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The Winona State University Magazine
INSIDE
Homecoming 2016
Above: Wazoo greets young parade fans, Homecoming 2015 Cover, inset photos: Homecoming 2015 activities
Contents: Fall 2016 Page 8
A Life of Service Newly inducted into the Army ROTC National Hall of Fame, Eric Kerska ’87 reflects on his 32-year Army career
Page 10
There’s an App for That Tyrre Burks ’10 is transforming the way youth sports injuries are tracked
Page 12
An Innovative Approach to Nursing Leadership Karen Biel ’67 is helping WSU nursing students develop clinical leadership skills
Page 14
Gentle Giant Current News.............................................4
A native of Saipan, Kinjo Omar ’17 finds a home at WSU
Athletic News............................................6 Alumni Spotlight........................................7
Pages 22–23
Class Notes .............................................17
2016 Homecoming Schedule of Events
In Memoriam ..........................................19 2016 Homecoming Awardees...........24–26
The Winona State University Magazine
Editor: Erin Blumentritt Creative Design: Pat Malotka, Kristi Gudmundson Writers: Joel Badzinski, Mary Malloy Alumni Relations Assistant Director: Tracy Hale Coordinator: Tanya Berzinski
Winona Currents is published by Winona State University’s Division of University Advancement and is distributed to more than 46,000 alumni and friends of Winona State University.
Currents is copyrighted material. Articles may be reprinted with permission. Comments on this publication should be directed to: WSU-University Advancement, PO Box 5838, Winona MN 55987-5838; by email: currents@winona.edu; online: alumni.winona.edu. Address changes and Class Notes should be directed to the Alumni Relations Office.
currents.winonastateu.com
A Hero’s Homecoming! Celebrate being a Warrior and the many heroes at WSU!
POSTMASTER: If undeliverable as addressed, please send Form 3579 to Alumni Relations. PO Box 5838, Winona MN 55987-5838. Winona State University is an equal opportunity educator and employer. This document can be made available in an alternative format to individuals with disabilities by contacting the magazine staff at the address above.
@winonastateU
Current News College of Business Launches Engagement Center The Financial Markets Lab provides a dedicated space for the Student Investment Program, a collaboration between WSU finance students, the WSU Foundation, and university donors. Students in the program gain hands-on experience in finance and recommend the portfolio allocation of over $100,000 of WSU Foundation funds. The Financial Markets Lab also serves as a formal boardroom for meetings and presentations.
The open collaborative space of the Engagement Center is a multipurpose area designed to incubate innovation.
Located in Somsen Hall, the Engagement Center is a new space designed to connect WSU students, faculty, and staff with WSU alumni, community members, and business partners. “The Engagement Center will enhance the educational experience for our students,” said College of Business Dean Hamid Akbari. “It offers opportunities for our faculty, staff, and students to work together with our partners in the community to improve our world, and also provides our partners the opportunity to contribute to the education of our students.” The center supports experiential learning for students, faculty, and community partners by providing the physical space and technology to enhance collaborative opportunities. Physical amenities include the WSU Center for Sales Excellence, the Financial Markets Lab, and open collaborative space.
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The Center for Sales Excellence expansion builds on leading edge instruction and a proven curriculum, preparing students for successful careers in sales. It features two dedicated sales roleplay rooms, each with state of the art technology to record and broadcast audio and video. Additionally, the roleplay rooms can serve as focus group facilities and provide space for interviews, meetings, presentations, and collaborative discussions. “We are committed to delivering education, research and leadership that advance the sales profession,” Marianne Collins, associate professor of marketing, said. “Demand for graduates interested in pursuing sales careers has been uninterrupted by technological advances or economic conditions. We incorporate current business practices in our curriculum by fostering a relationship between business and academia that capitalizes on the unique strengths of both.”
WSU Currents • currents.winonastateu.com
Finally, the open collaborative space of the Engagement Center is a multipurpose area designed to incubate innovation. With reconfigurable seating for both strategic discussions and socialization, the space allows for both planned and spontaneous interaction between
“The Engagement Center will enhance the educational experience for our students.”
— Hamid Akbari Dean, College of Business
members of the Winona business community and students or faculty from the WSU College of Business. This space is also able to accommodate larger presentations and receptions. The WSU College of Business enrolls approximately 1,365 undergraduate students. The college has 43 full-time professors and offers seven undergraduate majors and ten undergraduate minors. The college is accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. To learn more about the WSU College of Business visit: winona.edu/business.
Oertel Receives Professional Excellence Award
Batcher Named Director of Athletic Communications
Stephen Batcher was named the director of athletic communications in June 2016. He comes to Winona State after four years as the sports information director at the University of Minnesota, Morris. During his time at Morris, Batcher served as the primary contact for all 19 sports offered by the NCAA Division III university, and was in charge of their athletic website, social media accounts, gameday programs and management.
Stephen Batcher
Batcher is familiar with the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), as he served as the sports information graduate assistant at Concordia University, St. Paul, from 2010-2012. He helped promote two national championships for Concordia’s volleyball team in 2010 and 2011. Prior to Concordia, Batcher was an assistant in the University of Louisiana, Lafayette Athletic Communications Department. A Concordia University, St. Paul, graduate, he earned his BA in communications in 2008, and his master’s in strategic communications in 2013.
Miene Named Dean of Liberal Arts Winona State University recently named Dr. Peter Miene dean of the College of Liberal Arts. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Miene served in the role of interim associate dean for the College of Liberal Arts (2012-present), department chair (2008-2012), and interim chair for the Department of Psychology (2006-2008). He also held faculty positions as professor (1997-2002) and assistant professor (1992-1997).
Peter Miene
Dr. Barbara Oertel, director of the Warrior Success Center, was honored with the Professional Excellence Award for Administrative Service Barbara Oertel Faculty by Minnesota State. For the last 30 years, Dr. Oertel has worked to improve the student experience at WSU. She helped found the Warrior Success Center, the mission of which is to provide free and accessible services and resources for student success, including tutoring, advising, and access services. For Dr. Oertel, being honored by Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is the result of a culmination of collaborative work with students and faculty.
Reilly Named Associate VP
Dr. Miene received his Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and his BA in psychology from the University of Kansas, Lawrence. While at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Miene held fellowships with both the Graduate School and the Department of Psychology and received an American Psychological Association Dissertation Research Award.
Dr. Ted Reilly has been appointed to the position of associate vice president for Academic Affairs.
Narva’ez Receives Humanities Grant
Dr. Reilly previously Ted Reilly served in the roles of interim associate vice president for Academic Affairs, interim assistant vice president for Academic Affairs, acting dean of the College of Education, assistant vice president for Academic Affairs – Rochester, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts, and associate professor and chair in communication studies at WSU.
Winona State University Assistant Professor of Sociology Rafael Narváez has received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), which will allow him to prepare a course that traces the evolution of the body and soul rhetoric in the West. WSU students who take this NEH-sponsored course will have the opportunity to study some of the most important texts in the Western Rafael Narváez canon, including works in the human sciences, philosophy, literature, and poetry. Music and visual arts are also an integral part of the course, and these units will be complemented with a visit to The Minneapolis Institute of the Arts. At the end of the semester, students will present class projects at a symposium open to the Winona community. Dr. Narváez’s research involves the intersections of sociology, psychology, and biology, as well as the sociology of the body. This grant will allow him to expand his research and writing into the humanities, to better understand how the Western tradition has imagined the body/soul relationship, and with what consequences for our culture.
“His contributions have been vital to building a strong team, upholding WSU’s excellent academic traditions, and better addressing the needs of the Winona and Rochester campuses,” said WSU Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Patricia Rogers. WSU Currents • Fall 2016
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Athletic News Holstad Named to NSIC Hall of Fame in 2007. The 2006 NCAA National Championship was WSU’s first team national championship in the NSIC since it joined the NCAA Division II ranks in 1995. The Warriors also had two NCAA individual national championships in track and field; two NCAA team national runner-ups, one each in men’s basketball and baseball; five NCAA regional championships; 35 NSIC regular season championships, and 27 NSIC tournament championships during Holstad’s tenure.
