MSHSL Triple A Winners

The MN State High School League Triple A banquet was held on Wednesday. These students are outstanding in Academics, Arts and Athletics.

Sub-Section 29

Girl  -  Hannah Anderson - Nevis H.S.

Boy  -  Samuel Eystad  -  Park Rapids H.S.

Sub-Section 30

Girl  -  Elizabeth Birkemeyer  -  Ada-Borup H.S.

Boy  -  Carter Mosher  -  Fertile-Beltrami H.S.

Sub-Section-31

Girl  -  Kayla Nelson  -  East Grand Forks H.S.

Boy  -  Benjamin Regorrah  -  East Grand Forks H.S.

Sub-Section-32

Girl  -  Emma Jo Brunelle  -  Warroad H.S.

Boy  -  Isaac Mills  -  Stephen-Argyle H.S.

Section 8A Over-all Winners

Girls  -  Elizabeth Birkemeyer  -  Ada-Borup H.S.

Boys  -  Isaac Mills. -  Stephen-Argyle Central H.S.

Elizabeth and Isaac will now advance to the state competition level with a banquet on March 25th at the boys state basketball championships.

U of M Crookston Holds on to Top Spot in Publication

CROOKSTON, Minn. – For the second year in a row, the University of Minnesota Crookston ranks number one in U.S. News Best Colleges rankings in the category Midwest Top Public Regional Colleges. The ranking is the 17th consecutive year that Crookston campus has appeared in the top four. The exclusive rankings, available at usnews.com on Tues., September 9 will be published in the September issue of U.S. News & World Report, available on newsstands on Tuesday, September 23.

U of M Crookston Chancellor Fred Wood is pleased the campus held on to the top spot in the rankings. "Much of the recognition this campus has received over the years is the result of a highly dedicated faculty and staff," said Wood. "What sets our campus apart from others is that we provide students with an atmosphere that is remarkably supportive and personal, where learning is hands-on and where faculty and staff not only know students' names but also their strengths and interests."

"Our students recognize the value of earning a highly recognized and respected University of Minnesota degree while studying at the University of Minnesota Crookston in an environment that gives them opportunities for learning, leadership, and a chance to develop skills that will prepare them for the workplace or graduate school. We are truly the small campus with the big degree."

The U.S. News ranking system uses quantitative measures that education experts have proposed as reliable indicators of academic quality. Schools are categorized by their mission, which is derived from the breakdown of types of higher education institutions developed by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of teaching. The key measures of quality include graduation and retention rates; assessment of excellence; faculty resources; student selectivity; financial resources; graduation rate performance, which is the difference between actual and predicted graduation rates; and alumni giving. Scores for each measure are weighted to arrive at a final overall score.

Other colleges ranked in the top four Midwest Top Public Regional Colleges include Valley City State University at number two, Northern State University at number three, Dickinson State University at number four, followed by Bismarck State College and Lake Superior State University tied at number five. The category focuses on undergraduate education with fewer than 50 percent of their degrees in liberal arts disciplines. There were 364 colleges ranked in four regions—North, South, Midwest, and West—in the Regional Colleges category.

To view the rankings, visit  http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/regional-colleges/top-public.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 29 bachelor's degree programs, 20 minors, and 36 concentrations on campus--as well as 13 degrees online--in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,800 undergraduates from more than 20 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Region 8A Triple A Award Winners

The Region 8A Triple A Award banquet was held Wednesday, Feb. 5th at the Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen. There were approximately 180 people in attendance at the banquet.

Congratulations to the following 2014 Region 8A "Triple A" Award winners

Sub-Section 29:

Girl - Megan Norby - Nevis H.S.

Boy - Bailey Mueller - Park Rapids H.S.

Sub-Section 30:

Girl - Ashley Schoenborn - Mahnomen H.S.

Boy - Kal Handyside - Mahnomen H.S.

Sub-Section 31:

Girl - Amber Trostad - Crookston H.S.

Boy - Blake Sorenson - Fisher H.S.

Sub-Section 32:

Girl - Hannah Hoglo - Marshall County Central H.S.

Boy - Hunter McMillin - Grygla H.S.

Region 8A Winners:

Girl - Megan Norby - Nevis H.S.

Boy - Hunter McMillin - Grygla H.S.

