Lake Superior College News Releases

(Duluth, Minn.) — Approximately 600 high school students from Barnum, Carlton, Cloquet Alternative High School, Cromwell/Wright, Duluth Secondary Technical Center, Esko, Fond du Lac Ojibwe School, McGregor, Moose Lake, Proctor, Silver Bay, Two Harbors, Willow River, and Wrenshall will attend the seventh annual Northland Career and Technical Education Expo on Wednesday, April 30 at Lake Superior College.

Students will get tours of fire trucks and run fire hoses, work machining equipment, check their breathing power in respiratory care, and figure out mock-patient injuries from x-rays in radiologic technology. From 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., students will have a chance to try hands-on math and science activities in more than 25 areas including health care, construction, aviation, manufacturing, public safety, and computer technology.

Students can also talk with college instructors and professionals in various math and science fields, giving them the chance to gain a deeper knowledge and a better understanding of today’s career market.

Area businesses will also participate, presenting information about career opportunities available in the region in the technology, aviation, manufacturing, and health care fields and in emerging industries such as alternative energy.

The expo is a collaborative project sponsored by Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Funding, Carlton County Plus Consortium and Lake Superior College.

For more information, contact Michelle LaPorte, m.laporte@lsc.edu.

Reprinted from the Spring 2008 edition of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Magazine. Written by Nancy Connor with contributions from Gary Kruchowski and Gary Gillin.

Minnesota’s colleges and universities, concerned about the health of campus watersheds and waterways, are taking action to protect nearby streams and lakes by constructing rain gardens.

The 100-acre Lake Superior College campus in Duluth is bisected by Miller Creek, an urban trout stream that cascades down the city’s steep hills to the St. Louis River and then Lake Superior. The college uses the creek as an outdoor teaching laboratory, monitoring water quality and temperature and the species inhabiting the waterway. Faculty observed that rainstorm runoff from the campus’ west parking lot had eroded gullies, allowing warm water carrying fine sediments, car-related pollutants and road salt to enter the spring-fed stream, degrading habitat for brook trout and other stream wildlife.

Through the work of geology instructor Matt Whitehill, the college obtained a $12,000 grant from the Southeast St. Louis County Soil and Conservation District. A rain garden was designed and built to catch and hold runoff from the 2-acre parking lot, greatly reducing pollution entering the creek and slowing water flow following rainstorms.

“This is a step in the right direction for us to practice what we preach,” Whitehill said. “Many of us in the natural sciences cover resource stewardship in our courses. It’s nice to have such an innovative, practical example right outside our door.”

On the Worthington campus of Minnesota West Community and Technical College, two similar rain gardens are under construction. The campus community was concerned that water runoff would have a negative impact on the quality of Lake Okabena, adjacent to the campus. The 500-square-foot rain gardens will hold runoff and filter it through sand before it reaches the storm sewer system and ends up in the lake.

“Our students were excited to participate in making the campus more green friendly,” said agriculture instructor Rolf Malberg. The local watershed board, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the local environmental trust partnered to support the students in covering the cost of the rain gardens. Excavation started in fall 2007, with both gardens to be completed this spring.

“The result of this project will benefit the community, lake and water enthusiasts for years to come,” Malberg said.

Metropolitan State University also installed a rain garden along the west side of its new library during construction in 2004 to handle water run-off.

More About Rain Gardens

To learn more about installing and planting rain gardens and how they protect Minnesota’s water quality, visit:

• The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteer/mayjun04/raingardens.html
• The Lake Superior Streams community project: duluthstreams.org/citizen/wet_garden.html
• The Twin Cities Green Guide: www.thegreenguide.org/article/gardening/rain

Reprinted from the spring 2008 edition of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Magazine

“¿ Dónde le duele? (Where does it hurt?),” asked the concerned nursing student in Spanish, bending over the life-sized dummy lying in a hospital bed. The dummy moaned in response. “Me duele el estómago y la cabeza. También tengo escalofríos (My head and stomach hurt. I also have chills.),” he answered weakly and then vomited.

Much smarter than a typical dummy, SimMan is a computerized patient simulator primarily used by Lake Superior College’s nursing program. He has taken on a new role as Senõr SimMan, helping to teach health care students and professionals specialized Spanish language skills in a clinical setting. Senõr SimMan not only talks but has measurable vitals including breathing, temperature and blood pressure. He can be programmed to exhibit symptoms of varied illnesses and conditions.

There are 30 million Americans whose first language is Spanish, and by the year 2010, one out of four Americans will be of Hispanic heritage. “Clearly there is a growing need for professionals who work in life-and-death situations to expand or enrich their language and communication skills,” said Michele Keane, a Lake Superior College faculty member and Spanish instructor. “We’ve had health care professionals from all areas take this course. I’ve taught pharmacy students, nursing and EMT/fire rescue students, and even veterinary students,” Keane said.

During the semester-long course, students learn basic conversational Spanish and then move to specific medical terminology. Some students have studied Spanish before; others are new to the language.

“We learn basic anatomy, and then we move into more graphic terms like nauseous, dizzy or anxious,” Keane said. “This type of vocabulary helps health care workers get a better understanding of how a patient is feeling.” Once students have the language basics down, they progress to practice their conversational skills on Senõr SimMan.

Nicole Verdugo, a student training to become an EMT/firefighter, recently completed the course. “I hadn’t heard of SimMan before, so I was interested to see how he worked. I was nervous because now I had a ‘real’ patient, which meant that I had to check his pulse, watch and listen for respirations, and take his blood pressure. It made it more challenging that this patient was going to express his pains and feelings in fluent Spanish. Not only did I have to be an EMT, but I had to be a Spanish-speaking EMT.”

