Center for Experiential Learning | Entrepreneurial Celebration Dinner

2011 James Braulick Scholarship Recipient
	James Braulick: In 1987, after a distinguished career at Exxon Corporation, James Braulick pursued a life-long love of teaching and was appointed associate director of economics at St Olaf College. In 1992, Braulick was appointed the first director of the Paul Finstad Entrepreneurial Studies Program. In Braulick's memory, his wife Georgia has established an annual scholarship honoring a student that has made significant contributions to the Paul Finstad Entrepreneurial Program. The recipient of the 2011 James Braulick Scholarship is Nicholas Kang ’12. Nick has been a great advocate for entrepreneurship at St. Olaf and around the world. Nick received an Entrepreneurial Grant the fall of his freshman year for his idea of creating a hockey school in Merritt, British Columbia which is near his hometown of Kamloops. While implementing the hockey school, Nick realized there was a lack of leadership opportunities for youth in the community. In particular he observed that many youth between the ages of 12-19 appeared to be struggling with racial and generational discrimination, substance abuse, violence, and social exclusion. Nick's passion to make the community stronger by helping mentor this crucial group of students generated his idea for a Smart Step program. After successfully launching the first Smart Step initiative, Nick applied for a Social Grant in order to expand the program to neighboring communities. He also was awarded the $10,000 Davis Projects for Peace grant to establish the Li-k'ei Project: First Nations Youth Promoting Peace in Merritt, which will take place this summer. Nick's passion to learn more about social entrepreneurship led him to London during the 2010 interim to intern as the Policy & Communications at the School for Social Entrepreneurs. In January 2011, Nick spent four weeks in Nepal developing the administrative materials; teacher, staff, and student handbooks; and by-laws for the Sarswati Peace School. Following his work, he was asked by the founder Subhash Ghimire ’10 to become director of Project Development of the Sarswati Foundation. Nick received the 2010 Minnesota Campus Compact, Presidents' Student Leadership Award and has represented St Olaf College at the ISFiT: International Student Festival conference in Trondheim Norway and the 2011 Clinton Global Initiative University in San Diego. Nick serves as the President of OASIS, Oles Advancing Social Innovation and Sustainability and is the Co-founder of the St. Olaf Men's Group on campus which is also supported by a social grant. Nick is majoring in both Biology and working to create his own major called "Social Innovation & Community Development" and currently works as a Peer Advisor at the Center for Experiential Learning.
2011 Herbert M. Stellner Scholarship Recipients
Pictured Above: Joe, Steve, Kai and Gabe	The Herbert M Stellner Scholarship: Herbert M. Stellner Jr., '50 was awarded the St Olaf Distinguished Alumni Award in 2001. Stellner retired as senior vice president and manager of Marquette Bank's trust department in Rochester, Minn., and as a development officer for the Mayo Foundation. His "commitment to give back" has been the hallmark of his satisfying and productive career in business, church and community. Stellner has served as president of the Rochester Art Center, chairman of the Rochester Area Foundation and chairman of the Minnesota Higher Education Facilities Authority. As an early art donor to Steensland Art Museum at St. Olaf, he has been a member of Steensland's advisory committee and was instrumental in the creation of the Ella and Kaare Nygaard Foundation. He also has established a number of scholarships for St. Olaf College students. This year's recipients are Joe Erickson ’11, Kai Hansen ’11, Steve Milne ’11 and Gabe Rysdahl ’11 for their entrepreneurial grant business CircaVista - Panorama & Virtual Tour Solutions. CircaVista is a media company founded with the primary goal of providing virtual tours to other businesses. CircaVista's virtual tours integrate top of the line 720° panoramic imaging with additional still frame image, video and audio options. So far, CircaVista has created virtual videos for Target Field, the Guthrie, The Archer House and others.

2011 James Braulick Scholarship Recipient

James Braulick

James Braulick: In 1987, after a distinguished career at Exxon Corporation, James Braulick pursued a life-long love of teaching and was appointed associate director of economics at St Olaf College. In 1992, Braulick was appointed the first director of the Paul Finstad Entrepreneurial Studies Program. In Braulick's memory, his wife Georgia has established an annual scholarship honoring a student that has made significant contributions to the Paul Finstad Entrepreneurial Program.