Larry Holstad, ’67, ’81, was inducted into the 2016 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Hall of Fame. Holstad served as the WSU athletic director from 1997-2012 and developed the Warriors’ athletic programs into a national power during his tenure. During his time at the helm, Winona State won two NCAA team national championships in men’s basketball. During a three year span, the Warriors posted a 105-6 record, won an NCAA record 57 consecutive games, and won titles in 2006 and 2008 while also playing in the national championship game
Holstad hired numerous coaches that have served 10 or more years with Winona State and turned their respective programs into consistent national contenders. Holstad also served as the softball coach during the 1999 and 2000 seasons, was a member of the NCAA Division II Management Council, served on the DII Football Committee, and was a member of the Minnesota state Title IX task force. Holstad oversaw many facility improvement projects, including the renovation of what is now Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium. He partnered
with the City of Winona to construct a softball field, and with the community and Winona Senior High School for the completion of a new track and field facility. Holstad also played an integral part in the completion of the Integrated Wellness Complex, as well as the Winona State Athletic Hall of Fame. The support offered to Winona State student-athletes expanded significantly under Holstad. The Warrior Club Academic Success Center provides academic support to all Warrior studentathletes. These efforts helped Winona State set a program academic record during the spring semester of 2011 with WSU teams averaging a 3.24 cumulative grade point average. Holstad graduated from Winona State in 1967 with a degree in biology and physical education. He also competed on the Warrior championship football team in 1964 and was a captain on the 1966 team. He earned his master’s degree in educational administration in 1981. In 2015 he was inducted into the WSU Hall of Fame and the “Larry Holstad Warrior Club Endowed Fund” was established through the WSU Foundation to help support student-athletes into the future.
59 Warriors Earn NSIC Spring All-Academic Honors When it comes to academics, Warrior athletes are at the top of their game, with 59 earning NCIS Spring All-Academic status. The women’s track and field team led the way with 35 honorees, while the baseball and softball teams each had nine earn the accolade. The tennis team had three, the men’s golf team had two, and the women’s golf team had one. To be eligible for this honor, the student-athlete must be a member of the varsity traveling team and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or better. Furthermore, the athlete must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at her/ his institution (true freshmen, red-shirt freshmen and ineligible athletic transfers are not eligible) and must have completed at least one full academic year at that institution. In all, 672 student-athletes throughout the NSIC earned the honor.
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Alumni Spotlight Event Planner at U.S. Bank Stadium When U.S. Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis opened to the public in the summer of 2016, Danielle (Cowan) Ottman ’94 was already familiar with practically every one of the facility’s 1.75 million square feet. Ottman began working as sales manager for the stadium, which is the new home of the Minnesota Vikings, in April 2015. Her job is to bring in visitors and events on the 350-plus days of the year when football isn’t being played. The WSU marketing graduate loves the variety and challenge of booking everything from weddings to major concerts. “Everybody is just so excited to have a new venue in town,” Ottman said. “It’s been that way ever since I’ve started. The mix of people I get to talk to keeps everything fresh and new.” U.S. Bank Stadium will host Super Bowl LII in 2018 and the NCAA Men’s Final Four in
2019, events that will put the facility frontand-center in the sports world. “As an event planner, it’s kind of a dream to get my hands on something like that. I have no idea what my role is going to be for the Super Bowl because we turn the stadium over to the NFL, but I’m going to try and enjoy being a part of it and learn as much as I can.” Ottman, who grew up in Cottage Grove, Minn., came to Winona State knowing she wanted to study marketing. She said her professors, Dr. Jim Bovinet in particular, helped her develop and focus her interest. “When I was a senior, he helped me make contact with the Minnesota Twins—he created a baseball card for me with my picture and resume,” Ottman said. “It was so cool to have something like that and to have a professor who took an interest and do something different to put myself out there.”
Ottman began her career working for the Minneapolis Women’s Expo, selling exhibit space and managing Danielle (Cowan) Ottman entertainment and celebrity appearances, then worked as event manager for the Twin Cities Food & Wine Experience and the Minneapolis Home + Garden Show before joining SMG, which manages U.S. Bank Stadium. She said her wide range of experience working with event planning and understanding clients’ needs is why she isn’t intimidated by the idea of bringing people who aren’t wearing purple into U.S. Bank Stadium. “Being able to work with other types of events with ties to the Twin Cities area— this is something I knew I could tackle,” Ottman said.
Save the date for the 1st ever. . . AT WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY • JULY 14–16th, 2017
Are you and your sweetheart both Winona State Alumni? We would love to invite you back to the place that means so much to both of you. Come back home to Winona where it all began…. WE HAVE MANY EXCITING THINGS PLANNED, SO TAKE PART IN ALL OR SOME OF THE FOLLOWING: »» Tour the campus- bring back memories and see all the changes
»» Take a tour of Winona to some of your old hang-outs
»» Take a Mississippi River boat ride aboard the Cal Fremling Floating Classroom
»» Participate in some outdoor activities at Lake Lodge or hike up to Garvin Heights
»» Dine with your sweetheart during a romantic dinner on campus on Saturday evening
»» Attend a Great River Shakespeare Festival play or a MN Beethoven Festival concert
PLEASE MAKE SURE TO REACH OUT TO OTHER WSU ALUMNI AND TELL THEM ABOUT THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO RECONNECT IN WINONA NEXT SUMMER.
Stay tuned for more information about the 1st ever Sweetheart Weekend! � July 14–16th, 2017 WSU Currents • Fall 2016
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A Life of
Service 32 Years in Uniform
W
hen Eric Kerska ’87 graduated from high school in La Crescent, Minn., he had no real idea of what he wanted to do with his life. Looking for some direction, he joined the Infantry Company in Winona a few months prior to his high school graduation, receiving his initial entry training in Benning, Ga. When he returned home, his mother told him that she had registered him for classes at Winona State University. Classes had already started. “I moved into a house with four other guys I didn’t know on Huff Street,” Kerska recalled. “One of my roommates had a Class A Army uniform on, and I asked why? He said he was in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and received $100 a month for his participation. So I guess the $100 is why I looked into it!” Kerska enrolled in Army ROTC, which is an elective curriculum that gives participants the tools, training, and experience to succeed in any competitive environment, while helping pay for college tuition. “I found that I really liked the people, I liked the teachers, and I liked what they stood for – they stood for something important,” said Kerska. “I found my place in life.” “My goals became to be an Army officer and the way to do that was to complete my BA degree and the ROTC program,” he explained. “The WSU ROTC faculty had the greatest influence on me. They inspired me to become an Army officer.” Kerska graduated from WSU with a bachelor’s degree in history in 1987. “After graduation I joined the US Army as a second lieutenant in the Armor 8
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Corps and ended up in Germany and the Gulf War,” Kerska explained. “I spent seven years on active duty and 25 more in the Red Bulls of the MN Army National Guard. I had such a wonderful Army career.” But the roses had their thorns. “I have stories that would last all day and night telling,” he began. “People in terrible circumstances who pulled together and helped each other make it through to the next day, and then the day after that. A stand-out moment was when I got the radio call on my tank that the cease fire had been called in the Gulf War.” Certain memories stand out more than others: “As a brigade S3, when other young, smart soldiers figured out how to defeat the IED threat, which saved countless lives… As a brigade commander, when we were among the last of the US soldiers out of Iraq, I crossed the border into Kuwait to see my soldiers standing at the border with the brigade colors to greet me and celebrate that accomplishment. We were the only Brigade Combat Team at that time to bring everyone out of Iraq and home.” But not all of Kerska’s powerful memories were generated from events overseas. It was November 2002 and Kerska, a battalion commander, was sent to Grand Forks, N.D., to search for 22-year-old missing University of North Dakota student Dru Sjodin. “I watched my soldiers use their bodies to dig through snow drifts looking
Eric Kerska, center front, pictured with his battalion.
for Dru. They helped the FBI figure out where to look. You don’t forget that,” said Kerska. Service is in Kerska’s blood. Not only did he serve his country, but he has served his community for the past 22 years as a firefighter for the city of Rochester, Minn., where he is battalion chief.
