North Dakota State College of Science has again been re-accredited as a CEO Cancer Gold Standard^TM employer for 2017. NDSCS has maintained this standard since 2013.

NDSCS is a tobacco-free campus and has an active employee-driven Wellness Team that oversees campus-wide initiatives, including health screenings, a flu shot blitz, a fruit/veggie challenge, healthy cooking classes, walking programs and more.

The CEO Roundtable on Cancer, a nonprofit organization of CEOs, founded by former President George H.W. Bush, created the Gold Standard to recognize employers for taking exceptional health and wellness measures on behalf of their employees.

To earn Gold Standard accreditation, an employer must take concrete actions to reduce the risk and burden of cancer: prohibit tobacco use and support tobacco cessation efforts; promote physical activity, healthy nutrition and weight management; provide health insurance options that include detecting cancer at its earliest stages, access to quality care and participation in cancer clinical trials; promote employee awareness of these initiatives; and support the needs of cancer survivors in the workplace.

North Dakota State College of Science will hold its commencement ceremony on Friday, May 12 at 3 p.m. in the Ed Werre Arena located in the Clair T. Blikre Activities Center in Wahpeton, N.D. Six hundred sixty four students from the Wahpeton campus, NDSCS-Fargo location and online are scheduled to graduate. One hundred ninety three of these graduates will be recognized with a Scholastic Achievement Award.

Barry Frank, Faculty Senate President, will serve as the Grand Marshal, Vice President for Academic Affairs Harvey Link will preside as the Master of Ceremonies and NDSCS President John Richman will give remarks and recognitions as well as the presentation of degrees, diplomas and certificates. Dean Emerita Barbara Bang and Faculty Emeritus Max Reinke will be honored. Mason Rademacher, Student Senate President, will share his remarks. The NDSCS Performing Arts department will also perform musical selections.

The North Dakota State College of Science will honor Barbara Bang as Dean Emerita and Max Reinke as Faculty Emeritus at the College’s Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 12, in Wahpeton.

A graduate of the NDSCS Architectural Drafting program, Barbara Bang was an associate professor and department chair for 25 years and served as the Dean of the Technologies and Services Division for 17 years. As Dean, she developed partnerships and strategies to help meet workforce needs in manufacturing, transportation and construction. Bang currently serves as the immediate past-president of the National Council for Workforce Education and is a representative for the Commission on Economic and Workforce Development for the American Association of Community Colleges. She has an A.A.S. degree from NDSCS, a B.S. degree in Technical Education from the University of South Dakota and an M.Ed. in Educational Administration from North Dakota State University.

A graduate of the NDSCS Liberal Arts program, Max Reinke spent 42 years as an instructor and coach at the College, and twice served as Department Chair of the Mathematics and Science Department. Reinke was the Secretary/Treasurer of the Alumni Letterwinners Club for 15 years, a 10-year member of the Catbackers/Letterwinners Club and coordinated Wildcat Athletic Camps for 39 years. He has been honored by the NDSCS Alumni/Foundation with the Wildcat Award and Tradition Award, and was honored four times by the NDSCS Athletic Hall of Fame. Reinke has an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts from NDSCS and a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Dickinson State University.

The NDSCS Commencement ceremony will be held in the Ed Werre Arena in the Clair T. Blikre Activities Center at 3:00 p.m. on May 12, 2017.

Eight North Dakota State College of Science faculty and staff members have been chosen and named recipients of the College’s Excellence in Teaching Award and Excellence in Service Award for the 2016-2017 academic year.

The Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes instructors who, among other outstanding characteristics, demonstrate competence and sincere interest in their subjects, present material in a suitable, well-integrated fashion and encourage participation from students. Selection criteria include student evaluations, feedback and deliberations by a selection committee comprised of faculty members and students. This year’s recipients were chosen from a group of more than 50 nominees. The honorees are:
• Danielle Erickson: Instructor, Allied Dental Education
• Larry Merbach: Professor, Mathematics and Science
• Bryan Poyzer: Instructor and Program Coordinator, English, Communication and Performing Arts
• Brian Rempfer: Associate Professor, Automotive Technology

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. Nominations are open to those serving in the professional, office support, technical, paraprofessional, trades and service positions that are not on probationary status with recipients chosen by the President and Vice Presidents. The honorees are:
• Jill Anderson: Project Manager, Facilities Management
• Tana Erbes: Program Outreach Specialist, Academic Affairs
• Mindy Manock Tayer: Academic Counselor, Student Success Center
• Leslie Shirek: Program Outreach Specialist, Academic Affairs

North Dakota State College of Science John Deere Tech students recently placed in the Agricultural Machinery Service Technician Contest at the National Postsecondary Agricultural Student (PAS) Conference, which was located in St. Louis, Mo.

