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A Publication for Alumni & Friends of Bemidji State UniversityVol. 15, No. 4, SUMMER 2000

BSUBSU

BSUBSU

Four Bemidji State Universitymusic graduates gather weekly inthe basement of one of their homesin Bemidji to celebrate a sharedlove of Celtic music and a passionto expand their musical range andexperience.

Over the past four years they’vebonded as Celtic sisters under thebanner Caleigh, and all agree thata missed rehearsal is sorely regret-ted throughout the week.

Caleigh (kay-lee) is an Ameri-canized version of the Gaelic wordCeilidh, which refers to a musicalcelebration. Group members sharetheir talents on a range of instru-ments that has roughly tripled innumber and variety since the earlydays of Caleigh. Dee Furfaro pro-vides the grounding percussion andbass as well as haunting lead vo-cals. Lenore Siems plays liltingfiddle, viola and mandolin whileApril Larson adds Celtic lap harp,guitar, mandolin and flute. DebSteinbar rounds out the group withkeyboard, tin whistle and vocalharmony.

The group describes its music asCeltic and traditional folk, butSteinbar notes that they are at aturning point this spring as they’vealso begun to write and performtheir own music.

“Our vocalizations are unusual,because we all sing in differentranges,” said Steinbar. “The eclec-tic nature of the individual musicalinterests that we bring to our play-ing also transforms our music intosomething really unique.”

While each of the four have fondchildhood memories of listening toCeltic music at the knee of parentsand grandparents, as adults theirmusical tastes range across folk andbluegrass to Latino beats, Medi-eval Baroque and classical violin.

Siems, Larson and Furfaro firstdiscovered their shared love ofCeltic music when they met at aMinnesota Music Educators Asso-ciation meeting in Minneapolis.Almost immediately after that ini-tial meeting, they began playingtogether. Realizing they needed akeyboard player, they invitedSteinbar to join the group.

“Branching Out,” Caleigh’sfirst CD, was released in the win-ter of 1999. A second collectionhas been recorded and is sched-

uled for release this fall. Althoughthe group’s live performanceshave always been staged aroundthe Bemidji area, its music hasreached across the country and theoceans via their Internet web page(www.northernnet.com/siems/caleigh.htm).

Siems said radio stations inWinnipeg, Texas and Australiahave played their music. A sam-pling of e-mails to Caleigh revealslisteners as far away as Norway,New Zealand and Argentina.

Paul Hellyer of Wellington, NewZealand, wrote of Caleigh’s record-ing of “Wild Mountain Thyme”,“Your arrangement was very beau-tiful, your singing superb and yourmusicality obvious … Each of youcomplimented each other. Therewas a feeling of everybody partici-pating equally and an enjoymentof each other’s musicianship. Iguess the word that describes thisis synergy.”

It’s this type of refreshing musi-cal experience that keeps Caleightogether, drawing its members backweek after week.

“It starts with the need to do mu-sic and play with others who havea love for the same type of music,”said Larson.

“For me, I really look forward toit because it’s a total change fromeverything else I do,” said Furfaro.“If I can’t make it to practice oneweek, I really do miss it.”

Larson wonders whether she’dever have had the confidence toplay with Caleigh if it weren’t forthe guidance she received in theBSU Music Department.

“My instructors were just veryprofessional, excellent musiciansand so supportive of me,” saidLarson. “I was extremely timid, andDr. (Carl) Thompson insisted thatI put that aside, step forward andperform. I believe that reallychanged my life.”

As of today, Steinbar is the onlygroup member who has visited Ire-land, the origin of Celtic musicalinfluences. But a Caleigh trip, totour and perform in Ireland some-time in 2002, is in the early plan-ning phase. Scheduling timeamong four households and asmany different careers could, how-ever, prove a major challenge.

Furfaro teaches kindergarten atRed Lake Elementary and lives inPinewood. Larson commutes from

Bagley to BSU, where she teachesSpanish. Siems, Bemidji, teachesorchestra at the Bemidji MiddleSchool and kindergarten music atPaul Bunyan Elementary. Steinbar,whose residence is on the Mis-sissippi River near Cass Lake,runs a private music studio andalso practices as a certified mas-sage therapist.

The women’s musical experi-ences and interest in all thingsCeltic have also resulted in an off-shoot venture, Caleigh Capes. Thewoolen, lined capes are producedthrough an agreement with BemidjiWoolen Mills and featurehandcrafted pewter clasps im-printed with traditional Celtic de-signs.

Caleigh’s CD is availablethrough its web site, at Fly By NightArt Space, Bemidji, ClearwaterCottage, Bemidji, and at BrewedAwakenings, Grand Rapids.

Alumni Utilize Secular TrainingForging a New

BSUCalendarJune 16, 2000

Pabst/Skaar Memorial GolfTournament, Bemidji Town and

Country Club

July 14, 2000Founder’s Walk Induction Ceremony,

Alumni Arch, Bemidji StateUniversity campus

July 21, 2000Galen Nagle Memorial Golf

Tournament, Castle HighlandsGolf Course

August 4, 2000First National Bank - BSU Women’s

Athletics Golf Classic,Bemidji Town and Country Club

August 25-26, 2000BSU Alumni Association Board

Meeting, Bemidji

October 6-7, 2000BSU HOMECOMING CELEBRATION

BSU Athletic Hall of Fame, Oct. 6,6 p.m., Induction Ceremony

40 Year Reunion ofClass of 1960, Oct. 6-7

2000 Alumni Association HonorsLuncheon, Oct. 7, 11:30 a.m.

Homecoming Football Game,Oct. 7, 1:30 p.m.

“Fifth” Quarter Alumni Celebration andSilent Auction, Oct. 7, 4 p.m

April Larson

Musical Direction

“ y instructors were just very professional,excellent musicians and so supportive of me.I was extremely timid, and Dr. (Carl) Thompsoninsisted that I put that aside, step forward andperform. I believe that really changed my life.”

MCaleigh (left to right): Deb Steinbar, Dee Furfaro, Lenore Siems and April Larson.

Horizons Page 2

Publ

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Poets and fiction writers musttravel the strange lands that lie be-tween reality and make believe.Fortunately for avid readers, theyreturn to write about it.

Much of Will Weaver’s inspira-tion can be traced directly back tohis experiences growing up on adairy farm near Park Rapids as wellas to his changing attitudes andview of the world through the eyesof a father and teacher.

Dr. CarolAnn Russell absorbsthe color, history and personalinterrelationships of people en-countered in her travels, andmeshes them with personaland mythological truths in herwriting.

Both have published severalbooks, in addition to seeing theirwork appear in many anthologies,and have taught creative writingat BSU for 18 and 12 yearsrespectively.

Dr. Nancy Erickson, dean ofBSU’s College of Arts and Letters,said that while the university’s pro-fessors are encouraged to seek pub-lication of their writing, it’s notrequired. Its importance lies, inpart, with the peer recognition, peerreview and discussion which pub-lication brings.

“It also ensures that facultymembers continue to be lifelonglearners,” said Erickson. “As aresult, they are modeling lifelonglearning for their students.”

Weaver’s debut novel, RedEarth, White Earth, was publishedin 1986 and produced by CBS tele-vision in 1989. Since then, he’s alsopublished a book of short stories, AGravestone Made of Wheat, andthree books for young adults basedaround his baseball-playing char-acter, Billy Baggs. A new novel foryoung adults, Memory Boy, isscheduled for release later this year.

Drawing at least half of hisinspiration from his own familylife, Weaver said that with writing,like farming, one has to “get upearly and do the chores.”

“I write every day in a routinemanner, not waiting for fits ofinspiration,” said Weaver of hisapproach to writing. A good daywill produce four to five manu-script pages and, at the end of a

very good day of writing, he mighthave as many as eight to 10 pages.

He tends to believe that givingin to the idea of writer’s block is an“indulgence” and teaches his stu-dents ways of avoiding that trap.

“I have tricks I use on myselfthat I share with my students,” saidWeaver. “For instance, I sometimesstop myself in the middle of some-thing when I’m having fun andthings are going well. That makesit easier to start writing when I comeback to it.”

Weaver teaches a wide range ofwriting at BSU, from first-yearcomposition to advanced fictionwriting. By the time students areenrolled in the advanced classes,he feels they should be writing at apublication level and are encour-aged to try to get their work pub-lished as a way of expanding theiraudience.

“Everyone is creative in someway, and most people just need tolearn a recognizable form in whichto display that creativity,” saidWeaver of his teaching.

Russell refers to this same latentstudent creativity when she speaksof working with her poetry studentsto identify their individual voiceand stay true to it in their writings.

Published Works of FacultyTraveling the Creative Path

“I love to teach and find it veryinvigorating and inspiring,” saidRussell, who has published fivebooks of poetry.

Like Weaver, she draws on herpersonal experiences, observationsand phases of life as material forher poetry, and her books reflect aprocess of maturity and change.

The Red Envelope is filled withMidwestern landscape imageryand childhood memories of grow-ing-up in Fargo, ND, Montana andDetroit Lakes. The influence of hermentor of the time, Richard Hugo,a midwestern landscape poet, isevident, said Russell. Feast ex-plores motherhood and draws uponmythological tales of women whileSilver Dollar reflects a phase ofRussell’s life during which she re-fers to herself as an “academicgypsy.”

