Lake Superior College News Releases

(Duluth, Minn.) – Dr. Kathleen Nelson, president of Lake Superior College in Duluth, Minnesota, will sign the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) at a special ceremony on Tuesday, September 30 at 2 p.m. The ACUPCC is a high-visibility effort to address global warming and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate.  To date, the leaders of 558 institutions across the country – representing 25 percent of the total undergraduate student population in the United States – have made the Commitment. The list of signatories includes 15 other Minnesota colleges and universities.

Members of the campus community are invited to participate in the ceremony, which will take place in the Workforce Training Center, room S1981. Interested members of the public and press are also welcome to attend.

“The Commitment recognizes the unique responsibility that institutions of higher education have as role models for their communities and in training the people who will develop the social, economic and technological solutions to reverse global warming,” said Nelson.

Presidents signing the Commitment are pledging to eliminate their campuses’ greenhouse gas emissions over time. This involves:

• Completing an emissions inventory
• Within two years, setting a target date and interim milestones for becoming climate neutral
• Taking immediate steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by choosing from a list of short-term actions
• Integrating sustainability into the curriculum and making it part of the educational experience
• Making the action plan, inventory and progress reports publicly available

The campus CEOs who are joining and leading the Commitment believe that exerting leadership in addressing climate change will stabilize and reduce their long-term energy costs, attract excellent students and faculty, attract new sources of funding, and increase the support of alumni and local communities.   More information is available online at www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/index.php.

LSC is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. With more than 4,200 students enrolled this fall 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.

Some days, Kyle Duncan lifts a hammer and carries 2×4’s. Other days, he lifts ballerinas and carries them across the dance floor.  Duncan is a talented young man whose interests range from mechanics and carpentry to theater and dance.

This fall, he began his second year in the Building Construction program on a full scholarship from Denfeld High School.  “Kyle is the type of student that everyone gets along with,” said faculty member John Calcaterra. “He is quiet and has kept his accomplishments to himself, making him very humble.”

Duncan has been challenged throughout his life with learning disabilities. “When I was in grade school, a teacher told my mother I would never do well. Because I struggle, this has made me find other ways to learn things and keep pushing myself.”

He discovered that working with his hands and figuring out design challenges, whether in dance and choreography or in carpentry and mechanics, came naturally to him.

“I always had my hands into something when I was little,” said Duncan. “I had a friend whose Dad owned an automotive shop.  I hung around there a lot, learning how to fix cars and weld.”

“Kyle has worked very hard to get to where he is today,” said LSC High School Connections Program Director Michelle LaPorte, who has known Duncan since he was in fifth grade. “I know his mom has helped him so much. We are all amazed and proud of him.”

In junior high school, Duncan got involved in the East Hillside Youth Theater Camp. “Acting helped me with my speaking,” he said. He was spotted in a theater production by a Minnesota Ballet representative who offered him a scholarship to study dance.  For the past six years, Duncan has taken dance workshops with the Minnesota Ballet. “During the summer, we studied five days a week, all day,” he said.

Duncan has toured with the Minnesota Ballet in the United States and Canada.  This exposure resulted in an offer from the Long Beach Ballet in California for more training and the opportunity of a lifetime. This past summer, Duncan traveled with the Long Beach Ballet to China where they performed for enthusiastic audiences in six cities.

“I was amazed at how friendly people were to us,” he said. “They showed their appreciation by clapping whenever they enjoyed something during our performances. Even though we didn’t speak Chinese, I could tell we were communicating through our dancing. I still can’t believe I was there.”

Duncan is busy with school and working a part-time stocking job at Super One, a local grocery store.  He’s also helping with choreography at Central High School and does on-call stagehand work at the DECC.

He has been asked to come speak at Washburn Edison School, his former elementary school, and Denfeld High School.  “They want me to talk to the students and tell my story,” he said, smiling and shaking his head. “I can’t believe that after having such a hard time in school, I will be going back there as a different person. I hope I can help someone else who might be struggling, too.”

Photo caption: LSC student and professional dancer Kyle Duncan gives fellow dancer Callie Robson a lift at the Great Wall of China.

Originally published in the Duluth News Tribune on Sunday, September 14, 2008.  Written by Janet Blixt.

(Duluth, Minn.) –The Lake Superior College Foundation has received a $120,000 grant from Duluth-based Ordean Foundation. The gift will provide grants to students enrolled at Lake Superior College during the 2008-09 academic year. The funding is available to Duluth area students enrolled in LSC’s nursing and allied health programs and women enrolled in building construction and commercial and residential wiring.

The Ordean gift continues a long-standing tradition.  According to Paul Damberg, LSC Foundation’s executive director, the grant program was established in 1985 when the Duluth Area Technical Institute, one of two institutions that later merged to create LSC, received its first $22,700 gift from the Ordean Foundation to fund student grants.  During the 2007-08 academic year, a $120,000 gift provided grants to more than 140 students enrolled in career-oriented programs and classes.

