Five St. Cloud State University alumni will be receiving SCSU Alumni Association Awards in a series of recognition events during the fall Celebrate St. Cloud State weekend October 12-14. This year’s recipients are:
- Major General Neal Loidolt ’88: Distinguished Alumni Award
- Dennis Andersen ’66: Alumni Service Award
- Corita Beckermann ’98 ’02: University Leadership Award
- Jennifer Sell Matzke ’96: University Leadership Award
- Haji Yussuf ’10: Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award
Major General Neal Loidolt received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a minor in Economics from St. Cloud State University in 1988. He began his military career 
by enlisting in the Minnesota National Guard in 1984 and received his commission from the St. Cloud State ROTC in 1987. Loidolt served as Commander – 34th “Red Bull” Infantry Division for the National Guard and received numerous awards throughout his military career. He has also served as Deputy Adjutant General for the Minnesota National Guard, facilitating domestic operations for the State.
Dennis Andersen received his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 1966 from St. Cloud State. He is the owner of the Central Minnesota Counseling Center, which has been in existence since 1977. Andersen served St. Cloud State in the past as an adjunct professor of Psychology from 1975 to 2003.
Corita Beckermann received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration in 1998 and her Master of Science in Special Studies: Student Health Services degree in 2002 from St. Cloud State.She serves as St. Cloud State’s Director of Student Health Services, a position she has held since 2002.
Jennifer Sell Matzke received her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from St. Cloud State in 1996. She has worked at SCSU since 2001 in several capacities and is currently serving as Assistant Dean of Students, a position she has held since 2012. She also serves as a Deputy Title IX coordinator at SCSU. Most recently, Matzke was appointed to oversee Residential Life at St. Cloud State.
Haji Yussuf, our Graduate of the Last Decade, received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication with a minor in English-Creative Writing from St. Cloud State in 2010. He serves as a community advocate and CEO of Orange Oak, a private multi-lingual company advertising in all languages. Yussuf previously served as a Director of #unitecloud. He is also founder of Midnimo USA, a group working to reduce racial and religious tension in Minnesota and the USA.
They will receive their awards at the SCSU Foundation’s annual Gala on Thursday, October 12. Following an informal reception for friends, family and nominators on Friday, October 13, they will be recognized at halftime of the SCSU football game against Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday, October 14.
