Bemidji State University’s Dr. Michael Lund, assistant professor of technology, art and design (TAD), was accepted as a fellow to attend the Micro Nanotechnology Education Special Interest Group (MNTeSIG) meeting and High Technology Exchange Conference (HI-TEC) in St. Louis, Missouri in late July.

Lund will be part of a full-day special interest group and will present “Building Partnerships with Industry: Providing Students with Industry Consulting Experience” at HI-TEC in collaboration with Lund Boats of New York Mills, Minn.

Lund will also be attending the conference as the president of the Micro Nanotechnology division at the Association of Technology Management and Applied Engineering (ATMAE), which is the accrediting body for multiple programs in the School of TAD.

About Micro Nanotechnology Education Special Interest Group

MNTeSIG is a group of educators and industry partners who work to bring micro and nanotechnology into classrooms across the U.S. and internationally. Their fellowship is provided to educators who participate in the special interest group.

This group is managed through four National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education Centers:
the Support Center for Microsystems Education (SCME), the Nanotechnology Applications and Career Knowledge (NACK) Network, the Northeast Advanced Technological Education Center and the Nano-Link Center for Nanotechnology Education.

Contact

• Dr. Michael Lund, assistant professor of technology, art & design; (218) 755-2951, michael.lund@bemidjistate.edu

Links

• Micro Nanotechnology Education Special Interest Group

Bemidji State University, located amid the lakes and forests of northern Minnesota, occupies a wooded campus along the shore of Lake Bemidji. Enrolling more than 5,100 students, Bemidji State offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and eight graduate degrees encompassing arts, sciences and select professional programs. BSU is a member of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities and has a faculty and staff of more than 550. The university’s Shared Fundamental Values include environmental stewardship, civic engagement and international and multicultural understanding. For more, visit bemidjistate.edu or find us at BemidjiState on most of your favorite social media networks.

2020-B-002

Bemidji State University’s Sustainability Office has partnered with the City of Bemidji, Sustainable Bemidji and Clean Energy Resource Teams to help plan the Bemidji Sustainability Committee’s 8th Annual Sustainable Places Tour on July 13.

With BSU Sustainability office summer intern Valerie Winter, a junior from Finlayson, Minn. majoring in mass communication, leading the planning efforts, the Sustainability Office helped coordinate this year’s tour featuring locations from the backyards of Bemidji locals to a the community solar garden. Winter along with Sustainability Office staff will assist at each tour site.

“Working with community members and businesses that keep sustainable practices in mind has been a great growing opportunity and an enjoyable internship experience,” Winter said.

Tours are scheduled throughout the day from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at five different locations where hosts will offer an hour-long tour during their designated time slots. All tours are free and open to the public.

Tour Schedule:

• 9 a.m. — Residential Solar PV-Solar United Neighbors— Greg and Beth Oja of Bemidji recently installed a 10.5kW solar photo-voltaic (PV) system in their home. They will share their experience as a member of Bemidji’s Solar Co-op. Location: 51715 179th Ave, Bemidji, MN 56601
• 9 & 10:30 a.m. — Birds, Bees & Butterflies Garden— Birds, Bees & Butterflies is a group of avid gardeners dedicated to supporting pollinators by planting native vegetation. Marcia Larson of Bemidji’s Parks and Recreation Department will give a tour of a recently planted Birds, Bees & Butterflies garden on the south shore of Lake Bemidji. Location: 502 Paul Bunyan Dr SE, Bemidji, MN 56601.
• 10:30 a.m. & 12 p.m. — Commercial Geothermal and Solar PV— Lakeland PBS will share the cost savings achieved through their 39kW rooftop solar PV array, installed in 2018, and geothermal heating and cooling systems of their facility, built in 2015. Location: 108 Grant Ave NE, Bemidji, MN 56601
• 1:30 & 3 p.m. — Gardening in High-Tunnels and Deep Winter Greenhouse— The Bemidji Community Food Shelf (BCFS) farm utilizes two high-tunnels and a deep-winter greenhouse to extend their growing season. BCFS staff and volunteers will share how these structures use passive-solar energy to maintain effective growing temperatures that could potentially lead to year-round crop production. Location: 1260 Exchange Ave SE, Bemidji, MN 56601
• 1:30 & 3 p.m. — Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations & Community Solar Garden— Sam Mason, of Beltrami Electric Cooperative and Roger Garton, of Otter Tail Power Company, will discuss electric vehicle (EV) technology and the progress of EV infrastructure in Bemidji. Local EV owners will also be on site to share their experience with the transition from gasoline to electric transportation. Location: 4111 Technology Dr. NW, Bemidji, MN 56601

