Centennial Student Union Blog
Abdalla (Abdul) Mohamed, Lead Building Assistant with the Centennial Student Union Operations Team, has gained responsibility and respect through his attention to detail, strong work ethic, positive attitude and a genuine caring nature. The high standard he sets for himself inspires others to do the same. Learn more about Abdul in the CSU Blog.
“Be grEAT,” a new mini-documentary following Maverick Basketball’s Malik Willingham premieres Friday, Sept. 13, at 6:30 p.m. in Ostrander Auditorium Directed by Ben Stelter, a recent Bethany College graduate and national award-winning videographer, the film follows Malik’s final year as a Maverick and a life’s journey culminating in the 2024 NCAA DII National Championship. MORE DETAILS AT blog.mnsu.edu/csu
In her BEST Board nomination, Sofia Melendez was recognized for strong leadership whether it was among the Fraternity & Sorority Life Community and her Sigma Sigma Sigma chapter or as a Residential Life Community Advisor. “Sofia demonstrates a great deal of charisma and works well with many different groups of people,” her nominator stated. “She is direct and to-the-point, yet always respectful. She handles her responsibilities with tact and diplomacy, even when what she is tackling is a difficult situation. She also acts with integrity and strives to do the right thing.”
For more than a decade, Minnesota State Maverick student athletes have advanced one campus awareness program–the Mental Health Green Bandana Initiative. Participating MSU students heighten mental health awareness by tying a green bandana to their backpacks.
For the fourth time in a row, Minnesota State Mankato was named “Best University” and the Mavericks were Minnesota’s “Best College Sports Team” in the annual Star Tribune Minnesota’s Best Listing. The University and Mavericks have claimed the Gold Award every year since the contest started in 2021.
The Mavericks #13 bring a road victory to their Sept. 7 home opener after toppling #22 Northwest Missouri State 36-22 at a Thursday, Aug. 29, Show Me State Showdown. The Mavericks host Bemidji State on Sept. 7 at 6 p.m. in Blakeslee Stadium.
Crossroads Campus Ministry, next to the Performing Arts Center is serving up another year of “Lunch4A$1”. Every Tuesday during the fall and spring semesters, MSU community members can enjoy $1 lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
All new students are required to complete the Sexual Violence Prevention Training by Sept. 10. This mandatory online course educates students on preventing and addressing sexual harassment and violence, fostering a campus environment of respect and inclusion. Your timely participation ensures that you are equipped with the knowledge to contribute to a safer and more supportive community.
In recommending Amalia Sharaf for the BEST Board, her nominator was impressed with her multitasking abilities. “Quite frankly, I don’t know how Amal does all that she does,” her nominator said. “Her impact and reach is felt both on campus and beyond. Not only is she an outstanding leader, but she is also fully engaged in pursuits related to her academic journey.” At MSU, Amalia’s campus involvements include Student Government, MavPASS, writing for the Reporter, Honors Program, Research Assistant, Graphic Designer for the Kearney Center, and more.
Thursday, August 29, offers an opportunity to get introduced and involved with the Fountaineers Radio Drama Troupe. Presenting imaginative–if not campy–dramas for KMSU is currently preparing to original dramas written by members of the campus community. The upcoming meeting is at 7 p.m. at the KMSU studio in the Alumni Building.
FORERUNNERS: While the first three Mavericks to compete in Olympic track and field events didn’t reach the medal podium, their forever title as “Olympic Athlete” exemplifies what’s possible when channeling talent, training and dedicated perseverance. Denisha Cartwright (the Bahamas), Jabez Reeves and Emmanuel Matabi (Liberia)–set the bar for future Mavericks. Welcoming home Cartwright and her country’s fellow athletes, The Bahamas Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture said it best: “Only a small percentage of athletes worldwide earn a chance to compete on this prestigious stage. It reflects years of grit, sweat, hard work and relentless training.”
On the move and looking for something healthy? A new Smoodi scan-and-go nourishing option has been added to the MavAve food court in the Centennial Student Union. The unit offers healthy pre-mixed vegan and gluten-free selections with various fruit mixes and two protein servings. Two blending tubes avoid the possibility for allergen cross-contamination. Selections can get a “boost” with four different flavor additives. Each serving offers a free bamboo straw. The frozen servings range from 70 to 380 calories and are priced from $4.99 to $7.99.
Dr. Anthony Bettendorf has assumed the Director of Residential Life role at Minnesota State Mankato, effective July 1. He oversees all aspects of Minnesota State University’s residential life program encompassing five building complexes (four owned and one master-leased), 2,900 students, and a budget in excess of $27M.
Nick Boone has joined the Centennial Student Union staff as Technical Services Coordinator. Boone and his student staff oversee set up, operation and troubleshoot of all audio/visual services in the CSU as well as coordinating technical services for CSU and Student Activities events across campus. Boone is a 2010 Minnesota State Mankato graduate.
With the beginning of the 2024-25 school year, comes numerous events that the Student Events Team organizes and hosts. Some of the upcoming events include MavFest, Blakeslee Outdoor Movie Night and Silent Disco.
Coming off their 2024 D2 national championship, the Minnesota State Mavericks men’s basketball team will face the DI University of Kentucky Wildcats in an Oct. 29 exhibition game in Lexington, Ken.
Maverick men’s hockey tallied 28 points to top a Rink Live scorecard ranking the “half-decade best’ among D1 hockey programs thus far into the 2020s. Despite not winning a national champion the Mavericks beat out Denver, the two-time national title holder, largely due to its conference titles
Maverick men’s sprinter Jabez Reeves joins former Minnesota State student-athlete Emmanuel Matadi in representing their home country of Liberia in the 4×100 meter relay at the Paris Olympics. They are among three Mavericks competing in the Summer Olympic Games. Denisha Cartwright competes for the Bahamas in the women’s 100m hurdles.
JULY 19 – Representing the Bahamas, Denisha Cartwright, Maverick and D2 record holder in the women’s 100-meter hurdles, placed fourth against four of the world’s best at the 2024 Holloway Pro Classic in Gainesville, Fla., as Olympic athletes prime for the Paris games. At the event, former Maverick, Emmanuel Matadi, racing for Liberia, set a new Liberian national record in the 100-meter dash, with a time of 9.91 (wind legal) to win the men’s 100-meter dash.
JULY 1 – One of the greatest student-athletes in Maverick history, Denisha Cartwright officially qualified to represent her native Bahamas at the 2024 Summer Olympics. The first round of competition at the Paris games is Thursday, Aug. 8. Cartwright set the national DII record in the 100 meter hurdles this spring. She finishes her collegian career as both the 2024 Indoor and Outdoor National Women’s Track Athlete of the Year as well as the Honda DII Athlete of the Year.