Spotlight: Melissa Arps

The streets of Two Rivers are safer thanks to this Silver Lake College alumna….

Melissa Arps (Becker) has worked at the Two Rivers Police Department ever since she earned her Associate’s in Criminal Justice from Fox Valley Technical College.  She now continues to work there after her continued education: a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Silver Lake (’06), and a Master’s in Community Counseling from Lakeland (’09).

Melissa’s current office is at the Two Rivers High School, where she serves as the school resource officer, which is the job she had always wanted when she first decided to become a police officer.  At the high school, she teaches Intro to Criminal Justice and gives presentations on sex, drugs, and alcohol to students.  She also provides DARE classes to middle school students.

Her duties at the police department as a patrol officer are endless.  From field officer training to CSI to SWAT team to running lie detectors to third shift bike patrol, Melissa does about everything you could think a police officer might do.  “I like it all,” she says. “With a variety of things to do, I never get bored.”

On top of all the things she does for work, Melissa is also involved in the community.  She is a Special Olympics volunteer, and also has been putting her counseling degree to work by offering supervised counseling to emergency service personnel and their family members.

But that’s not all that’s exciting in Melissa’s life.  Over the course of her studies at Silver Lake, Melissa was married to Bob Arps, a police officer in Manitowoc.  She recounts, “Actually, Bob proposed to me after I got out of a class at Silver Lake.  He met me out in the parking lot after class, and led me to the AmericInn, where there were a dozen roses waiting, and an empty ring box.  When I turned around, he had the ring out and was asking me to marry him.”  Melissa and Bob’s lives will certainly be much more busy, when in less than a month, they will welcome their first child into the world!

If you’d like to contact Melissa, please e-mail her at arpsmel@trschools.k12.wi.us.

Education Impact Award

The Chamber of Manitowoc County recently held their 93rd annual “Celebration of Success” dinner in which Dr. George F. Arnold was selected as the recipient of the 2009 Education Impact Award. This award is designed to recognize an exceptionally dedicated educator who “Impacts” parents, students or the community beyond the scope of the classroom while integrating business and community resources to enhance student learning opportunities. In addition, this individual should inspire participation from students, peers and other professionals to create awareness about the quality of life in Manitowoc County, demonstrate involvement with a community or school activity that makes a positive impact in Manitowoc County, and utilize Manitowoc County business and community resources to enhance student-learning opportunities.

Dr. Arnold was commended for his role in helping to further integrate Silver Lake College and its students with the Manitowoc County Community. Dr. Arnold stated, “I am deeply honored to have received this award from the Chamber of Manitowoc County. Continuing to strengthen the partnership between the College and the Manitowoc County Community, serves to only benefit us both. As prospective parents and students come from all over the country to visit Silver Lake, I am thrilled to be able to share with them the vibrant and thriving community in which we live.”

Dr. Arnold has been a life long educator. He received his undergraduate degree from Buffalo State University in New York and a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland at College Park. Prior to assuming the position of President at Silver Lake College, he served as Vice President of Academic Affairs and a member of the faculty at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois.

Franciscan Photo Challenge

Beginning January 2010, Silver Lake College of the Holy Family invites you to celebrate its 75th anniversary by looking and snapping. Through your involvement with Silver Lake College, the Franciscan heritage is part of your life. Where do you find the influence of Francis of Assisi?

Submit digital photos to Sister Mardelle Meinholz, mmeinholz@silver.sl.edu. Add where you found it and, if you choose, how it relates to Franciscanism. A statue of Francis or Clare, or an example of one of the Franciscan values, or a place that reminds you of your Franciscan heritage can fit the bill. Be creative and challenge us.
Thank you for “Connecting Mind and Spirit the Franciscan Way.”

Pictures will be posted in the near future.

Spotlight: Laurie Crawford

And representing our non-traditional-study-while-working-full-time-and-raising-two-daughters population this month is Laurie Crawford!

Laurie Crawford works as the Executive Director of United Way Manitowoc County, where she leads a team focused on improving the quality of life for all in Manitowoc County, by assessing community needs, raising funds, evaluating programs for funding, and advocating for strong programs.  She is now able to help people in the community, just as the community has helped her to get where she is today.