Creating a » Culture of Dignity Kerska ended his 32-year distinguished Army career in June 2015 and was inducted into the 2016 inaugural class of the Army ROTC National Hall of Fame. When asked what his greatest career accomplishments are, his response is not what one would expect. “I watched leaders for years,” Kerska began. “I had decided what leadership style worked and what did not and vowed if I was ever in the position to be the boss, that I would follow a leadership path I felt would give the greatest results. I call this leadership philosophy the ‘philosophy of dignity.’” He continued, “What I wanted to create was an organization that values everyone. Everyone is to be treated as if they had real value and worth. Good ideas did not just come from people with lots of rank.” “The soldiers on the ground closest to the problem needed to be heard,” Kerska explained. “Iraq was a complex environment and I knew I did not
“I highly recommend selecting Colonel (Retired) Kerska for the Army ROTC Hall of Fame. He has justly earned this esteemed honor. His character, service, and achievements exemplify the spirit of ‘Duty, Honor, Country.’” — Scott R. Olson, WSU President, in a letter of recommendation of Kerska to General Combs, United States Cadet Command have all the answers. I wanted to build a culture where everyone was free to speak up and be heard when we were trying to solve wicked problems. In a brigade of 4,100 soldiers, I am sure I never completely changed the culture, but I did put a big dent it. Creating a culture of dignity is why we brought all 4,100 soldiers home.” To young people considering ROTC and the Armed Forces as a career path, Kerska has a few thoughts. “Serving in the US military was the best decision I ever made,” he said. “The military has its faults, like any organization, but I know that it is one of the only places in the world where you are promoted because of your demonstrated skills, not who you know. It is the closest thing on earth to Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of people being judged by the content of their character.” Kerska and his wife Tina (Kukowski) reside on an acreage with their trail horses in Rochester. The two met while both were students at WSU. They have two children, Jacob, 26, and Mackenzie, 24. Mackenzie, a 2014 WSU alumna, is a sergeant in the MN Army National Guard, following in her father’s footsteps. WSU Currents • Fall 2016
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There’s an
App
Tyrre Burks ’10 was 15 years old when a sports injury changed his life.
“It was not my coach’s fault, he didn’t know,” Burks says. “A coach can teach the game and inspire kids, but when it comes to health and welfare, that’s not what they do. That’s the gap we’re trying to close here.”
Burks was knocked out by a violent hit during his first varsity football game. It was a scary moment, but he recovered physically and went on to play at Winona State and professionally. What stuck with him was his experience — he believed it demonstrated a need for a system that would help teenage athletes, parents, coaches, and medical personnel deal with injuries.
The Player’s Health app starts with a medical profile for each athlete, including information about past injuries, medications, and allergies, and is updated as necessary. For example, Burks said, a football player might suffer a concussion late in his season, then begin hockey or basketball season, and that coach will be informed automatically through the app. In the past, he said, those situations often went unnoticed.
That idea inspired Burks to develop Player’s Health (playershealth.com), an application that has pioneered tracking and sharing of youth sports injuries. Burks’ company received the top prize at Google Demo Day this past May in San Francisco and now has more than 300,000 users worldwide.
Burks employed doctors, trainers, and tech experts to develop the platform, which is HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliant. Player’s Health headquarters is in Minneapolis, with another office in Chicago. Burks had 13 full-time employees and interns at the start of the summer of 2016 and planned to double that in just a few months.
Burks, who grew up in the Chicago area, remembers every detail of the play that easily could have ended his career and caused a debilitating injury. Playing wide receiver, he went down to scoop up a low pass and was hit at the same time, bending his neck awkwardly. “I got hit and was on the turf for 20 minutes,” Burks said. “I could not move. I was paralyzed. Miraculously, the feeling started to come back.” Burks was not taken for further medical treatment, there was no documentation of the injury, and his mom was not informed about what had happened. Burks was back on the field practicing the next day.
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“It comes from my experience with injuries,” said Burks, who played professional football in the Canadian Football League and Europe before neck, back, and leg injuries forced him out. “I saw that we need a better injury surveillance solution.” Burks established the prototype for Player’s Health, a platform called Team Interval, while still playing for Saskatchewan in the Canadian Football League. He invested $80,000 of his own money as capital and raised another $300,000 while building a subscriber base of 8,000 athletes. Team Interval made a $27,000 profit, which Burks didn’t consider strong enough. He was close to giving up on his idea.
Submitted photos. Used with permission.
For That
“I was about to shut it down when I was driving home and heard a story on the radio about a cheerleader in Wisconsin who had fallen and fractured her skull,” Burks said. “Then a bunch of things went wrong with how the injury was handled.” Burks decided to push forward, and went online with the Player’s Health app in 2015. The strong response confirmed that his idea’s time had come. USA Wrestling, with 220,000 registered athletes, and USA Boxing, with 30,000, were among the first organizations to buy the platform. Burks’ goal is one million users by the beginning of 2017. As of mid-2016, the company had raised $1.5 million in capital. “We want to be the gold standard for regulations in youth sports,” Burks said. Burks, a wide receiver, played football for two years at Harper College (Ill.), before transferring to Winona State. While visiting campus, meeting potential Warrior teammates, and spending time with Coach Tom Sawyer, Burks knew he’d found the right place. Burks also met his future wife, Jennie Miller, while at WSU. The couple have two children and live in the Twin Cities. “I just thought that at Winona State, it was people first,” Burks said. “There are just good people all around you and a great support network. There wasn’t a Friday night before a home football game that I
wasn’t invited to someone’s house for dinner. They want to get to know you personally, it’s just what the culture is. Maybe at other colleges, the focus is on career and money, but from the Winona standpoint, it’s ‘are you a good person first,’ and everything falls into place after that.” Alex Jensen, business development/customer success; Dylan Wong, business development; Kari Moxness, director of implementation; Madeleine Sendek, intern; and Tyrre Burks at the National Athletic Trainers Association Convention
Burks played for the Warriors in ‘07 and ’08, helping the team win an NSIC championship. He earned a degree in organizational psychology while catching the eyes of professional football scouts, and began his pro career in Germany before joining the Canadian Football League. Injuries forced him to set aside his athletic career at age 24. It didn’t stop his competitive desire. “I love what I do,” he said. “It doesn’t feel like work. The 20-hour days are part of being an entrepreneur, to be able to create something like this that has value, and having a great team around me, it’s almost like being back on the football team.”
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Innovative Approach
An
to Nursing Pictured with Karen Biel are the first Biel Leadership Fellows, Allison Murphy ’17 (left) and Elizabeth “Lizzy” Seitz ’17 (right). Currently in their senior year, both completed their 30-hour field experiences in May 2016.
Leadership
WSU ALUMNA LEADS THE WAY
N
ursing is far more than administering medications, checking vital signs, and helping to make the patient as comfortable as possible. Nursing is about considering the whole patient in order to treat the whole person. Karen A. Biel is a graduate of the first nursing class at Winona State College in 1968. She has a dream of facilitating nursing leadership ideas with an endowment to the WSU Foundation. Biel graduated from the Winona BSN program that combined her four years of nursing education with the Army Nurse Corp (ANC) tuition dollars to pay for the last two years of schooling. In return, the ANC required two years of active duty, one of which was served in Vietnam.
Biel’s nursing specialty was director of perioperative nursing at various Mayo sites. She concentrated on building nursing staff leadership roles and designing perioperative facilities and state-of-the-art operating rooms, as well as staffing and program planning. “Success of these roles was to have the right people in the right roles at the right time,” said Biel. “Serving the patient at all levels and areas of care was always paramount in completing the job successfully.” Biel attributes her professional nursing success to a solid nursing education, and working with people who had the same goals in caring for the patient. Her commitment to nursing care continues.
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Submitted Photo: Used with permission
Upon completion of her commitment to the ANC, Biel worked at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn., and continued her nursing practice with the Mayo Clinic Foundation in various roles for nearly 40 years, retiring in 2007.
Meet the Fellows ALLISON MURPHY ’17
ELIZABETH “LIZZY” SEITZ ’17
HOMETOWN: Blaine, Minn. CLINICAL EXPERIENCE: Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin, Minn. PLANS AFTER GRADUATION: “I hope to work at a children’s hospital in the NICU!” MY BIEL FELLOWSHIP EXPERIENCE HAS… “helped give me confidence in my ability to communicate with members of the healthcare team and let my leadership abilities shine instead of hiding them. I’ve also learned a lot about myself in general, and related to nursing, that I don’t think I would have learned without this opportunity.”
HOMETOWN: St. Paul, Minn. CLINICAL EXPERIENCE: Saint Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Wabasha, Minn. PLANS AFTER GRADUATION: “I am hoping my senior year of nursing school and my final year of the fellowship will help me decide on what I want to do next in my nursing career. Becoming a nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist are paths I’m definitely thinking about.”
