ntspring18

NORTHERN TODAY 8 SPRING 2018 good scholarship made it affordable, and the best part of attending was having “involved and energetic faculty who got to know us, encouraged us, and opened doors for us.” Her advice to current students: “Make the most of your time at Northern and take advantage of all it has to offer.” After graduation, Nolte applied and was accepted to the esteemed military medical school Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS). Dr. Nolte graduated with her Medical Doctorate in 1996 and went on to do her internship and residency in Family Medicine at Fort Belvoir, Va. She also completed a fellowship in geriatric medicine at Johns Hopkins Bayview and a Sports Medicine Fellowship at Fort Belvoir. While working to continue her education, she also worked as a member of the disaster medical assistance team, a group of professional medical personnel that provide rapid-response medical care or casualty decontamination during a terrorist attack, natural disaster or other national or international emergencies. Her missions included serving as an emergency responder in two hurricanes, the World Trade Center attacks, the Brentwood Post Office attacks involving airborne anthrax, the Pentagon, the Salt Lake City Olympics, presidential inaugurations and events, and the Kosovar Refugee Crisis. Capt. Nolte’s distinguished service has been recognized by several awards, including Commendation Medals, Special Assignment Awards, Presidential Unit Citations, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Crisis Response Service Awards. Capt. Nolte’s experiences have included serving with the U.S. Coast Guard in various roles. While with the Coast Guard, she was named the PHS Clinical Physician of the Year. Now at the Bureau of Prisons in San Diego, Calif., she plays a critical role in caring for patients with complex medical and psychiatric problems, and improving care in the BOP by bringing bedside ultrasound to this setting to prevent unnecessary delays in treatment or trips out of the facility for imaging and by bringing acupuncture techniques for pain control to this population to decrease the use of narcotic medications. She continues to teach medical students and residents. Dr. Nolte is married with two daughters, has authored publications, spoken at numerous conferences and workshops, and is a member of various medical associations. NORTHERN NEWS ‘You are best off being YOU’ Distinguished Alumnus Maunu encourages grads to be the best version of themselves. It might be tempting to try to imitate the methods of others who are accomplishing great things, but Chris Maunu has this advice for new Northern State University graduates: “be you.” “You are best off being YOU,” said Maunu, NSU’s 2018 Distinguished Alumnus for the School of Fine Arts. “The very best version of YOU. You have a unique set of gifts and talents, and they are best used if you are your most authentic self.” Maunu delivered the spring commencement address on May 5 in the Barnett Center. A 2003 graduate of NSU, Maunu received his Master of Music in Vocal Performance in 2005 from the University of Nebraska- Lincoln. He has been director of choral activities at Arvada West High School in Colorado since 2006 and has grown the program into a large, robust and high- achieving musical destination, resulting in nationwide recognition. Maunu’s efforts and successes also led to him being named a finalist for the 2018 Music Educator Award at the 60th GRAMMY® Awards this year out of thousands of educators across the United States. This prestigious honor is presented by the Recording Academy and Grammy Museum to recognize current educators who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education. Maunu also received a Commendation from the House of Representatives for his work in the choral field. At Arvada West, nearly 200 students have been accepted into all-state choir under Maunu’s tutelage, including 34 in each of the last two years – the most of any school in Colorado last year. Most recently, the Arvada West Vocal Showcase choir was named one of seven finalists for the 2017-18 AMERICAN PRIZE in Choral Performance. They were also invited to perform at the 2017 American Choral Director’s Association National Conference, the most prestigious honor for a choir of any level in the United States. Maunu’s choir was one of only three high-school mixed choirs selected, performing alongside choirs from Europe, Asia and South America. His program is only the third high school in Colorado history to be invited to perform for the ACDA. Maunu and his ensembles have performed in Carnegie Hall; The Kennedy Center; Orchestra Hall in Chicago and Minneapolis; as well DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS