October 27, 2025
For generations of students, faculty, and community members, the Old Main building at Mayville State University (MSU) has stood as a symbol of tradition, resilience, and the enduring spirit of the school. Now, as the historic structure undergoes a transformative renovation, those deep connections are being rekindled in new ways.
This past summer, Mayville State welcomed alumni to campus for hard-hat tours of Old Main, offering a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the restoration in progress. Among those who walked through its familiar but evolving halls were Foundation Board members Rachelle Fettig and Nick Storhaug, both proud graduates who understand the importance of preserving the university’s legacy while investing in its future.
“Mayville was my start, my base, and my foundation,” said Storhaug. “To see Old Main being renovated was very emotional and sentimental.”
Both Storhaug and Fettig share a connection to the Mayville area. After growing up in Mayville-Portland, N.D., Fettig was certain she didn’t want to attend the small, local college. She initially enrolled at the University of North Dakota (UND) in nearby Grand Forks but then came to a crossroads for what she wanted to do. A summer class at MSU convinced her to transfer.
While UND is a big school with its own perks, Fettig credits her time at MSU with keeping her grounded. She was a business major involved on committees, the student activities council, and actively engaged in college life.
It was Fettig’s grandmother who encouraged her to attend MSU.
“My grandma (Shirley Gummer) was all about Mayville State, even though she didn’t actually go there,” Fettig explained with a laugh. “She was even president of the Foundation Board, so I have Mayville State running through my blood.”
Fettig’s husband, Shawn, attended MSU as well. It makes homecoming fun for the two of them, because they have their own groups of people to hang out with before they meet up again at the end of the day.
After relocating to the southwest Twin Cities suburbs, Fettig is currently a business analyst at Cardinal Glass Industries. She stays involved with MSU through the Foundation Board and life-long college friends.
Storhaug also grew up in eastern North Dakota. After graduating from Lisbon High School, he packed his bags and came to MSU as a 17-year-old with no goals or ambitions. A first-generation college student, he majored in business education and physical education.
Although he was a classroom teacher for 20 years and is now a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) running his own business in Lisbon and Forman, N.D., Storhaug found a passion in coaching.
“I coached the Lisbon wrestling team, a renowned wrestling power in the state,” Storhaug said. “I’m a member of the North Dakota Coaches Hall of Fame, the Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame, and the Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame at Mayville.”
For both Storhaug and Fettig, Old Main was a central symbol of their time at MSU. Storhaug recalled hauling himself up to the second-floor accounting classroom for three of his college years. The classroom now bears his name, as well as that of another CPA, Lowell Nelson.
Like many others in the MSU community, Fettig and Storhaug are looking forward to the promise that a transformed Old Main will hold. Even though part of them will miss the building as it was, they were excited to see the pictures and take the tour to get a glimpse of the future.
“You can see that people put lots of time and energy into this project,” said Fettig. “The building is beautiful, and the exposed brick is memorable, but it’s nice to make it modern and appealing to students and instructors.”
Storhaug compared the building under construction to seeing a sturdy skeleton with foundation and footings. The exterior back of Old Main will feature a beautiful new entrance and plaza for all to enjoy. He is most-looking forward to the addition of natural light throughout the building, which will eliminate the feel of being in a dungeon trapped in darkness.
“I’m an accountant who knows what it’s like to be locked in a basement for 12 hours at a time, punching numbers into a computer,” explained Storhaug. “Darkness is dreadful, and light is good for the soul.”
The accents of light will complement a view of the entire campus and surrounding Great Plains landscape via an impressive new conference center. Storhaug appreciated the importance of good windows and being a partner with nature.
The renovated Old Main will not just include classrooms, but space to socialize as well. The auditorium stood out in Storhaug’s memory as a place where everyone could gather for plays, musicals, dances, or other social events. As a football player, Storhaug appreciated the efforts of play director Chris Jones to invent productions that athletes could be part of. It was a space where all were welcome and included.
As the renovation continues, Old Main is transforming into a revitalized space that honors more than a century of history while meeting the needs of today’s campus community. For alumni like Fettig and Storhaug who know the building’s legacy, watching it come back to life is a powerful reminder of MSU’s enduring spirit.