Fall Semester 2013 Brings Changes to UMC

CROOKSTON, Minn. – A new residence hall, new programs, and the latest in technology greets students at the University of Minnesota Crookston this fall. Classes begin on Tuesday, August 27, 2013, following a weekend of orientation activities and the annual “Meet Crookston Through Service,” a service event that introduces new students to the community.

The most recent residential facility, Heritage Hall, will be open for only the second semester since it was first occupied last January. Of the three residence halls built on campus since 2006, each one has included a classroom: Centennial Hall (2006), Evergreen Hall (2009), and Heritage Hall (2013). The Harris A. Peterson Classroom, located in Heritage Hall, holds up to 118 and can be reconfigured from a classroom to a large space for hosting campus events. The inclusion of classrooms in the residence halls is designed to encourage a living and learning environment.

The Undergraduate Collaborative Learning and Experiential Applied Research Lab (UCLEAR) allows students across disciplines to explore information in a whole new way. For example, students in the health sciences can “slice” into an MRI, which displays data in 3-D using BodyViz. Tissues can be isolated and examined. The data can be shared with the five Microsoft PixelSense tables in the room where the students can investigate. The PixelSense tables and immersive visualization provide a technologically advanced interface for students to experience course or research material. A team could work on up to 9 different components of the same project or 9 projects can be investigated simultaneously.

New programs in elementary education and finance, which is also offered online, provide students more academic options. An update to Brown Dining Room makes the space even more inviting and gives it a contemporary look.

The campus also welcomes Barbara Keinath, the new vice chancellor of academic affairs, and Carola Thorson, the new director of admissions and enrollment management. Chancellor Fred Wood welcomed faculty and staff during a Welcome Week luncheon on Monday, August 19, and this fall, the campus is preparing to celebrate its 20^th year as a four-year institution and its anniversary as the first-ever laptop university in the country.  Special recognition for the 20-year anniversary will kick off at homecoming on October 4, 5, and 6.

Chancellor Inauguration at UMC on Thursday, April 18, 2013

CROOKSTON, Minn. – Ceremonies for the inauguration of Fred E. Wood, Ph.D., as the fifth chancellor for the University of Minnesota Crookston are scheduled for Thursday, April 18, 2013, in Kiehle Auditorium. The ceremony will begin at 12:30 p.m. and a reception will follow at 2 p.m. in the Northern Lights Lounge in the Sargeant Student Center. All faculty, staff, students, alumni, along with the public are invited to attend the inauguration and reception as guests of the campus in celebration of this historic event.

At 10 a.m. that morning, everyone is invited to attend the dedication of Heritage Hall, the newest residence hall on campus. Heritage Hall is located west of Centennial Hall and provides students with a new style of suite living. Designed primarily for freshman and sophomores, the two bedroom suites, with study room and private bathroom will provide a spacious living environment for four students. The 43,043 square foot, two-story building can house up to145 students in 35 two-bedroom suites furnished with a study room and bathroom facilities--approximately 700 square feet per suite.

Special guests on campus for the dedication and inauguration will include University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler, Karen Kaler, and several members of the Board of Regents.

An online guest book is available along with inauguration details at www1.crk.umn.edu/events/inauguration.

Region 8A "Triple A" Award Winners

Winners of the Triple A (Academics, Arts, and Athletics) Awards for Region 8A were announced.

Congratulations to Samantha Lee from Win-E-Mac High School and Davis Mills from Stephen-Argyle Central High School for being named winners from Region 8A

Samantha and Davis will now advance to the State Triple A competition. They will both be honored at the Target Center in Minneapolis during the State Boys Basketball Tournament.

UMC Chancellor search

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (2/7/2012) – University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler and Senior Vice President for System Academic Administration Robert Jones have launched a national search for a new chancellor of the Crookston campus.

University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) Chancellor Charles H. Casey will retire on June 30, 2012, following seven years at the post.

President Kaler and Jones have appointed Bill Peterson, professor in UMC’s Department of Math, Science and Technology, along with Carol Carrier, special assistant to the senior vice president for System Academic Administration and professor in the Department of Organizational Learning, Policy and Development on the Twin Cities campus, to co-chair the search committee.

