good things,” he said. “As I droveback to Bemidji from Minneapo-lis, I wondered what I could donext. I thought about what I knew— chicken farming.”

Armed with hands-on knowledgeof the chicken farming industry,Wells stopped at the Gold’n Plumpchicken processing plant in ColdSprings. A friend worked there, andWells received a tour. The plant,he said, was ripe with possibilitiesfor automation. He took on a chal-lenge that other companieswouldn’t: automating the unload-ing of pallets of chickens — un-predictable cargo at best. Theunloading was hazardous as well,leading to numerous back inju-ries among employees.

This time, however, Wells wason his own when it came tofinancing the prototype. He useda $1,300, 1936 lathe to get started.Months and $90,000 later, Gold’nPlump bought into the project.

“With inventing, you need tomake a commitment to your ideaand go for it,” he said. “It takes alot of self-confidence that you canfollow through and make it work.”

The next project was an air-pow-ered scissors.

“Gold’n Plump employees hadcarpal tunnel injuries due to therepetitive nature of their work andthe effort it took to cut throughchicken,” he said. “They’d get offwork and would struggle to start

Andy Wells is the president of a$1 million technology companyjust outside Bemidji. A 1966graduate of Bemidji State with adegree in industrial arts, he holdsseveral U.S. patents for a varietyof inventions. Awards from For-tune 500 companies adorn the mainhallway of his business. This year,Wells, a member of the Red LakeNation, was named Minnesota’sMinority Small Business Person ofthe Year.

And yet this accomplished manwon’t tie his shoes.

Not that he can’t tie them. Butas he explains, bending over to tieshoes every day is, well, annoy-ing, time consuming and, he hasfound, unnecessary.

Wells invented a clip that allowshim to open and close the gap overthe tongues of his laced shoeswithout manually tying the laces.Each day, he slips his feet in hisshoes and, with the heel of theopposite foot, closes the clip,tightening the shoes to his com-fort level. Presto, laced shoes aresnug on his feet without Wellshaving to bend over.

Wells is an inventor, a trait he hasheld since his childhood growingup on a chicken farm in Red Lake.

“I’m always thinking of betterways of doing things,” he said. “Icould show you hundreds ofexamples.” Like the shoelace clip.Or the automated computer headcleaning system he built forControl Data. Or the stabilizingequipment that holds disc drivessafely in military vehicles.

But it was what he calls the“chicken project” that led him tostart his own company.

Wells was teaching in BSU’sIndustrial Technology departmentwhen he received a Bush grant towork at Control Data, gaininghands-on experience in the field.That led to the head cleaning in-vention and, a year later, to thedisc stabilizing equipment.

The closing of Control Data’splant in Minneapolis a few yearslater was a blessing in disguise forWells. “Adversity brings out some

their cars because their handswere so cramped up, they couldn’tgrip the keys.”

Again, he built a prototype andtook it to Gold’n Plump. Manyemployees were resistant at first.Once they had the scissors in handand saw how, by barely moving afinger, they could trigger the scis-sors to snap shut, they were sold.

Wells made the scissors in dif-ferent sizes. He made it easy to re-place the blades once they dulled.He also made them ambidextrous.

The scissors and another Wellsinvention — air-powered knives— helped cut down on carpal tun-nel injuries among Gold’n Plumpemployees. Wells has patents onboth. He also created an air pres-sure booster that would double theair pressure to any given line,bumping up its power.

Work snowballed from there.The equipment Wells used to cre-ate the scissors and knives alsocould be used to make small pre-cision machine parts. In additionto the parts Wells Technologymakes based on Wells’ inventions,the company now manufacturesmore than 7,000 pieces for othercompanies.

The small shop Wells used to de-sign and build the automated chickenpallet loaders — “the chickenproject” — has expanded and is nowWells Technology Inc. In the pastdozen years, the company has grownaround 20 percent a year.

Although the company hestarted bears his family name,Wells gives credit to all 20 of hisemployees. “Inventing is a groupproject. It’s a give and take,” hesaid. “And me, I’m just like thespark plug in the car, gettingthings started.”

To Wells, the financial successof the company and the personalrecognition he receives mean littleif he weren’t making a positivecontribution to his community andthe people in it.

“Part of success is being ‘signifi-cant,’” he said. “It’s taking careof other people, sharing time, tak-ing on a leadership role, provid-ing some jobs and a good workenvironment. I get a good feelinghelping people in the area.”

Whether that help comes in theform of a paycheck or an inven-tion that cuts down on back pain,Wells’ significance has been feltstatewide.

Horizons

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A Publication for Alumni & Friends of Bemidji State UniversityVol. 18, No. 2, Winter 2002-2003

BSUBSU

BSU

BSUCalendar

December 6, 2002Foundation Board Meeting

December 7, 2002Alumni Association Board Meeting

December 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 2002BSU Madrigal Dinners

January 18, 2003Beaver Pride Winter Golf

January 25, 2003BSU Snowball – Beaux Arts

Ballroom

February 14, 2003MMEA Music Alumni Reception

March 9-10, 2003BSU Winter Rendezvous – Laughlin

March 21, 2003BSU Foundation Board Meeting

April 26, 2003BSU Alumni Board Meeting

BSU

InventingInventingOpportunities

Andy Wells

art of success is being ‘significant’. It’s taking careof other people, sharing time, taking on a leadership role,providing some jobs and a good work environment.”

Andy Wells

“P“P

Horizons Page 2

Hands-on Learning

V isual arts professor ButchHolden is surrounded by shelvesof ceramic vessels in the middleof a secured room on the lowerlevel of the Education-Art Build-ing at Bemidji State. As he talks,he casually pulls out a recently ap-praised $28,000 plate crafted byPeter Voulkos, a highly influen-tial artist in the ceramic world.

His nonchalance lacks nothingin respect as he explains thatVoulkos hung out with many re-nowned abstract expressionists ofthe mid-1900s and created ceram-ics of the same genre, eventuallyelevating pottery to a fine art.Holden sees a value that tran-scends the $28,000 appraisal.

“Peter Voulkos knew abstract

expressionists,” Holden explainswith a touch of awe as he showsthe plate. “He knew those paint-ers, and was doing the same kindof work in clay.”

In turn, Holden takes down a smallterra cotta Turkish pot believed todate back to the First Century, theoldest item in the collection. As hemoves about the room, he bringsout other vessels crafted by notablecontemporary artists as well aspieces by BSU students and otheremerging potters. Each comes witha story and a lesson in ceramichistory and technique.

Holden was immersed in theMargaret H. Harlow CeramicsCollection, which consists ofmore than 350 pieces of mostlycontemporary, hand-made vessel

Vol. 18, No. 2, Winter 2002 - 2003

Produced by the News and PublicationsOffice and the Alumni Office at BemidjiState University, HORIZONS is publishedquarterly and distributed without chargeto BSU alumni, students, faculty, staff andother friends of the University.

Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Al NohnerDesigner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathy BerglundPhotographer . . . . . . . . . . . . . John SwartzPresident . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Jon QuistgaardAlumni Director . . . . . Marla Huss PatriasContributing Writers . . . . . . . . Jody Grau,

Colleen Burke, Cindy SerratoreEditorial Assistance . . . . . . . . Peggy Nohner

Editorial Board: Dr. Jon Quistgaard, BSUpresident; Al Nohner, director of newsservices and publications; Carl Baer, vicepresident for university advancement; MarlaHuss Patrias, director of alumni relations.

A member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universitiessystem, Bemidji State University is an equal opportunity educa-tor and employer.This document is available in alternative for-mats to individuals with disabilities by calling 1-800-475-2001or 218-755-3883. 03-207

Bemidji State University

HorizonsBSUBSU

ALL CITIES ARE LOCATED IN MINNESOTA UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

Where We Are ... What We’re Doing

1920sAnne (Olson) Anderson (’29) taught school inWilliams for 33 years, retiring in 1971 when she andher husband, Herman Anderson, moved to theBemidji area. She was widowed in January.

1930sJohn Rose (’39) and his wife, Nita, recentlycelebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. They livein Carlton.

1940sOliver Titrud (’48) was recently listed in the Who’sWho in Medicine and Health for his research andpractical applications of human dissection involvinga new method that does not destroy upper tissueswhen studying the lower tissues. He lives in Oregonand has one son, Kermit… Ardis (Aho) Esala (’45,‘73) is retired and lives with her husband, the Rev.T.A. Esala in New York Mills. She taught childrenwith learning disabilities in Wadena for 16 years andretired in 1987. The couple raised four sons and adaughter… Nita Rose (’41) and her husband, John,recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.They live in Carlton… Eva (Vidas) Young (’49) livesin Chula Vista, CA, and is a professor at the Embry-

Riddle Aeronautical University teaching humanities,business, aviation and aerospace classes… Janice(Nelson) Linde (’41) and her husband, Erling, live inMoorhead. They raised four children and have sixgrandchildren… Violet (Pudas) Johnson (’43) andher husband, Russell, are retired and living inInternational Falls. They have six grown childrenranging in age from 42 to 55… Joyce (Dunlap) Doyle(’49) and her husband, Larry, spend their summers inRockford and winters in Sun Lakes, AZ. They havethree children and five grandchildren… Edna (Leen)

Skold (’42) taught for 50 years and is retired andliving in Milton-Freewater, OR, where she is an activevolunteer. She has two children, four grandchildrenand five great-grandchildren.

1950sBob Green (’57) and his wife, Peg, are retired andliving in St. Petersburg, FL. They have ninegrandchildren and are active in church music. Bobsings in the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, touredScotland with his church choir in June, and sang in St.Paul’s Cathedral in London in 2001… Muriel Copp(’57) lives in Red Wing and works as a secretary forthe First Presbyterian Church of Red Wing. Sheretired in 1993 from Red Wing Technical Collegeafter teaching for 36 years… John Schultz Jr. (’50)and his wife, Leila, have three grown children. He’sbeen retired for 10 years… Dale Sorensen (’57) hasserved on the Two Harbors School Board for 10 years,having retired from teaching chemistry at TwoHarbors. He and his wife, Jean, live in Two Harbors…Genevieve Carter-Lervik (’54) lives in Hibbing andis making plans to attend an international conferencein Sweden next year. She has a daughter, Joan, andtwo grandsons… Keith Cariveau (’58) and his wife,Katherine, retired in 1995 after 37 years in education.They live in Livermore, CA, and have sevengrandchildren living in the area… Agnes Macias(’58) lives in Lorton, VA, and is planning a trip to visither son in Australia this winter. She and her husband,Albert, have five children ranging in age from 31 to39… Russell (Hukee) Johnson (’52) and his wife,Violet, are retired and live in International Falls.Russell scored his first hole-in-one on Sept. 14 afterspending 54 years golfing as a member of the

International Falls Country Club. He and Violet havesix grown children ranging in age from 42 to 55…Will Sarkela (’58) was one of five people beinginducted in the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame thisfall. He has a remarkable 36-year teaching, coachingand administrative career at Grand Rapids HighSchool. He was named District 318 activities directorin 1979 and served in that capacity until retiring in1994. He was recognized by his peers as Region 7AAAthletic Director of the Year in 1987 and 1992, andthe Minnesota Athletic Directors Associationhonored him by selecting him to the MinnesotaAthletic Directors Hall of Fame in 1999.

