Some teachers obtain their degrees looking toward teaching at universities, yet others prefer state schools and smaller community colleges. Dr. Kate Maurer, member of the Anoka-Ramsey Community College (ARCC) English department, has had the best of both worlds.
Maurer was born in Little Falls, Minn and raised in St. Cloud, Minn where she attended a parochial high school. Maurer grew up believing she could be whatever she wanted to be, thanks to her mother’s praises.
In her early post-secondary education, Maurer was engaged in scientific studies. She believed that a person always had to study something that was a challenge to them, but she soon became ill and fell behind.
Maurer recalled, “When I was a sophomore in college I got very sick, I ended up missing about a month of school, and if you miss a month of chemistry and calculus when they are not easy for you to begin with, you will never catch up.” It was at that point in her education that Maurer had an epiphany. She added, “That’s when I realized, ‘wow, I don’t have to take something that’s hard for me.’ I always enjoyed literature and reading, and it never dawned on me that I could study for something that I have an affinity for.”
Maurer explained that she was drawn to teaching by example, “I had some really good role models. Some professors who I just would do anything for, they were amazing, which made me want to be like them.”
Maurer went on to obtain her bachelor’s degree at the University of Minnesota Duluth and followed that with a Masters from Marquette University in Milwaukee where she also got her PhD.
While Marquette University in Milwaukee, Maurer worked as a teacher’s assistant (T.A.). She stated, “I was a T.A., which in our field means you run the whole class, it doesn’t mean you help the professor, you are the professor.” She added, “Once I started doing that I really liked it. I wasn’t quite sure where I was going to go but I found that I really sort of grew into my personality once I had to be in charge of a classroom, and I really enjoyed it. First it was to pay the bills and it quickly became something I very much enjoyed.”
Maurer has been teaching in one capacity or another since 1989. Before coming to ARCC she taught at the University of Minnesota Duluth for nine years. Maurer stated, “I wanted to come to a teaching centered school. I had some philosophical differences with the approach of the four year school.” Those differences were enough to convince her to make the move to the smaller campus of ARCC.
Comparing ARCC to the University of Minnesota Duluth, Maurer said, “I like that it [ARCC] is very student orientated. To me that doesn’t mean, bend over backwards and do whatever the students want, but it means I’m given the freedom to spend time with you, to help you to get to know you as opposed to, just ‘get them through, don’t care about them, push them on through.’ We are encouraged to get to know our students individually and spend time with them.”
Maurer explained that she is happy with her decision to make the move to a smaller school and has no future plans on moving back to a bigger school. She is currently involved in teaching courses at ARCC such as: college writing and critical reading, British literature, introduction to literature, and the art of watching films. She also hopes to one day teach a special topic Shakespeare course.
If their past games are any indication, the Anoka-Ramsey Community College (ARCC) Golden Rams women’s fast-pitch softball team is going to have their work cut out for them, but that didn’t stop them from holding their media day in the gym at the Armed Forces Reserve Center (AFRC) across from the Cambridge Campus Tuesday.
The media day event was scarce with onlookers, but among those in attendance were Mary Jacobson, marketing/public relations liaison for ARCC. Jacobson took photos of the girls as they posed for team shots and individual photos. “We really want to bring more excitement to campus through the athletics,” stated Jacobson, “this is a good opportunity to draw in new students.” Also in attendance was Patrick Johns, ARCC school president.
The ARCC Golden Rams have played five games thus far this season and have yet to score a run. The team has been blanked in five consecutive games, losing with scores of: 30-0, 29-0, 36-0, 9-0, and 17-0, respectively. The Golden Rams are set to play 47 games this season within the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III and they are part of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC). This is the girl’s fast-pitch softball team’s inaugural season and they admit they have a lot of team building to do. ARCC athletic director and fast-pitch softball coach Dave Alto stated, “From a team standpoint, we are just trying to improve.”
Alto has coached softball for 19 years but this is his first year coaching a college level team. He voiced his excitement over his new coaching position, stating, “we look forward to creating excitement and enthusiasm about having varsity sports at the Cambridge Campus.” He went on to say, “This [fast-pitch softball] is something the people here in Cambridge and on campus can rally around.”
The Golden Rams currently have 12 girls on the team and are looking to improve, as shown at the open practice on Tuesday. The girls spent the better part of an hour tossing balls back and forth, fielding ground balls and running sprint drills.
The girls seemed to have a lot of fun working together Tuesday during practice. There were plenty of smiles and laughs to go around as they tossed the balls around and while they posed for team photos. Ashley Peterson, Golden Rams second base player, stated before the drills started, “I love playing softball and playing with new people.” Peterson went on to say her goals for the season were, winning games and having good chemistry. Alex Thunborg, Golden Rams shortstop, said her goals are mainly having fun, meeting new people, and just enjoying the new experience.
