 Roger Looyenga |
 Whitney Loftesnes |
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Graduate and alumnus spoke at Minot State University commencement
On May 13, 2011, commencement speakers Whitney Loftesnes and alumnus Roger Looyenga addressed Minot State University’s Vision 2013 Strategy 5: "Focusing on Student Success and Future Achievement."
MSU graduate students participated in a hooding ceremony at 8 a.m., on Friday, in Ann Nicole Nelson Hall. The commencement ceremony for graduate and undergraduate students began in the Dome at 10 a.m.
Loftesnes, a Norwich native, completed a Bachelor of Science degree in international business, marketing and management and graduated summa cum laude. She also excelled as a student athlete and was named to the 2011 Daktronics-National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Division II Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete Team.
Looyenga retired as the chief executive officer and chairman of Auto-Owners Insurance Group, a Fortune 500 company, in July 2010. The Mandan native graduated from then Minot State College with a bachelor’s degree in business education in 1968. While at Minot State, he participated on the tennis team and was elected to the Student Council, the predecessor of today’s Student Government Association. He was president of the Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity and belonged to Greek Council and Letterman’s Club.
In keeping with the commencement ceremony’s theme, honored guests were Distinguished Lifetime Educator Award recipients. Each recipient, a retired faculty member selected by faculty peers, provided students with a strong and engaging academic experience that allowed students to develop sound skills for success in their future careers and endeavors.
The following were Distinguished Lifetime Educator Award recipients: Harold Aleshire, humanities; Dale Atwood, business; Margaret Dixon, English; Floyd Fairweather, humanities; Virginia Geesaman, music; Walter Hartman, music; Charles Hoffman, biology; Robert Holmen, mathematics; Adelaide Johnson, business; Ruth Loucks, education; Shirley McMillan, nursing; Robert Sando, business; and Doris Slaaten, business.
Duaine Espegard, the vice president of the State Board of Higher Education, also attended MSU’s commencement ceremony. Espegard, Grand Forks, is a retired bank administrator and former state senator. He worked for Bremer Financial as a bank director, chief executive officer and regional president from 1969 to 2003. He served in the North Dakota Senate from 2000 to 2006.
For additional information regarding the commencement ceremony, contact Rebecca Porter, registrar, at 858-3126 or rebecca.porter@minotstateu.edu.
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Published: 05/04/11 |