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Minnesota State University Moorhead will honor six alumni for extraordinary achievements in their lives and professions at this year’s Homecoming, which runs Monday, Oct. 2 through the following Sunday, Oct. 8.
The Distinguished Alumni & Outstanding Service Celebration will be Thursday, Oct. 5. The evening will begin with a social at 5:30 p.m. in the Comstock Memorial Union Ballroom on MSUM’s campus. The dinner and program will follow at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are required by registering online or by calling 218-477-2143.
This year’s honorees, Nickolas Gaines ’07, David Berg ’78, Paul Finstad ’78, Dr. Debra Walker ’80, Carol Howe-Veenstra ’75, and former MSUM president, Dr. Roland Barden are this year’s prestigious Outstanding Young Alumni, Distinguished Alumni, and Outstanding Service award recipients.
WHAT: Distinguished Alumni & Outstanding Service Celebration
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 5
WHAT TIME: 5:30-8 p.m.
WHERE: CMU Ballroom, MSUM campus
Distinguished Alumni Award Winners:
David Berg, Retired President, CEO
American Crystal Sugar Company
David Berg ’78 (mass communications) was the president and CEO of American Crystal Sugar Company for nine years prior to retiring in 2016. He came to MSUM after serving four years in the U.S. Air Force. It was during this time that he became interested in learning to be a journalist. David became passionate about helping people understand what was happening in their government and in their communities. Now retired, he enjoys cooking, bicycling, motorcycling, hiking and softball.
Paul Finstad, Retired president
YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties
Paul Finstad ’78 (physical education) was the president of the YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties for 25 years prior to retiring in May 2017. With a love and passion for fitness and athletics, he originally planned to teach and coach after graduation. While in college, he began working part time for the YMCA, which later turned into a career with the largest non-profit community service organization in the United States for over 40 years. Paul now enjoys spending his free time playing sports, fishing, traveling, and being with his family.
Dr. Debra Walker, Family Practitioner
Sanford
Dr. Debra Walker ’80 (chemistry) has been a practicing doctor for over 30 years since graduating from MSUM. Immediately after leaving the university, she went to the University of Minnesota-Duluth for medical school to become a family physician, something she had wanted to be since the age of 10. Throughout the years, she has set up a private clinic, helped start North Dakota’s first federally qualified health center, and spent six years doing service work in Kenya. In 2009, Debra returned from Kenya and came back to Fargo to work at Sanford, where she still works today.
Carol Howe-Veenstra, Retired Athletic Director
College of Saint Benedict
Carol Howe-Veenstra ’75 (physical education and health) started her career as a teacher and coach at St. Cloud Tech High School. In 1985, she began coaching volleyball at the College of Saint Benedict and soon after became the director of athletics. Carol retired two years ago, after completing 30 years at the college. Throughout her time at MSUM, she participated in not one, but three sports. She played volleyball, basketball, and competed in track and field. She enjoyed learning from the coaching staff and peers and retained lessons from successes and failures. Some of her fondest memories stem from her time in the Dragon athletics program. Now retired, she enjoys spending more time with family and being outdoors.
Outstanding Service Award Winner:
Dr. Roland Barden, MSUM President Emeritus
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Dr. Roland Barden was hired in 1989 as the vice president of academic affairs at MSUM. After serving in the position for five years under his mentor, President Roland Dille, he became the president of the university in 1994, a position he held until his retirement in 2008. Throughout his time at MSUM, he loved working with students, alumni, staff and faculty. Since retiring, he and his wife have enjoyed spending seven months of the year in sunny Arizona. They spend the other five in Blaine, Minn. His top priority is being a grandpa to his seven grandchildren.
Minnesota State University Moorhead is a comprehensive regional university enrolling approximately 7,000 students. MSU Moorhead is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.
Outstanding Young Alumni Award Winner:
Nickolas Gaines, Suicide Prevention Program Director
Department of Defense
Nickolas Gaines ‘09 (American multicultural studies) was honored as the 2017 Outstanding Young Alumni at convocation on Friday, Aug. 18 and spoke to incoming freshmen.
Nickolas completed his degree at MSUM and went on to obtain master’s degrees from both Moody Theological Seminary and Tennessee Temple University. He then did his graduate certificate work at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and his clinical practice at Loyola University Chicago. After that, he commissioned as an Army Officer and joined the Chaplain Crops in 2009, where he served for six years. After leaving the army in 2015, he became the Suicide Prevention Program Director for the Department of Defense where he served over 13,000 soldiers, their families, and Department of the Army Civilians across 27 states.
For more information, contact:
Gina Monson
Director of Alumni Relations
Minnesota State University Moorhead
218.477.2244 | monsong@mnstate.edu