DSU HF 2026 Homecoming Recap: A Weekend to Remember

The DSU Heritage Foundation (DSU HF) celebrated the 2026 Homecoming weekend with the rest of the Blue Hawk family with a full schedule of events. "It was a successful weekend celebrating all things DSU as we welcomed back countless Alumni + Friends to campus,” said Chloe Gunderson, DSU HF Director of Alumni Relations & Events. “It was wonderful to see our DSU community come together once again and celebrate the traditions, memories, and relationships that make Dickinson State such a special place."

The DSU HF’s weekend kicked off on Thursday, October 1st, with the Alumni Honors Banquet where the 2026 Alumni Fellows, Alumni Honorees, and the first DSU HF Board Member of the Year were recognized. Dr. Maria ‘Duffy’ Meyer (’01) (School of Applied Sciences), Guy Fridley (’01) (School of Education), and Kathy Torske (’00) (School of Business and Entrepreneurship) were the 2026 Alumni Fellows. Emily Klym (’12) was the Young Hawk Alumni, Butch Goodall (’66) was the Golden Hawk Alumni, and Guy and Sandra Moos were the Blue Feather Honorees. Dr. Debora Dragseth received the inaugural DSU HF Board Member of the Year recognition.

At the Blue Hawk Athletics Hall of Fame Luncheon on Friday afternoon, 7 individuals and 2 teams were inducted into the Blue Hawk Hall of Fame. The individual inductees were Paul Clarys (’96) for Football, John Kungu (’08) for Cross Country and Track & Field, Leah Glasgow (’07) for Softball, Jesse Hellinger (’15) for Wrestling, Karter Kleeman (’08) for Football, Wrestling, and Track & Field, Nesrin MacFarlane for Volleyball, and Dave Moody for coaching Volleyball. Both the 1997 and 1998 DSU Volleyball teams were inducted on Friday.

In another first during the Homecoming weekend, the Blue Hawk Booster Club hosted the “Blue Hawk Kickoff,” inviting Blue Hawk Athletic Alumni and supporters to recognize Blue Hawk Booster Club Award winners and enjoy an auction that raised funds for the Blue Hawk Athletic Scholarships. Daryl Jung received the Outstanding Achievement Award, Aric Mines received the Loyalty Award, and Ty Orton was recognized as the 2026 Honorary Letterman. The event also celebrated coach Kristin Fleury’s NAIA Trailblazer of the Year Award.

After two days of celebrations and recognitions the excitement continued to build on Saturday, starting with the Alumni + Friends Breakfast that led right into the Homecoming Parade. The DSU Heritage Foundation Tailgate preceded the main event, the Homecoming Football Game where the Blue Hawks faced Mayville State, where the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation were named this year’s Honorary Captains. The 28-6 win marked head coach Pete Stanton’s 100th career victory, and though the officially scheduled celebrations ended after the game, Blue Hawk spirits were high for the rest of the weekend.

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Written by Sarah Griffis – DSU HF Content Writer