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SMSU Briefs for May 14

3 students awarded full-ride scholarships as part of President’s Regional Scholars Award Program Three high-achieving students have been awarded full-ride scholarships to Southwest Minnesota State University as part of the President’s Regional Scholars Award program. Paige Ahrendt from Pipestone, Sophie Johnson from Hendricks and Jackson Vierstraete from Marshall will receive full-ride scholarships starting in fall semester 2020. The scholarships are for four years. The students were selected through a combination of their outstanding academic achievements and interviews with ...

Education Briefs for May 14

Radloff receives Teacher of the Year award from local teachers’ union Vickie Radloff, high school EL (English Learner) teacher, was recently awarded Marshall Education Association’s 2019-20 Teacher of the Year. The following is an excerpt from her nomination: “Vickie creates an environment for her EL students to succeed and have a sense of belonging. Her influence and impact on her students are far greater than teaching them English. She genuinely cares for her students and provides a plethora of opportunities for students to be successful by providing homework help and ...

Education Briefs for May 12

Minnesota Chiefs of Police Foundation announces inaugural class of Wear the Badges Four western Minnesota students including Tannyr Curry, a Marshall High School senior, are among the group that will receive academic scholarships as part of the new Wear the Badge scholarship program. The scholarships are funded by the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Foundation, the 501C3 nonprofit, fundraising affiliate of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association. “In times of crisis, we are even more aware of and grateful for people who step up to serve their communities,” said MCPF President Jeff ...

Annual creative writing awards ceremony goes virtual

The 16th annual Creative Writing Contest gives students a chance to shine by expressing themselves in their writing, said Andrea Anderson, SWWC Service Coopertive student enrichment coordinator. The program is designed to encourage the love of language and writing for all students as well as a way to recognize talented young writers. “Southwest Minnesota has many amazing young talented writers,” she said. Students in third through 12th grade entered this contest in one or more of the categories poetry, fiction and non-fiction. There were 256 entries received, from 177 students, ...

SMSU Briefs for May 8

SMSU employees celebrate anniversaries A number of Southwest Minnesota State University employees are celebrating anniversaries at the institution. Normally, an employee recognition event is held to honor those celebrating 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, 30-, 35- and 40-year anniversaries. There are also a number of employees who are retiring. That recognition event has been canceled, however, due to COVID-19. Employees celebrating anniversaries include: 10 years: Mu-wan Huang, Lori Engebretson, Monica Miller, Sonya Vierstraete, Tory Schreurs, Alan Matzner, Pam Gladis, Allison Monson, Kandy ...

SMSU’s Celebrate Science Week goes on in a different manner

Special to the Independent Southwest Minnesota State University’s Celebrate Science Week presentations will go on as usual this week. The work of the students will just be shown a bit differently, is all. Some students in Botany, Biology Senior Seminar, Chemistry and Exercise Science (on and off campus) are giving presentations throughout the week. In addition, some independent research by SMSU students is also being highlighted. All presentations are being done using the Zoom online meeting format. “So far it’s worked well,” said Professor of Biology and Department ...