Todd Hawkinson

MnSCU Medallions

Southeast Technical jewelry instructor Todd Hawkinson designed and created the medallions used for this year’s Excellence in Teaching Awards, which the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities (MnSCU) Board of Trustees award annually to a select group of teachers for their contributions as educators.

The medallions, handcrafted by Hawkinson for the past five years, were cast in bronze with a gold-plated finish. The official MnSCU seal is transferred into a model presented for approval. After approval, an impression mold is made to create each medallion. The medallions are hand- fabricated from a jewelry alloy that is then 24 karat gold- or nickel-plated for presentation.

More information about Hawkinson and Southeast Technical’s jewelry program is available on the jewelry manufacturing and repair program page.

The MnSCU Board of Trustees Award for Excellence in Teaching is intended to recognize superior teaching at the state’s colleges and universities. This year’s honorees included: 

• Elizabeth Picciano of Central Lakes College 
• David I. Page of Inver Hills Community College 
• Pamela Anne Tranby of Riverland Community College 
• Catherine Egenberger of Rochester Community and Technical College

Southeast Technical has announced two new certificate offerings in the college’s massage therapy program to prepare students to provide geriatric and hospice care.

Students will have the option of obtaining a certificate in geriatric health and wellness promotion or in holistic hospice and palliative care beginning fall 2011. The certificates are 30 credits each and can be completed on either the Winona or Red Wing campus. Learn more on the massage therapy program page.

The courses focus on alleviating the physical ailments that can be experienced as a client ages or reaches the end of life, and also on improving the spiritual and mental states that accompany life changes. These certificates are appropriate for family care providers, nurse’s aides, massage therapists, hospice employees, hospice volunteers, nurses, nursing home workers, or anyone who wants to give comfort to others. Courses qualify as continuing education hours (CEUs) for the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork as well as all massage professional organizations. They also qualify for nursing continuing education.

Massage therapy instructor Rosemary Schliep expressed excitement for the two new certificate programs. “As our population ages, the need for these services are ever increasing. What better gift can we give than to promote wellness and comfort in the last years of life? This training can benefit persons in all professions.”

Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical Congratulates
All-Minnesota Academic Team member, Abbie Dille

Abbie Dille, a nursing student at Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical in Red Wing, was recently selected to the 2011 All-Minnesota Academic Team, an academic honor coordinated by the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society that recognizes students within the state’s two-year technical and community college system.

Dille was first nominated to the American All-Star Academic Team by Southeast Technical faculty member Leah Schnaith, chemistry instructor and Phi Theta Kappa advisor. “I nominated Abbie because of her outstanding leadership qualities, community service involvement, as well as her academic excellence in the classroom,” Schnaith said.

Upon graduation, Dille plans to pursue a career in emergency or trauma nursing with a secondary specialty in neonatal intensive care. She has demonstrated academic and personal excellence as a nursing student and has maintained a 4.0 grade point average throughout the program. She is president of Phi Theta Kappa and Student Senate, and is a student leader on the Nursing Faculty-Student Committee and a fellow for the League of Women Voters Fellow program. “A community college is a great place to make friends with fellow students and faculty and to create a network for your future,” Dille said. “Phi Theta Kappa is about helping students become leaders in their lives and in their communities and it has been a great honor to hold presidential positions on two student-run organizations,” she added.  She is also the recipient of the Frances and Lyle Olson Memorial Nursing Scholarship distributed by the college foundation.

Dille and academic team members from other colleges attended a recognition ceremony in Eagan, MN on March 25.

Phi Theta Kappa is an international honor society for two-year colleges that symbolizes excellence in higher education and a commitment to students. Phi Theta Kappa's mission is two-fold: 1) recognize and encourage the academic achievement of two-year college students and (2) provide opportunities for individual growth and development through participation in honors, leadership, service and fellowship programming.

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on May 5th.  It commemorates the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, when a small Mexican army defeated the invading French army, which was twice its size and much better equipped. This battle came to symbolize Mexican unity and patriotism.  It also marks the last time that an army from another continent invaded the Americas.  Cinco de Mayo is not a big holiday in Mexico, and it is not Mexican Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16. 

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated across the United States as a day to commemorate Mexican heritage and pride.  Parades, mariachi music, dancing, food and other community wide activities mark the day.    

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Southeast Technical’s Karen Clements, instructor in Medical Support Careers for the college presented “Professionalism in the busy world,” at the NAHUC (National Association of Health Unit Coordinators) conference on April 7. The Education Board and Memorial University Medical Center’s conference "Professionalism: The Next Step" was held at the Mercer Auditorium, William and Iffath Hoskins Center for Biomedical Research in Savannah, Georgia .

Clements along with colleagues from other healthcare facilities in the region presented to over 55 Health Unit Coordinators at the University Memorial Hospital. Clements a Certified Health Unit Coordinator who continues to work inside of industry as an employee of the Gundersen Lutheran Clinic in LaCrosse, Wisc. She serves on the Education Board as well as the Program Committee and has been a past member of the Marketing Committee for NAHUC. Clements has worked 30 years in the medical support field and brings a wealth of knowledge to her students through her continuous service in the industry.

Current standards for CHUC (Certified Health Unit Coordinator) require a nationally recognized three hour exam; employees who wish to continue certification must obtain 36 CEU’s (Continuing Education Credits) over three years (required in many states) and pay related fees to stay current.

Graduation is right around the corner, are you ready? A list of frequently asked questions is available on the college website to help guide you through the processes leading up to commencement. Graduation Ceremonies are Tuesday, May 10, in Red Wing and Wednesday, May 11, on the Winona campus.