Three NDSCS teams comprised of two students each participated, winning third, ninth, and twelfth places at the national contest.
• 3rd Place: Ben Lindroos and Dominic Ourada. Lindroos is from Sebeka, Minn., and is sponsored by Midwest Machinery of Wadena, Minn. Ourada is from Wabasso, Minn., and is sponsored by Kibble Equipment Inc. of Wabasso, Minn.
• 9th Place: Justin Bauer and Nathan Maus. Bauer is from Bismarck, N.D., and is sponsored by RDO Equipment of Bismarck, N.D. Maus is from Freeport, Minn., and is sponsored by Larsons Inc. of Wheaton, Minn.
• 12th Place: Chris Kucera and Jake Refshaw. Kucera is from Thief River Falls, Minn., and is sponsored by RDO Equipment of Breckenridge, Minn. Refshaw is from Mahnomen, Minn., and is sponsored by Evergreen Implement of Mahnomen, Minn.

Twenty three teams from five states competed in the contest, including colleges from Iowa, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota and Wisconsin. The Agricultural Machinery Technician competition is part of the Career Program Areas with the purpose to allow students to test their knowledge and problem-solving skills in a competitive environment to meet industry needs utilizing a variety of assessment techniques.

The Agricultural Machinery Service Technician Career Program Area is designed to:
• encourage the development of Agricultural Service Technicians’ opportunities;
• recognize individual accomplishments and educational curriculum in Agricultural Service Technician programs;
• encourage cooperation between education and industry; and
• strengthen the PAS organization by encouraging active participation.

The National PAS Student Organization is an organization associated with agriculture/agribusiness and natural resources offerings in approved postsecondary institutions offering baccalaureate degrees, associate degrees, diplomas and/or certificates. PAS is one of 11 career and technical student organizations approved by the U.S. Department of Education as an integral part of career and technical education.

To learn more about the John Deere Tech program at NDSCS, go to www.ndscs.edu/johndeere.

The North Dakota State College of Science Jazz Band and Wildcat Singers will conclude their concert series with a performance on Monday, April 24, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. The concert will be held at the Bremer Bank Theatre in the Harry Stern and Ella Stern Cultural Center on the NDSCS campus in Wahpeton.

The concert, which is free and open to the public, will feature a variety of genres including rock, pop, country and jazz.

The North Dakota State College of Science recently awarded academic scholarships to 64 incoming first-year students. The scholarships recognize and reward students for academic achievement, test scores and participation in extracurricular and other volunteer activities. The scholarships are applicable during the 2017-2018 academic year. The honorees include:

JOHN & ALYCE TRAVERS SCHOLARSHIP
Williston, N.D.: Brett Doeden, $1000

NDSCS FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP

ALASKA
Palmer: Kamari Klawitter, $500

MINNESOTA
Akeley: Milena Cain, $1000
Baker: Ann Halverson, $1000
Breckenridge: Bradley Banken, $1000; Neriah Weinkauf, $1000
East Grand Forks: Christopher Kowalski, $500
Grand Marais: Emily-Kate Jacobsen, $500
Inver Grove Heights: Erich Gosswiller, $500
Moorhead: McKenna Michels, $1000
Morris: Piper Gibson, $1000; Kendra Jergenson, $1000
Park Rapids: Brooke Jerger, $500; Jack Walsh, $500
Perham: Jadyn Benedict, $1000; Olivia Strand, $500
Twin Valley: Janessa Bement, $1000

MONTANA
Glasgow: Trent Herbert, $1000

NORTH DAKOTA
Barney: M'Kenna Krchnavy, $500
Bismarck: Breanna Gartner, $1000
Bottineau: Bailey Schmidt, $1000
Carrington: Justine Finch, $500
Dickinson: Kylie Lantz, $1000
Dwight: Janessa Pote, $500
Fargo: Derek Thompson, $500; Colin Vieweg, $500
Gackle: John Gutschmidt, $1000
Gardner: Nathan Bell, $500
Garrison: Evan Klein, $500
Grand Forks: Andrew Arnold, $1000; Heather Onstad, $1000; Bryce Reller, $500; Mychael Reller, $500; Kaitlin Schrader, $1000
Grandin: Mikayla Branden, $1000
Hankinson: Kaitlyn Hubrig, $500; Ashlynn Stirling, $500
Harwood: Brady Preston, $1000
Horace: Lane Jacobson, $1000
Jamestown: Donovan Ask, $500; Mackenzie Clark, $1000; Ian Johnson, $500
Makoti: Remington Bigelow, $1000
Medina: Dalton Dockter, $1000
Minot: Henry Lemar, $1000; Ariana Steller, $1000
New Rockford: Hannah Heinz, $1000
New Salem: Thad Norton, $500
Thompson: Caleb Horn, $1000
Wahpeton: Alison Greteman, $1000; Carter Kipp, $500; Isaac Samuels, $1000; Mason Vogeler, $500; Dylan Wolfgram, $500; Sylver Zimmerman, $500
Walhalla: Mandi Stark, $1000
Westhope: Emily Lesmann, $1000
Wyndmere: Aaron Bell, $500; Megan Strege, $1000

