Merry Tuba Christmas a "Booming" Success

The CLC Music Department sponsored its annual "Merry Tuba Christmas" on Saturday, December 6 at the Westgate Mall in Brainerd. The low brass ensemble was directed by Steve Anderson, CLC Instrumental Music Instructor.

Merry Tuba Christmas is a low brass player tradition going back to 1971 when it started in honor of Bill Bell, one of the greatest tuba players and teachers. Low Brass Players gather in groups ranging in size from a few to several hundred all over the United States each Christmas to celebrate the season and the art of low brass playing. 

Military Advanced Education Selected CLC as a Top School

Military Advanced Education (MAE) has awarded Central Lakes College the designation of a Top School in its 2015 MAE Guide to Colleges & Universities, measuring best practices in military and veteran education. The Guide will be released in the December issue of MAE, and will be available online at www.mae-kmi.com. 

The Guide presents results of a questionnaire of the military-supportive policies enacted at more than 600 institutions including private, public, for-profit, not-for-profit, four-year, and two-year colleges. From community colleges to state universities, online universities and nationally known centers of higher learning, MAE’s 2015 Guide to Colleges & Universities arms students with information about institutions that go out of their way to give back to our men and women in uniform. 

New Scholarship Fund Created to Support CLC Students

Clareen Eklund created the endowed Lester and Clareen Eklund Scholarship Fund with the Central Lakes College Foundation in memory of her husband. 

Lester and Clareen Eklund retired to the Brainerd area to enjoy the outdoors - hunting, fishing, and traveling. Lester passed away in 2013 after a long battle with cancer. Lester received his education at the Dunwoody Institute as a non-traditional student after serving in the Navy for 2 years during World War II. Lester started his career with the State of Minnesota Natural Resources in International Falls, MN and retired from the City of Minneapolis as a heavy equipment mechanic. Clareen worked in accounting for various agencies until retiring to the Brainerd area. 

CLC Vocal Music Department's ​Christmas Choir Concert

The Christmas Choir Concert presented by the CLC Chamber Singers is Tuesday evening, December 9 at 7:30 pm in the Chalberg Theatre at the Brainerd Campus. Admission is free and there is no reserved seating.   

CLC Diesel and Heavy Equipment Students Honored

The 2014 Fall Celebration recognized and honored students graduating from the Heavy Equipment Operations and Maintenance Program and Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technician Program. 

The guest speaker for this year's celebration was Patrick Hockett of Kindred Plumbing & Heating Incorporated. CLC Student Representative Hunter Fairchild also provided remarks during the ceremony.

Men's Basketball Team Destroys MState

Darsean Woodson finished with 17 points and five assists as the Central Lakes College Raiders destroyed Fergus Falls 88-49 Tuesday.

Radamus Jones added 17 points and Davaghndre Jones added 13 points and seven rebounds for the 3-2 Raiders.

CLC shot 52 percent from the field and built a 43-29 halftime edge over Fergus and first year head coach and former Raider C.J. Peeters.

Story courtesy of the Brainerd Dispatch  Read More

Merry Tuba Christmas

The CLC Music Department will sponsor its annual "Merry Tuba Christmas" on Saturday, December 6. 

Merry Tuba Christmas is a low brass player tradition going back to 1971 when it started in honor of Bill Bell, one of the greatest tuba players and teachers. Low Brass Players gather in groups ranging in size from a few to several hundred all over the United States each Christmas to celebrate the season and the art of low brass playing. 

Rehearsal for this year's event will be on December 6 from 10-11 am in room E471 at the Brainerd campus of Central Lakes College. The performance will be at 1:30 pm in front of Herberger's in the West Gate Mall. 

