For the North and beyond: Here’s our chock-full 2025 Year in Review

Written by Micah Friez

December 31, 2025

For the North and beyond: Here’s our chock-full 2025 Year in Review

Written by Micah Friez

December 31, 2025

BSU Tree Logo - green transparent

Looking back on the year that was, it's safe to say that Bemidji State University had a banner year in 2025.

Not only did the university and the Alumni & Foundation publicly announce the launch of BSU's second-ever fundraising campaign, it also initiated the Replant Our Roots Project to respond to a devastating June storm. The ensuing resiliency of the community encapsulated the strength of the North and what can happen when you invest in it.

We made new memories with alumni and friends at events and ceremonies, and we celebrated their successes on campus and beyond.

We saw the impact of scholarship dollars and the incredible work being done by our students, faculty, and alumni. We saw Beavers set records for Day of Giving and the Green & White. We graduated the largest-ever class of American Indian students at Commencement. We saluted athletic stars and accessibility champions.

And, under the umbrella of our For the North campaign, we did it all together.

Selected by our staff writers and photographers, here are the Alumni & Foundation's top stories and photos from 2025. Click on any of the boxes below to read the full stories.

2025.1004.HOMECOMING-FOOTBALL 23 cheerleader

2025 Photos of the Year

View Album
2025.1004.HOMECOMING-FOOTBALL 23 cheerleader 2025.0509.COMMENCEMENT 15 Emily Wade 2025.1025.AHOF 24 Lance Rongstad 2025.1002.BLOCKPARTY 29 Ashley Gomez 2025.1004.HOMECOMING-FOOTBALL 5 Kendra Syverson 2025.1003.GALA 32 Kev Jackson 2025.0822.HOWE-WELLE 27 Doc Erickson reacts to winning a round of the Bucky Heads and Tails game during the Green & White Dinner and Auction on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at the Sanford Center. (Micah Friez / Bemidji State) 2025.0509.COMMENCEMENT 9 2025.0902.TREE 2 More than 30 Bemidji State University alumni attended the Golden Beaver Celebration on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, at the David Park House. (Micah Friez / Bemidji State) 2025.1121.BSUWSOC 5 women's soccer fan with sign 2025.0525.BUCKY 3 More than 30 Bemidji State University alumni attended the Golden Beaver Celebration on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, at the David Park House. (Micah Friez / Bemidji State) 2025.0509.COMMENCEMENT 26 2025.1004.HOMECOMING-TAILGATE 7 MacKenzie Burnham smiles while waiting for the next pitch during Bucky's Celebrity Softball Game on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at the BSU softball field. (Micah Friez / Bemidji State) About 70 Beavers came to the ballpark for this year's BSU Night at Target Field event on Friday, July 25, 2025. (Micah Friez / Bemidji State) 2025.0916.ROBERGE 3 Mike and Tracy Roberge 2025.1003.ALIC 4

Bemidji State alum Owen Sillinger makes NHL debut with Columbus Blue Jackets

Owen Sillinger became the 10th former Beaver to ever skate in an NHL game, joining Zach Whitecloud, Brad Hunt, Matt Read, Matt Climie, Andrew Murray, Joel Otto, Gary Sargent, Dale Smedsmo and Jim McElmury.

January 10, 2025

A day after Valentine’s Day, the Siiras became each other’s sweethearts in Tamarack Hall

The Valentine’s Day season is special for Matthew and Karmen Siira, who met and fell in love at Bemidji State around this time of year. But they won't be celebrating Valentine's Day — or the day after — quite like you'd expect.

February 14, 2025

Carter Eckblad found opportunity at Bemidji State because scholarships found him

Carter Eckblad, an ambitious senior who is majoring in marketing, is mere months away from earning his college degree because donors have supported him and his goals.

February 20, 2025

Former Beaver Sheena Devine inducted into USTFCCCA DII Hall of Fame

Former Bemidji State women's track and field national champion and All-American Sheena Devine (now Devine-Remitz) has been inducted into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division II Athlete Hall of Fame.

February 22, 2025

Inside $300,000: How Day of Giving reached its goal with a six-figure gift in the eleventh hour

In the closing hours of last month's Day of Giving, 1975 alumnus Allen Sunderman delivered a posthumous gift that was years in the making.

March 4, 2025

Bemidji State students develop tunnel map app to improve campus accessibility

Bemidji State University students enrolled in the cartography course have developed a cutting-edge app that allows users to navigate the campus tunnel system directly from their phones.

