CLC Foundation Welcomes New Board Members

The Central Lakes College Foundation has welcomed four new members to its board of directors. Kevin Donnay, Nathan Hamilton, Steve Wenzl, and Jeff Wig will serve terms on the non-profit organization board which is responsible for providing scholarships and other student financial support to the community and technical college in Brainerd and Staples.
 

Unique Opportunity for CLC Machine Tool Students

The Machine Tool Technology Program at Central Lakes College had a unique opportunity to introduce students to industry training. Kevin Cook, the President of Magnum Machining (Deerwood MN), offered to bring representatives from Mitsubishi Materials USA Corporation for a three hour seminar on modern machining practices of the most current tooling available. John Zaremba and Daryl Reinhardt gave presentations on Machine tooling. Their lecture focused on efficient material removal and how to maximize high-tech tooling.

CLC Hosts Postsecondary Leadership Summit

Local and state education leaders need to start collaborating now so future students are more career and college ready.

That was the message at the Pathways to Postsecondary regional leadership summit Wednesday at Central Lakes College’s (CLC) Brainerd campus. Secondary and postsecondary education officials from across the region attended.

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Story courtesy of the Brainerd Dispatch - Jessica Larsen, Staff Writer

All-American Lindsay Monson

AVCA Announces Two-Year College All-America Teams and Player of the Year

The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its Two-Year Colleges Women's Volleyball All-America Teams. Central Lakes College middle hitter Lindsay Monson (Pierz, MN) was named First-Team All-American by AVCA. Monson was the only Division III player selected to the first-team.

Heavy Equipment Fall Celebration

The Staples campus of Central Lakes College held a Fall Celebration event on November 27, 2013 to recognize students completing the Heavy Equipment Operation & Maintenance Program and Diesel & Heavy Equipment Technician Programs. 

Thirty-five students were honored at the event with parents, family, and friends in attendance. Student representative Josh Buermann spoke on behalf of the graduating class and was also presented with the Heavy Equipment Operations student of the year award.

CLC Foundation Receives $10,000

A $10,000 check was presented to the CLC Foundation from the Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota, Crow Wing County Chapter #22 to start a scholarship fund for veterans.

The Central Lakes College Foundation is the non-profit fundraising arm of the college. Its mission is to raise dollars primarily for student scholarships.

CLC Students Treated to Thanksgiving Meal

It’s no fun being alone on a holiday and Central Lakes College (CLC) student Corie Weaver decided to do something about that. Her efforts and the efforts of other volunteers and donors to organize a Thanksgiving banquet for students opened up her eyes to the generosity of the Brainerd community.

By Mike O'Rourke, Associate Editor • Courtesy of the Brainerd Dispatch

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Merry Tuba Christmas

The CLC Music Department will once again sponsor the annual get-together of low brass players known as MERRY TUBA CHRISTMAS. Each year all across the country, Tuba, Euphonium (baritone horn) players and, in this case Trombone players assemble to share the season and the music of Christmas with other low brass players and the public. 

Peterson Selected as Regional Coach of the Year

American Volleyball Coaches Association

Jane Peterson has been selected as the 2013 AVCA Two-Year Colleges Regional Coach of the Year. Peterson will represent her region on the 2013 AVCA Two-Year Colleges National Coach of the Year ballot. The awards will be officially presented at the 2013 Jostens Coaches Honors Luncheon in Seattle, Wash. on Thursday, December 19, at the 2013 American Volleyball Coaches Association Annual Convention.

Rosenmeier Biographer Featured at Forum

Steve Dornfeld will present at the Rosenmeier Center Forum on Monday, December 2nd at 7 pm at Central Lakes College’s Chalberg Theater in Brainerd. Dornfeld, who is writing a biography of the State Senator, states that Gordon Rosenmeier was perhaps the most powerful Senator of his time.

Award-winning journalist Steve Dornfeld met Rosenmeier a number of times in the early 1970s and won a Mondale Research Fellowship to write about him for Minnesota History magazine. “He was a political power in the 1950s and 1960s in Minnesota and he left an impressive legacy. Former Gov. Rudy Perpich called Rosenmeier a ‘visionary’ and there is a large body of evidence to support that view.” 