Stands, chairs and music will be provided. Merry Tuba Christmas is open to all Trombone, Euphonium and Tuba players playing at a high school level or at the discretion of their band director. For further information, contact Steve Anderson at 218-831-3652 or at sanderson@clcmn.edu

Cultural Thursday: Alutiiq Language and Culture Revitalization Efforts from Southern Alaska

On Thursday, December 4, 2014, at noon in the Chalberg Theater, Central Lakes College will be hosting its fourth event in this year's Cultural Thursdays Series.  Staples native Michael Bach will join us viavideo conference. He will speak on his work in assisting the Alutiiq peoples of southern Alaska to revitalize their language and culture.As a senior in High School, Bach lived in the Canary Islands (Spain) off the coast of Africa as an American exchange student.  He then went on to the Monterrey Defense Language Institute, where he learned the Pashto language and served our nation in Military Intelligence.  He went on to earn his B.A. in Languages and International Studies, at the College of St. Scholastica and his M.A. in Northern Studies from University of Alaska Fairbanks this May, 2014.

CLC Music Department Fall Band Concert

The CLC Music Department presents it's Fall Concert, "A Bit O' Brit, A Wee Dram O' Scotch" on Tuesday, November 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Chalberg Theater. 

The Jazz Band will feature music from the Spring Fine Arts Festival which took place at Cragun's Resort last April. Styles will range from easy Swing to Funk and Latin.

The Central Lakes College Community Band will feature music of the two countries they toured last summer, England and Scotland. Composers of Concert Band music from England and Scotland have added many wonderful pieces to the Concert Band repertoire and some of these will be on the program. During the Concert Band portion of the concert, slides from the tour will be featured showing the places in which the band performed and those they toured.

Admission for the concert is $5.00 with CLC students and children 12 and under admitted free of charge. There is no advanced ticket sales and no reserved seating.

Verse Like Water Series Presents: Tracy K. Smith

Verse Like Water: the visiting poet program of Central Lakes College, in collaboration with the Crossing Arts Alliance presents Pulitzer Prize winning poet Tracy. K. Smith. The reading will be held in the Chalberg Theatre at the Brainerd campus on Friday, November 21 at noon.

With her third book of poetry, Life On Mars, Tracy has established herself as one of the top poets in America. Tracy will read at noon, sign books immediately following the reading, and offer an informal talk on writing, the imagination, and creativity at 1:30 pm. All Verse Like Water events are free and open to the public.

CLC Offering Nursing Classes in Pine River

Beginning in January, Central Lakes College will offer nursing classes at a new satellite location in Pine River. The spring semester 2015 classes begin on January 13. The classes offered at the Pine River site are Nursing Assistant Class - 3 Credits and the Home Health Aide Class - 1 Credit .

A designated scholarship fund has been created for any student taking classes at the Pine River site. No residence requirements are necessary. Scholarships will be awarded on a first come first served basis and are available as long as the fund exists.

CLC Celebrates Native American Heritage Month

Central Lakes College will be holding several activities over the month of November in Celebration of Native American Heritage Month.

About Native American Heritage Month

What started at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S., has resulted in a whole month being designated for that purpose.

CLC Student Selected for 2014 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship

Jackson, MS – Bradley Aaesen (Brainerd/Baxter), a student at Central Lakes College, has been selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship from Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society as a 2014 Coca-Cola Leader of Promise Scholar. 

Selected as 2014 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholars, 207 Phi Theta Kappa members have been awarded a total of $207,000 in scholarships. Chosen from more than 900 applications worldwide, the scholars receive scholarships of $1,000 each to further their associate degree studies. Independent judges evaluate the applications based on scholastic achievement, community service and leadership potential. 

CLC Wins Regional Tournament

The CLC Raider volleyball team beat Itasca 3-0 in the Region 13B championship game on Saturday and will advance to the NJCAA Division III national tournament. The Raiders won six straight games in the tournament beating Hibbing on Friday. 

The Region 13B champion Raiders will travel to Rochester, MN to play in national tournament November 14-15. 

