The SMSU Podcast

This week's episode featured guests Dr. Daniel Rieppel and Anna Sigríður Helgadóttir, Mezzo Soprano, from Reykjavik, Iceland. They talked about the upcoming Southwest Minnesota Orchestra Concert "The Idea of North" and the re-premiere of Ísland, originally written for Bill Holm by composer Christopher Kaufman. Also on the show was Pioneer PBS producer Dana Conroy to preview the upcoming film screening of "Playing Haydn for the Angel of Death" a Postcards documentary on Wed. May 10 at SMSU Conference Center at 5pm.

On today's episode, Dr. Stephen Kingsbury, SMSU Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities and Dr. Stephen Hamilton, a noted concert organist currently based out of the twin cities are here to give us an update about SMSU Chorale plans and upcoming performances.
To know more about SMSU Chorale, contact Dr. Stephen Kingsbury by email Stephen.Kingsbury@smsu.edu or by phone 507-537-7247.
Southwest Minnesota State University is a four-year public university offering a high quality education in the liberal arts and professions to prepare you for a life that is successful both personally and professionally. SMSU has grown into a university of choice with high national rankings, producing scholars who become leaders, thinkers, and entrepreneurs of the future. 
#DiscoverEngageLead | #LetsRide

On today's episode, Meredith Swan, SMSU Foundation Director of Annual Giving, talked about the upcoming M4L (Mustangs for Life) Day of Giving on Thursday 27, 2023. M4L Day (Mustangs 4 Life Day) will bring together alumni, friends, students, parents, faculty, and staff for Southwest Minnesota State University's Second Annual Day of Giving. This is a 24-hour online fundraising event full of opportunities to show Mustang Pride for all areas on campus. Gifts made online will unlock bonuses to supported funds based on the all-day, hourly, and time-sensitive challenges. Every gift, large or small, is considered in the bonuses and challenges held throughout the day.
This year there are over $10,000 in challenges and special incentives available to those who volunteer to be an ambassador. For those choosing to support by donating or by sharing the social media posts to help spread the word will make an impact on SMSU students today and in the future! The goal this year is $60,000 raised and 500 donors, doubling last year’s impact!
A special M4L Day Celebration will be held in the SMSU Student Center Upper Level from 3:00-5:00 p.m. on April 27. The celebration includes a social with free appetizers, winners announcements, and the opportunity to win prizes for those in attendance.
Follow the SMSU Alumni and Foundation [@smsualumniandfoundation] on Facebook and Instagram!
All winners for challenges will be revealed by 3:00 pm on April 28 on the SMSU Alumni and Foundation Facebook page as well as on the www.m4lday.com website!
For more information, contact Meredith Swan, Director of Annual Giving, at 507-537-6582 or email at Meredith.Swan@SMSU.edu

WorldFest coordinating team members Dr. Eric Doise and Dr. Mary Ellen Daniloff-Merril give us a preview of what we can expect at the 2023 WorldFest and a little history and recap of previous WorldFest celebrations. 
"WorldFest is an educational and cultural event helping to build appreciation, respect, and a greater understanding of cultural differences.
Equally as important, we want to create a more inclusive and welcoming community for all at SMSU and in the wider Marshall area."
The 2023 WorldFest has three major sections: The World Cuisine, The World Cultures Expo, and the World Stage. The World Cuisine introduces us to the tastes and flavors from around the world and our own backyard. The World Cultures Expo features SMSU students and community members sharing information about their respective home countries and cultures. The area also features several hands-on activities. Thirty informational booths will be available this year. Finally, The World Stage will showcase 17 different talents from SMSU, the local community, professional artists, and performance groups representing international and diverse cultures in southwest Minnesota.
When: Saturday, April 15, 2023 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Red Baron Arena, 1651 Victory Dr, Marshall, MN 56258
 