“When I’m in the process ofcollecting material, I make timeevery evening to note the inspira-tions of the day,” said Russell.“Since I’m a full-time mom, pro-fessor and wife as well as an artist,I have to make special time in myday to do that, so I am disciplinedin that way.”

Once she has a body of work thatshe’s identified as going into abook, Russell culls through hernotes, gets them in order and worksto create an “inner awareness ofthat experience,” into which thereader can enter.

Her current project centers onpoems that evolved from a two-month stay in 1997 at the Ameri-can Academy in Rome. Aspects ofthe project include translation ofher works from English to Italian.She is also collaborating with Dr.Paul Brandvik, professor emeritusof vocal music, to set the work“Passeggiata” to music, and withJauneth Skinner, associate profes-sor of visual arts, to create the fin-ished pieces as museum qualityletterpress broadsides, featuringhistorical Italian lettering.

Bemidji State is fortunate to claim among its faculty many talented writers who have published books in avariety of disciplines. This is the third article in a series to appear in HORIZONS on faculty authors. Thisinstallment focuses on the works of two of the university’s creative writers.

Books byWill Weaver

Red Earth, White Earth,Simon & Schuster, 1986.

A Gravestone Made of Wheat,Simon & Schuster, 1989.

Striking Out, HarperCollins, 1993.

Farm Team, HarperCollins, 1995.

Hard Ball, HarperCollins, 1998.

Books byCarolAnn Russell

The Red Envelope, University Pressesof Florida, 1985, 1991.

The Tao of Woman,Loonfeather Press, 1992.

Feast, Loonfeather Press, 1992.

Without Reservation, Main-TraveledRoads, Texas, 1995.

Silver Dollar, West End Press,New Mexico, 1995.

Will Weaver

CarolAnn Russell

Horizons Page 3

Sports

Where We Are ... What We’re Doing

ALL CITIES ARE LOCATED IN MINNESOTA UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

Sports1999-2000

Vol. 15, No. 4, Summer 2000

Produced by the News and PublicationsOffice and the Alumni Office at BemidjiState University, HORIZONS is publishedquarterly and distributed without chargeto BSU alumni, students, faculty, staff andother friends of the University. BSU is anequal opportunity educator and employer.

Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Al Nohner

Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathy Berglund

Photographer . . . . . . . . . . . John Swartz

President . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Jim Bensen

Alumni Director . . . . . . . . . Sue Kringen

Writer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jody Grau

Editorial Assistance . . . . . Peggy Nohner

Editorial Board: Dr. Jim Bensen, BSUpresident; Al Nohner, director of newsservices and publications; Sue Kringen,director of alumni relations; Jeff Totten,assistant professor of business relations;Dr. Gerald Morine, professor of chemistry.

Bemidji State University

HorizonsBSUBSU

1930sEdie Salvevold (’39) of Bemidji recently celebrated her80th birthday at an open house sponsored by her friendsand relatives ... Delirene Amundgaard (’39) is retiredand living in Warren.

1940sMaurine (VanWinkle) Boyd (’49) of Kingwood, TX,writes that her daughter, Julie Golding, works as awellsite geologist for Phillips Petroleum Company on anoil rig in the China Sea ... Conrad Mattson (’40) ofSleepy Eye is retired and enjoying life at age 83 ...Harold Shellum (’41) is enjoying retirement inSunnyvale, CA.

1950sBob Ness (’57) of Dassel is serving as a staterepresentative. His district is south of St. Cloud and westof the Twin Cities and includes the cities of Hutchinson,Richfield and Dassel. He and his wife, Marianne, havefour children and 10 grandchildren. His careerbackground includes working as a teacher, counselor,school superintendent and in construction ... Norm

Reopelle (’58) of Rochester is enjoying retirement afterteaching for 41 years ... Verna Smith (’50) of Murdockis a secretary for her church council, a grandmother andmember of the Green Thumb Garden Club andHomemakers Club ... Robert Johnson (’52) ofMoorhead is program officer for the Midwestern HigherEducation Commission.

1960sDan Somrock (’68) and Judy (Sorenson) Somrock(’68) live in Bemidji. Dan retired in December afterteaching for 31 years in the Cass Lake-Bena SchoolDistrict and Judy continues to teach seventh- and eighth-grade science in Cass Lake. They have two sons who livein the Twin Cities area ... Wayne Hyland (’68) ofWillmar has for 27 years worked as assistant executivedirector for the Minnesota Education Association. Theorganization is now known as Education Minnesota,since the merger of MEA and MFT ... Myrna(Swanberg) Heyboer (’69) of St. Clair, MI, enjoysgiving piano lessons and volunteering at her church ...Betty Whaley (’67) of St. Francis teaches middle schoolphysical education in Andover ... Lydia (Sirotiak)

Jackson (’65) lives in rural Bovey with her husband,William, where she enjoys walking, line dancing,reading, sewing and raising flowers. She’s retired from acareer of teaching in a variety of northern Minnesotaschools and continues to work with children in Sundayschool and the Sonlight Girls at the Full Gospel Church,Grand Rapids. She and William have a daughter,Marsha, who just retired from teaching ... LorenSolberg (’65) divides his time between his hometown ofBovey and the State Capitol where he serves as arepresentative. During the school year, when theLegislature is not in session, Solberg spends his daysteaching math at Greenway School in Coleraine, ateaching position which he’s held since 1965. He and hiswife, Joan, have three sons and a daughter as well as fivegrandsons ... Florence Gustafson (’69) of Bella Vista,AR, moved to Arkansas in 1997 and is retired ... ReginaToscano Scott (’66) of Des Moines, IA, returned to theclassroom this fall as a substitute teacher in the DesMoines Public Schools ... Janet Whaley Helland (’61)of Edinburg, TX, has retired after 34 years of teaching ...Sheryl (Martin) Osburn (’67) of Brooklyn Parkparticipated in the 1999 Habitat for Humanity - JimmyCarter Work Project Blitz Build in the Philippines ...Alan Klotzbach (’64) of Silver Bay retired in 1998 ...Tom Gulovich (’66) of Grafton, WI, is retiring in June.His son is married and his daughter is a police officer inGreen Bay, WI ... John Jacobsen (’63) of Halifax, PA, isretired and writes that he’s enjoying golfing in MyrtleBeach, SC, and returning to Minnesota for summervacations ... Bob Garramone (’69) of Westfield, IN, isworking in Minnesota for the U.S. Customs Service

inspecting the ports of entry along the northern border ...Pat Hughes (’67) a teacher in Kelliher, has been namedthe Minnesota Middle Level Educator of the Year. Shewas selected from a field of candidates across the statewho were nominated by their peers. Hughes has taughtschool at Kelliher for 32 years and today teaches sixth-,seventh- and eighth-grade language arts, sixth-gradereading, and a high school German class ... TomMathews (’68) accepted the position of superintendentof schools in the Blackduck School District this winter.He had been Blackduck’s high school principal for thepast 20 years ... Robert Yanish (’66) of Mahnomen isdirector of choirs at Crookston schools and his wife,Kathy (’83), has retired from 31 years of teaching highschool science and math ...Arleen Boyd (’61) of InverGrove Heights has retired from teaching and is enjoyingworking with her dog in agility training and competition... Charlie Mahovlich (’68) of Inver Grove Heightsretired in June 1999, after 31 years of teaching ... KenCarlson (’68) has a new position as dean of students atMorgan Community College in Fort Morgan, CO ...Gerald Lusk (’69) of Tony, WI, retired from a teachingcareer in Alaska.

1970sJames Howe (’76) has turned his hobby of collectingold movie cameras and projectors into a small business... Gary Nagle (’72) of Kissimmee, FL, and his wife,Patty, have adopted two children and are in the processof adopting three more. They bought a home in Bemidjiand plan to move into it as soon as possible ...

(Continued on page 4)

WOMEN’S HOCKEY(15-18-2, 5-18-2 WCHA)

The Beavers exceeded expecta-tions this year by winning all 10non-conference games and pick-ing up 12 points in the WCHA. TheBeavers set school records in allbut three categories this season,including a team scoring total of252 points. Six players topped the20-point scoring mark, and theturnaround is the best improvementin one year by a BSU athletic teamin school history, moving from a2-20 record (.090 pct.) last seasonto a 15-17-2 record (.471 pct.) thisyear. The Beavers fell to the third-seeded Wisconsin Badgers at theWCHA Tournament Champion-ships. The Beavers return 21letterwinners for the 2000-2001season.

MEN’S HOCKEY(13-20-1, 8-8-1 CHA)

The Bemidji State men’s hockeyteam wrapped up its first season inthe NCAA Division I CollegeHockey America conference witha third-place finish in both the regu-lar season and in the inaugural CHATournament. The Beavers fell torival Alabama-Huntsville in thesemifinals 10-4, but bounced backwith a thrilling 5-4 overtime vic-tory over Air Force in the consola-tion game. The Beavers return 18letterwinners and have signed sev-eral new recruits for 2000-2001.BSU opens the season October 14with a home date against the Min-nesota Golden Gophers. Nine BSUhockey players earned CHA

honors for the 1999-2000 season,including defenseman StefanBjork (Stockholm, Sweden), whowas named First Team All-CHA.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL(9-18, 7-11 NSIC)

The Beaver women’s basketballteam wrapped up sixth place in theconference last season. Erin Walker(Madison, WI) earned All-North-ern Sun Intercollegiate ConferenceFirst Team honors and finishedher Bemidji State career at fifth onthe Beaver all-time scoring listwith 1,462 points. Jen Ohme(Bloomington, MN) was a secondteam GTE Academic All-Regionselection and ended up as third onthe all-time BSU assist list with 454while Peggy Hammel-Moran(Stewartville, MN) finished hercareer as the fourth top rebounderin school history with 731. Thesquad returns six letterwinners andsigned several new recruits, includ-ing four All-State selections.