1960sJerry Riewer (‘60) is being inducted into theMinnesota State High School Coaches Hall of Fame,receiving the highest honor the Coaches Associationbestows upon its members. In 1984 he was alsoinducted into BSU’s Athletic Hall of Fame… JeanneThomas (’64), a retired teachers’ union leader fromBurnsville, was inducted May 11 into the MinnesotaDemocratic-Farmer-Labor Party Women’s Hall ofFame. She was selected for, among other things, herefforts to bring teachers and young women intopolitics and the party. She served numerous roles inthe Richfield local of the Minnesota EducationAssociation and traveled the country for eight yearsgiving National Education Association-sponsoredworkshops designed to inspire women to climb theladder – in teacher’s union politic, in government andin business. Her husband, Charlie, shares her passionfor politics …Joe Merseth (’66) is acting as interimsuperintendent of Park Rapids schools, having retiredas superintendent at Frazee in June of 2001 afterspending 35 years in education and the last 10 years in

his position at Frazee. He and his wife, Karen, who is aparaprofessional in the Detroit Lakes Schools, havethree grown children, Chad, 31, Nate, 28, and Maria,25… Noel Bailey (’63) runs the fitness program forteens and a conditioning fitness program for adults atthe Hallett Community Center in Crosby. He taughtsocial studies and coached wrestling in Aitkin for 26years and is in his fourth year of retirement. He wasinducted into the Minnesota State High SchoolCoaches Association Hall of Fame in 2000… TerryPotucek (’69), a Warren area farmer and taxaccountant, filed as a candidate for re-election to afour-year term on the Marshall County Board. He wasfirst elected to the board in 1994, re-elected in 1998and is currently chairman of the county board. He is

Edna (Leen) Skold

Noel Bailey

Hands-on Learningfor a Hands-on Art Formforms and a few rare, historicalpieces. In founding the collection,Harlow left BSU with a highlyvaluable and personal legacy ofher lifetime passion for pottery. Arecent appraisal of 98 of thepieces for insurance purposestotaled $207,450.

For Bemidji State, the real valueis intangible. In its diversity, Holdensees the collection as a treasuretrove of studio pottery representinga wide range of techniques, glazesand philosophies that make it sovaluable for teaching.

Josh Boock, a third-year ceram-ics student, reflected on that valueby describing the feeling of hold-ing the 1,900-year-old Turkish pot.“To see it and know that someonelong ago pushed on it and left athumb print I can see and touch isreally powerful to me,” he said.“The biggest thing is that we canbring these pieces into class, actu-ally see the work and handle it.There’s so many classes where youjust get to look at a book.”

Holden credits Harlow for thedepth of knowledge the potteryrepresents.

Harlow, 90, graduated from BSUin 1936 with a degree in educationand a passion for geography,stones and rock formations, allinterests that she further pursuedwith a military career that allowedher to travel the world. Potterybecame a natural extension ofthese passions and she begancollecting pieces.

Over the years, her interest andknowledge of pottery deepenedand she became a lifelong studentof the art. She met potters, stud-ied new works and eventuallyretired in Walnut Creek, CA, a no-table pottery community whereshe could be close to the pottersand the museums she most enjoys.

In 1973, Harlow handed thenBSU president Robert Decker twocardboard boxes of her personalceramic collection to seed thebeginnings of the teaching collec-tion. In subsequent years, shecontinued to seek out and contrib-ute pottery before eventuallyasking a friend, Rick Sherman of

(Continued on page 3)

Butch Holden (left) and student Josh Boock in the Harlow Collection

Horizons Page 3

(Continued on page 4)

districts entire band program for grades 5-12…Bonnie Lindgren (’75) of Spicer has spent six yearsteaching in Cairo, Egypt, and continues living andteaching there this year. Prior to that she spent sixyears teaching in Pakistan and two years in Milan,Italy… Tom Peltier (’73) is seeking a position on theDistrict 318 School Board. He’s been a resident ofItasca County for the past 33 years, lives in ruralCohasset with his wife, Kathy, and has a daughter,Roberta, who graduated in 2000 from Grand RapidsHigh School. He’s worked for Itasca County for thepast 20 years as a county juvenile probation officerand prior to that served as an Itasca County deputysheriff for 10 years… Julie Zeto (’75) and herhusband, Dennis, of Bemidji recently celebratedtheir 25th wedding anniversary… Mike Stanich(’72) of International Falls filed as a candidate for thepost of Koochiching County auditor-treasurer. He’sserved for the past 26 years as budget director for theCity of International Falls and during that timeserved as acting city administrator for four months.In 1973 he served as Minnesota state auditor andfrom 1973 –76 filled the post of city accountant inHastings. He and his wife, Vicky, have two children,Shawn and Nicole… Mike Forsberg (’74) receivedhis ordination certificate August 1. He’d been apastor at Walworth Baptist Church of rural Ulen forthe past few years and had been licensed to preach bythe First Baptist Church of Park Rapids since 1988…David Pratt (’74) is the new chairman of the DetroitLakes Chamber of Commerce. He’s employed asdirector of video operations for Arvig Communica-tions Systems and has been in the cable televisionindustry in the area for more than 20 years. His wife,

Deb, works for Bremer Bank in Detroit Lakes, and histwo children attend the University of North Dakota inGrand Forks… Gordon Sirvio (’75) has self-published four suspense novels through his ownpublishing company called Taconite Runes, writingunder the name of S.A. Gordon. The books werepreviously published electronically and are entitledThe Deuce of Pentacles, Faces of Doom, DaysBetween Seasons and Crystal Clear Pond. All four areset in northern Minnesota and include references toMinnesota life… Steve Bolton (’74), a Park Rapidsattorney since 1989, is seeking election to the Cass

County judgeship in theNinth Judicial District. Helives in rural Nevis withhis wife, Tami, and theirchildren, Alice andNick… Ellen Weber (’77)and Richard Segler weremarried June 15 atBemidji State Park andlive in Bemidji… GlenChristianson (’75) andhis wife, Vivian,celebrated their 50thwedding anniversary inJune… John Tibstra

(’79) and Sue Tibstra (’76) of Bemidji recentlyreceived the Johnson-Jarvi Snowjourn Award inhonor of their long-term commitment and support ofcross country skiing in the Bemidji area… RickKleinschmidt (’77), a Willmar police sergeant, filedas a candidate for sheriff of Kandiyohi County. He has27 years of police experience and has served 20 of

the board’s representative on the Pembina TrailResource Conservation and Development Board andNorthwest Household Hazardous Waste JointPowers Board. He and his wife, Joan, have one son,Joey… Robert Ostlund (’66) of Shakopee hasaccepted a two-year position as interim headmasterof St. Thomas Academy. He served as schoolsuperintendent in Shakopee from 1991 until hisretirement in June 2000, then served as interimsuperintendent of the North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District from July 2000 to April2001. After that he joined the Midwest ManagementResources consulting group… Eileen Lien (’68) hasretired from teaching at the Frank Lien ElementarySchool in Gonvick, named after her husband whodied seven years ago. She has been teaching secondgraders there since 1977 and began teaching in theBagley Public School in 1968, moving on to her firstjob in the Gonvick-Trail School in 1969. She hasthree children, Mark, Stacy and John, and twograndchildren… Harry Salminen (’67) is acandidate for Becker County Commissioner District2. He is an independent businessman, a formereducator in the Detroit Lakes school system and aformer employee of the Governor’s ManpowerOffice, specializing in economic development inrural areas… Diane Lehse (’66) is the newsuperintendent of school at the Clearbrook-GonvickDistrict. During the past five years she’s beensuperintendent at Kelliher. She started her educationcareer as a teacher in the Rosemount Senior HighSchool and then went to the University of Alaska as agraduate assistant and then an instructor. She has ason and daughter living in the Minneapolis-St. Paularea. She and her husband, Ron, live in Gonvick…

Beverly (Schinderle) Pfeilstifter (’63) and herhusband, Chuck, are retired and living in Racine, WI.They recently bought a winter home in Florida…Richard Sauer (’62) and his wife, Lorraine, ofBemidji have three grown children and ninegrandchildren. He is a retired school principal and sheis a retired teacher… Larry Erie (’62) of Pinewoodwas elected to the Faribault High School Sports Hallof fame in October. He and his wife, Gladys, havethree grown children… Arleen (Beiswenger) Boyd(’61) is enjoying retirement and escaping to Arizona inthe winter. She makes many visits with her certifiedtherapy dog, Augie… Chuck Clausen (’68) is retiredand living in St. Cloud with his wife, Rosemary. Hetaught elementary school for 32 years, was a sportsofficial for 35 years and the PA “Voice of SCSU HuskyHockey” for many years, as well. The Clausens havetwo grown children, Jill and Debbie… Wanda(Forsland) Petersen (’68) of Turtle River is a painterand serves as coordinator of the Fly By Night ArtSpace, a gallery in Bemidji. She and her husband,Warren, have two grown children and one grandson…Pat (Meyer) Syvertsen (’68) and Paul Syvertsen(’68) live in New Haven, CT, and have two children,Kai, 26, and Erik, 21… Jacqueline Olson (’64) ofNorthome is a retired teacher and is active in DeltaKappa Gamma. She has three grown children…Diane Hoselton Genova (’62) of Pueblo, CO, is thedirector of a preschool. She has two grown children,Christopher, 30, and Carrie, 28… Colleen Blade (’69)lives in Nashwauk where she is an active volunteer,particularly in the “Relay for Life,” a fund raisingevent for cancer research… Norman Hecimovich(’60) of Austin is retired and enjoying hunting, fishingand traveling. He and his wife, Helen, have three

grown sons, James, 40, Mark, 38, and Bryan, 33…Leroy Larson (’61) is a founding member of theMinnesota Scandinavian Ensemble which has touredthe Midwest for more than 20 years, performing atfestivals, concerts, dances and made many televisionand radio performances …Katherine (Johnson)Cariveau (’60) and her husband, Keith, retired in1995 after 37 years in education. They live inLivermore, CA, and have seven grandchildren livingin the area.