NEBRASKA
Lincoln: Morgan Larson, $1000

SOUTH DAKOTA
Milbank: Mikaela Hoeke, $1000
Peever: Karlie Karst, $500
Tyndall: Clay Wittmeier, $500
Webster: Ariana Storley, $500

Fifteen students at the North Dakota State College of Science are participating in the College’s Science of Leadership program during the Spring 2017 semester.

The students, along with their hometowns and program of study, are:
• Lane Berger; Bismarck, N.D.; Land Surveying and Civil Engineering Technology
• Lizzie Brown; Wahpeton, N.D.; Liberal Arts
• Breanda Bursheim; Buffalo, Minn.; Occupational Therapy Assistant
• Georges Creve-Coeur; Stamford, Conn.; Diesel Technology
• Sami Hasbargen; Wahpeton, N.D.; Liberal Arts
• Shanda Hayden; Fargo, N.D.; Dental Hygiene
• Cynthia Heinis; Plankinton, S.D.; Liberal Arts
• Addison Helgaas; Jamestown, N.D.; Liberal Arts
• Heather Heyerman; St. Michael, Minn.; Business Management
• Kody Lohse; Fergus Falls, Minn.; Business Management
• Logan Meyer; Wahpeton, N.D.; Liberal Arts
• Mason Rademacher; Sauk Rapids, Minn.; Liberal Arts
• Lee Reinowski; Anamoose, N.D.; Architectural Drafting and Estimating Technology
• Riley Thoma; Bagley, Minn.; Dental Hygiene
• Megan Wilt; Wheaton, Minn.; Dental Hygiene

The Science of Leadership program, in its fourth year, engages students in existing leadership roles to further develop the skills necessary to become life-long leaders. The program seeks to foster students’ skills related to critical thinking, problem solving, communication, planning and organization.

Any student who serves as an officer in an official NDSCS student organization is eligible to apply and, if selected, participate in the Science of Leadership program and receive a $3,000 scholarship. The scholarships were made possible through a generous gift from Edson and Margaret Larson foundation, the North Dakota Higher Education Challenge Grant and the NDSCS Alumni/Foundation.

The program develops students’ leadership skills through an interactive and engaging leadership curriculum, provides experiential leadership learning opportunities and provides small-group mentoring from NDSCS professional staff members.

The North Dakota State College of Science Concert Band and Concert Choir will perform in the College’s spring concert at 7:30 p.m. on April 6 in the Harry Stern and Ella Stern Cultural Center on the NDSCS campus in Wahpeton. The concert is free and open to the public.

Following the concert, the performance groups will embark on a tour in New York City from April 7-12. Funding for the trip is provided by the students and by private donations. No college dollars will be used, and donations are still being accepted to help students pay for meals during the tour.

“This is a big step for NDSCS,” said Poyzer. “We strive to offer the four-year college experience in a two-year setting, and this is part of that complete education.”

On the tour, the Concert Band, under the direction of Dr. Adam Hollingsworth, will play on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Intrepid, which is now docked in the Hudson River and includes the Space Shuttle Enterprise on its deck. The band will also perform in a combined event with the Concert Choir at Thomas Paine Park. The choir, under the direction of Bryan Poyzer, will have the opportunity to sing at the Statue of Liberty and tour Ellis Island.

The April 6 concert at NDSCS will feature many of the songs the Concert Band and Concert Choir will perform while on tour. The music selections will have a patriotic theme.

“These are still the kids of the September 11th era and they need a chance to view the memorials and see first-hand how music helps in the healing process and brings people together,” said Poyzer.

Other sites on the tour will include the newly constructed Freedom Towers, Broadway shows, Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Plaza, St. Paul’s and St. Patrick’s Cathedrals, and attempting to be seen on TV during filming of NBC’s Today Show on the morning of April 11.