MANKATO — A $6.3-million grant to transform teaching; a new renewable energy research center; a major scholarship endowment; a national women’s basketball championship and top national sports overall ranking; the conferring of the first doctorates: 2009 was a year of accomplishment for Minnesota State University, the university says.

Some of the year’s top MSU stories:

-- MSU was selected for a groundbreaking new partnership to transform teacher preparation. The 10-year Bush Foundation partnership will dramatically alter how colleges and universities recruit, prepare, place and support K-12 teachers. The Bush Foundation will provide $6.3 million to Minnesota State Mankato for the initiative.

-- The estate of Mankato businessman Warner A. Zeno gave $1.1 million to Minnesota State Mankato for Warner A. Zeno Family Scholarships to deserving Mankato students.

-- Ground was broken for a $1.8-million, 6,300-square-foot Center for Renewable Energy Research and Technology Transfer on the northwest corner of the campus. The center is a state, federal and private collaboration.

-- The Maverick women’s basketball team won the 2009 Division II national championship for the first time in the school’s history, and was honored by Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the Minnesota Twins.

-- MSU awarded the first doctoral degrees ever conferred in the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system. Since the Minnesota Legislature authorized four-year MnSCU institutions to offer applied doctorate degrees, four Minnesota State Mankato doctoral programs have been approved and accredited.

-- Ostrander Auditorium got new seats, stage, wall panels, heating and air conditioning systems and audio-video systems in a $1.6-million renovation. Technological upgrades included new lighting, a new surround sound system, audio and video conferencing capabilities and more wireless connectivity.

-- KMSU-FM was named “Station of the Year” by the Association of Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations for 2008 infrastructure improvements, for adding a remote portable studio, and for winning the 2009 Pathfinder Award. The station also received a $238,500 grant to produce new programming and events that enrich and promote Minnesota art and cultural heritage.

-- For the fourth consecutive year, the MBA program was listed as one of the nation’s best in The Princeton Review’s 2010 business school guidebook.

-- A new partnership between Minnesota State Mankato and the Government of Mexico will help Hispanic immigrants develop their English-speaking skills.

-- Theatre & Dance students earned more finalist and semifinalist awards than any of the other 87 participating colleges and universities at the Region V Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival competition.

-- More than 200 scholarships were distributed as the result of a $169,200 grant from the Charles and Ellora Alliss Educational Foundation.