MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University received a generous donation of fencing equipment this spring from a former stunt actor and fencing master to help students interested in learning the ancient sport.
Don Dino, who spent six decades practicing and teaching the art of fencing, donated his equipment after learning about the needs of the new Northwest Fencing Club. Dino is the father of Dee Dino, a specialist in Northwest’s Office of Student Involvement.
“It’s exciting for me that his legacy of teaching fencing can continue,” Dee Dino, who attended Shakespeare festivals with her father and brother every summer, said. “Anything we can do to assist clubs and organizations to be more viable for the long term. Having my dad’s name on something that helps students, that’s always been his passion.”
Don Dino played in numerous stage and film productions. He performed as a lead cast member in the “Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular” at Disney-MGM Studios theme park, which is known today as Hollywood Studios, in Orlando, Florida. He also choreographed fight scenes for the Shakespearian State Festival in Boulder, Colorado.
Dino said he hopes his donation will excite a new generation of fencers at Northwest. The donation includes electronic and dry foils and sabers as well as an electronic scoring system. Dino also provided fencing attire such as helmets, jackets and gloves.
Cassandra Alfstad began fencing in seventh grade and started the Northwest Fencing Club, which includes nine members, last fall.
“The club is now able to provide others with the equipment needed to succeed,” Alfstad, a sophomore zoology and wildlife ecology and conservation major from Indianola, Iowa, said. “We hope this brings in more members and allows athletic diversity to expand across the campus.”
The Fencing Club meets every Wednesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Martindale Hall dance studio. Members learn and practice fencing skills during their meetings.
For more information about the Fencing Club, contact the Office of Student Involvement at (660) 562-1226 or Cassandra Alfstad at [email protected].