SMU hosts Theatreworks USA with ‘Peter Pan’ Nov. 14

WINONA, Minn. — Audience members of all ages will enjoy a unique retelling of the classic tale “Peter Pan” as Theatreworks USA takes the Page Theatre stage Thursday, Nov. 14, at Saint Mary’s University.

This Page Series offering will begin at 6:30 p.m.

A story within a story, this version of “Peter Pan” is an adapted version of J.M. Barrie’s classic tale created by John Caird and Trevor Nunn. The performance begins with a group of children in turn-of-the-century London who use their imaginations — and some props from their room — to reenact the story of Peter Pan. This story empowers children to create their own world of make-believe. As the children fly to Neverland and escape the evil Captain Hook and Mr. Smee, they recognize the importance of friendship as well as the value of being part of a family.

Theatreworks USA often visits the Page stage; last season they performed “Bunnicula.” Since their founding in 1961, they have presented more than 90 million children and their families with opportunities to enjoy their theatrical productions in 49 states and Canada.

Tickets are $14 for adults, $6 for seniors and students and are available at www.pagetheatre.org or at the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Winona National Bank is also sponsoring this performance.

Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts hosts fall music concert Nov. 15

WINONA, Minn. — On Friday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m., the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will hold its Fall Music Division Concert at the Figliulo Recital Hall on the Saint Mary’s University campus. The concert will showcase the jazz combos and a variety of private lesson students. The community is invited to come and support these talented young musicians.

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts, nonprofit arts organization, offers programming in dance, music, visual art and theatre year-round. Classes, lessons, workshops and camps are offered for children ages 3 and older through adults at the Valéncia Arts Center, located at 1164 West 10th St. Admission is a freewill donation, with all proceeds supporting the conservatory

For more information, visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, e-mail mca@smumn.edu, “like” them on Facebook, or call (507) 453-5500.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Heukeshoven, Haaland to debut music, poetry piece Nov. 7

WINONA, Minn. — A selection of duets for flute will, for the first time, be presented with poems written and read by their author at the La Crosse New Music Festival’s finale concert on Thursday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the Annett Recital Hall on the University of Wisconsin’s La Crosse campus.

Saint Mary’s University assistant professor of music A. Eric Heukeshoven first conceived his “24 Duets for Two Flutes” as study materials for students of flutist Janet Heukeshoven when the couple was first married in 1979. In 2013, Heukeshoven presented a challenge to his friend Ted Haaland:  to create an introductory poem inspired by each of the 24 duets. In less than a week, Haaland responded with a complete set of poems to match the music. The poems complement the music, ranging from witty and clever to extremely personal and thought-provoking. The set presented at the New Music Festival will present the wide variety of these words and music.

Dr. Janet Heukeshoven, professor of music at SMU, and Amanda Moburg, band director at Cotter Junior High School, will perform eight of the duets with Haaland introducing each with his selection of verse. The concert is free and public are invited to attend.

For more information, contact A. Eric Heukeshoven at eheukesh@smumn.edu or (507) 457-7292.

Panel to discuss human trafficking in Minnesota Nov. 13 at Saint Mary’s

Three young women from the Philippines were rescued from the sex industry where many girls end up after they are trafficked. They are now living in a shelter where they are provided an education and counseling so they can regain their childhoods.

WINONA, Minn. — Human trafficking occurs in every Minnesota county, and the Twin Cities are one of the 15 largest trafficking centers in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

On Nov. 13, a panel of experts from throughout the state will gather at Saint Mary’s University’s Winona campus to discuss “Sold: Human Trafficking in Minnesota and Beyond” including:

• global aspects of trafficking;
• human rights, especially women’s and children’s issues;
• impact on rural and urban Minnesota;
• how to talk about the issue; and
• initiatives underway to combat trafficking.

Panelists will include Dennis Cusick, Upper Midwest Community Policing Institute; Sister Marlys Jax, Sisters of Saint Francis at Assisi Heights; Michele Garnett McKenzie, Advocates for Human Rights; and Grant Snyder, Minneapolis Police Department. The moderator will be Fred de Sam Lazaro, director of the Under-Told Stories Project at Saint Mary’s University and a correspondent for PBS NewsHour.

The event will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Figliulo Recital Hall, located in the SMU Performance Center. The public is invited, and refreshments will be provided. Register online at www.smumn.edu/SOLD.

The same event will be held on SMU’s Twin Cities campus Tuesday, Nov. 12, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Saint Mary’s University Center, 2540 Park Ave., Minneapolis.

