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BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY FAll 2011
A PUBLICATION FOR
BSU ALUMNI AND FRIENDS
Troops inspire
Lieutenant General Waldhauser
CommandingPresence
a
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T H I s I s s U e Fall 2011
HORIZONS is produced by theOfce o Communications and Marketing, Alumni
Association, and BSU Foundation at Bemidji State
University. It is published three times per year and
distributed ree to BSU alumni, students, aculty,
sta, and riends. Direct comments to horizons@
bemidjistate.edu or 1-888-234-7794.
Editor
Rose Jones
Alumni dirEctor
Marla Patrias
univErsity AdvAncEmEnt
ExEcutivE dirEctor
Rob Bollinger
dEsignEr
Kathy Berglund
PhotogrAPhy dirEctor
John Swartz
contributing PhotogrAPhErsJe Corwin, Cpl. Christopher Green,
Emily Grifth, Lance Cpl. Jason Guiliano,
Sta Sgt. James Richardson, Tiany Sevareid
contributing WritErs
Andy Bartlett, Al Nohner,
Sarah Asp Olson, Cindy Serratore
EditoriAl AssistAncE
Aliza Boquist, Brad Folkestad, Valerie Mason,
Al Nohner, Peggy Nohner,
The Johnson Group Marketing
Production AssistAncE
The Johnson Group Marketing
EditoriAl boArd
Andy Bartlett, Rob Bollinger, Nancy Erickson,
Jeanine Gangeness, Rose Jones, Marla Patrias
A member o the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system,Bemidji State University is an afrmative action, equal opportunityemployer and educator. This document is available in alternativeormats to individuals with disabilities by calling 1-800-475-2001or 218-755-3883. BSU Communications & Marketing 11-226
bEmidJi stAtE univErsity
Volume 26, N0. 3, Fall 2011
COVER STORY
Lieutenant General Thomas Waldhauser, a Bemidji State alumnus,
commands the 57,000-troop I Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp
Pendleton, CA. His leadership style was honed by emulating
the positive qualities o the leaders hes experienced, includingBSUs venerable coach, Bob Peters.
Certified Fiber Sourcing
www.sfiprogram.org
5
HORIZONS
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Making
Co
llegePossible
Kathihagen
laWyerof
theland
RobeRtandeRson
12
2 Campus Notes
features
5 a CommaNdiNg preseNCe
Troops inspireLieutenant General Waldhauser.
8 Lawyer of the LaNdAn advocate or American Indian rights.
10 Bright futures
BSU students to watch.
12 makiNg CoLLege
possiBLe
BSU coordinator championsstudents with disabilities.
14 BreakiNg the siLeNCe
Future teachers aim to helpdea students fourish.
16 oN air
Growing up with public radio.
18 we the peopLe
The link between citizens andtheir government.
20 the ride of a L ifetime
When passion and proession meet.
23 iN memoriam aNd
aLumNi eveNts
24 CLass Notes
29 homeComiNg
30 CaLeNdar
8
14
16
18
12
onair
JonMtaggaRt
www.BemidjiState.edu | 1
therideofalifetiM
e
dR.hildyMcaRth
y
breaking
thesilenCe
JacKiehaley
and
Mo
llyschendel
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2 | HORIZONS Bemidji State University
item vce
pesdets amed
Bemidji State announced recently the ap-
pointment o two interim vice presidents.Dr. Mary Ward was named interim vicepresident o student development andenrollment in July. Ward has been the diretor o BSUs Advising Success Center since2008. She lls a position vacated by Dr. LErwin, who is now vice chancellor at theUniversity o Minnesota-Duluth. Erwin habeen at BSU since 2007. In June, Bob Grigwas named interim vice president oracademic aairs. He lls an interim positivacated by Dr. Nancy Erickson, who servein that role since 2008. Erickson is taking planned sabbatical or a year beore returing to the aculty. Griggs has served BSU ia variety o administrative roles since 200
National searches to ll both positions ona permanent basis are scheduled to beginthis all.
new chacello vsts bemd
Dr. Steve Rosenstone, who ofcially tookofce as chancellor o the Minnesota StateColleges and Universities (MnSCU) systemon Aug. 1, visited Bemidji in early July aspart o a statewide tour o the systemscampuses. While in Bemidji, Rosenstone aPresident Richard Hanson toured NorthweTechnical College and Bemidji State. At BSUthey toured the newly renovated Sattgast
Hall and stopped by Chet Anderson Stadiuand the American Indian Resource Center.Ater meeting with aculty and sta or anopen orum in Bridgeman Hall, he lunchedwith community leaders who have ties toBemidji State.
rn-to-achelos
usg pogams fullBemidji States nursing program continuesto be a hot commodity, with its RN-to-bachelors program at three different locations already at capacity for 2011-12. BSUserves 40 students at each of its sites oncampus, Lake Superior College in Duluth,and Anoka-Ramsey Community College,Cambridge campus. Debuting this fall, theLake Superior site reached capacity justtwo weeks after initial information sessionwere held in May. The Cambridge locationopened in 2009.
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P R E S i d E n T S M E S S a g E
A ew years ago, an economic research study indicated thatBemidji State University adds approximately $150 million to thearea economy each year. The July opening o AmeriPridesnational accounting headquarters in Bemidji is a recent exampleo the Universitys potential or local impact.
AmeriPride, a North American supplier o linen and uniormrental services, selected the city as the site or its newlyconsolidated accounts receivable oces. The availability ohigh-tech oces and a pool o skilled people, including severalBemidji State accounting graduates whom they hired, drew themto our region.
Working together with several community organizations and
businesses, Bemidji State was able to help sway the companyinto moving its accounting operations to northern Minnesota.These types o partnerships are a win-win or all involved. Thecompany obtains the acilities and resources it needs to fourish.The city o Bemidji adds a new business to its rolls. Bemidji Stateand its sister institution, Northwest Technical College, have anew employment connection or their graduates. The results areexhilarating and have the potential to transorm the regionseconomic landscape.
Another area o BSU impact emanates rom its transormationallearning environment, which this issue o Horizons refects. Fromgetting second chances and critical support services to capitaliz-ing on aculty encouragement and leadership opportunities,those eatured in this issue point to BSU as the oundation o
their success. These inspiring individuals serve as great rolemodels or the newest members o the Bemidji State amily theClass o 2015 which we ormally welcomed to campus duringconvocation on August 21.
I encourage you to visit campus, especially during Homecoming,Oct. 7-9. Weve maintained the traditions while adding somenew and exciting activities.
Sincerely,
2
r. Hanson
FROMPresIdenT
Campus noTes
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www.BemidjiState.edu | 3
Aa aa w peBemidji States visual arts aculty openedtheir annual show in the Universitys TalleyGallery in May. The show eatures workrom Butch Hoden, Nataia Himmirska,Jason Cark, Dennis Peterson, and SteveSundah. Their art media includes ceram-ics, painting, printmaking, sculpture, andsilverpoint drawing. The show runs throughSeptember.
fee eabsu eme aFourteen aculty members with a com-bined 377.5 years o service to BemidjiState were named proessors emeriti dur-ing the Universitys 92nd commencementexercises at Bemidjis Sanord Center inMay. Faculty who retire rom the Universitywith at least 15 years o service are eligibleto receive emeritus status. The 2011emeriti were: Dr. Wiiam Brauer, proes-sor emeritus o technological studies, 17
years;James Brouwer, proessor emerituso proessional education, 24 years; DavidCarson, registrar emeritus, 31 years; PhiipDah, proessor emeritus o TRiO/StudentSupport Services, 37 years; Dr. EaineHoffman, proessor emerita o technologi-cal studies, 15 years; Dr. Stevens Johnson,proessor emeritus o physics, 26 years;Dr. Steven Konecne, proessor emeritus omusic, 30.5 years; Dr. Robert ley, proessoremeritus o economics, 31 years; Dr. Kath-een Meyer, proessor emerita o Germanand French, 21 years; Mary Ann Reitmeir,proessor emerita o social work, 29 years;laMae Ritchie, director emerita o theInternational Program Center, 32 years;
Dr. Patrick Riey, proessor emeritus omusic, 38 years; Stuart Rosseet, proessoremeritus o library and library services, 28years; and Dr. Rochee Scheea, proessoremerita o nursing, 28 years.
Airc eee ae awa e eIn May, BSU was one o seven colleges anduniversities in the MnSCU system honoredor outstanding achievements in diversity
leadership, programming, and services.BSU took second place in the systemsBest Practices in Diversity category orthe American Indian Resource Center andits programs. The systems awards recog-nize programs and services that supportaccess and success in higher educationor all Minnesotans, especially those romgroups traditionally under-represented inhigher education.
