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President's Message
 Dear BSU campus community,
As we graduate the Class of 2018, I am filled with pride for our shared work of helping students discover their talents and gain the knowledge and confidence to achieve their life goals. I doubt any of us ever takes for granted the gift of being able to contribute to their success, but it feels especially rewarding at Commencement.
This year we have the added context of BSU’s Centennial, which formally began April 12 with events to kick off an 18-month observance. I look forward to your ideas for how we can connect our students, programs and events to this 100-year milestone in the coming year. I appreciate the students, faculty and staff who organized the outstanding Kick-Off Celebration and who continue to plan for the year ahead.
I felt everyone’s pride and gratitude at last week’s Employee Recognition Breakfast. I want to again thank all of the years-of-service honorees and retirees for their loyal dedication and congratulate the many award recipients. Your participation is what makes the recognition so meaningful, so thank you for your nominations and for attending the breakfast.
We will be watching during the final weeks of the Minnesota Legislature to see whether our crucial Hagg-Sauer replacement project receives bond funding, along with several important repair and renovation projects. I want to thank Vice President Karen Snorek for her leadership in developing a budget plan for Fiscal Year 19 that once again minimizes the impact of insufficient state funding. Together, we will continue to seek the support we need to deliver high-quality education to our students.
I wish you all a relaxing and productive summer — and we will reconvene in August at the 2018 Welcome Breakfast.
Sincerely;
Faith C. Hensrud, Ed.D.
President
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La Venture Honored by Korean Professional Association
Dr. Kelly La Venture, assistant professor of business administration (pictured, second from left), and two co-authors received a $200 scholarship and Best Paper – Second Place for the refereed study "Cultural Property Value as Antecedents of Tourist Consumption Value and Visit Intention" from the Korea America Hospitality & Tourism Educators Association (KAHTEA) April 21. Read more faculty and staff news in this issue's Faculty & Staff Achievements.
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Celebrating Employee Service and Achievement
Bemidji State recognized 61 employees with 690 combined years of service, nine new emeriti faculty, 14 retirees and winners of the university’s Awards of Excellence at its April 26 Employee Recognition Celebration. The facilities and grounds crew, pictured above, was recognized with a Spirit of BSU Award.
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University Launches 18-Month Centennial Celebration
Bemidji State officially launched a planned 18-month celebration of the university’s 100th anniversary at a series of on-campus events, held April 12. With two former university presidents — Dr. M. James Bensen, BSU’s eighth president who served from 1994-2001, and Dr. Jon E. Quistgaard, who succeeded Bensen and served from 2001-2010 — in attendance, BSU kicked off its Centennial celebration with a music and dance-filled presentation in the Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex. Pictured above: President Hensrud and Minnesota State Trustee Roger Moe talk before the kickoff.
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Josh Christianson Named Executive Director of University Advancement
President Hensrud announced April 4 that Josh Christianson will be Bemidji State’s next executive director of university advancement. Christianson comes to BSU from the University of North Dakota, where he is director of development and alumni relations at the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. His role at BSU begins May 14.
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Record Participation For 19th Student Achievement Conference
Shannon McNamara (pictured above) was one of a record number of students who presented the results of their academic efforts in a day-long series of oral presentations, poster displays, art exhibits and musical performances April 4 at the 19th Annual Student Achievement Conference.
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Treuer Repeats as Student of the Year
at AIRC’s 38th Annual Awards Banquet
Senior Madeline Treuer repeated as Outstanding American Indian Student of the Year and a record 51 graduating native students were honored April 19 at the 38th Annual American Indian Students Recognition Banquet.
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Department of Music Awards 2018-19 DeKrey Scholarships
Music students Hannah Jenson, Savanna Hagerty and Evan Byler, pictured above with Dan DeKrey, won scholarships in this year's Don and Ione DeKrey Memorial Scholarship Competition in the Department of Music.
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- The Hobson Memorial Union helped students unwind before finals with its traditional Sunsplash celebration on April 25.
- One of the university's longest-running traditions continued April 19-21 at the 72nd annual Funtastic Dance Follies.
- The Hobson Memorial Union celebrated the year's outstanding student leaders, organizations, programs and advisers at its annual Leadership Celebration on April 17.
- BSU and Northwest Technical College hosted free Mindful Meditation sessions on April 10. The sessions were led by Bhante Seewalie and Bhante Kirti, Buddhist monks from Minnesota Buddhist Vihara.
- The Office of Sustainability held its inaugural Feast of Green, a Celebration of Campus Sustainability, March 26 at the American Indian Resource Center. It also announced the first recipients of its Amik Awards, given to three outstanding retired BSU faculty and staff members who have significantly contributed to sustainability at BSU.
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Green & White Raises Nearly $100,000
More than 400 attendees and 140 student-athletes gathered at Sanford Center April 14 for the Green & White Dinner and Auction to Benefit BSU Athletics. Net proceeds from registration, silent and live auction items, as well as other activities, totaled more than $98,000.
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