Dec. 3, 2018

Next Issue: Jan. 2, 2019
» View archived issues

Minot State University will host the December edition of the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event Thursday, Dec. 13 at the Northwest Arts Center from 5-7 p.m.

The Minot Area Chamber of Commerce started Business After Hours as a way to network with chamber members, enjoy delicious food, and win great prizes. There will be a drawing for one chance to win $500 in Chamber Bucks (winner must be present). If the winner isn’t present, $50 in Chamber Bucks will be guaranteed (winner also must be present).

The Northwest Arts Center, a newly renovated space in the lower level of the Gordon B. Olson Library, held its grand opening in April 2018. The front doors are located on the south side of the Gordon B. Olson Library with free parking open to the public.

The cost of the event is $5 at the door. Hors D’oeuvres will be served and there is a cash bar. For more information, contact Minot State Director of Marketing Teresa Loftesnes at teresa.loftesnes@minotstateu.edu.

Minot State University’s special education (SPED) programs recently received final approval from the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board (ND ESPB), and also signed their second five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Michigan Department of Education for National Deaf Education Consortium.

“Receiving state program approval is essential for our graduates to become licensed special education teachers in North Dakota. We strive to offer high-quality programs that prepare teachers to meet the needs of learners with disabilities, and this approval is verification of that continuous work,” said Holly Pedersen, associate professor and chair for Minot State’s department of special education.

The ND ESPB is an independent board that continually reviews North Dakota standards and procedures pertaining to licensure and teacher education programs, and approved Minot State’s Bachelor of Science in Education (BSEd) with a major in Special Education and Master of Science (MS) in Special Education. State program approval from the ND ESPB is a required component in the process of national accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

The Michigan Department of Education MOU establishes continued collaboration with Minot State University to deliver online coursework that will permit certified teachers in Michigan to qualify for an additional Michigan teaching endorsement in Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH).

Thirteen Minot State University students, along with professor Terry Eckmann, attended the 2018 Asia Fitness Conference held at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Bangkok, Thailand, Oct. 5-7.

Joining Eckmann on the trip were students Michael Chance, Minot Air Force Base; Bryanna Christianson, Sidney, Mont.; Katie Clark, Minot; Katie Eckmann, Minot; Alecia Feehan, Minot; Liz Gallardo, Vacaville, Calif.; Eduardo Gomez, Logrono, Spain; Nicole Hanson, Minot; Jameson Hayden, Lacey, Wash.; Liam Hayden, Lacey, Wash.; Kristal Heth, Westhope; Maddy Lodoen, Westhope; and Sheyenne Schmidt, Minot.

The 2018 conference was the 10th annual event, attracting over 1,200 students from 63 countries. It featured 60 internationally known presenters from around the world, including Eckmann. Along with multiple sessions each day, the event also featured an exhibition and showcase stage with the latest in fitness equipment, gear, and educational products and six competitions including Fitness Idol, Personal Trainer of the Year, CWL Olympic Lifting Sport Competition, IKFF Kettlebell Competition, The Powerlifting Open, and AFC Fit Games.

Minot State University, along with the Minot State Veterans Services office, had a final rededication ceremony for a memorial for two former MSU students, Henry Finn and James Otis Cooper, who died during World War I.

The Veterans Day event started in the Westlie Room before moving outside to conclude the rededication efforts that began on Memorial Day acknowledging the sacrifices of Finn and Cooper. A memorial bench was placed in between two trees planted in May between the Gordon B. Olson Library and Swain Hall.

Along with honoring Minot State students who have served in the military, the rededication ceremony acknowledged the various donors for the memorial including: Minot Area Community Foundation – Donald and Genevieve Roush Fund, Minot Lodge No. 45 I.O.O.F., American Legion Auxiliary Unit 26, Milton and Bonnie Rolle, MSU League of Social Sciences, Lowe’s Garden Center, Joseph Jastrzembski, Calvin Grinnell, and Claudia Berg.

Minot State University hosted a meet and greet with 2019 Miss North Dakota USA Samantha Redding and 2019 Miss North Dakota Teen USA Caitlyn Vogel — both current Minot State students — on Nov. 27 between the women’s and men’s basketball games at the MSU Dome.

