Minot State University is proud to continue its long-standing tradition of celebrating its graduating class with the 111th Commencement Exercise on Friday, May 15. The tradition dates to the University’s first graduating class in 1914.

“MSU’s Commencement represents a wonderful day of celebration when our campus gathers to recognize our newest class of graduates alongside their family and friends,” said Minot State President Dr. Steven Shirley. “We look forward to officially honoring all of our students who represent the MSU Class of 2026.”

The University will begin the day with a traditional Hooding Ceremony for students completing a master’s degree at 8 a.m. in Ann Nicole Nelson Hall. MSU will hold the Spring Commencement Ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Minot State Dome. For individuals unable to attend the two live events, the Hooding Ceremony and Commencement will be broadcast via the Minot State YouTube channel. Access both online at the Graduate Hooding Ceremony broadcast and the Commencement Ceremony broadcast.

MSU is also pleased to announce this year’s Commencement speakers including Dr. Jeffrey Sather ’94, executive medical director and emergency physician at Trinity Health; Kale Smith, a current student in the Master of Science in Special Education program with a concentration in education of the Deaf; and Conner Meldrim, a current undergraduate student majoring in exercise science and rehabilitation. Representing the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) with a greeting is Tim Mihalick ’81, former chair and current member of the SBHE and a senior vice president at First Western Bank & Trust.

Minot State will host a special graduation homepage with additional information on the ceremony, events, gift ideas, social media posts, videos, senior spotlights, and a wall of graduates. Access all MSU graduation content at MinotStateU.edu/grad and use hashtag #MSUclassof26 in all social media posts.

The generosity of Minot State alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and students was on display yet again as the Minot State Development Foundation announced another record Giving Day in 2026.

Due to the magnanimity of donor gifts and matching funds from individuals across the country, the MSU Development Foundation reported 1,785 gifts totaling $460,153 raised in 24 hours on April 8. Giving Day support continues to make a meaningful difference across campus, from scholarships to academic enhancements to athletics.

“Minot State University is deeply grateful to our alumni, friends, and community partners for making Giving Day 2026 a record-breaking success,” said Rick Hedberg, vice president for advancement and executive director of the MSU Development Foundation. “Your generosity strengthens every corner of our campus and directly impacts the lives of our students. Thank you for believing in MSU and investing in the future we are building together."

The Development Foundation reported a nearly $10,000 increase over its previous record in 2025. The $460,153 marked the third straight year Giving Day topped $400,000 in total dollars donated, with the annual day raising more than $2.7 million since its inception in 2018.

The MSU Development Foundation also reported 322 first-time donors and had gifts from 36 states and seven countries. Along with external stakeholders, 197 Minot State faculty and staff donated to support causes across campus.

“To our faculty, staff, and students — thank you for showing your remarkable spirit on MSU Giving Day,” Hedberg added. “Your enthusiasm, participation, and support helped make this a historic day for Minot State University. Together, you continue to demonstrate the pride and commitment that make MSU such a special place.”

Minot State University’s Department of Nursing is now accepting applications for its guaranteed admission pathway to the nursing major within the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.

The program provides qualified students with early assurance of placement and a clearly defined route to completing their degree.

“Minot State University is committed to preparing the next generation of nurses,” said Amy Lee, chair of the Department of Nursing. “The guaranteed admission pathway provides students with a clear, supportive path toward entering the nursing profession.”

The guaranteed admission option is designed for high-achieving high school seniors who are committed to pursuing a career in nursing. By securing a place in the program early, students can begin their academic journey at Minot State with confidence, knowing they are on a structured path toward entering the clinical nursing sequence and, ultimately, the profession.

Students interested in the program are encouraged to apply by May 1.

In response to growing global demand for cybersecurity professionals, Minot State University is introducing a Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance (MSCIA), set to begin in Fall 2026.

The program is the first master’s degree at Minot State to receive STEM designation, marking a significant milestone for the University’s graduate offerings. Designed for both working professionals and recent graduates, the MSCIA program will be offered in both in-person and online formats and can be completed in one to two years. The curriculum blends technical expertise with strategic and managerial insight, preparing graduates to lead in an increasingly complex digital landscape.

The STEM designation provides a unique advantage for international students, who, upon graduation, may apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) and remain in the United States for an additional 24 months to gain professional experience.

