The Minot State University Alumni Association is excited to announce a busy summer schedule with events in Minot and Northwest North Dakota.

The summer officially begins with the Alumni Association’s annual Friend-Raising Golf Tour. Hit the course with alumni and friends during our summer golf tour! Registration begins at 4 p.m. with a shotgun start at 5 p.m. Each stop is a 9-hole, 4-person scramble format with an optional dinner at the course following play. Each golfer will receive a free T-shirt and will be entered to win door prizes. Participants will pay for green fees and dinner at the course. Stops include:

• Star City Golf Course, Velva: Tuesday, June 9
• Garrison Golf Course, Garrison: Tuesday, June 23
• Kenmare Country Club, Kenmare: Thursday, July 30

Registration for teams is available on the Alumni Association’s Friend-Raising Golf Tour website.

While the golf tour has been a summer mainstay for the past 20 years, a new tradition is set for June 15 as Minot State will join the Minot Hot Tots for Alumni & Friends Night at Corbett Field. The cost per person is $25 and includes all-you-can-eat food from 5:35 p.m. until 7:35 p.m. Everyone receives a wristband that includes three experience tabs, good for any drink (beer and seltzer is 21-plus), small Dippin’ Dots, candy, Fun Zone, or personal popcorn. All in attendance will be registered for MSU door prizes. The game, featuring Minot vs. rival Bismarck Larks, is scheduled to start at 6:35 p.m. For more information and to register, see the Alumni Association’s 2026 MSU Night at Hot Tots website.

MSU will take the show on the road for two Alumni & Friends Socials, traveling to West Fargo on June 11 at Louie’s Sports Bar & Grill, starting at 6 p.m., and to Bismarck on Aug. 11. More information will be available on the Bismarck event at a future date.

Finally, the Alumni Association invites everyone to the North Dakota State Fair Luau on Wednesday, July 22, at the Flickertail Gardens.

More information on all these events, plus information on Homecoming 2026, other alumni events, ways to support MSU, and how to stay connected to the Alumni Association, can be found on its website.

Minot State University and the MSU Exercise Science and Rehabilitation program have been selected to receive a grant award of $5,000 to be used toward the University’s adaptive and inclusive equipment project.

MSU received the North Dakota Association for the Disabled (NDAD) Gibbens Memorial Grant, one of seven recipients of funds in 2025. The grant was originally created in memory of Faye Gibbens, NDAD’s co-founder and longtime client program services leader, who died in 2014. It was amended in 2021 to honor the memory of Ron Gibbens, Faye’s husband of 49 years, who was a co-founder, board president, and retired chief executive officer.

“We are incredibly grateful to NDAD for believing in this project and for investing in inclusive fitness opportunities at Minot State University,” said Heather Golly, program coordinator of MSU’s Exercise Science and Rehabilitation program. “This grant enables Minot State University to create a more inclusive fitness environment where individuals with disabilities can participate fully and safely. NDAD’s support is helping us build a community where wellness truly includes everyone.”

The award was finalized during the Fall 2025 semester, and items began arriving at the Minot State Wellness Center in January along with the remainder of the semester. The grant funded specialized adaptive equipment — including an adaptive SkiErg with base, Aldridge Arm, LapMat, rowing attachments, Adaptive Bike Handles for AssaultBike, and wheelchair training roller — enhancing access for all. These tools will also support hands-on training for MSU kinesiology majors working with individuals with adaptive needs.

Inspired by their son, Mike, who was born with cerebral palsy, North Dakota natives Faye and Ron built NDAD from a small Grand Forks parental support group to a statewide charitable nonprofit helping children and adults with a variety of disabilities and health challenges. The group took root and gained official status in 1975 as the North Dakota Association for the Disabled, then became a 501c(3) charity the following year.

NDAD awarded a total of $30,542 across seven organizations in North Dakota through the Gibbens Memorial Grant.

Minot State University’s commitment to offer high-quality education where, when, and how it is needed to a diverse, multi-generational student population is evident in the University signing seven Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) in 2025-26.