While the girls are now spending time practicing in the AFRC gym, and playing games in various out-of-town locations, they are hopeful to be playing on their own field scheduled to be built near the AFRC by next year.
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Rachel Kempen: A gamer in the making
Game on! Anoka-Ramsey Community College student Rachel Kempen is tired of the same old mistakes in video games. That’s why she’s setting her controls for auto-pilot; destination: game design. Kempen has given much thought to what career path to choose and has settled on game design. “The reason behind being a game designer is really simple,” said Kempen, “I enjoy games; everything from Zelda, Mario, Final Fantasy, to World of Warcraft and Doom. Heck, even Tetris can keep me entertained for hours.” Kempen attributed her love for video games to her brother Ben. Among the many reasons she gave, Kempen spoke lovingly about story-lines, graphics, and game play. Beyond her love for the games she see’s much room for improvement. “The way certain areas or encounters are designed, they are just either extremely stupid and you begin to wonder, ‘who the heck thought this was a great idea’, said Kempen, “and other times they are so hard that you find yourself raging at your T.V. or computer.” Kempen went on to say that there were times during games when she felt she could do a better job with the design. She said, “I always have these ideas pop into my head about what should have happened, or what they could have done to make an event better.” All this and more is what’s driving Kempen towards game design. Looking towards the future Kempen noted that, “It would be amazing to see my own ideas and designs in a popular video game. I could point something out and be like, ‘I designed that’, Not to mention I’d have a blast having a career in game design.”
1. How old are you? I'm the good ol' age of 21.
2. Where are you from originally? Well, I'm actually a Yankee. I was born
in New York, and lived in Berre for a few years.
3. Where do you currently live? These days I live in Cambridge, Minn.
4. Do you have bro's or sis's? How many, and their ages please? Ben is my older brother, and only brother thankfully. He is 25 right now, so he has
a few years on me. I don't have any other siblings besides him.
5. What school are you attending? Right now I'm going to the local college here, Anoka Ramsey Community College.
6. Whats your major? If you haven't chosen one what are you aspiring to
be? Actually, I can't really decide what I want to be. There are so many
options out there, and I enjoy way too many of them. I think I've
narrowed it down to game design, for now at least.
7. Why did you choose this field? Well the reason behind being a game
designer is really simple. I enjoy games. Everything from Zelda, Mario,
Final Fantasy to World of Warcraft and Doom. Heck, even Tetris can keep
me entertained for hours. Thanks to my brother I've been hooked on them
since I was a kid.
As being a gamer, you really get blown away by the story lines, graphics,
content, and just the actual game play. There are times though where you're
playing a game, and you just want to face-palm. The way certain areas or
encounters are designed, they are just either extremely stupid, and you
begin to wonder who the heck thought this was a great idea, and other times
they are just soooooo hard that you find yourself nerd raging at your
TV/computer.
So, after times like that you just feel like you could have done a better
job. That was what kind of led me to this career path. While playing a game
I always have these ideas pop into my head about what should have happened,
or what they could have done to make an event better ect. I get all these
thoughts on how something should look, or if they just adjusted this and
tweaked that the game would be a lot cooler. Now if I was in a position to
actually put these ideas into effect, they'd hold a lot more meaning than
just conversation with my gamer friends. It would be amazing to see my own
ideas and designs in a popular video game. I could point something out and
be like, I designed that. Not to mention I'd have a blast having a career
in game design.
8. Are you a first generation college student? If not, what degrees do your
parents hold? Nope, everyone in my family has been to college. My parents both have bachelor degrees.
9. Where do you work? Uhh, I work at Papa Murphys. It's a pizza place.
Not exactly something I'm proud of, or plan to do for the rest of my
life, but money is money in this tight economy. Something has to pay for
my college degree. Plus, free pizza now and then doesn't hurt.
10. What are your hobbies? Obviously video games are one of my
past-times. So as gamers would say, "pwning noobs". I also am trying to
learn how to play the guitar. I'm pretty awful I admit though. Also, I
draw/paint when I have the supplies and inspiration. Paintball is another
thing I do with friends. I'm not sure if concerts count, but usually when
there is a good band who comes to the cities, me and my friends will go
see them play.
11. What gives you joy in life? There are a lot of things in life that
bring me joy. Little things like how the air smells after a rainstorm or
cutting grass, running into an old friend you haven't seen in awhile,
having a great conversation with a stranger, and just feeling alive makes
me happy. Of course like anyone else, friends and family are a big part
of the joy in my life. But, it's always the little things that add up to
a great day.
12. Is there anything particular you would like readers of this story to
know? Not really, I'm sure whatever you write will be great.
