Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient
Laurie (Thompson) Robinson Sammons ('73)
A1974 Mayville State graduate with education and physical education majors, Sammons became a classroom teacher, a reading specialist, a curriculum specialist and a national curriculum consultant to 35 states and eight countries. She is an advocate for high-risk students and a tireless worker on mission and other outreach projects focusing on community restoration and the homeless. She authored “One Story; Many Voices” about Christy's Cause, a foundation to prevent and eradicate sexual exploitation and human trafficking. She also published “Handbook for Unstoppable Learning,” a guide to foster effective teaching and deep learning. As a participant in a Fulbright Teacher Program, she traveled to Japan to focus on educational reform. Through her zeal to educate, she has had a worldwide impact on people of many ages.
Distinguished Service Award Recipient
Steven Bensen
Finding the “ways and means” to advance the causes of Mayville State has been the hallmark of Emeritus Vice President for Business Affairs Steve Bensen's 30-year career at the university. Few can match the amount of time, expertise, and energy he has expended in securing tens of millions of dollars from the North Dakota Legislature over many biennia. His diligence and willingness to go above and beyond, often at the expense of personal time, border on immeasurable. One of the most valued and valuable administrators in the history of the college, his work was part of an unprecedented era of success at MSU. Bensen's pivotal, exemplary career ended with his retirement on June 30, 2017.
Performing Arts Hall of Fame Inductees
Jeffrey Jacobsen
In a storied career, Jeffrey Jacobsen, DME, earned accolades nationally and internationally for his acumen as a conductor, clinician, and professional musician. He has conducted numerous high school orchestras in the United States and Canada as well as professional orchestras in Europe. He has often been cited as “outstanding” for producing award-winning jazz ensembles and for his excellence as a bassist for a variety of groups, making records with many of them. Jacobsen graduated from Mayville State in 1974 as a music major and his impressive resume attests that he has used that background to the fullest.
Greta (Anderson) Paschke ('85, '99)
“Multi-faceted” describes the dynamo that was Greta Paschke. With academic backgrounds in composite music education, biology/chemistry, and library science, she used her skills and innovative ideas to expand or enhance the music and theater programs at Mayville State and beyond. As an accomplished musician, accompanist, and choreographer she promoted and encouraged both students and community members to participate in performance programs, small ensembles, and as soloists. She was a mainstay for her willingness to share her considerable talents. From performing, to promoting, to fund-raising for her beloved programs, few could match her energy, vision, and enthusiasm for the arts. Greta passed away July 11, 2023.
Tim Thueson ('78)
An honor student and 1978 graduate, Thueson's career has been devoted to leadership, particularly in the ways he has promoted the performing arts, notably as a play director, speech coach and speech and dramatic contest adjudicator. He has also been influential in advancing dramatics, spelling, English and science and mathematics curricula statewide. Moreover, his leadership in the state speech and theater association as well as state and national teacher education organizations led to being included in national “Who's Who” publications for being a role model for excellence. His community service with the Lions Club and the Firefighters Association has been award-winning as well.
Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees
Dana (Wiseth) Dean (‘03)
For four years as a Comet, Dana (Wiseth) Dean lettered in both volleyball and basketball. Especially talented in volleyball, she earned all-conference recognition as well as offensive and most valuable player honors. Described as a great leader and teammate, she is fourth on the Comet all-time leader board with 1,219 kills and third with 1,703 digs. She was the team captain in her senior year. Before and since graduating from MSU she has coached multiple club volleyball teams and teaches character skills at Breakaway Academy, a hockey school. She graduated in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education.
Rebecca (Hayden) Rue (’02)
In four years as a setter (1998-2001) in volleyball, Rue set a Comet record for 4,600 set assists. An outstanding, multi-talented student in athletics, academics, and campus involvement, she earned all-conference, all-tournament, most-dedicated player, and four-time captain honors as well as being named an Academic All-American and receiving an MSU scholar-athlete award. “Involvement” continues to describe her success as a coach and member of coaching and teaching-related boards and committees. She was the Minnesota Class AAA Coach of the Year in 2013. Rue graduated in 2002 with majors in education and biological sciences and a minor in coaching.
1998 Comet Fastpitch Softball Team
Following several years of rebuilding, Coach Stan Rettew's 1998 Comet fastpitch softball team's hard work and dedication led to their earning the best-ever Comet record, with 25 wins against 16 losses. The Comets were paced by five players who were awarded all-conferences first team or honorable mention honors. Many members achieved success in the classroom as well, being named to the Dean's List and earning Academic All-American honors.
2001 Comet Baseball Team
Amassing a win-loss conference record of 27-1, the 2001 Comets won their way through the Dakota Athletic Conference regular-season championship, the DAC tournament championship and the Region III tournament, where they came from behind before rattling off four consecutive victories to earn the school's first region tournament crown since 1964. Advancing to the Plains Super Region championship, the Comets lost to Bellevue of Nebraska. The team finished the season ranked No. 11 nationally, narrowly missing an at-large bid to the NAIA World Series that included the top ten. Mayville State officially ended the season with a 36-7 record. Five Comets were named to the 2001 NAIA All-America Honorable Mention Team.
Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame Inductees
Jay Frydenlund
Jay Frydenlund, a 1984 Mayville State graduate, has decades of coaching experience, including stints at Leeds (N.D.) High School and East Grand Forks, Minn., as the head boys basketball coach. He was also the head golf coach at EGF for 16 years. His teams made appearances in championship competition in all of those sports. Notably, many of his players achieved academic success as well as success on the playing field. Prior to retiring, he was 15th on the list of Minnesota boys basketball active winningest coaches. Now retired from teaching, Frydenlund finished his coaching career with an overall record of 552-272.
Dave Nelson
Dave Nelson's acumen as a high school coach and athletic director earned him state, district, and region awards with regularity. His success with the May-Port CG (N.D.) High School boys basketball team is particularly outstanding, as from 2001-2003, the Patriots had 50 consecutive wins, including back-to-back state Class B titles. For distinguished service on state athletic boards and committees, he was given the State Award of Merit in 2008 in recognition of outstanding leadership and achievement in interscholastic athletic administration. He has served as athletic director at both MPCG and Hillsboro (N.D) High Schools. Nelson graduated from Mayville State in 1981.