Comstock Memorial Union
Dean’s Chili Feed 2016

Dean’s Chili Feed 2016

This year’s Dean’s Chili Feed will be on Thursday, October 6th!

From 11am-1pm you can warm up with some free chili and lawn games on the Campus Mall at MSUM. Also at the Dean’s Chili Feed, you can meet MSUM’s campus Deans as they compete for the best chili! One of the featured ways to #GetConnected during Homecoming is being able to talk to MSUM’s Hall of Fame and Distinguished Alumni inductees at the beverage tent!

Below are the distinguished alumni confirmed to attend:
 Dave Schellhase Picture
Dave Schellhase
Moorhead State Men’s Basketball Coach, 1975-82, 1987-98
Coached the 1979-80 Men’s Basketball Team Hall of Fame 2016 Inductees
Dave Schellhase coached Men’s Basketball for 18 seasons at MSUM. While coach, he won two conference titles and was named NIC Coach of the Year from 1980-81. Before accepting Head Post at Moorhead State in 1975, he played professional basketball with the Chicago Bulls and after served as an assistant coach under ex-Dragon Marv Skaar. Schellhase was the first coach to lead the Dragons to the national tournament in 1980 and he holds the Dragon’s All-Time Leader in Men’s Basketball coaching with 289 games won. During his time at Moorhead State, he coached five All-Americans – himself being a National Scoring Champion and Academic All-American at Purdue. Over his career, he led MSUM to 13 trips to NAIA tournament appearances.

Joseph Porwoll Picture
Joseph Porwoll ‘76
Retired Chemist, Sigma-Aldrich 
Major: Chemistry
Distinguished Alumni Award 2016
 
Joseph Porwoll ’76 (chemistry) was a chemist for the Sigma-Aldrich worldwide organization prior to his retirement in 2013. Porwoll’s dedication and passion for chemistry contributed to the successful growth of the company, leading it to be the world’s most important chemical producer supporting academics, biotechnology and pharmaceutical research. Since retiring, he’s offered his expertise by joining the Board of Directors at Isowater Corporation. Isowater is a clean technology company and leading global supplier of deuterium oxide and related products for the Life Sciences, High Technology and Environmental Science sectors. In his free time, he enjoys golf, archery, as well as being a judge for the AKC Pointing Dog Field Trial.

Ellen Diederich Picture
Ellen Diederich ‘83
Artist, Author, and Publisher
Majors: Fine Arts, Art Education
Distinguished Alumni Award 2016
 
Ellen Diederich ’83 (fine art, art education) is a professional artist, author, publisher and entrepreneur. Diederich has been a professional painter since 1985. She specializes in watercolor and acrylic and is both a founding and signature member of the Red River Watercolor Society. She’s also a signature member of the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, The Watercolor Society of Alabama and Watercolor West. She’s won several national and international awards for her paintings. Much of her work is inspired by her time in the twin cities area as well as growing up on a farm after she moved to Staples. She also enjoys teaching adults watercolor. She teaches to clubs, teacher groups and at career fair seminars, hoping to inspire others to enjoy the arts. Aside from painting, she’s also an established author and publisher, having written and illustrated three books. Two of her children’s books, titled: “Where’s Petunia?” and “Samson’s Gift” have won gold medals in children’s literature. In what free time she does have, she enjoys playing golf, gardening, visiting her father and hanging out at the lake with her family. She also enjoys working out at Courts Plus, stating it helps her stay disciplined and provides the energy she needs for painting.

Teresa Greenwood Picture
Teresa Greenwood (Erholtz) 
Woman’s Track and Field, Cross Country
Hall of Fame Inductee 2016
Teresa Greenwood is a two-time NSC Individual Champion. She competed from 1983-87 and earned an All-American title in 1985, finishing second in the nation in the 5,000 meter run. She was the NSC cross-country champion in 1985 and holds the second-fastest time in MSUM history in the 5,000 meter event. She was named the NSC Kelly Award Recipient in 1987 and a two-time Most Valuable Athlete in cross-country.

Melanie Nordhougen Picture
Melanie Nordhougen ‘06
Assistant Project Manager, Mortenson Construction 
Major: Construction Management 
Outstanding Young Alumni Award 2016
 
Melanie Nordhougen ’06 (construction management) works for Mortenson Construction as an assistant project manager on the Sanford Fargo Medical Center. While at MSUM, she enjoyed working in the Physical Plant, where she gained hands-on experience. With the connections she made on campus, she was able to attend meetings about renovations on the campus. She moved to California within a month after graduating to pursue her career in construction, prior to returning to Fargo. There, she worked for Performance Contracting Group, specializing in interior and exterior construction services. She worked on a variety of projects where she gained construction experience in education, healthcare and correctional facilities. 

Amber Johnson Picture
Amber Johnson ‘09
Director, Producer, and Cinematographer
Major: Film Studies
Outstanding Young Alumni Award 2016
 
Amber Johnson ’09 (film studies) is a media production specialist at Cargill and a video producer at Twin Cities Film Fest. She more broadly defines herself as a cinematographer and director. Johnson started her career as a freelance filmmaker where she gained experience working on commercials, films and television. Johnson proved her passion for film at MSUM, working on a half-dozen films in just one semester as a senior. Since leaving MSUM, she has found success freelancing for commercial, television and film productions. In addition, she is the executive director of the non-profit filmmaking collective, Persistence of Vision, an organization dedicated to providing networking and educational opportunities for independent filmmakers in the Twin Cities area.

Learn more about the Chili Feed here – there will also be Homecoming merchandise available for purchase #AwaketheDragon