Contact: Katryn Conlin, Communications Director
651-385-6364, [email protected]
For Immediate Release
MSC Southeast names Brenda Stewart and Brian Stewart Red Wing's 2017 Outstanding Alumni of the Year
Red Wing, MN (May 15, 2017) -- In 1993, Brian Stewart came to Red Wing from a small town north of the Twin Cities to study electronic music technology and learn how to build guitars at Minnesota State College Southeast, then known as Red Wing/Winona Technical College. He earned an Associate of Applied Science in Electronic Music Technology in 1995 and a Diploma in String Instrument Repair in 1996.
Brenda Zill came from Reed, Michigan to study Band Instrument Repair in Red Wing, earning her diploma in 1998. Although they weren't in college at the same time, they met through mutual friends, got married, and have made their home in Red Wing ever since, where they are raising two daughters.
This year, Brenda and Brian Stewart were jointly named 2017 Outstanding Alumni of the Year at the Minnesota State College Southeast commencement ceremony on May 10 in Red Wing. The award recognizes personal accomplishment, service to the community, and support of the college.
Brenda has a successful career in Property Management at Target; she earned her second degree from the college in Supervisory Management in 2014. Brian worked for many years at Hobgoblin/Stoney End Harps. In 2015 he opened his own shop. He and Brenda now own Tree Strings in Red Wing. More than a musical instrument storefront, the business is becoming a regional destination for high quality repair work on guitars and amplifiers.
Brenda volunteers as a Red Coat Ambassador for the Red Wing Area Chamber of Commerce, and serves as the president of the Red Wing Band Boosters. Brian's success in the field is an inspiration to the college's students, many of whom hope to start their own music businesses someday.
"Between them Brian and Brenda have four degrees from MSC Southeast! They are constant advocates for the college's musical instrument repair programs," said Katryn Conlin, the college's communications director, in nominating them for the award. "As proud alumni, Brian and Brenda can truly say that Minnesota State College Southeast brought them to Red Wing, and how glad they are that they have become part of the community."
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About Minnesota State College Southeast
Minnesota State College Southeast is a two-year technical and community college that prepares students for a lifetime of learning by providing education for employment, skill enhancement, retraining, and transfer, to meet the needs of students and the community. The Winona campus opened in 1949, merging with the Red Wing campus in 1992 and updating its name to Minnesota State College Southeast in 2016 with the change of mission to offer both technical training and the associate of arts degree. The college's signature band instrument repair, violin repair, and guitar repair & building programs draw students from across the United States and around the world, many with advanced education and performance degrees. Minnesota State College Southeast is a member of Minnesota State. For more information, visit www.southeastmn.one.