference in the lives of their students. I loved facilitating learning through having the students engaged in classroom activities.
How do you hope you’re remembered/what will you most be remembered for?
I hope to be remembered for my joy and passion for teaching. I hope that students will recall with fondness the different creative learning activities we did in class that brought to life whatever we were studying and helped to build a strong learning community where everyone supported one another.
What are you most proud of from your career?
I am most proud of working collaboratively with my colleagues in the School of Education and others across the university in building and supporting exceptional education programs where our students, both pre-service and practicing teachers, have developed into outstanding educators who are making a difference in the lives of their students and their communities.
What are your retirement plans?
I am looking forward to traveling with my wife to new places as we seek to experience different cultures and make new friends. I also plan to continue to work on my golf game, fishing the Mississippi River, gardening, and spending time with family.
What will you miss the most?
I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to work with so many wonderful colleagues and students over the years. I will miss the day-to-day conversations I have with them. I will also miss the excitement and energy that comes with teaching students, finding innovative ways to engage them in the learning process and having them share their thoughts and new ideas with one another in the classroom. Most of all, I will miss helping students achieve their dreams and goals.
Saint Mary’s alumnus named top innovative teacher by TIME Magazine
Kevin Bross M’03 was recently named one of TIME Magazine’s 10 Innovative Teachers for his work in implementing instructional rounds at Blaine (Minn.) High School. Modeled on medical rounds performed by doctors, Bross and other teachers observe a classroom teacher and later conduct a debriefing that notes the effective educational practices they observed.
Teachers are given time to incorporate learning into their teaching, then other teachers cycle through to observe them. Finally, scheduled follow-ups ensure these things are going well or determine what a teacher needs to meet his or her goals. It’s all about identifying effective practices by watching, discussing, and repeating the process with different teachers.
“The recognition by TIME reaffirms the work we’re doing, and it’s nice that others see the value,” Bross said. “Instructional rounds are a collaborative effort with lots of people involved, and it makes me want to find ways to share this with other districts and help more students.”
Teaching in his blood
One could argue Bross has teaching and coaching baseball in his blood. Bross’ father taught social studies and served as head baseball coach at Anoka (Minn.) High School, where Bross played for him. Bross later taught social studies and coached the Anoka baseball team – and hired his dad as an assistant coach.
Saint Mary’s played an important role in Bross’ professional growth and development. After earning his bachelor’s degree in education, his dad pushed him to find a master’s program that was challenging, flexible, and could be completed while teaching. After several people recommended Saint Mary’s, he enrolled in the M.Ed. program in 2001.
“There were things that stood out at Saint Mary’s. I had been learning about research that would later become growth mindset theory, the value of feedback, and being challenged. In Tom Born’s summary paper prep class, he showed us two papers. One had minimal feedback, the other had red ink on every line,” adds Bross. “He said we could choose; I decided I wanted mine all marked up.”
Amazing things in classrooms
Bross consciously chose to dive in because he realized to truly grow he needed to be pushed. The feedback was valuable and helped him view teaching through a broader lens. After being a classroom teacher for 14 years, Bross moved to performing teacher evaluations, and believes he grew and benefitted more than the teachers he was there to help.
Amazing things were occurring in classrooms, and although Bross knew observational learning is really powerful, he also knew teachers had no time or structure to see other classrooms. Bross realized he had to figure out ways to get teachers into other classrooms to see great instruction.
“I had read about instructional rounds, I didn’t invent it, and knew the value of observing great instruction. It was a complete collaboration working with others to get this program going, and we have an amazing administrative team,” Bross said. “We identify who’s doing things that are working. We watch them, discuss, and repeat with different teachers. It’s a model for the next group.”
Promoting effective teaching practices
Bross is enthusiastic about providing coaching and support to facilitate effective teaching, and believes instructional rounds improve teaching by allowing the spread of effective teaching practices to rapidly move through a school.
“Our kids deserve the best instruction we can deliver, and I think this is just the tip of the iceberg,” Bross said. “I think we can do more and better, fine tuning and developing innovative practices. We need to keep focusing on what we’re doing and help as many students as possible.
“I would absolutely recommend Saint Mary’s because it provided me the challenge and insights that I needed to grow as an educator,” he added. One more classroom experience Bross really appreciates from his time at Saint Mary’s was meeting his future wife in his very first class. He thanks Saint Mary’s for that and the fact they went through the whole program together.
Story by Tom Brandes
Saint Mary’s honors five alumni during 2022 Alumni Awards ceremony
Last month, the Saint Mary’s community welcomed hundreds of alumni back to campus for Reunion Weekend 2022.
This was the first time Reunion Weekend was held in person since 2019.
During the event-filled weekend, Saint Mary’s celebrated the following individuals during the 2022 Alumni Awards ceremony on Saturday, June 25:
Robert ‘Bob’ Skemp ’49
Distinguished Alumnus Award
Robert “Bob” Skemp considers Saint Mary’s home. He and his family have been part of the university — and supported its growth — for decades. His father, Thomas Skemp, was long-time football coach from 1919-1929. Next came Bob’s older Brother Tom Jr. ’45 who joined the then college’s Navy V-12 program. Bob found his turn at Saint Mary’s in June of 1945 in an accelerated program, due to the war. He made life-long friends, played football and basketball (serving as captain in ’48-’49), studied history, and paved the way for two more brothers, Bill B’56, and Joseph ’50. Sister Eileen Gass CST’53 attended Saint Teresa. Most importantly, at Saint Mary’s, he met his wife, Frances (Perry) CST’51, and they would go on to have 10 children, many of whom also attended Saint Mary’s and the College of Saint Teresa. He went on to Marquette Law School and had a successful law career in La Crosse, Wis. In 2010, Skemp was honored by the State Bar of Wisconsin with the Leonard L. Loeb Award, which honors a lifetime of exceptional contributions to the community and to the goal of justice for all Wisconsin citizens. Bob continues the legacy of Skemp generosity, and recognizes his appreciation for the De La Salle Christian Brothers, through many gracious gifts to Saint Mary’s.
