Fall 2026
Purple and (Olympic) Gold How Shari Dickerman helped Team USA win it all
Super Maverick
Maverick Values
The Future State
Tim Huebsch ’02, a lifetime of Maverick service.
Stories of how Maverick values permeate the MSU experience.
Much more than a football stadium.
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Fall 2026 Volume 28 Issue 1 Edward Inch, President
Homecoming Day: October 3, 2026
David Hood, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Kevin Buisman, Director of Athletics Amy Cooney, Vice President for University Advancement Anne Gillespie, Vice President for Finance and Administration Brian Jones, Acting Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Joe Kmiech, Vice President for IT Solutions and CIO Henry Morris, Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Sheri Sargent, Chief of Staff and Vice President for Administrative Services Travis Thul, Vice President for Academic Success and Engagement Editorial Director, Sara Gilbert Frederick
A Full Day of Maverick Pride and Celebration Don’t miss this exciting day filled with Maverick spirit, family-friendly activities, entertainment and football. Homecoming Day offers something for everyone, from alumni and students to families and community members.
Editor, Joe Tougas ‘86 Designer, Neely Prenzlow Original Photos, Nicholas Cachiaras, John Cross, Vanessa Knewtson ’13, Steve Woit Writers, Grace Brandt ’13, Amanda Dyslin ’03, ’15, Helen Healy ’92 Print Coordinator, Ryan Schuh ‘00 Printer, Corporate Graphics Commercial Contributing Staff, Dan Benson, Kim Rademaker ’93, Connie Wodtke ’91
Homecoming Highlights 10:30 a.m. Homecoming Parade Bringing Maverick pride to the streets and kicking off the full day of celebration.
11 a.m. Mavericks on the Mall The entire Mankato community is welcome to enjoy food, games, live music, caricature artists, bounce houses, campus tours and more, including Pancakes with the President on the beautiful campus mall.
2 p.m. Homecoming Football Game Come cheer on the Mavericks as they take on Concordia-St. Paul.
Today is published once per year by the Division of Administrative Services. The mission of Today is to entertain, to inform and to connect the reader to campus. Today welcomes story ideas supporting this mission. Full manuscripts are not accepted. Today is not responsible for unsolicited material. Today is copyrighted in its entirety. This volume and all articles, images and photographs within may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of the editor. Send to Today Class Notes and Address Changes, Minnesota State University, Mankato, 232 Alumni & Foundation Center, Mankato, MN 56001, e-mail to today@mnsu.edu, by fax to 507-389-2069 or call 507-389-2523. Death announcements must be accompanied by a memorial service program or published newspaper obituary. Letters: Send letters intended for publication to Today, Minnesota State University, Mankato, 232 Alumni & Foundation Center, Mankato, MN 56001, e-mail to today@mnsu.edu or fax to 507-389-2069. Today reserves the right to edit letters for space and clarity. Include name, address, graduation year and daytime telephone number. Unsigned letters are not considered for publication. All letters become property of Today. Submission of your letter constitutes your permission to publish it.
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7:30 p.m. “Mean Girls” musical Cap off your day with an evening hit musical performance.
Whether you’re reconnecting with friends, making new memories or experiencing Homecoming for the first time, Homecoming Day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate what it means to be a Maverick. Learn more at mnsu.edu/alumnievents
This document is available in alternative format to individuals with disabilities by contacting the magazine staff at the address, email, and/or fax number listed above or at 800-627-3529 or 711 (MRS/TTY). MARC086PU 07-26
From the President
Dear Mavericks, Whether it’s watching new and returning students navigate the opening days of school or talking with colleagues about the season ahead, fall on campus is filled with a distinct sense of excitement. That excitement is not only about the great experiences and opportunities for growth that are in store for all of us, but also the underlying spirit that permeates it all. This issue of Today is devoted to that spirit, which is infused by the values that guide our faculty and staff, engage our students and connect our alumni. At Minnesota State Mankato, we believe deeply in the value of our students—their potential, their ideas and their capacity to shape the future. You see that in the story about the 60-year-old Honors Program, which focuses on students’ promise and their abilities to experience success and reflect on what it means to them. Similarly, we strive to support every Maverick through programs
such as MavPASS, an innovative peer mentoring program that has become synonymous with academic success at MSU. This issue also reflects the valuable and unique experiences students have during their time here. The Maverick Innovation Gateway, for instance, provides our business students with a state-of-the-art location from which to launch small companies and nourish collaborations. The Gateway itself represents the value our outside partners place in the University as a source of ready talent. Of course, the value of an MSU education grows long after graduation, as do the connections and friendships created here. You’ll enjoy reading about two young entrepreneurs who met at the Memorial Library and, years later, continue supporting each other’s passion for new ideas in business.
carry forward through The Future State. In this bold vision, we are investing in more than amazing spaces and experiences; we are also strengthening connections with our students, supporters and the Greater Mankato community. While you enjoy these first days of a new school year, I invite you to also enjoy these colorful snapshots of where we are, what we value and who we continue to become. Go Mavs!
Edward Inch President, Minnesota State University, Mankato
These are the relationships and values we are proud to create and mnsu.edu
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Contents Fall 2026 Volume 28 Issue 1
3 From the President
14 A Lifetime of Maverick Service
6 Spotlight on Spaces: The Center of Attention
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16 100 Years of The Reporter
News Briefs
10 Maverick Moments
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Student profiles
Eyes on the Sky
14 A Lifetime of Maverick Service Tim Huebsch ’02 has gone above and beyond in his dedication to his alma mater.
30 The Future Starts Here 4
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26 The Road to Gold
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Maverick Values From orientation to graduation and beyond, Maverick values are part of everything.
16 A Century in Ink
30 The Future Looks Like This A bold campus vision blends athletics, wellness and community life.
How MSU’s student newspaper launched careers and shaped storytellers.
18 Honors, Reimagined more inclusive program helps students A grow, lead and find their path.
32 Class Notes
20 Innovation Renovation new hub brings students, businesses and A community under one roof.
22 Busting Myths, One Episode at a Time
38 That’s All for Today
new podcast takes on full moons, A polygraphs and other common beliefs.
23 Crowded Skies esearcher Cheng Wang explores the future R of drones in aviation.
24 Backed at Every Step rom tutoring to peer support, MSU wraps F students in academic resources.
26 Purple and (Olympic) Gold omen’s Hockey Coach Shari Dickerman’s W Olympic journey comes full circle in Italy. Plus, how coaches define the values sought from their players.
28 The Value of Making Connections
Connect with us!
Two classmates turn side hustles and trust into thriving companies.
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S P O T L I G H T
O N
S P A C E S
The Center of Attention Students converge at the Centennial Student Union. BY JOE TOUGAS ’86
If one building embodies student life at MSU, it’s the Centennial Student Union. As the social centerpiece of campus, the CSU is, by design, the setting for big moments in a lot of lives. “More than anything else, the student union should be a place where you find a culture,” said Lenny Koupal, communications coordinator for the CSU. For more than 10 years, Koupal and CSU director Mark Constantine have worked to keep the CSU humming with new features and pristine upkeep while following their mantra: Invite, involve, inspire. “We want people to come in and feel invited, and then want to get involved, whether it’s student activities, student government…And then from that, you jump into the inspired, which is leadership, community-building, volunteerism, all that sort of thing,” Constantine said. The CSU also houses Student Activities, which provides up to 80 events per year. Constantine said that while the goal is to provide top-tier experiences and features for the greater campus community, students are at the forefront of any and all planning and progress. “We hope the activities that they are involved with here are going to make them better citizens and leaders in their communities,” Constantine said.
2M
Visitors per year roughly 50,000 a week
1,800
Events and meetings conducted per year
60+
Student employees assisting the CSU’s 14 fulltime professional staff
213,000
Square feet, making it among the largest unions on non-Big 10 campuses in the upper Midwest
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Bowling lanes
350
Seats in Ostrander Auditorium
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Wall projectors
15 regulation-sized billiard tables, three video gaming stations and a snack bar
Visiting authors, academic presentations, lectures, workshops and weekly movies keep the room busy
installed in the 2011 renovation of the ballroom, becoming Minnesota’s first conference space to offer seamless, near-surround video projection
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Mark Constantine, CSU director (left) and Lenny Koupal, CSU communications coordinator
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N E W S
B R I E F S
Student, Faculty and Alumni Success From individual honors and new roles to institutional news, it was a great year to be a Maverick. In May, Minnesota State University, Mankato and Mayo Clinic Health System awarded nearly $100,000 in joint seed grants to support collaborative projects addressing real-world healthcare challenges. The funding, part of a partnership launched in 2023, supports initiatives ranging from chronic pain management and tick-borne disease prevention to AI tools and patient-care innovations, each led by co-investigators from both institutions. University and health system leaders said the program demonstrates the strength of the partnership and is designed to spur innovation, improve community health, and position projects for larger external funding opportunities.
Minnesota State University, Mankato named Aeleah Soine as dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, following a national search. Soine joins the University from Saint Mary’s College of California, where she most recently served as vice provost for academic success. University leaders cited her student-centered leadership, scholarly background in modern European history, and commitment to access and inclusion as key strengths.
Aeleah Soine, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Roy Kammer took office in June as dean of the University’s College of Allied Health and Nursing. Kammer has more than 25 years of professional experience across higher education, counseling, prevention and student affairs and has served Minnesota State Mankato as both an administrator and faculty member.
Roy Kammer, Dean of the College of Allied Health and Nursing 8
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He had been interim dean of the college since January and its interim associate dean since May 2024. Kammer was an MSU faculty member from August 2021 until May 2024, serving as an assistant professor of health science and alcohol and drug studies for two years before being promoted to associate professor.
N ews
The men’s and women’s handball teams each captured national championships at the U.S. Handball Association collegiate tournament, held Feb. 18–22 in St. Louis, Missouri, also securing the combined team title. The men’s team won its fifth consecutive national title, while the women’s team claimed its third straight championship, with both teams posting the top scores in their divisions.
B riefs
Alumna Sherry L. Arndt ’70 donated 160 acres of family farmland near Comfrey, Minnesota, valued at more than $1.6 million, as the first gift to the University’s newly established Maverick Real Estate Foundation. Sixty acres will support the creation of the Arndt Family Research and Experiment Farm for agricultural education and research, while proceeds from the remaining land will fund nursing scholarships and program needs. University leaders said the gift will provide lasting support for student success, hands-on learning, and academic programs across multiple disciplines.
MSU and Girl Scouts River Valleys announced a partnership to establish a leadership institute on campus serving more than 17,000 Girl Scouts across southern Minnesota and the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The collaboration was formalized with a memorandum of understanding signed Dec. 9 at the Maverick Innovation Gateway Center. The initiative will connect Girl Scouts with University leaders and resources, expand access to higher education opportunities, and promote leadership development through campus-based programming.
MSU Provost David Hood and Sherry Arndt at the site of acreage donated to MSU for agricultural research.
An agreement was signed between MSU and the Girl Scouts River Valleys to establish a leadership institute at the University for Girl Scouts, giving them opportunities to learn from leading executives in the Mankato area. The agreement was signed by MSU’s Acting Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Brian Jones and Marisa C. Williams, CEO of Girl Scouts River Valleys.
The University received a five-year, $1.25 million training grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support its graduate programs in special education and school psychology. The grant will fund Project LEAP-IT, an initiative that builds on earlier work to prepare educators and school psychologists to use evidence-based practices, with expanded focus on behavioral interventions and the use of artificial intelligence in the classroom. Led by faculty in the Department of Special Education and School Psychology, the program will support 36 graduate students while advancing strategies to improve outcomes for students with high-intensity needs.
Minnesota State Mankato ranked 15th nationally among master’s institutions for international student enrollment in the Open Doors Report released in November and reflecting fall 2024 data. The University enrolled 1,837 international students from 106 countries— its eighth consecutive year in the top 15 and fourth straight year exceeding 1,700 students.
The MSU dance team won two top honors in January at the UDA College National Championships in Orlando, Florida. The Maverick Dance team took the championships in both the open jazz and open pom categories. The MSU Dance team, victorious in Orlando, Fla
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M A V E R I C K
M O M E N T S
Mavs in Action Snapshots of big moments, good friends and amazing times together as Mavericks over the past year. 1
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1. G olfers in the wild seen at the Dean Trauger Maverick Golf Classic, from left, Jim Hillman, retired KMSU station manager Jim Gullickson, David Schoof and Scott Johnson. The annual event benefits MSU Athletics. 2. L os Angeles actor and MSU alum Spencer Kramber returned to campus as lecturer in acting classes. 3. Brand new members of the MSU Alumni Association at Spring Commencement.
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4. A lumni and friends hustled to MSU night at the Chanhassen Dinner Theaters for its performance of “Guys and Dolls.” 5. Sophomore Solomon Hastings, a mechanical engineering major, on his unicycle for a ride near the Clinical Sciences Building. 6. Counselors and principals from six countries spent a week on campus learning how a U.S.-style education works—and how MSU supports international students in and out of the classroom.
