smsu_focus_fall09
DESCRIPTION
A magazine for alumni & friends of Southwest Minnesota State University the secrets ofTRANSCRIPT
Fall 2009Sweetland HallDoug Simon Q&A McLean Poetry Award
A m a g a z i n e f o r a l u m n i & f r i e n d s o f S o u t h w e s t M i n n e s o t a S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y
the secrets of
hookTHEOFF
To jumpstart recruitment for
the class of 2014, SMSU
admission publications
received a major facelift.
The SMSU Admission office
unveiled its new publication
package this summer. See
for yourself at
www.SMSU.edu/admisson
to attend Southwest Minnesota State University’s premiere fundraising event to support student scholarships...
2009 University Gala
You areInvited
6:00 pm Social HourBegin with cocktails, hors d’ oeuvres & Silent Auction
8:00 pm Dinner is ServedEnjoy a delectable dining experience
9:00 pm Live Auction & DanceDance the night away with our local favorite, All My Favorites
F R I D A Y , O C T O B E R 9 , 2 0 0 9
Call 800-260-0970 or visit www.smsufoundation.org/gala for tickets. Special rates until Sept. 1.
1FOCUS
A magazine for alumni & friends of Southwest Minnesota State University
Fall 2009 volume 29 number 1
President Dr. David C. DanaharExecutive Director of FoundationBill Mulso ʼ93Director of Alumni Relations andFocus EditorTyler Bowen ʼ95/MSʼ08Senior Writer and PhotographerJim Tate
DesignerMarcy D. Olson, ʼ93/MBAʼ05ContributorsStacy Frost ʼ93Kelly Loft ʼ97Tim GerszewskiMike Van Drehle ʻ08Editorial AssistanceJessica Fokken ʼ05Janice Robinson ʼ09
All hometowns are in Minnesota unless otherwise noted.
Focus (USPS 565-770) is published twice each year for alumni and friends of Southwest
Minnesota State University by the Alumni Office.
Opinions expressed in Focus do not necessarily reflect official University policy. Send corre-
spondence, name changes and address corrections to: Focus, Alumni Office, Southwest
Minnesota State University, 1501 State Street, Marshall, MN 56258 or call (507) 537-6266.
Focus is not copyrighted. Unless otherwise noted, articles may be reprinted without permis-
sion if credit is given to Southwest Minnesota State University.
Southwest Minnesota State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action educator
and employer. Southwest Minnesota State University is a member of the Minnesota State
Colleges and Universities system.
This document can be made available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities.
Please make your request by calling 507-537-6266, 1-800-260-0970, or through the Min-
nesota Relay Service at 1-800-627-3529.
2 Doug Sweetland & Sweetland Hall
5 Q & A with Doug Simon
6 Dr. Jay Brown
8 Campus Views
9 Athletics
11 Alumni Connections
12 Class Notes
Keeping you connected
to the events, news and ac-
complishments of faculty,
staff, students and alumni is
an important function of the
SMSU Alumni Association.
The Focus Alumni Magazine
is one of our opportunities to
reach out to nearly 17,000 alumni and friends and connect you to
campus. I hope you enjoy our new features in this issue of Focus and
we always welcome new story ideas about students, faculty, staff and
alumni.
We also understand that alumni are connecting daily, sometimes
on a minute-by-minute basis, through social networking sites like
Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. The SMSU Alumni Association is
actively participating in these networks to help connect and engage
alumni with other alumni and friends of SMSU.
Don't miss your chance to return to Southwest and see what's new
during Homecoming 2009-Mustang Mardi Gras the weekend of Oc-
tober 9-10! The University Gala will be held on Friday night of
Homecoming and all alumni are invited to attend this great event that
raises scholarship dollars for SMSU. Food Network featured Chef
Emile Stieffel will be on hand throughout the weekend to give all of
the events a New Orleans flavor! Bring the entire family and enjoy a
great weekend of Mustang fun!
On behalf of the Alumni Association and the entire campus com-
munity, I want to thank you for your continuing interest, loyalty and
support. It is great to be a Mustang!
Tyler Bowen’95/’08
Director of Alumni Relations
FOCUS is Going Green!The Spring 2010 edition of FOCUS will highlight the sustainabil-
ity efforts undertaken by faculty, staff and students. Do you have a
story to tell? Contact me at [email protected]. We want to
include stories about the ways our alumni are making a difference.
2 FOCUS
English professor Dr. Susan McLean had an exciting 2008-2009
academic year.
She was named the 2009 winner of the prestigious Richard Wilbur
Poetry Award, and she completed her first full-length book of po-
etry, The Best Disguise (University of Evansville Press), which will be
released this coming winter. The book includes her work of the past
19 years.
“It’s all in rhyme and meter. I have a lot of sonnets and also a num-
ber of villanelles,” she said.
She came to SMSU in 1988 and during a conversation with Eng-
lish professor Phil Dacey mentioned she had written poetry years ago.
“He said that if I wanted to write poetry again, that he’d be willing
to look at it,” she said.
“Phil gave good advice about
ways to improve my poems. It
got me excited about it again, so
I kept writing.”
Dacey is a well-known poet
who retired from the faculty sev-
eral years ago and now lives and
writes in New York City.
McLean also had a chapbook of poetry published in 2006 entitled
Holding Patterns.
