Saint Mary's Newsroom / Campus Notes
Winona Campus Newsletter
French family legacy
A member of the French family will have been enrolled at Saint Mary’s nearly consecutively from 1986 to 2026.
They’ve completed both undergraduate and graduate degrees; they’ve been involved in music, theatre, athletics, musical variety shows and more; they’ve witnessed buildings constructed and demolished; they remember four different university presidents; and they’ve majored in different subjects. Yet, as different as their experiences have been, they say they’re all proud to share a common Cardinal connection.
The family legacy began with biology major Amy (Keen) French B’90 who, after graduating from Cotter High School in Winona, wanted to continue her Catholic education close to home. Her sister, Ann Keen B’94, followed and majored in theatre. Amy’s husband Bob French completed a master’s degree in telecommunications in 1997.
The next generation included Amy and Bob’s children: Sam B’19, who majored in psychology; Jacob B’21, who majored in social studies education (and is currently getting his master’s in curriculum and instruction), and David B’21 who studied business management and history. Youngest sibling Alison is committed to starting in 2022 and hopes to get into the physician assistant program. On top of all that, Sam married Erin (Budin) B’20, who is also part of her own legacy family. And the legacy also extends to cousins.
Career preparation
“Dick Kowles shaped my career,” Amy said. “I did research with him for three years, which was instrumental in me getting a job. I owe my career to him. He gave those tests where you had to understand the material and couldn’t just memorize the material. You had to take what you knew and apply it.”
After graduation Amy got a job at Mayo Clinic in genetics. “I have done cancer research for almost 30 years, have authored or co-authored over 60 papers, including in the journals of Nature and New England journal of medicine,” she said. “I have presented my work at national conferences. The education I received led to my post graduate education and achieving a master’s degree in biomedical science. I am currently employed at Mayo Clinic as a senior research technologist by the department of laboratory medicine and pathology and do cancer research.”
Ann has had a variety of jobs and careers since Saint Mary’s and credits the theatre department for providing the skills and confidence she’s needed for them all, from founding a nonprofit theatre company to owning 360 Flavor and Spice, a custom blend store, and from serving as the venue director at Chicago Union Station to working for JP Morgan Chase. “The Lasallian mission of being of service and getting to know people can apply anywhere,” she said. “The biggest guiding principle Saint Mary’s taught me was to carry my ideas and principles to every job and that will always yield success.”
David is currently working at Fastenal Company as the associate supplier development manager in lighting and electrical. “Saint Mary’s helped me tremendously in my career preparation,” he said. “I attribute the ease of working in a corporate setting to the discussions and presentations that gave me the tools of communicating and critically thinking to solve business problems.” He particularly credits his business “strategies” course because it culminated in a high stakes final presentation that utilized everything he had learned in the business program. “It really taught me intellectual grit and challenged me on how to think on my feet,” he said.
Erin, currently teaching band for the La Crescent-Hokah School District, said getting out into the field as early as her sophomore year as an education major and having three years of being immersed in the schools helped her prepare for her career. She had the added challenge of student teaching during the pandemic.
Involvement and opportunities
Erin and Sam first met while playing music together. They, David, and Jacob all participated in various music ensembles on campus.
Jacob and David were both on the baseball team. One of David’s favorite memories is when the baseball team won the MIAC tournament in 2021. “Working through all the adversities of COVID-19, from 2020 our season being canceled in the spring to the challenges of being on campus in 2020-2021, made our playoff run even more memorable,” he said. “Teachers were really flexible and worked with our schedules and emphasized the importance of making sure education was a priority,” Jacob added.
“Saint Mary’s encourages students to be involved in activities, clubs performances, and sports while being a student. I was involved in a lot and they were all very different in their nature which allowed me to meet new people and grow more relationships with the community,” Erin said. “Saint Mary’s is where I met my closest friends, my husband and my family. Saint Mary’s prepares you for the future and gives you life changing experiences.”
Sam recalls having a lot of fun at various campus events including the musical variety shows. His jazz combo played for the ceremony at the dedication of the first section of Aquinas Hall (formerly the Science and Learning Center).
One more French, youngest sister Alison, has grown up hearing all the Saint Mary’s stories and will soon be making some of her own. One big draw for her was the opportunity to play softball with award winning Coach John Tschida B’90 who returned to Saint Mary’s last year.
“Coach Tschida is an amazing person and coach,” Amy said. “His softball knowledge is exceptional. But most importantly he is a great mentor to his players. Alison has grown up around the ball field. She started playing baseball at 3 until she was old enough to join the softball league in town. If not playing, she was attending her brothers’ games. She spends hours each week in the weight room and honing skills. She is driven to work to improve and be the best teammate she can be. And the culture that Coach Tschida creates matches what Alison wants in a program. She is super excited to play for him.”
Cardinal pride
The Frenches are Saint Mary’s advocates.
“I would recommend Saint Mary’s because it is a community that cares about you and your future. Saint Mary’s is a Lasallian Catholic School that focuses on your growth as a person and human and provides countless opportunities that challenge you to look at the world in a new perspective of empathy, dignity, resilience, and respect,” David said.
