Marcus named projects
coordinator for Indian Land Tenure grant - top
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| Marcus |
Urla Marcus, a 1999 graduate of Black Hills State University, has
been named projects coordinator for grants recently received by Dr. John
Glover, associate professor of American Indian Studies at BHSU, from the
Indian Land Tenure Foundation (ILTF).
The ILTF grants, along with contributions from the South Dakota
Humanities Council and the University of Arizona, total in excess of
$200,000.
Initial grants will fund six Indian Land Tenure college course
offerings at five South Dakota institutions of higher education and a
graduate course at the University of Arizona. In addition, next summer
BHSU will hold two K-12 teacher institutes focusing on tribal
governments, Indian lands and historically significant native sites. The
institutes are co-sponsored by funding from the South Dakota Humanities
Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for Humanities.
“No single issue is of greater importance to Indian peoples than
land,” stated Marcus. “I am eager to work with projects which have such
direct potential to empower Indian peoples.”
Marcus has served as the academic coordinator for BHSU’s Upward Bound
Program the last four years. She is presently enrolled in the master of
science program in curriculum and instruction at BHSU.
“We are thrilled to have Urla as a full-time staff member on these
projects,” Glover said. “Her educational background in American Indian
Studies, her knowledge as a BHSU staff member, and her personal
experience as an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne from Montana
made her the perfect choice for projects coordinator.”
Marcus has lived in Spearfish for 10 years. She and her husband, who
owns Little Bear Construction, have a 16-month-old daughter, Stella.
The ILTF is a private, non-profit entity with headquarters in the
Twin Cities of Minnesota. Its mission, which strongly emphasizes
education, is to ensure that “land within the original boundaries of
every reservation and other areas of high significance where tribes
retain aboriginal interest are in Indian ownership and management.” For
more information on the ILTF, visit
www.indianlandtenure.org.
Wheaton presents at high
school parent night academy - top
Tom Wheaton, assistant director of admissions at Black
Hills State University, was one of several presenters at a recent high
school parent’s night academy in Rapid City.
The event, organized by Stevens and Central High
School counselors for parents of high school students, offered a variety
of presentations concerning financial aid, planning for college,
scholarships, study skills as well as vocational opportunities and teen
social influences.
Wheaton presented “Early College Planning,” which
included topics for parents and students to consider before making
future vocational plans. Wheaton encouraged students to visit their
local guidance office, check out job search engines, research
scholarship opportunities, and register for the ACT test. He also
stressed the importance of joining extracurricular activities and clubs,
studying and taking advanced classes. He told attendees that students
should take the ACT by the end of their junior year. Wheaton also
discussed financial aid and suggested guidelines for contacting
prospective schools.
Wheaton said the presentation offered him a unique
opportunity to meet with parents of high school students who are making
important decisions about their future plans.
Wheaton, who graduated from BHSU in 1987, joined the
university staff in 1993. In his current position as assistant director
of admissions he works to inform prospective students of the options
available for them at BHSU.
Hickenbotham presents at
statewide bicultural education conference -
top
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| Hickenbotham |
Micheline Hickenbotham, assistant education professor
at Black Hills State University, recently gave a presentation at a
regional education conference in Rapid City.
Hickenbotham presented “Making Sense of
Multiplication” at the South Dakota Association of Bilingual Bicultural
Education Conference in Rapid City recently. The conference was attended
by teachers from several reservations in South Dakota.
In her presentation, Hickenbotham presented a
hands-on/minds-on approach to developing conceptual understanding of
multiplication; starting with the basic facts.
“The focus was to help teachers understand the
systemic change from memorization to developing number and thinking
strategies and number relationships to retrieve the facts when stuck,”
Hickenbotham says.
The session also provided opportunities to model
multiplication problems in context and to discuss the influence of
language in creating misconceptions. She noted that the product of
multiplication is not always bigger even though popular idioms lead to
that mindset.
Hickenbotham, who earned an undergraduate degree in
education and a master’s degree in language arts in Brussels, Belgium,
joined the BHSU faculty in 1999.
