The Upward Bound program is a federally funded college access initiative that has been hosted by St. Bens since 1995.

The program operates through the federal TRIO program, which provides outreach and support services to over 800,000 low-income, first-generation students across the country.

The TRIO program provides grant money to institutions nationwide to encourage and enable these students to attend college.

Host schools for TRIO programs are facing funding problems all over the country.

The Trump administration has cut TRIO funding for some colleges and has proposed eliminating TRIO altogether, as part of the administration’s efforts to go after diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in higher education, according to an article in the Hechinger Report, a nonprofit covering education.

Over the 30 years the Upward Bound program has existed at CSB, more than 500 participating students completed the program and attended college.

Upward Bound Program Director Alexandra Scheibelhut said she was disappointed in the decision, especially because of the program’s results.

“Our program really works. If you look at the outcomes of our population of students compared to the same population that don’t get our services, our students perform almost three times better,” Scheibelhut said.

The Upward Bound Program hosted by St. Ben’s currently serves 64 first-generation, low-income high school students from around central Minnesota.

The federal grant total of $357,000 is split between salaries of the director, two full- time advisors, five teachers, and 14 student employees (CSB+SJU students), programing, supplies and direct spending for the students, which is housing and food costs for the summer program.

With the cancellation of the grant, Scheibelhut said the most immediate impact will be felt by those currently working for or participating in the program.

“Three people will be out of the job. 64 hearts are going to be broken; 70% of those kids said that this program is lifesaving. I’m worried about the well-being of at least a handful of them,” Scheibelhut said.

Of the federal grant, 8% is discretionary, meaning CSB can choose what to do with the funds.

Historically, 4% of these discretionary funds have been returned into the program to support additional programming, according to Scheibelhut.

This year, CSB decided to stop returning the discretionary 4% of the $357,000 grant. In response, a grievance letter was sent to CSB Senior Leadership on behalf of
the Upward Bound program in December to request a reinstatement of 4-8% of those funds back into the program.

“That 4% is the difference between us being able to sustain the program and us not. When I heard the news that we wouldn’t be getting that 4% back, that’s what prompted me, on behalf of the department, to send a grievance to leadership,” Scheibelhut said.

A letter response to the original grievance from several administration members wrote that the 4-8% discretionary funding would not be returned, and CSB+SJU would not submit any renewal applications for the full grant, ending the program at the end of the grant cycle in August 2027.

The letter cited “increasing financial constraints, including enrollment pressures and uncertainty in federal and state funding” as a primary reason for changing priorities that led to the decision.

In response to questions from The Record about the further process and reasoning behind the decision to end the program, Michael Hemmesch, CSB+SJU’s Director
of Public Relations, responded on behalf of Chief Operating Officer Kara Kolomitz.

He referred The Record to the original announcement sent to staff members on Tuesday morning, which said, “this decision was made thoughtfully and reflects our commitment to aligning programs with the evolving needs of our students and our long‑term strategic goals. It does not diminish the tremendous value Upward Bound has brought to our campus or the positive impact it has had on the students we serve… For the remainder of the current grant period…we remain committed to providing support for the students in the program and to ensuring they continue to have access to the guidance, mentoring and opportunities that help them thrive.”

Scheibelhut said she is unsure about how this decision will impact both the schools and the larger community after the program concludes.

“We’re losing access to a nationwide network of professionals and students who are passionate about going to college and who historically have not had the most
access. So, St. Ben’s is going to lose out on a lot of enrollment aspects,” she said. “Central Minnesota is going to miss out on a more enhanced workforce. Studies have shown that the TRIO grants work in such a way where one federal dollar invested will generate $13 in that community, and that just has to do with students getting degrees and then paying more in taxes — so there’s a benefit to the local economy.”

The event will be held on Feb. 24 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Upper Gorecki and is designed as an interactive Q&A with experienced nurses from a range of specialties.

For students who are still exploring nursing or preparing to enter a program, the panel aims to offer a practical look into what the nursing path may actually involve.