A collection of artwork representing paintings done by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo will be on display and open to the public on the Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical Red Wing campus, Monday, May 2 – Friday, May 6. Informative movies showcasing Frida’s life and the Mexican Revolution will also be shown on Wednesday, May 4. Enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine with Tamales available in the cafeteria/food service during the celebration on Wednesday, 11 – 1. The exhibit is being coordinated by Southeast Technical Hispanic Culture Instructor, Lynne Rabuse.

Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical continues to expand Liberal Arts and Sciences offerings. The Liberal Arts and Sciences allow access to courses in fields of study traditionally offered in American colleges and universities: natural science, social science, humanities, writing/literature, languages, mathematics, and computer applications at all levels on campus and online.

 Thirty four student members of Phi Theta Kappa from the Red Wing and Winona campuses of Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical were recognized for their accomplishments at a reception held Monday, April 18 on the Winona Campus of the college. In its third year of membership, the organization attracts students who have set high standards for themselves by achieving academic performance individually and have demonstrated leadership through serving both college and community efforts.  The group is led by Angel Mytas, Psychology Instructor, Christopher Stout, History Instructor and Leah Schnaith, Chemistry Instructor as Phi Theta Kappa Advisors, for Southeast Technical College.

Established by Missouri two-year college presidents in 1918, Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society serves to recognize and encourage the academic achievement of two-year college students and provide opportunities for individual growth and development through honors, leadership and service programming.  Today Phi Theta Kappa is the largest honor society in American higher education with more than 2 million members and 1,200 chapters located in 50 United States, U.S. territories, Canada and Germany.  In 1929, the American Association of Community Colleges recognized Phi Theta Kappa as the official honor society for two-year colleges.

2011 Phi Theta Kappa Inductees:

Kelly Kirby

• Counseling hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. 
• Sessions are located on the Winona State campus in the Integrated Wellness Complex, room 222. 
• For appointment information, please call 457-5330 or contact Kelly at [email protected].

Kelly will also hold a series of workshops on the third Wednesday of every month at Southeast Technical—keep an eye open for more information. Announcements about groups and other outreach opportunities can be found on the WSU Counseling Services Facebook page. More information about Southeast Technical's personal counseling services is availabe on the Student Support page.

Students interested in pursuing a career in the rapidly growing field of radiography received good news today: Southeast Technical announced that the college’s radiography program was awarded the maximum 3-year program accreditation by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). The 3-year accreditation is the maximum for a new program.

“I would consider JRCERT accreditation the ‘gold standard’ for radiography educational programs,” said Southeast Technical instructor Valarie Bere, who teaches in the college’s radiography program. “JRCERT accreditation isn’t something that is required, but Southeast Technical wanted to pursue it because it shows our commitment to a high quality ‘gold standard’ education in our radiography program. We are pleased to receive this accreditation.”

Southeast Technical launched its radiography program in 2009 to meet the job market’s growing need for highly-trained radiologic technologists. Students complete courses in both a classroom and clinical setting with state-of-the-art radiography equipment. The 2-year program results in an associate in applied science (A.A.S.) degree in radiography. Graduates of radiography programs find employment in radiology departments in clinic or hospital settings. Learn more at the radiography home page.

With a focus on providing our students the most flexible course delivery options possible, Southeast Technical offers a 2-year A.A.S. accounting degree that can be completed entirely online. Other accounting degrees and certificates offer online courses in tandem with daytime or evening courses on the Winona campus. You can enroll in the Southeast Technical accounting program in either the fall or spring semester and attend classes on a full-time or part-time basis.

Once you have your degree in hand, you'll find that the opportunities for meaningful and challenging employment are plentiful in companies of all sizes. Learn more at Southeast Technical’s accounting page.

Just in time for fall 2011 registration, Southeast Technical is announcing  plans to expand course offerings to include a two-year online associate in science (A.S.) degree in early childhood education.

Southeast Technical’s new early childhood education program will help students fulfill stricter state mandates for preschool education, and will also benefit those pursuing careers as a professional nanny, assistant teacher, substitute teacher, childcare worker, childcare center staff, or child advocate. Through a 2+2 articulation agreement with Southwest Minnesota State University, students can also complete half of the credits needed to become an elementary teacher through the two-year online early childhood education program at Southeast Technical.

“We are enthusiastic to broaden the opportunities for our current and future students,” said Southeast Technical instructor Rachel Cataract, who teaches in the college’s professional nanny and family childcare program.

Cataract also noted that the program’s structure will help both traditional and non-traditional students gain new skills in an efficient manner: “The online format creates a flexible learning environment for active students, while the low student-instructor ratio nurtures personal development through reflective practice, insight, inquiry, deepened understanding, and lifelong learning.”

Students interested in pursuing a career in early childhood education are encouraged to learn more at the early childhood education page. Scholarships for this program area are available at through the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Minnesota program.

If end-of-semester stress is creeping into your life, be sure to attend the “Quick Stress Busters” presentation April 20 at 12:15 p.m. in room 131 on the Winona campus. The presentation will cover a variety of small tips and tricks in order to find temporary (and fast) relief from stress or anxiety.

Terry Greene’s classes will not meet from Monday, April 11, through Friday, April 15, with the exception of the Applied Sales class, which will meet at its scheduled time on Tuesday, April 12.

All classes will resume at the normal meeting times starting Monday, April 18. Students with questions may email Terry at [email protected].