Submitted by Patricia Grace
It’s that time of year again! We either look forward to it or dread it, but either way it can be stressful. Holidays can be filled with unrealistic expectations. It can be especially stressful for students, as it is the end of the semester with finals, papers, and projects due. Recognize there will be some stress, but here are a few ways to reduce your stress during the holidays:
If you would like to talk with a counselor, please see either Patricia Grace, Anita Hanson or Bill Kallis in the Counseling Department.
Submitted By Liz Jaakola
December 19 we are having a double music extravaganza here on campus!
The FDLTCC Vocal ensemble will be performing (along with the FDLTCC Instrumental Ensemble) a variety of Holiday tunes. Some classics and some hidden treasures of various american holiday traditions... fun family entertainment :)
ALSO! The First Nations Youth Composers will be premiering their string quartet compositions that very evening. Funded by a grant from NEA, supported by FNCI (a branch of the American Composers Forum) and Cloquet High School and FDLTCC, the FNYC are a group of talented area High School students who are participating in a "composer in residency" mentorship program with yours truly, (the resident composer). This first round for the students requires them to compose, rehearse, and perform a string quartet of their own devising. (The second round will be in the spring when they will be writing for chorus and various instrumental accompaniment.)
Both of these events are sharing the evening of Dec 19 in the FDLTCC minitorium beginning at 6:30. I hope you can help with a little press release... or anything else we can do to make it a successful turnout for both of these hardworking groups of music students.
Submitted by Dave Sutherland
For Native students, there are potentially three additional scholarship sources: their Reservation’s Scholarship/Education Department, The Minnesota Indian Scholarship Program (MISP), and the American Indian College Fund (AICF). For a student to be funded by their Reservation, they need to meet the specific criteria set by their Scholarship/Education Department which usually includes being an enrollee of that reservation, having completed the FAFSA, having created an Academic plan with the assistance of their Academic Advisor at the college, and having completed their Reservation’s own Scholarship application. It is strongly recommended that you contact your Reservation’s Scholarship/Education Department as soon as you make the decision to attend college. For the MISP, you must have completed the FAFSA and ISAP (the application for the MISP program) and submitted them to the Financial Aid Office by about mid-June to meet the July 1st deadline. The AICF application process is through our http://phpserve.fdltcc.edu:16080/fa/news.php and click on “American Indian College Fund application”. You must be attending a Tribal college to apply. Availability of AICF funds may be limited and is on a term by term basis.
Helpful hints when applying for Scholarships:
Most schools try to provide information and assistance with the scholarship process. Where to find scholarship information at a particular school depends mostly on the schools size, with larger schools having an office dedicated primarily to scholarships (Scholarship or Foundation Office), while the smaller schools it falls under the broad umbrella of the Financial Aid Office. Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College, because it is a relatively small school, has the scholarship information in the Financial Aid Office. The vast majority of scholarship information at Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College is available on our website @ http://phpserve.fdltcc.edu:16080/fa/news.php and click on “Scholarships”.
On Sunday, December 3, 2006, I will be giving the keynote address at the Leech Lake Honor Guard/Boys State Program Banquet. I was asked to speak on leadership. I would like to take this opportunity to share a couple of my thoughts on leadership because all of us, in the positions we have here on campus, are leaders.
Submitted by Sister Therese
The academic programs at FDLTCC continue to grow. One of the quietly successful programs we offer is Weekend College.
Weekend College provides a practical way for busy individuals to earn an associate of arts degree in two years. Students attend classes every other weekend on Friday evenings from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Courses are designed to integrate class materials with real life applications, providing an interactive and comfortable learning environment. Integrating materials from class-to-class has proved to be very effective. One Weekend College student stated “Meshing the subjects together is like our multi-task lives, so it makes sense to have the courses instructed this way.”
Classes promote a strong sense of community and shared commitment between students and instructors. Students develop relationships with one anther and play important roles in supporting their classmates.
The success rate of Weekend College students is outstanding. Since beginning in 2002 with a handful of students, Weekend College has produced 14 graduates who completed an associate of arts degree, and seven to nine more students are projected to graduate in 2007. Student success has been attributed to small class sizes and student-centered learning atmosphere.
