CROOKSTON, Minn. – Entrepreneur David G. Ekman will
address the University of Minnesota Crookston Class of 2015 during commencement
exercises on Saturday, May 9, 2015. Graduates will take part in the ceremony, which
begins at 2 p.m. in Lysaker Gymnasium. All are welcome to attend.
Ekman, a 1981 graduate of the U of M Crookston, grew up
in Argyle, Minn., and has more than 30 years of business experience. During his
time at the U of M Crookston, he played college basketball, served as student
senate president, and earned his associates degree in agricultural business
management. While attending North Dakota State University and majoring in
agricultural economics, Ekman started in the computer business by purchasing a
ComputerLand franchise at the age of 20. This began a series of business
ventures including a technology company, an internet service provider, a travel
agency, hotel development and investment, a self-storage business, and various
real estate projects.
He recently retired as the CIO of Multiband Corporation,
a NASDAQ-listed field services company with more than 3,000 employees which he
helped start. He serves on various boards and committees, including the
Campus Advisory and Advancement Board for the Crookston campus, and stays
active in his many business dealings. Ekman and his wife, Paula, reside in
Fargo, N.D., with their three teenage children.
A reception in the Northern Lights Lounge, Sargeant
Student Center, precedes the commencement ceremony from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The
public is welcome to attend both events; no tickets are required. Additionally,
a special reception for online graduates will be held at 10
a.m. in the Prairie Room, Sargent Student Center, and a reception for
international student graduates will be held following commencement exercises
at 4 p.m. in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center.
On Saturday at 2 p.m., the formal procession of faculty,
candidates for degrees, and platform guests will begin from the Sargeant
Student Center to the gymnasium led by Mace Bearer William Peterson, professor
in the Math, Science, and Technology Department. The procession also includes
Faculty Marshal W. Daniel Svedarsky, professor and director of the Center for
Sustainability on the Crookston campus.
Bringing greetings from the University of Minnesota Board
of Regents is the Honorable Peggy Lucas, from Minneapolis, Minn., who will also
assist with the conferring of the degrees.
University of Minnesota, Crookston Alumni Association
(UMCAA) Board President Lauralee (Nicholas) Tupa '05 will bring greetings from
the UMCAA and welcome the new graduates to the alumni association. The U of M
Crookston Community Band under the direction of TJ Chapman, lecturer in the
Math, Science, and Technology Department, will perform along with selections
during the ceremony by the campus choir under the direction of Associate
Professor George French.
Graduating senior Justin Goodroad, a horticulture major
from Lindstrom, Minn., Crookston Student Association (CSA) president, will
speak on behalf of the Class of 2015 and pass the torch of education, a
Crookston campus tradition, to the incoming CSA president Tareyn Stomberg, a
junior double majoring in animal science and agricultural business from
Menahga, Minn.
The 2015 commencement exercises mark the 107th graduating
class to be recognized on the Crookston campus. A live audio stream of the
commencement exercises will be available at www.umcrookston.edu/people/services/mediaservices.
For more information, visit the commencement website at www.umcrookston.edu/commencement.
