http://www.southeastmn.edu/news/blog.aspx News and Events at Minnesota State College Southeast. Copyright 2026 MSC Southeast. All rights reserved. Dean of Technology Promotes His Book of Poetry  Winona and Red Wing, MN (May 27, 2026) – By his own admission, most people are surprised to learn that Jake Griggs is a published poet, given his full-time job as Dean of Trade and Technology at Minnesota State College Southeast.   “It’s not an intersection that most folks expect,” Griggs said. “Hopefully people are intrigued enough to read a couple of poems of mine, and then that leads to another poet or poem elsewhere.” Ultimately, he hopes it inspires others to write or follow whatever passion they have. “It’s never too late to pull on a thread that’s been speaking to you.”  Griggs’ collection, “A Midwestern Introvert’s Atlas,” published earlier this spring, includes his first published poem, “O’Leary Lake,” as well as his longest work, a nine-page piece called “Waterways of the North,” that evolved from journal entries he first captured during a trip to the Boundary Waters in 2008.   “It’s as much about perseverance and wayfinding as it is about these amazing physical places that I’ve got a connection to,” Griggs said. “I think a lot of my best work is like that, but this one feels more magical to me because it took so long to arrive.”  Griggs suggests most of us are first introduced to poetry via nursery rhymes or children’s books like those of Shel Silverstein. He’s personally drawn to existentialist and nature poets, rattling off a laundry list of his favorites. Griggs credits closely reading the work of Larry Levis as having led to breakthroughs in his own writing, and revisits Levis’ “Winter Stars” often.  Most of the poems featured in the book were written between 2020 and 2024, a time that coincides with Griggs taking courses in Mankato State’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program. What started as an online diversion during the pandemic eventually led to Griggs earning his MFA this spring. He said his professors and classmates helped him refine his work.  People familiar with the coulee region may get an added kick out of this collection.  “Several poems in the book refer to local places and perspectives,” Griggs said. “It’s not every day you’ll run across a poem that mentions a place like Bucksnort County Park, and you can say to yourself, ‘Hey! I know where that is! I’ve been there before!’”  Those “place-based” poems informed the title, while also helping Griggs see his world differently.  "I hope it helps people think more broadly about the world around them too, both in what they know and what they don’t,” Griggs said. “I’m an introvert that has to work at being extroverted, and sometimes I need a little direction. So, this book is kind of like an invitation. It’s about doing those things for myself, and hopefully leaving a few breadcrumbs for anyone else interested.”  Griggs will hold a book release reading of “A Midwest Introvert’s Atlas,” June 4 at 7 p.m. at Ridgeway Community School (35564 Winona County Road 12) in Houston, Minnesota. The event is free to the public.  Dean of Technology Promotes His Book of Poetry  Winona and Red Wing, MN (May 27, 2026) – By his own admission, most people are surprised to learn that Jake Griggs is a published poet, given his full-time job as Dean of Trade and Technology at Minnesota State College Southeast.   “It’s not an intersection that most folks expect,” Griggs said. “Hopefully people are intrigued enough to read a couple of poems of mine, and then that leads to another poet or poem elsewhere.” Ultimately, he hopes it inspires others to write or follow whatever passion they have. “It’s never too late to pull on a thread that’s been speaking to you.”  Griggs’ collection, “A Midwestern Introvert’s Atlas,” published earlier this spring, includes his first published poem, “O’Leary Lake,” as well as his longest work, a nine-page piece called “Waterways of the North,” that evolved from journal entries he first captured during a trip to the Boundary Waters in 2008.   “It’s as much about perseverance and wayfinding as it is about these amazing physical places that I’ve got a connection to,” Griggs said. “I think a lot of my best work is like that, but this one feels more magical to me because it took so long to arrive.”  Griggs suggests most of us are first introduced to poetry via nursery rhymes or children’s books like those of Shel Silverstein. He’s personally drawn to existentialist and nature poets, rattling off a laundry list of his favorites. Griggs credits closely reading the work of Larry Levis as having led to breakthroughs in his own writing, and revisits Levis’ “Winter Stars” often.  Most of the poems featured in the book were written between 2020 and 2024, a time that coincides with Griggs taking courses in Mankato State’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program. What started as an online diversion during the pandemic eventually led to Griggs earning his MFA this spring. He said his professors and classmates helped him refine his work.  People familiar with the coulee region may get an added kick out of this collection.  “Several poems in the book refer to local places and perspectives,” Griggs said. “It’s not every day you’ll run across a poem that mentions a place like Bucksnort County Park, and you can say to yourself, ‘Hey! I know where that is! I’ve been there before!’”  Those “place-based” poems informed the title, while also helping Griggs see his world differently.  "I hope it helps people think more broadly about the world around them too, both in what they know and what they don’t,” Griggs said. “I’m an introvert that has to work at being extroverted, and sometimes I need a little direction. So, this book is kind of like an invitation. It’s about doing those things for myself, and hopefully leaving a few breadcrumbs for anyone else interested.”  Griggs will hold a book release reading of “A Midwest Introvert’s Atlas,” June 4 at 7 p.m. at Ridgeway Community School (35564 Winona County Road 12) in Houston, Minnesota. The event is free to the public. ... http://www.southeastmn.edu/news/blog.aspx?id=17434&blogid=148 Wed, 03 Jun 2026 10:21:56 GMT http://www.southeastmn.edu/news/blog.aspx?id=17434&blogid=148 Professional Musician Spends Sabbatical at Southeast Red Wing, MN (May 11, 2026) – A professional violinist from Ottawa is preparing to wrap up his studies at Minnesota State College Southeast.  Ethan Balakrishnan, a member of the violin section of the Orchestre symphonique de Québec in Quebec City, took a year-long sabbatical to pursue his studies in Southeast’s Violin Repair and Making program.  Balakrishnan first began playing violin at age 5, and in his mid-teens, realized his passion for music could be his life’s work. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in music, studying under Grigory Kalinovsky at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.  “For my whole life I’ve had a very specific idea of the sound I want to create, and I’ve always been obsessive about finding and maintaining the setup parameters on my instrument that will allow me to create this sound,” Balakrishnan said. “It’s fascinating how the tiniest change in the most seemingly insignificant variable of an instrument’s setup can have a huge effect on its sound and playability.”  Whether in Canada, Indiana or Minnesota, Balakrishnan has lived in climates with cold dry winters and wet hot summers, which wreak havoc on sensitive string instruments.  “For most professional musicians, a poorly adjusted instrument is a significant drain on quality of life that can start clouding over even non-musical aspects of one’s day-to-day life if the problem isn’t resolved quickly,” Balakrishnan said.  Balakrishnan wanted to be able to make adjustments to his own instruments, and many of his fellow performers indicated they would entrust him with theirs too if he was properly trained.  He learned of Southeast’s violin program through research, and the recommendation of Ottawa luthier Guy Harrison, who vouched for the program because he previously worked with instructor Stephen Rossow, and saw the high-quality work produced by Southeast graduates.  “I’ve been impressed by just how far we’ve been able to go with our repair skills despite coming in with zero woodworking experience,” Balakrishnan said. “The program is very well rounded and intelligently laid out, and Steve is a truly excellent teacher.”  Balakrishnan said that his work has become finer and more accurate even as the steps in the violin-making process became more challenging. He’s come to appreciate how the instruments work and how to repair them, after learning how they are made.  It gives him a newfound appreciation for the violin on loan to him from the Canimex Foundation of Drummondville, Canada, an instrument made in 1854.   “I now find them much more interesting to inspect visually,” he said. “I can look at certain features and imagine what the maker did in the mid-nineteenth century to create them, and I can even notice certain flaws and picture why and how they might have happened.”  While he’s not allowed to work on that instrument, he has been able to experiment on his personal viola, which dates back to 1932. Calling it a bit of “an experimental sandbox,” Balakrishnan has noticed an improvement by adding a new bridge and soundpost to his viola.  In addition to honing his instrument building and repair skills, he’s had the chance to perform as a freelance artist with groups in the Twin Cities area, including an opportunity to perform with Snoop Dogg during a Minnesota Vikings game last season, as well as performances with the Joffrey Ballet and Mannheim Steamroller.  After graduating with his diploma in violin repair later this month, Balakrishnan plans to stop in Ohio and learn about rehairing bows, another maintenance item that vexes many string musicians.  When he returns home from his sabbatical, Balakrishnan plans to continue to learn from master luthiers in Canada, while continuing to perform regularly. His goal is to optimize the playing experience of his fellow string players by maintaining his technical and musical abilities and continuing to experiment.  Professional Musician Spends Sabbatical at Southeast Red Wing, MN (May 11, 2026) – A professional violinist from Ottawa is preparing to wrap up his studies at Minnesota State College Southeast.  Ethan Balakrishnan, a member of the violin section of the Orchestre symphonique de Québec in Quebec City, took a year-long sabbatical to pursue his studies in Southeast’s Violin Repair and Making program.  Balakrishnan first began playing violin at age 5, and in his mid-teens, realized his passion for music could be his life’s work. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in music, studying under Grigory Kalinovsky at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.  “For my whole life I’ve had a very specific idea of the sound I want to create, and I’ve always been obsessive about finding and maintaining the setup parameters on my instrument that will allow me to create this sound,” Balakrishnan said. “It’s fascinating how the tiniest change in the most seemingly insignificant variable of an instrument’s setup can have a huge effect on its sound and playability.”  Whether in Canada, Indiana or Minnesota, Balakrishnan has lived in climates with cold dry winters and wet hot summers, which wreak havoc on sensitive string instruments.  “For most professional musicians, a poorly adjusted instrument is a significant drain on quality of life that can start clouding over even non-musical aspects of one’s day-to-day life if the problem isn’t resolved quickly,” Balakrishnan said.  Balakrishnan wanted to be able to make adjustments to his own instruments, and many of his fellow performers indicated they would entrust him with theirs too if he was properly trained.  He learned of Southeast’s violin program through research, and the recommendation of Ottawa luthier Guy Harrison, who vouched for the program because he previously worked with instructor Stephen Rossow, and saw the high-quality work produced by Southeast graduates.  “I’ve been impressed by just how far we’ve been able to go with our repair skills despite coming in with zero woodworking experience,” Balakrishnan said. “The program is very well rounded and intelligently laid out, and Steve is a truly excellent teacher.”  Balakrishnan said that his work has become finer and more accurate even as the steps in the violin-making process became more challenging. He’s come to appreciate how the instruments work and how to repair them, after learning how they are made.  It gives him a newfound appreciation for the violin on loan to him from the Canimex Foundation of Drummondville, Canada, an instrument made in 1854.   “I now find them much more interesting to inspect visually,” he said. “I can look at certain features and imagine what the maker did in the mid-nineteenth century to create them, and I can even notice certain flaws and picture why and how they might have happened.”  While he’s not allowed to work on that instrument, he has been able to experiment on his personal viola, which dates back to 1932. Calling it a bit of “an experimental sandbox,” Balakrishnan has noticed an improvement by adding a new bridge and soundpost to his viola.  In addition to honing his instrument building and repair skills, he’s had the chance to perform as a freelance artist with groups in the Twin Cities area, including an opportunity to perform with Snoop Dogg during a Minnesota Vikings game last season, as well as performances with the Joffrey Ballet and Mannheim Steamroller.  After graduating with his diploma in violin repair later this month, Balakrishnan plans to stop in Ohio and learn about rehairing bows, another maintenance item that vexes many string musicians.  When he returns home from his sabbatical, Balakrishnan plans to continue to learn from master luthiers in Canada, while continuing to perform regularly. His goal is to optimize the playing experience of his fellow string players by maintaining his technical and musical abilities and continuing to experiment. ... http://www.southeastmn.edu/news/blog.aspx?id=17431&blogid=148 Tue, 19 May 2026 08:18:10 GMT http://www.southeastmn.edu/news/blog.aspx?id=17431&blogid=148 Huth Named Outstanding Educator of the Year by Minnesota State Board of Trustees Winona and Red Wing, MN (April 24, 2026) – Band instrument repair instructor John Huth is Minnesota State College Southeast’s 2026 Outstanding Educator of the Year. He was among the college and university educators recognized by Chancellor Scott Olson and the Minnesota State Board of Trustees at a statewide awards ceremony held earlier this week.  Huth has taught instrument repair on Southeast’s Red Wing campus for 38 years.   “An accomplished trumpet player, nationally recognized within his field, Huth has taught more than 1,500 students the art of instrument repair, sharing his passion for music and taking a hands-on approach,” the Board of Trustees said in a statement.  Huth has also been chosen by his peers at the college to serve as this year’s Commencement Marshal. He will carry the ceremonial mace as he leads the academic procession at Southeast’s Commencement Ceremony, which will take place May 15 at Winona State University.  "It’s hard to imagine an instructor who has had more of an impact on the people in the field of band instrument repair than John Huth,” said Adam Potthast, Dean of Liberal Arts, Sciences, and Transfer at Southeast. “He is always thinking of his students and how to reach them better. Through his teaching, he’s guided hundreds of students to become craftspeople with incredible skill and allowed them to bring more music into the world.”   Huth arrived on campus in 1987 as an instructor of band instrument repair. Since 2003, he has served as the Coordinator of College Accreditation/Accreditation Liaison Officer for Southeast. He is a frequent clinician at the National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians (NAPBIRT) national conferences and has published several articles on instrument repair in TechniCom, the journal of NAPBIRT, as well as in other trade publications. In recent years, Huth has pioneered 3D printing techniques to create parts for instrument repair. Huth performs as a freelance trumpet player throughout the greater Twin Cities area.  