M averick
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M oments
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7. T he annual International Poetry Recital took place in November, with dozens of participants sharing poetry of other cultures and languages. 8. Students study as Sarah Elstran a/k/a The Nunnery performs at the Centennial Student Union’s Serendipity Music Series.
9. Free preventative dental care—including exams, cleanings and X-rays—was provided to more than 35 area veterans at MSU as part of the Health for Heroes event in November. 10. T he International Festival at MSU in November brought interactive info booths, music and food samples from around the world in a fantastic celebration of community and culture. Here, calligraphy samples were provided for attendees.
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S T U D E N T
P R O F I L E S
A Matter of Degrees And for Morgan Betker, a master’s at MSU is the latest one. BY JOE TOUGAS ’86
In seeking out a sociology master’s degree from MSU, Morgan Betker is in a spot where her area of study overlaps with her full-time job. Betker is an exercise science professor at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall. “I wanted to grow professionally in a field that’s closely related to exercise science,” Betker said. “Socio-economic status is one of the biggest predictors for health discrepancies across the nation, and really across the world. So there’s a lot of really good interdisciplinary research within those two fields, between exercise science and sociology.” The MSU sociology master’s is not her first graduate degree; Betker already earned a Ph.D. in kinesiology from the University of Minnesota. She’s pursuing her MSU degree online, but she came to Mankato for a research project during the spring semester of 2026, when she and other sociology students conducted research on behalf of the City of Mankato. The city wanted to know how older residents used public transportation and preferred to receive city news and information updates. They also wanted to understand how university students used city amenities such as parks and whether or not they felt a sense of belonging in the community. Betker led a team of students who formed focus groups with residents age 65 and older. City of Mankato Communications Director Paul David said the city intends to incorporate some of the findings into its overall communications strategy. “For instance,” David said, “now that we know that MSU students are not aware of city park amenities such as outdoor ping pong, bags (cornhole), paved trails and hammock stands, we will look for opportunities to raise student awareness focused specifically on these activities.”
Morgan Betker Graduate Student Major: Sociology From: Marshall, Minnesota
As hoped, the experience was new and exciting for Betker. “Even though I’ve completed a previous doctorate, I had never performed this type of research, and so it was a really great way to get in the field and partner with a community entity,” she said. “It was very eye-opening and a very cool way to expand my skill set as well.” She also appreciates the ability to pursue her master’s online.
Morgan Betker is supplementing her work as an exercise science professor with a master’s degree in sociology she’s pursuing from MSU.
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“You still get those really good conversations, you still get really good interaction, and you really get the experience of being in the classroom. So that’s what I really, really liked about this opportunity.”
S tudent
profiles
A Perfect Fit Anika Rossow-Strasser found her place at MSU— and at the helm of Mav FM. BY JOE TOUGAS ’86
Well before her college years, Mankato native Anika Rossow-Strasser relied on Minnesota State Mankato as a great place to go for all sorts of entertainment and activities. From STEM camps to theater productions to the Memorial Library, the University had so much to offer that choosing to attend MSU was easy. “I didn’t look elsewhere because I was happy with what I found,” said Rossow-Strasser, who’s in her fourth year as an Interdisciplinary Studies major. “Especially with arts and culture. I’ve loved the MSU plays and dance concerts and music concerts. … And all of the different majors and programs you can choose from. I liked that there were some niche options. Even Interdisciplinary Studies is this unique program where you get to design your own pathway, basically. And I didn’t see that elsewhere.” This fall, Rossow-Strasser will take on the role of director for the studentfocused radio station Mav FM, broadcast via MSU’s longstanding community radio station KMSU. Listeners can tune in via KMSU’s app or, if near campus, at 107.9 on the FM dial. The Mav FM program involves 20 students whose shows can range from exploring the world of K-pop to movie conversations. Mav FM was created in 2024 to exclusively feature student-based programming, and that programming is as diverse as its students’ interests. Rossow-Strasser’s main goal as director is to strengthen its structure so that onboarding new students is smoother and gets them involved in chartering their own paths sooner. “Then they can go and take off with it,” she said.
Anika Rossow-Strasser Class of 2027 Major: Interdisciplinary Studies From: Mankato, Minnesota
In an era of specialized, on-demand entertainment, FM radio may seem old-fashioned, but Rossow-Strasser said the possibilities are wide open— resembling what drew her to MSU in the first place. “Honestly, I like the old-school aspect of [FM radio.] You don’t really see that nowadays. A lot of creative content people are making is so focused on what’s trendy and what will catch the mainstream eye. But with community radio like KMSU or student radio like Mav FM, there’s so much opportunity to be creative and to do really goofy and unique and weird things but things that really engage people. That’s what I saw when I started—this door to endless possibility.”
I didn’t look elsewhere because I was happy with what I found, especially with arts and culture.”
Anika Rossow-Strasser in the KMSU studio, which transmits Mav FM on the KMSU app as well as FM station 107.9.
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A L U M N I
P R O F I L E
A Lifetime of Maverick Service Tim Huebsch ’02 has gone above and beyond in his dedication to Minnesota State University, Mankato. GRACE BRANDT ’13
You could say that Minnesota State University, Mankato alum Tim Huebsch ’02 grew up at the University—and he never fully left. His mother worked in the registrar’s office for 45 years, and some of his earliest memories are of visiting the campus with her. His first campus classroom was as a middle schooler, arriving for a program hosted through the College of Education. In eighth and ninth grade, he volunteered at the campus academic computer center. By the time he had to start thinking about where to apply for college, there was only one he considered. “I never applied for any other school other than MSU,” Huebsch said. “I knew right away it was where I was going to go.” Huebsch earned a degree in computer science, continuing to work at the academic computer center all four years. But that wasn’t all he did before graduating in 2002. He also got involved in student government, first on a technology committee but eventually as vice president of the University’s student senate. Huebsch had many more experiences that prepared him for success after graduation, including an internship at General Mills (one of four internships.) He spent 25 years working in 19 different positions within General Mills, and he credits his time at the University for helping set him up for success.
I wouldn’t trade my time at MSU for anything.”
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Staying Connected Six months after he graduated, Huebsch accepted a position on the MSU Alumni Association Board, and later on the Foundation Board, serving as president for two years. He jokes that he has spent enough time on University boards that he could officially retire, and he has indeed been granted emeritus status—the only board member with the title. “It was an amazing opportunity to see the impact we can have on MSU and what we do for all our students,” Huebsch said. Huebsch recently accepted a six-month role as Interim Leader with GreenSeam, the Mankato-based organization initiated by Greater Mankato Growth in 2013 to attract, retain and empower ag-related businesses to the area. “MSU has been a key partner with GreenSeam and Greater Mankato Growth from the beginning,” he said, “and will continue to be a key partner going forward. Everyone works together to support, grow and improve our region across so many facets.” Huebsch’s term on university boards may have ended, but he’s still making an impact on the University. Today, he’s one of 15 members on the Minnesota State Board of Trustees helping oversee the state colleges and universities. Naturally, he’ll always have a soft spot for his own alma mater. “I think the tagline says it really well: Big ideas, real-world thinking,” he said. “There’s the practical aspect MSU does really well, to turn what you learn in the classroom into something you take action on right away. The University helps you think a little bit bigger than you might believe you can do.”
Maverick Values
From student experiences and faculty expertise to lifelong friendships, Maverick values permeate the MSU experience. Here are stories of those values in action.
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A Century in Ink Alumni and mentors reflect on the VALUE of the campus newspaper to the students and the University. BY AMANDA DYSLIN ’03, ’15
Growing up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Myron Medcalf watched his dad sit down on Sundays with the newspaper, letting each section fall to the floor as he finished reading. Medcalf waited for his favorite sections—sports, comics and even ads—to float down to the discard pile so he could take his turn. “Then I would just devour it. I fell in love with journalism because my dad loved it,” he said. A dream of working for ESPN grew from those roots, and Medcalf came to Minnesota State Mankato in 2001 to play football, run track and major in mass communications. He decided to write for The Reporter, the campus newspaper, to gain some practical experience. At his first storyassignment meeting, once again he found himself waiting for sheets of paper to fall to the ground. “They would have 20 different stories, and they would just throw them on the ground and say, ‘Grab one you think is interesting, and you can run with it,’ and it was like being in a toy store,” he said, recalling his first story covering a cross-country meet in the pouring rain, interviewing athletes with a soggy notebook. “It wasn’t a great experience, but the thrill was so amazing to me. I got such an adrenaline rush out of this idea that I could go and talk to people, write their stories, and that someone
might read about it. Like, all of a sudden, I had this significance in the world.” Twenty-five years later, Medcalf—who went on to become The Reporter’s first black editor-in-chief, a Star Tribune writer and columnist, and a reporter with ESPN—talked about these stories like they were yesterday at the newspaper’s 100th anniversary celebration in March. And as he did, he looked out at the knowing expressions of dozens of Reporter alumni from across the decades whose memories of the paper were felt with that same aching nostalgia.
Classroom without walls Like so many others, the decision to join The Reporter changed Medcalf ’s life, he said. “I learned how to be a journalist at The Reporter.” That sentiment—repeated in different ways across generations—is the clearest measure of The Reporter’s value. For 100 years, the student-run newspaper has been a proving ground, a classroom without walls and a living record of the campus itself. First published on March 23, 1926, under the name Among Ourselves, The Reporter has evolved alongside the University and the profession it feeds. Ellen Mrja, a retired mass media professor who mentored generations of student journalists from 1982 to 2019, watched the paper grow and change, evolving with the ever-emerging
All of a sudden, I had this significance in the world.”
Former Reporter editor Myron Medcalf talks to a gathering celebrating the paper’s 100 years at MSU. 16
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That kind of discovery happens not just in big moments, but in the daily rhythm of newsroom life, which Jane Tastad witnessed countless times over 42 years serving as business manager of The Reporter and unofficial den mother to “her kids.” She loved watching the way the experience shapes students. Many find friendships for life, and the boost professionally after college is huge. “I hardly ever see an ad rep graduate that does not already have a job laid out and ready to go,” said Tastad, who retired in June. “They go in already 10 steps ahead of everybody else.”
The same purpose modes of multimedia storytelling. But she said the core has remained intact: students telling the story of their campus in real time. “It’s extraordinary that Minnesota State Mankato has a student paper that’s been running for 100 years,” she said. Mrja says that it’s been fascinating to watch the tone of The Reporter change annually with each new leader. Some years were calm, peace-keeping years. Others were fractious, with editors pushing back against student government or administration. One of Mrja’s favorite editors, Tim O’Brien, became legendary for doing exactly that. Under his leadership, the paper once ran a banner headline declaring independence from the Student Senate, which he believed shouldn’t have oversight or influence over The Reporter because the paper covered the senate. “He fought more and harder than any editor I ever saw,” Mrja said. “But he was watching out for the students.” O’Brien served as editor from 1989 to 1990 and went on to work as a copy editor and editorial writer at the Star Tribune for 16 years. He described his time at The Reporter as both professionally and personally formative. He took his role seriously, he said. He wanted his team to do real journalism that had real stakes, like publishing stories about the lesser salaries of female professors on campus compared to their male counterparts. “There’s an idealism that is inherent in college kids, and we really thought that we were the next Bob Woodwards, Carl Bernsteins, Ben Bradlees,” O’Brien said. “And so we were always looking for the big story and to worry (former president) Margaret Preska every Tuesday and Thursday morning about what was going to be in the paper.” Like it did for so many others who worked there, The Reporter gave O’Brien clarity. It was where he discovered not just that he could be a journalist, but that he wanted to be one and set the course for everything that followed.
Whether graduates pursue journalism, marketing or something entirely different, Tastad and Mrja said students learn how to communicate, meet deadlines, and navigate real-world expectations at The Reporter. They also simply love being there, working together until the early hours of the morning on production nights and bonding over a shared desire to do good work. “I mean, it was just one year. You don’t think that one year is going to change your life that much. But that year, really, it changed me as a person, as a leader, as a friend, as a journalist,” O’Brien said. “Yeah, I’m really proud of that year I was editor. We were like, ‘We are The Free Press. We are the Star Tribune. You treat us the same way because we have the same purpose.’” The 2025-26 centennial year was led by editor-inchief Anahi Zuniga, who’s especially proud of the paper’s coverage of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) impact on students during its heightened presence in Minnesota over the winter. “I reported at a protest where I spoke to five students who weren’t afraid to express their opinion, who weren’t afraid to express their voice,” said Zuniga, who’s considering a career in journalism instead of publishing due to her time at the paper. “And that gave me a sense of not only pride for myself for writing this story, but for them because they weren’t afraid to speak up.” As print editions for newspapers across the country become increasingly rare, Zuniga also has worked to expand the paper into more digital avenues of storytelling. She, O’Brien and Medcalf all remarked that the platform has and will change, but the mission never will. “We’re the news,” Medcalf said. “What we will have left is what we contributed to this world, and a big part of that, no matter what anyone tells you, will be the written word.” Amanda Dyslin was a writer and news editor at The Reporter from 2001-02.