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bsu -ieaa tmpe gIn May, dozens o the worlds fnesttrumpet players descended on downtownMinneapolis or the 36th annual coner-ence o the International Trumpet Guild.The conerence was hosted by De lyren,proessor o music at BSU, and SteveWright, associate proessor o music atGustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter.The conerence drew hundreds o trumpetenthusiasts rom all over the world orcompetitions, clinics, and concerts duringthe fve-day event. The conerence kickedo with a 140-trumpet rendition o TheStar Spangled Banner at a MinnesotaTwins game and closed with a two-hour,grand fnale concert in downtown Minne-apolis Wesleyan United Methodist Church.
bsu e a eeBemidji State has joined a growing num-ber o college campuses nationwide thathave gone tobacco ree. In April, Presi-
dent Hanson signed a policy preventingthe use, distribution, or sale o tobacco,including any smoking device or lit smok-ing instrument, anywhere on campus orin University-owned vehicles. AmericanIndian spiritual or cultural ceremonies oncampus are exempt rom the regulations.Implementation began with an awarenessphase this spring and is being ollowedby ull enorcement this all. The StudentSenate proposed the tobacco-ree policyin 2010, crating a drat proposal in Janu-ary 2011.
ge pek hiv/Aids
Dr. Patrick Guifoie, interim associate vicepresident or academic aairs, has writtenHIV/AIDS, published recently by ChelseaHouse Publishers. The book is part o thepublishers 54-volume Deadly Diseasesand Epidemics series.
More than one million Americans areinected with HIV/AIDS, and the Centersor Disease Control estimate that 21percent o them are unaware they have it.Although no known cure or HIV/AIDS ex-
ists, the disease can be managed throughproper medication and a healthy liestyle.
Guiloiles book describes the symptoms,diagnosis, treatment, and preventiono HIV/AIDS. He also explores the latestresearch about the disease and utureprospects or controlling it.
HIV/AIDS is the sixth book Guiloile haswritten in the Deadly Diseases and
Epidemics series. His other volumes areAnti-biotic-Resistant Bacteria, Tetanus, Diphtheria,Chicken Pox, and Whooping Cough.
bsu eam mpee da ba ae
BSUs Grim Beavers won the 2011 Education
Cup at Bemidjis Dragon Boat Festival inAugust. Chinwuba Okaor, assistant directoro student lie, captained the team.
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greenscHooL
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In April, Bemidji State was named one o thenations 311 most eco-riendly campuses by the UGreen Building Council and The Princeton Review.guide o those 311 institutions provides inormatioor students looking to attend a college or universthat demonstrates a strong commitment to creatiand maintaining a sustainable campus. BSU has ha student-implemented green ee o $5 per semein place since 2008. The ee unds environmentalstewardship, education, and awareness activities campus. Under the guidance o a ull-time sustainity ofcer since 2008, BSU has participated in a vao energy-savings competitions, including MinnesCampus Energy Challenge competition among schin the state. BSU has won the challenge twice.
bsu rEcognizEdnAtionAlly As A
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4 | HORIZONS Bemidji State University4 | HORIZONS
spg spo reap
BASEBAll completed its season with an
8-9 record, the programs most wins in
a season since , and fnished ninth in
the NSIC with a - conerence mark ...
SOFTBAll ended its spring season 5-3
overall and -6 in NSIC play ... MENS
GOlF garnered seventh at the NSIC
Championships in April, with sophomore
Chris Curb o Bemidji earning th among
individuals. BSU later ranked th at the
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conerence
Championships ... WOMENS GOlF placed
eighth at the NSIC Championships, behind
a 9th-place individual fnish rom Kathryn
Stoffes, a sophomore rom Maple Grove
... TENNIS ended the season 3- overall
and -9 in the NSIC under frst-year head
coach Beth Campus ... TRACK & FIElD
Kristi Buerke, a senior rom Stacy, earned
her sixth career All-America honor with a
ourth-place fnish in the 400-meter race
at the 2011 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Tandy Jue, a sophomore rom Redwood
Falls, placed seventh in the decathlon to
earn All-America honors on the mens side.
Buerkle, Juell, and Raphae Geo, a sopho-
more rom Kabetogama, captured All-
Region honors rom the U.S. Track and Field
and Cross Country Coaches Association.
Regional &all-ameRiCa
Kristi Buerkle, a senior sprinter rom Stacy, fnishedher collegiate career as one o BSUs most decoratedemale athletes o all time. This spring, she wonNSIC Championships in the 200- and 400-meter raceand earned her sixth career All-America honor witha ourth-place fnish in the 400-meter event at the2011 NCAA Outdoor Championships. In May, she wasnamed the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country
Coaches Associations Central Region Female Athlete o the Year. Holder o two BSU outdoorrecords and six indoor records, she was also a member o two school-record relay teams.
In June, she became the ourth Bemidji State track and feld athlete and 15th BSU student-athlete overall to earn Academic All-America honors. Majoring in elementary education, shecarried a 3.86 grade point average into her fnal semester at BSU.
twey-eve beave ea nsic all-aadem ooTwenty-seven BSU student-athletes earned a spot on the Northern Sun IntercollegiateConerence (NSIC) spring All-Academic Team. Baseball, mens track and feld, and womenstrack and feld led the way with six honorees each. The All-Academic Team recognizes studen
athletes on varsity traveling teams with cumulativeGPAs o 3.20 or higher.
bsu w nsicspomap AwadFor the second time in three years, BSU has won thNSIC Sportsmanship Award. First awarded in 2008,the NSIC Sportsmanship Award is given to the schoexhibiting the best sportsmanship o its players,coaches, ans, and sta, as voted upon by NSIC heacoaches and a Student-Athlete Advisory Committeemember rom each school.
tp hedk ge nsic hall o fame odTrip Hedrick, a BSU swimmer rom 1973-77, was inducted into the NSIC Hall o Fame in July.Hedrick was a three-time All-NSIC selection rom 1975-77, and he won the NSIC 100-meterreestyle title in 1977. He was a two-time, First-Team All-NAIA honoree and nine-time, All-America honoree during his career. A BSU Student-Athlete o the Year in 1977, he was inducteinto the Universitys Athletic Hall o Fame in 1998.
nsic expad w wo ew eamThe Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conerence, Bemidji States home in NCAA Division II, is ex-panding to 16 teams. The league announced in January that Minot State University (ND) and tUniversity o Sioux Falls (SD) will join the conerence in the 2013-14 season.
WchA pepae o 2013-14 ageAlthough the NCAA Division I college hockey landscape will undergo a signifcant transitionin 2013-14, the Bemidji State mens hockey program will remain a committed member o theWestern Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). Seven teams have announced they will leave
bekle ea ex All-Amea oo
the WCHA, including the University o Minnesota and
the University o Wisconsin, which will head to anew Big Ten conerence. In the meantime, the
University o Denver, Colorado College, theUniversity o Minnesota Duluth, the Universityo Nebraska Omaha, and the University oNorth Dakota will join the newly ormedNational Collegiate Hockey Conerencealong with the Central Collegiate HockeyAssociations University o Miami (Ohio).Despite the change in conerence aflia-tions, BSU is working diligently to retainregional rivalries that have developedover the history o the program, aimingto provide BSU hockey ans a scheduleeaturing the best competition collegehockey has to oer.
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4 | HORIZONS Bemidji State University
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Juell
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bsu athletic diRectoR, dR. RicK goeb
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www.BemidjiState.edu | 5
Troops inspireLieuTenanT
GeneraLWaLDhauser
In the weeks ollowing the terrorist attacks on
9/11, BSU alumnus Tom Waldhauser was more
ocused on national security than most Americans.
A U.S. Marine Corps ofcer, he was tapped to com-
mand the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit SpecialOperations Capable, the frst conventional unit to
deploy into Aghanistan ater the attack on the Twin
Towers. A ew years later, that same unit also com-
manded by Waldhauser was among the frst to cross
into Iraq at the start o Operation Iraqi Freedom.
{ story on next page }
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6 | HORIZONS Bemidji State University
Today, Lieutenant General ThomasWaldhauser commands the 57,000-troop
I Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp
Pendleton in Caliornia. President Barack
Obama nominated him or the position in
2010. In his role, he oversees the training
organizing, and equipping o Marines and
sailors in Caliornia and Arizona. Serving
also as commanding general o Marine
Forces Central Command, he is responsib
or employing, deploying, and sustaining
orces engaged in the Central Command
region o the Middle East.
The 2010 promotion prompted a strong
endorsement rom the commander o thU.S. Central Command, General James
Mattis, who called Waldhauser one o the
most operationally experienced and
tactically savvy ofcers in the military
today. He said Waldhausers leadership
style made him the perect choice or the
assignment.
No matter the task, Waldhauser makes it
his mission to learn rom those he admire
and to develop a leadership style that
works or him.
A leader is one who needs to ask the
right questions, does not take no or ananswer, and demonstrates the compe-
tency required to be in charge o large a
complex organizations, the South St. Pa
native observes. There are many long
days, many grueling requirements, and
dR.
leah
caRpenteR
Those two combat tours certainly had tobe a couple o highlights in my career
overall, he notes. The more Im around
these young Marines, the more amazed I
am every day o the initiative, the drive,
and the competence these individuals
demonstrate on a daily basis. What we
expect o them, and how they deliver in
some very difcult and stressul settings, is
really amazing.