1970sClaudia Risnes (’71) has been named executivedirector of teaching and learning with MinnetonkaPublic Schools. She brings to the new position nineyears of leadership experience in curriculum,instruction, assessment and staff development andhad previously served as director of curriculum,instruction and assessment for the Anoka-HennepinSchool District. Prior to that she’d held the sameposition in Stillwater… Harry A. Christensen (’79)and his wife, Annette, live in Lebanon, TN, and areanticipating the birth of their first child. He graduated

from the Nashville School ofLaw in 2000 and operates aprivate practice… Arla (Kari)Nummelin (’73) and herhusband, Ollie, live in Covelo,CA, and have three children,Charles, 22, Minna, 13, andKari, 8 …James Best (’77) tookover the job of band director atStewartville High School thisfall. He taught last year inBarnum where he headed theJames Best

Steve Bolton

Music is Key for Fund Raising InitiativeBemidji State University fine tuned an initiative to raise funds for its music

program during a simultaneous performance by 20 musicians on 20 new up-right pianos last fall in the Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex.

The pianists were celebrating the halfway point of the campaign to raise$811,000 for instruments, pianos, scholarships, equipment maintenance, andan endowed visiting artist series. Grants, gifts and donations have alreadyraised over $463,500 with most of the money used to purchase new pianosand to build a state-of-the-art technology lab.

A gift of $10,000 was also announced to establish the Ron GearmanScholarship in honor of the professor emeritus of music who served as amusic faculty member at BSU for 31 years, many of them as departmentchairperson.

“The Music is the Key campaign will mean many things to our program,”said Dr. Del Lyren, current chair of the department. “It will nearly double thescholarships we can offer new and returning students. It will allow us to pur-chase and replace band instruments.

“By the start of the spring semester, we will have a new nine-foot Steinwayconcert grand in the Recital Hall. Bemidji State owns more Steinway grandpianos than any other school in the state, and funds from this effort will helpthe University repair and maintain our piano inventory.”

The purchase of new pianos is one goal of the Music is the Key campaign.The Schmitt Music Company and a grant from the Minnesota State Collegesand Universities (MnSCU) provided the $206,000 needed to secure the 30instruments.

A donation from the SoundTree Company and another MnSCU grant wasused to equip the music lab in Bangsberg.

“This new technology will assist in training and preparing future teachersfor the modern classroom,” Lyren said of the $180,000 facility. “The entireeffort is designed to make the BSU Music Department a destination musicschool for the upper Midwest.”

In addition to the grants and corporate gifts, $77,500 has been raised fromindividuals for the campaign. To reach the $811,000 goal in one year, theMusic Department is accepting donations and pledges. It is also offeringsponsorship opportunities, where individuals may donate a minimum of $5,000to have a name inscribed on a music practice room, classroom, or lab space.

Individuals interested in participating in the Music is the Key campaignmay contact the Bemidji State University Foundation at 218-755-2762.

usIS THE KEY

Campaign 2002-2003

Bemidji State University

MMSan Jose, to visit BSU.He met with students,

viewed the collection, and lec-tured about its importance.

“He came here, saw the way thatthe collection was used andwanted his collection to becomepart of it,” Holden recalled ofSherman, an established potterwho was an advocate for ceramiceducation. A year after Shermandied, his wife, Marcella, donatedmore than 50 pieces to the collec-tion and, as an additional gift toBSU, paid for the recent appraisal.

“Other schools, usually largerthan BSU, have collections,”Holden explained. “As far as Iknow, they’re not likely to allowstudents, especially undergradu-ates, to actually handle thepieces,” says Holden.

Sue Kringen, director of majorgifts and planned giving for the BSUFoundation, says the collection’svalue is immeasurable for enhanc-ing the educational experience.

“Bemidji State would never beable to have a collection like thiswithout Margaret,” said Kringen.“She has given us far more thanshe knows. Because of her andRick, and now the generosity ofMarcella, we have incredibleassets for our students.”

Asked about her motivation togive so much, Harlow quicklycommented, “I received my de-gree from there, and they deserveit more than any place I’ve been.”She also noted that she appreci-

ates hearing from students whohave experienced the collection.

One of those is Cyrus Swann.He remembers the thrill of find-ing the works of a favorite potter,Frank Boyden, in the collection.Since then, he has come to appre-ciate the wide range of ceramicsthat Harlow collected, which hefinds especially impressive be-cause she is not an artist.

“The fact that she collected alldifferent forms and pots is reallyimportant for teaching,” saysSwann. “It’s representative of allthe different styles and techniques.It’s almost like she thought of do-ing it more as a collection for theUniversity than for herself.”

A senior, Swann received theHarlow Ceramics Scholarship,which Harlow endowed in supportof students studying ceramics.After that, Swann arranged tomeet Harlow when he traveled toCalifornia. True to form, Harlowencouraged Swann to keep work-ing hard at his craft, and he has.

Swann recently was busy exam-ining a collection of spouted cansin the BSU studio. He hopessomeday to be a studio potter andteacher, and already has a coupleof his own pieces included in theHarlow Collection where theystand among the works ofVoulkos, Boyden and othernotable potters.

“That is a real honor for me tohave pots in the collection,” saysSwann just before heading backto the studio where the learningcontinues.

Hands-on Art Form(Continued)

Horizons Page 4

21. She’s in her 25th year of working with the sameemployment and training agency… Jack Plattner(’70) of Gary began teaching industrial arts this fall atthe Ulen-Hitterdal School District. He and his wife,Susan, have three grown children. She is a specialeducation instructor… Jeff Galle Sr. (’78) is the newinstrumental music instructor for fifth- througheighth-grade bands, junior varsity band, varsityband, jazz bands and solos and small ensembles atWarroad. He spent the past 24 years teaching atHeron Lake-Okabena School District and has alsobeen active in coaching softball, football and golf…Jeanne Randall (’77) is teaching first grade atCenterville Elementary School. She and herhusband, Dave, live in Lino Lakes and have two sons,Michael, 19, and Jeff, 17… Nancy (Hagen) Staiger(’76) of Moorhead is currently a stay-at-homemother and foster parent. She and her husband,Doug, have five children, Greta, 25, Marissa, 22,Tony, 16, Stephanie, 16, and Alicia, 15… NancyAinswork Flynn (’76) works for the Red Cross andis involved with historical neighborhood issues. Sheand her husband, Bill, live in Brookings, SD, andhave four children, Kayla, 20, Susan, 17, BJ, 14, andMike, 10… Sherry Heaton (’77) recently accepted anew position as assistant principal at Simle MiddleSchool in Bismarck, ND, after having taught middleschool science for 21 years. She and her husband,Lewis, live in McKenzie, ND, and have an eight-year-old daughter, Ellie… Joyce Rideout (’79) livesin Brainerd and enjoys doing volunteer work…Roger Reierson (’73) is owner and CEO of FlintCommunication in Fargo, Grand Forks and Duluth.He and his wife, Arlene, live in Moorhead and havetwo children, Andy, 23, and Alissa, 19.

those in Willmar and Kandiyohi County. He and hiswife, Sharon, have five children and onegranddaughter. He is a member of the MinnesotaPeace and Police Officer’s Association, the Sons ofthe American Legion and Willmar DevelopmentCorporation… David Ambers (’72) and BettyAmbers (’71) live and work in North Branch andhave two grown children, Kelli, 22, and Casey, 20.David is a social studies teacher and golf coach andBetty serves as a parent educator with ECFE…Connie Dahl Nelson (’72) of Roseau is currentlyworking a combined position of superintendent andelementary principal at the Lake of the Woods Schoolat Baudette. She and her husband, Bruce, have twochildren, Chad, 30, and Kellie, 27… Richard Lyttle(’72) has retired but is teaching a community collegeclass at CNCC covering the history of northwesternColorado. He and his wife, Mary Beth, live inMeeker, CO… Sharon Botelle-Sherman (’74) ofWoodbury, CT, is semi-retired from a career inmarketing and advertising and is tutoring seventh-graders. She and her husband, Norman, have threegrown children, Leslie Koliha, Kathy Wolhart andBrett Sherman… Julia Sullivan (’76) of Moorheadsings in two choirs and volunteers at her church. Sheretired from 44 years of teaching in 1997… TomSwanson (’70) has taught for 32 years in the Brainerdelementary schools and his wife, Helen, has taughtelementary classes in the same school district for 25years. They live in Brainerd and have three children,Angie, 23, Sara, 19, and Maria, 16… JamesToensing (’70) lives in Burnsville and helps care forhis mother who lives in the Apple Valley Health careCenter. He sings with the Bemidji Alumni Choir andis a deputy grand knight with Council 2400 in

Farmington… Judith Riggles (’70) lives in CassLake with her husband, Bill, and has retired from a32-year career of teaching at Cass Lake ElementarySchool... Wayne Gartland (’77) and his wife,Susan, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary inAugust. He works for Experior Assessments in St.Paul… Georgia Siers Press (’78) works as anassistant in an elementary school media center. Sheand her husband, Mike, live in Cary, IL, and have twochildren, Jeff, 21, and Greg, 18… Joe Vene (’74)filed as a mayoral candidate in Bemidji… StanleyOstrowski (’71) and his wife, Connie, are retiredand living in Melrose, FL. They have two grownchildren, Susan and Dennis. He is currently buildingan airplane to replace the Cessna 172 that he flew formore than 21 years. Stanley spent 26 years as ateacher and principal with St. Lucie County SchoolSystem and served 22 years in the U.S. Army, bothactive and reserve… Alyce Larson Thureen (’75)and her husband, Carroll, live in International Fallsand have three grown children… Stephen Menart

(’73) and his wife,Merline, live inGilbert where hecreates metalsculptures including“fire fish.” He’dpreviously workedat LTV Steel in HoytLakes… GlennisOlson (’71) teachesfifth grade at FrazeeElementary and isanticipatingbecoming agrandmother for thefirst time in March.She lives in Frazee

and has four grown children ranging in age from 20to 29… Terry Mejdrich (’70) of Swatara recentlycompleted a mystery-adventure-suspense novel setin northern Minnesota entitled A MammothResurrection. He and his wife, Darlene, have twogrown children, Eric, 29, and Angie, 26… JohnSkradski (’77) and Jana (Gearman) Skradski(’72) live in Fort Collins, CO, where John works as apublisher and Jana as a payroll accountant. They’vebeen married 28 years and have two sons, Ryan, 18,and David, 16… Tom O’Brien (’71) and Stephanie(Araskog) O’Brien (’71) live in Richville and havetwo grown children, Staci, 32, and Keely, 27. Tomretired from teaching at New York Mills High Schoolin 2000 and Stephanie works as a math teacher in theFergus Falls School District… Terri (Simmerman)Simons (’76) and her husband, Doug, live in thePillager area and have two sons, Nick, 16, and Zak,

