President Emeritus Jim Bensen laughs while delivering a speech during his send-off reception on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, at the David Park House. (Micah Friez / Bemidji State)
Micah Friez 2023 square

By Micah Friez

Published 12:00 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2023

As the calendar turns over to 2024, there’s one more item on our 2023 to-do list: Look back on the year that was.

In the past 12 months, Bemidji State University marked milestones, explored new opportunities, spent time with loved ones and more. Here’s the best of the best from the Alumni & Foundation in 2023.

Click on any of the boxes below to read the full stories.

Past and present female athletes share effects of Title IX at speaker panel

In one form or another, Abbie Disbrow, Emma Terres-Sobieck and Kristen McRae have all faced unfair uphill battles. But Title IX has helped level the playing fields that they’ve long excelled on.

February 2, 2023

Day of Giving 2023 was a major success!

Mission accomplished: We crushed our goals for Day of Giving 2023.

February 28, 2023

BSU musicians shine in latest opera theater production

Bemidji State Opera Theater’s “The 1950s in Three Short Operas” explored themes of desire, distraction and drama in a throwback to “simpler” times on Feb. 24-26 in the Main Theater of the Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex.

February 28, 2023

Bemidji State alumni gather in the Valley of the Sun

More than a dozen Bemidji State University alumni and friends gathered in the Valley of the Sun for a social in Scottsdale, Ariz., on March 16.

March 20, 2023

Aaron Trunt pioneers path to MLB through biomechanics

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.

April 13, 2023

Supporters raise event-record $200,000 for Bemidji State Athletics at Green & White

Support rolled in from near and far on April 15 at the Green & White Dinner and Auction – to the record-setting tune of more than $200,000 raised for BSU Athletics.

April 19, 2023

Beavers win first NSIC Championship since 2000

Leading wire-to-wire, the Bemidji State University men's golf team completed the title run, claiming the first conference crown for the Beavers since 2000 and the 16th overall.

April 23, 2023

Allyssa Joseph named Alumni & Foundation’s new executive director

Allyssa Joseph has been appointed by President John L. Hoffman as executive director of the Bemidji State Alumni & Foundation and vice president for advancement supporting both BSU and Northwest Technical College.

April 24, 2023

Mur Gilman, Donna Palivec tap into rewarding maple syrup avocation

Mur Gilman and Donna Palivec have a sweet gig: maple syruping. The two professors emeritae at Bemidji State University have discovered a rewarding passion in their springtime operation.

April 26, 2023

Over 1,000 Bemidji State graduates celebrate accomplishments during commencement

Students, family members, faculty and staff came together on Friday, May 5, to celebrate Bemidji State University’s class of 2023 at three commencement ceremonies – one for each of the university’s colleges.

May 5, 2023

A message from President Hoffman after signing of higher education bill

In short, students win. And when students win, so do our colleges and universities and so do our local economies. This truly is a revolutionary package of legislation that will help carry Minnesota into a brighter future.

May 24, 2023

Bemidji State internship set up Coley Rezabek for ‘dream job’ with Minnesota United

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.

June 1, 2023

A historic moment: Chrissy Downwind furthers family legacy of service to students

She wouldn’t realize it until much later, but Chrissy Downwind’s motivation to help Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College students overcome barriers and reach their education goals can likely be attributed to her trailblazing father.

June 12, 2023

Zach Whitecloud becomes 2nd Beaver to lift NHL’s Stanley Cup

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.

June 13, 2023

Longtime Zamboni driver Vance Balstad embraces busy retirement

Vance Balstad famously found his niche in hockey by serving as the university’s beloved ice maker for 45 years. He retired after the 2019 season and has since enjoyed other lifelong passions in retirement, but not before authoring a colorful career that could fill a Zamboni-sized book.

June 19, 2023

Gordon Skaar – grandson of Gordy Skaar – cherishes family legacy, athletic support as tournament raises $44,000

The Gordy Skaar Memorial Golf Tournament had its 46th annual iteration on Friday, June 16, when over 100 golfers teed off in support of the Beavers at the Bemidji Town and Country Club. Together, they raised $44,000 for athletic scholarships.

June 21, 2023

Bemidji community celebrates professor emerita Dr. Annie Henry with birthday reception

Members of the BSU and Bemidji communities packed the David Park House to celebrate the 81st birthday of professor emerita Dr. Annie Henry. The reception was filled with singing, joyful speeches and deep appreciation for Henry's dedication to Bemidji State and its students.