Honorable Judge George Stephenson B’80
Distinguished Alumnus Award
As a judge in Ramsey County District Court, from 2002 until his recent retirement, Honorable Judge George Stephenson made it his mission to make his community better, fostering relationships with community groups and creating programs and advocating for those incarcerated to make changes in their lives. Judge Stephenson initiated or helped launch the John School Program, which provides educational intervention to clients of prostitutes; St. Paul’s Community Court, a program which more assertively handles cases involving “quality of life” (neighborhood nuisance offenses with an emphasis on completing community service hours); and the Community Prosecutor Program, a group of community leaders working to devise strategies to proactively engage youth and prevent them from getting into trouble. In 2020, he received the Minnesota District Judges’ Association President’s Award for Commitment to Excellence and the Minnesota District Judges’ Foundation Award for Outstanding Service to the Community. It is only the second time that one judge received both awards in the same year. With his recent retirement from the bench, he has shifted into creating and selling horror and monster models and busts through Black Heart Enterprises. Judge Stephenson also was inducted into the SMU Sports Hall of Fame in 2000 for his wrestling successes.
Sue Fangel M’09, B’19
Alumni Appreciation Award
Sue Fangel, who has devoted 42 years of her life to nursing, believes in the power of education and lifelong learning. At 48, she decided to enroll in Saint Mary’s M.A. in Health and Human Services Administration program. Ten years later, at 58, she needed a B.S. in Nursing degree and again turned to Saint Mary’s. In her career, she has moved through the ranks of nursing and leadership, starting as an LPN and now working as vice president/chief nursing officer for M Health Fairview, St. John’s, and St. Joseph’s Hospitals in St. Paul. Overseeing all nursing operations at two hospitals, she particularly enjoys mentoring younger nurses and healthcare staff to learn and grow for the future. She has used her skills and her vast knowledge on the Nursing Advisory Council and is also serving on Saint Mary’s Board of Regents, the advisory board of the graduate school. She and her husband, Tim, have two adult sons, James B’08, M’19 and Andrew B’11, M’19 who are also Saint Mary’s alumni, along with their wives, Sophie (Harrison) ’B13, M’18 and Abby (Lough) B’13. James, Andrew, and Sophie also have master’s degrees in health and Human Services. They also have four grandchildren, Jacob, Charlotte, Carly, and Elena.
Sarah Jane (Engle) Maher B’07
Lasallian Service Award
Sarah Jane (Engle) Maher, the director of service and social justice at La Salle Catholic College Preparatory High School in Milwaukie, Ore., has dedicated her career to the Lasallian mission. She majored in ministry and minored in music at Saint Mary’s, where her passion began through S.O.U.L. (Serving Others United in Love) trips and many other activities. After graduating, she joined the Lasallian Volunteers and worked in campus ministry at Bishop Loughlin High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. Her passion grew for radical hospitality to those facing injustices such as racism, houselessness, and generational poverty. Her career path then took her to Villanova University where she studied theology, worked in the campus ministry office, and fell in love with a fellow Lasallian Volunteer who later became her husband. Daniel and Sarah Maher, shaped by their experience with the De La Salle Brothers, headed west to Portland, Ore., where they started a lay community for four Lasallian Volunteers to work at De La Salle North Catholic High School where they were also employed. Sarah worked at DLSNC for seven years as a theology teacher and Campus Minister before moving to La Salle Prep where she works today.
Zach Cizek B’11
Outstanding Young Alumnus Award
Zach Cizek used his years of business acumen in the medical device industry — and a taste for entrepreneurship — into building a tasty food-related business. Cizek works for a medical device endoscopy company, Ambu, as a regional sales director. In his work, he oversees sales operations throughout 13 states for Ambu’s Urology & ENT division. Prior to his current sales management role, he was a field sales rep for Ambu for seven years, living in both Chicago, Ill., and the Twin Cities. While working as a sales rep, Zach and his wife, Jessica B’12, launched a successful sandwich-turned-Italian sauce business in 2013. The couple were inspired by a sandwich they had while studying abroad in Florence, Italy the summer prior to senior year. Bollito’s began, first as a traveling sandwich business at street fairs in Chicago and then pivoting into an Italian sauce company. Bollito’s sold their sauces in 175+ retail locations, including all Midwest Wholefoods locations. Zach credits Saint Mary’s for instilling the entrepreneurial spirit he’s used in both of his careers. During his senior year, he was selected as a member of the Saint Mary’s Mayo Innovation Scholar team, and during his senior year entrepreneurship class, Zach’s business plan project was to create a sandwich shop selling the Italian-inspired sandwich which ultimately became Bollito’s. The Cizeks have two children, Miliania and Callen, and currently live in Stillwater, Minn.
Recent grad to run, walk, or Rollerblade 250 miles in 100 days to raise funds for Minnesota Special Hockey team
Jordan Keeley, a recent Saint Mary’s graduate, is using her summer to go the extra mile … actually, the extra 250 miles. This summer, Keeley plans to run, walk, or Rollerblade 250 miles in 100 days to raise funds for the Minnesota Special Hockey team based in Rochester.
According to Keeley, the funds raised would help players afford registration fees and guarantee them time on the ice.
As of July 5, she has logged over 140 miles. Keeley hopes to hit her goal by the end of August. Donations to Keeley can be made on the Facebook page created for her fundraiser. Those who donate can also track her progress through the summer.
Last summer, Keeley undertook a similar fundraiser, raising money for the Saint Mary’s Benefit Dance.
Summer internship offers an opportunity to make a difference
A summer internship with Saint Mary’s GeoSpatial Services would normally mean testing water samples in a lab, as well as mapping at a computer. And while the majority of her internship will include just that, Katrina Danzinger had a unique opportunity to save the environment more directly.
Earlier this month, Danzinger, a Saint Mary’s senior who is studying environmental biology and has an interest in water quality, spent a week in coastal Alaska with the Ocean Plastics Recovery Project removing debris from the coastline of Katmai National Park and Preserve.