Where We Are ... What We’re Doing1980sMona Carter (’82) filed as a candidate inNovember’s Bemidji School Board election… DaveEvenson (’84) and Jess Ward (’96), both ofBemidji, are planning a May wedding. Dave is aphysical education and health teacher at PonemahElementary School and Jess is an agency specialistwith State Farm Insurance… Jack Vizecky (’86)filed for re-election to his office of Lincoln Countysheriff for a third term. He’s lived in Lincoln Countyever since he was honorably discharged from themilitary in 1969 and served as police chief inHendricks for 11 years, a Lincoln County deputysheriff for four years and has been Lincoln Countysheriff for two terms. He’s married with fourchildren, lives in rural Ivanhoe and is a member ofthe Shaokatan Sportsmen’s Club, IvanhoeCommunity Club, Minnesota Sheriff’s Associationand the National Sheriff’s Association… RobinFinke (’88) filed as a candidate for Swift CountyAttorney, having served in that post for the past twoyears, filling a vacancy created when the previouscounty attorney was appointed as a district courtjudge. He worked for seven years as a staff attorneyfor Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota inits Virginia office and is currently the treasurer and amember of the board of directors of the HumaneSociety of Swift County. He and his wife, Lisa, livein Benson… Paul Tschida (’85) filed for re-electionas Morrison County Sheriff. He is a lifelong residentof Morrison County and he and his wife, Lila, havetwo grown children, Mike and Becky. Tschida, aNavy veteran, began his law enforcement career 27years ago as a special deputy and then worked as a

Stephen Menart

Terry Mejdrich

Alumni Author

writer, and a writer of comic gags.He is currently writing a scholarlywork on Norse mythology thatcould become the foundation for aseries of novels. If he mustersenough courage in the future, hewould like to write comic books.

But plays, primarily short ones,have brought him some degree ofnotoriety. His works have beenstaged more than 350 times, fromLos Angeles to New York City;from Vancouver, BC, to Houston;from London to Perth; from NewDelhi to Brasila. His AIDS play,Vicious Circle, was performed atthe 1995 International Aids Con-ference and won seven awards.

He tries to write at least twohours, or six good pages, a day,five days a week. While it takesdiscipline to be productive, hefinds it therapeutic and cathartic.He then has time to spend with

“I write plays from stories that Ifeel need to be told, and let themfind their own audience fromthere,” he said. “I start with a soundpremise that has a certain desiredtheatrical effect or message inmind. I like to skew certain notionsand theatrical conventions as well.

“The success, I strongly feel,comes from my experience not onlyas a writer, but as a theatre personwho has directed, played aroundwith lighting theory, and all of theother wonderful aspects of the artof live suspension of disbelief.”

He has directed his plays and hiscollaborations in productions acrossnorthern Minnesota, most recentlywith the Grand Rapids Players.

“I prefer to direct my solo worksafter they’ve been published, notbefore,” he commented. “Some-times I have to for conveniencesake and then I use a pseudonymif I can get away with it.

“In contrast I love directingworks I’ve co-written, especiallythose I’ve done with my wife,Cynthia, in order to see what I’veadded to the works or not, and tobring out my collaborator’sstrength even more.”

A graduate of Pillager HighSchool, Booth came to BemidjiState via Brainerd CommunityCollege, where his interest in the-ater was ignited. He graduated fromBSU twice, first with a bachelor’sdegree and later with a master’s.

Booth has also been published asa poet, journalist, essayist, short story

his three-year-old son Riordan.While the impetus for writing

comes from within, the motivationcomes from the outside. He notedthat he patterns most of hischildren’s plays on a study done inBoston in the 1970s where urbankids were exposed to a series ofplays based on other cultures. Tenyears later, it was discovered thatthe same group had a significantlysmaller chance to be involved inhate crimes, racism, theft and othersocial problems.

He noted that it was, “Proof posi-tive of the true power of the stageand how it can directly improve thequality of life in our society.”

This is the second in a series of article onauthors who graduated from BSU. If you knowof such an author, contact the News andPublications office at 1-888-234-7794,218-755-2041, or news@bemidjistate.edu.

Of all the plays he’s written, RoyC. Booth has two favorites:Beanie and the Bamboozling BookMachine and Café a la Ionesco.

He has a lot to choose from, withmore than 40 to his credit and 25in print. But these two stand outfor the Bemidji State Universitygraduate for a variety of reasons.

They may be his favorites be-cause they are dramatically differ-ent. Beanie is a children’s play andIonesco an absurdist farce.

Or the appeal may be the settings.The first is about the adventuresof a boy who doesn’t like to read,so he invents a book-readingmachine that conjures up the mis-chievous witches from fairy taleswhen it is turned on. The latter isabout a hellish romantic encoun-ter in a fancy restaurant located inNymore – yes Nymore.

Then again, it might be thatBeanie was the first play pub-lished, with co writers Bob Mayand Christopher Tibbetts, whileIonesco was the latest.

“One is for kids, the other forfreethinkers,” Booth said. “Beanieis produced a lot due to its cast size,fantasy elements, and heart.Ionesco because it’s straight to thejugular humor.”

That the plays come to audiencesfrom different points of the theat-rical compass is no surprise. Inaddition to farce and children’sgenre, his credits include sciencefiction, comedy, horror, and satire.

Roy C. Booth

Stages LifeRoy C. Booth

Horizons Page 5

OUTSTANDING ALUMNI HONORED

Outstanding

(Continued on page 6)

full-time jailer-dispatcher while completing hiscollege degree… David Harrington (’82) of TurtleRiver topped a field of five candidates in September’sprimary election for the post of Cass County districtjudge and faced Ted Lundrigan in the Nov. 5 generalelection. He is also general counsel to the Red LakeBand of Chippewa, managed a resort in Cass Countyand was a high school teacher and coach in Warroad,Cass Lake and Brainerd… Barbara Meuers (’88)was elected to the Bemidji City Council, serving in anat-large capacity. She works at the MinnesotaWorkforce Center… Jim DeWenter (’82) wasnamed Bemidji Education Association’s Teacher ofthe Year for 2002 and will compete for state teacher ofthe year in November. He teaches 10th-grade biologyand anatomy and physiology for 11th and 12th gradesand has been teaching at Bemidji High School for 32years. He was also named the Bemidji Wal-Mart’sTeacher of the Year in June and qualifies for a statecompetition there, as well… Michael Spry (’83) ispresident and owner of Portage Environmental, Inc.,an environmental consulting and engineering firmbased in Idaho Falls, ID, that was recently named thenational Minority Service Firm of the Year by theMinority Business Development Agency. TheMBDA recognized Portage for growing successfullyin spite of starting with little capital and also for jobcreation, involvement with Native Americancommunities and high customer satisfaction.Incorporated in 1992, Portage has grown to more than150 employees located in offices nationwide, withrevenues approaching $20 million in 2002. In 2001,Portage was included in the Inc. 500 List as the 79thfastest growing business in America. Spry is aMississippi Band member of the Minnesota

Chippewa Tribe and grew up on the White Earth IndianReservation in northwestern Minnesota… LorenJansen (’81) filed as a candidate for the post ofNicollet County sheriff. He has worked for the St.Peter Police Department for the past 20 years, 15 ofwhich he served as a patrol sergeant. He’s beencertified as an emergency manager by the MinnesotaDepartment of Emergency Management and workedas a drug abuse resistance education officer for sixyears. He’s married and has three daughters, ages 16,15 and 11… Tom Norgel (’84) is developmentdirector of the new Minnesota Fair GroundsFoundation and a resident of Macalester-Groveland.The foundation’s mission is to preserve maintain andimprove the state fairgrounds. He was previouslysenior membership manager at Twin Cities PublicTelevision… Pat Sauer (’87) of Detroit Lakes isseeking the office of Becker County auditor. He is a

consultant in the areas oftrucking and estates and isalso a part-time employee atLunde Ford. His previousexperience includesspending seven years asauditor at the Federal EnergyRegulatory Commission,serving as part-owner andmanager of Tires Plus andmanaging a private oilbusiness… Darrell Carter(’82), a Bemidji attorney and

certified public accountant, filed as a candidate forMinnesota’s District 4 Senate seat. He’s been marriedfor 20 years, has six children and is a Navy veteran…Clayton Liend (’84) filed as a candidate for mayor of

Keewatin. He and hiswife, Sharla, have a grownson, Blake, and a daughter,Breanna, a high schoolsenior… Mike Coltom(’88) is teaching highschool industrialtechnology at McGregor.He’s worked in variousaspects of the constructionindustry during the past 14years and, for the pasteight years, he and his wife

have operated their own furniture restorationbusiness… Randy Wilson (’80) currently serves onthe Glencoe City Council and filed as a candidate tothe District 2 commissioner’s post in McLeod County.He and his wife, Kay, have lived in Glencoe for 17years and have a daughter, Sarah, 16, and a son, Tim,14… Becky Carlson (’85) works as a half-timespecial education teacher in the New London-SpicerSchool District. Her husband, Paul, is the assistantsuperintendent of the district, and they have three

children, Nick, Nate andMeghan… DavidMcPherson (’82) filed asa candidate for re-electionto the Ward 2 Albert LeaCity Council seat. Heowns CustomizedComputer Service, acompany providingservices for personalcomputers and computernetworks. He and his wife,

