Bemidji State University

In 1974, Vance Balstad took a temporary job in Bemidji State's athletics department that turned into a thirty-six year career.  As equipment manager, Balstad served as friend, mentor, disciplinarian, laundryman, doorman, protector, surrogate-parent, Zamboni driver, organizer, university ambassador, and the greeter who welcomes every alumnus and former coach home when they return to BSU.  

Working mostly behind the scenes, Balstad made sure everything was set up and ready for each home athletic contest and who was long after fans, teams and players were gone to clean up and put things away. 

The humble man went about his work expecting no praise.  Along the way, touching the lives of nearly every student-athlete, coach or student employee with a role in BSU atheltics. 

This award is intended to honor him for all he's done to help build BSU athletic programs.