“Saint Mary’s is where you go to not just be a number, you are a name,” Erin added. “There is so much opportunity for involvement, community, and achievement. A big part of Saint Mary’s is the people who are there who made that experience so enjoyable.”
“It’s had a big impact on my life through significant events,” Jacob said. “It’s the overall sense of community. You’re immersed in a good community.”
Amy added, “It’s a very tight, faith-filled community offering an excellent Lasallian education.”
A shared experience
The French family uses words like “amazing” and “incredible” to describe the unique bond of attending the same alma mater.
“I think it is really cool that we are all Cardinals and a part of the Saint Mary’s alumni family, but it is also a cool thing to think that even though we all went there, that each of our experiences was so different and unique to all of us,” Erin said. “The connections we formed, the classes we took, the things we were involved in — nothing was the same for any of us. And it’s fun to be a part of something so connected, yet knowing our experience was unique.”
“It is an awesome feeling knowing that we shared a college experience with my family members,” David added. “It’s a testament to the quality of the school and how beneficial Saint Mary’s is from an educational and communal standpoint.”
Ratajczyk, Tadie discuss the metaverse on Saint Mary’s Currents podcast
This past October, tech billionaire Mark Zuckerberg announced his company Facebook was changing its name to Meta to quote “reflect its focus on building a metaverse.” But what exactly is a metaverse? What are the concerns that come with it? What are the possibilities? In this episode, Saint Mary’s Currents host Ben Rodgers is joined by business and data analytics professor Michael Ratajczyk and philosophy professor Joe Tadie to discuss the metaverse, its potential uses, and the ethics surrounding the technology.
If you enjoy the show and the topics discussed, subscribe to Saint Mary’s Currents wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen to previous episodes by visiting the Saint Mary’s Newsroom.
Greek dinner fundraiser April 26 to raise funds for Sandbar Storytelling Festival
WINONA, Minn. — Storytelling is best done around a table as guests share stories and form deeper connections and an understanding of one another.
On this theme, the public is invited to register for “My Big Fat Greek Dinner” on Tuesday, April 26, a fundraiser for the inaugural Sandbar Storytelling Festival, planned for Oct. 14-15 in Winona.
The Greek dinner, a delectable five-course meal that will leave participants yelling “Opa!” will feature celebrity chef Gary Diomandes, who serves on the festival board. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options will be available.
The event, which begins at 6 p.m. at the Blue Heron in Winona, 162 W. 2nd St., will also feature a live auction. Jon Kohner will auction off a variety of specialty dinners, Italian handbags, an autographed Vikings jersey, and more. Anyone interested in donating higher-end auction items to help launch this event can contact Diomandes at gdiomand@smumn.edu.
The cost is $75 (+fee) and the event is limited to the first 60 to register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/my-big-fat-greek-dinner-tickets-302917212537. Find the registration link at sandbarstorytellingfestival.org.
Removing the option to fail
As principal of Sunrise Park Middle School in White Bear Lake, Minn., Christina Pierre C’05, C’10, D’16 deals with a lot of paperwork, personnel, policy revisions, and budgets.
Never losing sight that learning is the No. 1 priority of her work, Pierre believes it’s incredibly important to carve out time to investigate organizational development changes that better meet the needs of her sixth- through eighth-grade students.
“I wish my entire job was about this,” she said. “Working together to move education forward is absolutely critical.”
One outcome of these discussions has been making headlines. This past fall Pierre and her school changed their grading system, replacing the “F” with an “I.”
In short, she explains that an “I,” which stands for incomplete, still means students aren’t passing, but it also means they still have more work to do.
“A grade is a form of communication,” she said. “It should communicate what a student knows and nothing else. We wanted to make that communication as clear as possible. We don’t ever want students to wonder, ‘How did I get that grade?’ and ‘How to make changes to it if I’m not satisfied?’ ”
Students are encouraged to retake tests and quizzes to better their grades and learn the content instead of giving up.
It was also part of their goal, according to Pierre, to take behavior out of grades. Grading no longer reflects classroom misbehavior or tardiness. “Grades should be about learning. We can address behavior in other ways,” she said.
Another change at Sunrise Park Middle School, the new grading scale now bottoms out at 50%. Pierre explains, “When you look at a scale, we’re used to the 10 percentage range for grades: ‘A’s are 90 and above, ‘B’s are 80 and above, etc. An ‘F’ (or an ‘I’) is so much bigger than all the other ranges, from 0 to 59, so when averaging, it’s weighted a lot more than with those other grades. To rebalance the ‘I’ with the same weight, we needed to have a 50 percent floor.”
