Saint Mary's commencement ceremony scheduled for May 10

WINONA, Minn. — On Saturday, May 10, the Winona campus of Saint Mary’s University will host a joint commencement ceremony for both Winona undergraduate and graduate students, beginning at 11 a.m. in the gymnasium.

Undergraduate student reflections will be offered by this year’s Outstanding Male and Female Seniors Amy Spitzmueller, daughter of Kathy and Bill Spitzmueller of New Brighton, Minn., and Miles Dunna, son of Wokie Dunna of St. Paul.

Representing SMU’s Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs, Stephanie Nuttall, an M.S. in Geographic Information Science graduate, will also give a reflection. Courtney Leasure Clark, M.A. in Philanthropy and Development, and Kathleen Junko, M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning, will be presented with Outstanding Graduate Final Paper Awards.

A reception on the plaza will follow the ceremony. In case of inclement weather, the reception will be held in Gostomski Fieldhouse.

Prior to the ceremony, a Baccalaureate Mass will take place in Saint Thomas More Chapel at 8 a.m.

Limited parking will be available. A shuttle service will be provided from a nearby parking lot. More information is posted at www.smumn.edu/commencement.

The Saint Mary’s Nairobi campus hosted its commencement ceremony on May 3. The Twin Cities campus will conduct three summer commencement ceremonies on June 1.

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.

Saint Mary's commencement ceremony scheduled for May 11

WINONA, Minn. — On Saturday, May 11, the Winona campus of Saint Mary’s University will host a joint commencement ceremony for both Winona undergraduate and graduate students, beginning at 11 a.m. in the gymnasium.

Undergraduate student reflections will be offered by this year’s Outstanding Male and Female Seniors Peter Borash, son of Ron and Ann Borash of North Prairie, Minn., and Constance Budin, daughter of Bruce and Colleen Budin of Le Center, Minn.

Representing SMU’s Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs, Jeremy Storelee, an M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning graduate, will also give a reflection. Cheyanne Kofmehl, M.A. in Philanthropy and Development, and Brother Diego Rico-Archilla, FSC, M.A. in Educational Leadership, will be presented with Outstanding Graduate Final Paper Awards.

A reception on the plaza will follow the ceremony. In case of inclement weather, the reception will be held in Gostomski Fieldhouse.

Prior to the ceremony, a Baccalaureate Mass will take place in Saint Thomas More Chapel at 8 a.m.

Limited parking will be available. A shuttle service will be provided from a nearby parking lot. More information will be posted at www.smumn.edu/commencement.

The Saint Mary’s Nairobi campus hosted its commencement ceremony on April 27. The Twin Cities campus will conduct three summer commencement ceremonies on June 2.

Saint Mary's commencement ceremonies scheduled for May 12

WINONA, Minn. — On Saturday, May 12, the Winona campus of Saint Mary’s University will host two commencement ceremonies to mark the end of the academic year.

The Winona campus undergraduate commencement will begin at 11 a.m. in the gymnasium. Student perspectives will be offered by this year’s Outstanding Male and Female Seniors Michael Mockler, son of John and Caroline Mockler of Dubuque, Iowa, and Regina Quandt, daughter of Dan and Cathy Quandt of Minneapolis, Minn.

The Winona campus Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs commencement will begin at 4 p.m. in the gymnasium. Along with the conferring of degrees, student perspectives will be offered by Cynthia Mueller, M.A. in Literacy Education, of Buffalo, Minn.; and Dr. Paul Rosenblum, M.A. in Pastoral Ministries of Charleston, S.C. Additionally, Dr. Rosenblum will be presented with an Outstanding Graduate Final Paper Award.

Receptions on the plaza will follow both ceremonies. In case of inclement weather, the receptions will be held in Gostomski Fieldhouse.

Prior to the ceremonies, a Baccalaureate Mass will take place in Saint Thomas More Chapel at 8:30 a.m.

The Saint Mary’s Nairobi campus will host its commencement ceremony on April 28. The Twin Cities campus will conduct three summer commencement ceremonies on June 3.

Students recognized at the Saint Mary's University Academic Honors Banquet

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University recognized outstanding senior students Wednesday, April 27, at the annual Senior Academic Honors Banquet. Highlights of the evening included the announcement of graduate and professional school acceptances, grants and fellowships, and the awarding of the following special honors:

American Institute of Chemists Award (chemistry award) — Xin Ye from Xi’an, China.