Sherrie Foster, faculty, speaks highly of the learning experience found in this program. “It’s wonderful! I love it! I wish that everyone who wanted a really dynamic learning experience would attend Weekend College.”
The next cluster of Weekend College courses begins January 5, 2007. There is still plenty of time to register for classes.
Extra Notes
It's December, so that means Final Exam Week is just around the corner. Students are scurrying to finish projects, papers, and spending lots of time cramming for those last tests. At this time of the year, students are a little bit like that big guy in the red suit, they have their lists and they are checking them twice!
Submitted by Stephanie Larson
The annual Holiday Celebration event for area children will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, December 8, 2006, in the student common area and amphitheater at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. The student clubs and organizations at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College annually plan and host the Holiday Celebration event. Plenty of cookies and cider, games, and a visit from Santa Claus will highlight this free event. Photos with Santa will be available, and there will be many drawings for prizes. No pre-registration is necessary, and there is no cost to participate.
The annual Holiday Celebration event was started by the Human Services Club at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. The club is a student-based organization made up of students majoring in Human Services and Social Work. Members of the Human Services Club volunteer hundreds of hours each year for community activities and events. Members of other student clubs and organizations on campus also assist with planning and producing the Holiday Celebration.
Dear Larry:
I am an employee at FDLTCC and if there is a winter storm and classes are cancelled. Do I have to report to work?
Sincerely,
A White Knuckled Driver
Dear WKD:
The answer to that question is yes. If classes are CANCELLED all college employees, both Faculty and Staff, are still required to report to work as a normal work day. But if the announcement is that the CAMPUS IS CLOSED, then all employees do not have to report for the work day.
Larry
Marla Ahlgren English instructor
Year Started
I began working at the college when it was called the Fond du Lac Education Center in the fall of 1987 as a part-time English instructor. We were then a mere “little sister” site of Mesabi Community College. Some of us senior members of the faculty remember holding our faculty meetings at Rudy’s Restaurant at 7:00 a.m and conferring with our students in the hallways of the old Garfield School. We even answered administrative office calls if the secretary was busy. I became the first official unlimited full-time faculty person hired in the fall of 1990. Around that time, a trailer was placed on the southeast side of the building so that we could have offices. I still teach various English courses, including English 1001 in Weekend College--and now I have a really great office.
Responsibilities
Besides teaching writing and literature courses, I am secretary-treasurer of the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College Faculty Association, a College-in-the-Schools mentor, a member of the Petition Committee, and Phi Theta Kappa advisor. I have served on various other committees over the past 19 _ years as well. Grading papers still takes up most of my time.
Birth Place
I was born, raised, and educated in Duluth. I lived at Enger Park Golf Course, where my father was a greenskeeper, until I was eight. (Yes, I do golf a bit, but mostly double-bogey scores.) I attended Ensign Elementary School and later, Lakeside Elementary, Ordean Junior High, and East High School. After I graduated from UMD, I taught junior high English in Hibbing, Carlton and Cloquet. In the 1980s I went back to UMD, where I taught as a Teacher Assistant and received my master’s degree in English.
Family
While I was teaching at Carlton School, I met Bruce Ahlgren (yes, he is now mayor of Cloquet), whom I married in 1974. We have three children. Angie is a taiko drummer and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in performance studies at the University of Texas, Austin; Jill, who has a M.A. in communicaton from UWS, is currently working as a loan officer here in Cloquet; Jonathan, who has attended Normandale CC, FDLTCC, Augsburg, and UMD (and still has a year to go!), lives and works in Las Vegas.
Favorite things to do
I like to read, do crossword puzzles, practice Pilates, take saunas, fish off the pontoon and garden in the summer, cross-country ski in winter, and travel.
Last Book Read
I am currently reading Sointula, a novel by Canadian writer Bill Gaston.
Last Film Seen The last movie I saw in a theater was Man of the Year, starring Robin Williams. It was not as funny as I hoped it would be.
Greatest Professional Moment
I can’t think of one greatest professional moment because every day is made up of many small professional moments. I think the everyday work I do here - teaching and learning-fills me up. What I learn from my students is probably more than what I teach them, and that keeps me young and alive and feeling professional.