The program focuses on both cybersecurity and information assurance — two closely related but distinct disciplines. Cybersecurity emphasizes protecting networks, devices, and data from unauthorized access while ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Information assurance takes a broader approach, managing information-related risks and safeguarding systems through policy, governance, and compliance measures.

Coursework includes training in network security management, digital forensics, database systems, risk analysis, cloud security, and IT governance. Through hands-on experience with real-world security tools, students will develop skills in ethical hacking, threat analysis, and incident response.

Minot State University has received a significant gift of 142 prints by noted American printmakers Michael Barnes and David Driesbach. The gift, made directly by Barnes and the family of Driesbach, strengthens the University’s Art Collections and its long-standing commitment to the study and teaching of art and printmaking

The gift consists of 91 prints by Barnes, and an additional gift of 51 prints to the David Driesbach study collection.

David Driesbach (1922–2019) was a master printmaker and influential educator who taught at Northern Illinois University until his retirement in 1991. A student of Mauricio Lasansky at the University of Iowa, Driesbach became known for his sophisticated intaglio prints with expressive line, rich tones, and complex textures.

Michael Barnes, also a graduate of the University of Iowa, is the current head of printmaking at NIU. His research centers on lithography and is known for combining this traditional method of printmaking with ongoing experimentation and means of integrating it with new media.

The works were secured following a research visit to Chicago and Northern Illinois University by Minot State Professor Ryan Stander, Northwest Arts Center Director Greg Vettel, and students Britt Rohn and Kylie Anderson. During the visit, the group met with Michael Barnes at his home studio and traveled to NIU. Prints by David Driesbach were generously provided by his family with the assistance of Peter Olson, retired NIU Art Museum assistant director. The experience offered students a unique insight into an artist’s methods, inspiration, and also a window into professional museum practices.

The Minot State Department of Fine and Performing Arts and Minot Symphony Orchestra invite campus to the retirement celebration of Jon Rumney, professor of high strings and music history, after 32 years at MSU. The retirement celebration takes place on Thursday, May 14, from 4-6 p.m. in the lobby of Ann Nicole Nelson Hall. Rumney is an integral member of the music community in Minot. He and his wife, Lynne, created the Dakota Chamber Music Institute in 1996. He has served as concertmaster of MSO since 1994. Join the department in celebrating his retirement.

After an extraordinary 40 years of inspiring students and shaping minds, Robert “Bob” Crackel is retiring from his role as a chemistry professor — and the campus is coming together to celebrate this remarkable milestone!

• When: May 14
• Time: 3-5 p.m.
• Where: Swain Hall 3rd Floor Atrium

Crackel’s impact reaches far beyond the classroom. Former students and colleagues have sent in countless heartfelt cards, sharing stories and praise for the unforgettable teacher and mentor he has been. The campus can experience a glimpse of his legacy by visiting the wall of cards outside his office — it’s truly inspiring! Join the department as they honor Crackel's decades of dedication, celebrate his accomplishments, and wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement.

ASTEP will host a graduation celebration for their graduates on Thursday, May 14 at 10 a.m. in Hartnett Hall Collaboration Space. Join us as we celebrate!

Northwest Arts Center
The gallery is located on the lower level of the Gordon B. Olson Library, with its own entrance on the south side of the library. The arts center is open Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, 1-5 p.m., and by special arrangement. It is closed on holidays.

• Capstone Exhibition Intersecting Narratives: Six Minot State University art students are exhibiting in the annual capstone art exhibition, "Intersecting Narratives." Capstone is the culminating experience for art majors, allowing them to apply the skills they’ve developed during their time at Minot State University. This year’s exhibition includes works by Amadís Amaya, Charlese Bell, Ashley Vargas Colima, Misaki Ishiwata, Evan Lovett, and Kyler Meigs. This exhibition commemorates their years of art experience at the university level and showcases their education. Intersecting Narratives is a joint exhibition where the artists each tell their own story – express their emotions and perspectives as individuals, while at the same time celebrate the parallels they share with how and why they make art.