Biel feels a responsibility to help others pursuing a career in nursing, and so partnered with Dr. William McBreen, dean of the WSU College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and Dr. Martha Scheckel, Department of Nursing chair, to enhance leadership options in the current nursing curriculum. Assistant Professor Terese Hemmingsen took the lead, working with Assistant Professors Melanie Johnson and Jennifer Timm to develop the Karen Biel Nursing Leader Fellowship. The Biel Patient-Centered Leadership model identifies 10 key leadership characteristics that promote patient-centered care. The core of these characteristics are organized into three groups: Knowing Self, Patient-Centered Leader, and Interdisciplinary Collaboration. The Biel Fellowship is a leadership program designed specifically for the undergraduate nursing student, with fellows selected annually through an application process. The program builds on the student’s current leadership abilities, which promote safe and effective, high-quality, patient-centered care in the clinical setting. Throughout each semester of the fellowship, up to three students will engage in activities that promote the development of these clinical leadership characteristics through self-reflection, small group discussion, guest speaker presentations, simulation, and completion of online learning modules. Students will receive five credit hours for their participation, in addition to a 30-hour field experience. Cognitive,
MY BIEL FELLOWSHIP EXPERIENCE HAS… “further developed my skills as an effective communicator, a patient advocate, and has opened my eyes to the interdisciplinary collaboration that is necessary in the clinical setting.”
emotional, and experiential leaning will enhance the student’s professional practice at the clinical level. “I received a ‘first-class’ WSU education that helped me establish myself professionally and to develop quality patient programs and quality teams to care for patients,” said Biel. “I attribute my success to an effective education and experiential learning throughout my career. I hope to provide WSU nursing students with opportunities to expand their leadership skills through experiences and dialogue created through the Biel Fellowship.” Through the WSU Foundation, the Biel Fellowship will benefit students and patients alike for generations to come.
Make an Impact If you are interested in more information on how you can make an impact at Winona State through the establishment of an endowment, fellowship, or scholarship program, please contact WSU University Advancement at 507.457.5020, email wsufoundation@winona.edu, or visit our website winona.edu/foundation/.
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T O N A J I G N E I L T K MAR GEN O It is almost impossible for a 6-foot4, 300-pound young man to make himself disappear in a hallway filled with chattering, bustling students, but Kinjo Omar ’17 tried his best.
Feeling utterly alone and stunned by culture shock in his first year at Glendale High School in Springfield, Mo., Kinjo avoided eye contact, barely spoke, and pulled away from normal teenage life. Then Austin Opfer ’16, ’18 found him.
Austin Opfer ’16, ’18 and Kinjo Omar ’17
“I was just standing out by myself, I didn’t have any friends and I’d just moved to Springfield,” Kinjo recalled. “He just walked up with one of his friends and was like, ‘Hey, me and some of the guys are going to go get some food, you want to join us?’” Kinjo tried a few times to say no, then finally admitted he didn’t have any money to go to a restaurant. No problem, Austin told him, I’ll cover you. “I saw Austin as a blessing,” Kinjo said.
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WSU Trustee Scott Opfer ‘85
“We all just noticed him because he’s a huge human being,” Austin said. “I tracked him down at school and talked to him; it was intimidating at first because he’s the most quiet kid I’ve ever met. As time went on it became a friendship, then we became best friends.”
He is the first member of his family to attend college. Kinjo and his family, including father James, mother Mary Lou, brothers Mychal and Jeffrey, and sisters Jeffrian and Kimberly, left Saipan for the mainland U.S. when Kinjo was 14. They first went to Seattle for two years, where an
Submitted Photos: Used with permission
Soon Kinjo began spending more and more time at the Opfer house. Scott Opfer ’85, Tracy Opfer ’86, both members of the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame, and children Austin, Lorin, Alix, and Kasey all saw something special in the big, shy newcomer who was struggling to adjust to life in the Midwest after growing up on Saipan, a Pacific island that is part of the Northern Marianas and a U.S. commonwealth. Kinjo eventually became a part of the Opfer family, after he and his family made the difficult decision that he would stay on the mainland and pursue a college education while his parents and siblings returned to Saipan. Austin and Kinjo both came to Winona State and joined the Warrior football team, and are in their senior seasons. Austin, a linebacker, is working toward a graduate Kinjo Omar in Saipan degree in organizational leadership and Kinjo, a defensive tackle, plans on graduating in spring 2017 with a degree in graphic arts.
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“It’s one of the best things that’s ever happened not only to Kinjo but to our entire family,” Scott said. “Kinjo is a gentle, quiet person and he’s a man of great pride. He’s just a really great kid.”
Kinjo Omar in the locker room with Austin, Alix and Tracy Opfer ‘86.
extended family member lived; then to Springfield, where Mychal was stationed after joining the army. Going from life on an island 14 miles long and five miles wide—“you can drive around it in an hour,” Kinjo said—to a major metropolis was not easy. “People have a different pace and even a different vocabulary,” Kinjo said. “I was in my own world, I didn’t really want to talk to anyone. I was just upset that I couldn’t go back, we didn’t have enough money to go back.” Kinjo wasn’t feeling any more comfortable in Springfield when Austin approached him that day in the halls of Glendale High. As their friendship developed, and Kinjo got to know the Opfer family, Scott outlined a plan that he hoped would help Kinjo carve a new life for himself. “His family had come here looking for a better life, for education, for opportunity, and couldn’t stay and had to go back,” Scott said. “One of their goals was to have Kinjo go to college and football would be a way to do that.” Scott and Tracy met Kinjo’s parents, took time to understand their situation and concerns, and eventually offered to take Kinjo into the Opfer family so he could continue high school in Springfield, play football, and get accepted into college.
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WSU Currents • currents.winonastateu.com
Austin has helped Kinjo navigate the challenges of college academics and athletics since day one. He said he’s seen a change in Kinjo during their time at Winona State. While Kinjo is still not one to seek attention, his quiet strength and laidback demeanor have earned him respect, and a lot of friends. “You could pick any house around campus and send him into it and there’s always going to be someone who will say, ‘Kinjo!’” Austin said. “Everybody knows Kinjo and loves Kinjo. The first summer we stayed here for football camp, a lot of the older guys really took to him and were very accepting of him.” Warriors football coach Tom Sawyer, who played football with Scott and is close to the Opfer family, knew he was getting a “work in progress” with Kinjo. “You look at him now, getting a college degree, that is amazing,” Sawyer said. “It’s been just as fun for us to watch him grow into a young man and change the lives of the people around him. He got an opportunity and he made the most of it.” Kinjo said that except for missing his family and enduring the Minnesota winters—“I honestly hate the snow and cold”—life at WSU couldn’t be much better. He’s looking forward to his final season of football with Austin, and starting to think about going out on his own next spring. “It’s a really big deal,” Kinjo said. “People back home know about it and support me. It does create stress, because you start something and you want to finish it. There were multiple times I thought I would drop out of college but having Scott, Tracy, and Austin and the whole family being my guide and Scott as my mentor, I’ve been trying to do what they think is right and what I think is right.”
Class Notes 1960’s
Richard Mancuso ’67 (Evergreen, Colo. ) recently published “The Good Don,” a novel that tells the story of a 1930s Robin Hood and his men who took ownership of the turf between the two bridges. Mancuso is a retired businessman, a political activist and former educator. He has been nominated to “Who’s Who” among American teachers and educators more than once, was Teacher of the Year five times, and is the recipient of the J.B. Wilson Award for Academic Excellence. As a historian and history teacher, his focus has always been to teach the good, the bad and the ugly. Mancuso will be on the WSU campus during Homecoming to sell and sign copies of his book. A portion of the sales will be donated to Winona State University Athletics. For more information, visit: thegooddon.com.
1980’s
Barbara Oertel ’82 (Rochester, Minn.) won the MnSCU Professional Excellence in Service Award. Representatives from every college and university systemwide gathered in St. Paul to recognize and honor the great work Dr. Oertel does for WSU’s students. Mary Cappel ’87 (Winona, Minn.), a physical education teacher at Jefferson Elementary STEM School in Winona, was named one of 34 semifinalists in the 2016 Minnesota Teacher of the Year program. In its 52nd year, it is the oldest and most prestigious recognition program in Minnesota to honor excellence in education.
Eric Kerska ’87 (Rochester, Minn.) was inducted into the 2016 founding class of the Army ROTC National Hall of Fame on June 10, 2016, at Fort Knox, Ky. Hall of Fame inductees are recognized for their service to the country and their role in developing leaders. Thomas Fisk ’82, ‘90 and Samantha (Beach) Fisk ’09 (Plainview, Minn.) moved from Minnesota to Indonesia in 2015. Tom is part of a small expat team working on improving healthcare at Eka Hospital outside of Jakarta. Samantha works with women who live in one of Jakarta’s trash picker communities, teaching them new skills that will allow them to become independent. The Fisks founded a non-profit organization, Revive Hope Goods, that allows the women to generate income on the products they make.
