University of Minnesota Extension Service
Michael Peterson, a senior from Minneapolis, Minnesota
Liz Schlimgen, UMM student
Ben Winchester, CST Staff
This is an on-going position within the Center in which a UMM student is hired to learn and assist the administrative functions of this community outreach program. Kate's responsibilities include assisting with all aspects of the Student Involvement component, including the recruitment, placement and evaluation of student employees and volunteers. Other duties include participation and recording of weekly staff meetings, assisting with special projects like the Annual Symposium on Small Towns, and working on publicity, press releases, document design and visibility efforts.
Morris Area Chamber of Commerce Assistant
Alex Anderson, UMM student
Ben Winchester, CST Staff
This project will create a customized Google map of Morris businesses, places of interest, parks, and assets of Morris to be made available on the Chamber website. Alex will work with the Chamber staff to gather data about Morris area businesses and build the Google map. He will visit with businesses to gather short summary of the products/services offered, contact information, and take a picture that will allow the Google map to contain content.
COPC Elementary School Reuse Assistant
Kate Borman, a senior English major
David Fluegel, CST Staff
The position includes working with representatives from the UMM campus and citizens of the City of Morris on the administration and implementation of projects related to the development and redevelopment of the elementary school buildings and 17.5 acre property in Morris. Kate works with a project team by attending meetings, taking notes, creating displays and promotional materials, and conducting research to find information and resources.
Project YES! Student Interns
Paul Eveslage and Tyness Kocer, UMM students
Jessica Beyer, CST Staff
The Youth Energy Summit and Co-opetition is a collaborative project coordinated by the Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center and Southwest Initiative Foundation to engage youth in a sustainable, renewable energy future for West Central and Southwestern Minnesota. Paul and Tynell will be implementing four components for the Youth Energy Summit: a two-day summit in September, a "Co-opetition" after the Summit, two public events to communicate these ideas to the community, and tour renewable energy projects in the area.
Adopt-A-Grandparent Student Coordinators
Allison Fine and Samantha Miller, UMM Students
Jessica Beyer, CST Staff
Allison and Samantha will assist with Community Service and Volunteerism in the Office of Student Activities to strengthen communications and interaction between UMM students and older adults in the Morris Community. The Coordinators will focus on fostering intergenerational, one-on-one relationships by recruiting, matching, and supporting activities between UMM students and their Morris grandparent.
Historic Clinton Depot Celebration
Kathryn Grabosky, a junior from New Prague, MN majoring in International Business and Sociology
Jessica Beyer, CST Staff
Kathryn will work with the City of Clinton to assist with development of the Second Annual Depot Day Open House and BBQ Picnic, a event held in conjunction with the Minnesota Sesquicentennial. Some activities include researching historic food, drink, clothing, pastimes, and styles of living of Minnesotans over the last 150 years, and figuring out how they could be replicated for the celebration. Kathryn also will help create a publicity plan and materials for the celebration.
Small Business Biomass Research Assistant
Rachel Harstad, a freshman from Hampton, MN majoring in Biochemistry and Pre-engineering
Jessica Beyer, CST Staff
Rachel works with the West Central Research and Outreach Center researching biomass energy for small businesses to gain a better understanding of what renewable energy systems are being implemented on a small business scale.
Pomme de Terre Food Coop Assistant
Alison Hartke, UMM student
Jessica Beyer, CST Staff
Alison is working with the Pomme de Terre Food Co-Op in Morris to seek out locally grown foods including grains, beans, meats, and cheese. Alison also works to communicate why local foods are important and how the community can support the local economy by supporting locally grown foods to increase the percentage of locally grown foods at the co-op.
Big Stone Water Run Off Assistant
Jordan Holst, a freshman from Lanesboro, Minnesota majoring in Chemistry
Jessica Beyer, CST Staff
The student will work with Big Stone Growth to develop a public education campaign incorporating best practices associated with surface water run-off in the county as it affects Big Stone Lake. The project will involve research on surface water run off, then condensing that research down to a meaningful and understandable format for public education purposes.