In reflecting on his teaching career, Huth credits “99% of his successes” to collaborations with his peers and students and the benefits of working together to find solutions.   “John embodies all the best characteristics that the Minnesota State System looks to honor with these prestigious awards: a passion for teaching, dedication to his discipline and home institution, a focus on our students and their success, and innovation and scholarship within his field,” said Dr. Marsha Danielson, President of Minnesota State College Southeast. “John’s contributions to Southeast extend well beyond his pedagogy and scholarship. He has provided exceptional leadership and service to the college through his extensive work in institutional effectiveness, campus engagement, and our accreditation process.”  Huth earned a Master of Music in trumpet from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; a Bachelor of Music from Bowling Green University and studied trumpet performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Huth Named Outstanding Educator of the Year by Minnesota State Board of Trustees Winona and Red Wing, MN (April 24, 2026) – Band instrument repair instructor John Huth is Minnesota State College Southeast’s 2026 Outstanding Educator of the Year. He was among the college and university educators recognized by Chancellor Scott Olson and the Minnesota State Board of Trustees at a statewide awards ceremony held earlier this week.  Huth has taught instrument repair on Southeast’s Red Wing campus for 38 years.   “An accomplished trumpet player, nationally recognized within his field, Huth has taught more than 1,500 students the art of instrument repair, sharing his passion for music and taking a hands-on approach,” the Board of Trustees said in a statement.  Huth has also been chosen by his peers at the college to serve as this year’s Commencement Marshal. He will carry the ceremonial mace as he leads the academic procession at Southeast’s Commencement Ceremony, which will take place May 15 at Winona State University.  "It’s hard to imagine an instructor who has had more of an impact on the people in the field of band instrument repair than John Huth,” said Adam Potthast, Dean of Liberal Arts, Sciences, and Transfer at Southeast. “He is always thinking of his students and how to reach them better. Through his teaching, he’s guided hundreds of students to become craftspeople with incredible skill and allowed them to bring more music into the world.”   Huth arrived on campus in 1987 as an instructor of band instrument repair. Since 2003, he has served as the Coordinator of College Accreditation/Accreditation Liaison Officer for Southeast. He is a frequent clinician at the National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians (NAPBIRT) national conferences and has published several articles on instrument repair in TechniCom, the journal of NAPBIRT, as well as in other trade publications. In recent years, Huth has pioneered 3D printing techniques to create parts for instrument repair. Huth performs as a freelance trumpet player throughout the greater Twin Cities area.  In reflecting on his teaching career, Huth credits “99% of his successes” to collaborations with his peers and students and the benefits of working together to find solutions.   “John embodies all the best characteristics that the Minnesota State System looks to honor with these prestigious awards: a passion for teaching, dedication to his discipline and home institution, a focus on our students and their success, and innovation and scholarship within his field,” said Dr. Marsha Danielson, President of Minnesota State College Southeast. “John’s contributions to Southeast extend well beyond his pedagogy and scholarship. He has provided exceptional leadership and service to the college through his extensive work in institutional effectiveness, campus engagement, and our accreditation process.”  Huth earned a Master of Music in trumpet from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; a Bachelor of Music from Bowling Green University and studied trumpet performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music.... http://www.southeastmn.edu/news/blog.aspx?id=17409&blogid=148 Mon, 04 May 2026 11:41:23 GMT http://www.southeastmn.edu/news/blog.aspx?id=17409&blogid=148 Southeast Student Juggles Education with Commitment to Area Youth Red Wing, MN (May 4, 2026) – Alyvia Xiong loves working with Goodhue County youth so much; she didn’t want her college education to interfere with her work at a local nonprofit. Thanks to the Red Wing College Promise program, Xiong was able to attend Minnesota State College Southeast part time, while serving as an AmeriCorps volunteer at RiseUp Partnership, where she coordinates the youth council. Xiong discovered RiseUp while a junior at Red Wing High School. “I've always loved working with students and seeing their motivation to be even better adults,” said Xiong, who works closely with high school youth. “They have so much energy, they have so much life. They’re simply amazing. I 100% love the work.” Seeing how the students embrace new opportunities inspires Xiong. Jenna Collins, Director of Programs at RiseUp, first met Xiong when she started as a high school student, and serves as her current supervisor. “Alyvia has grown into a dynamic leader within our organization, taking on key roles such as leading the Community Youth Council (CYC),” Collins said. “One of Alyvia’s most impactful initiatives has been working to place youth on the boards of local nonprofit