President's Column for Traill County Tribune

Events provide opportunities for alumni and friends to connect

 

February 9, 2013

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 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.; Ron Carlson, Minnewaukan, N.D.; Meghan Derksen, Mayville,; Lucia Jacobson, Leeds, N.D.; Kurt Skodje, Faribault, Minn.; Herb Thomson, Grand Forks, N.D.; and Beth Swenson (ex-officio), Hatton, N.D. I am an ex-officio member of the board.

When the board meets February 9, they will make selections for the 2013 Mayville State University Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Service Awards. The award recipients will be honored at the Alumni Association Awards Dinner planned for Friday evening, June 21 in the MSU Campus Center Luckasen Room. A variety show will follow in the MSU Classroom Building Auditorium. These are two of the events being held as part of Mayville State’s annual Alumni Day festivities. Campus tours will also be available that day, and a social for alumni and friends will be held at the Top Hat that evening. The tradition of a Mayville State University Alumni Day began in 2011. The response has exceeded our expectations, so plans are to continue to host Alumni Day each year in conjunction with Mayville-Portland’s annual Summerfest.

Mayville State’s director of freshman enrollment services Jim Morowski and his staff have been on the road in December, January, and February hosting ice cream socials at area high school basketball games. The purpose of the ice cream socials is to connect with prospective students and alumni. These events have been very well received.  

A different twist to the ice cream socials has taken the form of pizza parties. The enrollment services staff invited alumni, friends, and prospective students to pizza parties held at the Italian Moon in Grand Forks on February 6, The Pizza Ranch in Cooperstown on January 30, and the Pizza Ranch in Dilworth on January 16. The open house format of these events provided a great atmosphere for gathering and sharing the Mayville State story.

The Mayville State Alumni Association board has done a great job of making sure that Mayville State is represented at parades in area communities over the last several years. Mayville State has had entries in parades in Hatton, Northwood, Finley, Hillsboro, Casselton, Drayton, Grafton, Cavalier, Edinburg, Larimore, Mayville, Aneta, Walhalla, and Cooperstown. At the April meeting of the board, planning for the 2013 summer parade season will take place. If you’d like to represent Mayville State in a parade, please contact the MSU Foundation office at 701-788-4750. The Alumni Board members have made it easy for anyone to get involved. They have purchased sets of magnets that can be easily placed on a vehicle to “dress it up” Mayville State-style! I encourage you to check it out. It’s lots of fun to hear the cheers for Mayville State as you pass by in a parade.

A number of other activities are being planned for alumni and friends in the next several months. The annual Traill County/MSU Luncheon in Mesa, Ariz. will be held February 12. Tables du Jour, the annual fund-raiser for music at Mayville State, will be held on April 20. A preview event will be held the evening of April 19. Commencement and the annual graduation brunch will be held on May 11. The MSU Classic will be held in the Detroit Lakes area June 7 and 8. Looking toward fall, mark your calendar for the 2013 Comet Athletic Club Sportsmen’s Raffle on September 7, MSU Foundation Farmers Bowl on September 21, and Homecoming 2013 on October 11 and 12.

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.