Rebecca, have a 17-year-old son, Nick…DougLindgren (’81) filed as a candidate to the District 2BState House of Representatives seat. He and his wife,Colleen, own Harwood Oil in Bagley and she isclerk-treasurer of the City of Bagley. They havethree children, Jeremiah, Justin and Rebekah…Colleen Chambers (’83) teaches seventh and eighthgrade physical education and serves as the highschool’s varsity volleyball coach at Jordan PublicSchools. She lives in Belle Plaine with her threedaughters, ages, 11, 8 and 3… Dwight Baker (’81)was named program director at the OverseasMinistries Study Center in New Haven, CT, in July.Most recently, he and his wife, Lois, worked forseven years at the U.S. Center for World Mission inPasadena, CA, before moving to New Haven for thenew position… Mark Saiger (’84) is the director ofbands at Grand Rapids High School… David Arola(’80) and Terryl (Wordelman) Arola (’80) live inPine City and have two children, Rob, 18, and Andy,16. David is principal of Pine City ElementarySchool and Terryl is a Pine County court servicesdirector, administering county probation services…Gregory Will (’80) lives in Bemidji and is workingtoward his master of science in education degree inspecial needs… Michael Musich (’87) and his wife,Donna, live in International Falls and have twochildren, Kelsie, 15, and Brett, 9… Virginia(Hoemberg) Schwichtenberg (’84) received hermaster’s in special education from St. Cloud StateUniversity in December of 2000. She and herhusband, Clement, live in Staples and have two sons,Mathew, 19, and Wyat, 13… Karen SlettenMattson (’80) is employed as a special educationteacher in Warroad. She and her husband, LeRoy,

live in Warroad and have three children, Ryan, 15,Lisa, 13, and Stephen, 10… Debbie Anderson (’87)and her husband, Tom, live in Sauk Centre and haveone daughter, Stephanie, 11… Nellie Wegscheid(’80) and her husband, Jerry, live in Wadena and have12 grandchildren… Mark Edwards (’82) works asan accessibility specialist with the State of MinnesotaBuilding Codes and Standards. He and his wife, Clair,live in Pine River… Marilyn (Gunderson) Hood(’85) teaches English at Bagley High School, directsplays in the drama department, serves as senior classadvisor and coaches volleyball. She and her husband,Joel, live in Bagley and have three children, Hillary,14, Katie, 11, and Andrea, 9… Debbie Todd (’86)teaches first grade in St. Francis and completed hermaster’s degree in 2001. She and her fiancé, Floyd,live in Andover… Kari Stadem (’84) and herhusband, Peter, raise turkeys on a farm in Blomkest.They have seven children, Michelle, 14, David, 12,Joel, 10, Daniel, 10, Sarah, 6, Andrew, 4, andPhilip, 1… John Deden (’89), a social studies teacherat Bemidji High School, is participating in a two-week study tour on economic education in Ukraineand Lithuania. The program is conducted by theNational Council on Economic Education. He hastaught civics, government and economics at BHS for11 years… Jill Katrin (’86) teaches second grade inDistrict 361. She and her husband, Mike, live inInternational Falls and have two children, Angie, 20,and Andrew, 14… Gary Heaton (’85) and JudyHeaton (’88) live in Mandan, ND, and have twogrown children, Brandon, 25, and Shannon, 23. Garyis a pastor for the Lutheran Mission congregation andJudy teaches elementary school… Rockford Lhotka

Randy Wilson

David McPherson

Pat Sauer

Six graduates of Bemidji StateUniversity received OutstandingAlumni Awards during an October 4banquet as part of 2002 Homecomingfestivities on campus.

Receiving the awards were: JeffBaumgartner, criminal justice,1977, Bemidji; Boyd Bradbury,Spanish, 1988, Callaway; CurtisOlson, music, 1972, East Lansing,MI; Denis Sauter, speech and the-ater, 1970, Carlton; LowellScearcy, mathematics, 1967, EastGull Lake; and Jeff Wallin, music,1970, San Diego, CA.

The Outstanding Alumni Awardwas established to recognize the con-tributions BSU graduates have madeto their professions, communities andalma mater. Since 1972, 102 indi-viduals have received the recognition.

JEFF BAUMGARTNER is thefounder and president of AmericanTime and Signal, a company that hasgrown into one of the nation’s larg-est clock manufacturing enterprisesthat now employs over 100 peoplein Dassel, MN. An active Rotarianfor more than 20 years, he has madetwo trips to Honduras with medicaland dental teams. He is also a vol-unteer youth hockey coach.

BOYD BRADBURY previouslyserved as a teacher in Wadena andBlue Earth schools as well as a prin-cipal of Benson High School priorto accepting his current position asthe superintendent of Waubun Pub-lic Schools in 2000. He is the past

president of the Minnesota RiverValley Principals’ Association, wasa member on the Minnesota Tech-nology Taskforce in Benson, and aformer president of the ChippewaValley chapter of the Minnesota DeerHunters Association.

CURTIS OLSON is a professor andthe associate director for undergradu-ate studies for the School of Musicat Michigan State University. He re-ceived a master’s degree from theEastman School of Music and hasperformed in such major ensemblesas the Detroit Symphony and theRochester Philharmonic Orchestra.The recipient of many honors, hemost recently was presented with theNeil Humfeld Award, a recognitiongiven to one individual annually forteaching excellence by the Interna-tional Trombone Association.

DENIS SAUTER has filled a vari-ety of roles since joining the CarltonHigh School staff in 1971. In addi-tion to teaching, he directed schoolmusicals for 31 years, served as ath-letic director for five years, andcoached track for eight years. A highschool hockey and volleyball offi-cial, he has served on the CarltonCounty community theater boardand was on the Minnesota HighSchool League athletic director ad-visor board for three years.

LOWELL SCEARCY retired fromteaching in 1999 following a 32-yearcareer in the classroom, most of thosespent at Brainerd High School. His466 wins over 30 years as the Brainerd

baseball coach is the third highest wintotal of any hardball coach in the state.Twice named the Minnesota StateHigh School Baseball Coach of theyear, he guided the Warriors to 12 con-ference and eight section titles whilewinning two state championships. Healso served 21 years as the junior highbasketball coach and 29 years as anassistant football coach at CentralLakes College.

JEFF WALLIN completed a tour ofVietnam as a pilot in the U.S. Navyfollowing graduation. In 1978 he re-signed his commission and becamean anti-submarine pilot in the NavalReserve, reaching the rank of captain.During this time he began workingin marketing and telecommunicationsbusiness development on an interna-tional scale and is currently the presi-dent and CEO of Patriot ScientificCorporation. He also founded a con-sulting company in 1999 that sup-ports multimedia systems integrationand communication technologies.

Alumni Reception atBeaver Men’s Hockey

Conference TournamentThe Alumni Association will be host-

ing a reception at this year’s CollegeHockey America (CHA) conference tour-nament on Friday, March 14, 2003, inKearney, NB. Details on the reception willbe included in the February edition ofHORIZONS.

Tournament play will take place Friday,Saturday and Sunday of that weekend,with the championship game scheduledfor Sunday at 5 p.m. The winner of theCHA conference now has an automaticberth in the 16-team NCAA nationalchampionship playoffs.

Tickets for the tournament are availablethrough Greg Shea, vice president for theTri-City Storm Hockey Team in Kearney.He can be reached via email atgreg@stormhockey.com.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS 2003 BSU OUTSTANDING ALUMNINominations are now being accepted for candidates to be considered for the Bemidji

State University Outstanding Alumni Award.The Outstanding Alumni Award is presented annually during Homecoming. It is the highest

honor presented by the Alumni Association. The recipients of the award bring much recog-nition to their alma mater through distinguished and professional achievements. They arehonored for exceptional service and contributions to Bemidji State University and to theircommunity, state and nation.

All nominees must have graduated no less than 10 years ago from Bemidji State Univer-sity. Nominations will be accepted until January 31, 2003, and can be made by anyoneexcept an immediate family member. Current faculty, staff and members of the board ofdirectors of the BSU Alumni Association are not eligible for consideration.

A nomination form can be obtained by calling the Alumni Association at 1-877-278-2586 (toll free), 218-755-3989 (local), via email at alumni@bemidjistate.edu or by goingto the website, info.bemidji state.edu/alumni/awards.

Jeff Baumgartner Boyd Bradbury Curtis Olson Denis Sauter Lowell Scearcy Jeff Wallin

Horizons Page 6

EIGHT ADDED TO ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

Where We Are ... What We’re Doing(Continued from page 3)

(’87) is writing his tenth book, VB.NET BusinessObjects, which should be available in April of 2003.He and his wife, Teresa, live in Eden Prairie with theirchildren, Tim, 9, and Marcus, 5… Ken Boie (’89)lives in Belle Plaine and has three children, Gabriella,12, Amber, 9, and Brian, 7… Kristi (Brademan)Pickett (’87) has been working for 15 years as aveterinary technician at Bemidji Veterinary Clinic.She lives in Bemidji with her daughters, Jessica, 9,and Caitlin, 4, and is planning a May wedding…Craig Stubbins (’81) and his wife, Jayne, live inEden Prairie and have three children, Jesse, 17,Callie, 8, and Joanna, 6… Ken Gagner (’86) isteaching fifth grade at Morris Area Schools and iscoaching junior football and serving as the head girlsbasketball coach. His wife, Jill, works at the USDA-ARS Soils Lab. They live in Morris and have threechildren, Jessica, 18, Heather, 11, and Grant, 10…Lance Lokken (’89) and his wife, Debbie (Pierson)Lokken, are the new owners of Iron Trail Laundry,Campground and Mobile Home Park in Chisholm, abusiness previously known as JKO Campground.The couple also owns Fairview Apartments,Hibbing, and Lance is employed at Hibbing Tac as atractor operator. They have three children, Jessie, 13,Peter, 5, and Stacie, 3… Dan Hodgson (’81) hasmanaged Econofoods in Wahpeton, ND, since thestore opened in 1986 and prior to that had taughtfreshman English at BSU. He also taught freshmanEnglish at NDSCS and currently serves on theNDSCS Alumni/Foundation Board of Directors. Helives in Wahpeton and has two children… BrentCochran (’81) recently became president of R/C

Machining Company, a family business with 26employees at which he’s worked for the past 20 years.He lives in Glenwood with his wife, Mary, and theirchildren, Jeremy, 16, Shelby, 13, and Colin, 4… BrettLarson (’88) is manager of NAPA Auto Parts inVirginia. He and his wife, Ann Marie, live in Gilbertand have two children, Garrett, 8, and Hannah, 6. Hecoaches youth football, basketball and baseball…Janice Frenzel (’88) teaches special education inKelliher, grades 8-12. She and her husband, Wesley,live in Northome and have four children and sixgrandchildren… Patrick Hammann (’86) and Jane(Dostal) Hammann (’84) live in Superior, WI, withtheir daughter, Kaleigh, 13. Patrick is a helicopter pilotfor St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth, and Jane teacheskindergarten in the Superior, WI, School District.

1990sAllison Kreibich (’98) has been elected to theBemidji School Board… Marilyn Foss (’90) ispostmaster at Max and often substitute teaches atSquaw Lake Elementary. She’s an active member ofCentennial Lutheran Church, Squaw Lake, and avolunteer with the American Cancer Society and theAdvocates for Family Peace in Itasca County… AmyBoll (’99) has been hired as a full-time industrialtechnology instructor at the Crookston HighSchool… Tim Slough (’92) and his wife, Debbie, ofBemidji announce the August 13 birth of a son…Diane Leaders (’99) has received her master’sdegree in social work with honors from theUniversity of Minnesota, Duluth. She is currentlyworking at Ottertail-Wadena Community Action as afamily services counselor… Nancy Allen (’90) wasrecently hired as the curriculum and personnel

director with Prior Lake Savage Area SchoolDistrict. She’d previously been employed as directorof curriculum, instruction and assessment at Bemidjiarea schools. She also served as an elementaryschool principal at Lincoln Elementary in Bemidjifrom 1994-2000 and at Norman County WestElementary School in Hendrum from 1991-1994…Christopher Parthun (’91) and his family recentlydonated a golden retriever puppy to the Hearing andService Dogs Program, based in the Twin Cities.Christopher’s wife, Tracy, involves her family intraining the puppy as a service dog for people withdisabilities including those who are deaf, paraplegicor subject to seizures. The Parthuns live in Bemidjiwith their children, Laura, Anna and Isaac… JonGaffaney (’99) has been selected to receive the Dr.

