Ideas on How to Celebrate Memorial Day:

1. Fly the American Flag. Fly your American flag at half-mast, a position that is reserved for when the country is in mourning. If you don’t have an American flag, wear your American spirit proudly. Badges, pins, shirts—make it a point to wear something that shows your patriotism.
2. Visit a national cemetery. Consider bringing flowers to place on the graves of fallen heroes. Or, attend a memorial service. Fort Snelling National Cemetery (FSNC) in St. Paul has visitation hours on Memorial Day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
3. Remember our fallen heroes. Host a barbeque or picnic to tell stories about the wars and those who gave their lives to serve our country. Singing the Star Spangled Banner or America the Beautiful (just a couple suggestions) are great ways to reflect on what those heroes did for our country. Bring a patriotic themed dessert for fun.
4. Send a care package to a soldier. Honor those who are currently risking their lives to serve our country. Operation Gratitude is a great organization that sends more than 100,000 care packages to deployed U.S. Service Members.
5. Venture to a local parade or memorial service. Click here for a list of Memorial Day events in the Twin Cities.  

About Memorial Day:

Memorial Day is a celebration of remembrance for the brave service of men and women who gave their lives for their country. Memorial Day was declared a federal holiday in 1971. We now designate this day to remember loved ones who have passed on, as well as remembering our service men and women.

About Yellow Ribbon Campus:

Globe University-Woodbury was designated as a Yellow Ribbon Campus in 2010. The Yellow Ribbon Network in Woodbury, Minn., helps connect schools, local units of government, law enforcement, social services, churches, civic and volunteer organizations for the special needs of a military family during the deployment cycle.

The Woodbury campus has about 120 military students, including their family members. The campus has been especially active in supporting those students, veterans and their family members around the community, according to Mike Hughes, director of military student services at Globe University.

Happy Memorial Day from the Globe Unviersity-Woodbury campus!

Doug Murdock, Movie Fanatic (and campus librarian)

I met for coffee with some friends at the beginning of this quarter who asked me about how the class was going. Now, they knew that Globe University is a career college, and naturally assumed that I would make an effort to show films in class that had at least something to do with inspiring the career choices our students had made.

I had to admit that showing this sort of film wasn’t the primary purpose of the class. To a person, they thought this odd. Here was, after all, a “golden opportunity” I was missing to further inspire others along the career paths we taught at Globe. And with incredulity (as much to further get my goat as anything), they immediately spouted off their favorite “career choice” films and TV shows—movies like Patch Adams for the medical field, and The Firm for the legal field.

Don’t get me wrong, all their film and TV show suggestions were wonderful, but what they didn’t realize is that there are lots of wonderful, inspiring career choice films. What I think is lacking, however, is a good, solid list of “strange” career TV shows and films.

Never wanting to run away from a challenge and always wanting to be first, or there-bouts, at anything I try, I hereby submit into evidence the following list: Doug’s Five Favorite Strange Career TV Shows and Films:

Veterinarian or Vet Tech Films

• Veterinarian Doolittle.The film concerns Kenichi Tottori, a highly competent vet who likes things done “his way” (he’s Doolittle). His fussiness works until he becomes part of a  “love triangle” with an employee and a rival vet. Moral: be nice to the people you work with.

Medical or Med Tech Films

• Doc Martin. No, not the shoes, and not strictly speaking a film, either. Doc Martin is (was) a British TV series concerning a vascular surgeon who develops a fear of blood. He quits his job at a famous London hospital, moves to the coast of Cornwall, and gets a job as the local general practitioner. Just like “Veterinarian Doolittle” he is prickly and irascible until the villagers bring him around. Moral: listen and be nice to your clients.

Lawyer or Paralegal Films

• The Wronged Man. This is a wonderful film based on a true story about a paralegal who works for many years to help release a man who was wrongly accused of a crime. The trouble is that she is the only one who believes in his innocence, and he is innocent, by the way. Moral: even if you think you are fighting the uphill battle of all uphill battles, never give up.

Doug Murdock, Campus Librarian

Business or Business-Related TV and Films:

• Pawn Stars.  This is one of the most “unusual” career-related TV shows or films around. For those of you who have not yet seen it, check it out. It’s on the History Channel, and concerns a grandfather, father and son who own and run a pawn shop in Las Vegas. Like any family in business, they sometimes have their difficulties, but they are successful and amazing. Like the dad says, “You’ll never know what’ll come walking through the door.” Moral: If you’re going into business with your family, work out your differences and have a plan.

• Duck Dynasty. This is the most“unusual and interesting career-related TV show around. It concerns a close-knit family who lives on the Louisiana bayous who have made a fortune out of making duck calls. They are, as they say, “high tech rednecks.” The three things that hold them together are their family, the Bible, and making duck calls. Check it out—you won’t be disappointed!

So what are the most unusual career-related films or TV shows that you’ve seen? Tell me about them! Add your comments to this post, and if I agree, you’ll win a prize.

By Doug Murdock, Campus Librarian, Globe University-Sioux Falls

As Jesika McCauley, Director of Career Services at Globe University-Moorhead, continued to train, the goal to complete her first marathon seemed like a daunting task. Jesika had run two half marathons in the past and wanted to add the accomplishment of a full 26.2 miles to her list of completed dreams. 

