The Summer Scoop for June 19, 2014
Volume 46, Number 1
Faculty & Staff News
Michele Hollingsworth Koomen (Education), along with colleagues at the University of Minnesota (Karen Oberhauser, Rob Blair, Gillian Roehrig) were awarded a Directed Research K-12 NSF grant for four years that will total $2.3 million from October 2014 to September 2018. The awarded project utilizes existing citizen science projects as springboards for professional development for teachers during an intensive summer workshop (at the University of Minnesota Ecological Field station: Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve in East Bethel, Minnesota) that will embed ecological/life science content and the practice of science with secondary teachers, promote disciplinary literacy in reading, writing, and quantitative reasoning; and support teachers in meeting the needs of diverse students, including English language learners and students with exceptionalities. The team will work with teachers from rural school districts including St. Peter, Le Sueur and Sibley East, urban school districts (Minneapolis and St. Paul) and suburban school districts with Anoka-Hennepin. Key contributions of the project are stronger connections between ecology-based citizen science programs, STEM curriculum, and students’ lives; and between science learning and disciplinary literacy in reading, writing and math. Project deliverables include 1) curriculum resources that will support engagement in five existing citizen science projects that incorporate standards-based science content; 2) venues for student research presentations that can be duplicated in other settings; and 3) a compilation of teacher-adapted primary scientific research articles that will provide a model for promoting disciplinary literacy. The project engages 40 teachers per year, and their students.
Ursula Lindqvist (Scandinavian Studies and faculty affiliate in Film Studies) was quoted in The New York Times Sunday edition on June 15 in an article appearing in the Arts section, "Swedish Auteur Takes on a Brave Loner," on veteran Swedish filmmaker Jan Troell's latest film, "The Last Sentence."
On May 25, Carthage College awarded Professor Emeritus Darrell Jodock an honorary degree, Doctor of Divinity.
Dwight Stoll (Chemistry) has been selected as the recipient of the 2014 ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry Dr. Sut Ahuja Young Investigator Award in Separation Science. The award is given annually to a young scientist who has made unique and outstanding contributions to the field of separation science. Stoll will be presented the award at the Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy in New Orleans on March 8-12, 2015.
News & Announcements
Profile Pictures...Faculty and staff profile pictures are available by appointment during the summer months. To schedule an appointment please email Lorie Siebels in the Marketing and Communication Office at lsiebels@gustavus.edu.
Volunteers Sought...The Center for International and Cultural Education (CICE) is seeking volunteers for its International Friendship Family Program. Each Gustavus international student is matched with a local family. The family will typically invite the student to their home for dinner, family functions, or trips, and go to events in which the student is involved. It is a great opportunity for the family and the student to share cultures. If interested, please contact Jeff Anderson (x7493 or jeffa@gustavus.edu) in the Center for International and Cultural Education.
New Staff Member...Ms. Katalina Traxler has been hired as the College's new Assistant Director of Multicultural Student Programs and Services in the Diversity Center. Please welcome Ms. Traxler to Gustavus when she begins her duties on July 14.
Valleyfair Discounts...Gustavus is participating in the "Good Any Day Discount Program" at Valleyfair. Employees may purchase tickets for regular admission (ages 3-61 and 48" or taller) for $29.00, Junior/Senior (under 48” tall or age 62 & older) for $29.00 (includes admission to Dinosaurs Alive), Dinosaurs Alive tickets for $2.50, and new this year Ride & Refresh tickets for $34.00(ages 3-61, 48” or taller) includes unlimited soft drink wristband. All tickets may be used any day of the Valleyfair 2014 operating season. Tickets are available for purchase in the Office of Human Resources located in the Carlson Administration Building.