June 28, 2023

Bemidji State grads Dennis Weimann, Stacy Christenson guide Lakeland News to 25th anniversary on the air

Dennis Weimann and Stacy Christenson have served Bemidji and north-central Minnesota by covering the region at Lakeland News for a quarter century. As the telecast celebrated its 25th anniversary on Thursday, the longstanding duo held their heads high with the pride of knowing they’ve been there since the very beginning.

July 14, 2023

Bemidji State, alums keeping MusiCamp legacy alive through 75 melodious years

The annual summertime serenades bursting from Bangsberg Hall this time of year are as much a tradition as anything else on campus. Dedicated BSU alumni have made sure to preserve that harmony.

July 25, 2023

Beavers raise record amount at 26th annual Galen Nagle Memorial Golf Tournament

The annual Galen Nagle Memorial Golf Tournament returned to the Bemidji Town and Country Club on Friday, July 14, bringing back the Bemidji State men’s hockey alumni of yesterday and yesteryear, plus all sorts of supporters.

August 9, 2023

Bemidji community bids farewell to Bensens in spirited send-off

In a spirited celebration of Jim and Nancy Bensen, BSU and the Bemidji community bid farewell during Thursday's send-off reception and basked in the contagious Bensen zeal one last time.

August 11, 2023

Descendants of Bemidji hero Jack McCormick reclaim lost history on campus

More than 80 years after his death, John “Jack” McCormick still stands as one of the greatest athletes Bemidji has ever seen. And on Monday, he was reunited with his family.

August 15, 2023

Gallery: New beginnings at Bemidji State as move-in day arrives

Hundreds of Bemidji State University students, along with loyal family members and friends there to help, found their new on-campus rooms during move-in day on Thursday, Aug. 17.

August 17, 2023

Gallery: Root, root, root for the Twins during BSU Night at Target Field

Bemidji State University alumni and friends were taken out to the ballgame on Friday, Aug. 25, for the always-festive BSU Night at Target Field.

August 28, 2023

A record-raising Howe-Welle ‘remarkable’ in the eyes of Ruth Howe

Even as someone always ahead of her time, Ruth Howe is still blown away by how far the Beavers have come.

August 30, 2023

Bemidji State University awarded $2.5 million grant for STEM students

BSU has recently been awarded a $2.5 million S-STEM grant from the National Science Foundation that will benefit current and future low-income students who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree in an approved STEM discipline.

September 20, 2023

Thousands join Bucky’s Hoedown in lively Bemidji State Homecoming week

What do you get when you combine a beaver, the Wild West and thousands of alumni and friends? One heck of a Homecoming week for Bemidji State University.

October 3, 2023

60 years after graduation, alumna Margaret Laurich makes first Homecoming return

When Margaret (Hanka) Laurich graduated from Bemidji State College in 1963, she bid farewell to Bemidji for more than half a century. But after 60 years away, Laurich made her triumphant return to campus at Homecoming this fall.

October 6, 2023

Beavers welcome record-setters, program-changers and national champions to Athletic Hall of Fame

Bemidji State's Athletic Hall of Fame has expanded to accommodate six worthy individuals and one national championship-winning team, all of whom were formally inducted into the Hall on Saturday, Oct. 14.

October 17, 2023

Rich Siegert helps light up Bemidji State softball field with new scoreboard

Rich Siegert is familiar with rounding the bases of the softball field, as he was an active member in intramural sports during his time at Bemidji State University. Now the same site is home to the BSU softball team, but Siegert’s footprint still shows up in the dirt.

November 8, 2023

Beavers capture second consecutive NSIC Tournament championship

The Bemidji State women's soccer team captured its second consecutive conference tournament championship Sunday afternoon after shutting out University of Mary 2-0 in St. Cloud.

November 12, 2023

Career Services helps Peyton Barber map job path to The Travel Chalet

When Peyton Barber first applied to work at a travel agency, she didn’t even have her own passport. But, thanks to Career Services at Bemidji State University, she booked a new professional path anyway.

December 4, 2023

Inspired by grandparents, Bella Vannavong pursues medical vocation behind door-opening scholarship

Bella Vannavong was inspired to enter the healthcare field so that she could create a better life for people like her grandparents. Vannavong is also the recipient of the Sam & Peggy Johnson Scholarship in Biology, and because of her donors’ support, she’s able to pursue an education at Bemidji State.

December 15, 2023

Ruth Howe, a founder of Bemidji State women’s athletics, dies at 93

Bemidji State University is saddened to announce the passing of Dr. Ruth Howe, the last surviving founder of BSU women’s athletics, who died on Wednesday morning, Dec. 20. She was 93.

December 21, 2023

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