Nominations Accepted for Educator of the Year

The MnSCU Board of Trustees is now accepting nominations for Educator of the Year Award for Excellence in Teaching. This award is an honor bestowed upon Minnesota State Colleges & Universities faculty to acknowledge and reward exceptional individual professional accomplishment and to encourage ongoing excellence in teaching. Central Lakes College (CLC) has been fortunate to have so many wonderful, caring, engaged and outstanding faculty in its ranks. Indeed in recent years, several of our faculty have been successfully recognized through this award. 

November Cultural Thursday Event: Cameroon

On November 6, Bemidji Schoolcraft French Instructor Megan Goplin will present on her time spent as an Agroforestry Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon. This month's event will be held in the CLC Music Rehearsal Room (E471) on the Brainerd Campus from noon to 1:00 pm.

Known as 'Africa in miniature,' Cameroon is one of central Africa's most diverse countries, both culturally and geographically. 

Verse Like Water: Poet Robert Hass

Verse Like Water: the visiting poet program of Central Lakes College, in collaboration with The Crossing Arts Alliance, invites you to this literary event featuring former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass. The Brainerd campus is hosting this great American poet, translator, teacher, and prodigious advocate for world peace. The reading is at noon on October 29, and will be followed by a book signing and craft talk at 1:30 pm. Special thanks to Minneapolis poet, musician, and songwriter Brian Laidlaw who will perform at 11:00 am in the Chalberg Theater. 

Brainerd Woman Continues to Raise Funds for Late Husband’s Scholarship

In the fall of 2013, Faye Abrahamson helped establish a scholarship fund for her late husband, Pat Abrahamson, at Central Lakes College (CLC). On Thursday, October 2, Faye presented a check for $1,470 to Pam Thomsen, CLC director of research development and director of the CLC Foundation, for the “Patrick Abrahamson Scholarship Fund”. The scholarship is for students enrolled in the small engine or auto mechanic programs with preference given to veterans. Thomsen said Katherine Rettkowski is the second recipient of the scholarship to be used this fall. Pat Abrahamson was an instructor at CLC in small engine and auto mechanic programs for 32 years. He retired in 2002. 

Community Invited in "Charting the Future"

Central Lakes College and other Minnesota State Colleges and Universities are engaged in a collaborative process called Charting the Future to develop specific actions to better serve our students and communities, strengthen our colleges and universities, and protect our unique character and autonomy. 

Charting the Future (CTF) implementation teams in the areas of Student Success, Diversity, Comprehensive Workplace Solutions and System Incentives & Rewards have spent the past several months researching and developing initial ideas that will better serve our students and communities across the state and strengthen our colleges and universities. 

CLC Costa Rica Travel Study

Early Enrollment Discount Fast Approaching

PURA VIDA! Join three CLC Instructors as they take you through beautiful Costa Rica. Learn about the land, the language and the people of this peaceful nation. If you enroll for this opportunity by October 15, 2014, you will receive a $200 discount. You need NOT be a CLC student to join.

CLC Science Faculty Engage Students with NASA Grant Funded Project

Central Lakes College instructors in Physics, Robotics, and Geoscience have been awarded a NASA grant to provide select students an opportunity to participate in a Quad-Copter competition. In this competition a team of 5 students will assemble, learn to fly, and modify a quad-copter. The project ends with a competition at the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities in April. 

Student Success Day 2014

Featuring Guest:  Speaker C.L. Lindsay

The seventh annual Student Success Day at Central Lakes College was held on Wednesday, Sept. 24 on the Brainerd and Staples campuses. The day was dedicated to all CLC students' success, with informative and enriching activities including sessions on time management, college budgeting, stress management, career planning, procrastination, yoga,  memory improvement, and more.

Cultural Thursday: Hepokoski Experience in Chile

The speakers for this month are Bob Hepokoski and his wife Giselle, who will be taking the audience to South America and to share their experience of working with the Mapuche natives in present day Chile.  The second Cultural Thursday event of the 2014-15 season will be held on October 2. The hour-long presentation will be held at the Brainerd Campus in room E471 beginning at noon.