For Jesika, the biggest obstacle to achieving her dream was finding the time to train. Following a strict training schedule, she really had to focus on making time to run for three to four hours on many days. There were times that her muscles ached and she missed her usual active social life that made her wonder if it was worth it. It was all about choices.

However, the determination and training paid off. The day of the Fargo Marathon started out raining, then cleared to a very warm, muggy day—the exact opposite of good running weather.

The first few miles were good. As the morning went by, the temps continued to rise. The encouragement of the crowds was so inspiring. At about mile 17, pain set in and Jesika’s pace slowed considerably. Working through the aches, she pushed on and began to feel better.

At mile 20 she saw her family up ahead. After a few quick words of encouragement she took off again shouting to her parents, “Race you to the Dome!”  The last six miles felt the best and Jesika maintained a great pace. Crossing the finish line to crowds of people cheering for her in a packed dome stadium was euphoric!

With Globe University’s massage students providing services to the runners at the Fargo Marathon, Jesika danced her way to a massage table, feeling really good.

“I set a goal and worked really hard,” Jesika said. “I often hear from students that they don’t have time to search for jobs because they have homework, classes, and work. If they truly want that dream job, they will find time to make it happen.  It’s all a matter of making decisions. Reality is that we all have 24 hours in a day. How you use that time will determine if you achieve your goals or not. I hope students see what I accomplished and are inspired to achieve their goals.”

With a medal and a smile, Jesika’s success inspires us all!

Medical assistant students (from left) Cheri Lane, Paula Zenz, Amanda Soto-Wadel, Caitlin Miller and Karla Dean present proper hand washing techniques to residents at Coventry Village.

Karla Dean, medical assistant student, disinfects a resident's walker.

Student Caitlin Miller added, “The hand washing is big because your hands are the first mode of transmission. Your hands touch everything. Your hands are what touch your eyes, your mouth and your nose and that’s where you are going to get sick.”

The medical assistant students presented proper hand washing and sanitizing techniques to the residents. They also created a pamphlet that focused on proper cleaning and disinfecting techniques. Lastly, the students disinfected the attendees’ walkers.

Students also showed results from surface samples of the school on blood agar plates. Students collected samples and processed the bacteria cultures as part of their applied learning project.

One may think that this type of information would be common knowledge, but the students disagreed. “It could serve as a reminder of what they learned a long time ago, but things have changed from when they were taught hand washing to the practices now,” Miller said.

Residents were very thankful for the presentation and the company the students offered for that brief time period and students recognized that. “Being able to converse with them made their day,” Miller said.

Zenz agreed, “Us coming here to clean their walkers and talking to them—they will talk about this for weeks!”

In the end, students noted that not all bacteria is bad—99 percent is actually good bacteria—however, their message remained the same: Wash your hands!

Retired Veteran John Nebelsiek reminds participants of Memorial Day history and protocol

What makes Memorial Day memorable to you? Often we see Memorial Day as a kick-off  for the summer season of picnics, parades, family gatherings, gardening and other memorable events. But, it’s about much more than that.

Five members of the Chippewa Falls Patriotic Council joined students, faculty, and staff at a Memorial Day Ceremony held at Globe University-Eau Claire. We were moved by the National Anthem sung, in uniform, by student Shayna McIlquham. We were rewarded with a memorable three gun salute to the fallen soldiers. Amanda Ackmann was moved to tears following taps played by McDonnell High School Freshman, Frank Rineck, as she remembered taps being played at her beloved aunt’s funeral.

Frank Rineck plays Taps

Retired Veteran John Nebelsiek reminded us of the history and protocol of Memorial Day:

• It is a day to remember the men and women who died while serving in the Armed Forces.
• It originated after the Civil War to commemorate the soldiers who died in the Civil war.
• Folk lore says that May 30 was chosen because it was not the anniversary of a battle.
• It is not to be confused with Veterans Day which celebrates the service of military veterans living or dead.
• The flag is lowered to half mast until noon to remember the more than one million men and women who have given their lives for our country.
• The flag is raised by the living to full staff for the rest of the day to resolve to rise up and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all.

Shayna McIlquham will sing the National Anthem at the Milwaukee Brewers game on Memorial Day

The day will be particularly memorable for McIlquham, who was nominated by her Army unit to sing the National Anthem at the Milwaukee Brewers game on Memorial Day. Shayna is excited about the opportunity. She notes that she may find the experience a bit “nerve wracking” if it is nationally televised, though she is no stranger to performing as she has been singing since she could walk and participated in choirs throughout her high school career. She also sang the National Anthem at the start of many Chippewa Falls High School sporting events.

How will you make the day memorable? Whatever your plans, make a salute to our fallen soldiers and to the freedom they have provided part of your memory-making this Memorial Day!

Where will you be working, what type of activities will you do to make yourself a successful professional, and have you even started networking? These are scary things for grads to picture. What if you don’t find a job right after graduation, what’s your plan B?

So, as someone who has “been there, done that” I would like to offer some advice to new graduates.

1. If you haven’t already done so, create a rockstar LinkedIn profile.

People are actually getting jobs on LinkedIn in today’s job market, so to ignore this amazing tool seems foolish. Start by creating a professional LinkedIn profile that accurately illustrates all of your professional skills, along with your education. Next, start adding instructors, classmates, former and present coworkers, friends, family members, and anyone that has had the experience of working with you. In return they’ll endorse your skills, making you a more attractive candidate to recruiters.

