Gold Rush Days Aug. 23-26 at SMSU

Freshmen will arrive on campus for Southwest Minnesota State University’s Gold Rush Days orientation Aug. 23-26.

Classes begin for all students on Monday, Aug. 27.

Orientation is an opportunity for students to meet fellow first-year students while participating in a number of activities that help acclimate them to college life at SMSU.

“We are excited to extend a warm Mustang welcome to the Class of 2022. Gold Rush Days offers a variety of opportunities to connect with campus, the Marshall community, and fellow freshmen,” said Director of Admission Matt Suby.

Move-in Day is Aug. 23, and plenty of individuals will be on hand to help new students carry belongings into the residence halls. SMSU athletic teams, students, faculty, staff, and community members will assist in moving students into the residence halls, continuing a tradition started by the late President Doug Sweetland.

Residence Hall check-in begins at 8 a.m. on Aug. 23. Schwan’s ice cream treats will be handed out from 10 a.m. until noon, followed by the US Bank Campus Cookout in front of the Conference Center from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The Campus Religious Center will host an ice cream social from 2-4 p.m., followed by house meetings and dinner with orientation leaders and RA’s. Starting at 9 p.m., Sex Signals, a high-energy and humorous exploration of culture, sex, and the issue of bystander intervention, will be presented in the SMSU Theater. A pool party will end the evening.

Convocation will be at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 24, where students will hear from SMSU President Dr. Connie J. Gores and Provost Dwight C. Watson as well as alumna Veronica Fischer, featured alumni speaker.

Following convocation, students will meet their advisers. Various activities are planned during the day, including PLAYFAIR, a program for campus unity and school spirit; a bean bag tournament; a sand volleyball tournament; slip-n-slide kickball; and Student Success presentations on academics and mental health.

The evening will conclude with laser tag in the Lower Conference Center, and Pop Rocks, a high-energy live music show, performing at the Schwan Regional Event Center Plaza.

Activities continue on Aug. 25 with a scavenger hunt around downtown Marshall at 10:30 a.m. The Gold Rush Days staple, mud volleyball, begins at 12:30 p.m. An interactive wheelchair basketball demo will begin at 5:30 p.m. Blake Fly will give a 7:30 p.m. presentation about instilling acts of appreciation, recognition and thoughtfulness into your daily routine with a program featuring music, storytelling and humor.

On Aug. 26, there will be bus and biking tours of Marshall. Campus and classroom tours are also available. A soccer tournament will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Schwan Regional Event Center. Afternoon activity options include clay target shooting at Shooters Sporting Clays, and an SMSU Drama Club Improv Show. A Mustang Happy Hour with Student Body President Ola Ambimbola and other student leaders will be at 4:30 p.m., and the Mustang Family photo will conclude Gold Rush Days at 7:30 p.m.

For more information about Gold Rush Days, call the Office of Admission at 507-537-6286.

SMSU exercise science student to attempt ‘10,000 24-Hour’ endurance test Sept. 7, 8

A Southwest Minnesota State University student will attempt a 24-hour fitness endurance test Friday and Saturday, Sept. 7-8 at the Marshall Area YMCA.

Rumen Hulmequist is a senior exercise science major from the Twin Cities who earned a two-year degree from Anoka-Ramsey Community College. He transferred those credits into the SMSU exercise science degree program, offered on the Anoka-Ramsey campus. SMSU and Anoka-Ramsey signed an articulation agreement in exercise science two years ago.

The event will begin at 10 a.m. on the 7th, and conclude at 10 a.m. on the 8th.

He is calling it “10,000 24-Hour.” It will consist of a 10-mile swim, and 10,000 repetitions, which will include a combined 10,000 push-ups, leg raises and jumping jacks.

He hopes to raise $10,000 for Lutheran Social Services and draw attention to the importance of cross-cultural adoption.

He is originally from Bulgaria and lived in an orphanage for the first four years of his life until he was adopted by his parents, Dale Hulme and Sue Quist.

“I’m just very grateful to have what I have,” he said.

He finds great strength in his adoptive family and his Christian faith.

“My parents instilled in me a sense of purpose, and they taught me that it’s important to serve others. So, I want to pay it forward.”

He’s never tried something this strenuous and will travel to Colorado to train in the thinner air of the Rocky Mountains this month, leading up to the attempt.

“I’ll be the first in the world to do this,” he said.

Exercise science professor Dr. Kris Cleveland is supportive of Hulmequist’s efforts and will have exercise science students involved with his endurance test, which he calls a “full-body endurance marathon.”

He’s doing his endurance event in Marshall because SMSU professors have assisted him in training for the event and because he’s developed a friendship with SMSU Provost Dwight Watson.

“I want people to come out at any time and watch,” he said.

To learn more about Hulmequist and his upcoming event, go to: https://www.facebook.com/RumenMEPO/.