'Brighton Beach' and 'Mid-Life'

Upcoming performing arts venues staged at Central Lakes College are as follows: "Mid-Life! The Crisis Musical" July 11-14 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. and July 14 and 15 at 2 p.m. in the Dryden Theatre, performed by Pequot Lakes Community Theatre; "Brighton Beach Memoirs" July 18-21 and 24-28 at 7:30 p.m. in the Chalberg Theatre, performed by CLC Theatre. For tickets to the first show ($12 adults, $10 seniors age 60-up, $8 18-under), call 218-568-9200 or purchase at the CLC Box Office one hour before each performance. The second show tickets ($8 adults, $6 seniors, $5 high school or college students, plus 50 cents each ticket for processing) are available by calling 218-855-8199 or go to www.clctickets.com and at the CLC Box Office one hour before each performance.

Many Faces of Mexico

More than two million Americans visited Mexico in the first half of the year, 11 percent more than were recorded in the same period of 2011. The fact that Mexico is the top U.S. tourist destination may be one reason for enrolling in the Many Faces of Mexico, a three-credit course at Central Lakes College that explores cultural, historical, and social realities that form contemporary Mexico. If you’re planning to spend any time there and really want to appreciate the culture it makes sense to improve the experience.

Thursday road closure

Starting at 8 a.m. Thursday, June 28, a portion of College Drive will be closed for one day as part of the road improvement project. The closure will be from the intersection of East River Road to Southwest Fourth Street around the Mississippi River. It is expected to remain closed into the late night hours so that an underground storm sewer may be connected to the pond west of the river near the bridge. Motorists will be routed around the construction zone along east River Road, the Laurel Street bridge and back to College Drive on Southwest Fourth. Information is available at www.ci.brainerd.mn.us

Improving college readiness

A groundbreaking plan to help ensure that high school graduates are ready for college, head to fulfilling careers, and can begin college-level courses earlier was presented Wednesday to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Board of Trustees. Developed by Brenda Cassellius, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education; Larry Pogemiller, Director of the Office of Higher Education; and MnSCU Chancellor Steven Rosenstone, the plan outlines a set of initiatives that would: 1. Enable more high school students who are prepared for post-secondary education to take college-level (community college, technical college, and university) courses earlier; 2. Provide targeted academic support in high school for students who are not on track for being ready for post-secondary education; 3. Develop a statewide approach for the K-12 and higher education systems to assess academic aptitude, career interests and work skills of high school students; 4. Better inform students, parents and teachers about career options and occupational market trends; and 5. Improve mapping of student passions, interests and aptitudes with the most appropriate post-secondary programs.

Grant to help businesses

The Initiative Foundation recently granted the Central Lakes College Foundation $10,000 to be used by the college’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to assist small businesses in central Minnesota. Through the SBDC, the college assists owners of existing businesses and individuals interested in starting a business with advice on marketing, business planning, financial management and access to financing.

National Science Foundation grant

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Manufacturing and Applied Engineering Center of Excellence, which includes Central Lakes College, has been awarded a National Science Foundation grant for nearly $3 million to educate and train manufacturing technicians. “This grant will help us advance our goal of increasing the quantity, quality and diversity of manufacturing technicians,” said MnSCU Chancellor Steven Rosenstone. “Employers from across the state tell us they are concerned about the shortage of skilled technicians. Meeting this need for highly-skilled workers is vital to keeping Minnesota manufacturers competitive in the global marketplace.”

Diesel instructor hired

Dustin Schilling has been hired as a full-time Diesel Mechanics instructor at Central Lakes College. Dustin is from Eagle Bend and has been a temporary instructor in the program since last year. He also served CLC as a lab assistant in the Diesel program one year before transitioning into instructional duties. Dustin is a 2004 graduate of the Diesel Mechanics program at Alexandria Technical College, where he earned a 3.5 GPA while working 36 to 40 hours per week. He also has been a mechanic for Knife River, Gary's Diesel, and Maney International. Welcome aboard Dustin!

'High expectations'

Bob Gross, former Brainerd Schools superintendent, presented a program on education from his global perspective Monday in the Center for Lifelong Learning series at Central Lakes College. “Education — Around the World and Back Again” filled Chalberg Theatre for the 4 p.m. program co-sponsored by the Brainerd Community Foundation. Jim Hunt, former high school principal, served as moderator/interviewer. After leaving Brainerd in 1999, Gross was hired as superintendent of the Singapore American School and later worked as an educator for the U.S. State Department, resulting in his visiting somewhere between 40 and 50 countries in the last decade or so. Unlike the public sector, he said, where 75 to 80 percent of the population did not have children in school, the private school in Singapore was run by a school board that was selected by the students’ parents. Those parents, Gross said, were achievement-oriented with high expectations for their children’s academic progress. Behavior problems, were few, he said, because the school could simply ask problem students to leave.