Football Team Improves Record to 3-0

The nationally ranked CLC Raiders football team traveled to Bottineau on Saturday and earned another big win over Dakota College. The Raiders beat the Lumberjacks 45-31 with a strong performance by the offense and quarterback Jake Faber. Faber threw for 248 yards including a 31 year TD pass to Steve Wroblewski and he also ran for a 10 yard score. The Raiders improved their record to 3-0 and face Fond du Lac this Saturday at Findorff Field in Brainerd.

Come travel with Central Lakes College to Beautiful Costa Rica March 6-14

PURA VIDA! Join three CLC Instructors as they take you through beautiful Costa Rica. Learn about the land, the language and the people of this peaceful nation.


Two way to particpate:

There are two ways to participate in this travel opportunity: as a credit-earning student or as a "community participant". Space is limited and preference given to those that will sign-up for the 3-credit travel study course in our CLC Global Studies Department: The course is GLST 1491: Global Stuies Experience International Travel Costa Rica. 

CLC Community Band – New Members Welcome

The Central Lakes College Community Band will begin its Fall 2014 season with the first rehearsal on Monday, Sept 8th at 7:00 p.m. in the rehearsal hall E471 on the Central Lakes College Campus. Rehearsals last two hours and are open to all interested musicians from high school juniors to adults of high school skill level and above. 

The CLC Community Band Fall concert, "A Bit of Scotch, A Bit of Brit" will be performed on Tuesday, November 18, at 7:30 p.m. in the Chalberg Theater, Brained campus. For further information, call or e-mail Steve Anderson at sanderson@clcmn.edu or 218-855-8215.

Season Opens for Cultural Thursdays

Thursday, September 11 at Noon Chalberg Theatre, Brainerd Campus. 

In the first CLC Cultural Thursday event of the 2014-2015 year, CLC Spanish Faculty Tracey Kloeckl-Jiménez will share the "Iceberg Concept of Culture", which was arrived at by many late 20th century theorists including French and Bell in their book entitled Organizational Development. Since that time many others have utilized this organizational framework to further expound on the concept of culture. 

CLC Student Interns with Congressman

Brainerd Native Interns with Congressman

It was the dream summer job for pretty much any political junky.

So when Myles Hotzler was picked to be an intern at the Washington D.C. office of Congressman Rick Nolan, D-Minn., he jumped at it.

It all started last year when 21-year-old Hotzler was attending Central Lakes College in Brainerd, his hometown. He saw fliers around campus asking for students to apply to be an intern, so Hotzler submitted an application and resume. "There's only one chance in life for something like this, and I'm a supporter of him," Hotzler said.

Hotzler stayed hopeful as he waited to hear back from the congressman's office. Finally in March, he found out he was one of a handful selected.

Story courtesy of the Brainerd Dispatch by Jessie Perrine.

Read More

2014-15 Academic Year Opens

August 25, 2014

Fall semester classes began today at Central Lakes College Brainerd and Staples campuses. The new academic year features extended hours in student services and the college bookstore. Most services will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the early stages of fall semester.

CLC also offers "conciere" services during the first two days of the semester to help students find classrooms and to answer questions.

New students may still enroll for classes beginning this week through Friday, August 29. Students may also register for "late start" classes which begin later in the semester. Contact the CLC Admissions Office for more information.

Fall Semester Course Schedule

CLC Business Briefs

New Staff Additions  

Dr. David Hietala - Interim Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs 

Dr. David Hietala, CLC’s new Interim Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs, comes to the College for the current school year with more than 20 years’ experience in adult learning and higher education. Hietala has served as a College President in Kansas, Director of a Community Research Institute in Pennsylvania, adjunct faculty member in Education Leadership at St. Cloud State University, and most recently in senior leadership roles at Riverland Community College in southern Minnesota. He holds a Ph.D. in Adult Learning from The Union Institute, Cincinnati, with research interests in community and organizational development, program design and evaluation, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Shoot Video Like A Professional

Fall Semester public courses offered at the Brainerd campus beginning August 25.

