BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY Winter 2011 A PUBLICATION FOR HORIZONS BSU ALUMNI AND FRIENDS the Businessof GivinG Back BSU alum sees potential in those needing a second chance. BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY HORIZONS THIS ISSUE Winter 2010 HORIZONS is produced by the Office of Communications and Marketing, Alumni Association, and BSU Foundation at Bemidji State University. It is published three times per year and distributed free to BSU alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends. Direct comments to horizons@ bemidjistate.edu or 1-888-234-7794. EDITOR Rose Jones ALUMNI DIRECTOR Marla Patrias UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Rob Bollinger DESIGNER Kathy Berglund PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR John Swartz CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Borge Studios, The Johnson Group Marketing CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Andy Bartlett, Al Nohner, Sarah Asp Olson, Cindy Serratore, The Johnson Group Marketing EDITORIAL ASSISTANCE Valerie Mason, Al Nohner, Peggy Nohner, The Johnson Group Marketing PRODUCTION ASSISTANCE 10 The Johnson Group Marketing EDITORIAL BOARD Andy Bartlett, Rob Bollinger, Nancy Erickson, COVER STORY Jeanine Gangeness, Rose Jones, A successful inventor, manufacturer, and educator, BSU graduate John “Tom” Murphy, Marla Patrias Andy Wells launched Wells Academy to provide paid apprenticeship training and an avenue to jobs for those needing a second chance. Editor’s Note: Horizons has been given a design makeover with changes in type styles, photo placements, and page layouts. It’s the A member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, Bemidji State University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity first major re-design since introducing the magazine format in 2006. employer and educator. This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities by calling 1-800-475-2001 Let us know how you like the changes by emailing us at or 218-755-3883. BSU Communications & Marketing 11-049 [email protected] or sharing your comments on BSU’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/BemidjiState. h 8 AP elegr t / N collectio AN eric AM tive A ith N W rn E 2c a m p u s n o T e s nt i nd A oyum h features A nd 5 T H e B u s i n e s s A W o f G i v i n G B a c k Andy Wells sees 10 potential in those needing a second chance. ss 8 L ivin G H i s T o ry A Northern Minnesota’s her cl N history comes to life. t i N 1 0 B rin G i n G D a r k n e s s T o L i G HT ith stude W Professor’s lifetime of lks A t work addresses complexities A l of sexual abuse. EE ch s iki 1s 2 e n i o r s T o waT c H r 20 1 4 a L u m n i n e w s 28 le a n D e v e n T s sA ft A r c 1 6 c L a s s n o T e s l A u NN 2 0 f o u n D aT i o n a n n u a L r e p o rT hrough A t ck 3 0 c a L e n D a r A g B N ivi g n A Andric E rolin cA www.BemidjiState.edu | 1 Campus NOTES 1 The Butcher of Baraboo performed This fall, Bemidji State’s theatre pro- gram presented The Butcher of Baraboo, a dark comedy by Chicago-based play- wright Marisa Wegryzn, who attended the play’s first performance and partici- pated in a discussion session afterwards. FMrO PRESIDENT 2 Wakonabo awarded Student of the Year honors In October, the Minnesota Indian Edu- R. HaNSON cation Association named Bemidji State President’s Message junior Gabriel Wakonabo, an English major from Bemidji, the organization’s This issue of Horizons includes the BSU Foundation’s annual report, 2010 Outstanding Post-Secondary Edu- which contains some very good news. In 2010, the foundation’s assets cation Student of the Year. Starting grew to an all-time high of nearly $14.9 million, with annual revenue BSU in 2000, Wakonabo spent six years reaching a record-setting $3.4 million. with the Marines, serving two tours in Iraq and earning a Purple Heart before Such growth is more critical now than ever before. As you know, state returning to the University in 2007 to funding levels in support of BSU are projected to continue declining. complete his studies. He’s active in the These dollars currently make up about 32 percent of Bemidji State’s BSU Veterans Club, the Council of Indian operating revenue. The majority of BSU’s operational revenue stream, Students, and the Student Senate. A about 60 percent, comes from tuition, with another 8 percent derived from external funding, including donor gifts. We are committed to 1 holding the line on tuition in the coming years, allowing BSU to remain accessible to a broad range of students. That means we must cultivate and grow outside funding sources. As you’ll see in the report’s donor and recipient stories, scholarships and other gifts truly