McCalla named interim CAO

Kelly McCalla will be the interim Chief Academic Officer (CAO) at Central Lakes College, Brainerd and Staples, for next year effective July 1. Dr. Suresh Tiwari, vice president of academic and student affairs the past four years, leaves CLC for a vice presidency at Century College in White Bear Lake beginning this summer. "Kelly has good institutional and system knowledge and has completed the MnSCU Louma Leadership Academy," noted CLC President Larry Lundblad, who made the announcement to employees via email today. Kelly, who is a graduate of the college, will also continue as liberal arts dean with other duties to be reassigned. The current vice president position includes student affairs. Beth Adams will have responsibility for this area and report to the president. The CAO search will begin in late fall, according to President Lundblad.

Live radio show aired from CLC

Central Lakes College hosted "Maybe About Trains," a live radio broadcast that was the third Great Northern Radio Show produced  by Aaron J. Brown on Saturday, June 16. The two-hour variety program was aired on KAXE-KBXE Northern Community Radio with an audience of about 150 in Chalberg Theatre on the Brainerd campus. The volunteer-oriented station has tens of thousands of listeners across the northern half of the state. Previous broadcasts have been produced in Hibbing and Bemidji, and the remaining 2012 schedule includes live shows in Eveleth Oct. 20 and Bigfork Dec. 15. Participating in last Saturday's program were CLC student musicians Spencer and Andrew Olson of rural Emily as The Danver Patients (shown), with CLC grad Garrett Jarvela on drums. Others on the program with CLC connections were pianist-vocalist Katie Wig, daughter of Dean Jeff Wig; and actors David Vieths, husband of medical secretary instructor Connie Vieths; and Nancy Waller, wife of public information specialist Steve Waller. Images:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/58518185@N04/

Celebrate Veterans Career Exploration

Central Lakes College in Brainerd on Wednesday hosted the state's first veterans welcome event to bring together college, business, community, and service provider representatives. The event honored and welcomed back veterans while linking them to career and education opportunities and acclimating them to civilian life. Several hundred people attended the three-hour event. During a Veterans Celebration Program in Chalberg Theatre, Spc. Daniel Ferrian, a CLC nursing student and Iraq War veteran, admitted "I didn't come home to a job. It was tough...now I am in school. I wouldn't be that successful if it wasn't for CLC and the VA and other great services that are here to help tonight." Other program participants were Sgt. First Class Kathy Marshik, Ret. Sgt. Marshall Tousignant, the Little Otter Drum Group, CLC President Larry Lundblad, Re. Maj. Gen. Rick Erlandson, and Congressman Chip Cravaack.

Images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/58518185@N04/
For more about the event see the Brainerd Dispatch article by Jessi Pierce and images by Kelly Humphrey at http://brainerddispatch.com/news/2012-06-13/clc-event-gives-back-war-vets-who-gave-so-much
and the Lakeland News TV report by Shane Lee at http://www.lakelandptv.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35&Itemid=97&show=3&newscast=1484

A special EZ Enrollment Day for military veterans and their family members is on the Brainerd campus June 28. Those enrolling for the fall term may complete the process in a single day and leave with schedule in hand.

Videography instructor hired

Mark Ambroz, an award-winning TV and video producer, has been hired as a full-time videography production instructor at CLC, a post he held temporarily the past two years. From 2001-2010 Mark was owner/president of One Guy Short Productions in Brainerd, and before that he held positions that included licensed steadicam operator at The Main Workshops, production and photography for Babe Winkelman, KARE-TV, and USA Today. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota. Mark has more than 30 years of experience in video and TV production and has won film festival awards as well as 72 national awards in seven years for Babe Winkelman Productions.

Bob Gross to present

Former Brainerd School District superintendent Bob Gross will return to his roots when he presents “Education – Around the World and Back Again” at 4 p.m., Monday, June 18 in the Chalberg Theatre at Central Lakes College in Brainerd. The presentation is sponsored by the Center for Lifelong Learning and the Brainerd Public Schools Foundation. Gross will discuss the comparisons of private versus public sector education, both here at home and abroad; as well as his observations of educating youth. He will also share stories of his experiences while serving as a superintendent in Brainerd and Singapore, as well as thoughts regarding upcoming work in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and Vienna, Austria.

Students on radio show

Central Lakes College students will be among the featured guests of the June 16 live radio broadcast from Chalberg Theatre on the Brainerd campus. The Great Northern radio Show can be heard from 5 to 7 p.m. on KAXE Northern Community Radio (89.9 FM Brainerd, 91.7 FM Grand Rapids, and 90.5 FM Bemidji/Bagley). Brothers Andy, 21, and Spencer, 17, Olson of rural Emily are a musical duo with entrepreneurial spirit. They've created their own recording company, teaming up with veteran music producer John Pribyl to form Amerimine Records, to showcase local talent and original music of central and northern Minnesota.