The list included MOUs signed covering multiple academic disciplines and four with the MSU Department of Nursing offering guaranteed admission.

“Minot State takes seriously our role within the North Dakota University System to continue identifying new partnerships with other campuses,” said Steven Shirley, Minot State president. “These articulations and enhanced cooperative efforts help ensure opportunities for students to complete degree programs in a range of academic areas. I appreciate the work our faculty and staff dedicate to these initiatives as we expand such relationships while benefiting current and future MSU students.” 

The most recent MOU was announced on April 20 between Minot State and Williston State. The strategic partnership will help address shortages in the region by extending course and program offerings to students who may not otherwise have access to them. The focus is to offer MSU’s Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies, Bachelor of Social Work, Bachelor of Science in Corporate Fitness and Wellness Management, and Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and Rehabilitation degree programs through in-person, synchronous online, or asynchronous online delivery.

Students seeking to earn psychology, addiction studies, or social work can remain in Williston to complete their degree programs. Students seeking to earn corporate fitness and wellness management or exercise science and rehabilitation will need to complete the final two years of the program in person at Minot State.

In March, Minot State collaborated with Bismarck State College to offer a dual degree program: BSC’s Bachelor of Applied Science degree with a major in foundations of teaching paired with MSU’s Bachelor of Science in Education degree with a major in special education or early childhood education.

Heading into the 2025-26 academic year, Minot State and Briercrest College and Seminary in Saskatchewan formed a partnership with the development of concurrent programs for students that will lead to degrees awarded by both MSU and BC. The 3+2 program structure in MSU’s Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders pairs with Briercrest’s Bachelor of Arts Psychology, with the final two years at Minot State.

Minot State’s Department of Nursing has multiple MOUs to expand educational opportunities for nurses, bolstering their RN with MSU’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. MSU signed agreements guaranteeing qualified two-year degree holders a clear and secure path to continued education through early admission, a seamless transition, easy credit transfer, and access to scholarship opportunities. 

The four new agreements are with North Dakota State College of Science, Bismarck State College, and Williston State College, along with Northland Community Technical College in Minnesota. These are in addition to previous guaranteed admission agreements with Dakota College at Bottineau and Lake Region State.

In all, Minot State has over 50 articulation agreements, memoranda of understanding, and memoranda of agreements with 23 colleges, universities, and organizations in five countries, along with four degree offerings with the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) as part of the Air University Associate-to-Baccalaureate Cooperative (AU-ABC). For a list of offerings, see the Minot State Articulation Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding/Agreement website.

The Minot State Writing Center is now open for limited tutoring hours for Summer 2026. The Writing Center has moved, and is now located in Hartnett Hall Room 157. Because of the move, the center is only offering e-tutoring (asynchronous tutoring) at the moment, but hopes to offer face-to-face tutoring soon. Check the Writing Center online login page for updates to the schedule and to make an appointment. New students will need to sign up while returning students can log in. For e-tutoring, remember to attach papers using the links at the bottom of the appointment form. The tutor will comment on the paper and email it back. For questions, contact Patti Kurtz, director, MSU Writing Center, by email.

The Minot Symphony Orchestra will host its second annual Beat Beethoven 5K on Sunday, June 28, at 5:35 p.m. in Minot’s Oak Park. This unique race invites participants to walk, run, or jog a 5K before the final note of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, which runs approximately 32 minutes. See the attached press release for more information.

Time to clean out your storage and old tech equipment! Apple Recycling Program is once again offering free recycling of old electronic equipment. If anyone has any University-related equipment they would like to recycle, contact the ITC helpdesk website and put in a work order to have the materials picked up. The e-waste will be picked up throughout the summer. This project will run from May 18 through July 31. Help the environment and recycle responsibly.  All e-waste must be processed through ITC.  Please also refrain from rummaging through our pallets once they have been wrapped and secured.

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.