Community members who would like to attend are encouraged to carpool or bike to these destinations. Tour maps can be found at Brigid’s Pub, Lueken’s North and South, Harmony Natural Foods Co-op, Dunn Brothers Coffee and The Tavern on
South Shore.

The Bemidji Sustainability Committee’s annual Sustainable Places Tour is part of the organization’s mission to coordinate and implement the city’s Minnesota GreenStep Cities program and to inspire, recognize and fosters sustainable actions in the region through education and collaboration.

Contact

• Valerie Winter, valerie.winter@live.bemidjistate.edu
• Erika Bailey-Johnson, sustainability coordinator, erika.bailey-johnson@bemidjistate.edu
• Jordan Lutz, sustainability project manager, jordan.lutz@bemidjistate.edu

Links

• Bemidji State University Sustainability Office
• Sustainable Bemidji Facebook

Bemidji State University, located amid the lakes and forests of northern Minnesota, occupies a wooded campus along the shore of Lake Bemidji. Enrolling more than 5,100 students, Bemidji State offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and eight graduate degrees encompassing arts, sciences and select professional programs. BSU is a member of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities and has a faculty and staff of more than 550. The university’s Shared Fundamental Values include environmental stewardship, civic engagement and international and multicultural understanding. For more, visit bemidjistate.edu or find us at BemidjiState on most of your favorite social media networks.

2020-B-003

Bemidji State University’s Dr. Misty Wilkie, associate professor of nursing and director of the Niganawenimaanaanig – an Ojibwe word meaning “we take care of them” – program, gave two presentations in New Zealand throughout June.

First, Wilkie presented at the University of Auckland in Auckland, New Zealand about BSU’s Niganawenimaanaanig program. She spoke on how to increase the recruitment and retention rates of indigenous nurses.

Then, she presented at the Native American Indigenous Studies Association Conference in Hamilton, New Zealand with Dr. Loretta Heuer, professor of nursing at North Dakota State University. The duo showed the film “Essence of Healing: Journey of American Indian Nurses,” a documentary about recruitment of American Indian nursing students, and led a discussion afterwards. The film was created by Heuer and featured an interview with Wilkie.

“I was able to talk about Niganawenimaanaanig to follow up on the documentary since it’s purpose was to recruit more American Indians into nursing,” Wilkie said.

Contact

• Dr. Misty Wilkie, associate professor of nursing; (218) 755-2715, misty.wilkie@bemidjistate.edu

Links

• Niganawenimaanaanig

Bemidji State University, located amid the lakes and forests of northern Minnesota, occupies a wooded campus along the shore of Lake Bemidji. Enrolling more than 5,100 students, Bemidji State offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and eight graduate degrees encompassing arts, sciences and select professional programs. BSU is a member of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities and has a faculty and staff of more than 550. The university’s Shared Fundamental Values include environmental stewardship, civic engagement and international and multicultural understanding. For more, visit bemidjistate.edu or find us at BemidjiState on most of your favorite social media networks.

2020-B-004

Bemidji State University nursing students had the opportunity to travel to China in a new study abroad pilot-program during the month of May. This trip allowed students to gain knowledge, experience and perspective of other cultures in relation to health care and medical practices.