2000’s
Amanda Brinkman ’00 (Minnetonka, Minn.) has been named to the 2016 (Real) Power 50 list by Minnesota Business. This list represents the “movers and shakers” of the Minnesota business community. Brinkman is a veteran brand and creative visionary and currently serves as chief brand and communications officer for Deluxe. Crystal (Pearson) Lanning ’02 (Hastings, Minn.) was named interim athletic director at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in July 2016. She returns to UW-River Falls after serving as the NSIC assistant commissioner for membership services from 2015-2016. Prior, Lanning worked at UW-River Falls from 2004-2015, serving in a variety of roles within the Athletics department. She received her bachelor’s degree from Winona State University in exercise science, her master’s degree from the University of Kentucky in kinesiology and health
promotion, and is a graduate of the NCAA/NACWAA Institute for Administrative Advancement. Lanning and her husband, Shane, reside in Hastings, Minn. with their two children, Addison and Marshall. Nicole (Robinson) Haugh ’02 (Westby, Wis.) has worked for Organic Valley for nine years and in 2015 was promoted to promotions marketing coordinator. She and her husband of 10 years have two children. Jacob Schwarz ’02 (Blooming Prairie, Minn.) was appointed as principal of Grand Meadow School in a 6-0 vote by the Grand Meadow School Board. He assumed his new duties July 1. Schwarz earned a teaching degree from Winona State University in 2002, a master’s degree in leadership from Southwest State University in Marshall in 2008, and his administrative principal license from Minnesota State University Mankato in 2010. Jennifer (Jepson) Flowers ’03 (Winona, Minn.) was named NSIC assistant commissioner for membership services, effective Aug. 1. Flowers will focus on the internal service of the membership and NSIC stakeholders. She will serve as the liaison from the NSIC Office in support of the senior woman administrators, faculty athletic representatives, and other conference administrative groups. Flowers will be responsible for assisting with strategic plan implementation with a commitment to academics and life skills, athletics operations and compliance, diversity and inclusion, game day, championships, membership, and positioning. Additionally, she will have direct championship sport oversight. Flowers previously worked at WSU as the associate athletic director and senior woman administrator from 2012 to 2015.
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Class Notes Bradley Berzinski ’04 (Winona, Minn.) was promoted to principal of Winona Middle School. Berzinski has served as a social studies teacher at Winona Senior High School; a football, basketball, and baseball coach; Winona Area Public Schools activities director; and most recently as the principal at Washington-Kosciusko Elementary School and Rollingstone Elementary School. Jean May ’05 (Chicago, Ill.) was promoted to the position of vice president, executive producer at Sandbox, previously GA Communication Group, one of the nation’s leading independent, fullservice healthcare communications agencies. May, formerly a senior producer, will oversee project management for campaigns representing a wide range of products in diverse therapeutic categories. Previously, she worked at Chicagobased CAHG in a variety of account and project director positions. She earned her BA in mass communication and advertising, with a minor in cross-cultural communications. Outside the office, May is a member of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association and lives an active daily lifestyle that includes yoga, running, and cross-fitness training. Justin Parker ’05 (Oak Creek, Wis.) was named director of veteran student success at Jacksonville State University. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, he has worked as a degree counselor, graduate advisor, and veteran services coordinator
at the University of Arizona, Tucson, and as veteran student success coordinator at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. He holds a BS in criminal justice from WSU and an MA in special education from the University of Arizona. Chelsey Bigalk ’06 and Cody Hungerholt ’11 (Mabel, Minn.) were married May 14, 2016, at the Mabel First Lutheran Church in Mabel. Chelsey received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from WSU. She is currently employed as an RN at Mayo Clinic-Saint Marys Hospital. Cody received his bachelor’s degree in social studies education from WSU. He currently teaches & coaches football at Houston High School. Ashley (Yoss) Evenson ’07 (Apple Valley, Minn.) has served as a digital media strategist for Ciceron since 2015, and was recently published in several industry publications and blogs. Jacob Runestad ’09 (Minneapolis, Minn.) won the coveted ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award, which encourages talented young creators of concert music. The winning composers will be recognized at the national ASCAP Concert Music Awards event in September. Runestad received high praise from the judges for his extended choral/orchestral work “Dreams of the Fallen.” This work was most recently performed by Twin Cities-
based ensembles VocalEssence and the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Philip Brunelle, in October 2015. Runestad was selected from a pool of over 700 applicants for the award. Emilie (Kastner) Rieger ’10 (Minneapolis, Minn.) married Mark Rieger on June 18, 2016, in Somerset, Wis. Brittany Stewart ’13 (Minnetonka, Minn.) has been named the head softball coach at Gustavus Adolphus College. Stewart most recently completed her third season at Southwest Minnesota State University, where she was the lead pitching and assistant hitting coach. She becomes the seventh head coach in the 48-year history of Gustavus softball. Laura (Lake) Linehan ’13 and Jack Linehan ’12 (Vernon Hills, Ill.) were married on June 18, 2016, in Elmhurst, Ill. Kayleen (Nymeyer) Scheck ’15 and Ethan Scheck ’12 (Worthington, Minn.) were married on June 28, 2014. Kaylee teaches 5th grade and helps with the after school program at Worthington Middle School. Ethan teaches 7th and 8th grades at the Worthington Alternative Learning Center. He also coaches football, referees basketball games, and umpires baseball games. Rachel (Covey) Carver ’15 (Rochester, Minn.) married Charlie Carver on June 10, 2016. She is a registered nurse at Mayo Clinic in Rochester and is a clinical nursing instructor for WSU. Charlie is currently employed at Permasteelisa.
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WSU Currents • currents.winonastateu.com
In Memoriam 1940’s
F. Joy (Seifert) Schilling ’42 (Somerset, Wis.) died Feb. 15, 2016. She married Clinton Schilling in April 1946 in Woodbury, MN. In 1954 they moved to a farm in Somerset, WI. She enjoyed a full and healthy life, shared with her family and friends. Joy was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, brother, sister and grandchild. She is survived by her daughter, Sylvia Dalzell (Norm Becker); son, Gaylen (Cheryl); grandchildren, Bradley and Ryan (Abby) Dalzell, Melanie Schilling; step granddaughter, Susan Montgomery; great grandchildren, Josie, Audrey and Edith Dalzell; sister-in-law, Margaret Seifert; nieces, nephews and cousins. Joseph Flynn ’45 (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) died Dec. 12, 2015. He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Lorraine. His long life allowed him to develop special relationships with his children, their spouses, and his grandchildren, and to establish many family traditions and happy memories. His early successes as a teacher and coach in his native Minnesota prepared him for a successful business career in Cedar Rapids as co-founder of Suburban Lumber Co., which remains a family business. All his life, Joe was an avid sports participant and fan. In his early years, he played baseball and football at Winona State Teachers College. Joe captained the 1941 football team and set a school record that stands today. Ruth (Francis) Anderson ’46 (Lake Delton, Wis.) died suddenly on Aug. 31, 2015. She graduated from high school in Stewartville, MN, in 1942, went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Winona State Teachers College in 1946, and a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1967. She made her career as a high school English teacher.
Marian (Johns) Raymond ’48 (Modesto, Calif.) died Sept. 24, 2015. A native of Utica, Minn., Marian began her teaching career in Minnesota in 1943, when she was issued a temporary teaching credential due to a teacher shortage during World War II. At the age of 19, she taught a 16-pupil classroom with students in grades K-8. After the war, Marian finished earning her teaching credential, and she and her husband, Lloyd “Chic” Raymond, moved to California to work as teachers. Marian was hired to teach second grade at John Sutter Elementary School. Family and education were front and center in the Raymond household. Marian put her paid teaching career on hold to raise their family, but teaching went on every day in the house, whether the kids were learning life lessons, mechanical skills or how to do laundry correctly.
an officer cadet, training at Merchant Marine Academy at San Mateo, Calif. During World War II, Bill delivered supplies to American troops overseas. When the war ended, Bill returned to Winona, enrolled at Winona State Teachers College and earned a BS in business administration. Following graduation he was accepted as a Naval Aviation Cadet, reporting to Naval Air Station Pensacola for flight training. At Pensacola, he flew the North American Aviation SNJ advanced training aircraft. Bill completed his Navy service and returned to Winona, working a variety of jobs through the years, including selling Singer sewing machines and fertilizer for Armour Fertilizer. He later worked for the State of Wisconsin in the Health, Education and Welfare Department, and served several terms on the GaleEttrick-Trempealeau School Board.