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It has changed my life. To say I’m grateful is an understatement.” PQ Vu, a first-generation college student and Honors student.
Honors, Reimagined The Honors Program creates VALUE for students through leadership, research and reflection. BY JOE TOUGAS ‘86
For first-generation college student PQ Vu, academic success carries deep cultural meaning. In Vietnamese culture, she said, educational achievement is a way of honoring parents and others who have sacrificed on a student’s behalf. Vu was raised in a single-parent household that faced significant financial challenges, including periods of homelessness. Through it all, her mother remained a source of encouragement, reminding Vu that she could become anything she set her mind to. At Minnesota State University, Mankato, Vu not only became the first in her family to attend college, she also joined the Honors Program, an experience she credits with shaping both her academic journey and her future goals as a dental hygienist. Through the program, Vu received a scholarship to support her education and career plans. “It has changed my life,” Vu said. “To say I’m grateful is an understatement.
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“The Honors Program has given me the confidence to try everything,” she said. “This year alone, I’ve mentored first-year Honors students, worked with people from ethnicities other than my own, engaged with international students for whom English is not their first language and completed my own independent research.” Over six decades at MSU, the Honors Program has evolved from a traditional, academically elite model into a more inclusive, experience-based program open to any motivated student. Today, it centers around three core competencies: leadership; research, scholarly and creative activity; and intercultural engagement (formerly Global Leadership). “It’s very different from what people traditionally think of as an honors program,” said Ginny Walters, director of the program. “Any student who is curious, open to growth and interested in these competencies is welcome.” The program’s impact is felt across disciplines. Abril Flores Chacon, a double major in French and aviation with aspirations of becoming a pilot, said the Honors Program strengthened both her academic mindset and professional development. “The Honors Program pushed me to become the best version of myself during my time at MSU,” Chacon said. “It encouraged me to take initiative, step outside my comfort zone and really reflect on my experiences—not just academically, but personally.”
Ginny Walters, director of the Honors Program
Rather than focusing solely on coursework, Honors students are encouraged to seek out meaningful experiences—on campus and beyond—and then reflect on how those experiences shape who they are becoming. “We talk a lot about ‘meaning-making,’” Walters said. “Students ask themselves: What did I learn from this experience? How did it change me? How will it help me in my future career?” Vu’s involvement spans multiple areas of campus life. She has served as vice president of the Mavs United team, secretary of the Hmong Student Association and a student researcher focused on the Hmong student population at MSU.
The program requires three one-credit courses that guide students from exploration to reflection. An introductory course helps students define leadership and identify experiences they want to pursue, while a 300-level Portfolio Development course asks them to reflect on real-world experiences such as research projects or campus employment. The program culminates with a 400-level course, typically taken in a student’s final semester, where students present a digital portfolio to a committee of faculty and staff. “They have to articulate what they’ve learned and why it matters,” Walters said. “They connect their experiences to their future careers.” Honors students represent every college within the University and include a strong international student presence. About half of participants discover the program after enrolling at MSU. “People often ask about GPA requirements or prerequisites,” Walters said. “But what we’re really looking for is a willingness to learn, to grow and to reflect.”
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Innovation Renovation New Maverick Innovation Gateway creates VALUE for students, businesses and the community. BY GRACE BRANDT ’13
In any given week, the Maverick Innovation Gateway’s schedule is impressively diverse: classes for business and marketing students, a panel by local business leaders sharing lessons learned throughout their careers, a speaker who explains how artificial intelligence is reshaping the agricultural industry, even financial management talks open to the Mankato community. Evelyn Marnell, a marketing and psychology student, knows the space well. As president of the Women in Business registered student organization, she uses smaller meeting rooms for leadership meetings, classrooms for general club meetings and larger open areas for social networking events. “The Gateway has been an incredible resource for Women in Business and for students overall,” Marnell said. “Having a collaborative environment that feels different from a traditional classroom setting has made a noticeable impact on our engagement.”
According to Lisa Haman, director of the Maverick Innovation Gateway, the space was created as a way to enhance students’ educational experiences while also creating more opportunities for collaboration between Minnesota State University, Mankato and the local business world as well as the Mankato community as a whole. She explained that the University had a similar space, the Maverick Innovation Center, on Riverfront Drive for several years, but its distance from MSU could be difficult for students to reach. The new space is located in what was once a campus bookstore near the University, making it accessible for students and community members alike. “It’s a great location,” Haman said. “For everyone to see all we have to offer at the Gateway has been really inspiring.” The Maverick Innovation Gateway officially opened in March 2025 after about a year and a half of planning and many more years of dreaming. Originally envisioned by the late Roger Peters, former owner of U-Square near campus, the idea was to create a space for students to get hands-on, practical learning opportunities. When Peters passed away, his son, David Peters, continued working toward that vision. The result is a state-of-the-art, about 8,000-square-foot interdisciplinary hub that gives students the chance to collaborate with industry leaders and tackle real-world challenges. One of the biggest contributors to the final reality was the Nidec Corporation, which pledged $2 million over five years to fund the building and future programming. Kevin Newman, former president of Nidec Power Americas and a 1992 alum, was looking for ways to be involved in the local community. He said that Nidec has invested heavily in education in its home company of Japan, but this was the first time the company partnered with a university in the United States.
Evelyn Marnell outside the Maverick Innovation Gateway.
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“It’s about bringing the community and business students together,” Newman said. “The Maverick Innovation Gateway, Powered by Nidec, is a space where people come together—students, the community, businesses— and actually collaborate and move forward. If you go into the environment, when you walk in, you can just sense the level of engagement from everybody in the building.”
Lisa Haman, director of the Maverick Innovation Gateway.
For everyone to see all we have to offer at the Gateway has been really inspiring.” The space also allows the College of Business to expand what it can offer students and the local community. One example includes the Charles Schwab Maverick Center for Financial Success, where upper-level students offer financial advice to their peers. Meanwhile, students have a chance to create and manage a business as part of the United Prairie Bank Integrated Business Experience. Many other businesses and corporations also participate in different events, whether they speak on panels or offer more casual mentorship. “These local businesses do play a very active role with the students,” Haman said. “They’re almost like a mentor. We tap into our local businesses a lot because the students always like to hear about the real-world perspective.”
Additionally, anyone in the community can use one of the center’s meeting spaces or attend industry talks by local experts. Whether it’s a group of high school students or members of the VINE Senior Center, everyone is welcome at the Maverick Innovation Gateway. “Really, students learn from others, and others learn from students, so if we can bring that collaboration together, I think it’s a unique gateway for learning,” Haman said. Marnell appreciates what the space offers on a community, classroom and individual level. “It creates a more welcoming and interactive atmosphere, not only between our leadership and members, but also between members and community members,” she said. “Overall, it has become one of my favorite places to work, collaborate and spend time between classes and meetings.”
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Busting Myths, One Episode at a Time Research into common beliefs brings VALUE to faculty-led podcast.
Psychology professors Emily Stark (left) and Karla Lassonde created the podcast “Brains Vs. Beliefs: Debunking Psychological Misconceptions.”
BY JOE TOUGAS ‘86
Two Minnesota State Mankato psychology faculty members have launched a podcast that might break your heart if you’ve always believed: • Opposites attract. • The full moon has weird powers. • Polygraphs are reliable. The podcast, “Brains Vs. Beliefs: Debunking Psychological Misconceptions” takes on common assumptions passed along from family members, neighbors, school teachers from way back. . . everywhere but science. “You can believe the full moon affects behavior, that’s fine,” said psychology professor Emily Stark, who with Karla Lassonde, chair of the Department of Psychology, hosts the podcast that debunks such longstanding beliefs. “But if you’re a police department and you’re staffing up on weekends when there’s a full moon and spending taxpayer dollars on that, that’s a different type of thing. So it is important to think about these misconceptions.” The podcast was launched in November 2025 on CommunicatingPsychologicalScience.com, a website the two created, and is now available on most podcast platforms. Each episode describes these mistaken beliefs, explores their origins and how research by others has been used to test and disprove them. Recent topics include the misconception that we use 10 percent of our brain, that playing Mozart for babies makes them more intelligent, and that venting anger makes people less angry. Although the research on these topics has been done and communicated for years, Stark and Lassonde find they bear repeating given the prominence and longevity of these misperceptions.
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“The idea of debunking myths is absolutely not new in psychology,” Stark said. “Some of the research for opposites attract, that goes back to the 1980s, we’ve been doing relationship research for a while. We know that’s not true. But it’s not like we can say ‘That’s not real–next.” Lassonde calls them “common sense beliefs,” and to buy them is only human.“The problem with psychology is we all can be [novice] psychologists and we can take people’s word for it. We also know that the way that people get their information is ‘My neighbor said so,’ or ‘My doctor said so.’ And while some of that is good, we’re here to say ‘Here’s the thought you’ve had that’s been reinforced.” While they aren’t out to ruin anybody’s fun, it’s nonetheless important to shed incorrect assumptions, Stark said. “How you think about it can affect behaviors. So if you have a mistaken belief, you might be investing time, money and energy into something that is not super helpful.” Stark has had a trial run of sorts by using the topic in psychology classes. “I’ve done, in a couple of classes, a misconceptions project. The [students] pick one, and they have to find how it’s talked about in pop culture, find one study that has tested this and explain it,” Stark said. “I think they’re always impressed—it’s not that hard [to debunk these ideas] if you put a little thought into it and see what these researchers said. I think that suggests there’s interest. I mean, if college students think it’s cool, I would think the general public will find something to resonate with this.”
Crowded Skies Drone research provides VALUE to aviation students BY GRACE BRANDT ’13
In 2018, Gatwick Airport in London, England shut down for 33 hours after reports of drone sightings close to the runway. More than 140,000 passengers were affected as 1,000 flights were either delayed, diverted or cancelled— and across the world in Indiana, Cheng Wang was deeply intrigued. Studying aeronautics, aviation and aerospace science and technology at Purdue University, Wang was inspired to study the fledgling world of drones. Wang, now the chair of the Aviation Department at Minnesota State University, Mankato, has spent the intervening years researching small unmanned aerial systems—or drones, as most people know them. Her research explores the uses but also potential challenges that drones might pose, especially from an aviation safety standpoint. “I noticed unmanned system sightings could be a potential problem in the aviation community,” Wang said. “That’s how I decided to start studying this topic, with my background in aviation [and focus on] the safety issues with those sightings and the impact on operations.” Wang said drone sightings have risen sharply during the past decade. She utilizes data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), though she acknowledges the nonmandatory nature of reports means there could be more sightings that are not recorded. On the flip side, people sometimes report objects in the sky that aren’t drones at all, including birds or manned
Cheng Wang among the aircraft at Mankato Airport.
aircraft. However, she’s usually able to sift through mistaken reports based on the details included. Wang uses her findings in her own classes so that aviation students at MSU are better prepared for a rapidly changing sky when they graduate. “You need to pay attention to those things,” she said. “When two hard items collide with each other at 100 miles per hour, this is a huge impact on the aircraft. Whether it’s a fourperson aircraft or a jet airliner, [the collision] can still affect it.” Wang said that statistically, only a small percentage of pilots need to take evasive maneuvers to avoid collisions— and, thankfully, there haven’t been reports of fatal collisions between aircraft and drones yet. Besides Wang’s own research, she has mentored aviation students who are also interested in drones and their effect on aviation. One particularly interesting research project was a student study that compared drone sightings to laser strikes that can also plague pilots, since both are considered hazards to operations. “I’m really glad that I can help students learn about research and help them do research in an area they have a passion for,” Wang said. “This will be also a step for them before they want to go to graduate school or more advanced research in the future.” Wang said she has no doubt that everyone will be affected by drones in the future. “It’s going to be millions of aircraft in the sky compared to what we have now. It’ll be a totally different world in the air down the road.”
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Backed at Every Step Academic support demonstrates the VALUE MSU places on student success. BY AMANDA DYSLIN ’03, ’15
Student success doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built through relationships, resources and a campus-wide commitment to helping every Maverick find their footing. From the first day of class to graduation, the University invests in academic support systems designed to help students thrive. Three standout programs—TRIO Student Support Services, the Center for Academic Success, and the Maverick Peer-Facilitated Academic Support System (MavPASS)— illustrate how that commitment comes to life.
TRIO Student Support Services For many students, college is more than coursework. It’s learning how to navigate an entirely new world. TRIO Student Support Services, a federally funded program, provides holistic support to students who are firstgeneration, meet income guidelines or have disabilities. “We’re funded to serve students who have some type of academic need,” said Director Margaret Hesser. “It
Students in a MavPASS session, where former participants often become team leaders. 24
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could be a low GPA, but it could also be a student in a competitive major who needs to raise their GPA or someone returning to school after time away.” TRIO offers guidance on financial literacy, scholarship searches and the often-unspoken rules of higher education. “Some students have great support systems cheering them on,” Hesser said. “But they don’t necessarily have someone who understands how college works.” The program emphasizes relationships, encouraging students to meet regularly with staff who help them anticipate challenges and make informed decisions. “The biggest thing I hear from students when they graduate is that they felt seen and supported,” she said. For Hesser, success is measured not only in retention and graduation rates, but in growth. “It’s about students realizing what they’re capable of,” she said. “They don’t just succeed academically—they grow as people.”