MEN’S BASKETBALL(10-17, 8-10 NSIC)

The Beaver men’s basketballteam highlighted the season with avictory over NCAA II playoffcontender Wayne State en route toa sixth place finish in the confer-ence. Mac Smith (Burnsville, MN)earned All-Northern Sun Intercol-legiate Conference First Teamhonors for the 1999-2000 season.A First Team All-NSIC selectionand NSIC rebounding championin 1998-99, Smith, finished theseason as the second top scorer inthe NSIC. As a team, BSU led thenation and set a single season

school record for free throw per-centage with a 78.5 percent (386-492), breaking the BSU mark of72.4 set in 1983-84. The Beaversreturn five starters for the 2000-2001 season.

TRACKThe Bemidji State University

men’s track team captured theschool’s first NSIC Indoor Cham-pionship as BSU’s Andy Eggerth(Spring Lake Park, MN) garneredAthlete of the Meet honors andhead coach Craig Hougen wasnamed NSIC Men’s Indoor Coachof the Year. The Beavers totaled142 points to 135 for second-placeNorthern State. Indoors, thewomen’s team notched 28 pointsin the conference meet, won for theseventh consecutive time by UM-Duluth. The Bemidji State menplaced fourth in the NSIC OutdoorTrack Championships while thewomen finished sixth, led by JenniFreie (Long Prairie, MN), who wonthe women’s high jump.

SOFTBALL(14-25, 6-12 NSIC)

The Bemidji State softball teamused the conference champion-ships to move from seventh tothird in the standings. Junior AnnieBlock (Huson, MT) earned NSICPitcher of the Year honors and alsoearned NSIC All-Tournamenthonors after leading the Beaversto the semifinals with a .78 ERAand a .500 batting average. Fresh-man Megan Bray (Farmington,MN) garnered All-NSIC andAll-Tournament designation thisseason as well.

BASEBALL(15-22, 8-8 NSIC)

The Beaver baseball team closedout the season at fifth in the NSICstandings. After a sluggish start, theBeavers finished strong with a14-5 record in its last 19 games,including an eight-game winstreak. Gunner Geller (Guthrie,MN) garnered First Team All-NSIC honors.

WOMEN’S TENNISThe Beaver women’s tennis team

followed up its 1999 NSIC cham-pionship with a third place finishat the 2000 conference champion-ships. Sarah Longtin (Crookston,MN) led BSU as the Beaversfinished the season at 3-8 overall.

Beaver athletics honored three competitors during the annual Green and White banquetthis year. Pictured at the event were (left to right): Dr. Jim Bensen, BSU president; ChrisMeyer (football, East Grand Forks), Male Athlete of the Year co-winner; Peggy Hammel-Moran (volleyball and basketball, Stewartville), Female Athlete of the Year; Ben Morrie(football, Rohnert Park, CA), Male Athlete of the Year co-winner; and Doreen Zierer, athleticdirector for NSIC sports.

Horizons Page 4

Gift

(Continued from page 3)

Robert Kaiser (’79) took over the position ofsuperintendent of the Chisholm School District inJanuary. Kaiser was previously business manager andtechnology coordinator with the Virginia School Districtand prior to that he was an instructor with the BuhlSchool District from 1974 to 1985 ... DennisWinskowski (’72), publisher of the Detroit LakesTribune and Becker County Record, was electedMinnesota Newspaper Association president Jan. 29 atthe association’s annual meeting. In addition to hispublishing duties, he also serves as director of weeklynewspapers for Forum Communications Co., Fargo, ND.MNA is a statewide organization representing 370weekly and daily newspapers ... Michael O’Leary (’76)filed in the fall as a candidate to the Eden Prairie SchoolBoard. He is president of Farmers Insurance Agency andhas a son in second grade ... Larry Hunt (’79) ofChamplin has worked for Fingerhut Corp. for 19 years as

a senior art director and for the past three years hasowned a sports bar in Monticello ... David Johnson(’75) lives in Eveleth ... Linda (Tomlinson) Whiteside(’74) lives in Hibbing ... Teresa Fisher (’79) of NorthPole, AK, has been the athletic director at North PoleHigh School for 18 years. She has two daughters,Megan, 16, and Mallory, 15 ... Rick Kleinschmidt (’77)of Belgrade is a patrol supervisor with the WillmarPolice Department. He’s been married since 1978 andhas five children ... Kay Groff (’71) of Cordova, AK,has retired from teaching and now serves on the facultysenate of the Slingerland Insitutute For Literacy ofBellevue, WA ... Jim Meyer (’70) of Rosemount worksas an ABE manager with emphasis on ESL and workplan English ... Susan Hoosier (’74), a Northern

Township business operator and consultant, entered thestate House 4A race, seeking the DFL endorsement to runagainst Rep. Doug Fuller, Bemidji. Currently, Hoosierworks with the Beltrami Area Service Collaborative,contracts as a business consultant and operates a seasonalbusiness, The Sheltered Garden. She has served as interimexecutive director of Lady Slipper Design in Bemidji andhelped women create their own businesses through the Bi-County Community Action Program’s businessdevelopment programs. She has also worked as a teacher,paralegal and real estate relocation consultant ... RicDressen (’77) is the new superintendent of schools inDistrict 206, Alexandria. Before moving to Alexandria,Dressen was superintendent of schools in Waconia foreight years, an elementary school principal for 11 years

and an elementary teacherfor four years. He liveswith his wife, Kerry,daughter, Ann, a seventh-grader, and son, Jack, whois in fourth grade ... HenryHempel (’79) has joinedthe Nor-son design/buildteam as director ofcommercial developmentand works for the companyfrom his office in Bemidji... Nancy Hagen Staiger(’76) of Moorhead is the

biological mother of three children and foster mother tothree special needs children ... Alan Johnston (’70) isliving in Warroad ... Harlan Highberg (’70) of Bagleyhas worked 29 years with the USDA Farm ServiceAgency and also does some farming, raising beef cattleand hay ... Kimberly Wolken (’72) of Minneapolis left ajob with the Minnesota Supreme Court to return to schoolat the University of Minnesota with the intent ofcompleting a master’s degree in public health ... MichaelPeterson (’77) of Fulda has been teaching band in Fuldaschools for 22 years. He and his wife, Lisa, have twodaughters, Alicia, 13, and Tammy, 10, and a five-year-oldson, Todd. Hobbies include camping, boating, golf andbeing at the lake ... Dory (Larson) Sjoblom (’72) ofDuluth is a Title I teacher at Al Brook School. She’s beenmarried 20 years to Will. They have two daughters, 19and 17, and are grandparents to nine-month-old Austin ...Russ Bull (’73) of Flagstaff, AZ, has earned his doctoratein educational psychology and plans to teach college. Heand Mary (Hardwig) Kimbery are planning a Junewedding ... Bob Brimer (’73) of Onalaska, WI, semi-retired from engineering management in December and is“substitute teaching to get younger” ... Debra Kellerman(’72) was recently inducted into the BSU Education Hallof Fame. She is a faculty member in the College ofBusiness at St. Cloud State University. She has 25 yearsof teaching and administration experience at thecollegiate and secondary levels of education. In 1995, shereceived the Distinguished Service Award fromMinnesota Business Educators and, in 1994, theOutstanding Post Secondary Business Educator, MBEI,

Award ... Adele Munsterman (’74) was recentlyinducted into the BSU Hall of Fame. She is a worldlanguage teacher in the Fridley schools, having taughtthere for 22 years. Munsterman received the 1996 AATSPMinnesota Outstanding Spanish Teacher award. In 1998,she was named a winner of the Target TeacherScholarship Award ... Vicki Olsen-Rowe (’78) wasrecently inducted into the BSU Education Hall of Fame.She is a former language arts, theater and speech teacherin Bemidji, having taught there for 17 years. She currentlyworks in Texas and received the Ashland Oil TeacherAchievement Award for Excellence in 1992. She has beenan editor, publisher, guest speaker, trainer and evaluator ...Elwyn Ruud (’78) was recently inducted into the BSUEducation Hall of Fame. She is a third-grade teacher inRoseau and in 1992 was named Roseau Teacher of theYear. In 1990, she was the local coordinator for the Artistsin Minnesota Schools and Communities Project withCOMPAS ... Robert Gillson (’70) filed in the fall as anincumbent candidate to the Pillager School Board. He andhis wife, Angie, have been married for 30 years and havethree grown daughters ... Al Thomas (’77) was electedlast fall to his second four-year term on the MinnetonkaCity Council ... John Haugen (’73) is a training specialistwith the Northeast Minnesota Office of Job Training andhas 18 years of experience in teaching job searches andcareer exploration. He also spent seven years teachingelementary, special education and English as a secondlanguage.

Robert Kaiser Dennis Winskowski

Ric Dressen

Author Jon Hassler ReceivesDistinguished Minnesotan Award

Author Jon Hassler received the2000 Distinguished MinnesotanAward during Bemidji State com-mencement ceremonies this spring.