2. Just because your schooling has stopped, doesn’t mean you should stop learning.

From the time we enter school, we are conditioned to think that once we’ve graduated, the learning stops, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. As a professional, it’s important to continue to gain industry knowledge and learn from your leaders. In fact, I find myself actually reading MORE articles and books in relation to my career, than I ever did in school (but don’t tell my former instructors that).

3. Whatever you worry about will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, then it’s not the end.

Okay, time for some honesty. Things can get pretty ugly in the “real world.” Maybe you hate your job; maybe you’re dealing with some outside issues that are preventing you from truly delving into the search for your dream job. But just remember it’s going to be okay! Getting down on yourself over the lack of progress you’ve made isn’t going to help. Stay positive and know that through perseverance and hard work, you WILL make it through! I mean, you managed to make it this far!

4. Be loyal alumni.

This statement is so true. As an alum, staying connected to your alma mater will continue to open doors and build relationships that could come in handy for your future.  If you’re an accounting student, stay in contact with your accounting program chair and your instructors. These people have been chosen as instructors because of their success and experience in the field. So, chances are they’ve got some pretty sweet contacts in their industry and could put you in position to interview or even get hired! And last but not least, stay in touch with your career services advisor. Career services is a resource specially designed for grads and they’re there to help for your lifetime, not just your time spent as a student.

Globe University deans and directors dish about interview deal-breakers.

In this edition of “Directors Dish,” our directors and deans on campus at Globe University-Appleton spill their deal-breakers when it comes to hiring a new employee.

1. If you’re on time, you’re late

Director of Admissions Jordan Klein says that he won’t take a second look at candidates that show up late for the interview. “No matter what the reason for being late, you will leave a bad impression if you don’t show up on time,” Jordan said. “Plan on being in the area of the interview location 30 minutes early.  Scout the location and go grab some coffee somewhere close—you can easily time it out to arrive 10 minutes prior to your interview time.”

2. Keep it professional

Dean of Students Ann Hintz is rubbed the wrong way when candidates aren’t dressed professionally and have poor communication skills. “I like to look beyond the qualifications and into the soft skills—communication, professionalism and attitude,” Ann said. “If you are a ‘Negative Nelly,’ you probably won’t get hired.”

3. First impressions are everything

Director of Career Services Jenny Schroth knows a thing or two about interviewing properly. She says that most employers will decide if they would hire you in the first 30 seconds! “It starts with your first impression—body language, eye contact, attire, hygiene, communication skills, confidence and level of enthusiasm,” Jenny said.

4. Personality is key

Director of Financial Aid Melissa Crabb says that she won’t hire someone that seems negative or makes excuses. Try to be yourself, but keep your nerves on the backburner. “I want to see the real person,” Melissa said. “If it’s not a good fit, then no one is happy.”

5. Keep it Clean

Dean of Faculty Melissa Chakar has two pet peeves that will keep your name off her radar. You won’t get a second chance if you use poor grammar or if you bash previous employers. There is a way to maturely address issues in the past, but, Melissa says, “If you’re going to talk poorly about a previous employer, then you will most likely do that about me.”

6. Do your research

Campus Director Kimberly Stevens can decide whether or not she would hire someone in the first few minutes based on first impressions—make sure you smile! Beyond that, she likes to know that a candidate has done their research. “One of the first questions I ask in an interview is why did the applicant apply for the position,” Kimberly said. “If the candidate cannot eloquently answer this question and include one or two pieces of information from the job description, then I don’t believe they prepared for the interview or even know what they are applying for.”

More than 40 staff and facutly members from Globe Unviersity-Woodbury campus volunteered at this year’s JA in a Day.

Globe University-Woodbury closed its campus on May 17 so that staff and faculty could volunteer with Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest to teach “JA in a Day” at Afton-Lakeland Elementary School in Lakeland, Minn. The project coincided with Globe University’s annual Community Service Day. The staff and faculty delivered an entire Junior Achievement (JA) program, comprised of five lessons, in the course of one school day to kindergarten to 6th grade classes.

Junior Achievement helps prepare young people for the real world by showing them how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. Globe University staff and faculty helped the elementary school students put these lessons into action and learn the value of contributing to their communities.

“The volunteers from Globe University gave the students a chance to dream, to use their imagination, to be creative, to work together in teams, to have fun and learn new things, and to realize that people that they don’t even know care about them and their future,” said Sharon Severson, senior program director at Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest.

Denise Radcliffe, dean of faculty, teaching a first grade class about how a community works.

Volunteering with JA enabled the Globe University-Woodbury campus to showcase the university’s “We Care” philosophy by taking time out of the employees’ schedules to give back to the local community. Children are our future, and partnering with JA allowed Globe University to help inspire and prepare the young people of our community to succeed in a global economy, which aligns with Globe’s vision and mission.

About Junior Achievement

Junior Achievement USA reaches more than four million students per year in 176,000 classrooms and after-school locations with the goal to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. JA programs are taught by volunteers in inner cities, suburbs, and rural areas throughout the United States, in more than 120 Area Offices in all 50 states.

Junior Achievement’s 178,000 classroom volunteers come from all walks of life, including: business people, college students, parents and retirees. These dedicated individuals are the backbone of our organization.