Center for Academic Success At the heart of campus academic support is the Center for Academic Success, the University’s primary tutoring hub. As part of the Learning Commons in Memorial Library, the center provides free, accessible support across disciplines, from writing and languages to math and science. “We’re the primary academic support in terms of tutoring,” said Director Jason Westman. “But we’re also working to simplify and connect all the support that exists across campus.” The center also offers study skills coaching and workshops on topics ranging from time management to the ethical use of AI. One of the center’s biggest goals is changing how students think about tutoring. “We’re trying to normalize it,” Westman said. “This is just what a successful student does; it’s not a last resort.” In fact, many high-achieving students are among the center’s most frequent users. “We often say we’re trying to tutor ourselves out of a job,” Westman said. “We’re not just giving answers; we’re helping students learn how to think, how to study and how to solve problems on their own.” Equally important is the environment. The center is intentionally low-pressure and welcoming, allowing students to drop in, work independently or seek help as needed. The impact shows up in both data and experience, with student users demonstrating higher retention and course success rates. But for Westman, the real measure is simpler: “People who use it return. That tells us we’re doing something right.”
MavPASS Sometimes, the best person to help you succeed in a class is someone who has already been in your seat. That’s the idea behind MavPASS, which offers peer-led study sessions for historically challenging courses across disciplines, like biology, chemistry, physics and accounting. Available at no cost to students enrolled in supported courses, MavPASS sessions are introduced on the first day of class and remain open throughout the semester. The model is intentionally flexible and highly social. “The reality is that most of us know what it takes to succeed,” said Heather Camp, faculty liaison for the program. “But we struggle with procrastination, low motivation and distraction.
McKenna Granda (left), a dental hygiene major and MavPASS leader, and Nolan Custer, an exercise science major and MavPASS leader.
MavPASS helps students overcome those hurdles by providing structure and a community.” That sense of community is a defining feature, according to McKenna Granda and Nolan Custer, who both took advantage of MavPASS and were so impressed that they signed on to be student leaders. “I think MavPASS is really effective because you’re not just like another tutor. You are somebody who is encouraging a collaborative environment with the students and making sure that they are working with each other to find the answers instead of just lecturing them,” said Granda, a dental hygiene major who engaged in MavPASS for human anatomy, human physiology, organic and biochemistry, and microbiology. “My first semester on campus, I was pretty involved in MavPASS for general chemistry, and my MavPASS leader was awesome,” said Custer, an exercise science major. “I really, really enjoyed that class, so it was an easy yes for me to be a MavPASS leader. It’s so effective because students who have succeeded in class before can help facilitate study sessions and give students advice on the course.” Camp said peer leaders like Granda and Custer create an atmosphere that is approachable, engaging and judgment-free. Students consistently describe the program as both academically and personally impactful. “They say MavPASS was a lifeline,” Camp said. Her advice to students who may be hesitant is simple and direct: “Stop hesitating and go. Decide that you want to be part of this intellectual community—we want you.”
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Purple and (Olympic) Gold Shari Dickerman brought VALUE to Team USA— and to the Maverick Women’s Hockey team, too. BY JOE TOUGAS ’86
In 2006, former Maverick goalie Shari Dickerman was cut from the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team just one month before it headed to the games in Turin, Italy. Despite going on to have a long career in the sport she loves, including serving as an assistant and now head coach of the Maverick women’s hockey team, she carried that disappointment for 20 years. This year, however, as an assistant coach of the U.S. women’s Olympic team, it all came full circle when Dickerman and Team USA brought home, from Milan, Italy, the gold medal after defeating Canada 2-1 in overtime. Tied 1-1 at the buzzer, the championship game against Canada was decided in sudden-death overtime. Team USA trailed 1-0 until nearly 18 minutes into the third period, when Hilary Knight scored the tying goal. At that point, Dickerman recalled, she knew her team would win.
Shari Dickerman ’04, ’08 Maverick Goalie: 2000-2004 Assistant Coach: 2009-2023 Head Coach: 2024-present
“You could feel that players were nervous in the first period,” she said, adding that part of her job was to maintain calm on the bench. “As soon as [Knight] scored, I thought, ‘Alright. We’re winning the game.’ I never doubted the players would get it done.” After winning the gold medal game on Thursday, Feb. 19, the team met the following Saturday for dinner; the following day, Dickerman attended the U.S. men’s hockey team’s gold-medal game with her husband and sister.
From Little Leagues to the Olympics, good coaches instill VALUES in their players that can guide them through life. MSU coaches shared what they do to promote Maverick values. EMILY THIESSE Women’s Basketball Head Coach Our core values as a program are: Be a great teammate, attitude is everything, no shortcuts and demonstrate respect. These values are so much more than just what happens on the court, but how we live our lives off the court and long after we are done wearing the Maverick uniform. 26
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MATT MARGENTHALER Men’s Basketball Head Coach We want student athletes to represent MSU and the greater Mankato community with character, humility, toughness and servant leadership. We emphasize accountability, discipline and the importance of treating people the right way every single day. The relationship our players build, the standards they uphold, the impact they make off the court are every bit as important as wins and losses.
NATHAN OWENS Swimming and Diving Head Coach We try to instill how important that it is that everyone is on the same page in terms of what is expected of them and how important it is that they put in the same effort as their peers. Your teammates see your commitment level along with your attitude and effort every day. There are no substitutes for commitment, dedication and hard work.
MATT MAGERS Baseball Head Coach The values we hope to pass along are resilience, humility, consistency, toughness and a commitment to something bigger than yourself. We want our players to learn what it means to truly care about the success of their teammates, because that mindset builds trust and strengthens the entire team. Our goal is for our players to leave here as better athletes, students, leaders and people.
Being an integral part of the U.S. Olympic hockey victory will take time to sink in, she said. “I think it’ll be more down the road—10 years from now, 20 years from now—that ‘Wow, we were there when both teams won gold in Milan in overtime against Canada.’ They were both highlight-reel finishes and exciting games.” Growing up in Richmond, Minnesota, Dickerman was an all-sports kid. Hockey took hold during her junior high years. In 1994 and 1995, she attended hockey camps at Minnesota State Mankato. She made a strong impression. A few years later, when the Maverick women’s hockey program needed a goalie, former Mavericks men’s hockey coach Troy Jutting recalled Dickerman from those camps and mentioned her to Todd Carroll, then the head coach of the women’s team. Carroll recruited Dickerman, and she played from 2000 to 2004, demonstrating an extraordinary connection to the game. She set both program and Western Collegiate Hockey Association records for career saves and was named the university’s Female Athlete of the Year for the 2003-04 season. She graduated in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and earned a master’s degree in exercise science in 2008.
through as coach until the 2030-31 season. In announcing the agreement and the progress the team has seen under Dickerman, Director of Athletics Kevin Buisman said, “Shari’s connections to Team USA, including helping guide them to the Olympic gold medal this winter, bring a level of credibility and perspective that directly benefits our student-athletes and is an asset in the recruitment process.” “I enjoy being around hockey every day. I don’t really consider it a real job yet. I don’t know what that’s like,” she said. “I enjoy being around our team every day. The people I coach with are great. I can truly say I enjoy going to work every day.” Ultimately, Dickerman’s victorious return to Italy for the 2026 Winter Games will likely overshadow the disappointment of missing the 2006 Olympics. “I didn’t do it the way I thought I would, but we did it,” she said. “It was unique. Not a lot of people have experienced it from both sides—as an athlete and as a coach.”
Dickerman returned to her alma mater as an assistant coach in 2009 and has been head coach since 2024. In the spring, Dickerman signed a contract extension that will see her
MIKE TURGEON Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Head Track and Field Coach The value that our coaching staff works to instill is the belief that they can accomplish things they once thought were unreachable. That journey begins with making progress toward earning a college degree. My favorite picture is one of Coach Parno standing with a group of first-generation student-athletes on graduation day. Every one of them became an All-American in track and field.
COREY PHELPS Volleyball Head Coach
TODD HOFFNER Maverick Football Head Coach
Our program is built around developing great people first. We look for high-character individuals who strive to grow both on and off the court, approach others with gratitude and recognize the many people and resources that help make success possible. Learning to embrace a role and contribute to something bigger than yourself is a critical part of development at the college level. We encourage our athletes to approach challenges with a growth mindset, understanding that setbacks are opportunities to learn and improve.
We teach them family is number one, academics number two, and football number three. We want them to excel as a family member, as a student, and as a football player. We want people to constantly be striving for excellence. We don’t talk about perfection. We don’t talk about the perfect play, the perfect day, the perfect game. We want them to be at their best.
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The other listens, pushes, offers ideas. It’s focused. It’s honest. It’s growth driven.”
The 2018 graduates, Andrew Lanners (left) and Luke Eggebraaten, met at the Memorial Library. Their passion for creating businesses fueled an ongoing friendship.
The Value of Making Connections Two classmates built a life-long friendship—and two businesses—because of MSU. BY AMANDA DYSLIN ’03, ’15
Andrew Lanners remembers spotting Luke Eggebraaten in the Memorial Library sometime during their sophomore year. They recognized each other from class, struck up a conversation, and by their own admission, probably didn’t think much of it at the time. “The reason that’s so funny,” Eggebraaten said, laughing, “is because I think that was the first and only time we were in the library.” What stuck was what they discovered about each other next. Both were already dabbling in business, long before formal plans or polished resumes. Eggebraaten was buying and selling dirt bikes and go-karts. Lanners was flipping taxidermy to help pay for school. What started as casual conversations about these endeavors quickly turned into something more.
“We really figured out quickly, ‘Oh, he likes the same things as me,’” Lanners said. “We started talking about future goals and plans even though we had no idea what that would look like yet.” They both graduated in 2018 with degrees in Sport Management, but another big part of their education, they say, came from those early side hustles and the hours spent talking them through together. Those conversations happened in car rides across southern Minnesota, hauling equipment in the back of Lanners’ truck. They happened between classes, over text and eventually, nearly every day. “What was really cool is he was always just as excited as I was, even if it was my deal,” Eggebraaten said. “We’d be like, ‘What are we paying for it? What are we selling it for?’ And then we’d just go.” Their road trips doubled as brainstorming sessions, building not just business instincts, but trust.
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“It was out of necessity at first,” Eggebraaten said. “But then we really started to bond. We were talking business nonstop, talking about life. It fast-tracked everything.” Nearly a decade later, that same rhythm continues, just at a different scale. Today, Lanners runs Premier Pinball & Amusement, a Twin Cities-based business that buys, sells, repairs and transports arcade and pinball machines nationwide. Eggebraaten is the founder of Phaser Marketing, a digital marketing agency serving excavation and septic companies across the U.S. and beyond. Neither business existed when they met. Both, they say, were shaped by the same foundation: curiosity, hustle and each other. “I can honestly say I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am today without Luke’s guidance, perspective and constant push to think bigger,” Lanners said. Their friendship has evolved alongside their businesses, but one tradition remains constant. Each year, they meet— now typically in Arizona, where Eggebraaten lives—for what they call a structured, no-nonsense business reset. Each gets one uninterrupted hour. “You break down your business, your vision, your challenges, your future plans,” Lanners said. “The other listens, pushes, questions and offers ideas. It’s focused. It’s honest. It’s growth-driven.”
Andrew Lanners runs Premier Pinball & Amusement in the Twin Cities.
“That’s the hardest part of the job,” he said. “And it’s not something you can talk through with just anyone.” For Lanners, it has meant learning to think beyond immediate wins. “One of my weaknesses is focusing on the now,” he said. “Luke’s really good at reminding me, ‘This is a long-term deal. Do it the right way, even if it’s harder.’” They’ve pushed each other into uncomfortable territory, too. Eggebraaten encouraged Lanners to build a website and expand his business beyond Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Lanners credits his friend with giving him the confidence to start writing a book. “Without Luke, I probably wouldn’t have thought I was capable of that,” he said. Their influence extends beyond their own companies. Both have built charitable giving into their businesses, which started long before they had the resources to do it comfortably. Eggebraaten launched his annual Phaser Fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club in his hometown of Detroit Lakes during the COVID-19 pandemic while still working a full-time job. Lanners followed with scholarships and community efforts of his own in the Twin Cities area.
The two alums continue to bolster each other’s entrepreneurship and business acumen.
It’s also something they both look forward to all year. “It’s our favorite thing to do,” Eggebraaten said. “Our problems have gotten bigger, sure, but so has our ability to help each other through them.” That help shows up in both big and small ways. For Eggebraaten, it has meant navigating tough leadership decisions like when to let an employee go.
