Fall 2010Homecoming: Oct 1-2Marshall Festival Sutter Play Premiere

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

Mustangs At WorkSucceeding in a Tough Job Market

Mustang Traditions is a new Living& Learning Community sponsoredby the Alumni Association andResidence Life. Students living inMustang Traditions are given uniqueopportunities to promote Mustangpride and SMSU traditions whilecultivating relationships betweenstudents and alumni by enhancingthe college experience.

1FOCUS

A magazine for alumni & friends of SMSU

Fall 2010 volume 30 number 1

PRESIDENT Dr. David C. Danahar

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FOUNDATION/ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENTBill Mulso ’93

DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS/FOCUS EDITORTyler Bowen ’95/MS’08

SENIOR WRITER AND PHOTOGRAPHERJim Tate

DESIGNERMarcy D. Olson, ’93/MBA’05

CONTRIBUTORSLorien Downing ‘11Stacy Frost ’93Kelly Loft ’97Erica Spencer ’10

EDITORIAL ASSISTANCEJanice Robinson ’09Amanda Paine ‘11

All hometowns are in Minnesota unless otherwise noted. Focus (USPS 565-770) is published twice each year for alumniand friends of Southwest Minnesota State University by theAlumni Office. Opinions expressed in Focus do not necessarily reflect officialUniversity policy. Send correspondence, name changes andaddress corrections to: Focus, Alumni Office, SouthwestMinnesota State University, 1501 State Street, Marshall, MN56258 or call (507) 537-6266.Focus is not copyrighted. Unless otherwise noted, articles maybe reprinted without permission if credit is given to SouthwestMinnesota State University.Southwest Minnesota State University is an equalopportunity/affirmative action educator and employer.Southwest Minnesota State University is a member of theMinnesota State Colleges and Universities system.This document can be made available in alternative formats toindividuals with disabilities. Please make your request by calling507-537-6266, 1-800-260-0970, or through the MinnesotaRelay Service at 1-800-627-3529.

2 Marshall Festival

3 Sutter Play Premiere

5 Making the Connections

8 Alumni Awards

9 Mustang Athletics

10 Class Notes

Greetings fellow

alumni and friends:

As a recent 2010

graduate I am eager

to continue the spirit

of Southwest

Minnesota State

University by being

an active and proud

alumna. During my senior year I received

the opportunity to lead the newly formed

Mustang Traditions Residentce Hall as its

Assistant Program Director. Developed

and funded by the Alumni Association,

Mustang Traditions was able to infuse

school spirit and active participation in its

40-some freshmen residents. Mustang

Traditions is truly forming tomorrow’s

influential and supportive alumni.

Transitioning from my senior year into

my new role as the Manager of Digital

Marketing for the Atlanta-based

foodservice distribution cooperative

UniPro has been quite an adjustment. It is

difficult to leave the strong connections I

made while in college, but knowing that I

am part of an ever-growing community of

proud and supportive alumni helps

encourage me.

I always knew my time at SMSU would

come to an end, but I am proud to say that

I will forever be a supportive alumna that

will continue to promote Southwest

Minnesota State University wherever life

takes me. After all, it is where you belong.

GO MUSTANGS!

Tegan Gullikson ’10

Mustang Traditions

Living & Learning Community

Community Advisor, 2009-2010

2 FOCUS

Some old favorites, and some new faces.

That’s the way Dr. Anthony Neil Smith describes the lineup of

writers for Marshall Festival 2010: A Celebration of Rural Writing

and Culture.

This year’s festival will run from Oct. 28-31 and includes 11

writers. It’s the first Marshall Festival since the 2005 event.

“It’s a smaller festival, but it’s more sustainable,” said Smith. “We

want to have something every-other-year, and this format will

allow us to do that.”

Familiar names such as Phil Dacey, Ross Sutter, Bart Sutter,

Florence Dacey and Stephen Graham Jones will be featured. They

will be joined by Lee Ann Roripaugh, Scott Phillips, Heidi Erdrich,

Joyce Sutphen, Ed Bok Lee and Kyle Minor.

“This year it will be more than a

reunion of existing voices that have

shaped Midwestern writing over the

years by also introducing the next generation of young authors who

are beginning to make their marks upon the region,” said Smith.

The event will include a first-night tribute to the late Bill Holm.

Smith plans events for area elementary and middle school students,

as well as a poetry and fiction writing contest for students in

Minnesota and neighboring states.

Bart Sutter’s play-in-verse, “Pine Creek Parish,” will make its

world premiere during the festival as well (see story, next page).

“With the writers we have, it will be something of a generational

handshake, the old guard and the new guard together,” said Smith.

Marshall Festival 2010 Scheduled for October 28-31

The new Alumni Plaza moved from architectural drawings to

reality during the summer of 2010.

Crews started moving dirt in July, beginning the transformation

of the empty space into a functional area that will serve many

purposes in the years to come.

Work on the Alumni Plaza went fast. As soon as dirt was moved,

concrete was being poured at the plaza, located in the area between

the residence halls, the R/A Facility spine and the west entrance of

the Student Center.

The project will become the social and recreational hub of the

university. “That’s the goal,” said Tyler Bowen, SMSU Alumni

Director who led the fund-raising efforts for the $430,000 project.

The Alumni Plaza includes an amphitheater for outdoor concerts,

small theatre productions and

readings; multi-functional

recreation and gathering

spaces; and a sculpture by

SMSU alumnus John Sterner.

The Alumni Plaza project

received a big boost early on

when 1980 alumna Deeann Griebel gave a $200,000 matching

grant toward the project. Griebel is a financial advisor for Wachovia

Securities LLC in Mesa, Ariz., and used to walk the area going to

classes. “There was nothing there. There have been so many

improvements to the campus over the past eight years, this project

will enhance the entire campus.”

Alumni Plaza Nears Completion

Dr. Carl Harris, a 1976 alumnus and

the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy

and Strategic Initiatives for the U.S.

Department of Education, was the

commencement speaker on May 8 in the

R/A Facility.