A third grade class learning how the economics of a city work.

“We hope the volunteers felt that this was a rewarding volunteer opportunity, and that they know they really did make a difference in the lives of some of these children,” said Severson.

It takes a village of volunteers to run the event, and Globe University in Moorhead is proud to be involved. As part of the university’s Community Service Day, the entire staff and faculty volunteer for the 5K event, providing the entire support, from lining up 9,000 runners to putting medals on their necks at the finish line.

In addition, at a booth in the expo, our medical assistant students take blood pressures, massage students offer chair massages, exercise physiology students discuss the process of running, and the admissions team meets with potential students. Furthermore, the massage students spend an entire day providing therapy for the marathon runners after they have completed the 26.2 miles, which offers a tremendous opportunity to work on world class athletes.

With events including a kids’ run, 5k, 10K relay, half and full marathon, there is something for everybody. A giant expo welcomes everyone to registration. Entertainment along the course and entire neighborhoods cheer on the runners. Seventeen bands on the course add to the festivities. A pasta feed with a new motivational speaker each year brings an added element to those who are wondering if they should kick up their training a notch.

Mark Knutson, executive director of the marathon, said, “We have come a long way from that first run. With great community partners such as Globe University, this event continues to get better every year.”

Globe’s Community Manager, Babs Coler, was on that original board and has volunteered for every marathon since inception. “I am so proud of Globe University and their involvement in the Fargo Marathon,” she said. “It’s a world class event for a world class institution. Watching our students gain experience with elite runners puts them above the competition when they get into the workforce. Globe is also a close knit campus. The marathon tightens those relationships even more.”

Three days, five events, one expo and over 600 volunteer hours makes the Fargo Marathon a success for Globe University!

Debby Bierhals, vet tech instructor, paints edging at the CP Center.

We were grateful to have Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch involved in our Community Service Day. She met with Globe University employees to discuss the impact our organization makes in the community and state-wide. Lt. Governor Kleefisch then met with CP Center staff and took a tour of the facility to learn about the wonderful services they provide to Northeast Wisconsin residents.

Despite the rainy day, our work brought out laughter and love at the CP Center by transforming the childcare center.

Painting a Fresh Look

Several teams of Globe University-Green Bay employees and students worked to tape, paint and hand-brush the border along the classrooms. Another team painted an interior hallway that needed some TLC.

Cleaning, Scrubbing and Sanitizing

Sanitizing toys, cubbies, chairs, tables and more was the task of our second team. As you can see in the picture, Suzette Plemel, our executive massage therapy program chair, had a little too much fun with the dinosaurs!

Playing With the Children

Some of our staff opted to assist with the children in day care by providing help with arts and crafts, reading books and spending time with the children.

The Importance of Supporting Our Community

“The great thing about Globe University is that we don’t just dedicate one day out of the year to supporting our community, but we integrate it into our schedules for both staff and students to truly make an impact,” said Nicole Virant, community manager at Globe University-Green Bay.

Amy Murphy, community outreach specialist at the CP Center, said, “It is amazing what a difference a group of people can make! Thanks to our dear friends at Globe University. In less than four hours, the Common Paths Early Education and Care Center at the CP Center experienced a total makeover. The halls were cleaned, the 3- and 4-year-old classrooms were given a fresh coat of paint, and all the chairs and toys were sanitized!”

Dorothy Miller

Each quarter, Globe University’s Online Library runs a contest to determine the best research paper out of all the student papers that received an ‘A’ grade. The winner of the Globe University Online Research Award Contest for Winter 2013 is Dorothy Miller, who is earning a paralegal degree. Dorothy won a $100 Amazon.com gift card! Read Dorothy’s research story below for insight on how award-winning research is conducted:  

“For a paralegal who wants to specialize in criminal law, Miranda is an important and fascinating case. I became interested in looking at its history as part of my Criminal Law class. My approach to the research was to focus on the rooting of Miranda in the Fifth and Sixth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. I started by using the resources at the Online Library. I ran a search for Miranda and came up with many choices. This helped me put together an outline of the general topics I wanted to cover in my essay. After reviewing some of the resources from my generalized search, I narrowed the search to include the Fifth and Sixth Amendments as well. This led me to a book that really dealt specifically with my topic, called Miranda Revisited by Frank Schmalleger. In addition, my class textbook was a fantastic resource. It included a more generalized history of Miranda. Finally, I used Westlaw to read the cases and amendments in full. Even though the text of the amendments is available on the Web, I like using Westlaw as a resource because it provides analysis and historical prospective for each piece of law.”

Do you think you have what it takes to become a research award winner? Check out Dorothy’s paper online and enter the Online Research Award Contest for Spring 2013!

Tony Beyer and Seth Rogen. Can you tell who is who?

“Anybody ever tell you that you look like Seth Rogen?”

It happens almost daily when I’m out in high school classrooms across Southwestern Wisconsin, Southeastern Minnesota and into Iowa.  It also happens in public.

“Of all of the guests I have asked into my classroom, Tony is the speaker who, by a wide margin, most resembles actor and comedian Seth Rogen,” said Ryan Strunz, Bangor High School English teacher.  “Tony is a perennial favorite of students in my Career Communications class, and he is well remembered as that funny guy who gave us candy (and often as ‘that guy from Knocked Up’).”