“The Ordean Foundation’s financial commitment to provide need-based funding to Duluth area students who are pursuing higher education has had a lasting impact,” Damberg said.  “Throughout the years, literally thousands of students have been able to complete their educations, thanks to these generous annual
gifts.”

“The Ordean Foundation appreciates the partnership we have with Lake Superior College Foundation because it enables us to prepare people for careers that will support their families,” said Joe Everett, Ordean Foundation program director.

For more information about LSC’s Ordean Foundation grant program, including eligibility guidelines and application forms, visit www.lsc.edu/FinancialAid/ordean.cfm.

The Ordean Foundation was established as a result of provisions of the Last Will and Testament of Albert LeGrand Ordean, a leading Duluth business man and philanthropic visionary who lived in Duluth from 1882 to 1928.  Ordean recognized the many unmet needs in the community and sought to use his fortune to provide for food, shelter, clothing, mental and physical health care, and recreation and education needs.

The mission of the Lake Superior College Foundation is to support the educational, cultural, and service goals of Lake Superior College by acting as its designated friend and fundraiser. Visit the Web site at: www.lsc.edu/Foundation/index.cfm

(Duluth, Minn.) — The Lake Superior College (LSC) Foundation has received $250,000 from the Monaco Family Charitable Fund to purchase equipment and support program costs for the Center for Advanced Aviation, (CAA).

The CAA program is a growing educational partnership between LSC and major industry partners Cirrus Design, Inc., Northstar Aerospace, Monaco Air Duluth, the Duluth International Airport and others.  Based at the Duluth International Airport, the Center will train specialists in aircraft maintenance, professional piloting, avionics, management and aircraft manufacturing specifically for the general aviation field.  General aviation includes all aviation other than scheduled commercial and military flights.  The general aviation market consists of 96 percent of U.S. aircraft, 60 percent of flight hours and employs 1.3 million people in the U.S.

“This donation reflects my support for the tremendous potential of general aviation,” said Don Monaco, owner of Monaco Air Duluth. “The rapidly growing number of technically-advanced aircraft will need skilled professionals and Lake Superior College is well-positioned to provide this type of training.”

Monaco Air Duluth is a fixed base operator at the Duluth International Airport which offers fuel, aircraft maintenance and parts service, hangar rental and other general, commercial and military related services including international quick turn support.

“We appreciate Don Monaco’s passion for aviation and his ongoing support of Lake Superior College,” said Matt Ferrari, CAA director. “It’s a vote of confidence from someone who knows the business and understands our goals and objectives.”

“Through his work on our community advisory committee, Don Monaco has provided us with sound guidance in expanding our aviation program,” said Dr. Kathleen Nelson, president of Lake Superior College. “We are honored and grateful to receive his gift.  It provides substantial momentum for our program and will enable us to secure additional funding from other sources.”

The mission of the Lake Superior College Foundation is to support the educational, cultural, and service goals of Lake Superior College by acting as its designated friend and fundraiser. Visit the Web site at: www.lsc.edu/Foundation/index.cfm

(Duluth, Minn.) — Potential college students who missed the start of Fall semester will have two additional opportunities to enroll in Lake Superior College during September and October, thanks to a late start program offered by the LSC’s e-Campus, Lake Superior Connect.  LSC will offer six online college courses beginning Monday, September 15 and another six on Monday, October 27.  The courses are widely transferable and also apply as electives to many LSC programs.  All courses are being offered via the Internet to provide maximum flexibility for students.

According to Barry Dahl, LSC’s vice-president of technology and the E-Campus, the courses offer students a chance to get a head start on their college careers.  “Individuals who weren’t ready to make a commitment in August, but are ready now, can use this opportunity to take care of required courses and electives, rather than wait for the start of spring term.”

In addition, the courses are offered on an accelerated schedule.

“That means that course material will be covered in less than half the time,” Dahl explains.  “Completing six credits in the shorter time span will require the same daily work load as a 15-credit commitment during a standard semester.”

The late start courses include:

First session:  Mon.  Sept. 15 – Fri. Oct. 24

• ALTH 1410 – 65  Medical Terminology
• COMM 1105 – 65  Interpersonal Communication
• GEOG 1120 – 65  Physical Geography
• HLTH 1430 – 65  Personal Wellness
• PHIL 1130 – 65  Ethics
• PSYC 1135 – 65  Lifespan Developmental Psych

Second session:  Mon. Oct. 27 – Fri. Dec. 5.

• ALTH 1440 – 65  Medical Ethics & Law  (end Nov. 21)
• ENGL 1106 – 65  Composition
• GEOL  1110 – 65  Intro to Geology
• HIST 2110 – 65  Minnesota History
• HLTH 1210 – 65  Nutrition
• SOC 1100 – 65  Intro to Sociology

Students who have been admitted to LSC can register using the LSC Web Services portal. New students will find information on how to register at www.lsc.edu/recordsandregistration/.

For more information visit www.lsc.edu/connect. For help with enrollment issues, contact LSC’s Student Services Office at enroll@lsc.edu or 218-733-7601.