Presented annually by BSU, theaward recognizes the contributionsof a current or former resident of thestate who has performed exempla-ry service to the people of Minne-sota or the United States.

Recently retired after 42 years ofteaching in various Minnesota high

schools and colleges, Hassler has published 11 novels, two story collec-tions and a book of his journals.

The Friends of American Writers chose his first novel, Staggerford,as the Novel of the Year in 1977 and the Society of Midland Authorsselected Grand Opening for its 1987 Best Fiction Award.

A screen version of his work A Green Journey was produced in 1990as an NBC movie of the week.

Works published within the past year are two story collections, Keep-sakes and Other Stories and Rufus at the Door and Other Stories, aswell as My Staggerford Journal, an account of the year during which hewrote his first novel.

All of his books, including his latest novel The Dean’s List, are avail-able through Ballantine paperbacks.

Hassler is the recipient of the 2000 Flanagan Prize, an annual awardpresented by the Minnesota Humanities Commission for lifelong con-tributions to the arts in Minnesota. Since 1993, he has been awardedfour honorary doctor of letters degrees, the most recent from the Uni-versity of Notre Dame.

Born in Minneapolis in 1933, he received degrees from St. John’sUniversity in Minnesota, where he is now Regents’ Professor Emeritus.He taught at Bemidji State University from 1965-1968 after teachinghigh school English in Fosston and Park Rapids for nine years.

He currently lives in Minneapolis with his wife Gretchen, who iscollaborating with him on an anthology entitled Stories Teachers Tell.

Hassler also just completed a book, Goodness: Sketches from a Nov-elist’s Life, for Loyola Press of Chicago and is composing another nov-el, Agatha at 80.

He is the fourth author honored with the Distinguished MinnesotanAward since it was first presented to naturalist and author Sigurd Olsonin 1981. The recipients include:1981 Sigurd Olson, naturalist and author1982 Karl Kassulke, athlete and handicap advocate1983 Janet Dearholt Esty, businesswoman and entrepreneur1984 Frederick F. Manfred, author1985 Dr. John Najarian, transplant surgeon1986 Dr. Harlan Cleveland, political scientist1987 Muriel Buck Humphrey Brown, advocate for the disadvantaged1988 Elmer L. Andersen, businessman and former governor1989 Curtis L. Carlson, businessman and philanthropist1990 William S. Marvin, businessman and community leader1991 Meridel LeSueur, author and social activist1992 Veda Ponikvar, newspaper publisher1993 Nellie Stone Johnson, political and social activist1994 Cheryl Dickson, leader in humanities programming1995 William H. Kling, innovator in public radio1996 Jerry Willet, businessman and former state senator1997 Ann Bancroft, explorer of the North Pole and South Pole1998 Bob Bergland, congressman and former U.S. secretary of agriculture1999 Coya Knutson, congresswoman

Jon Hassler

The first-ever Student Scholarship Conference held at BSU showcased the academicwork of over 65 students. The event featured poster sessions (pictured above) aswell as academic presentations on topics ranging from mathematics to space studies.The conference will be conducted annually in the spring.

Did you know that you can make a gift to the BSU Foundation, savetaxes twice, and get a lifetime income at a designated time in the future,no matter what your age?

Well you can!Deferred gift annuities pay dividends. If you want to make a major gift to

the BSU Foundation and you know you want additional retirement incomein the future, then a deferred gift annuity is something to consider. By

ture gift to the BSU Foundation. Hehas reached the ceiling on contribu-tions to his Keogh plan and learnsthat there is no ceiling on contribu-tions to deferred charitable gift an-nuities.

After conferring with a develop-ment officer at the BSU Foundation,Joe instructs his broker to transfer$50,000 of stock, which he original-ly purchased for $10,000, to the BSUFoundation in exchange for adeferred lifetime annuity starting athis retirement.

He will qualify for a federal in-come tax deduction of approximate-ly $32,155 in the year he makes thegift, and will receive fixed paymentsannually in the amount of $8,650.00,beginning at age 65.

Joe will owe no capital gains taxat the time of his gift. Instead, a por-tion of the capital gains tax he wouldhave owed will be spread through-out his lifetime, once annuity pay-ments begin. In contrast, if he wereto sell the stocks outright and rein-vest them himself, he would owecapital gains tax on $40,000.

For more information on makingplanned gifts to the BSU Foundation,call 218-755-4145 or toll free at1-888-234-5718.

Deferred Gift AnnuitiesPay Dividends

Comparison of Immediate andDeferred Gift Annuity Payment Rates

Age Immediate Deferredto Age 65

50 5.8% 15.3%55 6.1% 11.6%60 6.6% 8.8%

deferring income payments on a gift annuity until a futuredate, you receive the following benefits:• Higher charitable deduction for gift value• Deferred higher fixed income for life• Reduction of capital gains tax• Increased retirement income

For example, Joe, a 50 year-old banker and BSU alum, de-cides to increase his retirement income and make a major fu-

Horizons Page 5

Scholarship

1980sTracey (Rhen) John (’87) and her husband, Duane,have been living in Stacy for about five years. They havethree sons, Spencer, 10, and twins, Zachary and Fletcher,5. Tracey has been a stay-at-home mom and Duane hashad a chiropractic clinic in Little Canada for eight years... Todd Brown (’87) and Sherry Haugejorden-Brown(’86) have been married for 10 years and live in SantaClara, CA, with their daughter, Samantha, 7. Todd worksas an electrical engineering manager for an aerospaceelectronics firm and Sherry works for the Palo AltoVeteran’s Administration Health Care System as aclinical research coordinator ... Rita Rabe (’82) is livingin Bemidji ... Lisa Box (’88) of Deer River is teachingfirst grade at King School in Deer River ... LesterLiljedahl (’88) of Bagley was hired as a loan officer thiswinter by Bagley First National Bank. His backgroundincludes working for the Federal Deposit Insurance

Corp. and working in alocal firm whichhandled waste fromlarge dairy operationsaround the region ...Kelly Skime (’86) is afirefighter for theBemidji FireDepartment ... JimAnderson (’85) retiredthis winter from hisindustrial arts teaching

position at Grand Rapids High School. He’d beenteaching in the school district for nearly 32 years ... AnnMarie Gross (’86) of St. Paul and her husband, PeteKeely, were expecting their first child this spring ... LisaCarlson (’89) lives in Roseville ... Teresa Dunn (’84) isteaching first grade at Bagley Elementary School ...Connie Brickell (’87) was recognized as one ofGeorgia’s 1999 Teachers of the Year. She teaches fifthgrade at Palmer Stone Elementary School in Conyers,GA. In 1994, Connie was named Livingston ElementaryTeacher of the Year, also in Connors ... Kim Seath (’81)graduated this winter from the U.S. Air ForceNoncommissioned Officer Academy at Keesler Air ForceBase, Biloxi, MS. Tech. Sgt. Seath is a logistics planssupervisor assigned to the 90th Space Wing at Francis E.Warren Air Force Base, Cheyenne, WY, ... JaneMerschman (’82) recently changed positions and nowteaches eighth-grade English. She previously taught sixthgrade, first grade and Chapter I in the same school district... Doug Paulson (’83) is a second tenor for theArrowhead Chorale and has been a member of the groupsince 1992. He is the Lutheran campus pastor for theUniversity of Minnesota-Duluth and is married toDeborah Adele ... Karn Carlson (’88) has graduatedfrom the 13-month Advanced Study of Air MobilityProgram at the Air Mobility Warfare Center, Fort Dix,Trenton, NJ. The program provides a select group of AirForce officers with an in-depth education intransportation logistics. Students are selected based upontheir record of accomplishments, academic skills andleadership potential by a board of senior Air Force

officers. Carlson is a captain ... Karen (Larson) Halver(’85) and her husband, Jim, have three sons, Brander, 7,Drake, 5, and Korgen, 3. Karen recently started runningagain “after 12 years of rest” and her husband joined thevolunteer fire department in 1999 ... Erich Campbell(’88) has been promoted to the rank of major in the U.S.Army. He is an executive officer assigned to the School ofCadet Command, Fort Monroe, Hampton, VA ... RonaldNelson (’80) of Bemidji has been general manager of theLakeland Farmers Insurance Company in Bemidji since1980 ... Rockford Lhotka (’87) of Eden Prairie haswritten three books on computer programming. He and hiswife of 12 years have two sons, ages two and six ... GretaPerlich Cooper (’81) of Tallahassee, FL, works for DeltaAirlines, is married and has two daughters .... MarkFodness (’82) was one of seven teachers inducted into theBSU Professional Education Hall of Fame in April. Heteaches seventh-grade social studies at the Bemidji MiddleSchool ... Lois Ball (’86) and her husband, Robert, werehonored as the Mahnomen County recipients of the ValleyFarmer and HomemakerAward for 2000. Thecouple has remainedvery active in commu-nity activities while rais-ing a family and runninga successful dairy opera-tion over the past 46years. Award recipientsare selected by a county

committee of agricultural leaders for the good examplesthey have set with their family life, their communityservice, their farming or agribusiness operations and theirefforts to conserve natural resources ... Cindy Ulshafer(’85) of Centerville is working as a family practicephysician assistant and was planning to serve short-termmissions in Guatemala this spring ... David Kleppe (’83)of Bismarck, ND, continues to enjoy working as a captainwith the State Patrol. His wife, Kathy, works with AetnaHMO and their daughter, Kelli, is in kindergarten ... JimHoffman (’88) is living in Brooklyn Center ... Jeff Ryan(’85) of Byron recently accepted a job at Imation’s newsoftware development lab, following 11 years ofemployment with IBM. His wife, Terri, is a senior stylistat a Rochester salon and the couple has two children, 14and 11 ... Rachel Stewart (’81) of Iowa City, IA, and herhusband, Duncan, announce the Feb. 9 birth of a son,Andrew Mark Stewart. Rachel is employed in the Officeof Student Financial Aid at the University of Iowa as theirweb administrator and Duncan works with the State

