MSU President's column for Traill County Tribune

June 8, 2013

 Mayville State University Alumni Day planned in conjunction with Summerfest

 

Summer is upon us. Hopefully this means that most people will have an opportunity to get out and enjoy some great weather and fun outdoor activities. Summer also is a time for community celebrations where people come together and some come “home” for reunions and other gatherings. In Mayville-Portland, the annual Summerfest is a much-anticipated community event. The May-Port Lions Club members are doing a great job of organizing and coordinating a celebration that can be enjoyed by young and old June 20-23.

As part of the annual Summerfest activities, the Mayville State University Alumni Association will host the third annual Alumni Day at Mayville State University, on Friday, June 21. Activities planned throughout the day include campus tours, an ice cream social, and an open house reception honoring Mayville State’s 2013 retirees with 20+ years of service and this year’s Alumni Association honorees. Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Service Awards will be presented at the annual Alumni Association Awards Dinner. The day’s activities will wrap up with a variety show followed by a social for Mayville State alumni and friends at the Top Hat in downtown Mayville. All activities are open to the public.

We’re excited about showing off the new and renovated facilities at Mayville State. If you’d like to go on a guided tour, please meet at the front doors of Old Main at either 1:00 or 2:00 p.m. on June 21. We’ll take you around campus and let you see the great facility improvements.

From 1:00 to 3:00 the public is invited to enjoy ice cream and music on the lawn at Agassiz Hall. Normally, we would have hosted the social on the lawn at Northwest Hall, but since crews are busily working on the renovation of the building, we’ll settle for a social across the street this time. As you probably know, Mayville State’s historical Northwest Hall is being renovated for use as Mayville State’s alumni center, and is now officially known as the Edson & Margaret Larson Alumni & Leadership Center. Come find out more about the rehabilitation project and enjoy a nice afternoon at Mayville State.

Mayville State’s 2013 retirees with 20 or more years of service, Bev Holt, John Lankow, Paul Meartz, and Dennis Schultz, together with this year’s Alumni Association honorees, Merle Boucher, Deb Follman, Daryl Nord, Rodney Strand, and Curt Almlie, will be the guests of honor at an open house reception that will be held in the upper lounge area of the Campus Center from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. (Unfortunately, Paul Meartz and John Lankow will not be able to attend.) This social is being hosted by the MSU Alumni Association board.

The traditional Mayville State University Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Service Awards will be presented at the Alumni Association Awards Dinner. Honorees at the Alumni Association Awards Dinner will be 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients and Mayville State graduates Merle Boucher, Rolette, N.D.; Debra Follman, Devils Lake, N.D.; G. Daryl Nord, Stillwater, Okla.; and Rodney Strand, Knoxville, Tenn. The Mayville State Distinguished Service Award will be presented to Curt Almlie of Detroit Lakes, Minn.

The Alumni Association Awards Dinner will be held in the MSU Campus Center Luckasen Room, beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, June 21. Be sure to join in the time of socializing in the upper lounge area of the Campus Center prior to the dinner. Everyone is welcome to attend. Tickets for the dinner are on sale at the MSU Foundation office or online at www.mayvillestate.edu/alumniday.

A variety show will follow the awards dinner. It will be held in the MSU Classroom Building Auditorium, beginning at 8:00 p.m. The show is open to the public free of charge.

Mayville State’s 2013 Alumni Day will wind up with a social for all Mayville State alumni and friends at the Top Hat in downtown Mayville. The social begins at 9:00 p.m.

All of the events planned for Mayville State’s Alumni Day 2013 are open to the public. We cordially invite one and all to take part. We look forward to celebrating with our friends and neighbors and all who come “home” for the weekend.

Further information regarding Mayville State Alumni Day on June 21 is available at 701-788-4750 or alumni.mail@mayvillestate.edu. To purchase tickets for the Alumni Association Awards Dinner, call 701-788-4687 or go to www.mayvillestate.edu/alumniday.