Let's time travel
Take a look at the year that was in 2023-24 through the eyes of our graduating seniors.
At the 2024 Senior Send-Off, one week before Commencement, graduating seniors shared their favorite memories, experiences, professors and more from their time at Bemidji State. We handed them the mic, and they took it from there with whatever they wanted to say. Here's what they wanted everyone to know.
![](https://bsualumni.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024.0424.SSO-8-scaled.jpg)
![Time capsule no background Time capsule no background](https://bsualumni.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Time-capsule-no-background.png)
2024 at a glance
Here's what Bemidji and beyond looked like on graduation day and throughout the 2023-24 school year.
![Sarah Kessler Student to Watch 10-24-23-5 Sarah Kessler Student to Watch 10-24-23-5](https://bsualumni.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Sarah-Kessler-Student-to-Watch-10-24-23-5-circle.jpg)
Sarah Kessler
Student's voice
I’m Sarah, and I had the honor of serving as Student Senate President in the 2023-24 academic year. Bemidji State means so much to me, and I want to share some of my favorite things about BSU in 2024.
Bemidji State's biggest headlines
Here are some (but definitely not all) of the best things that came out of Bemidji State in 2023-24.
![2024.0503.COMMENCEMENT 11 Bemidji State University's 2024 Commencement (Courtesy / Lainie Hiller Photography)](https://bsualumni.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024.0504.COMMENCEMENT-11-scaled.jpg)
Bemidji State celebrates the graduating class of 2024
More than 1,000 graduating students celebrated the end of this step in their lifelong academic journeys at Bemidji State University’s 105th Commencement ceremonies.
![2023 BSU Powwow 2023 BSU Powwow](https://bsualumni.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2023-BSU-Powwow-scaled.jpg)
BSU becomes a pioneer with Nisidotaading initiative
Bemidji State announced that, beginning in the fall of 2024, it will launch Nisidotaading (nih-sih-doe-TAA-ding) curricula that will introduce every BSU student to a course on the region’s Indigenous people. Nisidotaading is named for an Ojibwe phrase that means “having a mutual understanding.” There are only a few similar programs on the North American continent.
![20231128-Accessibility-Project-0248 20231128-Accessibility-Project-0248](https://bsualumni.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20231128-Accessibility-Project-0248.jpg)
Accessibility allies raise awareness by wheeling around campus
Students in the inclusive physical education class learned that students and visitors to BSU who use wheelchairs may have issues accessing certain parts of campus. Their idea for a final project, which they called Accessibility Allies, was to take a wheelchair tour of campus and map locations where they saw potential for improved accessibility.
![Snow Sharks arch background Snow Sharks arch background](https://bsualumni.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Snow-Sharks-arch-background-scaled.jpg)
Snow Sharks invade campus for April Fools'
The Bemidji State Alumni & Foundation pulled a fast one on April 1, announcing that our iconic and beloved "Beavers" nickname was no more. News of its replacements – the Snow Sharks – spread like wildfire.
![2023.1112.BSUWSOC-NSIC-championship-vs.-U-Mary-trophy no caption NSIC champs (2023)](https://bsualumni.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023.1112.BSUWSOC-NSIC-championship-vs.-U-Mary-trophy-1.jpg)
Soccer wins NSIC Tournament championship
After earning the program's first-ever NSIC Tournament championship last year, the Bemidji State women's soccer team captured its second consecutive conference tournament championship after shutting out U-Mary 2-0 in the title game. The Beavers went on to reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
![2024.0301.MHKY Kyle Looft MacNaughton Cup hockey Captain Kyle Looft (7) and the Beavers celebrate with the MacNaughton Cup after winning the CCHA regular season championship on Friday, March 1, 2024, at the Sanford Center. (Courtesy / Brent Cizek Photography)](https://bsualumni.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024.0301.MHKY-Kyle-Looft-MacNaughton-Cup-hockey.jpg)
Men's hockey wins MacNaughton Cup
With a 6-0 victory over Minnesota State, Bemidji State won the program's second-ever MacNaughton Cup championship and first since 2017 as the league's regular season champion.
![History in the Pines logo History in the Pines logo](https://bsualumni.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/History-in-the-Pines-logo.png)