“Don’t wait until you’re successful to give back,” said Eggebraaten, whose 2025 Phaser Fundraiser raised $70,000 for the Boys and Girls Club. “Start today.” That shared mindset of growth, generosity and longterm thinking has become a defining feature of their partnership. And if there’s one thing they emphasize, it’s that success doesn’t happen in isolation. “Business is about relationships,” Lanners said. “It’s about pushing each other, doing things the right way and getting uncomfortable enough to grow.”
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The Future Looks Like This The Future State project will turn campus into a regional hub for athletics, arts, wellness. BY AMANDA DYSLIN ’03, ’15
In September 2025, Minnesota State University, Mankato publicly launched its $60 million The Future State campaign, an ambitious effort to reimagine the south side of campus as a vibrant hub for recreation, wellness, athletics and community life. At first glance, the plans are impressive: a 6,500-seat multipurpose stadium, a track and field complex and a residential and mixed-use building, among other improvements. But talk to the people closest to the project, and a deeper story emerges—one about belonging, access and connection. “It’s when all of the parts click together that it really becomes something special,” said Amy Cooney, vice president of University Advancement. “Independently, each piece is exciting. But when you put them all together and see how they converge, that’s when you realize the full impact.”
Amy Cooney (left), vice president for University Advancement, and Nancy Zallek, president and CEO of Mankato Area Foundation
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At the heart of the project is the state-of-the-art Becky and Glen Taylor Community Stadium, expandable to 12,000 seats for concerts and large-scale events, that is expected to open in 2029. Designed to host more than 115 events annually, the venue represents a dramatic shift in how campus spaces are used and who they’re for. The stadium will welcome high school competitions and regional concerts, for example, drawing an estimated 122,000 new visitors to campus each year. For Cooney, that shift reflects a broader vision. “This is really about creating a ‘quality of place’ asset,” she said. “It’s about building something that enhances the experience of being here, whether you’re a student, a resident or a visitor.” That regional emphasis is echoed by community leaders, including Nancy Zallek, president and CEO of Mankato Area Foundation. From her perspective, the project has the potential to reshape the relationship between campus and community in lasting ways. “I really like how it flips the script,” Zallek said. “In many communities, there’s a ‘town and gown’ divide. This invites the community into the campus space and enhances that relationship. For the vibrancy of Mankato and the University, we need to be in partnership.” Zallek points to both the tangible and ripple effects. Increased events on campus mean more visitors in Mankato, which mean more hotel stays and more activity for local businesses. But just as important is the exposure to the University, particularly for younger students. “They can experience (a college campus), feel it and maybe start to envision themselves there one day,” she said. “That’s how you spark aspiration and ultimately strengthen the talent pipeline for the entire region.” That sense of accessibility is woven throughout The Future State project design. A new plaza will provide flexible green space for markets, performances and everyday gatherings. The mixed-use residence hall building will be able to house more than 300 students and include retail, food service and community-facing clinics centered around health and wellness. “Those clinics are a particularly meaningful addition, extending healthcare access to both the campus and the broader Mankato community within a single, integrated space,” Cooney said.
Construction on the first phase is expected to begin in late 2027. Future expansions will include upgrades to the walking and biking trails, as well as recreational amenities like pickleball and tennis courts, which will be open to both students and the community. “There’s no shortage of ways for people to connect with this project,” Cooney said. “Some are passionate about workforce development and retaining graduates in Mankato. Others are excited about expanded healthcare access or youth sports opportunities. It’s the combination of impacts that really resonates.” While the campaign goal is $60 million in philanthropic support, the total project impact is expected to approach $140 million. The entire effort is being funded through private support, a reflection of shared belief in the University’s future. That future is already generating excitement among those who will experience it most directly: students. “As an athlete, obviously having those facilities is a huge opportunity,” said Paige Larsen, a sophomore who competes in track and field and cross country. For senior hurdler Keaton Wattier, the improvements are also about competitiveness. “When I transferred here, I already liked the facilities and the campus,” he said. “The Future State just takes that to another level. Better facilities help with recruiting and really put us ahead in Division II.” While athletics play a central role, they’re far from the whole story. “Athletics can be the window to our University,” said Steve Duea, a 1970 graduate and longtime supporter of Maverick Athletics. “But this is about becoming one of the premier activity centers—not just for the University, but for the Mankato community and all of southern Minnesota.” Duea also sees the project as a powerful recruitment and retention tool. “When prospective students visit, there’s going to be a ‘wow’ factor,” Duea said. “It’s the kind of experience that makes someone say, ‘I want to be here.’”
To learn more or to make a donation to The Future State, visit thefuturestate-mankato.com or call University Advancement at 507-389-1200. mnsu.edu
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Class Notes 1950s MARK LAMMERS ’53, ’57, Tucson, AZ, retired from Gustavus Adolphus College and is living in Arizona, where he is an active musician. WALTER SEMBAUER ’59, was with the Bendix Corporation from 1962 to 1991. He is now retired.
Visit Ireland The MSU Alumni Association, in partnership with Collette Travel, is launching a new Alumni Travel Program with a journey to Ireland in Spring 2027. This opportunity is open to Minnesota State University, Mankato alumni, friends and supporters. You’ll enjoy traditional Irish cuisine and entertainment, landmarks such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Cliffs of Moher and more.
Here’s what is included:
LYNN MARTINSON ’61, Bonney Lake, WA, is retired. RICHARD WELLS ’62, Dewey, AZ, is a retired school principal who also was the director of administrative services and university activity funds with Minnesota State University, Mankato. He was a Tau Kappa Epsilon house father and national educator representative to the Aspen Institute. RONALD SOLBERG ’62, Northlake, IL, and NORMA SOLBERG ’62, are retired. Ronald was a teacher and public relations/marketing executive. Norma also was a teacher, school librarian and bookstore sales representative. The couple has two sons and two granddaughters. PAUL FOGARTY ’64, ’68, The Villages, FL, is a retired artist/potter. ROBERT MAAS ’65, Mankato, MN, is retired. He served as a teacher, counselor and principal prior to retiring. His wife, JANE (MCGOWAN) MAAS ’65, ’89, is a retired teacher.
• Round-Trip Airfare • Hotel Accommodations • Select Meals • Admissions to Attractions • Maverick Travel Care Package
RONALD SOLHEIM ’65, New Prague, MN, closed the operations of Hypark Specialty Company after 47 years. He is now retired.
With a Collette Tour Manager accompanying the group throughout the journey, offering local expertise, managing logistics and ensuring a seamless travel experience so you can relax and enjoy the adventure.
VICTOR GUNST ’65, Reynoldsburg, OH, worked at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association prior to retirement.
Single and double accommodations available (single supplement applies).
Important Dates Travel Dates: April 4–13, 2027 (optional pre-and post-tour extensions available). Registration Deadline: It’s risk-free to book. Prices start at $6,099 for individuals, $5,199 per person for doubles and $5,149 per person for triple travelers. Cancellations through October 5, 2026, will be refunded in full (including optional travel protection insurance). Space is limited. Early Registration is strongly encouraged, especially if traveling as a single. 32
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JOHN HERMAN ’65, Eagan, MN, has been a music teacher and professional musician who worked in music publishing. He also worked in real estate. He is now retired. DON KAMPS ’65, Mason City, IA, is retired.
CAROL (BUENDORF) PESTORIOUS ’66, and STEVE PESTORIOUS ’66, ’68, Surprise, AZ, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in September. SUZANNE (SPAETGENS) THORP ’68, Bellingham, WA, is retired. TOM MAUS ’69, Gurnee, IL, was an underwriter with Chartered Life until his retirement. BERWYN WETTER ’69, South Paris, ME, is retired. ALAN SCHIMELPFENIG ’69, retired from Procter & Gamble. He is the founder of the Wisconsin Crossbow Federation, a nonprofit organization.
C L A S S
1970s MARVIN HRUBES ’70, La Porte City, IA, retired from education, where he was a teacher, principal, superintendent and an Iowa Department of Education consultant. ROGER SIMONDS JR, ’70, Phillipsburg, NJ, was an IBM marketing representative and executive director prior to retiring. SUSAN JAHNS ’70, Casa Grande, AZ, visited her friend, VONNIE POLLEI ’67, Portland, OR. ERNIE RICHTER ’70, Chatfield, MN, is a chiropractor. MARY JO (ARMSTRONG) SONNEK ’71, Mankato, MN, retired from Mayo Clinic Health System in 2018. ARTHUR MAY ’71, Corcoran, MN, is retired. DENNIS ROELFSEMA ’71, Pipestone, MN, spent 1974–2011 working in social service agencies in Minnesota and South Dakota. He also taught for two years. STEPHEN JAMES ’72, Hastings, NE, was a counselor and cross-country coach at Hastings Senior High School for 36 years. He is now retired and serving as a lay pastor while maintaining a monthly prayer blog. GENE SWANSON ’72, Stillwater, MN, is retired and recently spent three weeks at his son’s house in Las Vegas. PREM SHROFF ’72, Plano, TX, was employed at IBM, Xerox and Merrill Lynch in sales and management prior to retiring. DENNIS ALBERS ’72, Sacramento, CA, is retired. GARY DONOVAN ’72, Morris, MN, retired as the director of career services at the University of Minnesota Morris in 2018. He is a past president of the Minnesota State University, Mankato Alumni Association and currently is consulting. BRAD THEISSEN ’72, Las Vegas, NV, had a lifelong career in radio, TV and newspapers. He has been traveling around the United Kingdom and Europe since 2009 working on a genealogy mission. NANCY (FREDSALL) CHRISTENSEN ’73, Minneapolis, MN, is retired. CHERYL (NELSON) HARSTAD ’74, Georgetown, TX, met her husband during her time at Minnesota State Mankato. The couple has been married for 54 years.
MARCIA THOEN ’75, Plymouth, MN, is a retired teacher. ROGER NISSLEY ’76, Iowa Falls, IA, has fond memories of the spring of 1973 when a group of streakers ran from one end of campus to the other. LISBETH LEAGJELD ’76, Palatine, IL, is an adjunct instructor with the University of South Dakota and has been a music teacher, public financial advisor, business owner and an MS clinical mental health counselor. JUDY DAHILL ’76, Windsor, CO, taught in St. Peter, MN, and Minneapolis Public Schools prior to retiring. She has three adult children and four grandchildren. DAVE LINDBERG ’77, Fort Myers, FL, was a consultant who worked with food manufacturers for more than 40 years. DENNIS LAUTERBACH ’77, West Des Moines, IA, is retired. PATRICK BYRON ’78, Winona, MN, retired after 34 years in the Rochester, MN, public schools. KEVIN DORN ’78, Fort Myers, FL, retired from a career in federal, state and local government service. WAYNE JUNKER ’78, Redwood Falls, MN, was inducted into the Redwood Valley School District Hall of Fame in 2025. DAVID BANIK ’79, Salem, SC, received a letter of commendation from the U.S. Army for resolving issues with the MRE program during Operation Desert Shield. He is now retired.
1980s SUSAN WITMAN ERICKSON ’80, Janesville, MN, is retired. KAREN (THOMPSON) KINKEL ’80, Des Moines, IA, is a customer service agent with Unifi Aviation on a part-time basis. She has three grandchildren whom she visits often. JIM MATTKE ’80, Stoughton, WI, is retired. DAVID FORSYTH ’81, Estherville, IA, is a full-time attorney and part-time judicial magistrate. GAYNELLE (HUSBYN) PETERS ’81, Florence, MT, is retired. KYLE MEYERS ’82, San Diego, CA, has fond memories of his time at Minnesota State Mankato.
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DOUG PARROTT ’85, Kansas City, MO, was the chief underwriting officer with Foresters Financial until his retirement in April. MARK ANDERSON ’85, Auburn Hills, MI, is an SVP with HUB International, where he is a PGA Tour Champions starter and announcer. BRAD JOHNSON ’85, ’88, Owatonna, MN, is retired. THOMAS GLASER ’86, St. Louis Park, MN, is a psychologist who has published his second book on an approach to healing childhood trauma. ELLIS MCNULTY ’86, Panama, is a manager with Alkomprar. SHARON RICHARDS ’87, Minnetrista, MN, is a mental health therapist with Nystrom & Associates. She received her master of arts degree from Crown College. VIKKI (MILLER) JOHNSON ’88, Fargo, ND, is a vice president–mortgage loan officer at Choice Financial Group. ARTHUR LUCAST ’89, ’91, Ramsey, MN, is a project manager with Global Workplace Solutions.
1990s PAUL HASTAD ’90, Flippin, AR, is married and retired. TODD NICHOLS ’90, Brownsville, TX, is the director of technology/computer services with the Brownsville Independent School District. JOLENE SIMMONDS ’90, Chisago City, MN, works at MC Garage. SHAWN (TOUSIGNANT) HENDEL ’91, ’93, ’97, Mankato, MN, retired in April after 28 years in federal service with the Federal Correctional Institution Waseca in Waseca, MN. MATT POTHAST ’91, Park Ridge, IL, is a senior key account manager with Ocular Therapeutix. He and his wife have two young adult sons. KENT SENF ’92, Sioux Falls, SD, is the president of Burwell Material Handling LLC. He provides executive consulting and coaching, is a guest speaker and acquisition advisor. JULIE (KLEMP) KLEMP-WISCHNACK ’93, Norwood Young America, MN, is a community development director with the City of Minnetonka. She was inducted into the fellowship of the American Institute of Certified Planners (FAICP) in 2023.
