ntspring2017

NORTHERN TODAY 15 SPRING 2017 Willis ‘Bill’ Welsh graduated from Northern in 1930. This honor will be given posthumously, as Welsh passed away in 1980. Throughout his career, Welsh coached for a number of teams at Kimball High School (1930- 37); Webster High School (1937- 43); Forest City High School (Forest City, Iowa, 1943-45); and Claremont High School (1947-54). Welsh was awarded an honorary membership in the Sports and Trail Century Club in May 1950 for both football and basketball, SoDak Sports Honorary Coach of Six-Man Football All-Star Team in 1953, SoDak Sports High School Coach of the Year 1953-54, and was selected as a presenter at the “All American Coaching Clinic” in Bemidji, Minnesota, in June 1955. ALUMNI NEWS Gypsy Days Celebration Community Luncheon Sept. 28, 2017, 11:30 a.m. Northern State University Student Center Bob Courtney Conference Room Dedication Sept. 29, 2017, 11 a.m. Northern State University Student Center 50 Year Club Luncheon Sept. 29, 2017, 11:30 a.m. Northern State University Student Center Wolves Memorial Suites Ribbon Cutting Sept. 29, 2017, 1:30 p.m. Northern State University Hall of Fame Banquet Sept. 29, 2017, 5 p.m. Dakota Event Center President’s Breakfast Sept. 30, 2017, 7 a.m. Barnett Center Gypsy Day Parade Sept. 30, 2017, 9 a.m. Aberdeen Main Street Alumni Tailgating Sept. 30, 2017, Noon Clark Swisher Activities Complex NSU Football Gypsy Day Game Sept. 30, 2017, 2:30 p.m. Clark Swisher Activities Complex Northern Night Nov. 18 , 2017 NSU Scholarship Fundraiser Dakota Event Center ALUMNI EVENTS For information about the upcoming alumni events listed here and other alumni activities, please contact the NSU Foundation and Alumni Association at 605-626-2550, or nsualumni@northern.edu. 2017 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES 2017 KRETCHMAN COACHING AWARD Lance Luitjens earned a Bachelor of Science Education for elementary education in 1996. While at Northern, Lance participated in basketball all four years. During his time on the team, Lance was honored as a member of National Championship Runner-Up teams in 1993 and 1994 as well as a member of the 1995 National Tournament semi-final team. Some post-graduation honors Lance has received include Region Coach of the Year in 2000 for Girls’ Basketball, State Runner-Up Championship in 2000 as a coach in Vermillion, Rural Principal of the Year Finalist for Colorado in 2009, Principal of the Year Finalist for Colorado in 2010, and the Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award in 2011. Lance is currently the assistant principal at Sioux Falls Lincoln High School and is married to Renae (Osthus), who graduated from Northern in 1995. They have two children. Dr. Tim Mulhair earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Education in 1977, as well as a Master of Arts in Classroom Teaching in 1988. He went on to earn his Doctorate of Education at the University of South Dakota in 1996. While at Northern, Tim was a member of the men’s basketball team. When he graduated, he was No. 7 in career scoring at Northern State College with 1,420 points. He was also No. 4 in career rebounding with 950. Since graduating, Tim has gone on to become SDHS Coaches Association Tennis Coach of the year in 2002; a National High School Tennis Coach of the Year finalist in 2005 and 2011; received the SDHSAA Distinguished Service Award in 2007; and has had 461 career tennis coaching wins for Yankton High School. In 2010, Tim was inducted into the O’Gorman- Cathedral Hall of Fame for Athletics. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus. Tim is currently principal of Sacred Heart Middle School in Yankton, where he lives with his wife, Lorie. They have three children and seven grandchildren. WILLIS ‘BILL’ WELSH DR. TIM MULHAIR LANCE LUITJENS