BONESUndergraduate Research Gives SMSU Students

Hands-On Experience with the Real Thing

A magazine for a lumni and f r iends of Southwest Minnesota State Univers i ty | Spr ing 2012 Edi t ion

SMSUFOCUS

President Dr. Ronald A. Wood

Associate Vice President forAdvancement/Executive Directorof FoundationBill Mulso ’93

Director of Alumni RelationsMichael Van Drehle ’08/MBA’10

Focus Editor and DesignerMarcy D. Olson ’93/MBA’05

Senior Writer and PhotographerJim Tate

ContributorsStacy Frost ’93Kelly Loft ’97/MS’11Stacie Mulso ’94/MS’12

Feature Story PhotosGreg Devereaux Photography

Athletic Feature Reprinted with permission from the

Marshall Independent

All cities and towns are located in Minnesota unlessotherwise noted. Year(s) after names reference degreesobtained at SMSU.Focus (USPS 565-770) is published twice each year for alumniand friends of Southwest Minnesota State University by theAlumni Office and the Office of Communications &Marketing at SMSU.Opinions expressed in FOCUS do not necessarily reflect officialUniversity policy. Send correspondence, name changes andaddress corrections to:

Alumni Office, Attn: FocusSouthwest Minnesota State University1501 State Street, Marshall, MN 56258

You may also call (507) 537-6266 or email alumni@SMSU.edu

Feature stories may be reprinted with the written permissionof the FOCUS editor. Other articles may be reprinted withoutpermission provided that credit is given to SMSU.Southwest Minnesota State University is an equalopportunity/affirmative action educator and employer. A member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universitiessystem. ADA Accessible.This document can be made available in alternative formats toindividuals with disabilities. Request by calling 507-537-6266,1-800-260-0970, or through the Minnesota Relay Service at 1-800-627-3529.Visit us online www.SMSU.edu or www.SouthwestAlumni.comFollow our daily news feeds at www.SMSU.edu/today

A magazine for alumn and fr iends of Southwest Minnesota State University

Spring 2012 | Vol. 31, No. 2

Table of Contents1 Around Campus: New Initiatives for SMSU

3 Alumni Spotlight: Thomas Albrecht-Schmitt ’93

4 Feature: Hands-on Undergraduate Research

8 Alumni Connections

10 Mustang Athletics

11 Class Notes

On May 5th anothergroup, the class of 2012,graduated and joinedthe Southwest alumnifamily, which brings usto 18, 431 total alumnisince we opened in 1967.

As I watched Commencement for the first timeas the interim Director of Alumni at SMSU, Icouldn’t help but think back to 2008 when Ireceived my undergraduate degrees in BusinessManagement and Marketing, and when I earnedmy MBA in 2010.

From a student’s perspective, sitting in theaudience in a cap and gown, you can’t help butthink back to the time you spent at SouthwestMinnesota State University, how quickly that timepassed, and, perhaps most importantly, what thefuture holds.

That future, for me, turned out to be SMSU.While I was pursuing my MBA degree, I was agraduate assistant in the Alumni Office at SMSUfor two years. It was there that I was able to workwith then-Alumni Director Tyler Bowen, theUniversity’s first full-time Alumni Director. Ibecame familiar with the history of the institution,its traditions, and was able to meet many alumnithrough the various events and activitiessponsored by the office each year. I was fortunateenough to take a position in the Office ofAdmission upon graduation.

My career path took another turn within theUniversity when I was named Interim Director ofthe Alumni Office this past January.

As I’ve become familiar with the office and ouralumni since that time, I’ve been struck with howimportant this University is within the region. Ittruly fills a higher education need. Thosefarsighted individuals who first met in the fall of1956 at the Atlantic Hotel to discuss the possibilityof a college in Marshall must be very proud ofwhat that effort has produced.

As a former student, and now employee, it’sbeen rewarding to witness the growth andmaturation of the University since I was afreshman in 2004. While the Jan. 2, 2002 fire wasa tragedy, it also triggered a decade ofunprecedented growth and change to theUniversity landscape. When I visit with returningalumni, everyone mentions that change, and howproud they are of the direction the University isheaded.

I’m absolutely honored to be a part of theAlumni Office and Southwest Minnesota StateUniversity. I look forward to getting to know ouralumni, their success stories, and their experiencesas students in the years to come.

Sincerely,

Michael Van Drehle ’08/MBA’10Interim Director of Alumni Relations We often receive more submissions than we are able to

publish. Visit our Focus webpage for additional stories andall links mentioned in this edition: www.SMSU.edu/focus Know of a great alumni story? Send your suggestions andcomments to alumni@SMSU.edu and thanks for reading!

SMSUFOCUS

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Interim President Ron Wood listened to theobservation, sat back in his office chair, andchuckled.

“I burned a little rubber, yes,” said Wood,commenting on the belief that he began histenure as president with his wheels alreadyturning.

When Wood was introduced to the campus bythen-MnSCU Chancellor James McCormick atthe end of the 2010-11 academic year, he spokejust briefly. His message was to the point: Hewould not simply maintain the status quo. Hewould move the University forward.

That has proven to be an understatement.The energetic Wood was president of

Minnesota West Community and TechnicalCollege for 10 years, retiring in 2008. He has putin motion a number of initiatives in a shortamount of time: new academic programs, 2 + 2articulation agreements, a creative emphasis onrecruitment and retention, innovativescholarship programs, new athletic programsand identifying academic niches within theregion that can be filled by the University.

All this before his first year as interimpresident is over.A look at his initiatives/proposals:School of Agriculture. A task force was createdin the fall to establish a School of Agriculture. “Ibelieve we are just about ready to bring forth thecurriculum, a Bachelor’s of Applied Science inAgriculture that will primarily be geared towardstudents transferring from our two-year sistercolleges across the state,” said Wood. “It would bemy goal that by the time I leave in June 2013 thatwe would be on the way to hiring a new aginstructor.”

SMSU has in place already Agronomy andAgribusiness majors. A third major track — “wemight be calling it Agricultural Solutions” —would complement those two.RN to BSN. Another new academic proposalmaking its way toward final system approval isthe Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Sciencein Nursing (BSN) initiative.

A task force of faculty, staff, professionals fromthe medical community, hospital nursingadministrators and faculty or nursing directorsfrom Minnesota West and RidgewaterCommunity College have identified the potentialof transferring two-year RN credits to SMSU inpursuit of a four-year BSN degree.

“Our goal, if everything goes well, would be tobring a new director of nursing in sometime inthe next five months. We would have that personin place and put the meat on the bone of thecourses we’ve laid out.

