International bridge

The Brainerd Lakes Area Chamber recently publicized its working relationship with Central Lakes College regarding two young international students with business ambitions. As members of the Chamber Member Outreach Committee, Bradley Van Der Zandt, 22, of Cape Town, South Africa and Jaka Mahendra, 23, of Probolinggo, East Java, Indonesia are learning about local business relationships by observing and networking. They are committing many hours outside of their college studies at CLC to attend Chamber events. They make calls to members and also participate in the Chamber's CHOW events to meet and greet and assist wherever needed. Jeri Hughes, Events Coordinator with the Chamber, said she was contacted by Joan Jenkins and Pat Swarthout from CLC in regard to the students and their interest in getting involved locally. Hughes said the Chamber was more than eager to take the students on through an internship. “I am amazed at how they’ve come into another country, can speak so well and adapt so well to our way of life,” Hughes commented. “They are really great guys!”

Cultural Thursday

Elena Nicoski, an ethnic Russian student at Central Lakes College, presented the March 3 Cultural Thursday program on the Brainerd campus. Nicoski was born and raised in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, and lived in the republic for 21 years. She discussed the history, culture, arts and crafts, government, religion, food, and Turkmenistan’s development. A resident of Baxter, the 1995 exchange student to Colorado has studied French language and literature during undergraduate studies at the Turkmen State University. This young wife and mother is completing an Associate in Arts degree at CLC and plans to attend St. Cloud State University for French and Spanish studies, as well as international relations. The next free Cultural Thursday scheduled for noon to 12:50 p.m. on April 7 will be Gary Payne presenting images and impressions from Nicaragua. Cultural Thursdays are sponsored by the Resource Center for Cultures and Languages of the Americas at CLC. For information, contact Jan Kurtz at (218) 855-8183, jkurtz@clcmn.edu

Celebration of Nations update

The Central Lakes College International Club and Diversity Leadership Council are co-hosting the second Celebration of Nations on Friday, April 1 on the Brainerd campus. The event runs 5 to 9 p.m. and is open to the public at admission prices of $6 adults, $4 students, and free to ages 11 and under. Cultural musicians begin performing at 5 p.m. and include Asian Ribbon dance, German folk music, West African dance and drumming, Mille Lacs Drummers, Scandinavian Skal Klubb folk music, Indonesian Gamelan, Latin American Pachanga, The Ha Family Asian Lion Dance followed by a Fireworks Finale. International snacks will be sold at the event, featuring ethnic treats from Africa, Asia, Europe and The Americas. The Central Lakes College gymnasium will be set up as a “one-stop shop/travel experience” with African story-telling and drumming in an authentic African hut, a South American beach experience, Indian henna, Korean origami activities set up in an Asian rest house, World Cup soccer experiences of Latin America and Europe, Indonesian children’s games in an authentic Indonesian rest house. Sit, eat, and enjoy the performances from either an Italian café or from the beach. There will be fair-trade vendors with culturally representative items for sale.

Band concert

The Central Lakes College Instrumental Music Department on Tuesday, March 1 presented "Snowdrift Serenade," a concert featuring 30 musicians in the CLC Jazz Band, Brass Ensemble and Woodwind Ensemble. The concert in the Music Rehearsal Hall on the Brainerd campus. The 16-member Jazz Band and the 14-player Brass Ensemble are under the direction of Steve Anderson, CLC instrumental instructor and performer with the brass and jazz groups. The seven-member Woodwind Ensemble is led by Chris Bolstad, Pine River, who plays soprano saxophone. Music featured ranged from Steely Dan to Duke Ellington to Charlie Parker. In July the Central Lakes College Community Band will travel and perform on its first-ever European Tour. The band is also preparing for a May 10 concert and the May 12 CLC graduation ceremony in the Brainerd High School gymnasium. Vocal and instrumental students at CLC will also participate in the April 8 and 9 Minnesota Colleges Music Festival at Breezy Point.

Civic engagement celebration

Central Lakes College on April 20 (Brainerd campus) and 21 (Staples campus) will showcase its civic engagement and service learning projects that have helped the community and technical college achieve placement on the President's National Honor Roll for Civic Engagement and Service Learning. The Minnesota Campus Compact hosted a workshop at Carleton College, Northfield, at which CLC officials were honored to work with other institutional leaders and assess local goals aimed at engaging CLC students, faculty, and staff in hands-on volunteer opportunities that contribute to our communities. In one year, the college's total hours committed to civic engagement increased from 10,313 to 38,569, according to data reported by Rebecca Best, dean of workforce, regional and economic development (pictured at the workshop with the CLC display outlining civic engagement activities). She was accompanied to the workshop by Erich Heppner, director of student activities; Connie Frisch, director of nursing; and Beverly Berg, administrative support staff in customized training.

American Indian Educators Summit

Central Lakes College and five sister institutions in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system will co-host the May 2 and 3 American Indian Educators Summit at Grand View Lodge, Nisswa. Among presenters are Dr. Anton Treuer (pictured), Larry Aitken, and Annie Humphrey. Co-hosts are Lake Superior College, Bemidji State University, Minnesota State University, Mankato, St. Cloud State University, and Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. Students who are pursuing a field in education, social work, economic and community development are encouraged to attend. The summit is a call to action to share knowledge about our past, state our current efforts and gather input for future plans. It is billed as an educational and engaging experience focused on American Indian education. It is designed for K-16 educators, students in teacher training programs, those involved with the education of American Indian students including classroom teachers, teacher aides, curriculum specialists, library media specialists, guidance counselors, home-school coordinators, Title IX/JOM coordinators and administrators, tribal education staff, college and university faculty, staff and administrators, and those with an interest in American Indian Studies and/or American Indian education. Registration deadline is April 20. For information, contact Mary Sam, director of diversity at CLC, 218-855-8159, msam@clcmn.edu

Auditions

The Adventures ’n Theatre, the young people’s performing company at Central Lakes College in Brainerd, will hold auditions for “The Clown Who Ran Away” on Saturday, March 26 at 10 a.m. in the Bob Dryden Theatre at CLC. This is the story of Dodo the Clown, who runs away from the circus in search of adventure. On Main Street he meets many interesting people, including Mr. Frumpkins, who makes the best dolls in the world. They are life-size dolls who can sing and dance, talk and do math. When the dolls are stolen it is up to Dodo to rescue them from two bumbling robbers with the help of Gladys, a horse with perfect penmanship. The production needs actors and actresses in grades 3-12. Audition materials will be provided on the day of audition. The performance dates are May 20 and 21 with rehearsals in April and May. For information, contact director Dennis Lamberson at 218-855-8202 or email dlambers@clcmn.edu