BSU honors scholarship recipients at annual breakfast

Bemidji State University will hold its third annual Scholarship Appreciation Breakfast Saturday morning, Sept. 27, in the BSU Gymnasium.

The university will recognize its scholarship recipients and their families and thank donors, who also will get to meet students who received scholarships that they funded.

About 500 students are expected to attend the event, which begins with breakfast at 8 a.m. followed by a program at 9 a.m.

President Richard Hanson will address the gathering and present a brief video on the university’s five-year, $35 million Imagine Tomorrow campaign in support of scholarships and academic improvements.

The campaign has just surpassed the $30 million mark, with just over a year and a half to go.

Thanks to the commitments of donors, BSU this year awarded $2.8 million in scholarships, a near-tripling of the total amount since 2010-2011.

Speaking on behalf of donors will be retired professor Muriel Gilman, who taught at BSU for 37 years in the Department of Human Performance, Sport and Health. Gilman, who endowed the Muriel B. Gilman Exercise Science Scholarship, will speak on behalf of donors.

Martin Tadlock, provost and vice president of academic affairs, will offer closing remarks.

The national anthem will be sung by music education student Leandra Craigmile, a junior from Thief River Falls who received a Donald and Ione DeKrey Memorial Scholarship based on her academic and vocal performance.

As in past years, two scholarship recipients will share their experiences and how scholarship support has benefited them in achieving their academic and personal goals.

One of the speakers will be Maggie Ragan, a fifth-year senior from Graceville who is completing a double major in vocal and instrumental education. She has performed in BSU Opera Theater and the Madrigal Dinners, plays French horn in the university’s Wind Ensemble and Brass Quintet, is president of the Bemidji Choir, manager of the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, student director of the Chamber Singers, and president of the Bemidji State chapter of the National Association for Music Education.

A multi-year scholarship recipient, Ragan this year received a P. Bradley Logan Choral Scholarship, a Ted Thomson Band Scholarship and a housing scholarship through the Music Department.

The second student speaker will be Jordan Morgan, a junior from St. Peter majoring in environmental studies with a minor in sociology. He works in the BSU Sustainability Office, was recognized in 2012-2013 with the Program Ambassador award for his advocacy of the TRiO Student Support Services program at BSU, and is president of the Students for the Environment Club.

Morgan is a participant in the McNair Scholars program and last spring was among two dozen college students selected from 400 applicants across the country to participate in the University of Washington’s Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program last summer.

Also a multi-year scholarship recipient, he this year is a recipient of a Harry Melby Science Scholarship.

Sanford Health is sponsoring the breakfast.

Contact
• Scott Faust, director of communications & marketing; (218) 755-2041


Bemidji State University, located in northern Minnesota’s lake district, occupies a wooded campus along the shore of Lake Bemidji. Enrolling more than 5,000 students, Bemidji State offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and nine graduate programs encompassing arts, sciences and select professional programs. BSU is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and has a faculty and staff of more than 550. University signature themes include environmental stewardship, civic engagement and global and multi-cultural understanding.