Harris was superintendent of the

Durham (N.C.) Public Schools prior to

being tabbed for the Obama

administration post. In Durham, he

headed a district that included 46 schools

and nearly 32,000 students.

Harris talked to the 716 graduates about service to the nation.

“We need to have young people who are leaving college making a

difference in the world we live in,” he said.

Dr. Emily Deaver, Associate Professor of Environmental Science,

was honored as the eighth recipient of the

Cowan Award. The award goes to a faculty

or staff member who has made great

contributions to SMSU and the region. It

is named in honor of Catharine Cowan,

the popular SMSU psychology professor

who died in an auto accident in 2001.

Kevin Andrews from Marshalltown,

Iowa, was given the Outstanding Senior

Award during commencement. Andrews

exemplifies the term ‘student-athlete.’ He

graduated with degrees in Accounting, Finance and Management

and played basketball for the Mustangs during his time at SMSU.

President David Danahar hosted a reception in the Student

Center following the ceremony. Commencement 2011 will be held

on Saturday, May 14 at 10 a.m.

Commencement Speaker Encourages Graduates to Make a Difference

3FOCUS

Andrew Hlubek has been named the new

Admissions Director at Southwest Minnesota

State University.

Hlubek comes to SMSU from Minnesota

State University, Mankato, where he was the

assistant director of admissions for seven years.

Prior to that he was an admissions counselor at

Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, for four

years and before that, at Iowa Central

Community College, Fort Dodge, Iowa, for a

year.

Hlubek also worked a year with the Boy

Scouts of America.

He has an undergraduate degree in

communications/public relations and a master’s

in higher education/student affairs from the

University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls,

Iowa.

The SMSU job interested him because,

having worked at Mankato, he was familiar

with SMSU and the region. “I like the

challenges of admissions work, and I saw the

opportunity to come to SMSU, help it grow,

and take the leadership skills I’ve learned and

the experiences I’ve had to help guide the

admissions department,” he said.

“I think Southwest Minnesota State

University is in a good position to keep

growing. I see great potential here,” he said.

Hlubek and his wife, Jennifer, are the parents

of two sons, Owen, two-and-a-half, and

Nicholas, one.

New Director of Admission To Lead Recruiting Team

The Bart Sutter play, “Pine

Creek Parish,” will make its

world premiere during the

upcoming Marshall Festival

2010, scheduled Oct. 28-31.

Sutter, a 1972 alumnus and

the only author to win

Minnesota Book Awards in

three different categories, said

the play is “my memory of

small towns and rural life.”

It has a cast of five people,

plus a three-piece band. The

dialogue is poetry. SMSU students will make up

the cast.

“I’ve been writing it my entire life,” said

Sutter of the play. “In many cases, the characters

are based on quirky country people I knew as a

kid.”

Sutter grew up in small towns such as Ross,

Minnesota, population 15; Petersburg, Minn.,

population 269; and Hanlontown, Iowa,

population 229. He has an

appreciation for small towns, and

those who live in them.

Performance dates in the Fine

Arts Theatre include Saturday, Oct.

30, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 31, 2

p.m.; Monday, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m.;

Friday Nov. 5 and Saturday, Nov. 6,

7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 7,

2 p.m.

Assistant Theatre Professor

Nadine Schmidt will direct the play.

She attended a stage reading in

June, and calls her association with the project

“one of the best theatre experiences of my life.”

Sutter has become a favorite at past Marshall

Festival events and looks forward to the play’s

debut. “I’m thrilled that ‘Pine Creek Parish’ will

make its world premiere at Southwest

Minnesota State, where some of my most

fundamental ideas about theatre were formed,”

he said.

Sutter Play to Premiere at SMSU This Fall

Thank You for your dedication

to Southwest

FACULTY (Dept/Years of Service)

• Mary Beth Faimon (SocialWork/16)

• Jo Anne Glasgow(Education/14)

• Jack Hickerson (English/42)

• Mary Hickerson (English/43)

• Harry Jones (WHP/40)

• Robert Ridley (SpeechCommunication/41)

• Michael Sterner (WHP/41)

STAFF (Dept/Years of Service)

• Dianne Eis (Education/19)

• Doug Fraunfelder (Finance &Administration/18)

• Pat Gawarecki (DataManagement & RIG/37)

• Nancy Gerber Meier (DataManagement & InstitutionalResearch/32)

• Linda Kulla (Physical Plant/28)

• Douglas Lindsay(Electrician/24)

• D’Ann Newman (Music/14)

• Jim Ohlemann (PhysicalPlant/38)

• Joyce Persoon (Education/30)

• Lynn Peterson (President’sOffice/33)

• Lorraine Weverka (Provost’sOffice/42)

For Debbie Tubbs, it’s like getting a new life.

Tubbs, who for years used crutches and a wheelchair as a result

of her right leg being amputated as a teenager, recently got her new

life when she was fitted with a high-tech C-leg.

A C-leg is a microprocessor-controlled knee prosthesis, which

enables moderately active amputees to vary walking speeds and

travel over changes in terrain.

Tubbs has two SMSU degrees: an undergraduate degree in

Speech Communication-Public Relations in 2003, and a master’s

in Education in 2008.

She lost her leg at age 16 as a result of bone cancer. She was fitted

with a prosthetic leg and wore it for two years, but found it to be

cumbersome. “It was heavy, ugly and not fit for a teen lifestyle.”

She decided it wasn’t for her, so she chose a wheelchair and

crutches. Because of her lack of exercise, her weight ballooned to

over 200 pounds. That led to a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. She

was advised to do something about it, or risk dialysis before she was

50.

She began a swimming and yoga regimen, and lost 70 pounds. I

looked at the things I could do. Running was out. Biking was out.

So I learned about yoga. It’s amazing.”

Her son ran across information about the revolutionary C-leg,

and suggested she might be a candidate. Because of her early

experience with the prosthetic leg, Tubbs was reluctant. But after

doing her research and talking to her doctor, she went to the

Prosthetic Labs in Sioux Falls, S.D., where she got her C-leg. The

leg costs $30,000, and not

normally given to someone over

50, she was told. But because of

the strength she gained from

working out, she was approved.

