MSU President's Column
By Dr. Brian Van Horn
July 12, 2025
Enjoying a busy summer with an eye toward the quickly approaching fall activities
The summer is flying by! Faculty and staff have been busy with the hosting of events on campus, orientation and registration days, teaching classes, working on research projects, preparations for the fall semester, advising and enrolling students, taking care of the grounds and facilities, and so much more. In just a few weeks, student athletes will be back on campus, reporting for fall pre-season camps.
On the alumni and friends front, it’s golf tournament season. The MSU Classic in Detroit Lakes was held in June, and the Harvey McMullen Memorial Tournament was held July 11 in Mayville. These golf scrambles, sponsored by the Comet Athletic Club, support scholarships for Mayville State student athletes.
The Around the Horn Golf Classic to support Comets Baseball is scheduled for Aug. 1 at the Mayville Golf Course. You can see the details and register at www.mayvillestate.edu/aroundthehorn. The Comet Gridiron Club Golf Tournament is planned for Saturday, Aug. 16 at the Mayville Golf Course. More information about this event is at www.mayvillestate.edu/gridirongolf.
We sincerely appreciate all who support these golf tournaments. They provide great opportunities to get together with your Mayville State friends while supporting our students. It’s a win-win! I would be remiss in not recognizing the wonderful volunteers and staff who organize and ensure that the events are successful. Thank you!
This is also sports camp season. This week, Comets Volleyball hosted a summer skills camp for high school and junior high students. Their varsity team camp is scheduled for Tuesday, July 22. Head Women’s Basketball Coach Ryan Carpenter and his coaches and team will host an elite camp for students in grades 9-12 on Aug. 9. This group also has a team camp scheduled for July 28-30.
We love having the campers with us! Thank you to Head Volleyball Coach Elora Passa and her staff and players and Ryan Carpenter and his staff and team for their excellent work that makes these camps possible. We’re Comet Proud to offer these opportunities that help young athletes learn and grow in their sport.
We were honored to host the Shrine Bowl teams and coaches as they prepared for their big games in June, as well as to hold the games at Mayville State’s Jerome Berg Field. About 160 players and coaches joined us for various activities on campus and in the community during the week, and more than 2,000 parents and fans joined them when they came to watch the games.
This successful endeavor required a great team effort and lots of planning, preparing, and carrying out of duties. I am so proud of and grateful for our dedicated staff who worked tirelessly to ensure that the experience would be a good one for all. Way to go, Comets!
Looking ahead, mark your calendars for the Sportsmen’s Raffle and Watch Party event sponsored by the Comet Athletic Club on Sept. 13. See more at www.mayvillestate.edu/sportsmensraffle. The highly anticipated combined Homecoming/Farmers Bowl celebration is planned for Sept. 26 and 27. Details are at www.mayvillestate.edu/homecoming2025. We look forward to celebrating with our alumni and friends!
Huge progress continues to be made in the Old Main renovation project. While lots of work is going on inside the building, one can see big progress on the exterior as well. This is a peak time for the project, and the goal is to have all exterior work, including landscaping, completed by October. In just one short year, we anticipate that this major undertaking will be complete, and we’ll be looking at getting faculty and staff moved in and ready to serve students in a beautiful newly renovated student-centered facility in the Fall Semester of 2026.
It's not too late to enroll for the Fall Semester of 2025! Mayville State offers fantastic opportunities for those who wish to enroll full-time or part-time, on-campus or online. Mayville State offers a high-quality education at a great value, and the experience for students is value-added, thanks to the personal service they deserve and receive. Our cost is low, and fantastic scholarship opportunities help to make earning a degree or furthering your education even more affordable. Contact one of our friendly and helpful enrollment representatives to learn more. You can reach them at recruitment@mayvillestate.edu or 1-800-437-4104.