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This summer, M State’s School of Applied Technology rolled out a new tradition at Moorhead Cruise Night: the SOAT Auto Heritage Award, a trophy recognizing classic car owners who showcase standout vehicles and demonstrate deep knowledge of their car’s significance in U.S. automotive history.
The idea for the award came from Mark Bannatyne, a classic car enthusiast and the dean of the School of Applied Technology. Bannatyne is a regular at the cruise nights, held in the M State campus parking lot in Moorhead. A monthly event featuring classic cars, food trucks and live music, the cruise nights run May through September, the first Thursday of every month, from 5:30-8 p.m.
“I walk by all the cars, speak with owners, ask them what makes their cars unique, and gather interesting stories from them,” says Bannatyne. “They love the trophy. One winner was so excited he almost broke down in tears. He told me that in all his years of attending car shows, he had never won anything.”
The SOAT award – SOAT stands for School of Applied Technology – debuted in May, with the first honor going to Robert Berry and his winning 1964 Ford Falcon Sprint. There have been three more monthly winners since then, and the final winner of 2025 will be selected on September 4, during the last cruise night of the season. That evening’s event will also mark the kickoff of Greater Moorhead Days, with a large procession of cars including the electric vehicle used in M State’s automotive program.
For this first season of the award, Bannatyne has selected the monthly winners himself, but there are plans to involve members of the M State Automotive Student Club in future years. Students will take the lead in choosing award recipients, adding a real-world learning experience.
“I intend for this to be an annual tradition for as long as I’m here,” Bannatyne says. “And I hope the Automotive Student Club will carry it forward long after I’ve left the college.”
