Mayville State University’s highest awards were bestowed upon six distinguished alumni during Mayville State University’s Alumni Day celebration held Friday, June 24. Dr. Nannette Bagstad, Mayville, N.D.; Randy Eken, Grand Forks, N.D.; Al Larson, Tempe, Ariz.; and Dale Norton, Pahrump, Nev.; each received the Distinguished Alumni Award. Jerry Bietz, Mayville native and formerly of Peoria, Ill., was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award posthumously. His wife, Myrna, accepted the award on his behalf. Doug Petersen, Mayville, N.D., received the Distinguished Service Award.
The awards were presented at the annual Alumni Association Awards Dinner which was held in the MSU Campus Center Luckasen Room. The program, emceed by Alumni Association board member Dean Krogstad, also included music. Alumni Lori Nelson, Portland, N.D., and Greta Paschke, Mayville, led the audience in the singing of the Mayville State school songs. Myrna Bietz, Mayville State graduate and widow of honoree Jerry Bietz, played three piano selections.
Alumni Day 2016 festivities began with an ice cream social on the lawn at the Edson and Margaret Larson Alumni and Leadership Center. The event was hosted by the MSU Alumni Association board and sponsored by Dick and Cleone Whelan of Crystal, N.D. The First and Farmers Filharmonic provided music for all to enjoy.
The beautifully landscaped Military Honor Garden provided a lovely backdrop for the occasion. The landscaping project was wrapped up just in time for the festivities. Mayville native Lute Simley, West Fargo, N.D., designed the landscape plans and coordinated and carried out the work along with his son, Scott, West Fargo. They were assisted for an afternoon by local volunteers Dennis Peterson and Jay Henrickson. The Avenue of Flags provided by the local American Legion Post 8 beautifully enhanced the garden on June 24 and 25.
Guided campus tours on June 24 gave visitors an opportunity to see the physical improvements that have been made on the campus over the last several years.
The Mayville State class of 1976 and their friends were joined by a host of others for an alumni and friends social at the Mayville Golf Club on the evening of June 24. The members of the class of ’76 had gathered for a 40-year celebration. The Mayville State alumni of Pembina County/Hoople, N.D. provided a continental breakfast for the group at the Larson Center on the morning of June 25.
“Alumni Day 2016 was a great time for connecting. Alumni and friends connected with each other and also with the alma mater. We are grateful for the opportunity to foster these relationships,” said Beth Swenson, MSU Director of Alumni Affairs. “Mayville State University is truly a special place because of the countless alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and students who are a part of the MSU family.”
Captions for photos:
Top: Six Mayville State University alumni received the university’s highest awards, the Distinguished Alumni Award and the Distinguished Service Award, on Friday, June 24. Pictured from left to right are Randy Eken, Al Larson, Myrna Bietz (for Myron Bietz), Doug Petersen, Nannette Bagstad, and Dale Norton.
Second: Visitors took time to reflect on the names of those who have been honored with engraved granite plaques at the Military Honor Garden.
Third: A beautiful new lighted sign was installed at the Edson and Margaret Larson Alumni and Leadership Center as the Alumni Day festivities began.
Bottom: Mayville State alumni honorees rode on the Alumni Association float in the Summerfest parade on Saturday, June 25. Pictured on chairs (l-r) are Myrna Bietz, Randy Eken, Doug Petersen, and Al Larson. In the front on the trailer bed are two of Randy Eken’s lovely granddaughters.