“A student will have to be a registered nurse, belicensed in the states of Minnesota, South Dakota

or Iowa or have their state license be from anaccredited RN program. They’re already aregistered nurse, and we would add a body ofwork on top of that that would fulfill theirrequirements to receive a Bachelor of Science inNursing degree. This really opens up the careeroptions for nurses. Our hope is the spring of2013, and definitely the fall of 2013.”Recruitment. Student recruitment and retentionare a priority. Several new scholarships, includeMustang Scholarships, American IndianScholarships, Upward Bound Scholarships andCollege Now Scholarships, have been introduced.These initiatives, coupled with new ideas forrecruitment brought forth by Wood’s specialassistant, Gary Gillin, have shown results.Applications are up, as are admits. And whilethose facts mean little until the students arrive inthe fall, there are other signs the strategies areworking. Housing contracts for incomingstudents are up — “That’s a positive sign,” saidWood — and the number of students takingsummer courses who have indicated they willenroll in the fall is also up.Retention. “We’ve moved some personnel tocreate a larger presence in retention,” said Wood.“It’s easier to keep a student than it is to recruitone. When I came here, freshman retention was68 percent. I’ve set a goal for moving that towardthat 78 percent level. It’s attainable.”

Wood introduced a Building Connectionsprogram this past fall, matching faculty memberswith groups of 8 to 12 students. The facultymember would, over the first five weeks, meetwith the group or individually with the students,to have conversations, to listen. “The literature allpoints to the first five weeks being that crucialpoint in time,” said Wood. He plans onexpanding that program next year, through theUniversity’s Center for Student Success.Universal 2 + 2. SMSU is nearing a Universal 2+ 2 articulation agreement for students with two-year associate of arts, associate of science orassociate of applied science degrees who want totake an additional 60 credits at SMSU in pursuitof a BAS degree in any number of academicareas. Currently, new BAS degree offerings beingpursued include Production Management andCommunity and Civic Engagement, to go alongwith other four-year degree offerings already inplace.

“In Production Management, for example, youcould be in a robotics program, a constructionprogram, an auto body program, and now youwant to go into management. We take those 60credits, recognizing you are a specialist in yourtechnical area, and we add another body of workon top of that that allows you to be able to be ina management position.”

The Wheels in Motion Under President Wood

Interim President Ron Wood

2

The new Investment Research and Trading Center,located in Charter Hall 127, gives SMSU students anopportunity for practical experience with investing andfinancial research.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to have a facility likethis,” said Associate Professor Business AdministrationGeorge Seldat at the open house and dedication onApril 25.

The center has computers that operate Morningstarsoftware, investment software that allows students tocreate investment portfolios and choose different typesof financial instruments. “They won’t be using realmoney of course, but what the program allows islimitless as far as developing a set of financial assets,

monitoring and tracking them and analyzing thosedecisions,” said Seldat.

The Center also includes a stock ticker, and hasteleconferencing capabilities, so students can interactwith students from around the world to discuss financialideas.

It was named in honor of the late Bernie Archbold, awell-known Marshall businessman who was themanaging director at Northwestern Mutual for 43 years.Seldat thanked SMSU alumnus Brad Baune who madethe initial contribution, in partnership with theNorthwestern Mutual Foundation, to fund the newInvestment Research and Trading Center.

SMSU Investment Research and Trading Center Opens

Brad Baune, left, receives a plaquefrom George Seldat during theCenter’s dedication on April 25.

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Wood said two-year sister institutions would likelyinclude Minnesota West Community and TechnicalCollege (Worthington, Granite Falls, Pipestone, Canby,Jackson); Ridgewater College (Willmar, Hutchinson);South Central College (North Mankato, Faribault); andRiverland Community College (Albert Lea, Austin,Owatonna) to start. These are institutions that SMSUhas had 2 + 2 articulation agreements with in the past.Track/Cross Country. In an effort to draw students andcomply with Title IX requirements, Wood plans onbringing back cross country and track and field, andrefurbishing old Mattke Field to make it into a new trackand field complex that will serve both the University andMarshall High School.

“My goal is for cross country to begin in fall of 2012,and the track and field team to begin competing indoorsin the winter of 2013, and outdoors at the original MattkeField in the spring of 2014,” said Wood. “We’ll cap men’snumbers in cross country and track and field, so that wecan bring our Title IX numbers into closer compliance.”

SMSU and Marshall High School will share the cost ofthe original Mattke Field renovation, including work onthe current bleachers, press box and lockerrooms, as wellas the installation of a new track and field facility with anartificial turf infield.

In the Future. “There will obviously be some thingsthat I will want to accomplish in the second year, andthey’ll be less visible. They’re more infrastructure things,such as how do we analyze our programs? How do wemake sure we’re getting the best efficiency, the mosteffective programming? I hope we can get those in placeso that when the next president comes in, he or she willhave a solid foundation to grow from. We will also belaying the groundwork for the Higher LearningCommission accreditation visit, scheduled to take placein March 2014.”

Thoughts on SMSU. “There have been times when Iwondered ‘What the heck did I bite off?’ And there areother times that I think, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re actuallygoing to do something!’ I made some decisions very earlyon about recruiting and admissions for this year and Ibelieve those are bearing fruit almost immediately. I knewwhen I came here that my tenure was short, and if I wasgoing to do anything, I was going to have to wear myselfout. I think I’ve worn the staff out at the same time. I thinkthe second year has to be a very different year than thisfirst one.

“What I have found is that these are some of the mostfriendly people, and some of the most productive. Withinthe first week, the biggest compliment that I could give isthat I felt this was my home. And that’s a credit to all thecomponents of the University, the Marshall community,and the greater southwest Minnesota community. Quitefrankly, I believe this institution can blow everybody elseout of the water if we can figure out how to overcomewhat I call the short-term financial issues.”

He knows college is all about the right fit, be it astudent, or an administrator. “I don’t think we should pre-judge who can and can’t do a job. I think it’s the personwho comes in and the fit they have with that institution.If you were to put me at the University of Minnesota, Iwould do a lousy job because I don’t like living in the bigcity. But I love it here. I was a Mustang on the first day. Ithink it’s the fit, rather than where a person comes from.”

Wood credits former President Dr. David Danahar formaking his transition an easy one. “He laid thegroundwork for me, and there was respect that had beenbuilt between us over the years that I think he feltcomfortable that I would be an OK fit here.”

Wood is also a Worthington alderman (city council),and with his wife, Sandy, coaches the Worthington HighSchool girls and boys golf teams.

You can almost hear those wheels burning rubber.

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Dr. Thomas Albrecht-Schmitt came toSouthwest Minnesota State University to studyCreative Writing. Today, he oversees scientificresearch at Notre Dame University that is breakingnew ground in the nuclear energy field.

“I scanned one of those books on collegeslooking for a place that had a good Creative Writingprogram,” he explained. “Southwest State caughtmy attention.”

He grew up “all over the world.” His father wasa microbiology professor at the University of TexasMedical Branch and his stepfather was a Navydoctor. He went to four different high schools, onein Arizona and three in Texas, so moving a longdistance from home was not a problem.

It was “about two weeks” into his freshman yearthat he switched gears. “I was enrolled in freshmanchemistry course. (Retired) Chemistry Professor Ed Carberry was soamazing, and I was so inspired,” he said. “I had been good in chemistryin high school, and it was calling me back.”

He is currently a professor of civil engineering and geological sciencesand concurrent professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Notre Dame.He is also a Frank M. Freimann Chair, one of 11 Freimann chairs, all inengineering and physics. The chairs are named for the pioneer of theelectronics industry and former chief executive officer of Magnovox,Frank Freimann.

