Performing Arts Hall of Fame Inductees
Leanne (Folland) Eylands
As a Mayville State student, Leanne (Folland) Eylands was a member of the band, choir, pop singers, and pep band for four years, and she was a member of a brass quintet for two years. She accompanied the university choir, as well as soloists and recital performers for four years. Leanne taught music in public schools for 35 years before her retirement. She also ran a private piano studio in her home, and she served as organist and accompanist in her church for 50 years, playing for contemporary worship services, funerals, weddings, and more. She has played in the pit orchestra for musical theater and other productions. She remains active as a member of the Second Wind band in Grand Forks, N.D. Leanne earned a bachelor’s degree from Mayville State in 1976 with majors in vocal and instrumental music.
Christopher Pankow
Christopher Pankow performed in 12 theater productions at Mayville State and ran lights and sound for two. He was Drama Club president for two years and was named the Outstanding Theater Participant in 2007-08. Chris organized a fine arts trip to Minneapolis for students and staff. Vice president of the university choir for four years, he sang at numerous alumni events and fundraisers. As a speech coach at Kindred, N.D., Grafton, N.D., and Minto, N.D., he coached five students to the national speech and debate tournament. In addition, he has coached numerous students who were state champions and state finalists. Chris coached the 2013 North Dakota championship speech team. He is a co-founder of Second Stage, a theater camp for students with disabilities. Chris earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in applied psychology from Mayville State in 2007.
Amy Jo (Stewart) Paukert
Amy Jo (Stewart) Paukert taught music at K-12 schools in North and South Dakota before retiring in 2020. For 47 years, she has managed her private music studio, offering lessons in piano, guitar, and music composition for all ages. Her students are often state and regional winners in the National Federation of Music Clubs’ “Junior Composer Contest.” Together with her husband, David, Amy Jo has directed musical theater productions for various high schools, community theaters, and most notably, for Frost Fire Summer Theatre, where they were involved for more than 30 years. Under their direction, the Larimore (N.D.) One Act Play won the state competitions in 2015 and 2016. The Paukerts were instrumental in starting several summer youth arts programs. For 25 years, Amy Jo has conducted an annual community Easter cantata in Michigan, N.D. Amy Jo and David are involved in the North Dakota Council on the Arts “Art for Life” program, bringing music, art, creative writing, movement, and drama to the three elder care facilities in Nelson County. Amy Jo graduated from Mayville State with a bachelor’s degree in music and art education in 1982. She earned a master’s degree in piano pedagogy from the University of North Dakota.
Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Matt Fetsch
Matt Fetsch has been at the helm of the North Dakota High School Activities Association (NDHSAA) as its executive director since 2014. He served as an assistant director of the organization for four years prior. He is the sixth executive director in the 116-year history of the Association, which currently includes 170 member high schools. The youngest state association executive director ever appointed, Fetsch is considered one of the nation’s biggest advocates for education-based athletics and activities programs. He has presented to colleagues in 26 different states and continues to be heavily involved with North Dakota’s state athletic directors and coaches associations. During his time with the NDHSAA, Fetsch has served on several national governing boards and committees. Prior to joining the NDHSAA, Fetsch was a high school math teacher in Northwood, N.D. and an athletic director and assistant principal in Grafton, N.D. He also served as a high school and college baseball umpire in North Dakota. A Comet Baseball alum and Mayville State Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, Fetsch graduated with a B.S.Ed. from Mayville State in 2003, earning a major in mathematics education and a minor in coaching. He earned a master’s degree in education administration from the University of North Dakota in 2007.
Robert Walker
Shortly after graduating from Mayville State with a B.S.Ed. in 1978, Rob Walker reported to the U.S. Navy’s Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I. He was commissioned as an Ensign and spent the first five years of his career in seagoing assignments. His demonstrated leadership and management skills set him on the path for success in an admirable military career. He earned a master’s degree in computer science and made good use of this background as he climbed the ranks during a 22-year career in the Navy. Rob’s last Navy tour was as chief engineer for the Navy’s Tomahawk Cruise Missile Weapons Control System, where he built the next generation of control systems for launching Tomahawks operationally. He then worked in a small business supporting programs within the federal government, and later was recruited as a senior executive who helped the Department of Defense manage and lead the software development he had guided in the Navy. His work was significant because after 9/11, the software they were developing was in broad use to track the “good guys” and “bad guys.” Rob served as program manager for a new initiative spanning the DoD’s use of information technology for all systems for 18 months before transitioning back to private industry. He then assumed a leadership role within Oracle, finishing his work there as Vice President for Business Development, Partners, Channels, and Marketing in 2014, when he began his own private consulting business, RAW Solutions, where he supports private companies and government organizations with various IT topics and acquisition within government.
Distinguished Service Award Recipients
Pam Braaten
Pam Braaten served students, faculty, staff, and families at Mayville State University through her work in the Office of Academic Records for 36 years. Her tenure with MSU began in 1982 as the assistant to Registrar Mary Iverson. Pam created a welcoming environment and built meaningful relationships as she was able to foster a sense of belonging for students and their families. She helped students to feel valued and supported in their educational pursuits. Pam was instrumental in re-establishing the Bachelor of University Studies degree. She worked tirelessly and diligently with university stakeholders to help provide a smooth transition from the Higher Education Computer Network to ConnectND and PeopleSoft when Mayville State served as a pilot campus from 2001 to 2004. Pam served on numerous committees, assisted with events and fundraisers, and volunteered in various capacities for the greater good of the institution. In 2009, Pam became registrar and her student-centered approach remained at the root of her work. She encouraged students from Day One at MSU and remained pesky and persistent in her encouragement for them to celebrate their accomplishments by attending their graduation ceremony.