I AM Seth Rogen…but I’m not Canadian

When I get asked that question, I run with it!  Sometimes I say I am Seth Rogen and would rather be here helping students than making millions in the movie business.  I sometimes pretend that I’ve never heard of him and see how the students react.  I may also say “Funny, I don’t think I look Canadian.”

Sweeter than Seth?

What are good ways to get students involved with a fun real world presentation experience? Humor and candy! “All the students comment on how Tony looks like Seth Rogen and he has the charming personality to match,” says Mandy Steele, Social Studies Teacher at Onalaska High School. “His presentations are fun and students love getting candy!”  

Cuter than Seth?

Not everyone thinks I look like Seth Rogen though. “Tony is always entertaining and educates and engages my students. Quite frankly though, he is much, much better looking than Seth Rogen,” says Julie Beyer, business and information technology teacher at Sparta High School. (Yes, she is my mother.)

Tony Beyer as Smokey the Bear at the Living Green Expo.

Funnier than Seth?

“Tony presenting to my classroom is like having a circus at no cost. The entertainer can be a comedian, a clown, a ring master, and even a lion tamer for those that need redirection. Tony knows how to manage people and get ideas across,” shared Tina Gilberston, teacher at Black River Falls High School. “His humor is essential to the absorption of the information and he stays relevant to students” interests and technology. If there were a ring of fire to jump through to watch him present…students would do it.”

Movie Star Qualities

“Whenever I tell students that a guest speaker from Globe University will be visiting our class, the reply I always receive is, ‘Sweet, is that the guy that looks like Seth Rogen? He’s awesome!’ says Libby McCoy, English teacher, Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau High School. “In addition to looking like a movie star, Tony has many great qualities that make him a hit in the classroom.  His funny and fast-paced presentations always keep the students engaged.  He is great at connecting with kids and making the information he presents meaningful to them.  He has visited my classes several times, and he always gives a humorous, informative, and relevant presentation!”

A Wide Repertoire

I absolutely love being in the classroom and sharing information that is important for students to succeed. I teach high school students a wide variety of topics:

• Financial Independence
• American Government
• Understanding Taxes
• Using Credit Responsibly
• Teamwork
• How Personality Relates to Different Careers
• Communication Skills
• Job Seeking

“Whoever thought that a Seth Rogen look-a-like would get students to question why they should or shouldn’t have a credit card?” shared Ross Freeman-Herdina, social studies teacher at Winona Senior High School.

Tony Beyer with Amanda Mitton of the Globe Admissions Team.

Interaction and Engagement

“Tony’s presentations are very interactive with the students and he keeps students on their toes with his DJ-type personality and little one-liners he throws in here and there,” explains Alisa Oswald, business teacher at Cassville High School. Students love listening to the information he has to share in this manner—and yes, they all say he looks a lot like Seth Rogen!”

Invite a movie star (kind of) to your class!

The Real World Presentations I do are free and are a lot of fun for the students.  I teach many topics that are applicable and engaging for many different subjects.  They fit within a single class period and are awesome.  If you want to have “That guy who looks like Seth Rogen teach in your classroom” please contact me: tbeyer@globeuniversity.edu. I would be happy to discuss what Seth Rogen, or, what Tony Beyer can bring to your classroom.

“I would say [Tony]…[has] a way of getting students motivated to work by the way [he] entertain[s] them,” explains  Wanda Nettesheim, business teacher at Kee High School. “Yes, [he] looks like Seth Rogen and the students expect [him] to be funny. Good thing [he is]!”

This post was written by Tony Beyer.  Tony is the High School Coordinator at Globe University-La Crosse.  He has been with the university for more than four years and it is his passion to help high school students help themselves by making great decisions so they can enjoy future success.  Before working for Globe University, Tony worked as a television news reporter and a radio deejay in La Crosse, skills that serve him well in his presentations to local high school students.  When not in the classroom, Tony enjoys: being outdoors, listening to music, playing and watching sports, as well as officiating youth hockey in the La Crosse area.

This year, 26 Globe University-Madison East staff and faculty members volunteered their time at three different locations throughout the Madison area. Two of the groups worked with Habitat

Globe University-Madison East staff and faculty pose with the board they signed at the Habitat for Humanity warehouse.

The final group helped coordinate a Health & Wellness Fair at the East Madison Community Center. They began planning and promoting the fair weeks ago, and it came together on Friday, May 17 at the center. More than a dozen different wellness activities and tables were represented at the fair giving attendees a chance to learn about pet wellness, online safety, identity theft, financial wellness, yoga, zumba, stress management and more. Attendees were also treated to free blood pressure checks, chair massages, healthy snacks and fabulous giveaways.

Here, our staff and faculty reflect on the day and share four benefits to volunteering.

1. Learn a New Skill. The Habitat volunteers learned a lot of new skills during their volunteer experience. Veterinary technology instructor Suzanna Schulert shared, “While I don’t think I’ll be starting a new career hanging drywall, I always enjoy learning a new skill and interacting with my colleagues outside of our usual environment.”
   

   Suzanna Schulert posing with the drill she used for hanging drywall.

