Index of University Press Releases

Sept. 19, 2007

DWU to celebrate Blue & White Days

MITCHELL – Several activities open to the community have been planned for the annual Blue & White Days homecoming celebration later this month at Dakota Wesleyan University.

The 12th Annual Patrons’ Banquet, where alumni and friends of the university are recognized for their financial contributions, is at 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 27, in the Sherman Center. Reservations are required for the banquet.

An education panel featuring Bob Parkinson ’33, Rick Melmer ’79, Jeanene Sampson ’96 and Kara Neugebauer ’04 begins at 9 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 28 in the Sherman Center. The public is invited to attend this panel discussion.

The Opperman Lecture follows at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28, in the Sherman Center. Rick Melmer, S.D. Secretary of Education, and 1979 DWU graduate, will present the lecture. His presentation is “Confessions of an Education Junkie: What I’ve Learned in 28 Years as an Educator.” The lecture is open to the public.

The ribbon cutting for and dedication of Jackson Plaza begins at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28. Jackson Plaza is located between the Rollins Campus Center, Allen Hall and the McGovern Library. The public is invited to the dedication.

The Alumni Awards Banquet is set for 6:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 28, in the Sherman Center. Seating is limited and reservations can be made by calling the university’s alumni office at (605) 995-2603. The following alumni are being honored at that banquet.

	Alumnus of the Year Bob Parkinson, Glendale, Calif., graduated from DWU in 1933 and received an honorary doctorate from DWU in 1990. He worked in sales for 17 years and education 27 years before retiring. Bob remains active in his church, where he has held a variety of leadership positions.
	Outstanding Service to Alma Mater Keith Miller, Pierre, received his bachelor’s degree from DWU in 1947 and his graduate degree from the School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin. Before his retirement, Miller worked as an insurance and banking executive. He is a past DWU Alumni Board member.
	Outstanding Professional Achievement Brian Klock, Mitchell, received his bachelor’s degree from DWU in 1991. Klock’s business, Klock Werks, builds custom motorcycles and recently won the Discovery Channel’s Biker Build-Off Competition. His work has also been featured in a variety of national publications and events.
	Outstanding Educator Rick Melmer, Pierre, received his bachelor’s degree from DWU in 1979, his master’s degree from South Dakota State University and his doctorate from the University of Wyoming. Melmer currently serves as the secretary of education for the state of South Dakota and is a member of the DWU Board of Trustees.
	Humanitarian of the Year Naomi Hull, Lincoln, Neb., received her bachelor’s degree from DWU in 1952 and her master’s degree from the University of Nebraska. She has done extensive work in the field of pastoral care, including serving as a founding member of The Gathering Place, a family support center in Lincoln, Neb.
	Young Alumna of the Year Jeanene Sampson, Moville, Iowa, received her bachelor’s degree from DWU in 1996 and her master’s degree from the University of South Dakota in 2001. She currently is the head principal for grades nine through 12 for the Sioux City Public Schools.

The annual “Burning of the W” student and alumni pep rally will follow that banquet, beginning at 9:15 p.m. Friday evening outside the Christen Family Recreation/Wellness Center.

The Blue & White Days Parade will make its way down Mitchell’s Main Street beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29. The theme of this year’s parade is “Where’s Wesley?” The DWU Alumni Association will host the breakfast tent in front of CorTrust Bank (one block north of the Corn Palace) beginning at 9:30 a.m.. All alumni, spouses and families are invited and welcome to watch the parade from that location.

The DWU Athletic Hall of Fame Luncheon is at noon in the Sherman Center. Reservations are required.