Tubbs said the C-Leg has a

$20,000 computer in the knee

that helps control her walking

speed. It also monitors the

terrain, adjusting her leg if

terrain conditions change.

She discovered that a local

physician, Dr. Anthony Nwakama of the Southwest Minnesota

Therapy, has an anti-gravity treadmill, so for the first time in 39

years, she’s running. “I never imagined we’d have that technology (in

Marshall). It’s like being on the moon, you can run and lengthen

your stride.”

Tubbs is a Virginia native who met her husband, Jim, when he

was in the military and stationed on the east coast. After Jim’s father

died, they decided to move back to Marshall. They have four

children: Jeremy, Camille, Brandon and Molly.

She gives many presentations about her inspiring story, and also

enjoys going into schools and talking about the benefits of yoga.

“This whole thing has been a journey,” she said. “I consider this

my midlife challenge.”

4 FOCUS

Marty Seifert Retires from PoliticsMarty Seifert is enjoying the simple things many take for

granted.

Like coming home after work.

Seifert, a 1995 alumnus with a degree in Political Science, recently

announced he would not run for an eighth term as the District 21A

representative to the Minnesota House of Representatives.

The seven-term Republican made a run for governor in 2010, but

was not endorsed at the state convention. Honoring a pledge to

abide by the endorsing process, he stepped down from the race. He

will be done with politics after the November election.

“Public service was worth it, yes. I feel like I made a difference,”

said Seifert, who was 23 years old when he began his 14-year

House career.

Seifert was a good legislative supporter of SMSU. “I think I did

a lot of good for SMSU. The campus has been transformed to an

extraordinary degree,” he said. “The Regional Event Center, the

Student and Conference Centers, the remodeling of many other

buildings — it was important to get those done, especially when

you’re looking at campuses that are competing for students.

Students today expect 21st century amenities.”

Seifert spent three years as the House minority leader before his

run at governor, and he was

away from home for long

stretches. “I had four years of

being at home less than one

third of the week,” he said.

“I’m happy to come home at

night.”

Before that, he was House

majority whip for four years

before the chamber’s switch

from Republican majority to

DFL control.

Seifert was a government

teacher at Marshall High School before joining SMSU as an

admissions counselor. He had been on unpaid leave since December

2006, when he was elected minority leader of the House. He

resigned from SMSU in August, and is now a real estate agent for

Real Estate Retrievers in Marshall. He and his wife, Traci, also own

seven rental properties in Marshall. “That keeps us busy.”

The couple has two children, Brittany and Braxton.

Marty Seifert

Debbie Tubbs

Debbie Tubbs Takes Life in Stride Again

The worry of the nation is the economy. When companies earn less, they hire less too,

and many students graduate wondering where to get a job. Alumni in the workforce may

find themselves unemployed after years of work. If there is one thing that this economy

has made clear, it is that networking is everything. Through unique degree programs, social

networking and job services, SMSU can help grads find a job and link employers with

students in many ways.

One such way is through unique academic programming. SMSU is renowned for its

culinology® program, the only four-year degree of its kind in the country. This blended

degree in business, food science, and the culinary arts draws students from all over the U.S.

It also draws the interest of food industry professionals, such as Roger Toomey, CEO

of UniPro Food Service and one of the original members of the Culinology Advisory

Board. Toomey was introduced to SMSU President David Danahar through a mutual

acquaintance on The Schwan Food Company management team.

UniPro Food Service Inc., based in Atlanta, Georgia, is the largest distributor of

5FOCUS

connections

by Lorien Downing ’11

Photo:(l-r): Tegan Gullickson ‘10; Emily Theno ‘10;Tim Kortsmit ‘08; Roger Toomey, CEO of Unipro;

Sara Graf ‘10; and Amy (Blum) White ‘08.

Making the

SMSU Alumni Using Networks to Find Employment

special to Focus

6 FOCUS

foodservice products in the US. The $58 billion company markets

brands like General Mills, Kraft, Nestlé and Schwan

Foodservices along with its own private brands. UniPro also

works on sustainability and green initiatives in its operations. In

total, the company serves over 800,000 foodservice providers,

including hospitals, schools, the military and restaurants.

Graduates from several disciplines, including finance,

accounting and culinology® have been hired by UniPro, often

through job fairs held on SMSU’s campus. “SMSU students have

a strong work ethic,” said Toomey. And the University “provides

not only a strong educational opportunity but supports its

students in both career and personal development with

tremendous support from the faculty and administration.”

SMSU still ranks as one of the highest institutions in the

country in terms of faculty-to-student ratio, and the majority of

faculty have attained the highest degree in their field, giving

students a chance to learn directly from experienced professionals

rather than from just a textbook or teaching assistants.

The University also provides its students with many resources

for job searching, resumé writing and graduate application

assistance. Much of this support comes from the Career Services

office. Current students, recent graduates and alumni all have

access to the Career Services website and many of its on campus

resources, including job fairs. Many companies return year after

year to recruit SMSU students, including UniPro.

“UniPro is a wonderful partner,” said Sheila Risacher, Director

of Career Services. “It’s great that our alumni are so connected

to students.”

Alumni also remain connected to each other through the

Alumni Association and the professional social networking site

LinkedIn. “LinkedIn is one of many ways that the Alumni

Office tries to connect alumni to each other and students,” says

Tyler Bowen, Director of Alumni Relations.

Using the SMSU website and career services, the Alumni

office hopes to expand and offer programs and webinars about

how to

use LinkedIn

to create connections

and land a job. More

than that, the Alumni

Office offers assistance “to

students just out of school

or alumni who are looking

for a new job after being in

the workforce.”

SMSU students also have

some unique opportunities to

create networks with

professionals in their fields and

secure jobs in the future, even

during a tough economy. Amy

Blum, now an employee of

UniPro, found one such

opportunity. In the course of one

of her classes, Blum was part of a

team that planned, prepared and

presented an executive luncheon for a

meeting of the Culinology Advisory Board. Blum recalled that

it was “an incredible opportunity” to meet some of the leaders in

the food service and food science industries.