2. That Warm Fuzzy Feeling. Business Program Chair Rick Mason was one of four faculty members who drywalled a garage that day.  He enjoyed the experience saying, “It is always amazing to help with a Habitat for Humanity project.  It is especially rewarding to work hard for a few hours, stand back and see what you have accomplished, knowing that it is for the benefit of someone less fortunate.  It is the ultimate ‘feel good’ experience!”
3. Builds Teamwork and Creates Bonding Time.  Admissions Representative Michelle Matts, who helped stain pre-cut lumber for picnic tables, said, “We had a great time singing, talking, laughing with each other and bonding outside of the office.”
4. Great Way to Network. “My favorite part of the day was seeing the smiles on people’s faces when they heard we were there just to educate them on heart health and blood pressure,” said medical assistant instructor Dawn Storlie.  “I made a new connection and will now be going to the community center once a month to do free blood pressure checks.”

Overall the day was a success. Director of Admissions Brittany Knutson said, “I simply love that our organization places a high enough value on community to dedicate a day to investing the full force of our staff and faculty group to the community.  Our students live and work in these same communities and the stronger they are, the better the opportunities will be for our students!” 

After a light breakfast and posting for pictures on campus, it was carpool time to the Bowden Youth Center in downtown Sioux Falls. The Bowden Youth Center offers a variety of services including education, counseling, drop-in center for runaway and homeless youth, meals, workshops, and recreational activities. Bowden is supported by Volunteers of America Dakotas.

Our hard work was timely and appreciated, as Friday was the final day of classes for the Sioux Falls school district and the Bowden Youth Center would be switching gears to offer their summer programs starting on May 20.  

Bowden Youth Center members greeted our 20-plus member group and provided information about the individuals they serve, their background, and a list of tasks for the morning.

We split into small groups and began tackling the various tasks set out by the Bowden staff. We cleaned the kitchen, rec room, shower room, library, music room, rebooted the bulletin boards, painted, and interacted with the children that were there for the day. Each room had its very own group to help spruce up the place.

Globe University’s Director of Career Services, Ann Kolbrek, described her experience at the Bowden by stating, “I thought that the Community Service Day was an excellent opportunity for not only faculty and staff, but for students to give back to a community that has invested so much in its citizens! The Bowden Center was clearly a worthy and deserving foundation in real need of volunteers and community assistance. It’s great to be a part of something that your own work has positive consequences that you can see transform before your very eyes!”

Ann wasn’t the only one on campus who had great things to say about our time at the Bowden. Director of Admissions Charlie Buehler stated, “It’s great to see the same principles we uphold in our classrooms with our students applied to the entire campus. Community Service Day equals great success!”

Veterinary technology program chair Kim Sieverding said, “I loved helping at the Bowden Center. The center provides a much-needed spot for kids throughout the year, especially during the summer months. It was great to see the building and all the activities that children could participate in. Knowing how nice the staff is and what the children do there makes my heart smile!”

Rob Shaw, Bowden Youth Center coordinator, noted, “It’s perfect timing this year. Today is the last day of school here in Sioux Falls and Monday kicks off all our summer programs and extended hours and services. The folks here at Globe are making a huge difference in the over 600 kids we work with each week.” 

It was a great day and as a campus we were able to help the community to which we belong. Campus Director Melanie Schopp stated, “The Bowden Youth Center is a wonderful resource for our community and it felt good to be helping them get a ‘spring cleaning’. They provide so much for our community every day; it was nice to give them something back.”

By Jay Meyers, Dean of Faculty, Globe University-Sioux Falls

Students at Globe University often participate in events that benefit the local community.

For an entire month, students coordinated and donated toiletries for the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin toiletry drive. The hospital then provides these items free of charge to patients that need them.

On Wednesday, May 15, massage therapy program students set up shop near the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin at Theda Clark Hospital in Neenah, Wis.

More than 20 Globe University students gave 50+ massages throughout the day.

Brandy Fish, Globe University massage student, said that she enjoyed giving back to the nurses and staff who help others each day. “It’s a little something to show that we care,” Fish said. “We also get to use the techniques we’ve been working on in the classroom—it’s a win-win situation.”

To see more pictures of this event, head to the Facebook album here.

Instructor Becky Myer dreaming about the 1960s.

Sociology is the study of society and how groups of people think and interact.  To a sociologist, people are instinct free. Everything we do is learned in some way. A sociologist might say that my preference for the 1920s is an influence of the society that I was raised in. One might argue that it could be economical, educational, or geographical influences (or a combination of the three).

Sassy, yet Civilly Disobedient

In Rebekah Myer’s Sociology class, students discussed the idea of “golden age,” and how different people relate to one era more than another.  According to Myer, “One of the eras that I typically think of as the ‘golden age’ in the United States is the 1960s. While this era was full of conflict in relation to civil rights, it was also full of progress. I love how this decade demonstrates freedom and change but also shows the need to remain committed to civil rights issues today.”  

As a lawyer and instructor of blossoming paralegal students, Myer’s perspective on the golden age may be an effect of her education. Does she think of that age as golden because she learned of its significance in school and wanted to be a part of that, thus becoming a lawyer, or once she started studying law realized that the dawn of the civil rights era would have been an exciting time to be working in the field of law? In thinking about this idea, I have begun to wonder about my own idealized time. Do I think of the 1920s as a time of enlightenment due to my studies of U.S. history and literature, or did I study humanities because of my interest in the roaring, sassy decade of flappers, speakeasies, and Louie Armstrong?

