dana college  ALUMNI and Friends ASSOCIATION

Homecoming Continues to Draw Alumni from Across the Nation

Homecoming 2022 drew over 125 alumni from coast to coast to reminisce, celebrate class reunions, and honor their peers’ accomplishments.

The day began with the traditional Kringle and Mingle at the Danish American Archives and Library in downtown Blair. The Archives hold numerous historical documents, photos and other memorabilia of Dana along with their collections of letters, photos and documentation on the lives of Danish immigrants in our area.

Festivities continued with the opening of the “Dana Bookstore” on campus where alumni could purchase Dana logo wear, posters, pennants, coffee mugs, and other items. Please note: those items will also be available for a limited time in November. Keep checking this website or the Dana alumni Facebook pages for exact dates.

A barbecue food truck provided the Tailgate Lunch where alumni settled in to talk over old times, renew acquaintances, and await the presentations to follow.

Ed Shada, CEO of Angels Share, the organization which is repurposing the Dana campus, gave an update on his organization’s mission and improvements coming to the campus. Included in those improvements are renovations to Blair and Mickelsen Halls, converting them into apartments for kids who have aged out of the foster care system and for low income seniors, both groups being at high risk to homelessness. Construction is to begin within weeks.

Bob Coffey (’75) gave a welcome address on behalf of the Dana College Foundation. He talked about the projects the Foundation has accomplished, the most recent Legacy Scholarship recipients, and projects yet to come. One of those projects involves digitizing old game films, choir albums, and other events, and making them available to alumni to share those memories. More information on that initiative will be coming soon.

Awards were presented to Derek Fey and Josie Barrow as the newest inductees into the Athletic Hall of Fame. Derek was a two-time All American in cross country and marathon, while Josie was a four-time all conference, conference player of the year, and second team All American in softball. Their coaches, Jay Birmingham and Marcy and Tom Roff, respectively, were on hand to present the awards.

Matt and Amanda Poulter were given the Distinguished Alumni Award as a husband-wife team (a Dana first!) They have parlayed their business success and experiences as adoptive parents to mentor others wishing to start their own businesses, but most of all, to found and support two orphanages overseas for children with special needs.

Bob Coffey was also presented the Distinguished Alumni Award for his service to Dana and its alumni as a former Booster Club President, Alumni Council member, Dana Regent, and current president of the Dana College Foundation, as well as his service to Washington County as director of its Community Foundation.

The Dana College Alumni Choir performed following the awards ceremonies before Homecoming 2022 adjourned to a cocktail hour and class reunions throughout Blair.

2023 Legacy Scholarship Applications Now Open

The Dana College Foundation Legacy Scholarship application period is now open! The Foundation will award two $5,000.00 scholarships to descendants (children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren) of Dana alumni, faculty or staff for the fall semester of 2023.

The scholarships are to help enable students attend a college or university similar to Dana. That is, a Christian church-affiliated, accredited, liberal arts institution. In order to spread our limited resources, past recipients and graduate students are not eligible. Applicants may be first-year enrollees or undergraduates already attending an eligible institution.

Funding for the scholarships somes from the generosity of alumni and friends of Dana through donations and estate gifts. “All of us as Dana students received financial help in one way or another to attend Dana,” said Bob Coffey (’75), president of the Foundation. “This is a way to carry on that legacy to students who wish to have the kind of experience we enjoyed.”

Recipients will be selected by the Dana College Foundation Board of Directors. Funds will be placed in the students’ school accounts upon enrollment. Applications must be received by March 31, 2023.