Not everyone was a fan of the change. Some opponents argued that the school is being too easy on their students and isn’t holding students accountable enough. Pierre counteracts with, “There’s more accountability this way because the message is ‘You still have work to do.’ ”
“What I see from students is the recognition that they still have a responsibility,” she said. “When their grade isn’t what they want it to be, they still have the ability to change it. It isn’t just, ‘I got a bad grade, and I’m not understanding, but let’s move on.’ Students know that if they don’t like it, they can do the revision process and can relearn the material and do a retake before the end of the quarter. The learning is in their hands. We’re not going to stop them from learning because they already took the test. But they need to do their part. There’s an increase in accountability for students. It’s actually the opposite of giving everyone a participation award. We’re giving everyone more responsibility. In the end, what I expect to see is test scores going up because they’re engaging in learning more.”
And, she said, no student who truly wants to learn will be left behind when subsequent tests build off of the previous chapters or units. While this change doesn’t affect A and B students as much, it can especially help those on the margins, particularly those who become discouraged and drop out of school.
Pierre knows first-hand how beneficial this change in mindset can be. She began her education career as a math teacher for 11 years in middle school and high school before becoming an associate principal and then principal at Sunrise Park seven years ago.
“I love the process of learning, and I love making it happen for other people, whether children or adults,” she said. “It’s very humbling, and it’s an honor to be part of something as life-changing as learning is.”
It was Saint Mary’s Lasallian Catholic mission of making education accessible to everyone that drew her to Saint Mary’s for her principal’s license. After a great experience, she returned to obtain her Ed.D.
I felt like Saint Mary’s was very welcoming and provided the knowledge I was looking for. I absolutely loved the experience,” she said. “I found the classes challenging, and the Ed.D. program prepared me for my position as a leader. I learned about working with a wide range of voices, appreciating differences, and bringing lots of different perspectives together and finding ways to move forward. As a school leader, I need all of that.”
Saint Mary’s Spotlight: Nicholas Pritchard
The Marketing and Communication Office will be profiling Saint Mary’s University leaders regularly in the Cardinal Update. Our goal is to showcase those overseeing and guiding key areas important to our strategic initiatives. This week, we feature Nicholas Pritchard, director of club sports at Saint Mary’s University.
Nicholas Pritchard, director of club sports
Name: Nicholas (Nick) Pritchard
Title: Director of club sports
How long have you worked at Saint Mary’s
I have been working at Saint Mary’s University since Feb. 28, 2022.
How would you describe your role at Saint Mary’s?
My role here on campus is to help push the envelope when it comes to club sports programming. This includes revamping and providing structure for our current club sports, searching for opportunities to expand our current offerings, and being a source of information for those in our student body.
Why are club sports a focus for the university at this moment?
Club sports are seen as a key tool to not only retain current students but to help bring in prospective students as well.
How can expanding the club sports program at the College help Saint Mary’s University with recruiting?
If you look at the collegiate landscape, you can see that many post-secondary institutions are investing in the student experience landscape, and club sports have been at the forefront of this investment. So, I applaud Saint Mary’s for taking this step and realizing the value that this program will bring to the campus.
It’s also not all about expansion in terms of getting new recruits but by sprucing up current programming as well. It is important to note that by amplifying and revamping our current club sports offering, we are bound to recruit more students. There are little tweaks here and there that current clubs can change that will put us in another light to prospective students, be it gaining affiliation from a governing body, better marketing tactics, more robust schedules, etc. Little things add up!
In terms of expansion, right now, prospective students who research Saint Mary’s might see that we currently only offer six club sports programs, whereas institutions elsewhere that are close in size might offer 30 plus. So, right there, we are losing out on prospective students. By expanding and diversifying our club sports portfolio, we are bound to cast a father net in terms of hitting the interest areas of prospective students. By creating more club sports opportunities, which can have a direct correlation to the student life experience, we are providing prospective students with a sense of belonging.
Why are club sports valuable to undergraduate students?
Club sports are extremely valuable because students are empowered to take on leadership and decision-making roles that help sustain the success and longevity of their respected club. Club sports provide avenues for personal growth and development, along with opportunities to network and get involved.
What are the current strengths of Saint Mary’s club sports program? What do you hope to build upon?
Facilities. The facilities that are utilized by our club sports programs are quite impressive. The trail system used by our Nordic Ski Club is a regional draw and should be highlighted as such. The ice arena allows our Hockey Club to practice there without paying ice fees. The vastness of open green fields that our Soccer and Ultimate Frisbee clubs utilize can’t be understated. Lastly, the Gostomski Fieldhouse, which houses practices for the Dance and Ballroom Dance clubs, is outstanding.
I hope to host more on-campus events which highlight the university and these great facilities.
The current club sports leaders have also been fantastic to work with, and I hope to build off all of their hard work and efforts as well.
What is your favorite part of your job?
The best part of my job is that each day is different, which keeps me on my toes!
Looking at the “Declaration on the Lasallian Educational Mission,” which of the 12 declarations resonates with you the most (The Declaration can be found on page 117)? Why?
Declaration 11 (We believe that today’s realities demand taking risks and being creative) resonates with me the most. The reason I chose this declaration is that I understand and have experienced the need to remake/reinvent myself, both professionally and personally. It currently resonates with me professionally in a secondary sense seeing that Saint Mary’s is currently reinventing itself, and that reinvention has landed me in the spot I am in today, the new director of club sports.