Larsen will speak at South
Dakota Music Teachers Association conference -
top
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| Larsen |
Dr. Janeen Larsen, music professor and chair of the
Department of Fine and Applied Arts at Black Hills State University,
will present “Making Connections between Theory and Performance” at the
South Dakota Music Teachers Association (SDMTA) annual conference
Friday, Nov. 4 in Aberdeen.
Larsen, who is nationally certified in piano pedagogy,
was also asked to judge the SDMTA collegiate piano competition, which
will be held in conjunction with the conference.
The SDMTA, an organization that is affiliated with the
Music Teachers National Association, was founded in 1955 by a group of
music educators from across the state of South Dakota who joined forces
to improve the standards of teaching music. The organization provides
professional education and networking opportunities, student events and
teacher services.
A former SDMTA president, Larsen remains active in the
local chapter, Black Hills Area MTA. She has also served as state
convention chair and high school competition chair.
Larsen received her master of music in both piano
performance and musicology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and
her Ph.D. in music education from the University of Florida. Her former
teachers include Gunnar Johansen, Jack Radunsky, Howard Karp and Jacques
Abram. In addition to teaching courses in piano, piano pedagogy, music
history and advanced theory at BHSU, Larsen performs frequently
throughout the region as a classical and jazz pianist and conducts a
variety of workshops for piano teachers.
BHSU students and faculty
member present at middle school conference -
top
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| Klarenbeek |
Two Black Hills State University students and their
instructor recently presented at a regional middle school educational
conference.
Stephanie Daly, a physical education/health major from
Leola, and Ken Christianson, a physical education/health major from
Spearfish, and their instructor Sandy Klarenbeek recently presented at
the Regional Middle School Educational Conference in Sioux Falls. Middle
school educators, counselors and administrators from Iowa, Nebraska and
South Dakota attended this conference.
The students’ presentation was “How Future Health
Teachers Connect Health Education and Student Achievement.” According to
Klarenbeek, the students’ focus was on how they will implement what they
have learned about teaching health in their college course work and
field experiences to their future classrooms to promote healthy
lifestyles and improve student achievement.
The two students shared their knowledge and skills in
the areas of health education standards and assessment, teaching
strategies, best practices curriculums and role modeling. Daly and
Christianson illustrated their ideas of teaching health and the
importance of a healthy school environment and the coordinated school
health model to reach the goal of healthier students. They emphasized
the research, which shows that healthier students learn better than
unhealthy students.
Daly and Christianson also focused on the importance
of teachers as good role models. The students noted that teachers have a
responsibility and an opportunity to positively teach healthy choices in
the foods they eat and the beverages they consume and by working out to
stay physically fit.
“Presenting at this conference was a great
experience,” Daly said. “It provided a great networking opportunity to
meet people in the educational field. I would recommend anyone going
into the field of education to experience an opportunity such as this.”
Christianson agreed that presenting was an excellent
learning opportunity and also liked the fact that he got to meet Dr.
Rick Melmer, state secretary of education.
“This was a great experience and opportunity to work
on professional development and to see things from the practicing
teacher’s perspective as well as from a college student’s perspective,”
Christianson said. “It was also exciting to personally meet and visit
with Secretary of Education Melmer and hear his comments on the high
quality of the teacher preparation program at Black Hills State
University.
Klarenbeek also made a presentation, titled
“Coordinated School Health Programs in South Dakota,” at the conference.
The focus of her presentation was to share the eight-component model of
coordinated school health and illustrate how this is a better way.
According to Klarenbeek, the coordinated school health
model is research-based, adopted and promoted nationwide. Klarenbeek
shared how by using the strategies of the model, healthier students who
learn and score well on tests can be achieved.
Klarenbeek noted that the state of South Dakota has
been successful in securing federal infrastructure funding which
supports the Office of Coordinated School Health, the Office of
Comprehensive School Health and the Office of HIV/AIDS Prevention
Education. Through these state offices, pre-service and in-service
teacher trainings are available, including: Health Education Standards
and Assessment, HIV/AIDS prevention, Life Skills, Human Sexuality and
HIV/AIDS for Special Education Populations, and the annual School Health
Institute.
Klarenbeek, who has a bachelor’s degree from Westmar
College and a master’s degree from South Dakota State University, has
worked as a consultant with the state school health offices for the past
15 years. She is a trainer for many of the programs and workshops
offered by the state. Klarenbeek previously taught in the Spearfish
school district and was the school safe and drug free coordinator. She
joined the BHSU faculty in 2001.
Young Center faculty and
staff take the Governor's Step Challenge -
top
Black Hills State University faculty
and coaches are taking the Governor’s Step Challenge to increase the
number of steps they take every day in an effort to promote healthy
living. Staff members participating in the statewide program include:
front row, left to right, Teri Royer; Betsy Silva, Chris McCart; Sandy
Klarenbeek; back
row, John Scott, Paul Sather, Jim Hesson and Mark Nore.
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Faculty and coaches at the Donald E. Young Sports and
Fitness Center on the Black Hills State University campus are taking the
Governor’s Step Challenge to increase the number of steps they take
every day in an effort to promote healthy living.
The statewide competition, known as the Governor’s
Step Challenge, is a concerted effort to promote health and wellness in
the state presented by Governor Mike Rounds and Secretary of Education
Dr. Rick Melmer. The challenge was issued for state workplaces and
schools.
According to Sandy Klarenbeek, health educator at
BHSU, a health summit that she attended this spring was the kickoff for
the program which is designed to help South Dakotans practice healthy
life skills. The step challenge, sponsored by the Department of Health,
began Oct. 16 and ends Nov. 14. Participants received pedometers to keep
track of their number of steps.
Klarenbeek says she strongly believes in modeling the
behaviors she teaches, and since who work at the Young Center are
involved in health, wellness and physical education, it was a natural
fit to form a team.
“There is also a healthy competitive spirit here in
the Young Center. Besides, I thought it would be fun,” Klarenbeek says.
“And we are having fun, working out and checking our scores against the
other 50 plus teams in the state. It is a nice bonding experience. We
plan to win!”
She said team members check their number of steps
periodically throughout the day and if necessary add some activity, such
as a quick walk around the indoor track to reach their goal of 10,000
steps per day.
Klarenbeek encourages all state employees to visit the
website at www.healthysd.gov for
additional information. She noted that it is easy to log on to the
website which includes excellent resources.
Klarenbeek organized the group at the Young Center,
known as the BHSU Youngsters PE and Health Team. The team includes
Klarenbeek; John Scott, head football coach; Paul Sather, men’s
basketball coach; Scott Walkinshaw, head cross country and track coach;
Dr. Jim Hesson, health professor; Dr. Natalie Doering, physical
education professor; Chris McCart, outdoor education coordinator; Dr.
Rob Schurrer, exercise and physical activity director; Jhett Albers,
head volleyball coach; Mark Nore, head women's basketball coach; Teri
Royer, director of the Young Center; Dr. Betsy Silva, physical
education/health department chairwoman; Trent Mack, assistant cross
country and track coach; Joe Stephens, assistant cross country and track
coach; Jon Vance, assistant football coach and pool supervisor; and
Margaret Kleinsasser, athletic department secretary.
At least one other BHSU employee, Verona Beguin,
assistant professor of business, is taking part in the step challenge on
an individual basis.
BHSU to host Halloween
events for area children - top
Students at Black Hills State University are hosting
two separate Halloween events for local children.
The annual Halloween Safehouse, sponsored by the
Residence Hall Association, will be held at East Elementary Monday, Oct.
31 from 4-6 p.m. This event, which includes a variety of games, is
popular with area school children as a safe indoor Halloween activity.
For additional information contact Jennifer Butler at 642-6464.
The BHSU Theatre Society is hosting “The Woodburn
House of Horrors” Sunday, Oct. 30 and Monday, Oct. 31 in Woodburn Hall
Auditorium. From 5-7 p.m. BHSU students will offer face painting and a
tour of the “haunted” Woodburn theatre for children under the age of 12.