McLean received her undergraduate degree in English from Har-
vard University, and her master’s and Ph.D. in English from Rutgers
University.
On July 17, President Danahar
announced that the new resi-
dence hall will be named after retired President Douglas
Sweetland, who served at Southwest from 1994 to his retire-
ment in 2000.
During his administration he led an outstanding effort to
stabilize the finances and enrollment of the University. En-
rollment increased significantly, particularly at the graduate
level, and his restructuring enhanced the number and qual-
ity of the teaching faculty. Sweetland Hall will be an endur-
ing and fitting testimony to his service and commitment to
this University and its students.
Susan McLean Wins Poetry Award
Inside Sweetland Hall· 3 floors
· $11.5 million cost
· 26 accessible rooms
· 252 beds
· 19th of August move-in
SMSU Mourns Doug Sweetland Douglas Patrick Sweetland was born
on March 1, 1939, in Faulkton, SD, the
13th of 14 children born of Frederick and
Rose (Anglin) Sweetland. He grew up in
Orient, SD. From 1957–1961, Doug
served in the U.S. Navy. In 1965, he mar-
ried Karen Kjelden in Clear Lake, SD.
Doug had a life-long passion for educa-
tion. He received his B.S. from Northern
State College in Aberdeen, SD, his M.S.
and Ph.D. in Economics from Kansas
State University. Doug taught economics and finance at several in-
stitutions including Northern State College, Kansas State Univer-
sity, UW-La Crosse, and Winona State University. After becoming
Dean and Vice President at Winona State he ended his career as a
Professor of Economics and President of Southwest State Univer-
sity in Marshall from 1994-2000. Though being in administration
for much of his career, Doug always insisted on teaching at least one
class so he could remain in contact with the students and their
needs.
Doug died on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at his home surrounded by
his family after a two-year battle with cancer. He is survived by his
wife, Karen, children Celine (and Jerrod) Nelson, Shane and Angela
(and Matt) Bass, five grandchildren, one brother and four sisters,
nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Donations to the Doug Sweetland Memorial Scholarship would
be greatly appreciated. Doug requested that this scholarship be set
up for SMSU students majoring in education from the surrounding
area. Donations can be sent to: SMSU Foundation Office c/o Bill
Mulso, 1501 State Street, Marshall, MN 56258.
By the NumbersStudents participating:
2006: 67 students
2007: 143 students
2008: 178 students
Number of oral presentations:
2006: 21
2007: 27
2008: 40
Number of poster presentations:
2006: 27
2007: 56
2008: 73
Number of academic programs represented:
2006: 4
2007: 13
2008: 15
The inaugural conference included: Environ-
mental Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics.
Programs added in 2007: Art, Art History, Ed-
ucation, English, Philosophy, Psychology, The-
ater, Agribusiness, Accounting, Sociology.
Programs added in 2008: Justice Administra-
tion, History, Creative Writing, Wellness &
Human Performance. Lost: Philosophy.
3FOCUS
Amy Heiderscheidt of Redwood Falls didn’t know the paper she pre-
sented at the 44th annual Student History Conference April 23 at the
University of South Dakota would be so timely.
Heiderscheidt’s paper won in the category of regional history and was
entitled, “The Spanish Influenza in Southwest Minnesota.”
A day after winning the top honor, it was announced that the H1N1
virus had hit Mexico. “It was an especially timely paper due to that fact,”
said Associate History Professor Tom Williford. “It just worked out that
way. Amy started her research two years before.”
She did exhaustive research in investigating the county death records
in southwest Minnesota from 1917 to 1920 in an effort to determine
the mortality rate of the region. Spanish influenze claimed nearly 40
million people worldwide, making it the second-worst pandemic in
recorded history.
Her research took her to county courthouses and small town news-
paper offices and even a graveyard or two. Her findings showed that the
influenza affected southwest Minnesota at a rate similar to that of ma-
jor U.S. cities, disproving the assumption that rural areas suffered less
than urban areas from the outbreak.
“She is a history and biology double major, so her paper was pre-
sented in a different way, with more of a biological emphasis,” said
Williford.
Dr. Richard Jones, a 1973 alumnus and the principal at John
Adams Middle School in Rochester, Minn., delivered the com-
mencement address on Saturday, May 9 in the R/A Facility.
A total of 629 seniors graduated during the 41st commencement
exercises, bringing the community of SMSU alumni to over 15,000.
Dr. Jan Loft, Professor of
Speech Communication,
was the 2009 recipient of
the prestigious Cowan
Award, named for the for-
mer psychology professor
Cathy Cowan who was
killed in a car accident in
Dec. 2001.
Andrew Beilke, a Finance/Business Administration major from
Mankato, Minn., accepted the Outstanding Senior Award from the
Alumni Association. This award recognizes a distinguished student
for their academic achievement, campus and community activities
in addition to honors or
awards.
Proud parents, family
and friends packed the R/A
Facility for the two-hour
ceremony which was fol-
lowed by a reception in the
Student Center.
Timely Research on Spanish Flu
629 Students Graduate in May Commencement Exercises
4 FOCUS
Challenging economic times throughout
the country have not spared higher educa-
tion, and Southwest Minnesota State Uni-
versity is no exception.