transform our students’ lives, opening doors, creating opportunities, and fulfilling dreams that may have been 1 2 3 unattainable otherwise. Please accept my sincere thanks to all of our campus coordinator for the Minnesota generous alumni, donors, and friends — your gifts of time, talent, and State University Student Association, he funds provide fabulous support for our students. We promise to be also helped found the Greater Bemidji good stewards of your gifts. Veterans Support Group. Other great news this fall included our enrollment. Our fall freshman 3 class was the largest in years with approximately 860 students. Total Murphy essay published in enrollment reached more than 5,360 students, the largest in nearly 20 new history book years. Faculty members continued to distinguish themselves. For History professor Dr. J. Thomas Murphy’s example, Dr. Anton Treuer garnered state and national media coverage essay, “To Sound My Trumpet: Henry for his efforts to preserve the Ojibwe language. Our Fulbright scholar, Hastings Sibley, Minnesota, and the Dr. Janice Haworth, began her teaching-research commitment in Rise of a National Identity,” was pub- The State We’re In: Reflections Guinea, West Africa. The BSU hockey teams, both members of the lished in on Minnesota History. The book, edited WCHA this season, moved to their new home at the Sanford Center, by Annette Atkins and Deborah L. Miller, and the BSU soccer team made the conference playoffs. features works by 24 Minnesota histori- These are but a few of the many successes experienced fall semester ans with the selections culled from more at Bemidji State University. The stories in Horizons reflect additional than 100 essays and other works written achievements. as part of the statewide celebration of Minnesota’s 150th statehood anniver- Best wishes for the new year, sary. Published by the Minnesota Histor- ical Society, the volume includes topics as varied as baseball at Native American boarding schools to memoirs of growing up in Marshall. 2 | HORIZONS Bemidji State University BSU . g 4 N Art students exhibit Treuer also was featured in a public eri at Neilson Place television documentary, “First Speak- d N BSU visual art students are showing ers: Restoring the Ojibwe Language,” works in a local art exhibit called “Path- that aired statewide in late November. ways: The Art of Bemidji State Univer- Throughout the fall, he spoke at events, udios re sity.” The exhibit, which opened in early was interviewed by state and national t s November and remains in place through media, and held book signings across l January, is located at Neilson Place, a the state. A long-term care facility in Bemidji. The show, which features nearly 70 works President’s student by 35 different artists, includes first-time commission selected exhibitors, advanced students, and recent BSU President Dr. Richard Hanson has graduates who continue to show their named 14 students to the 2010-2011 work in the region. President’s Student Commission. This N group suggests ways to improve the A MJ Architectur 5 campus facility University by researching solutions to upgrades completed an issue identified by the president. New windows were installed in Bangs- This year, the commission is explor- berg Hall this year as part of nearly $4 ing the University’s role in ensur- l aurel house to go green Plans are underway to renovate Bemidji State’s Laurel million in campus-wide renovations ing that students understand House as a model residence for environmentally sus- and upgrades. Other completed proj- their chosen vocations and are tainable construction practices that could be repli- ects included: an on-campus emergency employable when they gradu- cated eventually in future residential projects. Once alert system and secure-door access ate. The commission will also refurbished, the currently vacant house will be home to the residence halls; upgrades for the investigate how vocation and once again to BSU honor students and serve as a live- in laboratory for reducing utility usage. Bemidji State is working with MJ Architectural Studios, Zetah Construction, and Northwest Technical College on design plans and budget estimates. The project aims to use renovation practices that reduce environmental impact while being practi- 3 4 5 6 cal and affordable. “We envision this project being a showpiece for the campus, community, businesses, Hobson Memorial Union elevator and for employability are tied to and schools by featuring affordable green practices various campus freight elevators to meet the overall BSU experience. that anyone could implement,” notes BSU sustainabil- new code requirements; installation of Nominations for commission member- ity coordinator Erika Bailey-Johnson.