From 7-9 p.m., older children (ages 12 and up) are invited to take part
in a more frightening experience in the “haunted” theatre.
Cost of admission is $2 or $1 with a can of food.
Proceeds will be donated to a local women’s shelter.
Grasslands author will
speak at BHSU - top
Richard Manning, well-known author of the classic book
Grasslands, will lecture on the Black Hills State University
campus Friday, Nov. 4 from 4 to 6 p.m. in Jonas Hall room 305.
An author who is unafraid to take controversial
stands, Manning has written about the timber industry, agriculture and
numerous other similar topics. His books include Against the Grain,
Last Stand, and Inside Passage, among others. A former
journalist for the Missoulian, he has also published essays in
numerous national magazines, including The Atlantic Monthly.
Manning’s presentation, sponsored by a Bush Grant and
the BHSU English Club, is a part of the “Writing the West” series at
BHSU. The series brings Western writers, particularly those who write
primarily about interdisciplinary subjects, to the BHSU campus.
The presentation is open to the public at no charge.
After the presentation, Manning will be available to sign copies of his
books, some of which will be available for purchase courtesy of the BHSU
Bookstore.
For more information, contact David Cremean, assistant
professor of humanities and director of the Bush Grant at BHSU, at
642-6713 or DavidCremean@bhsu.edu.
Dakota Chamber Orchestra will
present fall concert - top
Dakota Chamber Orchestra members
Krystal Brunner, (left) a pre-law student from Nisland, and her sister,
Kelcy Brunner, (right) a high school student, prepare for an upcoming
orchestra performance Sunday, Nov. 6 in Clare and Josef Meier Hall on
the Black Hills State University campus. The sisters are among nearly 25
students and community members who comprise the Dakota Chamber
Orchestra.
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The Dakota Chamber Orchestra, in residence at Black
Hills State University, will present their fall concert Sunday, Nov. 6 at
2:30 p.m. in the recital hall at Clare and Josef Meier Hall.
The program will feature folk music from around the
world including American and Russian folk music classics. Music by Percy
Grainger, Edvard Greig, Bela Bartok, Gabriel Faure and Alexander Borodin
will also be performed. The concert will be conducted by Dr. Randall
Royer, associate professor of music at BHSU.
This marks the sixth full season for the Dakota
Chamber Orchestra, which was started in the spring of 2000 and gave its
first concert that April. The orchestra provides an outlet for area
string players to come together, play music and improve their skills.
The group also provides entertainment for the northern Black Hills with
string orchestra music from many different musical style periods.
Members of the Dakota Chamber Orchestra include: Dawn
Kennedy, Spearfish; Mary Pochop, Spearfish; Krystal Brunner, Nisland;
Polly Hall, Sheridan, Wyo.; Brock Burris, Gillette, Wyo.; Katie Umenthum,
Belle Fourche; Katie Sowers, Belle Fourche; Ryan Lawler, Rapid City; Deb
Ventrella, Spearfish; Liz Scheetz, Spearfish; Jody Sowers, Belle Fourche;
Kelcy Brunner, Nisland; Chris Roman, Rapid City; Brenda Cupp, Sheridan,
Wyo.; Kaycee Bloodgood, Huron; Erin Talsma, Spearfish; Kiah Irion,
Spearfish; P.J. Scheetz, Spearfish; Kate Williams, Spearfish; Tracy
Hall, Rapid City; Mike Hermanson, Lead; and Kelsey Hermanson, Lead.
The concert is open to the public at no charge. For
additional information contact Royer at 642-6255.
Black Hills Gold Singers
plan "A Medieval Evening" - top
Black Hills Gold Singers Amber Faiman,
Joshua Stanton, Bryan Kaufmann, and Megan Moore prepare for their
performance in the upcoming “A Medieval Evening,” which will be held
Saturday, Nov. 19 at the Matthews Opera House in Spearfish. The evening,
sponsored by the Black Hills State University music and theatre
departments, will feature dinner, theatre and choral singing.