The University cut $3.2 million to bal-
ance its 2009-2010 fiscal year budget, a fi-
nancial situation that affected, in one way or
another, 68 positions. “How that affected
people varies, from not filling vacant po-
sitions to actual layoffs. There were some
reductions in percent time, early-retire-
ment incentives, things like that,” said
Doug Fraunfelder, Vice President for
Finance and Administration.
“We’re trying to find efficiencies where
we can in our operations,” he
said. That includes implement-
ing utility savings such as oc-
cupancy sensors and keeping
the lights off as much as possi-
ble during the cooling season.
It also includes power manage-
ment tools for computers, imple-
menting travel restrictions and
encouraging more meetings be
conducted over the Web. “Every
little bit helps,” he said.
Tuition will go up 5 percent next
year, but 2 percent of that will be offset by
one-time stimulus package dollars, which
will keep the tuition increase impacting stu-
dents at only 3 percent.
And while legislative support of higher
education has declined over the years, sup-
port of the SMSU Foundation con-
tinues to grow. The Foundation had
its most successful year ever
last year, raising a record
$3.44 million, thanks to the
generosity of 6,109 donors.
That’s an indication of a
growing alumni base, recog-
nition of the impor-
tance of scholarships
in these difficult eco-
nomic times, and loy-
alty to the University,
said Bill Mulso, Execu-
tive Director of the
SMSU Foundation.
“People realize the
importance of a col-
lege education and
that it’s more difficult
for students today,” he
said.
A number of familiar faces an-
nounced their retirement and were
honored at the University Recognition
Dinner on March 23, 2009. These re-
cent retirees, their titles, their depart-
ments and years of service included:
Robert Eliason, Professor,
Chemistry, 40
Connie Evans, Professor,
Humanities, 16
Eunice Herrick, Office & Adminis-
trative Specialist Senior, Business
Administration, 38
Sharon Hulsizer, Customer Service
Specialist Senior, Financial Aid, 36
Deb Johnson, Customer Service
Specialist, Health Services, 23
Kathryn Jones, Assistant Professor,
Mathematics, 17
Ginger Kaufman, Director, Career
Services, 7
Marilyn Leach, Director, Academic &
Diversity Resources, 35
Max Lord, Electrician, Physical
Plant, 29
Robert Moyer, Associate Professor,
Mathematics, 7
Jan Olson, Office & Administrative
Specialist Intermediate, Wellness
& Human Performance, 25
Loren Wood, Refrigeration Mechan-
ic, Physical Plant, 20
We thank them for their service and
dedication to SMSU.
Connect with current and retired
faculty and staff on the SMSU Alum-
ni online directory at www.South-
westAlumni.com
Recent RetireesRecognized
11th Curtler Book Published
Impact of Economy on Campus and Tuition
Retired philosophy professor Hugh Curtler’s 11th book, Provoking Thought, was pub-
lished by the Florida Academic Press and made its debut this
past spring. It started out, he said, as reflections to pass along to
his children and grew from there.
He describes it as an “intellectual biography,” and in it he
shares reflections about the mundane (TV and sports), the ar-
cane (aesthetics and ethics) and ventures into fields such as his-
tory, literature and anthropology.
The book is available at Amazon.com and the publisher. For
reviews and more information, visit www.hughcurtler.com
5FOCUS
Political Science professor Doug Simon
returned in June from a tour of duty in Iraq
with the Minnesota Army National Guard.
Simon, who has a law degree, was a Brigade
Judge Advocate who managed a legal team
and acted as the general counsel for the
brigade commander. It was the second tour
of duty for the 20-year member of the
National Guard. He also served in Bosnia
and Herzegovina. Simon is engaged to
Molly Wright, who he will wed on Oct. 17,
2009. He has a son, Isaac, 4 ½.
How has your experience in Bosnia andHerzegovina and Iraq changed you as aperson? I treasure the classroom experience
more now, and I am very much a mentor
educator more than I ever have been before.
Students need to realize they have an
opportunity for a great education and
should take advantage of it. I think it’s a
great responsibility to deliver to the students
the education they came here to receive. I
appreciate simple things more, like green
grass.
How have your experiences made you abetter professor? As a Brigade Judge
Advocate, I practiced my art. It’s these types
of experiences I can take into the classroom,
whether it is how to deal with Congress in
an appropriations bill or the steps involved
in a court martial—I can take those
experiences and bring them down to a basic
level. Every complex situation starts with a
simple premise, and I can connect the dots.
What are some things about military lifeyou wish Americans knew more about? While
service members and soldiers enjoy being in
the military, it still requires great sacrifice,
and that’s something we should not take for
granted. The sacrifices are made every step
of the way. It’s hard; it’s a challenging
environment. Your entire life is frozen; you
sacrifice your professional career, your
personal life, and your friendships.
What were the three things you missed mostwhile serving in Iraq? My loved ones, wine,
and a good steak.
What do you miss about being in Iraq?Friendships — you have friendships etched
in granite — the work, and the ability to
see the world.
What’s one thing people would be surprisedto learn about you? That I have over 5,000
comic books.
Q & A with Doug Simon ’94
SMSU alumni are increasingly taking advantage of the benefits of-
fered through the University’s Career Services office.
“We’re getting more inquiries all the time from our alumni,”
said interim director of Career Services Sheila Risacher. “We offer
career coaching, career counseling, interview preparation, help with
job searches, résumé critiques and graduate school assistance,” she
said.