Ya-Pin Lee Award as theoutstanding graduatestudent in biochemistryand molecular biology atthe University of NorthDakota School ofMedicine and HealthSciences. He is workingtoward a doctor ofphilosophy degree in thelaboratory of Dr.Roxanne Vaughan,

associate professor of biochemistry and molecularbiology. His research is an investigation of themechanisms of a protein involved in cocaineaddictions, and it’s believed that findings from hisresearch may also have application for Parkinson’sdisease. The Ya-Pin Lee Award recognizes anoutstanding student for dedication, accomplishment

and zeal for research… Carrie (Collyard) Glinsek(’96) and James Glinsek (’96) were married April 27at Elk River, where they currently reside. Carrieopened a chiropractic office in Elk River in September2001… Jean Dolensek (’95) has been appointed to theNorthspan Group’s board of directors. She is themining program coordinator for the Iron RangeResources and Rehabilitation Agency and previouslyserved as a supervisor of general accounting forU.S. Steel Minntac. The Northspan Group is aDuluth-based private non-profit developmentorganization that has, since 1985, providedprofessional business and community developmentservices throughout Minnesota with a specialemphasis on the Northeast Region… BrandonFiedler (’99) announced his candidacy for theChisholm City Council this fall. He currently works asan independent contractor delivering the Duluth NewsTribune and the Manney’s Shopper. He’s an activemember of St. Joseph’s Church, Chisholm, and theKnights of Columbus Council #3539… Leslie(Skarich) Peterson (’93) received a master’s degreein teaching and learning from Saint Mary’s Universityin May. She teaches first grade at Meadow LakeSchool in the Robbinsdale School District and lives inAndover with her husband, Charles, and son, Ryan…Betty White (’90) of Wadena filed as a candidate forthe post of Wadena County auditor/treasurer. She’sworked as the Wadena County Highway Department’saccountant for the last five years and moved to Wadenafrom Brainerd 27 years ago. She helped form theWadena County Humane Society in 1996, is pastpresident of the humane society’s board of directorsand currently serves as a board member. She’s alsobeen an active 4-H horse project leader for

20 years… Jon Olson(’90) was a candidatefor the office of AitkinCounty commissioner.He’s been employed asa police officer with thecity of Aitkin for thepast 10 years. He andhis wife, Rayette, havefour children… SarahCurtis-Greer (’96) ofFall City participatedin the Avon Breast Can-cer Crusade in August, a 60-mile, three-day walk inthe state of Washington. She’s worked for the past

seven years injuvenilecorrections forthe WilderFoundation, St.Croix Campsnear Sandstoneas a counselorand supervisorof an adolescent

male correctional facility and has spent timevolunteering in villages in Central America –Antigua, Guatemala being the most recent. Proceedsfrom the three-day marathon went to support theAvon Breast Cancer Crusade’s mission to fundaccess to care and find a cure for breast cancer, with afocus on under-served women… David Bjorklund(’90) and his wife, Wendy McGillivray Bjorklund,of Park Rapids announce the August 23 birth of a

Bemidji State University inductedeight new members into the AthleticHall of Fame during a ceremony andbanquet October 19.

The 2002 inductees were BlaneComstock, Warroad; Mark Eagles, St.Paul; Betty Hughes, Roseville; AnnePavlik, Akeley; Diane Pettis, Sebeka;Pat Sartell, Marysville, CA; DonSchmeckpeper, Bemidji; and David“Dave” Sjoblad, Pequot Lakes.

The BSU Athletic Hall of Famewas started in 1978 and holds an in-duction ceremony every two years.There are currently 137 members inthe Hall of Fame.

Nominees must have attendedBSU no less than 20 years ago,earned an athletic letter at BSU, andattended BSU for at least two years.Selections are based on merit in fourcategories: athletic accomplishmentswhile at BSU, post collegiate profes-sional accomplishments, service andcontributions to a broader commu-nity, and volunteer service or finan-cial support to BSU.

BLANE COMSTOCK was a three-timeNAIA All-America goalie and ledthe BSU men’s hockey team to fourstraight national titles from 1967 to1970. He was named small collegeMost Valuable Player in 1969 andNAIA championship Most ValuablePlayer in 1970. Inducted into theNAIA Hall of Fame in 1977, he holdsBSU records in career shutouts (11)most career wins (68), and most winsin a season (24). He competed onthree U.S. National Teams and the1976 U.S. Olympic Team. He hasbeen teaching in Warroad, where hecoached the boys high school hockeyteam until 1991. The 1986 WarroadTeacher of the Year, he is a volun-

teer in the Jump Rope for Heart andthe Special Olympics.

MARK EAGLES was a four-timeNAIA All-America player and four-time all-conference member of theBSU men’s hockey team from 1972-1976. The team captain his senioryear, he played on three conferencechampionship teams and one na-tional championship team in 1973,when he was named to the all-tour-nament squad. One of the most pro-lific scorers in team history, he had100 goals and 125 assists in 116games. He holds the school recordin four categories: most career goals(100), most unassisted career goals(18), most career hat tricks (7), andmost career unassisted goals (7). Heis currently employed with MentorCorporation as a regional sales man-ager. He has more than 20 years ofcoaching youth hockey in Roseville.

BETTY HUGHES was a four-timeletter winner in basketball and vol-leyball from 1976-1980. The cap-tain of the BSU volleyball team fortwo years, she led the squad to three30-plus win seasons, several appear-ances in MAIAW state and regionalplayoffs, was the Northern Sun Con-ference MVP her senior year, twicewas All-MAIAW, and once named tothe All-AIAW Region 6 squad. Shewas a starting guard and a senior cap-tain on two conference championshipbasketball teams. Now a respiratorytherapist, she received the Distin-guished Service Award from theUniversity of Minnesota Hospitaland Clinic in 1993, has been a 20-year participant in USVBA volley-ball leagues, and was named to theBSU women’s athletics 30-year an-niversary team in 2000.

ANN PAVLIK was a four-sportathlete, competing in field hockey,volleyball, basketball, and track andfield. She earned seven letters dur-ing her career at BSU, including fourin track and field where she was theMAIAW state champion in the 1973javelin throw. She is currently in her29th year as a teacher in the Walker-Hackensack-Akeley school system.As a coach, her 20-year record involleyball was 278-149 while sheguided her teams to three regionaltournament appearances and to athird-place in the 1978 state tourna-ment. She has been active in coach-ing associations at all levels and is apast president of the Minnesota Vol-leyball Coaches Association and theNational American VolleyballCoaches Association.

DIANE PETTIS, a 1976 graduate,competed on Bemidji State champi-onship teams in volleyball (1974),track and field (1974, 1975) and bas-ketball (1974, 1976). Since leavingBSU, she has taught and coached atSebeka High School, amassing over300 wins in volleyball and guidingteams to Park Regional ConferenceChampionships in volleyball (four),softball (three) and basketball (one).She directs summer volleyball campsand clinics while remaining activewith elementary programs in volley-ball, basketball and softball. She wasnamed to the BSU women’s athlet-ics 30-year anniversary team in 2000.

PAT SARTELL lettered four timesin volleyball and basketball from1975-1978. Her basketball career in-cluded two selections to the AllMinn-Kota Conference team and aconference championship in 1976. Ateam captain in volleyball, she wasall-conference two times and played

on a squad that won four consecu-tive Minn-Kota Conference titles.She also participated in the earlyyears of BSU softball by playing onthe club team. After graduation, shetaught at Deer Creek where shecoached three sports and was namedRegion 6A Volleyball Coach of theYear in 1983. She is now a specialeducation teacher and was named tothe BSU women’s athletics 30-yearanniversary team in 2000.

DON SCHMECKPEPER letteredthree times in football at BSU from1946-50 and was a four-time letterwinner in track, winning the confer-ence high hurdle title in 1947. An in-dustrial education major, he receivedboth a bachelor’s degree and amaster’s degree from Bemidji State.Prior to retirement, he had a 34-yearcareer in education, all but one atBemidji High School where he wasthe track coach for 10 years. He re-mains active in community organi-zations and in supporting BemidjiState University programs.

DAVID SJOBLAD was the secondleading all-time scorer on the BSUbasketball team when he graduated in1964. A four-time letterman, he wastwice elected as team captain and wasan all-conference selection. He retiredin 1999 following a lengthy career ineducation, including 22 years at PequotLakes high School. He has been awellness speaker for various organi-zations and received the CentralMinnesota Counselor AssociationAward for Community Service. Hecontinues to work as a consultant on aprogram called Maxing Out, workingwith coaches and athletes on chemi-cal, health, wellness and attitude issuesand promoting the idea of keepingsports in a healthy perspective.

Jon Gaffaney

Sarah Curtis-Greer

Jon Olson

Athl

etic

Hall o

f Fam

eAnn Pavlik Betty Hughes Blane Comstock David Sjoblad Diane Pettis Donald Schmeckpeper Mark Eagles Pat Sartell

