D I C K I N S O N
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July 2018 100 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION: DICKINSON STATE CELEBRATES ITS CENTENNIAL
Alumni from across the country attended the Dickinson State University (DSU) Centennial Celebration June 28-30, traveling from several states including Alaska, California, Texas, Connecticut and New Jersey. Milo Dullum from the class of 1951 and Herb Heck from the class of 1957 were among the oldest to attend. The weekend of celebration opened late Thursday morning with an Alumni Golf Tournament at the Heart River Golf Course where more than 40 golfers of all skill levels were able to enjoy the fresh air and a little friendly competition. As part of the Dickinson community’s First on First event later that evening, Breaking Eight with special guests Zeona Road filled the downtown Dickinson streets as both DSU alumni and other community members took in some local shopping, great food and live music. The campus tours held Friday morning offered DSU alumni the opportunity to see how the campus has changed since they last walked the halls of their alma mater. Participants met members of the campus community
and learned some history on the guided tour. Those interested in taking a self-guided tour enjoyed learning a little DSU history from the walking tour kiosks stationed around campus. The rest of Friday was all about reconnecting with fellow classmates. Lunch Friday was a fun and special event for those who attended the Alumni Association Luncheon at the Ramada Grand Dakota Hotel. Alumni representing all seven decades from the 1950s to the 2010s shared their memories as members of the Dickinson State family. Later that evening, despite the rain, the Alumni and Friends Barbecue, which was open to the public as well as alumni, drew a crowd to the Biesiot Activities Center parking lot where young and old savored foods from 17 different vendors. Alumni and friends closed out Friday night with a Reunion of the Decades where classes from each decade met at various taverns around Dickinson for smaller, more class-specific reunions. Early Saturday morning campus and community members met on DSU’s front lawn ready to get their day off to a running start with the Family Fun Day 10K and 5K run/walk and youth competition. Dickinson State presidents and alumni could be found waving to the crowds and tossing out commemorative Centennial frisbees and footballs from any one of the five DSU floats in the Roughrider Days parade. Immediately following the parade, alumni of all ages gathered on the front steps of May Hall, steps they had all tread as students in pursuit of knowledge, for an all-class Centennial photo. The Centennial Celebration finished off with fun events for the whole family. The DSU front lawn was transformed into a playground for Family Fun Day where children had numerous activities, games and bounce houses to choose from. Older attendees found something of interest while strolling through the vendor show and classic car show on campus. The late afternoon offered families the opportunity to explore, learn and cool off with DSU, Dinos, and Desserts at the Dickinson Museum Center where people could check out the Dickinson State museum display, dinosaurs and help themselves to ice cream cups, Popsicles, fudgesicles and ice cream sandwiches compliments of the DSU Heritage Foundation. Family Fun Night at the West River Community Center water park was the perfect way to end the day, where families could be found splashing around in cool pools enjoying the warm summer air.