HOF_athletes_and_coaches-web.jpgMayville State University alumni and friends were honored during the university’s 2016 homecoming festivities held Oct. 7-9. The weekend was highlighted by good times and good friends, all with a common thread of Mayville State University, “the school of personal service.”

The annual homecoming activities, sponsored by the Mayville State University Alumni Association, began with the Athletic Hall of Fame and Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame Awards Dinner held Friday evening, Oct. 7. Record numbers of folks enjoyed the evening, which included the induction of several to the MSU Athletic Hall of Fame and the MSU Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame. Mayville State graduate, Doug Petersen, Mayville, N.D., emceed the program.

Andee (Burris) Thompson, Grand Forks, N.D.; Randy Capouch, West Fargo, N.D.; Herb Hasz, Grand Forks, N.D.; Tim_Miles-web.jpgTim Miles, Lincoln, Neb.; and the 1995-96 and 1996-97 men’s basketball teams were inducted into the MSU Athletic Hall of Fame. The MSU Athletic Hall of Fame recognizes people who excelled as athletes or coaches at Mayville State or who have gone above and beyond in support of Mayville State athletics.

Rick Anderson, Cooperstown, N.D.; Mike Belseth, Breckenridge, Minn.; Ryam Brantl, Grand Forks, N.D.; Gary Gillis, Albertville, Minn.; Rick Metcalf, Sesser, Ill.; and Chad Omdahl, Hatton, N.D.; were inducted into the Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame, in recognition of their successful careers as coaches after graduating from Mayville State.  

On Saturday, Oct. 8, former Mayville State homecoming queens gathered for a time of reminiscing and fun at the Edson and Margaret Larson Alumni and Leadership Center before joining in the traditional homecoming parade, which made its way through town, beginning at 11 a.m.

Following the parade, a ceremony of remembrance was held at the Military Honor Garden on the grounds of the Edson and Margaret Larson Alumni and Leadership Center at Mayville State. The Avenue of Flags provided by the local American Legion Post 8 beautifully enhanced the Military Honor Garden monument which was the centerpiece of the event. The American Legion flags that flew at the Honor Garden that day were representative of those who were also honored in the Honor Garden.

The ceremony began with the singing of “The Star Spangled Banner” by Mayville State student Destiny Hicks from Lisbon, N.D., and included remarks from Martin Johnson, Military Honor Garden project co-chair and Mayville State graduate. Johnson announced the establishment of a scholarship for veterans that will be funded by excess resources raised through the Honor Garden project. Project co-chair, Lt. Gen. Emil “Buck” Bedard kicked off the drive to establish a scholarship endowment with his gift of $1,500, one-tenth of the HOF_basketball_teams-web.jpgfunds needed in order to fully fund the endowment. Bedard, a retired three-star general, spent more than 37 years in active duty with the United States Marine Corps. An Argyle, Minn. native, Bedard now lives in Las Vegas.

The program ended on a touching and solemn note, with program emcee, MSU Foundation Executive Director John Klocke, reading the names of each of the individuals who have been honored by loved ones in the Military Honor Garden project. The ringing of a chime by Mayville State student Briar Bahnmiller, Grandin, N.D., followed each name. Lindsey Shimpa, Mayville State student from Grand Forks,, N.D. ended the program by playing “Taps” from the float-web.jpgupper level doorway of the Larson Center.

The Mayville State alumni association hosted a chili feed inside the Larson Center following the program.

The honoring of the newest inductees to the Mayville State University Performing Arts Hall of Fame, as well as the traditional MSU Music Department homecoming concert, were a grand finale for a fantastic weekend for Mayville State alumni and friends. The concert was held Sunday afternoon, Oct. 9, in the Classroom Building Auditorium. Patti Baker, Auburn, Calif.; Cordell Bugbee, Minot, N.D.; Janet Klevberg Day, Elm Grove, Wis.; Donna (Severson) Evenson, deceased; Robert Hetler, Valley City, N.D.; Larry Pladson, Roseau, Minn.; and R. Craig Sheppard, Pinedale, Wyo.; comprised the fourth group of distinguished individuals to be inducted into the Performing Arts Hall of Fame since its establishment in 2013.

Homecoming 2016 culminated with a social to honor the Performing Arts Hall of Fame inductees. Hosted by the Alumni Association board, the social was held immediately following the concert in the MSU Campus Center Luckasen Room.

“Homecoming 2016 was a very special time,” said MSU Director of Alumni Affairs Beth Swenson. “It was a heart-warming celebration of what makes Mayville State University special - the people. It military_honor_garden-web.jpgwas our privilege pay tribute to so many wonderful Mayville State alumni and friends throughout Mayville State’s homecoming festivities.”

Top: These individuals were inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame and Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame during the Oct. 7 banquet. Pictured in the back from left to right are Gary Gillis, Herb Hasz, Rick Anderson, Rick Metcalf, Andee (Burris) Thompson, and Tim Miles. In the front (l-r) are Mike Belseth, Chad Omdahl, Ryam Brantl, and Randy Capouch.

Second: The very animated Tim Miles, who was inducted into the Mayville State University Athletic Hall of Fame as a former Mayville State University coach, kept the dinner crowd entertained during his acceptance remarks. Miles, who is currently head men’s basketball coach at the University of Nebraska (Big Ten Conference), coached two men’s basketball teams at Mayville State, in 1995-96 and 1996-97. Both teams were also inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame during the 2016 homecoming festivities. Miles is the only active coach who has taken teams to the postseason at the Division I, choir-web.jpg
Division II, and NAIA ranks.

Third: Members of the 1995-96 and 1996-97 men’s basketball teams were inducted into the MSU Athletic Hall of Fame this year. Those attending the banquet are pictured. In the back (l-r) are Pete Hansen, Brady Roisum, Kent Bauman, Derrick Dotson, Brandy George, Jeremy Macejkovic, Lance Roisum, Reed Roisum, Dave Finlayson, and athletic trainer Tim O’Brien. In the front (l-r) are student manager Rick Karboviak, John Maus, head coach Tim Miles, Brad Raymond, Jason Jesperson, Justin Turnquist, and Jeff Walen.

Fourth: Athletic and Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame inductees who participated in the homecoming parade were (l-r) Andee (Burris) Thompson, Gary Gillis, Mike Belseth, Herb Hasz, Chad Omdahl, Randy Capouch, and Rick Metcalf.

Fifth: Mayville State University Foundation Executive Director John Klocke (at the podium) emceed a ceremony of remembrance at the Military Honor Garden at noon Saturday, Oct. 8. PAHOF-web.jpgMilitary Honor Garden project co-chair Martin Johnson (right) announced the drive to establish an endowment scholarship fund for veterans through the Honor Garden project.

Sixth: The Mayville State University concert choir and concert band, under the direction of first-year MSU music director Dr. Cody Hunter, presented the traditional homecoming concert on Sunday, Oct. 9. A Mayville State jazz ensemble also performed in the concert.

Bottom: A new class of Performing Arts Hall of Fame inductees was recognized during the MSU Music Department homecoming concert on Sunday, Oct. 9. Pictured (l-r) are Otto Evenson, representing his deceased wife, Donna (Severson) Evenson; Robert Hetler; R. Craig Sheppard; Janet Klevberg Day; Larry Pladson; Patti Baker; and
Cordell Bugbee.