Six individuals were recognized by the University of Minnesota Crookston during Homecoming 2024 as this year’s alumni award winners and athletic hall of fame recipients. Brent Melsa 1990 and 1994, and Jasmine Melsa 2006 were recognized with the Outstanding Alumni Award, Rikki Roscoe, Ph.D. 2016 received the Abbey [Promise] Award, and Jason Yutrzenka 1995 (men's basketball), Joan (Ebnet) Bellesbach 2006 (volleyball), and Randy Greendahl 1986 (men's basketball) were inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame.
Brent and Jasmine Melsa
Brent and Jasmine Melsa own and operate Drafts Sports Bar & Grill in Crookston which recently celebrated 11 years as one of the region’s premiere establishments. They have three children, Kelsey, Emi, and Keane, and reside in Crookston. Brent graduated from U of M Crookston with an associate's degree in restaurant management, and a bachelor's degree in hotel, restaurant, and institutional management. Jasmine graduated from U of M Crookston with an associate's degree in dietetics.
During the awards ceremony, the Melsas thanked their parents and children for the support and sacrifices over the years and spoke about the tools and skills they learned at U of M Crookston which carried on into their careers.
“We learned a lot going to school here, it was very hands-on, and all the tools and skills we learned here we use every day in our careers and practice,” Brent shared. “It laid the foundation for what we do today.”
“A special thank you to Ken Myers and Sharon Stewart, they were both our advisors,” he added. “They spent a lot of time (with us) in labs and hands-on cooking that have really helped us over the years.”
Jasmine mentioned that “UMC” has been an important part of their lives since childhood as both of their fathers worked on campus.
“UMC (has) continued to be a big part of our lives, we were both students together for one semester,” Jasmine said. “Before we met we knew that we wanted to open a restaurant at some point separately and then when we first started dating and talking we were like we definitely want to do this together.”
The Melsas, and their restaurant, continue to stay connected to the campus by hosting U of M Crookston social gatherings, streaming Golden Eagle athletics games on the TVs in their bar for watch parties, and catering at special events and hockey games, plus they even created a special “Wings Up” maroon and gold shirt for their employees to wear.
Rikki Roscoe
Rikki Roscoe graduated from the University of Minnesota Crookston with a bachelor’s degree in communication and went on to earn her master’s degree in communication and journalism from South Dakota State University (SDSU), and her doctorate in communication from the University of Missouri. As a U of M Crookston student and former golf student-athlete, she received the Outstanding Communication Major Award and the Student Achievement Award from the National Collegiate Athletic Association, both in 2016.
Roscoe is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Kansas. As a critical-interpretive scholar who investigates stigma, identity, and inequity as they impact health communication and organizing, she hopes to improve health outcomes for underserved communities. Her scholarship has been published in a number of journals including Health Communication, Journal of Health Communication, and Communication Studies. She has presented her research at the National Communication Association (NCA) and CSCA conferences.
Roscoe was unable to attend the awards ceremony, so U of M Crookston Associate Professor Megan Bell accepted the award on her behalf.
“As a scholar, Rikki continues to broaden her impact with her meaningful research,” shared Bell. “Just last week, her article narrating the socio-cultural experience and management of stigma related to military caregiving was featured as a translating research and practice report.”
“I believe the work Dr. Roscoe began first as a student here recognizes the tradition and symbolism of the U of M Crookston Torch,” she added. “Dr. Roscoe carries forth the light of knowledge that permits understanding as she advances her teaching, research, and service.”
In a video message played at the ceremony, Roscoe said the award has prompted reflection of her time at U of M Crookston where she first stepped foot on campus more than 10 years ago as an 18-year-old, first generation, Pell Grant recipient, from a “tiny” farming town of 600 people on the border of South Dakota and Minnesota.
“If you would have told that Rikki that she would come to be a professor let alone win this award, she would have never believed it,” Roscoe acknowledged. “Not because she wouldn’t have found that career interesting, but she wouldn’t have thought that path to be a possibility.”
“As a result of intimate and engaged classrooms (at UMC), the faculty and staff not only knew my name but a little bit of my story, too,” she added. “They took an interest in my intellectual potential and were major advocates for my development and success.”
Jason Yutrzenka
Jason Yutrzenka competed on the Trojans men’s basketball team while studying general business at the U of M Crookston. Yutrzenka is the second all-time leading scorer for the men’s basketball program during the NJCAA era with 1,023 points, and was named twice to the MCCC All-State squad and was a two-time All-Region XIII Team selection. In addition, he was a 1993 NJCAA Preseason All-American and selected to the All-Northwest Division. Yutrzenka served as team captain, was eighth all-time in assists during the NJCAA era, and second all-time in points per game in a single-season during the NJCAA era, averaging 26.3 points per game as a sophomore. He helped his team to a combined 28-16 mark in the program’s last two seasons in the NJCAA.