Historical Society of Iowa. The couple also has a daughter,Mara ... James Hubers (’85) of Sioux Falls, SD, wasrecently promoted to a fraud investigator position withSpecialized Card Services ... Tom Bulduc (’88) filed thiswinter as a candidate for the post of supervisor of BaldwinTownship. He’s in his sixth year as a paramedic for NorthAmbulance and is also a member of the Princeton Fire andRescue Department, as well as a teacher for NorthMemorial Medical Center on subjects ranging from basiclife support to advanced life support and a substituteteacher in Princeton schools ... Richard Sprouse (1983),a DNR public information officer, recently received twoAwards of Excellence and an Award of Merit from theMinnesota Association of Government Communicators,the oldest and largest nonprofit association forgovernment communicators in Minnesota. He is also theowner of Keystone Communications, which specializes inkeynote addresses, media training, strategic planning, andpublic relations. Sprouse and his wife Kristine (1983) livein Sauk Rapids with their two children ... Mark Storhaug(’82) was voted this year’s Class AA Boys SwimmingCoach of the Year by members of the Minnesota SwimCoaches Association for the second year in a row. He hascoached boys and girls high school swimming for 20years, the last 16 of which he’s spent at Alexandria. Thisyear, Alexandria’s boys team was State AA champion forthe second year in a row. He and his wife, Cindy(Burggraf) Storhaug (’82) have two children, Brian, 9, andLindsey, 12 ... Jerry Peltier (’80) and his wife, RuthPeltier (’80), were named Nisswa Citizens of the Year inDecember. They own and operate Camelot North, a

(Continued on page 6) Lester LiljedahlLois Ball Richard Sprouse

Fern Birnstihl

M. Fern (Ramsey) Birnstihl stillhas a copy of the Northern Studentfrom 1929 when she was a student atBemidji State Teachers College. Shesaved it to remember her years as astudent. There’s a picture of Birnstihlwith a caption noting that she re-ceived an alumni scholarship. Sheremembers how much that scholar-ship helped her in achieving herdream of becoming a teacher, so shewanted to “give something back.”

Birnstihl is an annual contribu-tor to the BSU Foundation and re-cently notified the Foundation thatshe has included it in her will. Shehopes her gift will help students theway her scholarship helped her allthose years ago.

Birnstihl recalls paying tuition of$9 per quarter or $27 per yearduring her first year on campus,1928-1929. The scholarship shereceived during her second year paidthe entire cost of tuition. She’s notsure if she would have been able toafford a second year of college with-out the scholarship.

to obtain her bachelor’s degree,taking summer classes so she couldcontinue teaching. She graduated asecond time in 1950.

After only 14 years of marriage,George died. Birnstihl recalls, “Af-ter my husband’s death, I started totravel, first to Hawaii … By the timeI quit, (I’d) visited all the continentsexcept Antarctica. Today I would callgoing to Cass Lake quite a journey.”

Like so many BSU alumni, Birn-stihl is a remarkable woman. She

taught for 32 years before retiring in1977. She is an artist, with many ofher own paintings decorating thewalls of her home. She’s been activein many organizations and was afounding member of Delta KappaGamma. She now resides in Bemid-ji with her dog, Topper.

Birnstihl’s wish that her estategift should help students willcome true, thanks to her generos-ity and careful planning.

More information on making a gift

Five Federal Grants Awarded to BSUFive federal grants totaling more than $155,000 have been award-

ed to Bemidji State University for programs supporting the profes-sional development of science and mathematics teachers.

The grants represent the largest federal initiative to improveteaching and learning, particularly in science and mathematics. Inoutstate Minnesota, BSU received the largest grant allocation amongMinnesota recipients. The five BSU programs awarded grants are:

♦$34,200, Summer Science Institute Program; director Dr. JohnTruedson, assistant professor of physics; for 30 northernMinnesota science teachers grades 4-9.

♦$37,195, Summer Mathematics Institute Program II on geom-etry and data investigation; director Dr. Glen Richgels, associ-ate professor of mathematics; for northern Minnesotaelementary and middle school teachers.

♦$37,195, Summer Mathematics Institute Program I focusingon discrete math; director Richgels; for elementary or middleschool math teachers.

♦$29,808, Metro Summer Science Institute Program, directorDr. Duane Sea, professor emeritus of physics; for teachers ingrades K-8.

♦$18,000, Pilot project to provide paraprofessionals withtraining in elementary mathematics; director Dr. TomRichard, professor of mathematics.

Bemidji State ReceivesJob Skills Training Grants

The Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Board has provided theUniversity separate grants to conduct training for Havenwood CareCenter and North Central Door Company in Bemidji.

Training will be coordinated by the Center for Research andInnovation, an off-campus facility developed by BSU to serve as aconduit between the university, business, industry, non-profits andother external constituents.

The grants included:♦$100,385 to work with 180 employees of Havenwood Care

Center in the areas of organizational efficiency, employeeproductivity and facility management. The training will helpaddress the survivability of long-term care services for theelderly and employment opportunities for health care techni-cians and professionals in the region.

♦$95,000 for use in training 57 employees at North Central Doorin identifying ways to increase plant efficiency, introduceprocess control, and develop a shop control system thatincludes production scheduling, controlling and job costing.

The Minnesota Job Skills Partnership, housed within MinnesotaDepartment of Trade and Economic Development, is responsiblefor offering technical, financial and job training assistance tothousands of businesses, communities, educational institutions andworkers each year. The Job Skills Partnership Board bringsbusinesses with specific education needs together with education-al institutions to design training programs to meet those needs.

Dr. Dale Dreyer (left), CEOof BioTome, and Dr. JimBensen (right), BemidjiState president, cut theribbon officially openingthe Entrepreneur Centeroperated by the BSU Centerfor Research and Innovation.The first start-up businessin the center, BioTome is anew company that willsupply instrumentation,equipment and supplies forthe life sciences. It expects

1920s Scholarship RecipientRemembers BSU in Her Will

After graduat-ing with an AAdegree in 1930,she began teach-ing immediatelyin Fosston. It wasnot until 1948that Birnstihl metand married herhusband, GeorgeBirnstihl. Withher husband’s en-couragement andsupport, she re-turned to college

through a will or estate isavailable by contactingthe BSU Foundation at218-755-2762 or toll-free1-888-234-5718.

to pioneer new marketing techniques, relying heavily on the Internet for everything from sales to customer support.BioTome will occupy one of six spaces available in the Entrepreneur Center.

Mark Storhaug

Horizons Page 6

Where We Are ... What We’re Doing(Continued from page 5)nursery on Highway 29 north of Nisswa and have threegrown adopted children. The nomination letter states thatJerry and Ruth have volunteered their time and energysince 1993 to establish the Nisswa Caboose Society, whichis now the Nisswa Historical Society. They wereinstrumental in getting the property for the depot complexfrom the Department of Natural Resources and continue tovolunteer their time to maintain and landscape the depotand caboose area, which serves as a community focal pointand attraction for visitors ... Todd Sorensen (’86) recentlyjoined the staff at Deerwood Bank’s Brainerd office. Hehas 13 years of lending and finance experience and will beinvolved in consumer lending and business development... Peri Jo (Kringen) McKay (’86) of Shoreview plans toreturn to teaching physical education. She married herhigh-school sweetheart, Mike McKay, on Feb. 5 and nowhas two stepsons, Chad, 13, and Eric, 9, in addition to her10-year-old daughter, Bailey ... Melody Tenhoff (’83) hasbeen principal at Luverne Elementary School since 1997.Prior to that she’d been the elementary and middle schoolprincipal at Fillmore Central,Rushford, and a librarian in theCloquet School District. She mar-ried Steven Leite in December ...Bob Fitzgerald (’85) has accepteda job with Kraus Anderson Con-struction - Northern Division in themarketing department and re-signed from his position as CassLake city administrator. He’d beenwith the city for five and a halfyears.