American Chemical Society Award (chemistry award) — Sara Harstad, daughter of Charles and Lynn Harstad of Chatfield, Minn.

ACS Outstanding Senior Award — Jennifer Koezly, daughter of Edwin and Monica Koezly of Ham Lake, Minn.

Kevin Martineau Award (business award) — Dongyang Xie from Xi’an China.

Outstanding Accounting Student (business award) — Dongyang Xie from Xi’an China.

Outstanding International Business Student (business award) — Fei Zou from Xi’an China.

Outstanding Entrepreneurship Student (business award) — Erin Glovigen, son of Gene and Nancy Glovigen of Rochester, Minn.

Outstanding Human Resource Management Student (business award) — Steve Kimlicka, son of Robert and Debra Kimlicka of Bartlett, Ill.

Outstanding Sport Management Student (business award) — Laura Enstad, daughter of Steven and Linda Enstad of Austin, Minn., and Andrew Ruf, son of Richard and Jennifer Ruf of Chippewa Falls, Wis.

Outstanding Marketing Student (business award) — Kelly Wagner, daughter of Daniel and Catherine Wagner of Woobury, Minn.

Saint Thomas Aquinas Award for Excellence (philosophy award) — Maxwell Perri, son of Jeffery and Jeanne Perri of Arlington Heights, Ill.

Gerald Sullivan Outstanding Theatre Major Award (theatre award) — Lindsay Christensen, daughter of Dawn Christensen of Brooklyn Park, Minn.

Brother Leo Northam Award (math award) — Ann Cummins, daughter of Robert and Mary Cummins of Birchwood, Minn.

Future Alumni Committee Scholarship – Steven Lochen, son of David and Jayne Lochen of Kimball, Minn., and Kristina Empanger, daughter of Jon and Carol Empanger of Chaska, Minn.

Lasallian Honors Program Outstanding Senior Award — Rebecca Sandager, daughter of Michael and Nancy Sandager of Luverne, Minn., and Lukas Wallerich, son of Randall and Peggy Wallerich of Inver Grove Heights, Minn.

Delta Epsilon Sigma – Maria Biebel, daughter of Robert and Mary Biebel of Winona, received the National Delta Epsilon Sigma Undergraduate Student Award; and Nakisa Khoshnevis, daughter of Hamid and Shirly Khoshnevis of Dayton, Minn., received the National DES Fellowship for Graduate Study Award.

History Department Distinction Award — Benjamin Eirikson, son of Philip and Debra Eirikson of Austin, Minn.

Dumestre named vice president for Saint Mary’s University Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs

WINONA, MN — Saint Mary’s University welcomes Marcel J. Dumestre, Ed.D., as vice president for the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs and professor of Education. Dr. Dumestre will begin his new position on June 1.

Dr. Dumestre comes to Saint Mary’s from Regis University, Denver, Colo., where he served as professor and academic dean of the College for Professional Studies since 2006. Dr. Dumestre supervised the deans of four schools within Regis University College for Professional Studies, comprised of 12,000 students and 700 faculty, and had oversight of all distance education offerings on seven extension campuses with 5,000 students enrolled in totally online degree programs.

Dr. Dumestre holds a Doctor of Education degree from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., a Master of Religious Education from Loyola University, New Orleans, La., and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from The Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla. He is published in the areas of educational philosophy, religious education and educational technology.

“We are extremely pleased to have Dr. Dumestre join us in this important leadership role,” said Brother William Mann, president, Saint Mary’s University. “He brings energy, enthusiasm, and a wealth of experience that will help the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs continue our tradition of excellent education and help existing and new programs grow in significant ways.”

Dr. Dumestre will supervise a leadership team at the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs that includes Linka Holey, associate vice president for Academic Affairs; the deans of the SGPP: Dushan Knezevich, Merri Moody, Tracy Lehnertz, Don Winger, Rebecca Hopkins and Gena Bilden; and Lindsay McCabe, director of the Hendrickson Institute for Ethical Leadership. Dr. Dumestre and the leadership team have responsibility for graduate and professional programs administered from both the Twin Cities and the Winona campuses.