Risacher said she has seen an increase in the number of alumni
contacting Career Services during the recent downturn in the econ-
omy. “Most of what we do for alumni, for obvious geographic rea-
sons, is over the phone — distance coaching,” she said. “It’s a free
service, something that’s not typical throughout the country.”
Most college graduates change careers up to seven times before
they retire, she said. And while some areas of the economy are stag-
nant or shrinking, others are showing growth. “Right now, there is
growth in agriculture, agronomy, information technology and health
care,” she said. “There is also an emphasis on the green economy.
Minnesota has been a leader there, so it is well-positioned for
growth in that area.”
According to Risacher there are more people looking for work
than there are jobs. That’s why it’s important for those seeking em-
ployment to distinguish themselves on the résumé and during the
interview process, she said.
Alumni can view all of the areas in which Career Services offers
assistance at www.MustangJobs.com. The phone number is 507-
537-6221. Risacher can be reached via e-mail at
Career Services Available to Alumni
6 FOCUS
There was that one moment that SMSU Chemistry Pro-
fessor Jay Brown will never forget.
After five years and 71 failed attempts, he was able to ex-
tract a pure sample of the electrochemical reduction product
of atrazine, a popular herbicide used for corn production on
many agricultural fields in the Midwest to control weeds.
The results were published in the Journal of Electroanalyt-
ical Chemistry, a leading publication in its field. The work
brought clarity to a scientific question that had surrounded
atrazine for over a decade: what are the electrochemical
properties of atrazine that make it effective on select weeds?
“I was alone in the laboratory, and although I’m not a re-
ligious man, I looked to the sky and said, ‘Thank you!’ At that
moment, I was the only person in the world who knew it had
been done.”
Brown had finally cracked the electrochemical reduction
pathway of atrazine, a research breakthrough that has drawn
much attention to his findings ever since.
Brown was helped in his groundbreaking research by a trio
of SMSU students, including Darlene Guse, Janesville,
Minn.; Matthew Bruzek, Loretto, Minn.; and Paul DeVos,
Marshall, Minn.
Brown is a Queens, N.Y. native who grew up within walk-
ing distance of Shea Stadium. He received an A.A.S. degree
in chemistry from the State University of New York (SUNY)
at Cobleskill. His B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemistry are
from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and
Forestry. His Ph.D. in analytical chemistry is from the Uni-
versity of Vermont. He took a temporary position at St.
Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont before coming to
SMSU in 1997.
It had been known for some time that atrazine was elec-
trochemically active and takes up four electrons per molecule
in an electrochemical process called reduction, said Brown.
But the structure of the reduction product had not been un-
equivocally determined using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
(NMR) Spectroscopy.
NMR Spectroscopy is a powerful technique for structure
determination, but the low solubility of atrazine in water
made this determination difficult. As a result, there were three
competing theories in scientific literature for the atrazine re-
duction process. Brown wanted to settle the controversy.
“We developed our own methods based upon earlier work
found in the scientific literature and eventually extracted
enough pure material to perform the NMR analyses,” said
Brown.
What does it mean in the big picture? “The atrazine bind-
ing site in target weeds was recently identified by another
group in the literature. An important point of their research
was that atrazine displaces an electrochemically active group
in the photosynthetic machinery of target weeds. Our work
demonstrated how atrazine takes up electrons. This adds to
our understanding of how atrazine works on an electro-
chemical level,” said Brown.
Chemistry Professor Jay Brown worked with a trio of students on research to unlock
the electromagnetic properties of atrazine
7FOCUS
The eventual goal is to produce cus-
tomized herbicides that target specific weeds.
But the first step is to fully understand the
mode of action for atrazine.
Brown was able to receive funds for the
electrochemistry equipment through a grant
he wrote to the Minnesota State Colleges
and Universities’ Center for Teaching and
Learning. The NMR Spectrometer was pur-
chased years earlier from a National Science
Foundation grant written by retired SMSU
Chemistry Professor Robert Eliason.
“I was talking with [former SMSU pro-
fessor] Doug Spieles. I mentioned that I
wanted to conduct an electrochemical study
on a pesticide of regional significance. He
immediately suggested atrazine. We didn’t
have the equipment to conduct the research
at the time, so I applied for the grant. After
approval, we purchased the necessary equip-
ment and started the project the following
year.”
Guse was the first student to conduct re-
search on the project. She was referred to
Brown by Eliason. “He saw the potential in
her and asked me to put her on a project,”
said Brown. “She was an unusual student,
majoring in both chemistry and business ad-
ministration and finance. Robert saw her po-
tential.”
A big challenge for the group was devel-
oping an extraction procedure to obtain a
pure sample of the reduction product.
This involved mixing the sample with
the appropriate extraction solvents to re-
move the product and then evaporating
the solvents without decomposing the
product. “We had to
avoid excessive heat during the evaporation
step because that would decompose the
product. Atrazine is not very soluble in wa-
ter, so we had to work with miniscule quan-
tities. You only got one shot at an extraction.
You had to start the two-day process all over
again each time the extraction didn’t work.”
After 71 tries, Brown struck gold.
“Conducting undergraduate research has
become popular nationwide. It’s an excellent
teaching tool for students willing to put in
the time. You can’t get a better learning ex-
perience at the undergraduate level. The time
is well-spent and worth the effort.” Research
has now become the required capstone
course in the chemistry program, he said.
