Psi Beta induction

The Central Lakes College chapter of the Psi Beta national honor society in psychology for community and junior colleges indcuted five CLC students on Wed., May 4. The ceremony was conducted by Martha Kuehn, adviser of the CLC chapter and an instructor in psychology. Inductees were Thomas Britz, Lucas Morcomb, Carol Osborne, Stephen Sabin, and Casey Wagner. The members and their guests were welcomed by Dr. Suresh Tiwari, vice president of academic and student affairs. Psychology Club President Sabin provided remarks and reviewed activities undertaken by the club in its community service mission. This academic year included the hosting of public forums on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and depression, aided by professionals on a panel setting to discuss the psychological issues. The CLC chapter was chartered on Nov. 13, 2002. This was the first induction in three years.

Building at the Arb

Central Lakes College Landscaping Technology students are working at Northland Arboretum tocreate a waterfall and pond near the visitors' center parking lot. They are following up on the work begun by students at CLC more than a year ago under the guidance of instructorJeff Dirks and WoodSpirit Gardens of Backus. About 18 students were putting the finishing touches on the project this week. Non-profit entities are often aided by the Horticulture program,and since CLC has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Arb, a number of interactive opportunities will continue to involve CLC faculty and students. The students joined volunteers with the University of Minnesota Extension Service and DNR master naturalist program to place tons of boulders and materials to create an area for future generations to enjoy in the middle of urban Brainerd/Baxter. The project is expected tobe finished Wednesday, May 5.

Scholarship

Jeremy Reed of Grand Rapids, a 2009 Greenway High School graduate, is the first recipient of a scholarship honoring the memory of a Central Lakes College Criminal Justice graduate. Reed receives $500 as winner of the Patrick Jay Callaghan Memorial Scholarship, an annual award earmarked for a current CLC law enforcement student. The Central Lakes College Foundation directs the application screening and awarding through a fund established by instructor Dave Stumpf of the Criminal Justice faculty. Callaghan, a 1999 CLC graduate and former Raider baseball player during his two years at CLC, was an Alexandria police officer when he died at age 31 in a snowmobile accident last January. The committee that interviewed applicants and chose Reed for the scholarship included two Alexandria High School graduates who came to CLC with Callaghan in 1997 -- JJ Larson and Josh Wilcox.

Band trip meeting Thursday

The Central Lakes College Community Concert Band is planning a European concert tour for July of 2011. A free informational meeting with refreshments will be held in the rehearsal hall (E471) on the Brainerd campus on Thursday, May 6 at 7 p.m. with a Power Point presentation on the locations of the stops on the tour as well as information on registration and costs. "Interested persons may still sign up to go along on the trip whether as musicians or travelers," said Steve Anderson, director. For information, contact Anderson at sanderso@clcmn.edu or (218) 855-8215.

Thiesse leads Raiders

GRAND RAPIDS - Dani Thiesse (left) slugged three home runs and three doubles as the Central Lakes College fastpitch softball team swept the Jenny Guyer tournament Sat., May 1. The Raiders defeated Vermilion 6-3, Mesabi Range 19-14 and North Dakota State College of Science 8-3. Ashly Erickson was the winning pitcher for all three games. Thiesse, a sophomore from Brainerd, was 2-3 with a double and the first home run of her collegiate career in the first game. Trisha Wippler went 2-3 with a pair of doubles. In the second contest, Thiesse went 5-5 with another home run, a pair of doubles and 3 RBIs. Tika Nichols, Lindsey Fryer, Wippler, Alicia Johnson and Carissa Utsch each stroked a home run. Johnson went 4-5 with a double. The third game featured Erickson pitching a complete game and batting 3-3 with a double and a home run. Thiesse, Johnson, and Ashley Rodriguez hit homers. The team, 24-11 on the year, is in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference tournament Friday at Sauk Rapids, hoping to win a Regional berth.

Big games this Saturday

The Central Lakes College Raiders swept Northland, 11-7 and 4-1, Sunday, May 2. Jake Serfling hit an RBI triple in the second, a two-run single in the third and a two-run homer in the fourth to lead the first win. Josh Janzen, Keegan Meagher, Paul Williams and Kyle Schaible all hit doubles and the Raiders defense turned double plays. Schaible pitched a gem to win the second game. After an eight-batter first inning, he retired nine of the last 10. He struck out four and allowed just the three hits. Saturday, CLC was swept by Northland 7-6, 7-4, committing five errors in the first loss. Schaible was 2-2 with an RBI, Janzen was 2-3 with a triple and an RBI and Serfling finished with a double, triple and an RBI. Meagher went 2-4 with three stolen bases and both CLC runs in the second game. CLC (5-9, 9-26) trails Northland by one game in the Division, with a home doubleheader vs. Ridgewater Saturday. Two wins would put the Raiders in the state tournament. A split would mean the final spot for state determined by a tiebreaker.

Graduation

Central Lakes College will hold its spring commencement exercises next week. More than 950 students have applied for graduation. Students completing programs at the Brainerd campus will be recognized on Wed., May 12 at 7 p.m. in a ceremony to be held in the gymnasium at Brainerd High School. Students finishing programs offered at the Staples campus will graduate on Thursday, May 13, at 7 p.m. in a ceremony scheduled in the gymnasium at Staples-Motley High School. Receptions follow both events at their respective campuses. Paul H. Anderson (far left), a Minnesota Supreme Court associate justice, will deliver the commencement address for Brainerd campus graduates. Dan McElroy, commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development, is the graduation speaker for the Staples ceremonies. McElroy is also a member of the board of trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.