Laurie came to Silver Lake College for school three separate times: first, as an elementary student at St. Joseph’s elementary school (which is now the Generose Enrichment Center), second, as a Human Resources undergrad, and third, as a Master’s of Organizational Business grad student with emphases in Training and Development and Strategic Planning in Government.  But her educational life wasn’t quite as cut and dry as that.

After graduating high school, Laurie moved to Virginia and worked as an office supervisor for GTE Federal Systems.  This was her first experience with government– something that she would be interested in for the rest of her life.  She also worked with many great mentors who are still her friends today.  Then, after eight years away, Laurie felt Manitowoc County drawing her back.  With its great quality of life and three top-notch colleges nearby, as well as its excellent high schools, Laurie felt that Manitowoc would be the best place to raise her two daughters.  Upon returning, Laurie took an office support position at Point Beach Nuclear Plant in Two Rivers, and began taking classes at UW Manitowoc, so that she could earn a degree and be better able to have a positive impact on people’s lives.

Two years later, Laurie found her way to the desk of Silver Lake’s Linda Briggs-Dineen, the director of Career Directed Programs and Adult Accelerated Programs, to talk about getting her bachelor’s in Human Resources. “I’m glad I went back to school.  Although it was scary coming in, we had such a good time and of course learned so much.  A group of non-traditional students in  a classroom sharing job and life experiences together is pure fun,” Laurie reminisced.

In 1997, Laurie took a job at the Manitowoc County UW-Extension Office, where once again she most valued the relationships she formed with her colleagues.  “The people I worked with there are dedicated, resourceful, hardworking professionals, who were truly mentors for me.  There have always been people in the right places at the right times when I have needed guidance.”  After gaining her Master of Science in Management and Organizational Behavior from Silver Lake, she became the Department Director, where her duties included budget, community interaction, strategic planning, and employee training.  Although she enjoyed the job, she was not satisfied that it was the job where she could best make a difference in the local community.

Then came 2008 and Laurie was hired as the Executive Director of United Way, where she has found “work that truly inspires me every day.  If we do our job well at the United Way, we will have a healthier community.”  Although Laurie still has a dream of one day being in the Peace Corps, she is happy to have the opportunity to work with people whose focus is on making a positive difference in others’ lives.  We at Silver Lake College are proud of Laurie for her embodiment of the Franciscan value of Community, as she clearly spends her days working for the benefit of others!

Milwaukee Public Museum Trip

Alumni, students, staff, and faculty are coming together on Saturday, March 20th to bus down to the Milwaukee Public Museum to see the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit.  You may find more information on the exhibit at http://www.mpm.edu/dead-sea-scrolls/.  Tickets will also include general admission to the museum, so prepare yourself to visit ancient civilizations, see a life-sized replica of a T-rex, and stroll amid free-flying butterflies in The Puelicher Butterfly Wing.

Tickets will be $24, which will include admission to the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit, general admission to the museum, and the bus (paid in full by Student Activities and the Alumni Board).  There is also the option of getting a Dead Sea Scrolls audio guide for an extra $5.

The bus will leave Silver Lake’s East entrance at 8:00 a.m. on March 20, and will return at approximately 5:30 p.m.

E-mail Rachel Gretzinger to sign up.

Music For Tots Now Enrolling

Silver Lake College’s Music for Tots Program Now Enrolling

The Silver Lake College Music for Tots™ program, completing its 25th year of sharing the gift of music with children from infancy through age five, is now enrolling for its spring classes.

Classes are held in 4 locations throughout Northeast Wisconsin:

Manitowoc – Beginning February 15

Sheboygan – Beginning January 26

Green Bay – Beginning February 15

Salem – Beginning February 15

The classes are held for 10 consecutive weeks and approximately 35 classes are currently being scheduled for the spring semester among the four sites.

Music for Tots™ classes are educationally significant experiences for children from infancy through age five.  Careful scheduling allows varying types of structured musical activities to be planned for each class, according to the developmental level of the children.  Singing is the foundation of the curriculum, and simple children’s singing-games and folk songs are the appropriate tunes used in music making.