Panelists include a variety of nurses who have different specialties including oncology, CRNA, float pool, pediatrics, medical-surgical, nurse management, OR, PACU &
Proton Beam and Heart Rhythms Service and Device.

CSB senior and Vice President of the Nursing Club Abby Reckinger spoke highly of the upcoming panel.

“The goal of the event is to provide networking and insight into different nursing specialties for nursing students to consider taking in their future,” Reckinger said via
email. “Each nurse shares their journey, what they like about their specialty and the room opens up for a Q and A session.”

CSB sophomore Kyla Smith, a nursing major with a narrative practice minor, reflected on her decision to pursue nursing and her experience in the program.

“My interest in healthcare started early. I first knew nursing was right for me when I was 16-years-old and working as a personal care assistant. Then I joined the military as a combat medic and worked as a CNA too,” Smith said. “These experiences gave me exposure to patient care and confirmed that I was making the right choice by going into nursing.”

She was also drawn to St. Ben’s because of its strong nursing program and learning environment focused on caring for others.

According to Smith, coursework is heavily exam-based and requires consistent preparation before class meetings, and she emphasized that flexibility is necessary because schedules can change often and expectations are high.

Group work is common, and she described the program as tight knit, with students learning a lot from each other.

The biggest challenge, Smith said, is managing the volume of work while building confidence.

“Staying organized is one part, but believing you belong in the program is another,” Smith said. “Over time, gaining confidence comes from preparation, repetition
and support from classmates and instructors.”

Clinical rotations are another area students often want to understand better, and panels like this one are meant to help clarify what those experiences look like.

Early clinical work often includes pediatrics, obstetrics and geriatrics.

Smith said events like the nursing panel give students space to ask about the workload, specialties, clinical rotations, scheduling and career options.

They also allow students to hear multiple perspectives instead of a single path.

She encourages students to get some exposure to healthcare before committing to the major and to build the right mindset going in.

“Panels do not make the decision for students, but they can make the picture clearer. Hearing honest answers, daily realities, and different career directions helps students prepare better questions—and better plans—for what comes next,” Smith said.

Another student perspective comes from CSB sophomore Ceci Freund, a transfer student who previously attended a community college nursing program in North
Dakota and is now completing nursing prerequisites at CSB+SJU.

Freund said her current experience is shaped by balancing school, responsibilities and personal life.

“The biggest challenge for me has been managing stress and the pressure to succeed in such a competitive program,” Fruend said. “I handle that by adjusting my schedule to how I work best, usually leaving afternoons for errands and rest and doing focused homework at night.”

While she has not yet started new clinical rotations in her current program, she says past hands-on experiences showed her how quickly real practice makes classroom knowledge click.

She also leans on people close to her and stresses the importance of not giving up after setbacks.

“Failure often leads to better learning the next time around,” Fruend said.

The annual fair brings together students from across Minnesota’s private colleges with employers who are actively looking to hire.

Roseann Bailey, External Engagement and Office of Undergraduate Research Program Manager, said the event is one of the most valuable opportunities available to students throughout the academic year.

“There are employers there that are ready to hire. They’re ready to hire interns, they’re ready to hire summer employees, they’re ready to hire for professional jobs,” Bailey said.

While the career fair is a must-attend event for juniors and seniors actively seeking internships or full-time positions, Bailey emphasized that underclassmen have just as much to gain from showing up.

For freshmen and sophomores, the fair serves as a low-pressure introduction to professional networking.

Students can begin practicing their elevator pitches, learn how to initiate and exit conversations with employers and start building the communication skills that will serve them in future job searches.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a freshman, sophomore or junior; you can always use more practice,” Bailey said.

She also said the fair is an ideal setting for students who are still undecided about their career direction.

Simply having conversations with professionals from a range of industries can help students narrow their focus or realize that a path they thought they wanted
isn’t quite the right fit.

“Just having those conversations helps open those doors for them to realize that, hey, this is definitely a direction I want to go, or maybe this isn’t,” Bailey said.

New this year, the XPD office hosted an alumni speed networking dinner the evening before the career fair, running from 6 to 8 p.m. in Upper Gorecki.