“The journey has really helped me,” said
Brown, who put in plenty of extra time over
the years on the project.
“For me, the focus was always teaching.
[Now] I can use examples of the research in
the classroom. When I say, ‘Darlene did this,
or Matt and Paul did that,’ the students tend
to pay more attention because those are their
peers. I make that connection as often as I
can.”
Brown has expanded his research to in-
clude the herbicides simazine, propazine and
cyanazine. “We want to find out if these
analogs of atrazine have similar reduction
pathways” he said. “This question is for the
next generation of students in the group to
determine.”
Brown works with several top students
each year on the project and is quick to pass
on the credit. “It was very much a collabora-
tive effort,” he said.
Darlene Guse ’05Janesville, Minn.A Chemistry and Business
Administration/ Finance major at
SMSU, Darlene is entering her fourth
year at Mayo Medical School,
Rochester, Minn.
“(Undergraduate
research) provides
students the
opportunity to really
think through
problems and apply
their knowledge. Rather than just
follow a recipe, students are
challenged to create new methods
and protocols.”
Matt Bruzek ’08Loretto, Minn.A Chemistry major at SMSU, Matt
is pursuing a Ph.D. in Organic
Chemistry at the University of
Kentucky, Lexington, Ky.
“The whole reason
one goes to college
is to gain the
knowledge and
experience that will
prepare him or her
for a job. Classroom
courses give students the basic
knowledge required, but they do not
necessarily make the students apply
this knowledge to a real-life problem.
Undergraduate research does that.”
Paul DeVos ’08Marshall, Minn.A Chemistry major at SMSU, Paul
will be teaching
math at Newman
Smith High
School, Carrollton,
Texas, this fall.
“I believe the
research project,
more than anything, helped give me a
taste for what research really is and
gave me a vision of the endless
possibilities that it could lead to.”
Atrazine, 2-chloro-4-(ethylamine)-6-(isopropylamine)-s-triazine, an organic compound consisting of an s-triazine-ring is a widely used herbicide. Its use is controversial due to its effects on nontarget species, such ason amphibians. It is banned in the European Union.
THE CHANGING VIEWS AT SMSU
9FOCUS
2008-09: A Big Year for Mustang AthleticsChalk it up as one of the most successful
years in Southwest Minnesota State University
athletics history. The 2008-09 season saw the
Mustangs land seven of their 11 programs in na-
tional postseason play—highlighted by an Elite
Eight appearance by the men’s basketball team—
and grab 11 different All-America honors.
While the men’s hoopsters advanced the deepest
into postseason play, they weren’t the only squad to
get a taste of the NCAA tournament. SMSU volley-
ball charted a 28-6 campaign and advanced to its fifth
straight NCAA tournament. The Mustang women
golfers drove their way into the national tournament
for the first time since 2006. The SMSU softball team
won its fourth straight NSIC crown and earned its spot
in the NCAA tournament—also for the fourth straight
year. And Paul Blanchard’s baseball team made the
NCAA tournament for the first time in school history.
Hard work on the gridiron turned into SMSU football’s
first winning season since 1999. The Mustangs’ 6-5 record
tied them for sixth place in the newly expanded, nationally
renowned NSIC. It was a successful season in SMSU’s
brand new, $16 million Regional Event Center. Equally
hard work from Jesse Nelson and his wrestlers gained
SMSU its first dual win since the 2006-07 season. Mus-
tang wrestling hosted the NCAA Regional Tournament
and sent two to the NCAA Champi-
onships.
A flurry of all-America accolades
found their way to Marshall, too.
Tyler Reed received a nod for the
D2football.com All-America honor-
able mention team. Kasey Loeslie
was also named All-America honor-
able mention by the American Vol-
leyball Coaches Association. Ross
DeMasi garnered a pair of All-
America honors for men’s basketball
from Daktronics and the National
Association of Basketball Coaches.
Softball saw its first All-American at
the Division II level when Amanda
Burkhart earned the honor from a
duo of organizations, her first-team selection coming from
Daktronics. Derek West and Andrew Kinney represented
the baseball with honorable mention recognition.
The athletics venues at SMSU weren’t the only places
the Mustangs excelled in 2008-09. The classroom was an
equally successful place as 55 student-athletes were named
to the Academic All-NSIC team throughout the year.
Senior baseball player Greg Laughlin was also named Aca-
demic All-America in the spring.
Senior forward Ross De-Masi (Swanton, Vt.)earned a pair of All-America selections as hewas named to both theDaktronics and NationalAssociation of BasketballCoaches squads.
Senior right fielderAmanda Burkhart(Omaha, Neb.) landedon two All-Americateams. She is the firstSMSU softball playerto be named an All-American at theNCAA Division IIlevel.
Senior second basemanGreg Laughlin (EdenPrairie, Minn.) becamejust the second SMSUbaseball player to earnAcademic All-Americahonors when he wasnamed to the 2009ESPN The MagazineAcademic All-Americathird team.
SMSU base-ball made itsfirst NCAAtournament ap-pearance inschool history,after posting a28-15 season.Senior DerekWest received apair of All-America honorable mentionnods from Daktronics and the NationalCollegiate Baseball Writers Association(NCBWA). Junior Andrew Kinney wasnamed All-America honorable mention bythe NCBWA.
