The SMSU Podcast

SAAC Committee members Lexy Gilbert and Emily Van Roekel, alongside SMSU soccer coach Clayson Glasgow talked about SMSU's Student Athlete Advisory Committee and its initiatives: It's A Slam Dunk-Don't Drive Drunk, It's on Us-Sexual Assault Awareness, Make-A-Wish support, Mental Health Awareness, and the Green Bandana Project. 
The student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC) is made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight into the student-athlete experience. SAAC also offers input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes' lives on NCAA member institution campuses.SMSU's SAAC advisor is Clayson Glasgow. For more information on SMSU SAAC, e-mail clayson.glasgow@smsu.edu or call 507-537-6648.Presently, there are separate national SAACs for NCAA Divisions I, II and III. NCAA legislation mandates that all member institutions have SAACs on their respective campuses. Further, NCAA legislation requires that all member conferences have SAACs
 

Associate Professor of Agricultural Education Dr. Kristin Kovar previews the upcoming Ag Bowl Scholarship Invite.
SMSU will host the 12th Annual Ag Bowl Scholarship Invitational, presented by Ralco Nutrition of Marshall, on Friday, February 3, 2023. SMSU will welcome close to 1,000 FFA students from across the state back to the campus of Southwest Minnesota State University for this year’s invitational. 
The Ag Bowl Scholarship Invite is a competition for FFA members to participate in FFA-certified Career Development Events (CDEs). Students can compete individually and as a team. The top FFA chapter will receive $500, the second-place chapter will receive $300, and a randomly selected chapter will receive $200. In team competition, each member of the first-place team will be awarded $500 in scholarship dollars and each member on the second-place team will receive $250 in scholarship dollars to SMSU. Individual CDE winners will receive scholarship dollars to SMSU: $500 to first-place winners and $250 to second-place winners.  The goal is to bring more awareness to high school students through this invitational, while giving them the opportunity to challenge themselves in several different CDEs. Proceeds from Ag Bowl and the Ag Bowl Scholarship Invitational help to fund scholarships and programming to SMSU students and young people who dedicate their careers to business success in agriculture, environmental science, and the food industries. SMSU's educational programs in agriculture, environmental science, and food arts & sciences develop young people who spend their careers working to grow the economic success of the agricultural industry.
In addition to the title sponsor, Ralco Nutrition of Marshall, this year’s sponsors include: AgCountry Farm Credit Services, Lyon County Corn & Soybean Growers, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, and the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council.
For information on the Ag Bowl Scholarship Invitational, contact the SMSU Foundation at  agbowlsi@smsu.edu or (507)537-6266.
#DiscoverEngageLead

Dean of Students/Associate VP of Student Affairs Scott Crowell gives us an update as Tropical Night approaches. SMSU celebrates Winter Meltdown with a series of events Feb. 6-11, 2023. This year’s theme is “It’s Time to BeReal at SMSU.”
Winter Meltdown is an annual SMSU tradition. A time for students, faculty, staff, and alumni to participate in fun activities to help beat the ‘winter blues.’ The week culminates with the traditional Tropical Night basketball games and alumni social.
SMSU 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 the leaders, thinkers, and entrepreneurs of the future.#DiscoverEngageLead #M4L #LetsRide
 

20 sports | 1 team.
Southwest Minnesota State University's Director of Athletics Jen Flowers provides an update as the winter seasons of Mustang Athletics continues, while the spring competition schedule is fast approaching. 
Flowers, who began her duties on July 1, recently completed her third season as the commissioner of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and has spent 15 years in administrative roles at the intercollegiate level. She becomes the first female Director of Athletics in University history to oversee both the women’s and men’s programs.
SMSU 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 the leaders, thinkers, and entrepreneurs of the future.#DiscoverEngageLead #M4L #LetsRide

Minnesota State Chancellor Devinder Malhotra explains the $350 million funding request the system is proposing during the 2023 legislation session for the FY2024-2025 biennial budget.
Chancellor Malhotra engaged with campus leaders, stakeholders and community members at 12 different listening sessions across the state to help understand and formulate the proposal.
The resounding theme derived from the sessions was that investing in Minnesota State is an investment in the future economic vitality of the region and prosperity of the communities in which the system’s colleges and universities are located in. 
The $350 million dollar proposal focuses on three main efforts:
A tuition freeze and an expansion of open education resources
Growth & advancement of Minnesota's workforce development
Student support & closing the equity gap
 The upcoming legislation session presents a unique opportunity for the state to make an investment in higher education and make direct impact on Minnesota State’s ability to meet the need of students and workforce needs across the state of Minnesota. 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 the leaders, thinkers, and entrepreneurs of the future.
#DiscoverEngageLead | #LetsRide

This week's guest is Kris Gruhot '92, a member of the Southwest Minnesota Orchestra (SMO). Kris joins us to talk about the SMO's upcoming performance "Holiday Cheer" at Holy Redeemer Church on Tuesday, December 6. 
SMO's mission is to provide the people of southwest Minnesota an opportunity to hear and enjoy a wide variety of live symphonic music. 
Dr. Daniel Rieppel is the musical director of the SMO. The SMO is a regional ensemble made up of area community members, area high school students, and SMSU students and faculty. As the only orchestra of this type in 100 miles, the SMO is a unique asset to the region. To learn more about SMO visit their website: https://www.southwestminnesotaorchestra.org/home
 

Valerie Messner, a senior accounting & finance double-major from Hancock, Minn., talks about her involvement in Mindful Meals as the SMSU Enactus President. Mindful Meals is a student-led organization creating sustainable solutions to address the problems of food insecurity in rural Minnesota communities.
The organization’s mission is to serve underserved members of the community with love and dignity. To learn more about the effort, how to volunteer or to donate go to www.mindfulmeals.com
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 the leaders, thinkers, and entrepreneurs of the future.
#DiscoverEngageLead | #LetsRide

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 the leaders, thinkers, and entrepreneurs of the future.
#DiscoverEngageLead | #LetsRide

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 the leaders, thinkers, and entrepreneurs of the future.
#DiscoverEngageLead | #LetsRide

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 the leaders, thinkers, and entrepreneurs of the future.
#DiscoverEngageLead | #LetsRide