Betty (Torrens) Krause ’49 (Oakland, Minn.) died Dec. 29, 2015. She grew up in Oakland and graduated from Winona State Teachers College in 1949. Betty was married to Roger Krause and was a devoted teacher. She taught for seven years at the lower elementary level in Southern Minnesota. She then received a degree in special education and taught for 23 years in the Albert Lea school system, retiring in 1993. Betty enjoyed quilting, gardening, reading, visiting with family and friends, and spending time with her granddaughters.
Charles Mettille ’50 (Winona, Minn.) passed away on Thursday, April 7, 2016. He was a graduate of Cotter High School and served in the United States Army, after which he obtained a business degree from Winona State Teachers College. He served the Winona community through his many volunteer commitments. He had a special place in his heart for Winona Volunteer Services. He was a warm, kindhearted man and a devoted husband and father. He met his wife, Anita Stang, while attending Winona State Teachers College and they were married on June 21, 1952. Chuck is survived by his children Kathryn Wnuk Todd, Laura (Thomas) Dreas, Linda (Michael) Spiten, Frank Mettille, Julie (Glen) Steberg, the late Michael (Pamela) Mettille, Nancy (Karl Hedin) Mettille, and Connie (Thomas Sawyer) Mettille. He was preceded in death by his wife, Anita, and son, Michael. Memorials may be sent to the Winona State University Mettille Family Scholarship.
1950’s
William F. Beseler ’50 (Trempealeau, Wis.) died Dec. 14, 2015. He graduated from Winona Jefferson Senior High School and worked as a mariner aboard a Great Lakes iron ore freighter. In 1944, he joined the U.S. Merchant Marine as
Note: An incorrect photo was published with Bill’s memoriam in the spring ’16 issue of Currents. We wish to apologize to the Beseler family for this error. – Currents editorial team
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In Memoriam Pat (Heise) Enz ’51 (Red Wing, Minn.) died Feb. 25, 2016. She graduated from Lake City High School and went on to attend Winona State Teachers College, where she received her master’s degree in education. Her passion for education led to a 55-year career in teaching. Pat volunteered for many organizations throughout the years. She served as a trustee for the WSU Foundation from 1979 to 2009. She enjoyed gardening, baking, cooking, needlework and reading. Her husband of 63 years, Richard Enz, passed away Aug. 15, 2016. He graduated from Red Wing High School and went on to serve in the Army in Korea, later becoming a lineman for NSP. They are survived by their daughter, Missy (Jeff) Larson of Red Wing; and two granddaughters, Molly and Karla Larson. Regina (Hudrlik) O’Brien ’56 (Stillwater, Minn.) passed away Oct. 10, 2015. Gina graduated from Owatonna High School and received a degree in elementary education from Winona State Teacher’s College. She taught first grade for a year in Rochester, MN, then moved to Farmington, MN, where she taught second grade for 33 years. Following retirement in 1995, Gina volunteered for Farmington Public Schools, Community Action Council, Dakota County Heritage City, and Boutwells Assisted Living. Mary (Tripp) Rusert ‘57 (Lewiston, Minn.) passed away unexpectedly May 5, 2016. She graduated from Park High School in 1953, and went on to earn her teaching degree from Winona State Teachers College in 1957. Mary completed her graduate work in education at the University of Minnesota, and received her master’s degree in education in 1960. She had a long career as a secondary special
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education teacher, and taught in Minnesota City, Altura, Lewiston, and Winona. Following her retirement from the Winona Public Schools in 1993, Mary continued to work under the Federal Education Program, and she served as the director of special education at Winona State University from 1994 to 1997. She had a deep devotion to helping children, and in recognition of her commitment to education, Mary was awarded Teacher of the Year in 1968. Mary will be deeply missed by all those who knew and loved her. Donald Erpelding ’59 (Minnetonka, Minn.) passed July 8, 2015. He graduated from Lewiston High School in 1955, and was a graduate of Winona State. He married Mary Ann Speltz. Don began his teaching career in Elgin, MN, where he taught math and science. After receiving his master’s, he began teaching physics at Hopkins High School. He retired from teaching in 1993, after 31 years.
1960’s
Lorry Gunhus ’60 (West Concord, Minn.) passed away March 22, 2016. He graduated from Kenyon High School in 1953. He enlisted in the Army in 1953 and was honorably discharged in 1955. He then went to Winona State College, where he played football, basketball, and track and served as a graduate assistant basketball coach. He graduated from Winona State in 1960 with majors in history and social science, and a minor in physical education. In 1961, he tried out for the first Minnesota Vikings football team and made the roster, but he then broke his elbow and could no longer play. He turned his attention to a career in teaching
WSU Currents • currents.winonastateu.com
and coaching that spanned 33 years in various towns in Minnesota. He married Sharon Lang of Winona and moved to West Concord, where he taught social studies, history, psychology, and sociology. He also coached football, basketball, and track. He was awarded the opportunity to attend two FulbrightHays seminars that allowed him to travel to India and Egypt. Arnold Satter ’60 (Amery, Wis.) passed Dec. 30, 2015. Arnold was a Navy veteran and worked for the St. Paul School District as a teacher and coach. He loved fishing, sports, reading, and his beloved Vikings. Arley Ihrke ‘63 (Houston, Minn.) died July 6, 2016. He was a 1956 graduate of St. Charles High School. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany from 1957 to 1959. Arley graduated from Winona State College in 1963, where he was named to the Winona State Athletic Hall of Fame and was on the All Century Team for football. He was united in marriage with Mary Rohr on Aug. 31, 1963. Arley received his master of science from Winona State in 1970 and spent his entire teaching career at Houston High School, also serving as the athletic director for 28 years. Arley was active in the athletic community and coached many sports in Houston, and served a long tenure as the head football coach. Lillian (Heusinkveld) Payne ’65 (Peoria, Ill.) passed away Oct. 12, 2015. Lillian began her career as a teacher at the age of 18 in a one-room schoolhouse in rural Minnesota and became the dean of women at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College. She retired from teaching in 1989.
In Memoriam 1980’s
Christopher Paulson ‘89 (Reedsburg, Wis.) passed April 17, 2016. He graduated from Winona Public Schools and then attended Winona State University, receiving a degree in business administration. Chris is survived by his wife, Susan, and their three children, Alex, Andrew, and Spencer, who are all WSU students or alumni; brothers, Erik of Balsam Lake, Archie of Madison, and Clifford of Winona, and by his parents Clifford and Sharon of Amery.
1990’s
David Holien ’90 (Buffalo City, Wis.) passed away March 22, 2016. David attended and graduated from Canton High School. David served his country as a member of the U.S. Air Force, and married Audrey Pavek. David was proud to have accomplished the task of completing his bachelor’s degree from Winona State University.
Faculty & Staff Kristen Haley (Wabasha, Minn.) died May 29, 2016. She was married to Kenneth Haley. Kris worked for Winona State University as an administrative assistant.
Carl Allen (Minneapolis, Minn.) died April 27, 2016. Carl truly enjoyed being a professor of accounting. He taught at Ohio State, California State, Winona State, and U of M-Twin Cities. While living in Winona, he enjoyed teaching, the outdoors, and bird watching.
Judy Gernander (Houston, Minn.) died April 3, 2016. Judy attended Mankato State University, obtained her juris doctorate from the University of Minnesota Law School, and was a professor at Winona State University for 40 years, retiring in 2010. She also practiced law in Winona and Houston Counties, and was an assistant public defender for Winona County. Diane Ristau (Winona, Minn.) passed away Aug. 12, 2016. She graduated from Cochrane Fountain City High School in 1968. She first worked at Winona State with ARAMARK Food Service in Lourdes Hall, and later as a general maintenance worker for the university. She retired from WSU after 10 years.
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2016
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13TH
VIRTUAL
#wsuhoco16
TIME EVENT
LOCATION
8 a.m.–4 p.m. Alumni College: Professor for a Day
Pre-arranged by» Alumni Relations office
5:30–7:30p.m. Retiree Center Fall Event
Tau Rotunda
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14TH Can’t make it home this October? You can still join us for WSU’s Virtual Homecoming and follow the celebration live via Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram. All returning alumni are encouraged to post pics and tweets of the sights and experiences of Homecoming using the hashtag #wsuhoco16. Follow the hashtag or follow @ WinonaStateu to see retweeted highlights, video clips and photos from the #wsuhoco16 stream. And don’t forget to join the conversation! twitter.com/winonastateu instagram.com/winonastateu Winonastateu on Snapchat.