Zach Allen, sophomore, Kingman, Arizona; John Armstrong, sophomore, Clancy, Montana; Shafer Ehmke, sophomore, Mankato, Minnesota; Mario Esposito, junior, Torre Del Greco, Italy; Austin Garcia, freshman, Lawton, Michigan; Dylan McDonald, graduate student, Lemoore, California; and Braxton Rance, freshman, Webster, earned the NCAA Division II Scholar All-American Award from the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). To earn the honor, a wrestler must be an All-American with a 3.0 GPA, a national qualifier with a 3.25 GPA, or compete in at least 4 regular-season events for their team and have a 3.5 GPA.

Amadís Amaya, Charlese Bell, Ashley Vargas Colima, Misaki Ishiwata, Evan Lovett, and Kyler Meigs are exhibiting works in the annual capstone art exhibition, "Intersecting Narratives." This exhibition commemorates their years of art experience at the university level and showcases their education.

Kyle Bittle, assistant professor in the Department of Math, Data, and Technology, in collaboration with Cherie Noteboom of Dakota State University, co-authored “The Datafied Child: A Systematic Literature Review and Research Agenda on Sharenting, Privacy, and Social Media,” recently published in ACM SIGMIS Database: The DATABASE for Advances in Information Systems (Vol. 57, No. 2). The paper synthesizes 31 peer-reviewed sharenting studies through an information systems lens and introduces the Social, Technological, and Regulatory (STaR) framework to categorize and interpret the literature. Using STaR, the review highlights how platform design and everyday sociotechnical conditions shape parental sharing and children’s digital identities, while also identifying research gaps, including limited adolescent perspectives and limited attention to platform accountability. The paper can be viewed at the ACM Digital Library website.

Max Bray, Mesa, Arizona; Cody Grossinger, Buffalo, Minnesota; Noah Iosefa, Holt, Michigan; Trevor Jungman, Escondido, California; Jonathan Noriega, Yuma, Arizona; Cody Raetzman, Tucson, Arizona; Tyler Stonebraker, Castle Rock, Colorado; and Josh Will, Minot, were named to the National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society. To be eligible for the Hampshire Honor Society, a player must be a starter or active contributor for their team during the 2025 season who has maintained a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25, and who will graduate in the spring or summer of 2026 and has completed their eligibility, or graduated prior to playing in the 2025 season.

Gresh Jones was introduced as Minot State’s men’s wrestling coach, beginning on April 15. A Montana product, Jones spent the last decade competing and coaching in North Dakota, including the past two years at the University of Jamestown. Jones took over the Jimmies program in its first year of transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II competition in September of 2024. Jamestown finished seventh in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) that season. This past winter, the Jimmies won the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) Northwest Conference title and finished sixth at the NCWA National Championships.

Cole Krueger, director of marketing, was named the March winner of the Staff Senate High Five Award. Krueger is pictured with Celeste Simmons, president, MSU Staff Senate; Minot State President Steven Shirley; and members of the marketing team. Krueger has worked for Minot State in two different roles, spanning nearly 10 years. He is in his fifth year as marketing director and previously worked in enrollment services as an admissions counselor and assistant director. He and his wife, Lacey Krueger, a Minot State graduate, have been married for 12 years and have three children, Sullivan, Salem, and Shepard. In his free time, he loves playing pickleball.

Anna LaCount and Connor Meldrim were named Pinnacle Employee Benefits Athlete of the Month for March. Pinnacle Employee Benefits became the title sponsor for Minot State’s Athlete of the Month award during the 2021-22 academic year. LaCount played in 17 games for the MSU softball team in March, leading the offense going 17-of-54 (.333) at the plate with 10 RBIs, two home runs, and three doubles. Defensively, Minot State’s catcher played in nine games behind the plate where she had 41 putouts and five assists without an error, and she threw out 2-of-6 opposing base stealers. Meldrim was a star out of the bullpen for the Beaver baseball team, which was 5-9 in the month of March. Two of those wins belong to Meldrim, who pitched 13 1/3 innings in relief in 5 games, allowing just four earned runs while striking out 10 opposing batters and holding foes to a .191 batting average. Meldrim earned the victory working four innings of relief at William Jewell in a 2-1, 11-inning Beaver win, striking out three and allowing one earned run on March 7. He also earned the win going four innings on March 28 in a 10-6 NSIC win at Augustana, allowing one earned run and striking out three, once again.