For the fourth straight season, the Mus-tang softball team was crowned NSICchampions. They finished the season 32-23 and received a bid to the NCAA tour-nament before falling to Minnesota State,Mankato. Senior Amanda Burkhart dis-
tinguished herself as the NSIC and RegionPlayer of the Year. Senior pitcher AmandaJohnson did the same with her NSIC andRegion Pitcher of the Year honors.Burkhart was also named to a pair of All-America squads, becoming the first SMSUsoftball player to earn such honors at theNCAA Division II level.
The SMSU tennis squad finished theseason 8-14 and fourth in the NSIC.Ananda Ferrari claimed NSIC SeniorAthlete of the Year honors and led herteam to a fourth-place finish at the NSICtournament. The Mustangs also collectedfour top-three finishes at the NSIC indi-vidual championships.
The Mustang golf team participated inthe regional tournament for the sixth timein school history. Senior Abby Oaklandwas the highest placer for SMSU, checkingin at No. 12 spot.
10 FOCUS
· ROUND-TRIP AIRFARE FROM SELECT OCEANIA CRUISES’ CITIES· 10 nights accommodations and cruising onboard Oceania Cruises’
“Regatta” to historic and scenic ports of call· All meals, entertainment & use of the ship’s facilities onboard the cruise
For more information email [email protected] visit www.SouthwestAlumni.com/travel
Alumni Achievement This award is presented to agraduate in recognition of theirremarkable professional successand the positive reflection madeon the reputation of all graduatesof SMSU.
Dene Thomas ’78LiteraturePresidentLewis and Clark UniversityLewiston, Idaho
Steven Binder ’79Business AdministrationGroup Vice President,
Refrigerated ProductsHormel Foods CorporationAustin, Minn.
Honorary LifetimeMembership This award is presented to an individual who is not a graduateof SMSU, but gives their time,talents, and enthusiasm as if theywere.
Gerald TolandProfessor of Business
AdministrationMarshall, Minn.
Laurie MaeyaertRetired ARAMARKBalaton, Minn.
Eric LutherOwner, Burger KingMarshall, Minn.
Cause for celebrationDuring the SMSU Homecoming weekend on October 9-10, theSMSU Alumni Association will present Alumni Achievementand Honorary Lifetime Membership Awards to distinguishedalumni and friends of Southwest Minnesota State University.
Alumni Plaza UpdateThe Alumni Plaza project fundraising is in full swing. To
date 410 individuals and/or couples have contributed nearly
$69,000 of the $200,000 challenge gift by Deeann Griebel ’80
to finish the project. All gifts to this project go toward sup-
porting the construction and future maintenance of the
Alumni Plaza. Construction on the Alumni Plaza is expected
to begin in May 2010.
To help support this important campus project please con-
tact Tyler Bowen, Director of Alumni Relations at
[email protected]. You can make a gift online at
www.SouthwestAlumni.com/plaza. Your support will leave a
lasting legacy on the campus of SMSU.
To nominate someoneThe Alumni Association is now accepting nominations for bothalumni achievement and honorary membership awards to be given in2010. If you know of an outstanding alumnus, a faculty, staff or com-munity member who deserves recognition, please contact us. [email protected] or call 1-800-260-0970.
October 23–November 3, 2010
JEWELS OF THE Athens, Kusadasi, Rhodes, Santorini, Katakolon, Sicily,
Amalfi/Positano, Sardinia, Corsica, Florence, and Rome
A l u m n i T r a v e l O p p o r t u n i t y i n 2 0 1 0 :
Y O U A R E I N V I T E D
SMSU Alumni Association 2009 Awards LuncheonFriday, October 9, 2009
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.SMSU Conference Center Ballroom
Cost: $10.00
Lunch will be followed by a short program highlighting the 2009 Alumni Award Recipients.
RSVP by calling 507-537-6266 prior to Tuesday, Oct. 6
11FOCUS
SMSU Alumni Reconnect at Top-Notch Events
Twins vs Cubs at Wrigley Field inChicago: [Top left photo] Back row:
Dan Reitsma ‘01, Ben Butzke ‘02,
Michael Brown ‘00, Tim Neu ‘00.
Front row: Clare Reitsma ‘01, Marie
Brown, Jen Neu, Jessica Arndt.
[Top right photo] Kari Xiong ‘03 and
Keri VanOverschelde ‘ 04.
Alumni Night at Canterbury Park:[Middle left photo] Jess McGaughey,
Tracey Mork ‘06, Sarah Wagoner ‘06,
Jamie Enger ‘07.
Alumni at LA production of “Far-ragut North” starring Isiah Whit-lock Jr. ‘76: (Middle right photo)
Kathleen Martin (attd. 71-73), Bill
Hezlep (retired faculty emeritus), Isiah
Whitlock Jr. ’76, Tyler Bowen ’95,
Dave Schmalz ‘72
Twins v. Yankees at the Metrodome:[Bottom left photo] Tom Moldenhauer
‘90 and Richard Crumb ‘81.
(Bottom right photo) Julie May ‘00 and
Dan Wise with TC at the alumni tent.
T a i l g a t i n g a t E v e r y H o m e F o o t b a l l G a m e !S t o p i n t h e A l u m n i T e n t o u t s i d e M a t t k e F i e l d .