To prepare for their trip, students enrolled in the class “Global Health Perspective in Nursing: China” co-taught by Jo Li, Northstar Visiting Scholar coordinator, and Carolyn Townsend, associate professor of nursing. This class was designed to prepare students for travel, introduce the Chinese language and and expose them to the political, economic and religious views of the country.

Li accompanied 10 students on this trip and made arrangements with Jinhua Polytechnic, a Chinese university located in the Zhejiang province, to host the students during their stay.

Students visited Jinhua Central Hospital, a traditional medicine hospital, community clinics and attended classes with their Chinese peers. They learned about a variety of cultural and professional nursing similarities, differences and issues between countries.

Students also had the opportunity to participate in cultural actives and sightsee in Jinhua, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai. They visited a tea plantation in Hangzhou, the Hanshan Temple, Zhuozheng Garden and other historical sites around the cities including the Jinhua City Museum, Paper Cut Museum, Ceramic Museum and the China Art Museum.

Contact

• Jo Li, Northstar Visiting Scholar coordinator; (218) 755-2400, jo.li@bemidjistate.edu
• Carolyn Townsend, associate professor of nursing; (218) 755-2527, carolyn.townsend@bemidjistate.edu

Links

• BSU Nursing Program

Bemidji State University, located amid the lakes and forests of northern Minnesota, occupies a wooded campus along the shore of Lake Bemidji. Enrolling more than 5,100 students, Bemidji State offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and eight graduate degrees encompassing arts, sciences and select professional programs. BSU is a member of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities and has a faculty and staff of more than 550. The university’s Shared Fundamental Values include environmental stewardship, civic engagement and international and multicultural understanding. For more, visit bemidjistate.edu or find us at BemidjiState on most of your favorite social media networks.

2020-B-005

Bemidji State University’s Scott Guidry, assistant professor of music, completed his sixth year of teaching trumpet at the International Music Camp (IMC) in June.

IMC is held at the International Peace Garden, located on the border between Dunseith, North Dakota and Boissevain, Manitoba, Canada. This camp holds seven consecutive week-long sessions for middle and high school students interested in performing arts. Each session is unique, offering teachings in different aspects of fine arts, such as music, theater, dance, visual and creative arts.

Guidry began teaching at IMC in 2014 during the first session this camp was offered. His wife, Heather Guidry, adjunct oboe instructor at Bemidji State, got involved in 2015 and now they teach at the first and second session of IMC every summer.

“I am fortunate to be associated with the International Music Camp for six years now. Students of all ages, skill levels and experiences come to IMC for not only excellent instruction, but for camaraderie, personal growth and a beautiful experience in a beautiful setting,” Guidry said. “Personally, I love teaching trumpet there and I always learn something new about teaching. It is a great way for me to recharge my batteries between sessions at BSU.”

Guidry will also conduct two upcoming concerts with the Bemidji Area Community Band (BACB) on July 14 and 28. The BACB is made up of musicians of all ages from the greater Bemidji, Minn. area. They spend the summer months rehearsing and performing outdoor concerts at BSU.

July 14 — Journey into the Stars:A concert featuring space-themed music to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing. Sponsored by SND Appliances.

July 28 — Back to Woodstock:A concert featuring retro-themed music from Woodstock and other favorites from the era. Sponsored by Iverson Corner Drug.

Both concerts will be held at 7 p.m. on the Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex south lawn with free admission. Audience members are encouraged to bring a chair to sit and watch the show.

Contact

• Scott Guidry, assistant professor of music; (218) 755-3365, scott.guidry@bemidjistate.edu

Links

• International Music Camp
• International Peace Garden
• Bemidji Area Community Band

Bemidji State University, located amid the lakes and forests of northern Minnesota, occupies a wooded campus along the shore of Lake Bemidji. Enrolling more than 5,100 students, Bemidji State offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and eight graduate degrees encompassing arts, sciences and select professional programs. BSU is a member of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities and has a faculty and staff of more than 550. The university’s Shared Fundamental Values include environmental stewardship, civic engagement and international and multicultural understanding. For more, visit bemidjistate.edu or find us at BemidjiState on most of your favorite social media networks.

