Blackhurst presidency off and running
Homecoming Week at Minnesota State University Moorhead Sept. 22 – 27 will feature the typical celebratory events. There will be a neighborhood block party on Sept. 22, academic deans will compete for best chili on Thursday and on Saturday, Sept. 27 there will be a parade, tailgating and the big football game.
Homecoming Week activities will also include the inauguration of President Anne Blackhurst as MSUM’s 11th president. Blackhurst, an avid long distance runner, began her presidency July 1 and Laps for the Long Run will recognize her term while raising money for scholarships. But rather than just asking for donations, Blackhurst will earn the money. She has pledged to run 50 laps around the Ron Masanz Track at Nemzek Field for a distance of 12.5 miles and she has invited others to make pledges for every lap she runs. The money will be used for a new series of Presidential Merit Scholarships that will be awarded to high achieving high school students.
“My time in the Fargo Marathon qualified me for the Boston Marathon so I’m already in a training program,” said Blackhurst. “I thought why not combine Homecoming, the inauguration and my training program in a way that raises money for scholarships.”
To jumpstart the challenge, Blackhurst today made a personal pledge of $1,000 a lap for a total of $50,000.
“Minnesota State University Moorhead is a special university and I am honored to serve as its new president,” said Blackhurst. “The theme of the inauguration is Leading For The Long Run and the theme of Homecoming is Dragon Pride. Both of these thoughts mean a lot to me and I hope to share my pride throughout Homecoming week and my presidency.”
Laps for the Long Run will start at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 24. Pledges can be made at www.mnstate.edu/laps