12 FOCUS
1983Tim Jones has been a job trainingspecialist at the Southwest MinnesotaPrivate Industry Council since 1983and was honored in June for Out-standing Customer Service for hiswork with former Bayliner employeesin Pipestone. He also assisted morethan 60 Schwan employees who werelaid off at the same time. His wifeNancy ’82 teaches sixth grade atTracy Area Elementary School. Tom Sahlstrom was recently nameda principal with Edward D. Jones inLaCrosse, Wis.1991In March of 2009, Jay Petersen hadhis painting “St. Ignatia Whale Sanctu-ary, Baja” shown at the prestigious deYoung Museum in San Francisco,Calif. He lives in Tucson, Ariz.1992Marlin and Lisa (Beaner) ’93 Wend-land live in Orrville, Ohio.Lisa is the Home CEO and Marlin is inmanagement for The J. M. SmuckerCompany at corporate HQ. They have2 sons, Mason 11, and Jack, 8, andenjoy coaching and attending theirboys’ sporting activities, golfing andcamping. 1993Loren Toussaint has been grantedtenure as a psychology professor atLuther College, Decorah, Iowa. He isalso a consulting editor for the Journalof General Psychology and is the as-sistant editor for the International Jour-nal of Healing and Caring. Aftergraduating from SMSU, he earnedmaster’s and doctorate degrees inpsychology from the University of Wis-consin-Milwaukee. 1995Greg Wymer (’05 MBA) became theDirector of International Student Affairsat Minnesota State University Moor-head in 2007. His wife Amy works atScheel’s Sporting Goods. They havefour children: Jacob, 11; MacKenzie,9; Leah, 6; and Benjamin, 3. Doug Zwach currently lives inLakeville and is a Training Managerfor Progressive Insurance Company.1996Chad Young is a mortgage loan offi-cer with USBank and lives in Mankato.1998Becky (Evers) Gerdes and husband,Scott, both work for the RochesterSchool District. They welcomed hometwin boys on April 3, 2009.2000Kevin Forde was promoted to Assis-tant Athletic Director for Operations atthe University of Mary in Bismarck NDin July. He began his coaching careerat SMSU as an assistant coach to Tim
Miles and to Greg Stemen. He and hiswife Laura ’01 have two daughters Is-abelle and Addison.2001Kim Sanow is the Family Counselorat House of Hope Minnesota in Mar-shall and also is a writer and speakeron relational aggression in teenagegirls. She and her husband Jerry have4 daughters and live on an acreagenear Amiret.2003Michael Branco recently moved fromhis position as transit manager inKetchikan AK to accept a new positionas transit manager for Eau Claire, Wis.He and wife Michele have three chil-dren: twins Madelynn and Mitchell, 5;and son Marshall is 2. Dr. Melisa Engelson is a chiropractickinesiologist in Prior Lake. She re-ceived her doctor of chiropractic de-gree from Northwestern HealthSciences University in ’07.2004Zeb Prairie was promoted to ClaimsRepresentative for the Auto ClaimsDepartment of North Star Mutual In-surance of Cottonwood. He hasworked there since June 2005.2005Heather (Smith) Bigler (’08 MS) isthe school social worker at MarshallMiddle School, Marshall. She is mar-ried to Brad Bigler ’02. Brad is theassociate head coach of the SMSUMustang’s men’s basketball team.Heather and Brad live in Marshall andhave a daughter, Taleigha, 1½. Tim Schulz lives in Chaska and isworking in Motorcycle Sales at DelanoSports Center in Delano.2006Jason Szczawinski is the owner ofDakota Direct Furniture and lives inBrandon, SD.2007Mindy Rayman married BenjmaninDold on Aug. 16, 2008. She is pursu-ing a master’s in business administra-tion and lives in Maple Grove.Robert Sandquist married LauraMollema on June 7, 2008. He is em-ployed at Reinhart Foods in Marshall.Michele Tomschin and ChristopherRowell were married on Aug. 30,2008. Michele is employed by ClarkPrinting Co. of Tyler. Chris is em-ployed by Explore Information Serv-ices of Marshall.Lisa Peterson married David Chris-tianson on May 17, 2008. They live inrural Spicer. 2008Mathew Davis married Sarah Larsonon May 23, 2009. Ryan Jaeger and Emily Dyste (’09)married on May 30, 2009.
Julie Pohlman and Jeff Kelly (’09)were married on June 6, 2009. Julie isan elementary teacher in Vaxjo, Swe-den, where they will live for 1-2 years. Samantha O’Neill and Joseph Kok-tan (’11) were married on Aug. 7,2009. The two reside in Marshall whileJoseph finishes his degree in publicrelations at SMSU. Samantha gradu-ated with a degree in social work.Gene Wyttenback is the CommunityDevelopment Advocate for Tri-CountyAction Program in Waite Park. Genelives in Sauk Rapids with his daughterHayley, 5, and Sienna the golden re-triever, age unknown.