Cultural Thursday: SPAIN - Revisited

Central Lakes College Cultural Thursday will be traveling to Spain on December 5th at noon in the Chalberg Theater. Speaker Jan Kurtz, Spanish and Latin American Studies Instructor, will start with a brief background orientation presented to her before her first trip to Seville, Spain. “I was a junior at Hamline University and reasoned that study abroad was imperative to my future in teaching Spanish and learning that culture. I do have one regret, I should have signed up for a year, not just a semester!” 

CLC's Verse Like Water Program Earns Minnesota State Arts Board Grant

Verse Like Water: the visiting poet program of Central Lakes College, in collaboration with Crossing Arts Alliance, has been granted $65,422 to fund first class literary arts events across 2014.

The American poets Billy Collins, Sherman Alexie, Tracy K. Smith, and Robert Hass will present a series of afternoon readings and workshops in the CLC Chalberg Theater, and all events are free and open to the public.

CLC Instructor Receives Meritorious Service Medal

Dave Davis, Criminal Justice Instructor at Central Lakes College was recently awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. The Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) is a military award presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States. The award was presented to Davis by Col. Scott St. Sauver, Camp Ripley Post Commander. 

Davis joined the Iowa Army National Guard in 1984. He went to Infantry Basic Training in Fort Benning Georgia in 1985. He then joined the Active Duty Air Force in October 1986 as a Law Enforcement Specialist and attended Basic Training and Technical School at Lackland Air Force Base. Davis was stationed at Clark AB, Philippines and Nellis AFB, Las Vegas NV. Separated from Active Duty in October 1990, he joined the MN National Guard in March 1998 and was part of the Training Support Unit at Camp Ripley until he retired in Feb 2013. 

It is rare for an individual to receive the Meritorious Service Medal with Davis's rank of Staff Sergent (E-6). The medal is typically given to senior non commissioned officers (E-7 to E-9), as exceptionally meritorious service at that level of responsibility is usually required for award of the medal. 

Paving Your Path to a Successful Future with Higher Education Event

Central Lakes College is hosting a college fair event on Thursday, November 21st, 2013, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. "Paving Your Path to a Successful Future with Higher Education" event will take place in the Gymnasium at Central Lakes College, Brainerd campus.

The college fair offers an opportunity for many surrounding high school students, veterans, military families and community education seekers to find future opportunities all in one location.

CLC Fall Band Concert

The CLC Community Band starting it's 21st year will perform music from England and Scotland in its Fall Concert, "Pubs and Pipers". The music will feature familiar melodies from both countries as well as well known English band classics such as the Gustav Holst "First Suite in Eb for Military Band" and Colonel Bogey March by Kenneth Alford. This is in anticipation of the scheduled CLC Band Tour to England and Scotland which will take place in the summer of 2014. 

The concert also features the CLC Jazz Ensemble playing a variety of musical styles from the "Average White Band" to "Guy Noir's Brother", a trombone feature with Jerry Swanson on trombone, to the "Modern Jazz Quartet" which will feature guest artist Jim Henkenmeyer on Vibraphone. 

New Rosenmeier Center Board Members

The Gordon Rosenmeier Center for State and Local Government has added the following new board members.

Laura Raedeke

Since moving to Nisswa, MN in 2001, Laura Raedeke has served as organist at Lutheran Church of the Cross in Nisswa, and at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Brainerd.  Raedeke also performs in the Brainerd Lakes Summer Organ Recital Series, and serves as piano accompanist to the Legacy Chorale of Greater Minnesota.  In 2008 she formed the Creation Care Team at Lutheran Church of the Cross which, in addition to building a community garden on church property, works in a number of ways to encourage responsible ecological behavior at our church, at home, and at work. Together with her husband, Jerry, Raedeke owns and directs the Raedeke Art Gallery in Nisswa, to which she has contributed her own oil paintings. Previously from Worthington, MN, Raedeke taught private piano lessons, served as an organist with several churches, and co‑founded and served as president of both the Worthington Area Piano Teachers Association and the Worthington Area Music Boosters Organization.  She also helped found the Worthington Concert Association, serving as a board member and a term as president. Raedeke received her BA in Biology, and later a Master of Arts degree with concentrations in music theory/composition from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD.

Raider Volleyball Team Advances To National Tournament

The 2013 Raider volleyball team advances to the NJCAA Division III national tournament by beating Northland 3-0 in the Region 13B championship game on Saturday, November 9. 

CLC rolled through the tournament without losing a single game. The Raiders shutout Itasca on Friday night winning three straight games to advance to the championship game on Saturday. 