After earning his undergraduate degree in Chemistry from SMSU in1993, he went to Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., where heearned both a master’s degree and doctorate in Chemistry. He has donepost-doctoral work at the University of Illinois.

Auburn University, Auburn, Ala., was his first position in highereducation. He remained there for 10 years, mostly in research, untilmoving on to Notre Dame, where he’s been for three years.

“I was drawn to Notre Dame for a number of reasons,” he said.“They had recently altered their mission. They decided they wanted tobe one of the top research schools in the world, and they were releasing

tens of millions of dollars in their endowment to fund thischange in mission.”

Albrecht-Schmitt has made a name for himself as anexpert in the materials and solid-state chemistry of heavyelements, especially uranium, neptunium and plutonium.

His is one of “three or four” academic labs in the U.S.that can work with plutonium directly. “It’s a very unusualcircumstance,” he said. “In addition to state and federallicenses and significant financial support from theDepartment of Energy and a willingness by researchersat (other) labs to work with me, you just can’t buyplutonium. You have to be supplied. It’s a challengingendeavor.”

He oversees a team of 15 researchers at Notre Dame,a group that includes undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral students. It has made important discoveries inheavy-element research as it relates to nuclear waste

storage. “We work a lot on environmental problems associated with nuclear

waste. Hopefully we are making materials safer to dispose of,” he said.“It’s on the cutting edge.”

He gained international attention in March 2012 when he publisheda paper highlighting Notre Dame Thorium Borate-1 (NDTB-1), acrystalline compound that can be tailored to absorb ions, includingradioactive ions, which could make nuclear waste storage less dangerous,and less expensive.

“It’s a patented process, and we’re excited about it,” said Albrecht-Schmitt.

He acknowledges his undergraduate experience in setting a solidfoundation for his career, and he credits the SMSU faculty in particular.“If I wanted to do undergraduate research, they would be there, investinga lot of out-of-classroom time in me. They got to know their chemistrymajors personally, and that’s why so many of my classmates, in gradesabove and below me, went on to graduate school. I believe it was becauseof the dedication of the faculty in undergraduate research.”

Dr. Thomas Albrecht-Schmitt ’93 Leads Cutting-EdgeResearch To Address Nuclear Waste Storage Issues

Thomas Albrecht-Schmitt ’93

Jake Beckstrom is one of the mostdetermined people you’ll ever meet.

Beckstrom, who graduated after the fallsemester 2011 with a degree inEnvironmental Science, plans on attendinglaw school in the fall, pursuing a degree inEnvironmental Law.

He’s always been an outdoorsman. In fact,when he was 14, he stayed outside in his backyard for an entire summer. “I had a tent, anddidn’t go inside of my house, or any other. Iguess I did it just to see if I could.”

His mother and father, Elaine and KurtBeckstrom from Watertown, Minn., are hisbiggest supporters. He was involved in adiving accident on Aug. 11, 2005, an accidentthat left him a quadriplegic. And while thatsobering life change may have slowed downothers, it only steeled his determination.

Beckstrom still enjoys hunting and fishing,with some modifications. For hunting, heuses a McKenzie Mount. “Jeff McKenzie is anengineer and a family friend. He took a lookat my chair and said, ‘Oh yeah, we can get youout there hunting again.” The mount connectsto the front of the chair, to the footrest, and a

central post comes up between his knees. Ontop of that is an arm that connects to theposts, which accommodates a shotgun, rifleor crossbow. The chair he uses for hunting isan Action TrackChair™ that was developedby Marshall businessman, Tim Swenson.

He also fishes, with help from a splintaffixed to his wrist.

His service dog, Miles, is always at his side,and though Miles wears a vest telling peoplenot to pet him, it’s awfully hard to resist.“Everybody knows Miles,” said Beckstrom.“It didn’t matter if it was faculty or students,they’d all say, ‘You’re the kid with the dog.’”

His last project before graduating wascleaning up an oreodont fossil that wasdonated to SMSU. “It’s sort of a cross betweena sheep and a pig, about the size of a mediumdog,” said Beckstrom.

The fossil was donated by Davey Jonesfrom Marshall. It came from a ranch inWyoming. “Davey has been going toWyoming for 30 years looking for fossils. He’sa big collector,” said Dr. Thomas Dilley,Environmental Science professor who helpedBeckstrom with his project.

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How undergraduate research at SMSU brought together a young scientist, a 35-mil l ion-year-old fossi l, and a dog...

LOVELYBONES

There were many

projects that I’d say,

‘I can’t do this,’ and

the professor would say,

‘All right, let’s figure out

a different way.

—Jake Beckstrom

Dr. Thomas Dilley, Jake Beckstrom, Miles, and the oreodont skull.

“

“Hours and hours and hours,” is howBeckstrom describes the cleaning process.

The fossil “has its skull, legs, toes, tailand hip, all of the important elements,”said Dilley.

The oreodont fossil was covered insediment that had to be painstakinglyremoved. Beckstrom would come into thelab, and patiently go through the process.

The project was the theme for hisUndergraduate Research Conference oralpresentation last November, and was hisEnvironmental Science capstone project.

Besides cleaning up the 35 million-year-old fossil, Beckstrom also researchedthe animal, so he could better understandwhere it lived, who its enemies were andwhat it ate, among other things. “It livedalong tree-lined streams,” said Beckstrom.“When flooding happened, a lot of themdied. That’s one of the reasons it’s one ofthe more common die-offs in theBadlands area.”

The SMSU oreodont has approximately46 of the 145 bones, “about 30 percent,and we have one of every important partof the animal” said Beckstrom. It will bedisplayed in the University’s NaturalHistory Museum.

“Sometimes when I’d work on it, I’d justmake a pile of dust, you don’t seeimmediate change. It was tedious, but itwas also cool to see bones being exposedfinally.”

He would use a grout cleaner, abathroom tile cleaner, toothbrushes, steelbrushes, dental picks, electric brushes anda Dremel tool. “It seemed like it tookforever,” he said. “I really wanted itdisplayed in the museum.”

The fossil was brought to SMSU inburlap and plaster of Paris. “That was toencase it, to protect it,” said Beckstrom.“Davey (Jones) only saw a little bit of thefossil, the rest was all covered withsediment.

“It was interesting to me to learn aboutthe process. I’ve always wanted to do it.I’m glad I did it. But I don’t think I want todo it again,” he said, thinking about the

roughly 100 hours he put into the cleaningproject. “There’s still about 50 hoursremaining,” he said.

“He learned on the go,” said Dilley. “Itwas a valuable project he was doing. Itwas an opportunity for him to work on aproject that really gave him literally hands-on experience.”

And while the project allowedBeckstrom to research the oreodont, itwasn’t the only research he hasundertaken in the last year.

Last summer, Beckstrom was an internat the Smithsonian Institution’s NationalMuseum of American History.

“The project I was researching wasfinding areas around the country that hadbeen polluted, like a dump site for acompany, that also had high rates ofcancer in the local population. At times itwas frustrating, because there was acorrelation at times, but you can’t prove it’scause and effect.”

