Helping Haiti

On Friday, Feb. 5 and Saturday, Feb. 6 the Central Lakes College Student Senate will host a Project Haiti fundraiser during the final Raider basketball home games of the regular season. The students will donate ticket sales and concessions proceeds to Project Haiti, a local, non-profit organization that has been helping the people of Haiti for several years. Contributions will provide supplies to the hospital in Pignon, Haiti, for treating earthquake victims. Games are Friday vs. Mesabi Range Community and Technical College, with the women playing at 6 p.m. and men at 8 p.m., and Saturday vs. Vermilion Community College, when the women start at 1 p.m. and the men play at 3 p.m. Door prizes will be given away during each game, with all ticket-buyers eligible to win.

Raiders win

The men's and women's basketball teams from Central Lakes College defeated their Fond du Lac oponents Wed., Jan. 27 on the home court in Brainerd. The men won, 74-45, led by Nick Grewe's 10 points and 15 rebounds. Milos Prijovic added15 points, Yasin Jama 11, and Cody Hofmann 10. CLC's seventh straight victory lifted the Raiders to a Northern Division-leading 6-0 mark and to 16-3 overall. The CLC women won, 86-45, behind Cassie Pearson's 26 points. Trisha Wippler added 16 points and Carlee Davich tallied 14. A boost for the Raiders was their lack of turnovers - just 10 on the night for a team that has struggled. The teams travel to Hibbing for games Saturday, where the women start at 1 p.m. and the men play at 3 p.m. The final two home games of the regular season are Feb. 5 vs. Mesabi Range and Feb. 6 vs. Vermilion. (Brainerd Dispatch photo)

Marketing award

President Dr. Larry Lundblad of Central Lakes College is pleased to announce that the Central Lakes College Marketing and Public Relations office has been chosen to receive a national award. The National Council for Marketing and Public Relations will present the Paragon to CLC at the March 16 ceremony held in Albuquerque, N.M. It recognizes the college's 2008-2010 academic catalog, a printed document of 256 pages produced by the team of Kenn Dols, marketing director; Steve Waller, public information specialist; and Sasha Sparks, graphic arts specialist. Seventy-five judges reviewed over 1,700 entries in competition recognizing excellence in communications exclusively among two-year colleges. NCMPR's annual conference this year is March 14-17.

Building futures

Central Lakes College hosted the Business Council of the Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Comerce Tuesday, Jan. 26 for a morning review of progress at the community and technical college in Brainerd and Staples. President Dr. Larry Lundblad welcomed the council and provided a vision for the future. Jeff Wig, dean of enrollment and student services, shared graphs and data outlining growth at CLC. Enrollment has increased 43 percent in three years, with a headcount of 5,936 students taking at least one class this year. A significant number of new students are in their late 20s, and more are non-traditional age from the unemployed ranks. Criminal Justice student Joe Klemmetsen, 29, of Duluth described his experience as a dislocated worker on a new career path since his February 2009 lay-off from Kuepers Construction. Joe has a bachelor's degree in construction management. He has found the Central Lakes College enrollment process to be a straight-forward series of accommodations followed by quality instruction to enable him to transition toward a viable profession.

Free farm meeting

The Farm Business Management program at Central Lakes College will host a free producer meeting to address questions regarding the ACRE program, milk and crop marketing opportunities as well as the latest strategies using crop insurance. All area producers are encourage to attend, at no cost, this meeting held at the Staples campus of Central Lakes College on Tuesday, Feb. 16 beginning from12:30-3:30 p.m. For information, contact Bob Rick at (218)-820-8699 or Keith Olander at (763)-257-2881.

Students produce chef show

Central Lakes College Communication Art and Design students have produced a series of six cooking shows with professional tips for the Staples cable TV public access channel. “Cooking with Kevin" will begin airing in February, every Wednesday at noon. Each show will instruct viewers on the preparation of special French and Italian entrees favored by T Maxwell’s Executive Chef Kevin Aho. Students Jessica Murdock of Staples, Amber Hulke of Nisswa, and Amanda Johnson and Kevin Ballinger of Aitkin, along with instructor Leon Dahlvang, worked with Aho in the development of these videos, which will be viewed on the Public, Education, and Government Channel 8 of the Charter system managed by the City of Staples. Starting with the 2010 fall term, Central Lakes College will offer a two-year Videography Productions Associate in Applied Science degree with diploma option.

Alone at top

The Central Lakes College men's basketball team held the high-scoring Pioneers of Northland College 27 points under their average in a 66-56 battle of Division unbteatens Wed., Jan. 20 in the Brainerd campus gymnasium. Northland averages 83 points but ran into the Raider buzz-saw in this one. CLC emerged to win its 15th game in 18 starts. Scoring leaders were Nash Falk with 15, Milos Prijovic with 13, Nick Grewe and Marcua Ayala with 11 each, and Yasin Jama with 10. CLC is now 5-0 in the North Division. In the women's game, CLC lost, 57-49, while playing with just six due to an injury to Brittany Gravelle. CLC trailed by just 28-26 at the half. Carlee Davich tossed in 18 points to lead the Raiders in scoring, Cassie Pearson scored 12, Carissa Utsch 11. Weather postponed the teams' Saturday games at Vermilion in Ely. (Brainerd Dispatch photo)