Mason Lamer, a chemistry major, finished first at the North Dakota Academy of Science (NDAS) annual meeting April 17-18 at North Dakota State University. MSU students earned all three undergraduate talk awards and the best poster presentation. Crystal Alvarado, geology, took second place with Hannah Murray, chemistry, and Kristen Nelson, biology, tied for third. Krista Permentier, chemistry, was the first-place winner in the poster presentation. The meeting is a student-focused event as the NDAS and generous donors provide funds for prizes for the top three in undergraduate talks and poster presentations. MSU had a large contingency at the conference in 2026 and will be the host site in 2027 as Katherine McCarville, MSU associate professor of geoscience, serves as the president of NDAS in 2026-27.

Nicole Wald, assistant professor in the Department of Business, was featured in WalletHub.com. Wald’s article, "What Is A Budget," can be found on WalletHub's website.

Wyatt Waselenchuk was named the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) 2026 Men’s Division I Coach of the Year, as selected by ACHA Men’s Division I head coaches.  With his second Men’s Division I Coach of the Year award, he joins an elite group of multiple award winners: Joe Battista, Joe Augustine, Chad Cassel, Craig McAlister, Wade Regier, and Rick Zombo, the only three-time winner of the award.  Waselenchuk is the second Minot State University coach to win the award along with Regier, who was named ACHA Men’s Division I Coach of the Year in both 2013 and 2017. The Beavers finished the 2025-2026 season with a 31-2-2 overall record, were regular-season and playoff champions of Midwest College Hockey (MCH), and qualified for the ACHA Men’s Division I National Championships for the 17th consecutive season and 22nd overall.

Morgan Wittmayer was selected as the Academic Support Center (ASC) Student of the Month for March. She has contributed to the Academic Support Center’s programs as an ASC office assistant.

Congratulations to Minot State Residence Life and Housing and the MSU Academic Testing Center for tying for first in the Minot State Staff Senate St. Patrick’s Day Door Decorating Contest. A big thank you to Taco John’s for generously providing the prizes. Photos can be viewed online: St. Patrick’s Day Door Decorating Contest - Residence Life and Housing | St. Patrick’s Day Door Decorating Contest MSU Academic Testing Center and on the Minot State Staff Senate Facebook page.

Minot State student-athletes were named to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Winter All-Academic Team or All-Academic Team of Excellence. To be named to the NSIC All-Academic Team, a student-athlete must be an active member of their respective team, in at least their second season of competition with their respective team, and maintain at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA. To earn NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence honors, a student-athlete must maintain at least a 3.60 cumulative GPA.

• Women’s basketball
  • NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence: Mia Aberle, sophomore, Surrey; Natalie Holte, senior, Shakopee, Minnesota; Grace Kent, sophomore, Canberra, Australia; and Jaime Skeggs, senior, Mandurah, Australia
  • NSIC All-Academic Team: Lara Dobbins, sophomore, New South Wales, Australia; Taylor Goss, senior, Pekin, Illinois; Jessica Mogen, sophomore, Watford City, and Ashley Wacha, junior, Fargo
• Women’s indoor track & field
  • NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence: Natalie Becker, sophomore, Minot; Julie Folk, sophomore, Minot; Nicole Reeves, senior, Anaheim, California; and Emery Smith, senior, North Salt Lake, Utah
  • NSIC All-Academic Team: Camryn Adams, junior, Northwood; Summer Krebsbach, senior, Max; Afton Wride, sophomore, Kalispell, Montana; and Bailey Wride, junior, Kalispell, Montana
• Men’s indoor track & field
  • NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence: Holter Bridwell, junior, Bismarck; Camden Jasmin, senior, Williston; and Isaac Rathbun, sophomore, Minot
  • NSIC All-Academic Team: Zander Grover, sophomore, Burlington; Nikita Neyshtadt, senior, Richmond Hill, Ontario; and Peyton Tuhy, senior, Hettinger
• Men’s wrestling
  • NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence: Zach Allen, sophomore, Kingman, Arizona; John Armstrong, sophomore, Clancy, Montana; Dylan McDonald, graduate student, Lemoore, California; Tristan Pekas, sophomore, Hettinger
  • NSIC All-Academic Team: Mario Esposito, junior, Torre Del Graco, Italy
• Men’s basketball
  • NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence: Braelyn Dale, junior, Perth, Australia
  • NSIC All-Academic Team: Trey Brandt, junior, Beulah

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