Lake Superior College News Releases

(Duluth, Minn.) – Lake Superior College (LSC) faculty members Kent Voelkner and Dorothy Rico have been honored as recipients of the college’s Teaching Excellence Awards.

They were also nominated for the Minnesota State and Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Board of Trustees Excellence in Teaching Awards by LSC President Kathy Nelson and Vice President of Academic Affairs Candace Barnack. This statewide award recognizes outstanding faculty for their dedication to student learning throughout the 33 state colleges and universities in the MnSCU system. The awards are granted by the MnSCU Board of Trustees.

Voelkner teaches math and chemistry. He has been a faculty member at LSC for 20 years. “Kent creates a classroom climate where students are at ease and know they can ask questions because of his respect for the students,” noted Candace Barnack. “As a teacher, he believes that making mistakes is okay; it lets the student know you are human and they can concentrate on course content.” Voelkner has a B.S. and a M.S. in chemistry. He also completed 16 graduate credits in math to obtain an assigned field in math. Voelkner has been the Student Senate Advisor since 1990. He believes that advising students is a crucial role as an instructor. He has also served on the Student Life Committee for 13 years.

Rico teaches in the nursing program. She has been a teacher for more than 15 years. “Dorothy is an instructor who is always growing, always changing to ensure she is providing the highest quality of teaching and learning for her students,” said Barnack. “She continuously updates her computer skills and incorporates the latest technologies into the classroom.” Rico has been a leader within the LSC AD Nursing program, serving as a liaison to the Math and Science Departments as well as to local health organizations. She completed both undergraduate and graduate work in nursing; she received a M.S. in nursing 37 years ago. She has more than 20 years of experience working in an Intensive Care Unit and has maintained her Critical Care Nursing certification for more than 20 years.

Both nominees are considered campus leaders by their peers in providing student-centered, active learning environments and are considered invaluable resources for colleagues and co-workers.

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 Lake Superior College Office of Public Information has received a Paragon award at the 34th annual conference of the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR). LSC won a Silver Paragon, representing second place in the national competition, in the Online Newsletter category.

“We were very excited to learn that we had won a Paragon,” said Gary Kruchowski, LSC’s director of public information and government affairs. “Every member of our department contributes to this online newsletter and we’ve also had great support from our web development staff, so this is an award for a real team effort.”

View LSC’s award-winning newsletter, “The Wave,” at blog.lsc.edu/wave.

The National Council for Marketing & Public Relations represents marketing and public relations professionals at community and technical colleges. As one of the fastest-growing affiliates of the American Association of Community Colleges, NCMPR has more than 1,500 members from nearly 600 colleges across the United States, Canada and other countries.

The award was presented on March 11 at NCMPR’s national conference in Savannah, Georgia. Learn more and see a complete list of award winners at www.ncmpr.org.

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, providing 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.

Virtual Campus Recognized for Partnerships with Grandma’s Marathon and the American Birkebeiner

(Duluth, Minn.) — Lake Superior College has received a Desire2Excel award for its partnerships with Grandma’s Marathon and the American Birkebeiner, two of the Midwest region’s most popular and prestigious sporting events. The honor was announced at the national 2007 Desire2Learn (D2L) Users Conference, which was held July 9 through 11.

Desire2Excel awards recognize leading-edge efforts in online learning. They are given in three categories: Teaching and Learning; Programs; and Community Service. LSC was selected for the Community Service Award. A fourth award, the People’s Choice, was determined by a vote of the conference participants following presentations of the category winners. The LSC entry also won the People’s Choice Award.

“Our online classes, our volunteer teams, and our community involvement combined to earn this award for the college,” explained Barry Dahl, Lake Superior College’s vice president of technology and the Virtual Campus.

LSC was recognized for its development of online training programs for Grandma’s Marathon, a world-ranked road race that attracts 9,000 participants annually, and the American Birkebeiner, North America’s largest cross-country ski race. In addition to providing credit and non-credit race preparation courses, LSC sponsors the events and organizes volunteer teams to support race day activities at the events.

“We are fortunate to have great partners,” said Dahl. “Grandma’s and the Birkie have been supportive of our educational efforts and have provided great exposure for our Virtual Campus.”