Beckstrom did a lot of superfund siteresearch. “It was weird. Sometimes there’dbe clusters (of cancer) but no history ofpollution, but then you’d find areas of a lotof polluting, but no cancer.”

Another project he worked on was thehistory of disabilities in America. “Itcovered a broad aspect of disabilities, likebirth defects caused by pollution, andcancer related to that. I ended up workingon a history of service dogs, also.”

It will be years before the project is ondisplay in the Smithsonian. “It takes a longtime. There was one exhibit planned, thedata was there, but it went to my boss toget checked out and my boss wasn’t feelingit. Four years of research anddevelopment, and the project had to startover.”

The whole experience of working inone of the Smithsonian museums inWashington, D.C., still leaves Beckstromsomewhat in awe. “It was great to beamong the actual curators,” saidBeckstrom. “Our apartment was a fewblocks down from the Smithsonian. Ienjoyed how close everything was.”

Above: Jake, 2010 homecoming king, enjoys a moment atthe football game with Miles and some of his friends.Below: Fossil hunter Davey Jones with Jake at the 2011Undergraduate Research Conference at SMSU.

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Accompanying him was his roommate last year,Ben Pedersen, who served as his personal careattendant (PCA). “Without him, and my parents,it would not have been possible,” he said.

Beckstrom has a personality that draws people.He was Homecoming king at SMSU two years ago,perhaps his biggest college highlight. “It was aculmination of all the love I feel from the people atSMSU.”

He said he’ll miss that personal attention hereceived from faculty and staff. “There were manyprojects that I’d say, ‘I can’t do this,’ and theprofessor would say, ‘All right, let’s figure out adifferent way.’ It’s like a family at SMSU.”

So now it’s on to the Vermont School of Law inRoyalton, Vt., ranked the No. 1 environmental lawschool in the country. “Vermont has only 600students, so it will be an atmosphere like SMSU,and I like that,” he said.

“(SMSU Public Administration Professor) DougSimon talked to me about getting intoenvironmental law. I started thinking about that,and I looked at schools that had programs. I amreally looking forward to this new chapter in mylife. I’m really appreciative of the education I got at

SMSU. It has allowed me to follow my dreams.”Beckstrom, on the surface, appears pretty laid

back, but looks can be deceiving. “The accidentchanged me mentally. Before, I’d take things asthey come. After the accident, I have been moredriven, which has surprised me.”

He’ll tackle his next challenge with Miles at hisside, and the support of the many friends he madewhile a student at SMSU.

I’m really appreciative of

the education I got at

SMSU. It has allowed me

to follow my dreams.

—Jake Beckstrom

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“

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Alumni Love Story Winner

Since 1974, the Alumni Association hashonored alumni in various programs forsuccess in their lives and careers. Each yearoutstanding alumni and dedicated friends ofSMSU are honored by the AlumniAssociation during Homecoming.

Lifetime Achievement Awards will beawarded this fall to David Christenson ’75,

Debra Morgan ‘79, and Clayton Schwerin ‘77.Honorary Lifetime Membership Awards willbe given with recipients to be announcedlater.

Janell Kassel ‘04 will be presented a GOLD(Graduate of the Last Decade) award.

Join us in honoring these outstandingindividuals at our annual Alumni Awards

Lunch on Friday, October 5 at noon in theSMSU Conference Center.

To nominate an outstanding individual fora future alumni award, please visit:www.southwestalumni.com/AlumniAwards

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, the AlumniOffice sent a postcard to all of our 1,256alumni couples with a request for the bestSouthwest Love Story. We received so manygreat stories, but we had to choose a winner.Here is our Focus staff favorite submitted byRon Cockriel ’82 telling the story of how heand his wife, Jeanne (Labissoniere) ’80 metwhile studying at Southwest. The Cockrielsreceived a Southwest snuggle blanket astheir prize. Visit our website to read more ofthe submissions: www.SMSU.edu/Focus.

Still dancing after all these years Two young city slickers, she from

Minneapolis and I from St.Paul, enrolled inthe ‘new’ university in the farmlands ofMarshall, Minn. Then Jeanne (Labissoniere)asked me to particpate in a dance contest atEarth II in 1978. Remember the disco craze?“Staying Alive” was the song, but we werethe first asked to leave the dance floor forobvious reasons—I can’t dance. It was OK aswe had a chance to walk and talk hand inhand.Thirty-three years later and we’re stillstepping on toes. But with our song in ourheads and the reflection of the dance ballsparkles in our eyes, we continue to dance.The “SSU” experience provided us each withan academic degree, a marriage certificate,and two birth certificates in our years there.A small school enviroment with big lifetimeexperiences gave us a solid footing to moveforward together with our lives. Thank you,“SSU” faculty and friends.

—Ron Cockriel ’82

Alumni Award Recipients Announced for Homecoming 2012

For more homecoming details:www.SMSU.edu/homecoming

Upcoming Alumni EventsJune 15 Minnesota Twins Game

June 22 St. Paul Saints Game

July 15 Marshall A’s Game and

Military Appreciation NIght

Aug. 5 Valleyfair Event

Oct. 6 Homecoming Day

Check out more events as theybecome available and register onlineat: SouthwestAlumni.com

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Alumni Travel Opportunities in 2012

Visit www.SouthwestAlumni.com | Click Programs and Services

Mustang Pride inAmazing PlacesKen Mukomela traveled to Londonin October 2011. He is pictured infront of Big Ben and Parliamentshowing his Mustang Pride.

Congratulations to Ken Mukomela!You’ve won a $50 gift card to theBarnes & Noble Campus Store thatyou can use in the store or online atsmsu.bncollege.com to pick upmore Brown & Gold gear!

Do you have a photo of yourselfwearing your Mustang gear in anamazing place or while on anincredible adventure? If so, send italong with a brief description to:alumni@smsu.edu. Winners will seetheir photo published in FOCUS andreceive a $50 gift card to the SMSUBarnes & Noble Campus Store. To beconsidered, photos must be in focuswith SMSU or Mustang logo clearlyvisible.

Dr. Thomas Jackson ‘85 Comes Full Circle with the Class of 2012

Dr. Thomas Jackson ’85, VicePresident for Student Affairs atLouisville University, was the firstkeynote speaker the Class of 2012heard, and the last.

He spoke to this year’s graduatingseniors at convocation, a day afterthey moved into the residence halls.Four years later, he delivered thecommencement address.

His talk was about the “Birds andthe Bees.” Not the talk you mightexpect. The birds referred to flying.The “Bees,” how to act in the future.

Jackson is an instrument-ratedpilot who likened going out into the work world tohis first flight as a pilot. His instructor was an oldergentleman who talked to him about why he wantedto fly, then showed him an airplane and theinstruments, then pushed him to first start the plan,then taxi around the runway, then take it up intothe air. He didn’t know it at the time, but the pilot,with so many years of experience, was bothchallenging him, and subtly helping him at thesame time.