Video Editing Workflow - VPRO 1110 

This course consists of entry-level videography skills used to produce motion pictures from conception to completed video. Students will produce commercials, documentaries and fictional narratives from start to finish. The emphasis is on postproduction techniques - namely, editing. However, basic terminology and strategies of all production aspects will be examined. The three main phases of production will be deconstructed to reveal a film's internal development. Students will divide into production teams and immediately begin creating content. Students will complete the course with one or more portfolio videos.

Raiders Football “Grand” Opening

Brainerd, MN. – The Central Lakes College football team began preparation for the 2014 season with the first day of practice on Monday. The opening session lasted two hours with one of the largest squads in school history. 70 players are expected to compete for positions on the team. There are 26 returning players and many of them were key contributors last season.

Successful SEaM Camp

Thirty-eight "campers" participated in the Summer Engineering and Manufacturing Camp (Seam) held July 7-11 for students in grades 6-12. The camp provided an opportunity for hands-on experiences with electronics, motor controllers, mechanical drafting, manufacturing machining, and robotic automated systems. 

Students designed “Battlebots” for the three competitions on the last day of the camp. Campers maneuvered through an Obstacle Course, played Bot Hockey, and competed in a Demolition Derby. During the week students also had the opportunity to visit a local manufacturing business.
 

The week of entertainment and educational experiences was sponsored by the Center of Excellence of Bemidji State University and Central Lakes College Staples campus.

Photo: Parker Strommer, student from Chaska, MN.

CLC Community Band to Perform Concert -- Departs for Europe

The Central Lakes College Community Band will depart on July 31 on a ten-day tour of England and Scotland. The tour will include four days in London, two in York and three days in Edinburgh with performances in venues from city parks, amphitheaters to the great hall of the Edinburgh Castle. The band will perform cooperatively with the London Metropolitan Brass Band in their first concert in London. 

NEW CLC Program Offering - Phlebotomy Certificate

The Phlebotomy Technician Certificate (17 credit) is designed to prepare students for career opportunities in the rapidly growing, high-demand field of health care support. Instruction is already in place during the fall semester of the Medical Assistant Program. This certificate would enable students to complete the academic requirements for a phlebotomy technician in one semester and complete the internship requirements following instruction. 

Media Programs Offered at Brainerd Campus

Central Lakes College will now feature media programs at the Brainerd campus beginning Fall semester.

Photography, Videography, and Graphic Design have been relocated from the Staples to the Brainerd campus. These programs represent the latest technologies used in the industry with curriculum that matches employable skills and industry standards. 

75 Outstanding Alumni Recognized at Special Ceremony

Central Lakes College honored 75 outstanding alumni at a special recognition ceremony on Saturday, June 21 at the Brainerd campus. 

As Central Lakes College celebrates its 75th anniversary, officials recognized and honored 75 outstanding alumni throughout the college’s history. The honorary award was established to recognize alumni who are noteworthy for their significant professional achievements and/or exemplary leadership in community activities. 

Attendees for the event included alumni, friends, families and CLC staff and faculty. More than 240 people were present as the alumni received awards and recognition for their achievement. 

CLC Tuition Remains Frozen

Tuition at Central Lakes College will remain frozen in the 2014-15 academic year. “The benefits of freezing undergraduate tuition for the second year in a row continue to make MnSCU colleges and universities the lowest cost, highest value higher education option in the state of Minnesota,” said Steven Rosenstone, MnSCU chancellor. 

Local Manufacturer Collaborates with CLC

Each year Pequot Tool and Manufacturing (PTM) provides Central Lakes College with a guest presenter to address Machine Tool Technology students. 