A leader is one who needs to ask the rightquestions, does not take no for an answer, anddemonstrates the competency required to be in
charge of large and complex organizations.
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thoMas WaldhauseR
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www.BemidjiState.edu | 7
youve got to be able to power your waythrough. A good leader is one who can
do that.
The Making o an Ofcer
Waldhauser started on the road to
leadership while at BSU, where he pursued
a psychology degree and skated or Beaver
hockey as a orward. The our-year letter
winner played on the 1973 NAIA champi-
onship team.
Looking back, I had a very wonderul
college experience, he says. Coach Bob
Peters is the main reason I ended up going
to BSU. The ability to watch him as a leader
and a coach how he organized, how he
motivated was very benecial.
Although he wasnt certain about pursuing
a military career, Waldhauser participated
in the Platoon Leaders Class, where college
students train or two summers at the
Marines Ocer Candidates School in
Quantico, VA. Program participants, under
no obligation to join the military, are
oered a commission as a second
lieutenant in the Marine Corps when they
complete the class.
Waldhauser attended the training ater hisreshman and junior years at BSU. The
physically intensive experience, coupled
with the emphasis on leadership and
responsibility, struck a chord with him.
Ater completing the program, he signed
on or a three-year commitment.
To be truthul, I really didnt have any
intention o staying beyond that initial
three-year requirement, but I had some
very positive experiences as a young
lieutenant, he recalls. I had the opportu-
nity to work or some very inspiring
leaders. Being around very engaging
young Marines was something that was a
good t or me.
learning rom Others
For Waldhauser, the t has led to military
decorations as well as promotions. Over
the course o his career, he has earned the
Deense Superior Service Medal, Legion o
Merit with combat V, Bronze Star,
Meritorious Service Medal with three gold
stars, Navy Achievement Medal with one
gold star, and the Combat Action Ribbon.
The lieutenant general, however, is humble
about the recognition hes received,
preerring to ocus on the job at hand and
the people who serve alongside him every
day. Personal decorations are all well andgood, but they dont dene you as a leader,
and they really dont dene who you are,
he says. Its all about getting the job done.
Its all about making sure the Marines have
what they need. Its all about providing an
environment that allows everyone to do
their part and let them do their jobs.
Even with his stellar accomplishments,Waldhauser says he continues to learn
rom those around him no matter their
rank and strives to lead by example.
He also refects ondly on his time at
BSU and the lessons he learned rom
those around him.
The guys I played hockey with were
some truly great individuals and great
human beings. You learn a lot rom your
riends and peers, he says. Ive been
ortunate, since Ive been in the Marine
Corps, to work or a large number o really
tremendous men and women who have
demonstrated a commitment andcompetence that was very impressive.
As you move up the ranks, you always are
trying to emulate those who have gone
beore you, and youre always trying to
duplicate all the positive things they were
able to show you.
defInIng
momenTs
exprins as a bavr hoky playrand as a Marin corps offir hav
inflund his ladrship styl.
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8 | HORIZONS Bemidji State University
LawyerOFTHE
LAND
RobeRt andeRson
Its nice to provide a public service, to use your education, not just to make
money or try to obtain prestige for yourself, but to wade into the public
sector and try to help make things better through serving in the government.
an advoCat
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www.BemidjiState.edu | 9
Over the course o his legal career,Robert Anderson has advocatedor the rights o American Indians as a
public-sector attorney, an advisor to two
presidential administrations, and a
proessor at two well-known universities.
While his nearly 30-year career has been
flled with personal and proessional
success, the Ely native and member o the
Bois Forte Band o Chippewa still views his
time at Bemidji State as paving the way ora varied and ulflling career.
I really learned how to write pretty well in
college, and that has been a big key to any
success that I have had in my career as a
lawyer and now as a law proessor, says
Anderson, a 1980 BSU graduate who
studied English and history. Maybe even
more important was the act that my
proessors were really enthusiastic about
the material I was being taught, and they
motivated me to work really hard. That
gave me a work ethic that has served me
incredibly well throughout my career.
Andersons diligence as an undergraduate
paid o. He was accepted to the University
o Minnesota Law School and then oered
a job at the Native American Rights Fund
(NARF) in Boulder, CO, one o the countrys
oremost Indian law ofces. During his
12-year tenure at NARF, Anderson helped
settle disputes between ederal and state
governments and American Indian tribes in
Alaska and the Pacifc Northwest. From the
experience, he learned frsthand about the
complex legal issues acing American
Indians. He also discovered the rewards o
making a dierence in the lives o others.One o my proudest moments was when
I was in Alaska representing a woman
named Katie John, whose right to fsh had
been taken away by the state o Alaska in
the early 1960s, he recounts. We sued the
state in ederal court, and we won the case.
The court orced the state to reopen the
fshery.
Since that victory, the state has continu-
ally challenged the ruling, and Anderson
has remained abreast o the issue, making
sure Johns current lawyers have
up-to-date inormation and access to the
acts o the case.
These things go on or so long, and you
really have to be persistent, he says. Its
taught me the importance o writing about
these things in articles and in books soolks who come later to carry on will not
only understand what happened and rely
on those acts, but also learn rom them to
try to crat new solutions.
Through his work fghting or land and
water rights, Anderson met Bruce Babbitt,
secretary o the interior in the Clinton
administration. That connection led him to
a political appointment as associate
solicitor or Indian Aairs in the U.S.
Department o the Interior. Later he served
as a counselor to Babbitt, advising him
directly on matters involving Indian law,
endangered species, water rights, nationalparks, and other issues.
Its nice to provide a public service, to use
your education, not just to make money or
try to obtain prestige or yoursel, but to
wade into the public sector and try to help
make things better through serving in the
government.
When Clintons term ended, Anderson
headed to the University o Washington in
Seattle to teach. However, in 2008 he
returned to the nations capital to co-lead
President Obamas transition team or the
Department o the Interiors agencyreview.
That was a highlight or me, says
Anderson, who wasnt interested in
moving back to DC to be part o the
administration. But I wanted to help out. I
was asked to make recommendations
about issues that would need to be dealt
with promptly by the new administration.
Anderson currently works ull time as a
tenured proessor at the University o
Washington (UW) and directs the law
schools Native American Law Center. He
also serves as the Oneida Nation Visiting
Proessor o Law at Harvard Law School, a
fve-year appointment where he teaches
Native American Law one term each
academic year.
During his 11 years at UW, he has drawnrom his Bemidji State experiences to guide
his teaching approach.
They were all very enthusiastic about
their subject matter, and they were all
obviously great scholars and had worked
hard to acquire all this knowledge, he says
o his BSU proessors. They made class
un because I could tell they enjoyed
teaching the material, and they were also
very supportive. Thats the kind o teacher I
want to be someone who is enthusiastic,
has an open door, and wants to work with
the students.
In his role at the university, Andersonpromotes the development o Indian law
by nurturing student interest in the legal
proession; serving as a resource or tribes,
governments, and individuals; and building
a network among scholars and practitio-
ners. He has written numerous academic
articles, teaches American Indian law rom
a casebook he co-authored, and serves as
author and editorial board member o the
leading reerence book on ederal Indian
law, Cohens Handbook of Federal Indian
Law. The book is an inormation source
relied upon by the U.S. Supreme Court and
small-town practitioners alike.
Its been a wonderul career, and Im
looking orward to continuing on, he notes.
My time at Bemidji State really positioned
me well or whats been, Id have to say, an
extremely rewarding career.
foR ameRiCan indian Rights
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10 | HORIZONS Bemidji State University
dierently. He took an 18-month hiatus romhis education ater graduating rom HawleyHigh School. As a teenager, he wanted to bean engineer, but an interest in antasy ctioncompelled him to study writing at BSU.
Focusing on creative rather than technicalwriting, hes had a short story and poetrypublished in the Rivers Meeting Project, theUniversitys annual anthology o studentwriting.
His curiosity and prior interests drove him to
take BSUs introductory physics class. Expo-sure to modern physics with its elegant math-ematical ormulae and modeling o physicalbehavior prompted him to add the major.
Dr. Dave Bahr, proessor o physics, eels thiscombination gives Schmitz a Renaissance-man perspective dened by mathematicalacumen, exceptional insight, creative analyti-cal interpretation, and linguistic precision. Itbrings both lobes o his brain into the arena,Bahr says. It denes a real thinker, as con-trasted with a mere calculator.
Dr. Anton Treuer, aculty mem-ber who teaches Ojibwe, notedher growth rom an unsurerst-year student to a sel-condent graduate. He eelsher academic preparation inmedicine and understanding ocultures, as well as languages,will make her a leader amongthose she serves.
I believe that health includesemotional, mental, physical,and spiritual elements, saysWalker, whose internship thisall ocuses on womens re-
productive rights and justice atthe Yankton Sioux Reservationin South Dakota. As a uturephysician wanting to serve inan American Indian commu-
Bemidji State is helping stellar individuals
prepare for the future here
are three destined to do great things.