SMSU Professor of Music John Ginocchio and Jazz music legend Tom "Bones" Malone give us an update on what we can expect in their combined concert with SMSU Jazz Ensemble. Tom "Bones" Malone gives us an inside look into his career as a musician working with The Blues Brothers, David Letterman Show, and Saturday Night Live. Tom has played thousands of times on television and has given live performances, even worked with music legends like Ray Charles, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Gil Evans, Yes, Miles Davis, Beck, Aretha Franklin, Spyro Gyra, Jimmy Cliff, and Frank Zappa, to name a few. 
For more information on Malone and to view pictures and videos from his extensive career, visit his website at tombonesmalone.net 
For more information about the SMSU Music program and SMSU Jazz Ensemble, please contact Dr. John Ginocchio by email at John.Ginocchio@smsu.edu or by phone at (507) 537-7209

Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, Julie Walker, alongside SMSU Senior Morgan Hughes, recaps their experience attending one of SMSU's study abroad programs in San Salvador, Bahamas.
SMSU students registered in SMSU Marine & Island Ecology in the Bahamas (GLBL 499/499L) with Drs. Alyssa Anderson and Shelby Flint. Students registered during the Fall semester for this study abroad program, which took place during spring break, paying a $3,000 program fee, plus regular tuition and fees. Three Faculty members and nine SMSU students from various backgrounds formed this incredible group to do different activities, including research, exploring new spaces in the ocean and caves, snorkeling, along with many more exciting experiences.
For more information about SMSU abroad program in the Bahamas, contact Dr. Alyssa Anderson by email at Alyssa.Anderson@smsu.edu or by phone at (507) 537-6443.

SMSU Forensics/Speech Team Member, Jenna Zeug, and Associate Professor of Communications, Benjamin Walker, gives us an update on SMSU's Forensics Team and its most recent trip to Mankato for the annual Minnesota State Speech and Debate championship.
SMSU Forensics Team members won many accolades with Jenna Zeug being 4th in the After Dinner Speaking, 4th in Dramatic Interpretation, and was the Minnesota State Champion in Informative Speaking. Zeug was also named to the Minnesota All-State Team. Team members Nedoh Gyi and Lexi Weber were also finalists, taking 3rd place in Duo Interpretation. 
The SMSU Forensic Team provides students with an opportunity to expand and develop critical thinking, presentation, research, interpretation, leadership and social skills.  The activity is open to all students enrolled at the university regardless of major or previous experience.
The team attends approximately twenty intercollegiate competitions throughout the academic year from late September through April. In addition, the team hosts two high school tournaments (one in March and the other in April) each year. High School speech workshops, activity fairs, showcase performances, and other student activities have also been part of the team’s activities.
The Forensics Team wraps up their regular season competition and will be competing at the Asynchronous Speech Championship, March 22-25 and the National Forensic Association Championship, April 13-15 at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. 
For more information about SMSU's Forensics Team please contact Benjamin Walker by e-mail, Benjamin.Walker@smsu.edu or by phone (507)-537-6126. 

Regional Consumer Banking Director and Member of the Steering Committee for SMSU's Foundation Women's Leadership Conference, Cindy Verschaetse, gives us a preview on this year's Women's Leadership Conference. The conference theme is "Flourish, Grow, and Lead", with guest keynote speaker, Jennifer Fauz, an equipment and finance industry veteran. Jennifer is an experienced sales leader with demonstrated success in the financial services industry. The conference also hosts different guest speakers during the day. 
This year's conference was first schedule for March 16, 2023; however, due to weather, the conference was postponed to October 25, 2023. 
Join women in leveraging strengths, building networks, and growing communities. This in-person Women's Leadership Conference gathers women in all stages of their leadership journey for a day that energizes and inspires!
For more information about the event, please contact the SMSU Alumni office by e-mail SMSU.Alumni@smsu.edu or (507)-537-6483.
 