The #2 nationally ranked Raiders improve their season record to 27-2 and will advance to the National NJCAA Division III tournament in Rochester, MN on November 15-16. The tournament is held at the UCR Regional Sports Center at Rochester Community and Technical College.

Vietnam Vets Look Back on the War

Courtesy of the Brainerd Dispatch by Mike O'Rourke, Associate Editor

Wartime memories — military veterans’ Vietnam stories that are more than 40 years old now — were the subject of Tuesday’s Center for Lifelong Learning session at Central Lakes College (CLC).

The U.S. Army veterans’ tales mixed humor with poignancy as a largely gray-haired audience listened to Bill Wroolie of Brainerd, Steve Rosenow of Baxter, Butch Lund of Pine River and Ken Klose of Staples recall their experiences while fighting in Vietnam. The audience included other Vietnam vets as well as Jim Russell, CLC’s basketball coach, who thanked the veterans for service and for their stories. Russell lived in Vietnam until he was almost 9, before his family moved to the United States in 1973.

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Photo Courtesy of the US Archives

CLC Law Enforcement Club Earns Awards

The Central Lakes College Sigma Delta Law Enforcement Club earned numerous awards at the Regional American Criminal Justice Association conference. The conference was held in Chicago for region 6 which includes the states of Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. The conference consists of competitions, seminars, workshops and regional business meeting. A closing banquet is held at the end of the Conference and trophies are awarded to the winners who competed throughout the week.

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. 

Cultural Thursday - American Indians: A Culture ALIVE!

November 7, 2013 in the Chalberg Theatre, CLC Brainerd Campus

In commemoration of National Native American Month, Central Lakes College Director of Intercultural Services, Diversity and Tribal Relations, Mary Sam, will present an overview beginning with the era of Indian boarding schools and ending with present day Mille Lacs Band Nay ah Shing school and Tribal College programming.  

CLC Waives Application Fee October 25-31

Central Lakes College will waive application fee 
to celebrate “College Knowledge Month” 


Central Lakes College is participating in “College Knowledge Month,” a statewide effort to provide every graduating high school senior with the opportunity to apply to college. In conjunction with this effort, Central Lakes College will waive application fees for new students from October 25-31, 2013.

CLC Celebrates Medical Assistants Recognition Week

The Medical Assistant students at the Staples campus of Central Lakes College are gearing up to celebrate Medical Assistants Recognition Week, October 21-25, 2013, as designated by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Medical assistants across the country will be recognized during this week and honored on Medical Assistants Recognition Day on Wednesday, October 23.

Visit Brainerd Partners with CLC

Courtesy of the Brainerd Dispatch • October 13, 2013

Visit Brainerd recently announced a partnership with the Marketing Principles class at Central Lakes College, to act as the subject of their class marketing project.

Visit Brainerd markets the lakes area as it represents lodging establishments in Brainerd and Baxter. Marketing for a diverse set of activities to a wide range of people presents a real world challenge for the students.

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CLC Cafeteria named After the "Mad Hugger"

Courtesy of the Brainerd Dispatch • October 3, 2013

By Jennifer Stockinger, Staff Writer
Happy Joe’s Cafe may be the perfect name for Central Lakes College (CLC) cafeteria.

The cafeteria was recently named when the college awarded its three-year food service bid to Prairie Bay Grill & Catering in Baxter that started this academic year of 2013-14.

Nick Miller, general manager of Prairie Bay, said the cafeteria was named after Joe Plut, who retired from CLC as the English and humanities instructor, and who is known as “the mad hugger.”

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Public Announcement

Central Lakes College wishes to announce that it will host a site review for initial accreditation of its Practical Nursing and Associate Degree Nursing Programs by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

You are invited to meet the site visit team and share your comments about the programs in person at a meeting scheduled at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16th, 2013 at Central Lakes College, Brainerd campus in the “Cube” (C240).

Central Lakes College Awarded $3.7 million Department of Labor Grant

The U.S. Department of Labor announced that Central lakes College will receive a grant of $3.7 million as part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grant (TAACCCT) Program.

CLC ($3,710,338) applied as a part of a multi-state consortium of community colleges led by Pine Technical College ($6,898,193) in Minnesota and joined by Ridgewater College, MN ($3,048,062) and North Central Texas College. TX ($4,660,429). The consortium was awarded a total of $18,317,022.