He spoke about the “Bees” — “beadventurous, be honest, be kind, behumble.” He urged graduates to“…build a little adventure – play –into each day; … Always take thehigh road and remember thoselessons your parents taught you; …As U.S. citizens, one of our greatestattributes is our kindness. Allow thatto be one of your greatest strengthsas well; … My Grandmother used tosay, ‘Let your actions tell your story,not your mouth.’”

Being an educated citizen, hereminded the graduates, carries with

it responsibilities to society.In closing, he urged the Class of 2012 to smile at

life. “We prefer working with happy people – so bea happy colleague. And, while we may do the samething hundreds of times each week, there arepeople that may be doing it for the very first timeand we, as the educated ones, can be soinspirational in those moments.”

British Isles Odyssey Luxury Cruise, July 23–August 5, 2012London • Edinburgh • Invergordon • Kirkwall • Isle of Skye

Belfast • Dublin • Waterford • Cork • Fowey • Paris

Italian Reflections Cruise, November 7–15, 2012Athens • Sorrento • Rome • Livorno • Florence • Pisa • Barcelona

Florence Cathedral DomeItaly

Edinburgh CastleScotland

Let’s Get Social:

Dr. Thomas Jackson ’85

For updates on all the Mustang teams visit: www.smsumustangs. com

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Derek Klinkner has always beenobsessed with football.

Back in high schools, while teacherswere giving lectures, Klinkner wasdrawing up plays in his notebook.

“Teachers would catch me drawingplays in my notebook instead of takingnotes,” Klinkner said.

“And this is terrible, but I’ve donethat these past five years in college. Istill do it today.”

For two seasons, Klinkner was aforce on the field for the Mustangfootball team as its middle linebacker,finishing with 139 tackles in 22 games(21 starts).

Then it all came crashing down onMay 11, 2010, when Klinkner’s footballcareer came to a tragic end. Helpinghis dad move a water tank on thefamily’s farm in Artesian, S.D., thewater tank fell on Klinkner, breakinghis back and dislocating the T-12 andL-1 vertebrae in his back. Klinkner hadtwo metal rods inserted into his back torealign his spinal cord, but the concernwas that Klinkner would never walkagain.

“That was a tough time with Derek’saccident,” said SMSU linebacker JJBobrowicz. “He was like the defensivecaptain. He was that player you wantedto be friends with and the player youwanted to be on the field.”

But that has never dampenedKlinkner’s love of football. The firstchance he got, he rolled his wheelchaironto Mattke Field to watch theMustangs practice and play that fall.

“I remember one time last year,seeing Derek come out to one of ourpractices. He came out with his walkerand made it to the field,” said SMSUhead football coach Cory Sauter. “Westopped practice and everyone wasamazed. Everyone gave him a round

of applause. To him, it was no big deal.”In the 2010 season finale against

Concordia-St. Paul, with the aide of awalker, Klinkner led the team onto thefield for the final game of the season. In2011, Klinkner continued to patrol thesidelines, helping coach the linebackersas a student assistant.

And while he’ll never be able to suitup for SMSU [football] again, his loveof the game did not go unnoticed, asKlinkner received the “CourageAward” from the Minnesota chapter ofthe National Football Foundation andCollege Hall of Fame during thefoundation’s “Honoring Legends,Inspiring Leaders” awards banquet onApril 22 in St. Paul.

“A lot of professional athletes andHall of Fame athletes [are] there toreceive awards, so it’s just an honor toeven be considered,” Klinkner said. “It’sjust another thing that God has blessedme with. It’s another chance to shareJesus with everyone.”Coming to grips

Klinkner loved the game of football,but after the accident, it washeartbreaking to be on the sidelines.Instead of tackling offensive backs andstriking fear into opposing teams, allKlinkner could do was sit and watch.

“I didn’t want to go to practice,”Klinkner said. “I only went because mybest friends and teammates were there.”

The coaches could see thefrustration coming from Klinkner.

“Any time you take a passion ofyours and pull it away, that’s a toughthing,” Sauter said. “It does take sometime and healing.

“I think Derek has finally come togrips as far as the finality of playingfootball and being fine with it. Heunderstands now, and he can gethimself ready for those next 40 or 50years of his life. ... He’s been through alot and I really think he’s got a lot ofconfidence now because of it.”

While things were tough, Klinknerwas tired of just sitting idly by,especially at watching the linebackerunit, where the Mustangs werereplacing six-year senior Paul Mueckewith Bobrowicz, and moving PhilBreidall from fullback to linebacker.

Klinkner wanted to help the team,one way or another.

“I got tired of just sitting andwatching, so I went to Coach Sauter,”Klinkner said. “He told me to talk toCoach Guenther (SMSU’s defensivecoordinator), and he had me help withthe linebackers.”A knack for coaching

Since high school as he doodleddefensive schemes in his notebook,Klinkner envisioned himself as a coach.Helping with the linebackers gave himhis first opportunity to prove his mettleon the sidelines, helping run drills andgiving some more attention to theyounger linebackers in the Mustangs’lineup. On game days, along withhelping with the linebackers, Klinknerwould write out defensive calls on awhiteboard.

“He was there every practice, alwaysworking with a lot of the youngerlinebackers who were transitioning tocollege,” Bobrowicz said.

During the season, Klinkner focusedhis attention on Bobrowicz, whomoved from defensive end to play themiddle linebacker role, Klinkner’sformer position.

Finishing fourth on the team with 71tackles last season, Bobrowicz saidKlinkner would often wait for him onthe sidelines to help break things downand coach the then-sophomorelinebacker up.

“It really helped me out,” Bobrowiczsaid. “One major thing he always toldme early on was that I was too highand needed to lower my center ofgravity. Move quicker and be smaller.Footwork was another big one weworked a lot on together in drills.”Moving to the hardwood

Athletics wasn’t completely out ofthe question for Klinkner after the farmaccident. The past two years, Klinknerhas been a member of the SMSUwheelchair basketball team. And usingsome of his new-found coachingknowledge, he’ll stay on the hardwoodfor two more years to work as agraduate assistant coach. After talkingwith head coach Lew Shaver and SMSUDirector of Athletics Chris Hmielewski,Klinkner will be a player/coach for theMustangs.“I will walk again someday”

Since the accident, Klinkner hasfound new feats of strength. Starting

out in a wheelchair, he progressed toforearm crutches and today, he walksaround campus with a cane.

Finishing physical therapy beforethe football season last year, Klinknerheard from friends who hadexperienced spinal trauma that the besttherapy was to just walk.

“I forced myself to go farther andfarther,” Klinkner said. “I’d walk frommy car to classes, working on thosemuscles and getting stronger andstronger.

“How far can I walk? It depends onthe day. Some days, I feel like I canwalk forever. Other days, I’m tired fromthe day before.”

Seeing where Klinkner has comefrom since the accident in May 2010,Sauter said the transition has beennight and day.

“You just never know how a personis going to respond to injuries andrecover,” Sauter said. “More thananything, it was just his will andmindset that he was going to walkagain, having that attitude each andevery day.”

Bobrowicz added, “Having himaround was such good motivation. He’dalways talk about his last college gameand how you can never go half speedbecause you never know when yourlast play is. He was a good motivatorbecause he always had a good attitude.He looked like he was always having agood time and he doesn’t let anythingbring him down.”

