SMU business programs receive specialized accreditation

Dr. Tom Marpe, left, chairman of the Saint Mary’s University Business Department, is congratulated by Dr. Terry Girdon, chairman of the board of commissioners of the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education. Saint Mary’s University was granted specialized accreditation of its business degree programs.


WINONA, Minn. — At the 2007 annual conference of the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE), the board of commissioners announced that Saint Mary’s University was granted specialized accreditation of its business degree programs. Accredited programs have been examined by trained evaluators who ensure that the IACBE’s standards are being met in eight key areas: outcomes assessment, strategic planning, curriculum, faculty, scholarly and professional activities, resources, internal/external relationships, and educational innovation. The quality of the business programs is measured by the accomplishment of the school’s mission and broad-based goals, the effectiveness of student learning, and the operational effectiveness of the business programs.

Based in the Kansas City metropolitan area, the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education is the premier business accrediting association for business programs in student-centered colleges and universities. Saint Mary’s joins a growing list of 230 IACBE member institutions in the United States and 20 countries that support quality assurance in education.

Student chamber music Recital is April 29

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University student chamber music recital will be held 3 p.m. Sunday, April 29, in Figliulo Recital Hall, located in the Performance Center.

The evening will include works by Telemann, Hayden, Doppler, Huguenin and Tustin, performed by small woodwind ensembles coached by Dr. Janet Heukeshoven. This event is free and open to the public. A reception will follow the recital.

Flea market, creek cleanup part of SMU Earth Week

WINONA, Minn. — The Student Activities Committee and the Biology Club of Saint Mary’s University are planning and participating in several Earth Week activities for students including an Adopt-a-Highway cleanup, a medallion hunt, bike tune-ups, a canoe trip and car emissions tests.

Saint Mary’s students are also joining with students from Winona State University and Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical for the second annual Spruce-Up Winona Day on Wednesday, April 25.

The public is invited to participate in two additional activities in honor of Earth Week. A flea market will be held on campus from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, April 27, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 28. The community is invited on campus for this fun way to recycle.

Additionally, SMU is once again sponsoring a 2-mile section of Gilmore Creek. The annual creek cleanup is scheduled for 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 24. Gloves and bags will be provided. Faculty, staff and students will meet at the information desk, located in the Toner Student Center, at 3 p.m. for instruction. Anyone who would like to sign up or receive more information can call Deb Nahrgang at (507) 457-6966.

Ethnic percussion ensemble plans spring concert

WINONA, Minn. —The Batucada Nossa Senhora ethnic percussion ensemble of Saint Mary's University will present its 15th annual spring concert 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, in Page Theatre, located in the Performance Center. Batucada Nossa Senhora translates to Percussion Ensemble of Our Lady.

The performance, under the direction of Denny McGuire, will consist of music from Brazil, Cuba and Puerto Rico, combining for an enriching multi-cultural experience for all ages. Batucada members include SMU students, many of whom are music majors, as well as community members.

Performers use a variety of unique instruments including: the authentic surdo, tamborim, agogó, reco-reco, ganzá, and pandeiro from the Samba Baterias of Brazil as well as hand-drums such as conga and bongó from the Cuban tradition. From Africa, they also use gongoque and beaded gourds of many types (most of which are made by members of the group) as well as instruments such as the berimbau and talking drum.

The Saint Mary’s Jazz Combo, under the direction of Dr. John Paulson, will open the show.

Tickets are $6, $4 for students and seniors and may be purchased online at www.pagetheatre.org or at the Performance Center box office, (507) 457-1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.

SMU choirs to present spring concert April 28

WINONA, Minn. — The Chamber Singers, Concert Choir and Women's Choir of Saint Mary's University will present their annual spring concert 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at the Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels, located at Wabasha and Vila streets, Winona.

The beautiful former chapel for the College of Saint Teresa is a perfect visual and acoustic setting for choral music. The Concert Choir will perform “Three Scottish Folksongs,” arranged by Mack WiIberg and featuring SMU’s Dr. Ned Kirk and Dr. Jeffrey Highland on piano, “Funeral Music for Queen Mary” by Henry Purcell and “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel,” arranged by Moses Hogan.

The Chamber Singers will perform “Mass for Five Voices,” by William Byrd, “Beata Dei Genitrix Maria” by Francisco Guerrero, “Drei Rilkegesänge by Patrick O’Shea, “Crucifying” by Russell Woolen and “Hosanna to the Son of David” by Orlando Gibbon.

Both groups are under the direction of Dr. Patrick O'Shea. The Women's Choir is directed by Peter Schleif.

Tickets are $6, $4 for students and seniors and may be purchased online at www.pagetheatre.org or at the Performance Center box office, (507) 457-1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.

SMU jazz concert April 27 to feature alumni combo

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary's University will present a celebratory evening of jazz 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 27, in Page Theatre, located in the SMU Performance Center. Included in the concert will be the 18-piece SMU Jazz Ensemble and an alumni select jazz combo, featuring the talents of some of SMU’s most outstanding graduates, both under the direction of Dr. John Paulson.