CLC Cultural Thursday Event on October 3 : China

The next CLC Cultural Thursday presentation is headed to Beijing, China, where speaker, Spencer Hartsock, spent five months as a student at Minzu University.  Through the worldwide Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) program, he received credits in Anthropology and the Chinese language. 

“As I had no prior knowledge of the Chinese Language, and my teacher spoke no English, the intensive Chinese class was imperative!” Spencer pointed out.  “I was given an orientation by a Tibetan at my school, where he taught me to use body language, some cultural interactions and signs to produce communication.”  With that and some minimal orientation on basic international travel skills, Spencer traveled to Tibet and throughout Qinghai province.  

CLC Nursing Accreditation

The Central Lakes College (CLC) Practical Nursing department has been diligently working to prepare for an upcoming national accreditation visit. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) is the governing organization for national accreditation for nursing programs. ACEN supports nursing education, nursing practice and the public. Central Lakes College is seeking initial national accreditation for the Practical Nursing program and the Associate Degree (Mobility) Nursing program. Accreditation means that nursing programs have demonstrated competency in six core standards and criteria associated with nursing education through rigorous evaluation processes. For students this means more access, opportunity, and mobility for continuing education and job placement throughout the nation. 

During the past three years the department has been preparing for national accreditation, six Practical Nursing faculty have been advancing their nursing degrees. During the past year, all six have achieved their goal of obtaining a master’s degree in nursing. The faculty members include Shirley Lofquist, Peggy Rider, Jessica Herron (St. Xavier’s University), Julie Woitalla (Metropolitan State University), and Sarah Jennissen and Tara Karels (University of Minnesota, Moorhead). Eleven of the twelve full-time nursing faculty members now have master’s degrees in nursing.

Inaugural Poet Addresses CLC Audience

Courtesy of the Brainerd Dispatch • September 13, 2013

By Mike O'Rourke, Associate Editor 

Growing up as a “barely middle class” immigrant in Miami, poet Richard Blanco said there were pressures that led him toward the practical choice of an engineering degree. He’s worked, on and off, for 20 years in that field, but most Americans know him as one of only five poets to be asked to read his work at a presidential inauguration.

“One Today,” the poem he wrote for President Barack Obama’s 2013 presidential inauguration, catapulted Blanco to the forefront of American poets and brought his earlier publications recognition that other poets might work a lifetime to achieve.

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CLC Announces Spring Travel Study Event

Central Lakes College is offering a travel study course to Italy during spring semester 2014.  Led by CLC English and Humanities instructor, Michael Soderlund, the class is open to both CLC students and community members. The Italian Renaissance Experience class will consist of two parts: a classroom exploration of the art and literature of the Renaissance, followed by a 10-day trip to Italy in March of 2014, during spring break.

The classroom content will focus on the phenomenal advances of the Italian artists and writers of the Renaissance during the 14th-16th centuries. The one-credit class will meet one evening a week during January and February of spring semester 2014, and community members who audit the course will be entitled to attend all pre-trip activities, information sessions, and lectures without being responsible for the associated coursework. 

Nolan Forum (hosted at CLC) Tackles Federal Budget

Courtesy of the Brainerd Dispatch • September 4, 2013

By Mike O'Rourke, Associate Editor 

Facing an estimated $17 trillion federal deficit, members of a capacity crowd at the Central Lakes College cafeteria sharpened their pencils and went to work Wednesday night.

Rep. Rick Nolan, D-Minn., co-sponsored the interactive public forum designed to solicit advice on how to balance the federal budget. It was also sponsored by Central Lakes College in Brainerd and the Concord Coalition, a nonpartisan group that champions fiscal stewardship.

“You’re going to get a feel for how difficult this is,” he said to an audience made up of both students and non-students.

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Presidential Inaugural Poet to Speak at CLC

Verse Like Water, the visiting poet program series of Central Lakes College presents inaugural poet Richard Bianco in the Chalberg Theatre at noon on September 13. A meet and greet, book signing, and workshop will follow the reading. This literary event is sponsored by the CLC English Department and the CLC Foundation. Admission to the event is a free will offering. The public is welcome to attend.