PTM recently sent Tim Walker, Employee Development Coordinator who is an industry certified expert in Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing to the Staples campus of CLC. Relying on his twenty plus years of GD&T instruction, experience in manufacturing and design, and a bit of humor, he engages the class over a four-day period. 

Central Lakes College instructors Ronn Redemske and Keith Hillstrom participate in the class and integrate these principles into their program work assignments. 

SEaM Camp at Central Lakes College

The Summer Engineering and Manufacturing Camp (Seam) is a one-week adventure for students in grades 6-12. The camp provides an opportunity for hands-on experiences with electronics, motor controllers, mechanical drafting, manufacturing machining, and robotic automated systems. 

The camp runs from July 7-11, 2014 from 8:30 am - 3:00 pm daily. 

CLC Capital Projects Received Bipartisan Support

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our supporters and regional legislators for their bipartisan work during this last legislative session. Some great things were done for this region that includes two Central Lakes College capital projects.

The college had two major capital projects under consideration in the bonding bill by the Legislature that were critical to the college. A $2 million project to replace the library roof on the Brainerd campus was at the top of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities list for asset preservation. A portion of the book collection sustained water damage during a major downpour two years ago. 

CLC 2014 Brainerd Campus Commencement

The Brainerd campus commencement event was held Thursday, May 15 at the Brainerd high school gymnasium. 290 graduates were honored at the 2014 commencement program. Approximately 2,200 family and friends of the graduates were in attendance for this year’s event.

The music for commencement was performed by the CLC Community Band, conducted by Steve Anderson. Arlyn Sam, CLC student and Mille Lacs Band member, performed a special Ojibwe honor song during the ceremony.

CLC 2014 Staples Campus Commencement

The Staples campus commencement event was held Wednesday, May 14 at the Staples-Motley high school gymnasium. Approximately 140 graduates were honored at the 2014 commencement program. 

Platform guests included Dr. Larry Lundblad - CLC President, Chris Hadfield – CLC Dean of Career and Technical Programs and the Staples Campus, Anna Stevens – Student Senate Vice President,  Justin Jackson – ATEA Outstanding Technical Student for 2014, Kari Christiansen – CLC Vice President of Administrative Services, and guest speaker Frank Frattalone – 1969 CLC Outstanding Alumni.

CLC Students Play Role at Governor’s Fishing Opener

The 67th annual Governor’s Fishing Opener, hosted by Governor Mark Dayton and held at Grand View Lodge on Gull Lake was the media “hot spot” in Minnesota this past weekend.

Along with the multitude of seasoned media professionals, two CLC Videography students recorded the events at Grand View Lodge for KARE 11 News. KARE 11 has contracted with CLC Videography to act as a bureau in this region when they need additional coverage.

75 Outstanding Alumni

As Central Lakes College celebrates its 75th anniversary, officials are recognizing and honoring 75 outstanding alumni throughout the college’s history. This honorary award was established to recognize alumni who are noteworthy for their significant professional  achievements and/or exemplary leadership in community activities. 

The honorees depicted below are an inspiration to the next generation of graduates and to the communities at large.

NFL: Former CLC Raider signs to play in NFL

Former Central Lakes College Raiders football player Frank Mays signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles Saturday after the conclusion of the NFL draft.

Mays played at CLC during the 2010-11 seasons. He was an All-American and captain in 2011. He led the Raiders to back-to-back bowl game appearances. He graduated with an AA degree in spring of 2012 and accepted a scholarship offer to Florida A & M University where he started at defensive end the last two years.

Read more.


 Courtesy of the Brainerd Dispatch

2014 CLC Commencement Events

Staples Campus Commencement

The Staples campus commencement event is scheduled for Wednesday, May 14 at 7 pm at the Staples-Motley high school gymnasium. 

Brainerd Campus Commencement

The Brainerd campus commencement event is scheduled for Thursday, May 15 at 7 pm at the Brainerd high school gymnasium.