1990sAmy (McLaughlin) Birch (’90) is the art director at theTeton Valley News in Driggs, ID, where she also resides.She won first place in last year’s Idaho NewspaperAssociation competition in the page design category ...Bradley Nepsund (’96) of Buffalo is in his third year ofteaching physical education and health in Rockford ...Angie Jorgensen (’97) of St. Cloud teaches English atCathedral High School in St. Cloud. She also serves asassistant coach of the volleyball and speech teams ...Karen Wicklund (’94) of Battle Lake has beenemployed as a child support officer for the Otter TailCounty Social Services since 1994 ... Robin Reed (’95)recently bought a house in Minneapolis and is workingfor Wells Fargo in its retirement plan services department... Ginger Stoehr-Fealy (’97) of Alexandria is a schoolsocial worker at Minnewaska Area High School and iscurrently working on completing her master’s of sciencein education degree at Southwest State University ...Brett John Short (’93) and Susan Rozner of Hackensack

announce the Feb.16 birth of a daughter ... KristinWeidlein (’92) teaches English as a second language atRancho High School in North Las Vegas, NV, and isworking on a master’s in education administration at theUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas ... Susie Brovold (’94)teaches 7-12 special education at Bagley. She hadpreviously taught kindergarten in Mora and also secondand third grade in the BELL program ... Cindy(Zuspann) Quist (’93) of Andover has been teachingsixth grade in Coon Rapids for the past four and a halfyears and plans to complete her master’s degree thissummer. She’s been married for six years and has a 10-month-old daughter ... Ann (Murphy) Gorden (’98) ofLake Crystal married Eric Gorden (’99) and now worksas regional coordinator for ITV in southern Minnesota atSouth Central Technical College ... Dawn Bernecker(’97) of Shell Lake, WI, recently became the assistanthatchery foreman at the Gov.Thompson Hatchery,Spooner, WI, which raises walleye, muskies andnorthern pike for the Wisconsin Department of NaturalResources ... Kathy Smeby (’96) of St. Paul plans to

graduate this summer with a doctorate ofpharmacy from the University of Minnesotaand will work at Methodist Hospital at St. LouisPark. She is planning a July wedding with GregBroder, a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force ...Jennifer Sanford (’94) is director of theBemidji United Way ... Karl Myers (’99)teaches first grade at Floodwood ... RickHolbeck (’93) works in the music departmentin Biwabik schools where he is in charge of thehigh school choir, the seventh- and eighth-grade choir and seventh grade music classes ...

Lana Schultz (’91) bought a house in Bemidji in 1998and has worked at the Arch Deacon Gilfillan Center since1991 ... Ed Bahr (’92) of Jackson, AL, works as a teamleader at the Boise Cascade Converting Facility in Jacksonand has a five-year-old son ... Amy Gall (’98) of St. Cloudis a kindergarten and preschool teacher in the Sartell-St.Joseph School District ... Lezlie Grubich (’93) of Bemidjiis employed as financial manager of the Bemidji SeniorCenter and Paul Bunyan Transit ... Annie (Johnson)McCann (’90) of Westminster, CO, was married in Juneof 1999 and is expecting her first child in October ...David Lampi (’93) of Billings, MT, works for SyscoFoodservices of Montana and recently accepted the newposition of healthcare/government marketing specialist ...Rick Berndt (’91) of Bemidji owns the Pet Zone inBemidji and, along with his wife, Patti, has three children... Blake Fisher (’96) of Coon Rapids bought a home inJanuary, and he and his wife are expecting their first childin March. He’s employed at Professional Technologies asa model maker ... Guy Hagen (’98) of Mountain Iron hasbeen promoted to senior graphic designer with JPGCommunications Inc. of Virginia. He’s been with thecompany for one and a half years, and in his new positionhe will work closely with regional and national clients tocreate a variety of custom design projects, includingpublications and collateral material ... Vicki Palmer (’95)of Pequot Lakes has been teaching high school Englishthere for four years. She is also a certified Pathwiseassessor and cognitive coach ... Ian Mackenzie (’99) andhis wife live in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, and wereexpecting their first child this spring ... Lori KayMattison (’99) lives in Birmingham, AL ... Karen

Kraemer (’95) of Willmar received the OutstandingBiology Teacher Award for Minnesota from the NationalAssociation of Biology Teachers at the organization’sconvention this year ... Paul Tarutis (’92) of Benedictworks as a teacher coordinator for District 118 in Remer ...Delles Solie (’91) of Owatonna teaches pre-calculus atOwatonna High School. He and his wife, Diane, anelementary school teacher, have two sons ... PaigeLindberg (’96) of Worthington teaches high schoolGerman and plans to take her students on a trip to Germany... Bobbie (Wilkerling) Greiner (’90) and her husbandmoved to Bemidji in 1997. She currently works as lifestyleeditor and staff writer at The Pioneer newspaper, Bemidji... Melissa Reichstadt (’95) of Oshkosh, WI, has beenworking as a residence hall director at the University ofWisconsin-Oshkosh for the past three years. She alsobelongs to a community outdoors club and volunteers as abig sister through Big Brothers-Big Sisters ... JulieHendrickson (’91) of Bemidji graduated from theUniversity of Minnesota in May 1999 with a master’s ofscience in software engineering. She’s worked with SAGA

Software for nine years,was recently promoted tosenior consultant andplans to move to Bemidjithis summer ... Melissa(Baker) Warren (’91) ofBloomington, IL, and herhusband, Michael, areexpecting their secondchild in November. Their

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Bemidji State Universityinducted seven educators intoits Professional Education Hallof Fame during a special cere-mony in April.

The Hall of Fame Awardhonors teachers and administra-tors who demonstrate excel-lence in teaching students ormanaging schools. The awardis presented biannually to teach-er education graduates of BSU.

All award winners are fea-tured in the Hall of Fame dis-play located in the BSUEducation Department. Theyear 2000 honorees are:

VIRGIL BOCHLAND is a jun-ior high teacher from Proctorwho earned his bachelor’sdegree from BSU and master’s

MARK FODNESS is a social studiesteacher in the Bemidji MiddleSchool who earned a bachelor’s andmaster’s degrees from BSU. Fodnesshas taught in the Bemidji PublicSchools for 16 years. In 1998, he wasMinnesota’s Middle Level Teacherof the Year and also received theAshland Oil Golden Apple Achieve-ment Award. He has been recognizedby the National Youth LeadershipCouncil for the Community ServiceProject Star Program.

DEBRA KELLERMAN is a facultymember in the College of Businessat St. Cloud State University whoearned bachelor’s and master’s de-grees at BSU as well as a doctoratefrom the University of Iowa. Keller-man has 25 years of teaching and ad-ministration experience at thecollegiate and secondary levels ofeducation. In 1996, she was award-ed the Collegiate Teacher of the Yearand Distinguished Service Awardfrom the NCBEA. In 1995, she re-ceived the Distinguished ServiceAward from Minnesota Business

Educators and, in 1994, the Out-standing Post Secondary BusinessEducator, MBEI, award.

MARCIA LIAPIS is a junior highteacher of math, the gifted and spe-cial education in Worthington whoholds a bachelor’s degree from BSU.Liapis has taught in Worthington for22 years and was Worthington Edu-cation Association Teacher of theYear in 1999. She has received theNational History Day Teacher ofMerit, as well as two Above and Be-yond Awards from her school district.

ADELE MUNSTERMAN is a worldlanguage teacher in the Fridleyschools who earned her bachelor’sdegree from BSU and a master’sdegree from the University of Min-nesota. Munsterman, who has taughtin Fridley for 22 years, received the1996 AATSP Minnesota Outstand-ing Spanish Teacher award. In 1998,she was named a winner of the Tar-get Teacher Scholarship Award.

VICKI OLSEN-ROWE is a former lan-guage arts, theater and speech teach-er in Bemidji who earned a bachelor’s

degree from BSU. Olsen-Rowetaught in Bemidji for 17 yearsand currently works in Texas.She received the Ashland OilTeacher Achievement Awardfor Excellence in 1992. She hasbeen an editor, publisher, guestspeaker, trainer and evaluator.

ELWYN RUUD is a third-gradeteacher in Roseau who earnedher bachelor’s degree fromBSU and has done extensivegraduate work. Ruud wasnamed Roseau Teacher of theYear in 1992. In 1990, she wasthe local coordinator for theArtists in Minnesota Schoolsand Communities Project withCOMPAS.

This is the fourth group ofeducators to be presented with

In MemoriamFred Schmit (’78) of Bemidji

Jennie Delich (’32) of Bovey

Randall Barnes (’52) of Cedar Falls, IA

George M. Wagner (’57) of SiouxFalls, SD

Noble Hall (’65) of Grand Rapids

Andalena Rhodes (’67) of Palisade

Leslie Beach (’76) of Cohasset

Arlene Erickson (’64) of Staples

Calling AllAlumni

Beginning in June, represen-tatives of Bernard C. HarrisPublishing Company Inc., willstart telephoning alumni for theverification phase of the Bemid-ji State University Alumni Di-rectory project.

Much of the information to beverified will be published in thedirectory, including name, aca-demic data, home address andphone number. Individual list-ings will be organized alphabet-ically by name and also by classyear and geographical locationin separate sections of the direc-tory. Photos and informationabout the university will also beincluded.

Alumni may order a directo-ry when contacted by a Harrisrepresentative. Only pre-publi-cation orders placed at that timewill be guaranteed delivery.

Hall of FameSeven Inducted into BSUTeachers’ Hall of Fame

from the University of Wisconsin,Stevens Point. Bochland, who hastaught for 25 years, has received theProctor Education Teacher of theYear award and was an Honor RollTeacher in the Minnesota Teacher ofthe Year search. He also received theProctor school district-wide appre-ciation award and the MinnesotaPrivate Pilots Association Awardin 1997.

the Hall of Fame Award. Past recipi-ents were: 1995, Marge Engebretson,Rex Kingsbury, Bob Michalicek,Dennis Peterson, Elaine Ruud, Rog-er Schmidt, Mike Wichmann andYvonne Wilson; 1996, Michael Han-lon, Cheryl Hoversten, Robert Hurst,James Jenner, John McClellan, Mar-cy Mickelson, Mary Snorek, LloydStyrwoll and David Thompson;1998, Pat Hughes, Delphine Jacobs-en, Kathy L. Pearson, Laura Jo Piep-er, Jim Wheeler and Neil Witikko.