March 10, 2025

Shannon Lucas-Westrum is interweaving art and community across northern Minnesota

Shannon Lucas-Westrum came to Bemidji State for a business degree and left with a passion for art. The 1995 alumna discovered an innovative niche in basketry, which recently culminated in her being named a 2025 McKnight Fiber Artist Fellow.

April 2, 2025

Bemidji State, NTC announce esports program in partnership with Paul Bunyan Communications

Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College are proud to announce the launch of its first-ever esports program, made possible through a new partnership with longtime community champion Paul Bunyan Communications.

April 12, 2025

Dr. Anton Treuer’s year of literary and galactic adventures

How often do you find a person who embarked on an international book tour to promote his debut novel and contributed to a “Star Wars” movie, all in the same summer? Dr. Anton Treuer, professor of Ojibwe, did all of that and more during a whirlwind 2024.

April 16, 2025

Logan Schoepp captures individual NSIC championship, becoming 17th Beaver to win crown

Bemidji State men's golf junior Logan Schoepp held off the competition to earn medalist honors at the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Men's Golf Championship on Saturday, becoming the 17th BSU golfer to win the individual title.

April 21, 2025

Beaver supporters raise record $230,000 at Green & White Dinner and Auction

More than 300 attendees at the Sanford Center and online participants raised an event-record amount of $230,000 throughout the night, which will be used to directly support student-athletes and athletic programs at Bemidji State University.

April 23, 2025

Meet Madisanne Dahl, the youngest member of Arizona’s new Alumni Network

Madisanne Dahl is a 2024 graduate of Bemidji State University, and now she holds the unique distinction of being the youngest member of the new Arizona Network.

April 26, 2025

Bemidji State freshman Chloe Kirkpatrick leading Team USA’s sled-hockey dynasty

For Chloe Kirkpatrick, representing the U.S. on the international stage wasn’t a new experience. Nor was it her first gold medal — or her second. At age 18, Kirkpatrick now has three world titles to her name.

April 30, 2025

Newest Bemidji State grads welcomed into alumni family at Senior Send-Off party

Soon-to-be graduates flocked to the David Park House on April 30 for the Alumni & Foundation’s annual Senior Send-Off party, where students enjoyed free food and drinks, won door prizes and received a special welcome into the BSU alumni family.

May 1, 2025

In the stands and as donating fans, Rick and Sue Black are serious about supporting Beaver Athletics

Rick and Sue Black have become an unofficial extension of many Bemidji State teams. With their passionate support on game days and their generous donations throughout the year, they're perfect examples of what it looks like to fully support Beaver Athletics.

May 3, 2025

Bemidji State University celebrates graduating class of 2025

Bemidji State University celebrated its graduating class of 2025 — which included its largest-ever class of 84 Native American graduates — during May 9 Commencement ceremonies.

May 9, 2025

45 years later, Bob Anderson’s first Commencement serves as a culmination of career

Bob Anderson addressed the Class of 2025 during a pair of May 9 ceremonies, encouraging them to appreciate their own journeys — whether or not they hitchhike along Highway 2 like Anderson did back in the day.

May 16, 2025

By filling big shoes, Ivan Tavarez graduates with Bucky Forever Fund support

Ivan Tavarez has spent the past year inside Bemidji State University's Bucky the Beaver costume. And the scholarship support that he’s received from the Bucky Forever Fund has guided him toward a degree in economics.

May 22, 2025

Father-daughter duo pursue teaching degrees together at Bemidji State

The two enrolled together in the DLiTE program, an online licensure pathway designed for rural and urban students who cannot attend a traditional campus-based program.

June 5, 2025

Even for lovebirds, there’s no love lost at Bucky’s Celebrity Softball Game

The newly forged Burnham-Orgon rivalry started a week before first pitch. It got so ugly that MacKenzie Burnham even tried to hoodwink Tyler Orgon into a fashion faux pas.

June 14, 2025

An update for alumni and friends from President John L. Hoffman

An update from President John L. Hoffman for Bemidji State University alumni and friends on the university's work to restore services following extensive storm damage on June 21, 2025.

June 23, 2025

After the storm, Bemidji State’s facilities team gets to work

In the wake of severe storms that hit the Bemidji community on June 21, Bemidji State University's general maintenance workers, public safety officers and other essential employees are diligently working to restore campus to its former glory.

June 25, 2025

Beavers storm the ballpark, root on the Twins during BSU Night at Target Field

About 70 Beavers showed up at the ballpark for this year’s BSU Night at Target Field event, where Bemidji State University alumni and friends took in the action between the Minnesota Twins and the Washington Nationals.