One common thread ties Career Services, the Alumni Office

and UniPro together: networking. “Many alumni want to turn

back to their alma mater,” says Bowen, and between Career

Services and the Alumni Office, SMSU is ready and waiting to

help employers and alumni make that connection.

CAREER SERVICES can provide alumni, recent graduates, andcurrent students with job search services and graduate schoolpreparation. These services include MustangJobs.com, whichprovides information about local career opportunities,careerspot.com job searches, which provides even more links andresources, and access to on- and off-campus job fairs. ThroughCareer Services and its website, alumni “basically have the sameprivileges as a student on campus,” said Risacher.

With more than 17,000 SMSU alumni scattered throughoutthe world, it's challenging to host alumni professionaldevelopment events. Join us for our first career developmentwebinar, LEVERAGING LINKEDIN for Job Search and BusinessDevelopment, led by Anne Pryor ’82 of MeaningfulConnections, on September 23, 2010 at noon. This webinaris limited to 100 participants and is FREE! For moreinformation visit www.SouthwestAlumni.com/webinar

in short

7FOCUS

Alumni Achievement This award is presented to agraduate in recognition of theirremarkable professional successand the positive reflection madeon the reputation of allgraduates of SMSU.

Reed EckstromBA ’79 BusinessAdministration Commander,Navy Installations CommandUnited States NavyOak Harbor, WA

Jim NortonBS ’78 Biology/ChemistryAerospace Physiologist,Medical Service Corps United States NavyHighland Park, IL

Joann FredricksonBS ’84 Business

Administration/AccountingAssociate Professor ofBusiness AdministrationBemidji State UniversityBemidji, MN

Ken NortonBS ’81 BiologyCommanding Officer, USSRonald Reagan (CVN 76)United States NavySan Diego, CA

Honorary LifetimeMembership This award is presented to an individual who is not agraduate of SMSU, but givestheir time, talents, andenthusiasm as if they were.

Brad & Joyce StrootmanMarshall RadioMarshall, MN

Alumni Award Recipients HonoredDuring the SMSU Homecoming weekend on October 1-2, theSMSU Alumni Association will present Alumni Achievementand Honorary Lifetime Membership Awards to distinguishedalumni and friends of Southwest Minnesota State University.

To nominate someone for a future awardThe Alumni Association is now accepting nominations for both alumni

achievement and honorary membership awards to be given in 2011. If youknow of an outstanding alumnus, a faculty, staff or community member

who deserves recognition, please contact us. Email alumni@SMSU.edu orcall 1-800-260-0970.

Y O U A R E I N V I T E D

SMSU Alumni Association 2010 Awards LuncheonFriday, October 1, 2010

12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.SMSU Conference Center Ballroom

Cost: $10.00Lunch will be followed by a short program

highlighting the 2010 Alumni Award Recipients.

Help us honor these individuals by attending the Alumni AwardsLuncheon. To reserve your lunch call 507-537-6266/1-800-260-0970

or go online at www.SouthwestAlumni.com by Tuesday, Sept. 28.

Upcoming Alumni Events

Your on-campusand online sourcefor all thingsBrown & Gold!

BELIEVE IN

BROWNSeptember 23- Leveraging LinkedIn WebinarOctober 1-2- Homecoming 2010 “Vote Stanger”October 30- 40th Anniversary of Wheelchair Basketball

CelebrationOctober 28-31- Marshall Festival January 9- SMSU Alumni Event at Billy ElliotJanuary 29- Hawaiian Night at SMSUFebruary 20- SMSU Alumni Event at the Minnesota

Wild & Detroit Red Wings

For more information, updated events or to register go

online to www.SouthwestAlumni.com

SMSU.BNCOLLEGE.COM

8 FOCUS

SMSU Alumni Reconnect

Mustang Pride in Amazing PlacesGreg Dobrenski ’86 traveled to the Black Hills of South Dakota andproudly displayed his Mustang Pride at Lake Sylvan. He is pictured withhis wife, Janet, and daughter, Mattea. SMSU rocks!

Congratulations to Greg! You’ve won a $50 gift card to the Barnes &Noble Campus Store that you can use online at smsu.bncollege.com/ topick up more gear!

Do you have a photo of yourself wearing your Mustang gear in anamazing place or while on an incredible adventure? If so, send it alongwith a brief description to: alumni@smsu.edu. Winners will see theirphoto published in FOCUS and receive a $50 gift card to the SMSUBarnes & Noble Campus Store. To be considered, photos must be infocus with SMSU or Mustang logo clearly visible.

1 2

3 4

Alumni gathered in Marshall this summer to honorformer basteball coach Dale Honeck. Back row: (L-R)Doug Imming, Scott Surprenant, Larry Tellinghuisen,KonnieWilke, Jeff Johannesen, Dean Stimpert, NeilKruse, Garry Mercer, Steve Otto, RonWendorff, JeffStephens, Steve Moore, Frank Belmont. Front row: (L-R) Steve Burton, Kevin Pfingsten, Dave Carlson, WillieBond, Dexter Cooley, Haywood Boston, Sam Leggett,Carl Harris, DaveWorklan, Tom Reid. Center Seated:Dale Honeck.

Twins fans enjoyed a game at Target Field this summer.Back Row: (L-R) Kari Enstad, Tim Sell, Terrica Baune.Front: Lisa Vanvickle.

New graduates Eric Eichenlaub and Nissa Nordland arewelcomed into the Alumni Association at the new GradFinale event the night before Commencement.

Lonnie Struckman and Lillie Brown take a photo withStanger at the Sioux Falls Mustang Stampede picnic.

4

3

21

9FOCUS

It was an exciting summer for three former SMSU

student-athletes who are continuing to play the game

they love at the professional level.

Former Mustang football player Bill Noethlich

(2006-09) was one of 81 players on the Minnesota

Vikings training camp roster. Noethlich, an offensive

tackle, listed at 6-7, 308 pounds, began camp as one of

14 offensive lineman on the roster.

