Aurora Borealis
Winter 2009 
 The Newspaper Dedicated to the Northern Family
2008 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductions
Winter 2009

The 2008 Northern Alumni Association All Sports Hall of Fame awards were awarded during Alumni Games Weekend October 17th and 18th, 2008 on the MSU-Northern campus. The awards highlighted a 79 year tradition of excellence both in the classroom and on the playing field at Montana State University Northern. First awarded in 1994, the Hall of Fame has inducted 57 individuals who have contributed to that tradition. MSU-Northern and the Northern Alumni Association awarded Stacy L. Barnes of Great Falls, Montana, Wendy Badgett Bekkedahl of Billings, Montana, and Kevin J. Owens of Hampton, Virginia commemorative awards in ceremonies during the halftime of the Lights/Alumni basketball game.

 
Kevin Owens, Wendy Dagett Bekkendahl and Stacey L. Barnes
Kevin Owens, Wendy Dagett Bekkendahl and Stacey L. Barnes
proudly stand in front of the Hall of Fame Display

Stacy L. Barnes, of Great Falls, Montana, competed for the Skylight's basketball team from 1993-97 on four Frontier Conference championship teams and in four national tournaments. She was a three year starter garnering All Conference All Pacific first team selections her junior year. Barnes was an All Conference first team selection and player of the week three times her senior year as well as All American honorable mention. She is the 6th all time leading scorer in Skylight's history with 1,250 points. Barnes is currently employed as a kindergarten teacher for the Great Falls Public Schools at Longfellow Elementary School.

A Broadus, Montana native, Wendy Badgett Bekkedahl, was a four year starter for the Skylight's basketball team from 1994-1997. playing on four Frontier Conference championship teams that also made four national tournament appearances. As team captain for three years, Badgett earned AllAcademic honors all four years. She enters the Hall of Fame as a two sport athlete earning recognition for her achievements as a member of the MSU-Northern Rodeo team. During her sophomore year, she placed 4th in the Big Sky Region in barrel racing and 2nd in the Big Sky Region in breakaway roping. During her senior year, she placed 4th in the nation in breakaway roping.

 

Kevin J. Owens of Hampton, Virginia was a four year player for the Light's basketball program from 1995-1998. During his freshman year, he led the team in rebounds, setting a new school record for a season with 306. That year, the Light's won their first Frontier Conference championship and became the first Montana team to ever reach the quarterfinals in the NAIA national tourney. Owens was selected as the Pacific Northwest Region player of the week his sophomore year and played on two more Frontier Conference championship teams. One of the team captains his senior year, he finished his career at Northern in 5th place on the MSU-Northern all time scoring list with 1,421 points having garnered all conference and all regional honors as well as NAIA All American honorable mention honors.

The Northern Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame recognizes players, managers, and coaches for achievement of athletic honors in their sport and individuals for their outstanding and meritorious service to Northern Athletics. Criteria for nominations are available from the Northern Alumni Office, the Athletic Office or on line at www.msun.edu/alunmi/fame.htm. Complete nomination packets are available from the Alumni or Athletic Offices.

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Last Update: 16-Jan-2009