Ree Nae Roberge-Greene dreaming about her favorite decade, the 1920s.

Testing this, two students in the Sociology class also commented on the age they felt was to be idolized by generations to come. “I believe the golden years were the years when World War II was going on,” said Jasmine Korus, a criminal justice degree student.  ”I am close to my grandparents and just to see how they react to today’s society with the use of cell phones, tablets, etc., really shows their character on how hard they worked and how different they interacted back then vs. now.”  Is there something in her ideals that is leading her down the road to criminal justice?

An argument for the Current Era as the Epitome of Society’s Development

Vet tech program student Theresa More’s favorite age in history distinctly relates to her chosen health care career path. “My favorite period in time is the present. We’ve discovered genome mapping, have vaccines that save lives, and are constantly advancing medically. People who a hundred years [ago] would have died from a simple infection now take lifesaving antibiotics for granted.”

What is your ideal time period? When and where in the world do you feel connected as our students and faculty do to World War II era United States, the jazz age, or the Civil Rights movement? Or are you like Theresa and believe that there is no time like the present?

This post was written by Ree Nae Roberge-Greene. Ree Nae is the Student Services and Online Learning Coordinator at Globe University-La Crosse. She has been employed at Globe University since January 2011. She moved into the role of Student Services Coordinator in August of 2011 and loves it! Ree Nae Roberge-Greene blogs for Globe-La Crosse, and she is enjoying the challenge of finding a new and exciting topic to write about each week.

If you saw someone struggling for their life as you drove by would you get out of your vehicle to help?  What if you saw a sole police officer trying to make an arrest—would you get out and help or drive by?

Globe University-Minneapolis’ Criminal Justice Program Chair, Joe Vanasse, recently had to not only answer these questions, but act on them.  Joe received the Citizen’s Medal of Valor award from the Minneapolis Police Department during an awards program on May 13 for helping

THE SCENE

On October 23, 2012, Officer George Peltz and his partner, Officer Ruud, responded to shots fired in the area of 8^th Avenue and Penn Avenue in North Minneapolis.  This area was near the location of a homicide that occurred earlier that morning.

When the officers located a group of suspects near 7^th Avenue and Thomas Avenue, they stopped to investigate the group.  One of the four suspects immediately started to flee, and Officer Ruud pursued on foot.

Officer Peltz remained with the three suspects.  He ordered them to show their hands. One of the suspects tried to walk away and would not show his hands.  Officer Peltz ordered the suspects at gunpoint to the ground. The one suspect would not listen to commands and started to approach Officer Peltz to distract his attention from the other two suspects.

Officer Peltz went to handcuff and restrict the suspect and he tried to pull away.  During the struggle, the suspect and Officer Peltz went to the ground. Officer Peltz was able to get one handcuff on the suspect’s right hand. 

JOE RISKS HIS LIFE

As Officer Peltz struggled on the ground with the suspect, Joe Vanasse pulled up in his SUV. Joe got out of his vehicle and asked Officer Peltz if he could help.  Office Peltz responded, “Yes, help me get him cuffed and watch the two other suspects.”

Both Officer Peltz and Joe struggled with the suspect, who was fighting to get away and kept protecting his left side with his left hand under his body.  With Joe’s assistance they were able to handcuff the suspect. 

Other officers arrived and secured the two other suspects. As the suspect that Officer Peltz and Joe had struggled with was lifted from the ground, a silver and black handgun fell to the ground under his left waist area under his jacket.

THE OUTCOME

Thanks to his selfless and heroic actions with disregard for his own personal safety, Joe helped arrest an armed and potentially dangerous suspect.

Officer Peltz said, “In my 20 years of law enforcement, I have never encountered a braver and more selfless person than Joe Vanasse.  I believe Joe Vanasse should be recognized for his bravery and willingness to assist law enforcement.” 

THE AWARD

Recognition for Joe’s sacrifice was well deserved during the Minneapolis Police Department Awards Program.  Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak was present as the Minneapolis Police Chief, Janee Harteau, presented Joe with his award

Learn more about an exciting degree in criminal justice at Globe University downtown Minneapolis here.

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“Yes, you’ve got to love people,” she says. “But, just because you love people and have passion for them, doesn’t mean you will be a good medical assistant. There are other attributes you need to have besides passion to help people.”

Before coming to Globe University, Lisa was a medical assistant for four years at UW Health clinics in Middleton and Mt. Horeb. Currently, Lisa teaches five classes including Introduction to Clinical Skills, and Patient Care Sciences and Certified Medical Assistant I and II.