“My boss at GeoSpatial services brought up this opportunity to me, and I said, ‘Of course, I want to go to Alaska,’ ” she said. “Then he asked, ‘How do you feel about flying on a bush plane?’ I of course said ‘Fantastic!’ So, I was thrilled when I was selected to do this.”
Photo by Max Romey
Since its founding, the Ocean Plastics Recovery Project has worked to remove ocean debris from the Alaskan Coastline, as well as provide outreach and education about the detrimental impact of ocean plastics through storytelling and art.
The opportunity came about as a result of GeoSpatial Services’ ongoing partnerships with corporate and nonprofit organizations — and its desire to expand experiential learning opportunities for Saint Mary’s students.
“Most of the students we have working for us get exposed to real-world work from projects in different parts of the country. However, right now, they’re doing it from campus,” said Andy Robertson, director of GeoSpatial Services. “What we’re working on now is being able to provide students with that same type of growth experience, but in other locations. This partnership is the first of its kind where we are taking students to our partners and allowing them to go to other locations and practice their area of interest.”
Danzinger’s memorable bush plane flight June 4 brought her to the boat, on which she would spend the next week assisting with cleanup efforts.
“The ride was a little cramped, but it was fantastic,” she said. “We took off on the water and went over multiple mountains. We saw all kinds of wildlife, including otters, and we saw a waterfall coming down a glacier. It was so fun.”
Watch this video to hear Danzinger discuss her trip. Story continues below.
Once aboard, Danzinger joined crewmembers of the Ocean Plastics Recovery Project, other undergraduate students, graduate students, professionals in the recycling industry, and a local fisherman and environmental entrepreneur.
After the team was acquainted and trained in bear etiquette (as the region in which they were working in is home to the Katmai brown bear), the cleanup began. The expedition prior to Danzinger’s was able to recover 9,000 pounds of plastic, so her group aimed to bring in 10,000 pounds.
Each day, Danzinger and her team would be dropped on a beach and would fill “super sacks” with debris. The variety of items her team found during the cleanups was surprising, she said. These included rope and twine, fishing buoys, food packaging, tanks of gasoline, and “so many shoes and boots.”
One particularly memorable moment for Danzinger included the crew’s recovery of a 1,000-pound rope that had become entangled in driftwood.
“It took both of our teams, which was about 15 some people, to get that rope out of the water,” she said. “Once it was out, it was such a relief. It felt great, because not only do you know you’re making a difference, the work itself is so sat
Photo by Max Romey
isfying.”
Along with debris recovery, Danzinger spent time during the trip learning about the lifecycle of plastics and the threats they have to the environment and food chains of native wildlife.
“Through this trip, I learned way more about recycling than I ever thought I would,” she said.
By the time the expedition returned from its trip, it had recovered a total of 10,827 pounds, or 5.4 tons, of plastics.
“According to the captain of the boat, it was one of the biggest recovery expeditions he has had,” Danzinger said.
Now back on the Winona Campus and continuing her internship with GeoSpatial Services, Danzinger says she is grateful for all the takeaways from her weeklong expedition. After seeing the amount of plastic debris that has built up along coastlines and learning about the devastating effects it can have on the environment, she says she is already taking steps to change her consumption and recycling habits.
“Having an opportunity like this can really shape a person,” she said. “I never realized how much plastic waste I make or that there was a big recycling operation near me. And I think that experiencing this and verifying that this might be something I want to do is so important.”
Nearly 400 students named to Saint Mary’s Dean’s List
Congratulations to the following undergraduate students, who were named to the Dean’s List at Saint Mary’s University. The list includes nearly 400 undergraduate students who earned a grade point average of 3.60 or better on a 4.0 scale.
Student name, hometown, parents’ or guardians’ name/s
Aidan Adamek, Helena, Mont., Marika Ademek
Kiarra Ahrens, Richmond, Minn., Rick and Deb Ahrens
Jillian Alekna, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., Michael and Janet Alekna
Mandukhai Alimaa, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Alimaa Namsrai
Elise Amerongen, Lake Elmo, Minn., John and Lisa Amerongen
Brinton Anderson, Pulaski, Wis., Timothy and Melissa Anderson
Ryann Aschenbrener, Whitewater, Wis., Crystal Aschenbrener
Anna Bachmeier, Hopkins, Minn., Dana Bachmeier
Julia Backlund, Jordan, Minn., Eric and Shannon Backlund
Miranda Bade, Saint Paul, Minn.
Alexus Banda, El Paso, Texas, Betty Hidrogo
Allysa Barlow, Appleton, Wis., Mary Barlow
Matthew Barton, Lakeville, Minn.
Christopher Bartz, Houston, Minn.
Kathryn Bates, Durham, N.C., Barry and Melissa Bates
Riley Bauman, Stratford, Wis., Scott and Michelle Bauman
Rylan Bearden, Rochester, Minn., Rick and Florentina Bearden
Zoie Becker, Saint James, Minn., John Becker
Andrew Beine, Campbellsport, Wis., Ronald and Mary Beine
Jacqueline Beltran, Waukegan, Ill., Gabriela Cazarez
Matthew Besek, Winona, Minn., Jeff and Anne Besek
Felicity Bieker, De Pere, Wis., Greg and Melissa Bieger
Jada Biermeier, Eau Claire, Wis., Frank and Michelle Biermeier
Britney Blacker, Castle Rock, Colo., Lisa Blacker
Kathleen Blissenbach, Hastings, Minn., Peter and Renee Blissenbach
Ella Boomgaarden, Saint Peter, Minn., Mark and Laura Boomgaarden
Kaydi Breeser, Caledonia, Minn., Anthony and Beth Breeser
Isaiah Brindamour, Hinckley, Minn., Sam Brindamour
Jack Broaders, Chicago, Ill., Patrick and Sara Broaders
Peyton Bueman, Shawano, Wis.
Hannah Bunke, Saint Charles, Minn., Scott and Kathy Bunke
Sean Burke, Chicago, Ill.
Emmarie Byom, La Crescent, Minn.
Delaney Calabrese, West Dundee, Ill.
