MSU President's Newspaper Column
June 7, 2025
The Mayville State campus is blossoming with activity this summer
Signs of summer are everywhere on the Mayville State campus! This week we’ve hosted two New Comet Registration Days for students who will be joining us at Mayville State for the first time in the fall, and another is planned for June 9. It’s great fun to meet the newest Comets and their families as we pull out all the stops to introduce them to life as Mayville State students. As the name of the event implies, one of the most important things that happens during these events is getting students together with academic advisors who help them get registered for classes.
Outdoors, crews of students and physical plant employees are busy mowing, trimming, and beautifying the grounds. We’re extremely happy to have been able to add Kyle VanLeer to our staff recently. In his role, he does grounds work, including planting and maintaining the flower beds, during the summer months. He’ll be helping to keep the campus buildings warm as an employee in the heating plant in the winter. Kyle has done great work already. His impact has been noticed by people on campus and in the community, and we are grateful for this outstanding addition to our physical plant crew. We are equally grateful for those who have been around a while and who work hard to keep the Mayville State plant functioning well and looking good every day. A number of student employees are helping in this significant effort as well. We appreciate them!
Cometville Park, a facility that is the result of campus and community collaboration, includes pickleball courts, basketball courts, and a place to play cornhole. This popular spot is a big hit for the university and the community. It seems like there are always people out there playing a game of some kind, and our students absolutely enjoyed the intramural pickleball games and tournaments played at Cometville Park last fall and spring. This facility definitely has contributed to the quality of life on campus, and we are grateful to the local park board for this opportunity to work together.
In May, we hosted the high school regional baseball tournament. We love having the players, parents, and fans on the Mayville State campus! Our employees worked hard to prepare and serve as great hosts for our guests. As is common for spring events in North Dakota, the weather was not very cooperative, but everyone made the most of the situation.
Players and coaches involved with the 51st Shrine Bowl will report for practice on Tuesday, June 17. They’ll be enjoying practices and all kinds of activities on campus and in the community throughout the week leading up to the Shrine Bowl games on Saturday, June 21. We are very excited to host this group again this year! Thirteen of the young men playing have committed to being Comets in the fall. We look forward to a preview and seeing them in action on the field on June 21. You can see all the details related to Mayville State’s hosting of the Shrine Bowl at www.mayvillestate.edu/shrinebowl.
We invite you to stop by to see what it’s all about during the week and to attend the football games at Jerome Berg Field on June 21. The 11-man game starts at 3 p.m., and the 9-man game will start at 6 p.m. There will be fun and festivities throughout the afternoon and evening, with plenty of food available for purchase. Please be sure to bring a lawn chair or blanket as bleacher seating is limited.
You won’t want to miss the Shrine Bowl Parade, which begins at 9 a.m. on June 21. Watch and listen for information about the parade route. The Shrine units always make a parade special. Please be sure to join in the fun and cheer on the Shriners and the 2025 Shrine Bowl players and coaches!
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all Shriners. Mayville State’s motto of personal service is exactly what this organization represents. Their work to provide health care for children whose families may struggle to afford it is commendable and honorable. The Shrine Bowl helps to support this mission, and it also gives many high school football players an opportunity to play the game they love one last time. It’s a special event for them and for their families, and it only happens because the Shriners make it possible.
In the world of academics, summer courses are in full swing. A wide variety of classes and sessions are being offered, mostly online. Students are working toward degrees and/or picking up some needed classes over the summer. We wish them well in their studies.
In the campus science labs, students and their faculty advisors are diligently working on their important research projects. The work that happens in these labs is significant, and it provides Mayville State students with valuable learning experiences while giving them an opportunity for some income in the summer. It’s a win-win.
While summer is a time to kick back and relax a bit, it’s also a time when the Mayville State campus community is busy not only with the summer activities at hand, but also with preparations for the upcoming academic year. It seems that these are days when we can enjoy the best of both worlds in the midst of some beautiful North Dakota summer weather. Have a great summer!