Horizons Page 7

(Continued on page 6)

daughter… Michelle Young (’95) and her husband,Wade Young (’93), of Bemidji announce the August22 birth of a son. Michelle is employed at AffinityPlus Credit Union while Wade works at NaylorElectric… Jess Ward (’96) and Dave Evenson(‘84), both of Bemidji, are planning a May wedding.Jess is an agency specialist with State Farm Insuranceand Dave is a physical education and health teacher atPonemah Elementary School… Chuck Eggert (’99)is teaching fourth grade at Dassel Elementary. Hewas previously employed at Monticello and has twoyears of experience teaching second grade and oneyear teaching fourth grade. He and his wife, Danell,live in Foley… Vickie Erdmann (’96) is in her first

year of teaching in theWin-E-Mac SchoolDistrict. She teachesRussian in grades 7-12and English as asecond language andalso works withelementary students ina different classroomeach day on languageskills activities. Lastyear she taught inNorthome… MegKolden (’95) isteaching geometry,

algebra II and applied math II at Stephen-ArgyleCentral. She’d previously taught for seven years atFergus Falls Senior High. She and her husband,Jerod, have a daughter, Bailee, 4, and son, Matthew,1… Daryl Kehler (’99) is teaching high school and

middle school social studies at the Waseca AreaLearning Center. He’d previously taught in Bemidjiand Blackduck… Kathy Birt (’98) is the new specialeducation teacher at North Elementary, Deer River…Kristen Busch (’97) is teaching science at Tower-Soudan Schools. She’s a first-year teacher who nowlives in Tower with her husband, Rick, who works atTower Auto Parts… Patrick Holm (’94) is the newhigh school math teacher and head wrestling coach atLake Park-Audubon Schools… Dawn Bergerson(’98) is coordinating the Early Childhood FamilyEducation program at Menahga where she lives withher husband and four children. She had previouslybeen a substitute teacher in the Menahga, Sebeka andPark Rapids school districts… Kristen Zupetz (’96)resigned this summer from her position as businessmanager for the Chisholm School District in order toaccept a similar job with a Twin Cities school district.She’d been employed in her position at Chisholm forthree years… Angie McCarthy (’97) and herhusband, Casey McCarthy (’97), of Bemidjiannounce the September 24 birth of a daughter. Angieis a registered nurse and Casey works in the SecurityDepartment at BSU… Shelley Steva (’98) is in herthird year of teaching science to sixth- through eighth-graders at RLCC at Plummer. She lives in Thief RiverFalls and has two children, Erin, 17, and Lee, 14…Kim Elhardt (’98) is in her fifth year of teachingkindergarten at Bigfork schools. She and her husband,Eric, live in Marcell, have a son, Ethan, 2, and areanticipating the birth of their second child inNovember… Melissa Marcotte (’92) her husband,Glen, and their daughter, Macey, 1, recently movedback to her hometown of International Falls after

spending three years in Brainerd… RebeccaLundgren (’91) of Grand Rapids received a master’sdegree in special education from BSU in May… BevTurk (’92) works as an image editor and photoshopspecialist for the Grand Rapids Herald Reviewnewspaper. She and her husband, Keith, live inCohasset. Their daughter, Paula, 22, lives and worksin Boston, MA… Ann (Johnson) McCann (’90) ofBrighton, CO, has worked for the Ball Corporation foreight years as an executive accountant. She and herhusband, Joseph, have a daughter, Samantha, 2…Glenn Amundson (’91) of East Grand Forks hasworked as a sales manager at Hansen Ford LincolnMercury in Grand Forks, ND, for the past sevenyears… John Hanson (’91), his wife, Linda, and theirchildren, Brooke, 7, and Paige, 5, live in Houston,TX… Kristin (Mostad) Sundgaard (’91) andAnthony Sundgaard (’93) have two children, ages 3years and newborn. Kristin is a physical therapist withHealthEast Home Care and Anthony works in lawenforcement for the city of Eagan… Karen Wicklund(’94) of St. Petersburg, FL, recently started a new jobwith the Florida Department of Revenue and isengaged to Ken Kull… Kristy Toftum (’96) andJoshua Branson were married July 25 in Golden,CO… Tessa Braaten (’94) and Les Lauderbaughwere married September 7 at Leif Erickson Park inDuluth, overlooking Lake Superior. They live inBemidji where Tessa is employed with the BeltramiCounty Sheriff’s Department and Les with SpeeDeeDelivery… Debra Jelencich-Jensen (’92) is in her10th year of teaching fourth grade. She and herhusband, Floyd, live in Brainerd and have threechildren, Rosie, 15, Michelle, 12, and Kelsey, 2…

Lisa Pierce (’92) has worked as an accountsreceivable bookkeeper for eight years, is the proudowner of 21 dogs and survived a serious automobileaccident in June of 2001. She and her husband, Larry,live in Cotton and have a 17-year-old daughter,Danielle… Marie Chandler (’96) is teaching sixthgrade at the Cass Lake-Bena Middle School and hadpreviously taught at Walker-Hackensack-Akeleyschools for five years. She lives in Bemidji with herhusband, David, and has two children… Rick Berndt(’91) owns the Pet Zone in Bemidji. He and his wife,Patti, live in Bemidji and have three children, Derek,19, Kari, 16, and Kris, 10… Don Anderson (’94) andSheila (McCarty) Anderson (’93) live in GrandRapids and have two children, Jacob and Julie. Donruns his own chiropractic practice, ItascaChiropractic Center in Grand Rapids… TeresaLaFriniere (’98) was hired recently as a tax specialistwith FarmChek Services of McIntosh. She’s workedin accounting and bookkeeping positions since 1994,most recently as a farm tax specialist with AgCountryFarm Credit Services of Detroit Lakes. She and herhusband, Brian, live near Roy Lake in ruralMahnomen County… Cary Parks (’95) graduated inSeptember from the FBI National Academy Programat the FBI Academy campus in Quantico, VA. Parks,who has worked 20 years with the Coon RapidsPolice Department, was one of only three Minnesotagraduates. He’s served as a detective sergeant for thepast three years. He’s married and has two daughters,coaches girls soccer and lives in Coon Rapids…Cindy (Haarstad) Darrow (’90) lives in InverGrove Heights with her husband, Dan, and iscurrently employed at Macalaster College, St. Paul,

as the associate director for operations, campus center/programs… Serene Bachman (’90) joined the HolyRedeemer School staff in Montgomery this fall. Sheserves as a part-time school counselor, sharing hertime with two other schools, Lonsdale/New MarketVeseli and St. Wenceslaus in New Prague. She’dpreviously taught for a year at Waterville-Elysian-Morristown and for one year in Mankato. She lives inMontgomery with her husband, Larry, and their twochildren, Austin, 10, and Ali, 8… John Gronski (’91)and his wife, Anne, live in Superior, WI, with theirchildren, Gunnar, 3, and Jarrett, 1… Bob Brauer (’92)has been promoted to vice-president of marketing withBrauer Supply Co. and also serves as a corporate pilotwith the company. He and his wife, Melanie, live inSpringfield, IL, with their children, Travis, 7, Alexis,4, and Britta, 1… Melissa (Baker) Warren (’91) is asenior analyst and supervisor with State FarmInsurance and her husband, Michael, works for IllinoisSenator Bill Brady. They live in Bloomington, IL, withtheir children, Samantha, 5, and Jake, 2.

2000sKathleen Furlong (’01) has been hired as an artdirector by Out There Advertising, a marketing andadvertising agency in Duluth… Bruce Manske (’00)filed as a candidate in November’s Bemidji SchoolBoard election… Michele Dinius (’00) is the newhead coach of the Rush City High School varsityvolleyball squad. She will also substitute teach until afull-time physical education teaching position opensin Rush City. She’d previously coached at MonticelloHigh School and is engaged to Paul Kirby, a sixth-grade teacher at Rush City… Leslie Johnson (’01)

Vickie Erdmann

Communiquesfrom the alumni directorMarla Huss Patrias

Track & Field Alumni Meet ScheduledFormer BSU track & field team members, are you ready to tie on yourrunning shoes and test your athletic skills? A BSU Alumni Track &Field meet will be held on Saturday January 18, 2003 at 3 p.m. in theGillett Recreation-Fitness Center on campus. The meet will feature thegreen moldy oldies versus a team of freshmen and a team of upper classstudents. The green moldy oldie team will be given handicaps for thenumber of years that have elapsed since the last time they competed forthe Beavers. They will also be given extra points for wearing old BSUuniforms, sweats and letterman jackets (even if they don’t fit). Follow-ing the meet, a supper (roast) will be held at 7 p.m. at Walnut Hall wheremany stories will be told, which hopefully won’t be stretched too far!For more information, contact coach Craig Hougen at 218-755-2883 orvia email at chougen@bemidjistate.edu.

Deadline for Alumni Relative ScholarshipApplications Coming Up

The deadline for BSU’s Alumni Relative Scholarship is coming up soon.Applications for returning or transfer students are due Tuesday, Decem-ber 31. Applications for incoming freshmen have been extended as ofthis year, and are now due Friday, January 31. Applications are availableon-line at info.bemidjistate.edu/alumni/scholarship or by contacting thealumni office.

First Ever Athletic Hall of Fame WeekendDescribed as a Success!

The first ever Athletic Hall of Fame celebration weekend was held Octo-ber 18 and 19. By all accounts, the weekend of events were a successand enjoyed by the many alumni who returned to campus to participate.

A reception for all Hall of Fame members was held Friday evening atthe David Park House, with almost 100 people in attendance, including31 AHF members and the eight inductees. Following the reception, par-ticipants took in the women’s volleyball match and men’s hockey gametaking place in the John Glas Fieldhouse. The inductees were intro-duced between the second and third matches of the volleyball game andall Hall of Fame members present were introduced between the secondand third periods of the hockey game.

Beaver Pride again hosted a pre-football game tailgate party on Satur-day morning, followed by introductions of the inductees at halftime ofthe football game. Football and hockey alums attended receptions fol-lowing the football game, and culminating the weekend of events wasthe Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony and banquet Saturdayevening. A record 186 people were in attendance to celebrate with theeight inductees and honor the Hall of Fame members present.

Due to the overwhelming success, the weekend format for AthleticHall of Fame will continue. The next celebration will be in 2004.

In MemoriamBradley B. Blooflat (’96) – Bagley, MN

Michael Staples (’95) – Bemidji, MN

Marion Edgar (’60) – Tahlequah, OK

Leonard Bengston (’32) – Grand Rapids, MN

Gordon L. Wright (’55) – Bemidji, MN

Hazel Hogenson (retired faculty) – Parkers Prairie, MN

Margarete Steininger (’65) – Northome, MN

Willa Beaulieu (’75) – Pinewood, MN

Ruth Stenerson (retired faculty) – Bemidji, MN

Gregg Fokken (’87) – Oronoco, MN

Dick Hess (’50) – Verndale, MN

BSUBe part of the BSU Winter Rendezvous 2003! All BSU alumni

invited. Plans are shaping up for the Alumni

Association’s Seventh Annual golf tournament and winter

celebration to be held March 9 - 10 in Laughlin, Nevada.

For more information, or to be put on the registration mailing

list, contact the alumni office at 877-278-2586 (toll free),

218-755-3989 (local) or via email at alumni@bemidjistate.edu.

S E V E N T H A N N U A L

WinterRendezvous!

Pictured are several hockey alums attending the Athletic Hall of Fame reception at the David Park House.Sitting on the couch is AHF 2002 inductee Blane Comstock ’71, former men’s hockey coach Bob Peters andAHF 2002 inductee Mark Eagles ’77. Standing from left to right in the front row are: Steve Letourneau ‘76,Lynn Smith ‘74, Lyle Dunbar ‘73, Steve Curley ‘75, Bruce Falk ’71 and Dennis Kvarnlov-Leverty ’72. Picturedin the back row are Bob Nyberg ‘71, Jim McElmury ’71, Glen Chiodo ’75, and Bryan Grand ’70.