Each class is limited to eight children with an age span of approximately one year, except for the older threes, fours and fives who participate together.  Parents participate with their child in sessions for infants and toddlers.  In the transition age of three years, the children become more independent, and among the three-to-five year olds, the pre-schoolers participate in songs, rhythm games, use of simple rhythm and tonal instruments, and movement activities independently, with parents present but not actively involved.

Parents who are interested in enrolling their infant, toddler, or pre-school child should call the Silver Lake College Department of Music at 920-686-6173 or email (abock@silver.sl.edu).  Include your name, phone number, child’s name and date of birth.  If classes for your child’s age are already filled for the spring session, your child’s name will be placed on a waiting list for classes that begin in the fall.  A registration fee only, no materials fee, is charged.

75th Year Celebration

75th Anniversary Celebration

1935-2010: Celebrating an Educational Legacy

The beginning of 2010 marks a celebratory milestone in Silver Lake College’s long educational history. While educating young people dates back well into the 1800’s, in 1935, the State of Wisconsin issued Silver Lake College its official charter as an undergraduate institution.

To celebrate this educational legacy, and in honor of the 75th anniversary of its charter, Silver Lake College will host a year-long celebration of events.  All alumni, friends, students, parents, and guests are invited to attend any and all of the events.

January 28, 2010

Anniversary Mass by Bishop Morneau – 11:00 am in the College Chapel

February 2010

Winter Carnival

March 2010

Silver Lake Chorale Performance Tour:

• Saturday, February 27 – Mount Senario Education Center, Ladysmith, WI – 7:30 pm
• Sunday, February 28 – Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, Rhinelander, WI – 3:00 pm
• Monday, March 1 – Northcentral Technical College, Wausau, WI  – 7:00 pm
• Tuesday, March 2 – Our Lady of Lourdes, Marinette, WI – 8:00 pm

April 10, 2010

Scholarship Gala at Orion Technology Center

May 9, 2010

Baccalaureate and Commencement Ceremonies

June 11 – 13, 2010

Alumni Weekend on Campus

July 16

Sister’s All Community Homecoming Celebration (Honoring the Sister’s Founding of the College)

August  2010

Special Guest Speaker to Campus

September 2010

Matriculation and Launch of the New Liberal Arts Curriculum

October 2010

Francis Fest

November 2010

Silver Lake College Homecoming Weekend

December 12, 2010

Anniversary Mass with Bishop Ricken – 11:30 am College Chapel

Christmas at Silver Lake

Silver Lake College will kick off the holiday season with its second annual “Christmas at Silver Lake” celebration featuring two separate music concerts.  “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”, a collaborative effort between the Silver Lake College Choral Organizations, Handbell Ensemble and Campus Ministries Program, will be held on Saturday, December 5^th at 7:30 pm and a “Christmas Instrumental Concert” featuring the Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble will be held on Sunday, December 6^th at 3:00 pm.  Both events are free and open to the public and will be held in the Silver Lake College Chapel located at 2406 South Alverno Road in Manitowoc.

 

The “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” concert will present a variety of Choral and Handbell Repertoire that includes Christmas Anthems, Audience Carols, and Seasonal Readings. The “Christmas Instrumental Concert” will present such pieces as Christmastime Around the World by Robert W. Smith, Shepherds’ Farewell by Hector Berlioz, and Irving Berlin Christmas arranged by Warren Barker.

 

The Silver Lake College Choral Organizations are under the direction of Damon Carlson and Dr. Perry D. White, the Handbell Ensemble is lead by Sandra Eithun and the Campus Ministries Program is lead by Deacon Paul Gleichner. The Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble are under the direction of Kelly Meyer.

Campus Technology Virtual Event

As Silver Lake College continues to strive to incorporate current and emerging technology in teaching and the workplace, you are invited to participate in the following event.

Campus Technology is hosting a free virtual conference on December 3^rd.  Featured sessions include:

10:00 AM  The Ed-Tech Journey: Are We There Yet?

