Noteworthy Fall 2014

Saint John's Magazine and Saint Benedict's/Saint John's Magazine both received recognition at the Minnesota Magazine and Publishing Association Excellence Awards Gala Nov. 13 in Minneapolis. Saint John's Magazine, edited by Jean Scoon, received a gold award for a feature article, "White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough '92," and a bronze award for a profile article, "Acting on Faith - Mathew Ahmann '52," written by Brendon Duffy. Lori Gnahn was the designer for both articles. Saint John's Magazine is published by the SJU Office of Institutional Advancement. Saint Benedict's/Saint John's Magazine, edited by Glenda Burgeson, received a silver award for editor's or publisher's editorial or letter to the readers. "The Liberal Arts: What are we thinking?" was written by Burgeson and designed by Karen Hoffbeck. The magazine is published by the CSB/SJU Office of Communications and Marketing.

Austria Faculty OEA Director Lisa Ohm, professor of languages and cultures at CSB and SJU, has received word that Austin Eighan '14 has received a scholarship from the German Federal Parliament to participate in its five-month long International Parliament Scholarship (IPS) starting in March 2015. Participants selected from around the world gather to pursue their research interests alongside practical work with members of the German government and attend lectures at Berlin universities. The IPS will give Eighan an opportunity to pursue further his research begun for his honors thesis on the success of middle-size corporations in Germany and supportive policies of the German government as well as social attitudes. Ohm was thesis adviser for this German and political science major.

P. Richard Bohr, CSB/SJU professor of history and director of Asian studies, was the featured speaker Sept. 10 at the Minnesota International Center for Global Conversations at the Minneapolis Central Library. The monthly program series focuses on issues critical to the United States' role in the global community. Bohr led a conversation on the rise of China as the dominant regional power in Asia and whether there are potential points of conflict with U.S. interests in the area. Global Conversations are cosponsored by the Friends of the Minneapolis Central Library.

SJU basketball coach Jim Smith will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Elgin Sports Hall of Fame Foundation in Elgin, Ill. The recognition will take place Nov. 2 at the Elgin Sports Hall of Fame Foundation's annual induction ceremony. Smith was inducted in the hall of fame in 1993.

Dr. Rachel Brandwein, CSB/SJU harp instructor, won the 2014 Mu Phi Epsilon International Competition held at Sacramento State University on July 29. She performed her own compositions, which was a first for this competition. As the winner of this prestigious competition, she will be booked for the next two years on concert tours throughout the United States sponsored by Mu Phi Epsilon chapters. She will also do outreach programs of performances, workshops and master classes.

Stephen Wagner, CSB/SJU professor of philosophy, has published Squaring the Circle in Descartes' Meditations (Cambridge University Press). Gary Prevost, professor of political science at CSB and SJU, has published Politics of Latin America: The Power Game, fifth edition, by Oxford University Press.

Carol Howe-Veenstra, CSB athletic director, is receiving a high honor for achievement in her field. The College of Central Lakes has named Howe-Veenstra one of its "75 Outstanding Alumni" in celebration of the college's 75th anniversary. The award was established to recognize alumni who are noteworthy for their significant professional achievements and/or exemplary leadership in community activities. Honorees are an inspiration to the next generation and to the community at large. Howe-Veenstra took over the Blazer program as athletic director starting in the 1986-87 season. In 2014-2015 she is entering her 28th season as the athletic director and 30th year overall at the College of Saint Benedict.

Institutional Advancement at CSB is among the 2014 CASE Circle of Excellence award winners. CASE recognizes the work of colleges and universities in the areas of marketing, communications and branding and, this year, recognized excellence in 100 categories with 13 grand gold and 283 bronze, silver and gold awards. CSB won a silver award in the Innovative Use of Technology category, for its $100K in a Day campaign. IA's Annual Giving team created the strategy and planning around this effort and Greg Skoog, CSB advancement communication associate, devised messages that were key to the campaign's success.

Emily Esch, associate professor of philosophy at CSB and SJU, received an honorable mention in the Lenssen Prize competition for her article "A Cognitive Approach to Teaching Philosophy." This event, which was sponsored by The American Association of Philosophy Teachers, was a competition of the best research articles regarding teaching and learning philosophy. Esch's article was chosen with two others out of approximately 140 entries for honorable mention.

Gary Prevost, professor of political science at CSB and SJU, published his new book "U.S. National Security Concerns in Latin America and the Caribbean: the Concept of Ungoverned Space and Failed States." Prevost was the editor and contributor to the new publication which has recently been released by Macmillan Publishers.

Sheila Nelson, professor and chair of sociology at CSB and SJU, contributed a chapter to a newly published book "More than a Monologue: Sexual Diversity and the Catholic Church." This publication has recently been released by the Fordham University Press. Kelly Kraemer, associate professor and chair of peace studies at CSB and SJU, has been published in "Peace Review: A Journal of Social Justice," for her paper "Dealing with Military Defectors." Her article examines strategic options for nonviolent movements when military defectors join a conflict.

Michael Hemmesch, SJU executive director of communications and marketing, participated on the planning committee for the 2014 PRSA Counselors to Higher Education Senior Summit from April 9-11 in Washington, D.C. Hemmesch was responsible for leading tours to national higher education media outlets and serving as a moderator for a panel of higher education national media.

Events and Catering at CSB has received a Gold Award from the National Association of College and University Food Services in the category of Catering-Online Menu. Jessica Reiter, associate director of events and catering, submitted the winning entry, which was designed by Karen Hoffbeck, director of publications, CSB/SJU Communications and Marketing. Photography was by Adam Konczewski, CSB/SJU media services associate, and the menus were created by CSB Executive Chef Darrel Halverson and CSB Catering Chef Cindy Rodenwald.