Djeneba Camara, Chicago, Ill., Moustapha Fane
Alexander Cannon, Canton, Mich., Mike and Lauren Cannon
Cheyenne Carlsen, Big Lake, Minn., Darin Gladen and Susan Carlsen
Catherine Carlson, Lake Elmo, Minn., Aaron and Julia Carlson
Samantha Carlson, Circle Pines, Minn., Darren Carlson
Anne Carmean, Blaine, Minn., John and Mary Carmean
Grace Chalmers, Albert Lea, Neil and Aimee Chalmers
Allison Ciero, Glen Ellyn, Ill., Jon and Brenda Ciero
Cori Claeys, Lakeville, Minn.
Shane Cleary, Rochester, Minn., Kristin Cleary
Larkin Clem, Elk River, Minn., Laura Clem
Jacob Clements, Holmen, Wis., Brian and Sara Clements
Keaton Cloven, Castle Rock, Colo., Stephanie Cloven
Justine Cobbett, Saint Paul, Minn., Thomas and Angie Cobbett
Leo Colling, Jordan Minn.
Thomas Comstock, White Bear Lake, Minn., Lisa Comstock
Kaitlin Conniff, Caledonia, Minn., Shannon Conniff
Garrison Corn, Grand Junction, Colo., Stephen and Kelly Corn
Jose Corvera Garcia, Santa Tecla, El Salvador, Jose Corvera
Colleen Costello, Delano, Minn., David and Judy Costello
Mason Coyle, Madison, Wis.
Emily Crandall, Stillwater, Minn., Geoffrey and Allison Crandall
Katelyn Cruze, Litchfield, Minn., Kathy Cruze
Sean Curran, Appleton, Wis., Rich and Cortney Curran
Grace Cushman, Mayer, Minn., Keith and Jody Cushman
Peter Danner, Grafton, Wis., Steve and Eva Danner
Katrina Danzinger, Alma, Wis., Stefanie Danzinger
Kylie Davidson, Oronoco, Minn.
Natalie Degener, Rochester, Minn., Chris and Jennifer Degener
Theresa DeGross, Minneapolis, Minn.
Josie Denzin, Neenah, Wis., James and Vicki Denzin
Patrick Derleth, Berlin, Wis., Peter and Susan Derleth
Katherine Devine, Glencoe, Ill., Ted and Valerie Devine
Michelle Dewitz, Osseo, Wis., Tim and Nancy Dewitz
Michelle Doering, Minneapolis, Minn., Mark and Renee Doering
Hanna Dorff, Elk River, Minn., Chris Dorff
Oran Dornelly, Micoud, Saint Lucia, George and Francisca Dornelly
Megan Drayna, Woodbury, Minn., Mark and Kathy Drayna
Kayla Dwire, Marshall, Minn., Brenda Dwire
Katherine Earley, Leander, Texas, Brynn Earley
Christopher Ellis, Roseville, Minn., Mark Ellis
Ian Erdman, Flower Mound, Texas
Rebekah Erickson, Saint Paul, Minn., Jesse and Jessica Erickson
Jae Faber, Mountain Lake, Minn., Craig and Debra Faber
Mariel Faber, Dodge Center, Minn.
Tabitha Fabin, Elk Grove Village, Ill., Edward and Karen Fabin
Brandon Fagiolo, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Ruoyu Fan, Chengdu, China, Huajiang Fan and Li Zhou
Niying Feng, Foshan, China, Anquan Feng
Kelly Ferguson, Minneapolis, Minn., Dennis and Kathryn Ferguson
Alexander Ferrier, La Crescent, Minn., Tim and Tammy Ferrier
Bennett Feudner, Fond Du Lac, Wis.
Natalie Fink, Rochester, Minn., Tim and Jane Fink
Claire Fletcher, Saint Paul, Minn., Teri Fletcher
Drake Flom, Ellsworth, Wis., Chris and Kari Flom
Cecilia Flores, West Saint Paul, Minn.
Isabelle Fortner, Excelsior, Minn., Mike and Jennifer Fortner
Zavior Franck, Brainerd, Minn., Brian and Tamee Franck
Zackery Frantzen, Urbandale, Iowa, Traci Frantzen
Nathalie Freire Solis, Shakopee, Minn.
Samuel Frick, Rochester, Minn., Sara Frick
Elizabeth Fritton, Rochester, Minn., Scott and Theresa Fritton
Braden Fritz, Minnesota City, Minn., Scott and Lisa Frtiz
Kelsey Fuerstenberg, Wilmonth, Minn., Gary and Karen Fuerstenberg
Mary Furlong, Barrington, Ill., Joe and Allision Furlong
Samantha Ganther, Holmen, Wis., Kevin and Sonya Ganther
Nathaniel Garity, Rochester, Minn., Penny Garity
Henry Gathje, Stewartville, Minn., Paul Andrew and Nora Gathje
Katherine Gawron, Ave Maria, Fla.
Luke Gilbertson, Windom, Minn., Jeffrey and Denise Gilbertson
Grace Gilles, Saint Paul, Minn., Tom and Laurie Gilles
Madeline Gindele, Buffalo, Minn., Paul and Allison Gindele
Erin Grams, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, William and Laura Grams
Sydney Green, Bethel, Minn., John and Amy Green
Megan Greenspan, Rapid City, S.D., Robert and Heather Greenspan
Isabella Griffin, Saint Paul, Minn.
Elizabeth Groothausen, Jordan, Minn., Tom and Lisa Groothausen
Kaitlyn Gross, Spring Grove, Minn., Robert and Amy Gross
Gabrielle Gruenke, Blaine, Minn., Bob and Shelly Gruenke
James Guenther, Rochester, Minn., Adam Guenther and Jennifer Dybsand
Paul Guertin, Elk River, Minn.
Caleb Gundberg, Winona, Minn., Chadd and Jody Gundberg
Cole Gunneson, Rochester, Minn., Timothy and Laurie Gunneson
Katherine Hafner, Rochester, Minn.
Noah Haidar, Saint Paul, Minn., Ahmad and Janet Haidar
Seth Hakes, Oregon, Wis.
