In This Issue
- Northwest School of Agriculture Reunion, June 27-28, 2008
- U of M, Crookston is a Great Place for Women to Learn, Teach, Work and Support
- Teambackers Donation Supports U of M, Crookston Student-Athlete Scholarships
- Northwest School of Agriculture Board Gives $75,000 to Business Department Conference Room at the U of M, Crookston
- U of M, Crookston Teams Claim Sweepstakes at 2008 NACTA National Judging Competition in Stephenville, Texas
- Criminal Justice Degree Available Fall 2008 at U of M, Crookston
- Awards Celebrated at U of M, Crookston Annual Staff Day
2008 Northwest School of Agriculture Reunion, June 27-28
 The great songs from 1958 provided inspiration for “We'll Have a Rockin' Reunion,” the theme for the 2008 Northwest School Reunion to be held June 27-28, on the campus of the University of Minnesota, Crookston. This year's honored classes include '23, '28, '33, '38, '43 ('44 adv.), '48, '53, '58, '63 and '68, and everyone is welcome!
Highlights for this year's reunion include a fish fry on Friday evening, June 27, followed by a social in the Student Center Bede Ballroom. The social kicks off at 7 p.m. with reminiscing by Northwest School alumni, faculty and staff. Join your classmates and friends for an evening filled with memories.
Saturday morning, June 28, there will be a garden talk including an historical look at the campus grounds. The talk takes place in the Student Center Prairie Room, and following the talk, a tour will be available for those who wish to walk around. Or, you might decide to board the bus and take a tour of the campus before you join everyone for lunch on the Campus Mall.
In the afternoon, there is a program at 1 p.m. in Kiehle Auditorium surrounding the theme “Rockin' Reunion!” The program will include music by Fallcreek Quartet, a video tribute to Northwest School history and a fun trivia contest! When the program concludes, it is time for the honored classes to gather for photos and class meetings.
It doesn't end there; at 5:30 p.m., there will be a banquet and program honoring the 2008 Top Aggies! You don't want to miss a chance to honor outstanding alumni from the Northwest School and get together with your classmates, friends and everyone in the alumni office.
Complete the registration form you received in the mail with your check payable to NWSA Alumni Association. Take advantage of early bird prices by registering by June 4, 2008! For more information, contact Rose Ulseth at 218-281-8439 or rulseth@umn.edu.
“C'mon Everybody” take “The Stroll” down memory lane and join us for the best reunion ever!
U of M, Crookston is a Great Place for Women to Learn, Teach, Work and Support
 U of M, Crookston First Lady Barbara Muesing, First Lady of the University of Minnesota Susan Hagstrom and former U of M, Crookston First Lady Mary Beth Sargeant recently hosted an event for nearly 70 guests at Eastcliff, the official residence of the President of the University of Minnesota.
Guests from Crookston and around the state celebrated accomplishments of U of M, Crookston women, students, faculty and staff. Stories from women were shared by U of M, Crookston Alumni Association President Kari Torkelson, O.D., ex. '91, Amber Meyer, a resort and spa major and member of the women's volleyball team from Paxton, Neb. and Mary Pulkrabek whose father, Bruce Beresford, taught at the Northwest School of Agriculture and the U of M, Crookston.
Teambackers Donation Supports U of M, Crookston Student-Athlete Scholarships
 The University of Minnesota, Crookston Teambackers Club made a recent donation of $20,000 in support of student-athlete scholarships. Teambackers President, Tom Helgeson and Treasurer, Adam Maruska, '00, presented the donation to Bill Tyrrell, director of athletic fundraising and Corby Kemmer, director of development and alumni relations. Annually the club sponsors numerous fund raisers and plays an integral role in raising dollars and promoting Golden Eagle athletics.
The 2008-2009 Teambacker fund drive will begin in July. Please consider becoming a member of Teambackers and making a commitment to support student-athletes who currently make up more than 26 percent of the student body. For further information, please contact Bill Tyrrell at 218-281-8436 (btyrrell@umn.edu).
Northwest School of Agriculture Board Gives $75,000 to Business Department Conference Room at the U of M, Crookston
 During a recent Northwest School of Agriculture (NWSA) Alumni Association Board meeting, a gift of $75,000 was unanimously approved to support a new state-of-the-art business conference room at the University of Minnesota, Crookston.
