Mayville State University Alumni Association & Foundation

06/16/2026

We’re Comet Proud of Mayville State graduate and retired Comets Baseball head coach Scott Berry! Representing North Dakota, Berry is featured on Midwest Sports Net “50 States in 50 Days,” a special podcast that features a virtual tour across the country, highlighting notable sports figures, coaches, and athletic directors from all 50 states. The podcast honors our country’s 250th birthday. Check out the podcast at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqMB08fQHUg.

06/15/2026

They came, they toured, they planted! Big thanks to our Mayville State Alumni Association Board for a great day on campus June 2! They kicked things off by joining community members for a public tour of Old Main where they could see the exciting renovation in progress, followed by their quarterly meeting. Then they got their hands a little dirty by planting flowers at Legacy Plaza, the grounds of the Larson Center, and the Military Honor Garden … just in time for summer.

We’re grateful for the time, energy, and heart this group brings to Mayville State. Thanks for all you do!

Many thanks to Chris and Darcene Burgess, Mayville State alumni and owners of Burgess’s Greenhouse, for their assistance and support.

06/09/2026

05/27/2026

The public is invited to participate in a special behind-the-scenes tour at Old Main! Join us Tuesday, June 2 at 10 a.m. for a look at Mayville State University’s cornerstone building as it undergoes a complete transformation. While the beloved historic exterior is being carefully preserved, the interior is being reimagined to serve the needs of today’s students, and generations to come. Check in at the construction offices located across the street to the south of Old Main for a required safety orientation. Participants must wear closed-toe shoes and long pants. For planning purposes, please register at www.mayvillestate.edu/OMtours.

05/25/2026

Memorial Day, a day of remembrance.

Today, we honor Staff Sgt. Irvin C. Ellingson, a former Mayville State student, athlete, and proud North Dakota native who gave his life in service during World War II. At just 25 years old, Irvin died as a prisoner of war, lost in a fire far from home.
For decades, his story was left unfinished, but 80 years later, in 2025, his remains were finally identified. Now he is coming home. This June, Irvin will be laid to rest in Dahlen, N.D., reunited with the land and family he loved.

As we remember Irvin, we also honor all who have given their lives in service, not only for how they died, but also for how they lived, and the enduring legacy they leave behind.

Learn more about Irvin’s journey home at https://mayvillestate.edu/about-msu/news/memorial-day-story-long-journey-home-irvin-ellingson/.

05/22/2026

Congratulations to Dustin Olson, Professor of Business, on being named the 2026 recipient of the Jeff Sieg Award for Teaching Excellence at Mayville State University!

Presented during the Academic and Student Senate Awards Program on May 6, this honor recognizes outstanding dedication to teaching and student success. Dustin is known for making accounting engaging and approachable while bringing real-world experience into the classroom as a CPA.

Beyond teaching concepts, he is committed to developing financially capable, confident graduates and takes pride in mentoring students throughout their journey at Mayville State.

05/18/2026

Mayville State alumnus Dr. John Lyng has been selected to deliver the prestigious Louis H. Bauer Lecture at the ASMA/UHMS Annual Scientific Meeting in Denver on May 18. His presentation will focus on advancing in-flight emergency care and improving onboard medical readiness for commercial air travel. We are Comet Proud of Dr. Lyng, who is making an impact at the highest levels of medicine! See more: https://mayvillestate.edu/about-msu/news/john-lyng-deliver-prestigious-aviation-medicine-lecture-asma-ushm-conference/

05/14/2026

Mayville State University is proud to announce Larry McGillis as the recipient of its inaugural Honorary Master of Science in Leadership degree, to be presented at Commencement 2026 on Friday, May 15 at 1 p.m. in the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse.

A Mayville State alumnus, community leader, successful businessman, and lifelong advocate for education, Larry’s leadership and generosity have made a lasting impact on Mayville State University and the Mayville-Portland community. Alongside his wife, Dixie, and their family, Larry has supported countless initiatives benefiting students, academics, athletics, the arts, and community projects, including multiple endowed scholarships and major campus enhancements.

Through decades of service, philanthropy, and hands-on leadership, Larry McGillis exemplifies the values of leadership, commitment, and service this honorary degree represents. We are honored to recognize extraordinary legacy of the McGillis family.

See all the Commencement 2026 details at www.mayvillestate.edu/commencement.

05/13/2026

We are honored to welcome 1974 Mayville State graduate Nick Storhaug as the 2026 Commencement speaker on Friday, May 15 at 1 p.m. in the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse.

A longtime Certified Public Accountant, Nick has served North Dakota for more than 40 years and has been deeply involved in the growth and preservation of rural communities, especially his hometown of Lisbon, N.D.

Before becoming a CPA, Nick spent 23 years as a teacher and coach at Lisbon High School, earning induction into multiple halls of fame, including the ND Coaches Hall of Fame and MSU Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame, for his leadership and impact. He and his family continue to support the Storhaug Invitational Wrestling Tournament, recognized across the region.

Nick and his wife, LaVonne, also a Mayville State alum, are proud supporters of Mayville State University. We look forward to welcoming Nick to campus to inspire the graduates at Commencement 2026!

🎉See all the Commencement 2026 details at www.mayvillestate.edu/commencement.