JANE SCHUYLER ’74, Cedar Rapids, IA, is a selfemployed travel counselor, a position she has enjoyed for 42 years.
JAMES GEEVES ’82, West Chester, OH, is the co-founder and director of marketing and sales at Color-Logic Inc.
CATHERINE PETERSEN ’74, ’76, St. Paul, MN, is a retired business owner of C.J. Petersen & Associates LLC. She now organizes and performs in a Middle Eastern dance group of women over 60 at senior care facilities and festivals.
SHEILA (JOHNSON) OPSAL ’82, North Mankato, MN, is a retired business education teacher.
LISA (FREIBERG) BEHSMAN ’96, Cleveland, MN, is married and has two children, one of whom attends Minnesota State University, Mankato.
DAVID DOUGALL ’83, Bloomington, IL, is retiring from State Farm Insurance Companies after a 27-year career.
JAY NEWHOUSE, ’96, Carver, MN, is a pilot with NetJets in Columbus, OH.
GARY KREB ’74, Fort Myers, FL, is in real estate with NOW Realty. He has two daughters and four grandchildren. ANN (CORDS) EDGERTON ’75, Decorah, IA, retired after serving as a director of the University of Minnesota Child Development Center in Minneapolis.
MICHAEL LEPAGE ’83, Mesa, AZ, is the principal software engineer at Boston Scientific. He recently won the Arizona State Bowling Championship for his age group and will compete for a national championship in Green Bay, WI.
JO HOLEN ’95, Ely, MN, is an elementary teacher.
JEFFREY SMITH ’96, Stillwater, MN, is the owner and CEO of Dream Travel By Design. He retired from the Minnesota Air National Guard in 2023 and is a pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Somerset, WI. mnsu.edu
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HEIDI (HUISINGA) HELLER ’96, Vadnais Heights, MN, is the city clerk/human resources manager with the City of Little Canada. TREVOR JOHNSON ’97, Battle Lake, MN, is the owner of Vacationland Resort on Otter Tail Lake. CHRIS NIEWIND ’97, Fogelsville, PA, served in the United States Army for more than 32 years and was promoted to brigadier general in September 2025. He also commands the 94th Training Division. BRAD POTTER ’97, Mankato, MN, is the city administrator with the City of Cokato. TARA HOWE ’98, Fort Myers, FL, recently started Island Coast Behavioral Health and Therapy, LLC. BEVERLY (ANDERSON) BUTLER ’98, Victoria, MN, is the president and CEO of Icon Interior Design, LLC. DOUGLAS TIEDMAN ’98, Minot, ND, is the director for online development, testing and digital access with Minot State University. BENJAMIN KROHLING ’98, ’03, ’14, Minneapolis, MN, is single and debt-free.
2000s BARBARA (LOWE) WENDT ’00, Wabasso, MN, is a science teacher with the Marshall Independent School District and is the president of the Minnesota Earth Science Teachers Association. JASON TAYLOR ’00, Albert Lea, MN, is a patrol sergeant with the Albert Lea Police Department and recently was appointed commander of the South Central Drug Investigation Unit SWAT team. CRAIG OLSON ’01, Eagan, MN, is a deputy chief of police with the MSP Airport Police Department/Metropolitan Airports Commission. HELEN MESCHKE ’02, Mankato, MN, is a master scheduler with The Occasions Group/ Taylor Corporation and has worked her way up in the company through the years. Prior to that, she was a substitute teacher. JAYME DELOSS ’02, Fort Collins, CO, received the National Association of Science Writers’ 2025 Excellence in Institutional Writing Award in the short-form category for a story written for Colorado State University. TROY BAUMANN-FREUND ’03, Chesapeake, VA, retired after 22 years of naval service as a Nurse Corps officer. He is now a nurse practitioner with CenterWell Senior Primary Care. MELISSA BROWN ’03, Mountain Lake, MN, is the office manager/pricing coordinator for Superfair Foods. NICHOLAS BURGER ’04, Mankato, MN, is a personal lines risk manager with the Nesbit Insurance Agency. He has three children. RYAN TOBIAS ’04, Bismarck, ND, is in his third year of owning a bookkeeping business. JACKIE (LUPKES) SORENSEN ’06, Savage, MN, is an administrative specialist with Gideon Pond Elementary, ISD 191. 34
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JOE KOHLMANN ’07, Golden Valley, MN, is the city administrator with the City of Stillwater, MN. He has served as a city administrator for 16 years across three municipalities. MICHAEL WITTHAUS ’08, Annapolis, MD, is a physician with Chesapeake Urology Associates as well as a clinical assistant professor of surgery with the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He also is the director of genitourinary reconstruction for Capital Region Health, University of Maryland.
2010s KALLIE FITZLOFF ’10, Mankato, MN, is a coaching specialist with AMPACT, a role she has held for two years. Prior to that, she spent 13 years in the classroom. LAUREN (WESTPHAL) GIRARD ’10, Rochester, MN, is a kindergarten teacher with Rochester Public Schools, ISD 535. She and her husband have two children. AVIVA (GRANS-KORSH) OLSEN, ’11, Richfield, MN, is a science teacher with Richfield Public Schools. She married JAKE OLSEN ’09, and the couple welcomed their second daughter this summer. TYLER ULFERTS ’12, Portland, OR, is a senior sales operations manager with AuditBoard. FAHIM KHAN ’12, Peshawar, Pakistan, is an appraising and valuation officer with the Federal Board of Revenue, Pakistan. KAITLYN KENEALY ’13, Oshkosh, WI, is the CEO of Into the Woods Wellness. MARGARET PENCE ’14, Chesterfield, VA, began her new position as program manager of career services with the University of Richmond. Prior to that, she was with Central Piedmont Community College as a career counselor. TYLER SCHWARZ ’15, ’21, Farmington, MN, is a GIS analyst IV with Short Elliott Hendrickson (SEH) Inc. He and his wife, Morgan, welcomed their third daughter last summer. KEYVAN RUDD ’15, Davenport, IA, is an operational excellence specialist with Nike. He played professional indoor football for the Quad City Steamwheelers. His daughter is five. JUSTIN OTTO, ’15, Andover, MN, is the director of sales for CrowdStrike. He and his wife, Hanna, have three children. JORDAN YESS ’15, Mankato, MN, is the general manager at Radio Mankato. NOAH PARO ’16, St. Peter, MN, is a recreation therapist with the State of Minnesota. His wife, KAITLYN (FISCHER) PARO ’16, is a service coordinator with Xcel Energy. The couple has a son who is turning three in September. NATHAN HANCOCK,’16, Buford, GA, is a project manager with Strickland & Sons Pipeline and stays busy with his two children. JARED GILLESPIE ’16, St. Paul, MN, is a high school football coach and DJ.
JOHN ULRICH ’16, Brooklyn Park, MN. SARA (JOHNSON) HARVEY ’16, Owatonna, MN, was promoted to HR systems and processes analyst at Federated Insurance. KAITLYN (SEBERSON) GILES ’16, ’18, Willmar, MN, is the director of student success at Ridgewater College. SHELBIE (WERDEN) PLESKANKO ’17, Faribault, MN, is an IT project specialist with St. Olaf College. She and her husband have one daughter. TAYLOR (SCHMELING) GARCIA ’17, Mankato, MN, is a case manager with Blue Earth County and is also a mother to two boys and one stepdaughter. ROBBI (WILL) GROSSHEIM ’17, ’21, Marshalltown, IA, is an elementary administrator with the Marshalltown Community School District. COLTON NERO ’17, Wonder Lake, IL, is the head football coach and a teacher at McHenry High School. Prior to this, he was the head football coach at Amos Alonzo Stagg High School. MAGDALYN (RIES) HERRINGTON ’17, Fargo, ND, is an attorney with Dwyer Law Office. KALEB MCGUIRE ’18, Burnsville, MN, is an account director with Adobe who reflects fondly on his time at Minnesota State University, Mankato. CYNTHIA CERDA-LOPEZ ’19, Mankato, MN, has been teaching for seven years in Mankato Area Public Schools. BRETT MARSHALL ’19, Eden Prairie, MN, is a senior marketing specialist with The Outdoor GreatRoom Company. MEGAN (SCHMITZ) STAMPER ’19, North Mankato, MN, is a human resources generalist/ leave administrator with Nidec | Kato Engineering. Prior to this, she held several human resources positions with Taylor Corporation. HEATHER VOGEL ’19, Mankato, MN, was married in September 2025.
2020s ZOE SUSKI ’20, Hugo, MN, is a home infusion pharmacy technician with Fairview Health. She welcomed her daughter in March. NICK BROWN ’20, Minnesota Lake, MN, is the executive director at Cottagewood Senior Communities in Mankato, MN. He also is the CEO of the Minnesota Lake Fire Department. His wife, SHELBY BROWN ’21, works in human resources at Sinceri Senior Living. The couple has one daughter. EMILY (FERRIER) DONALD ’20, Grand Marais, MN, works in athletic training. SAMUEL SCHWAGER ’20, New Berlin, WI, is an audio systems engineer with Clair Global, deploying audio systems for concert tours, festivals and corporate events.
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KATIE SLUNECKA-LABELLE ’20, St. Peter, MN, is a financial aid advisor at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Her husband, WYATT SLUNECKA ’21, is an operations specialist with Plasma Blue. DAVID KAISER ’20, Plymouth, MN, is the director of bands at Zimmerman Middle High School. SUHAN BUDHATHOKI ’20, Mankato, MN, is a project engineer with Mankato Computer Technology. RENAE (WALLACE) PAULSON ’21, Trimont, MN, is a court operations associate with the Minnesota Judicial Branch in Fairmont, MN. ALYSSA ZENZ ’21, Charleston, SC, is a dental hygienist with Stono Dental Care. She was married this spring. SEAN WILLIAMS ’22, Rochester, MN, launched the open beta for FanSpark.pro, where he serves as COO. It is an NIL digital content platform that connects athletes with their fans. JULIE (SELCER) CLOYD ’22, Shakopee, MN, is a BVI teacher with the Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools and has been working toward a master’s degree. SOFIA NUH ’23, St. Paul, MN, is currently seeking employment. LUIS OROZCO ’24, Mankato, MN, is a leader with COPAL, GMDC and Día de los Muertos. HAILEY (WILDMAN) VAI, ’24, Mankato, MN, is a behavior technician with Northway Academy – Sevita. MICHAEL JOHNSON ’24, Champlin, MN, is a correctional officer with an adult corrections facility and has been coaching high school football for 15 years. He also coaches professional arena football. He is married and has four daughters. JOHN DIGRUTTOLO ’24, Shorewood, MN, is a financial advisor with Edward Jones. LUKAS ROMANN ’25, Faribault, MN, is a manufacturing engineer with Automated Assembly Corporation and is also a full-time graduate student at the University of Wisconsin– Stout. RAY MOOSE ’25, Minneapolis, MN, is a financial representative with Foster Klima. TERRENCE STRAUB ’25, Minneapolis, MN, is an educator with the University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program – Hennepin County and received the 2025 Dean’s Award for Distinguished Leadership. MATTHIAS OKENWA ’25, New Hope, MN, is an operations technician with Medtronic and has progressed through several career changes and professional growth opportunities. WHITNEY YOUNGER ’25, Inver Grove Heights, MN, is a district marketing manager with Farmers Insurance. VINCENT MENSAH ’25, Carver, MN, is a resource paraprofessional. BHISMA ADHIKARI ’26, Hugo, MN, is an RN, BSN, with Sanford Health.