Dr. Paulson is celebrating his 25th anniversary with the SMU Department of Music. As director of the music industry program, Dr. Paulson heads the music business track and developed the unique music technology program. He also founded the ongoing Music Access for All program, dedicated to helping disadvantaged children in the Winona area gain access to music instruments and lessons. He earned his B.M. and Master of Music degrees from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and his Doctor of Music degree from the University of Washington in Seattle.

Performing in the alumni combo will be: Denny McGuire, Chris White, Brad Steine, Scott Gerry, Justin Bell, Brian Zirngible, Ben Young, Lynn Albee, Jennifer Welch, Justin Jenkins and Brandon Mathieus.

Alumni will also solo with the big band, which will perform, “I Hear a Rhapsody, by Fragos, featuring a new arrangement by Dr. Paulson; “Lush Life” by Billy Strayhorn, arranged by Mike Tomaro; “Slam” by Dave Sanborn, arranged by Marcus Miller; “Tickle Toe” by Lester Young, arranged by Dave Wolpe; “Blues in the Closet” by Oscar Pettiford, arranged by Mark Taylor; and “They Still Have a Pad Downtown,” by Dr. Paulson.

Tickets are $6, $4 for students and seniors and may be purchased online at www.pagetheatre.org or at the Performance Center box office, (507) 457-1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. For further information contact Dr. Paulson at (507) 457-1596 or jpaulson@smumn.edu.

SMU recognizes employees, retiree for service

PHOTO CAPTION: Mary Moxness, left, head librarian, and Georgia Curran, assistant to the registrar, were honored at a Saint Mary’s University employee service event Tuesday, April 17. Moxness, who is celebrating her 30th anniversary with the university, is retiring this year, and Curran is celebrating her 40th anniversary. Other Winona campus employees honored included: Mark Baumann, Peggy Ebert, Jeffrey Hefel, Scott Rose, Dr. James Vogel, Angela Weisbrod and Jayne Wobig for 20 years; Dr. Jeffrey Highland, Thomas Malin and Donald Olson for 30 years; and Dr. Richard Kowles and Dr. Michael Sommerville for 35 years. Employees with 5-, 10-, and 15-year anniversaries were also recognized.

Scott and Jeff radio marathon fundraiser for Habitat

WINONA, Minn. — For the third consecutive year, the Scott and Jeff Show (a quirky talk show hosted by two Saint Mary’s University business faculty members Scott Deml and Jeff Hefel) will do a 10-hour Habitat for Humanity Radio-a-thon.

The quirky and unpredictable fundraising show will run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, May 3. Additional members of the SMU community will be making guest appearances.

Callers may pledge money by dialing (507) 457-1615. In 2005, the duo raised $500; the total tripled to nearly $1,500 last year; Hefel and Deml hope the donations continue to grow. The Scott and Jeff Show can be heard on SMU radio station, KSMR, 92.5-FM on the Saint Mary’s campus and 94.3-FM in Winona. Their regular show plays 3 to 5 p.m. Thursdays.

Known for being “so bad they’re good,” the duo play music by Jimmy Buffett and Elton John in between their corny contests and bantering. For the radio-a-thon, the group will expand their music venue to play a variety of artists.

Students sleep outside to raise awareness of homeless

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University students will sleep in cardboard boxes tonight, April 17, during the annual shak-a-thon, part of Habitat for Humanity’s Act!Speak!Build! Week April 15-20.

Act!Speak!Build! Week is Habitat for Humanity’s national week of advocacy. Saint Mary’s Habitat group has planned a full week of activities to raise awareness about the millions of people who do not have adequate shelter to sleep.

The shak-a-thon will begin at 9 p.m. in the Plaza.

On Thursday at 4:40 p.m., students will meet at the Info Desk to participate in the Walk to Rally with Winona State students. Participants will walk from the Winona State campus to the Winona Habitat office downtown to raise awareness about the need for affordable housing in Winona and the surrounding areas.

On Friday at 3:30 p.m., students will meet at the info desk to do a can collection fundraiser.

For more information, e-mail habitat@smumn.edu.

SMU to host daily web updates of Japan trip

WINONA, Minn. — A contingent of Winona community members and students are traveling to Winona’s sister city, Misato, Japan, April 16-23.

Traveling to the East are 25 Winona middle and senior high school students, along with their parent/chaperones and WSHS assistant principal Kelly Sonsalla. Also attending are Winona City Councilman Tim Breza and Terrie Lueck, parent of a WSHS student and director of conferencing and camps at Saint Mary’s University.

Lueck will post live daily updates on a “Messages from Misato” website, located at www.smumn.edu/japan. Each day she will make a long distance call from Japan to Winona to leave messages, which can be heard on your computer or MP3 player. Also on the site are links to more information about Misato.

The trip, sponsored by District 861 and the City of Winona, will feature sightseeing, celebrations and ceremonies, as well as real-life experiences. Participants will come to a broader understanding of the culture of our sister city. Students will be placed in homes, where they will experience day-to-day life with their host families. Additionally, the group will watch sumo wrestling, visit temples, museums and a strawberry farm. A gift exchange and a new sister-city signing ceremony will take place at the Misato city hall as well.

A group of Misato delegates visited Winona in March. The group was hosted by SMU, where they participated in a fun night filled with swimming, ice skating and basketball. They also visited the Minnesota Marine Art Museum and went to a Timberwolves game.

Check the website daily to experience this unique trip along with the group.