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NSU Alumni to be Honored at Gypsy Day 2008
Released August 14, 2008
(ABERDEEN, SD) As part of the Northern State University Gypsy Day
Week festivities, six alumni will be recognized at the Distinguished
Alumni/Hall of Fame Banquet which will be held at the Alonzo Ward
Hotel in downtown Aberdeen, on Fri, Oct. 3, at 5 p.m.
“The Alumni Association along with the Athletic Department are
honoring some phenomenal alumni whose accomplishments on and off the
playing surface have made a significant impact on NSU and their
communities,” said NSU Director of Alumni Relations, Mike Birgen.
The following honorees will be recognized:
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Jeff Erickson, recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award. Erickson
graduated from NSU in 1980 earning a B.S. in business
administration. Currently he is the President/CEO of Great Western
Bank, where he directs operations for South Dakota’s largest
independent bank with assets exceeding $3.5 billion and more than
100 locations.
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Hall of Fame inductee, Al Weisbecker, graduated from Northern State
in 1955 with a B.S. in education. While at Northern, Weisbecker
served as co-captain, earned all conference honors in football and
was selected to the all-college team his junior and senior years.
Currently, he is the weight coach at DSU, the Executive Director of
the South Dakota Senior Games Assoc., and a member of the DSU and
S.D. Senior Games Hall of Fame.
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Hall of Fame inductee, Tricia (Bain) Gough, graduated from NSU in
1998 with a degree in biology. As a member of the track and field
team, Gough won four NSIC championships in both the indoor and
outdoor shot put, was a three-time All-American and All-Academic
Team member and a two-time indoor and outdoor national meet
qualifier for the shot put and discuss. She is the recipient of the
1998 NSU Hildred Wolfe Outstanding Female Athlete Award.
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Hall of Fame inductee, John Lutmer, graduated from NSU in 1989 with
a B.S. management and marketing. Participating in track and cross
country at NSU for four years, Lutmer was the recipient of the Most
Valuable Athlete (track) and Most Improved Athlete (cross country)
for the 87-88 season. He was selected as a NIC All Conference
participant for track & field, and he currently holds the NSU record
for the 800 meters. He became an All-American in track in 1988.
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Hall of Fame inductee Nancy (King) Knutson, graduated from Northern
in 1995 with a degree in communication disorders. As a member of the
basketball and track teams, Nancy was part of the 1992 and 1994
teams that won the NAIA National Championship, as well as four NSIC
championships. Nancy was an All-Conference Team member for the
1994-95 season, and is currently ranked #24 in NSU history for
career scoring leaders with 1,079 points. She is also ranked #7 for
career rebounds with 845.
Dave Griffith has been selected at the recipient of this year’s
Kretchman Coaching award, named after long time Northern athlete,
educator, coach and administrator Jim Kretchman. The award is given
to a coach that best exemplifies Kretchman's characteristics and
dedication to educating student athletes. Griffith earned degrees in
both chemistry and mathematics in 1966. While a student at Northern,
he was a member of the track team, lettering each of the four years
that he participated. In 1992 Dave was inducted into the Minnesota
Cross Country Hall of Fame.
“Gypsy Days serves as a gateway for alumni to stay connected to
Northern State University,” added Birgen. “On behalf of the NSU
Alumni Association and Foundation we are excited to celebrate the
93rd Gypsy Days with our alumni and friends of Aberdeen and the
surrounding communities.”
Those being honored at the banquet will also be recognized at the
Gypsy Day Parade taking place on Sat, Oct. 4, beginning at 9 a.m. on
Main Street, and during halftime at the football game between NSU
and University of Minnesota, Crookston, beginning at 2:30 p.m. at
the Clark Swisher Activities Complex. Congratulations to this year's
recipients!
About Northern State University
Northern State University is a premier residential institution characterized by outstanding instruction, extraordinary community relations, and unparalleled extracurricular opportunities. In August of 2007 NSU was named by US News and World Report as one of the best undergraduate public institutions in the Midwest. For more information about NSU, visit our Web site at www.northern.edu.
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