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North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) students recently earned top honors at the national SkillsUSA Championships held during the National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) in Atlanta, Georgia in June. Three NDSCS students received medals for their achievements.

Brady Kroll, an NDSCS plumbing student from Barnesville, Minn., won a silver medal in the Plumbing category. Kroll was tested on his ability to ‘rough-in’ hot and cold-water lines with copper tubing and ‘rough-in’ sanitary drainage, waste and vent lines with cast iron and PVC plastic for a water closet, a lavatory, a washer box and a floor drain.

Zachary Lahlam of Marion, ND also won a silver medal, this time in the Power Equipment category. In Power Equipment, Lahlam’s skills were tested in all areas of technology, from understanding related theories, interpreting both electrical and hydraulic schematics to customer service skills.

Additionally, Cale Mouser of Tenstrike, Minn. earned a bronze award in the Diesel Technology category and Shayne Hoffman of New Hradec, N.D., an Architectural Drafting & Estimating Technology student, won fourth place in the Architectural Drafting category.

“Our SkillsUSA participants exemplify all of our talented students at NDSCS and the outstanding faculty that foster their learning and skills. We are incredibly proud of these students’ accomplishments,” said Dr. Lisa Karch, Vice President for Instructional Affairs.

The SkillsUSA Championships event is one of the largest hands-on workforce events in the world and are known for career competition events showcasing the best career and technical education students in the nation. This year’s competition was the first time since 2019 all competitions were held in-person. More than 5,200 contestants competed in 108 separate events, with nearly 1,100 judges and contest organizers make the national event possible.

Funds are now available through Train ND, a division of North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS), to assist North Dakota businesses with costs associated with creating a new or expanded registered apprenticeship programs. Employers are encouraged to visit NDSCS.edu/Apprenticeship to learn more about funding and other support. Funds are available for developing a new apprenticeship model or expanding an existing apprenticeship program to a new industry sector or occupation, population, or meeting needs in a different region or location; these funds were obtained through the Apprenticeship Expansion Grant.

In recent years, governors and state legislatures have recognized apprenticeships as an effective strategy for meeting the needs of businesses, keeping up with a rapidly changing economy, building a skilled workforce, and accelerating growth that leads to economic opportunity for workers and families.

NDSCS Apprenticeship ND Manager, Brian Fuder said, “Expanding apprenticeships will help individuals gain the skills necessary to fill vacancies and help employers find skilled workers more readily. At NDSCS we are here to help and we encourage businesses and industry partners that are considering implementing apprenticeships to reach out for assistance.”

NDSCS hosted the first-ever HEART (Healthcare, Education, Adventure, Research and Tours) Camp July 10-12 in collaboration with Sanford Health and M State. The camp was open to high school juniors, seniors and recent graduates interested in health careers and wanting to further explore career options that require a two-year degree.

This innovative camp provided participants a ‘behind the scenes’ look into many health career fields. Participants were able to explore health-focused academic programs through hands-on activities and then were able to experience the careers in an actual clinic, lab, and hospital setting with current healthcare professionals. “We are so fortunate to have Sanford as a partner. We are able to provide incoming students the opportunity to experience what they’ll be learning in our allied health areas, but because of Sanford’s partnership they actually get to engage with current professionals in real-world healthcare settings,” said NDSCS Vice President for Student Affairs and Strategy, Dr. Jane Vangsness Frisch.

Students were able to tour, learn and experience hands-on activities in various career paths including Nursing, Occupational Therapy Assisting, Pharmacy Tech, Emergency Medical Services, Cath Lab: CVT/I/Surgical Tech/Radiological Tech, Medical Laboratory/Phlebotomy, Dental Assisting/Hygiene, and Health Information.

The following students participated in Heart Camp 2022:

• Brooke Davis, Wyndmere Public School – Grade 12
• Nevaeh (Ashe) Rosenbury, Central Cass, Grade 11
• Alexandria Lade, Central Cass, Grade 11
• Madison Cameron, Battle Lake Public School, Grade 11
• Josie Johnson, Breckenridge High School, Grade 12
• Hadley DeTienne, Stanley High School, Grade 12
• Maddison McCarthy, Powers Lake High School, Grade 12

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has selected North Dakota State College of Science’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Technology program to be an Unmanned Aircraft Systems -Collegiate Training Initiative program or the UAS-CTI.

The FAA’s UAS-CTI program recognizes institutions that prepare students for careers in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones. In order to qualify for the initiative, schools must offer a bachelor’s or associate degree in UAS or a degree with a minor, concentration, or certificate in UAS. Schools must provide curriculum covering various aspects of UAS training, including hands-on flight practice, maintenance, uses, applications, privacy concerns, safety, and federal policies concerning UAS.

“This recognition demonstrates that NDSCS provides the highest quality education to our students. We are excited to be a part of the UAS-CTI training initiative – it will help further strengthen and grow our UAS program,” says Vice President for Instructional Affairs, Dr. Lisa Karch.

Seth Simonson, Assistant Professor for Construction Management, Land Surveying & Civil Engineering and UAS at NDSCS says, “The opportunity for NDSCS students to gain this skill or continue their education with UAS provides even more significance and experience to their already valuable education. NDSCS is committed to and prepared to educate students into the future for UAS.”

North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) Alumni Foundation will provide more than $1 million in scholarships to students this fall. In just six years the NDSCS Scholarship Fund has grown from $400 thousand to more than $1 million.

“Through the generosity of our business and industry partners, alumni, and friends we are able to reduce the up-front costs of attending NDSCS” said Kim Nelson, Executive Director of the NDSCS Alumni Foundation. Nelson also shared that donors’ generosity was amplified through the North Dakota Challenge Grant legislative appropriation that provides a 2-to-1 match for donations up to $25 thousand or more. Since its inception in 2013 the ND Challenge Grant has awarded the NDSCS Alumni Foundation just over $4 million.

NDSCS scholarships are available to all new and returning NDSCS students in all programs and awarded based on a variety of criteria including academic ability, progression toward graduation, students’ programs demographics, and/or hometown. Scholarships benefit all NDSCS students regardless of how they access their learning — at NDSCS Wahpeton, NDSCS Fargo, Online, and/or while they are still in high school through dual credit.

“Higher education is an investment and at NDSCS we are constantly identifying ways to make College more affordable for our students,” said Dr. Jane Vangsness Frisch, Vice President for Student Affairs and Strategy. “We strive to keep costs low and are grateful for generosity shown by our many partners and donors – through this generosity 74% of students Fall 2021 attended tuition-free through scholarships, grants and being sponsored by industry partners.”

To find out about more giving opportunities learn more at NDSCSAlumni.com/Scholarships