The event, which replaced the traditional day-of lunch held in previous years, was designed to give students a chance to prepare and build confidence before they
stepped onto the fair floor.

Approximately 20 alumni attended, bringing with them professional experience and a firsthand understanding of what it’s like to be in the students’ shoes.

“They were in the same place as all of you at one point,” Bailey said.

During the dinner, alumni worked with students on practical professional skills: refining elevator pitches, getting comfortable with networking conversation and even
learning how to gracefully exit a conversation, a skill that often goes overlooked but can make a big difference in a high-energy networking environment.

Bailey was quick to clarify what the dinner was and wasn’t meant to be.

Students weren’t expected to attend and land a job or internship on the spot.

Instead, the focus was on preparation.

“The alumni are here to help the students prep and be ready,” Bailey said.

Attendees also enjoyed a build-your-own burrito bowl while they networked.

Students interested in attending were encouraged to sign up in advance, though Bailey noted that last-minute arrivals were welcome.

“If there are a few that show up, we are not going to complain. We want this to be for everyone,” Bailey said.

For Bailey and the XPD team, the career fair is about more than just landing a job.

It’s about building habits and skills that students will carry with them long after graduation.

“The more you can get in front of employers, the better. Not only to expand their knowledge of how to network, but to understand what employers are looking for and how to communicate with them,” Bailey said.

CSB+SJU students Da’sha Gray, Bailey Link and Maxwell McCoy worked together and won third place in the competition.

Ideas and projects were presented to a judging panel consisting of individuals from MPR News, the Glen Nelson Center, The Current, YourClassical and the MPR and American Public Media (APM) board of trustees.

This showcase and competition challenged students from across the state to create an idea to improve their community and engage younger individuals in local media.

MPR hosted several workshops leading up to the event, engaging with students and identifying the opportunities that can be found in public media.

With over 80 students participating in these workshops, six teams were chosen to present in MPR’s showcase.

MPR staff and community members acted as supervisors to support the chosen teams and lead them to success.

The CSB+SJU team titled their project “Get in the Know”, a proposal that was grounded in the idea that young people are the audience of right now, not the future of public radio.

Get in the Know is a conversation-based show hosted by young voices that brings together two student guests who may hold opposing views on a timely topic.

This show would invite these two students into conversation, welcoming a healthy dialogue alongside an expert.

According to the CSB+SJU student’s proposal to MPR, they described this show saying, “the goal is not to win arguments. It is to model thoughtful
disagreement, accountability and curiosity.”

Another element to their show is that student guests are not only there to have conversation with each other, but to put the expert on the spot and ask direct questions.

This offers a balanced dynamic between young voices and experts, mainly centering around the younger perspectives.

Student participation drives each episode as they have the opportunity to vote on topics, submit questions and be guests.

This proposed show would be featured across YouTube, Spotify and public radio stations, utilizing digital platforms to connect with younger audiences and expand the reach of public media.

Gray, a senior at CSB, was one of the third place team members representing CSB+SJU at this year’s MPR showcase and competition.

When asked about what excited her most about this opportunity, she shared that it was exciting to bring Get in the Know to life in a creative way and seeing audience reactions in real time.

Gray served as the narrator for their demonstration of Get in the Know alongside teammates Link and McCoy, in which their presentation at MPR headquarters ended with a live demo of what the show would look like.

In reflection of this experience, Gray said, “It was really meaningful to see all the time and intention we put into the project come together in a way that felt real and impactful.”

Gray first got involved by attending MPR’s Voices for Impact workshop at the Reinhart Learning Commons. Ethan Wittrock, an Instructional Technology Specialist at CSB+SJU and advisor for both Johnnie Bennie Media and Extending the Link, introduced this opportunity to Gray.

After pitching show ideas to her group alongside three other teams, Gray and her teammates were notified that they were selected to advance to the finals at MPR.

When asked about her main takeaway from this event, Gray said, “Gen Z still wants to be informed and involved in what is happening around us. We just need more spaces that invite us into the conversation and allow us to share what truly matters to us, as well as how we prefer to receive information and entertainment. We are not just the future generation. Our impact is happening right now.”

