Kelly Shannon, vice president of marketing and communication, stands behind Saint Mary’s brand. Saint Mary’s is rolling out the results of a branding refresh in June, and yes, there’s a new logo, but Shannon explains that branding is so much more than a logo: “A brand is the sum total of all of the images and feelings that someone holds about an organization and its services or products,” she said. “A brand is our promise, and our audiences determine whether…
WINONA, Minn. — The Sandbar Storytelling Festival welcomes the interactive dance party duo Koo Koo Kanga Roo for an evening of moving to the music on Saturday, Oct. 15. The show, sponsored by Todd VonBastiaans and Winona Area Public Schools, will run from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. (with doors opening at 5 p.m.) in the Winona Middle School auditorium. Koo Koo Kanga Roo, based in Minneapolis, consists of two Saint Mary’s University alumni, Bryan Atchison and Neil Olstad, who formed…
From his new office at Goldman Sachs in Tucson, Ariz., Javier Madrid B’18 describes his shoot-for-the-moon philosophy. He believes in aiming high. His philosophy is that if you fall short of your goal, you’ll still end up in a good place. Madrid grew up in Naco, Ariz., and had just moved to Tucson, Ariz., at the age of 13 when he had the opportunity to participate in Saint Mary’s inaugural Countdown to College (C2C) four-year summer program through San Miguel…
For Sarah (Marek) Landman B’04, M’07, Saint Mary’s has always been a second home. A Winona native whose parents, Patrick B’79 and Maureen (Randell) ’81 Marek, as well as several aunts were all alumni, she was introduced to the Saint Mary’s community early in life. Running around her parents’ regular reunion get-togethers, she would frequently overhear her parents and their lifelong college friends laughing and reliving memories. Older brother Mike Marek B’07 also attended. Also as a child, she began…
From his new office at Goldman Sachs in Tucson, Ariz., Javier Madrid B’18 describes his shoot-for-the-moon philosophy. He believes in aiming high. His philosophy is that if you fall short of your goal, you’ll still end up in a good place. Madrid grew up in Naco, Ariz., and had just moved to Tucson, Ariz., at the age of 13 when he had the opportunity to participate in Saint Mary’s inaugural Countdown to College (C2C) four-year summer program through San Miguel…
When students come to Marisa (Niemiec) Corcoran B’99 and ask the tough questions about faith and religion, her answer is clear and simple. “My philosophy is love,” she said. “I’m going to show them so much love and show them God loves them. Conversation is important. We invite people to be honest about where they are. We open the door.” As the director of Campus Ministry at Cotter Schools in Winona, she wants her door to always be open —…
A first-generation college student, Chuck Joseph B’66 knows firsthand about Saint Mary’s University’s goal to make education accessible to every student. And it’s the accessibility to the breadth of education Saint Mary’s has to offer that has kept him close to his alma mater for so long. Growing up during the Great Depression, neither of Joseph’s parents had the opportunity to finish their education and pursue college. “My mother started working as a secretary at 16, and my dad ran…
Current/former title(s) Assistant director of the Academic Skills Center and Reading Lab supervisor; director of the Academic Skills Center; director of Learning Services; director of Learning Services and First Generation Initiative How many years have you worked at Saint Mary’s and what brought you here? 31 years. I just graduated from my master's program in counseling: college student development in Mankato. I was newly married. I was in Mankato and my new wife (Karen) was living in Minneapolis. I had…
Current/former title(s) Dr. David Jackson, associate professor, School of Education, and former chair and dean of the School of Education. [caption id="attachment_17735" align="alignright" width="283"] Dr. David Jackson, associate professor, School of Education, and former chair and dean of the School of Education.[/caption] How many years have you worked at Saint Mary’s and what brought you here? I have been working at Saint Mary’s for the past 27 years. What brought me here was the opportunity to be a part of…
Last month, the Saint Mary’s community welcomed hundreds of alumni back to campus for Reunion Weekend 2022. This was the first time Reunion Weekend was held in person since 2019. During the event-filled weekend, Saint Mary’s celebrated the following individuals during the 2022 Alumni Awards ceremony on Saturday, June 25: Robert ‘Bob’ Skemp ’49 Distinguished Alumnus Award Robert “Bob” Skemp considers Saint Mary’s home. He and his family have been part of the university — and supported its growth —…
Jordan Keeley, a recent Saint Mary’s graduate, is using her summer to go the extra mile … actually, the extra 250 miles. This summer, Keeley plans to run, walk, or Rollerblade 250 miles in 100 days to raise funds for the Minnesota Special Hockey team based in Rochester. According to Keeley, the funds raised would help players afford registration fees and guarantee them time on the ice. As of July 5, she has logged over 140 miles. Keeley hopes to…
