Alumnus gives MSUM $866K

A Minnesota State University Moorhead alumnus who died last year has given more than $860,000 for student scholarships. Julien Burkness, a 1935 graduate who captained the university’s only undefeated football team, bequeathed $866,000 to MSUM for academic and athletic scholarships. The gift is among the top five largest donations MSUM has ever received, said Joan Justesen, vice president of the MSUM Alumni Foundation. The largest is $2 million. Read Amy Dalrymple’s full story at http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/269857/

MSUM alum, Moorhead educator named Teacher of the Year

Moorhead teacher Ronda Buysse has an unusual gig. She works with the district’s youngest pupils, usually ages 3 or 4. Those are also the youngsters poised to face some of the steepest hurdles in their school careers, and it’s Buysse’s job to give them an early momentum. Buysse, Moorhead’s latest Teacher of the Year, is a veteran of Moorhead’s Early Intervention Services, the district’s team fulfilling a state mandate to educate children with disabilities starting at birth. Read Mila Koumpilova’s full story at http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/269862/

Alumni, Friends Basketball Night Feb. 12

Dragon Alumni and Friends Basketball Night is Friday, Feb. 12. Everyone
wearing RED or a Go Pink T-shirt will be admitted for $1. Children 12 and under are free. There will be door prizes, and free Dragon cookies and tattoos. Join other Dragon alumni and cheer on the Dragons!

MSUM Art & Design Grad Named Artist in Residence

The North Dakota Council on the Arts announces five (5) new Artist in Residence rostered artists including Jescia Hoffman of Mandan, North Dakota. Hoffman is a recent graduate of the MSUM Department of Art & Design. Artists represented on the Artist-in-Residence Roster have successfully undergone a peer panel review process that evaluates their artistic and instructional abilities as they relate to artists working in a school residency program. Click headline to read more.

Growing on the Grovers: Former MSUM star Bledsoe makes impact as first-year head coach

Jared Bledsoe is in his first season as the head girls basketball coach at Fargo Oak Grove, but it’s clear he’s already had an impact. The Grovers are passionate, composed and bring a positive attitude to every game. Just like Bledsoe did when he was a star guard at Minnesota State University Moorhead from 2001 to 2003. Bledsoe, who grew up in Memphis, said he never had aspirations of one day becoming a coach. He was much more focused on getting to the NBA. Read Heath Hotzler’s full story at INFORUM: http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/262296/