Yutrzenka is married to his wife, Jennifer, a 1995 alumna, and they reside in Argyle, Minn. They have two adult sons, Justin, a 2019 U of M Crookston graduate who played baseball for the Golden Eagles, and Hunter, who played baseball for Northland Community & Technical College. Yutrzenka is the owner of Argyle Builders Supply and Stephen Builders Supply, two retail lumber yards, and is a member of the Leadership Committee NFIB Small Business Association. Yutrzenka is retired from the Argyle Fire and Rescue, and helps out Stephen/Argyle Central as a varsity football assistant, junior high boy’s basketball coach, varsity assistant girl’s basketball coach, and has been an assistant coach for Argyle Legion baseball.
At the awards ceremony, Yutrzenka said something that sticks out in his mind about his time at U of M Crookston was being excited about going to training camp, putting on the uniform for the first time, and playing in the alumni game. He shared stories about being a student athlete and personal moments during basketball season.
“I will forever be grateful for the memories at UMC basketball, hanging out with my teammates and friends, and, of course, some school work,” Yutrzenka stated.
Joan (Ebnet) Bellesbach
Joan (Ebnet) Bellesbach competed on the Golden Eagles volleyball team and graduated from U of M Crookston with a bachelor’s degree in business management. She was a 2003, 2004, and 2005 All-NSIC First Team pick and is the most decorated volleyball player during the NCAA Division II era. Bellesbach was all over the record books in her Golden Eagle career, first all-time for digs per set, third all-time for digs, and fourth all-time for kills, plus she was named to the 2004 AVCA All-Region Team. Bellesbach was a major part of a 14-win team under Head Coach Dave Simon in 2004, the second-winningest NCAA Division II season the program has produced. She was the first player to reach 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in U of M Crookston history, and was awarded various All-Tournament and player of the week recognitions during her career. She also played for the women’s basketball team as a senior during the 2005-06 season and was named team defensive MVP.
She is married to Dillon Bellesbach and they live in Chippewa Falls, Wis., where she is currently a salesforce consultant for higher education at Redpath Consulting Group. Bellesbach was previously on the writing team for the Hope Village Grant.
During the awards ceremony, Bellesbach said volleyball has given her so much more than athletic accolades - it has taught her resilience, teamwork, and the power of perseverance.
“The bus trips, the long practices, the highs and lows of competition, all of those moments were crucial in changing not just my athletic career, but my life,” she shared. “In looking back it wasn’t just about the wins and losses, it was about learning who I was and how far I could push myself.”
“Thank you to the University of Minnesota Crookston for believing in me, I will always be a proud Golden Eagle,” she added.
Randy Greendahl
Randy Greendahl competed on the Trojans men’s basketball team and earned All-Northwest Division honors as a sophomore in 1985-86, going on to be selected All-MCCC the same season. Greendahl was an MCCC Player of the Week during the 1985-86 season and was named to the All-State Tournament Team and the All-Region Tournament Team. He was an All-Northwest Division and All-MCCC honoree as a freshman in 1984-85 and was a team captain as a sophomore, and the team’s MVP (Most Valuable Player.) Greendahl led the team to a 35-16 mark in two seasons (1984-86). The 1985-86 team went 21-7 (8-3 in the conference) and went on to be Region XIII Runner-Ups, plus won the State Championship over Inver Hills. The 1985-86 squad has been inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame as a team. Greendahl is fifth all-time in career scoring in the NJCAA era, seventh in blocked shots, fourth in steals, and fourth in rebounds. He shot 54.8 percent from the field during his freshman season.
Greendahl is married to his wife, Sherry, and they have two adult children, Erin Lisburg (28), and Matt Greendahl (22). The couple live in Walhalla, N.D. Following his time at U of M Crookston, Greendahl went on to Northern Montana College where he received his bachelor of science degree in elementary education. He is a retired K-12 physical education teacher, most recently at North Border-Walhalla Public School.
During the awards ceremony, Greendahl thanked his family and friends, called out former teammates in the audience, shared personal stories about his time at U of M Crookston, and acknowledged his coach, Gary Senske.
“Attending school and playing basketball at UMC helped lay a foundation for my teaching and coaching career - 31 years in Walhalla, North Dakota,” Greendahl shared. “Gary Senske was a great coach, there’s just something about him. He looked at you, he got the best out of you, and the best out of our team. There’s a reason why the (Lysaker Gymnasium) floor is named after him. He knew his Xs and Os, he is a legend in my mind.”
“UMC was a great place to be and it’s still a great place to be,” he added.
Watch the video of the event here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ6Mh2AHCeA
View the Homecoming 2024 public gallery here http://z.umn.edu/Homecoming2024