Klinkner’s recovery alsostrengthened his faith. Working withthe Fellowship of Christian Athletes,Klinkner has told his testimony manytimes in hopes of inspiring others.

“If you ever talk to me about Jesus,I’ll say he’s a pretty neat guy,” he said. “Ifyou talk to some people who haveknown me for four or five years, they’llsay, ‘He’s a totally different person.’ It’sone of those deals that through Jesus,I’ve just grown so much.”

Klinkner’s made a lot of progress,but he’s not yet content with hisrecovery.

“I will walk again someday withoutmy cane,” he said. “I will make a fullrecovery. I will go for runs and stufflike that. There’s no doubt in my mind.”

The SMSU athletic communications office has postedall-time and year-by-year statistics for most of SMSU's11 athletic teams. Check out season statistics datingback to 1967 for volleyball, football, soccer, women's

golf, women's and men's basketball, tennis,baseball and softball. Visit SMSUMustangs.com,select a sport and click “Statistics” or click on“History” for other trivia tidbits.

Klinkner’s Courage

Comprehensive Stats Online Now!

Derek Klinkner at Mattke Field

By Joe Brown, courtesy of the MarshallIndependent, printed March 24, 2012

11FOCUS

1975Steve Klein manages the family’s honey-production business, Walnut GroveMercantile in Marshall. He and his wife,Kay, took over Klein Foods in 1992,tending the bees that produce their award-winning honey. Though the bees wereeventually sold to a business in NorthDakota, the tradition continues with KleinFoods products in gift stores across thecountry. The company also sells a hugeamount of fudge in cooperation with fund-raising efforts at schools across the country.Lucy Tokheim completed her portraitseries of people reading books, funded bythe Minnesota Arts Legacy Project. Theexhibit “Bookface” is currently on tour inthe libraries of southwest Minnesota. Visit:tokheim-stoneware.com for dates andlocations throughout the summer of 2012.1978Terry Bentele was honored as the 2011-2012 Class A Minnesota AthleticAdministrator of the Year. Bentele has beena long-time athletic director and physicaleducation teacher in the Granada-Huntley/East Chain school district. “I wasvery surprised when I found out about theaward,” he said, “but I’m happier that littleGranada-Huntley/East Chain school gotrecognized at the state level. We must bedoing something right.”Lee Henschel recently published his firstnovel, Knight Sky. The novel features ayoung man who is in a branch of themilitary. The book begins with seven shipsbeing diverted to Sector Z7 in mid-flight.“When they arrive at the sector, theydiscover that the marine base on the hubhas been destroyed and no one isanswering the hails of the ships,” Henschelsaid. He is currently at work on a sequel toKnight Sky, but is not certain about therelease date. 1979Ron Moorse served as Afton, Minnesota’sinterim city administrator between April2010 and February 2011. Later, he servedas the government affairs consultant for thecity from March 2011 to June 2011.1982Terrence Fogarty, internationally knownsports artist, has been asked to create thethird and final mural planned fordowntown Marshall. “I feel honored to beasked to do it,” Fogarty said. The mural willdepict children participating in varioussports. The completed mural will be on theeast wall of the Varsity Pub building, at thecorner of College Drive and Main St.Randy Serreyn has taken a position withBremer Bank in Marshall. Most recently,Serreyn worked at Wells Fargo as thecommunity bank manager. He started hisfinancial career in the leasing industry withSchwan’s Business Credit Leasing.1983Brad Skoglund, baseball coach atPaynesville (Minn.) High School, was

awarded the Dick Siebert Award by theMinnesota High School Baseball CoachesAssociation. The award is given to a coachwho has served Minnesota high schoolbaseball with distinction, professionalism,involvement and longevity. He is also incharge of the Paynesville Little League andthe Junior Legion programs.1984Deborah (Geiver) Norlin accepted theposition of Director of Career, Transfer andPlacement Services at Central LakesCollege in Brainerd, Minn. She was aDistance Learning Coordinator-Advisor onthe Brainerd campus from 1998-2007.Norlin was also Assistant Director ofEnrollment Services and Alumni Directorat SMSU from 1994-1998.1987Tom Bosch is the Vice President ofHospitality Services at the AveraMcKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.Bosch brings 13 years of experience to thejob, previously working as the generalmanager of the Holiday Inn City Centre inSioux Falls. Bosch says that adapting thesame focus on guest satisfaction from ahotel to a hospital setting is a responsibilityto “demonstrate the compassion that goesalong with healing not only the body butthe mind and soul as well.” Jon Smith enjoyed watching his sonBrandon quarterback the ZimmermanHigh School football team to the 2011Minnesota state playoffs. Smith and his sonare third- and fourth-generation footballcaptains. Smith said that what he enjoyedmost was the camaraderie he experiencedwhen playing high school football. “I’m stillfriends with most of the guys I playedwith,” he said. 1990Richard Zieske has joined the AveraMedical Group, Mitchell, S.D., where heworks as a certified physician assistant.Zieske’s most recent professionalexperience included working as aphysicianassistant in the Sanford Acute Care Clinicin Sioux Falls. He is also a member of theSouth Dakota Academy of PhysicianAssistants and the American Academy ofPhysician Assistants. 1992Brett Carlson is working as the director ofengineering for Crenlo LLC in Rochester.Crenlo is a leading manufacturer of caband enclosure products to protect peopleand electronics. Carlson and his wife,Loretta, live in Rochester. Shawn Mueske was one of four recipientsof the Minnesota State Colleges andUniversities Educator of the Year award in2012. He teaches biology at RidgewaterCollege in Willmar.1994Scott Snobl recently finished his first yearas wrestling coach at tradition-rich CanbyHigh School. From 1997-2007, Snobl wasthe head football coach. He took over the

position on the wrestling team after theprevious coach retired. “You work hard,you practice hard and you do it like you’resupposed to. That should lead to successultimately.” 1995Tyler Bowen (MS’08), former AlumniDirector at SMSU, recently took a positionas a trust officer at Bremer Bank, Marshall.Sheri (Mathieu) Boeyink writes NewAdult paranomal romance books. Awaited,the second novel of the Wasteland triologywas released May 1. She writes under thepen name Lynn Rush. She lives in Arizonawith her husband, Charlie ’95.Scott Wrobel, Andover, Minn., publishedhis first work of fiction, Cul de Sac, a bookabout suburban life centered on middle-aged males. Wrobel works at Anoka-Ramsey Community College as an Englishprofessor, with a focus on writing.“Laughter was the first goal,” Wrobel said.“I wanted to make the stories entertaining.”1997Ann (Schmeling) Adams has been busyraising her three children, Alivia, 8; Grant,5; and Will, 3. “Who doesn’t love hugs?”she asked. In her spare time, she enjoysshopping, cooking and baking. Alvin Ashley returned to the Sioux FallsStorm football team for his second seasonas the wide receiver coach. Previously, heworked 11 years in the Arena FootballLeague and also held a position as anassistant coach at Dakota State University.During his career at SMSU, Ashley gainedover 7,500 receiving yards and scored 162touchdowns.Cory Hubbard has been awarded theprofessional insurance designation,Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter,by The Institutes, an educationalorganization that confers the CPCUdesignation on persons who complete eightrigorous requirements. Hubbard beganworking for North Star Mutual Insuranceof Cottonwood in 2004. He currently holdsthe position of underwriter for the FarmUnderwriting Department.Gary Whitney was awarded the learningleadership award by Chief Learning Officermagazine. Whitney was recognized duringthe Fall Chief Learning OfficerSymposium. He is vice president of GlobalHotel Learning at InterContinental HotelsGroup, Twin Cities.1998Wendy (DeVorak) Kohler has coached theAlexandria (Minn.) Cardinals girl’sbasketball team since the 1980s. She has ledthe team to seven state tournaments andwon the state title in 1997. “We have a greatstaff that’s loyal and dedicated to each otherand we have a lot of fun,” Kohler said. “Thegirls know we are in their corner.” Inaddition to coaching, Kohler teaches highschool physical education.2000