Friends of Learning Drop Box...Friends of Learning (FOL) is again organizing its annual Back to School Project. FOL is a partnership of Nicollet County Social Services, St. Peter Lions Club, St. Peter Kiwanis Club, Salvation Army, and the Friends of the St. Peter Public Library. The participating organizations believe that each child should start school with the necessary supplies and backpack to have a successful year. This fall, the Back to School Project will provide school supplies to an estimated 475 students, grades K–12, in the St. Peter and surrounding Nicollet County school districts. Donations are needed! Starting in mid-July, supplies can be dropped off at several convenient locations in St. Peter including Gustavus, at the lower level of the Jackson Campus Center. A list of needed supplies will be available at our drop-off site. The collection period runs for three weeks, from July 14 to August 2. For more information contact Lions member Dean Wahlund (dwahlund@gustavus.edu), or Kiwanis member Jeff Owen (jowen@gustavus.edu). Watch for the colorful Friends of Learning receptacle in July!
Nobel Conference Tickets...Tickets for the 50th annual Nobel Conference are now on sale at gustavustickets.com. Gustavus students and employees are allowed one complimentary ticket. Reserved tickets are $115 per person, while general admission tickets are available for $70 per person. High schools and college delegations can purchase a group of 10 tickets for $50. Information about the conference is available online at gustavus.edu/nobel.
Next Summer Scoop...The next edition of The Summer Scoop will be published on Thursday, July 17. Members of the Gustavus community can continue to submit information online at gustavus.edu/news/submit/.
Campus Happenings
On Sunday, June 22, First Lutheran Church of St. Peter and Gustavus Adolphus College will collaborate to present the Viking Choir, the international touring choir of the North Star Boys' Choir, in concert at Christ Chapel. This performance, under the direction of Artistic Director Francis Stockwell, is part of the Viking Choir's "Voices of Gold..." 2014 Summer Tour which includes concerts in New Ulm, Pequot Lakes, Elk River, Winona, Maple Grove and Mitchell, South Dakota. The North Star Boys' Choir concert in Christ Chapel begins at 7 p.m. on June 22. The performance is free to the public with an opportunity for the audience to support the costs of the tour through a free will offering. Full details about the choir are available at northstarboyschoir.org. Homestay hosts for the boys in the choir are being sought. Anyone interested in hosting a pair of singers, ages 10-16, for the evening of Sunday, June 22 should contact Chad Winterfeldt at cwinterfeldt@flcstp.org or 507-934-3060. Host families are invited to attend a potluck meal with the choir before the concert, and then to house the pair of singers for the evening, provide a light breakfast, and return them to First Lutheran Church, 1114 W. Traverse Road, in Saint Peter, the next morning.
Community Picnic...You are invited to a picnic at Minnesota Square Park on Monday, July 7 to greet President Bergman and celebrate the Gustavus community. The event is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. Feel free to come alone or bring your family as well as something to grill, a dish to pass, and table service. Soft drinks, beer, and wine will be provided. If you have a favorite lawn game, bring that too! Come early and stay as long as you can. Enjoy each other's company and music by The Flood Plain Four. Please RSVP to Lorie Siebels at 933-7520 or email marketing@gustavus.edu by Wednesday, July 2.
Gustie Breakfast...The next Gustie Breakfast will take place at 7:30 a.m. on July 9 in the banquet rooms of the Jackson Campus Center and will feature Mariah Wika '15 and communication studies professor Leila Brammer. Cost is $8 per person or $15 per couple. RSVP to 507-933-6664 or gustiebreakfast@gustavus.edu.
Off-Campus Events of Interest
The Annual Summer Noontime Organ Recital Series, presented by the Sioux Trails Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, will take place at 12:10 p.m. every Tuesday from June 10 through August 12 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 720 S. 2nd St, Mankato. Gustavus Senior David Lim will perform on June 24. Free will donation. Visit gosiouxtrails.org for more information.
Obituaries
- Karen Hommerding, the mother of Jennifer Ehalt (Counseling Center) passed away on June 9, 2014, at the age of 61. A funeral was held on Thursday, June 12 at Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in St. Cloud. Karen is survived by her loving husband of 36 years, Jim; children, Christopher of Madison, Wis., Holly of Blaine, Jennifer (Luke) of Carver, Jessica (Roger) of Sartell; grandchildren, Brynn, Evan; brother, Kevin Borman of St. Cloud; aunt, Lorraine (Borman) Schabel of Luxemburg; and beloved cat, Lazarus. Memorials are preferred to the Tri County Humane Society or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
To inform the campus community of the death of a current student, employee, or trustee; an emeritus professor or trustee; or an immediate family member of a current employee, contact the Office of the President (x7538 or jnoren@gustavus.edu). Death announcements and funeral notices for students, current and emeritus faculty and employees, and trustees will be sent to the community via written notice from the president, posted on community-l, the official campuswide e-mail list, and published in Inside Gustavus or the Summer Scoop. Notices for immediate family members of current employees will be published in Inside Gustavus or the Summer Scoop unless they occur during a publication break, in which case they will be posted on employee-l.
