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North Dakota State College of Science honored numerous employees at the annual Employee Recognition Program on May 1, 2019. Faculty and staff members were named recipients of the College’s Excellence in Teaching Award and Excellence in Service Award as well as the College’s LIFE award.

The Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes instructors who, among other outstanding characteristics, stimulate present and continuing interest in the subject matter, present courses so that the topics are clear, suitable and well-integrated, and demand rigorous thought and generate enthusiastic responses from the students while achieving course objectives. This year’s recipients were chosen from a group of more than 50 nominees. The honorees are:
• Margaret Brady: Associate Professor, Mathematics and Science
• Chuck Campbell: Associate Professor, Diesel Technology
• Stacie Garland: Instructor, Nursing
• Chanel Malone: Assistant Professor / Program Coordinator, Allied Dental Education

The Excellence in Service Award recognizes employees who consistently go above and beyond every day and exemplify the College’s values of learning, integrity, flexibility and excellence. All NDSCS support staff are eligible to be nominated. The honorees are:
• Kim Dassenko: Office Manager, Academic Affairs
• Ryan Hanson: IT Support Specialist, Information Technology Services
• Shannon Herman: Administrative Assistant, Distance Education
• Alissa Sherven: Student Life Assistant, Customer Service Desk, Student Life

This year’s LIFE award recognized Alissa Herbranson, who serves as the Assistant Director for Business Operations in the Residential Life department. The award stands for “Bringing LIFE to NDSCS” and is presented to an individual, employee group or committee that exemplifies LIFE (Leadership, Integrity, Flexibility and Excellence) values by demonstrating and practicing the NDSCS Quality Standards. This can be done with an event, project or activity that reflects these areas.

Herbranson was recognized for her work in implementing multiple processes to improve departmental business operations. These have included developing comprehensive systems to effectively track and monitor student housing placements, and transforming numerous paper applications and forms to an online platform. She was also instrumental in developing the LGBTQ roommate matching system to provide a more inclusive environment for students. Through her leadership, Herbranson and her staff have created comprehensive lines of communication through multiple platforms to ensure students are informed and to meet the needs of how students prefer to communicate.

Students from the North Dakota State College of Science received a number of awards at the North Dakota SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference, which was held at NDSCS in April. By achieving gold medals at the state level, 13 of these students qualified to compete in their respective categories at the national SkillsUSA Championships, which will be held in Louisville, Ky. in June.

The NDSCS students who received gold, silver or bronze medals at the state competition include:

NORTH DAKOTA
Bismarck: Morgan Berg, Welding, Silver; Charlie Jacobson, Welding Fabrication, Gold; Tanner Klein, Motorcycle Service Technology, Gold; Summer Peterson, Culinary Arts, Gold; Kolby Wetch, Diesel Equipment Technology, Gold
Dickinson: Jakob Ohl, Automotive Service Technology, Gold
Fargo: Dylan Erdmann, CNC Turning Specialist, Bronze; Bryan Sholts, Power Equipment Technology, Gold
Granville: Chase Brodehl, Plumbing, Gold
Jamestown: Dillon Bischoff, Diesel Equipment Technology, Silver; Nate Klose, HVAC, Silver; Jason Schulte, HVAC, Bronze
Lidgerwood: Daniel Novotny, Automotive Service Technology, Bronze
Mandan: Trae Bennett, Welding Fabrication, Gold
Rolette: Tanner Anderson, Diesel Equipment Technology, Bronze
South Heart: Oliver Kelly, Plumbing, Silver
Wahpeton: Drew Bajumpaa, HVAC, Gold
Williston: Steven Fixen, Electrical Construction Wiring, Gold

MINNESOTA
Barnesville: Jalen Plath, Power Equipment Technology, Silver; Tyler Stage, Power Equipment Technology, Bronze
East Grand Forks: Nick Jundt, Welding Fabrication, Gold
Fergus Falls: Jack Jacobs, Welding, Gold
Frazee: Ryan Roble, Electrical Construction Wiring, Silver
Hallock: Carson Thorsteinson, CNC Technician, Gold
Ortonville: Travis Kellen, Welding, Bronze

MONTANA
Glendive: David Rennie, Automotive Service Technology, Silver

WISCONSIN
Durand: Mike Burda, CNC Milling Specialist, Silver

NDSCS Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Jane Vangsness Frisch has been selected by the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program to join the 2019-2020 class of the Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence. This leadership program is aimed at preparing the next generation of community college presidents to transform institutions to achieve higher and more equitable levels of student success, both in college and in the labor market.

“Congratulations to Jane on her selection for this very prestigious professional development program,” said NDSCS President John Richman. “Jane’s many accomplishments and contributions have positively impacted NDSCS and higher education, and I’m excited for her to build upon her experiences through this fellowship.”

Vangsness Frisch and the 39 other Aspen Presidential Fellows will embark on a 10-month fellowship beginning in July 2019. Delivered in collaboration with the Stanford Educational Leadership Initiative, the fellows will work with mentors – current and former community college presidents – who have achieved exceptional outcomes for students throughout their careers. Fellows will also learn from national experts about ways to harness data to assess student success outcomes, strategies for internal change leadership, and how to create strong external partnerships with K-12 schools, four-year colleges, and employers.

The Aspen Presidential Fellowship responds to a specific and growing need for a new generation of leaders who are well-equipped to meet the challenges of the future. Nationally, nearly 80 percent of community college presidents plan to retire in the next decade. The pathway to replace them has traditionally excluded women and people of color. The incoming class of Aspen Presidential Fellows is 65 percent female and non-binary, 43 percent are people of color, and their institutions vary widely in size and location.

“Evidence shows that substantial improvements in student success are achieved only when presidents have the commitment and skill needed to lead change within their institutions and through partnerships in the community,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program. “These fellows have been chosen because they embody that commitment and, we believe, will build their skills even further to become transformational presidents.”

Vangsness Frisch was selected through a rigorous process that considered her abilities to take strategic risks, lead strong teams and cultivate partnerships, and focus on results-oriented improvements in student success and access.

The Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence is supported by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, College Futures Foundation, Greater Texas Foundation, JP Morgan Chase Foundation, Joyce Foundation, Kresge Foundation, and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Two students from the NDSCS Welding Technology program took top honors in the American Welding Society Northern Plains Section’s 2019 Behind the Mask Welding Competition.

The students, both from Fargo, are:
• Tyler Mehrer – first place, wire feed welding competition
• Dillon Cardwell – first place, stick welding competition

Nearly 100 contestants from five post-secondary institutions and five high schools competed in welding tests throughout the day. Prizes were awarded to the top welders in each category.

Students from the North Dakota State College of Science Diesel Technology program took top honors in the Colorado TopTech Skills Competition. Mason Vogeler was named the top student technician, and Dillon Bischoff placed second. The participants’ scores from each of nine categories were combined for an overall score for the competition.

Three NDSCS students were named the high scorers in multiple categories of the competition. Those students and categories are:
• Dillon Bischoff: CSA/Out of Service, Wheel End, and Precision Measuring categories
• Mason Vogeler: Electrical and Fasteners categories
• Baron Van Oosting: Written Test and Brake Station categories

By placing first overall, Mason Vogeler qualified to participate in the national competition in September. Other participants from NDSCS included Bridger Crandall and Dillon Schramm.

The TopTech Skills Competition tests the skills of diesel technicians in multiple heavy duty maintenance categories. The competition included a written test and several hands-on stations. The contest, held in Denver, was conducted by the Colorado Motor Carriers Association.