Broadcasters program

KSTP-TV news anchor Jessica Miles, a Brainerd-area native, joins her media director husband, Cory Kampschroer, on Thursday, Aug. 16 at Central Lakes College (CLC) to discuss “What’s Happening to Broadcast News?” The Center for Lifelong Learning at CLC is hosting the one-hour program which starts at 4 p.m. and will be followed by a half-hour for questions. It will be held in the Music Rehearsal Hall (E471) at CLC’s Brainerd campus.

Mays looking good

A Tallahassee, Fla. newspaper reports that ex-Central Lakes College football star Frank Mays is vying for a starting spot on the Florida A & M University team this season. Here is the report by St. Clair Murraine of the Democrat, which pictured Frank working out in one of the pre-season drills:

Frank Mays was so convinced that a high school janitor was onto something when he mentioned football as an extra curricular that he practiced an entire season without playing a single down. When he got his opportunity to play in his senior year of high school, he simply showed out. Mays recorded 96 tackles, enough to catch the eyes of coaches at Minnesota Central Lakes College, although he was shunned by bigger programs. FAMU is the next stop for Mays, a 6-foot-10, 285-pound defensive end. Coming to Tallahassee to play at FAMU is much farther than he thought he’d go after his high school janitor told him his size could get him somewhere in the game, Mays said. “I figured I’d give it a shot,” Mays said Monday during a break between strength and conditioning drills. “I really wasn’t looking for anything bigger than high school (but) I fell in love with the game.”

Congressional debate

The Brainerd campus of Central Lakes College will host a debate among three DFL candidates for the 8th Congressional District on Monday, Aug. 6 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Debate Minnesota, a nonpartisan organization, will sponsor the debate among Tarryl Clark, Jeff Anderson, and Rick Nolan. The debate will take place in Chalberg Theatre. The three are vying for the right to challenge incumbent Chip Cravaack, who currently represents the district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressional terms are two years. The primary Aug. 14 is the next step in the election process before the General Election in November.

Seeking national honor

Bailey Wachholz, a Central Lakes College PSEO student from Nisswa, will be among 53 women ages 13-17 in Orlando, Fla. Aug. 14-18 competing for the title of Miss America's Outstanding Teen. It is the "little sister" to Miss America. Bailey is an honor student planning to pursue a career in broadcasting. She has raised over $20,000 for the Walk to End Alzheimer's while promoting her pageant platform: "Alzheimer's Through the Eyes of a Child." In the competition, Bailey will perform on piano. Judging includes personal interview, evening wear, lifestyle and fitness in active wear, and on-stage question. Last January she was crowned Miss Brainerd Lakes Outstanding Teen 2012. Wachholz dominated the night winning three other awards and coming in a tie for a fourth.At age 15 she was crowned Miss North Metro Outstanding Teen 2010.

SEaM results

Central Lakes College, Brainerd and Staples, has announced the results of competition among 26 participants who were accepted for the 2012 Summer Engineering and Manufacturing Camp held July 9-13 at the Staples campus. Campers in grades 6-12 were paired in the construction of remote-controlled devices that were timed in an obstacle course, tested in robot hockey competition, and embattled in a demolition derby to conclude the camp.

Poet will read at CLC

On Monday, Sept. 24, Central Lakes College will host poet Li-Young Lee as the first guest presenter of the "Verse Like Water" series produced by the English Department at CLC. Instructor Jeff Johnson, who has coordinated similar national poet readings elsewhere, said the series intends to introduce visiting poets to bring literary life to the college and community. Li-Young Lee from Chicago will read some of his poems and meet with the public at a free event from noon to 1 p.m. in Chalberg Theatre. His appearance is made possible by the Five Wings Arts Council and Legacy fund from the state of Minnesota. The English Department and Academic Affairs at CLC are co-sponsors. A brief workshop for students and writers may also be arranged during the poet's time in Brainerd.