Richard Blanco, Acclaimed Cuban-American Poet

President Obama's Inaugural Poet 2013

Blurred Lines: Classes Begin at CLC but not just for College Students

Courtesy of the Brainerd Dispatch • August 26, 2013

By Jessica Larsen, Staff Writer • Photo by Steve Kohls

Traditional images of the typical college student are a thing of the past.

As classes started Monday at Central Lakes College (CLC), officials say more and more it’s not just college students filling the class seats — it’s also high schoolers.

“The lines between secondary and post-secondary education are really merging. The lines are blurring. I’ve been told the high school senior year is probably going to merge into first year of college,” said Betsy Picciano, director of secondary relations at CLC.

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Cultural Thursday Celebrates 15th Season

CLC is embarking on its 15th year of ‘armchair’ travel and in-person cultural exchanges.  In the fall of 1998, Thursday noon was designated as a time for community members, faculty and students to share their travels and cultures in these free, hour long presentations. Jan Kurtz, Spanish and Latin American Studies Instructor, initiated Cultural Thursday and continues into this 15th season. “The ‘mission’ of Culture Thursday is to avail our community of our collective global experiences, encourage travel among our students, as well as to acquaint us with our international students” states Kurtz.  

New Raiders Golf Coach

Central Lakes College recently hired Chris Foley as head coach of the Raiders men’s and women’s golf teams. Foley is the owner and operator of Chris Foley Golf Schools and the Director of Instruction at The Legacy Courses at Cragun’s in Brainerd, MN. He is also a Head Coach for the USA Junior National Team.

Prior to his present position Chris served as the Director of Golf at The Members Club in Columbia, SC. and spent fourteen years as the head golf professional at Madden’s on Gull Lake in Brainerd, MN. It was at Madden’s, that he founded Chris Foley Golf Schools. The golf instructional school was the only one of its kind in the Brainerd Lakes area and under Foley’s leadership experienced tremendous growth.

SBDC Awarded Grant

The North Central Minnesota Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Central Lakes College (CLC) was recently awarded $42,000 per year for the next two years to provide management consulting services to small businesses in 11 counties of central Minnesota. 

The funds were awarded through the Business Competitive Development Grant program at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Funds awarded under this program are designated for non-profit entities to help develop, strengthen and retain small businesses throughout Minnesota. 

Advanced Manufacturing Education

During the past year Central Lakes College (CLC) has been gearing up for fall 2013 and the first courses in the Advanced Manufacturing Education (AME) program on both the Brainerd and Staples Campuses.  

CLC is using the AME Grant to expand and improve programs that are currently available.  The Associate in Applied Science Degree, Diploma, and Certificate programs include:

Applied Engineering, Machine Tool Technology-CNC, Machine Tool-Mold Making/Tool and Die, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Welding, Manufacturing Maintenance, Mechatronics. Robotics/Automated Systems Technology, Robotic Welding, and Welding & Fabrication.

CLC Heavy Equipment Golf Tournament

The 15th Annual CLC Heavy Equipment Golf Tournament was held on Tuesday, July 16. The event raised $17,545 for the Heavy Equipment Training Program based in Staples, MN. The golf tournament was held at Oak Glen Country Club in Stillwater, MN. The Frattalone Companies sponsor this event each summer and have raised a significant amount of money for the Heavy Equipment program. Frank Frattalone is a graduate of the program. 

Photo: Frank Frattalone, John Maleski, Gordy Vierkant, Josh Carlson (Student/Duluth), and Tony Frattalone

Summer Engineering and Manufacturing Camp

Central Lakes College and the Center of Excellence at Bemidji State University hosted the Summer Engineering and Manufacturing (SEaM) Camp July 8-12 at the Staples campus of CLC. SEaM camp is for students in grades 6-12 and this year 34 students participated from sixteen communities (Brainerd, Pillager, Little Falls, Randall, Long Prairie, Princeton, Motley, Nisswa, Fort Ripley, Pequot Lakes, Moorhead, Ham Lake, Ottertail, Wadena, Staples and Carlos). 

The camp provides students with an opportunity to experience hands-on electronics, motor controllers, mechanical drafting, manufacturing machining, and robotics automated systems.

CLC Books For Africa Donation

Library staff at Central Lakes College Brainerd campus recently packed boxes full of books for donation to Books for Africa. The books are destined for Jinja, Uganda which is the hometown of CLC international student Dennis Musasizi. Jinja was the first library served by Books For Africa twenty-five years ago. In honor of the anniversary, the Rotary Club of Woodbury, MN is paying to send another container of 22,000 books to Jinja.  The books from Central Lakes College will be included in this shipment.