Trucking Data Analysis and Research Assistant
Brett Hucka, a senior majoring in Social Science
Ben Winchester, CST Staff
Dr. Stephen Burks is working on a project with a trucking firm to analyze retention patterns for the company. Brett is involved with the mailing, tabulation, and reporting of survey results. He also conducts survey follow ups, enters call logs and enters survey information into the database. The trucking project is meant to determine why large trucking companies have such large turnover.
COPC Service Learning Assistant
Brittany Ingram, a freshman from Brooklyn Park, MN majoring in Anthropology
David Fluegel, CST Staff
Brittany will assist with summarizing the lessons learned from the UMM's Service Learning program's involvement with the COPC grant activities, and gather information to show that the activity was valuable and should be carried out in the future.
Symposium on Small Towns Assistant
Joanna Jacques, a senior from Waverly, MN majorin gin Management and Psychology.
Ben Winchester and David Fluegel, CST Staff
This project involves working with the Center for Small Towns, Minnesota Public Radio, and the West Central Regional Sustainable Development Partnership to help with the 2008 Symposium on Small Towns. This combined event is a celebration of rural life through a keynote speaker, round table discussions, community project showcases, legislative forum, and a celebratory event.
Dairy Apprenticeship
Teri Johnson, a junior from Brooklyn Park, MN majoring in Math and Statistics
Ben Winchester, CST Staff
This project is examining the potential to create a dairy apprenticeship program.
COPC Student Assistant
Katherine Laughlin, a sophomore from Faribault, MN majoring in Environmental Studies.
David Fluegel, CST Staff
Katie is working with the Community Outreach Partnership Center (COPC). Katie will assist those involved in the final stages of the COPC project. Katie’s responsibilities include researching sustainable and affordable housing options as a way to re-use the old Morris Area Elementary School and working with C & C Consulting to conduct a final evaluation survey and series of interviews as a way to determine if the COPC grant accomplished what it intended to.
Coming Home -- Historic Ancestry Assistant
Whitney Lawrence, a senior from Vermillion, SD majoring in English and American Indian studies.
Jessica Beyer, CST Staff
Whitney is working with the Stevens County Historical Society on their "Coming Home" project, an initiative tied to the Minnesota sesquicentennial to bring the Sissteon-Wahpeton people and their ancestry back to the places where their people one called home. Whitney is researching ways to address the problem of finding the Dakota people and ancestors of those people who once lived in and has seasons camps in the Stevens County region.
Idea Factory Marketing Study Assistant
Tara Loomis, a junior from Hutchinson, MN majoring in Speech Communication
David Fluegel, CST Staff
Tara is working with the Stevens County Economic Improvement Commission conduct a marketing study for the Idea Factory, an initiative tied to the COPC grant in the Morris community. The Idea Factory was developed to provide a more comprehensive and formal means of support for entrepreneurs in the county to start up new businesses and create more jobs.
Social Accountability Program Assistant
Lucy Lowe, a junior from Grand Forks, ND majoring in English and French
Jessica Beyer, CST Staff
The student will assist in the creation of a "Social Accountability Program" for St. Francis Health Services, a faith-based non-profit healthcare and residential support organization. This program will help document and communicate the extent of the social footprint created by St. Francis Health Services in the communities the organization serves.
Morris Rental Housing Commission Assistant
Alex Murphy, a junior from Plymouth, MN majoring in Political Science
David Fluegel, CST Staff
Alex is worked with the City of Morris to create the Morris Rental Housing Commission. Alex helped set up meetings, recruited members for the Commission, gathered information, and wrote the statue that established the RHC. Now that the Commission is established, Alex serves as the de facto administrative assistant for the Commission by establishing the agenda for monthly meetings, researching agenda items, and sending out information to the members, as well as taking notes and facilitating communication among members of the Commission.
Small Town Faculty and Student Fellows Program Assistant
Amanda Olson, a junior from Windom, MN majoring in Political Science and Sociology
Ben Winchester, CST Staff
Amanda works with Dr. Greg Thorson and the Bremer Foundation Faculty and Student Fellows program, a three-year program that connects community-based problems or issues with the research interests of UMM faculty to enhance regional community development activities. Amanda surveys faculty members, identifies research areas, and provides other logistical support for the program.
Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota Assistant
Ashley Prieve, a senior from Hutchinson, MN majoring in Economics and Environmental Studies
Jessica Beyer, CST Staff
Ashley works with SFA, a non-profit, farmer-based membership organization that provides support and education to farmers with values and practices that balance the principles of sustainability. Ashley is preparing a written document that inventories the realm of learning and working opportunities offered on-campus, through local organizations, on local farms, and in the local community that contribute food and agriculture system sustainability to create a map to help UMM students understand and connect to the array of resources related to sustainable foods.
Swift County Publicity Assistant
Matthew Privratsky, a freshman from Walker, MN majoring in Speech Communication and Political Science
Jessica Beyer, CST Staff
Working with the Executive Director of the Swift County Development Finance Authority, the student will work on a publicity project to further Swift County's strategies including use of forms, newsletters, a viewbook and the Swift County RDA.
ELEAH Auxiliary Publicity Assistant
Jamie Rainey, a junior from Maple Grove, MN majoring in Financial and Sports Management
Jessica Beyer, CST Staff
Jamie will work with the ELEAH Auxiliary, a support group for the ELEAH Medical Center. ELEAH Auxiliary plans to support the medical center through two projects -- a program called "No One Dies Alone" and opening a thrift store in Elbow Lake. Project responsibilities include creating a website for the thrift store and organization, updating other websites, and creating a newsletter about Auxiliary activities.
West Central Regional Sustainable Development Partnership Publicity Assistant
Sara Russell, UMM student
Jessica Beyer, CST Staff
Sara attends events, conducts interviews, and writes press releases about a variety of WCRSDP activities. So far, she has published a profile of the new members of the WCRSDP board, and a story about local foods accessibility.
Morris Area School District, Service Learning Student Intern
Caitlin Siefkes, a senior from Coon Rapids, MN majoring in Anthropology and French
Carol McCannon, UMM
Caitlin works as an assistant to the School District Service Learning Coordinator and other teachers and community partners involved with the Students for Environmental Changes group. This group of students will present a project that addresses reducing, reusing, and cleaning of the Earth's resources, and Caitlin provides administrative support for the program.
Student Administrative Assistant
Kim Ukura, a senior from Lino Lakes, MN majoring in English and Journalism
Jessica Beyer, CST Staff
This is an on-going position within the Center in which a UMM student is hired to learn and assist the administrative functions of this community outreach program. Kim's responsibilities include assisting with all aspects of the Student Involvement component, including the recruitment, placement and evaluation of student employees and volunteers. Other duties include participation and recording of weekly staff meetings, assisting with special projects like the Annual Symposium on Small Towns, and working on publicity, document design and visibility efforts.
Revitalization of Downtown Hoffman Assistant
Jeffrey Wencl, a junior from Ham Lake, MN majoring in Political Science
David Fluegel, CST Staff
Jeff will work with the Hoffman Economic Development and the City of Hoffman to assist with revitalization efforts in the city. Projects will include assisting with a survey project, communication tools, and resource identification.
COPC Student Administrative Assistant
Jenny Wermerskirchen, a senior from Shakopee, MN majoring in English
David Fluegel, CST Staff
This is an annual position for the term of the COPC grant (fall 04' - spring 07'). Jenny will help with the administrative needs of the grant and its activities. Jenny's responsibilities include assisting with all aspects of the COPC grant which include participation and recording of meetings, assisting with special projects of the grant, and working on publicity, document design and visibility efforts.
Big Stone Growth Fiber Optic Assistant
Douglas Williams, a junior from Circle Pines, MN majoring in Political Science
Jessica Beyer, CST Staff
Big Stone Growth is a collective of economic development groups funded by Big Stone County and its cities that tries to provide the Big Stone area with valuable, sustainable, and responsible economic growth. Douglas will help develop a private/public partnership to bring fiber optic technology to the entire county.