Brown concludes VISTA service

Angela Brown has completed her service to the college community as an Americorps VISTA member. She had worked with the Initiative Foundation's central Minnesota VISTA project out of CLC since last August. She completed her service with the CLC Foundation and the Brainerd Lakes Area Women's Fund. Angela built capacity for the Presenting Yourself program, a five-part workshop series offered to 20 college women each year to empower women with skills for success in their careers and education, by creating orientation and volunteer manuals and materials for the program.

Registration nights

The Pine River Community Outreach Site for Central Lakes College and its partners serving Cass County have scheduled registration nights and tours at two area businesses. Pequot Tool and Manufacturing, Jenkins, will host the first registration night, along with tours, on Thursday, July 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. Mann Lake Ltd., Hackensack, will host a Registration Night and tours on Tuesday, Aug. 21 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Auto Tech accreditation

The Automotive Technology program at Central Lakes College in Brainerd is now accredited by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation. Instructor Ray Johnson (shown) received a certification plaque and letter acknowledging that the quality of training offered at CLC meets criteria for high standards of program content. The standards pertain to tasks, tools and equipment, hours, and instructor qualifications. Program standards are developed based on Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) task lists and are designed to bring training programs to a level at which participants are properly trained for entry level into the industry.

Race equity summit

Central Lakes College was well-represented today at a race equity summit titled "Leading Toward Race Equity and Excellence in Education" held at the Initiative Foundation, Little Falls. Mary Sam, CLC director of intercultural services, diversity, and tribal relations, facilitated the event for about 60 area business, education, and community leaders from Brainerd, Mille Lacs, Long Prairie and beyond. Brenda Casselius, state commissioner of education attended. President Larry Lundblad of CLC was a panelist for a portion of the event titled "What will it take to close the gap in our region?" The concluding portion led by Kathy Gaalswyk, president of the Initiative Foundation, was "Check List -- What does Promising to Act look like? Commitment to act, support, and lead." Other officials presenting were Jennifer Godinez and Carlos Mariani Rosa of the Minnesota Minority Education Partnership; and Dr. Kathy Annette, president of the Blandin Foundation. Attending from CLC were Rebecca Best, Charles Black Lance, Beth Adams, Mary DeVahl, Suzanne Karsnia, and Sue Austin. Local politicians and candidates attending were Democrats Rep. John Ward and Taylor Stevenson.

Expert to teach Globalization

Dr. Andrew T. Hook, PhD, an international economist, will teach one economics course at Central Lakes College starting with the fall term Aug. 27. Dr. Hook is scheduled to teach a three-credit, topics in economics course titled “Globalization” Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 to 10:50 a.m. in C237 on the Brainerd campus. An expert on the economies of the world, Dr. Hook has 30 years of experience in banking, finance and economic development in Africa, Asia, South and Central Americas, North America, the Caribbean and Europe.

SEaM Camp

Central Lakes College and the Center of Excellence at Bemidji State University hosted the Summer Engineering and Manufacturing (SEaM) Camp July 9-13 at the Staples campus of CLC. SEaM camp is for students in grades 6-12 and this year accepted 26 participants. It is an opportunity to experience hands-on electronics, motor controllers, mechanical drafting, manufacturing machining, and robotics automated systems.

Sabin at Obama signing

PHOTO: From left, Geoff Dittberner, for Minnesota State College Student Association president; President-Elect Steve Sabin of Central Lakes College, and Moriah Miles of the Minnesota State University Student Ass'n. in Washington, D.C., after they witnessed President Barack Obama signing the bill that will prevent Stafford loan interest rates from doubling for one year.

Stafford loan interest rate stays at 3.4%

An agreement to prevent the doubling of subsidized Stafford loan interest rates from 3.4% to 6.8% was reached by Congress and The White House last week. The interest rates on Stafford loans were set to double on July 1. This legislation provides a one year extension of the 3.4% rate and will benefit approximately 7.4 million students who will take out Stafford loans this year. In addition to keeping interest rates at 3.4%, this bill also allocates over $100 billion for transportation projects over the next two years and provides a five year extension of the National Flood Insurance Program.

Last year’s MSCSA President Geoff Dittberner and current President Steve Sabin were invited to The White House to witness the bill signing. President Sabin stated, “It was a tremendous honor for former President Geoff Dittberner and I to travel to The White House and represent the students of Minnesota. It was humbling to witness the culmination of hard work on behalf of every college student that spoke up in this country [to keep the rates at 3.4%]. To be able to see the final step in the bill process was a truly gratifying experience." 

