LAKERLOG Summer 2015 1 LAKERLOG LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIVERSITY In this Issue From the President ................................... 1 Around the World Graduation ................................................ 2 Roese is Distinguished Teacher ............. 3 Jurvelin hired as new VP ......................... 4 Kellerman, Killips are Employees of the Year ............................. 5 Nursing scholarship established ............ 6 Golden Grads start scholarship. ............. 8 New Simulation Center proposed .......... 9 Track athletes make NCAA championship .............................. 11 Hettinga is Coach of the Year. ............... 12 New volleyball coach ............................. 13 LSSU, UWC collaboration ...................... 14 Alumni awards announced ...............15-19 Alumni gatherings .............................20-21 GLSW schedule ...................................... 22 Class notes ........................................23-30 Friends we’ll miss ..............................32-35 Messages in a Bottle .............................. 36 Alumni events calendar ......................... 37 Editor LOG IN THE WATER – Students in LSSU biology professor Tom Allan’s Tom Pink Tropical Ecology course made it into the water again with their copy of the Laker Log. The students were snorkeling off Cano Island in Costa Rica. Writers Eddie Bishop Linda Bouvet Susan Fitzpatrick Lindsay Maynard Esther Proulx Tom Pink John Shibley Graphic Artist Deb Cook Photographer John Shibley MISSION STATEMENT - Our principal mission at Lake Superior State University is to help students develop to their full potential. We do this by providing high-quality, academically rigorous programs in an engaged, personal and supportive environment. This combination nurtures potential and sets students on paths ON THE COVER —Prof. James Moody strolls between Shouldice Library to rewarding careers and productive, satisfying and South Hall as construction continues on the building. The renovated lives. We also serve the regional, national Fort Brady barracks will become R.W. Considine Hall in about one year. and global communities by contributing to the growth, dissemination and application of knowledge. 2 www.lssu.edu/give STATE R UN US UNUM RIB O LU I I P V From the President E R E Teresa and I have been enjoying We signed articulation E R an incredible adventure since we agreements with two-year collegesP moved to LSSU and Sault Ste. Marie a in Wisconsin, Michigan and Ontario, S U little over a year ago. We are proud to and we are increasing our marketing I be members of the Laker family. T and advertising in these areas,S with Much has happened in the past a focus on marketing our academic Y year. We have made significant opportunities in the context of E our progress in improving our facilities. setting in the heart of the beautiful The renovations to transform South upper Great Lakes. K AM N A E Hall into the future R.W. Considine In addition, we’re opening the O AM Hall are under way, and we are doors to non-traditional students andL LAM UA RIS PENINSU moving forward with planning and helping those who want to come back SI Q E E eventual fundraising for the new to college to finish a degree, change PIC CIRCUMS LSSU Center for Freshwater Research careers, or explore new interests. and Education (formerly the aquatic We held an open house for non- research laboratory). In addition, traditional students in July. • we are actively raising funds for a We’re making improvements • 46 new simulation healthcare education internally, also. We have combined 19 facility, which will be a signature two vice president positions -- Tom Pleger building on Easterday Avenue, and Student Affairs and Enrollment we have just contracted for a campus Management -- to focus on facilities master plan. The plan will collaboratively recruiting and include our facilities vision for the retaining students. (See the story on next 20 years and will be broken our new vice president Matt Jurvelin down into phases to help place future in this issue.) We are also working building sites on campus, examine to consolidate the academic colleges our current facilities use, prioritize and schools to better communicate, updates, and help us better connect collaborate, and enhance our ability our transportation corridors to the to serve students. city of Sault Ste. Marie. LSSU is continuing to fully LSSU is also making progress implement a system of shared to increase our visibility and attract governance where faculty, staff, new students. We launched our One- and students have a voice in Rate-at-Lake State initiative last fall decision-making on campus. Shared to attract out of state students, and governance truly is about creating a we can use your assistance with that community of learners and scholars effort. Please help spread the word who share in shaping the vision and that non-resident students living future of our institution. President Tom Pleger signing spring anywhere in North America now Above all, we are focusing on semester diplomas. pay the same tuition as our