Seven individuals were honored by the University of Minnesota Crookston during Homecoming 2026 as this year’s alumni award winners and athletic hall of fame inductees. Parker Hanson 2019 received the Abbey [Promise] Award, Katie (Weyenberg) Brucks 2005 and Kelly Boldan 1977 were recognized with the Outstanding Alumni Award, and Branden Schwartz 2006 (men’s golf), Neil Austin 2002 (football), 1997 (men’s basketball), and Mike Roysland 2006-2023 coach for women’s basketball were inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame.
View the 2026 Alumni Awards Ceremony and Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet photo gallery at z.umn.edu/2026_alumni_awards. View the full 2026 Homecoming photo gallery at z.umn.edu/UMNCrookstonHomecoming2026.
Parker Hanson
Parker Hanson graduated from the University of Minnesota Crookston in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in business management. He went on to earn a master’s in sports administration and leadership and is currently a wealth management advisor at Merrill Lynch, helping clients achieve their financial goals. Hanson is also a public speaker, traveling the country to share messages of inspiration and motivation. Hanson was born without his left hand and overcame his disability to play college baseball and then professional baseball. He has traveled the country to mentor youth with disabilities and speak professionally to share his story in hopes of guiding others through adversity. Hanson is a member of Employment Disability Resources, an ambassador for Shriner’s Patient Alumni Network, and a diplomat for the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce. While playing baseball for UMN Crookston, Hanson earned a spot on the NSIC All-Academic Team, and later baseball careers led him to earn CoSIDA District 7 Academic All-District First Team and became the second professional baseball pitcher with one hand. Hanson currently plays baseball alongside his teammates on the Louisville Slugger Warriors National Amputee team. He resides in Sioux Falls, SD, with his wife, Olivia, and one child.
Katie (Weyenberg) Brucks
Katie (Weyenberg) Brucks graduated from the University of Minnesota Crookston in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in equine industry management. She’s currently the owner of Lucky Stables and serves as a barn manager, riding instructor, and equine-assisted services provider, plus she’s a high school coach, college coach, and coach of special needs equestrian teams.
Brucks is also the founder of The Lucky Foundation, a nonprofit that harnesses the therapeutic power of horses to create a space where individuals with disabilities and special needs find support and experience a profound sense of accomplishment. She has taken riders to national events and earned a special achievement award from the Wisconsin Horse Council, and has been honored as the 2026 Wisconsin Horseperson of the Year.
While a student at UMN Crookston, Brucks earned Equine Student of the Year and placed tenth in the nation in western equitation at a national competition. She resides in Neenah, WI, with her husband and two children.
Kelly Boldan
Kelly Boldan graduated from the University of Minnesota Crookston (Technical Institute) in 1977 with an associate’s degree in rural communications media production management. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in print journalism and general agriculture, and a master’s in business administration. Boldan is currently the site leader and editor of the West Central Tribune in Willmar, MN, part of Forum Communications Co., where he oversees all content and operations.
He has decades of management experience with daily and weekly newspapers, has developed news and reporting staff, directed media strategy, grown readership, and received numerous accolades, awards, and honors.
Boldan will become president of the Minnesota Newspaper Association and Minnesota Media Institute in 2027 and is a current member of the Willmar Rotary Club, Willmar Area Chamber of Commerce, and Willmar Area Community Foundation. He resides in Willmar with his wife, Cinda, and enjoys following their son’s hockey management career at the University of Utah.
Branden Schwartz
Branden Schwartz graduated from the University of Minnesota Crookston in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in business management. He went on to receive a master’s degree in business administration and is currently the director of strategy and market science for cardiology at Boston Scientific focusing on new markets and growth opportunities, portfolio optimization strategies, and internal consulting projects that help shape the future of cardiology.
Schwartz is the most decorated men’s golfer in program history after helping the Golden Eagles to their first-ever NSIC Championship as a team in 2002. 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 and received accolades as NSIC Player of the Year, UMN Crookston Newcomer of the Year, and Student Athlete of the Year.
Schwartz is also a member of the 2002 squad that was inducted as a team into the Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2017. Schwartz resides in Rogers, MN, with his wife, Allison, and three children.
Neil Austin
Neil Austin graduated from the University of Minnesota Crookston in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in sport and recreation management and in 2002 with an associate’s degree in marketing management. He later became the owner of A & K Custom Cabinetry LLC.
Austin finished his football career third all-time with 149 career unassisted tackles. His 17 assisted tackles in a game earned 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. Austin resides in Albany, MN, with his wife, Amanda, a 2002 UMN Crookston alumna, and four children.
Marlon Bankston
Marlon Bankston graduated from the University of Minnesota Crookston in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in health management. He went on to receive a master’s in health services management and human resources development. Bankston is currently the division director for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, providing executive leadership and oversight for the administration and management of health insurance plans participating in the Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace.
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.
Bankston received accolades as a UMN Crookston most valuable player, team captain, and received the ‘Hustle’ award. He resides in San Marcos, TX, with his wife, Adison, and one child.
Mike Roysland
Mike Roysland coached the UMN Crookston Golden Eagles women’s basketball team from 2006 to 2023 before retiring. He led the team to one of the program’s best stretches from 2011-17, with four NSIC Tournament quarterfinal appearances.
Roysland is the all-time winningest coach in a women’s sport during the four-year era and is second all-time in coaching wins for any sport during the four-year era. 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 2026 and Jamie Zelinsky 2011. He was the NSIC Coach of the Year in 2014.
Outside UMN Crookston, Roysland coached boys basketball for 27 years, recorded 364 wins as a volleyball coach, was a three-time state Coach of the Year, earned a Hall of Fame slot under the Minnesota State Coaches Association, and was inducted as a player into the Hall of Fame for Bemidji State University. Roysland resides in Fosston, MN, with his wife, Kim, and enjoys spending time with their children and grandchildren.
About the Abbey [Promise] Award
The award recognizes alumni who graduated within the past 15 years and have shown evidence of “sowing the seeds” to create transformative change to better humanity – to improve the lives of individuals (including marginalized and vulnerable groups), communities, or the world through their positive work with people, animals, or the environment. Within a short time after receiving their degree, recipients of this award begin their journey to change the world, demonstrating the promise of current and/or future impact through their professional work and/or volunteer efforts. Through their drive and determination, the “promise” shown in the seeds they plant and nurture over time will result in positive changes in our world.
About the Outstanding Alumni Award
The Outstanding Alumni Award is the highest honor bestowed on University of Minnesota Crookston alumni by the UMN Crookston Alumni Relations department and its Alumni Association board, and is given annually at Homecoming. The award recognizes alumni from the University of Minnesota Crookston who attended at least 15 years prior to the nomination and have distinguished themselves by demonstrating outstanding success in their professional or creative endeavors. Additional factors are also considered in the evaluation of the nominee, including: education beyond UMN Crookston attendance, community involvement, humanitarian work, and involvement and support of UMN Crookston.
About the UMC Athletic Hall of Fame
The intent and purpose of the University of Minnesota Crookston Athletic Hall of Fame is to honor and preserve the memory of those athletes, teams, coaches, and others who have contributed in a very outstanding and positive way to the promotion of the University of Minnesota Crookston athletic programs.
Katie (Weyenberg) Brucks, Neil Austin, Marlon Bankston, Branden Schwartz