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TIME EVENT
LOCATION
8 a.m.–4 p.m. Alumni College: Professor for a Day
Pre-arranged by Alumni Relations office
Noon–1 p.m.
Pep Fest
The Courtyard
1 p.m.
Enduring Flame Luncheon Celebrating the Class of 1966 Members of Class of ’66 and » one guest are complimentary.» $15 for each additional guest.» RSVP REQUIRED BY OCTOBER 1ST
Kryzsko Commons Purple Rooms »
4–5 p.m.
River Cruise $5 per person RSVP REQUIRED AS SPACE IS LIMITED
Cal Fremling » Floating Classroom»
5 p.m.
Distinguished Awards President’s Reception Invitation only
Signatures Summer House
6 p.m.
Distinguished Awards Social
Visions Event Center
6:30 p.m.
Distinguished Awards Dinner and Program» $30 per person, cash bar » RSVP REQUIRED BY OCTOBER 1ST » (See pages 24–25 for list of honorees)
Visions Event Center
WSU Currents • currents.winonastateu.com
»
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS OCTOBER 13TH–15TH
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15TH TIME EVENT
LOCATION
8 a.m.
East Lake Winona»
9 Annual Warrior Waddle 5K PRE-REGISTRATION RECOMMENDED th
8:30–9:30a.m. Alumni Breakfast
Alumni House
10 a.m. Parade Huff Street route
Alumni seating near Central Lutheran Church» parking lot
11 a.m.
McCown Gym»
Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet $20 per person. RSVP REQUIRED » (See page 26 for list of inductees)
11 a.m.–1 p.m. College of Education Open House: Find out about Education Village
Gildemeister Hall»
Noon–1 p.m.
River Cruise $5 per person RSVP REQUIRED AS SPACE IS LIMITED
Cal Fremling » Floating Classroom»
Noon–1 p.m.
Second Annual Warriors Reconnect to Connect: Welcoming Back Multicultural & » Diverse Alumni Social
Kryzsko Commons» »
Noon–1 p.m.
Zero Year Reunion (Classes 2012-2016) Complimentary lunch and door prizes RSVP REQUESTED
Alumni Tent in IWC» Parking Lot»
Noon–2 p.m. ROTC 100th Anniversary Event RSVP REQUESTED
Alumni Tent in IWC» Parking Lot
1 p.m.
Tailgate Tent opens $5 lunch
IWC Parking Lot» Corner of Main and 11th St.
1 p.m.
Men’s Basketball Reunion and 2006 National Championship Celebration
Near Tailgate Tent in IWC Parking Lot
2:30 p.m.
Kickoff WSU Warriors vs Sioux Falls Cougars Advance tickets available online at: winonastatewarriors.com
Altra Federal» Credit Union Stadium» »
FOR INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER, PLEASE USE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: ONLINE REGISTRATION: winona.edu/alumni
TOLL FREE: 1.800.342.5978 ext. 5027
EMAIL: alumni@winona.edu
WSU Currents • Fall 2016
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WINON A
RSITY VE
ATE UNI ST
A LU
M NI
Each year, Winona State University and the Alumni Society recognize individuals for their outstanding commitment to the university, its mission, and to improving our world.
-Distinguished Alumni-
James Churchill ‘94
James Churchill
Luke Merchlewitz
Churchill served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps before coming to WSU as a first generation, nontraditional student, completing a major and double minors in two and a half years, and graduating with a BA in 1994. He continued his studies at Indiana University, receiving a Ph.D. in neuroscience and psychology. He conducted additional post-doctoral research and taught for several years at Saint Louis University before accepting a position at the National Institute of Mental Health. Churchill has had multiple journal publications, book chapters and reviews in his field of study. At NIMH, he has served as a training program officer, led a national initiative on integrating neuroscience content into the K-12 classroom, served as director of training for the developmental division, served as lead for an Army focused data collection program on suicide in soldiers, leads President Obama’s BRAIN Initiative, is program officer for the Human Connectome Project, and serves as co-lead for the NIMH Suicide Research Investment Team. Churchill and his wife, Karen, have a daughter, Madison, and reside in Thurmont, Md.
Luke Merchlewitz ‘01
Merchlewitz received his BS in elementary education from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, in 1983,
and completed his education with a master’s from Winona State University in 2001. He currently teaches second grade at Washington-Kosciusko Elementary School in Winona. An award-winning teacher, Merchlewitz’s accolades include: 2009 Winona Teacher of the Year, 2009 Minnesota Teacher of the Year Top 10 Finalist, and 2010 Minnesota Teacher of Excellence. He was also named a 2010 Top 10 Finalist for the NEA Foundation for Excellence in Washington, D.C.; a 2011 NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellow; and an NEA Foundation Senior Global Learning Fellow, 2012 to present. In 2014, Merchlewitz was the Winona Area Public Schools Foundation “Dare to Dream” recipient. He attended the EF Global Leaders’ Summit in Davos, Switzerland, in 2015 and the Maverick Teachers Global Summit in Kuppam, India, in 2016. At WSU, Merchlewitz has served as an adjunct faculty member, a Teach 21 participant and speaker, and he currently serves as the WAPS liaison member on the Education Village Task Force. He has also supervised practicum students and student teachers, co-created the ‘Warriors to Readers’ program, and hosts reading tutors from Dr. Joan Sax Bendix’s WSU class to work with his second graders at W-K. Merchlewitz and his wife, Brenda, have two children, Peter and Sarah. The couple live in Winona, where they are avid community volunteers.
-Distinguished Young Alumni-
Kelsey (Gowin) Mellard ‘06
Kelsey Mellard
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Mellard, a community health major, was a scholarship varsity soccer player for the WSU women’s soccer team and was deeply involved in peer health education. She graduated in 2006 and continued her health education at the University of Kansas, where she received a master’s in public administration in 2008. Mellard was selected as one of the top 100 Women in Healthcare by Rock Health, and is a nationally recognized and sought after speaker on Medicare and Medicaid health reform, specific to payment and delivery. She has held many influential positions in the healthcare field including: research
WSU Currents • currents.winonastateu.com
assistant at Kaiser Family Foundation; administrative fellow at Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics; senior consultant, Advisory Board Company; chief of staff/special assistant at Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation; vice president of health policy, UnitedHealth Group; vice president of business development and policy, naviHealth; and founder and executive director, Post-Acute Care for Research, Washington, D.C. Mellard currently heads up Health System Integration; is an advisor to Global One, an Ambulatory Surgery Center company; is an adjunct faculty member at WSU; and is a consultant to GLG professional learning. She resides in San Francisco, Calif.
-Distinguished Young AlumniJake Runestad ‘09
Runestad studied instrumental music education, music composition, at Winona State University, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2009. While at WSU, he received the Minnesota Monthly November 2006 Student of the Month award, the MMEA Minnesota Collegiate Composer of the Year in 2006 and 2007, the Outstanding Student in Music Education in 2009, and the MENC Collegiate Professional Achievement Recognition Award in 2009. He continued his education at The Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University and received a master’s degree in music in 2011.
Runestad completed student teaching in Lima, Peru, through the Educators Abroad Global Student Teaching Program. He is an award-winning composer of music for orchestra, choir, wind ensemble, chamber ensembles, and opera. Having worked with leading ensembles around the world, he has established himself as a distinguished young composer of “highly imaginative” (Baltimore Sun) and “stirring and uplifting” (Miami Herald) musical works. Samples of his music, along with information on upcoming events, are available on his website: jakerunestad.com. Runestad currently resides in Minneapolis, Minn.
Jake Runestad
-Distinguished Faculty/StaffGary Grob ‘62, ‘65
Grob received his undergraduate degree in elementary and physical education from Winona State College in ’62, and his master’s from WSC in ’65. While at Winona State, Grob played four years of Warrior baseball, serving as captain in the 1961-62 season. He also played in the NAIA College Baseball World Series in 1961 and 1962. Grob went on to receive a Ph.D. from the University of Utah in ’77, and returned to WSU that same year to develop the therapeutic recreation program, and to coach Warrior
baseball for the next 35 years. He served as director of recreation for 25 of those years. Coach Grob tallied 1,020 wins during his WSU baseball career, was named NSIC Coach of the Year three times, District 13 NAIA Coach of the Year 15 times, and was selected Area 4 Coach of the Year in 1992. He was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1989, the ABCA Hall of Fame in 2002, the NSIC Hall of Fame in 2006, and the WSU Hall of Fame in 2006. Coach Grob retired from WSU in 2001 and lives in Winona with his wife, Marilyn.