2020-B-006

Bemidji State University’s Niganawenimaanaanig – an Ojibwe word meaning “we take care of them” – program hosted an Indigenous Nursing Conference on July 15 – 16.

This conference provided participants with the opportunity to learn different strategies to address a range of health care issues affecting indigenous communities. Health care professionals and communities provided education on disease, social issues and concerns and opportunities for health and healing.

All presentations were centered around one or more of the teachings of the Seven Grandfathers: love, respect, bravery, honesty, truth, humility and wisdom.

Conference presenters included Tailbi’Denzhoone’ Taylor Susan, Kaagegaabaw James Vukelich, Susan Beaulieu, Linsey McMurrin, Dr. Misty Wilkie, Indigena “Indi” Lawrence, Deb Smith, Whitney Fear, Joseph Beaudreau, Dr. Margaret Moss, Valerie DeCora Guimaraes, Ashley Briggs and Jazmine GoodIron.

About Niganawenimaanaanig

Bemidji State’s Niganawenimaanaanig program provides cultural, financial, social and academic support for indigenous nursing students. They provide holistic support for students to increase the likelihood of graduating from the BSU nursing program and earning a Bachelor of Science in nursing.

This program places a special emphasis on establishing, maintaining and enhancing cultural identity.

Contact

• Dr. Misty Wilkie, associate professor of nursing and director of the Niganawenimaanaanig program; (218) 755-2715, misty.wilkie@bemidjistate.edu

Links

• Niganawenimaanaanig

Bemidji State University, located amid the lakes and forests of northern Minnesota, occupies a wooded campus along the shore of Lake Bemidji. Enrolling more than 5,100 students, Bemidji State offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and eight graduate degrees encompassing arts, sciences and select professional programs. BSU is a member of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities and has a faculty and staff of more than 550. The university’s Shared Fundamental Values include environmental stewardship, civic engagement and international and multicultural understanding. For more, visit bemidjistate.edu or find us at BemidjiState on most of your favorite social media networks.

2020-B-007

Chrissy Koch has been named the new outreach specialist for the American Indian Resource Center at Bemidji State University. A 2002 graduate of BSU, Koch was part of the committee that advocated for the AIRC to be built in 2003.

“Coming back to BSU as a staff member for me is huge because I’m able to come full circle. I started here as a student where I struggled with many of the things our current students are struggling with,” she said. “The center was in the basement of Sanford Hall then and now, to see how it’s grown and what it’s done for our students and community is amazing. I’ve always wanted to come back and return the gift I’ve been given.”

As a student she was also an active member of the Council for Indian Students where she served as the secretary treasurer, helped plan the annual powwow and held fundraisers. Koch, who identifies as Ojibwe and Lakota, also found this to be a good avenue to celebrate her American Indian culture.

As she comes full circle as outreach specialist at the AIRC, she hopes to draw on her own experiences as a student, her heritage, and her strong community connections to recruit students to BSU. After teaching cultural education at the Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School, and most recently serving as the home/school liaison for Bemidji Area Schools, Koch has built connections with high schools and other colleges in the region.

In her role, a brand new position at the AIRC, Koch will work to bring American Indian student groups to campus, guide them through the application process, and spend at least one day a month at BSU’s partner tribal colleges – Red Lake Nation College, White Earth Tribal and Community College, Leech Lake Tribal College and Fon Du Lac Tribal and Community College.

“The Outreach Specialist position increases the capacity of the AIRC significantly,” Bill Blackwell Jr., executive director of the American Indian Resource Center, said. “Our goal has been, and continues to be, to become a destination university for American Indian students. The addition of Chrissy to our staff will allow us to recruit, host, and ultimately enroll American Indian students in a more efficient way.”

Koch has a bachelor’s degree in Indian Studies from BSU, a master’s degree in educational leadership from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota and is currently enrolled in a doctorate of education program with an emphasis in leadership and management at Capella University.

