Football players guide young talent at Community Appreciation Day on Sept. 3.

Bemidji State University’s Community Appreciation Day, an annual event to thank the residents of Bemidji and the surrounding communities for their support of the university, is set for Sept. 1 in conjunction with the football team’s season opener.

The 11th annual event, open to the public at no charge, begins at 4:30 p.m. at the BSU Pavilion and lakeside areas on the BSU campus. Free shuttle bus service from the parking lots at Bangsberg Hall and the John Glas Fieldhouse will begin at 4:15 p.m. Guests parking in the Bangsberg parking lot are encouraged to use the lakefront trail to reach the event.

The event leads into the season opener for BSU’s football team. The Beavers will tackle the Upper Iowa Peacocks in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference contest slated for a 6 p.m. start at Chet Anderson Stadium. Tickets will be available at the gates; prices are $12 for adults, $5 for kids ages 2-12 (children under 2 are admitted free), and $6 for senior citizens aged 62 or older. BSU and Northwest Technical College students are admitted free with a valid ID. Adult general admission tickets are available for advance sale at the Sanford Center box office for $10.

Sponsored by Paul Bunyan Communications, Community Appreciation Day will again feature the “A Taste of BSU”, giving guests a free sampling of food items from local restaurants and organizations. This year’s participants include

4 Kings BBQ, ARAMARK/BSU Dining Services, the Bemidji Area Alumni Chapter, Bemidji Brewing, Big River Scoop, Harmony Natural Foods Co-Op, Jimmy Johns, Lueken’s Village Foods, Minnesota Nice Café, Paul Bunyan Broadcasting/Subway and RP Broadcasting.

There will also be a “Meet the Beavers” session where kids can meet student-athletes from BSU’s varsity intercollegiate sports. Student-athletes will be leading a number of interactive games, and Bucky the Beaver will be available for pictures.

In addition, dozens of booths from various campus departments and activities and local businesses and organizations, along with a variety of games for children, balloons and face painting, will be available throughout the evening. Booth spaces are still available; businesses or organizations wishing to participate in Community Appreciation Day are encouraged to call the BSU Foundation at (218) 755-2779.

Bemidji State University’s 11th Annual Community Appreciation Day is sponsored by the Bemidji Pioneer; Nei Bottling; Paul Bunyan Communications and Gigazone; Paul Bunyan Broadcasting, which includes radio stations Z99, KB101, KZY95.5, KBUN 1450 AM and Classic Hits WQXJ 104.5; and RP Broadcasting, which includes Real Country 98.3, Mix 103.7, WMIS 92.1 The River, Talk Radio 1360 AM and 1300 AM The Sports Fox.

Contact

• Lisa Hofstad; chief administrative officer, BSU Alumni & Foundation; (218) 755-2872

Bemidji State University, located in northern Minnesota’s lake district, occupies a wooded campus along the shore of Lake Bemidji. A member of the Minnesota State system, Bemidji State offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and 11 graduate degrees encompassing arts, sciences and select professional programs. Bemidji State has an enrollment of approximately 5,000 students and a faculty and staff of more than 550. University signature themes include environmental stewardship, civic engagement and global and multi-cultural understanding.

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