A former Canora resident is being inducted into a university hall of fame for her sports accomplishments.
Melissa Spelchen, who was a student-athlete and coach at Minot State University, and who is now a current faculty member, was selected by the Minot State University Athletics Hall of Fame Committee to be enshrined in 2016.
“Spelchen had an outstanding career in both volleyball and softball,” an announcement from Minot State University said. Spelchen has earned All-North Dakota College Athletic Conference and All-Dakota Athletic Conference honours three times for her playing in volleyball. She was a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-American in 1997 and 1998, as well as Minot State University’s Most Valuable Player in those same years. She earned the volleyball team’s Defensive Player Award from 1996-1998. In 1998, she completed her sports career by becoming the Dakota Athletic Conference’s Most Valuable Graduating Senior in 1998.
Spelchen coached the softball team at Minot State University for five seasons before she was hired by the university’s Rural Crime and Justice Centre. In 2005, she began teaching for the Criminal Justice department. After three years as the Minot State Criminal Justice co-ordinator at Bismarck State College, in 2011, she moved back to Minot and currently resides there.
Spelchen will be inducted along with two other athletes and the Minot State University football team on October 22. Minot State University congratulated all recipients.