This event is made possible by the Under-Told Stories Project as seen on the PBS NewsHour, and is sponsored by the Hendrickson Institute for Ethical Leadership at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

Saint Mary’s students provide a taste of Saudi Arabia

WINONA, Minn. — International students add cultural — and culinary — variety to the experience at Saint Mary’s University. Saint Mary’s students Mohanned Naquib and Abdulsalam Alabbad perform during the “Taste of Saudi Arabia” campus event Oct. 18. Students at the SMU De La Salle Language Institute and the Center for International Students sponsored the event, which drew approximately 100 SMU community members. Arabic food, music, dancing and cultural displays were presented by SMU students from Saudi Arabia. The event was the inspiration of SMU’s international student body, wanting to support the rebuilding efforts of the Winona Islamic Center, which was recently destroyed by fire. Freewill donations from the event will contribute $700 to the rebuilding fund. Check out more photos at www.smumn.edu/photos.

SMU students to stage chaotic comedy ‘The Government Inspector’ Nov. 7-10

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Department of Theatre and Dance will present the satirical comedy “The Government Inspector” Nov. 7-10 at Page Theatre. Shows run 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 7-9, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10.

The news that a government inspector is due to arrive in a small Russian town sends its bureaucrats into a panicked frenzy. A simple case of mistaken identity exposes the hypocrisy and corruption at the heart of the town in this biting moral satire. Witty, smart and wildly satirical, this timely and spirited adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s classic play exposes the corruption of a provincial town with biting hilarity.

Guest director Gale Childs Daly has served as the text coach for the Great River Shakespeare Festival since its inception in 2006. The actor, director, teacher, writer and dialect/text coach is from Milwaukee, Wis.

The play was selected to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the Romanov Dynasty. Although Russian comedies are known to be dreary and heavy, “The Government Inspector” — adapted by Minnesota playwright Jeffrey Hatcher — is both modern and funny.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors and area available at www.pagetheatre.org or at the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Partnership brings Polish students to Saint Mary’s

WINONA, Minn. — A three-way partnership is allowing four Polish students to attend college in the United States. The Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Winona campus is richer for their international presence and participation. The Wasie Foundation, the Gostomski Family Foundation and Saint Mary’s University join to offer full scholarships each year to qualified students of 100 percent Polish ancestry. And each year the college hosts a lunch to let the students get to know and thank their benefactors. Pictured are, from left: back, Brother William Mann, president of Saint Mary’s; Mike Gostomski of the Gostomski Family Foundation; Jan Preble of the Wasie Foundation; and Ryan Gostomski of the Gostomski Family Foundation; front, SMU scholarship recipients Marcin Sak, Marzena Drozd, Katarzyna Plawiak and Marta Aleszewicz.

Saint Mary’s University Gifts for Winona announces application dates

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Gifts for Winona program is inviting families in need to sign up for the annual gift-giving program.

The program’s main priority is to provide gifts to children 18 years of age and younger and individuals 60 years of age and older. Families will only be able to report gift requests for family members in these age ranges.

Thanks to the generosity of the Winona community, the program — in its 12th year — helps more than 1,600 people have a much happier holiday season.

Families may pick up an application form through one of the human service agencies that they work with (Project FINE, Winona County Community Services, Winona Senior Advocacy Program or Winona Volunteer Services).

Completed application forms must be returned to Winona Volunteer Services (402 E. 2nd St.) from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, or 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4. SMU volunteers will be available for assistance on these dates.

This program exists through the generosity of the Winona community, as well as the work of other community partners including: Winona Volunteer Services, Winona Radio and the Winona Post.

Halloween Fun Night is Oct. 28 at Saint Mary’s

WINONA, Minn. — Elementary and preschool children from the Winona area are invited to attend the 13th annual Saint Mary’s University Halloween Fun Night from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28.

Participants should stop at the guard booth at the main entrance of the Winona campus for directions on where to park. 

Young trick-or-treaters should start out the evening at the Hall of Fame Room, located in the Toner Student Center, where tattoos and stickers, a coloring station, and other fun games will be offered, and the Cardinal mascot will greet pint-sized ghosts and goblins.

From there, SMU students will lead groups of trick-or-treaters through the residence halls of the university, where they can go door to door for candy.

Last year more than 750 youth participated in this free, safe and fun event, sponsored by the Office of Residence Life of Saint Mary’s.

