May 21 Safe Return update

Greetings Colleagues,

After careful consideration, the College will continue its COVID-19 protocols, including face coverings for indoor spaces on the Duluth, Health Science Center and St. Cloud campus sites until May 28, 2021 (embedded site locations are encouraged to follow the guidance outlined at our campus partner institutions). This decision is based on the fact that the College anticipates further guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health following the Governor’s most recent announcements. In addition, May 28 is in line with the Governor’s executive order to lift occupancy and distancing restrictions for businesses.

Face coverings

After May 28, face coverings will be optional for indoor spaces at the Duluth, Health Science Center and St. Cloud campuses. Per MDH and CDC guidance, those who are not vaccinated are strongly encouraged to continue wearing face coverings for their safety as well as those around them. Additionally, those who are vaccinated but wish to continue wearing face coverings are also encouraged to do so. Please be mindful and respectful of one another’s decisions and refrain from judgment. We are in this together as Community.

Physical distancing

After May 28, we continue to highly recommend maintaining a physical distance of at least 6′ in all public spaces on campus per MDH guidelines.

Get vaccinated

Minnesota’s statewide case rates continue to decline and the seven-day, rolling average test positivity rate is now below 5%. As of today, 61.9% of residents 16 years and older have received their first vaccine dose and 53.7% of residents 16 years and older have been fully vaccinated.

Vaccines are safe, effective and one of the best measures you can take to prevent getting or spreading COVID-19. We strongly encourage everyone to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Information and resources can be found on the Saints Rise Up Safe Return website.

Thank you for your patience and for your care of one another. We will continue to update our Saints Rise Up Safe Return website over the next couple of weeks to reflect adjustments to our COVID-19 protocols. As always, our community’s safety remains at the heart of all our decision-making.

Athletics updates

With two sports still competing, the Saints are ending the year on a very high note. We congratulate all of our student athletes and thank our coaching and administrative staff for their success and resilience during this challenging year!

Women’s Golf recently returned from their trip to the NCAA National Championship in Lancing, MI, and recorded their best total score in program history at the NCAA Championship.

Although the Softball team, who were crowned regular-season champions and earned the right to host the UMAC Championship, fell short this past weekend, numerous players received end of the season accolades. Major award recipients include Olivia Howe (UMAC Player and Pitcher of the Year), Grace Hadlich (UMAC Rookie of the Year), and Rilee Dawson (UMAC Coach of the Year). Six Saints were also named First Team All-UMAC including Haley Rosenthal, Olivia Howe, Grace Hadlich, Nicole Anders, Aisland Dail, and Toni Bishop. Howe and Dail were also named First Team All-Midwest Region while Hadlich was named to the second team and Rosenthal was named third team. The Saints finished the season with a record of 32-8.

Men’s Tennis traveled to Chicago to compete in the first round of the NCAA Championship Tournament and fell short to Illinois Tech. This was the team’s second NCAA Tournament appearance and the team finished 10-5 on the year.

Baseball (18-7) is currently competing at UNW as the second seed at the UMAC Championship which is being held from Thursday through Saturday.

Track and Field is also on the road for their last regular season contest and will await an announcement for NCAA qualifiers.

Career Champion Award Winners

Career Services would like to recognize this year’s Career Champion award winners. Every year Career Services selects faculty, staff or departments who we feel have gone above and beyond to support students in their professional development, experience building and pursuit of meaningful work.

This year’s recipients have intentionally integrated career preparation assignments into courses, spent additional time with students in career-related conversations, supported students in professional development, as well as made referrals and connections. The work of Career Services can only be done in collaboration with our campus community and we are so grateful for all those partnerships.

Please join us in congratulating the 2020-2021 Career Champion Award Winners:

• Lynn Kalnbach
• Megan Perry-Spears
• Elyse Carter Vosen
• Ryan Ihrke
• Student Support Services Staff
• Football Coaching Staff

Mary, Carrie and Andrea from the Career Services team offer their sincere gratitude to these awardees! Congratulations again, and thank you for all the ways you support our Benedictine mission!

Honoring the Classes of 2020 and 2021

Heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to last week’s Grad Walk and Virtual Commencement celebrations! We had 544 participants in our Saturday, May 15 Grad Walk, including 104 graduates from the Class of 2020. We also had 80 dedicated volunteers who came together to honor our graduates safely and innovatively. Thanks again to Michele Runberg for her efforts in coordinating this special event and to all the volunteers who participated. We had such positive feedback from students and families; this opportunity to celebrate was much appreciated and our Benedictine values of hospitality and community were strongly present!

In case you missed it, our Grad Walk was picked up by WDIO and Fox 21 last weekend.

School of Sciences Student Award Winners

The School of Sciences is proud to announce their 2020-21 Student Award Winners! Congratulations to these 19 inspiring, dedicated awardees. You make us proud!

***A note about future College Updates: With a shift in pace over the summer, beginning  May 28, we will transition from a weekly to biweekly College Update communication. College Updates will be distributed on June 11, June 25, July 9 and July 23. Weekly updates will resume on August 6. In between biweekly College Updates, you’re encouraged to share your news as a Targeted Announcement on our my.CSS intranet. Any time-sensitive administrative announcements will be delivered via email as necessary.

It’s been quite a year, actually 14 months, under pandemic conditions. We have come together in new ways, adapting to the challenges and never losing sight of our St. Scholastica mission. I am truly grateful for your sacrifices, hard work, and commitment, and very proud of what has been accomplished throughout these trying times.

I hope you take time to “unplug,” refresh your mind and spirit, and find balance and blessings in your living over the coming summer months. Thank you for a successful academic year!

Barbara