July 28, 2025

Bemidji State University launches public phase of $25 million ‘For the North’ campaign

At Bemidji State, 95% of students receive some sort of financial aid. The For the North campaign will directly impact their access to not only enroll in college but to pursue their degree to completion.

August 5, 2025

President Hoffman announces Bemidji State’s For the North campaign

President John L. Hoffman shares details of Bemidji State University's For the North fundraising campaign, including its pillars and how you can get involved.

August 6, 2025

Sachel Josefson presented Alumni & Foundation’s Friend of the Foundation Award

Sachel Josefson is an associate professor in the School of Technology, Art & Design. He is the second-ever winner of the award, which began in 2024.

August 20, 2025

Golden Beavers honored for 50 years as Bemidji State alumni at David Park House

The BSU Alumni & Foundation hosted the Golden Beaver Celebration at the David Park House to honor graduates who earned their degrees from Bemidji State at least 50 years ago.

August 25, 2025

Alumni & Foundation introduces ‘Discover3’ career ecosystem initiative

Discover3 is Bemidji State’s outside-the-box approach to higher education and a central hub where career readiness, alumni connections, and industry engagement converge.

August 26, 2025

For Emily Lauritsen, supporting ‘Beav City’ has become a family tradition

Emily Lauritsen has adopted Bemidji State as her rooting interest of choice. And she even began a new tradition with her family of origin by recruiting them from around the country to participate in the annual Howe-Welle Women’s Athletics Golf Tournament.

September 6, 2025

A novel discovery: Student researcher Bill Ketola discovers new bacteria-targeting virus

Bemidji State senior Bill Ketola has discovered a bacteria-targeting virus that may someday help treat tuberculosis. And the breakthrough might not have ever happened if Ketola didn't come to Bemidji.

September 12, 2025

Bemidji State grad Jake Richmann isn’t just fishing for innovation. He’s reeling it in.

Jake Richmann bought into the idea that he could improve fishing in northern Minnesota and around the world. With the BigFin Fishing app, he's making it happen.

September 16, 2025

Party like it’s 1995: We’ve finally got footage of our first-ever Homecoming lake jump!

The iconic jump first happened in 1995, although proof of the origin largely relied on eyewitness accounts and school lore in the decades that followed. But now, thanks to program alums Kyle Christianson and John Neis, video footage of the original lake jump has recently been recovered and digitized.

September 27, 2025

Bemidji State starts Replant Our Roots Project to reforest campus after June storm

Donating a tree will be a permanent, tangible example of your legacy at Bemidji State, and it will ensure that future generations can have that trademark experience of learning in the beautiful North Woods.

October 2, 2025

Homecoming Hundred: The best 100 photos from Bemidji State’s Homecoming festivities

What does a Bemidji State University Homecoming look like? We’re giving you 100 snapshots to find out.

October 8, 2025

For the North brings $1,000 scholarship boost to freshman Clara Barth

The For the North campaign has already raised more than $20 million in support of student success stories like freshman Clara Barth’s. It stands as a momentous effort for Bemidji State, defining a new era of impact and community engagement.

October 15, 2025

National champions, program pillars enter Athletic Hall of Fame at 2025 ceremony

Bemidji State University’s Athletic Hall of Fame grew slightly in numbers and greatly in stature on Saturday, Oct. 25.

October 30, 2025

The People of the North: Through Bemidji State, the North Woods transforms lives

Bemidji State’s For the North fundraising campaign is built for students: those who enroll to study, to grow, and to succeed. And the heartbeat of the campaign is the donors: those who advocate and invest in that kind of bright future. Collectively, they are the People of the North.

November 13, 2025

Serving as living proof, Dr. Sherry Holloway works to ensure the North is for everyone

The story that carries Dr. Sherry Holloway is the belief that others placed in her before she had it within herself. Now in a position to pass it on, she’s offering belief to every student who enters her classroom.

November 15, 2025

At Bemidji State, McKnight award-winner Joshua Jones found his path to community impact

Joshua Jones found a passion for hydrogeology at Bemidji State, and the McKnight Foundation recently awarded him the Heart of Community Honor for his work at the Red Lake DNR and in the community.

December 8, 2025

A decade after Shark Tank, Erik Hopperstad’s Black Friday boom traces back to Bemidji State

A delegation of Bemidji State representatives visited the PRx Performance headquarters on Dec. 2 to meet with company leaders, tour the 195,000-square-foot facility, and witness all that had evolved from the brainchild of a Bemidji State grad.

December 16, 2025

KEEP READING:

Posted in , , , , ,