Highlighting academic excellence at Saint Mary’s
Members of the Saint Mary’s University community continue to highlight the academic excellence our university has to offer in several ways. This includes presenting at academic conferences, having research published in academic journals, and being cited in a National Geographic story.
Feder-Lewis, Dean present at Conference on College Composition and Communication
Earlier this month, Sonia Feder-Lewis, Ph.D., a core professor in the Education Doctoral Degree in Leadership program, and Stacy Dean, Ph.D., a course-contracted assistant professor in the DBA program, had the opportunity to represent Saint Mary’s at the National Council of Teachers of English Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC).
Their presentation, “Why am I here? How Dissertation Writing Groups Can Provide Place and Community,” shared the results from their study of the characteristics and practices of successful student-led dissertation writing groups, which had been funded by an Ignite 300 grant.
“Presenting at CCCC on our study regarding student-led dissertation writing groups allowed me the opportunity to discuss my findings on the ways in which these types of groups are effective in supporting doctoral student progression and completion with a large community who may benefit from this knowledge,” Feder-Lewis said. “CCCC is attended each year by several thousand composition and rhetoric professors and their graduate students. By being there, representing Saint Mary’s University, I am able to share what we have learned from focusing on adult learners and their needs.”
Research by Saint Mary’s graduate, faculty published in peer-reviewed journal
Like many students in the sciences at Saint Mary’s, Erin Hettinger B’20 was required to undertake a senior research project before graduating. What sets Hettinger apart from most undergraduates, is that her research will soon be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
During her senior year, Hettinger, with the guidance of associate professor of biology Moni Berg-Binder, Ph.D., and assistant professor of biology Ben Pauli, Ph.D., researched the presence and habitat preference of a non-native orchid that has been found to be growing in Winona County. Through field research and the use of GIS and MaxEnt software to build habitat sustainability models, Hettinger, Berg-Binder, and Pauli were able to find the orchid, while considered invasive in some regions of North America, does not pose a threat to areas of conservation concern in the Driftless region, such as bluff prairies.
After Hettinger compiled the findings, she was encouraged by Pauli and Berg-Binder to submit the research to the American Midland Naturalist, which accepted the submission and will run it in its April publication.
“This is a big accomplishment for Erin,” Berg-Binder said. “To be published in a peer-reviewed journal, career field biologists had to approve Erin’s research methods. And it is a rigorous process to ensure your work meets the level of quality for that journal.”
Hettinger, who is now a graduate student at Utah State University, says the entire research process has aided her since leaving Saint Mary’s.
“It was really amazing to work with these two professors to come up with an original research question and see it through the entire process,” Hettinger said. “The entire experience helped me strengthen my skills, like geospatial analysis, habitat suitability modeling, data analysis, and scientific writing.”
She added, “As all graduate students know, writing is the most daunting part of research. But it’s nice to know that I am capable of having future research published because I have already done it.”
Cochran-Biederman cited in online National Geographic article
Jennifer Cochran-Biederman, Ph.D., an assistant professor of biology, was quoted in a National Geographic article about a project that is aiming to save three endangered fish species in Cambodia.
The online article cited a study Cochran-Biederman led that looked at the success and failures of reintroducing endangered freshwater fish into their native waterways.
In the article, Cochran-Biederman says reintroducing fish to habitat is simply not enough to save wild populations, and that those taking part in the project must, “tackle broader causes of habitat degradation, such as pollution, climate change, urban development, and dams, which is much more complicated.”
Website redesign reaches key milestone
Since the university first began work on our new website in spring 2021, much of the most critical work on this project has occurred in the background, including extensive research into prospective student needs; identifying technical requirements; auditing our current website for content; and working with faculty and staff to identify priorities.
In the past few months, however, we have moved beyond the planning stage and are now in the process of putting all our findings into action. The most visible and exciting part of this work is the new responsive, mobile-first, user-focused website design. In addition, we have:
- Completed the website wireframe, which details how the various pages and elements of the website function together for a seamless user experience.
- Migrated our microsites to a new server.
- Developed templates for program and major pages.
- Begun working with program directors, faculty, and staff in the graduate, bachelor’s completion, and certificate programs to update and write content for the new program pages.
As of last week, each of you has been asked, either via email or through Saint Mary’s Today, to review the content migration process and spreadsheet to identify pages on the website to which you can or should contribute. The Marketing and Communication team will continue to communicate with you over the next several weeks to ensure we have input and feedback from as many people as possible as we develop compelling content to tell the Saint Mary’s story.
The website redesign is tied directly to the brand refresh, and the new site will reflect our new visual identity, express our student-centered approach to all we do, and provide clear paths to enrollment for prospective students.
The full site redesign will not launch until the beginning of the new academic year, but you will see a visible change on the current site the first week of June when we “reskin” the site with our new logo and other elements of our refreshed brand identity.