Susan Schultz
Susan Schultz came to Mayville State in 1977 as a health and physical education faculty member. She coached and served on various campus committees in addition to her full-time teaching load. Susan was intramural director, and served as advisor for cheerleading, Ski Club, and HPER Majors Club. Advising the HPER Majors Club allowed Susan to facilitate activities that benefitted the campus and the community. These activities instilled the need for professionalism and the responsibility for community service as teachers in her students. In 1978, Dr. Martin Johnson, Mayville State HPER department chair, and North Dakota State University secured national funding for an exercise program and study for individuals over the age of 60. The major emphasis of the project was a television series, for which Susan wrote 41 scripts and co-starred with Mayville State icon Al Meyer. The director of Prairie Public TV called Al “the Jack LaLane of seniors.” Prairie Public Television produced “Armchair Fitness,” which aired for four seasons. Stations in Nebraska and New Mexico later picked it up. As an outgrowth of the TV series and study, Susan presented workshops locally, statewide, and nationally to more than 600 professionals. At one time, the HPER Majors Club was exercising with 180 seniors in the Mayville area. Nursing homes and senior centers opened their doors and welcomed the Mayville State students who were providing a great community service while learning valuable lessons in serving others. Susan’s exemplary service benefited not only Mayville State and its students, but also the senior population. She represented Mayville State well as a trailblazer who demonstrated the importance of exercising for a lifetime.
Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees
Stacey (Leinius) Hadler
During Stacey (Leinius) Hadler’s four years as a member of the Comet volleyball program, she rewrote the record books, finishing her career with an impressive 1,114 kills and 1,574 digs (currently 6th in both categories). She also served as team captain as a senior and was recognized as both the offensive and defensive player of the year, while also receiving All-Conference awards from both the NDCAC and DAC-10. She was honored as an NAIA Scholar All-American for her impressive work as a student-athlete, achieving a 3.97 GPA upon graduation. Stacey graduated in December of 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems.
Hailey Longtin Aman
In four seasons with the Women’s Basketball program, Hailey Longtin Aman finished her collegiate career as one of the most-decorated student athletes to suit up for the Comets. A four-year starter, Hailey earned First Team All-Conference honors in each of her four seasons. In her freshman year, she was the top three-point shooter in the country, with 89 shots made and ended her career with 312 made. Hailey played a crucial role in the Comets’ qualifying for the NAIA national tournament for the first time in school history in 2013. The Comets advanced to the national tournament again in 2014. Hailey received NAIA All-American honors as both a junior and senior and finished her career by racking up an astonishing 1,636 points (second all-time MSU leading scorer at the time). She was an NSAA scholar-athlete and earned numerous conference player of the week awards. Hailey graduated in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in biology.
Rob Montgomery
In three seasons (1974-1976), Rob Montgomery was an extremely successful member of the Comet baseball team, earning All-Conference and All-District honors in each of his three seasons at Mayville State. Rob earned NAIA All-American honorable mention honors as a senior and was selected by his teammates to be team captain in both 1975 and 1976. He finished his three seasons with the Comets with a career batting percentage of .352, 14 HRs, 111 RBIs, and 100 runs scored. Rob Montgomery graduated in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in social studies.
Tom Pahl
Tom Pahl was a three-sport student athlete at Mayville State, competing in football (1972), basketball (1972), and baseball (1972-1974). Tom is one of the most decorated pitchers in Comet Baseball history. He was an All-Conference selection three times, an All-District selection twice, and he received All-Area honors once. Tom finished his career with a win/loss record of 23-4 and was a three-time conference champion. Tom capped off an incredible career by throwing a no-hitter against Valley City State in 1974. Tom Pahl graduated in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education.
Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame Inductees
Ross Hjelseth
Ross Hjelseth came to Mayville State as a three-sport athlete, competing in basketball (two seasons), cross country (two seasons), and tennis (one season). He went on to coach football as an assistant at North Dakota State University (1977-1985). He coached teams that won a national championship and four conference championships. Ross took over the University of Puget Sound’s football program as the head coach from1985 to 1993. He rebuilt the program from the ground up and compiled a 34-45-2 record as head coach. Ross also served as president of the NAIA Football Coaches Association in 1991 and 1992. He is a published author of “Winning Words - Speaking Life to Influence Others.” Hjelseth graduated from Mayville State in 1973, earning a bachelor’s degree with majors in business education and physical education.
Ray Thorkildson
Ray Thorkildson came to Mayville State in 1962 as a member of the Comet football program (1962-1965), but by 1963 he also competed in wrestling and track (1963-1966). Following his athletic career at Mayville State, Ray began teaching and coaching wrestling at Waubun, Minn. in the fall of 1967, when the wresting program was only two years old. He built the program from the ground up, and it became a respected program in the 70s and 80s. His teams compiled a 133-109-2 record while he was coach (1967-2000). In recognition of his lasting impact on the sport of wrestling, Ray was inducted into the Minnesota Wrestling Hall of Fame in April of 2024. Thorkildson graduated from Mayville State in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and business education.