SMU, U of M partner for dual degree programs

WINONA, Minn. — In accord with its strategic plan, Saint Mary’s University has forged a transfer agreement with the University of Minnesota that will strengthen its science programming and provide opportunities to students. Under the agreement, a set of five-year, dual-degree programs allows chemistry and physics students to start their studies at Saint Mary’s, finish at the U of M College of Science and Engineering, and graduate with two degrees. 



Students in the dual-degree program in chemistry/chemical engineering complete the requirements for a Saint Mary's chemistry major and then may apply to transfer into the chemical engineering program at the U of M CSE. They will graduate with a B.A. in chemistry from Saint Mary’s after completing upper-division credits at the U of M CSE in their fourth year. Students then graduate with a B.Eng. in chemical engineering from the U of M after satisfying those program requirements.

Students in the new physics/engineering program will complete requirements for a Saint Mary’s major in physics with engineering emphasis, and may apply to transfer into one of seven engineering programs at the U of M CSE: aerospace engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, geo-engineering, industrial and systems engineering, materials science engineering, or mechanical engineering. They will graduate with a B.A. in physics with engineering emphasis from Saint Mary’s and a B.Eng. from the U of M.

“This dual-degree program allows students to get the traditional liberal arts experience — with small class sizes and personal attention — and they will have a more well-rounded overall educational experience,” said Dr. Donna Aronson, vice president for academic affairs at Saint Mary’s. “After their time at Saint Mary’s, they will also be better prepared for the next step of their educational journey at the University of Minnesota. The personal contact they receive at Saint Mary’s will help them succeed in this highly competitive field.”

SMU hosts Caravan du Nord Minnesota musicians Oct. 18

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University’s Off the Page Series will host an impressive lineup of talented Minnesota musicians as part of the “Caravan du Nord 2013” concert series Friday, Oct. 18.

In its third year, the Caravan du Nord concert tour starts Oct. 11 in Austin, with stops in Winona, St. Cloud and Detroit Lakes before ending in Red Wing on Nov. 16. Each event features live performances by artists in a wide range of genres.

The Winona lineup includes some of the most talked about up-and-coming artists — Night Moves, Southwire and Mike Munson — converging on the SMU Page Theatre stage, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Night Moves is based out of Minneapolis and has been receiving airtime on MPR’s The Current; they have been described by Spin magazine as “cosmically expansive and yet twangily intimate.” Southwire, from Duluth, has been praised by City Pages as providing “haunting melodies that sound like they have been carried on the winds of the past.” Winona’s own Mike Munson was recently on the nationally broadcast WPR show “Whad'Ya Know” and is regularly heard around town performing his blues-influenced solo guitar.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $5 for students and seniors and are available at www.pagetheatre.org or at the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The SMU Student Activity Committee is co-hosting this event.

Members of Night Moves and Minnesota’s top music industry professionals will provide insider insight about marketing, songwriting and more at a workshop Friday, Oct. 18, from noon to 3 p.m. at Sum Some Studios, 168 E. 3rd St. The event is free and open to the public.

Saint Mary’s invites community to submit ‘to-do’ lists for ‘Make a Difference Day’

WINONA, Minn. — In recognition of national “Make a Difference Day,” Saint Mary’s University’s Volunteer Mentors group is inviting Winona residents and nonprofit agencies to submit requests for service.

The university hopes to get as many students as possible out into the community between 1 and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26. Students are willing to help individuals and organizations with anything from painting to yard work.

Saint Mary’s will supply the workers, if you supply the materials needed (paint, brushes, rakes, tools, etc.).

“Make a Difference Day” is a national day of helping others, a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. Created by USA WEEKEND magazine, this annual event takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October. For the sixth year, SMU is proud to join the millions of people throughout the nation who are participating.

To register your request, please call Chris McClead at (507) 457-7268 or e-mail cmcclead@smumn.edu by Friday, Oct. 18. Please include details about what you need done, how many students are needed for the job and where you are located.

Faculty recognized for excellence in teaching

Three adjunct faculty members with the Saint Mary's University Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs were recognized for excellence in teaching and modeling the Lasallian values were presented with Brother Julius Winkler Adjunct Faculty Recognition Awards. The recipients were William Knutson (Graduate School of Education), William Kenney (Graduate School of Health and Human Services), and K. David Hirschey (Graduate School of Business and Technology). These new awards, honoring the example set by longtime and beloved Saint Mary's University faculty member Brother Julius Winkler, were presented at an awards dinner Friday, Sept. 20, at the Twin Cities campus.