Our new content management system provides greater access and flexibility, so your contact updates can be made more quickly and easily. Part of the new website rollout will also include training to ensure you can use the new tools with confidence.
While much of the heavy lifting on this project has been done by the MarComm team, the website redesign is truly a community effort, one which has and will continue to rely on all of us to be successful. Thank you for your support and participation.
On first visit, the home page will boldly make our brand statement. This screen will disappear within 3 seconds, or on a click.
Visitors can choose from three different “home” pages, each designed around a clear call to action: Discover our programs; Explore Saint Mary’s; and Apply. In addition, top navigation offers quick links to key actions, and the hamburger menu (the three horizontal lines) opens a complete menu of the site, below.
Physician to Olympians
Born and raised on the Mississippi River in Winona, Dr. Heather Cichanowski, a 1995 graduate of Saint Mary’s and lifelong athlete, grew up testing the capabilities of her body. She competed in swimming, biking, and naturally — as the daughter of Mike Cichanowski, founder of Wenonah Canoe — canoeing.
But her primary sport and passion was cross country skiing, a love also instilled in her by her father, who will compete in his 43rd American Birkebeiner this year. (The love for skiing also extended to Heather’s older sister Amy Cichanowski, a 1992 graduate of Saint Mary’s, who now serves as executive director of the Minnesota Youth Ski League.)
As a young cross country skier, Heather Cichanowski glided down the hills, her lungs expanding with the brisk icy air, while dreaming of one day racing on an Olympic team.
In February she came as close to the Olympic action as possible without donning skis, as she served as team physician to the U.S. Olympic Cross Country Ski Team in Beijing, China.
There was no big “ah-ha” moment that drove Cichanowski to study medicine. Instead, it was a series of small ones.
It was Cichanowski’s own athletic experiences and injuries that narrowed and inspired her career path. “It was just one of those things,” she said. “When I was younger, I was always interested in first aid, physiology, and anatomy. I just always gravitated to wanting to know how the body worked and functioned, and that, coupled with my sporting background and interest, made primary care sports medicine a good fit.”
A major in biology at Saint Mary’s, Cichanowski lists Brother Jerome Rademacher, FSC, among her favorite professors, not only for his physics classes but because he, too, loved to ski and is one of the people credited with starting the ski trails that run throughout Saint Mary’s Winona Campus — the same trails Mike Cichanowski and the Winona Nordic Ski Club have supported and utilized for decades.
After graduation, she attended medical school at the University of Minnesota. Her subsequent family medicine residency with another U of M program was followed by a sports medicine fellowship through the Hennepin County Medical Center.
As medical director of Women’s Sports Medicine, at Tria Orthopedics in Woodbury, Minn., (where she’s worked the past 16 years), her goal is to help guide her clients back to the sports and activities they love and provide the tools they need to prevent re-injury.
Combining her love of sports medicine and her competitive spirit, she began volunteering as a traveling team physician with the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team about 10 years ago. To qualify for the position, she underwent the background check, provided letters of recommendation, and met board certification guidelines and other strict requirements of U.S. Ski and Snowboard. As part of her role, she has traveled with the team to one of their World Cup competitions in Europe each year.
Then, this past May, she was asked to be their head physician. “And that’s what opened the doorway to go to big events, such as the Olympics,” she said. “I went as a spectator to the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics, but now I’m serving in more of an official capacity, which is a dream come true.”
As head physician, Cichanowski became more intimately associated with the team, attending team camps, helping with yearly physicals, and being involved with team meetings with the rest of the high-performance team members.
“What’s nice is we had a top-notch sports dietitian and tremendous coaching staff, so my focus was on the medicine part. Even just a small, simple cold can really affect their performance. It’s about getting good sleep and good eating habits, good advice for all of us.”
Cichanowski said there was much to learn about her expanded role, particularly all the COVID-19 protocols to follow.
“Really, the main goal was to be there for the athletes, be a resource for them, and keep them healthy,” she said. “I was there to help figure it out. There was a Beijing Organizing Medical Community and a U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee also bringing resources over. Part of my role was, if somebody needed something, to figure out where to go.”
And, there’s no doubt, Cichanowski cheered on the U.S. team — including Minnesota’s own Jessie Diggins — to bring home the gold.
Keeley feels called to serve
Saint Mary’s University senior Jordan Keeley may only be 5’6”— “average” as she calls it — but she’s proof positive that one person can make a big impact.
And there’s nothing average about Jordan Keeley.
As a goalie for the Cardinal women’s hockey team, Keeley guards the net game after game — knowing she’s the last line of defense against the opposition.
As a student, she has a nearly perfect grade point average.
And as a dedicated Winona community member, Keeley devotes herself to a list of causes longer than she can shake a hockey stick at. Never one to sit idly on the sidelines, Keeley says she feels called to serve.
“It’s part of who I am,” she said with a smile and a shrug. “This is how I show that I love and that I care.”