In addition to recognition, the college received a $500 cash prize from the conference. The money will be added to an endowed scholarship fund for online learners managed by the Lake Superior College Foundation.

Desire2Learn is a provider of online learning environments, with corporate, K-12 school district and higher education clients, including both the University of Wisconsin System and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. The 2007 User conference was held in Duluth/Superior and was hosted by Lake Superior College and the University of Wisconsin-Superior. More than 500 educators and 50 D2L staff members attended the conference.

(Duluth, Minn.) — Barry Dahl, vice president of technology and the Virtual Campus at Lake Superior College in Duluth, Minnesota, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Instructional Technology Council. Affiliated with the American Association of Community Colleges, the Council works to advance distance education in higher education at member institutions in the UnitedStates and Canada.

Dahl will represent the North Central Region, encompassing the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. His term will run from June 2007
through June 2009. Dahl is the current chair of Minnesota Online, the online instructional service of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

More information about the Instructional Technology Council is available at www.itcnetwork.org.

LSC is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. With more than 4,500 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 the leader in Internet-delivered courses and programs in Minnesota.

Seven of Lake Superior College’s (LSC) Integrated Manufacturing students have won medals at the recent Minnesota SkillsUSA competition.

Matt Hjelden of Cloquet won a first place gold medal in the Job Demo B category. A team made up of Russ Young, Hermantown; Mark Johnson, Proctor; Mark Shatto, Duluth; and Nick Kuras, Saginaw earned a silver medal in the Chapter Display category. Mark Florentz, Knife River, and Travis Hanson, Duluth, teamed to earn silver for their Promotional Bulletin Board.

As a gold medalist, Hjelden qualifies for national competition later this year.

The three-day event, which took place March 23 through 25, was headquartered in Bloomington, with events held at various locations across the Twin Cities. Nearly 1,000 students competed in 70 events. Nine LSC students attended the Minnesota SkillsUSA Conference, participating in competitions focused on skills, team building, and leadership.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry representatives, working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. It helps individual students excel by preparing them for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations. It was formerly know as VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America).

With more than 4,500 students enrolled this spring, Lake Superior College 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.

Pictured (left to right )
front row: Mark Johnson, Mart Florentz, Travis Hanson, and Matt Hjelden;
back row: Nick Kuras, Mark Shatto, and Russ Young

(Duluth, Minn.) – Lake Superior College faculty members Penny Fudally and Marlise Riffel have been nominated by LSC President Kathy Nelson and Vice President of Academic Affairs Candace Barnack for the Minnesota State and Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Award for Excellence in Teaching. This newly established statewide award recognizes outstanding faculty at the 33 state colleges and universities in the MnSCU system. The awards will be granted by the MnSCU Board of Trustees.

Fudally and Riffel are two of thirty faculty nominated from the MnSCU system.

Fudally teaches in the dental hygiene program. She has been a faculty member at LSC for 15 years. Riffel teaches sociology. She has been a teacher for more than 25 years. Both nominees are considered campus leaders by their peers in providing student-centered, active learning environments and are considered invaluable resources for colleagues and co-workers.

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 the leader in Internet-delivered courses and programs in Minnesota.

March 8, 2007

Lake Superior College students attending the 2006-07 Spring State Leadership/Competitive Event Conference of Business Professionals of America (BPA) in Mankato, Minnesota, returned from the Feb. 8-11 event with 58 awards. Seventeen members of BPA representing the Computer Information Systems, Accounting, Business, and the Administrative Support programs at LSC competed against 250 students from community and technical colleges throughout Minnesota. These skill-based contests pitted the LSC students against students in the same career fields and program areas from around the state.

The winners are as follows:
* Indicates student qualified for May National Competition in that event.