Redding, a senior in the special education program, and Vogel, a freshman enrolled in the nursing program, grew up in Burlington, N.D.

Redding has spent the last several years developing a local program called “More Alike than Different,” based on a campaign by the National Down Syndrome Congress.  Although it began with a focus on disabilities, her focus has evolved into teaching acceptance about all differences. Vogel founded a fashion show her senior year of high school for girls with disabilities and ran a summer clothing line for the same demographic.

The Miss North Dakota USA and Miss North Dakota Teen USA pageant finals took place on Sunday, Nov. 4. Redding and Vogel will compete at the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA national pageants in 2019. Miss USA goes on to represent the United States at the Miss Universe competition.

Minot State University’s Native American Cultural Celebration showcased birch bark biting artist Denise Lajimodiere and the Red Berry Woman Fashion Show.

Lajimodiere presented her art method and artwork at the Minot State Multicultural Center and the Student Center Westlie Room. Birch bark biting is an ancient folk art made by biting down on small pieces of folded birch bark to form intricate designs. She is an enrolled citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and has been involved in education for 44 years, recently retiring as an associate professor from the education leadership program at North Dakota State University. Lajimodiere is also a traditional jingle dress dancer and poet. Her academic book “Stringing Rosaries: Stories from Northern Plains Boarding School Survivors” is slated for publication February 2019.

The Red Berry Woman Fashion show took place at the Northwest Arts Center, located in the lower level of the Gordon B. Olson Library. Red Berry Woman is a fashion line that incorporates Native American traditional styles into contemporary couture garments for men and women. Red Berry Woman’s most recent representation of Native fashion was at this year’s Academy Awards when activist Alice Brownotter of the Standing Rock Nation joined singer/songwriter Andra Day on stage.

Norma Baker-Flying Horse, an enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, began Red Berry Woman four years ago but started her design work at the age of 16, creating dance outfits for various Native American cultural events. Her work has been worn by tribal members representing their Native nation from politics to pageants to the film industry.

Minot State University will spread holiday cheer through several musical events at the Ann Nicole Nelson Hall leading up to the winter holidays. University events include the Minot Symphony Orchestra’s “Holiday Magic” on Dec. 8 and the Western Plains Children’s Choir concert, “Christmas in all the World Tonight,” on Dec. 9.

“Holiday Magic” is the Minot Symphony Orchestra’s third production of the 2018-2019 year and will be performed in collaboration with the MSU concert choir and Minot Chamber Choral on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. Efrain Amaya, Minot Symphony Orchestra maestro and assistant professor of music at Minot State, will direct the concert, where pieces such as “Winter Bonfire Suite” by Prokofiev and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” will be performed. Prices and tickets can be found online at minotsymphony.com.

On the following afternoon the Western Plains Children’s Choir will perform their holiday concert. “Christmas in all the World Tonight” begins at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 9 and will feature songs from France, Greece, Spain, Germany, England, Africa, Norway, Israel, Puerto Rico, America, and Russia. The concert is free and open to the public. The Western Plains Children’s Chorus began in January, 1991, and is sustained by Minot State University.

In addition to Minot State’s holiday events, additional musical performances will take place at Ann Nicole Nelson Hall in December.

The Magical Medora Christmas Show will be at Minot State on Tuesday, Dec. 4 and Wednesday, Dec. 5. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. both nights. Tickets and more information about the traveling “Medora style” variety show can be found at medora.com. Pianist Lorie Line and her Pop Chamber Orchestra will perform “Lord of Lords” on Sunday, Dec. 16 at 3 p.m.  Line, from Minnesota, is celebrating her 29th anniversary of performance. Tickets and more information can be found at lorieline.com.

Northwest Arts Center
The gallery is located on the lower level of the Gordon B. Olson Library, with its own entrance on the south side of the library. It is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and by special arrangement. It is closed holidays.