10 | HORIZONS Bemidji State University
bright
futureS
PearlW
alker
InPearl Walkers mind, the letters B-S-Uspell opportunity. The Bemidji senior choseher hometown University or convenience,planning to transer later to a school oeringgymnastics. Now shes more than happyshe stayed.
Every experience Ive had has shaped me,says Walker, who graduated this spring withdegrees in pre-med and Indian Studies. Justbeing involved brought me opportunities Ididnt think Id ever come across.
Those opportunities came her rst semesterwhen track coach Craig Hougen invited theormer Bemidji High athlete to join the Bea-vers squad. She did and quickly gravitated
to the heptathlon and pentathlon whereher wide-ranging talents were useul in themultiple-event competitions.
Being part o the track team really built meup and made me eel like I really belongedat BSU.
So the student with Lakota and Ojibweheritages stayed, and her opportunitiesgrew. As co-chair o the Council o IndianStudents, she received the 2011 OutstandingAmerican Indian Student Award. Acceptedinto Minnesotas Future Doctors Program,she attended an American Indian Scienceand Engineering Society national conerence,where her dream to become a physician wasreinorced. She served on the PresidentsCommission, a student group that addressedways to improve the University. She learnedOjibwe while working with an elder fuentin the language as they collaborated on astory about healthy eating. She co-captainedthe track squad, improving every year atconerence meets while earning nine NSICAll-Academic Team and three Division IIAll-Academic Team awards. Her riendships,networking systems, and understanding oissues grew with time spent at the AmericanIndian Resource Center.
nity, I would like to incorporate the culture and
language o our people in my practice.
Albert Schmitz graduated in May with abachelor o science degree in physics and abachelor o ne arts in creative and techni-cal writing. Unazed that the two disciplinesrepresent opposite sides o the academic coin,he sees only the richness o this currency.
The two majors complement each other, heexplains. Ive heard rom practicing physicists
and engineers that writing is such a big com-ponent, and they ailed to learn those skills incollege.
Physics made me more critical and added anintellectual depth to my writing, he observes.I look at the logic o the sentence to makesure it makes sense. What good is an ideathat only you understand?
The rst BSU graduate with this degreecombination, he is accustomed to doing things
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www.BemidjiState.edu | 11
Jacob
converse
Schmitz sees his uture in either discipline,although immediate plans include writingcreatively or a year while exploring optionsor advanced study in physics. He fgures hisbackground should help in taking the gradu-ate school entrance exam, which includesa signifcant writing component. He alsohopes his BSU degrees will dierentiate hisapplication rom others, urther increasingthe value o his two-sided, academic coin.
albertschmitz
BSU StUdentS to Watch
You will see someone you know every daywalking across campus. Its a great place tothink outside the box and expand boundaries.
A social studies major rom Moundsview,Meehlhause used that insight to his advan-tage by getting involved. Ater trying dier-ent organizations, he joined Student Senate,where he was co-president or 2010-2011.He also was a member o Students Today,Leaders Forever and worked in the HobsonUnions Excellence in Leadership Center.
www.BemidjiState.edu | 11
michaelmeehlhause
Michael Meehlhausecame to Bemidji StateUniversity because a com-puter indicated it wouldbe a good idea. From thatimpersonal start, he ounda home.
As a senior at Irondale
High School, all he knewabout BSU came rom anonline college site, whichmatched his search pa-rameters with a universityin northern Minnesotahe never knew existed.Intrigued, he took a closerlook and liked what hesaw.
I think Bemidji State doeshave the eel o a privateschool without the cost,Meehlhause surmiseswhile echoing the wordso his campus tour guide.
Its a small institution.
Through campus activities, he noticed howengaged students elt at BSU. I was takenaback when I frst got here by how much o avoice students really have in this University,he remembers. Students are empoweredbecause the administration takes our opin-ions seriously.
During his our years, students instituted agreen ee, adopted a tobacco-ree campuspolicy, oered advice or restructuring BSU,and supported the construction o the San-ord Center, the regional events acility nowhousing BSU hockey.
Along the way, Meehlhause realized Bemidji,the city, was more than a place where he
stayed. He joined area leaders several timesin promoting the citys agenda to the Minne-sota State Legislature, became involved withthe local cross country ski club, and lovedbeing on the lake and outdoors.
Michael regularly attended City Councilmeetings, says Mary Tosch, interim directoro the Hobson Union. This relationshipprovided an avenue or communication andostered joint initiatives that will beneftstudents and the community.
Meehlhause, who student teaches this Sep-tember, created a video or YouTube to de-scribe the school and area he frst discoveredonline. I made it as a tribute to Bemidji, toshow people this is something special with a
lot o things to do.
t ee meeluevde g
p://b.ly/qaics n e Qr de.
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12 | HORIZONS Bemidji State University
Poss
makIng
coLLegeBsu CooRdinatoRChampions students
with disaBilities
12 | HORIZONS Bemidji State University
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www.BemidjiState.edu | 13
ibleLast year, Hagens ofce served 333 BSUstudents with documented disabilitiesincluding physical or psychological impair-ments, learning disabilities, autism, blindness,deaness, emotional behavior disorders, andsystemic disorders such as epilepsy, cancer,
and diabetes. The number o students
receiving services has more than doubled
since 1995.
Typical accommodations or students withdisabilities include note takers, sign language
interpreters, priority registration or courses,
extended test time, preerential seating in
classrooms, books on tape, and scribes or
dictation. Each student has unique chal-
lenges. Two people can come in with the
same diagnosis, but they have night-and-day
dierences in what they need, Hagen
explains.
When Hagen frst started,
she provided a lot o the
services hersel, doing
whatever it took to keep
academics accessible orall. Thinking out o the
box, she says, is
essential. Today, student
workers help with many o the services.
Hagen and Dr. Marsha Driscoll, associate
proessor o psychology, developed Prep
School, an innovative program that helps
high school students with disabilities
acclimate to college lie through a weeklong,
on-campus experience. Unortunately, the
program ell victim to the Minnesota
government shutdown this summer when
agency unds used to support participating
students became inaccessible.
Its heartbreaking, says Hagen o the lost
opportunity. One o the things that we had
not anticipated is how the students would
bond and how much that would help them
make a healthier transition to college.
Besides ears o the summer program never
resuming, Hagen is also concerned about
unding cuts that could reduce the number o
students eligible or the services her oce
typically provides during the academic year.
When Kathi Hagens mother lost hervision, many once eortless tasksbecame nearly impossible or her to
accomplish, including knitting. Encouraging
her to keep trying, Hagen replaced the yarn
her mother was using with a sturdier cotton
thread, which made it much easier to eel.
The switch worked.
She knit dishcloths, a pastime that brought
her a lot o joy even though she could hardlysee, Hagen recalls. It just shows that
whatever you want to do, it doesnt have to
be done a certain way.
Hagen brings that spirit to her job every day
as the coordinator o the Disability Services
Ofce at Bemidji State. Instead o looking at
the students disabilities and saying, You
cant, she sees students abilities and fnds
ways to say, You can.
Colleges have provided services or students
with disabilities since the 1970s, but the
passage o the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA), eective in 1992, more clearlydefned what services were expected and
who would qualiy. Hagen, with an
undergraduate degree in English and a
masters in behavioral science rom BSU,
stepped into her job in 1993, just as the ADA
opened the doors to allow more academic
opportunities or students with disabilities.
Prior to 1990, students with disabilities
werent really expected to go on to college.
They were seen as less than capable o
doing the work, o not being a good ft,
says Hagen, noting that nothing could be
urther rom the truth. Her students have
graduated and become successul proes-sionals in numerous felds, including a
graduate who has been a Minnesota
legislator or more than a decade.
These students have the potential to do
anything they want, Hagen says. Most o
them are highly motivated. Theyre used to
really working hard. Oten they challenge
other students to keep up because theyre
so ocused.
Vickie Kepler o Cohasset shares her
concerns. I ace my dyslexia every day, but
not on the scale that I do at school, she
says. Kepler, 48, is an environmental studies
major and a proessional landscaper. She
uses books on tape, note takers, and
dedicated quiet rooms or testing where she
can read and think out loud, a technique that
helps her succeed. She appreciates the work
Hagen does, especially with younger
students, who oten lack the know-how to
advocate or themselves. What Kathi does
is amazing. Without people like her, wed
close a lot o doors or capable students.
Je Jones, a 2004 sports management
graduate who has dyslexia, says he valued
the encouragement he ound at BSU, the
smaller classes, accessible proessors, and
especially Hagens support. He saw Hagen
daily or notes, test dictation, and other
services. Kathi helped me get through the
whole college experience, says Jones, who
works or the Roseville Area School District
during the academic year and the Minnesota
Twins during the summer. She would
always take the extra step to make each
student eel appreciated.
Hagens devotion to students permeates her
daily lie, infuencing even her choice o
artwork. A ramed print above her desk reads,
Service is the lieblood o any organization.
She is acutely aware that, or the students her
oce serves, the dream o a college education
is precarious without proper support.