The recipient of the 2011 James Braulick Scholarship is Nicholas Kang ’12. Nick has been a great advocate for entrepreneurship at St. Olaf and around the world. Nick received an Entrepreneurial Grant the fall of his freshman year for his idea of creating a hockey school in Merritt, British Columbia which is near his hometown of Kamloops. While implementing the hockey school, Nick realized there was a lack of leadership opportunities for youth in the community. In particular he observed that many youth between the ages of 12-19 appeared to be struggling with racial and generational discrimination, substance abuse, violence, and social exclusion. Nick's passion to make the community stronger by helping mentor this crucial group of students generated his idea for a Smart Step program. After successfully launching the first Smart Step initiative, Nick applied for a Social Grant in order to expand the program to neighboring communities. He also was awarded the $10,000 Davis Projects for Peace grant to establish the Li-k'ei Project: First Nations Youth Promoting Peace in Merritt, which will take place this summer.

Nick's passion to learn more about social entrepreneurship led him to London during the 2010 interim to intern as the Policy & Communications at the School for Social Entrepreneurs. In January 2011, Nick spent four weeks in Nepal developing the administrative materials; teacher, staff, and student handbooks; and by-laws for the Sarswati Peace School. Following his work, he was asked by the founder Subhash Ghimire ’10 to become director of Project Development of the Sarswati Foundation.

Nick received the 2010 Minnesota Campus Compact, Presidents' Student Leadership Award and has represented St Olaf College at the ISFiT: International Student Festival conference in Trondheim Norway and the 2011 Clinton Global Initiative University in San Diego.

Nick serves as the President of OASIS, Oles Advancing Social Innovation and Sustainability and is the Co-founder of the St. Olaf Men's Group on campus which is also supported by a social grant.

Nick is majoring in both Biology and working to create his own major called "Social Innovation & Community Development" and currently works as a Peer Advisor at the Center for Experiential Learning.

2011 Herbert M. Stellner Scholarship Recipients

Pictured Above:
Joe, Steve, Kai and Gabe

The Herbert M Stellner Scholarship:

Herbert M. Stellner Jr., '50 was awarded the St Olaf Distinguished Alumni Award in 2001. Stellner
retired as senior vice president and manager of Marquette Bank's trust department in Rochester, Minn., and as a development officer for the Mayo Foundation. His "commitment to give back" has been the hallmark of his satisfying and productive career in business, church and community. Stellner has served as president of the Rochester Art Center, chairman of the Rochester Area Foundation and chairman of the Minnesota Higher Education Facilities Authority. As an early art donor to Steensland Art Museum at St. Olaf, he has been a member of Steensland's advisory committee and was instrumental in the creation of the Ella and Kaare Nygaard Foundation. He also has established a number of scholarships for St. Olaf College students.

This year's recipients are Joe Erickson ’11, Kai Hansen ’11, Steve Milne ’11 and Gabe Rysdahl ’11 for their entrepreneurial grant business CircaVista - Panorama & Virtual Tour Solutions. CircaVista is a media company founded with the primary goal of providing virtual tours to other businesses. CircaVista's virtual tours integrate top of the line 720° panoramic imaging with additional still frame image, video and audio options. So far, CircaVista has created virtual videos for Target Field, the Guthrie, The Archer House and others.

