Lake Superior College News Releases

(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.

(Duluth, Minn.) — Among the thousands of runners who will participate in running events during Grandma’s Marathon weekend this June, a few dozen will be there to take a final exam. Lake Superior College is offering its unique online marathon training course again this spring, providing an opportunity to train for and run Grandma’s Marathon or the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon for college credit.

The course provides race training and nutritional information in addition to history, etiquette, and basic skills. Course work is presented online through the Lake Superior College Virtual Campus, making it easily accessible to students at a distance. Enrolled students are guaranteed entry into the marathon or half marathon. They may also arrange to compete in a comparable race to meet course requirements.

Native Duluthian Katie Koski will teach the online physical education course. Koski is an elite runner who hopes to qualify for this year’s Olympic trials in Boston. She was asked to teach the online course for Lake Superior College because of her experience competing in Grandma’s Marathon. She has run in the event eight times, finishing in the top ten on several occasions.

The option to take the class as a non-credit course is also available for those who would benefit from the course content, but don’t need college credit.

More than 17,000 runners and 50,000 race fans from around the world are expected to participate in the June 19-21, 2008 Grandma’s Marathon weekend. The registration deadline to sign up for the Grandma’s Marathon course is March 21, 2008. For more information, contact Christine Torma, (218) 733-2030, c.torma@lsc.edu, or visit www.lsc.edu/online/.

LSC is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. With more than 4,300 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.

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.