In the Winona area, you might find her volunteering at the Winona Health info desk on Sunday mornings, walking dogs for the Winona Area Humane Society, assisting with the Alma Tails of Hope, weeding in the community garden, or coaching Winona Youth Hockey. Or you might have bumped into her running around the lakes as she turned a fitness regimen into a successful fundraiser.
It’s this passion for helping others that led Keeley to double major in pre-physical therapy-biology and leadership.
“Through a career in physical therapy, I am able to mix my passions for science and service,” she said. “ Being a goalie takes a toll on my legs and joints, so I have had to see physical therapists. My PTs were the people who got me past thinking it was the end of the world and encouraged me. Right when you think that you can’t do something, you have someone telling you you can. I want to be that person. I want to help someone recover from an injury and get back to what they love doing.”
On campus, the St. Peter, Minn., native also led this year’s Green Bandana Project’s mental health campaign. Through this effort, participants learned more about mental health and how to break the stigma often associated with it. They were also trained to direct students to mental health resources on campus. A total of 224 people have completed the training, each earning a green bandana so that they can be identified as a safe and knowledgeable resource for others in need.
A member of the International Acts of Kindness Club, Keeley is also involved in buddies, and serves as a peer tutor for upper-division science courses. She’s in the Tri-Beta and Delta Epsilon Sigma honor societies, serves as the president of the Saint Teresa and Peter Leadership Club, is a member of Student Senate, and has worked as an orientation leader.
During the summer of 2021, Keeley ran, walked, or Rollerbladed 250 miles in 100 days to raise money for the Saint Mary’s Benefit (formerly known as the Taylor Richmond Benefit). It started as she was looking to keep busy during the summer and to stay physically active.
“I soon discovered I’m not in shape enough to run that many miles,” she said with a laugh, “So I added Rollerblading, but about a month in, my Rollerblades bit the dust. So I ended up running.” Keeley decided she might as well draw attention to a worthy cause, so she shared and recorded her progress on social media, and her efforts garnered $1,100 for a medical disorder called Ataxia Telangiectasia.
In recognition of her work, in February, Keeley was named one of five finalists for the Hockey Humanitarian Award (a national award with one winner, male or female, from any college division) in February, and she was also named this year’s Saint Mary’s Outstanding Female Senior on March 15.
“I love to take a step back and realize the impact that can be made,” Keeley said. “I think the thing I’m most proud of is knowing the impact that we have made as Cardinal athletes, and in particular as the women’s hockey team. Together we participated in the local color run this past fall and hosted the Rochester Special Hockey Team, which was an incredible experience.
“Coach Sarah Murray stresses that being a student-athlete is a privilege. The experience is about more than just being a good student or an athlete, it’s about being a better person. I’m proud of the impact we’re able to have.
“There’s something special about Saint Mary’s that calls together that type of person,” Keeley added. “I can’t think of one teammate who is not giving or selfless or willing to go out in the community and make a difference. We can attribute that to our coach and our community, but I think Saint Mary’s must just bring in extra great people.”
Benjamin Dean Taylor selected as next Kaplan Foundation Commissioned Composer
Dr. Benjamin Dean Taylor has been selected for the next Kaplan Foundation Commission at Saint Mary’s University. His new work for concert band will be premiered on April 16, 2023, at Page Theatre by the Saint Mary’s University Concert Band, Dr. Janet Heukeshoven, director.
Taylor was selected from more than 60 applicants for this year’s competition. He plans to compose a work based on ancient hymn tunes. Taylor wrote in his application, “I welcome the opportunity to compose a work based on my current research into how Jewish music making has influenced Christian hymnology. I foresee that my musical work will be directly related to the message that we of differing faith traditions actually have much more in common than we do that separates us.” In his application Taylor also wrote, “I’m a descendant of the house of Jacob through Ephraim and thus I come from a strong Jewish heritage. However, my ancestors converted to Christianity and thus I was raised in a Christian faith tradition. Even so, I feel grateful for my Jewish roots and eagerly anticipate connecting with that part of my family’s ancestry through this project.”
The Kaplan Commissioning Project is now in its 22nd year, starting in the year 2000 with new compositions being premiered every two to three years.
Past Commissioned Composers:
- 2000: Steven Barnett Halleil: O Praise the Lord for concert band
- 2002: Lee Kesselman: Let Peace Descend for choir and wind ensemble
- 2004: Philip Rothman: Departure Point for solo piano and wind ensemble
- 2006: Judith Lang-Zaimont: Israeli Rhapsody for concert band
- 2008: Marc Kibrick Bernstein: Ashkenazi Fathers for concert band and jazz combo (with soloist or soloists)
- 2010: Paul Richards: If You Could Only See the Frog for concert band
- 2012: Larry Bitinsky: Katanya for concert band and narrator
- 2015: Steven Rosenhaus: Ayshet Chayil for concert band and baritone voice
- 2018: David Avshalomov: Nigun Prophesy for concert band (w/optional choir)
Composer Biography: Benjamin Dean Taylor is a composer of contemporary concert music. His energetic, adventurous music provides a uniquely refreshing sonic experience for performers and audiences alike. Trained as a trumpet player and pianist, he performs with and writes music for a variety of chamber ensembles, jazz combos and big bands, wind bands, orchestras, and choirs. As a sought-after composer for wind band, Taylor has been commissioned by over 100 band directors of players at all educational levels. Passionate about inspiring the rising generation of musicians, he is the founder and executive director of Music Creators Academy, a yearly summer program that teaches musical creativity in a virtual setting. He received his doctorate degree from Indiana University and currently resides in Bloomington, Indiana with his wife and six children. More information can be found at his website, benjamintaylormusic.com.