Gary Grob
-Distinguished Service-
Mark Dorn ‘85
Dorn played Warrior football and graduated from Winona State University with a BS in business in 1983. He spent most of his career as owner and operator of several small transportation businesses, then as an independent contractor, and currently serves as a sales representative for Rihm Kenworth. Dorn and his wife, Linda, who live in Webster, Minn., believe very strongly in the gift of youth mentorship and volunteer regularly through their church and
other organizations. Dorn was integral in starting the WSU chapter of Delta Sigma Pi, the business fraternity, and in 2006 received the Silver Helmet Award recognizing 25 years of service with Delta Sigma Pi. He served as regional director, district director, chair of awards and scholarships, and on the board of directors for the organization. Linda is also involved with Delta Sigma Pi, serving as district director, vice president of collegiate relations, and president of the Twin Cities Alumni Chapter. Mark Dorn
If you are interested in nominating a deserving individual, please go to the following website for more information. winona.edu/alumni/awards
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-Hall of Fame-
The WSU Athletic Hall of Fame recognizes those who have shown distinctive and exceptional ability as an athlete and in their lives on campus and post-graduation.
Kristi Andersen Loose ‘02
Andersen Loose, a fouryear letter winning WSU softball player, graduated with a bachelor’s in elementary education, and a master’s in math and English. She was the starting shortstop and lead-off hitter all four years, and one of the top players and student athletes in WSU softball history. She was First Team All-Conference in 2000, 2001, and 2002; Scholar All-American in 2000 and 2001; NSIC and WSU GPA Winner all four years; and a member of 1999 NSIC Tournament Conference Champs. Andersen Loose was named NSIC Player of the Year as a senior in 2002 and graduated as WSU’s career leader in runs scored, second in hits, and fourth in stolen bases. She is currently head softball coach at New Ulm High School, boasting a 219-69 record, two MSHSL state championships, and 10 conference championships. Andersen Loose resides in New Ulm, Minn., with her husband, Tim, and two-year old twins.
Jeff Bunke ’73, ’82
Bunke was a standout track and field athlete, becoming Winona State’s first track and field All-American who qualified for the national championships four times in three years. He competed in long jump, triple jump, and sprints, and is the reigning WSU record holder in long jump and triple jump. He set long jump records at several meets. Bunke was a four-time NAIA National qualifier in long jump, placing seventh in 1971; an NAIA Outdoor qualifier placing fifth in 1972; took second in NAIA Outdoor in 1973; and placed fifth in NAIA Indoor in 1973. Bunke was the Winona State track athlete to make Indoor All-American in 1973, was the first WSU athlete to place at Nationals, and took home the 1972 NIC double championship in the long jump and triple jump. He was also nominated for
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Outstanding College Athletes of America in 1972. A psychology major with an MBA, Bunke retired in 2011 and resides in Rushford., Minn., with his wife, Patty Ann.
Annemarie (Green) Kraft ‘98
Kraft, a cardiac rehab and corporate wellness program graduate, was known as “the most decorated gymnast in WSU history” at the time of her graduation. She set several university records during her WSU career: 1994 floor exercise; 1995 balance beam; 1996 all-around high score; 1997 balance beam, floor exercise, and allaround high score. She took first place in the all-around competition 20 of 41 times in four years; finished third place or better in the all-around competition 38 of 41 times; and competed in all four events, every meet, for all four years of her career. Kraft qualified for numerous DII Nationals and All-American post season competitions, and entered the DII 1995 Championships as the number one ranked gymnast in the nation on floor exercise and all-around. Kraft coaches gymnastics at Thompson Academy of Gymnastics, known as TAGS, and lives in Eden Prairie, Minn.
Tom Ochs ’69, ’76
Ochs broke numerous men’s track and field records that still stand today as an All-American and captain of the track and field and cross country teams in the late 1960s. Ochs excelled in cross county/track. He was captain of both cross country/track 1966-68 and won the Cross Country Conference Championship in 1967, 440 yard Conference Track Champion in 1968, setting a school record (47.1) while doing it. He won the 1968 880 yard dash in 1:51.9, setting a school record, received part of the school record in the 4x440 yard, 4x880 yard, distance medley and sprint relay teams in 1967-68.
WSU Currents • currents.winonastateu.com
Ochs ran at the Texas Relays, Penn Relays and Drake Relays. He also ran at NAIA Championships in 1968 and broke his own school record with a time of 1:47.1. He was named 1968 NAIA All American, sang in WSU Choir, a member of WSU W-Club in 1967-68 and in 1969 he was a nominee for America’s Outstanding College Athletes.
Deidra (Faber) Schumacher ‘06
Schumacher, a management information systems major, was named 2006 WSU Outstanding Student in MIS, graduating with the highest GPA in her major. She excelled as a student as well as an indoor/outdoor track athlete during her WSU career. Schumacher was WSU’s first-ever Division II track and field AllAmerican, taking fourth at the 2005 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 400-meter hurdles. She earned numerous awards: All Academic Track and Field 2005 and 2006; 17 time NSIC Champion in 13 different events during 2005 and 2006; ESPN Region Second Team AllAcademic 2005 and 2006; NSIC Indoor Track and Field MVP 2005 and Outdoor MVP 2006; All Academic Track and Field 2005 and 2006; NSIC All Conference all four years; NSIC Athlete of the Year Indoor 2005 and Outdoor 2006; NSIC Indoor High Point Scorer Indoor 2005 and both Indoor and Outdoor 2006; 2006 record holder Indoor 300m, 800m, Pentathlon and relays, and Outdoor record holder 400m, 800m, 400 high jump, Heptathlon, and relays; 2006 NSIC Conference record holder in Pentathlon and Heptathlon; and Team Indoor Champion 2005 and 2006. Schumacher was the first NCAA II Track & Field All-American for Winona State and placed 4th at the 2005 NCAA II Championships in 400h. She still holds the WSU school record in 400h, 300m, Indoor 800m, and Pentathlon. Schumacher lives in Colfax, Wis., and is an IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. computer systems implementation coordinator and education consultant.
s ’ e r e h W
WAZOO? Turi Fryer ’76, far right, and Michael Fryer ’93, far left, traveled to Athens, Greece.
Download your own Wazoo image file and view more Where's Wazoo? pics: winona.edu/alumni/featured
At the top of the Fenelon Elevator in Dubuque, Iowa, are Margaret Hankes-Gordon ‘67, Sharon (Drwall) Dendurent ‘67, Susan (Loeffler) Anderson ‘67, Ann (Fenney) Horswill ‘66, and Jeanneen (Loerch) Engrav ‘66 who have been getting together yearly for the past 30 years.
WSU Alums (of Conway Hall residence hall) celebrating with “Wazoo” at Jeanne & Mike Howe’s condo overlooking the new Viking Stadium and Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minn. Summer of 2016. From left to right: Terry (Niziol) Woolwine, Carolyn (Martin) Gehrman ’77, Debbie Turk-Olufson ’76, Jeanne (Niehaus) Howe ’77, Louise Frajo ’78, and Teresa (Peterson) Wolner.
Wazoo visited Inverness Castle in Scotland with WSU Provost Patricia Rogers.
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THE 411: Warrior Mentor Program Looking to share your stories and experiences? Do you have expert advice to guide current students to success? Become a Warrior Mentor today! Be a part of the Warrior Mentor program this fall and share your experiences, inspire, and engage with current students to build support and help them get a foot into the professional world. The program is made up of alumni and full-time students who are paired up in a mentor and mentee relationship through an application process. The program requires the duo to engage, interact, and connect at least once a month in order to foster a beneficial partnership. Mentors have the opportunity to establish a lasting volunteer opportunity as well as become a WSU ambassador. At the same time, mentees will gain valuable networking experience and get an inside look into the WSU Alumni Society.
WARRIOR MENTORS While mentors will provide advice, discuss career paths, and offer guidance through their own life experiences, they are not responsible for hiring or setting up other opportunities for their mentee. Through this partnership, mentees gain invaluable professional experience, helping to prepare them for life after WSU! For more information on this program or to apply to be a mentor or mentee, visit the program’s website or contact alumni@winona.edu.
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The Winona State University Magazine
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Homecoming 2016