Finally, a weekend we have all yearned for! After planning, purchasing and painting all of the parts for eight garden boxes and leveling off and tiling a platform for our hot tub, John and I ache in nearly every joint and muscle. Fortunately, ibuprofen works wonders! But this is what we waited for all winter – the opportunity to be outside, working on gardens and soaking up the sun. The achy-ness is a wonderful feeling – a reminder of a weekend well spent.
This is the final week of Northland’s spring semester. Both students and faculty are feeling the achy-ness of final exams, final papers, grading, and wrapping things up. And when it is finally over, we will all celebrate jobs well done. In addition to graduation, the end of an academic year brings many other notable points. Here are some of the other events we will celebrate this week.
Years of service awards will be presented to the following employees on Monday and Tuesday:
Thief River Falls Campus:
40 years: Mike Hanson
30 years: Becky Lindseth
25 years: Tiffanie Bieganek, Jodi Halsa, Bob Wold
20 years: Mark Berg, Shannon Boen, Greg Kalinoski, Kathy Huschle, Rick Nikunen
10 years: Brad Eriksen, Tim Reuter
East Grand Forks Campus:
25 years: Ellen Brehmer, Mary Fontes
20 years: Debra King, Kari Koenig, Dennis Labahn, Tony Sorum, Dan Sponsler
10 years: Erin Almlie, Jennifer Amiot, Judith Hulst, Jeff Laskowski, Eric Skalicky, Aaron Wentz
We will celebrate the accomplishments and dedication of the following retirees this year: Rick Morgan (TRF- Farm Business Management, Faith Rud (TRF – Sociology), and Jennie Olson (EGF – Practical Nursing).
Congratulations go out to this year’s Thief River Falls Campus Alumnus of the Year recipient, Dr. Christopher Mills, Stephen/Argyle Central’s Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Mills will be recognized at the Thief River Falls Campus commencement ceremony.
I want to also congratulate the recipients of this year’s Athletic Hall of Fame awards, as I was unable to attend that event on May 4th: Terry Wiseth, Rhonda Biermaier, Christel Vigness, Scott Olsen, and the 1992 Men’s Basketball Team.
We recently celebrated many student accomplishments at the Thief River Falls Campus with a Student Life Banquet held on April 25th.
I commend the accomplishments of three outstanding Northland students, Kaitlyn Lund (TRF), Kirsten Medicraft (EGF), and Halie Anderson (EGF), who earned the nomination to the All-USA Community College Academic Team, presented by USA TODAY with support by the American Association of Community Colleges and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
Upcoming College Events:
May 13 – Farewell reception for Kent Hanson – 4:30 pm – EGF Commons
May 15 –EGF Graduation Banquet – 6 pm – EGF Commons
May 16 – Florence Nightingale Ceremony – 4:30 pm – TRF Auditorium
May 16 – Thief River Falls Commencement Ceremony – 7 pm, TRF Gym
May 17 – East Grand Forks Commencement Ceremony – 11 a.m. – Chester Fritz Auditorium in Grand Forks
May 28 – Summer Session Begins
My schedule this week:
Monday, May 13 – TRF – VP Screening Committee, Employee Recognition Potluck, EGF – Kent Hanson Reception
Tuesday, May 14 – EGF – Employee Recognition Potluck
Wednesday, May 15 – EGF – Academic Dean Budget Meeting, EGF Grad Banquet
Thursday, May 16 – TRF – Florence Nightingale Ceremony, TRF Graduation Ceremony
Friday, May 17 – EGF – EGF Graduation Ceremony
I will take a break from writing this Weekly Update over the summer. Look for the next update in August. For those of you who will be off for the summer, have a great summer! Thank you for another good year at Northland.