M STATE SHOWS IT’S ‘WALKING THE WALK’ WITH 8TH CONSECUTIVE ASPEN RECOGNITION
MOORHEAD – Minnesota State Community and Technical College (M State) has been named one of the top 150 community colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute, making it a contender for the $1 million 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.
The Aspen Prize is awarded every two years by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program and is the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among community colleges. M State has been named a top 150 institution in every awards cycle since the inception of the Aspen Prize program in 2011. It is one of only two colleges in Minnesota that can claim that distinction.
“We consider it a great privilege to be recognized as a college of excellence by the Aspen Institute,” says M State President Carrie Brimhall. “To receive the honor eight consecutive times is a testament to our deep and consistent commitment to student success, and a humbling reminder that the good work we do here, in service of our students, does not go unnoticed.”
The 150 Aspen Prize-eligible institutions are pulled from a pool of more than 1,000, putting them in the top 15% of all community colleges in the nation. Diverse in size and scope, the colleges are located across 30 states in urban, rural and suburban areas, and they serve as few as 169 students or as many as 49,619. M State was one of just six in Minnesota to receive the honor this year.
MOORHEAD LIBRARY TO HOST GENEALOGY 101 WORKSHOP
MOORHEAD – Your Lake Agassiz Regional Library card offers you access to three huge genealogy databases. Join genealogy expert Rick Crume for a workshop exploring how to navigate these databases, which include Ancestry.com (Library Edition), HeritageQuest Online and FamilySearch.
Attend this workshop to learn how to access:
Historical records from countries around the world
Family trees with billions of names and in-depth research guides
Even more historical records on-site at the library than you can view at home
And much more!
The Genealogy 101 Workshop will be offered at the Moorhead Public Library on Tuesday, November 28 at 6:30 p.m. This program is offered free-of-charge, thanks in part to funding from the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund. Learn more at larl.org/legacy.

FREE ENTRANCE TO MINNESOTA STATE PARKS AND RECREATION AREAS ON NOV. 24
Minnesotans encouraged to explore outdoors with friends and family over the holiday weekend
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is waiving entrance fees to all 75 state parks and recreation areas on Friday, Nov. 24 – the day after Thanksgiving. This “Free Park Day” is one of four days each year when the DNR waives the requirement for a vehicle permit at state parks and recreation areas. The goal of Free Park Days is to encourage Minnesotans to get outdoors and enjoy the health and wellness benefits of spending time in nature.
“During the hustle and bustle of the busy holiday season, Minnesota state parks and recreation areas are the perfect places to enjoy the tranquility of nature,” said Ann Pierce, director of the DNR Parks and Trails Division. “We encourage people to get outside with friends and family after Thanksgiving gatherings to enjoy the calming sights and sounds of nature.”