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Revved up for round two: M State SOAT Auto Heritage Awards return to Cruise Nights

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Robert Berry, the first-ever winner of the M State School of Applied Technology’s Auto Heritage Award, poses with his trophy in front of his winning 1964 Ford Falcon Sprint at the May 2025 Cruise Night event at the college’s Moorhead campus.
Robert Berry, the first-ever winner of the M State School of Applied Technology’s Auto Heritage Award, poses with his trophy in front of his winning 1964 Ford Falcon Sprint at the May 2025 Cruise Night event at the college’s Moorhead campus.

Classic cars, live music, food and community will soon roll back onto the M State Moorhead campus for another summer of Moorhead Cruise Nights – and for the second year in a row, M State’s School of Applied Technology (SOAT) will be on hand to celebrate standout classic car owners through its Auto Heritage Awards. 

Presented at each monthly Cruise Night event, the Auto Heritage Awards recognize classic car owners who demonstrate exceptional knowledge of their vehicle’s place in U.S. automotive history. Introduced in 2025, the awards quickly became a beloved part of the Cruise Night experience, according to Dr. Mark Bannatyne, SOAT dean and Cruise Night fan. 

“Last year’s Cruise Nights were a lot of fun, and the response to the Auto Heritage Award was overwhelmingly positive,” he says. “Car owners loved sharing the stories behind their vehicles, and we’re excited to continue celebrating that passion and history again this summer.”

Bannatyne and students from the M State Automotive Student Club select the award recipients, giving students a real-world opportunity to engage with classic cars, learn from enthusiasts and build connections within the automotive community.

Held in the parking lot of M State’s Moorhead campus on the first Thursday of every month from May through September, Cruise Nights are free, family-friendly and open to the public. The first event of the 2026 season is scheduled for Thursday, May 7, from 5-8:30 p.m.