Meyer ’72 to receive Distinguished Alumni Award

Marie Meyer ’72 is the 2015-16 recipient of the St. Cloud State University Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Award for distinguishing herself through her career, service to society and to St. Cloud State University.

Meyer knows what women’s athletics looked and felt like when it took its first steps to becoming an intercollegiate program in the late 1960’s. One of the pioneers of women’s athletics at St. Cloud State, Meyer arrived on campus just as the women’s athletics program came into being. She was a member of the first women’s basketball team, first softball team and first volleyball team at St. Cloud State. She played four seasons in all three sports and was named the Most Valuable Player of the softball team in 1971. In 1972, she did a coaching practicum and served as the assistant softball coach that season. She graduated in the spring of 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and minor in vocal music. She also received certifications in coaching and driver education.

After graduation, Meyer went on to serve as a teacher, mentor and role model for girls participating in athletics in her 32-plus year tenure at Braham High School where she taught physical education and coached volleyball, basketball and track, and served as athletic director for 24 years.

Meyer is credited with bringing new sports opportunities for girls at Braham High School. In 2015, Meyer was inducted into the St. Cloud State Athletics Hall of Fame.

Meyer will be recognized at a series of events during Fall Celebrate weekend Sept. 15-17 at St. Cloud State.

Meyer’s awards and honors

• 1992 – First female in Minnesota to earn the Class A Athletic Director of the Year award
• 2002 – Inducted into the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches’ Hall of Fame
• 2005 – inducted into the Braham Athletics Hall of Fame
• Minnesota National Girls and Women in Sports Day Breaking Barriers and Boundaries Award
• Marie Berg NGWSD Award