11:00 AM Beyond a Layering of Technology:  Reforming Teaching and Learning Practice

12:15 PM Five Elements of Exceptional Technology Enhanced Learning

1:30 PM Helping Make Learning Happen

2:00 PM Lessons and Outcomes from University of Minnesota’s Future Classrooms

3:15 Dedicated Exhibit Hall Time

3:45 Immersive Technology Platform Standards:  Sharing Your World

*Times listed above are CST.

Check out the session descriptions at http://campustechnology.com/microsites/campus-technology-virtual/ctv-09-home.aspx.  Room GEC 111 is reserved for this Virtual Technology Event.  Join the SLC group for sessions of interest.  Feel free to come and go as your schedule allows or for selected sessions.  Register at the web site above.  Please note all times on the web site are Eastern Standard Time.

Contact me with questions and if you plan to attend this event.

 

 

Sister Christine Stoller

Silver Lake College

2406 S Alverno Rd

Manitowoc, WI 54220

cstoller@silver.sl.edu

920-686-6110

Spotlight: Jan Algozine

She once toured with her own accordion band through New York and Chicago, and dreamt of becoming an actress.  Now she is happy with her newest job at Silver Lake College, having held a variety of positions since she started working here in 1977.

Born and raised in Lafayette, Indiana, Jan experienced a lot before moving to Two Rivers.  She lived in Germany where her first daughter was born, then returned to Lafayette and got a B.S. in Secondary Education, a M.S. in Special Education.  She had her second child in Texas, and from there she came to Two Rivers to find a job.

Jan worked as controller of Hamilton Industries until Sister Martina Van Weisen told her about a new opening at Silver Lake College as the Director of Study Skills.  When she had started coming to campus, there were only 200 students in attendance.  She enjoyed this job for a while until she was asked to be the director of Student Services.  Along with alumnus Craig Wenner, she started a women’s basketball team, which became an official intercollegiate program in the 1980s.

Around this time, Sister Arlene Brisbane was looking to add Learning Disabilities to the Special Education program, so Jan, with her Master’s in Special Ed stepped in and taught Intro to Learning Disabilities and Diagnostics.  While all that was happening, she remained the director of student services until all of the directors were given the title of Vice Presidents—then Jan became the Vice President of Student Services.

It was after this that Jan pursued a Masters in Student Personal Development and Training at Acusa Pacific University out of West Cobaina California over the summers.  She took leave and drove to CA for two summers, where she lived in student housing to complete a Master’s in Social Science.

Back at Silver Lake, around 1985, Career Directed Programs came on the scene.  When Jan returned from earning her Master’s, she became one of the first instructors.  She taught Liberal Arts courses and Management.

More recently, Jan became the Vice President of Student Life and the Dean of Students, from which she says, “I gained the greatest respect for the president and vice presidents.  They carry the weight of this college on their shoulders.  I think that being in the administration means that you spend a lot of time worrying about whether or not we are making the right decisions.”

In 2006, Jan stepped down from her vice president position and became the Director of Career Resources and Internships, because she wanted to more closely do what she loved to do: and that is working with students!  Today, her title has changed to be the Director of Experiential Learning, and she couldn’t be happier with her position.  She says, “I totally enjoy and love what I do because I have an opportunity to reach out and help people.  I can help students and alumni do a job search; I place students in internships; and just this past year, I helped two students go to Germany for international internships!”

A lot has changed since Jan started working here.  “When I first came to the college, as I said, we had about 200 students that were going here and at that time we had one of the first admissions offices ever.  In the 1970s the college had been solely for the sisters, who graciously opened their doors to lay men and women.  I came around 77.  They started reaching out and recruiting.  We had never really done that before.”

In Jan’s eyes, SLC has always changed to meet the needs of the changing world, while staying true to its Franciscan mission.  “Throughout my experience here, we’ve always tried to meet the needs of the community around us,” Jan says smilingly (as she does everything).

Jan certainly lives out her mentor’s advice.  She remembers, “My father would always say, ‘Life is what you make it.  It’s about the journey.  You need to make the best of every day.  Nobody owes you anything.  You owe the world.’”  We know that Jan has followed this advice because certainly the college, and countless individuals, would not be the same without her joyful spirit and desire to serve others.

You may contact Jan Algozine at Janis@silver.sl.edu or (920)686-6192.