One of the nation’s top producers of Fulbright Scholars; record on-campus student numbers; a new Center of Renewable Energy; another new residence hall: 2010 was a year of accomplishment for Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Looking back on 2010, here are some of the year’s top Minnesota State Mankato stories:
FULL OF FULBRIGHTS: Minnesota State Mankato was named one of the nation’s top producers of Fulbright Scholars among master’s-degree institutions. Over the last 30 years, faculty and staff members have received 37 Fulbright awards. This year two were named Fulbright Scholars: Political Science faculty member Joe Kunkel and Tom Gjersvig, international student and scholar services director. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=1290096703&paper=topstories, http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=1290440917&paper=topstories, http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=1291049032&paper=topstories.
MORE STUDENTS: A record number of on-campus students – more than 3,200 – moved into residence halls last fall. Current enrollment is approximately 15,393, highest of the decade. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1282146078&paper=topstories, http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1283269168&paper=topstories, http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1282313509&paper=topstories.
RENEWABLE ENERGY CENTER: A one-of-a-kind renewable energy research center was dedicated in September. The $1.8-million, 6,300-square-foot Center of Renewable Energy has a dual purpose: For testing renewable-energy vehicles, and for testing combustible solid fuel and biogas building heating units. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1286552103&paper=topstories.
NEW RESIDENCE HALL: Ground was broken for a new, $23.8-million, 118,000-square-foot residence hall that will accommodate 300 students when completed in 2012. http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1286552265&paper=topstories.
GLOBAL CONNECTIONS: Chinese business leader Changdong Xu visited campus to explore new aviation partnerships, and President Richard Davenport reciprocated by visiting China twice, creating global connections expected to bring aviation students from China to study at Minnesota State Mankato. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1283602096&paper=topstories, http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1283868125&paper=topstories, http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1289312814&paper=topstories.
STATEWIDE AWARDS: Minnesota State Mankato again captured awards in the system financial and facilities management and program excellence competition. The awards: Financial Management (eighth year), Facilities Management (ninth year), Curriculum and Partnership (seventh year). Kaye Herth, dean of the College of Allied Health & Nursing, was named outstanding administrator. Eight Information & Technology Services employees received awards. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1272659098&paper=topstories, http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1273687844&paper=topstories.
DOCTORAL FELLOWS: The first Becky Taylor Fellows earned doctorates of nursing practice. They’re the first of many nursing practice graduates who will help to enhance family health care across the Midwest. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1273004898&paper=topstories.
MBA HONORS: For the fifth consecutive year, the MBA program was listed as one of the nation’s best in The Princeton Review’s 2010 business school guidebook. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1286976549&paper=topstories.
BEST IN D-2: The Chronicle of Higher Education described Mavericks athletics as the best in Division 2 in a lengthy front-page article. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1269265353&paper=topstories.
GLOBAL SERVICE: Members of the student Engineers Without Borders chapter traveled to Piedras Azules, El Salvador, to design a new water distribution system. They will return next year to install the system. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=1289924780&paper=topstories, http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=1290445050&paper=topstories.
HELPING SOLDIERS: Afghanistan and Iraq war veteran and student Patrick Nelson won a $25,000 grant to create and run a website where troops can share their stories. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1271771970&paper=topstories, http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1288885567&paper=topstories, http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1289236798&paper=topstories
NATIONAL RECOGNITION: Jessica Flatequal, LGBT Center director, was named one of Go Magazine’s “100 women We Love” nationwide. The list includes celebrities Ellen DeGeneres, Martina Navratilova, Rosie O’Donnell and Melissa Etheridge. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1282766014&paper=topstories.
SUCCESSFUL TURNAROUND: The reorganized College Access Program enrolled more students than ever in its summer bridge program. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1278681940&paper=topstories.
THREE OLYMPIANS: Three current and former student-athletes competed in the Winter Olympic Games a first for Minnesota State Mankato athletes. Hockey forward Nina Tikkinen helped Finland earn a bronze medal. USA forward David Backes, who played for the Mavericks from 2003-‘06, won silver in men’s hockey. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/media/newsletter/archive/20100217.html
NATIONAL CHAMPS: Minnesota State Mankato’s student Handball Club won the national Division II U.S. Handball Association championship. Senior Rebecca Cole won the Women’s Intermediate Challengers title, and freshman Joe Nordahl won the Men’s Contenders Consolation title. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1268666032&paper=topstories.
TOP TEAMS: The Mavericks finished fourth in the national Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup – the fourth top-four finish in as many years. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/media/newsletter/archive/20100714.html.
TOP FACILITIES: The National Collegiate Athletic Association awarded its 2012 Division II national indoor track & field championship meet to Minnesota State Mankato. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1277241016&paper=topstories.
ECONOMIC ENGINE: Minnesota State Mankato research and development was instrumental in helping Mankato emerge from recession, according to Moody’s. More at http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1267797791&paper=topstories.
KENNEDY CENTER: A dance piece by Theatre & Dance faculty member Daniel Stark was one of two performed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/media/newsletter/archive/20100401.html.
GOLD AWARD: Three Minnesota State Mankato TV spots earned Gold Awards in national competition sponsored by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/media/newsletter/archive/20101020.html.
NATIONAL ADVISOR: Doctoral student Kerry Diekmann was one of 10 students across the country selected to serve as a National Student Advisory Council member by the American Association of University Women. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1288482426&paper=topstories.
DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARS: Steve Buechler, Daniel Cronn-Mills and Brian Frink were named Distinguished Faculty Scholars. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1277147965&paper=topstories.
COLLABORATIVE TECHNOLOGY: A new study space lets students electronically share concepts with study team members. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1287607811&paper=topstories.
NEW PARTNERSHIP: Information Systems & Technology Department students perform real-world software development and testing for Mankato-based FPX, LLC. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1284060782&paper=topstories.
PROMOTING STEM: Engineering students designed and built a steel bridge featured at the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities State Fair booth. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1282934149&paper=topstories, http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1282765202&paper=topstories, http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1283287396&paper=topstories.
CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH: Student and faculty researchers provided critical alternative-fuels data for the Environmental Protection Agency. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1287582821&paper=topstories.
RENOVATED FIELD: Blakeslee Stadium field was rebuilt from the bottom up, making it safer for players and allowing the field to drain better. Read more at http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=old-1280500236&paper=topstories.
For these and other stories about 2010 Minnesota State Mankato accomplishments, go to http://www.mnsu.edu/news/?paper=topstories&start=0&page=1 and scroll through the year by date.
Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive, doctoral university with 15,393 students, is part of the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system.
Email this article | Permanent link | Topstories news | Topstories news archives
Minnesota State
University, Mankato
Mankato, MN 56001
1-800-722-0544
© 2005-2013 Minnesota State University, Mankato. Minnesota State University, Mankato is a member of
Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system and an affirmative action/equal opportunity university.