In Memoriam 1940s Mildred Elsie (Engelbrecht) Besel ’45 Phyllis Mae (Vahl) Jahn ’45 Rae Eloise (Swenson) Allan ’46 Lola Jeanne (Rettmer) Mummert ’46 Mildred Henrietta (Lange) Spring ’46 Alice Marie (Suchomel) Jahnke ’48, ’77 Marjorie Ann (Brown) Mountain ’48 Dorothy Ann (Bakken) Morgan ’49 Carol Elizabeth (Puchner) Rauch ’49
1950s Gail Dean Smith ’50 Evelyn Mae (Stiller) Thompson ’50 Arlene Esther (Ewert) Tschirhart ’50 Frank Edward Wilkins ’50 Jenet Freida (Hein) Jacobson ’51 Mary Helen (Lusk) Larson ’51, ’62 Joseph Paul Mathews ’51 Lois Marilynne (Meyer) McAllister ’51 Shirley Jeane (Pietz) McDaniel ’51 Bonnie Alice (Olson) Pomerenke ’51 Grace Ann (Livingston) Stinar ’51 Wayne Irvin Unke ’51, ’62, ’73 Garnet Mae (Guentzel) Mallery ’52 Lois Marilyn (Iverson) Pieper ’52 Esther Marie Wolfe ’52 Betty Marian (Rood) Nuss ’53 Robert David Stanford ’53 Helen Marion (Wagner) Vollmer-Eker ’53 Patricia Jean (Gaffney) Fogarty ’54 Verlyn W. Heldt ’54 Shirley Ann (Wineberg) Moe ’54 Allen Joseph Mohr ’54 Jane Ann (Ashford) Torgerson ’54, ’66 Margaret Ann (Johnson) Wenner ’54, ’73 Mary Ann (Torgerson) DeBus ’55, ’58 Ann Louise (Bunde) Henderson ’55 Carolyn Rae (Roberts) Johannes ’55, ’58 Dennis S. Schroeder ’55, ’57 Arleen Allyce (Ellenbecker) Greengo ’56 Orville Albert Heitkamp ’56 Marie Frandsine Henriksen ’56 Robert Ray Rynda ’56 Robert Lyle Thompson ’56 Claudia Fay Vosbeck ’56 Anita (Jegeris) Dittrich ’57, ’63 David Donald Ihrke ’57 Maynard Richard Johnson ’57 James Warren Keckeisen ’57, ’65, ’72 Carrol Gene Tammen ’57, ’72 Eloise Emily (Pierson) Zellmer ’57 Irvin Francis Zenk ’57 Esther Minnie (Wiehr) Bluhm ’58, ’60 James Henry Boeck ’58 James Fay Forrey ’58, ’64 Beverly Jean (Ohs) Haugen ’58 Joe Dean Holland ’58, ’62 Kenneth Lee Jensen ’58 Earl Arthur McCleary ’58 Myron Lee Milbrandt ’58, ’60 James John O’Brien ’58 Duane Emery Prairie ’58
Donald Dale Schneider ’58 Bonnie Lucille Skelton ’58 Donald Lewis Starkweather ’58 Gerald Carlton Van Peursem ’58, ’65 Geraldine Louise (Kielty) Weck ’58, ’60 Richard David Weisgerber ’58, ’63, ’67 Irvin Gene Anderson ’59 Ronald Lester Anderson ’59, ’62 Charles Gerard Bisel ’59 Lenis Dale Braun ’59 Vercella Elaine (Olson) Hemenway ’59 Douglas Archie Jensen ’59 Rita Mary (Wenkel) Jette ’59 Elizabeth Ann Mackey ’59 William Norman Matthies ’59 Mary Louise (Weed) Meyer ’59 Inez Marie (Schmidt) Nelson ’59, ’63 Robert Bernard Peterson ’59 Gary Lowell Smith ’59, ’61 James George Sneer ’59 Loren Leonard Voehl ’59
1960s Richard Eugene Blomquist ’60, ’71 Eddison Dean Christians ’60 Karen Faye (Wacholz) Courrier ’60 Kathleen Audrey (Rasmusson) Dahl ’60 Donald Eric Englin ’60 David Franklin Erickson ’60 Lowell Harry Hanson ’60 David Plank Helberg ’60 Donald Joseph Hoodecheck ’60, ’65 Patricia Martha (Proehl) Knewtson ’60 Kenneth J. Schmieder ’60 Jeanette Joyce (Bathke) Schull ’60 Bryce Pons Shimmon ’60 Donald Edward Westermann ’60 August Arthur Williams ’60 Sharon K. (Bunde) Albert ’61, ’69 Wayne Everett Albert ’61 Gayle Faith (Schwandt) Anderson ’61 Jerry Randall Anderson ’61 James Joseph Dickmeyer ’61 Jean Martha (Johnson) Haefner ’61 Patricia Ann (Casey) Holmes ’61 Robert John Johnston ’61 Patricia Ann (Moore) Keogh ’61, ’67 Dale Eugene LaFrenz ’61 Richard Dean Meier ’61 Marcus Steen Nelson ’61 Donald Louis Nitzkowski ’61 Hilda Louise (Koehler) Nutter ’61 Angella Mae (Bertelsen) Patera ’61 Ronald Dean Poole ’61 Dale Elmer Quist ’61 Gerald Susumu Sakamoto ’61 David Archie Skalbeck ’61 James Matthew Wegge ’61 William Lyle Wilson ’61 Lois Elaine (Gempeler) Ahlschlager ’62 James Leroy Balkema ’62 Nancy Elaine (Munch) Cameron ’62 Thomas James Cannon ’62 Dennis Paul Christianson ’62
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Lyman John Demaray ’62 Earl LaMoyne Gildemeister ’62, ’68 Virginia Loretta (Staley) Hauke ’62 Maynard George Meyer ’62 Robert Lynn Rengstorf ’62, ’73 Eunice Marie (Madison) Sanderson ’62 Sondra LeeAnn (Miller) Von Arb ’62, ’75 Jillian Christine Wagner ’62 Kenneth Laverne Wellman ’62 Orlo Blaine Austin ’63 David John Berge ’63, ’65 Donna Mae (Hotzler) Case ’63 Richard Joseph Corcoran ’63 Patrick Edmond Donahue ’63 Wilson William Ennis ’63, ’67, ’76 James Edward Fischer ’63 Bruce Allan Gray ’63 Stanley Lee Johnson ’63 Jason Lee Lamont ’63 Bruce Franklin Lindgren ’63, ’66 Vivian E. (Fink) Molloy ’63 Gary Milo Oftedahl ’63, ’69 Dale Arvan Owen ’63 Carol Ann (Jenkins) Rovn ’63 Daniel Jon Scheurer ’63 Richard Marvin Schutte ’63 William Donald Willhite ’63 Norman Ernest Wolfe ’63 Nancy Ann (Peter) Zwickey ’63, ’67, ’99 Gladys Lorraine (Buendorf) Carter ’64 Gregory Martin Diemer ’64 Edmund Dennis Draheim ’64, ’67 Mary Martha (Noetzel) Giese ’64 Dianne Elaine (Anderson) Holden ’64 Gaylen Walter Jensen ’64 Diane Elaine (Heitland) Mountain ’64 Willis James Munson ’64 William Rupert Murray ’64 Marlene Ella (Vernon) Nathanson ’64 Ann Marie (Lindquist) Sansom ’64 Thomas Leo Swanson ’64 Donald Joseph Thibault ’64, ’80 Sharon Louise (Mau) Tumbleson ’64 Michael Norman Andersen ’65, ’68 Joan Kathryn (Engebretson) Arndt ’65 Sharon Alva (Hansen) Busch ’65 Charles Stuart Erickson ’65, ’79 Thomas Eugene Gunther ’65 Patricia Grace (Lamson) Hanson ’65, ’72 Lee Roy Hegstrand ’65 Bruce Lynn Keil ’65 Larry Leonard Kramer ’65 Robert Joseph Myers ’65 Sharon Lane (Emery) Peterson ’65, ’77 Richard Allen Powers ’65 Paul Quirinus Scheurer ’65 Elizabeth Jean (Countryman) Seiffert ’65 Donna Mae Weber ’65 Paul Harold Wegner ’65 Joseph Francis Welter ’65 Donna Verlaine (Laugen) Butler ’66, ’71
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Blaine Robert Diesslin ’66 Philip Eastman ’66 Ronald Lee Felt ’66 Thomas Brian Ferguson ’66 Judith Ann Heifner ’66 Larry James Hohnstadt ’66 Barry Ray Huntsinger ’66 Nancy Joanne (Hall) Jenson ’66 Larry Gene Johnson ’66, ’71 Rosemary Margaret (O’Connor) Johnson ’66 Dennis Joseph Lawler ’66, ’09 John Joseph Luknic ’66 Bonnie Ruth (Norton) Mattila ’66 Carol Ann (Domian) Mitzner ’66 Gladys Marie Neiman ’66 Karen Fay (Stiff) Pettigrew ’66 Ralph Arthur Register ’66 John Robert Stoeckel ’66 Marvin Ernest Anderson ’67 Margaret Ann (Rebstock) Boehlke ’67 Jeffrey Clair Burow ’67 Velma Fae (Jones) Currie ’67 Mary Ellen (Mcaleer) Elbert ’67 Loren William Gratz ’67, ’73 Jewell Carol (Puttin) Hipp ’67 James Scott Jones ’67, ’74 Fay Ann (Janzen) Krause ’67 Jo Ann (Sonnek) Nelson ’67 Rose Marie (Vandal) Ormberg ’67 Margaret E. (King) Overturf ’67 John Gregory Scherman ’67 Jerry S. Smith ’67 Lonny Dean Twait ’67 Charles Walter Underdahl ’67 Marilynn M. (McRae) Weibel ’67 James Donald Weisser ’67 Gayle Ruth (Birkemeyer) Willey ’67 Mary Catherine (Mulligan) Apfel ’68 Donald Eugene Balster ’68 Shirley Ann (Ellis) Biewen ’68, ’75 Anne Bentz (Bowlus) Callihan ’68, ’71 Martin Hugh Christianson ’68 Michael Robert Enright ’68 Kathleen Mary (Klepperich) Esser ’68 Ronald Lee Feil ’68 Marion Leroy Haayer ’68, ’73 Thomas Clifford Hermel ’68 Larry William Klante ’68 Michael Joseph Koenecke ’68 Kenneth Warren Krenik ’68 Glen Brian Peterson ’68 Roger Dennis Quam ’68 Pauline Grace (Tuvell) Runke ’68 Karen Frances (Klein) Schuchardt ’68 Steven Lewis Schwarz ’68, ’70 Gary Paul Strenge ’68 John Joseph Sturm ’68, ’69 Allan David Unseth ’68 Thomas Jesse Wellhausen ’68 Karen Dianne (Wacker) Wendlandt ’68 James Leroy Wilke ’68 Arthur Michael Blauzda ’69, ’71 John Richard Bolstad ’69 Michael Frank Cleary ’69
Michael Anthony Clemons ’69 Ronald Louis Driscoll ’69 Donald Stanley Dvorak ’69 Ronald William Foth ’69 Helen Jane (Gould) Franta ’69 Carolyn Fay Graf ’69 Hugh Eldon Griffin ’69 Kenneth Henry Herzog ’69, ’76 Gary Lynn Madson ’69 Garry Erwin Nietz ’69 Steven L. Schlake ’69 Terry Lee (Swope) Schmidt ’69, ’74 Marcia Kay (Maxwell) Schneiderman ’69 Kenneth Arnold Schonrock ’69 Sybil Elaine (Wolf) Solting ’69 James Leonard Ulwelling ’69, ’70 Richard Jerome Wandersee ’69 George Albert Wichmann ’69 Donald Lee Williams ’69, ’72
1970s Margaret Ann (Radermacher) Bavin ’70 John Ronald Beckel ’70 Nancy Carol Braun ’70 Loren John Burkel ’70 Marguerite Eilane Churilla ‘70 Bonnie Lou (Wallace) Eide ’70 Rene Erwin Greenwald ’70 Jill Annette Jeppesen ’70, ’77 Robert David Jones ’70, ’75 Richard John Long ’70, ’74 David George Ressler ’70 Alda Lenora (Jorve) Rydin ’70 Jane Ann (Mortenson) Sweeney ’70 Marilyn Ann Vanderlinde ’70, ’80 Keith Michael Anderson ’71 Dennis F. Ballman ’71 Robert Gordon Bright ’71 Jack Edward Dahl ’71 Gerald Lee Frank ’71 Bruce Stephen Mangseth ’71 John Robert McDermott ’71 Bonnie Lynne (Hovde) Melton ’71 Robert James Niemela ’71 James Kenny Nolan ’71 Marcia Kay (Thorson) Nordwall ’71 Dennis Roger Notaro ’71 Carol Irene (Jensen) Oney ’71, ’78 Doris Joann (Dakken) Peterson ’71, ’92 Myla Jeanne (Auringer) Salfer ’71 Judith Marie (Merritt) Tostenrud ’71, ’92 Steven Roy Tryhus ’71 Kenneth Arthur Werner ’71 John Arnold Bromeland ’72 Rand Mitchel Brugger ’72 Gary Lee Budnick ’72 John Edward Deziel ’72 Mary Kathleen Fischer ’72 Gerald Duane Gade ’72 Catherine Cordelia (DeFrees) Hackett ’72