Five honored during Saint Mary’s Founders’ Day celebration
In celebration of its heritage, Saint Mary’s University presented awards to beatified alumnus Blessed James Miller, FSC ’66, M’74 posthumously, as well as one faculty member, one staff member, and two outstanding seniors at its annual Founders’ Day celebration, which was held on March 15.
Patti Richter, Carl Richter, Ralph Miller, Bill Miller, the Most Rev. Bishop John Quinn (bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester), the Very Rev. Father James Burns (president of Saint Mary’s University).
In recognition of his lifelong dedication (and ultimately tragic death) in service to the marginalized youth in his care, Blessed James Miller received an honorary Doctorate in Educational Leadership posthumously. The recognition highlights Blessed James Miller’s devotion to youth in Central America at a time of great violence, pervasive injustice, civic unrest, and political turmoil, and his faithful and devout life as a De La Salle Christian Brother for 19 years prior to his death. His family members, sister Patti (and her husband Carl) Richter, and brothers Ralph and Bill Miller, attended the event, and Brother Michael Fehrenbach, FSC, Visitor of the Christian Brothers of the Midwest District, accepted the award on behalf of Blessed James.
Distinguished Lasallian Educator Award recipient Paul Kotz and Bishop Heffron Award recipient Deb Nahrgang.
Presented each year to a member of the faculty, staff, or administration whose life of faith and service exemplifies the ideals of John Baptist de la Salle, the Distinguished Lasallian Educator Award was presented to Paul Kotz, Ph.D., core professor in the Ed.D. in Leadership program. The award is given by Lasallian institutions like Saint Mary’s in the Lasallian Region of North America of the De La Salle Christian Brothers to honor contributions and commitment to the Lasallian mission of education. Kotz, who has worked at Saint Mary’s for a total of 18 years, is renowned for his kindness, his patience, his dedication, and his positive spirit — traits that he shares with students, colleagues, and through his many involvements and written works. A sought-after adviser and mentor, Kotz models the Lasallian charism in his interactions.
To honor her 18 years of service to the university, Deb Nahrgang, senior communications director, was honored with the Bishop Heffron Award. The Heffron award — named after the founder of Saint Mary’s University — is awarded every other year to an employee who has contributed positively to the life of the university, has demonstrated a long-term commitment to the values of the university, and has been a model of the Lasallian spirit in interactions with colleagues and students. Nahrgang regularly demonstrates, through her work and her interactions with other employees and with students, a deep commitment to respect for all persons and to the university’s mission of ethical leadership and service. Her bright smile and infectious laugh lighten the load of employees and are a source of inspiration for many.
Outstanding Female Senior Jordan Keeley and Outstanding Male Senior Trevor Paradise.
The university also announced its Outstanding Male and Female Seniors during the Founders’ Day celebration. Outstanding Seniors have demonstrated the ideals of scholarship, character, leadership, service to colleagues and the university community, as well as genuine concern for the needs of others.
This year, the honor went to Jordan Keeley, of St. Peter, Minn., and Trevor Paradise, of Colorado Springs, Colo. The eight other students nominated for Outstanding Senior included Mary Furlong, Terra Lieser, Jordan Modjeski, Destiny Walker, Jack Hatton, Jonathon Krull, Angel Sacta Espinoza, and Elijah Williams.
Featured photo caption: Brother Michael Fehrenbach, FSC, Visitor of the Christian Brothers of the Midwest District, accepts an honorary Doctorate in Educational Leadership on behalf of Blessed James Miller.
Saint Mary’s University to stage ‘Legally Blonde’
Whether it’s going to the hair salon or going to Harvard, women really can do it all, especially when they have faith in themselves. Saint Mary’s Department of Fine and Performing Arts will present “Legally Blonde: The Musical” 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, March 24-26 (with an additional 2 p.m. matinee on March 26), in the Page Theater.
Under the direction of theatre professor Judy Myers, M.F.A., Saint Mary’s students will stage the familiar tale of Elle Woods, a woman head over heels for a guy who fails to see her as more than a pretty face. In an attempt to validate her worth, Elle sets her sights on attending Harvard Law School and proving you can be pretty AND be successful.
“ ‘Legally Blonde’ has a way of connecting women of all ages and backgrounds by showing the answer to living a successful life: Staying true to yourself,” Myers said. The audience is invited to follow Elle’s adventures and find out if she graduates from law school, discovers the courage to be herself, and if she gets the guy of her dreams.