Alice (Greisch) Grove married MarkGrove on July 11, 2010. They live in

Federal Bay, Wash.Angela Kesteloot is a first- and second-grade teacher at the Marshall AreaChristian School.Ryan Luft is serving a term on the CentralLakes College Foundation Board ofDirectors. The Foundation is a non-profitorganization responsible for providingscholarships and other student financialsupport at the community and technicalcollege in Brainerd and Staples. Luft iscurrently working as the principal ofStaples-Motley High School. His previousexperience included working as a middleand high school principal in the SouthlandSchool District and teaching in theMarshall and Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg districts.2001Tim Moline and his wife, Erin, took part inthe 2011 Jingle Bell Run/Walk in Marshall.His son, 4-year-old Carson, was thehonoree for the event, which helps raiseawareness and funds to support theArthritis Foundation. “Through theArthritis Foundation, we’ve found manyhelpful tools and resources to understandour son’s juvenile rheumatoid arthritis,”Moline said. 2002Gretchen (Johnson) Moore published herfirst book, The Joy of Deception and OtherStories. The book was published by LamarUniversity Press. Moore and her husband,Ryan, live in Beaumont, Texas.Brad Stromdahl is the head baseball coachat Georgia Gwinnett College,Lawrenceville, Ga. Stromdahl has 13 yearsof collegiate baseball coaching experience,most recently working as the recruitingcoordinator and hitting coach for GeorgiaState University. A native of Napa, Calif.,Stromdahl and his wife, Tessa, along withtheir son, Leo, reside in Atlanta, Ga.2003Joseph Hauger is currently working for theMinnesota Pollution Control Agency,Marshall. He lives in Granite Falls, Minn. 2004Nichole Olson appeared on a Januaryepisode of the television show, The Price IsRight. “I don’t recall hearing my name,” shesaid. “I was very surprised.” Olson correctlyguessed the exact price of a chaise lounge,earning her $500 in cash and anopportunity to play the game “Now andThen.” After completing the game

*Cities are in Minnesota unless noted.

12 FOCUS

successfully, Olson was awarded a six-nightstay at the Casamagna Cancun Resort inMexico.Matthew Schreurs is the agricultural andbusiness lender at First Independent Bank,Russell. He has 10 years of bankingexperience, half of which were in SouthDakota. Schreurs’ primary responsibilitywill be to work with the agricultural andbusiness customers associated with thecompany’s Russell office. Schreurs, his wife,Terri, and their two children live inMarshall.2006Travis Morfitt and his wife, Tricia(Jochims), recently welcomed their secondchild, Cora Jean. The couple’s first child,Liam, is four years old. Travis is theperishables manager at Hy-Vee inEstherville, Iowa. Tricia as aWriting/Marketing and Media Assistant atIowa Lakes Community College. Thefamily lives in Estherville.Tammy (Holtey) Stahl, who received hermaster’s in Special Education from SMSU,has been named a 2012 New SpecialEducation leader by the MinnesotaAdministrators for Special Education. Sheis director of special education for theSW/WC Service Cooperative in Marshall.2007Andrea Kopfmann is the director of theWalser Foundation, a subsidiary of theWalser Automotive Group, in the TwinCities. Walser Automotive donates 5% ofall pre-tax profits to Minnesota charities. Brent Lynch completed the requirementsleading to the completion of the AISprogram, which deals with improvement ofservice within the insurance industry.Lynch began working for North StarInsurance (Cottonwood, Minn.) in 2007and is a programmer for the InformationTechnology Department. Rachel Norby recently finished her secondnovel, The Good One. It is about a college-age girl named Natalie, who possesses adark secret from her past. “The book is alove story and a mystery,” Norby said. “Youget little pieces of the story all the wayalong until it all comes together. It’s kind ofa story about facing your past, family

reconciliation and the power of love.” Shelives in Mora, Minn.2008Amy (Blum) White was named UniProEmployee of the Year for 2011. Originallyfrom West Des Moines, Iowa, she nowworks as the Manager ofCulinary/Culinology at UniProFoodservice, based in Atlanta, Ga. She wasnominated by Don Gillian, UniPro’sExecutive Vice President of Marketing andBusiness Development, for her efficiency,responsibility, supportive nature andleadership skills.2009Cat Abbott showed pieces from herpersonal design business, Cat de Novo, atthe Southwest Minnesota Arts andHumanities Council art gallery. The piecesall reflect her common style — colorful,dreamlike and whimsical — but under anagricultural theme. “I have attempted toconvey the beauty, process and hardshipsof the farmers who are working to preservethe land we live on,” she said. “It combinescreativity with something that’s good forthe environment.” She lives in Marshall.Kristina (Nelson) Blackwelder accepted afull-time position at Bert RaneyElementary School in Granite Falls, Minn.Blackwelder, who had previously worked asa substitute teacher at the school, said sheis happy for the opportunity. “I’ve alwaysenjoyed working with children,” she said.“That’s what encouraged me to become ateacher.” Kenton Johnson joined Edward D. JonesInvestments as a new financial adviser inSpicer, Minn. Before joining the company,Johnson worked for more than 15 years ina variety of accounting and businessmanagement roles. Johnson earned anMBA from Southwest Minnesota StateUniversity. Johnson and his wife, Stacy, andtheir two children live in Spicer.Pat Moller, who earned his master’s inEducation at SMSU, was named 2012South Dakota Teacher of the Year. Heteaches in the Mitchell (S.D.) SchoolDistrict.Tyson Rosa completed the requirements ofthe Associate in Claims program, which is