Every day I come to work, I make a
dierence in someones lie, she says o her
role in helping students with disabilities
reach their aspirations. Theres nothing else
Id rather do.
These students have the potential to doanything they want. Most of them are highlymotivated. Theyre used to really working hard
Often they challenge other students to keepup because theyre so focused.
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14 | HORIZONS Bemidji State University
Today, Haley is studying to become an
educator so she can help dea childrenlearn to their ullest potential and access
the services they need to be successul.
Like Haley, Molly Schendel wants to teach
dea children, although she draws her
inspiration rom the positive experiences
she had growing up dea. She and her
younger brother were born dea, but had
hearing parents who learned to sign. In
third grade, Schendel moved with her
amily to Faribault where she enrolled in
the Minnesota State Academy or the
Dea, a residential school or the dea and
hard o hearing. She describes the schoo
as a place where she elt happy, con-
nected, and independent.
Today, Schendel hopes to teach third or
ourth grade at the academy. It just
seems like the perect time to be involve
in a childs lie, she explains. Its just tha
age when you start learning ast, reading
stories, and developing strong
riendships.
BrEAkiNg THE
futuRe teaCheRs aim to helpdeaf students flouRish
Born hard o hearing, Jackie Haleystruggled not only to learn, butalso to t in. Those around her, rom amily
to classmates, could hear but did not sign.
By ourth grade, she ell behind academi-
cally and elt lonely, isolated, and
rustrated as her hearing slipped away.
Although she could lip-read, she ound it
easier to learn by reading her textbooks
than by relying on her teachers.
It was really tough, Haley recalls. I had
to depend on others; I had to struggle so
much because I didnt have the accommo-
dations that I needed.
The school eventually provided an
interpreter to aid her learning. However,
the isolation continued until, at 14, she
enrolled in a residential high school or the
dea and met others who were culturally
fuent in American Sign Language (ASL).
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www.BemidjiState.edu | 15
Although its sometimes challenging,
Schendel and Haley navigate in the hearingworld and share their lives with their hearing
children, who sign. Haleys husband is also
dea, but Schendels husband hears and
learned to sign ater meeting her. At Bemidji
State, Schendel and Haley depend on
proessional interpreters and sometimes
note takers to help them excel alongside
hearing students. A ew o their hearing
classmates also know how to sign.
When considering what makes BSU a good
place or them, Schendel says, The
teachers, without a doubt. Theyve changed
the person that I am. They believe in me,
communicate with me, and respect me.
Same, Haley adds. The very same.
The two moms balance school, amily, and
separate 160-mile roundtrip commutes to
get to their BSU classes Haley north rom
Big Fork and Schendel east rom Marble.
Despite competing responsibilities, they
remain passionate about teaching.
I really love kids, says Haley, whose oldest
is 16. I have our o them, and they reallyinspire me. I also care about how dea
children learn. Schendel, who has three
children, ages 2-5, adds that she, too, loves
kids and education. I want to make a
dierence or dea kids, Schendel explains.
I want to be a good role model or my
community and put mysel out there.
By becoming teachers, Haley and Schendel
hope to help dea children realize their
potential even in a hearing world.
Jackie hale and Moll scendel ared teirtorie witHorizons ing ign langage,
wic wa tranlated interpreter Katleenyongloom, one of two interpreterworking wit tem at bsu.
Both Haley and Schendel will graduate
rom Bemidji State University in 2012 withelementary education degrees. Haley
wants to teach in northern Minnesota,
preerably in a combined classroom o dea
third, ourth, and fth graders who
otherwise would be placed in hearing
classrooms. She and Schendel say that its
important or dea children to learn ASL,
interact with dea peers, and learn rom
dea teachers whenever possible.
I learned so much more rom the dea
teachers, Haley notes. Their way o
teaching was just easier to understand.
They were more expressive, and I just elt
like I connected better with them.
Schendel agrees, noting that when dea
teachers are not available, dea children
need accommodations to learn. She and
Haley saw this frst-hand when they
recently observed a dea child in a
classroom o hearing kindergartners.
I thought, Oh, great, theyll have services
to meet all o his needs, Schendel recalls.
Then we went into the classroom, and I
couldnt tell which boy was dea. He didnt
have an interpreter. It hit me hard. The
teacher was talking. The boy didnt know
what was being said. The boy would signsomething, and nobody would voice or
him. Schendel also witnessed a social
interaction in which the child was excluded
and misunderstood. It just broke my
heart, Schendel says.
Haley, too, was disheartened. I thought
things had changed, she says. Their BSU
instructor shared their observations with
school ofcials who, according to Schendel,
oered to explore improved services or
the child. Haley and Schendel say there is
no reason or dea children to be let
behind in the classroom.
The teachers, without a doubt.
Theyve changed the person that I am.They believe in me, communicate
with me, and respect me.Molly schendel
WHAT MAKES BSU A GOOD PlACE?
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16 | HORIZONS Bemidji State University
When Jon McTaggart transerred toBemidji State University as asophomore, he had his sights set on studying
history and political science with designs on
law school. Fortunately or public radio
listeners, his experiences on campus
rekindled a connection with the airwaves and
launched a career devoted primarily to
Minnesota Public Radio and its parent
company, American Public Media Group,
where McTaggart now serves as chie
executive ofcer.
His career interests shited unexpectedly
ater signing up or an elective course in
mass communication. During the class, the
proessor noticed he had aknack or words and recruited
him to write a column or the
campus newspaper. I kind o
backed into it that way,
starting as a history major who
was writing a column or the
Northern Student, he recalls.
McTaggart credits aculty such as Bob
Treuer, Roger Paskvan, and Dr. Roy
Blackwood or taking an active interest in his
success and persuading him to pursue the
mass communication feld. People in our
lives, whether theyre aculty members or
mentors, those who truly make an individualinvestment, can change your lie, observes
the 1983 graduate rom the western
Minnesota community o Campbell. There
have been people in my lie who have
certainly done that or me.
Radio Ready
As a kid, McTaggart watched his dad strap
an AM radio on the John Deere tractor and
listen to it while doing arm chores. Radio
has been my love or a long, long time,
says. From the earliest time I can reme
ber, radio has been magical and importame, so Ive always come back to radio.
Even beore arriving on campus, McTagg
already had worked as a classical music
announcer in Nebraska. Returning to
Minnesota, he was soon hired at Paul Bu
Broadcasting in Bemidji, where he work
everything rom deejay to news writer.
the time he decided to become a mass
communication student, he was radio re
Besides his early radio experiences, it w
the opportunities presented to him by B
aculty that made a lasting imprint on hi
career path.It was an interesting time or the mass
communication department; it was dee
rich in aculty that were energetic and
constantly recruiting and flling their clas
They would challenge me and present m
with some kind o unexpected opportun
and I would take it. Those werent oppo
ties I was creating or mysel.
It wasnt long beore McTaggart was put
his prior radio experience to good use as
news director or BSUs campus station.
radio savvy was also gaining outside
attention. At the behest o his proessor
entered a competition held by the Intern
tional Radio and Television Society, whic
named him among the nations top 25
communication graduates.
McTaggarts frst leap into Minnesota pu
radio also came courtesy o a BSU acult
member.
Fulton Gallagher, rom the music depar
ment, heard there was a classical music
station possibly coming to town, he rec
He stopped me in the hall and said, Wh
havent you applied or that Minnesota
Public Radio job? I had to admit that I ha
given it much thought.
At 23, McTaggart applied or the station
manager position at KCRB in Bemidji. Th
role entailed creating a new station rom
ground up, hiring sta, and building a loc
audience. Much to his surprise, he was
oered the job. Truthully, Im still not s
why they decided to hire me, he admit
It certainly didnt make sense on paper
That early move was the beginning o
McTaggarts long-term relationship with
People in our lives, whether theyrefaculty members or mentors,
those who truly make an individualinvestment, can change your life.
Jon MctaggaRt
16 | HORIZONS Bemidji State University
gRowing up withpuBliC Radio
on
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www.BemidjiState.edu | 17
public radio, where hes held increasingly
more responsible positions over the years,
rom general manager o MPRs multi-stationgroup in Collegeville to senior vice president
and chie operating ocer to his current
position as chie executive ocer.
When KCRB was built, MPR offered one radio
station in each of eight Minnesota communi-
ties, and that one radio station broadcast a
mixed format of news and information, and
classical music programming, he says. MPR
now has more than 115,000 members;
900,000 people across the state and into
surrounding states listen to our three radio
services each week; and MPRs digital
audience is more than one million each
month.
Through it all, McTaggart has helped guide
MPRs growth into more areas while
expanding its audiences and use o new
technologies. Hes also ocused on maintain-
ing its commitment to the stations mission o
providing act-based, non-partisan news as
well as arts and cultural programming that
inorms and entertains its listeners.
lessons learned
While the bulk o his career has been spent in
public radio, McTaggart took two orays away
rom the airwaves, rst as executive directoror the Reading Rehabilitation Hospital in
Reading, PA, and later as vice president or
advancement and university relations at La
Sierra University in Riverside, CA. Both
experiences oered McTaggart new
challenges, new lessons to learn, and a new
perspective on leadership.