BRIAN ANDERSON, Computer Information Systems,
Brooklyn Center, MN

Computer Network Technology - Finalist
PC Servicing & Troubleshooting - 5th*
CISCO Systems Admin - 5th*
Microsoft Network Admin - Finalist
Information Technology Concepts - Finalist
Computer Security - Finalist

SCOTT ANKARLO-LEPPALA, Computer Information Systems,
Duluth, MN

Computer Network Technology - 2nd*
PC Servicing & Troubleshooting - Finalist
CISCO Systems Admin - Finalist
Microsoft Network Admin - Finalist
Novell Network Admin - 2nd*

KRYSTAL BALDUC, Computer Information Systems,
Duluth, MN

Admin Support Concepts - 2nd*
Database Applications - 4th*
Fundamentals of XHTML - 4th*

SARAH BYERS, Accounting,
Duluth, MN

Admin Support Concepts - 5th*
Integrated Office Applications - 3rd*
Extemporaneous Speech - Finalist

MATT DALLAM, Computer Information Systems,
Superior, WI

Computer Network Technology - 5th*
PC Servicing & Troubleshooting - 2nd*
CISCO Systems Admin - 3rd*
Microsoft Network Admin - 3rd*
Information Tech Concepts - 2nd*
Computer Security - 3rd*

KAYLA EDWARDS, Administrative Support Careers,
Two Harbors, MN

Admin Support Concepts - Finalist
Keyboarding Production - 1st*
Medical Office Procedures - Finalist
Medical Transcriptions - 1st*

MIKE HARVEY, Business Administration,
Duluth, MN

Small Business Management Team - 2nd*
Human Resource Management - Finalist

ANDREA JOHNSON, Administrative Support Careers,
Esko, MN

Keyboarding Production - 2nd*
Medical Office Procedures - Finalist

MICHELLE JOHNSON, Accounting,
Duluth, MN

Small Business Management Team - 2nd*

STEVE JOHNSON, Computer Information Systems,
Duluth, MN

CISCO Systems Admin - Finalist
Microsoft Network Admin - Finalist

LYNETTE KRASKEY, Computer Information Systems,
Hermantown, MN

Database Applications -2nd*
C++ Programming - 2nd*

MOLLY MCGOVERN, Administrative Support Careers,
Lakeland, MN

Fundamental Word Process - 3rd*
Medical Office Procedures - Finalist
Medical Transcription - Finalist

MELANIE NELSON, Administrative Support Careers,
Sturgeon Lake, MN

Keyboarding Production - Finalist
Medical Office Procedures - 4th*
Medical Transcription - Finalist
Keyboarding Speed - Finalist

JAMES SUESS, Computer Information Systems,
Saginaw, MN

Database Applications - 3rd*
Fundamentals of XHTML - 2nd*
VB.NET Programming - 1st*

NEVA SWANSON, Accounting,
Duluth, MN

Banking and Finance - 4th*
Small Business Management Team - 2nd*
Interview Skills - 3rd*

JESSE TWETEN, Computer Information Systems,
Virginia, MN

Administrative Support Concepts - 4th*
Computer Network Technology - Finalist
CISCO Systems Admin - Finalist*
Microsoft Network Admin - 2nd*
Novell Network Admin - 1st*
Information Tech Concepts - 3rd*
Computer Security - 4th*
Management, Marketing, and Human Resources - Finalist

LORI WESTLUND, Accounting,
Saginaw, MN

Banking and Finance - 3rd*
Small Business Management Team - 2nd*
Human Resource Management - Finalist
Management, Marketing, and Human Resources - 1st*

JAMIE AKERSTROM
Alumni Representative - Worked conference

* Indicate student qualified for National Competition in that event.

(Duluth, Minn.) – Lake Superior College faculty member Susan Brashaw has been recognized with the first annual FY07 Faculty Excellence Award for LSC Online. This award is tied to the annual Award for Innovative Excellence in Teaching, Learning & Technology given at the annual International Conference on College Teaching and Learning hosted by Florida Community College at Jacksonville.

Brashaw will make a presentation in April at the conference and receive her award. Her presentation will discuss how to encourage and improve quality in online learning through a faculty-driven peer review process.

LSC is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. With more than 3,800 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 the leader in Internet-delivered courses and programs in Minnesota.

Media contact: Gary Kruchowski, (218) 733-7649, g.kruchowski@lsc.edu or Janet Blixt, (218) 723-4743 or j.blixt@lsc.edu