English professor Wang Pei Hui to visit Red Wing, Winona campuses for 2 months

How was your first day of school? For Wang Pei Hui (Wong Pay Hway, but you can call him "Ben"), his first day as a visiting faculty member from Quzhou College of Technology seemed to go well - especially considering he arrived from China at 6 pm the evening before school started! The 13-hour time zone difference did not seem to affect him at all as he met faculty, staff and students on the Red Wing Campus.

Located southwest of Shanghai, Quzhou (pop. 2.5 million) was named a Sister City to Red Wing more than 20 years ago. A delegation from Minnesota State College - Southeast Technical, including President James Johnson, visited Quzhou in September 2012. At that time, the two technical colleges signed a memorandum of understanding to actively exchange teaching ideas and coordinate faculty and student exchanges.

Known by his English language nickname "Ben," Wang Pei Hui will stay for the first two weeks at the home of Brad and Becky Alsop, who are both on the college staff and participated in last year's trip to Quzhou.

"Ben will spend time at the college, visiting a variety of classrooms as a guest lecturer," says Brad Alsop, biology instructor. "But we know he will enjoy the ordinary activities we like - camping, fishing, canoeing. Even in China the Mississippi River is well known, so we want him to experience life along the river."

Wang Pei Hui will be joined by a second instructor from Quzhou, Fang Ziaofen (Fong Shao-fen), and the two will move to Winona for several weeks to visit the Winona campus of Southeast Technical. Fang Ziaofen teaches auto mechanics, so will be actively engaged with the College's automotive technology program.

Ben will assist with interpretive services for his fellow faculty member and guest lecture in Winona classrooms before returning to Red Wing for the final two weeks of his visit.

"Our colleges have similar missions and programs - nursing, automotive, CNC machining - so having these two individuals visiting from China will be an invaluable learning experience for them and for us," says Ron Sellnau, Vice President of Academic Affairs.

The 5th Annual Alumni and Friends Golf Tournament and Dinner took place on Monday, August 5, at Cedar Valley Golf Course in Winona, Minnesota.

111 golfers participated in the event, which raises funds to support scholarships and programs at Minnesota State College – Southeast Technical. “We had a record number of golfers, and we are thrilled to announce that we raised more than $10,000 this year, by far the most ever for our Winona tournament,” stated Casie Johnson, Southeast Technical Alumni Director.

The day’s activities included 18 holes of four- person scramble golf, a variety of golf related games, a 50/50 drawing and a picnic style dinner. In addition to the sponsors listed below, other businesses donated items for the silent auction, liquor pull and prizes.

Sponsors

Event Sponsor
Winona National Bank

Eagle Sponsors
Excel Images
Miller Ingenuity
Minnesota State College - Southeast Technical
Warneke & Associates

Hole-In-One Sponsor
Dahl Automotive

Birdie Sponsors
Hiawatha Broadband Communications
Merchant’s Bank
Modern Ready Mix
Steak Shop Catering

Par Sponsors
Altra Federal Credit Union
Eastwood Bank
Gary & Ellen Evans
Fastenal
Intech
Laser Project Technologies
Nick & Maria Lundquist
Dan & Natalie Matejka
Sim Sound & Video
Winona Health
Winona Radio
Wm. Miller Scrap Co.

Other Sponsors
Kish & Sons Electric
Supreme Graphics
Winona Nursery

Prize Winners

1st Place
Dan Zaborowski
Mike Zaborowski
Aaron Lofgren
Ric Lofgren

2nd Place
Joey Schneider
Bruce Wittenberg
Jim Miller, Jr.
Ritch Jacobson

10th Place
Jack Richter
Steve Brown
Chad Anderson
Chris Callahan

Most Honest
Dave Korder
James Buege
Mike Kappmeyer
Joe Loken

Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical today released the results of a study that estimates the economic impact of Southeast Technical on the regional economy to be $69 million and 848 jobs.

"In addition to focusing on the success of our students, Southeast Technical plays a vital role in supporting our state and regional economy," said Southeast Technical president James Johnson. "Our operations and the economic activity generated by our faculty, staff, and students touch virtually every corner of our regional economy and support local business and industry."

The study was conducted by Wilder Research, a nationally recognized source of data used by state and local planners, policy makers and service providers.

Jose Diaz, research scientist for Wilder, said, "This economic impact research provides a statistically valid measurement of the significance of an organization’s activities on the regional economy. Policy makers and community leaders can use the data to inform their decisions. Southeast Technical clearly has a significant impact on the regional economy."

The study also concluded that Southeast Technical generates approximately $4 million in tax revenues for state and local government. The study further estimated the value of the increase in productivity that the 267 associate degrees awarded by Southeast Technical in 2011 will yield throughout the careers of the graduates. Assuming a 40-year work life, the education received by these graduates will yield additional state income of $23 million. "Southeast Technical makes a long-term contribution to the regional economy with every graduating class because the productivity improvements from higher education last for the worker’s entire career," said Diaz.

On a statewide level, the Wilder study shows the seven state universities and 24 community and technical colleges that are part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System:

• Generate an annual economic impact of $8.3 billion (direct impact of $5 billion and indirect impact in other industries of $3.3 billion).
• Represent a return of $13.53 for each $1 of state appropriation.
• Generate an estimated 80,856 jobs in the state (56,876 direct jobs and 23,979 additional indirect jobs created by vendors, contractors and businesses supplying inputs to our colleges and universities and their students).
• Generate approximately $490 million in tax revenues for Minnesota state and local governments.

In addition to the impact outlined above, the enhanced productivity of MnSCU graduates across the state is equivalent to $4.7 billion of future value created each year