Noethlich played in two of the team’s first three

preseason games and is hoping to make the active roster

or the team’s practice squad. Noethlich signed as a free

agent following the National Football League draft in

April and is the first SMSU player to appear in an NFL

training camp since the early 1990s.

A pair of Mustang baseball players who concluded

their four-year careers this past spring have also advanced

to the professional level.

Adam Schrader, a right-handed pitcher, was selected

by the San Diego Padres in the 39th round (1,174th

overall) of the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year

Player Draft, while teammate Andrew Kinney, a first

baseman, signed a free agent contract with the Cleveland

Indians organization.

Schrader spent most of the season with the Padres'

rookie level team in the Arizona Summer League, before

being promoted to Lake Elsinore (Calif.) of the Class A

California League. Kinney started his career with the

Mahoning Valley (Ohio) Scrappers of the Class A New

York-Penn League, before finishing the summer with the

Indians’ rookie level team in the Arizona Summer

League.

Schrader is the third Mustang in school history to be

drafted by an MLB team. The Chicago Cubs drafted

Steve Burton in the 20th round in 1982, while the

Tampa Bay Rays selected Ryan Morse in the 13th round

in 2005.

Anne Pryor was a standout two-sport

athlete at Southwest Minnesota State in

the late 1970s and early 1980s, earning

all-conference honors in basketball while

also spending two seasons on the

Mustang tennis team. But despite the

individual accolades and team

championships, it’s the relationships she

built with teammates, coaches and

professors that are still strong in her heart

today.

With those relationships built, it’s no

surprise that Pryor has established a scholarship endowment in the

names of professor Eileen Thomas and professor/head coaches

Hugh Curtler and Carmen DeKoster.

“When you reach a point in your life, you start reflecting on your

past and think of the individuals who impacted your life,” Pryor

said. “These three have made a major impact in my life and this

is a chance to thank them and honor them.”

Curtler served as the women’s tennis coach at SMSU for 11

seasons and is the program’s all-time winningest coach. DeKoster

spent 19 seasons as the head women’s basketball coach and holds

the program record with 243 career victories.

“Eileen brought a diverse prospective to the University,” Pryor

said. “I never took a class from Eileen, but she was always available

for advice and her impact on me and others around her was

profound.”

DeKoster recruited Pryor and is a major reason she attended

SMSU. “She was tenacious in recruiting me,” Pryor said. “Carmen

was always positive and just someone you would want to play for.

She did everything from driving the bus, to making food for the

players. I have so much respect for her. She molded so many lives

during her career.”

During her first few years attending SMSU, Pryor also competed

in tennis for head coach Hugh Curtler. Despite playing just two

seasons, his impact on Pryor’s life is still with her today. “Hugh was

brilliant,” Pryor says. “His approach to coaching was unique. He

made you feel as an equal. He knew talent and could see everyone’s

strengths.”

Pryor, who now lives in Minnetonka, Minn., has never forgotten

the impact a scholarship to SMSU made on her life. “I received a

Presidential Scholarship to attend SMSU through University

President Dr. Jon Wefald,” Pryor said. “It was a significant reason

I chose to attend SMSU.”

For that very reason, Pryor is now giving back to the University

that gave her so much.

Three Mustangs Advance to Professional Level

Anne Pryor ’82 Honors Coaches/Professors with Endowment

Anne Pryor

Bill Noethlich

Andrew Kinney

Adam Schrader

For updates on all your favorite teams visit: www.smsumustangs. com

10 FOCUS

1972Jeanne (Serie) Norgaard is a

third-grade teacher at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton ElementarySchool. She lives in Tyler.

1973Al Antony was one of five

volunteers retiring as boardmembers of the United Way ofSouthwest Minnesota. He wasrecognized at the annual meeting.He works at Wells Fargo Bank inMarshall.

Jerry Bachman, now living inHouston, Texas, was one of theartists featured at the October2009 Alumni Art Show in theWilliam Whipple Gallery atSMSU. Joining him were DuanePenske ’87 Vesta; Micah Bloom’99 Iowa City, Iowa; JasonSchiffman ’99 Minneapolis; NickSchlief ’06 Marshall ; Bonnie VanMoorlehem ’02 Minneota; and thelate Ross Zirkle, ’78.

1974Lee Kanten and several other

SMSU alumni who were part ofthe Clutch and the Shifters ’50stribute rock band were inductedinto the Mid-America Music Hallof Fame last October. Othersincluded Jerry Lindberg ’74;Patrick Rasmussen ’77; and IsiahWhitlock ’76. Joining them wereband members Don Kanten, KeithHocking, Gary Petersen and ChrisNolte.

Terese Kramer was recentlypromoted to vice president of theequipment division for Marshall& Ilsley Equipment Finance Co.in Milwaukee, Wis. Marshall &Ilsley is a diversified financialservices corporation.

1975Tom Mahal is a co-founder of

E&T Plumbing in Redwood Falls.The business specializes ininstalling new equipment inexisting buildings. His partner isErik Shaw.

1976Jon Vezner, a songwriter now

living in Nashville, performed aconcert in Zumbrota on May 22.He moved to Nashville in 1986,

and won a Grammy Award in1990 for his song, “Where’ve YouBeen,” recorded by his wife, KathyMattea. It was named Song of theYear by the Country MusicAssociation and the Academy ofCountry Music.

1977Dennis Devereaux,

Cottonwood, was named the StateBus Driver of the Year at theVFW state convention. Devereauxwas nominated by the MarshallMongeau-Tholen Post 742Auxiliary.

Nancy (Larson) Straw is thepresident of West CentralInitiative in Fergus Falls. She wasrecently elected to the Council onFoundation’s CommunityFoundations Leadership Team.

1979Darwin Leek was recently

featured on the Outdoors page ofthe Marshall Independent. He wasshown with a 47-inch, 28-poundnorthern, caught in Whitefish Bay,near Sioux Narrows, Ontario, inJune. The fish was released.