Katelyn Halisz, Chicago, Ill., Lisa Halisz
Sarah Halverson, New Hope, Minn. James and Bernadette Halverson
Sarah Hannan, Bangor, Wis., Tim and Nicolle Hannan
Josiah Hanson, Box Elder, S.D., Brett and Shawna Hanson
Josie Hart, Oronoco, Minn.
John Hatton, Naperville, Ill., Richard and Susan Hatton
Justin Haugo, Springfield, Minn., Brad and Kari Haugo
Bridgette Hegarty, Chicago, Ill., Kevin and Barbara Hegarty
Michael Hegarty, Chicago, Ill., Kevin and Barbara Hegarty
Anthony Heier, Winona, Minn., Donald Heier
Shaun Heier, Wiona, Minn., Donald Heier
Emily Henderson, Jordan, Minn., Chad and Kristen Henderson
Lucas Henderson, Lakeville, Minn., Julie Henderson
Gianna Henningsen, Pella, Iowa, Bradley Henningsen
Laura Herronen, Denver, Colo., Jeff Herronen
Rachel Hewitt, Pleasant Hill, Iowa, Sheila Hewitt
Valerie Higgins, Sioux Falls, S.D., John and Nicole Higgins
Makenzie Hodson, Middleton, Wis., Chip and Jeanette Hodson
Sarrianna Hoffer, Anoka, Minn. Paul and Brenda Hoffer
Marian Hollenbeck, Anoka, Minn., Ken Hollenbeck
Grace Howard, Saint Paul, Minn., Michael and Sarah Howard
Grace Hubbell, Minneapolis, Minn., Julianne Hubbell
Nathan Huberty, Elkhorn, Wis., Michael and Colleen Huberty
Jack Hurley, Homewood, Ill. David and Ann Hurley
Vincent Hurley, Maplewood, Minn., Mike Hurley
Jesse Husman, Winona, Minn., Tom Husman
Nicholas Huza, Greenville, Wis.
Sydney Jackman, Litchfield, Minn.
Joshua Janssen, Green Bay, Wis., Robert and Lorie Janssen
Gabrielle Johnson, Minneapolis, Minn., Jacquelline Schluter-Johnson
Jacob Johnson, Hartland, Wis., Jeremy Johnson and Tina Riggs
Joshua Johnson, Moorhead, Minn., William Johnson
Kailee Johnson, Rochester, Minn., Robert and Mary Johnson
Alyssa Jones, Stewartville, Minn., Jarett and Pam Jones
Peyton Jonus, Wabasha, Minn.
Lauren Kantrovich, Delano, Minn. Lyle and Kari Kantrovich
Wade Katula, Fountain City, Wis., Gwen Katula
John Paul Keane, Dakota Dunes, S.D., Kevin and Julie Keane
Alexander Keeler, Antioch, Ill., Jason and Kris Keeler
Jordan Keeley, Saint Peter, Minn., Jeff and Kim Keeley
Emily Kern, Buffalo, Minn.
Madeline Keroff, South Saint Paul, Minn., Stuart and Anne Keroff
Nicholas Kiemel, Colorado Springs, Colo., Tom and Annmarie Kiemel
Noah Kiemel, Colorado Springs, Colo., Tom and Annmarie Kiemel
Landry Kirlsing, Amherst, Wis.
Katherine Kitchen, Metairie, La., Kevin Kitchen
Mitchell Klatt, Barron, Wis., Michael and Jane Klatt
Sydney Klausier, Lakeville, Minn. Tim and Kristin Klausier
Mason Klett, Saint Paul, Minn., Chris and Tiffany Klett
Kendra Klobe, Glencoe, Minn., Reece Klobe
Thomas Kollasch, Bancroft, Iowa
Grace Korkowski, Prior Lake, Minn., Ron and Sue Korkowski
Emma Kral, Emmetsburg, Iowa
Rose Kraus, Goodview, Minn., Jeffrey and Stephanie Kraus
Emily Krautkremer, Montgomery, Minn., Dawn Krautkremer
Eion Kressin, Chippewa Falls, Wis., Michele Kressin
Jonathon Krull, Seymour, Wis., Patrick and Catherine Krull
Kasyn Kruse, Luverne, Minn., Jason and Karla Kruse
Jenna Kurkowski, North Branch, Minn.
Juoleanne Ladao, Lindenhurst, Ill., Jose and Cherrie Ladao
Rachel Lang, Saint James, Minn., Steve and Laura Lang
Nina Langley, Chaska, Minn.
Ian Latvala, Maple Grove, Minn.
Caitlin Ledin, Ashland, Wis., Debra Ledin
Zachariah Lenz, Owatonna, Minn.
Brett Lettner, Trempealeau, Wis., Laurelle Lettner
Brookelyn Lewis, Holmen, Wis., Denise Lewis
Terra Lieser, Andover, Minn., Risa Lieser
Yijun Lin, Chengdu, China
Isabelle Lindahl, Cottage Grove, Minn., Duane and Jill Lindahl
Kristian Lindanger, Tysvaervag, Norway
Brady Lindauer, Land O’ Lakes, Fla., Kevin and Debra Lindauer
Tanner Linduski, Fall Creek, Wis., Toni Marten
Samuel Luhman, Saint Paul, Minn, Thomas Luhman and Amy Gohdes-Luhman
Holland Lutgen, Minneapolis, Minn., Edward and Linda Lutgen
Janette Madrigal, Cicero, Ill.
Kailee Magaard, Mankato, Minn., Kevin and Cherie Magaard
Thomas Magnavite, Palos Heights, Ill., Rocco and Lana Magnavite
Keegan Majerus, Pine Island, Minn., Michael and Mindy Majerus
Grace Mandel, Victoria, Minn., Mark and Keely Mandel
Kaley Manglitz, Onalaska, Wis.
Emma Mara, Woodbury, Minn. James and Kathryn Mara
Joseph Markert, Saint Paul, Minn.
