Kyle Imdieke, left, Kasey Solomon, Dr. Rob Galler, President Robbyn Wacker, Blake Johnson and Lance Sternberg.
Due in part to the St. Cloud State Foundation’s financial support, five graduate students had the honor of helping bring SCSU’s history to life over the course of spring 2018 semester.
In Public History II, headed by Dr. Rob Galler, five graduate students — Kyle Imdieke, Kayla Stielow, Lance Sternberg, Kasey Solomon, and Blake Johnson — had the opportunity to re-examine St. Cloud State’s history. For them, this was the opportunity to bring previously neglected stories to light, particularly those of the students who have shaped and been shaped by St. Cloud State.
“I appreciate the University’s support in this historical project, both on the faculty side and student side of things,” said Dr. Galler. “There is a continued future with this project due to the Foundation’s financial support.”
Each of the students focused on one decade from the 1920s to the 1960s. “A highlight for me was discovering the student voices, especially the female students of the 1920s,” exclaimed Solomon. “They were so passionate about their time at SCSU and their futures. It was a thrill to find their stories and share those with others.”
These stories have been shared with the public through Huskies Showcase presentations, radio interviews, articles in Stearns History Museum’s Crossings magazine, and the “Engaging Campus: SCSU students from the 1920s through the 1960s” exhibit boards on campus, all of which will continue into the university’s year of celebration, which started this fall 2018.
“The exhibit turned out great,” added Dr. Galler. “There was a big push to get our own SCSU students involved with this project so they could learn about St. Cloud State, feel connected with the university and spread the good news about SCSU.”
Part of the exhibit is a call-out for alumni and community members to share their St. Cloud State stories. They can do so by emailing scsu150@ stcloudstate.edu.
“We (students) are grateful for the generosity of the Foundation,” added Imdieke. “Their support has provided us with the opportunity to do real-world work on an actual public history project.”