Mikayla Altringer, Tayton Hjelmstad, Gage Olson, Jayda Shiner, and Presley Thompson, students from the Minot State Looyenga Leadership Center, were published in the blog leadership dots. Students from Looyenga Leadership Center Director Jim Sturm's Leadership 201 class are required to subscribe to leadership dots, a blog by Beth Triplett, a leadership coach and consultant. Each day, Triplett pens a short paragraph on leadership. During the semester, an assignment in Leadership 201 is to write a series of leadership dots for submission. This semester, Triplett has again chosen MSU student-submitted posts and featured those on her blog. To read the MSU students’ posts or to subscribe, see leadershipdots.com.

Colton Bagshaw, who played right field and pitched this season for the Minot State baseball team, was voted to the All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Second Team as a utility player, as voted on by the league’s coaches.

Max Bray and Sara Van Wickler were each named Minot State University Honor Student-Athletes by the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and as finalists for the Dr. William Britton Scholar-Athlete and Willis R. Kelly Scholar-Athlete Awards. The Britton Award honors the top male senior student-athlete in the NSIC who excels academically, athletically, and in community involvement, while the Kelly Award honors the top female senior in the NSIC who excels academically, athletically, and in community involvement.

David Frantsvog, assistant professor in the Department of Business, was featured in WalletHub.com. Frantsvog’s expert advice is featured in the article "Best Credit Cards for No Credit" and is available on WalletHub's website.

Noah Iosefa was welcomed to the Minot State Wellness Center staff as the coordinator of wellness center operations. Iosefa is a 2025 Minot State graduate with a bachelor’s degree in corporate fitness and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in sports management. During his time as an undergraduate, he was involved on campus as a captain of the football team, a member of the Student Government Association, and a director of MSU Life. In his spare time, he enjoys exercising, writing, watching anime, and eating ice cream or anything chocolate. Iosefa is originally from Holt, Michigan, and appreciates all the time he gets to spend with family and friends.

Paige Kellogg, an infielder from Las Vegas, Nevada, who split time between first and second base for the Minot State softball team this season, was named to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-Central Region Team in the utility player role. The first Beaver player to earn All-Central Region honors since the 2014 season, Kellogg played in 45 games for Minot State, starting 22 at first base and 22 at second base this season as Minot State went 34-22, the team’s most wins since the 2012 season. Kellogg led the way offensively with a team-high .396 batting average (53-of-134) with five home runs, six doubles, a triple, 32 RBIs, and two stolen bases.

Paige Kellogg, Sara Van Wickler, and Kierra Fournier were all named to Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) teams, voted on by the league coaches. Kellogg was named to the All-NSIC First Team and the NSIC All-Defensive Team, Van Wickler was named All-NSIC Second Team, and Kierra Fournier was named the league's lone pitcher on the NSIC All-Defensive Team. The trio of seniors helped lead the way for Minot State (33-21 overall, 18-12 NSIC), which finished tied for sixth in the league standings and won the most games since the 2013 season.

Robert Kibler, professor in humanities, was elected this May to the Library Book Review Committee for the Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C. Club members include Nobel and Pulitzer prize winners, Supreme Court Members, and three former presidents, among other notables. The Club was founded in the 19th century by explorer and geologist John Wesley Powell and for decades had its home in Dolly Madison's former residence, across from the White House. It has since moved into the former French Embassy. As a club, it is dedicated to exploration and intellectual inquiry and has an extensive library. Kibler will review new books for potential additions to the Club library and is on the hunt for books to review. Any new books strike you as especially important? All fields. Send him a note by email.

Teresa Loftesnes, Minot State Staff Emeritus, has joined Local Motives as the volunteer and operations coordinator for the Levitt AMP Minot Music Series. Loftesnes most recently served as Norsk Høstfest's volunteer coordinator from 2022 to 2025. She encourages faculty, staff, and students to consider volunteering for the free Levitt AMP Minot concerts scheduled on Thursday evenings throughout the summer in Citizens Alley. The music series, in collaboration with MACA, promises to deliver more vibrant music to the Minot community.