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The music and theatre departments at Black Hills State
University are making plans for “A Medieval Evening” Saturday, Nov. 19
at the Matthews Opera House in Spearfish. The cash bar will open at 5
p.m., and festivities will begin at 6 p.m.
The evening will begin with the Black Hills Gold
Singers inviting the public into their “castle” for an evening of
dinner, theatre and choral singing. Before dinner the costumed singers
will lead the audience through several Medieval customs, including the
legend of the mistletoe, the boar’s head, wassail, and lighting of the
Christmas candle. During dinner the singers and other performers will
entertain guests with madrigals and familiar carols. After dinner the
Black Hills Gold Singers will present a concert of songs for the
Christmas season.
The 2005-06 Black Hills Gold Singers include:
sopranos, Jodi Boese, a senior mass communications major from Geddes;
Amber Faiman, a junior psychology major from Rapid City; Megan Moore, a
junior music major from Belle Fourche; and Katie Severns, a junior
music/theatre major from Rapid City; altos, Amy Daiss, a junior music
major from Hill City; Lydia Golden, a freshman music/elementary
education major from Sturgis; Jackie Kriebel, a junior music major from
Rapid City; and Ashton Vanden Hoek, a freshman music major from
Hudsonville, Mich.; tenors Matt Dewey, a junior music education major
from Rapid City; Adam Lipp, a freshman business major from Rapid City;
and Joshua Stanton, a senior music major from Miles City, Mont.; and
basses, Christopher Braddy, a freshman music education major from Rapid
City; Bryan Kaufmann, a freshman music education major from Gillette,
Wyo.; and Danny Parks, a junior human services/psychology major from
Miles City, Mont.
Tickets are $25 per person for general admission and
$30 per person for balcony seating. For more information or to make a
reservation, call 642-6652 or 642-6133 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday
through Friday. Proceeds will benefit BHSU music scholarships.
Art student featured in
national fine arts magazine - top
 Elissa
Nesheim, a Black Hills State University senior art major from Rapid
City, is featured in the current issue of the national fine arts
magazine “Creative Convocation.”
Five of Nesheim’s paintings are featured in the
magazine, which promotes up and coming university student artists on a
national level. Nesheim’s paintings combine the traditional techniques
of watercolor with collaged paper to create landscapes of areas in and
around the Black Hills. Her investigation into her current work began as
a summer independent study taught by Dave Wilson, BHSU assistant art
professor.
“Primarily we worked with her formal interests
concerning the landscape, such as the vastness, weather conditions and
specific colors pertaining to the time of day, to develop her personal
viewpoint,” Wilson says.
He says the result was a series of landscape paintings
devoid of houses or human figures which allow viewers to experience the
space as if they discovered it for the first time. Additionally, each
collage layer represents a visual step back into the landscape.
Ann Porter, BHSU assistant art professor, says it has
been exciting to watch Nesheim’s work emerge.
“It’s truly exciting to watch Elissa’s work develop
because she pushes her work beyond traditional watercolor techniques to
create an immediately appealing visual language that is all her own,”
Porter says.
Nesheim, who will graduate this spring, is considering
attending graduate school for painting. She would like to someday teach
art at the college level or possibly earn an elementary education degree
so she could teach art to young students.
BHSU students volunteer to
"Make a Difference" in the community -
top
Members of Chi Theta Xi delivered bags
of treats as random acts of kindness as a part of “Make a Difference
Day” last week. More than 650 BHSU students and community members
participated in the volunteer day.
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More than 650 volunteers, including Black Hills State
University students and community members, took part in the local
celebration of “Make a Difference Day” last week.
According to Donna Trainum, AmeriCorps*VISTA Volunteer
at BHSU, the volunteer’s support directly affected more than 1,400
people. She noted that that number does not include entire children's
hospitals that will benefit from funds raised, the number of women and
children who will benefit from home improvements at the Artemis House,
people who will receive food from the Spearfish Food Pantry and all
those who will enjoy cleaner streams and trails.
