MSU President's Column for Traill County Tribune

November 28, 2020 

Giving thanks for all things Mayville State

"Give thanks not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every day of your life. Appreciate and never take for granted all that you have."
       -- Catherine Pulsife 

As we take time to pause and reflect on our many blessings this Thanksgiving, I can’t help but think about the many who will be considering the gift that Mayville State University is in our lives. This special place has and continues to change lives, not only for current students, but for those who have earned degrees and gone on to make a difference in the lives of others.

We are grateful for the pioneers who came before us and worked hard to establish an institution of higher education in Mayville, North Dakota. Being able to provide quality education for future generations was extremely important to the immigrants who came to our area in search of better lives. We are the beneficiaries of an immeasurable gift.

To have a university in a small, rural community and county is something for which we can all be grateful. The university provides educational opportunities for students and employment opportunities for others. Mayville State University makes an important economic impact in our community and beyond.

We are grateful to be one of the 11 institutions in the North Dakota University System. As an NDUS entity we support the State Board of Higher Education’s mission to enhance the quality of life for all those who are served by the NDUS, as well as the economic and social vitality of North Dakota.

Mayville State University provides for the families of employees, and they are grateful. We often hear from the adult children of former employees, many of whom have passed away, about how much they appreciate the fact that their families benefitted from a parent’s association with Mayville State. These people are among the many who pay forward the blessings they’ve received.

Over and over again, when students are asked what they appreciate about Mayville State University, among the things they mention are the extra-special interaction between community members and students. Students recognize and truly value the great support that comes from community friends and alumni. Students who come from places that are similar to Mayville-Portland like that their transition to life in college feels like home. Those who come from distant metropolitan areas are drawn to the friendliness and genuine care and concern that is so freely shared by members of the community.

We are extremely thankful for the many volunteers who give of their time, talents, and resources to benefit the university. Each and every day, there are volunteers who are making a difference in the life of our university and the lives of our students.

Personal service is the basis on which the university was formed so many years ago. We are grateful for our faculty and staff who continue that legacy, the underlying principle that makes Mayville State University stand out. It is a source of great satisfaction to know that our students are taking their first-hand experiences in personal service from Mayville State and emulating them as they graduate and leave Mayville State to pursue their careers and lives in their own communities. It’s our way of making the world a better place 

When we celebrated Thanksgiving in 2019, we could not have predicted what the next several months would bring. The struggles related to the coronavirus pandemic are having a tremendous impact worldwide, as well as in our country, state, county, and community. We are grateful for all who are working hard and doing their part to keep us safe and help mitigate the spread of this extremely contagious virus.

Mayville State University faculty, staff, and students continue to unselfishly give of themselves as we all do our part to keep one another safe and healthy. From the bottom of my heart, I say “thank you” to all. It is the can-do attitudes of the Mayville State family that have made it possible for us to continue with on-campus in-person course delivery throughout the fall semester, and allowing us to study, live, and work in a safe environment. This is something for which we can all be extremely thankful.