Teacher Hall of Fame Inductees, front row, (left to right): Adele Munsterman, Debra Kellerman,Vicki Olsen-Rowe. Back row: Mark Fodness, Marcia Liapis, Elwyn Ruud, and Virgil Bochland.

The 50 year reunion of the class of 1950 was held in conjunction with BSU’s Commencementin mid-May. Pictured are the 1950 participants who served as the honor guard during theevent, front row (left to right): Ray Green, Bernard Welinski, Don Barron, MarionChristianson, Darrell Stave, Caroline Czarnecki, Donna Gregoire. Back row: Bruce Atwater,Don Schmeckpepper, John Liapis, Daniel Moore, John Schultz, Ken Christianson, CharlesPatterson. Participants not pictured: M. Fern Birnstihl, Don Peterson.

Horizons Page 7

VP

Nick Neeb

daughter, Samantha, is three ... William Peterson(’95) of Stillwater married Holly Schowalter Feb. 19and joined Allina Health Systems, Minneapolis, as asoftware developer following four years ofemployment at Prudential Insurance in a variety ofsystem support capacities. He recently completedMicrosoft Corporation’s series of examinations forthe Microsoft Certified Systems Engineerprofessional program ... Nick Neeb (’95) ofEasthampton, MA, was married last year and starteda new job as systems engineer at General Dynamicsin western Massachusetts ... Angela Pinsonneault

(’98) of Anchorage, AK, has traveled much of thestate of Alaska including the northern coast on theArctic ocean ... Danae (Johannsen) Bruning (’94)of Woodbury married Jon Bruning in 1998 andrecently relocated to the Minneapolis area. She wasrecently promoted to program manager of AffinityMarketing at ATX Telecommunications, withcorporate offices in Philadelphia, PA. She writes, “Iam fortunate to work out of my home for ATX -sweatpants instead of dress pants” ... ShannonOvern (’95) of Shakopee is self-employed and sellspromotional products. She married AlexGrundhoffer in August and they are expecting theirfirst child in July. Alex is a real estate closer withTitle Protection, Inc. ... Cynthia Benson (’98) ofRochester graduated from Mercy School of ClinicalLaboratory Sciences and Medical Technology in thesummer of 1998 and, since then, has been working inthe molecular microbiology laboratory at MayoClinic in Rochester ... Debra Brant (’93) of St. Paulworks as a graphic designer for Metro Transit ...Sarah Staley (’99) has been named as developmentassociate with KAXE Northern Community Radio inGrand Rapids. She will oversee all of the businessunderwriting ... Cristin Braesch (’92) of BrooklynCenter received a master’s degree in sociology fromMankato State University in 1996, has been aninstructor of sociology for five years at Anoka-Ramsey, Normandale and Inver Hills communitycolleges and in 1999 married Jamie Coller ... JarrodMidboe (’97) of Fargo, ND, works as a phase 1clinical study monitor/team leader at PRACS

Roxane Pagnac

CommuniquesAND SUE KRINGEN, DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONSfrom alumni

It’s time to honor Jolly EricksonMany alumni believe the contributions of H.J. Jolly Erickson to the growth of BSU athletics should

receive formal recognition. Erickson served as football coach and BSU faculty member from 1938 to1952. Please contact: JACK LUOMA at 16306 Irvine Ave. NW, Bemidji, MN 56601 (phone, 218-243-2116; john988@webtv.net) BILL HOWE at 1725 Birchmont Beach Rd, Bemidji, MN 56601 (phone,218-444-2403; mecca@paulbunyan.net) AL WESTERLUND at 8237 Freemont Ave. S, Bloomington,MN 55420 (phone, 612-881-8581).

40-year reunionscheduled

October 6-7The 40-year reunion of the

Class of 1960 is scheduled for Oc-tober 6-7 during BSU’s Home-coming celebration. Volunteersare still needed to help plan thereunion. Contact the BSU Alum-ni Association office at 755-3989(local calls) or 1-877-BSU-ALUM (toll free).

BSU WinterRendezvous draws150 participantsIn March, 150 alumni and

friends of BSU participated in thefourth annual BSU Winter Ren-dezvous at Laughlin, NV, featur-ing the BSU Winter Golf Classic,coordinated by Bill Howe (’52).

Presenters and speakers at theawards banquet included Dr. JimBensen (’59), president of BSU,and Jeff Wallin, president of theBSU Alumni Association. NoreenMee (’52) won the halibut-fish-ing trip in Alaska, donated as adoor prize by Lani and DonaldKassube (’59).

The 2001 Rendezvous is sched-uled for March 11-12, again at theColorado Belle in Laughlin, NV.For further information, contactthe BSU Alumni Office at 755-3989 (local calls) or 1-877-BSU-ALUM (toll free).

Institute Ltd. of Fargo. He also plays lead guitar forThe Package which will perform at Rockin’ the Hillsthis summer ... Christine Olds (’97) of Grand Rapidswas named manager of strategic sourcing at NationalSteel Pellet Company, Keewatin, in January ... JennaL’Allier (’99) recently joined the graphic design staffat Mediawerks, Winona. L’Allier comes to the newposition from the Minneapolis office of theCampbell-Mithun advertising agency ... RogerPogorelc (’98) is teaching business at FloodwoodHigh School ... Eric Villeneuve (’99) passed theUniform Certified Public Accountants Examinationthis winter. He’s employed with Glorvigen BergTheis Lind and Co. PLLP, Grand Rapids, and liveswith his wife Christina in Deer River ... SandyFynboh (’99) works as a home visitor with the CassCounty-Leech Lake Reservation Children’sInitiative’s Healthy Beginnings program. TheMinnesota Department of Health made moneyavailable for this and three other pilot projects to offer

home visiting to all parents experiencing the birth oradoption of an infant. She has also coordinated anafter school program in Akeley and is the mother oftwo young children ... Rick Hart (’93) is a Ph.Dbiologist employed with the Minnesota Departmentof Resources. His doctoral dissertation involvedresearch in Lake Pepin, where he conducted a four-year study under contract to the U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers and the DNR. He was awarded fourresearch grants worth $11,000 from 1994-98,becoming a recognized conservation biologist in hisarea of emphasis - freshwater mussels. His researchhas involved 49 species of native mussels inwaterways throughout Minnesota. Hart and fellowDNR workers survey rivers mostly, gathering data onwhat are commonly known as clams. They aredeveloping a distribution map that can be a helpfultool for those planning land use or any alteration ofexisting waterways, such as for pipelines oragriculture. Hart likens the invertebrates he studies to“the canary in the mineshaft” in that, as biologicalindicators, their condition can bring attention to

environmental problemswhich might later affecthuman quality of life ...Jeff Ostrom (’98) isteaching third-gradereading and math atClearbrook-GonvickElementary School. Healso coaches eighth-gradeboys basketball ...

Roger Pogorelc Sandy Fynboh

Jeff Ostrom

Scott Gengler (’94) filed in the fall as a candidate tothe Eden Prairie School Board. He teaches physical/health education at Minnehaha Academy UpperSchool and is married to Lori ... Tina (Steinemann)Gronseth (’95) of Bloomington works at SeagateTechnology as a wellness/fitness specialist and plansto return to school for a nursing degree in the fall. InOctober she married Mike Gronseth from Byron ...Ann (Janquart) Schuldt (’92) of Duluth has twodaughters, ages 5 and 2, and is expecting a baby inJuly. She teaches fourth grade at Kenwood-EdisonSchool in Duluth ... Paula Steffes (’94) and JayDeClusin plan to be married July 1 in Bemidji ... TomNelson (’97) recently accepted a position as guidancecounselor for grades K-12 at Verndale School. He’dworked for the past three years at the NeighborhoodCounseling Center in Sebeka ... Bradley Surina (’93)of Stacy is employed as a quality control technician atAnderson/Dahlen, Coon Rapids. He and his wife,Lori, announce the April 8 birth of their second son,Dylan Thomas ... Roxane Pagnac (’98) was hired in

January to be aviolence preventionand chemical healthspecialist in Fertileschools ... ShannonCulliton (’96) ofBemidji is employedwith Peterson SheetMetal, Inc. and isplanning an earlysummer wedding withJohn Schmitt.

Those who captured first place honors during the fourth annual BSU Winter Golf Classicwere (above, left to right): Jack Luoma (’49), Nola Scherer, Dave Melby, Dorothy Solandand Tournament Director, Bill Howe, (’52). Second place finishers were (below, left toright) Harriett Mooney, Ron Lillesve (’61), Doug Kirkeby (’58) and Jeff Wallin (’70).

Carl Baer

Carl Baer has been named asthe vice president for universityadvancement at Bemidji StateUniversity.

