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).