The musical is based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the 2001 movie of the same name, with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, and book by Heather Hach.
Admission is free for all. There is no option to livestream this production. Admission is free for all. There is no option to livestream this production. To reserve seats, go to: https://sites.google.com/smumn.edu/musical2022. Reservations are recommended but not required. Filling out the form assists with gauging attendance and accessibility requests. Page Theatre has a full capacity of 400+ seats, and it is not anticipated that audience numbers will exceed that limit.
Saint Mary’s Spotlight: James Bedtke
Name: James Bedtke, but everyone calls me Jim.
Title: My current title is vice president of university facilities, however, my colleagues and friends tease me about the number of titles I have accumulated over my years of service. Today, I work with the talented and capable maintenance staff on the Winona and Twin Cities campuses.
How long have you worked at Saint Mary’s University?
James Bedtke, vice president of university facilities
I’ve been at Saint Mary’s for a little over 38 years. During that time, I have served in a variety of roles. I believe the accumulated experience of previous positions prepared me for the next position.
I started as a faculty member in the Business Department where I served for 14 years teaching marketing and international business. During the summer months, I was the director of summer programming.
Brother Louis DeThomasis, the president, promoted me to be dean of the School of Business, Computer Science and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Simultaneously, I served as vice president for Winona-based graduate programs and associate vice president for academic affairs of the College.
Three years later, in 1999, Brother Louis reorganized and combined the Winona-based graduate programs and the Twin Cities-based graduate programs into the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs (SGPP). I was asked to serve as the vice president of SGPP and associate university provost.
For the next 11 years, I spent 75% of my time in the Twin Cities and 25% of my time in Winona. During that time, I was the only person traveling consistently between the Campuses every week. I would tell my colleagues I wished the two campuses were closer together. Some assumed it was because of the commuting, but I would correct them, explaining we have so many committed and talented employees on each campus, I wish they had the opportunity to know each other and interact more.
In 2010 the university began an extensive program of remodeling and upgrading facilities on both the Winona and Twin Cities campuses. I was asked to serve as the vice president of university facilities. I have been working with the two Maintenance Departments and others overseeing numerous remodeling and construction projects.
How would you describe your role?
The years of experience working in the College and SGPP prepared me with an understanding of and appreciation for all aspects of the university operations. As the vice president for university facilities and working with the maintenance staff on the Winona and the Twin Cities campuses, we are responsible for maintaining, renovating, and constructing facilities to contribute to fulfilling the university’s educational mission.
Facilities and maintenance support all areas of the university, be that academic, administrative, admissions, marketing and communications, advancement, resident life, libraries, classrooms and labs, and athletics. The maintenance staff and I spend a great deal of our time collaborating with university departments, deans, vice presidents, administrative assistants, coordinators, program directors, faculty, contractors, architects, vendors, and consultants to ensure the Saint Mary’s University facilities meet student, faculty, and staff needs.
What is the favorite part of your job?
I enjoy every part of my job. I get up every morning excited to join colleagues from across the university to make Saint Mary’s the best educational institution it can be. To that end, I enjoy working with colleagues to problem solve and “fix” challenges or implement opportunities. The variety is amazing. It might be implementing donors’ visions for a locker room, a science lab, a residence hall, or a science building. Or working with a professor to optimize a lab or studio. It may be remodeling a dining hall, offices, library, study spaces, or even restrooms. It may be working with the maintenance staff to solve an HVAC problem. I work with colleagues across the university in Winona, Rochester, and the Twin Cities. They are dedicated, creative, and committed to serving our students while overcoming challenges to make Saint Mary’s a great university.
What are your hopes for the future of Saint Mary’s University?
My hopes for Saint Mary’s are for a long future characterized by continued risk-taking and innovation to serve traditional students and adult learners. The alumni of our university have demonstrated for decades the value and impact of the Lasallian Catholic education they receive at Saint Mary’s.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment?
My career at Saint Mary’s has provided hundreds of exciting opportunities, challenges, and experiences. However, the two greatest responsibilities I’ve had were serving as a teacher and advisor to students as a faculty member and hiring and supervising employees here at Saint Mary’s. Many of the employees I’ve hired still work on both campuses. Their contributions and influence to the university humble and honor me every day. In addition, my former students honor their alma mater. To whatever extent my mentoring, supervision, teaching, or advising may have contributed to the development of students and employees at Saint Mary’s, that is my proudest professional accomplishment.
Which one of the 12 Declarations on the Lasallian Educational Mission resonates with you the most? Why?
Each of the 12 Declarations are critical and worthy of our reflection and commitment. However, Declaration 11 resonates with me the most: “We believe that today’s realities demand taking risks and being creative.” Saint Mary’s has faced and overcome challenges to our very existence more than once or twice over the history of our university. The university, through the College and SGPP, must continue taking risks, being creative, and remaking ourselves to thrive and prepare our students to address the needs and problems of today and tomorrow.
© Copyright 2016. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy | Site Feedback/Changes | Accreditation