A ceremony of remembrance at the Military Honor Garden, located on the south lawn of the Edson and Margaret Larson Alumni and Leadership Center at Mayville State, will be a highlight of the Homecoming 2017 festivities at Mayville State University. The program will be held Saturday, Oct. 7, beginning at 12 noon at the Larson Center. The program will include the reading of the names of each of the individuals who have been honored by their loved ones in this tribute to those who have served in the military. Everyone is welcome to attend the program. Those attending are asked to bring a lawn chair if they wish to sit during the program. The Mayville State University Alumni Association board will be serving chili following the ceremony of remembrance. Freewill donations to help defray expenses associated with the meal will be accepted.
The Honor Garden monument features a life-sized bronze eagle in flight statue, and all five branches of the military are represented on a large granite structure in the center of the memorial. This beautiful and meaningful project is a tribute to Mayville State faculty, staff, and students, as well as alumni and community men and women, for their patriotic service in America’s Armed Forces. The intent is to honor anyone who has served in the military. Those honored include Mayville State alumni, as well as others who did not attend Mayville State
Gifts of any size continue to be accepted for the Military Honor Garden project. A gift of $500 or more will provide the donor with a plaque engraved with the name, military branch, and year(s) of service of a veteran whom he or she wishes to honor. For more information on how to get involved with the Military Honor Garden project at Mayville State University, go to www.mayvillestate.edu/militaryhonor or contact Dena Bergstrom at the MSU Foundation, dena.bergstrom@mayvillestate.edu or 701-788-4864.
A full slate of activities is planned for Mayville State’s Homecoming 2017. Festivities will begin Friday, Oct. 6 with a social at the Edson and Margaret Larson Alumni and Leadership Center from 4 to 5:30 p.m. The Athletic Hall of Fame and Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame Dinner will follow, at 6 p.m., in the MSU Campus Center Luckasen Room. Athletic Hall of Fame inductees are the 1988 baseball team, Melissa Charboneau-Folch, Stu Gilman, Neil Steffes, and Lonnie Thomas. Nick Storhaug will be recognized as an Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame inductee, and Gwen Shaffer will receive the Distinguished Service Award, in recognition of her service to the athletes of Mayville State University. A social for alumni and friends will be held at the Mayville Golf Club following the banquet.
In addition to the ceremony of remembrance at the Military Honor Garden, Saturday, Oct. 7 festivities include a morning meet and greet at the Larson Alumni Center from 9 to 11 a.m. Former Mayville State men’s basketball players are invited to a gathering and tailgating beginning at 10 a.m. The homecoming parade begins at 11 a.m. and will make its way through town. The Comets will face Presentation College in the homecoming football game. It begins at 2 p.m. at Jerome Berg Field. The grand finale for the day will be an all-alumni homecoming reunion at the Mayville Golf Club. A picnic-style supper will be served from 4 to 7 p.m., or until the food is gone. Socializing will continue until 9 p.m.
Homecoming weekend will also include a couple of home volleyball games. The Comets will play against University of Jamestown on Friday, Oct. 6, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse. They’ll face Dickinson State at noon on Saturday, Oct. 7.
Homecoming 2017 will wrap up with the traditional MSU music department homecoming concert which begins at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8 in the MSU Classroom Building Auditorium. The 2017 Performing Arts Hall of Fame inductees will be recognized during intermission. They are Caroline Brown, Robert Gust, Dr. Joseph Hegstad (deceased), and David “White Thunder” Trottier. A reception to honor these folks will be held in the MSU Campus Center Luckasen Room immediately following the concert.
MSU Music Director Dr. Cody Hunter is inviting all alumni to join the current concert choir for a special performance of a couple of songs at the Homecoming Concert on Sunday, Oct. 8. There will be rehearsals at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7 and at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 8. If you’re interested, please respond at www.mayvillestate.edu/homecomingchoir.
Tickets for the Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner are $20 each and can be purchased at the offices of the MSU Foundation or by going to www.mayvillestate.edu/homecoming. Please purchase tickets by Sept. 25. For more information about Mayville State University Homecoming 2017, go to www.mayvillestate.edu/homecoming or contact the office of alumni affairs at 701-788-4750 or alumni.mail@mayvillestate.edu.