Community Voices, September 2015

Homecoming week on the SMSU campus is the highlight of the fall for many students, faculty, alumni and community members. This year’s theme, “We are Mustangs,” strives to capture what it means to be a part of the SMSU Family. We welcome back to campus the many alumni who came to SMSU from around the world to pursue a quality educational foundation and forged friendships lasting a lifetime. Several of these alumni were honored this week for their various career accomplishments. Others came back to speak in classrooms and share their real-life experiences with the next generation of Mustangs. Many more will come back to renew old friendships and reminisce about the experiences and lessons learned from the faculty, staff and community that helped launch them on their career paths.

The community has celebrated this week too, supporting our students, teams, and alumni with promotions at their businesses, advertisements in the media, and events built around welcoming our Mustangs home. A record crowd gathered last night at the University Gala to raise scholarship dollars for future Mustangs and a large crowd is expected at today's Homecoming parade through downtown Marshall. If you love fall sports, SMSU's athletic teams are all in action at home this weekend. You can come out and see the excitement and talent that our women's soccer team brings to the field following the parade, watch our #3 ranked volleyball team this afternoon, and cap it off by cheering on our undefeated Mustangs football team tonight. All of these fun competitions and events are great family outings and a wonderful chance to enjoy the camaraderie of SMSU and support the students who so proudly call Marshall their new home.

Earlier this week we unveiled the next phase of our new University Entrance Project, a project fully funded by private donations from alumni, community members and businesses to enhance the entrance to campus by creating signage and a signature element welcoming visitors to Marshall and SMSU. The sculpture entitled, Šú?kawakha? wi?hú?hduhapi, or “Our Horse” was created by SMSU Alumnus John Sterner to capture the spirit and power of Mustangs. Named to honor the Dakota people of this territory, this beautiful bronze mustang and sign symbolize what it means to be Mustangs. When we choose SMSU we become part of a family. We become, not just a "Mustang," but "Mustangs." We are a community, a family of individuals that strives to work together, to forge new trails and rise to lift each other to new heights. Welcome home fellow Mustangs, this is your where you belong. This is your community and your University. Celebrate and enjoy all that Marshall and SMSU have to offer!

Published in the Marshall Independent, Saturday, September 26, 2015.