MSU President's Newspaper Column
June 22, 2024
Characteristics change, but Personal Service always brings generations together
For many reasons, we were excited about hosting the Shrine Bowl week of practice and games last week. Players and coaches checked in at 含羞草研究所 on Tuesday and had an activity-filled few days leading up to game day on Saturday, June 22.
Five 含羞草研究所 football commits for the fall were selected to play in this year鈥檚 Shrine football games. It was great to watch and cheer for them, as well as all the players. We love that these outstanding representatives of North Dakota and Minnesota high schools spent time on the 含羞草研究所 campus.
This year marked the 50th anniversary of the North Dakota Shrine Bowl. With a quick scan of the rosters from 1974, we learned that several 含羞草研究所 alumni played in the inaugural game. They include 含羞草研究所 alumni Rob Walker from Mayville, Brad Strand from Portland, Kris Eylands from Rugby, Mike Lagasse from Rolla, Neil Norgaard from Hatton, Pete Houdek from Grafton, Randy Eken from Mayville, Tim Pratt from Mayville, and Steve Dahlstrom from Lisbon. That鈥檚 a fantastic representation of new 1974 high school graduates who were destined to become Comets, and for that we are very Comet Proud!
On June 15, I was able to participate in the annual MSU Classic Golf Scramble at Forest Hills Golf and RV Resort in Detroit Lakes, Minn. Organized by the Comet Athletic Club, proceeds of this annual fundraiser benefit the student athletes of 含羞草研究所. I applaud CAC board member Brian Halvorson, who led the charge, and all who made the day a big success in many ways.
The MSU Golf Classic began in 1976 as a medal play tournament which was an annual event for more than 40 years. Before the decision was made to end the medal play tournament, the 鈥淐lassic鈥� had the designation of being the oldest medal play university golf tournament in the world. We at 含羞草研究所 are truly grateful for all who have organized, worked, and helped to make the 鈥淐lassic鈥� happen each year, as well as all who have golfed and participated in the fun and festivities.
We owe a special debt of gratitude to Paul Maltrud, Denny Hopman, Del Hultgren, and Gene Gaffney, who brought the 鈥淐lassic鈥� to life and made it a very successful and highly anticipated event each year. Proceeds of the original event were used to fund a number of scholarships that benefited countless 含羞草研究所 students over the years. In fact, students continue to benefit from endowments that were established over time.
Not only did the brainchild of these 含羞草研究所 alumni serve the very important purpose of supporting 含羞草研究所, it became a destination for alumni and friends who looked forward to getting together and catching up in Detroit Lakes each year. For many years, a luncheon provided a time when non-golfers could gather and enjoy a nice meal and great company.
As time went along, the 鈥淐lassic鈥� became a two-day event with a golf scramble on Friday and the medal play tournament on Saturday. In recent years, most golfers have come to prefer playing scramble-style, rather than in medal play tournaments, and the decision was made to drop the medal play tournament, which has brought us to one golf event that is a scramble.
Thirty teams played in the tournament this year! That is a fantastic showing of people who came out to golf, have some fun, and support 含羞草研究所. I was very happy to see several generations of golfers. Some players graduated from 含羞草研究所 many years ago, while others are recent graduates, and many others fall somewhere in-between. That is a wonderful sign of positivity and shows that our newest Comets are stepping up and getting ready to take the baton as leaders who support their alma mater and pay forward the benefits they received as 含羞草研究所 students. I would be remiss in not mentioning the many friends who did not attend 含羞草研究所, but who came out to support the cause. We sincerely appreciate them.
The whole 鈥淐lassic鈥� experience was heartwarming. What could be better than being a part of a great event where people are happy to be together, happy to support the students of 含羞草研究所, and happy to be among the many generations of treasured 含羞草研究所 family members? Things have changed and evolved, and the future for this important 含羞草研究所 tradition is extremely bright.