John Thomas Hareid ’72 Steven Edwin Hettig ’72 Suzanne Jean (Kerkhoff) Lidstrom ’72, ’88 Gerald Kenneth Muehring ’72 Jeanette Lydia (Nordgaard) Nelson ’72 Russell John North ’72 Ruth Elizabeth (Nelson) Osen ’72 Ronald Stanley Prchal ’72 Kenneth Lee Schreader ’72 John Harold Schwertfeger ’72 Dennis Everett Vee ’72 Norma Mary (Neigebauer) BonnieBaffoe ’73, ’81 Diane Kay (Grobner) Choukalas ’73 Dorothy Ann (Knutson) Ellerbroek ’73, ’92 Harry H. Goetsch ’73 Keith Wayne Helfritz ’73 Jane Marie Hurley ’73 Randall C. Meyer ’73 James Joseph Sheehan ’73 Marjorie Ann (Bell) Sorenson ’73 John Paul Ahern ’74, ’82 Marilyn Jean (Miller) Bongers ’74 Leo Alfred Charlton ’74 Janet V. (Brunner) Fitzpatrick ’74 Lois Miriam (Lind) Gau ’74 Colin John Gilles ’74 David Edwin Halverson ’74 Judith Ann (Kurth) Hazen ’74 Marlin Kent Henjum ’74 Eric Allan Johnson ’74 Lynn Patricia Klaassen ’74 Daniel Arthur Kleven ’74 John Llewellyn Kube ’74 Jeanne Marian (Foxvog) Lageson ’74 James Rich Lindeman ’74 Milton Roger Maki ’74 Mary Louise (Jenkinson) McConville ’74 Gary Wilbur Rambow ’74 James Harold Steuck ’74 Lloyd Ernest Thrun ’74 Ronald Wayne Tuin ’74 Nancy Katherine (Little) Wright ’74 Carol Jean (Fricke) Bayerkohler ’75 Patrick Edward Bones ’75 Steven Jerome Elling ’75 Mary Kay (Sanders) Hanson ’75 Norbert John Harrington ’75, ’83 Roy Hjalmer Holmes ’75 Douglas Gilbert Horecka ’75 Harold James Lanning ’75, ’81 James Robert Lien ’75 Betsy Irene (Gerads) Mahowald ’75 Elaine Louise (Tosch) Meyer ’75 Susan Slocum (Slocum) Ofstehage ’75 John Lee Ranslow ’75 Martin Paul Reinhart ’75 Roger Willis Risser ’75 Harold Allan Rosefelt ’75 Jeffrey Scott Schmucker ’75 Dwayne Harold Senn ’75 Bruce Addison Shaffer ’75 Franklin Howard Vorlicek ’75
I N
Kendrick Anne Wronski ’75 Daniel Lee Altwegg ’76, Paul Michael Behrends ’76 Howard John Friesen ’76 Gertrude Theresa (Moe) Gaarder ’76 Bruce Alan Helmbrecht ’76 Julie Susan (Roscoe) Ladwig ’76, ’00 Marcia Lynn (Miller) McCarney ’76 Susan C. Morse ’76 Thomas Harold Piche ’76 Randy Louis Schmitz ’76 Phyllis Elizabeth (Leet) Schultz ’76 Kim Lorin Segrud ’76 Carolyn Ann Taddei ’76 Steve Allen Whitehouse ’76 Mark Michael Ziemer ’76 Daniel James Bjerk ’77 Geraldine Elizabeth (Sonnen) Bradford ’77 Cyril Joseph Denn ’77 John William Friederichs ’77 Karolyn Lenore Lee ’77 Thomas Robert Mocol ’77, ’80 Stephen Francis Schultz ’77 JoAnn Bernice Zachow ’77 Lynn D. Chamberlain ’78 Rodney Alan Johnson ’78 Patsy Ann (Gates) Munson ’78 James Thomas Petersen ’78, ’82 Alan Keith Roseberry ’78, ’87 Mary Alice (Krebs) Roy ’78, ’84, ’13 Gary Michael Sherman ’78, ’88 Leonard Roy Twete ’78 Scott Michael Carlson ’79 Sandra Jayne (Christianson) Carlyon ’79 Connie Jean (Gerdes) Hurley ’79 Janice Claudia (Luksha) Martinson ’79 Peter Foxvog Olson ’79 Ronald Alan Retzer ’79 George Fredrick Stein ’79 Gale Kathi (Peterson) Van Der Sloot ’79 Christine Kay (Moore) Volz ’79, ’91
1980s Kendra Kae (Cash) Abbey ’80 Richard Wendell Auger ’80 Kristan Gay Beaumont ’80 Richard Arthur Gangelhoff ’80 Gregory Paul Goebel ’80 Michael Alan Heffron ’80 Joan Kay Rettke ’80 Michael John Roberts ’80 Miriam Rose (Byro) Rogness ’80 Debra Lee (Lallier) Sharits ’80 Paulette Sue (Wangsness) Calderon ’81 Daryl Ward Davey ’81 Marjory Ann (Luett) Hamersly ’81 Carol Ann Hohenstein ’81 Marilyn Ann (Wickler) Hunstad ’81
Steven George Ribbel ’81 Harvey Frank Schulz ’81 Jeffrey Arthur Becker ’82 Thomas Casey Dziura ’82 Susanne Lynn GehrkeMarquardt ’82 James Archibald Morton ’82 David John Schwarz ’82, ’84 Clifford Allyn Stemper ’82, ’84 Shirley June (Peterson) Swenson ’82 Robert Donald Westphal ’82 Stephen Richard Adrian ’83, ’84 Charles David Baerg ’83 Nancy Gwendolyn (Opitz) Dammann ’83 James Peter Schoning ’83 Carla Rae Craig ’84 Sheila Anne (Martin) Danna ’84 Barbara Jeanne (O’Connor) Johnson ’84 Bonnie Gail (Halverson) Vrudny ’84 Michelle Ann (Lohman) Westre ’84, ’91, ’94 ’02 Victoria Ann (Steele) Akemann ’85 Betty Ann (Arne) Baumberger ’85 Patricia Ruth (Davenport) Brown ’85 Louise Irene (Lloyd) Loney ’85 Jill Marie (Shorba) Hansen ’86, ’88 Mark Raymond Hansen ’86 Darren Lee Lefebvre ’86 Joan Rae (Pemble) Rigdon ’86 Patricia Ann (Dumas) Schwartz ’86, ’94 Jane Clairine Whim ’86 Gwenneth Signe (Hogstad) Wiegrefe ’86 Marge Helen (Gargaro) Bramer ’87 Daniel John Fauskee ’87 Robert Eugene Iverson ’87, ’91 Vicky Lynn (Knight) Kline ’87 Daniel Mark Krom ’87, ’89 Burton Hartwick Thompson ’87 Marc Joseph Baughn ’88 Karen Dianne (Vos) Bright ’88 Clara Louise (Spelbrink) Gray ’88 Joseph Stuart Hayden ’88 Gene Eldon Perkins ’88 Janine Marie (Westphal) Perrault ’88 David Daniel Scheurer ’88 Carol Marylynn (Larson) Tierney ’88 Brian Keith Vaillancourt ’88 Eunice Elaine (Sortland) AndersonWebb ’89 Gerald Floyd Beasley ’89 Brian Lee Boelter ’89 Rebecca Jane (Dreher) Dreher ’89 Mary Ann (Galloway) Engel ’89 Floyd Vincent Harves ’89 Donald Craig Hendricks ’89 Marlys Kay (Ankeny) Jensen ’89 David Anthony Krenik ’89 James Harlan LeCocq ’89 Robert Joseph Reiling ’89 Nanci Rae Rossow ’89 Lon Donald Summers ’89
M E M O R I U M
1990s
Faculty & Staff
Jill Marie Berglund ’90 Marlene Helen (Ohm) Lindemeier ’90 Timothy Lloyd Rasmussen ’90 Jodi Jean Woodruff ’90 Thomas Victor Dunder ’91 David Henry Iverson ’91 Daniel Robert Janisch ’91 Kristi Lynn (Hanenburg) Koppendrayer ’91 Robert Elden Rikkers ’91, ’95 Wade Oscar Rugroden ’91 Sandra Jean Stephenson ’91 Wanyce Faye (Jung) Thostenson ’91 Linda Jean Anderson ’92 William Percy Geelhart ’92 Ricardo Hugo Giorgis ’92 Dave Lyman Grant ’92 Kory Lynn Hagen ’92 Sandra Lee (Minske) Spinler ’92 Lowell Wayne Wulff ’92 Kyle Andrew Kisch ’93 Michael David Winchester ’93 Robert David Clark ’94 Gordon Edward Gwathney ’94 Gregory Bond Vander Wilt ’94 Michael John Holden ’95 Michael Murray Platt ’95 Wendy Leigh Beck ’96 Brady Albert Kuiper ’96 Holly Ann Menk-Anderson ’96 Todd Francis Schuster ’96 Deborah Nan (Johnson) Anderson ’97 Mona Lisa (Davis) Langston ’97 Sharon Renee Anderson ’99 Jesse Lee Hiller ’99 Scott Wade Kellar ’99 Pamela Kaye (Anderson) Manning ’99
Richard Wendell Auger Pamela J. (Winters) Blair David Benedict Bruzek Paul Edwin Burns Edmund Kinzel Colby Delores Faye (Wichael) Cramer Anita (Jegeris) Dittrich Jane Frances Earley Carrol F. Fry Earl LaMoyne Gildemeister Thomas Lee Giles Joan Mary Austin Gruter Francis Thomas Hannick Joe Dean Holland Layne Victor Hopkins James Thomas Jack David Lee Janovy Michael Judson Keim Patricia Ann (Moore) Keogh Keith Karl Klein Dale Edwin Marxen Logan John Michels Bikash Ratan Nandy Terry Annette (Tucker) Neal Marlene Mildred (Rodeen) Nelson James Thomas Petersen Newell Ronald Peterson Thomas John Piotrowski Ronald Dean Poole Joan Rae (Pemble) Rigdon Mary Alice (Krebs) Roy Danny Wayne Runkle Harry Jay Solo Joan Mae (Schiller) Springborg Joan Diane Struck James L. Tanner Edgar Ernest Twedt Sondra LeeAnn (Miller) Von Arb Richard David Weisgerber Robert Bond Vander Wilt Gina Arlene (Maahs) Zurbey
2000s Myrna Jeannette (Schauble) Luehmann ’00 Kimberly Jane Stark-Webber ’00 Antoinette Wetzel ’00 Tony Jay Stratton ’02 Matthew James Bittner ’03 Patsy Ellen (Morrow) Fleming ’03 Joel Ramon Varrientos ’04 Karmen Kay (Barnes) Chambers ’06 Caleb Daniel Tyner ’07 Joan Mary Austin Gruter ’08, ’10 Anna Christine (Fischer) Stangler ’09 Joseph Glenn Barnette ’10 Jacob Stephen Halloran ’11 Gina Arlene (Maahs) Zurbey ’11 Laurie Lynne (Orness) Lee ’12 Suzanne Faye (Trytten) Martin ’12 Jesse Robert Morgan ’12 Kurtis Timothy Malecha ’13 Logan John Michels ’16 Michael Jeffrey Hedin ’17, ’18 Tyler Kurt Funk ’24
Friends Barbara Ann (Hauch) Goettl Ronald Bruce Larson Zona Ann (Smith) Markiewicz John Chesley Nelson Janice Marie (Pehrson) Prouse Rutheda (Meyer) Wagner Betty Louise (Shaffer) Wells
mnsu.edu
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T H A T ’ S
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T O D A Y
From Mankato to the Skies: Purple Tails Compete on National Stage MSU team takes on the Air Race Classic, turning preparation, teamwork and purpose into a platform for women in aviation. BY JOE TOUGAS ‘86
Purple Tails crew, (left to right) Olivia Olinger, ground coordinator Jordan Kimlinger, Souraya Nakib and Kelly Nikomrat.
Purple Tails crew checking the plane over (top). Souray Nakib taking one last look before take off.
After months of preparation, the four-member Purple Tails took off from the Mankato airport June 18 to embark on the four-day annual Air Race Classic.
The Purple Tails flew a four-seat Piper Archer III aircraft. The competition features aircraft of all shapes, sizes and power, making the race more of a test for each crew to beat a handicap established for their aircraft prior to the race. The team that beats its handicap by the largest margin wins the race. The Purple Tails came in ninth overall.
The all-female competition covers 2,400 miles throughout the southeastern U.S. Teams make fly-bys at each timing point and land at the airports. The four-day flight had stops at Frankfort, Kentucky; Spartanburg, South Carolina; Douglas, Georgia; Tanner, Alabama; McComb, Missouri; Russellville, Arkansas; Atchison, Kansas; Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin; and Mt. Vernon, Illinois. The MSU team consisted of Olivia Olinger, Souraya Nakib, Kelly Nikomrat and ground coordinator Jordan Kimlinger. While Olinger, Nakib and Kimlinger are still students, Nikomrat graduated in May 2026 and is now a flight instructor with North Star Aviation. “Throughout the race, we navigated mountains, busy airspace and changing weather and constantly evaluated risk while making real-time decisions as a crew,” Nikomrat said. “Every day required strong communication, trust and decision making.” 38
Today 2026
“What I’ll remember most is how much we grew as pilots and teammates,” Nikomrat said. “We returned home with more confidence, better decision-making skills and memories that will stay with us throughout our aviation careers. It was an unforgettable experience.” The big victory was setting an example, said Kimlinger, who said she looked up to Amelia Earhart and other female pilots growing up. “You get on a plane, and you see a female pilot and you think ‘hey, I could do that,’” Kimlinger said. “Now we are able to be like that for other girls, hopefully.”
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