Beth Asmussen and Jim Collins receive awards for professional achievement
IHCC presented Outstanding Alumni Awards at the IHCC Foundation Celebrate Inver fundraiser held recently. The award is presented to outstanding alumnus/alumna for distinguished or professional achievement, bringing recognition to IHCC through their service or contributions to the community and/or their profession.
This year’s recipients are Beth Asmussen and Jim Collins.
Asmussen resides in Mendota Heights and currently serves as Hennepin County Deputy Examiner of Titles and has been an IHCC Foundation member since 2010. She earned her first college degree from the College of St. Benedict in 1977. What may seem reversed, she later attended IHCC for her Associate degree as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal. Asmussen was driven by her passion for learning and the need for the credentials to pursue her professional work. At Inver Hills she rediscovered her love for learning. She was inspired by faculty members and the interactions with her classmates. Her experience at Inver Hills helped reassure her that the legal profession was a well-chosen career path. It also provided her with new confidence in her ability to balance family, college and career.
Shortly after completing her Paralegal Associate Degree at IHCC in 1986 she decided to continue her studies at William Mitchell School of Law. Asmussen graduated from William Mitchell in 1991, passed the bar exam, and accepted a position as a lawyer for a local law firm. After working for that firm for 10 years, she was hired by the Hennepin County Examiner of Titles to serve as Deputy Examiner of Titles. She is a recognized leader in her field and frequently serves as a lecturer for professional seminars on real estate law.
She enjoys doing community service. She has volunteered with the MN State Bar Association. She also serves as a volunteer with St. Peter’s Church in Mendota Heights. She continues to have passion for education and has returned to IHCC paralegal classrooms to share her story and experiences with the next generation of students.
Collins, who lives in Eagan, is Vice President and General Manager at Unisys and has served as an IHCC Foundation member since 2012. While working full time at Unisys, Collins continued his education earning degrees from Inver Hills Community College in 1992 and the University of Minnesota in 1997. In his current Vice President role Collins is responsible for Unisys Global Managed Services clients in the Western Region of North America.
In addition, Collins is a member of the Minnesota High Tech Association ACE Leadership Alumni which is a supporter of STEM education and scholarship programs for STEM students. He is also a partner on several Federal and State STEM grant applications; involved in Cyber Aces cybersecurity competition in 2014 and facilitates the in-kind donation of printing by Unisys for the Celebrate Inver event. In 2013 Collins offered to host the STEM event at Unisys and through Jim’s leadership role at Unisys has supported a program that has donated over 2,000 PCs back into the city of Minneapolis citizen base.
He continues to support, and assist, the IHCC Foundation on many important projects and has developed a personal plan to assist the Foundation with its campaign.
“It is my great honor to present the Outstanding Alumni Award to these very deserving individuals,” said IHCC President Tim Wynes. “Their personal achievements and community involvement epitomizes Inver Hills Community College’s vision to provide emerging leaders to the workforce that will enrich and support our diverse communities, locally and globally.”
The IHCC Foundation mission is to build resources and a community network to support students, faculty and programs as IHCC. Gold sponsors for this year’s event were Lancer Catering, Home Federal Bank and Xcel Energy. Silver sponsors consisted of CHS, US Federal Credit Union, Fox Advancement and UTC Aerospace Systems. Bronze sponsors were Bremer Bank, Dakota Electric Association, Fastenal, GDI, LeVander, Gillen and Miller, PA, ProTurf, Marco, PCL Construction and SKB Environmental. Community sponsors included Applied Power Products, Door Services Company, Hiller Stores, Key Community Bank, Legend Technical Services, Personal Wealth Partners, Pine Bend Paving, Sherman Insurance, Cisco Systems, Progress Plus River Heights Economic Development Foundation and Wenzel Plumbing.
