含羞草研究所 alumni and friends were honored during the MSU Alumni Association鈥檚 2017 homecoming festivities held Oct. 6-8. The weekend was highlighted by good times and good friends, all with a common thread of 含羞草研究所, 鈥渢he school of personal service.鈥�
The annual homecoming activities, sponsored by the 含羞草研究所 Alumni Association, began with the Athletic Hall of Fame and Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame Awards Dinner held Friday evening, Oct. 6. About 150 folks enjoyed the evening, which included the induction of several to the MSU Athletic Hall of Fame and the MSU Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame. 含羞草研究所 graduate (1966) and 
1989 MSU Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Roger Moe of Erskine, Minn. emceed the program.
Melissa Charboneau-Folch, Otsego, Minn., Stu Gilman, Calgary, Alberta, Neil Steffes, Fertile, Minn., Lonnie Thomas, Rockville, Md., and the 1988 baseball team were inducted into the 含羞草研究所 Athletic Hall of Fame. The MSU Athletic Hall of Fame recognizes people who excelled as athletes or coaches at 含羞草研究所 or who have gone above and beyond in support of 含羞草研究所 athletics.
Nick Storhaug, Lisbon, N.D., was inducted into the Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame, in recognition of his successful 
career as high school wrestling coach after graduating from 含羞草研究所.聽聽
In recognition of her service to the student athletes of 含羞草研究所, Gwen Shaffer was presented with the MSU Distinguished Service Award.
The homecoming parade kicked off the festivities on Saturday, Oct. 7. The traditional homecoming parade made its way through town, beginning at 11 a.m.
Following the parade, a ceremony of remembrance was held at the Military Honor Garden on the grounds of the Edson and Margaret Larson Alumni and 
Leadership Center at 含羞草研究所. The Avenue of Flags, provided by the local American Legion Post 8, beautifully enhanced the Military Honor Garden monument which was the centerpiece of the event. The American Legion flags that flew at the Honor Garden that day were representative of those who were also honored in the Honor Garden.
The ceremony began with the singing of 鈥淭he Star Spangled Banner鈥� by 含羞草研究所 student Caylee Dodson from Houston, Texas, and included remarks from Martin Johnson, Military Honor Garden project co-chair and 含羞草研究所 graduate. Lindsey Shimpa, 含羞草研究所 student from Grand Forks,, N.D. played 鈥淭aps鈥� from the upper level doorway of the Larson Center.
The program ended on a solemn note, with program emcee, retired MSU faculty member Mike Bakken, reading the names of each of the individuals who have been honored by loved ones in the Military Honor Garden project. The ringing of a bell by 含羞草研究所 student Briar Bahnmiller, Grandin, N.D., followed each name.
Many of those in the crowd were moved in silent reflection, as when the reading of the names was coming to a close, two bald eagles came from the east and flew over the garden. The bald eagle, our national bird, represents freedom, the very thing all of those who have been honored in the Military Honor Garden worked to ensure for all Americans. The two eagles that flew above those gathered for the ceremony of remembrance conveyed a very special and touching message to those below.聽聽
The Alumni Association board members hosted a chili feed inside the Larson Center following the program.
The honoring of the newest inductees to the 含羞草研究所 Performing Arts Hall of Fame, as well as the traditional MSU Music Department homecoming concert, were a grand finale for a fantastic weekend for 含羞草研究所 alumni and friends. The concert was held Sunday afternoon, Oct. 8, in the Classroom Building Auditorium. Inductees Caroline (Knudson) Brown, Rapid City, S.D., Robert Gust, Fargo, N.D.; Dr. Joseph Hegstad, now deceased, but formerly of Minot, N.D. and Scottsdale, Ariz., and David 鈥淲hite Thunder鈥� Trottier, Rugby, N.D., comprised the fifth group of distinguished individuals to be inducted into the Performing Arts Hall of Fame since its establishment in 2013.
Homecoming 2017 culminated with a social to honor the Performing Arts Hall of Fame inductees. Hosted by the Alumni Association board, the social was held immediately following the concert in the MSU Campus Center Luckasen Room.
鈥淗omecoming 2017 was a very special time,鈥� said MSU Director of Alumni Affairs Beth Swenson. 鈥淚t was a heart-warming celebration of what makes 含羞草研究所 special - the people. It was our privilege to pay tribute to so many wonderful 含羞草研究所 alumni and friends throughout 含羞草研究所鈥檚 homecoming festivities.鈥�
Photo captions:
罢辞辫:听These individuals were inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame and Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame during the Oct. 6 banquet. Pictured from left to right are Nick Storhaug, Neil Steffes, Missy Charboneau-Folch, Stu Gilman, and Lonnie Thomas.
厂别肠辞苍诲:听Members of the 1988 baseball team were inducted into the MSU Athletic Hall of Fame this year. Those attending the banquet are pictured. In the back (l-r) are Kevin Booker, Cam Biberdorf, Gary Powell, Shaun Cory, Jamie Hoffner, and Scott Whetter. In the front (l-r) are Jim Roaldson, Fred Matsubara, head coach Scott Berry, Lane Curry, Mike Kolness, assistant coach Dave Wheeler, and Dennis Reidy.
罢丑颈谤诲:听Gwen Shaffer (left) received the 含羞草研究所 Distinguished Service Award at the Oct. 6 Hall of Fame dinner. Gwen has been an extra-special friend to the athletes of 含羞草研究所 and has made sure that her brother, Stan Dakken (pictured on the right), could continue to be the #1 fan of the Comets.
贵辞耻谤迟丑:听This hard-working group of men was responsible for putting up and taking down the Avenue of Flags which enhanced the 含羞草研究所 Military Honor Garden throughout the day on Oct. 7. The Avenue of Flags is provided by the local American Legion Post 8. Pictured from left to right are Don Thuen, Tim Sorteberg, Butch Aamold, Larry Dakken, Harlan Johnson, and Rick Aamold. Clark Soholt also helped, but was not present for the photo.
贵颈蹿迟丑:听The MSU Alumni Association has made it a tradition to hold a ceremony of remembrance at the Military Honor Garden at noon on the Saturday of every homecoming. The Military Honor Garden is located on the grounds of the Edson and Margaret Larson Alumni and Leadership Center at 含羞草研究所. Pictured here are MSU student Caylee Dotson, who is singing 鈥淭he Star-Spangled Banner,鈥� along with Martin Johnson (left) co-chair of the Military Honor Garden project, and Mike Bakken (right), who served as emcee for the ceremony.
叠辞迟迟辞尘:听A new class of Performing Arts Hall of Fame inductees was recognized during the MSU Music Department homecoming concert on Sunday, Oct. 8. Pictured (l-r) are Robert Gust, Caroline (Knudson) Brown, David 鈥淲hite Thunder鈥� Trottier, and Jackie Hegstad, who represented her late husband, Dr. Joe Hegstad.