“Make a Difference Day was a huge success. I would
like to thank all those who participated as well as all the sponsors who
made this day go so smoothly,” Trainum said.
Dr. Judith Haislett, vice president of student life at
BHSU, praised the students for their service.
“This is only one day, but it’s a chance to represent
how students are out there making a difference throughout the year. This
day, designated as a specific volunteer day, is an opportunity to
recognize and thank the students who participate in community service
activities,” Haislett said. “We’re hoping it will encourage other
students to volunteer as well.”
BHSU students and community members participated in a
variety of ways. RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) conducted a
food drive, The Collegiate Outdoor Leadership Program organized a
clean-up of the Old Baldy Trail. Student Support Services staff donated
pumpkins in the Whitewood area. Members of the Honors Society
participated in an Adopt-a-Highway project. The Health Science student
organization made cards that were distributed to people in nursing
homes. Residents of Heidipriem Hall created joke o'grams for the
Children's Hospital. Phi Phi Sigma members participated in a Spearfish
Canyon Cleanup. The Reading Council donated books to elementary school
students. The Campus Democrats held voter registration.
The National Organziation for Women (NOW) volunteers
helped out at the Artemis House. Members of Chi Theta Xi delivered bags
of treats as random acts of kindness. The Fantastic Phalanges returned
grocery carts to stores and greeted shoppers. The Lorax Society took
part in a creek cleanup. The Campus Ventures group held a trick-or-treat
food collection. Black Hills National Science Teacher Chapter raised
funds for hurricane relief. Student in Free Enterprise (SIFE) gave out
cider and cookies. Pangburn Hall residents held a rake and run event.
“Make a Difference Day” at BHSU is part of a national
effort sponsored by USA Weekend and the Points of Light Foundation.
“Make a Difference Day,” in its 14th year, is the nation’s largest
single day of volunteering.
To find out more about “Make A Difference Day” or to
volunteer for future events, call 642-6471.
University Assessment
Committee minutes - top
The University Assessment Committee met Monday, Oct. 17 at 12 noon in
the Meier Hall Conference Room.
Present were Earley, Sickler, C. Cremean, Romkema, Hagerty, Alsup, D.
Wessel, S. Hupp, and Siewert. Sarkar was absent.
- The committee discussed a plan for assessing majors and student
achievement in global issues, writing intensive, and undergraduate
research/creative activity.
- There was considerable discussion. The committee agreed that
this year they will focus on having the faculty in the major
develop a plan for assessing student learning in the areas of
global issues, writing intensive, and undergraduate research.
Each major will be asked to develop a plan for assessing these
areas and submit a draft to their chair and dean by Dec. 1. The
committee will review and then approve or send back the plan to
be incorporated in the report next year. Cremean agreed to help
any major who needs assistance with the writing intensive
requirement. Hagerty agreed to ask the general education
committee to look at how to assess learning of global issues.
Chair agreed to send out document and explanation this week.
- Teacher quality enhancement was discussed.
- Alsup reported that the Board of Regents (BOR) had received
a large grant for the six universities to work on teacher
quality enhancement (tqe). He and Dr. Pat Simpson are the
co-chairs. They will work with all majors having a BSED program
to make sure that the majors are assessed and meet the NCATE and
state standards. They have identified a list of 22 majors, and
in those majors, they have also asked faculty to help with this
grant. The first meeting is Nov. 1 at BHSU with the BOR office
staff and those involved. The ultimate goal is to assess and
then improve teacher quality in the K-12 arena through improving
teacher education. This is a part of the NCLB and NCATE goals
and must be successfully completed by BHSU.
- Praxis 2 results were discussed.
- Chair handed out the results of the Praxis 2 content area
tests for 2004-05. Chair indicated that the data was combined to
meet privacy standards but also to provide data for the majors.
Committee agreed that this should be sent to the majors for
incorporation into the report next year.
The next meeting will be Monday, Dec. 12 at 12 noon in the Meier Hall
Conference Room. The meeting is open to any interested faculty and
students.
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