Recently, Lisa received our campus’s “Faculty Star of the Month” award. With her star status comes wise knowledge. For this reason, I asked Lisa to share several attributes one must have in order to become an amazing medical assistant. Here are her words of wisdom:

1. Passion for People: It’s that love for your patient that drives a medical assistant. If you don’t love people, then you need to be a medical administrative assistant—someone who does the books, coding, etc. If you have any doubts, you should move to a different program.
2. Empathy: Empathy means being able to put yourself in that patient’s situation. Whether they get a diagnosis of cancer, an unwanted pregnancy, or something that they don’t want to hear, you have to be empathetic, not sympathetic. You can’t sit and cry with them, because they need you to be their rock at that point.
3. Attention to Detail: You can have all the passion in the world for people, but if you don’t know how to do a math problem to get a correct dosage calculation, you could potentially kill somebody. It’s that easy to make a mistake. You have to do a multitude of checks and balances to make sure you are drawing up the right medication.  If you are not really focused, it’s probably not a good area to be working in.
4. Dependable: Be on time, all the time, every day when you are expected because in a busy clinic setting, anything goes. If you are consistently late or absent, the people you work with will have to pick up your work. This puts a lot of stress on the people who managed to show up. Not having a baby sitter or your car didn’t start isn’t an excuse. Have back-ups to your back-up plan. Sure, life happens; just don’t make it a habit.
5. Good Attitude: You can be the most book-smart person in a class, but if you don’t have a good attitude when you walk out of your externship, they are not going to hire you. They want somebody who is open and willing to take constructive criticism. You have to have an open mind and attitude to be willing to learn different things. They want upbeat and positive people.
6. Be Flexible: I worked in a plastic surgery clinic where there were 16 plastic surgeons. If you think there is a typical day, there is no such thing as a typical day when you are working with 16 physicians. Some of them fly in for the day, some flights are late, there are emergencies—anything can happen. Everybody likes to have things very organized; it doesn’t happen in a clinic. You have cancellations, no-shows and that will put a damper on your day.
7. Take Initiative: We hope at Globe University-Madison West when we send you out at your externship that if you have a free minute, you are not wasting time surfing the internet. Take initiative; go clean out a drawer or check expiration dates on medications. There is always something to do.  When administration sees you take initiative, they want to hire you. If you are looking to be hired, you have to show them you want it.
8. Desire to Learn: Medical assistants must complete 60 credits of furthering education in order to stay certified. You have to stay up to date on policies and medical procedures. If you are not up on this, you will be left behind. Don’t miss an opportunity to learn something. Just because you have your certification, doesn’t mean you should stop learning.

Do you have what it takes to be a medical assistant? Are you ready to take that next step toward your goal of working in the heal care field? Learn more about the medical assistant program and other health sciences programs at Globe University.

Bre'Yon Sommerville

Bre’Yon doesn’t just work for others—he recently launched a brand-building company called WeSLiM, which stands for We Support Local Independent Musicians. The company’s goal is to provide a platform for local artists/talents to showcase their skills through local events that the organization presents. 

If these two projects weren’t enough, Bre’Yon has also linked up with Madison’s Eastside nonprofit organization, Mentoring Positives, Inc., to produce a documentary about the struggles of growing up in an environment without outlets for success.  His particular role is directing and editing the film, and Will Green, Mentoring Positives’ owner, has given Bre’Yon full creative control. 

Last quarter, Bre’Yon and his fellow Music Industry Club members attended the Self Employment of the Arts (SEA) Conference in Chicago. This conference allows successful entrepreneurs to host workshops and one-on-one meetings with students from all over the Midwest.

Bre’yon said of the event, “I didn’t expect to be as enlightened as I was, and I encourage anyone who’s passionate about anything to go forth and prosper.”

Bre’Yon’s passion for the music industry inspires his focus and dedication to his education at Globe University, where he has made the Dean’s list and scored perfect attendance. Anyone who’s been in class with this talented young man can agree that he keeps the class buzzing. 

Don’t think that he’s more enthusiastic about developing his outside interests, though.  No, education is his priority now. As he says, “Out of all the projects that I have going on outside of school, I’ve always informed these parties that the most important thing for my future at the moment is my education,” he said. 

Bre’Yon plans on walking the graduation stage and earning his AAS degree in September 2014. 

If you want to keep up with all the buzz, check out his music page, connect with him on LinkedIn or follow him on Twitter.

Carlo Esqueda, Clerk of Circuit Court and Register in Probate guides students on a tour of the circuit court system.

Next, the students visited the Wisconsin Law Library to get a feel of where specific research is available. They also learned how to efficiently research case law and files by understanding where the library is and the availability to paralegals.

Finally, at the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Attorney Jonah Horwitz, aid to Justice Michael J. Gableman, gave a tour of the courtroom. Students learned the role of the court system and gained an understanding of how appeals courts work and the types of cases they select to hear. They also learned about the history of the state’s highest court.

“I thought the field trip was awesome,” said Tammy De La Rosa, who is earning her paralegal degree. “I’ve never seen the back end of the circuit court so I thought it was very interesting that we don’t have to present ourselves as anybody when we go to file or get a record from the courts.”

Take a seat. The class was given permission to sit in the Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices' chairs for a fun photo.

Paralegal student Marcus Schiel added, “I thought it was interesting how the Wisconsin State Supreme Court hears more cases than the United States Supreme Court even though the Wisconsin Supreme Court gets fewer cases. I thought the field trip was very informative; I loved every second of it.”

Student Melinda Gehin said, “One thing I thought was interesting was most of public records anybody can access, but there are some records, like the juvenile or guardianship records, that you have to be part of the parties in order to access.”

Marissa Albis, who is earning an associate paralegal degree, concluded, “This was actually my first time I’ve ever been in the Capitol and Supreme Court hearing room. It was pretty cool. It was an awesome field trip. I hope every litigation class gets to do this field trip.”

To check out more photos of their field trip, visit our campus Facebook page.