Centennial Student Union Blog
MARCH 5 – Nationally ranked at #2, the 29-2 Minnesota State Mavericks men’s basketball claimed its first North Central Conference title in a decade after toppling #9 Minnesota Duluth 97-77 in championship play. NSIC Player of the Year, Malik Willingham, 6-3 senior from New Ulm, Minn., was selected NSIC Tournament MVP. Both Maverick men and women won NSIC titles; the first time a program has swept the tourney since 2011.
“Get comfortable with being uncomfortable” are words offered by Quinten Wilson when sharing the importance of getting involved. For Quinten, experiences gained as a presidential scholar, finding opportunities for servant leadership or assisting the MSU Mavericks Baseball Team as a student coach have helped shape is life and future. The Spring 2024 BEST Board honoree uses his own experiences to encourage others to take a “leap of faith” and try something new.
Attorney general Keith Ellison will be giving a keynote presentation on environment and corporate law on Tuesday, March 19, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in CSU Ostrander Auditorium
As a kid Joey Batt hated basketball. She wanted to quit at a very young age. Now in her senior year, the stellar guard from New Ulm, Minn., has cemented herself into Maverick history as one of the best to touch the court. Luke Jackson, editor for the MSU Reporter shares a feature story that traces Joey’s evolution from youthful dabbling with the “boring” sport of basketball to what Maverick’s coach Emilee Thiesse considers the “heartbeat of the team.”
The Spring 2024 Criminal Justice Career and Internship Fair will take place Tuesday,March 26, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in CSU Ballroom. This is a rescheduled event originally planned for Feb. 27.
Nadia Mohamed, the first Black mayor of St. Louis Park, Minn., will be this year’s keynote speaker as the 48th annual Dr. Michael T. Fagin Pan African Conference, returns to Minnesota State University, Mankato Thursday and Friday, Feb. 29 and March 1.
One of the University’s long-standing traditions, the annual conference in the Centennial Student Union was established by Dr. Michael T. Fagin and invites participants to “explore how they are cultivating, nurturing and affirming safe spaces and groups as a collective form of resistance, transformation and reclamation.”
For Joseph Roeser, one of eight Spring 2024 BEST Board honorees, the crowning moment of his college career was creating and completing the Stomper Bookcase Project which launched a project for placing children’s books on established bookcases in Mankato area laundromats. For Joseph, it was just part of a lifetime of memories formed as a member of his Sigma Nu fraternity.
Follow the journey of Austin, now a third-year undergrad, in the February installment of Student Affairs monthly Maverick Moments.
Whether it was creating educational events with the Women’s Center, the LGBT Center or Veterans, Atlas James sought Student Events Team programming that sought to show commonality and opportunities to connect among students from all backgrounds, genders and sexual orientations.
Minnesota State’s Abel Christiansen (hurdles), South Milwaukee, Wisc., took home NSIC Track Athlete of the Week honors and Onyekachi Ukaobasi (jumps), Geneva, Ill., won NSIC Field Athlete of the Week in a clean sweep of weekly awards announced Monday, Feb. 12. This marks the second time this year that the Mavericks have claimed both NSIC Track and Field Athlete of the Week honors.
Annelise Miller’s nominator disagreed when Annelise said she didn’t do anything to deserve BEST Board recognition. It was that unassuming demeanor mixed with Annelise’s passion for writing that earned her a place on the BEST Board. Her prolific writing that fuels the weekly MAVERICK INSIDER student e-newsletter serves to keep all fellow Mavericks informed and engaged.
Needing help with scholarships? Come to the Multicultural Center (CSU 269) any Tuesday or Wednesday, 1 to 3 p.m. until the end of February. Final day to apply for scholarships is Feb. 29.
This week’s Maverick Minute features another great resource on our campus—the LGBT Center. The Unviersity’s LGBT Center is the second longest-operation university LGBT Center in the country.
Each month President Edward Inch offers his Prez Ed Says message to students. In his most recent message, President Inch extends a “Thank You” to all students as incredible ambassadors for the University.
Spring ’24 BEST Board honoree Jake Hauser is spending his semester before graduation leading a local March book drive as part of National Reading Month. The drive seeks to become a new Maverick Tradition benefitting local libraries. In addition, Jake serves as secretary for Mavs in Action promoting volunteerism in the greater Mankato area.
In the second of a two-part series on generative AI, Dr. Rajeev Bukralia is of the mindset that generative AI in the classroom can enhance student learning if it is used as a tool and not a shortcut. Used honestly with proper disclosure can actually challenge students’ critical thinking abilities.
First in a two-part series: When it comes to the debate over artificial intelligence, Dr. Rajeev Bukralia, associate professor and graduate coordinator for Data Science at Minnesota State Mankato, views things from three different angles – creator, teacher and administrator. Those three vantage points offer a strong point of reference in understanding the evolution and future of AI in this first of a two-part series on AI in academics.
Join Maverick Firsts for a night of storytelling about college experiences on Monday, Feb. 19, at 6:30 p.m. in Ostrander Auditorium.
As a graduate advisor in Student Activities, Johnny Ferede found himself as the point person during a time of staff transitions. Putting his leadership and mentoring skills to work, he assisted the day-to-day activities of more than 200 Recognized Student Organizations while coordinating such activities as the annual Student Leadership Awards with over 60 nominations. His efforts that demonstrated resilience, strategic thinking and thriving under pressure earned him Spring ’24 BEST Board recognition.
Starting Feb. 5, 5,000 randomly-selecting Minnesota State Mankato students will be contacted by campus email to participate in the 2024 National College Health Assessment. Student Health Services joins this year’s survey which aids colleges and universities in assessing a wide range of health and wellness issues that impact students and their academic performance. Students completing the survey are eligible to win prizes including AirPods or Target or Amazon gift cards. Surveys must be completed by Feb. 25.