Geralyn Sheehan - Executive Director of Opportunity International
	Tuesday, April 26, 2011 Buntrock Commons, Viking Theater 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Geralyn Sheehan is the Executive Director of Opportunity International, a microfinance organization offering loans, savings, micro insurance and training, to over two million people working their way out of poverty in the developing world. Sheehan has extensive experience in working with for-profit and non-profit organizations. She brings a unique perspective on how entrepreneurs can address community needs through economic development. Sheehan received her master's degree in public administration from Harvard University, JFK School of Government. She also has a JD degree from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. Sheehan was awarded a Fellowship in International Development through the Kellogg Foundation and Partners of the Americas in 1992 and was granted a Bush Leadership Fellowship in 1994 to further her studies in community and economic development at Harvard University. She has taught asset-based community development and organizing strategies at the Community Leadership Institute at the Center for Non-Profit Management, University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Along with her work at Opportunity International, Sheehan also serves on the faculty of the School of Education & Social Policy at Northwestern University. Geralyn will be introduced by Jennifer Sawyer ’94 Jennifer Rajala Sawyer ’94 currently serves on the St Olaf College Alumni Board and is a Governor of Opportunity International. She is Principal of Rebound Enterprises, an investment management company. As an investor/owner and board director, Jennifer manages assets of $200 million. Areas of focus include: manufacturing, beverage distribution, hospitality, banking, and real estate. Local assets include: College City Beverage (an Anheuser Busch distributorship), First National Bank of Northfield, the Archer House, Willingers and Legends golf course, and the Northfield Real Estate Fund. Jennifer has a deep passion and commitment towards civic engagement, volunteerism, and philanthropy. She has held leadership positions as President of the Junior League of Minneapolis, President of Thrivent Community program, President of WINGS, Founder of YMCA of Northfield, Chair of Northfield’s Sesquicentennial, and Council Member of Bethel Lutheran Church.

Geralyn Sheehan - Executive Director of Opportunity International

Jennifer Sawyer

Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Buntrock Commons, Viking Theater
7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Geralyn Sheehan is the Executive Director of Opportunity International, a microfinance organization offering loans, savings, micro insurance and training, to over two million people working their way out of poverty in the developing world. Sheehan has extensive experience in working with for-profit and non-profit organizations. She brings a unique perspective on how entrepreneurs can address community needs through economic development.

Sheehan received her master's degree in public administration from Harvard University, JFK School of Government. She also has a JD degree from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. Sheehan was awarded a Fellowship in International Development through the Kellogg Foundation and Partners of the Americas in 1992 and was granted a Bush Leadership Fellowship in 1994 to further her studies in community and economic development at Harvard University. She has taught asset-based community development and organizing strategies at the Community Leadership Institute at the Center for Non-Profit Management, University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Along with her work at Opportunity International, Sheehan also serves on the faculty of the School of Education & Social Policy at Northwestern University.

Geralyn will be introduced by Jennifer Sawyer ’94

Jennifer Rajala Sawyer ’94 currently serves on the St Olaf College Alumni Board and is a Governor of Opportunity International. She is Principal of Rebound Enterprises, an investment management company. As an investor/owner and board director, Jennifer manages assets of $200 million. Areas of focus include: manufacturing, beverage distribution, hospitality, banking, and real estate. Local assets include: College City Beverage (an Anheuser Busch distributorship), First National Bank of Northfield, the Archer House, Willingers and Legends golf course, and the Northfield Real Estate Fund.

Jennifer has a deep passion and commitment towards civic engagement, volunteerism, and philanthropy. She has held leadership positions as President of the Junior League of Minneapolis, President of Thrivent Community program, President of WINGS, Founder of YMCA of Northfield, Chair of Northfield’s Sesquicentennial, and Council Member of Bethel Lutheran Church.

Entrepreneurial & Social Innovation Grant Poster Session
	Wednesday, April 27, 2011 Buntrock Commons, Crossroads 10:00 to 12:00 p.m. Entrepreneurial Grants are up to $3,000 and are given to individuals or teams to launch sustainable enterprises that create value - commercial, social, artistic and/or scientific. Funds are awarded to students for entrepreneurial projects with social and/or economic potential. Social Innovation Grants are mini-grants up to $500 for Social Innovation Projects. The entrepreneurial Grant program has been operating since 1992 and has given more than $500,000 to over 270 students to begin new ventures. During the 2010-2011 academic year, $15,000 was awarded to fund creation of new ventures and socially innovative ideas.

Entrepreneurial & Social Innovation Grant Poster Session

Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Buntrock Commons, Crossroads
10:00 to 12:00 p.m.