1980Ramona (Welsand) Larson has

announced her candidacy as aDFL candidate for the MinnesotaHouse District 21A seat, vacatedby Marty Seifert, who steppedaside to make a run for governor.Larson also received a master’sfrom SMSU in 2000. Larsonformerly was an admissionscounselor at SMSU. She is a smallbusiness owner in Redwood Fallsand married to her husband,

Allen, a 1980 alumnus. They havetwo sons.

1982Carol Ford lives in Milan,

Minn., and served as a panelist atthe Home Grown Economy 2010conference at SMSU. She isknown as the Garden Goddess inMilan, where she lives andoperates a greenhouse vegetablegarden that supplies shareholderswith year-round produce.

Christine Konold (’82 PE, ’87Math Education) was there as awitness when her 83-year-oldmother, Val Blair, recorded a hole-in-one at Savannah Oaks GolfCourse in Lynd on June 21. Sheaced the 83-yard No. 3 hole.

1984Former Mustang wrestling

great Scott Dubbelde wasinducted into the Northern SunIntercollegiate Conference Hall ofFame July 14. He is the FarmersCooperative Elevator Co. generalmanger in Granite Falls. He wassecond in the national tournamenthis senior year and ranks sixth all-time in SMSU wins with 101.

1985Marynell Lund recently

published her memoir, “TheNormal Side of Insanity,” whichdescribes the many kinds of abuseshe suffered during her life andhow she has learned to overcomeit. She is often asked to speakabout the topic, and her memoir isbeing considered as a classroomtextbook by a trio of colleges.

Sara Taft and Matt Lussmanwere married on Sept. 12, 2009 atSt. Ambrose Catholic Church inWoodbury.

1986Rennae Petersen lives in

Marshall and was awarded aPermanent Professional CertifiedTeacher of Music in Pianoclassification by the MusicTeachers National Association.She has been teaching piano topreschoolers through adults since1972. Her husband, Lloyd, is aretired SMSU Educationprofessor.

1988Dewayne Gimeson works as a

publications specialist at ChadronState College in Chadron, Neb.He formerly worked as anassistant graphic designer atSMSU from 1986-88.

1989Dr. Corey Lunn is currently the

superintendent of theMontgomery-Lonsdale SchoolDistrict in Minnesota, a positionhe has held since July 2007. Priorto that he was an administrator inthe Prior Lake School District.

1992Patricia (Rua) and Ahnaf

Bashir (1991) have been married17 years and live in Frisco, Texas.They have three children: Rahib,15; Rayaan, 11; and Monica, 9.They met as international studentsat SMSU, falling in love despitesome difficult social barriers,including the fact she was born inColumbia, raised Catholic andspoke Spanish, and he was born inPakistan, is Muslim and spokeUrdu. Their love story was told ina recent article in the DallasMorning News.

Elizabeth Johanneck is an“amateur historian, professionalblogger and a borderlinespiritualist” with a new bookentitled Hidden History of theMinnesota River Valley. The bookis about the individuals, lore andevents associated with theMinnesota River Valley. She livesin the Twin Cities.

On November 13, 2009, Southwest friendsgathered to celebrate Jeff West’s 60th Birthday.

Pictured (L-R) Back Row: Rich Froemling(‘71-’74), Andy Theisen ’80, Alan Carpenter ‘72

Front Row: David Nyhammer ’77, Jeff West’75, Anne Carpenter ’75; Mike Archbold ‘74

CelebratingMilestones

11FOCUS

Jeff and Connie ( Johnson)Wetzel have been married 17 yearsand live in Maple Grove withtheir children Tanner 14, Mariah11 and Hannah 8. Jeff is a loanofficer for LendSmart Morgtgageand keeps busy coaching baseball.Connie is a licensed home daycareprovider and enjoys being a GirlScout leader and volunteering inthe community.

1994Heather (Gorden) Moorse lives

in Minneota, Minn., and wasrecently named the Lyon CountyChild Care Provider of the Year.She and her husband are theparents of five children.

1995Janet Timmerman is the new

program director for the HistoryCenter of Olmsted County,Rochester, Minn. She is currentlyworking on research of the 19thcentury families of the MinnesotaRiver Valley and the decline ofsmall towns.

1996Aaron Reeves is City

Administrator in Cannon Falls,MN, and devotes a lot of time tocoaching for the Rochester YouthSports Association. Paige(Hoffrogge) Reeves (’96) has beenworking in specialty infusionpharmacy sales for the past sevenyears and currently serves as anAccount Executive for CriticalCare Systems. Aaron and Paigemet as freshman at SSU in 1992,and married the summer beforetheir junior year. They celebratedtheir 16th wedding anniversary inJuly. They live in Rochester andare raising two children: Isaiah(15) and Moriah (13). They havevery fond memories of theirundergraduate experience at SSUand enjoy the updates in FOCUS.

1997Joel McKinney teaches

seventh- and eighth-grade art atWabasso Public Schools. He andhis late wife, Ruth, showed theirart together for more than a dozenyears before she died last year.They were scheduled for a show atthe Marshall Area Fine Arts

Council’s gallery when Ruthpassed away. Despite that, Joelhonored the commitment, callingit the couple’s last show together.“Now I’m trying to figure out whoI’m going to be without her,” hetold a reporter.

1998Laura Alvstad was one of 32

semifinalists for the 2010Minnesota Teacher of the YearAward. She teaches English in theWindom Middle School.

Becky (Evers) Gerdes and herhusband Scott are proud toannounce the arrival of their twinboys, Nathan Scott and MatthewScott, on April 3, 2009 atRochester Methodist Hospital.Scott and Becky live in Rochester,Minn. and both work for theRochester School District. Scottserves as the district treasurer inthe accounting department andBecky is the principal at BamberValley Elementary School.

Chris Kuehl works for theSW/WC Service Cooperative inMarshall as a consultant for theseverely impaired. She waspreviously a special educationteacher in Windom, MurrayCounty Central and Westbrook-Walnut Grove schools.