Congratulations to the following undergraduate students, who were named to the Dean’s List at Saint Mary’s University. The list includes nearly 400 undergraduate students who earned a grade point average of 3.60 or better on a 4.0 scale. Student name, hometown, parents' or guardians’ name/s Aidan Adamek, Helena, Mont., Marika Ademek Kiarra Ahrens, Richmond, Minn., Rick and Deb Ahrens Jillian Alekna, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., Michael and Janet Alekna Mandukhai Alimaa, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Alimaa Namsrai Elise Amerongen, Lake Elmo, Minn., John…
WINONA, Minn. — The following Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota students completed requirements for bachelor of arts degrees in May 2022. Student name, hometown, parents' or guardians’ name/s Kiarra Ahrens, Richmond, Minn., Rick and Deb Ahrens Jillian Alekna, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., Michael and Janet Alekna Mandukhai Alimaa, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Alimaa Namsrai Noah Anderson, Roseville, Minn., Albert Anderson Kassandra Arriaga, Chula Vista, Calif., Ines Quirarte Franklin Bakalars, La Crosse, Wis., William and Patricia Bakalars Alexus Banda, El Paso, Texas, Betty Hidrogo…
In the most recent episode of Saint Mary's Currents, assistant professor of business Andrew Scott discusses inflation. With prices increasing at the fastest rate in 40 years, Scott outlines considerations people may need to make in their everyday lives while navigating these times of rapidly changing high prices. If you enjoy the show and the topics discussed, subscribe to Saint Mary’s Currents wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen to previous episodes by visiting the Saint Mary’s Newsroom.
Saint Mary’s University will celebrate its 2022 graduates in the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs on Saturday, June 4 at Orchestra Hall in downtown Minneapolis. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. An expected 350 students from graduate and bachelor’s completion programs will receive their degrees. Families, friends, and supporters are all invited to take part in celebrating graduating students and all of their academic accomplishments. The hosting venue, Orchestra Hall, encourages those in attendance to wear a mask,…
(Washington, DC) — Saint Mary’s University and ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge are proud to announce that Jonathon Krull has been recognized on the 2022 ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll. The ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll is a recognition program for college students at participating campuses doing outstanding work to advance nonpartisan democratic engagement. Jonathan Krull joins a group of 82 college students recognized for their nonpartisan voter engagement efforts on campuses across the country in 2021. “Jonathon…
On Saturday, May 7, Saint Mary’s University will celebrate nearly 250 graduates during its Spring 2022 Commencement on its Winona Campus. The celebration will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a Baccalaureate Mass in Saint Thomas More Chapel. The commencement ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. in the university gymnasium, followed by a reception in the plaza. This year’s outstanding seniors, Jordan Keeley and Trevor Paradise will offer their reflections, the Saint Mary’s University Concert Band and Commencement Choir will…
WINONA, Minn. — What do The Pink Panther, M.A.S.H., Mission Impossible, and The Flintstones all have in common? Yes, they were all great movies or TV shows, but it was their jazz-inspired theme songs and soundtracks that set them apart. On Sunday, April 24, at 3 p.m. in Page Theater get ready to travel down memory lane as Jazz at Saint Mary’s presents Big Screen/Small Screen – Classic Jazz Themes. Vocalists Erin Grams and Gunnar Ronholm will join the Jazz…
A member of the French family will have been enrolled at Saint Mary’s nearly consecutively from 1986 to 2026. They’ve completed both undergraduate and graduate degrees; they’ve been involved in music, theatre, athletics, musical variety shows and more; they’ve witnessed buildings constructed and demolished; they remember four different university presidents; and they’ve majored in different subjects. Yet, as different as their experiences have been, they say they’re all proud to share a common Cardinal connection. The family legacy began with…
Saint Mary’s University senior Jordan Keeley may only be 5’6”— “average” as she calls it — but she’s proof positive that one person can make a big impact. And there’s nothing average about Jordan Keeley. As a goalie for the Cardinal women’s hockey team, Keeley guards the net game after game — knowing she’s the last line of defense against the opposition. As a student, she has a nearly perfect grade point average. And as a dedicated Winona community member,…