Director of Bands and Professor of Music, John Ginocchio, gives us a preview on the SMSU Ensemble upcoming concert and tour.  The SMSU Jazz Ensemble with guest artist, Tom "Bones" Malone with the Worthington High School Jazz Band will perform at the Memorial Auditorium in Worthington, MN at 7:00pm on March 27, 2023, and at 7:30pm at SMSU Fine Arts Theatre on March 28. 
The SMSU Ensemble will also perform at our Spring Concert featuring new works and several favorites of the year on April 17, 2023. 
The SMSU Jazz Ensemble performs a variety of standard and new jazz works of all difficulty levels and styles. Emphasis is placed on the authentic performance of this truly American style of music and enhancing technical and theoretical skills associated with playing this music. 
As part of the SMSU Band's Guest Artist Series the Jazz Ensemble hosts and performs with guest jazz performers from around the country. Recent guest-clinicians have included:Larry McWilliams, trumpet (2007); Dr. Michael Flack, piano (2008); Jim Snidero, alto saxophone (2009); Dennis Wilson, trombone (2010); Dr. Matthew Murdock, trumpet (2010); Rodney Whitaker, bass (2011); Michael Philip Mossman, trumpet (2012); Antonio Hart, alto saxophone (2013); Dr. Bill Prince, multi-instrumentalist (2014); Conrad Herwig, trombone (2015); Mike Clark, drum set (2016); Larry McWilliams, trumpet (2016); Rob Dixon, tenor saxophone (2017); Eduardo Tami, flute (2017); the Dakota Jazz Collective (2017); Denis DiBlasio, bari sax/flute (2019); Bill Huber, trombone (2020); Dr. Oliver Nelson, flute (2021); and Allison Miller. drum set (2022).
This year the Jazz Ensemble will host Tom "Bones" Malone, Trombone, Multi-instrumentalist and Arranger -- Jazz Residency -- March 26-28, 2023. 
For more information about SMSU Jazz Ensemble contact Dr. John Ginocchio by email john.ginocchio@smsu.edu or by phone at (507) 537-7209

Director of the TRIO Upward Bound Program, Amy Nemitz, gives us an update on SMSU's Upward Bound Program grant awards totaling nearly $3M from the Department of Education, and the program's ultimate goal: to get High school students into college, either a 2-year or 4-year school. 
The Mission of Southwest Minnesota State University's Upward Bound Program is to increase the college entrance and completion rates among our community's youth & inspire them to become responsible community leaders & contributors. Our program seeks to achieve this by instilling academic skills, motivation, and college readiness in our program participants. We will focus on the importance of "five wells".  SMSU's Upward Bound students will be WELL read, WELL spoken, WELL traveled, WELL dressed, and WELL balanced!
TRIO Upward Bound is a federal program funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The goal of TRIO Upward Bound is to provide participants with college preparation and opportunities that will enhance their ability to succeed in their higher education endeavors. The Upward Bound Program of SMSU serves Marshall High School, Yellow Medicine East High School, and Worthington High School grades 9-12. Participants in the Upward Bound program receive academic tutoring in all core subject areas from math and science to English and literature, as well as, additional opportunities to take part in college visits, environmental learning, cultural enrichment, and career exploration. In the summer, Upward Bound offers a 6-week program at SMSU where students take part in summer classes Monday-Friday and have planned trips to colleges, museums, environmental centers, and other destinations that offer educational and cultural experiences to broaden their understanding of the world they live in.
Upward Bound strives to assist underrepresented students in postsecondary education and offer them positive academic and cultural experiences that encourage the continuation of education beyond high school. It is the honor of the Upward Bound staff at SMSU to help students achieve their dreams and succeed in all they wish to do. The Upward Bound staff at SMSU have a passion for working with new generations of students and watching them thrive as they continue their participation in the TRIO Upward Bound Program.
For more information about the TRIO Upward Bound Program, contact the TRIO Office at Amy.Nemitz@smsu.edu or 507-537-7376