Alumni

Recognized for her efforts in promoting inclusion and helping disabled students thrive, Jackie Stoffel was named Teacher of the Year at the Bemidji Education Association’s annual all-faculty event.

Joan Jacobson authored the newly published biography, Dr. Martha Cannon of Utah: The Unexpected Victorian Life of America’s First Female State Senator.

Dr. Lee Norman received the Legion of Merit award on July 21, 2023, from the United States Armed Forces after serving his country for nearly 50 years both domestically and internationally.

Dr. Will Antell, a champion of American Indian education policies and a 1959 Bemidji State University graduate, was awarded with the Human Rights Award from the Stillwater Human Rights Commission.

Minnesota State Patrol trooper Megan Boser was named the Officer of the Year by the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association in June.

Zach Whitecloud joins Joel Otto (1980-84) as the only former Beavers to raise the Stanley Cup. Otto helped the Calgary Flames reach hockey’s summit in 1989.

Rhonda Matson has been named the new elementary and middle school principal of Riverside Christian School in East Grand Forks.

Coley Rezabek is in her second season kicking it as a videographer for Minnesota United, where she produces digital content for the club. Her expertise comes from similar experiences at Bemidji State.

Marco Hunt was hired by the Central Collegiate Hockey Association in May to be the conference’s director of officiating.

Kate (Ocken) Lundquist has been hired by the nonprofit Vote Run Lead to serve as its Minnesota deputy state director.

Aaron Trunt isn’t the first Bemidji State University graduate to reach the professional baseball ranks. But he may very well be the first to do it like this.

The voting representatives of the Nursing Consortium of Florida’s member organizations have re-elected Shannon Odell ’93 to serve a two-year term on its Board of Directors beginning March 29, 2023….

Jason Bonde ’04, the head coach of the Rochester Community and Technical College women’s basketball team, led the Yellowjackets to the NJCAA Division III national championship on March 18, 2023,…

Maria Berkeland ’15 grew up with a deep love for nature and wildlife. Originally from Grand Rapids, she spent most of her life in Fairbanks, Alaska, after moving there at…

Hailing from Merrifield, Minnesota, Alison Johanneck ’22 has always been creative. After starting college as a dentistry student, Johanneck transferred to Bemidji State University’s Technology, Art and Design program to pursue her…

Lyliane Tchuamo, from Cameroon, found a home away from home at Bemidji State University. Tchuamo graduated with a bachelor’s degree in applied engineering from Bemidji State in fall 2020 and…

Keith Johanneson and his company, Bemidji-based Johanneson, Inc., were honored with the Wisconsin Grocers Association’s Excellence in Operations Award at the KJ’s Fresh Market location in Chetek, Wisconsin, on August…

A member of the BSU golf team from 1966-70, Ray Sauer ‘70 is a six-time club champion at his home course in St. Cloud. He won Bemidji’s prestigious Birchmont Classic…

Bemidji State University grad Tom Moberg ‘64 is making it his mission to honor the history of the Indigenous people who for centuries called southeastern North Dakota home along the…

Brad Trask ’17 is using a life-long passion to bring awareness to one of the leading causes of cancer in men. He will likely soon become a world-record holder in…

So You Want to be an English Teacher I was an outsider to the first university on theMississippi River, rustic academia.Mark was my English Methods teacher.His classes seemed spontaneous, flashing…

Andrew Bensen is a realtor for Keller Williams Premier Realty Lake Minnetoka where he represents buyers and sellers in the Twin Cities’ western suburbs. Bensen played golf for the Beavers…

Leslie Sagen, a special education coordinator and teacher at Nevis Public Schools, was selected Teacher of the Year by her peers. Sagen has taught at the school district for 25…

Anthony Ragsdale is a behavior analyst for Aspire College Academy in Sacramento, California. The academy’s mission is to prepare elementary students for college success. Ragsdale lives in Rancho Cordova, California,…

Debbie (Bryant) Davis is the programs and initiatives manager for the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority. She lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Nikki (Baird) Brink is the chief operating officer at First National Bank Bemidji. She lives in Bemidji with her husband, Bob ‘04, who teaches social studies at Bemidji High School….

Brad Dokken was awarded the Conservation Communications Award from Ducks Unlimited, a national conservation organization focused on wetland habitat conservation. Dokken, an outdoor reporter and editor at the Grand Forks…

Drey Bradley retired from his head coaching role for Apple Valley’s Eastview High School boy’s hockey program after leading the team for 13 years. The former Beaver Hockey men’s team…

Garrett Roth was named the first head coach for the newly-formed Wichita Falls Warriors hockey team. Located in Wichita Falls, Texas, the Warriors will play in the North American Hockey…

Ryan Zubke works as assistant branch manager at First National Bank Bemidji. Zubke started at the bank in 2016 as a customer service representative. He lives in Bemidji.

One of BSU’s young alums has made the fight against COVID-19 a top priority, not only in his home country of Myanmar, but by investing in Bemidji State nursing students….

Michael Peterson was inducted to the Minnesota Music Educators Association Hall of Fame in February. Peterson retired in 2013 after teaching band at Fulda High School for 35 years. He…

Jake Dahlnes was promoted to manager of Mahoney Ulbrich Christiansen Russ P.A. in St. Paul. Dahles started with the CPA firm in 2015 and provides tax planning advice and preparation…

Hanna Lord is the GIS manager for GeoComm, the largest GIS solutions provider in the United States. GeoComm focuses on emergency response and public safety. Lord lives in St. Cloud.

Shawn Stone was awarded the 2020 George Wythe Award for Excellence in Teaching at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. Stone is a professor of physics and computer science…

Jean (Gant) Ellis was named the top volleyball official in the state of Iowa by the National Federation of State High School Associations. Ellis has officiated high school and college…

Sheri Rutar retired from Clearview Elementary School after 33 years with the St. Cloud Area School District. Rutar and her husband, Jon, look forward to spending time in Arizona with…

Eric Barnum is the director of choral activities at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Barnum previously led the choral department at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, and has commissioned…

Tuleah Palmer was selected to serve as the president and CEO of the Blandin Foundation. The Blandin Foundation’s mission is to strengthen rural Minnesota communities, especially in the Grand Rapids…

Nicholas Jackson is the art director at Evolve Creative, a marketing and branding firm based in Bemidji. He was previously the worship director at Bemidji Evangelical Covenant Church, where he…

Emily Olson is a reporter for NBC News 4 in San Antonio, Texas. She previously worked as a reporter and news anchor in Fargo, North Dakota, and Rapid City, South…

Jonathon McNicholes was named state chair elect of Students United for the 2020–21 academic year. Students United is a non-profit, student-led organization that advocates for the 65,000 students who attend…

Charlie Bernstrom ’04 BSU grad Charlie Bernstrom ‘04 grows pumpkins. Great big pumpkins. On October 10, he entered his 1990.5 pound behemoth pumpkin at the 2020 Stillwater Harvest Fest in…

Bemidji State University alumna Leah Gnitka ‘16 had multiple job offers before she even finished her nursing licensure exam. Now, she is working her dream job as a cardiac travel nurse…

Bemidji State University alumna Aili Kultala ’19 is working hard to convince you to think twice before throwing household food scraps in the trash. Hailing from Stacy, Minn., Kultala works…

It’s a typical Wednesday morning and BSU’s Gillett Wellness Center is abuzz — students lifting weights, BSU staff running the track and working professionals swimming laps before work. Mardy ’72…

From downtown Bemidji to the twang of Nashville, Sauk Rapids native Aaron Clafton ’15 is primed to make his mark on the country music scene. Having played piano and guitar…

Mark Van Every retired from his post as supervisor of the Black Hills National Forest in December 2019 after a 37-year career with the U.S. Forest Service. Van Every took…

Lt. Colonel Randy Wolbeck recently completed a nine-month deployment to the Middle East as the engineer chief for the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division of the Minnesota National Guard. The…

Keith Cross ’92 was named deputy chief of police for the Aurora Police Department in Illinois, effective April 2020. His 26-year career with the Aurora Police Department started as an…

BSU alumna Dr. Kelly Fiala has been named founding dean of Salisbury University’s College of Health and Human Services (CHHS). Fiala has served as the college’s transitional dean since July…

Chrissy Koch has been named executive director of the American Indian Resource Center at Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College. Koch, a 2002 BSU alumna and long-time advocate for…

Design technology alumna Danika Stelton spent 12 months traveling the world with the Remote Year program, a curated travel experience which helps professionals explore the world without having to quit…

Norman “Norm” Kramer ’58 came from humble beginnings, growing up on a small farm a stone’s throw from Grant Creek in Wilton. Always interested in the sciences, Kramer graduated from…

Jan (Evenson) Henrickson, owner of Northern Exposure gift shop in Walker, celebrated the store’s 25th anniversary in December. She lives in Walker.

Rich Morris is enjoying retirement in Las Vegas, Nev., after serving as an Air Force historian for 42 years. He spent 30 years on active duty retiring as a chief…

Paul Cyr was inducted into the Minnesota chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in recognition for his successful coaching and officiating career. Cyr retired from the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva…

From an unassuming log building on Bemidji’s Paul Bunyan Drive, Mychal Stittsworth is working hard to make Stittsworth Meats the premier meat supplier in Bemidji, the greater Bemidji region and…

In April, university officials debuted a “tiny house” designed and built by students in Bemidji State’s School of Technology, Art & Design and its marketing and sustainability programs. But it…