Mentors
My mentors were my parents, who always encouraged my interests. Now my mentors are all the people I work with here at the college, who also encourage me and everyone else to do our best. FDLTCC is really a wonderful place to work.
Your philosophy on life
Life’s experiences-good and bad-are meant to teach us to be better people. We have to laugh and learn all the way to the end.
Dec. 2 Decorate Commons
10:00 a.m. to completed
Dec. 7, 14, 21, 28, AccuPlacer
1:00 p.m., Room 208
Dec. 8 Christmas Party
6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Commons
Dec. 11 Movie Night
6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Room 257
Dec. 13 Grief Support Group
9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Dec. 21 Last day of Fall Semester
Dec. 23-25 Campus closed
Dec. 30 - Jan. 1 Campus closed
Jan. 3 & 4 Orientation
8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 3 & 4 Suspension Seminar
8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 8, 2007 First day of Spring Semester
Registration is happening quickly. Business Office holds exist for all students that have an account balance. We are being very accommodating with students to work out fair payment plans. Please keep up your efforts of encouragement for enrollment, and the Business Office and Student Services Offices will make the Spring Semester registrations work for as many students as possible. Thank you.
“A Day of Giving Thanks” was this years theme for the feast that was held on Tuesday, November 21, 2006, at FDLTCC. This combination of events included; honor our Veterans, feasting the college Drum and Giving Thanks Feast. The event was organized and sponsored by students, student organizations, student life, staff, faculty and administration volunteers.
Additional activities included a sunrise ceremony at 7:00 a.m. at the Jack’s Path memorial, feasting of the college drum was held at noon. This included a giveaway that was sponsored by student life and food for the feast that was provided and prepared by students, staff, faculty and administration volunteers. Guest speaker Clyde Bellecourt was here in the afternoon. The evening feast had a traditional menu of turkey, ham, potatoes, gravy, dressing, and cranberries, wild rice, vegetables, desserts, fry bread, and beverages. were provided and prepared by a local community member and students and volunteers that assisted in the planning and organizing this event. A welcome was given by President Don Day, Vice-President of Academic Administration and Student Affairs Larry Anderson and Vice President of Academic Administration Sr. Therese Gutting. The festivities featured traditional music by the college drup group and the college vocal ensemble.
A “CHI MIIGWECH” to Fond du Lac Reservation Natural Resources Department for their donation of venison for the noon drum feast; Louella Peacock, for catering; Roxanne DeLille and Sara Montgomery for their leadership and organization for this event. This event was sponsored and hosted by students, student organizations, staff, faculty, and administration on campus. There were approximately 480 people that attended the evening feast!
Students with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) student organization attended the national AISES conference in Detroit, MI, on November 2-4, 2006. Seven students attended this conference along with Mick Gillespie, student organization advisor.
What is MSCSA? Minnesota State College Student Association Inc. (MSCSA) is a statewide student organization that formed in 1998 to represent the students of the Minnesota two-year state colleges. The association represents over 100,000 students public two year students in 46 campuses across the state of Minnesota.
Minnesota State College and Student Association (MSCSA) meetings that are held monthly at various campuses throughout the state. The November meeting will be held November 30-December 2, 2006, at Mesabi Range Community and Technical College in Virginia, Minnesota. Those attending this months meeting include Anna Wagman, Beth Jurek, Francois Medion, Kristina Koskela, Donna Williams and Sarah Rhea.
Student life will be feeding students during finals week. Items will include coffee, juice, water, and fresh fruit.
AIBL Operated Kaffiends Korner Menu |
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| Flavored Syrups | Refills on: | |
| 12 & 16 oz. Hi-rev 12 & 16 oz. French 12 & 16 oz. Medallion 12 & 16 oz. De-caf 12 & 16 oz. Special Flavor Coffee 12 & 16 oz. Hot Cocoa w/Flavor 12 & 16 oz. Tea |
French Vanilla Chocolate Macadamia Amaretto Irish Cream Caramel Marshmallow Hazelnut Sugar-free Hazelnut Sugar-free Caramel |
Hi-rev French Medallion De-caf Special Flavor Coffee Cider Cinnamon Flavor Syrup Creme de Menthe Syrup |