1999Paul Besel was recently hired as

the principal at Grand MeadowHigh School in Grand Meadow,Minn. Prior to that, he spent 17years in the Austin (Minn.)School District before moving onto become an elementary principalin Worthington.

2000Marcia Anderson was a finalist

this past year for MinnesotaTeacher of the Year. Anderson

teaches math at Owatonna HighSchool. She also teaches mathclasses specifically geared forstudents who speak English as aSecond Language.

Kevin Forde is the assistantathletic director for operations atthe University of Mary inBismarck, N.D. Kevin and hiswife, Laura, have two daughters.

Heather Templer is anemployee benefits manager forCDS Administrative Services inSt. Cloud. She is married to TomTempler, and they have twochildren.

2001Corey Strasser is the new

middle school and high schoolprincipal at Pipestone AreaSchools in Pipestone. Cory andhis wife, Jamie (’01), are theparents of four children.

2002Keri (Williams) Henke is the

public relations andcommunications coordinator forRE/MAX North Central inBurnsville. She is married toformer SMSU athlete RyanHenke.

Jason Olson is a high schoolsocial studies teacher in theAdrian School District. He alsocoaches and advises one-act play,speech, National Honor Societyand prom. He was the 2009Adrian Teacher of the Year, and anominee for Minnesota Teacher ofthe Year.

Zachary Peterson was ordainedas a deacon in the Catholic churchlast December. He continues hisstudies to become an ordainedpriest at a seminary in St.Meinrad, Ind. He is scheduled tobe ordained on June 4, 2011.

2003Michael J. Branco recently

accepted a position as the newtransit manager for the city of EauClaire, Wis. He formerly held asimilar job in Ketchikan, Alaska.Michael and his wife, Michele,have three children.

Tim Jones of the SouthwestMinnesota Private IndustryCouncil recently received anOutstanding Customer ServiceFrom a Counselor Award. Joneshas been a job-training specialistsince 1987 and was honored forhis work with former Baylineremployees in Pipestone.

Jayme McGhan is an assistantprofessor of theatre at ConcordiaUniversity, Chicago, Ill. He wrotethe play, “The Sweet Stuff,” thatwas performed at the OsseoYellow Tree Theatre this summer.

2004P.J. Bock is a Republican

candidate for the House District21A seat. Bock works at Jonti-Craft in Wabasso. He lives inLucan.

Troy Chandler is part of theChandler family that was named2009 Lyon County Farm Familyof the Year by the University ofMinnesota Extension Service.Troy farms with his father, Jeff,near Balaton, and is married toGayle, a 2007 alumna.

Janelle (Powers) Kassel receiveda doctorate in optometry degreefrom Pacific University lastSeptember. She is married toTyson Kassel, ’02.

Jay Rude is a firefighter withthe U.S. Forest Service inLakeside, Ariz. Previously, he wasa firefighter with the U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service. He travels allover the country, he writes, andloves his job.

2005Landon Erickson was named

2009 Tracy Elementary Teacher ofthe Year.

Rev. Joel Koepp was ordainedon May 30, 2010, at his homechurch, Zion Lutheran in Boyd.He is now pastor of St. LukeLutheran Church in Wood Lake,after graduating from theConcordia Theological Seminary,

Pictured: Avery andJulia, daughters ofJacob Fahl ’04 and

Angela (Fredrickson)Fahl ’04/’06. Emailyour baby news to

alumni@SMSU.edu and get a free t-shirt.

FutureMustangs

Fort Wayne, Ind. Joel and his wife,Amanda, are the parents of twochildren.

Tim Schulz sells motorcyclesfor the Delano Sports Center inDelano. He lives in Chaska.

2006Angel (Paige) Bauman recently

opened Angel Bauman, LLC indowntown Marshall, offeringindividual counseling and therapyservices to adolescents and adultsas well as marriage and familytherapy. She received a master’s incounseling from Adler GraduateSchool.

Amir Maleki teamed withLaura Meath, ’08, and gradstudent Perzen Polishwalla ‘10 toopen a kiosk in the Market StreetMall in Marshall.

Jay Meiners, a formerEducation major at SMSU, helpedteach the Upward Bound programthis past summer on the campusof SMSU.

Chris Ostrowski marriedTheresa Strahota on Sept. 5, 2009.He is an account associate withWells Fargo Shareowners Servicesin St. Paul.

Colin Wasmund is now atheatre instructor at RidgewaterCollege in Willmar. He was partof the cast of “The Sweet Stuff,”the play written by JaymeMcGhan ’03 that was performedthis summer at the Yellow TreeTheatre in Osseo.

2007Kelly Deutz teaches at Holy

Redeemer School in Marshall. Shewas featured in an article aboutHoly Redeemer sixth-gradersmaking claymation short videos.

Michael Engebretson was thewinner of the Marshall Idol finalin June. The competition wasbased on the television show

American Idol. Michael won twotickets to the American Idolconcert in Minneapolis, $50 in gasmoney and a $50 gift certificatefrom Hard Rock Café.

Meghan Nelson was recentlyhired as the assistant woman’sbasketball coach at NorthwestMissouri State University. Sheplayed two seasons at SMSU, thentransitioned into a student-coachposition.

Melissa Rients was promotedto manager of the Marshall Glik’sstore, located in the Market StreetMall.

2008Sara Wiertzema is an

elementary teacher in Milroy. Thispast summer she coordinated areading program that rewardedgood readers with frozen treats.

2009Charlie and Rebecca Benson

were featured in a MarshallIndependent article about theunusual objects they use in theirart — everything from cigarette

butts to a hard hat. The two arenon-traditional students who wentback to school and majored in art.They have a daughter, Ivy, and livein Marshall.

Ross DeMasi had a successfulseason playing for the VermontFrost Heaves of the PremierBasketball League, where he was amember of that league’s all-starteam.

Jake Speer had his artworkshown at the Marshall Area FineArts Council’s Emerging Artistexhibit in February. Speercurrently works in the Web officeat SMSU.

Allison Krause and AlexPeterson ('07) were married onJuly 11, 2009.

