UMD Chancellor Kathryn A. Martin and Lake Superior College President Kathleen Nelson were presented the 2010 Sam Solon Legislative Service Award on March 4 at a legislative breakfast in St Paul during Duluth and St Louis County Days at the Capitol. The award was presented by Senator Yvonne Prettner Solon, widow of Senator Sam Solon and his successor to the state senate.
Both women were praised for their outstanding leadership in the growth in size and stature of their respective campuses. Both are retiring at the end of this school year.
A native of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, Kathryn Martin came to head the UMD campus in August 1995, becoming the first female chancellor in the University of Minnesota system. This school year marks Dr Martin's 15th year as chancellor. Under her leadership UMD has undergone an unprecedented period of growth in size, academic stature and program development.
During Dr Martin's tenure in office, UMD total enrollment has grown from 7,500 in 1996 to 11,300 this current school year. Since 2000, twelve new buildings and major renovations have been completed, or are under construction. Several new degree programs have been added including Civil Engineering and two doctoral programs. This year UMD has submitted a legislative bonding request of $6.6 million to build an American Indian Learning Resource Center.
Martin said, "I have been honored to serve the UMD campus and am a fortunate person to play some small part to provide students and faculty with the facilities they need to do their best. Those buildings would not be that important without the quality of their inhabitants."
Kathleen Nelson became the second president of LSC in 1997. Under her leadership, enrollment has doubled to a current total of 5,521 students. She has been with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MNSCU) system for 30 years.
In a statement read for her at the breakfast she said, "I am humbled by receiving the Sam Solon Award."
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