Koch will start at the AIRC on July 22.

Contact

• Bill Blackwell Jr., executive director of the American Indian Resource Center; (218) 755–755-2032, william.blackwell@bemidjistate.edu

Links

• American Indian Resource Center

Bemidji State University, located amid the lakes and forests of northern Minnesota, occupies a wooded campus along the shore of Lake Bemidji. Enrolling more than 5,100 students, Bemidji State offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and eight graduate degrees encompassing arts, sciences and select professional programs. BSU is a member of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities and has a faculty and staff of more than 550. The university’s Shared Fundamental Values include environmental stewardship, civic engagement and international and multicultural understanding. For more, visit bemidjistate.edu or find us at BemidjiState on most of your favorite social media networks.

2020-B-008

Bemidji State University students now have the unique opportunity to learn and teach in a newly renovated outdoor classroom located in the thick woods, wildflowers, trails and lakes of the university’s 240-acre Hobson Memorial Forest.

The opportunity came when BSU’s Sustainability Office secured a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources School Forest Program grant to restore the university’s forest with the help of the Conservation Corps of Minnesota (CCM). The school forest initiative, credited to former BSU geography professor, Dr. Claude Vivian “Mr. Conservation” Hobson, encourages educators to teach outdoors, supports efforts to expand the woodland classroom and advises on forest management.

Funded by the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF), the grant financed the time and talent of a CCM crew and was offered to only 60 school forests owned and maintained by Minnesota or Iowa-based institutions.

For three intensive days in May 2019, BSU students and staff worked with CCM crew members to rebuild the Hobson Memorial Forest’s amphitheater benches and construct an enclosed whiteboard to be used as an outdoor learning environment. The wood used in the project came from a pair of white pine trees, estimated to be over 100 years old, provided by Bemidji State. The trees were taken down by the university during the summer of 2013 as part of a project to install a modern artificial playing surface at BSU’s Chet Anderson Stadium.

“I had an amazing experience helping out the awesome team from CCM,” Benjamin Ng, a freshman design major, said. “Although the CCM team did most of the heavy lifting, they provided great guidance to the student volunteers and were an absolute fun bunch to work with.”

Jordan Lutz, sustainability project manager and 2018 BSU grad, wrote and submitted the grant proposal to the School Forest Program while enrolled in BSU’s graduate environmental studies program.

“The focus of the grant was to provide funding and support for projects that would improve the forest’s teaching and learning potential,” Lutz said. “This is a space that faculty and students will use together.”

Bemidji State acquired the Hobson Memorial Forest in 1948 for academic and recreational use by students, faculty and the community. It was initially called the “Bemidji College Forest,” but was promptly renamed after “Mr. Conservation” and in 1953 it was registered with the Minnesota DNR as an official school forest. In addition to serving as home to the restored amphitheater and instruction board, the forest also features two log cabins and several miles of recreational trails available for year-round use.

After constructing both the benches and the whiteboards, the crew cleared brush from the system of trails opening them to the community.

“We hope the newly functional space will lead faculty and students to make more frequent use of BSU’s school forest,” Lutz said.

Contact

• Jordan Lutz, sustainability project manager; (218) 755-2979, jordan.lutz@bemidjistate.edu

Links

• Hobson Memorial Forest
• Bemidji State University Sustainability Office
• Minnesota School Forest Program
• School Forest Program Grant Information

Bemidji State University, located amid the lakes and forests of northern Minnesota, occupies a wooded campus along the shore of Lake Bemidji. Enrolling more than 5,100 students, Bemidji State offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and eight graduate degrees encompassing arts, sciences and select professional programs. BSU is a member of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities and has a faculty and staff of more than 550. The university’s Shared Fundamental Values include environmental stewardship, civic engagement and international and multicultural understanding. For more, visit bemidjistate.edu or find us at BemidjiState on most of your favorite social media networks.

2020-B-009