Other search committee members are:
• Alisha Aasness, undergraduate student, UMC, and president, Crookston Student Association
• Sue Brorson, professor and head, Department of Business, UMC
• Pam Elf, associate professor, Department of Math, Science, and Technology, UMC
• Stephanie Helgeson, department director, Department of Athletics, UMC
• Soo-Yin Lim-Thompson, associate professor, Department of Liberal Arts and Education, UMC
• Denis Maier, assistant professor, Department of Business, UMC
• Harouna Maiga, associate professor, Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, UMC
• Roger Moe, former majority leader, Minnesota Senate, and president, National Strategies, Inc.
• Albert Sims, associate professor and director of operations, Northwest Research and Outreach Center, Crookston
• Pete Wasberg, director of human resources and safety, Otter Tail Power Co., and chair, UMC Advisory Council
• Deb Zak, regional director, University of Minnesota Extension, Crookston

The search committee aims to develop as rich and diverse a candidate pool as possible, and invites both nominations and applications for the position. The search committee’s goal is to name the next Crookston chancellor this summer.

“The Crookston campus strengthens the University and the state as a vital hub for applied research, teaching and outreach in Northwestern Minnesota,” said Jones. “President Kaler and I seek a visionary leader for UMC who will build on Chancellor

Casey’s significant accomplishments – including new degree programs, enrollment gains, increased diversity and technological innovation.”

For more information about the search, please go to www.umcrookston.edu/chancellorsearch.

UMC Preview Day Scheduled for Saturday, October 22, 2011

CROOKSTON, Minn. – New and prospective students are invited to visit the University of Minnesota, Crookston on Saturday, October 22, 2011, to learn more about the campus during Preview Day. Students are encouraged to bring their families along for the in depth look at campus.

Students may go online to register for the Preview Day on Saturday, October 22 by visiting www.umcrookston.edu/admissions or by contacting the Admissions Office at 218-281-8569. The welcome and admissions presentations begin at 10 a.m.

During Preview Days, students have the opportunity to interact with current students, faculty, and staff as they learn about the U of M, Crookston. Throughout the day the students will be able to receive detailed information about the various opportunities available on the Crookston campus, participate in a question and answer session, tour the beautiful campus, and enjoy lunch in Brown Dining Hall. Preview Day is designed to help students and their families as they make decisions about college.

For more information, visit www.umcrookston.edu/admissions.

UMC Welcome Back Week

CROOKSTON, Minn. – Summer might be drawing to a close, but the University of Minnesota, Crookston is enthusiastically preparing for the beginning of a new academic year. Classes for the new semester begin on August 23, 2011, and returning faculty, staff, and students have a lot to look forward to when they return. Along with several new faculty members in both the Business Department and the Math, Science, and Technology Department, facilities updates have been taking place across the campus.

A laboratory installed last spring in Dowell Hall uses immersive visualization and has a new additional classroom making the combined Immersive Visualization and Informatics Lab an environment where students and faculty can interactively explore complex data. Five screens and three tablet monitors allow for running multiple applications and an opportunity to stretch applications across multiple screens.

Over the summer, the science laboratories in Hill Hall have been completely renovated providing much needed lab space and increased opportunities for research. A major heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) update has been completed in Dowell Hall.

Environmental sciences, the newest degree program on the Crookston campus, will enter its second year. The program offers students a broad range of study in areas like environmental protection, water quality, ecotoxicology, and environmental health and safety to name just a few.

For students interested in learning online, there are three new degrees in information technology management, health management, and communication. Together with online degrees in accounting, applied health, applied studies, business management, marketing, manufacturing management, and quality management there are a total of ten online degree options.

The installation of card-access security doors is nearing completion, and while on-campus living remains a challenge due to increased enrollment, the campus is finalizing an agreement to provide housing for students in the nearby Americas Best Value Inn, formerly the Northland Inn.

Welcome back week for faculty and staff kicks off on Monday, August 15 and includes new faculty orientation, workshops, and other special events. Student-athletes already on campus have begun practice for the fall sports season and new student orientation is slated to begin on Friday, August 19. Students will be volunteering in the community for the annual “Meet Crookston through Service” on Saturday morning, August 20. For more information about events and activities on the Crookston campus, visit www.umcrookston.edu/today.