Entrepreneurial Grants are up to $3,000 and are given to individuals or teams to launch sustainable enterprises that create value - commercial, social, artistic and/or scientific. Funds are awarded to students for entrepreneurial projects with social and/or economic potential.

Social Innovation Grants are mini-grants up to $500 for Social Innovation Projects.

The entrepreneurial Grant program has been operating since 1992 and has given more than $500,000 to over 270 students to begin new ventures. During the 2010-2011 academic year, $15,000 was awarded to fund creation of new ventures and socially innovative ideas.

OASIS Chapel Presentation
	Thursday, April 28, 2011 Boe Memorial Chapel 11:00 to 11:15 a.m. OASIS (Oles Advancing Social Innovation and Sustainability) is a learning community of students, faculty, staff and alumni actively engaged in social innovation and entrepreneurship. Their mission is to build and strengthen the capacity of individuals to develop innovative solutions to social problems for a more just, sustainable world. The OASIS Leadership Team meets weekly throughout the academic year. They receive training in new venture creation and provide support to other students who have been awarded social innovation grants. The team also arranges for speakers and special events that promotes social innovation and entrepreneurship on campus.

OASIS Chapel Presentation

Thursday, April 28, 2011
Boe Memorial Chapel
11:00 to 11:15 a.m.

OASIS (Oles Advancing Social Innovation and Sustainability) is a learning community of students, faculty, staff and alumni actively engaged in social innovation and entrepreneurship. Their mission is to build and strengthen the capacity of individuals to develop innovative solutions to social problems for a more just, sustainable world.

The OASIS Leadership Team meets weekly throughout the academic year. They receive training in new venture creation and provide support to other students who have been awarded social innovation grants. The team also arranges for speakers and special events that promotes social innovation and entrepreneurship on campus.

Philip Moeller ’63, World Bank
	Thursday, April 28, 2011 Buntrock Commons 144 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Innovation Scholars Speaker Philip W. Moeller ’63 graduated from St. Olaf with a Political Science degree and holds a MA from the School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University and a PhD. from American University. His academic experience includes teaching and the collaboration on 20 books under the Foreign Area Studies Program. He has served as a Sr. Institutional Development Consultant to various international donors and worked in various regions. Most recently he has worked with the World Bank and countries in Eastern Europe; his current work focus is global. His specializations include capacity building, change management and innovation, client relations management, and general social and environmental impacts. He often provides lectures and conducts project evaluations and other implementation supports services. The St Olaf Innovation Scholars program equips the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills, and support necessary to work within the growing field of social innovation and entrepreneurship. The program includes four main components: monthly alumni roundtable discussions, entrepreneurship & leadership skill development seminars, externship opportunities, and academic internships during interim or the summer. Students participating in the Innovation Scholars program are offered the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC during interim break the last week of January. This five-day externship program allows for students to connect with alumni, shadow experts in their field of interest, and visit organizations creating new and resourceful approaches to addressing social problems.

Philip Moeller ’63, World Bank

Thursday, April 28, 2011
Buntrock Commons 144
3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Innovation Scholars Speaker

Philip W. Moeller ’63 graduated from St. Olaf with a Political Science degree and holds a MA from the School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University and a PhD. from American University. His academic experience includes teaching and the collaboration on 20 books under the Foreign Area Studies Program. He has served as a Sr. Institutional Development Consultant to various international donors and worked in various regions. Most recently he has worked with the World Bank and countries in Eastern Europe; his current work focus is global. His specializations include capacity building, change management and innovation, client relations management, and general social and environmental impacts. He often provides lectures and conducts project evaluations and other implementation supports services.

The St Olaf Innovation Scholars program equips the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills, and support necessary to work within the growing field of social innovation and entrepreneurship. The program includes four main components: monthly alumni roundtable discussions, entrepreneurship & leadership skill development seminars, externship opportunities, and academic internships during interim or the summer.

Students participating in the Innovation Scholars program are offered the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC during interim break the last week of January. This five-day externship program allows for students to connect with alumni, shadow experts in their field of interest, and visit organizations creating new and resourceful approaches to addressing social problems.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011 Black & Gold Ballroom Buntrock Commons5:00 p.m.