General | 9/25/2026 4:43:00 PM

CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston is hosting the Alumni Awards Celebration and Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Banquet Friday, October 9 from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Sargeant Student Center Bede Ballroom. The event is hosted by the Alumni Office and Athletics. To RVSP for the banquet, visit https://z.umn.edu/bndq. The cost of registration is $35 and $10 for children. Ages two and under are free.

The Athletic Hall of Fame will induct four new members in the 2026 class. Branden Schwartz 2006 (men's golf), Marlon Bankston 1997 (men's basketball), Neil Austin 2002 (football), and former women's basketball Head Coach Mike Roysland.

Schwartz is the most decorated men's golfer in program history after capturing the 2002 NSIC Men's Golf Championship. He helped the Golden Eagles to the program's first-ever NSIC Championship as a team in 2002. Schwartz is a member of the 2002 squad that was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2017. He tied for seventh at the 2005 NCAA Super Regional, and was named All-Region in 2004-05 and 2005-06. Schwartz was a four-time All-NSIC men's golfer.

Bankston played on the men's basketball team during both the NJCAA and NAIA eras. He finished his career seventh all-time in scoring during the NJCAA era. Bankston was fifth all-time in steals, eighth in rebounds, and the all-time leader in field goal percentage. He was an All-Northwest Division selection in 1991-92 and was a MCCC Honorable Mention selection, and a North Division All-Tournament Team member in 1992. 

Austin finished his football career third all-time with 149 career unassisted tackles. His 17 assisted tackles in a game is a school record. Austin is also third all-time in assisted tackles, and his 27 total tackles in a game is a record. He was co-captain his senior year, and a First Team All-NSIC selection in 2000 and 2001 for the Golden Eagles.

Roysland coached the women's basketball team from 2006-23 before retiring. He led the team to one of their best stretches as a program from 2011-17 with four NSIC Tournament quarterfinal appearances. Roysland is the all-time winningest coach for a women's sport during the four-year era, and is second all-time in coaching wins during the four-year era for any sport. He coached 12 student-athletes to All-NSIC accolades, and helped eight student-athletes eclipse 1,000 points, including the school's two all-time leading scorers Emma Miller and Jamie Zelinsky. He was NSIC Coach of the Year in 2014.

In addition, honorees at the banquet include Outstanding Alumni Award recipients Katie Brucks 2005 and Kelly Boldan 1977, and Abbey [Promise] Award recipient Parker Hanson-Harden. 

Please register for the banquet by October 1. The weekend will be jam-packed with home soccer, volleyball, and hockey Friday, October 9 at 3:00, 6:00, and 7 p.m. On Saturday, Minnesota Crookston has home hockey at 1 p.m., and volleyball at 3 p.m. The Golden Eagles also have a M Alumni Day and Banner Year Celebration Thursday, October 8 from 4-6:30 p.m., in the Sargeant Student Center. Saturday, Minnesota Crookston hosts an event titled "Lasting Legacy with Past Student Activities Directors" starting at 10 a.m., in Bede Ballroom. The Homecoming Block Party will be held at Ed Widseth Field from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. A banner raising for the 2002 Men's Golf NSIC Championship squad will be at the Minnesota Crookston volleyball game at approximately 3:30 p.m. An Alumni and Friends Social concludes Homecoming events Saturday from 5-7 p.m. at Minakwa Golf Course.