Celebrate veterans career exploration event

On Wednesday, June 13, from 4 - 7 p.m., Central Lakes College will be hosting a Celebrate Veterans Career Exploration event at our Brainerd campus.  The event is one of many being planned by the Brainerd Lakes Community to help veterans and their families through this time of transition and will provide planning and support that will lead to jobs for vets. All veterans and their families in the seven-county region have been invited to attend the career exploration event.  It will provide an opportunity for them to explore career options while interacting with area businesses, service providers, and CLC instructors and staff. Guest speakers on June 13 will speak about veteran needs and educational benefits in a “Celebration of Veterans” program from 5:30 to 6 p.m. in the Chalberg Theatre on campus.

Nursing instructor hired

Tara Karels of Nisswa has accepted a full-time Practical Nursing instructor position at Central Lakes College, Brainerd and Staples, starting with the fall 2012 semester. Tara joins CLC’s staff of 24 instructors in the largest career education program at the community and technical college, which is a candidate for accreditation by 2016 through the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc.

Student entrepreneur featured

Central Lakes College student Marcia Stanton was featured in the Brainerd Dispatch in an article by Jessi Pierce. Marcia, a candidate for the Associate in Arts degree, is a 19-year-old entrepreneur whose photographic interest led to her creating Blackened Light Photography of Brainerd. She specializes in affordable portrait photography and also is a nature-lover who manages to incorporate the natural world into shots whenever feasible and desired by clients. She also does wedding photography. “To be able to get that perfect shot during a wedding or with newborns is really something special,” she said in the article. “Of course it can take thousands of shots to get, but when you do, it makes me realize why I enjoy doing this as much as I do.” You may reach her at (218) 232-3667 or blackenedlightphotography@gmail.com

Photo by Kelly Humphrey, Brainerd Dispatch
The article, courtesy of The Brainerd Dispatch:

Venus Transit viewing

Tuesday, June 5 Earthlings have a rare astronomical event called a Venus Transit -- a phenomenon that won't occur again until the year 2117. Venus crosses the face of the Sun, relative to the Earth. With the right equipment, it is something you can see. Without the proper equipment, you can neither see it nor escape permanent injury to your eyes if you attempt it.  The light from the Sun is extremely intense, and Venus is extremely small relative to the Sun. Do you want to come watch it at Central Lakes College?

Live radio show at CLC

KAXE Northern Community Radio on Saturday, June 16 will be airing live from Central Lakes College in Brainerd its new Great Northern Radio Show from 5 to 7 p.m. in Chalberg Theatre. Tune in or join the live audience. Tickets are free but should be reserved in advance by calling 800-662-5799. The show will have local actors and musicians like The Bitter Spills, Seth Doud & Eric Pollard as Actual Wolf. Aaron Brown (shown) is the host. Two previous shows have been produced at Hibbing and Bemidji. Audience members are asked to be seated no later than 4:30 p.m., and most of the show's performers participate in a rehearsal the day before the live broadcast. Dwayna Paplow of the Theatre Department at CLC is assisting with sound and other technical aspects. Local actors Sue and Charlie Johnson, Dave Vieths, Jon Bjorquist and Nancy Waller will be performing a skit. KAXE is located at 89.9 FM in the Brainerd area. The Grand Rapids-based non-profit, grassroots station is at 91.7 FM, and a new channel in the family, KBXE, at Bemidji/Bagley is at 90.5 FM. The station also offers live streaming on the Web.
For more go to http://www.minnesotabrown.com/2012/06/great-northern-radio-show-in-brainerd.html

Cosmology & Astronomy

Explore the mysteries of the unknown as the Center for Lifelong Learning hosts “Cosmology and Astronomy” with Dave Kobilka at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 7 at the Brainerd campus of Central Lakes College. The word “cosmos” originates from the Greek word “kosmos,” meaning “order,” as in an orderly system. Cosmology, a sub-discipline of Astronomy, seeks to understand the origin, evolution, structure, and ultimate fate of the universe. As it goes with all science, for every question answered, many more new questions arise.

Award winners

Nine Central Lakes College students from the Staples campus have earned awards in graphic design and photography competition sponsored by the St. Cloud-based Advertising/Marketing Federation of Central Minnesota. Selection of the most creative entries is effected by a scoring process in which a panel of judges evaluates all creative dimensions of every entry. A Gold ADDY® Award is recognition of the highest level of creative excellence and is judged to be superior to all other entries in the competition. Entries that are also considered outstanding and worthy of recognition receive a Silver ADDY® Award. The number of awards given in each category is determined by the judges, based on the relative quality of work in that category.

Heritage of fishing

From the 1940s to today, fishing has been one of the feature attractions of the Lakes Area. Even before that fishing was an important piece of the native culture in the area. Join local legend Ray Gildow as he presents “From Nets to Night Crawlers: The Changing Face of Fishing in the Lakes Area” at 7 p.m., Thursday, June 14 in Room E203 at Central Lakes College, Brainerd.