From Bemidji, Baer will offi-cially begin his duties July 1.As the vice president, he willprovide leadership, vision andsupervision for an area that isresponsible for advancing theuniversity in fund raising, partner-ships, and collaborative activities.University Advancement includesstaff in alumni relations, the BSU

Foundation, news services, publications and sports information.Recently retired as a managing partner in a Bemidji law firm,

Baer was hired in December as a consultant by Bemidji State tolead a capital campaign raising funds for the American IndianResource Center, provide governmental relations for the MnSCUsupplemental appropriation at the Minnesota Legislature, and workwith Northwest Technical College as well as the MnSCU systemoffice on the 2000 bonding request.

During the recently completed session, the Legislature passedand Governor Ventura signed capital improvement projects thatincluded $2 million for an American Indian center and $5 millionfor a technology center at BSU.

“We are excited to have Carl as part of the advancement team,”said Dr. Jim Bensen, BSU president. “He brings an intense pas-sion for Bemidji State to the job as well as a high level of energythat will be immediately required to address some challenges inthe next few months.”

Bensen noted that immediate attention needs to be given to rais-ing funds for programming and services at the American IndianCenter as well as to the development of academic and construc-tion plans at the technology center that will house co-located pro-grams between the university and NTC-Bemidji. He also indicatedthat advancing phase II and phase III of the co-location effort willbe a high priority.

A graduate of Bemidji State University, Baer received a jurisdoctorate from the University of Minnesota School of Law.

Baer fills a position in the BSU administration that was previ-ously held by Dr. Dave Tiffany, who left in December to take asimilar post at California University of Pennsylvania.

Baer Named Vice Presidentfor University Advancement

Horizons Page 8

HomecomingHorizons Page 8

Top Women AthletesBemidji State celebrated its 30th An-

niversary for women’s athletics in Marchby naming 60 athletes to honor teams, includ-

ing half picked for the Top 30 Anniversary Team.The athletes were nominated by coaches and players from the com-petitors over the past 30 years. Selection was completed by the 30-year anniversary committee.

“I think, woman for woman, we had the best athletes anywhere,” saidDr. Pat Rosenbrock, former BSU coach and women’s athletic director.“As a result, we were very successful within the conference, the stateand the region.”

In their first three decades, the Beaver women’s programs captureda combined 42 conference titles, 12 regional/district crowns, and ninestate titles in 11 sports.

BEMIDJI STATE 60 OUTSTANDING WOMEN ATHLETES*athletes indicate membership on the Top 30 Anniversary Team

name (maiden name), year of graduation, sports played

*Adelsman, Margaret A. (Borchers),1989, Cross Country SkiingAlstrom, Carol M., 1970, Basketball, Volleyball, Field Hockey

*Alstrom, Susan A., 1976, Basketball, Field HockeyAngileno, Lora A. (Weiers), 1988, Basketball

Asp, Kelly M. (Spierings), 1992, Volleyball, Basketball*Atkins, Sue (Ross), 1980, Basketball, TennisBaalke, Beth A. (Buckingham), 1989, Basketball

Bendt, Nichole M., 1993, Softball, BasketballBerkeland, Patricia, 1988, Cross Country, TrackBienfang, Susan T., 1984, Field Hockey, Track

*Bowen “Chum”, Mary J., 1975, Basketball, Volleyball, Field Hockey, TennisBraun, Ramona A. (Upens), 1990, Volleyball

Bydlon, Marcia (Ringquist), 1981, Field Hockey, Track, Basketball*Cashman, Diane E. (Glampe), 1990, Volleyball, Softball

Dorn, Lynn L., 1972, Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis, Field Hockey*Dusich, Jayne M., 1991, Track, Cross Country

Ehrhardt-Clark, Lori, 1976, Swimming*Enright, Kathryn, 1995, Swimming

Fayville, Melissa, 1981, Basketball, Field HockeyFrandrup, Cheri L., 1982, Field Hockey, Basketball, Softball

Glassmann, Jeanne L. (Larson), 1976, Track*Gray, Stephanie L., 1997, Softball, Basketball

Hance, Joan M., 1971, Volleyball*Hegquist, Debra K. (Limond), 1976, Gymnastics, Track

*Hill, Sherry, 1983, Basketball, Track, Volleyball*Hilliard, Mary E. (Gergen), 1991, Volleyball, Softball

*Hughes, Elizabeth A., 1980, Volleyball, BasketballHull, Martha M., 1973, Basketball, Tennis, Field Hockey

*Hutchins, Lori K., 1979, Basketball, VolleyballKealy, Patricia K. (Reimer), 1981, Track

*Kelly, Laurie (Bottem), 1978, Field Hockey*Kirchner, Cheryl A. (Reed), 1983, Swimming

*Lindow, Carol L., 1976, Tennis*Logghe, Holly J., 1997, Basketball, Softball

McNallan, Wanda R. (Devescovi), 1987, Volleyball*Morrissey, Karen A., 1998, Basketball

*Mulvihill, Elizabeth A., 1988, Basketball, Track*Musgjerd, Jean, 1985, Basketball, Volleyball*Olson, Lorna, 1978, Basketball, Field HockeyPauna, Deborah A., 1985, Track, Field Hockey

*Perry, Renee, 1999, TennisPeterson, Cathy J. (Stehr), 1994, Cross Country, Track, Basketball

Pettis, Diane G. (Shofner), 1976, Basketball, Volleyball, Track*Porter, Pamela J. (Gildersleeve), 1985, Softball, Field Hockey

Randall, Audrey E., 1980, Basketball, Track, Volleyball*Risberg, Cristy L., 1997, Track

Roysland, Kimberly J. (Carlin), 1980, VolleyballRuud, Sharon M. (Mahoney), 1984, Gymnastics

*Sartell, Patricia J., 1978, Basketballl, Volleyball, SoftballSchmitz, Shelly R., 1981, Field Hockey

Singewald, Jean (Spelbrink), 1981, Gymnastics*Smith, Judith (Stoker), 1982, Basketball, Tennis, Track, Volleyball

Sorenson, Bonnie J., 1970, Field Hockey, Volleyball*Starr, Milika F. (Lila Veenkner), 1975, Basketball, Field Hockey

*Stomberg, Carol J., 1974, Basketball, Volleyball, Field Hockey, TennisSvenningsen, Sarah R. (Moon), 1994, Basketball, Track, Cross Country

Swanson, Donette C., 1971, Basketball, Volleyball*Vanwilgen, Kristina K. (Hammitt), 1996, Cross Country SkiingWegscheid, Brenda K. (Wittiko), 1979, Field Hockey, Basketball

*Zwiers, Patti J. (Fitzgerald), 1990, Track

“Catch Beaver Fever” is the themefor BSU’s 2000 Homecoming Cele-bration scheduled for October 6-7.

All alumni events will be held atthe David Park House or on the cam-pus, including the 40-year reunionof the class of 1960, the Athletic Hallof Fame induction ceremony, theOutstanding Alumni Awards cere-

Bemidji State Receives Endorsement forNCA Re-Accreditation

Bemidji State University has received a positive endorsement forre-accreditation through 2009-2010 following a comprehensive self-study visit by a team of evaluators from the North Central Associa-tion of Colleges and Schools (NCA).

The team of consultant evaluators was on the BSU campus con-ducting interviews, open meetings, and focused sessions to verifyinformation contained in the University’s self study. They completedtheir review on campus in mid-April.

Following the visitation, the team indicated that the recommenda-tion for re-accreditation being forwarded to the NCA board will befor the maximum time period allowed, 10 years.

The NCA can re-accredit an institution or require a focused visit atsome point in time, typically within five years, that would addressspecific concerns prior to re-accreditation.

The full re-accreditation recommendation by the current team rep-resents the University’s first 10-year NCA review in several decadesthat does not require a focused site visit.

In two or three years, the University will be providing a reportdirectly to the NCA updating progress pertaining to the experimentalplanning initiative and learning outcome assessments.

“The North Central Association’s self-study visit has reaffirmedthe confidence in the direction of this institution and the quality ofthe Bemidji State experience,” said Dr. Jim Bensen, president of theUniversity. “The entire campus community is to be complimentedfor the success of the university in providing an accessible and highquality educational opportunity.”

HomecomingOctober 6-7mony and the fifth quarter alumnicelebration and silent auction.

The BSU Beavers play host toSouthwest State Mustangs during thehomecoming football game sched-uled to begin at 1:30 p.m. Saturdayat Chet Anderson Stadium.

More information about Home-coming 2000 will be included in the

fall issue of HORIZONS. Home-coming brochures and registrationinformation will be mailed in Julyto all active members of the alumniassociation. Contact the BSU Alum-ni Association office by calling 218-751-3989 or 1-877-BSU-ALUM(toll free).

BEAVER PRIDEExceeds GoalBeaver Pride completed

its annual fund drive byraising over $101,000, ex-ceeding its goal of $70,000by 44 percent.

Sherry Hill, a 1983 grad-uate, was the top individualfundraiser with $13,850 indollars or pledges. She re-ceived two round-trip airlinetickets, donated by MesabaAirlines, as a prize.

Joe Dunn, who also chairsBeaver Pride, headlined thetop ranking team of fund-raisers.

Beaver Pride is an orga-nization of volunteers com-mitted to raising money forscholarships for student ath-letes as well as support forBSU intercollegiate sports.

More information on thefund raising effort and Bea-ver Pride is available bycontacting Denise Golden,director of athletic giving,at 218-755-2827 or 1-888-234-5718.

Queen Amy Hansen (sophomore, St Louis Park) and Bucky Beaver helped celebrate Homecoming 1999 at Bemidji State University.