麻豆传媒AV President's Newspaper Column
February 28, 2026听
A sense of belonging and value translates to success for now and for the future
At Mayville State, students are valued members of a close-knit community where involvement is encouraged, supported, and celebrated. Our small campus naturally lends itself to strong relationships, and opportunities for involvement make students feel seen, supported, and connected.
Mayville State offers a wide variety of student clubs and organizations that help students connect around shared interests - academic, professional, and faith-based organizations, and more. The clubs empower students to take on leadership roles, collaborate with peers, and find spaces where their voices and interests truly matter.
Students with talents or interests in music and theater may join the choir, band, and/or various ensembles and get involved with theatrical performances. These activities offer creative outlets while building self-assurance and teamwork. In addition, the arts add vibrancy to campus life.
For many students, athletics is a gateway to belonging. Mayville State鈥檚 intercollegiate programs offer the chance to compete at a high level and to build lifelong friendships, learn leadership skills, and represent the Comets with pride. Whether students are athletes themselves or fans in the stands, sports become a shared source of excitement and identity on campus.
In the spirit of expanding pathways for involvement and lifelong enjoyment, Mayville State has recently added archery to its athletic offerings. Men and women are having great success during this inaugural year for the sport at Mayville State.
We had offered Esports as a club activity for students for several years, and the decision was made to bring the sport on board as an official entity of Mayville State Athletics last fall. This has opened new doors of opportunity for students.
The search for a head coach for cross country is underway, and we鈥檝e recently approved shooting sports as an option for students beginning with the Fall Semester of 2026. We鈥檙e very happy to have hired retired Mayville State employee Tom Moen to coach the group. They鈥檒l practice at Tom and his wife Cheryll鈥檚 shooting range south of Mayville.
When students are involved, they鈥檙e more connected, not only to their activities, but to each other and to the university as a whole. Participation builds confidence and helps students feel at home. Pairing this sense of connectedness with Mayville State鈥檚 legendary personal service makes a great recipe for success. The double dose of belonging and personal value translates to improved well-being, stronger academic performance, and a deeper sense of pride in being a Comet.
Speaking of academic performance and Comet Pride, the Dean鈥檚 List for the Fall Semester of 2025 was just released. I am so impressed and happy for our students who were named to the list in recognition of their success in the classroom. To be named to the Dean鈥檚 list, a student must attain a grade point average of 3.50 or higher and successfully complete a minimum of 12 graded credit hours of regular academic credit from Mayville State.
These students represent 88 hometowns across North Dakota, 42 across Minnesota, as well as places in 15 other states, Canada, Australia, and Thailand. The list truly is impressive. I hope you鈥檒l take a look at www.mayvillestate.edu/DeansListFall2025 so you can see the names and hometowns of our best and brightest. I think you too will be proud of how Mayville State is making a difference in the lives of students, and in turn providing well-prepared graduates who are ready to make a difference in the workforce in North Dakota and beyond.
From athletics to the arts, and everything in-between, at Mayville State we work hard to ensure that every student has opportunities to be involved in meaningful ways. This inclusive, student-centered approach lends itself to a sense of family, creating an environment where everyone, no matter their background or interests, has a place to call 鈥渉ome.鈥� These people no doubt graduate from Mayville State ready to make a positive impact in their careers and communities. It doesn鈥檛 get much better than that!