In the Media
Here are some noteworthy Gustavus-related stories that recently appeared in print or broadcast media locally, regionally, or around the nation:
- The Star Tribune mentioned Gustavus as one of four colleges in the state of Minnesota to receive high marks in a recent study released by the National Council on Teacher Quality regarding teacher preparation. The story ran in the June 18 editon of the paper.
Anyone who has suggested additions for this list, suggestions for potential future media stories, or interest in being a media source should contact Director of Media Relations and Internal Communication Matt Thomas (x7510 or mthomas@gustavus.edu).
Plugs
For Sale...Single Family home and/or rental possibility. Only 2 blocks from Gustavus. From the street it’s a quiet, unassuming bungalow. But from the inside, it’s a 3,540 square foot home with a huge fully finished basement with 13-foot ceilings, skylights, and an amazing amount of natural light. The house is one block from Minnesota Square Park, two blocks from Gustavus, and three blocks from the Community Center and Library. A circa 1900 farmhouse with sweet lines, charming nooks, and big closets had a 2000 foot addition built in 1980 which was featured in House Beautiful. There is an abundance of wood and light throughout with an enormous eat-in kitchen. The top floor has three bedrooms and a new 3/4 bathroom with skylights. The main floor features the kitchen, living room, dining room, full bath, and an additional office or bedroom. A glassed-in atrium leads you to the basement apartment with a large rec. room with a second kitchen, and two bedrooms with skylights or large windows. There's also a full bath and laundry. The basement space can be rented out or incorporated into the overall living space. Please contact Debbie Ogren at 507-382-4558 to set up a private showing. $199,900.
Seeking Housing...Family of 6, In search of a 3-4 bedroom home in St. Peter to rent or sublet for approximately 6 months beginning July 15th. Great references available on request. Please contact Heather Gilbertson at 507-317-1882 or heather76may@yahoo.com.
Visiting Faculty Seeking Housing...Nan Li, a visiting faculty member in Chinese Language Studies is seeking a room in a house near the Gustavus campus. I am a quiet and clean non-smoker. I received my Ph.D. in Education from the University of Missouri, Columbia. I have studied and worked in Kansas, Missouri, and Minnesota respectively. I currently live in Iowa and will move to St. Peter around August 20. I am culturally adapted to living in the Midwest. I do cook Asian food a few times a week. I love animals. So if you have pets at home, that is fine with me. I am willing to volunteer to take care of your mail and pets if you travel and cook authentic healthy Asian dishes for the family at weekend. Please feel free to contact me if you have any accommodation for rent. References are available upon request. I will need housing from August 20, 2014 to May 30, 2015. If I have summer teaching duty in the future, I will continue renting your place upon our mutual agreement. My contact information is 785-424-0203 (cell phone).
"Plugs" is maintained as a forum by which members of the Gustavus community may offer goods and services to others in the community, or seek the same from them. It is not meant to accommodate ads or announcements from area businesses such as real estate agents and retailers, although from time to time such announcements may be published when deemed to be of particular interest to the community.
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To add or change items on the calendar, please fill out and submit a College Calendar event form. View the entire College Calendar online.
The Summer Scoop is published for the Gustavus Adolphus College community by the Office of Marketing and Communication. It is published monthly during the summer. Anyone may submit items by sending them to waldo@gustavus.edu by 4:30 p.m. on the Tuesday before publication. Submissions may include news announcements, upcoming events, building or office hours, plugs (advertisements like for sale or rent items) or off-campus events. Please save items about faculty/staff activities (professional accomplishments or presentations) or honors for Inside Gustavus, which is published weekly during the academic year. For more information, call x6213.