Link, another team member, shared how she learned a lot about the new efforts MPR is taking to increase youth involvement in public media.

Link’s entrepreneurship course taught by Professor Bardia Bijani influenced her participation in this project as students who got involved would receive extra credit.

Due to her team making it to the MPR showcase, Link was able to see the entrepreneurial mindset firsthand that she learned about in class.

“I thought the whole process that MPR was taking by visiting local college campuses, talking to students in person about their ideas and inviting them to their headquarters was very innovative and showed a lot of initiative from MPR employees,” Link said.

As in-person events, networking opportunities and interviews return, it’s time to get back out there — and to do so in style.

To help college students prepare, the Bennies in Business Club and the Experience Hub joined together in collaboration with the Bennie and Johnnie Career Closets on Wednesday, Feb. 11 to host a special “Dress for Success” event.

While the concept behind the event is not new, this was the first time that it was designed for both Bennies and Johnnies, as well as the first time that the Experience
Hub has been a part of it, hosting it in their XPD lounge.

Whether preparing for the upcoming Dinner with Alums event, Minnesota Private Colleges Fair or future interviews, the goal was to encourage students to be mindful of how they show up in professional settings.

“The main purpose is to get people more confident in what they are wearing and feeling good for any type of situation,” Izzy Gonzalez, CSB senior and Vice President of Bennies in Business, said.

The event began with a presentation by guest speaker Dr. Carol Bruess.

Bruess, who holds an undergraduate degree in art and design and a PhD in communication, opened by sharing her own interest in fashion alongside her expertise
in communication and self-presentation.

“I think everyone can attest that she’s just super awesome and has had so many great life experiences that she’s been able to share with our student body,” Gonzalez said, concerning why she chose Bruess as the speaker. “A lot of us want to emulate her style and so many [students] look up to her.”

Bruess framed the talk around a central question: Why should students care about how they dress?

“I like to frame this presentation as: Why should you care? Because we are always, intentionally or unintentionally, sending messages about ourselves,” Bruess said. “One cannot not communicate.”

Drawing on research, Bruess highlighted how clothing can influence behavior and performance.

She cited a study from the Journal of Social, Psychological and Personality Science in which participants wore either formal business attire or casual clothing before completing cognitive tests.

“Essentially, wearing formal business attire increased subjects’ ability to do abstract thinking,” Bruess said.

She also pointed to other findings connecting dress and appearance to confidence and performance, factors that play a large role in professional environments.

Additionally, Bruess shared with students some practical wardrobe advice, emphasizing that dressing well does not have to be expensive.

“You do not have to spend a dime to dress in a way that will not distract from your goals in the professional world,” Bruess said.

She encouraged students to borrow from friends, take advantage of the Bennie and Johnnie career closets, use an iron, pick up a thread and needle from Clemens’s
Makerspace and ensure that clothes fit properly.

The presentation also addressed the often-enigmatic language of dress codes, such as “business casual,” “cocktail attire” and “black tie optional.”

Bruess advised students to research expectations within specific contexts.

“It’s your job to find out what this means,” Bruess said. “Ask your supervisor, ask the other interns, look at the company’s social media pages and figure it out.”

While keeping in mind professional expectations, Bruess urges students to embrace personal style and self-expression.

“I love mid-century fit-and-flare dresses, I love men’s wear with a little twist, I love the way colors work together,” Bruess said of her own fashion influences. “So, get creative but be yourself.”

Following Bruess’ talk, the event shifted to an interactive format.

Students could receive free professional headshots through the Experience Hub for LinkedIn profiles and future job applications, as well as resume-building assistance.

The Bennie and Johnnie’s Career Closets also brought in clothes to demonstrate appropriate attire for different professional settings, with opportunities for students to take some items home with them.

Gonzalez said that she appreciated Bruess’s insight and hoped this event was helpful to the Bennies and Johnnies who attended.

Students from all 18 member institutions of the Minnesota Private College Council attend this event to advocate for the State Grant and other causes that they are passionate about.