IN MEMORIAMGwen Marie BeeboutGwen passed away on Nov. 16, 2008after a five-year battle with cancer.She worked in several SMSU officesfrom 1988-2005.Morgan ClineMorgan was a Post Secondary Enroll-ment Option student and passed awayon Nov. 12, 2008 in an auto accident.Sylvan F. Gaul ’71 Sylvan passed away on Nov. 16,2008.Duane Herrick ’71 Duane was the Director of ComputerServices at SMSU from 1967-97 andpassed away on May 26, 2009. Jory L. Isakson ’71 Jory passed away in July 2008. Hewas the executive director of the Min-nesota Association of Plumbing, Heat-ing and Cooling contractors. Ronald J. Jones ’72 Ronald passed away in January 2008. Jack KelleyJack passed away on Jan. 17, 2009.He was a general maintenance workerfor 31 years and retired in 2000.Gleva A. Kronlokken ’71 Gleva passed away on May 19, 2008.Frances McCormick ’87 Frances passed away in December2008.
Sylvia J. Moline ’70 Sylvia passed away on Aug. 11, 2007.She taught fifth grade at West Ele-mentary in Slayton for 22 years. Martha Pieske ’71Martha passed away on Jan. 10,2009.Dee ReisdorferDee passed away on June 20, 2009.She was an employee of SMSU for 26years before retiring in 1997.Douglas SweetlandDoug was the seventh president of theUniversity, 1994-2000. He passedaway on July 21 at his home in Lynd.Loren TesdellLoren worked as a political scienceprofessor for 20 years and passedaway on Nov. 19, 2008.Bruce WilcoxBruce, an Education Department fac-ulty member from 1970-85, passedaway on March 21, 2009. Eugene Vandeputte Eugene was a Physical Plant em-ployee for 27 years and passed awayon March 20, 2009. He retired in 1996.
A group of alumni and friends in Malaysia gathered for a reunion. Front row(seated) left to right: Hui Ning Yap ‘01, Stephanie Choong, Wei Wei, NicoleLeng, Jodie Yan ‘01, Chin's Friend, Chin Yoon Hiung. Second row (standing)left to right: Albert Lau, Albert Lau's Wife, Eric, Thomas Soo, Jeff Ho, NgKem Yong, Pang, Daniel's Friend, Clarice (Ralph Wong's wife). Back row(standing) left to right: Shane, Teck Yew, Hiew, Franky Goh ‘01, Amos Tan,Daniel Goh, Ralph Wong ‘01. Submitted photo.
Send us a noteThe class notes section of Focus
is one of the most important
vehicles by which alumni stay
connected with one another. If
you have news that you would
like to share with classmates,
please let us know. You may
submit your updates to the
Alumni Office by email:
or by visiting us online at
www.SouthwestAlumni.com.
by mail: SMSU Alumni Office,
1501 State St, , Marshall, MN
56258 or call 800-260-0970.
Contact the SMSU Foundation at 1-800-260-0970 or E-mail [email protected] for details.
The Kelsey Eberle Memorial Scholarship was established
by her parents, Roxanne and Terry Eberle of Maple Grove,
Minn. The scholarship will be awarded annually to an
outstanding junior or senior Education major at Southwest
Minnesota State University based upon their academic and
leadership performance. Kelsey graduated from Maple Grove
High School and SMSU. She was killed by a drunk driver in
an auto accident on June 29, 2008.
“The four years Kelsey spent as an Education major at
SMSU could not have benefitted anyone more than our
daughter,” said Terry Eberle. “In her time at SMSU Kelsey
grew into a mature, prepared young woman who could not
wait to get a classroom of her own. Kelsey’s goal was not to
just become a teacher; she wanted to be that special teacher
that you think of when you think back on fourth grade and
say, ‘That Ms. Eberle was the best,’” he said.
Making a difference for future generations of Mustangs
Creating an Endowed Scholarship at SMSUYou can establish a named, endowed scholarship at SMSU by
making a gift of $10,000 or more. A scholarship can be in your
name or in honor of someone dear to your heart. An endowed
scholarship can be funded over one, five or 10 years, depending on
your wishes. You may designate your endowment to academic
scholarships, a specific collegiate unit, or students in need of
financial assistance. In some cases, donors prefer including a
scholarship gift in their will. To find out more, contact Bill Mulso,
SMSU Foundation Executive Director, at 1-800-260-0970.
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 a Legacy
Kelsey Eberle ’08
Pu
blish
ed b
y SMSU
Alu
mn
i Office
1501
State Street • M
arshall, M
N 5
62
58
CH
AN
GE
SER
VIC
E R
EQ
UE
STE
D
O C TO B E R 9 - 1 0
For the most up-to-date Alumni Association Calendar of Events and event details visit:
www.SouthwestAlumni.comContact the Alumni Relations Office at 1-800-260-0970 or
[email protected] for more information.
EventsCalendarThe SMSU Alumni Association plans a variety of excitingevents to connect and engage alumni. We hope to see you at a future event!
AgBowl: Celebrating Minnesota AgricultureSMSU Football vs Black Hills StateMattke Field, SMSU, September 05
Step in Time with “Mary Poppins”Orpheum Theatre, MinneapolisSeptember 20
Homecoming 2009: Mustang Mardi GrasSMSU, Marshall. October 4-11
Bert and Ernie Goodnight, World PremierMinneapolis Children’s Theatre, October 25
Tour the Louvre MasterpiecesMinneapolis Art Institute, November 14
Minnesota Wild Alumni EventSt. Paul, February 14, 2010
An enchanted evening at “South Pacific”Ordway Center, St. Paul, May 15, 2010