MSU President's Newspaper Column
June 1, 2024
Dedication of Mayville State supporters is exceptional
Mayville State University is special in so many ways, but the one that comes across loud and clear over and over again is the fact that alumni, friends, and employees are over-the-top passionate and dedicated to “The School of Personal Service.” I am in awe of the enormous amount of support that comes in all forms and sizes.
One example of this comes from the Comet Athletic Club (CAC) board. Members of this board work extremely hard on behalf of Mayville State’s student athletes and the university. For example, they host bingo every Thursday evening at the Top Hat in Mayville. This means three or four of the members have to make the commitment to be present on each of those nights. That’s a big deal!
Coming up on June 15, the CAC Mayville State Golf Classic Scramble will be held at Forest Hills Golf Resort near Detroit Lakes, Minn. The tournament is organized and run by the CAC board and proceeds will support Mayville State’s student athletes. For more information and to register, go to www.mayvillestate.edu/golfclassic.
A golf tournament held annually in the Detroit Lakes area is a long-time tradition for Mayville State alumni. It began more than 40 years ago with a medal play tournament. Later a golf scramble was added to make it a two-day event. A few years ago, the medal play tournament was discontinued as scramble tournaments have become the choice of most golfers. Over the years, these tournament weekends have become like family reunions for Mayville State alumni. People put the date on their calendars each year and look forward to renewing friendships and catching up with their Mayville State family.
The Harvey McMullen Memorial Golf Tournament is also an annual fundraiser led by the CAC board. This year, it will be held Friday, July 12 at the Mayville Golf Course. See the details at www.mayvillestate.edu/mcmullengolf.
Formerly known as the North Valley (Hoople)-Comet Connection, the Harvey McMullen Memorial Golf Tournament was named in honor of one of its founders, Harvey McMullen. McMullen, a native of Hoople, N.D., and Jerome Berg, both Mayville State University icons and steadfast supporters of the school, established the North Valley (Hoople)-Comet Connection Golf Tournament in the early 1990s. The purpose in starting the event remains the same today as it was then: to raise scholarship funds for Mayville State student athletes while having fun with friends from near and far.
Dr. Harvey McMullen began his 27-year career at Mayville State in 1961 as the dean of men, as well as a faculty member and coach. He was an outstanding ambassador for Mayville State, recruiting and helping to retain countless numbers of students. Mayville State bestowed Dr. McMullen with the title Emeritus Dean of Men, and he was honored with the Mayville State University Distinguished Alumni Award in 2007. Harvey passed away at the age of 89 in October of 2015.
The CAC will host their annual Sportsmen’s Raffle event on Saturday, Sept. 14. The event will be held at the MSU Campus Center Luckasen Room. Tickets for the gun raffle are now available from Comet Athletic Club board members and at the MSU Foundation office. Only 500 tickets are sold, so there is a one-in-ten chance of winning for those who purchase a ticket. The Sportsmen’s Raffle has been highly successful over the years and has brought thousands of dollars in support for Mayville State student athletes.
The commitment and dedication of the CAC board members is second to none. We are so very fortunate to have these volunteers on our team. They are Mike Carr, president; Brian Halvorson, vice president; Steve Bensen, treasurer; Rhonda Nelson, secretary; Ross Johnson; Tami Parker; Brian Aune; Dan Jorgensen; Austin deLaroque; and Ben Johnson. We sincerely thank them and all supporters of Mayville State University.