Michigan excellence in our academic programs, resident students. our research and scholarship efforts, and in student success and support. We believe that LSSU is truly the any prospective students that you most personal public university in send our way. You can also help by the Great Lakes and we want our supporting LSSU with a gift, either student support and development to a specific project, scholarship, the opportunities to stand out. Fund for LSSU, or as an undesignated As we look to the future, we contribution. have challenges, and we need your We greatly appreciate your help as alumni. We seek to improve support. Together, we will ensure a our visibility and get the word great future for LSSU! out about Lake State to even more students. You can help us by talking Go, Lakers! about your experiences at LSSU with Every Friday - wear your friends, family, and your community, or by bringing a potential student blue and gold, to campus. We would be happy wherever you are! to arrange for a personal tour for 1 Sam Gilbert Dr. Charles Schmidt and Dr. Thomas Pleger LSSU adds more than 500 to the alumni ranks Over the years, many speakers sent him out the door to Tuskegee have told LSSU graduates how by handing him a five dollar bill and education has the potential to change telling him to “use it well.” Wilson their lives. But perhaps none of those said that five dollar bill and his speakers could demonstrate that parents’ investment in him were the transformation as clearly as Dr. David greatest gifts he ever received. Dr. David Wilson Wilson did for LSSU graduates at their The ceremony also included commencement ceremony on May 2. the formal installment of Dr. Wilson, who is president of Thomas Pleger as LSSU’s eighth wife Teresa and I moved to Sault Morgan State University in Baltimore, president, as well as presentation Ste. Marie from Wisconsin last Maryland, went from a shack with of an honorary doctorate to Charles June, we found a unique and no electricity or plumbing in rural (Chuck) Schmidt, Rochester Hills, special university community. Alabama to Tuskegee University, and remarks from Sault Ste. Marie Although we have challenges, where he earned degrees in political business graduate Sam Gilbert. our future looks bright. We have science and education. Later, Pleger, who came to LSSU from over 30,000 alumni and will add he earned a master’s degree in University of Wisconsin-Baraboo/ over 500 to the ranks today as we educational planning, and a doctorate Sauk County, said he has enjoyed celebrate their success. They will in administration, planning and social his first year as president and looks go on to become leaders in their policy from Harvard. forward to the institution’s future. communities and, as alumni, will When he decided he wanted to go “I am truly humbled and play an important part in shaping to college, Wilson said his father told honored to serve as the eighth the future of Lake State.” him, “College is for white people.” president of Lake Superior State Read much more and see But five years later, Wilson’s father University,” he said. “When my graduation photos at lssu.edu. 2 www.lssu.edu/give Biology professor John Roese receives Distinguished Teaching Award Dr. John Roese may not lead a filled with personal and practical wild life, but he knows a lot about advice. Students say that he loves wildlife and does an exceptional job math and applies it in a meaningful of helping his students learn about it. way within his lectures and labs. In recognition of his superior skills in Those who nominated Roese the classroom, the longtime biology for the award noted that his professor was chosen to receive passion, knowledge and experience the Distinguished Teaching Award have enabled his students to gain during LSSU’s commencement appreciation for subject matters in ceremony on May 2. which they may originally have A committee of five of the most held no interest. They also said he recent recipients of the award and has an exceptional ability to have graduating students with the highest a lasting impact on the lives of his grade point averages in their schools students because he cares about chose Roese based on nominations them, is always approachable and submitted by students, co-workers, shows them how to find answers for and alumni. The award recipient is themselves. Words used to describe kept secret until it is announced at him include “passionate, dedicated, Dr. John Roese graduation. respected, and inspirational.” “Recipients of the Distinguished In addition to running a tight University. He earned his bachelor’s Teaching Award are members of the ship in the classroom, Roese and master’s degrees from Stephen faculty who exemplify the best of is known for his contagious F. Austin State University in LSSU,” said LSSU Provost Morrie enthusiasm and sense of humor. He Nacogdoches, Texas. Walworth. “They demonstrate is also known for his preference to He is the principal advisor command of their subject matter, teach morning classes, a pleasure not for LSSU students majoring in explain difficult concepts clearly, always shared by his students.