One of oldest graduates passes away

Charles E. "Charlie" Stevens, 94, passed away July 6. He was one of 19 members of the graduating class of Brainerd Junior College in 1940-- the first in Brainerd. Starting college in 1938 was a privilege, he once said, just as it is today for those capable of managing the responsibility and the freedom. "He was a most delightful gentleman," said Jean Beckmann, coordinator of the Central Lakes College Alumni Association. "Charlie was quite the talker." In 2008 he presented the CLC Foundation with memorabilia, including the monthly Brainerd Collegian. Charlie sold and designed the publication's advertisements that sold for as little as 60 cents. "He is known to most college students as a most ambitious boy, and ardent worker," the Collegian said in a feature article about its hustling ad man. After serving his country in the military during WWII, Charlie was employed for 30 years as an agent for New York Life. He continues to support the higher education mission at CLC through provisions in his estate plan. Such forethought was second nature for the gracious and grateful benefactor.

Read about Charlie Stevens at  http://brainerddispatch.com/stories/091708/nei_20080917012.shtml

Grad is doctor of dental surgery

Sunnie Pavlacky Adsitt, a graduate of the Central Lakes College Dental Assisting program, is employed at Park Dental in Blaine following graduation this year from the University of Minnesota Dental School as a doctor of dental surgery. She is the daughter of Sonny and Vicky Pavlacky. Her grandmother, Thelma Pavlacky, was an Occupational Skills Program (OSP) instructor at Brainerd Technical College. Sunnie graduated from Pine River-Backus High School in 2000 and then earned her Dental Assisting diploma from CLC in 2001. She earned a B.S. in Nutrition Science in 2008 from the U of M. She lives with husband Shawn and their three children in Vadnais Heights. Sunnie practices general dentistry, which means prevention and treatment of all aspects of dental care needs. Her hobbies include cooking, reading, walking, yoga, and church work.

Law Enforcement Skills offered CLC

Skills training, the hands-on experience needed to prepare for a peace officer certification test, next May will be part of the Criminal Justice program at Central Lakes College, Brainerd. Law enforcement agencies – state, municipal and county – have the continual need for well trained and highly skilled officers. State and federal government agencies have need for highway patrol, treasury agents, FBI, immigration, security guards and conservation agents. Designed to equip the prospective peace officer with tools necessary to qualify for licensure in Minnesota, the eight-week, 12-credit certificate program grew from CLC’s recognized academic degree from in law enforcement.

Olson named SSS/CCID adviser

Megan Olson was recently selected to fill the full-time MnSCU Academic Professional 1 Student Support Services (SSS)/Community Colleges for International Development (CCID) adviser position at Central Lakes College. The appointment was effective July 4. The position carries with it a TRiO/Upward Bound option. Megan had been a TRiO Student Support Services adviser at CLC since Nov. 24, 2010. In her new capacity, she will work in cooperation with the TRiO director, Charles Black Lance, counselors, administration, faculty, staff, tutors and mentors to assess, improve and/or maintain student success and academic services to low-income, first-generation and disabled students in our TRiO SSS program as well as international students in the CCID program. Megan earned her bachelor's degree in communication and psychology from the University of Minnesota in 2009.

New recruiter

Andres Freeman of Duluth has been hired as a recruiter for Central Lakes College, Brainerd and Staples, effective July 16. Andres has been a senior customer service representative at united Health Care, Duluth. He served from 2009-11 was employed for three years as lead assistant residential adviser in the Upward Bound program at Itasca Community College, Grand Rapids. He has worked in the pharmaceutical insurance and financial sector while living in the San Diego, Calif., area. Andres earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing management through ITT Technical Institute last September while working fulltime. At CLC he will be part of the Admission team to support and increase enrollment while part of a cross-functional advising department, and he will be a member of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE). Andres said he is a huge sports fan and also loves to travel, having already been to 26 states. He has relatives in the Walker area.