Ahead of Day at the Capitol, the students attending receive training, either on their home campus or virtually, to understand and learn how to effectively advocate for both the State Grant and other causes that they find interest in.

75,700 Minnesotan students receive some level of State Grant.

44% of students from Minnesota who attend a college in-state receive a grant, according to the Minnesota Private College Council.

The grant program has a state-wide impact, with its goals being to help low-and middle-income families, increase graduation rates, encourage students to stay in Minnesota for their higher education and hold down student borrowing.

There has been a state grant shortfall in recent years.

In 2024, there was a 240-million-dollar state grant shortfall, causing more than half of the program to fall short in funding.

The current school year and next school year are facing another shortfall, this time with 102 million dollars.

This shortfall will impact around 600 CSB+SJU students directly.

“The most powerful voices are the voices of the students who receive the grants… it’s really important to speak up, whether it’s coming to the Capitol or even just writing a letter or an email to their legislators to say how important these grants are, that they make such a difference to [students’] ability to be in college,” said Paul Cerkvenik, the president of the Minnesota Private College Council and the Minnesota Private College Fund.

The event kicks off with all the students meeting to hear from Council staff members.

Students are given cards to write to assigned legislators to advocate for the State Grant.

From there, students head to legislative meetings where they can deliver their notes to their legislators.

The legislative meetings are set up in advance for students, often taking place in small groups or one-on-one settings.

If students are State Grant recipients, the goal is to have them meet with their legislators that represent their hometown in Minnesota.

For out-of-state students, they meet with the legislators that represent their institution.

Lucy Farley, a CSB senior, attended Day at the Capitol in the past.

Farley is an out-of-state student and mentioned that her experience was slightly different.

“Speaking up for Minnesota private colleges and the issues that affect my peers reminded me that effective advocacy isn’t just about where you’re from, but it’s about standing up for the people around you. It reinforced how important it is to listen first, understand the issues and then share your voice thoughtfully,” Farley said via email.

The meeting with legislators may happen in an office, but the capitol is chaotic during legislative sessions, so it isn’t always the case that these meetings take place around a table.

“Sometimes it’s a walking and talking meeting. So, they’re walking through the tunnels of the Capitol Complex, talking about the State Grant and getting to know their legislators,” said Olivia Brammer, the Advocacy and Communications Coordinator at Minnesota Private College Council. “Other times they’re meeting in the rotunda or pulling someone off the House floor. So that kind of adds to the excitement of the day too, with how those meetings take place, and where they happen.”

The goal is for every student to meet with both a member from the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Students also have the opportunity to tour the State Capitol throughout the day.

To wrap up the day, there is a discussion to debrief how the day went, what students learned and how the meetings went.

While the focus of the event is for students to advocate for the State Grant, there is room for students to advocate for what they are passionate about.

Participants are able to learn how to advocate and use their voices for what they believe in.

“When students come for Day at the Capitol, we want them to speak about the State Grant, but they often also have conversations with legislators about other issues that they care about, [it] could be the environment or it could be taxes or anything… they get to have a conversation with their legislator. In that process, they’re learning how to help influence the decisions that are being made by our state government,” Cerkvenik said.

Registration for Day at the Capitol closes on Feb. 17 at midnight.

“It was inspiring to see how student voices can make a difference and reminded me that civic engagement isn’t just important, it’s powerful. I hope more students take the chance to step into these spaces and see how much impact they can have,” Farley said via email.

The conversation invited students to learn about the unwritten rules of college and provide strategies to help them do their best.

This event was held within the Multicultural Event Space, facilitated by Jesus Medina Jr. (SJU ‘25) and Multicultural Center Director Malik Stewart.

The Multicultural Center aims to educate and uplift all students and to develop cultural awareness and agility.

Their services are extensive, including first-generation student support, international student services, multicultural and LGBTQ+ programming and a variety of workshops and trainings.

The Voices at the Table series is meant to be about creating an inclusive space that welcomes and engages students in an open dialogue, specifically about finding a sense of belonging within higher education, with a focus on allowing students to share personal experiences and identity, community building and maintenance through meaningful conversations.

The Voices at the Table: Hidden Curriculum dove into the hidden curriculum in higher education and the effects that it has on students.

After attending the event, the Multicultural Center hopes that students will learn to recognize these unwritten rules and find ways to find solutions to uncover success in higher education.

One of the hosts, Jesus Medina Jr., graduated from CSB+SJU this past year.

His focus is to build community, support students and help them flourish inside and outside the classroom.

In providing this support to students, Medina hopes to create spaces where students feel encouraged and empowered to be themselves and reach their goals.

When asked why holding the Voices at the Table event is important, Medina said, “Holding this event is important as many students are affected by not knowing about the hidden curriculum when coming to college. I want to provide this space for students to help them learn about it.”

Medina will act as a guide and leader for not only this week’s Multicultural Center event, but also future events involving the Voices at the Table series.

Medina hopes that the students who attended this program learn to understand the hidden curriculum, learning how it can affect success and assist them in finding solutions that ultimately support their accomplishments at CSB+SJU.

Medina will host this event alongside Malik Stewart, Assistant Dean of Multicultural Services.

Stewart has been with CSB+SJU since 2014, assisting with student development and guidance.

His goal with students is to help them decide on majors, explore careers, navigate relationships with friends and family while in college and uncover being the “only” in a classroom or team setting.

With the Voices at the Table event kicking off a series of events, Malik Stewart reflected on what the Hidden Curriculum event means for students.

“Understanding the hidden curriculum is like finding small hacks that help increase your confidence navigating campus life. I hope students leave with a clearer understanding of how college really works.” Stewart said.

Besides the Understanding the Hidden Curriculum event, the Multicultural Center created a series of conversations all under the title Voices at the Table.

These upcoming events will be held from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Multicultural Center, spanning from February to April.

Topics that will be featured in the Voices at the Table events include Navigating Impostor Syndrome, Power of Mentoring, Cultura y Mental Health and Navigating Relationships at Home.

This event series is meant to assist students in learning about new perspectives and ideas all within a safe space where conversation is encouraged, and connections can be made.

The Literary Arts Institute aims to foster creative writing, publishing and interaction between students and writers.

They said they work to bring authors to CSB + SJU so that the community can benefit from the knowledge, expertise and entertainment from their words.

Director of LAI and Professor of English Matthew Harkins welcomed Boully, describing her work as experimental and inventive, before reading the land acknowledgment.

Boully began by sharing a coming-of-age piece, called “pet cemetery”, that takes place in her hometown of San Antonio, Texas and will be in her forthcoming memoir, which has been two years in the making.

The essay discusses her childhood, relationship with her mother and her desire to find love.

“Joseph had been my way out; he was the darkest thing that could take me away from me,” Boully said in her essay, alluding to the fact that she used romance as a way to distract from her own troubles and fears.

Her essay “pet cemetery” also discusses the process of loss and reinvention that she faced while growing up and watching her mother’s relationships.

After the reading, she then took questions from students and faculty in attendance.

When asked what time of day she typically writes, Boully said that she works best right when she wakes up because the language is coming easily and she is in a “dreamish state.”

She was also asked what the best advice she ever received was.

“It’s okay to write about the same thing over and over again, because life and different parts of life filter through,” Boully said in response.

Boully is the author of six books: Betwixt-and-Between: Essays on the Writing Life, not merely because of the unknown that was stalking toward them, The Book of Beginnings and Endings: Essays, [one love affair], of the mismatched teacups, of the single-serving spoon: a book of failures and The Body: An Essay.

She talked about the reason that she first got published was only because of her persistence.

She said that rejection is a part of the process, and when she finally got published in her first magazine, it was more gratifying because of her previous failures.

Boully specializes in “experimental and inventive creative nonfiction,” a genre that she herself said was rather unorthodox.

During the Q&A, she said that following curiosity is the most important quality to have as a writer – allowing the essay to take you somewhere new.

“The best of the strangest nonfiction writers possesses an amazing ability to morph and bend,” Boully said.

This workshop series aims to prepare students to encounter AI in the workplace, especially for recent graduates and interns.

CSB+SJU staff say they were motivated to create this series to help students use AI while being aware of their ethical obligations and AI’s limitations.

Alquin librarian Kelly Butorac has been working on this workshop series.

“We thought it would be a great opportunity for students to learn more about generative AI, how to use it ethically and responsibly, and how it is currently being used in the workplace,” Butorac said. “While generative AI can be useful and often a timesaver, there are many things to consider when using these tools […] It’s important to remember that AI is just another tool in one’s tool belt, and it shouldn’t replace critical thinking skills.”

The series will be split between four workshop events, each with their own AI-related topic.

The first event in the series is the Fundamentals of AI workshop.

This event will cover the developmental process of creating artificial intelligence and the innerworkings of generative AI models.

An overview of AI ethics will also be discussed.

The second event is AI Tools & Strategies.

This workshop will introduce students to various AI tools and help them practice using these systems.

The third workshop is the AI Employer Panel.

Employers from various fields will come to tell students about the ways AI is being used in their professions.

The fourth workshop is AI & Future Planning.

This event will show students how to use AI for job applications, interviews, and professional development, paired with the skills learned from the previous events.

“Recent graduates – and interns – are often asked to learn a new technology or lead the efforts at their companies with a new technology, and we want to set students up for success.

Our goal for the series is that students will walk away feeling confident in their knowledge of generative AI, will know how to use the tools responsibly, will gain insight
on how it is being used in the “real world,” and will learn how to use it in their job search,” Butorac said when asked about her hopes for the series.

Students are invited to attend any of the events in the workshop series and encouraged to attend all four to gain a certificate of completion.

Students that attend will be entered into a give-away for a Gary’s Pizza gift card.

“The more sessions someone attends, the more chances there are to win,” Butorac said.

Registration is not required, but it is encouraged.

Butorac also said she wants to hear student input through these events.

Students that register for the workshop events will get to share their ideas for future educational events.

For students unable to register before the event, she encourages them to reach out to the Student Engagement Librarian, Sarah Gewirtz, to share their ideas for events to follow the completion of this workshop series.

“We would love to hear what questions students have or what they would like to learn more about,” Butorac said.

The first workshop will be held on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 5 p.m. in Quad 264.

The second workshop will be held Thursday, Feb. 26 at 5 p.m. in Quad 170.

The third workshop will be held Thursday, March 5 at 5 p.m. in Quad 170.

The fourth workshop will be held Thursday, March 12 at 5 p.m. in Quad 264.

Students can optionally register for each event through the CSBSJULibraries and CSBSJU_XPD Instagram pages.

Four past and present staff members of The Record attended the awards ceremony on Jan. 29 at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest in Brooklyn Park to accept the awards, given for work completed during the 2024-25 academic year.

“Our staff works hard to ensure we produce the best quality news for our communities, and it’s great to be recognized in this way for what we do,” The Record’s editor-in-chief Kayla Anderson said. “As always, I’m grateful for all of our talented student editors, writers and photographers, and especially our incredible Advisor Kelly Smith.”

The Better Newspaper Contest is held every year as part of the MNA’s annual convention.

This year marked the 159th convention and trade show, which is one of the top state news media association conventions in the U.S.

“We’re in a very unique position at these schools, since we don’t have a dedicated journalism program,” The Record’s managing editor Kate Stearns said. “But despite this, The Record is consistently taking top honors in multiple categories year after year.”

In addition to a 3rd place finish in general excellence, the staff took home 11 individual awards in the following categories: government/ public affairs reporting, business story, news photo, feature photo, photo story, columnist and editorial.

These individual awards were presented to current staff members Kayla Anderson and Erin Thom, current student Summer Langva, and CSB+SJU alumni Andrew Adams, Martha Dougherty, Macy Ellis, T Meier, Graham Miller and Em Karsten.

“The Record is a really special part of CSB+SJU campus life, and we’re proud to be part of a long- standing legacy of exceptional people that make this paper what it is,” Anderson said.