Conner Meldrim and Raivyn Millions each earned the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Elite 18 Award for baseball and softball, respectively. As part of the NSIC 25th Anniversary celebration during the 2016-17 academic year, the NSIC Elite 18 Award was instituted to recognize the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the NSIC Championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The NSIC Elite 18 award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NSIC’s 18 Championships. Millions was presented the award prior to the Beavers’ opening round game in the NSIC Softball Tournament in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Meldrim was honored prior to MSU’s opening round game in the NSIC Baseball Tournament at Sioux Falls Stadium.

Cowen Meyer went on a tear last week that epitomized the Minot State baseball team’s late-season charge. Leading the offense as he went 8-for-13 at the plate, Meyer was named Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Baseball Player of the Week in May as the Beavers concluded an eight-game win streak that propelled Minot State into the NSIC Playoffs.

Kate Murphy, North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities, received the North Dakota Home Visitor of the Year award presented by the North Dakota Home Visiting Coalition. Murphy has been with the Minot Infant Development Program since May 2017. As an early interventionist, she is a phenomenal home visitor and, for many families, the highlight of their day. She meets families where they are, supporting both parents and children with care and compassion. When asked about her favorite part of being an early interventionist, Murphy shared that she enjoys traveling to different homes each day and not being confined to a desk. She loves building meaningful, lasting relationships with families and witnessing the developmental breakthroughs of their children. She absolutely loves this age — watching them learn and grow is amazing. Murphy, originally from Glenburn, earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, along with two master’s degrees from Minot State. She also serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors for the Northern Plains Children’s Advocacy Center.

Jana Schultz was named as the April winner of the Minot State Staff Senate High Five Award. Schultz, an administrative assistant in the Department of Education and Inclusive Services, is pictured with Celeste Simmons, president, MSU Staff Senate; Dan Conn, chair, Department of Education and Inclusive Services; and Minot State President Stevent Shirley. She began working at the North Dakota Persons with Disabilities (NDCPD) in 2008 before moving to special education in 2011. Schultz has two children, Paul and Molly, and two grandsons, Simon (5), and Lincoln (10 months). Outside of work she enjoys a great concert — and if it is outdoors, it's even better. She also enjoys traveling to new places and experiencing different things, but her favorite thing to do is spend time with her family. "I've enjoyed my 18 years on campus working with students and creating new friendships," Schultz said.

Krista Permentier and Kaden Wass were recipients of awards at the April North Dakota Student Association (NDSA) meeting in Bismarck. Permentier, MSU's Student Government Association (SGA) president, earned the NHSA Outstanding Head Delegate Award, given to the NDSA Head Delegate who has best represented their institution through their commitment to the NDSA and who has worked diligently to foster a strong delegation throughout the academic year. Wass, SGA's vice president for state affairs, was recognized along with Philip Job of the University of North Dakota at Most Dedicated Delegates Award. This award is given to two NDSA delegates who the General Assembly believes have been the most committed to the organization throughout the academic year. 

Mia Wiese was selected as the ASC Student of the Month for April. Wiese has contributed to the Academic Support Center’s programs as a TRIO Peer Mentor. The ASC Student of the Month recognizes the outstanding contributions of the many student leaders working with ASC's programs. Each month, one ASC student leader is selected as the ASC Student of the Month and featured on the ASC website. Anyone may nominate a student; however, a student may only be recognized once during the academic year. Nominations are due by the 1st of each month.

Congratulations to the 2026-2027 Minot State University Small Grants for Faculty Research & Creative Projects (SGFRCP) awardees! This year, six grants were awarded for a total of $23,571.

• Evan Borisinkoff: Evaluating the social validity of iRISE: Educator perspectives on an international inclusive education toolkit, $4,000
• Yung-Ju (Ruth) Chen: The effects of detailed, process-oriented directions on older children's TGMD-3 ball skill performance, $4,000
• Ashley DeMakis and Melissa Fettig: Start smart, pass strong: ATI launch as a predictor of NCLEX-RN success, $3,825
• Abiodun (Ebenezer) Odufuwa: Antibacterial and cytotoxicity effects of different shapes of silver nanoparticles, $3,988
• Krystal St. Peter: Perception of faces, $3,914
• Robyn Walker and Mary Huston: Combining competency-based education and the CSD simulation lab, $3,844