Students go “live” with Senõr SimMan, who is installed in an exam room separated by a viewing window next to a computer control booth. “The students would take turns talking to him. They didn’t know what I was going to have him say or do, so they had to be on their toes,” Keane said. “My students liked being tested on the spot. It really put them through their paces.”

“This hands-on approach worked for me in several ways,” Verdugo said. “It increased my retention of the language while providing me with a safe learning environment. I knew I could make a mistake and not worry about the possible consequences affecting a person’s life. I found this experience invaluable.”

(Duluth, Minn.) — Lake Superior College’s (LSC) fourteenth annual Spring Semester Art Exhibit will open on Monday, May 5 with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Free and open to the public, the reception will include refreshments, and an opportunity to meet the artists.

Students enrolled in LSC’s popular art courses will have an opportunity to display their work during the event. For many of the approximately 350 participating students, it will be their first-ever exhibition.

Student artists will present a wide variety of projects, including paintings, watercolors, sculpture, jewelry, digital photography, drawings, two and three-dimensional design projects, and ceramics.

Artwork will be displayed in the upper and lower levels of the concourse in LSC’s main building. The public may view the exhibition during regular campus hours, beginning at noon on Monday, May 5, and continuing through Wednesday, May 7.

For more information, contact faculty member Tonya Borgeson, (218) 279-2669 or t.borgeson@lsc.edu

Lighthouse photo by LSC student Kari Peterson created in Victoria Hutson’s digital photography class.

With more than 4,800 students enrolled this spring semester, LSC is Northeastern Minnesota’s largest two-year college. LSC provides a wide range of programs and services, including liberal arts and science courses for transfer, technical programs intended to provide occupational skills, continuing education, and customized training for business and industry. LSC is also a leader in Internet-delivered courses and programs in Minnesota.

(Duluth, Minn.) — Seven students enrolled in Lake Superior College’s Integrated Manufacturing program were honored for their performance at the Minnesota SkillsUSA competition.

Matt Hjelden (International Falls), Joe Sebesta (Duluth), and Jake Hustad (Wrenshall) won a gold medal in the Community Service category for their Styrofoam shredder recycling machine. This team will go on to compete in June at the national SkillsUSA event in Kansas City, MO. See the shredder in action on YouTube.

Matt Farchmin (Duluth) won a gold medal in the Job Demonstration category and will attend the national SkillsUSA competition in June.

Matt Hjelden, Mark Johnson (Saginaw), Ryan Troumbly (Grand Rapids), and Joe Sebesta won a silver medal for their Chapter Display which featured a machined replica of Duluth’s Enger Tower.

Elizabeth Sandry (Winter, WI), Joe Sebesta, and Matt Farchmin won a silver medal for a Promotional Bulletin Board.

Pictured left to right in attached photo: Jake Hustad (Wrenshall), Ryan Troumbly(Grand Rapids), Matt Hjelden International Falls), Mark Johnson (Saginaw), Matt Farchmin (Duluth), Joe Sebesta (Duluth), instructor Mike Koppy (Not pictured: Elizabeth Sandry)

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives, working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. It helps individual students excel by preparing them for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations.

LSC is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. With more than 4,800 students enrolled this spring semester, LSC is northeastern Minnesota’s largest two-year college. LSC provides a wide range of programs and services, including liberal arts and science courses for transfer, technical programs intended to provide occupational skills, continuing education, and customized training for business and industry. LSC is also a leader in Internet-delivered courses and programs in Minnesota.

(Duluth, Minn.) — The second annual Lake Superior College “Thrill on the Hill” Scholarship Fund Run for runners and walkers will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 3. Prepare to be challenged by this fun-filled event and its never-ending supply of hills. It is guaranteed to take your breath away!

The “Thrill on the Hill” walk/run traverses a beautiful course through the neighborhoods surrounding Lake Superior College and showcases vistas of the Duluth Harbor and St. Louis Bay. The race course will include parts of the LSC campus, Trinity and Hutchinson Roads, and the Piedmont Ski Trails.

The event includes a 5K run/walk and a 10K course which features a hybrid half road/half trail run. A Husky Dash Kid’s Race is free for kids ages ten and under and starts at 11:30 a.m.

The early registration fee is $20; race day registration fee is $25. All race proceeds will benefit the Lake Superior College Foundation’s general scholarship fund. Participants are welcome to register online at www.lsc.edu/thrillonthehill. Chip timing will be used. The first 250 entrants will receive a “Thrill on the Hill” T-shirt. All racers will be eligible for door prizes. The registration fee includes a post-race BBQ lunch donated by sponsor Upper Lakes Food. Packet pick-up will be held Saturday, May 3 from 8-9 a.m. in the Lake Superior College main concourse.

The Lake Superior College Foundation exists to facilitate active involvement in the development of Lake Superior College. Its mission is to support the educational, cultural, and service goals of Lake Superior College by acting as its designated friend and fund-raiser.

LSC is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. With more than 4,800 students enrolled this spring semester, LSC is northeastern Minnesota’s largest two-year college. LSC provides a wide range of programs and services, including liberal arts and science courses for transfer, technical programs intended to provide occupational skills, continuing education, and customized training for business and industry. LSC is also a leader in Internet-delivered courses and programs in Minnesota.