organizations, helping to shift systems toward more inclusive and youth-informed leadership. In addition, she has created meaningful volunteer opportunities for CYC members, keeping them actively engaged and connected to their community.” Xiong said her parents, who came to the United States as refugees from Laos more than 20 years ago, have always encouraged her and her three brothers and younger sister. “They are super supportive of my work and my education, because they want me to be better than them, but also a better version of myself,” Xiong said. Coming from a family of five siblings, Xiong acknowledged that divvying finances for everyone to attend college was a challenge. Her three older siblings attended Southeast, but she was the first in the family to have the benefit of the Red Wing College Promise, which was established in 2022. Without the financial support, Xiong said it is hard to imagine herself attending college, let alone continuing her work as an AmeriCorps volunteer. She’s grateful to the program’s donors for making this resource possible, as well as the flexible schedule and online courses at Southeast, which allow her to stay actively engaged with her volunteer work. Xiong said that her time at Southeast has allowed her to explore a range of subjects from managerial accounting to sociology. Along the way, she’s gained even more confidence and discovered a close-knit group of amazing professors and peers. After earning her associate degree in 2027, Xiong hopes to continue her education by earning a bachelor’s degree in youth studies at the University of Minnesota. Ultimately, she would like to continue working with youth and the community, while also being “open to gaining new experiences along the way.” Given her experience, she’s already encouraging the youth she works with to think about the Red Wing College Promise and pursuing their education at Southeast. “I found my passion here at Southeast,” Xiong said. “I get to work with the most amazing people in the community and work with the most amazing students.” Southeast Student Juggles Education with Commitment to Area Youth Red Wing, MN (May 4, 2026) – Alyvia Xiong loves working with Goodhue County youth so much; she didn’t want her college education to interfere with her work at a local nonprofit. Thanks to the Red Wing College Promise program, Xiong was able to attend Minnesota State College Southeast part time, while serving as an AmeriCorps volunteer at RiseUp Partnership, where she coordinates the youth council. Xiong discovered RiseUp while a junior at Red Wing High School. “I've always loved working with students and seeing their motivation to be even better adults,” said Xiong, who works closely with high school youth. “They have so much energy, they have so much life. They’re simply amazing. I 100% love the work.” Seeing how the students embrace new opportunities inspires Xiong. Jenna Collins, Director of Programs at RiseUp, first met Xiong when she started as a high school student, and serves as her current supervisor. “Alyvia has grown into a dynamic leader within our organization, taking on key roles such as leading the Community Youth Council (CYC),” Collins said. “One of Alyvia’s most impactful initiatives has been working to place youth on the boards of local nonprofit organizations, helping to shift systems toward more inclusive and youth-informed leadership. In addition, she has created meaningful volunteer opportunities for CYC members, keeping them actively engaged and connected to their community.” Xiong said her parents, who came to the United States as refugees from Laos more than 20 years ago, have always encouraged her and her three brothers and younger sister. “They are super supportive of my work and my education, because they want me to be better than them, but also a better version of myself,” Xiong said. Coming from a family of five siblings, Xiong acknowledged that divvying finances for everyone to attend college was a challenge. Her three older siblings attended Southeast, but she was the first in the family to have the benefit of the Red Wing College Promise, which was established in 2022. Without the financial support, Xiong said it is hard to imagine herself attending college, let alone continuing her work as an AmeriCorps volunteer. She’s grateful to the program’s donors for making this resource possible, as well as the flexible schedule and online courses at Southeast, which allow her to stay actively engaged with her volunteer work. Xiong said that her time at Southeast has allowed her to explore a range of subjects from managerial accounting to sociology. Along the way, she’s gained even more confidence and discovered a close-knit group of amazing professors and peers. After earning her associate degree in 2027, Xiong hopes to continue her education by earning a bachelor’s degree in youth studies at the University of Minnesota. Ultimately, she would like to continue working with youth and the community, while also being “open to gaining new experiences along the way.” Given her experience, she’s already encouraging the youth she works with to think about the Red Wing College Promise and pursuing their education at Southeast. “I found my passion here at Southeast,” Xiong said. “I get to work with the most amazing people in the community and work with the most amazing students.”... http://www.southeastmn.edu/news/blog.aspx?id=17408&blogid=148 Mon, 04 May 2026 11:38:40 GMT http://www.southeastmn.edu/news/blog.aspx?id=17408&blogid=148