Southeast Technical auto body instructor Tom Brandt was recently honored as Section 1 Coach of the Year for overseeing the Winona Senior High School Nordic ski team. By receiving this honor, Brandt is now nominated for MSHSL State Coach of the Year. In a recent Winona Daily News article, ski team members were generous in their praise of Coach Brandt and his dedication to strengthening the program. If you're on the Winona campus, be sure to stop by the auto body area and congratulate Tom on a job well done!

Click the image above to view photos of the Chinese New Year & Multicultural Celebration.

Southeast Technical’s Red Wing campus was flooded with colors, sounds, and spirited activity during the college’s recent Chinese New Year & Multicultural Celebration. In its second year, the event showcased Chinese music, dance, art, and food to usher in the year of the dragon. Attendees enjoyed performances from professional Chinese dance troupes and music ensembles and learned about Chinese customs through student poster presentations and booth exhibits. View a collection of Chinese New Year & Multicultural Celebration photos on the Southeast Technical's Facebook page.

Using the Chinese New Year holiday as a launching point for celebrating cultural diversity, this year’s event offered expanded musical performances and booth exhibits featuring Bahamian, French, Korean, Liberian, and Spanish traditions. In a nod to American heritage, drummers from the Prairie Island Indian Community, a jazz ensemble of Southeast Technical students, and a local quilting expert also highlighted traditions that are uniquely American. Additionally, students from Southeast Technical’s band instrument repair program and nursing program were on hand with noteworthy presentations and information on their courses of studies.

Event organizers were thrilled with the outpouring of support from volunteers, college staff and faculty, and community members who all made the event successful.

The Chinese New Year & Multicultural Celebration is a largely student-led event that spiraled out of a desire to share their experience in the college’s Chinese culture class with the Red Wing community. View the video below to learn how three of these students found personal enrichment in their Chinese culture coursework.

 Southeast Technical is pleased to announce that Becky Alsop has been hired for the position of Associate Dean of Academics. Alsop, a Southeast Technical faculty member since 2005, has taught courses including Fundamentals of Biology, Study Skills, English and Career and Educational Planning, in addition to serving as lead advisor for the college's Individualized Studies program and chair for both the English and humanities departments. In her new role, Alsop will provide leadership in the areas of college readiness and the secondary/post-secondary transition, as well as oversee faculty who are key to student success in new and evolving programs.

Alsop's educational background includes a B.S. in Biology and B.A. in English from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and an M.Ed. in Education from Oregon State University. When she is not teaching, she enjoys canoeing, camping and photography as well as spending time with her husband Brad and their six-year-old son.

Southeast Technical invites students to join the OWLS student learning group, which meets every other Tuesday. The next meeting will be held Tuesday, Feb. 14, at noon in room 203. Participants will meet to offer support, learn study skills, meet new friends, and share successes, concerns and encouragement. 

OWLS stands for Older Wiser Learners and is geared toward individuals returning to school who may be juggling classes, homework, family obligations and other adult responsibilities. This group is open to all students.

For more information or to sign up, email Andréa Hanson at [email protected] or Danya Espinosa at: [email protected].