an education program for claimsrepresentatives, management personneland other interested in learning the claimsaspect of the insurance business. Rosabegan working full-time at North StarMutual Insurance in Cottonwood, Minn.,in 2009. He is an assistant claimsrepresentative for the Property/CasualtyClaims Department.2010Lucas Bryce has been given theopportunity to share his love of cooking.His parents opened the Solar Drive-In inSleepy Eye, Minn., a couple years ago. It is arestaurant that specializes in good, freshfood, finished in 15 minutes or less. Theybegan offering classes to teach the localshow to cook. Bryce is teaching these classeshands-on, including learning accessiblerecipes, entertaining tips and kitchenstrategies. Amber Buysse taught her fourth gradestudents at Tracy Area Elementary Schoolabout math in a fun and creative way.Buysse introduced her students to the ideaof fantasy football. Students had theopportunity to select teams and work inpairs to complete math problems to helptheir teams gain yards on the football field.“It’s been great,” she said. “The kids love it.”Daniel Krenz and Andrea Gronbeck weremarried at the Zion Lutheran Church ofAmor, Battle Lake, Minn., on August 13,2011. The bride’s father officiated theceremony. Andrea teaches kindergarten inMilroy. Daniel works for the Del MonteCorporation in Sleepy Eye, Minn. Thecouple live in Redwood Falls, Minn. Nissa Nordland and Eric Eichenlaub wereboth cast in the Buoyant TheatreCollective’s production of Three Sisters. Theperformance shows the decay of theprivileged class in Russia and the search formeaning the modern world. Nordland wascast as Natasha, who begins the play as aninsecure, awkward young woman, butgradually achieves everything she desiresthrough manipulation and control.Eichenlaub took the stage as Tuzenbach, alieutenant in the army, who possesses anunrequited love for one of the three sistersand is killed in a duel in the final act. The

Buoyant Theatre Collective is comprised ofTwin Cities artists. Both received positivereviews.Robin (Hull) Rott is currently a dentalstudent at the University of Louisville. Rottand her husband, Aaron (2010), live inLouisville, Ky.2012Kelly Fitzgerald, Marshalltown, Iowa, wasawarded the 2012 Outstanding SeniorAward by the SMSU Alumni Associationduring the commencement ceremony onMay 5.

FACULTY/STAFFTerry Culhane, head volleyball coach atSMSU, has been named one of the top fivehead girl’s high school basketball coachesin Minnesota state history by theMinnesota State High School League.Culhane, a Hall of Fame coach inbasketball as well as volleyball, compiled abasketball coaching record of 425-85 withfour state championships. A native ofMarshall, he became the head volleyballcoach at SMSU in 2004 and has led theMustangs to the NCAA tournament everyseason since. Culhane won statechampionships at Tracy-Milroy (1992,1996) and at Marshall High School (2001,2002). As SMSU’s volleyball coach, he has a206-60 record.

IN MEMORIAMFormer interim President GaryDeCramer, died of a heart attack on March7, 2012.Katie (Greenman) Hancock, a longtimeemployee of SMSU, passed away onFebruary 20, 2012.Leo St. Pierre, a longtime employee ofSMSU, passed away on April 29, 2012.

Kristina (McCourtney) Wright ’00 was named one of the 2011 TopWomen in Finance by Finance & Commerce, Inc., a Twin Cities-basedfinancial newspaper. The award honors outstanding efforts of womenwho are making notable contributions to their professions, theircommunities and society at large throughout Minnesota.

Wright is Vice President of Association Services at the MinnesotaCredit Union Network, where she oversees the dues-supportedoperations and manages staff of eight.

Wright graduated in 2000 with a degree in English/Creative Writing. “Iwas looking for a career in the communications field, and ended up withthe Minnesota Credit Union Network,” she said.

She began as a communications specialist, and has moved up withinthe Minnesota Credit Union Network since joining it in the fall of 2000.

There are 143 credit unions in Minnesota, saidWright, and her organization provides more than90 percent of them with services, which includecompliance, communications, education, finance,technology and administrative support.

Wright has been actively involved in international credit uniondevelopment. She currently leads a state-level committee that maintainsan international partnership with a credit union trade association inParaguay. Working in conjunction with the World Council of CreditUnions, she has organized exchange programs to educate and trainprofessional staff, regulators and public officials there.

Wright is married to 2002 alumnus Jeremy Wright. They have twochildren, Jesse, 3, and Alex, 1.

Alumna Named One of 2011’s Top Women in Finance

*Cities are in Minnesota unless noted.

“I remember dad saying, when Marshall was named the college site backin the early ’60s, how big a day that was,” said Jim Kontz, son of the lateRichard “Dick” Kontz.

Jim is proud that his father planned the Richard and Marilyn KontzFamily Scholarship through the SMSU Foundation. He said, “Dad wasvery active in the community, and knew what an asset SMSU was to theregion.”

Dick served on the SMSU Foundation Board of Directors for many yearsas well as the Planned Giving Committee. In 1962, he started PrudentialFinancial in Marshall. Over the years he became a respected businessmanand sportsman. He was active with Ducks Unlimited and other outdoorgroups. He had a passion for conservation, education, and thedevelopment of the Marshall area. Dick’s wife, Marilyn (Maier), is a 1971charter class member and continues to be an avid supporter of SMSU.

Through the generosity and foresight of Dick and his wife, Marilyn, theendowed scholarship created through his estate will benefit SMSUstudents in the years to come.

Dick Kontz

You can leave a legacy. Start today.WWW.SMSUFOUNDATION.ORG

Creating an Endowed Scholarship at SMSUYou can establish a named, endowedscholarship at Southwest Minnesota State bymaking a gift of $10,000 or more. Ascholarship can be in your name or in honorof someone dear to your heart. An endowedscholarship can be funded over one, five or 10years, depending on your wishes. You maydesignate your endowment to academicscholarships, a specific collegiate unit, orstudents in need of financial assistance. Insome cases, donors prefer including ascholarship gift in their will. For moreinformation contact Bill Mulso, SMSUFoundation Executive Director, at 1-800-260-0970 or Bill.Mulso@SMSU.edu.

Consider These Advantages:• Tax deduction for charitable contribution• Membership in the Heritage Society• Helping SMSU students earn their degree in

today’s challenging economic environment• Leaving a lasting legacy at Southwest

Leaving aLegacy

Pat Fruin Carmody, ’80 – BASean Carmody ’81 – BS

Maureen Carmody Agribusiness and Marketing – class of 2013

Meghan CarmodyMusic Education – class of 2016

√ Scholarships for children of alumni

√ Mustang Scholarships up to $11,000

√ College Now Scholarships

√ SMSU Foundation Scholarships

√ 97% of recent graduates reported being employed

√ On-campus improvements totaling over $130 million

√ Small class sizes and a safe, rural campus environment

THE SAME, ONLY BETTER...

1501 State Street , Marshal l , MN 56258 • Contact the Office of Admission at 1-800-642-0684BRING YOUR STUDENT FOR A CAMPUS VISIT AND SEE WHY THEY BELONG HERE!

W W W. S M S U . E D U

NONPROFITU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPermit No. 97Marshall, MNSMSU Alumni Office

1501 State Street • Marshall, MN 56258

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

If FOCUS is addressed to a son or daughter who has graduated or no longer maintainsa permanent address at your home, please email alumni@SMSU.edu or call toll-free

1-800-260-0970 to provide a current address and we will update our records.

SHE CAME FOR AN EDUCATION...AND STAYED FOR A CAREER

PAT CARMODY, SMSU REGISTRAR

Mustang TraditionSTART YOUR OWN