Lake Superior College News Releases

(Duluth, Minn.) — They have names like “Extinguisher,” “Last Minute,” and “Team Ewok.” They’re combat robots designed to fight each other in competition, and they’ll be doing battle at the Miller Hill Mall in Duluth on May 15, starting at noon. The event will feature 15-pound combat robots competing in a 12-foot by 12-foot plexiglas arena. Student teams from across the region have been invited to compete.

This year’s event will take place in the indoor mall courtyard in front of Barnes and Noble at the Miller Hill Mall in Duluth, Minnesota. Competition starts at noon and continues until a champion is crowned. The competition is free and open to the public.

According to LSC Integrated Manufacturing instructor Mike Koppy, robot competitions have proven to be an excellent way to interest students in manufacturing and engineering programs. “Last year, this event attracted middle school students and high school students as well as college teams,” Koppy reports. “We expect the event to continue to grow.”

The tournament is sponsored by the Midwest Robotics League and the LSC Integrated Manufacturing program.

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.

Photo caption: LSC students Cheng Vang and Kenny Heehn make adjustments to “Extinguisher,” their entry in the “Battle of the Bots.”

Skiers Earn College Credit for Training, Competing

Training and competing in the American Birkebeiner®, North America’s most prestigious cross-country ski race, is a big challenge. This year participants will have the opportunity to prepare by enrolling in an online class through Lake Superior College’s Virtual Campus.

LSC is offering “X-Country Ski Marathon,” an online course intended to prepare participants to compete in the world-famous “Birkie.” The class will provide race training and nutritional information in addition to history, race etiquette and basic Nordic skiing skills. The students will prepare for the event over 12 weeks, beginning December 5, 2007, then ski the Birkie (51 kilometers) or the associated Kortelopet (23 kilometers) on Saturday, February 23, to complete the course requirements. Students may substitute another race of similar length if they wish. The class is available in both for-credit and non-credit versions.

Each year nearly 8,000 skiers of all ages and abilities participate in the American Birkebeiner. The race was established in 1973 and has grown into a premier event, attracting the world’s elite skiers as well as thousands of recreational enthusiasts. Held on trails near Cable and Hayward, Wisconsin, the American Birkebeiner, more than any other event, is responsible for the growth and popularity of the sport of cross-country skiing as we know it today.

LSC will also sponsor an activity tent during the Feb. 23-24 race weekend.

“The American Birkebeiner is one of the most famous and long-running sporting events in the upper Midwest, attracting participants from all over the globe, as well as more than 15,000 spectators annually,” Barry Dahl, LSC vice president for technology and the Virtual Campus explains. “They are also a great partner. The Birkie staff provides ongoing assistance with the development and promotion of our course, helping to make it an excellent educational experience.”

LSC faculty member Joshua Tesch, a former Kortelopet champion, will teach the class. He encourages both beginners and veterans to sign up for the course.

The two-credit course, which is widely accepted for transfer, is available to any student wishing to earn college credit for skiing the race. Fees and tuition for the college credit version are $385.32, which includes race registration. The non-credit course is $150, including race fee. Enrolling in the LSC course provides each student with a guaranteed entry into either the Birkie or the Kortelopet.

Over the past two years, Lake Superior College has offered similar courses in cooperation with Grandma’s Marathon and the NorthShore Inline Marathon. The League for Innovation in the Community College recently recognized LSC’s online physical education courses, naming them an “Innovation of the Year” for 2006. The unique classes also received a “Desire2Excel” award from the National Desire2Learn Users Conference.

More information about the American Birkebeiner and related events is available online at www.birkie.com.

With more than 135 courses offered via the Internet and over 1,800 online students, Lake Superior College’s Virtual Campus is a leader in providing online for-credit college classes in Minnesota. For more information, contact Christine Torma, (218) 733-2030, virtual@lsc.edu or visit www.lsc.edu/online/.

College students from around the world are invited to participate in the College Cup competition held in conjunction with Grandma’s Marathon. Sponsored by Lake Superior College’s Virtual Campus, the College Cup event encourages college teams to compete against each other, while participating in the Grandma Marathon events in Duluth, Minnesota on June 16.  College students and staff are invited to form teams comprised of at least three race participants, with both genders represented. An unlimited number of participants on a college team are allowed. The top three times for each team, including at least one time from both the women’s race and the men’s race will be used to determine the winning times. College employees are also invited to participate, but only one of the race times per team may be from an employee. Separate team awards will be given for each race, the full marathon and half marathon. The deadline to sign up is Friday, June 15 at LSC’s Expo Booth at Grandma’s Marathon.

“We hope to generate a competitive and fun event, similar to a corporate challenge race, that will attract college students and employees,” said Barry Dahl, LSC’s vice president of technology and the Virtual Campus. “The College Cup provides an opportunity for students to display their college spirit while competing in a wonderful event.”

For the last two years, LSC’s Virtual Campus has offered for-credit, online courses to prepare students to run Grandma’s Marathon, ski the American Birkebeiner and skate the NorthShore Inline Marathon. With more than 130 courses offered via the Internet, Lake Superior College’s Virtual Campus is a leader in providing online college classes in Minnesota.

To qualify for the College Cup, teams and all participants must register for the event at: www.collegecup.info There is no additional cost, beyond the standard race registration fee to compete in the College Cup. Visit the LSC website, www.lsc.edu/online/collegecup/, for full details, including registration information and rules. Information is also available via e-mail at virtual@lsc.edu.

With more than 4,800 students enrolled this spring semester, LSC is Northeastern Minnesota’s largest two-year college and a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system. 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.

They have names like Hammer Time, Junk Yard Dog and Cow Catcher. They’re Battle Bots, robots designed for combat, and they’ll be doing battle at Lake Superior College (LSC) on May 16. Lake Superior College will host the First Annual Northeast Robotics Competition on Wednesday, May 16. The event will feature 15-pound combat robots competing in a 12-foot by 12-foot Plexiglas arena.

Colleges and high schools from across the state have been invited to compete. Teams from the University of Minnesota, Lake Superior College, Pine City High School, and Proctor High School are registered to participate.The event will take place in the Commons at Lake Superior College’s Trinity Road campus. Competition starts at 10 a.m. and continues until a champion is crowned. The event is free and open to the public.

According to LSC instructor Mike Koppy, robot competitions have proven to be an excellent way to interest students in manufacturing and engineering programs. Earlier this year, students enrolled in LSC’s Integrated Manufacturing Program built robots designed to pick up, transport, and unload eggs, without breaking them. “Students took the challenge very seriously, and they learned a lot,” Koppy reports. The competition is sponsored by the Midwest Robotics League and LSC Integrated Manufacturing Program.

Photo caption: Lake Superior College students (L to R) John Hendrickson, Mark Tero Florentz and Matt Hjelden discuss modifications to “Stinger,” their battle bot.

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.

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