Hall of Champions: Fall 2017 Sesquicentennial Profiles

Minnesota State Mankato is celebrating its 150th anniversary. Starting in 2017 the 18-month Sesquicentennial celebration will culminate on Oct. 7, 2018—a date that marks the 150-year anniversary of the day that the first actual classes were held.   This is the first post in a series of three posts about the Brock Otto Hall of Champions Sesquicentennial Profiles. The second installment about the Spring 2018 Sesquicentennial Profiles is here.

During the Sesquicentennial the Brock Otto Hall of Champions exhibit located in the Taylor Center will have a series of rotating posters profiling notable Minnesota State Mankato people. The first batch of profiles currently on display include Jim Chalgren, Margaret McCue, Mark Schuck, Principal Julia Sears, and Anna and Emma Wiecking.

Image: Jim Chalgren poster

Jim Chalgren, a then graduate student in the Counseling and Student Personnel program, founded the Alternative Lifestyles Office in 1977, the second center of its kind on at a U.S. college or university. His tireless efforts to challenge prejudice, educate students and fight for change built the foundation for the vibrant presence the LGBT Center has ultimately established on campus and in the community.

Dedicated in Jim Chalgren’s honor in 2008, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Center at Minnesota State University, Mankato provides support, advocacy, referral and a sense of community to LGBTQQA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and allied individuals) students.

Until his death in 2000, Jim lived a heroic life as an activist, garnering state and national attention and continuing to push for gay rights despite battling AIDS. In Jim's memory, the Jim Chalgren Award is presented annually to honor one staff or faculty person who has acted as a visible and courageous supporter of the LGBT community and the LGBT Center.

Learn more about the LGBT Center at https://www.mnsu.edu/lgbtc/.

Image: Margaret McCue poster

Margaret McCue, a four-year starter at middle blocker for the Mavericks (1985-1988), finished her career owning school records for games played (444), kills (1,425), kill percentage (.295) and total blocks (553). An Iowa City, Iowa native, she led the school in kills for four consecutive seasons. McCue was named to the Minnesota State Mankato's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.

Learn more about the Mavericks Hall of Fame at http://msumavericks.com/hof.aspx.



Image: Mark Schuck poster

During Mark Schuck’s 34-year stint as the men’s cross country coach, the Mavericks won ten North Central Conference titles. Schuck was named league Cross Country Coach of the Year nine times and North Central Regional Men's Coach of the Year twice. He led the Mavericks to a NCAA Division II men’s cross country title in 1988. Schuck also served as head coach of the men’s track and field program for 15 years. A native of Nicollet, Minnesota, his awards include three national coach of the year honors: 2006 USTFCCCA NCAA Division II Men's Indoor Track Coach of the Year and 1988 and 1993 NCAA DII Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year. As a student-athlete at Mankato State College (class of 1969), Schuck participated in cross country, track and field and basketball. He began his coaching career at Mankato Wilson High School, where he also served as the athletic director for eight years.

Learn more about Minnesota State Mankato's Mavericks at: http://msumavericks.com/.

Image: Julia Sears poster

Julia A. Sears served as Principal of the Mankato State Normal School from 1872-1873. She came to Mankato in 1871 to teach at the Normal School and was subsequently hired as principal the following year. She served in that role for one year before the State Normal School Board replaced her with Principal David Clarke John. No clear reasons were given for her termination and students and community members were outraged.

Known as the Sears Rebellion, 40 State Normal School students stated they would petition for her return and if denied would withdraw from school. They were instead suspended and later, most were expelled. Meanwhile, community members signed a petition to the State Normal School Board asking to restore Ms. Sears to the position of principal. None of these efforts were successful in restoring Ms. Sears to her position in Mankato. In 1875 she was hired to teach mathematics at the Peabody Normal School (Nashville, TN) where she stayed until her retirement in 1907.

Learn more about Minnesota State Mankato's Presidential history at: https://www.mnsu.edu/president/history.html.

Image: Anna and Emma Wiecking poster

Anna and Emma Wiecking were sisters born and raised in Mankato. Both graduated from Mankato State Normal School and were present at the institution as it developed from Normal School to Teachers College to State College.

Anna Wiecking became assistant principal of the college’s elementary school in 1932 and principal in 1933. She also taught elementary education college students until her retirement in 1956.

Emma Wiecking came to the college in 1922 as assistant librarian and was head librarian from 1924 until her retirement in 1959.

In 1980, in a ceremony celebrating the completion of the campus’ consolidation, Wilson Campus School was re-named Wiecking Center to honor Anna and Emma Wiecking’s 76 years of service in education. The building houses several classrooms and various department offices and is home to the Children’s House, a nonprofit child care center.

Learn more about the College of Education at: http://ed.mnsu.edu/.
Learn more about the Children's House at: http://ed.mnsu.edu/tch/.