MSU President's column for Traill County Tribune
February 14, 2015
Events provide opportunities for alumni and friends to connect
The Mayville State University Alumni Association is an organization sponsored by the Mayville State University Foundation for the purpose of addressing alumni concerns, organizing alumni activities, and enhancing public relations of Mayville State University. The Alumni Association board of directors is responsible for organizing and carrying out a number of activities each year, including alumni day, homecoming, and the graduation brunch. In addition, the group plans and hosts a number of social gatherings for Mayville State University alumni and friends.
Members of the MSU Alumni Association Board include Dean Krogstad, Wadena, Minn., president; Cleone Whelan, Crystal, N.D., vice president; Cindy Petersen, Mayville, secretary; Kelly Morrison, Mayville, Pam Soholt, Mayville; Lori Nelson, Portland, N.D.; Doug Anderson, Cavalier, N.D.; Don Cavalier, Crookston, Minn.; Wayne Nelson, Hawley, Minn.; Lucia Jacobson, Leeds, N.D.; Kurt Skodje, Faribault, Minn.; and Herb Thomson, Grand Forks, N.D. MSU Director of Alumni Affairs Beth Swenson and I are ex-officio members of the board.
When the board met on January 24, plans were made for the upcoming Alumni Day celebration which will be held Friday, June 26. Plans include a couple of gatherings and open houses. Former library students and employees are invited to take part in a gathering planned at the Byrnes-Quanbeck Library from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. that afternoon. Former residents of Berg Hall will gather in the Berg Hall conference room from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. There will be campus and departmental open houses and tours, as well.
The alumni board’s agenda on January 24 included selection of the Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Service Award recipients for 2015. These folks will be the guests of honor at a reception planned at the Larson Center Friday afternoon, June 26. This will be followed by the annual Alumni Association Awards Dinner at the MSU Campus Center Luckasen Room.
A musical program is being planned for the evening of June 26, and the day will wrap up with a social for alumni and friends. Details about these activities will be available soon and will be posted at www.mayvillestate.edu/alumniday as they become available.
A number of other activities are being planned for alumni and friends in the next several months. If there is enough interest, the Alumni Association will host a social gathering in Mesa, Arizona the evening of March 19. The Comets baseball team will be playing in Tucson during spring break, March 9-19. They’ll be returning to Mayville by bus following their March 19 games, and will stop by for a social in the Mesa area as they begin their trek back to North Dakota. People who are interested in such a gathering should leave their name and email address at www.mayvillestate.edu/baseballsocial, so we can get back to them with more information.
Tables du Jour, the annual fund-raiser for music at Mayville State, will be held on April 18. A preview event will be held the evening of April 17. The MSU Golf Classic will be held in the Detroit Lakes area June 12 and 13. Mayville State will sponsor the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks game at Newman Outdoor Field the evening of June 17. Be sure to watch for further details about this evening, which will include a picnic supper, at www.mayvillestate.edu/redhawks. Speaking of baseball, the Alumni Association is planning another outing for alumni and friends at Target Field on August 1, when the Minnesota Twins will play the Seattle Mariners. Looking toward fall, mark your calendar for the 2015 Comet Athletic Club Sportsmen’s Raffle on August 29, Farmers Bowl on September 12, and Homecoming festivities on October 16, 17, and 18.
We who have a connection to Mayville State share a unique bond. It is great to be able to get together to enjoy special times. Thank you to all who work diligently to make these events possible and to all who attend and make them successful. For more information about any of these events, you may contact Beth Swenson, Director of Alumni Affairs, at 701-788-4750 or beth.swenson@mayvillestate.edu.