Andrew Martin, Shell Lake, Wis., Peter and Kim Martin
Kamryn Matta, Edinburg, Texas, Carolina Campos
Jordyn Matthews, Redmond, Wash.
Madysen McCormick, Black River Falls, Wis., Matthew and Cindy McCormick
Jane McGann, Chicago, Ill., Stephen and Julie McGann
Reid McKeown, Saint Paul, Minn., Colin and Lisa McKeown
Brooklyn McKinney, Brighton, Colo.
Elliot McLarty, Sioux City, Iowa, Patrick and Lisa McLarty
Garrett McLaughlin, Eden Prairie, Minn., Tim and Lynette McLaughlin
AnneMarie McMahon, Holmen, Wis., Rachelle McMahon Linskey
Caitlin Meier, LaVista, Neb., Mark Meier and Rebecca Aden
Barry Meinholz, Cross Plains, Wis.
Jacob Mejino, Westchester, Ill.
Danielle Mengel, Stevens Point, Wis., Bill Mengel
Jake Mercado, Belle Plaine, Minn., Corinne Mercado
Brandon Merfeld, La Crosse, Wis., John and Heather Merfield
Morgan Meyer, Kellog, Minn.
Olivia Meyer, Rice Lake, Wis., Jeremy and Rebecca Meyer
Amber Miller, Kasson, Minn., Michael and Heather Miller
Jordan Modjeski, South Lyon, Mich., Mike and Laura Modjeski
Mackenzie Moller, Cave Creek, Ariz., Charles and Kris Moller
Lindsey Monnet, Rochester, Minn., Dan and Janae Monnet
Kennedy Morgan, De Pere, Wis., Bryan and Kenna Morgan
Paige Morris, Chandler, Ariz.
Nyasha Mpofu, Johannesburg, South Africa, Prosper Mpofu
Andrew Mullaney, Volga, S.D., Michael and Carolyn Mullaney
Natalie Munich, Hayward, Wis., Charlie and Julie Munich
Anna Muntifering, Eagan, Minn., Todd and Susan Muntifering
Madeline Murphy, Le Claire, Iowa, Lorena Murphy
Saki Nakatsura, Kashiwa, Japan
Kirsten Neistadt, Baxter, Minn., Seth and Emily Neistadt
Lindsey Nelson, Winona, Minn., Chris and Tanya Nelson
Isaac Nemeth, Plymouth Minn., Lori Nemeth
Maggie Newhouse, Owatonna, Minn., Deena Newhouse
Elizabeth Newman, Otsego, Mich., Larry Newman
Alexis Nguyen, West Covina, Calif., Rita Nguyen
Allyson Niedospial, Oak Lawn, Ill., Sandy Niedospial
Analise Nielsen, Albertville, Minn., Laura Nielsen
Heather Nordlund, Byron, Minn.
Abby Nosbisch, Chatfield, Minn., Kelly Nosbich
Mark Nosbush, Paynesville, Minn., Monica Nosbush
Katherine Novak, Saint Paul, Minn., Ron and Amy Novak
Lyanna Novak, Chicago, Ill., Patrick Novak
Morgan Novotny, Inver Grove Heights, Minn., Mike and Lisa Novotny
William O’Donnell, Crown Point, Ind., Dale O’Donnell
Luke Olson, Moline, Ill., Andrew and Melinda Olson
Christopher Orsello, Chicago, Ill., Albert and Jennifer Orsello
Margaret Osterbauer, Minneapolis, Minn.
Isabelle Ostrem, Cochrane, Wis., Cindy Ostrem
Abigail Painovich, Hinckley, Minn., Nate Painovich
Kyle Palmberg, Holmen, Wis., Robert and Debra Palmberg
Mason Palmer, Holmen, Wis.
Joseph Parenteau, Minneapolis, Minn., David and Michelle Parenteau
Brooklyn Paulson, Holmen, Wis., Joel and Kimberly Paulson
Luke Pauly, Minneapolis, Minn., Deborah Pauly
Katherine Perkins, Happy Valley, Ore.
Francis Perroud, Villa Elisa, Argentina
Joshua Perry, La Crosse, Wis., Brian Perry and Tammy Schmidt
Elle Petersen, Chanhassen, Minn.
Lexy Peterson, Cochrane, Wis., Jennifer Peterson
Natalie Peterson, Saint Cloud, Minn.
Seth Peterson, Black River Falls, Wis., Corey Peterson
Hunter Phillips, Minong, Wis., Lynette Phillips
Ryan Pierce, Crown Point, Ind., Ivan and Brianna Pierce
Tzolquin Pinedo, Saint Paul, Minn., Maria de los Angeles Marquez
Laudon Poellinger, Hokah, Minn.
Alexis Pogatchnik, Rice, Minn., Michelle Pogatchnik
Jeffrey Pokuta, Johnsburg, Ill., Jeff and Susan Pokuta
Sidney Polzin, Chippewa Falls, Wis.
Charles Pomroy, Menomonee Falls, Wis.
Gabe Potyk, Oakland Township, Mich.
Dalton Prenot, Winona, Minn., Robert and Pamela Prenot
Caitlin Preusser, Henderson, Minn., Martin and Karen Preusser
Morgan Prokosch, Belle Plaine, Minn., David and Sheri Prokosch
Luke Puffer, Duluth, Minn., Duncan Puffer and Stephanie Schirtzinger
Peter Quinn, Lake Elmo, Minn.
Brianna Raabolle, Elk River, Minn., Nels and Shannon Raabolle
Karson Rades, Appleton, Wis., Kristen Braatz
Faith Rains, Eldridge, Iowa
Maya Reichenbacher, La Crosse, Wis., Tom and Tammy Reichenbacher
Noah Reinhardt, Castle Pines, Colo., Jonathan Reinhardt
Luis Reyes, Madison, Wis., Daniel and Claudia Reyes
Riley Reynolds, Mora, Minn., Nathan Reynolds and Jocelyn Holmes
Danielle Rhodes, Pewaukee, Wis., Scott and Jeanne Rhodes
Anthony Richter, Gillette, Wyo.
