Spring 2018 Alumni Association and Development Foundation The voice specialist Inside this issue 6 10 14 16 18 20 2 CONNECTIONS Volume 26 — number 2 Cover Story 6 Low is riding high Storytelling Features like to tell stories. Whether it is in a hallway at Minot State, 10 New beginnings by way of the barracks I during my past life as a newspaper reporter, or in the pages of this maga- 14 Bringing real solutions to the accounting world zine, my passion for writing has always been to tell a story. 20 Impressive art space captures metropolitan That’s what excites me so much feel in the Great Plains about being the managing editor of 22 Gov. Burgum’s State of the State at Minot State Connections: It’s the stories we get to tell. We get to be the narrator for 24 Cunningham builds lifetime of stories some of Minot State’s best stories. My love of storytelling started early on. Athletics I’m sure there are a few of my high school English teachers who shake their heads when 26 Athletics unveils Academic Center they hear this is my profession, but even back then, the “gift of gab” was central to my personality. For those 16 to 18-year-olds out there, yes, you can Every issue turn being the class clown into a profession! But there was a watershed moment a few years 13 Profiles: MSU students, faculty and staff after high school. 16 Under 30: Spark of creativity spawns new company The day I made the decision to change from a for Cote van Rensburg business major to a communication major based off the suggestion from CW “Bill” Huber, my freshman 18 Under 40: Hard work paying off for Leraas communication arts professor at Carroll College, I knew I wanted to have a career based on being the narrator. 28 Development Foundation Huber had a huge impact on what has now been a 20-year storytelling career. It set me on a path to change 30 Alumni events majors — which led me to the Grand Forks Herald and love for the written word; change schools — which led 33 Class notes me to meet my beautiful wife, Nichole; and change 37 In Memory states — which led to moving from Montana to North Dakota, where I’ve been ever since. note 38 Baby Beavers At MSU, we talk a lot about the positive impact our faculty have on our students, and while Bill was not someone I met here, I believe that 100 percent. We struck up a fantastic relationship in a short time before I left for North Dakota, and he has left an indelible mark on my career. I have taken far too long to thank him in the most fitting way I know how— in print — albeit about 15 Editor’s years too late. Thanks Bill, you most likely never knew the effect you had on me, but I’m forever grateful. Rest in peace. I hope all of you enjoy reading these stories as much as we enjoy telling them. Go Beavers! — Michael Linnell, Managing Editor of Connections 22 Director, University Communications 3 RUDOLPH rises to the top with1,987 points Paul Harrell (1977 – 80) 1,826 Henry Milkey (1953 – 57) 1,796 Rick Hedberg (1984 – 88) 1,652 ou may recall reading in the March 2017 issue of Connections about Minot State University’s Tyler Rudolph. The senior forward from Bismarck, N.D., rewrote the Beavers men’s basketball record book, finishing as the school’s all-time leader in both scoring with 1,987 points and rebounding with 921. He finished his four-year career as the second leading scorer in the history of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (1,494 conference points) and third in the NSIC all-time in rebounds (796). Rudolph was named the NSIC Player of the Year following his tremendous senior season, helping the Beavers to a NCAA Division II era record for wins with 20 and the team’s first NSIC Quarterfinal appearance. CONGRATULATIONS TYLER! Meet artist Roxi Mathis oxanne (Roxi) Mathis graduated from books, ‘Moose on the Loose’ and ‘The Hamster Minot State University in 2014 with a and the Firefly.’ I like to stay involved in the local bachelor of fine arts degree. She grew art community, so I am a contributing member at up in Amidon in the Badlands of North Dakota Suite One Artist Coop in downtown Minot.” and moved to Minot in 2003. Mathis works in the Publications and Design “I generally work with watercolor, acryllic, Services Office or ink, and my subject matter varies wildly. at Minot State Some of my work is more traditional like University. She and landscapes and wildlife, but I really have fun her husband, Dan, with creating odd little creatures that are live in Minot. sort of skeletal,” Mathis said. “I have also See Mathis’ recently started exploring abstracted patterns rendition of the at RoxiMathisArt and light, which are a result of having eye MSU barracks on surgery. I have also illlustrated two children’s page 10. 