• Opening Reception: Artists Dan Smith and Steve Holmes, Dec. 7, 6:30-8 p.m.
• Hoops: An exhibit of fine photographs by Dan Smith, on display Dec. 3-21
• Search for Inner Peace: Paintings by Steve Holmes, on display Dec. 3-21

Flat Tail Press
The gallery is located in the landing space on second and third floor of the Minot State Student Center, west entrance. It is open while the Student Center is open, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 a.m.

• Reception: Friday, March 1, 12:30 p.m. in the Flat Tail Press Gallery
• Calliope Arts and Flat Tail Press present Found Fiction: Exhibition by Susanna Crum and Rodolfo Salgado, on display Oct. 22-March 1.

Multicultural Center
The temporary gallery is located in the Office of International Programs on the first floor of the Student Center.

• World’s major religions: Sacred days and significant festivals: The exhibit represents diverse religious traditions from around the world, including: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism. Nov. 27-Dec. 14, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Nathan Demme was selected as the CETL Student of the Month for October. He has contributed to the Center for Engaged Teaching and Learning’s programs as a peer mentor.

Brenda Munson, NDCPD, was named Minot State University Staff Senate's October High Five Award winner. Munson has worked at Minot State for 10 years in NDCPD. She enjoys crafting especially with a good glass of wine and friends. She belongs to a women’s pinochle group and teaches a water aerobics glass at the YMCA. Brenda has also been taking college classes while employed at Minot State and will graduate with her Bachelors in General Studies in May 2019.

The Minot State University Staff Senate has appointed five members to the Budget and Compensation Committee as per the president's charge to establish a Strategic Salary Administration Task Force. The members of the Staff Senate Budget and Compensation Committee are: Katy Allers, Timothy Bingen, Michael Linnell, Jerusha Olthoff, and Deb Wentz.

Two sabbaticals for the 2019-20 academic year have been recommended by the Faculty Senate Sabbatical Committee and approved.  They are:

• Dr. Stewart Kelly, Philosophy, Spring 2020: “Postmodernism and Historic Christianity: A Critical and Extended Analysis of the Compatibility and Coherence of the Two Views”
• Dr. Jynette Larshus, Sociology, Spring 2020: “Professionalization of Lifestyle and Generational Dynamics: Expanded Analysis of Snowboarding Culture”

Aileen Cheong, a junior studying communication disorders, won the T-Shirt contest for new student orientation. She will receive a $100 scholarship and her design will be posted in early January for the upcoming summer and fall orientations.

The Global Sights Photo Contest winners are:
Students:

• First place: “Skyfall” taken in Seoul, South Korea by Yasmine Bettina Mojica 
• Second place: “Winter Wonderland” taken in Zermatt, Switzerland by Austin Feist 
• Third place: “Out of the Blue” taken in Ballycastle, Ireland by McKayla Marchus 

Honorable Mentions:

• “Solé Lagoon View” taken in Prampram, Ghana by Lordina Yeboah
• “Gate in Hebron” taken in Jerusalem, Israel by Andrew Barrow
• “Los Colores de las Casas” taken in Chiapas, Mexico by Fahad AlHarbi

Faculty, Staff, Alumni & Retirees:

• First place: “Dusk” taken in Tokushima, Japan by Micah Bloom, Assistant Professor Art
• Second place: “Untitled” taken in Florence, Italy by Ryan Stander, Associate Professor Art
• Third place: “Colorful Curacao” taken in Willemstad, Curacao by Cody Rogness, Minot State Alumni 

Honorable Mentions: 

• “Canadian Center” taken in Vancouver, British Columbia by Andrea Donovan, Associate Professor Art 
• “Venezia” taken in Venezia, Italy by Roxanne Meinert, Minot State Alumni
• “It’s So Bright” taken in Drottningholm, Sweden by Jolina Miller, Minot State staff

Submissions Due: Dec. 27, 2018
University Communications, Administration, second floor
Email: michael.linnell@minotstateu.edu
Voice: 858-3298 - Fax: 858-4481

Minot State University is a public university dedicated to excellence in education, scholarship, and community engagement achieved through rigorous academic experiences, active learning environments, commitment to public service, and a vibrant campus life.