More than 400 students graduate Thursday

The Fall Semester commencement ceremony takes place Thursday, Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. in Nemzek Fieldhouse. 408 students have applied for graduation; more than 280 are expected to participate in the ceremony.

Live streaming video of the commencement ceremony can be viewed at www.mnstate.edu/dragonradio.

Alumna Margie Bailly will be the commencement speaker. Bailly is currently Executive Director of the Fargo Theatre in Downtown Fargo. She has served in this capacity since 1997. Margie’s Fargo Theatre career highlights include a successful $3 million renovation, the annual Fargo Film Festival now in its 11th year, and the recent addition of a 76 seat small “Off Broadway” theatre. Prior to her position at the Fargo Theatre, Margie coordinated the United Way’s Holiday Clearing Bureau in 1986 and was Director of Development for the Center for Parents and Children and the Village Family Service Center from1987 to 1992.  In the early 80s, Margie directed the Children’s Choir at Gethsemane Cathedral.

Margie (Megorden) grew up in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, graduating in 1967 from Grinnell College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music. Margie received her Masters of Science Degree in Public and Human Service Administration from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 1995.

As a community volunteer, Margie has served as president of the Fargo Moorhead Civic Opera, the Fargo Moorhead Junior League, First Link, the Fargo Moorhead Area Foundation Women’s Fund and Fargo Kiwanis. She has served as a board member of the Fargo Moorhead Area Music Club, United Way of Cass Clay, the Fargo Moorhead Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Business Association, the Fargo Theatre and as a Foundation Board and Chapter member at Gethsemane Episcopal Cathedral.  Margie served on the city and state PTA Boards as Chairperson of the Reflections Project. Margie initiated Fargo Elementary Art Night in the early 80s. In conjunction with Kiwanis International’s Young Child Priority One project, Margie initiated the Fargo Kiwanis Parenting Paths Project and the Welcome to a World Full of Beautiful Music CD project.

Margie’s community service awards have included the YWCA Woman of the Year for Arts, the Fargo Public Schools Partner in Education Award, the Downtown Business Association’s Friend of Downtown Award, the Fargo Kiwanis Outstanding President Award, and the Greater North Dakota Association’s North Dakota Community Leadership Award.

Margie and her husband Dick have three sons, two daughters-in-law and four granddaughters.