I learned the importance o leadership and
being very intentional about developing who
you are in your eectiveness as a leader, he
notes. Its part o being inormed, being
curious, and being awake in the world.
Now, as McTaggart looks orward to his role
as CEO, he can refect on a career rich with
opportunities.
Ive had the good ortune o great mentors,
great teachers, who have challenged me and
created opportunities or me that I certainly
didnt create or mysel. By taking advantage
o those opportunities, or at least pursuing
them, good things have happened to me.
Ive really been ortunate and blessed.
www.BemidjiState.edu | 17
From the earliest time I can remember,radio has been magical and important to me,
so Ive always come back to radio.
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18 | HORIZONS Bemidji State University
Each year, hundreds o Bemidji StateUniversity alumni exercise their civicduty by serving as commissioners, sheris,mayors, councilors, and school board
members throughout the country. While
statewide and national races grab major
headlines, the democratic process is
requently elt most acutely when voters are
asked to choose among local-election
candidates whom they know personally as
neighbors and riends.
While this multi-layered and ragmented
system is not always the most efcient, it
does create a process that intimately links
citizens with their government, says Dr. Pat
Donnay, Bemidji State
University proessor opolitical science, as he
talks about the
countrys 85,000 local
governments. The
system creates a need or riends, neighbors,
amily members, or ourselves to step up and
become elected ofcials.
Donnay holds locally elected ofcials in high
esteem, especially in todays environment
where personal lives are closely scrutiniz
instant communication can divert attenti
rom real issues, and the political processoten viewed cynically. One has to be
willing to accept considerable responsibi
or making decisions regarding public
concerns where, in many cases, you get
little in return, he notes o the job that p
little and demands much. The motivatio
serve has to come rom a strong civic
commitment. Fortunately, in most locale
those people still emerge as leaders.
In Bemidji, three BSU graduates comprise
hal o the towns city council. These
councilors Ron Johnson, Roger Hellquist
and Rita Albrecht share more than degr
rom the University. Besides throwing thehats into local campaigns, all are actively
involved in area organizations, and each
was encouraged to run or ofce by othe
in the community.
Ron Johnson, Ward 3
From Bemidji, Johnson earned his visual
degree in 1975 and worked in graphic des
and marketing beore returning home in
1979 to join the sta o Lakeland Public
The system creates a need or riends,neighbors, amily members, or ourselves tostep up and become elected ofcials.
The Link
beTween ciTizensand Their
governmenT
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www.BemidjiState.edu | 19
Television, where he is now design and
promotion manager. For 15 years, he also
independently produced concerts eaturing
nationally known entertainers.
In 1996, the citys mayor at the time asked
Johnson to serve on an ad hoc committee
to explore the potential o an events
center. Ater hundreds o meetings,
numerous votes, and a very public debate,
the Bemidji Regional Event Center opened
with a ribbon cutting ceremony in 2010.
Renamed the Sanord Center, the regional
acility is now home to Beaver hockey as
well as a venue or concerts, trade shows,conerences, and special events such as
commencement exercises.
The event center was a big reason,
Johnson remembers o his 2000 run or
city council. I elt the city needed to grow.
The council needs to be visionary and
partner with businesses, the school district,
the county, and the University.
By tracking attendance at the concerts he
promoted, Johnson knew that over 75
percent o ticket holders came rom
outside the Bemidji area, ortiying his
belie that a acility could improve theregions hospitality industry. Yet, Johnson
served a decade on the city council beore
other elected city ofcials were also
convinced o an event centers potential.
Johnson currently serves as the councils
representative on the Sanord Centers
advisory committee as well as the Airport
Authority, the public aairs committee, the
Greater Bemidji Area Joint Planning Board,
and the Headwaters Regional Develop-
ment Commission (HRDC). He also
represents Bemidji on the Coalition o
Greater Minnesota Cities, a statewide
lobbying group or which he is secretary.
Sometimes you have activists who are on
the ar let and right, so you dont have any
way o coming together, says Johnson,
who is the longest sitting member o the
current council. I think 80 percent o
people are in the middle. My theme is
collaboration. You have to see a lot o
give-and-take.
Roger Hellquist, Ward 2
The direction o Hellquist s uture changed
dramatically in 1981 when he was hit by a
car while cycling. Originally rom Thie River
Falls, he grew up in Hibbing and moved to
Bemidji in 1977 to work as an electrician.
Injuries rom the accident orced him to
pursue a dierent career, which started
when he earned an industrial technology
degree rom Bemidji State in 1985. Ater
several years in manuacturing manage-
ment and industry development, he
returned to Bemidji in 1997 as the general
manager o Search Resources, a ull-servicestafng business that specializes in
securing, training, and supervising
employees or clients.
Hellquist was a member o the planning and
zoning commission or 10 years when the
inclination to run or public ofce ully
blossomed. In 2002, he earned a seat on the
city council and is second only to Johnson in
length o service among the current
councilors.
I always elt you needed to be part o
something i youre going to help in
progress, Hellquist explains o his reasonsto seek a council seat. You want to be a
productive member o society, and this was
a place where I could apply my skills and
not be into politics ull time.
As a councilor, he applies his skills in several
areas, including exploring downtown
development, resolving rental issues as part
o the Quality Neighborhood Initiative,
working with the Jaycees, and sitting on the
revolving loan committee, which provides
short-term fnancing or economic develop-
ment. He cites the councils work in promot-
ing public saety and the regions ambiance as
top priorities or a healthy community.
People have to eel sae and comortable
in the city, and I want to make sure we have
an adequate number owell-trained police
and frefghters, Hellquist notes.
Rita Albrecht, Ward 4
Albrechts frst attempt at a BSU degree was
diverted in 1979 when she decided to
concentrate on raising a amily and
operating the Bemidji A&W with her
husband. When the business sold in 1998,
the Big Falls native returned to campus,
earning both social studies and geography
degrees in 2001.
Although she taught or a while, Albrecht
ound her uture emanating rom the
geography major, where she had ocused
on planning. She switched career paths in
2005, working or the city o Bemidji and
then the Headwaters Regional Develop-
ment Commission (HRDC) in planning,
grant writing, and development capacities.
In 2011, she began perorming similar tasksas a planner and developer or the Leech
Lake Band o Ojibwe.
Like Johnson and Hellquist, Albrecht was
encouraged to run or public ofce by
people she knew through her involvement
in local organizations and nonprofts. Ater
a successul 2010 all campaign, she was
one o two new council members seated
last January.
I ound that the customer service and
organizational skills I had rom running a
restaurant added value to my planning and
development work, Albrecht says o herimpetus to run. Having experience on
boards, I elt I was boots on the street, had
a eel or what was going on, and could be
a more inormed voice on the council.
She uses that voice by representing the
council in regional library aairs, tourism
promotion, and economic development.
She remains active in other organizations,
including the BSU alumni board.
One o her priorities is sustainable
development on two ronts. Its important
to show leadership on community
development and economic develop-ment, she observes. The frst is the stu
that makes a community a great place to
live, whether thats schools, parks, good
shopping, nice roads, or housing. Economic
development encompasses the jobs and
drivers that make community develop-
ment possible. They go hand
in glove.
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20 | HORIZONS Bemidji State University
When passion
anD professionmeeT
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time studying in the library and ound that
the schools resources exceeded her
expectations.My amily was very provincial about
schools, she notes. They hadnt heard o
the city o Bemidji much less the college. I
learned i you have a good college library,
and you have good proessors who care
about learning, you can attend a small,
local college and get a ne education.
The Thrill of the Hunt
Her hard work paid o. She was accepted
into the University o Minnesota Medical
School ater graduating rom Bemidji State
in 1974. Ater a residency in Minneapolis
and a colon-rectal ellowship in Dallas, TX,McCarthy landed in private practice in New
Orleans, a region o the country where she
has fourished. Since beginning her
practice, she has been named among the
citys outstanding physicians by New
Orleans Magazine.
She has also rekindled her childhood
passion or horseback riding and ox
hunting skills learned rom her grand-
mother and great aunt who owned a arm
in Massachusetts where she vacationed as
a child. I grew up with horses, loving them
and enjoying them. I was horse crazybeore I became boy crazy, she says.
Fox hunting was always the sport that I
loved because it takes you outside, she
adds. Youre on a horse; youre working
with dogs and understanding how wild
animals unction. It is not competitive, but
exhilarating and enthralling and exhausting.
Born and raised in Manhattan, NY,where her amily had lived or threegenerations, Dr. Hildy McCarthy was acareree teenager in the 1960s who nearly
funked out o Vassar College ater two
years. At 24, she married an Episcopal
minister and ollowed him to a mission
church on the Leech Lake Indian Reserva-
tion. Although her career path had been
unclear, she began to sense a need or
direction and discovered that Bemidji State
University could be the steppingstone to
ullling her aspirations i, with her prior
academic record, the college would
admit her.