"We are excited to have the support of Northwest School of Agriculture alumni as we continue to offer our business students an exceptional student experience," explains Sue Brorson, Ph.D., head of the Business Department. "The Northwest School has given us a great legacy and this gift will continue that legacy and help our students achieve dreams. We are deeply grateful for their support."
The new business conference room, to be located in 116 Dowell Hall, is planned for completion by fall semester 2008. | more
Standing in the Kiehle Rotunda, U of M, Crookston business students flank Sue Brorson and Corby Kemmer as a check is presented on behalf of the NWSA Board. Others are encouraged to make donations as financial support is still needed to complete the project. For more information, contact Corby Kemmer, director of development and alumni relations at 218-281-8434 (ckemmer@umn.edu).
U of M, Crookston Teams Claim Sweepstakes at 2008 NACTA National Judging Competition in Stephenville, Texas in April
 For University of Minnesota, Crookston Associate Professor Charles Habstritt, it was a sweet ending to his last National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) competition before retirement. Crookston's NACTA team, continuing their long-standing reputation for success at NACTA, placed first in the annual National Judging Competition held in Stephenville, Texas, in mid-April. The team won both the four-year college division competition and the overall Sweepstakes competition between the top two- and four-year college teams.
Thirty six students, representing a cross section of majors from across the campus, participated in the ten contests making up the competition: Agricultural Computers, Crops, Dairy, Horse, Horticulture, Poultry, Meats, Ag Knowledge Bowl, General Livestock and Soils. Also at the competition were coaches Associate Professor Lyle Westrom, Ph.D.; and Christo Robberts, Ph.D., from the Agriculture Department joined by Crookston campus admissions counselor Justin Reed, '06, who was the general livestock coach and a former NACTA competitor for the U of M, Crookston. | more
Criminal Justice Degree Available Fall 2008 at U of M, Crookston
Students interested in criminal justice will now have an option to pursue a bachelor of science degree at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The criminal justice degree program was approved starting fall 2008 for the Crookston campus by the University of Minnesota Board of Regents at their May meeting.
"The University of Minnesota, Crookston continues to develop and offer students exceptional program options that lead to dynamic careers," said Jack Geller, Ph.D., head of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Department. "With its focus on application, our criminal justice degree will be the first of its kind in the University of Minnesota system. The program's interdisciplinary approach will help students gain the skills and learning critical to employers in the field." | more
Awards Celebrated at Annual U of M, Crookston Staff Day
The annual faculty and staff day was celebrated recently to recognize contributions and achievements of employees from the University of Minnesota, Crookston and Northwest Research and Outreach Center.
Winners of the faculty and staff awards for 2007-08 include:
Distinguished Professional and Academic Member:
Rand Rasmussen, Ph.D., Director/Program Advisor, Academic Assistance Center and Student Support Services
Distinguished Civil Service/Bargaining Unit Member:
Rae French, Program Associate, Study Abroad Program
UMC Outstanding Community Service:
Stacey Grunewald, R.N., Student Health Services Coordinator
UMC Outstanding Service Learning Faculty:
Harouna Maiga, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Animal Science
Visit the the Faculty & Staff Day Awards Ceremony photo album.
Do you know of others who might want to subscribe to this e-newsletter? Send their names and e-mail addresses to Sue Dwyer (sdwyer@umn.edu).
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Cindy Bigger, a 1979 graduate of the U of M, Crookston, is a Regional Extension Educator and an associate professor for University of Minnesota Extension. The focus of her work is in leadership and civic engagement. During her 26-year career she has served in three Minnesota counties working primarily in 4-H youth development and leadership education. She also has a consulting business, Bigger Associates, and currently serves as an Alexandria, Minn. city council member.
Ray Anderson, a 1958 graduate of the Northwest School of Agriculture, is being honored as one of the Top Aggie award recipients as part of the 2008 NWSA Reunion. Celebrating with this year's golden anniversary class, Ray was a part of nearly every music group at the Northwest School of Agriculture. He even served as student band director at basketball games. He often wonders if he hadn't been a part of the mixed octet if he would have ever met his wife, Elaine Wold, '57, to whom he has been married 49 years.