Anoka-Ramsey Community College announces five new degree programs for spring semester 2010 to meet the needs of students and area businesses and organizations.

The new programs are broken into two broad categories: Business and Humanities.

New Business-related degree programs include:

• Associate in Science in Business Industry and Technology
• Associate in Science in Human Resources
• Associate in Science in Sales Management

“We are thrilled to offer these three new programs in response to community demand,” says Robin Robatcek, the college’s Director of Business, Biomedical and Technology. “As with all of our programming, these were designed with input from our educational institution and employer partnerships. In the case of Business-related programs, our Business Division Advisory Board Committee reviews course and program content to ensure the needs and current conditions of the workplace are of foremost consideration.”

• New Humanities-related degree programs include:
• Associate in Arts with an Arts emphasis
• Associate in Arts in Psychology

Ideas for new academic programs emerge from faculty, administration, advisory committees and as a result of strategic or academic planning.

Before new programs are developed, the college rigorously researches the demand for graduates and student interest. Metro Alliance, non-Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, private and for-profit college programs are also reviewed for evidence of program duplication.

Degrees from Anoka-Ramsey are designed to translate into immediate employment or to transfer to a four-year institution.

Currently Anoka-Ramsey offers more than 90 degree, certificate and non-credit career enhancement programs to serve the Twin Cities’ metropolitan area and East Central Minnesota.

For more information about the exciting career and transfer programs at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, visit www.AnokaRamsey.edu.

Anoka-Ramsey Community College men’s soccer player Mulenga Kapungulya has been named a first-team All-American soccer player by the NJCAA.

Anoka-Ramsey Community College sophomore forward Mulenga Kapungulya has been named a first-team All-American soccer player by the NJCAA.

Kapungulya, recognized as one of the top scorers in the nation, was part of Anoka-Ramsey’s newly formed men’s soccer team which, in its first season this year, took the Region XIII Championship.

“Mulenga is a great soccer player, and a fantastic kid with a very, very bright future ahead of him,” says Anoka-Ramsey’s men’s soccer coach Brady Eichhorn-Hicks.

“This award is important because it recognizes Mulenga as one of the top men’s soccer players in the country at the Division III level,” says the college’s Athletic Director, Dave Alto.  “It is also a great honor for our first year program to have an All-American.”

The Anoka-Ramsey team finished 8-5-1 this season, playing into the semi-finals of the District IV playoffs and a #16 national ranking.

For more information about the championship teams and award-winning players at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, visit www.AnokaRamsey.edu.

Anoka-Ramsey Community College Humanities Faculty member, Kirsten Dierking (right) smiles after receiving the Islamic Resource Group’s Building Bridges Award in the Education category from Imani Jaafar-Mohammad representing the group.

Anoka-Ramsey Community College Humanities Faculty member, Kirsten Dierking was recently recognized by the Islamic Resource Group (IRG) with their Building Bridges Award.

Dierking was presented the award for her efforts in her “Women in a Global Perspective” class which examines issues of gender and cultural diversity around the world. She has worked with the Islamic Resource Group to engage speakers to present and discuss issues concerning women and Islam to her students.

“My students consistently comment that these dialogues are key to correcting inaccurate perceptions of Islam as a whole, and particularly misconceptions regarding the lives of Muslim women,” says Dierking.

“I interact with many attorneys and judges,” says attorney Imani Jaafar-Mohammad, who presented at the award ceremony. “Kirsten’s students are more educated about Islam and Muslims than many attorneys and judges I give presentations to.”

At the banquet, Dierking received the group’s Education award. Awards were also presented in Interfaith, Media and Community Leadership categories.

The Minnesota based Islamic Resource Group is a non-profit organization with the mission to build bridges of understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims through educational programs, such as presentations at K-12 schools, colleges and universities, media agencies and faith-based organizations, as well as training for professionals  in healthcare, law and education.  For more information about the group, visit www.irgmn.org.

For more information about the award-winning faculty at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, visit www.AnokaRamsey.edu.

The Anoka-Ramsey Community College Concert Choir and Chamber Singers present a free, public concert, “Music That Tells A Story,” at Faith Lutheran Church (11115 Hanson Blvd. NW, Coon Rapids), Thursday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m.

The concert features the oratorio “Elijah” by Felix Mendelssohn, and more than 70 singers from the college, performing under the direction of Melissa Bergstrom, Music Faculty member.

In addition to the oratorio, the choir will perform more contemporary and well-loved works, such as “A Musicological Journey through the 12 Days of Christmas,” Egil Hovland’s “Saul,” “Prayer of the Children” for four-part men’s chorus and “Witness” the traditional African-American spiritual, arranged by Jack Halloran.

Jim Jordan, guest organist, will accompany the choir during “Elijah” and “Saul.”

For more information about this free, public concert or the Music programs at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, visit www.AnokaRamsey.edu

Anoka-Ramsey Community College is proud to announce Saturday College, a simple program that allows busy, working people to get a Monday through Friday education on Saturday.

Check out all that can be done in Saturday College at Anoka-Ramsey.

• Eight weeks of web-enhanced courses can lead to an associate in arts degree in just five semesters.
• Three semesters of Saturday College can result in completed generals to transfer to a four-year degree program.
• 16-week courses in English and reading can provide a refresher before beginning regular college courses.
• A one-credit course in Educational Planning could set a student on a great career course.
• Art, writing, psychology and business courses could be great for Saturday scholars and lifelong learners.

Anyone who is interested can take Saturday courses though they are specifically designed for working adults who recognize the need for more education, but still need to maintain their family, and professional and personal obligations.

New or returning students can attend full or part time.

Saturday College is a complete college experience, based on a traditional curriculum that has been redesigned to meet the schedules of today’s busy schedules.

Small classes allow for personalized instruction from Anoka-Ramsey’s outstanding faculty, and Web-enhanced courses mean students can completed courses in an eight-week semester by doing half the coursework online.

For students looking for generals to transfer, Anoka-Ramsey has efficiently scheduled three routes to complete generals in just three semesters. Each path offers a slightly different theme—sociopolitical, scientific or cultural.

Here’s an example of one Saturday College path to completing generals over three semesters:

Paths are currently being developed for students seeking to complete an entire associate in arts degree in five semesters, and over the next three semesters, courses will be offered in a variety of subject areas including:

• Art
• Biology
• Biomedical
• Chemistry
• Economics
• English
• Humanities
• Math
• Philosophy
• Speech/Theatre

For more information, visit www.AnokaRamsey.edu/classes/SaturdayCollege.aspx.

Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids Campus Cheer for the Holidays Food Drive and Toys for Tots drive combine forces this year in hopes of driving more charitable giving. The public is invited to contribute too. 

On Nov. 16, students, faculty, staff and visitors at the Coon Rapids Campus began collection sites for the two holiday programs. 

Cheer for the Holidays is the Phi Theta Kappa chapter’s name for their annual food drive to benefit local families needing help in providing a festive holiday meal.  Donations are collected by Christmas Committee, Inc., a local non-profit organization that distributes literally tons of food and 10,000 toys to 1400 families and 100 homebound people from Anoka County each holiday season.

 Anoka-Ramsey’s Veterans’ Services Center is acting as liaison for Toys for Tots, the national collection and distribution program coordinated by the U.S. Marine Corps.  New, unwrapped toys are requested, and will be distributed in the area’s local communities.

Four drop-off sites have been established. Three are at the Coon Rapids Campus:

• Across from Institutional Advancement Office Rm. L20
•   Business/Nursing Bulge
•   Veterans Services Office Rm. L124

A fourth site is off-campus at the Integrative Health and Healing Center located at the corner of Coon Rapids Blvd. and Round Lake Blvd. 

In addition to the chance to donate food and toys, volunteers are needed to help sort, organize and give out the donations from Dec. 15-18. 

For more information about the program or to join in the community giving, contact the Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids Campus Phi Theta Kappa President, Angela Kealey at keal003@metnet.edu.

Anoka-Ramsey Community College Cambridge Campus Guitar Ensemble and Concert Choir is practiced and ready to entertain faculty, fellow students and the public at a free, annual concert, Thursday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m., Rm. G202 Lecture Hall. 

Directed by college Music Faculty members, Eric Anderson and Sharri VanAlstine, the ensemble and choir will perform songs of the season. 

Choir, a mixed choral ensemble, is offered to students as either an activity or for credit. The group performs concerts each semester. 

For more information about the concert, including directions to the college, or the college’s music programs, visit www.AnokaRamsey.edu or call 763-433-1255.

In the tradition of student support, art work by Anoka-Ramsey Community College Art Faculty members, Mark Lambert and Mary Roettger, along with work by friends of the college, will be raffled to raise funds for the Perpetual Clay Scholarship, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 7 p.m., at the Coon Rapids Campus Rm. 272. 

All tickets sold are guaranteed to win. Tickets sold for $50 are drawn first, followed by tickets for $20. Everyone purchasing a ticket will leave with an original piece of art.

Perpetual Clay Scholarship was so named because scholarship recipients are required to donate a piece of their own work to a future raffle to keep the funds in the scholarship at a certain level and insure it continues perpetually. The sale of recycled clay by the college Art Department also funds the scholarship.

For more information about the raffle/auction or to purchase a raffle ticket, call 763-433-1307. For more information about fine art offerings, including an associate in Fine Arts degree and events at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, visit www.AnokaRamsey.edu .

Anoka-Ramsey Community College’s student Chemistry Club and Engineering & Physics Club are putting out a call to future scientists, engineers, businesses and the public with a presentation: Powering the Planet with Renewable Energy, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2 to 3 p.m., Coon Rapids Campus Courtyard Commons.

Guest speaker, Howard Creel, Ph.D, a Research Scientist at 3M Renewable Energy Division and adjunct faculty in the college’s Chemistry Department, will discuss electricity, carbon dioxide and renewable sources, such as wind and the sun and the energy challenge means that is creating an exciting time in the careers of engineers or scientists.

The public is invited to attend. Refreshments will be served.

For more information about the timely events offered at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, visit www.AnokaRamsey.edu.

The journey to the NJCAA National Tournament for Anoka-Ramsey Community College’s new men’s soccer team may have come to an abrupt halt on that cold, windy Saturday, Oct. 31 in Chicago when the Triton College team eked out a 1-0 win, but Coach Brady Eichhorn-Hicks is still fired up. 

“The season was a fantastic start to a collegiate soccer program,” says Eichhorn-Hicks. “It’s almost unheard of for a first-year program to make it all the way to the Sweet 16. This is a great foundation to build on and take forward next season.” 

Though the loss was hard to take, the newly formed program at Anoka-Ramsey made an impressive entrance into collegiate play in their first season – fall 2009. The team completed regular season play with 8 wins, 5 losses, and one tie; then beat Bismarck State College (3-0) and Century College (6-0) to become Region Champs.

“The level of play was fantastic, much higher than expected,” adds Eichhorn-Hicks. “Community college soccer is a hidden gem for four-year institutions. This year, a handful of players will be awarded scholarships to Division I or II schools, and I expect more of the same next year.”

Special Recognition
While Eichhorn-Hicks emphasizes that the successful season was a team effort, he also wants to acknowledge Henok Woldeyes, Zennah Neanue, Anthony Keller and Mulenga Kapungulya who won spots on the All-Region Team.

Defense players Emmanuel Brown, Joey Gustafson and Matt Bodeman, and Eddie Omwega allowed the team five full games without giving up a goal. Midfielder Somo Abdujabar led the way with seven assists and down the wings Jordan Larson and Andy Morris were very strong. Through the middle Woldeyes, Keller, Mario Perez and Henry Russell held the team together and up top Kapungulya and Neanue scored 28 goals through the season.

 Eichhorn-Hicks deserves some recognition himself. He was named Region XIII Coach of the Year.

Assisting the team and Eichhorn-Hicks were assistant coach, Meghara Eichhorn-Hicks and the college’s Athletic Director, Dave Alto.

“I honestly believe we can be a power for years to come, not just in our region but, nationally as well,” says Eichhorn-Hicks. “I’m already looking forward to next year.” 

For more information about Anoka-Ramsey Community College new men’s soccer program or other athletics, visit www.AnokaRamsey.edu/studentActivities/athletics or call 763-433-1360.

The Anoka-Ramsey Community College Men’s Soccer Team made an impressive entrance into collegiate play in their first season in fall 2009 with 8 wins, 5 losses, and one tie in regular season play and a win against Century College (6-0) to become Region Champs.