Today, McCarthy works as a colon and rectal
surgeon in New Orleans, LA, where shespracticed or nearly 30 years. She also
pursues a passion or horses on her
300-acre equestrian arm outside o the city.
Bemidji brought me back a sense o
mysel, she refects. When I was nishing
high school and my rst years at Vassar,
I was very directionless and really my
greatest interest was riends and parties
and having un.
A Direction Emerges
While living in Minnesotas north woods,
McCarthy began to plot a course to what
seemed almost unattainable at the time
medical school and interviewed at
Bemidji State, the only university within
commuting distance o the reservation.
Here I was, a young woman who had
funked out o Vassar, hoping to reapply
mysel and get accepted at medical school,
she refects. I didnt even breathe the
surgeon word as it sounded too much
like hubris.
BSUs dean o admissions was skeptical o
her loty goal to take pre-med classes,
especially ater perusing her dismal Vassar
records. She was nally admitted provision-ally with a stern warning that poor academic
perormance would lead to a quick exit. So I
started mapping out what I would have to
OFA LiFETiME
dr.hil
dy
mcArthy
ona
Fox
hunt
Fox hunting was always the sport that I loved becauseit takes you outside. Youre on a horse; youre working
with dogs and understanding how wild animalsfunction. It is not competitive, but exhilarating andenthralling and exhausting.
do, and I just proceeded to do it, she says
o her newly chosen path. And I loved it.
With new direction, motivation, and the
support o the aculty, McCarthy thrived at
Bemidji. She spent most o her non-class
dR. hildy McaRthy
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22 | HORIZONS Bemidji State University22 | HORIZONS Bemidji State University
There are so many people in the last 20years that Ive been able to help expose to
the sport. Thats not what most people thinkof as community service, but in a sense it is.
Its sharing the things you love with othersand hoping they enjoy it as much as you do.
O
McCarthy and her current husband beganhunting in Jackson, MS, with the Chula Homa
Hunt, the nearest pack o oxhounds to New
Orleans. The couple now makes the
three-hour drive with their horses nearly
every weekend to the hunt, where she
serves as master o oxhounds.
In 1989, McCarthy turned her passion into a
business and a tangible way to give back to
the community shes come to love. She and
her husband purchased Lagniappe Eques-
trian Center north o Folsom, LA. The arm
boards horses, oers riding lessons, and
hosts events. The arms biggest show,
Jumpin into June, is a three-day, charityevent showcasing more than 150 equestrians
and their horses in hunter-jumper competi-
tions. The weekend also eatures a silent
auction with prots going to support local
causes.
McCarthy sees her arm as a place where the
community can come to experience the sport
she has loved since childhood. There are so
many people in the last 20 years that Ive
been able to help expose to the sport, she
says. Thats not what most people think o
as community service, but in a sense it is. Its
sharing the things you love with others and
hoping they enjoy it as much as you do.
Striking a BalanceNow 64, McCarthy has reduced her
practice, which gives her more time with
the horses. She splits her residence
between a home in New Orleans and a
house the couple built on the arm our
years ago. I can look out the window and
see the horses grazing, and theres a pond
right below the house where the horses
go and splash around, she describes.
Although shes ound more time to be on
her arm and to make return trips to the
amily arm in Massachusetts, the active
surgeon is not looking to leave the
operating room completely, at least or
now. Ive cut back at this point to what is
very comortable, she says. I my health
stays with me, and my mental health as
well, I would like to continue working the
way I am until Im 72.
Until that time, McCarthy continues
enjoying success proessionally and
personally, striking a perect balance
between her two primary passions.
I think they complement each other
because theyre so dierent, she says.
I wouldnt want to do just one o them.
McCarthy continues to refect on her shorttime at Bemidji with gratitude. Bemidji
had everything I needed, says McCarthy,
acknowledging that the school set her
on a path to success.
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ThE
UPCOMing alUMni EVEnTS
Bemidji Area Aumni Gof Outing Maple Ridge Golf Course, BemidjiSunday, September 18
Homecoming 2011 FridaySunday, October 79
Aumni leaders in the Cassroom Thursday-Friday, October 67
Aumni & Foundation Honors Gaa Sanford Center Ballroom, BemidjiFriday, October 7
Footba Aumni WeekendFriday-Saturday, October 1415
Mens Hockey Aumni Weekend Friday-Saturday, December 910Athetic Ha of Fame Weekend Friday-Saturday, February 1011
MMEA BSU Aumni Reception, Minneapolis, Friday, February 17
218-755-3989 or 1-877-278-2586 (toll free)
www.bsualumni.org
Contact the Alumni Ofce to register or events or or more inormat
Elaine M. Baldrica 79, Excelsior, MNBeverly A. (Burau) Balowe 57, Sacramento, CAJohn M. Bilyard 70, Eagan, MN
Mary K. Bissell 68, Eau Claire, WIMerle Blank 57, Oak Ridge, TNTerence M. Boben 72 , Walker, MNElizabeth A. (Bender) Boquist 66, Northome, MNMaurine V. (Van Winkle) Boyd 49, Kingwood, TXLowell V. Braaten 64, Aurora, MNDonald D. Dorn 50, Bemidji, MNDan W. Dorsey 66, Minneapolis, MNDeloris (MacKie) Engevik 71, Gatzke, MNDale A. Ewanchuk 74, Rimbey, ABErma V. (Hamren) Feriancek 61, Nisswa, MNMarc T. Fuller 77, Minneapolis, MNDennis J. Gravelle 69, Remer, MNBernice A. (Brekke) Hanson 81, Erskine, MNLoretta Heim 50, San Diego, CAChester O. Hodgon 32, Chatsworth, CAHoward Hoganson 70, Winter, WIDonald E. Holycross 48, Waite Park, MN
Lois (Razee) Ittner 50, Bemidji, MNJoan G. Jaakkola 74, St. Cloud, MNLydia (Sirotiak) Jackson 65, Grand Rapids, MNChristine E. Janda, Wilber, NEVesta Q. Kerns 46, Bemidji, MNCaroline E. (West) Knutson 33, Sterling Heights, MILee R. Kofstad 97, East Grand Forks, MNDee J. (Rose) Koskela 69, Cloquet, MNThomas R. Lapp 59, Bemidji, MNPhilip E. Larson 65, Cloquet, MNScott R. Lindholm 78, Prior Lake, MNRalph W. Lovering 70, Minnetonka, MNGary A. Luoma 66, Grand Rapids, MNJulie E. (Raisch) Lyga 88, Clear Lake, WIIona B. (Way) McDonald 70, Scottsdale, AZElaine J. (Peterson) McMartin 52, Winona, MNDonald W. Meacham 59, Bemidji, MNGlenda T. (Tuck) Mechtel 94, Bemidji, MNMavis L. (Gates) Mower 38, Monroe, WADonna J. (Nelson) Nathe 69, Mesa, AZArnold D. Nellis 68, Aurora, MNCindy L. (Buckingham) Nelson 93, Grand Rapids, MNOlga A. (Hulteen) Peterson 60, Clearbrook, MNBrian D. Phelps, Brainerd, MNWallace E. Rutkowski 55, St. Paul, MNTerence W. Salo 67, Hastings, MNCynthia Sandstedt 72, Virginia, MNLarry C. Schaar 66, Deer River, MNHoward Schuett 82, Grand Forks, NDIone O. (Bjorge) Seastrand 34, St. Paul, MNDavid A. Smith 72, Bemidji, MNGeraldine R. Smith 89, Bemidji, MNDonna M. Sorheim 62, Bemidji, MNDouglas L. Stern 80, Bemidji, MNKathleen E. (Geving) Sturre 78, St. Paul, MN
Barbara R. Swentkofske 80, Grand Rapids, MN
FETiME
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24 | HORIZONS Bemidji State University
has been hired by Western Plains Consulting
(WPC) to work in the areas o natural resources,
wetlands, and related projects. He previously
worked with the Natural Resource Conservation
Service o the US Department o Agriculture and
with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
WPC is an environmental, natural resources, and
regulatory services consulting rm headquar-tered in Bismarck, ND, where Schuett now
resides ...Josh Harvey is the new publisher
o BigRedReport.com, a website and maga-
zine covering University o Nebraska athlet-
ics. BigRedReportis produced by Scout.com
and FoxSports, where Harvey has worked or
three years. His previous assignments included
covering athletics at Texas Christian University,
Southern Methodist University, the University o
Texas, and the University o Iowa. Harvey lives
in Fort Worth, TX.
06Andy Browers o Minneapolis wasa cast member or the produc-tion o Shakespeares The Winter s Tale at the
Guthrie Theater last all. As an actor, he has also
appeared onstage proessionally at the Paul
Bunyan Playhouse in Bemidji and the Long Lake
Theater in Hubbard. This summer, he directed
and acted in the classic arceArsenic and Old
Lace at the Long Lake Theater, where he also
perormed in the musical The Last Resort
and Neil Simons Brighton Beach Memoirs ...