4 President’s message CONNECTIONS STAFF Vice President for Advancement Rick Hedberg ’89 reetings to all. We are in the midst of another busy academic Managing Editor year on the MSU campus. There are encouraging signs that Michael Linnell winter is slowly loosening its grip as we head toward Writing Staff Michael Linnell spring — always a welcomed change! The early days of Nicole Thom-Arens the 2018 Spring Semester have been busy. Dan Fagan On Jan. 23, MSU hosted Gov. Doug Burgum Copy Editor as he delivered his State of the State address from Ann Nicole Karen Holmen ’81 Nelson Hall. Approximately 1,000 visitors were on campus from Photographers Richard Heit ’07 across the state. Following the address, Gov. Burgum and Sean Arbaut ’15 Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford spent the entire day at MSU for a campus Janna McKechnie ’14 tour and various meetings with students, faculty, staff, and Photography Coordinator community members. On Jan. 30 – 31, we hosted a group of Teresa Loftesnes ’07/’15 legislators who comprise the North Dakota legislature’s Higher Publication Design Education committee for their legislative meetings. It is always Doreen Wald enjoyable showcasing the beautiful MSU campus when we have visitors Alumni Happenings Janna McKechnie ’14 from across North Dakota. Baby Beavers There have been a few major capital projects completed on campus that Kate Marshall ’07 will provide long-term benefits for MSU students, in addition to the Class Notes significant impact they will have in our community and region: Bonnie Trueblood • The Northwest Arts Center relocated to a new space on campus in January, and In Memory will now feature the Walter Piehl Gallery. This $1.4 million renovation project in the lower Renae Yale ’10 level of the Gordon B. Olson Library was entirely funded through private contributions. A special word of thanks to Dr. Doris Slaaten, the Chuck and Madge Westlie estate, and the ADDITIONAL PHOTO CREDITS: MSU Development Foundation for making this significant project a reality. This beautiful The Voice Clinic: All Aaron Low story photos new gallery space allows MSU to display its art collection, host traveling exhibits and displays, and will feature an impressive display by our very own Walter Piehl — all in a climate- Revel Woods Photography: controlled environment. p. 17 – 18 — Kayla Cote van Rensburg • Across 11th Avenue from the Library, the new air-supported seasonal dome was inflated for the first time in December and now covers the soccer/football field at Herb Parker Stadium. This $2 million project was funded thanks to a $1 million grant from the City of Minot’s Community Facilities Fund along with another $1 million privately fundraised from community supporters and partners. This will serve an important role as it creates 86,000 square feet of indoor recreational space during Minot’s cold winter months. It will not only benefit MSU’s current and future students but will also be an important new asset for the entire Minot com- munity — especially for area youth involved in softball, baseball, golf, soccer, and other sports. Connections is published two times • Finally, in the MSU Dome, the new Dean Frantsvog Academic Success Center opened in late a year by the Minot State University January. Thanks to the generosity of American Trust Center, United Community Bank of Alumni Association and Development Foundation. Send comments, articles, North Dakota, Vibeto Orthodontics, and Dean ’97 and Sara (Christianson) ’99 Frantsvog, or photo submissions to this new Center provides academic and study space in the Dome for our many student-ath- Connections letes. The center is named in honor of MSU Accounting and Finance professor Dean Frantsvog. MSU Alumni Office 500 University Ave. West Dean has served as MSU’s Faculty Athletic Representative since Beaver Athletics made the Minot, ND 58707 move to the NCAA in 2010. It is a well-deserved tribute to Dean for his outstanding com- Ph: 701-858-3399 or 1-800-777-0750 mitment and dedication to our campus and student-athletes. Fax: 701-858-3179 Email: [email protected] I look forward to seeing you in 2018, and as always … GO BEAVERS! Printed on Forest Stewardship Council certified stock. Third class postage paid at Fargo, ND 58101. Steven W. Shirley, Ph.D., President 5 6 LOW is riding high By MICHAEL LINNELL A QUICK GOOGLE IMAGE SEARCH FOR “AARON LOW, SPEECH PATHOLOGIST” and two items jump out. First, is the impressive red goatee he sports in his traditional lab- coat photos and the second — in what has become somewhat of a trademark — is a mock strangling of some of the music industry’s most famous singers.