By Micah Friez
Published 10:00 am on April 26, 2025
Madisanne Dahl hasn’t been a Bemidji State University alumna for very long. Still, she isn’t wasting any time to put that title to good use.
“There are so many connections, just from my experiences of crossing paths with people who know Bemidji and have the same love for Bemidji that I do,” Dahl said. “That really inspired me to get involved.”
Dahl, a 2024 graduate, returned to her home state of Arizona after she received her BSU degree in exercise science. And Bemidji State followed her, recently launching the new Alumni Networks program in her backyard.
Dahl signed up quickly, and now she’s the youngest member — and perhaps most enthusiastic — of the Arizona Network.
“Being able to meet people and share that connection of Bemidji, especially down here in the Valley, is really rare,” she said. “Having that same feeling of attending BSU and being a Beaver, I think it’s a great starting point to further your relationship with other alumni.”
BSU has over 700 graduates in the Grand Canyon State, and the Phoenix area is considered one of its largest hubs in the country beyond Minnesota’s borders. Many of those Arizona alums earned their degrees before Dahl was even born. But when Dahl attended April’s Alumni Network launch party in Sun City West, she fit right in amongst the crowd.
“It’s really fun,” she said. “I’m definitely getting a lot of attention, being the youngest alum, but it’s good attention. I think everyone’s really stoked to see a younger generation come in and maybe a new face for them. For me, I enjoy hearing all the stories that they have about their time at BSU.”
Despite alums representing a vast array of different eras at the event, the one thing that bridged them all was a shared experience at Bemidji State. That common bond can be powerful, and it’s not the first time that Dahl has witnessed it.
While a student-athlete and a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Dahl was connected with plenty of former athletes on campus. She pointed out that the swimmers in particular left an impression on her.
“I was lucky enough to sit and chat with them about the future of BSU and how important it is to keep alumni connected,” Dahl said. “They would tell us a lot about their ideas, and I think that really inspired me, especially moving back down to Arizona, to continue spreading some BSU spirit and showing pride in being a Beaver.”
Involved student, engaged alum
Dahl, a former women’s soccer player, competed during the most successful era of the program’s history. Her extracurriculars extended beyond the pitch as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and she served as the club’s president during her senior year.
The Waddell, Arizona, native is currently attending grad school through Northern Arizona University, where she hopes to earn her doctoral degree in occupational therapy by 2027.
But for Dahl, connections forged through the Arizona Network — those already realized and the ongoing potential for new relationships — help her remember where she got her start.
“They said there are 700 BSU alums in Arizona, and so this is just a small portion of that,” Dahl said. “But it’s a great start, and I also think that it’s a good platform to launch from and be able to tell people that there are alumni who meet and get together here in Arizona.”
And one of the best parts, according to Dahl, is that it doesn’t matter how long ago you walked across that graduation stage.
“It’s very cool sharing stories about my experience, even though I am a younger generation, and being able to compare them to older generations,” Dahl said. “It’s really cool to compare and be able to talk to each other about the little nuances that come with life in Bemidji.”
How to join the Alumni Networks program
Bemidji State’s Alumni Network program offers membership levels in three tiers, and they’re open to all alumni and friends.
The Arizona Network is built for anyone who wants to be a part of BSU gatherings in the Grand Canyon State. Arizona residency, whether permanent or seasonal, is not required. The group is open to all Beavers in the region — including those who didn’t graduate from BSU but still hold it near and dear to their hearts.
The tiered levels include the Green Tier (free), the White Tier ($125/year) and the Gold Tier ($250/year), with exclusive perks added at each level.
For more information on Alumni Networks and tiers, or to join the Arizona Network today, click the button below or visit www.bsualumni.org/alumni/networks.
More Alumni Networks are coming in the future, as well. For information on future networks, contact Angela Schmidt at angela.schmidt@bemidjistate.edu or 218-755-2599.