Jill Tollefson is an event planner or Holland
America, where she specializes in entertainment
on cruise ships. Her job entails coordinating and
supervising singers, dancers, musicians, guest
entertainers, stage technicians, and broadcasters
in a troupe o 50-70 people on each cruise. In
2006, while on a BSU internship in Australia, shestarted down her career path as an entertain-
ment sta member with a Norwegian cruise
line. A year later, she joined Holland America,
which has 15 ships in its feet. Her assignments
have taken her to Alaska, Mexico, the Bahamas,
the Caribbean, Central America, along the US
eastern seaboard, Canada, and the Baltic. While
her permanent address is Springeld, she thinks
o her current ship as home.
05Josh Smith is a business ocer atBorder State Bank in Thie River Falls.Previously a business account underwriter or
Federated Insurance, he will be relocating rom
Dodge Center to the Thie River Falls area ...
Nicole Candace ( Joy) Eck is a special education
teacher at Red Lake Elementary School. She and
her husband, Michael, live in Bemidji and are
expecting their rst child this all.
04Heather (Hoffman) and Marty Hu-meniuk (03) continue to live in Owa-tonna with their three children. Heather teaches
sixth- through twelth-grade English in Faribault,
while Marty is an agency management specialist
at Selective Insurance.
Note: Towns are ocatedin Minnesota unessotherwise noted. Aumninames appear in bod.
Send your information [email protected] ca to free: 1-877-BSU-AlUM.
Class noTes11Chad Gunderson has been hired by theLeech Lake Brewing Company, a new
brewery that opened last all in Walker. The
company produces seven British-style ales with
distribution in local bottle shops and taverns.
Gunderson lives in Bemidji ...Justin Roue is the
newest addition to the Fosston Police Depart-
ment. Roue is rom Fosston.
10Deborah Heltzer married HowardWalstein last January in Bemidji. Thebride works three days a week at Teaching
Temps, a substitute teaching service in the Twin
Cities, and drives to Bemidji two days each
week to teach special education online through
Edvisions, based out o Henderson. The groom
owns a DJ business in St. Louis Park, where the
couple resides ...Josh Zaborowski o St. Cloud
has been hired as a TRiO Upward Bound advisor
at Central Lakes College, which has campuses in
Brainerd and Staples. Zaborowski worked with
the BSU Upward Bound Program or three years
as a tutor-mentor.
09Greg Moon married KeriAnne Mauchlast December in Puerto Rico. Thebride and groom are employed at Northern
Pines Mental Health Center in Brainerd, where
the couple resides ... Sarah Kluge returned home
to Machesney Park, IL, to pursue a degree in
massage therapy. Ater graduating in June, she
intends to return to Minnesota to begin her pro-
essional career ... Dieter Kurzweg has moved
to Germany to become a certied brewer. Since
arriving in Europe, he has completed a one-year
internship at a brewpub and soon will be start-
ing a two-year apprenticeship with a regional
brewer and a short internship with a malting
company. He lives in Fulda, Germany.
08Andrew Burford has joined theBemidji Police Department. Originallyrom Bagley, Burord was a policeman in Pike
Bay Township near Cass Lake or two years
beore joining the Bemidji orce ... Christian
Feichtinger o Burnsville is a diamond and
custom design specialist with the Jay F. Jeweler
Company in Apple Valley. Feichtinger, who
completed additional studies at the Gemological
Institute o America, works at the business with
his ather and brother.
07Carly Melin was elected to the Min-
nesota House o Representatives in February. A
Democrat, Melin won the House 5B seat during
a special election to ll a vacancy created when
the incumbent was named commissioner o the
Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board.
Melin, who once worked as a sta member at
the Minnesota State Legislature, is a Hibbing
lawyer employed by the Minnesota State
Judiciary to conduct research or judges in the
northeast region o the state ... Patrick Schuett
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03Paige (Ross) Fromm is the creativedirector at Walters Publishing in NorthMankato. She has been heavily involved with
creating and releasing a new, browser-based,
yearbook design program called Pictavo. The
program includes templates, advanced page lay-
out options, project management, organizational
tools, and other eatures or users to employwhen producing yearbooks or other publications.
She lives in Waterville with her husband, Je ...
Aaron larson purchased the Westwood Building
Center in Bagley, becoming the third generation
o his amily to own and operate the lumberyard
and home store. Ater graduating rom BSU, he
began working in the eld with Tiaga Construc-
tion in Bemidji and worked at Westwood or our
years beore buying the business. He and his
wie, Heidi (01), have three children and live in
Bagley.
02Teresa Strong o Orr is the superin-tendent or St. Louis County Schools,which is geographically the largest school district
in Minnesota with campuses in Saginaw, Babbitt,
Iron, Cook, Cotton, Orr, and Tower. She previ-
ously was the superintendent and principal o
Nett Lake Elementary School and has experience
in Early Childhood Family Education as well as
special education. Strongs new school district
serves 1,900 students ...Joshua Parks o Min-
neapolis is employed as a senior design model
maker by WhiteBoard Product Solutions in Eden
Prairie. The 20-year-old rm provides industrial
design, engineering, prototyping, new venture
solutions, and graphic design to clients ranging
rom Target to 20th Century Fox.
01lani (Krueger) Grafeman has been
named Minnesotas Big Sister o the
Year. A paraproessional at Big Lake Middle
School, she began volunteering as a Big Sister
in 1998 while a BSU student and has continued
to aect the lives o young girls since that time.
Ater graduation, Graelman worked or the
Big Brother/Big Sister Program and moved to
Big Lake two years ago with her husband, Paul
...Jennifer (Shaner) Graber and her husband,
Chris, celebrated the arrival o their second child.
The amily lives in Dayton ... Jay Ross has been
promoted to principal with the accounting and -
nancial advising rm LarsonAllen. Ross has more
than nine years experience in public accounting,
specializing in health care. He ocuses on tax,
audit, and consulting services to physicians and
medical groups. His oce is in Brainerd, where
he lives with his wie, Jessi ... Becky (Zimmer)
larson and her husband Tony announced the
March birth o their third daughter. Becky is a
stay-at-home mom, while Tony is a territory
manager or Otis Elevator. The amilys home is
in Grand Rapids.
00Miranda (Causen) Anderson hasbeen named the marketing andpublic relations director or Essentia Health Cen-
tral Region, which includes St. Josephs Medical
Center in Brainerd as well as eight clinics and
specialty areas. Anderson previously worked or
Lyngblomsten Care Facilities, the Russell Herder
marketing rm, Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit
Union, and, most recently, the Brainerd Lakes
Chamber o Commerce. She and her husband,
Charles, reside in Merrield.
99Nick Hudson o White Bear Lake was
recently on the season nale and
reunion show o the MTV program, I Used to
be Fat. A personal trainer, Hudson was paired
with a Faribault teen on the prime-time show
that ollowed them through a summer o tness
training. His student lost 30 pounds over the
summer and an additional 20 ater she started
college. Hudson moved back to Minnesota ater
exploring modeling, acting, and television op-
portunities in Caliornia. He and two colleagues
recently opened Success Boot Camp, a program
that eatures high-intensity circuit classes
combined with cardio and weight training. He
now calls St. Paul home ... Norm Gaant took
over as activities director at Wadena-Deer Creek
High School just two days beore a tornado
demolished the acility in 2010. All sports and
activities still started on time and the Wolverines
volleyball team won the Minnesota Class AA
title in the all. He and his wie, Mandy (John-
son, 99) live in Wadena.
98 Jonathan Oson has joined LarsonAl-len as a manager in construction andreal estate tax services, where he has 11 years
o experience. He currently works between the
companys oces in Alexandria, St. Cloud, and
Hudson, WI. He and his wie, Katy, are planning
to relocate their amily to the Alexandria area
... Torrey Westrom presided over a session o
the Minnesota House o Representatives and
became the rst blind person ever to serve
as Speaker Pro Tempore in the states history.
Westrom, a Republican, was elected in District
2A and is serving his eighth term in the Minne-
sota House. From Elbow Lake, he is a lawyer and
small business owner.
97Gus Booth was a guest speaker atthe River o Lie Church in Cambridge.Booth presented a aith-based message in a
humorous and non-traditional ormat during
the service. Pastor o the Warroad Community
Church or over 10 years, he lives in Warroad
with his wie, Winter, and their our children ...
Tandy Bowman is ounding director o ServantHearts, a nonprot organization that sponsors
programs and projects or marginalized and
at-risk youth and adults. Founded in 2004, the
organization helps individuals embrace their
own diversity while providing education, support
programs, and spiritual encouragement or oth-
ers to grow in their understanding and support
o diversity throughout greater Minnesota. Ater
graduating rom BSU, she was the booking
and touring manager or Zambian a Cappella in
Texas beore returning to Minnesota, where she
owned and operated an adult oster care home.
She then acilitated refective music program-
ming at a long-term care acility. A pianist,
vocalist, and guitarist who recorded her rst
CD in 2007, Bowman lives in Bemidji with her
partner, Cathy Perry.
96
Dr. Anita Grace has been hired as
the superinten