PHOTO - Patrick J. Plonski, Executive Director, Books for Africa (Left), Dennis Musasizi, CLC student (middle) and Larry Lunblad, CLC President (right).

Recent Donations to CLC Veterans Center

Flag Day Golf Tournament

Lakes Financial Services of Brainerd hosted a golf tournament at Cragun's Legacy Courses on Flag Day, June 14, to raise funds to support local veterans. A portion of the of proceeds were donated to the Central Lakes College Veterans Center.

The Center helps veterans, service members, and their families live enhanced lives through counseling, mentorship, and building stronger personal and professional life experiences through their educational journey and beyond.

PHOTO - Presenting the check is Glen Sundberg from Lakes Financial Services (left). Kathy Marshik, Veterans Center and Pam Thomsen, CLC Foundation (middle). Mike Snow, a Golf Professional from the Legacy Golf Course (right).

CLC Free Application Week July 8-12

Catch the WAVE!  [WAIVE] 

During the week of July 8-12, Central Lakes College will WAIVE your application fee. That’s right, apply to CLC for Free!

CLC has special events planned during the week to assist you in your college and career goals.

CLC to Freeze Tuition over the next Two Years

Tuition at Central Lakes College and other MnSCU institutions will remain the same for the next two years. The tuition freeze will help Central Lakes College students continue to earn affordable degrees while keeping college debt levels as low as possible.

The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) earlier this month approved an operating budget for fiscal 2014 that freezes undergraduate tuition at fiscal 2013 levels. This is the first of a two-year tuition freeze made possible by a $78 million appropriation by the state legislature during the 2013 session.

Transitioning to College

The Check & Connect Program and the Crow Wing County Transition Interagency Committee hosted a workshop on Thursday June, 13th at Central Lakes College for professionals working with students with Intellectual Disabilities who wish to go on to higher education. The day-long workshop was attended by 50 people ranging from high school teachers, social workers, college administrators, mental health professionals, and state vocational agencies.

Bridges Awarded $248,000 grant from Otto Bremer Foundation

Media Release Courtesy of the Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce

On Thursday, May 30, the Otto Bremer Foundation announced the award of a $248,000 grant to the Bridges Career Academies & Workplace Connection. This significant grant will strengthen the development of Bridges Career Academies, expand the Career Exploration Day and Educator in the Workplace programs through the Bridges Workplace Connection, and explore the development of new career emersion camps. Each activity seeks to fundamentally change the way students explore and determine their future careers.

CLC Brainerd Campus Commencement 2013

The Brainerd campus commencement event was held Thursday, May 16 at the Brainerd high school gymnasium. 300 graduates were honored at the 2013 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.

CLC Staples Campus Commencement

The Staples campus commencement event was held Wednesday, May 15 at the Staples-Motley high school gymnasium. Approximately 140 graduates were honored at the 2013 commencement program. 

CLC students received degrees, diplomas and certificates for Communication Art & Design, Diesel & Heavy Equipment Technician, Engineering Technology, Heavy Equipment Operation & Maintenance, Machine Tool Technology, Mechatronics, Medical Assistant, Associate Degree Nursing, Practical Nursing, Photographic Imaging Technology, Robotics/Automated Systems Technology, and Videography Production programs.

2013 CLC Commencement Events

Staples Campus Commencement

The Staples campus commencement event is scheduled for Wednesday, May 15 at 7 pm at the Staples-Motley high school gymnasium. 

Brainerd Campus Commencement

The Brainerd campus commencement event is scheduled for Thursday, May 16 at 7 pm at the Brainerd high school gymnasium.

Commencement Speaker • Steve Sabin

Steve Sabin will be the commencement speaker at both the Staples and Brainerd events.

CLC Students Win at SkillsUSA State Championships

Robert Koval, a student in the Diesel Technology Program at Central Lakes College earned first place honors in the state SkillsUSA contest held in Bloomington, MN on April 5-7, 2013. CLC students Jason Peterson, Machine Tool Technology Program and Colby Abazs, Photography Program won second place in their categories. Seth Schbert placed third in the Diesel Equipment Technology competition.

The SkillsUSA Championships, held as part of the SkillsUSA 46th annual State Leadership and Skills Conference is a showcase of career and technical education students.