Horizons Page 8

Where We Are ... What We’re Doing(Continued from page 3)

and her husband, Sam, of Bemidji announce theAugust 27 birth of a son… Jennifer Scheela (’00)and Edward Belisle (’01) were married May 18 inBemidji. Jennifer recently completed courseworkfor a master’s degree in sport management at BSU.Edward has accepted a coaching position with theSioux Falls Stampede of the U.S. Hockey League…Dan Sabin (’00) married Heather Jorgensen (‘01)August 24 in Bemidji. Dan is employed withBankers Systems and Heather is a Target Corp.employee. They live in St. Cloud… David Olson(’01) has been hired to teach physical education atthe Isanti Middle School and the Minnesota Center.He student taught in the Bagley Public Schools andwas a long-term substitute there. He also filled along-term substitute position with CambridgeMiddle School in the spring of 2002… Michael Svir(’02) of Badger is in his first year of teaching socialstudies and science to fifth-through eighth-gradestudents and math to seventh- and eighth-graders atBalaton Public School… Jason Warner (’01) isteaching math and applied geometry at Hinckley-Finlayson High School this year… Kami Roensch(’00) is teaching kindergarten at Milaca PublicSchools. She’d previously worked as a substituteteacher in Walker and an EBD teacher in Biwabik…Scott Wherley (’01) of Hines married Trisha LinderMay 4. He is employed as a deputy sheriff forBeltrami County and had previously worked as aconservation officer in Nebraska… Amy Techar(’02) of Finlayson is entering her first year ofteaching as a fourth-grade teacher at Willow River…

Answer the callLaura and Patrick are among 30 BSU students calling throughout each academic year asmembers of the university advancement calling team. These students call alumni in an effort toupdate records, keep them connected to campus, and possibly garner financial support. During2001-02, the BSU Alumni Phonathon had the most successful year in its calling history, thanksto generous alumni. This support provides funding for scholarships, faculty and studentresearch projects, university-wide program enhancements and special projects, student recruit-ment activities, and athletic programs to name just a few areas.

Why do alumni give through the BSU Phonathon? Aside from helping the University, it is away to invest in BSU and stay connected. Perhaps the best reason to give through this programis to show belief in Bemidji State University. Alumni receiving a call this year from one of ourenthusiastic Phonathon callers are encouraged to take a few minutes to talk with them. Askabout campus life and let them know what it was like in the good old days. Thanks to all alumniin advance for getting involved and . . . answering the call.

For alumni who missed the call and would still like to give to the University Fund, please fill out and return the form below.

Bemidji State University FoundationBSU Alumni Phonathon 2002-2003

$_____ Payment enclosed. Checks should be made payable to: BSU Foundation

Please bill: _____Monthly _____Quarterly _____Semi-Annually _____Annually _____Bill me during the month of __________

_____ VISA _____ Mastercard Account number ____________________________________ Expiration Date __________

Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________ Telephone ______________________________________________

Signature ________________________________________ Date __________________________________________________

Bemidji State University Foundation, 1500 Birchmont Drive NE #17, Bemidji, MN 56601-2699(218) 755-2762 / Fax (218) 755-4146

Pennie Rude (’02) is teaching high school U.S.citizenship, ancient civilizations/archeology,economics and American history to eighth-graders atWaterville-Elysian-Morristown Schools… EricAustin (’02) is a new middle school social studiesteacher at Becker Public Schools this year… EvanLembke (’01) is the new industrial technologyteacher at Moose Lake High School. He’d previouslytaught in the Wrenshall District and lives inWrenshall with his wife and baby daughter… RyanGiles (’02) took a teaching position this year at theLac qui Parle Valley High School. He teachesindustrial arts including drafting, construction andwoodworking… Jessica Bina (’02) of East GrandForks is in her first year of teaching at New HeightsElementary there. She’s spent two years withAmeriCorps in Bemidji working with Youth Quakeand devoting 2,600 volunteer hours in after-schooland reading programs. She also taught pre-school,kindergarten and fourth grade in Bemidji… CalvinGunn (’02) is teaching sixth grade at Nevis. He’dserved as a long-term substitute for sixth grade lastyear and also substituted for Title I in the spring of2001. He and his wife, Shana (‘00), have beenmarried four years and have a nine-month old son,Michael… Amory Olson (’01) is in her first year ofteaching at Southwest Star Concept High School,Heron Lake. She’s teaching 10th-grade biology,seventh-grade life science and eighth-grade earthscience… Kristy Finck (’01) was recently hired as

the newest addition to the Bertha-Hewitt teachingstaff as a kindergarten teacher and volleyball andtrack coach. Her husband, Dale (‘91), is also ateacher at Bertha-Hewitt… Aaron Johnson (’02) isin his first year of teaching social studies at Tri-County Schools, Karlstad… Michael Enerson (’01)of Dassel is teaching seventh-and eighth-gradesocial studies at Dassel schools. He was previouslyemployed summers with Beltrami ElectricCooperative in Bemidji and had worked for AlaskaInterstate Construction in Prudhoe Bay… EricOlson (’02) was recently hired as communityfacilitator for Polk County Public Health, a positiondedicated to preventing the use of alcohol, tobaccoand drugs by minors. He’s single and lives inFisher… Coral Swanlund (’02) is living inBurnsville… Stacey Steinkopf (’02) of Bemidji hasstarted graduate studies and is a teaching graduateassistant in the English Department at BSU… AndyJadoo (’02) is living in St. Paul… Jessica Creech(’02) lives in Bemidji… Jacquelyn Chiabotti (’02)and her husband, Michael, live in Andover with theirchildren, Dominic, 5, and Dylan, 3… KajsaFreborg (’02) has accepted a teaching position at theBemidji Middle School… Ryan Binder (’02) livesin Shevlin… Rob Litchke (’02) of St. Paul isemployed as a staff auditor with the MinnesotaOffice of the Legislative Auditor… MichelleCollopy (’02) works as a SWS/ALC teacher inDistrict 199. She lives in Inver Grove Heights withher husband, Gary, and their children, Erin, 15, and

Michael 10… Kerry Lakso (’02) has a new job atMesabi Range Community and Technical College asan academic advisor. She lives in Cook with herhusband, Bob, and their children, Mandy, 12, andKanika, 3… Angie (Lease) Kellin (’02) teachesmiddle school and high school English. She and herhusband, Tony, live in Grand Rapids… JenniferSchepers (’02) lives in South St. Paul… CrystalBanovetz (’02) is substitute teaching in the Elyschools. Her son, Joshua, is four… Amanda Ogden(’02) works as a quality control chemist at SolvayPharmaceuticals in Baudette. She and her husband,Roben, live in Emo, Ontario, Canada, with theirnine-year-old, Jordan… Bethany Gustafson (’02)lives in Mankato and has begun work on a master’s

degree in teachingEnglish as a secondlanguage… DerrickGross (’02) is teachingfourth grade atNorthome. He alsocompleted eight yearsof service in the U.S.Marine Corps andworked for a time at theItasca JuvenileCenter… SherriKruger (’01) is a newaddition to the Badgerfaculty this year and

lives in Roseau with her husband, David, andchildren, Elysia, 17, Sarah, 12, and John,10…Karen Andrascik (’02) and her familyrecently moved from International Falls toEatonville, WA. She is working toward her stateteaching certification and plans to work as asubstitute teacher. She and her husband, Roger,have two children, Sean, 13, and Hannah, 9… JenBrekkestran (’02) lives in Brooklyn Center andworks as a residential supervisor for a companycalled ACR… Lauri (Nevalainen) Solberg (’02)teaches math at Lakeville High School. She lives inSt. Paul with her husband, Chuck… Brad Czech(’01) has joined the Long Prairie ElementarySchool staff as a first grade teacher. His fiancé,Elizabeth Santo, is a teacher at Mary of LourdesElementary School in Little Falls… Zach Howard(’02) is in his first year of teaching high schoolscience and biology classes in Belgrade districtschools… Cory Gish (’02) is teaching third gradeat Cass Lake-Bena Elementary School. He lives inBemidji with his wife, Amy… Tina Vaughn (’01)is teaching third grade at Cass Lake-BenaElementary School… Scot Blumenshein (’01) isworking as an EBD teacher with the Cass Lake-Bena School District. He’s previously worked as ajournalist for six years… Amy Klimek (’00)teaches fourth grade at Cass Lake-BenaElementary School. She lives on Midge Lake withher husband, Shawn (‘99).

Sherri Kruger

“I like to talk to the interesting alumni ofBSU. I also like to raise money for such agreat thing as Bemidji State University.”Patrick Crosby, Class of 2004

Patrick is a junior majoring in industrial technology.This is his first year working with the BSU AlumniPhonathon.

“Working at the Calling Center is a lot of fun.The people you talk to are so much fun. To heartheir experiences at BSU makes it exciting to behere. You meet so many people and they aregreat to talk with. It’s just a great thing.”Laura Manley, Class of 2006

Laura is a freshman majoring in liberal education. This is herfirst year working with the BSU Alumni Phonathon.

Answer The Call

Slim’s Bar and Grill and Beaver Pride haveannounced the annual winter golf tournamentwill be played on Saturday, January 18, 2003,on the frozen links of Lake Bemidji. Teams oftwo golfers will use a putter and an iron tonegotiate the 18-hole course with a tennisball. The format is a two-person scramble and

is limited to the first 144 registrants.Call 218-755-2827 for more information.

WINTER GOLF CLASSIC

F I F T H A N N U A L

SATURDAY JANUARY 18, 2003

BEAVER PRIDE

Love to travel? Always wanted to see China and the Great Wall? Did you participate inSinosummer as a student at BSU and have dreamed of going back?

The Alumni Association will give those who answered yes an opportunity to visit China througha guided trip to China from July 23 through August 6, 2003.

The program will be led by professor emeritus Pete Smith, and is designed as somewhat of ashorter version of the Sinosummer program; however, it will include a few new twists forSinosummer veterans.

The itinerary includes two days in Beijing; five days at Liaoning University for field trips toNorth East China; two days in Xian; and a four-day, three-night cruise aboard a four-star PrincessCruise ship on the Chang Jiang through the Three Gorges.

This Three Gorges cruise will be one of the last chances to see the area since this section of theriver will be dammed and flooded in a few years as part of an enormous hydroelectric project.

The cost for the trip is $3300, which includes roundtrip airfare from Minnesota, as well as allother transportation, hotel and meal costs. Prices for the trip may vary slightly depending onparticipation.

All alumni, family and friends are welcome to participate. Interested individuals must submita deposit of $150 to the Alumni Association no later than February 15, 2003. If the trip werecanceled for any reason, this deposit would be refunded.

A minimum of ten participants is necessary for the trip to take place. Questions and expressionsof interest can be forwarded to the Alumni Office at 218-755-2876 (local), 1-877-278-2586 (tollfree), or alumni@bemidjistate.edu.

Alumni Trip to China in Summer 2003

Slim’s