Video Message above from Director of Athletics Heather Weems on the completion of this project
GOAL IS MET!!!!Thanks to over 71 alumni, friends and colleagues, we met our fundraising goal of $50,000 on May 11. Construction is underway and soon we will have a new lounge for Huskies women's student-athletes.
Alumna Bonnie Henrickson shows gratitude
The fundraising goal for the renovation of the Gladys Ziemer Women's Athletics Lounge is $50,000. The fundraising initiative is underway and Bonnie Henrickson '86, basketball, is matching all gifts (dollar for dollar) up to $15,000 in support of Gladys Ziemer and our current and future Huskies student-athletes through December 31st, 2014.
Pledges and Gifts:
Pledges will be accepted over a five year commitment (maximum)
Credit card gifts and electronic fund transfers are accepted
Stock transfer and estate gifts - contact Kurt Stelten at
320-308-2073
Donor Recognition
Have your name listed on our recognition wall with a pledge or gift of $500 or more (a pledge of $100 a year for five years qualifies) in the Gladys Ziemer Women's Athletics Lounge.
Alumni & Friends who have made a commitment to the project (periodic updates); $44,117 as of March 30.
- Bonnie Henrickson '86
- Diane Scherer-Poquette '85
- Simona Samuelson '92
- Kurt Stelten '93
- Heather Weems
- Patti Decker '82
- Laura Finch & Ellyn Bartges
- Marilyn Pearson Florian '78
- Sue Lambert '74
- Patti Pribyl-Brown '81
- Debra Allyn '77
- Dorothy '77 & Mike Simpson
- Connie Thomsen '74
- Sue Wahl Storbeck '81
- Julie Engmark '86
- Lynn Marie Heltemes Harris '90
- Sue Becker
- Lori Fish
- Jessica Hartmann '05
- Anne Abicht '06 & Dennis Lorsung '71
- Marie Meyer '72
- Linda Nelson '86
- Linda St. John '70
- Chuck & Carol Vick
- Jan (Niehaus) Herke '91
- Deborah Onell '80
- Leanne Roehl '80
- Jonelle Streed '03
- Jeff Hegle '93
- Mary Leoni '73
- Lori Runksmeier
- Mary (Scholl) Tschida '80
- Bette Jo '78 & John "79 '88 Carlson
- Judy Dunlop '70
- Jill Gebeke '85
- John Kelly
- Jane '87 & John Oxton
- Arthur '62 '64 & Barbara '62 '63 Grachek
- JeNean Erickson '76
- Mary Lynn Holmgren '74
- Carol '79 & Steve '83 Howe-Veenstra
- Mary (Schleper) Januschka '86
- Shelly Jensen '93
- Nola Johnson '79
- Paula J. U'Ren '97
- Lori Ulferts
- Ruth Nearing
- Carla Blaha '65
- Gigi DesLauriers-Knop '93
- Kim Kuehner-Hardemann '92
- Nancy Molzahn '73
- Kristin Pederson Gulrud '90
- Linda (Roden) Rosaasen '73
- Wendy Vehanen '72
- Julie Eisenschenk '90
- Dawn Baudoin '83
- Sara Edel '83 & Dee Reinking
- Reta J. Wood Trust
- Sheri (Mandell) Carlson '91
- Christine Kinghorn
- Sarah (Howard) Thompson '88
- Rebecca Enebak '92
- Tina Pendergast '02
- Cindy (Lafavor) Hager '85
- Mary Niklaus '93
- Mari Ingram '78
- Renee Anderson
- Carol Kuhn '14
- Noel Olson
- Carole Olson-Kerhaert
- Julie Olson
The Passing of a Pioneer in St. Cloud State Women's Athletics
On May 23, 2014, St. Cloud State lost women's athletics pioneer Gladys Ziemer. With her passing, Huskies athletics has reflected on the foundation of women's athletics built by Gladys beginning in the late 1960s.Gladys was instrumental in forming the first athletic teams for women at St. Cloud State and was a leader on the state, conference and national levels of women's athletics. At St. Cloud State, Gladys served as the women's athletics director from 1969 to 1995, was the head women's basketball coach from 1973 to 1993, and coached volleyball, gymnastics and softball in their infancy.
As a result of Gladys' passion for women's athletics, St. Cloud State has served as a leader in women's intercollegiate athletics and provided young women the opportunity to develop and compete successfully. Her advocacy for women's athletics lives on in the female student-athletes we see competing for the Huskies in 12 different sports today.
Statement from St. Cloud State Athletics Director
In 1972 Title IX of the Education Amendments was signed into law by President Richard Nixon. This legislation would change forever the way girls and women accessed resources in higher education in the United States, including athletics. And while many notable women and men were working at the federal level on implementation, Gladys Ziemer carried the flag for women's access to sport at St. Cloud State University.
A long-time Health and Physical Education instructor at St. Cloud State, Ms. Ziemer knew the benefits of sport participation for young women and was committed to developing competitive opportunities at St. Cloud State. Never one to shy from a challenge, Ms. Ziemer held the University accountable for creating quality opportunities for women, and along the way became a mentor and guide to many. Even after retirement from St. Cloud State in 1995, Ms. Ziemer continued to support women through her work with community organizations. Gladys Ziemer passed away on May 23, 2014 at the age of 74.
As we discussed the opportunity to honor Ms. Ziemer and her commitment to young women, an idea sprouted that touches a number of programs and will help us tell the story of women's athletics at St. Cloud State. For many of you who donned the red and black (or cardinal as it may have been), you will remember taking refuge in the locker rooms and team spaces of Halenbeck Hall. Over the course of time that space has become outdated, and does not provide the recruiting advantage nor comfort and convenience desired by our coaches and student-athletes. For this reason, we would like to introduce a fundraising campaign for the Gladys Ziemer Women's Athletics Lounge.
The shared experiences of women - as students, as athletes, as leaders - at St. Cloud State is important to our history and to our future. I hope that as you reflect on your time as a student-athlete at St. Cloud State you are proud of the impact your experience had on your own personal development and that you will consider a gift to show gratitude for the work of Gladys Ziemer and to promote the athletics success of our young women for years to come. Thank you for your commitment to St. Cloud State University and for the proud tradition you have helped to establish. GO HUSKIES!!!
Heather Weems
Director of Athletics
Project renovations, construction timeline and costs
The Gladys Ziemer Women's Athletics Lounge will include an enhanced study area currently located near the women's locker rooms and provide a multi-purpose space that will be used for team meetings and video review. In addition to upgrades to furniture and carpet, the plan includes enhanced technology (projector, screens, and wireless access) for game preparation and internet access for research, planning and student studies. We will highlight the renovation with bold graphics and messaging that capture the work and commitment of Gladys Ziemer and advance the story of St. Cloud State Women's Athletics.
Links to additional project information
- Online giving page - All gifts to the Women's Intercollegiate Athletics Program support the Gladys Ziemer Women's Athletics Lounge project
- Brochure
- Case statement
For more information contact Kurt Stelten, Director of Development, Intercollegiate Athletics (320-308-2073, krstelten@stcloudstate.edu)