Akela Rimstad, Richfield, Minn., John and Leslie Rimstad
Emma Ririe, Darien, Ill., Adam and Kathleen Ririe
Caden Rodning, Mason City, Iowa, Anne Boyer
Melina Rodriguez, Des Moines, Iowa, Angelica Rodriguez
Mario Rodriguez Gomez, Sonzacate, El Salvador
Eryn Roemhildt, Saint Peter, Minn., Jennifer Roemhildt
Kaitlyn Rollinger, Minnesota City, Minn., Terry and Kathy Rollinger
Jonathan Rothering, Kronenwetter, Wis., Dewey and Kathy Rothering
Elise Roxas, Eagan, Minn., Dennison and Ellen Roxas
Braidyn Ruetten, Holmen, Wis.
Anthony Ruskowski, Traverse City, Mich.
Riley Ruud, Winona, Minn.
Molly Ryan, Saint Paul, Minn., David and Tracy Ryan
Gabriel Rysavy, Owatonna, Minn., Peggy Rysavy
Angel Sacta Espinoza, Apple Valley, Minn., Blanca Espinoza
Hina Sakai, Fukuoka, Japan
Ana Paula Saldana Cisneros, Queretaro, Mexico, Ricardo Saldana and Cynthia Cisneros
Ryan Saltness, Rochester, Minn.
Isaac Sanders, Bloomington, Ill.
Matthew Sankner, Pennington, N.J., Joseph and Teresa Sankner
Avery Scardigli, Andover, Minn., Luke and Carrie Scardigli
Emily Schaffer, Hampton, Minn., Joyce Schaffer
Joseph Schauf, Deforest, Wis., John and Amber Schauf
Hailey Schmidt, Saint Peter, Minn.
Mandy Schmidt, Mitchell, S.D., Ann Schmidt
Trinity Schmidtknecht, Winona, Minn., Kristina Schmidknecht
Cameron Schmit, Byron, Minn.
Jessica Schneider, Minneapolis, Minn., Joe and Michelle Schneider
Peter Schoonmaker, Moline, Ill.
Katherine Schroettner, Oconomowoc, Wis., Andrew Schroettner
Emma Schuster, Rushford, Minn., Tracy Knutson
Cassandra Sepp, Duluth, Minn., Angela Sepp
William Sepsis, Elmhurst, Ill., John and Bessie Sepsis
Benjamin Serb, Wales, Wis., William and Cheryl Serb
Emillie Sema, Bowlus, Minn., Denise Sema
Daniel Sessler, Brookfield, Ill., Paul Sessler
Nikita Sheberov, Greeley, Colo., Maksim and Natalia Sheberov
Deborah Shefa, Cottage Grove, Minn., Seid Shefa and Rahel Haile
Carson Sheridan, Waunakee, Wis., Deana Turner
Jacob Simmons, Winona, Minn., Stephanie Simmons
Rachel Simon, Saint Cloud, Minn., Jerald and Jennifer Simon
Avrey Simonson, Waupaca, Wis., Rick and Lisa Simonson
Kayla Sjodin, Waterford, Wis., Travis and Colleen Sjodin
Noah Skemp, La Crescent, Minn., Joe and Lisa Skemp
Benjamin Slavik, Andover, Minn., Steven and Sandra Slavik
Madalyn Slavin, Woodbury, Minn.
Alyssa Smith, Saint Paul, Minn., Theresa Walker
Michelle Smith, Oak Lawn, Ill.
Timothy Smith, South Saint Paul, Minn., Bruce Smith
Julia Smrecek, Rochester, Minn., Troy and Laura Smrecek
Derek Sonmore, Minneapolis, Minn., Becky Sonmore
Karah Stangret, Blaine, Minn., Mike and Jenifer Stangret
Leona Stastny, Yankton, S.D.
Emma Steele, Sparta, Wis.
Quinn Steinbrecher, Onalaska, Wis., Chelsey Steinbrecher
Tucker Stene, Minneapolis, Minn.
Cole Stepanovich, Milwaukee, Wis.
Audrey Storlie, Hinckley, Minn., Jodi Storlie
Ryan Stoynich, Calgary, Canada, Paul Stoynich
Samuel Streetar, Carver, Minn.
Zachary Streit, Circle Pines, Minn., Randal and Kari Streit
Ashley Streveler, Colby, Wis., Brian and Sara Streveler
Jack Strotbeck, Steamboat Springs, Colo., Erich and Mary Beth Strotbeck
Coleton Strupp, Holmen, Wis., Patrick and Amy Strupp
Lindsay Stussy, Zumbrota, Minn., Shawna Stussy
Erin Sullivan, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
Zixi Sun, Mosinee, Wis.
Savannah Swanson, Marengo, Ill., Robb Lisa Swanson
Elijah Szymanski, La Crosse, Wis., James and Jennifer Szymanski
Joseph Tadie, Winona, Minn., Lisa Stokes-Tadie
Jack Thomas, Minneapolis, Minn., Robert and Barbara Thomas
Julia Thompson, Randolph, Minn., Elizabeth Thompson
Sophia Thompson, Melrose, Wis.
Emma Toellner, Bonduel, Wis., Jennifer Toellner
Maciej Tomczak, Luban, Poland
Elizabeth Tmka, Montgomery, Minn.
Rebecca Turner, Anoka, Minn., Kendra Turner
Allison Urlaub, Burnsville, Minn.
Abrianna Utgaard, Star Prairie, Wis., Kimberly Anderson
Seth Vagts, Brainerd, Minn., Sean and DeeDee Vagts
Clarissa Van Dale, New Brighton, Minn., Jim and Vicki Van Dale
Faith Van Erp, Cold Spring, Minn.
Alexis Van Omum, Lindstrom, Minn., Rick and Jeanette Van Omum
Collin van Waardenburg, San Pierre, Ind., Candice van Waardenburg
Julia VanWatermeulen, Ellsworth, Wis., Doug VanWatermeulen
Melissa Varner, Andover, Minn., Donald and Adriana Varner
Rolando Vazquez, Antioch, Ill., Rolly Vazquez
Anthony Vera, Le Mars, Iowa, Hugo and Maria Vera
Makenna Vickery, La Crescent, Minn., Don and Cheryl Vickery
Ethan Vinyard, Valparaiso, Ind.
Morgan Von Feldt, Chisago City, Minn., Jeff and Amy Von Feldt
Maya Wachter, Dubuque, Iowa
Ella Wagner, South Saint Paul, Minn.
Jaxon Waldvogel, Lino Lakes, Minn., Tim and Stephanie Waldvogel
Destiny Walker, Saint Paul, Minn., Tawanda Hawkins
Haley Wangen Stewartville, Minn.
Hailey Warmka, Bricelyn, Minn., Dean and Tracy Warmka
Simon Warmkagathje, Saint Charles, Minn., Edward and Mary Warmkagathje
Cameron Weber, Holmen, Wis., Brian and Andrea Weber
Abbi Westhoff, Marion, Iowa, Dennis Westhoff
Rhiannon Weston, Saint Paul, Minn.
Joseph White, Fountain City, Wis.
Olivia White, Montevideo, Minn., Eric and Jennifer White
Courtney Wick, Mounds View, Minn., Angela Wick
Briana Williquett, Roberts, Wis., Christopher and Aimee Williquett
Jacob Wing, Verona, Wis., Tim and Kate Wing
Lawrence Wirries, Moorhead, Minn., John and Tracey Wirries
Jacob Wittman, Marshfield, Wis., Laura Wittman
Avery Wojtowicz, Marshfield, Wis.
Caroline Woodle, Knoxville, Iowa, Susan Woodle
Nicole Wurm, Clearwater, Minn., Kelly Wurm
Warner Young, Newberry, Mich.
Maya Zender, Prior Lake, Minn., Mike and Heidi Zender
Owen Ziegler, Mount Horeb, Wis.
Two-day passes for Sandbar Storytelling Festival go on sale July 1; schedule announced
WINONA, Minn. — Two-day passes for the inaugural Sandbar Storytelling Festival, to be held Oct. 14-15 in Winona, will be on sale, starting Friday, July 1. With a two-day pass (and advanced event registration), passholder are admitted into all festival events on the beautiful campus of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.
Festival attendees can participate in 10 storytelling events, featuring nationally and internationally known storytellers. Festival activities will also include a storytelling competition for college students (with the winner performing at “Fun Night” on Saturday), a storytelling workshop conducted by Bil Lepp, and a storytelling session just for kids (ages 9 to 14). The festival also includes musicians, food trucks, and on-site child care (for children ages 3-8 years), sponsored by WNB Financial.
The festival’s mission is to present storytelling performances that celebrate and preserve the power and pleasure of our varied cultural traditions and human experiences and to promote the art of storytelling for all ages. SSF President Taff Roberts reminds us that “through story-telling, we share our identities, and by active listening, we engage with people who are different from us.” This first year features five “tellers,” sponsored by the Parke/Bosshard Family, including Bil Lepp (from West Virginia), Carolina Quiroga-Stoltz (from Tennessee), the Rev. Robert Jones, Sr. (from Detroit, Mich.), Alton Takiyama-Chung (from Hawaii), and Regi Carpenter (from New York). Each of their websites provide previews of their storytelling, or go to sandbarstorytellingfestival.org for bios.
Two-day passholders are able to reserve tickets for each storytelling event at no additional cost — and before tickets become available to the general public.
Sandbar Storytelling Festival 2022 Schedule
Saint Mary’s University (unless otherwise noted)
Day 1 Friday, Oct. 14
2:30 p.m. – Storytellers: Bil Lepp and Carolina Quiroga-Stoltz, Page Theater
4 p.m. – Storytellers: Rev. Robert Jones, Sr., Regi Carpenter, and Alton Takiyama-Chung, Page Theater
5 p.m. – Little Warriors Drumline, Gazebo (free)
5:30 p.m. – Winona Area Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting, Page Theatre (free)
6 p.m. – Mettalarks: Mariah Ciangiola and Noah Short performing Halloween music, Page Theater
7 p.m. – Ghost Night (featuring all five storytellers), Page Theater
Day 2 Saturday, Oct. 15
9 a.m. – “How to Tell a Story” workshop, conducted by Bil Lepp, Blue Heron Coffeehouse (free, but limited to the first 50)
10 a.m. – Storytellers: Regi Carpenter and Carolina Quiroga-Stoltz, Page Theater
11 a.m. – Storytellers: Bil Lepp and Alton Takiyama-Chung, Page Theater
1 p.m. – Storyteller: the Rev. Robert Jones, Sr., Page Theater
1 p.m. – Regi Carpenter Kids Storytelling Session (for 9- to 14-year-olds), Figliulo Recital Hall (free)
2:30 p.m. – Storytellers: Alton Takiyama-Chung and Carolina Quiroga-Stoltz, Page Theater
4 p.m. – Storytellers: Bil Lepp and Regi Carpenter, Page Theater
5 p.m. – Bellhouse Trio (local musicians), Gazebo (free)
5:45 p.m. – Wing Dam Jammers (local musicians), Gazebo (free)
7 p.m. – Fun Night (featuring the winner of the college competition and all five storytellers), Page Theater
Two-day passes are $120. Individual day passes ( $50 for Friday and $80 for Saturday) will be available, beginning in September. Individual tickets for the storytelling sessions are $15 and will be sold at the door prior to each event. Pay-as-you-can tickets, courtesy of WNB Financial, will be available at the door as well. A special performance for the whole family is also in the planning stages. Information about this event will be announced later in July, with tickets going on sale Aug. 1.
The WNB Financial-sponsored child care is offered Friday from 2-5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon, and Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. Parents with passes can bring their children (between ages 3 and 8) to participate in age-appropriate activities in the university’s Studio Theatre.
For more information, as well as the link to purchase two-day passes, go to www.sandbarstorytellingfestival.org For more information, email info@sandbarstorytellingfestival.org, sandbarwinona@gmail.com, or call 507- 703-6001.
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