2010Powell Chee joined the football

staff of former SMSU assistantAndy Carr at Presentation Collegein Aberdeen, S.D. ThePresentation Saints will play theirfirst season in 2011, and Chee hasbeen helping get the program offthe ground. Carr was named the

head coach this past summer.Tim Gerszewski, assistant

athletics communication directorat SMSU for two years while hewas getting his master’s, has beennamed the sports informationdirector at Augustana College,Sioux Falls, S.D.

Nissa Nordland completed asummer theatre season with theBrownville Village Theatre, theoldest repertory theatre inNebraska. It was her fourthsummer as a BVT companymember. She performed roles in“Snoopy” and “Playing Doctor”while also serving as the box officesupervisor and public relationsassistant manager.

2012SMSU football player Derek

Klinkner from Artesian, S.D., wasinjured in a farming accident onMay 11. (See box story.) He isdoing better and has returned toSMSU for the academic year,where he will be a part of thefootball program, said head coachCory Sauter.

IN MEMORIUMProperty developer D.C. “Pat”

McFarland passed away on March31, 2010. He was owner of TheMcFarland Co., a developmentbusiness in Marshall for morethan 55 years. He was a well-known real estate broker andproperty developer and a goodfriend of Southwest MinnesotaState University.

Nicki Richard, Class of 1988,passed away on July 30, 2010

Ellen Molle Skramstad passedaway on August 19, 2010. Sheattended Southwest from 1969through 1972 with a major in art.

Mustangs football player Derek Klinkner sufferedcareer-ending injuries in a farming accident on May11 near his hometown of Artesian, S.D.

Klinkner’s back was broken and his T12 & L1vertebrae were dislocated. He now has two rods andeight pins in the “fused” portion of his spine.

Klinkner, a starting linebacker, was namedhonorable mention All-NSIC in 2009 and finishedsecond on the team with 71 tackles, while recordinga team-high 7.5 tackles for loss. During his two seasons as a starter,Klinkner amassed 139 tackles, including 17 for loss.

With a full-year of rehab expected, a benefit was held at SMSU onJune 24. Over $8,000 was raised during the benefit, which will assistin the medical bills and travel expenses for the Klinkner family.

Klinkner is back on campus this fall and serving as an honorarycaptain for the Mustangs football team.

His family maintains a Caring Bridge site for updates hisprogress at: www.caringbridge.org/visit/derekklinkner

Derek Klinkner

Klinkner Injured in Farm Accident

Send us your Class Notes!Our surveys have shown that the class notes section of Focus is one of the most popular features of the magazine. If you have

news that you would like to share with classmates, please let us know. There are many convenient ways to share your news:

email alumni@SMSU.edu | online www.SouthwestAlumni.com

call 800-260-0970 | mail SMSU Alumni Office 1501 State St. Marshall, MN 56258

12 FOCUS

FRIDAY OCTOBER 1, 2010Brown and Gold Spirit DayNoon

Alumni Awards Luncheon, SMSU Conference Center Ballroom1:30pm

Alumni Plaza Dedication, Alumni Plaza2:00pm

Alumni Art Exhibit Opening Reception, William Whipple Gallery5:00-7:00

Stampede Feed, Sponsored by SMSU Student Government,Food, Live Music and Fun! Paul Smith Caricatures Artist,Student Center Courtyard

6:00pmUniversity Gala, R/A Facility

7:00pmMustang Volleyball vs Moorhead, PE Gym

7:00pm & 9:00pmCinema @ The Centers--Toy Story 3, CC Lower Ballroom

8:00pmPlanetarium Laser Show featuring Pink Floyd, SM 108

9:00pm"So You Think You Can Move Like a Mustang?" Sponsored byRHA, Location TBA

10:00pm SMSU Take 2 Comedy Improv, Black Box Theatre

SATURDAY OCTOBER 2, 20107am – 10:30am

Lions Club Pancake Breakfast Feed, Fire Hall 10am

Parade Line-up, Lyon/Jewett Streets Checkpoint 10:45am

Alumni Parade Hospitality Tent, Featuring Breakfast Paninos &Barnes and Noble Campus Store, Corner of Main Street and E.College Dr.

11am (NOTE THE NEW START TIME!)Homecoming Parade, Lyon Street to Main Street to 5th Street

2:00pmPlanetarium Star Show, SM 108

2:00pmBeanbag Tournament, Regional Event Center Parking Lot,Sponsored by SMSU Women's Basketball. Call 507-537-7133to register your team

2:00pmAg Bowl, Family Fun Fest featuring pony rides, inflatables &clowns. Food, Beverage Garden, Live Music

2:00-4:00pmResidence Life Tours, Sweetland Hall and Living LearningCommunities (Meet at Commons Central)

3:00pmVolleyball vs UM-Crookston, PE Gym

5:45pm Pre-Game Royalty Introductions, Regional Event Center

6:00pm Kick-off Football vs. Wayne State, Regional Event Center

9:30pm-11:30pmDueling Pianos Free Live EntertainmentLandmark Bistro Merchantile, Open to alumni, faculty, staff,students and the community!

Visit www.SouthwestAlumni.com/homecoming

Published by SMSU Alumni Office1501 State Street • Marshall, MN 56258

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

If FOCUS is addressed to a son or daughter who has graduated or no longer maintains

a permanent address at your home, please emailalumni@SMSU.edu to provide the current address

or call toll-free 1-800-260-0970.

October 28-31, 2010

THE SMSU CREATIVE WRITING PROGRAM & THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT PRESENT

NONPROFITU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPermit No. 97Marshall, MN

www�smsu�edu/marshallfestival/

Featuring�Philip Dacey, Lee Ann Roripaugh, Scott Phillips,

Heid Erdrich, Barton Sutter, Stephen Graham Jones, Ed Bok Lee, Joyce Sutphen, Ross Sutter, Kyle Minor and Florence Chard Dacey.

We hope to see a renewal in our region’s writers year after year, combining a 'family reunion' feel with one of looking into the future of rural writing.

Visit the Festival Web site often for up-to-date schedules and information: