Another academic year will soon end, and we will celebrate commencement with our 2011 Riverland Community College graduates on May 13. Last August, Riverland began its 70^th academic year. This historic milestone has inspired us to take a nostalgic look at past years and kindled a renewed interest in reconnecting with our alumni.

Riverland Community College students Olena Berezovska (Kherson, Ukraine), Eric Chouinard (Brooklyn Center), Andrew Howe (Lakeville), Natasha Spear (Waseca) and Kaylin Wolf (Blooming Prairie) were named to the 2010-2011 All-Minnesota Academic Team in recognition of their academic achievements, leadership accomplishments and service to their college and community. The ceremony, held March 25 in Eagan, honored 45 students from Minnesota's two-year colleges.

Riverland Community College recently announced that they would induct six into the Athletic Hall of Fame at a ceremony on October 29 at the Austin Campus.

This year’s inductees include Greg Carlson, football (1976-78); Nancy (Clemens) Martinz, Softball (1981-83); Denny Lebarron, tennis (1962-64); Don Miller, basketball (1951-54); Darrell Monson, baseball (1970-72); Kevin Wilder, football (1974-76).

Students from the Riverland Community College Choir and Vocal Ensemble attended the Minnesota Two-Year College Fine Arts Festival at Breezy Point Resort April 7 and 8. The festival is an annual event where choirs and bands from the state’s community colleges gather and make music. Riverland student Kristine Iverson (Austin) was selected as “Outstanding Performer.”

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities recently announced awards recognizing leadership and team effort for excellence in financial and facilities management. Riverland Community College received two awards of excellence: Excellence in Financial Management and Excellence in Facilities Management.

Riverland Community College Biology Instructor Pamela Anne Tranby was one of the four educators presented with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees’ highest academic honor, Educator of the Year, on Wednesday.

Several Riverland Community College SkillsUSA club members captured gold, silver and bronze medals at the SkillsUSA Minnesota 2011 State Leadership and Skills Conference in March at the Sheraton Hotel in Bloomington. The competitions focused on technical skill demonstration where students captured gold, silver and bronze medals in 75 competitive events in both divisions, with over 540 college students from 25 campuses of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities the competition focused on technical skill demonstration in 54 competitive events.

Riverland Community College student Katherine Kirsch (Albert Lea) has been chosen as a student Intern for the 2011 American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) Annual Governance and House of Delegates meeting scheduled for June 2011 in Albuquerque, N.M.

“Wegner and Friends” opens Tuesday, April 25 in the James Wegner Art Gallery. The show features members of the Austin Area Arts Center, including James Wegner, Bonnie Lee, Barb Cafourek, Dustin DeBoer, Mary Gentle, Tammy Schneider, Shelley Aquino Brandon, James Murphy, William Olson, and Lucas Scott.